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September 29, 2016 at 8:44 pm
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 29, 2016 - Rabbi Shmuel Silber gave this teshuva drasha in Kehilas Meor HaTorah last year. We post it again by popular demand.
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September 29, 2016 at 8:37 pm
This week’s Torah portion talks about the mitzva to learn Torah (Devarim 30, 14). Our Sages teach that learning Torah is so great that it is equal to all of the other mitzvos in the Torah. The following humorous true story pertains to a moral dilemma related to someone's desire to study Torah. The following is a true story that occurred in Israel. A religious Israeli man, named Avi, once called a customer service representative for some assistance. The Israeli customer service rep introduced himself as Doron and proceeded to help Avi with his query. After speaking with Avi for a bit, Doron was able to ascertain from Avi’s question that Avi was religious. After Doron finished helping Avi, Doron asked Avi if he would be able to answer some questions about Jewish ...
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September 29, 2016 at 7:06 pm
On Wednesday, we reported about a privately chartered flight to Uman that was cancelled just hours before its scheduled departure. Hundreds of people were left without a way to reach Uman. Now, YWN has learned of another incident with an airplane heading to Uman.
Sources tell YWN that at around 4:00PM on Thursday, a Lufthansa Flight from JFK to Uman returned to the gate after it had already started taxiing towards the runway.
It appears that the wing clipped another aircraft as it was being pushed away from the terminal.
All the passengers have since left the aircraft, and are in the process of finding their luggage.
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September 29, 2016 at 7:06 pm
With Rosh Hashana right around the corner, it comes as no surprise that this week’s parshah discusses the mitzvah of Teshuva (repentance).
Why does Teshuva work? Why is it that even if I sin severely, if I genuinely decide to improve, Hashem will accept that apology? This question becomes that much stronger when one realizes that even when I do teshuva with the highest level of sincerity, ultimately, I will probably sin and stumble again in the future, as no one is perfect. If so, why does Hashem accept such a temporary and fleeting teshuva?
Additionally, Rosh Hashanah is known as a yom tov, as it is the day that we crown our King and by doing so, reconnect to Him in the strongest manner possible. However, haven’t we all sinned many times in this past year? At the very least,...
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September 29, 2016 at 6:37 pm
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 29, 2016 - This Sunday night when Rosh Hashanah 5777 begins, it will not only be the beginning of a new year but will also be the first year of the 305th 19-year cycle since brias ha’olam, as indicated in the luach of the Tur in Orach Chaim siman 428. 5776 was the 19th and final year of the previous 19-year cycle which began on Rosh Hashana 5758/1997 and 5777 (2016-2017) is the first year of the new cycle.
Unlike the solar cycle of 28 years (Machzor Gadol) which is used in the Jewish calendar to calculate tkufos (seasons) and begins with the recitation of Birchas Hachama, the new 19-year cycle (Machzor Katan) will begin almost unnoticed. Indeed, we will experience Rosh Hashana night – one of the most beautiful nights of the year. But, as the sun sets and ...
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September 29, 2016 at 5:16 pm
President Barack Obama today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to the State of Israel to attend the State Funeral of Former President and Prime Minister Shimon Peres on September 30, 2016 in Tel Aviv, Israel.
The Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States, will lead the delegation.
Members of the Presidential Delegation
The Honorable William J. Clinton, Former President of the United States
The Honorable Daniel Shapiro, U.S. Ambassador to the State of Israel, Department of State
The Honorable John Kerry, Secretary of State of the United States
The Honorable Robert Casey, U.S. Senator, Pennsylvania
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Leader, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (CA-12)
The Honorable Steny Hoyer, Member of the U.S. House of ...
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September 29, 2016 at 5:09 pm
The late former Israeli President Shimon Peres was a “truly consequential” figure who played an “inextricable” role in the transformation of Israel from a fledgling new nation into a regional powerhouse over the past seven decades, a former US State Department Middle East negotiator who interacted with Peres told The Algemeiner on Thursday.
Peres, who died on Wednesday at the age of 93 and will be laid to rest on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem on Friday, was the “Forrest Gump of Israeli politics,” Aaron David Miller — currently a vice president at the Wilson Center think tank in Washington — said.
