Investigators grilled New York Democrat Gov. Andrew Cuomo for 11 hours last month as they look into allegations of misconduct both in the workplace and at the governor’s mansion, according to reports. The interviews under oath were led by former prosecutor Joon Kim, an employment lawyer, and got contentious at times, with Cuomo questioning Kim’s “fairness and independence,” The New York Times reported. The investigation is nearly complete and a report to New York Democrat Attorney General Letitia James is expected in August, sources told The Wall Street Journal. That report will also be reviewed by New York state legislators in their investigations. Cuomo has rebuked the political attack as he potentially seeks another term as governor, which ...
Baltimore, MD – Aug. 3,  2021 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Rabbi and Mrs. Yisrael Friedland  on the birth of a daughter. יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בתם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
Washington, DC, Aug. 3, 2021—Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV) took renewed aim at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today, after the ADL announced a partnership with Hillel International, the Jewish college organization, to document antisemitism on American campuses. While such an effort is noble and worthwhile, the ADL, CJV points out, demonstrated that it lacks the moral clarity to properly identify antisemitism, let alone combat it. An ADL spokesperson, describing the new initiative, wrongly claimed that “Anti-Israel activism in and of itself is not antisemitism” and that they would need to “carefully evaluate” student government resolutions supporting BDS, the international Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement that seeks to destroy the State of Isra...
The Chief Rabbinate has declared it will not cooperate with the government’s proposed reforms to the kashrut supervision system, describing them as “dangerous” and “the destruction of kashrut and Judaism in Israel.” Following a meeting of the rabbis of the Council of the Chief Rabbinate on Monday, the organization’s executive arm, the body issued a decision stating that any rabbi utilizing the proposed reforms would violate Jewish law and said it would not accept the dictates of the religious services ministry on the issue.  The decision was signed by head of the council Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef and the 11 other members ofthe council, while Chief Rabbi David Yosef, applauded the decision.  Religious Services Minister Matan Kah...
Volunteer EMT meets with a child burn victim he treated at a community fair two years after he helped the boy survive a terrible accident Geva Binyamin - On Sunday afternoon, the town Adam, otherwise known as Geva Binyamin, held a community day for all residents in the town and surrounding area. United Hatzalah volunteer EMT Meir Mescriz arrived at the community fair in an ambulance with his United Hatzalah vest to help raise awareness of the emergency organization’s activities in the region. That afternoon, Meir got a chance to reunite with a young boy whose life he saved two years ago. In 2019, Meir was in a local shop when his communications device alerted him to a child who had sustained severe third-degree burns on his face and upper body. The EMT quickly dropped what he was d...
The Poskim discuss whether or not it is permissible to stick one’s fingers in the cracks of the stones of the Kosel. We know that the Kosel is a remaining wall of Har Habayis and one may not enter the Har Habayis when one is a zav or baal keri. The question is based on the Rambam in Hilchos Bais Hamikdash 3:18 that discusses whether or not a partial entering is considered assur, meaning if only part of the body enters in a kodesh place. The Rambam says it is forbidden Mi’deRabbonon and the Ravad says it is assur Mi’deOraysa. The Chazon Ish was machmir. The Maharil Diskin and the Steipler agreed that it is forb...
Twitter will partner with The Associated Press and Reuters to more quickly provide credible information on the social networking site as part of an effort to fight the spread of misinformation, it said on Monday. Like other social media companies, the San Francisco firm has been under pressure to remove misleading or false information from its site. Earlier this year Twitter launched a program called Birdwatch, asking its users to help identify and fact-check misleading tweets. Conservatives have complained that Twitter and others social media platforms have unfairly targeted them, with many moving from Twitter to alternatives such as Parler. Parler itself was deplatformed two days after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol when the web host denied service. Parler has since fo...
A Charedi man looking to buy property in northern Israel was chased out of town by a local resident, who declared that haredim were not welcome in his community. The incident occurred in the Western Galilee town of Bustan HaGalil, a moshav near the city of Acre [Akko], when realtors brought a haredi customer to visit property up for sale in the moshav. While the realtors took the customer for a tour of the town, a resident approached them, cursing both the realtors and the customer and demanding they leave town immediately. “Get out! Move it, or I’m going to eat you,” the man screamed. When asked why he was harassing the group, the resident replied: “Because we don’t want haredim here.” “Don’t try and lie to me that you’re here f...
