Baltimore, MD - Jan. 15,  2021 – BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to this week’s  Baltimore Bar Mitzvah Bochurim and their mishpachos: Binyamin BernsteinYakov Brockmeyer Eli Elefant Isaac Grunhaus   If you know of any bochurim not mentioned above for this week, pls send details here
The Internal Revenue Service announced Friday that the nation's 2020 tax filing season will begin in February, a few weeks later than last year's January open.  However, its Free File program is now open Join BJL on WhatsApp Status: Click here to Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals, levayos, events & more Join BJL on WhatsApp Groups: Click here to Join an official BJL WhatsApp group for breaking news as it happens The federal agency, which wants to make sure there are no issues for taxpayers, will begin accepting and processing 2020 tax year returns on Feb. 12. The extra weeks will give the IRS more time "to do additional programming and testing of IRS systems after tax law changes that provided a second round of Economic Impact ...
Maryland will move to Phase 1B of the state's COVID-19 vaccination plan beginning Monday, Gov. Larry Hogan announced. Hogan said the state is entering the most challenging phase of the pandemic, and that getting vaccinated is critical to preventing more illnesses and more deaths. "Getting vaccinated is the single most important thing that you can do right now to save lives and to protect your friends and your family and your community," Hogan said. "By getting this effective and safe vaccine, all of us can play an important part in returning to normal, ending the damage to our economy, preventing more deaths, illnesses in our state and eliminating and eradicating this pandemic once and for all." "(I) urge all Marylanders who are currently eligible to receive the vaccine to do so,...
TEANECK, New Jersey — In a Jan. 14th letter to New Jersey’s commissioners of health and education, the OU’s Teach NJ called on the state to re-prioritize educators in its COVID-19 vaccination distribution. Teach NJ is a nonpartisan organization advocating on behalf of New Jersey nonpublic schools. Yesterday the state expanded access to the vaccine for vast groups of individuals. Anyone over the age of 65 and those with underlying health conditions – including an estimated 2 million smokers statewide – are able to get vaccinated now. Educators were not included in this expansion and are still waiting to gain access. The letter represents thousands of education professionals who qualify under the 1B classification. “In-person instruction is critical for...
Former ambassador to the UN and governor of South Carolina forms political action committee, ahead of possible 2024 presidential bid. Former South Carolina Governor and US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has established a political action committee (PAC), fueling speculation she could be laying the foundation for a presidential bid in 2024. Join BJL on WhatsApp Status: Click here to Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals, levayos, events & more Join BJL on WhatsApp Groups: Click here to Join an official BJL WhatsApp group for breaking news as it happens Haley announced the formation of the PAC, named Stand for America, in an email to supporters Wednesday. The newly-formed PAC will be “laser-focused on the 2022 midterms and electing a conservative for...
Businessman, philanthropist, and Republican megadonor Sheldon Adelson brought to Mount of Olives cemetery in Jerusalem to be laid to rest. The funeral service for American Jewish businessman and philanthropist Sheldon Adelson was held in Jerusalem Friday afternoon, at a private service on the Mount of Olives. The service is closed to the media, with only family present. Adelson's remains arrived in Israel Thursday evening. His coffin was flown on his private plane from Los Angeles. Join BJL on WhatsApp Status: Click here to Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals, levayos, events & more Join BJL on WhatsApp Groups: Click here to Join an official BJL WhatsApp group for breaking news as it happens Friends and family came to the airport to greet Adelson's rem...
The Torah seems to arbitrarily inform us that Moshe and Aharon were eighty, and eighty-three years old, respectively, when they first spoke to Pharaoh. What is the significance of this piece of information? The great statesman and scholar Don Issac Abravenel suggests it comes to teach us that ‘it is not fitting to approach the portals of government with serious matters, the young ones whose blood boils with passion, but rather the dignified elderly who have acquired much wisdom and are more appropriate for this divine mission.’ A timely message indeed. The Baal HaTurim, though, uncovers something more intriguing about this detail. When Yosef informed his brothers of his impending death, he assured them that G-d, פקד יפקד — will surely remember you and bring you...
U.S. equity markets were mixed Friday morning after details of President-elect Joe Biden’s proposed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package underwhelmed investors and the big banks kicked off earnings season. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was trading lower by 181 points, or 0.59%, while the S&P 500 was weaker by 0.25% and the Nasdaq Composite was up 0.17%. Biden’s proposed package includes a $1,400 check to individuals and provides a temporary boost in unemployment benefits while also providing funding for the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, among other things.                        Join BJL on WhatsApp Status: Click here to J...
President Trump on Thursday moved to freeze $27.4 billion worth of government programs in the last week of his presidency using a budget maneuver called rescission. Under the 1974 Budget and Impoundment Control Act, the president can request that Congress rescind, or wind back budget authority over certain programs. While Congress considers the request, the programs can be frozen for up to 45 days, at which point the request expires if Congress does not act. Join BJL on WhatsApp Status: Click here to Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals, levayos, events & more Join BJL on WhatsApp Groups: Click here to Join an official BJL WhatsApp group for breaking news as it happens In a letter to congressional leadership, Trump specifically requested 73 cutbacks ...