“He was there and saw it all,” Miller, who first met Peres in the late 1980s during a trip to Israel with then-Secretary of St...
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September 29, 2016 at 5:07 pm
(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Researchers at Ben-Gurion University in the Negev have made a significant breakthrough in a unique study to better understand autism, discovering a particular evolutionary signature in autism genes. The breakthrough brings doctors one step closer to understanding the genetic mechanism for the disorder and being able to diagnose it prior to birth.
Dr. Idan Menashe and his colleagues, Erez Tsur and Prof. Michael Friger, studied over 650 genetic variations out of the 1,000 genes linked to autism, and found characteristics that differentiate them from other genes in the human genome.
"If we find the remaining genes out of the thousand, we will not only be able to understand autism better, but also be able to conduct a genetic test before pre...
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September 29, 2016 at 5:04 pm
The head of the Israel’s Arab political bloc tweeted an explanation for his coalition’s decision to boycott Friday’s funeral of elder statesman Shimon Peres, the Hebrew news site Walla reported on Thursday, a day before the event is scheduled to take place.
According to the report, MK Ayman Odeh, chairman of the Joint List, wrote: “The memory of Peres in the Arab (Israeli) public is different from that of the narrative that has been recounted over the past few days, and I understand that such complex messages are hard to hear after someone’s death.”
He added that credit should be given to Peres for his peace efforts and support for the Arab public during the 1990s, but said that the same populace opposes “the hawk of the oc...
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September 29, 2016 at 5:03 pm
In an open letter on Wednesday, campus leaders across the UK slammed the head of the country’s largest student union for her repeated dismissal of concerns of systemic antisemitism on campuses.
“Over the past six months, the [National Union of Students’ (NUS)] Leadership has rightly come under increased scrutiny for its attitude towards Jewish students,” said the letter, signed by 43 student leaders and directed at NUS President Malia Bouattia.
Referring to a recent interview with the UK’s Guardian — in which Bouattia acknowledged that she applies double standards when it comes to racism against Jews — the student leaders wrote that despite an ongoing discussion of antisemitism within the NUS, the voices of...
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September 29, 2016 at 5:03 pm
After years of complaints about his antisemitic rhetoric, a tenured professor at Canada’s University of Lethbridge is reportedly being asked, finally, to resign.
Professor Anthony Hall — who supports “open debate” on the Holocaust and has blamed Israel for 9/11 — told The American Herald Tribune, a website he helps run, that he was asked to step down after Jewish advocacy group B’nai Brith Canada urged the university to launch an investigation into his behavior.
“If the University of Lethbridge allows Hall to continue teaching, it would demonstrate complete disrespect for true scholarship and the values of the academy,” Amanda Hohmann, national director of B’nai Brith Canada’s League for Human Rights, told ...
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September 29, 2016 at 5:03 pm
A legal expert and founder of a conservative blog told The Algemeiner that the recent controversy surrounding offensive rhetoric used by radical Israeli activist Miko Peled serves as a litmus test of antisemitism for two prominent anti-Israel groups.
Legal Insurrection founder William Jacobson, a professor at the Cornell Law School, said he is gauging the reactions of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) to comments made by Israeli anti-Zionist Miko Peled, who referred to Jews as “sleazy thieves” on social media.
“The negative stereotypes of Jews employed by BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement) activists test the claims of JVP and SJP that they are only anti-Zionist or anti-occup...
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September 29, 2016 at 5:03 pm
(JNS.org) Chinese investors are expected to fund up to $50 billion in some 500 Israeli start-up companies as the two countries continue to strengthen ties in many areas including trade and travel.
“Over the past few years we have seen a series of investments coming to Israel from China, but only now are we beginning to understand the great potential of this cooperation for both countries,” said Amit Lang, director general of Israel’s Ministry of Economy and Industry. He spoke at the second annual “Innovation” China-Israel Investment Conference on Wednesday in Tel Aviv attended by over 1,000 Chinese investors.
The event was organized by the Infinity Investment Group with help from Israel’s Ministry of Economy and Industry.
