Baltimore, MD - Feb. 26, 2021 - 10:30AM -   Community warning! The construction worker on the corner of Willow Glen and Pimlico is a real construction worker and not in an Ahavas Yisrael toll booth. Please do not give him money.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An explosion struck an Israeli-owned cargo ship sailing out of the Middle East on Friday, an unexplained blast renewing concerns about ship security amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The crew and vessel were safe, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which is run by the British navy. The explosion forced the vessel to head to the nearest port. The site of the blast, the Gulf of Oman, saw a series of explosions in 2019 that the U.S. Navy blamed on Iran against the backdrop of steeply rising threats between former President Donald Trump and Iranian leaders. Tehran denied the accusations, which came after Trump abandoned Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and reimposed harsh sanctions on the cou...
We have the incredible fortune afforded to us by God to have a vaccine, but many of us still contemplate the move despite the fact that Halacha mandates we inoculate against the virus. During my visits to coronavirus wards at hospitals across the country, I encountered a most worrying statistic. All of the hospitalized were relatively young people that had not been vaccinated. A few minutes after one such visit, I learned that a childhood friend of mine, a healthy individual with no pre-existing conditions, had died. That morning, he had found it difficult to breathe, and by 5:00 p.m., he headed downstairs to the ambulance waiting to take him to the hospital. By 2:00 a.m. the next morning, he was gone. These visits and this news have led me to call on all of you to get vaccinated. W...
It is the night of Purim, as I sit down to share my weekly thoughts. My mind wanders to exactly a year ago, when the seeds of fear for the dreaded pandemic were first sown. We withheld somewhat from any direct contact with one another, but more or less Purim was celebrated similar enough to what would be considered a normal Purim. A year later, many of us have lost those we shared so many glorious Purims together over our lifetimes. Whether a beloved parent, a spouse, a cherished Rebbe, or a dear friend who are now just memories of happier times. Our lives have been disrupted in a way never experienced before. Illness, death, and financial struggle are part of the cycle of challenge we endure during our lives, but the unchartered territory of an unknown and unpredictable enemy, an...
Jerusalem, Israel - Feb. 26, 2021 - A special megillah reading Thursday night, February 25, 2021, originated at the Aish HaTorah Yeshiva in the Old City, opposite the Kossel, in Yerushalayim, and was done by Rabbi David Rosman.  After a request from Army Chaplain Rabbi David Becker, Aish Global is live-streaming Megillah readings via Zoom to US Troops in Kuwait.  Rabbi Rosman, Director of the Aish HaTorah Yeshiva commented: “The Rabbis teach us that the point that triggered the miracle of Purim was the moment the Jews of Persia united as one to fight our enemies. What an amazing opportunity it is to join together in our yeshiva at the Kotel, in the Old City of Jerusalem, with Jews so far away that we have never met. What unites us is our commitment to Judaism, and we are ...
Al-Qaeda are set to become as dangerous as they were during the 9/11 attacks twenty years ago, an expert has claimed. The terror cult has gained a ruthless new leader dubbed “the Sword of Revenge” – sparking fears of fresh attacks in the West. Saif al-Adel, from Egypt, is thought to be the new chief of the terror group, and has set about recruiting hordes of ISIS fighters. 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 ex-military general has been called a “brilliant and ruthless” strategist, and is expected to take over from Ayman Zawahari. A senior British terrorism e...
Jerusalem is currently in talks with the kingdoms of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates in establishing a four-nation defense alliance, according to an exclusive i24NEWS report. While Jerusalem does not have official diplomatic relations with Riyadh, foreign media report that the two countries have long-standing clandestine ties. 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 However, the UAE and Bahrain, signed a historic normalization deal with Israel in September 2020 known as the US-brokered Abraham Accords. The reported defense alliance talks likely come in response ...
Extremists could be planning yet another attack on the U.S. Capitol — this time targeting President Joe Biden’s first official address to Congress, the acting U.S. Capitol Police chief said Thursday, NBC News reported. At a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, acting Chief Yogananda Pittman said Capitol Police are planning to keep an enhanced level of security at least through Biden’s address to a joint session of Congress expected sometime after Congress passes a COVID-19 relief package, NBC News reported. 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 ...
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Thursday distanced President Biden from his past assessment that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is the “gold standard” of COVID-19 management — and she said allegations of harassment against the New York Democrat should be investigated. 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 Psaki said it was important to recall that Biden said positive things about many local leaders early in the pandemic last year — offering a distinct non-vote of confidence in Cuomo, who faces dual scandals relating to a coverup of COVID-19 nursing home deaths and har...
More than two-thirds of Republicans say the 2020 presidential election was invalid, according to a new survey. The poll from the R Street Institute, a free markets group, found that 67 percent of Republicans view the past election as invalid, compared to 23 percent who believe it was valid. 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 About half of all Republicans said they believe their votes were counted, while 42 percent said the system is corrupt and that their vote “probably doesn’t get counted anyway.” “President Trump’s rhetoric seems to have had a profound impact o...