FBI Director Chris Wray said Thursday that the bureau is seeing "an extensive amount of concerning online chatter" about events with the potential for violence surrounding next week's inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. "Right now, we’re tracking calls for potential armed protests and activity leading up to the inauguration," Wray said at a briefing with Vice President Pence at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) headquarters in Washington, D.C. Join BJL on WhatsApp Status: Click here to Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals, levayos, events & more Join BJL on WhatsApp Groups: Click here to Join an official BJL WhatsApp group for breaking news as it happens "And the reason I use the word potential is because one of the real challeng...
DOJ claims the rioter 'QAnon shaman' demonstrated intent to 'capture and assassinate' elected officials US prosecutors now believe supporters of President Donald Trump planned to "capture and assassinate elected officials" in their siege of the Capitol building last week, according to a new court filing. The filing, submitted by Justice Department lawyers late Thursday, sought the detention of Jacob Chansley of Arizona, the QAnon conspiracy theorist who stormed the Capitol dressed as a horned shaman. Join BJL on WhatsApp Status: Click here to Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals, levayos, events & more Join BJL on WhatsApp Groups: Click here to Join an official BJL WhatsApp group for breaking news as it happens "Strong evidence, including Chansley...
After bipartisan legislation, unanimously passed by Congress, stalled in the Senate Two US congressmen on Thursday re-introduced the Palestinian International Terrorism Support Prevention Act, a motion imposing sanctions on persons, agencies and governments that financially assist Palestinian terror groups Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, or their proxies and affiliates. The bill's co-sponsors were New Jersey Democratic House representative Josh Gottheimer and Florida Republican Brian Mast. Join BJL on WhatsApp Status: Click here to Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals, levayos, events & more Join BJL on WhatsApp Groups: Click here to Join an official BJL WhatsApp group for breaking news as it happens The bipartisan motion, also known as House Resolution 1850, ...
Death toll, now at 3,869, rises by 43 Israel added 9,172 new COVID-19 coronavirus infections on Thursday, the Health Ministry reported Friday morning. This is the fourth consecutive day that sees the morbidity rate rise by over 9,000; overall, this has been Israel's toughest week since the start of the pandemic, with 57,790 new cases.   Out of the 123,081 tests conducted in the past 24 hours, 7.6 percent returned positive, the ministry said. Join BJL on WhatsApp Status: Click here to Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals, levayos, events & more Join BJL on WhatsApp Groups: Click here to Join an official BJL WhatsApp group for breaking news as it happens The latest update puts the death toll in Israel at 3,869 -- an increase of 43 fatalities agains...
Education system teachers and staff to start receiving the jab next week Two million people in Israel have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, as the country continues to lead the world in vaccinations per capita, Hebrew media reported on Thursday. According to Health Ministry data, some 110,000 have received the second jab as well. Join BJL on WhatsApp Status: Click here to Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals, levayos, events & more Join BJL on WhatsApp Groups: Click here to Join an official BJL WhatsApp group for breaking news as it happens Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Maccabi Health Services vaccination facility in Ramla to meet the two millionth recipient. “We will still need to wear masks, but we can see the lig...
Maryland is opening COVID-19 vaccines to more people in the next two weeks. However, it will take many more weeks for the vaccine to be available to the average resident. Effective Monday, Maryland will enter Phase 1B of its vaccine distribution plan. Anyone 75 and older will be able to get the vaccine, as will anyone in assisted living or group home settings. The vaccine will also be made available to teachers, school staff and child care providers. Join BJL on WhatsApp Status: Click here to Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals, levayos, events & more Join BJL on WhatsApp Groups: Click here to Join an official BJL WhatsApp group for breaking news as it happens The following Monday, Jan. 25, Maryland will enter Phase 1C. That phase includes Marylanders 65 to 74 years ol...
As the Maccos commence, there is a fascinating juxtaposition of words and phrases, relating to Paaroh’s state of mind during the process. Much discussion is devoted to the P’sukim which describe “Hashem hardening the heart of Paaroh”.  How this is consistent with B’chira Chafshi (free will), why was it necessary to prolong the Maccos etc.  While a great deal in the way of deep explanations have been authored by a variety of sources, little analysis, if any, appears to have been offered into how these phrases interplay with Paaroh’s fleeting willingness to acquiesce to the demands of Moshe Rabbeinu and the will of Hashem.  Prior to the first Macca of Daam, the Torah expresses repeatedly that Paaroh had entrenched his heart.  (VaEira 7...
Interpol has issued red notices for the captain and owner of the ship that carried the chemicals which devastated both Beirut’s port and large swathes of the city in an explosion in August, killing 200 people, Lebanon’s state media reported. With a country in turmoil, from the combined effects of serious financial mismanagement, political crises that led to the resignation en-masse of the entire government, sectarian disagreements that continue to make governance difficult, one of the worst Covid-19 outbreaks in the Middle East and the fallout from one of the largest non-nuclear explosions on record, significant questions remain. Join BJL on WhatsApp Status: Click here to Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals, levayos, events & more Join BJL on WhatsApp Gr...
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