“The impor...
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September 29, 2016 at 5:02 pm
(JNS.org) Republican pollster and political consultant Frank Luntz said there are five things Jewish students can do to more effectively discuss combating anti-Semitism on college campuses.
Luntz, who has worked for years with Israeli leaders – including the late former Israeli President Shimon Peres – has teamed up with the Jewish National Fund (JNF) to take on anti-Semitism across the country.
To better prepare students to engage in conversations about anti-Semitism, and specifically the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, Luntz and JNF have developed a “language library.”
The idea behind it is “to be the most efficient, effective process to provide information, awareness and messaging that will help make the Jewish community...
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September 29, 2016 at 4:39 pm
We regret to inform you of the Petira of 11-year-old Elimelech (Ben Menachem Mendel Malkiel) Gradon in Los Angeles, CA.
Eli was Niftar on Thursday morning, after battling cancer for a number of years. Thousands of people had been Davening for him, and many followed his condition closely on the web.
The Levaya will be on Friday morning 9:00AM at Cong Sharei Tefila 7269 Beverly Blvd LA CA 90036.
Kevura will be in Mt Carmel Cemetery 6501 Gage Ave. Commerce CA at 11:30
Shiva will be at 176 S Fuller Ave LA CA 90036
Friday from 1:00-3:00 Motzei Shabbos from right after Shabbos Sunday Shacharis at 7:00 with Shiva ending for Rosh Hashana at 2:30
Bila HaMaves LaNetzach...
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September 29, 2016 at 4:39 pm
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – The Gaza Health Ministry says a Palestinian was killed in an accident while working in a "military tunnel" used by Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant group.
It said Ahmed Mayyat was killed and three others were injured Thursday without elaborating.
Mayyat was a local contractor hired by the Islamic Jihad to remove a bomb from the tunnel, the group said. Local media reported he also worked for several international aid organizations in Gaza on a freelance basis.
Gaza militants have...read more at FOX NEWS
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September 29, 2016 at 4:00 pm
A long list of world leaders will attend the funeral of former Israeli Prime Minister and President Shimon Peres, who died on Wednesday at 93.
Some of the world's most powerful figures will be at the service in Jerusalem on Friday, including US President Barack Obama.
Mr Peres's condition had deteriorated after suffering a stroke two weeks ago.
He was one of the last of a generation of Israeli politicians present at the nation's birth in 1948.
Mr Peres won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 for his role negotiating the Oslo peace accords with the Palestinians a year earlier, a prize he shared with Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
The agreement was witnessed by former US President Bill Clinton and signed at the White House. On Wednesday...
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September 29, 2016 at 3:52 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — The federal government is beefing up emergency cellphone alerts like the one used in New York to advertise a search for a bombing suspect earlier in September.
The Federal Communications Commission approved a measure Thursday that will let messages be up to four times longer than the current 90-character limit. Cellphone companies will have to support Spanish messages under the new rules. The changes will also let officials target messages more narrowly and include links in messages. The New York alert had an awkward phrasing, "See media for pic," rather than a link to Ahmad Khan Rahami's photo.
The FCC also says it's seeking comments on how to attach photos inside actual alerts themselves.
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September 29, 2016 at 3:47 pm
UPDATE as of Sept. 29, 2016 - Marc is now a top contender currently in the top three – only today and tomorrow left to vote!
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Baltimore, MD - Sept. 20, 2016 - Marc Ward is a finalist in Jamie Geller’s Kosher Masters international competition. A lawyer by profession and a talented cook at home, Marc heard about Jamie Geller’s Kosher Masters competition and jokingly mentioned to his family that he would love to share one of his favorite Rosh Hashana recipes and compete. His family members took this seriously, and urged him to compete and let others enjoy the creative dish that has become a family favorite. Marc worked part time as a mashgiach while working his way through law school. Marc is now a finalist with his Rosh Hashana Wine Sauce Chicken recipe tha...
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September 29, 2016 at 3:18 pm
Baltimore, MD Daily Dvar Halacha - Sept. 29, 2016 / 26 Elul 5776 - Is that an Aravah?
