Gaza - Two people were found dead near the site of an Israeli missile strike at the coastal strip’s border with Israel, Gaza medics said on Tuesday. The Israeli military said it had attacked a group suspected of tampering with the border fence. There was no immediate word on the identities of those killed east of Qarara village, in the south of the Gaza Strip. Shortly before midnight on Monday the Israeli military said one of its aircraft had fired at a group of suspected militants who had “suspiciously approached” the border fence and placed an object next to it. Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005 but maintains tight control of its land and sea borders. Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been stalled for several years and Isr...
Seoul - If North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was searching for the perfect propaganda set piece, something designed to show his people that he’s a strong leader pushing inexorably for the long-delayed, long-promised prosperity they deserve, then visiting South Korean President Moon Jae-in might be providing him with a unique opportunity during their summit this week. Moon believes that his deep engagement with North Korea is crucial after last year’s fears of war, when Washington reacted with fury to a torrent of ever-more-powerful North Korean weapons tests. He argues that better ties with North Korea will help South Koreans, and the region, by settling the decades-long standoff over the North’s pursuit of a nuclear arsenal designed to target the U.S. mainland. But his e...
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 18, 2018 - Rediscovering Yom Kippur - The Thirteen Attributes of Mercy To listen click here
Obama-era Attorney General Eric Holder said over the weekend the “Make America Great Again” mindset is “rooted in fear,” and lashed out at President Trump by saying he’ll “never call him president.” Holder called the upcoming midterm elections an “opportunity to send a message” to the “present occupant of the White House, Mr. Trump.” “I’ll never call him the president,” Holder said, noting the message would be directed to “the extremists who surround [Trump] and to those that support him, that we will not allow for the dismantling of the social compact forced by Roosevelt and other great presidents between we the people and our government.” Read more at Fox News.
North Carolina - U.S. food companies kept slaughter plants shut on Monday in southeastern states swamped by Hurricane Florence as catastrophic flooding killed nearly 2 million chickens, collapsed the walls of at least two hog manure pits, and made stretches of major roads impassable. Florence, which has dumped up to 36 inches (91 cm) of rain on North Carolina since Thursday, was interrupting supply lines around the state and into neighboring South Carolina. Meteorologists have warned that the worst is yet to come as rivers rise. North Carolina is a top U.S. producer of poultry, hogs and tobacco. Agriculture contributes $87 billion to the state’s economy, making it the state’s No. 1 industry. Two North Carolina hog waste pits were structurally damaged, four were inundated with...
Every Yom Kippur for the haftarah at minchah, we read sefer Yonah. As is the case with any haftarah, there are specific reasons why this haftarah is chosen. The following is a list of significant connections between Yonah and Yom Kippur which I heard many years ago in a chaburah from R' Elie Wolf, who has since written an entire set of seforim on haftaros: 1. Teshuvah Ba'eir Heiteiv in the name of Levush writes the most obvious connection. The story of Nineveh's doing teshuvah is meant to inspire us to do teshuvah on Yom Kippur. Radak and Me'iri add that sefer Yonah shows us that even gentiles can do teshuvah. This should serve to convince us that surely teshuvah is within our reach. Pirkei d'Rabi Eliezer also writes that when the men on the ship saw that the wat...
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian state television says Defense Ministry Sergei Shoigu in a phone call to his Israeli counterpart has said Israel is responsible for the shooting down of a Russian military aircraft over Syria. The Russian military said on Tuesday that the reconnaissance aircraft was brought down by a Syrian missile over the Mediterranean late on Monday, killing all 15 people on board. It said the plane was caught in the crossfire as four Israeli fighters attacked targets in northwestern Syria. Russian TV quoted a Defense Ministry statement as saying that Shoigu told Avigdor Lieberman that Israel is "fully to blame" for the deaths of the 15 people onboard. Shoigu said Russia had not been notified of Israel's operation in the area despite the hotline between the two countri...
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 16, 2018 - In consideration of the anticipated large number of men/buchrim in Baltimore that will, IY”H, be using the Mikvah on Erev Yom Kippur,  HA”L, Rav Taub, Shlita, will be opening an additional bor at the Mikvah at Khal Arugas Habosem. The Mikvah will open at 5:00 AM In addition, to accommodate the anticipated increased usage, a large changing area will be erected in front of the entrance to the Mikvah.  May the entire community be g’bentched with a Gmar Chasima Tova. 
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 17, 2018 - As part of Jewish Volunteer Connection's (JVC) "Day to Unite," and in conjunction with The Jewish Cemetery Association of Greater Baltimore (JCA) and Sol Levinson and Brothers Volunteer Initiative, about 20 volunteers set out to clean the historic Hebrew Friendship Cemetery in East Baltimore on Sunday morning, September 16. As JVC and JCA board member Kenny Friedman pointed out as he spoke to the participants, "This period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is the opportune time for this chesed shel emes." Greg King, coordinator for community outreach at Sol Levinson & Bros., spoke of the 170-year-old history of the cemetery and stressed the importance of the work the volunteers were doing.  The effort was multi-generational, as well. Joan ...
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 14, 2018  - Kolainu Boys Choir was established January of 2009 with boys from all different mainstream Yeshivas. Kolainu's sole purpose is to provide Yeshiva students with an opportunity to gain self confidence, have fun, make new friends and enjoy their love for music. Kolainu was designed for Yeshiva students as an extra curricular activity. There are no tryouts and every child is a star. The choir has one grand preformance annually for family and friends. The choir is led by Elchonon Majeski. Elchonon has many years of experience conducting , composing and singing for large audiences. Kolainu offers a once in a life time rewarding experience for your child. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have about our program. Kolainu Choir is...
