The mitzvah that preoccupies us more than any other during the course of the days preceding, as well as on the day of Purim, is that of Mishloach Manos, the obligation to send at least one individual two portions of food. The word describing these portions, מנות, in its singular form מנה, appears only three times in all of Chumash, and only amongst the portions that are read either immediately prior to Purim on a regular calendar year, or in the portion read directly after Purim, on a Jewish leap year - Tetzaveh and Tzav respectively. Why is this term used more than the more familiar word, מתנה, gift? Aren’t these generous ‘presents’ we give to those we wish to express our affection to? Two of the three references, as well in its very first usage,  are ...
Central Elections Committee Chairman Judge Hanan Melzer ruled on Wednesday that the city of Bnei Brak cannot ban campaign posters that depict women, according to a statement.Bnei Brak is an ultra-Orthodox Jewish city on the outskirts of Tel Aviv.  Some circles in the ultra-Orthodox community take issue with depictions of women in public spaces, citing concerns about modesty."This decision was released on the eve of Purim, and it goes without saying in this context that the holiday emphasizes the role and importance of women, and the need to respect them and to preserve their position," said Judge Melcer.The decision came after the Israel Women's Network and Meretz MK Tamar Zandberg brought a motion against the Bnei Brak Municipality to order the city to allow depictions of women...
On a previous occasion, we have discussed that the story of Purim mirrors the story of yetzias Mitzrayim in many significant ways. However, it recently occurred to me that the very same time the story very much foreshadows the future destiny of our people, more significantly the events of the past century or so. The period of exile between the two batei mikdash was certainly a difficult time. The destruction at the hands of Nevuchadnezzar and the subsequent subjugation in Bavel took its toll. But Haman's decree was a threat unlike any other which, if carried out, would have meant the demise of our nation. Similarly, in the period of galus we currently find ourselves, it can certainly be argued that threats we faced at the hands of Communist Russia a...
[Ed. Note] Out of the respect and recognition of the impact made by longtime BJL friend and contributor, Reb Shaya Gross, z’l, we will maintain a living memoriam to Shaya through the sweet words and thoughtful insights of  his Divrei Torah. BJL readers will remember his weekly column on the Parsha and on various Torah ideas and concepts. These meaningful words will help us remember this special young man who will be sorely missed and for those who did not merit to know him, this will be the most appropriate way for them to become familiar with who he was. Rava is famously quoted in the Gemara Megilla for saying that "one should drink wine on Purim until he doesn’t know the difference between ‘cursed is Haman and blessed is Mordechai.' There are many w...
Washington - President Donald Trump is escalating his attacks on the late Sen. John McCain, saying that he gave the longtime lawmaker “the kind of funeral he wanted” and “I didn’t get a thank you.” Trump went on a lengthy diatribe against the Vietnam war hero, Arizona senator and 2008 Republican presidential candidate on Wednesday. At an event in Ohio, Trump repeated his complaint that McCain voted against his legislation to repeal President Barack Obama’s health care law and argued that McCain was not supportive of military veterans. Trump said “I’ve never liked him much,” adding that he “probably never will.” McCain died last year of brain cancer. Trump has spent days attacking him on Twitter and in his public comments.
Renton, WA - The FBI has joined the criminal investigation into the certification of the Boeing 737 MAX, lending its considerable resources to an inquiry already being conducted by U.S. Department of Transportation agents, according to people familiar with the matter. The federal grand jury investigation, based in Washington, D.C., is looking into the certification process that approved the safety of the new Boeing plane, two of which have crashed since October. The FBI’s Seattle field office lies in proximity to Boeing’s 737 manufacturing plant in Renton, as well as nearby offices of Boeing and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials involved in the certification of the plane. The investigation, which is being overseen by the U.S. Justice Department’s criminal...
Madison, NJ - A New Jersey sports official is apologizing for telling student athletes that Adolf Hitler was a “good leader” with “bad moral character and intentions.” Nutley High School athletic director Joe Piro made the remark while addressing Madison High School students Saturday during an assembly aimed at promoting positive leadership. Piro tells NJ.com he was trying to make a point that “a leader could have strong leadership skills that influence people in a negative way.” He says he understands “Hitler was an evil man who used his skills in a horrific manner.” The district’s superintendent said in a letter sent to parents that the speaker’s presentation was “unnecessarily provocative and insensitive.” Piro ...
Kellyanne Conway defended President Trump amid an escalating feud between the president and her husband in an interview with Politico published Wednesday. “You think he shouldn’t respond when somebody, a non-medical professional accuses him of having a mental disorder? You think he should just take that sitting down?” she said. Conway, the White House counselor, told the publication that Trump disregarded her husband’s criticism for months “out of respect for me” but that she didn’t blame him for firing back after George Conway suggested earlier this week that Trump had diagnosable narcissistic personality disorder. “Don’t play psychiatrist any more than George should be,” Conway told the publication. “You’re not a ...
