Emails reportedly suggest a possibly closer relationship between Hunter Biden and a Washington, D.C. firm under federal investigation for allegedly illegally lobbying on behalf of the Ukrainian company that counted Biden as a board member. The emails from 2014 and 2015 bring into question sworn statements given to Congress by the Washington firm Blue Star Strategies co-founder and CEO Karen Tramontano, the Daily Mail reports. Blue Star was drawn into the political firestorm around Hunter Biden’s involvement with Burisma in 2019 when it emerged it hired the lobbyist to improve the image of Mykola Zlochevsky, who’s been accused of corruption in Ukraine. According to Politico, the Department of Justice is investigating Blue Star for allegedly failing to file...
Taliban fighters took control of a key district in Afghanistan’s northern Kunduz province Monday and encircled the provincial capital, police said, as the insurgent group added to its string of recent victories on the battlefield. Fighting around Imam Sahib district began late Sunday and by mid-day Monday the Taliban had overrun the district headquarters and were in control of police headquarters, said Inamuddin Rahmani, provincial police spokesman said. Taliban militants were within a kilometer (mile) of Kunduz, the provincial capital but had not entered into the city, he said, although there were reports of small bands of Taliban near the outskirts and residents trying to leave for Kabul. Dozens of districts have fallen to the Taliban since May 1, when U.S. and NATO troops began...
The No. 3 Senate Republican, John Barrasso of Wyoming, told a group of voters that he wants to make President Joe Biden a “one-half-term president.” “Mitch McConnell’s come under a lot of criticism for saying, at one point, he wanted to make sure that Barack Obama was a one-term president,” Barrasso said last Thursday at an event hosted by the Ripon Society, a centrist Republican think tank, which posted the remarks Tuesday. “I want to make Joe Biden a one-half-term president. And I want to do that by making sure they no longer have House, Senate, White House,” he said. McConnell, R-Ky., the Senate minority leader, has vowed to block Biden's agenda and sharply criticized the administration's policies. McConnell said last month tha...
Wednesday marks another COVID-19 feat for Maryland as Gov. Larry Hogan announced that the state's COVID-19 case rate has dropped below 1 per 100K, putting the state in the federal "green zone" category for cases.  Maryland is one of only three states nationwide reporting case rates under 1 per 100K—the other two are Vermont and South Dakota.  The statewide case rate is 0.99, and overall, half of the state’s jurisdictions are reporting case rates in the green zone. Official data by jurisdiction is available at coronavirus.maryland.gov. Maryland is now reporting 6,671,766 COVID-19 vaccinations with 73.2% of adults with at least one dose. While President Joe Biden set a national goal of vaccinating 70% of adults by the Fourth of Jul...
A pedestrian bridge collapsed Wednesday onto DC-295 in Northeast Washington, trapping a truck that started leaking diesel fuel and leaving at least six people injured, WBAL-TV's sister station, WRC, reported. The bridge collapsed near Kenilworth Avenue. Firefighters checked for cars underneath the collapsed bridge and reported no one was trapped. Four people were taken to a hospital and two others were assessed, according to D.C. Fire and EMS. WRC reported at least two vehicles appeared to be under the fallen bridge below a large sign for the Benning Road exit. It was not immediately known what may have caused the collapse or whether anyone was walking on the bridge at the time.
Vice President Kamala Harris is set to visit the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday, the White House confirmed, amid mounting criticism from Republicans for not yet doing so, following her appointment by President Biden to handle the "root causes" of migration.  Harris is set to visit El Paso, Texas, with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Harris has come under heavy criticism from Republicans and some Democrats for the way she has handled the role since being appointed to it 91 days ago. While the White House has emphasized she is tasked with the "root causes" of the border crisis, Republicans have criticized her repeatedly for not having visited the border at all – with former Trump officials saying she needs to go to the border in order ...
