BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Gunmen in Baghdad shot dead a well-known former government advisor and political analyst near his home on Monday in a rare high-profile killing in the Iraqi capital, government officials, police sources and medics said. The government officials described the killing of Hisham al-Hashemi, who had written about politics, Islamic State and the role of Iran-backed militias in Iraq, as a targeted killing but did not point the finger at any particular group. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Hashemi’s killing. It comes at a time of rising tension between the new government of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and powerful Iran-backed militias and political parties who oppose him and accuse him of siding with the United States. Police sources said tw...
North Korea has no intention to sit down with the United States and is urging South Korea to “stop meddling,” a senior diplomat said on Tuesday, according to Reuters. Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui’ said on Saturday that North Korea does not feel the need for a new summit, days after South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who had offered to mediate between Kim and Trump, suggested the two leaders meet again before the US elections in November. “Explicitly speaking once again, we have no intention to sit face to face with the United States,” he stressed. Read more at Arutz Sheva.
In Bamidbar 28:10 the posuk teaches us that every Shabbos had its Korban Olah. The Gemara in Sukka 41b asks why is the mitzvah of taking a lulav pushed off on Shabbos? Isn’t it just moving something that might be muktza, which should not be a problem on Shabbos? Rava answers that we are worried the person might take it in his hand and go to his Rebbe to teach him the bracha or ask for guidance how to shake it and he will carry it 4 amos in reshus horabim. This reason also applies to Shofar and Megilah on Shabbos. The question that arises seems obvious; how can we read the Torah every Shabbos in S...
Jerusalem, Israel - July 7, 2020 - Due to the rise in COVID-19 infection rates, many new restrictions were announced yesterday afternoon. However, due to the government process, some of the restrictions were made effective immediately, and some only go into effect today and tomorrow. Here is the complete breakdown: Effective immediately: - Houses of worship - up to 19 people - Government Ministries and Government companies - at least 30% of staff should work from home, according to rules to be set by the Civil Service Commissioner.- Organized sport events without spectators - Organized summer activities for kids and teenagers limited to 20 kids per group Going into effect 2:00 pm Tuesday afternoon:- Closure of clubs and bars- Restaurants up to 20 people inside and 30 outside- Cl...
Florida’s top school official issued a sweeping executive order Monday requiring all schools in the state to reopen their buildings for in-person instruction for the coming school year, even as coronavirus cases in the state continued to rise.  Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, a Republican and former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, issued the order Monday. “School districts and charter school governing boards must provide the full array of services that are required by law so that families who wish to educate their children in a brick and mortar school full time have the opportunity to do so,” the order states. Many districts, including the Miami-Dade school system, have proposed offering options for schooling, including hybrid models tha...
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said late Monday that the United States is considering banning Chinese social media apps, including TikTok, one of the world’s most popular online platforms. Noting that India had recently banned dozens of Chinese apps, Fox News host Laura Ingraham asked Pompeo whether the Trump administration was exploring similar action against TikTok, which has around 30 million active American users. “We’re certainly looking at it,” Pompeo said, adding that the administration was taking the issue “very seriously.” “With the respect to Chinese apps on people’s cellphones, I can assure you the United States will get this one right.” He added, “I don’t want to get out in front of the president, but it&rsquo...
Agudath Israel of America expresses its deep disappointment with Chief U.S. District Judge, Glenn Suddaby’s ruling to keep New York State overnight camps closed this summer.   Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Agudah's New York Government Relations Director, said, “The impact on children is devastating. Instead of looking forward to a summer of growth, filled with learning experiences and preparation for an upcoming school year, many children of our community will now be forced to endure a continuation of the long-lasting lockdowns imposed by the State Government."
The white woman who falsely claimed she was threatened by a black birdwatcher who asked her to leash her dog in Manhattan’s Central Park was charged Monday with filing a false report, the Manhattan district attorney said. Amy Cooper, 41, gained national notoriety in late May after she was captured in a now-infamous video threatening to call police on the man, stating, “I’m going to tell them there’s an African American man threatening my life.” The exchange went viral after it was posted online, drawing comparisons to the case of Emmett Till and sparking discourse about the ways that white people weaponize authorities against black people who have done nothing wrong. Cooper was charged Monday with falsely reporting an incident in the third degree, District ...
President Donald Trump was right with his Independence Day claim that 99% of coronavirus cases are “totally harmless,” his chief of staff, Mark Meadows, said Monday. “I don’t even know that it’s a generalization,” Meadows said on Fox News’ “Fox and Friends.” “When you start to look at the stats and look at all the numbers we have, the amount of testing that we have, the vast majority of people are safe from this.” Meadows said that when one looks at the deaths from coronavirus, “if you’re over 80 years of age or if you have three of what they call co-morbidities: diabetes, hypertension, heart issues, then you need to be very, very careful.” But beyond that, “the risks are extremely low,” said...
