A new COVID-19 mutation appears to be even more contagious, according to a study — and experts say it could be a response by the virus to defeat masks and other social-distancing efforts. Scientists in a paper published Wednesday identified a new strain of the virus, which accounted for 99.9 percent of cases during the second wave in the Houston, Texas, area, the Washington Post reported. Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals, levayos, events & more:  https://bit.ly/32HUBnJ Join an official BJL WhatsApp group for breaking news as it happens: https://bit.ly/32wc4iG The paper, which has not been peer-reviewed, said people with the strain, known as the D614G mutation, had higher loads of virus — suggesting it is more contagious. Though the s...
[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. {Note: Shaya did not have any dvar torah on Parshas Haazinu, but here is a beautiful piece from Rabbi Frand. The pasuk [verse] from which we learn the mitzvah to write a Sefer Torah says “And now write for you...
Baltimore, Md - Sept. 24, 2020 - Topic: Rabbi Goldberger Speaks and Sings - Erev Shabbos Shuva  Meeting Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/_P8zAq36mttJgdpwkHvIS6VJZiEjdpkAbF4KJX3ohdl-p3fTnN_E0eCXcRsrY2ys.aAuV21PcULQaTGF3 Access Passcode: 7ZwV6jv!
One week after unveiling a timeline to allow in-person learning in Baltimore County Public Schools, Superintendent Dr. Darryl Williams abandoned the plan Thursday. In a letter sent to teachers and staff Williams said the plan, "will be revised and the return of all school staff will be determined after continued review and collaboration." The county is offering virtual classes until late January, but Gov. Larry Hogan had urged school systems to come up with plans to offer some in-person learning before the end of the calendar year. Williams' plan was due to have teachers and staff return to their school building on Oct. 19, and small groups of special education, pre-school, pre-K and kindergarten students would return by Nov. 13. Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals...
For half a year now, faith leaders in Baltimore and beyond have summoned new reserves of creativity in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. They’ve mastered Zoom and other communications platforms. They’ve held drive-thru confessions, displayed holy objects from trucks, and sanitized prayer rugs and pews. And this weekend, as the holiest day on the Jewish calendar arrives, the Baltimore area’s most strictly observant Jewish community will see changes in practice to fit the requirements of their faith. Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, which begins at sundown Sunday and lasts through Monday evening, calls for fasting, self-reflection, and in ordinary times, formal services in synagogues. Join BJL status for engagements, births, de...
Jerusalem, Israel – Sept. 25, 2020 - It's almost Shabbos, so I will be brief. But whatever you read now will most likely be different in a few moments, minutes or hours, as things have been going. On Erev Rosh Hashana, the government enacted a Seger or lockdown. It limited the number of people in shuls, set rules for where you can and can't go, and caused many businesses to close. Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals, levayos, events & more:  https://bit.ly/32HUBnJ Join an official BJL WhatsApp group for breaking news as it happens: https://bit.ly/32wc4iG Following Rosh Hashana, with the numbers of COVID-19 cases skyrocketing (in fact, over 8,000 people have now been tested positive in the last 24 hours) the "Corona Cabinet" met and pushed all the p...
Jerusalem, Israel - Sept. 25, 2020 - On September 25, 2020, less than two hours before the Israeli countrywide lockdown was to go into effect at 2:00 pm erev Shabbos Haazinu through Simchas Torah, a convoy with dozens of cars arrived in Jerusalem, Israel. With their car horns blasting, noisily, protesters, some with black flags, others with Israeli flags in their car windows, proceeded loudly toward the Prime MInister's Residence.   Video:Protesters drive noisily into Jerusalem before lockdown There are more protests planned for an hour before Shabbos ends at major intersections throughout Israel. The numbers of attendees and other stricter regulations were announced late Thursday night. More and more people and families are in isolation, the numbers hav...
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Ballots are now being mailed to voters in Maryland, the state elections board announced Thursday. The board says almost 800,000 ballot packets will be shipped to voters over a five-day period — starting Thursday. Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals, levayos, events & more:  https://bit.ly/32HUBnJ Join an official BJL WhatsApp group for breaking news as it happens: https://bit.ly/32wc4iG The board also says it’s expediting the delivery process by entering them directly into the local mail stream as first-class mail. The first set of emails to domestic voters who requested a ballot by email were also sent Thursday. Ballots were mailed to military and overseas voters who requested ballots by mail last week, the board said. Th...
At 2 PM on Friday, September 25, Israel is set to ratchet up the current lockdown. At this hour, the Knesset is debating the details of this arrangement. It was reported on Wednesday, September 23 that the Corona cabinet debated the idea of shuttering Ben Gurion airport. This potential move sent some community members into a frenzy, as many had travel scheduled for the Sukkos holiday period. Dozens of calls poured into Chaim V’Chessed headquarters, seeking clarification on the possible ramifications on their travel plans. Others beseeched our representatives to lobby for an arrangement which would allow flights to depart. Still other callers were scheduled to travel to Israel in coming days, for a host of reasons, including Simcha travels. Join BJL status for engagement...
