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November 20, 2020 at 10:34 am
Pfizer and partner BioNTech confirmed they will seek approval from the Food and Drug Administration on Friday for emergency usage of their new COVID-19 vaccine, a major step forward in a fight against a pandemic that has killed more people in the U.S. than any other nation.
"Hope and help are on the way," Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, a point person in the Trump administration's push to develop a safeguard against the disease, said the night before.
“Our work to deliver a safe and effective vaccine has never been more urgent, as we continue to see an alarming rise in the number of cases of COVID-19 globally," Dr. Albert Bourla, Pfizer Chairman and CEO, said in a statement.
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November 20, 2020 at 10:23 am
Two of Israel's largest mall holding companies announce will open businesses, supervise social distancing
Some malls opened their gates Friday in direct contrast to Israel’s Health Ministry’s instructions in light of the coronavirus pandemic, Hebrew media reported.
The malls decided to defy the government’s orders following its approval to reopen commercial centers, but not closed shopping centers.
Azrieli Groups and Ofer Malls announced they will resume business today in Ayalon Mall, Hakrayon, Grand Mall Beersheba, the Great Mall in Petach Tikva and Modi’in Mall, according to outlet Walla News. Read more at i24
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November 20, 2020 at 10:19 am
Health officials around the world are clashing over the use of certain drugs for COVID-19, leading to different treatment options for patients depending on where they live.
On Friday, a World Health Organization guidelines panel advised against using the antiviral remdesivir for hospitalized patients, saying there’s no evidence it improves survival or avoids the need for breathing machines.
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But in the U.S. and many other countries, the drug has been the standard of care since a major, government-led study found other benefits — it shortened recove...
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November 20, 2020 at 10:02 am
Steven Mnuchin asked the Fed to return the unused $455B given to it under the CARES Act
Stock futures were mixed Friday after the U.S. Treasury moved to end some coronavirus pandemic lending programs given to the Federal Reserve that the central bank considered "essential."
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Dow futures were off 61 points, a decline of 0.2%, but up from the lows of the session. The S&P 500 was off 0.1%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rose by a similar amount.
After the close of trading Thursday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin wrote&nbs...
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November 20, 2020 at 9:56 am
Within these last two weeks, Maryland has continued to break its own coronavirus records, and not in a good way.
On Thursday, Maryland broke its previous record for the highest number of coronavirus cases. Maryland recorded 2,910 additional cases Thursday, bringing the overall total to174,733 confirmed coronavirus cases.
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Thursday also showed that hospitalizations remained over 1,000 for a second consecutive day, and that the positivity rate increased to 7.19%. Read more at WBAL
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November 20, 2020 at 9:42 am
In recent days, rabbis around the world conducted special healing prayer services on behalf of Ukrainian President Volodymyr (Vladimir) Zelensky, and sent written wishes for a swift recovery to his office. Israel’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, sent a special video greeting on Sunday to the Ukrainian president, who is Jewish.
"I bless the president and pray that he will get out of his sickbed and return to lead his country,” said Rabbi Yosef. “Judaism teaches 'beloved is man who is created in His image.' Every person is beloved and should be respected – no matter who he is – because he is a person who needs to be cared for. The president who sanctifies God’s name in practice, in grace and mercy in Ukraine, therefore deserves...
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November 20, 2020 at 9:00 am
Parshas Toldos presents us with one of the most difficult to understand and troubling narratives in the Torah. Yitzchak, Kadosh Lashem, was bound on a Mizbeach for a Korban. His Tmimos was so complete that he was not permitted to ever leave Eretz Yisroel. And Rivka Imeinu: Rivka, who grew up in a house of cunning, without any Torah, to nevertheless raise herself to the status of Sarah and be Zoche for Sarah’s nissim to return in her honor. Two perfect people produce Yaakov Avinu. But how is it possible that these same two Tzaddikim produced Yaakov’s twin, Eisav Harasha? Was there something improper in the manner in which Yitzchak and Rivka brought up Eisav? Was Eisav’s Chinuch defective in some way?