VID-20190320-WA0038 from BaltimoreJewishLife.com on Vimeo.
President Trump will meet next week with embattled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House announced on Wednesday. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the two leaders “will discuss their countries’ shared interests and actions in the Middle East” next Monday and then Netanyahu will return on Tuesday for dinner. Netanyahu is visiting Washington, D.C., to attend the American Israel Public Affairs Committee annual policy conference. Read more at The Hill.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo holds a joint press statement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The conflict of the Jewish people and Amalek – central to the story of Purim – is a continuation of the ongoing struggle between their forebears, Yaakov and Eisav. Yaakov and Eisav were twins, but whereas some twins are identical, these twins were opposites. Yaakov inhabited the world of the spirit, the tents of study and prayer, while Eisav was firmly implanted in the material world. Yaakov confronted Eisav both physically and spiritually, meeting up with him and his camp, and wrestling his angel. And we, the descendants of Yaakov, mark two days of the year dedicated to our confrontation with Eisav. On Purim we recall the physical battle defeating Haman, and on Yom Kippur we eliminate the angel of Eisav, as our Sages noted that the word “HaSatan” has the numerical...
Baltimore, MD - Mar. 20, 2019 - Consumers should be aware that there are a number of items that are being sold in local markets from Eretz Yisrael and have various issues associated with them: Shmitta wine. Any 2015 wine from Israel is from Shmitta. Due to lack of sales in Eretz Yisrael, a large stock has been sent to USA in the last few weeks and is now being sold in many wine stores. There are a number of concerns with the way this wine has been handled and possibly creates issues consuming this wine. Each person should consult their Rov for guidance or just choose a different vintage. Carrots and many citrus fruits are arriving in the USA from Israel and would need to have Terumos and Maasros separated. See https://www.star-k.org/articles/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/KCSmall_Terumos.pd...
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Jerusalem, Israel - Mar. 20, 2019 - On Wednesday afternoon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with  Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem. At a subsequent meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the Israeli Prime Minister began his remarks with the following statement: "Secretary Pompeo, Mike, it’s good to see you in Jerusalem, back in Jerusalem. I have to say that we meet in every holiday. We met in Hanukkah, now we’re meeting in Purim. And these are all celebrations of our history, and part of it is the tremendous alliance between Israel and the United States. I know you’ve been an extraordinary champion of the US-Israel alliance. And I want to thank you and Presid...
A couple of fundamental questions regarding Purim: 1) The era of Purim was one of our lowest spiritual points in history (see Sanhedrin 105a). We had sinned so greatly and become so lax in our Torah observance that Hashem Himself signed our doom with His proverbial "signet ring”. This signified that under ordinary circumstances, no matter how greatly we would improve or even repent, we were no longer redeemable. Which merit, in particular, was responsible for changing everything and single-handedly caused Hashem to save us? 2) When Haman was convincing king Achashverosh to destroy the Jews, on a deeper level, he was actually making the case to Hashem Himself as to why he should be justified in destroying them *. Strangely, his opening argument was that the Jews were a “scatt...
Psychiatrists have concluded that the suspect in the 2017 Paris slaying of a Jewish woman is not fit to stand trial due to diminished mental capacity at the time of the killing, French media reported Tuesday. Kobili Traore is alleged to have beaten his neighbor, 66-year-old Sarah Halimi, to death while calling her a demon and shouting about Allah, before throwing her body from the window of her third-story apartment. According to reports on Tuesday, a third assessment of Traore found he did not suffer from mental illness, but that he could not be held responsible for his actions at the time of Halimi’s murder as he was in a state of “acute delirium.” It has been reported in the past that Traore was under the influence of strong cannabinoid drugs at the time of the incid...
The Maryland General Assembly voted to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour starting in 2025. The bill passed in the House of Delegates with a 93 - 41 vote and in the Senate with a 32 - 13 vote. The legislation now goes to Gov. Larry Hogan's desk. The House and Senate passed their versions of the legislation by veto-proof majorities. The minimum wage in Maryland will raise to $15 an hour starting Jan. 1, 2025. Small businesses with 14 or fewer employees will be permitted to wait until July 1, 2026 to establish the full $15 wage. Both the House and Senate made significant changes to the bills. The House delayed full implementation from 2023 to 2025. It also exempted some workers. The Senate version gives companies with fewer than 15 employees until 2028 to raise the minimum wa...
Two more members of the University of Maryland Medical System board of directors have resigned, while four others who have financial relationships with the system have been asked to immediately take a voluntary leave of absence. The news is part of the fallout of controversy over Mayor Catherine Pugh's since-disclosed book deal with the medical system. Pugh had sat on the board since 2001. She resigned that unpaid position on Monday, days after it came to light she and other board members benefited from contracts with the private health system. "Addressing this issue is of the highest priority for me and the organization," board Chairman Stephen A. Burch said in a statement. "There is nothing more important than the trust of those who depend on our leadership." John W. Dillon of Du...
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