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declined an invitation from the White House to celebrate a new trade agreement between North American countries. Trudeau, along with President Trump and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, were scheduled to meet on Wednesday, but the Canadian leader will instead conduct online meetings with Cabinet officials as cases of the novel coronavirus continue to rise. “The entry-into-force of the new NAFTA is good for Canada, the United States, and Mexico. It will help ensure that North America emerges stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic,” a spokesman for Trudeau said in a statement, according to Bloomberg. “We wish the United States and Mexico well at Wednesday’s meeting. While there were recent discussions about the poss...
Israel has filed a NIS523 million (nearly $152 million) lawsuit with the Tel Aviv District Court against German car manufacturers Volkswagen, Audi, and its local distributor Champion Motors Ltd. for “alleged fraud and negligence,” according to CTech. The lawsuit claims that between 2008-2016 there were 12,000 Volkswagen and Audi cars imported into Israel with EA189 engines installed with fraudulent software to alter gas emission information. Volkswagen and its affiliated companies allegedly used the fraudulent data to misguide Israeli authorities into believing that the imported vehicles were up to the country’s environmental standards. “If not for the low emission data, the vehicles would not have received the required approval, although they apparently met the ...
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on Monday that he believes there will be a fifth coronavirus relief bill, as the country sees an uptick in the number of cases. “We will be taking a look at — in the Senate in a couple of weeks — another package based on the conditions that we confront today,” McConnell said in Louisville, Ky. Republicans are expected to make a final decision on a fifth coronavirus bill once they return to Washington from a two-week break on July 20. But McConnell said on Monday that he was “likely” to introduce a bill in a few weeks. Read more at The Hill.
 Former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly blamed Mayor Bill de Blasio for weakening the police department, allowing crime to run rampant across the city. “This mayor is atrocious,” Kelly told John Catsimatidis on his 77 WABC radio show in a Sunday interview. “If I had a magic wand I’d remove him. But, unfortunately, what’s waiting in the wings is no better.” Kelly called the New York City Council’s cutting $1 billion from the police department a “kind of kabuki financing,” adding “we have de Blasio here for another 18 months.” Read more at THE NY POST.
Baltimore, MD – July 6, 2020 - It is with sadness that BaltimoreJewishLife.com informs the community of the petira of Charles Moskowitz, z’l, father of Michael Moskowitz. The Levayah will take place at Chevra Kadisha Cemetery in St. Louis, MO, Tuesday morning @ 9AM.   Shiva by phone only: Please call (443) 379-0176 between 9-11 AM and 2-8PM through morning of July 13 Bila HaMaves LaNetzach...
Baltimore, MD – July 6, 2020 – This afternoon at  approximately 4:00, a 19 year-old male with his 2 young nephews, ages 12 and 8, were riding their bikes on Northbrook Road when a group of teens came upon them, threatened them with a knife and stole their bikes. Baltimore County Police were called and in very short order caught the perpetrators on Seven Mile Lane between Park Heights & Reisterstown Road. After Baltimore County Police quickly apprehended the thieves that stole his bike, 8-year-old Mayer Elefant was given a tour of a Baltimore County Police car by one of the officers on scene.
Baltimore, MD - July 6, 2020 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Yosef & Shani (Silber) Bizouati on the birth of a daughter. Mazel Tov to Grandparents Mrs. Shoshana Bizouati and Rabbi Shmuel & Rebbetzin Aviva Silber יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בתם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן
Baltimore, MD - July 6, 2020 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Avi Friedberg and Natalie Milevsky (Toronto) on their engagement. יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן
This article is adapted from my newly-released sefer, “What Can I Say… Today”. All halachos mentioned herein are complex and part of a larger framework. The purpose of the article is to raise awareness of these essential halachos. Hence, one should not draw any practical conclusions without first consulting a rav. Speaking to One’s Spouse There is a circumstance in which the prohibition of speaking Loshon Hora is commonly transgressed. When one comes home from a hard day’s work, it is common to talk to his spouse about how the day went. Indeed, this is a commendable practice, and it is important for shalom bayis (marital harmony). However, it is not permissible to tell Loshon Hora to one’s spouse. Therefore, even if an individual feels very close to h...
Baltimore, MD – July 6, 2020 - It is with sadness that BaltimoreJewishLife.com informs the community of the petira of Dr. Gershon Ney, Z’L, husband of Sara (Meth) Ney,  father of Boruch Ney, Moishey Ney, Zvi Ney, Uri Ney, Atara (Berel) Steinerman,  Avi Ney,  and Tikvah Ney, and brother of Carol (Shmuel) Federman. Levayah on Tuesday at 10AM at Schwartz Brothers, 114-03 Queens Blvd Queens, NY, 11375 - Maximum of 75 people allowed in (25% capacity).  Masks are required Shiva visitation by phone 718.793.8719Shiva by phone to Mrs. Carol Federman Cell-732.979.5800 Home-732.777.1059 PLEASE NOTE: Boruch Ney (848.223.2208) & Moishey Ney (848.373.6062) will sit on Sunday & Monday at 6 Maine Place, Jackson, NJ, 08527. [Corner of Maine and California: enter "...
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