A little over 25 years ago, I ...
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November 19, 2020 at 11:07 pm
Today, 3 Kisleiv, marked the 20th yahrtzeit of my rebbe and Rosh HaYeshivah of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel, Harav Yaakov Moshe Kulefsky, zt"l. Just in time, Artscroll has released a brand new biography written by Baltimore's own Rabbi Yechiel Spero. This week's shtikle is dedicated le'iluy nishmaso, Yaakov Moshe ben Refael Nissan Shlomo.
Rashi (27:1) details a discussion in the midrashim as to why Yitzchak's vision was impaired. First, he quotes the Midrash Tanchuma that it was caused by the smoke from the incense that Eisav's wives would burn for idol worship. The second suggestion, from Midrash Rabba, is that the angels were crying at the akeidah and their tears fell in his eyes. Rashi's third and final explanation is that Yitzchak became blind so that Yaakov...
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November 19, 2020 at 9:41 pm
About 12 million Americans will lose unemployment benefits in December when CARES Act provisions lapse, absent an extension, according to a new analysis.
Unemployment benefits will terminate for more than half of current recipients at the end of the year, coinciding with a lapse in federal protections for renters and a resumption in student loan payments.
That intersection may spell financial catastrophe for jobless workers without action from Congress or the White House, according to economists.
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Meanwhile, Americans had already been reporting higher levels ...
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November 19, 2020 at 9:31 pm
[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.
When Rivka passed places of idol worship, she felt the fetuses inside of her pushing to get out. Rivka was very perturbed, and exclaimed, ‘if so, why is this I’ [or ‘why is this my I’]. What does this m...
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November 19, 2020 at 9:27 pm
US Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday offered an upbeat assessment on the coronavirus pandemic in the US.
In a briefing of the coronavirus task force, Pence said America “has never been more prepared to combat this virus than we are today.”
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He added that the Trump administration does not support another lockdown or school closures to stem the spread of the virus.
“I’ll say again, no national shutdown. No national shutdown, because every region, every area, every community can be different,” the Vice President said.
Earlier, ...
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November 19, 2020 at 9:24 pm
Three Jewish groups in Canada express disappointment after government votes in favor of UN resolution on Palestinian self-determination.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), B’nai Brith Canada and Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) on Thursday expressed deep disappointment with the Canadian government’s decision to vote in favor of a UN General Assembly resolution that affirms Palestinian self-determination, while failing to affirm Jewish self-determination in the indigenous and ancestral homeland of the Jewish people and intentionally erasing historical Jewish connections to Jerusalem.
“In its Explanation of Vote (EOV), Canada detailed the many shortcomings of this resolution, and the unfair targeting of Israel – yet Canada then proceeded t...
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November 19, 2020 at 9:19 pm
ATLANTA (AP) — A top Georgia election official said Thursday that a hand tally of ballots cast in the presidential race has been completed, and that the results affirm Democrat Joe Biden’s narrow lead over Republican President Donald Trump.
The hand tally of about 5 million votes stemmed from an audit required by a new state law and wasn’t in response to any suspected problems with the state’s results or an official recount request. The state has until Friday to certify results that have been certified and submitted by the counties.
The counties were supposed to finish the hand count by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. Gabriel Sterling, who oversaw the implementation of the state’s new voting system, said Thursday evening that the audit was complete. Results were poste...
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November 19, 2020 at 9:17 pm
NEW YORK (VINnews) – A Brooklyn city councilman who has long vowed to put an end to illegal parking on has made good on his word, introducing legislation that will offer cash incentives to those who report the scofflaws.
Streetsblog (https://bit.ly/36SxAjP) reported that City Councilman Stephen Levin introduced legislation on Thursday with Council Speaker Corey Johnson that would allow civilians to reported those who park in bike and bus lanes, crosswalks and on the sidewalk, including police cars and cars with city-issued NYPD placards.
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Violators could...