From the moment Rosh Hashana is done we hit the ground running, initiating the Ten Days of Repentance by fasting, commemorating the tragic death of Gedaliah ben Achikam.  Although this fast day is observed during this time due to it having occurred historically in this period, there seems to be a more integral connection to these days of repentance.  The Pesikta teaches us that from the 17th of Tammuz there is a sequence of Haftoros read, ‘Three of Punishment, Seven of Consolation, and Two of Repentance’.  The Bais Yosef says the first one of Repentance is the Haftora we read on Tzom Gedaliah, Dirshu Hashem B’Himatzo... The second is that of Shuva Yisrael ad Hashem... which we read on Shabbos Shuva.  The reading of Dirshu and its summons to ‘...
HaAzinu marks the final time in the Torah where Hashem foretells the future generations of Klal Yisroel after they enter Eretz Yisroel.  Indeed, some M’phorshim understand that HaAzinu contains detailed allusions to everything that will happen to the Jewish people.  After predicting that there would be many years of peace and plenty, the Torah warns that B’nei Yisroel will become “fat”. (HaAzinu 32:15) Inevitably, we would then enjoy our blessings and forget from where they come.  Hashem then describes the calamities which would befall us as a result of our transgressions. (32:22-26). Curiously, the Torah then tells us that Hashem will temper his wrath, so that our enemies do not question the existence and presence of Hashem.  (32:27) This same ...
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents tasked by fired former Director James Comey to take down Donald Trump during and after the 2016 election were so concerned about the agency’s potentially illegal behavior that they purchased liability insurance to protect themselves less than two weeks before Trump was inaugurated president, previously hidden FBI text messages show. The explosive new communications and internal FBI notes were disclosed in federal court filings today from Sidney Powell, the attorney who heads Michael Flynn’s legal defense team. “[W]e all went and purchased professional liability insurance,” one agent texted on Jan. 10, 2017, the same day CNN leaked details that then-President-elect Trump had been briefed by Comey about...
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 24, 2020 - Hatzalah has received numerous requests about setting up IV lines before Yom Kippur or during Yom Kippur for those having difficulty with fasting. This is not the correct approach one should have. If you have any question about your ability to fast, please consult your Rov. Of course if an emergency develops on Yom Kippur Ch"V Hatzalah will be available to respond. Wishing everyone a Gmar Chasima Tova.  
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 24, 2020 -The following was sent to TI parents this evening: Dear Parents, As our Elul zman comes to a close, we must reflect on the tremendous chesed that HKB"H has bestowed upon us by allowing us to bring the children back to Cheder to learn in a safe environment. We are mispalel that the powerful Kol Torah and beautiful sounds of Tefila that once again emanate from our Cheder will pierce the heavens and bring all of Klal Yisroel's tefilos for a wonderful new year right to the Kisei HaKovod. With Succos approaching, we must plan ahead in order to properly prepare for a safe return to Cheder after Yom Tov. Zman Simchaseinu is a time to enjoy Yom Tov with family, and we each look forward to an uplifting and joyous Yom Tov. Obviously, traveling to or hosting r...
BOGOTA (VINnews) — A young Jewish man was driving down a road in Colombia when he spied to his astonishment what looked like a totally red heifer, one which could be used to perform the halachic requirements of purification. Stopping his journey, the man, who learns in a kollel in Colombia, decided to call in halachic authorities as well as members of the Temple Institute which specializes in the halachos pertaining to purity and the requirements for performing ritual activities in the Temple. The rabbis who saw the red heifer concurred that it indeed conforms with halachic requirements and as long as it does not grow black or white hairs could be used as a bona fide red heifer. Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals, levayos, events & more:  https://bit.ly/32HUBnJ ...
TEL AVIV (VINnews) — Dr. Or Goren, a member of the anasthesia staff at the ICU in Ichilov hospital, Tel Aviv, shared a shocking Facebook post in which he describes his feelings of dread in the wake of COVID-19 and implores people to obey Health Ministry regulations. Goren writes: Yom Kippur is approaching and I'm worried The prayer on Yom Kippur is a consensus and especially in such a difficult time - we all need it. But mass prayer can have a devastating meaning. First, I will introduce myself. My name is Or, I am a doctor in the anesthesia and intensive care formation in Ichilov and one of those responsible for the staging and treatment of the Corona Array. In the last period we have been swamped. Really flooded. Very difficult patients. Young people too...
People experienced outages of services like Gmail, YouTube and Google Meet. Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals, levayos, events & more:  https://bit.ly/32HUBnJ Join an official BJL WhatsApp group for breaking news as it happens: https://bit.ly/32wc4iG OAKLAND, Calif. — Google users experienced a widespread service disruption on Thursday evening, including the company’s email, YouTube and Google documents services. The outages seemed to be focused around the eastern coast of the United States, according to Downdetector, a website that tracks internet disruptions. The Downdetector heat maps for Gmail, YouTube, Google Drive and other Google services showed a significant number of people having trouble accessing those websites. In addition, the outages...
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 24, 2020 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Solomon And Esther Heiligman on the birth of a daughter. Mazel Tov grandparents Drs. Mark and Sondra Heiligman יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בתם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן
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