Picture the unfolding scene – as the forty-year sojourn in the Wilderness is ending and the Promised Land is within reach, the Israelites have already defeated two kings and now Balak, King of the Moab, is fully awakened to their might.  In fear, he sends Bilaam, the sorcerer, to curse the Jews.  Stealthily approaching their camp, Bilaam is prepared to do whatever it took to curse and malign the Jewish people…   Chazal teach that deep hatred causes people to lose grasp of their most ‘basic norms of conduct.”  Here, Bilaam, the nations’ prophet, is so filled with hatred that he dispenses his own dignity and saddles his own donkey!  Motivated by his evil emotion, he moves rashly, never considering his donkey might be more perceptive th...
Defendant Previously Convicted of Lying to Federal Agent A Massachusetts man was convicted by a federal jury yesterday in connection with placing a lit firebomb at the entrance of a Longmeadow senior health care facility in April 2020. John Rathbun, 37, of East Longmeadow, was convicted following a week-long trial of one count of attempting to transport or receive explosive devices in interstate or foreign commerce with the knowledge or intent that the device will be used to kill, injure or intimidate any individual or unlawfully to damage or destroy any building, vehicle and one count of attempting to maliciously damage or destroy, by means of fire or an explosive, any building, vehicle or other real or personal property used in interstate or foreign commerce. U.S. Dis...
Senate Democrat leaders are seeking to add dental and vision medical coverage to Medicare. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., tweeted Sunday:
“THERE IS A GAPING HOLE IN MEDICARE THAT LEAVES OUT DENTAL, VISION, AND HEARING COVERAGE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I’M WORKING WITH @SENSANDERS TO PUSH TO INCLUDE DENTAL, VISION, AND HEARING MEDICARE COVERAGE IN THE AMERICAN JOBS AND FAMILIES PLANS.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., chairman of the powerful Senate Budget Committee, has noted President Joe Biden’s 2022 budget planned to include the expansion of Medicare for dental and vision coverage. “The budget that President Biden has submitted to Congress constitutes the most significant agenda for working families in the ...
Former President Donald Trump denied that he ever admitted defeat in last year’s presidential election, telling David Brody on Just the News’ “Water Cooler” that if former Vice President Mike Pence had sent disputed election results back to state legislatures for review the nation “might very well have a different president right now.” “No, I never admitted defeat,” Trump said, adding that he has “not conceded.” Last week during an interview with Sean Hannity, Trump said “shockingly, we were supposed to win easily at 64 million votes and we got 75 million votes and we didn’t win, but let’s see what happens on that.” Trump also refused to rule out that he will be reinstated as president this Aug...
Agudath Israel of America has announced its support for the bipartisan Pray Safe Act, introduced by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH). This act, if passed, will help faith-based organizations and houses of worship access information on safety and security best practices, federal grants, and training programs.   “One of the most effective ways of protecting houses of worship and other faith-based institutions is in the gathering of as much information as possible and in learning from the experiences of others,” said Rabbi Abba Cohen, vice president for government affairs and Washington director of Agudath Israel of America.  “With these valuable tools in hand, religious communities can devise plans and strategies that will best utilize e...
In one of his final acts in office, former Interior Minister Aryeh Deri released an ambiguous letter on July 10, promising leniencies in entry to Israel for individual tourists, beginning July 1. This announcement was quickly picked up by media outlets, who trumpeted that, in July, Israel would allow entry to vaccinated individual tourists.  As Chaim V’Chessed reported, the details of these leniencies were never decided upon. The formation of the new Israeli government cast further uncertainty on this matter. Today, due to the recent resurgence of Covid contagion, authorities have decided to shelve this idea. Sources have told Chaim V’Chessed that the proposal to allow entry to individual tourists is now off the table until at least August 1. As of now, ex...
Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said Tuesday that he would like to see more “boots on the ground” and additional funding for his department amid a surge in violent crime in cities across the country.  During an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Harrison noted that Baltimore like other big cities is seeing a spike in violence, with the Maryland city recording 18 homicides in the past 10 days alone. The police chief said this has resulted from a “number of issues,” like gang violence and “retaliation from previous bad acts,” but that the city has seen a particular increase in “close acquaintance shootings and domestic violence shootings.”  Harrison, who said his department is roughly 230 officers...