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November 19, 2020 at 9:15 pm
'Any nation concerned by Iran’s belligerence should, and will, make their case,' al-Zayani cited as saying
Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani urged the presumptive US President-elect Joe Biden to talk with the Gulf states before entering any deals with Iran.
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The point was made in al-Zayani's interview for Axios taken during his historic visit to Jerusalem and published Wednesday.
"The situation in the Middle East has changed in the last four years and the dynamics have changed," the mini...
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November 19, 2020 at 9:09 pm
President-elect Joe Biden is ruling out the possibility of a national lockdown to address the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking to reporters in Wilmington, Delaware, on Thursday, Biden said there will be “no national shutdown” when he’s in office because “every region, every area, every community can be different” and a blanket lockdown would be “counterproductive.”
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Biden has faced questions about whether he’d pursue a nationwide shutdown to try to rein in the virus after one of the members of his coronavirus task ...
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November 19, 2020 at 9:04 pm
Baltimore, MD - Nov. 19, 2020 - LifeBridge Health is proud to announce that one of Maryland’s marquee surgeons, Michael Schultz, M.D., will join the organization in the new year as part of LifeBridge Health’s ongoing efforts to recruit and retain premier physicians from Maryland and beyond.
“To have Dr. Schultz as part of the LifeBridge Health family is great news for our patients and our entire organization,” says Neil Meltzer, president and CEO of LifeBridge Health. “Dr. Schultz is genuinely beloved by his patients and, in more than four decades in practice, has earned a stellar reputation for his medical expertise, surgical skills and compassion.”
Meltzer adds, “This is a homecoming for Dr. Schultz who completed his residency at our Sinai Hosp...
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November 19, 2020 at 9:00 pm
Baltimore, MD – Nov. 17, 2020 - It is with sadness that BaltimoreJewishLife.com informs the community of the petira of Alex Lencz, z’l, father of Nachman Lencz, Monica Kraft and Renee Morris.R' Nachman Lencz, (443 768 1723 ), will be sitting Shiva at 83-28 Talbot Street, Kew Gardens NY, through Thursday evening, and then sitting shiva in his home at 6214 Ivymount Road in Baltimore through Monday morning. Baltimore Minyanim beginnng Friday Shacharis:Shacharis, Friday morning, 7:30 AM
Mincha, Friday afternoon, 1 PM,
Maariv, Motzei Shabbos, 5:30 PM
Shacharis, Sunday morning, 8:15 AM
Mincha/Mariv, Sunday : 4:30 PM Bila HaMaves LaNetzach...
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November 19, 2020 at 8:29 pm
Baltimore, MD, Nov. 19, 2020 — In response to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's announcement that the United States will identify the Anti-Israel boycott movement (BDS) as Anti-Semitic, Rabbi Pesach Lerner, President of the Coalition for Jewish Values, issued the following statement:
The Trump Administration has moved boldly for peace once again, by identifying the Israel boycott as a vehicle for hate and double standards. "BDS" relabels the Arab boycott of 1945 to pretend it's about fairness; the reality is that it's about destroying Israel. Economic warfare against the Jewish community is the oldest trick in the Anti-Semite's playbook, and the Jewish community in particular owes the Administration our enduring thanks.
The Co...
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November 19, 2020 at 8:28 pm
And Sarah died in Kiryat Arba, which is Hebron, in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to eulogize Sarah and to bewail her. And Abraham arose from before his dead, and he spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, “I am a stranger and an inhabitant with you. Give me burial property with you, so that I may bury my dead from before me (Genesis 23:2-4).”
Avraham had lost his beloved life partner. Sarah was by his side from the beginning. Before “Lech Lecha” when Avraham was a spiritual wanderer seeking out truth, Sarah was always there. When God commanded Avraham to leave all he had known, when upon entering Canaan they encountered famine and relocated to Egypt, throughout years of childlessness, all of the ups and downs, Sarah remained a devoted partner to her beloved Avrah...