The Weekly Shtikle is dedicated le'iluy nishmas my Oma, Chaya Sara bas Zecharia Chaim, a"h. This week's shtikle is dedicated for a refuah sheleimah for my father. Please include Reuven Pinchas ben Yehudis in your tefillos. As we have discussed on a number of occasions, the juxtaposition of certain parshios to certain events in the calendar is no coincidence and there is often an underlying message to be found. In almost every non-leap year, the Shabbos before Purim, Shabbas Zachor, falls out on parshas Tetzaveh. In anomalous years such as this, it falls out on Terumah, with Purim itself running right up against Tetzaveh (or on it, for Shushan Purim.) There must be a connection between these parshios and Purim. As we know, HaShem's name ...
The White House said Thursday that President Biden is “disappointed” that the Senate parliamentarian ruled a minimum wage increase could not be included in a coronavirus relief bill, but said the president would respect the decision. “President Biden is disappointed in this outcome, as he proposed having the $15 minimum wage as part of the American Rescue Plan. He respects the parliamentarian’s decision and the Senate’s process,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement released Thursday night. 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 ...
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who just weeks ago excoriated former President Trump on the Senate floor, blaming him for the riot at the Capitol, on Thursday said he would back Trump if he wins the party's 2024 presidential nomination. "There's a lot to happen between now and '24. I've got at least four members that I think are planning on running for president. ... Should be a wide open race," McConnell said during an interview with Fox News's Bret Baier. Asked if he would support Trump if he wins the party's nomination in 2024, McConnell added: "The nominee of the party? Absolutely." The statement represents a remarkable about-face for McConnell, who after the impeachment trial had signaled he wanted his party to turn ...
The Senate parliamentarian on Thursday ruled against including a boost to the minimum wage in a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill, arguing that it runs afoul of budget rules.  The decision from the parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, is a significant blow to progressives, who viewed the plan to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour as one of their top priorities in the massive coronavirus relief plan. Because Democrats are trying to pass the coronavirus bill through reconciliation — a fast-track process that lets them bypass the 60-vote legislative filibuster — every provision has to comply with arcane budget rules.   Join BJL on WhatsApp Status: Click here to Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals, levayos, events & more Join...
The U.S. military hit facilities used by Iran-backed militants in eastern Syria on Thursday in retaliation for recent rocket attacks in Iraq targeting U.S. interests, the first known military action ordered by President Biden. “At President Biden’s direction, U.S. military forces earlier this evening conducted airstrikes against infrastructure utilized by Iranian-backed militant groups in eastern Syria,” Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said in a statement. 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 “These strikes were authorized in response to recent attacks against Am...
Legend has it that Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, z’’l had a special custom when it came to receiving Mishloach Manot gifts on Purim. He would taste from the items no matter what the “hechsher” (as long as there was one). Why would someone who was usually very personally stringent take such a different attitude when it came to Purim gifts? To understand this let us take a look at the essence of Purim. At the heart of the story of Purim is the evil decree, proposed by Haman, enacted by Achashverosh, and overturned through a miraculous series of events. What terrible thing could the Jews have done to receive potential annihilation, G-d forbid? According to many, the collective guilt lies in the exposure to the “zuhama (pollution)” that came from the Jews...
Baltimore, MD – Feb. 23, 2021 - It is with regret that BaltimoreJewishLife.com informs the community of the petira of Mr. David Ference, z’l, father of Scott Ference. Shiva will be observed from Motzaei Shabbos through Thursday morning:  443 604 7401.  Bila HaMaves LaNetzach…
Baltimore, MD - Feb. 25, 2020 – A year ago shortly after the publication of the Sefer Toras Michoel al HaTorah – Chelek Braishis, the main person responsible for its production and publication, Rabbi Benzion Bergman received a phone call.  In an emotional, tearful voice, the caller declared: "Bergman?  This is George _________. I don't know how to thank you for giving me the zchus to help in the financing of this sefer.  I gave it out to several of my Rabonnim, and they got back to me saying, 'What an unbelievable sefer!' and how I was privileged to help produce it.  Now, I want to know how long it will take to produce Shmos and how much will it cost?"  After being taken aback with this unexpected compliment, Rabbi Bergman respo...
Defense Minister Benny Gantz on Thursday called for an immediate halt in plans to ship surplus coronavirus vaccines in Israel to various countries, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of acting without oversight or transparency. In a letter to the premier, Gantz said the decision to share vaccines was made without “discussions in the relevant forums.” He also questioned Netanyahu’s claim that Israel has surplus vaccines to give away. 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 “We are talking about a significant diplomatic and security decision, and in accordance with tha...
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