The much-anticipated reopening of Israel to vaccinated individual tourists on July 1 will be postponed as the country works to contain a coronavirus outbreak that involves the highly infectious Delta variant circulating globally. The government has decided to postpone the reopening of its borders to vaccinated foreign nationals until August, according to Hebrew media reports. Israel had planned to allow vaccinated tourists into the country from July 1. Israel recorded 110 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, a dip from the previous day’s 125. The last time infections stayed above 100 for consecutive days was in April.
Baltimore, MD – June 2021 - Every Shabbos table offers every Jewish family an incredible opportunity by which they can share their joy for Shabbos, for Yiddishkeit and for HaShem with their children. Unfortunately, our schedules are hectic and many people don’t have the time to prepare themselves to utilize the Shabbos table to its fullest. Therefore, we at ACHIM created TableTalk as a pre-packaged talking points pamphlet which is attractive, fun and has something for everyone. Limited copies are distributed to many shuls on a weekly basis but they are snatched up very quickly. Get yours ASAP or click on the graphic below and print your own.What’s in it and what’s all the excitement about?TableTalk features:•    Weekly halachic dilemma creating l...
Baltimore, MD - June 23, 2021 - On Sunday, June 20, some 130 people gathered beneath a tent on its Carla Road property to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new building for Pikesville Jewish Congregation (PJC). Since its founding in 2013, the modern Orthodox synagogue—which currently has 145 member families— had convened for Shabbat services at the small rancher owned by the shul. But as the shul’s popularity grew, the space became uncomfortably tight. Then, in early 2020, pandemic restrictions forced the shul to close. Undeterred, by July 2020, PJC leaders purchased a tent and set up chairs and a mechitza in the shul’s back yard, following coronavirus precautions. Since then, the kehilah has continued to gather outdoors for davening every Shabbat and through the H...
Baltimore, MD - June 22, 2021 - In what can only be described as a true Simchas ha’Torah, this past Sunday the community danced a brand new Sefer Torah from the Life Bridge parking lot on Greene Tree Road to Kesser Torah’s campus at 8400 Park Heights Avenue. As everyone gathered together for this special occasion, there was a general sense that the event not only marked the completion of a Sefer Torah, which was completed over the last six months in Eretz Yisroel, but also welcomed the greater Baltimore community to Kesser Torah’s new campus. The bochurim of the yeshiva danced around their rebbeim, local rabbonim, and members of the Leder family, who generously sponsored the Torah, amidst joyous singing enhanced by “Korn's Hachnosos Sefer Torah Truck&rdq...
Baltimore, MD – June 22, 2021 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Ora Lowenthal and Yoni Novack on their engagement. Mazel Tov Grandparents: Mr. and Mrs. Avraham Hilsenrad and Mrs. Miriam Lowenthal יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן
Baltimore, MD – June 22,  2021 - It is with deep sadness that BaltimoreJewishLife.com informs the community of the petira of  Paul Kalish, Z’L, husband of Joyce Kalish and father of Ben Kalish, Sarah Leipnik, Chaim Kalish and Jonathan Kalish. The Levayah will take place on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 1:00 PM at Beth David Cemetery in Elmont, NY.Levayah Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85372467696?pwd=QVRSeDJiWmh2Ymc0cXJYQWd0OUxOUT09 Meeting ID: 853 7246 7696 Passcode: 808263 Shiva will be observed through Tuesday morning, June 29, at 3017 Temple Gate, Baltimore, MD, 21209The family requests that people who are not vaccinated please wear masks at the shiva house.Shacharis: 7:30 am Mincha/Maariv: 8:25 pm Shiva Hours: 8am to 9pm Lunch Break 12-1pm Dinner Break 6-7p...
Baltimore, MD - June 22, 2021 - If you would have asked the growing Baltimore Jewish community 40 years ago what they thought about Summit Park, they would have responded by saying, “what/where is Summit Park”? Today, Summit Park is a neighborhood quickly growing with Orthodox households forming an amazingly tight knit community.B”H, this tremendous growth has created the need for more infrastructure and that is what led to the birth of Bais Medrash of Summit Park/Bais Dovid (BMSP). BMSP started  out with a simple Friday night minyan, and is now bursting at the seams with close to 30 people every Shabbos. This hartzig makom tefillah is the place to be for all new families moving into the Summit Park area, and beyond. One major development that has fast-tra...
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