It’s not often that a film like this is released. The product of years of research, extensive travels, dozens of interviews and discussions with leading rabbanim and even underwater filming off the coast of the mediterranean in the Greek isles, It’s Not All Black and White is sure to amaze, and educate you. This is a film for everyone who cares about mitzvos and wants to understand the history of this important mitzvah better. When was the last time techeiles was worn? How did it get lost? Was it found? What do the gedolim hold about this? Is it possible to find the techeiles before Mashiach comes? And, especially if you’re getting geared up to learn the sugya in Daf Yomi (The daf started learning Perek HaTecheiles Friday September 14) you want to watch this film right a...
“He who walks in righteousness, Speaks uprightly, Spurns profit from fraudulent dealings, Waves away a bribe instead of grasping it, Stops his ears against listening to infamy, Shuts his eyes against looking at evil—Such a one shall dwell in lofty security, With inaccessible cliffs for his stronghold, With his food supplied And his drink assured.” Isaiah 33:15 (The Israel Bible™) That Ari Fuld, may his memory be for a blessing, whose name means lion, was a fierce advocate for Israel is well-known. What might be less well-known is that he took time on Fridays, just before Shabbat, to teach the upcoming week’s Torah portion live on Facebook, often beside his beloved barbeque grill, in his beloved community of Efrat. F...
Melbourne, Australia - Public fears about sewing needles concealed inside strawberries on supermarket shelves have spread across Australia and New Zealand as growers turn to metal detectors and the Australian government launches an investigation to restore public confidence in the popular fruit. The government of Queensland state, where the contamination scare started last week, offered a 100,000 Australian dollar ($72,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for inserting needles into strawberries after six brands — Donnybrook Berries, Love Berry, Delightful Strawberries, Oasis, Berry Obsession and Berry Licious — were recalled. The scare had spread across the nation by Monday, with needles reported found in strawberries in all six Australi...
Pittsburgh - A startled camel started bucking during a circus when a child apparently threw a shovel at its feet, injuring six children and an adult and causing frightened circusgoers to flee the arena. Two children and an adult were riding the camel during an intermission at the Shrine Circus at PPG Paints Arena when it became startled. Authorities say one child suffered a broken arm, while the injuries suffered by the others were considered minor. The incident, caught on video , happened around 3:30 p.m. as people were buying rides on tethered camels, ponies or elephants led by handlers. Ruthie Kester, a Latrobe resident who was at the circus, told KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh that a child threw a shovel — used to clean up after the animals — at the camel’s feet. “T...
Jerusalem - The Israeli government has agreed to absorb 1,000 Ethiopian Jews — accepting just a fraction of the African country’s 8,000 remaining Jews who want to move to Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that a special committee had agreed to allow community members who already have children in Israel to immigrate. It was not clear what will happen to the remaining 7,000 people. Alisa Bodner, a spokeswoman for Israel’s Ethiopian community, called Netanyahu’s decision an “incredible disappointment.” Many of the 8,000 are practicing Jews and have relatives in Israel. But Israel doesn’t consider them Jewish under strict religious law, meaning their immigration requires special approval. Israel agreed in 2015 to bring the remai...
Frankfurt, Germany - New versions of the 100- and 200-euro banknotes have updated anti-counterfeiting features and a slimmer size that should make them easier to fit into wallets and purses. The new notes, shown off Monday by the European Central Bank, are now the same height as the 50-euro note so that they will be less likely to stick out and become worn. The notes also have an improved “satellite” hologram that shows small euro symbols moving around the number when the bill is held up and tilted. ECB executive board member Yves Mersch said at the unveiling that more than a million cash machines would need to be adjusted before the new notes go into circulation May 28 in the 19 countries that use the shared currency. He said that European citizens “remain attached&rd...
Buffalo, NY -  Indicted U.S. Rep. Chris Collins will remain on the November ballot despite previously suspending his campaign, confounding Republican Party leaders in his district Monday who had counted on Collins’ cooperation to replace him. The surprise decision by Collins, who pleaded not guilty to insider trading charges in August, throws the race for the western New York seat further into turmoil. Erie County GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy said Collins confirmed his plans to him Monday, suggesting in a phone call that removing himself from the ballot could undermine his legal defense. “As of last Monday, Mr. Collins was fully prepared to work with party officials to substitute himself from the ballot, so we had no reason to expect this,” said Langworthy, who sa...
Washington - The Trump administration has delayed until next month plans to send a message to all U.S. cellphones testing a previously unused presidential alert system that aims to warn the public about national emergencies, officials said on Monday. The test message was originally scheduled for 2:18 p.m. EDT (1818 GMT)on Thursday but is being pushed back to the same time on Oct. 3 because of response efforts to Tropical Depression Florence, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said in a statement. Florence came ashore in North Carolina on Friday as a hurricane and has caused widespread flooding in North and South Carolina. FEMA, which will send the alert, said last week that the messages would bear the headline “Presidential Alert,” and that phones will make a lou...
Beirut - Syria state media is reporting loud explosions in the Syrian coastal Latakia province, saying are likely from Israeli strikes targeting a state company for technical industries. A military official says more strikes targeted the provincial capital from the sea but Syrian air defenses intercepted them. The state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV reported the explosions late Monday. Nearly half an hour later, it said the strikes continued. It showed footage of what appeared to fire in a pitch black area. The TV said the target was the Institute for Technical industries in Latakia province. A military official quoted on state media said Syrian air defenses intercepted strikes coming from the sea. State media reported another suspected Israeli attack on Damascus’ International Airport Satu...
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