Infection rates are at highest point since March, likely prompting return of stricter corona measures Israel's cabinet is set to convene Tuesday to discuss reinstating additional corona restrictions, as the number of daily infections surpassed 3,000 for the first time since March. Between midnight and 10 p.m. on Monday, 3,161 new cases were diagnosed, with 3 percent of tests returning positive hits, the Health Ministry said.  The number of hospitalizations stands at 217 with 43 people on ventilators.
Israel placed the US, France, Italy, France, Germany, Greece and several other countries under severe travel warning, the Knesset Labor, Welfare and Health Committee approved on Tuesday afternoon following the recommendation by the Health Ministry. Starting from Friday, all travelers entering Israel from these countries are going to be required to isolate for a minimum of seven days even if they are fully vaccinated or recovered. The full list of nations which were approved to be added to the list features Ukraine, Italy, Iceland, Eswatini, United States, Botswana, Bulgaria, Germany, Netherlands, Tanzania, Greece, Malawi, Egypt, Czech Republic, France, Cuba, Rwanda and Tunisia. The list of countries under severe travel warning - or colored orange - currently includes Cambodia, ...
A large fire broke out near Jerusalem Tuesday morning, forcing residents of a nearby town to evacuate. The blaze was reported just west of the capital, adjacent to the town of Shoresh. Fourteen firefighting units have been deployed to combat the blaze, with six firefighting aircraft dispatched to aid efforts to contain the fire. A police helicopter is operating in the area to help direct firefighting efforts. Two additional firefighting aircraft are expected to join those planes already active in the area. Residents living on the outer row of houses on the side of Shoresh facing the fire have been evacuated from their homes. The local gas station has also been evacuated due to its proximity to the fire. As a result of the fire, the primary highway linking Jerusalem and Tel Aviv is ex...
Health Ministry officials are expected to recommend to the Coronavirus Cabinet another string of restrictions in light of the rise in cases of COVID-19. The "green pass" will apply everywhere and also to children, and not just in closed places with more than 100 people. In addition, bringing back the obligation to wear masks in any gathering with more than 20 people, even outdoors, is being considered. It also appears that it will be recommended to change the policy regarding departures from Israel so that the ban on flying from some of the countries will be lifted and be replaced by an obligation for quarantine upon returning to Israel.
Baltimore, MD – Aug. 2,  2021 - It is with regret that BaltimoreJewishLife.com informs the community of the petira of  Avrohom Levy, z'l, father of Mrs. Joelle Raczkowski. The levaya will be on Tuesday morning, Aug. 3, in Providence, RI. Mrs. Raczkowski will be sitting shiva, through Monday morning, in Baltimore starting on Wednesday evening at 7604 Lorry Lane, 21208. Shiva times: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Bila HaMaves LaNetzach…
Parashat Re’eh challenges us to shoulder the great burden of human free will: “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord... and a curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord.” We sometimes take the concept of human free will for granted, but for the ancients, it was anything but obvious. A fearsome and intimidating world appeared to toy with our fate, and our destiny seemed to lie beyond our control. Humans were gifted with free will, but the harsh world they inhabited mocked that freedom. Currently, as the Jews assemble to enter the Land of Israel and attend to their historical mission, the great gift of free will is explicitly enunciated. It has been a long journey to this decisive moment....
The State Health Department reports total hospitalizations in Maryland stand at 281, the highest in two months, up by 25 over yesterday. The seven-day positivity rate is at 3.23%, the highest in nearly three months.  After three days of gains above 500, the number of new cases reported as of this morning is 447. No additional deaths were reported. The health department reports, as of last Tuesday Maryland detected 266 delta variant cases and nearly 3,000 of the breakthrough cases of fully vaccinated people who later tested positive. That is about 0.0008 of a percent of the nearly 3.6 million people fully vaccinated. As for vaccines, the state health department reports 77.6% of adults have received at least one dose, nearly 3.6-million people are fully vaccinated, but just 8,000 do...
Baltimore, MD – Aug. 2, 2021 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Simcha Rosenbluth and Sara Kranz on their engagement.   Mazel Tov Marc & Sharon Rosenbluth יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
The Department of Homeland Security announced that it had restarted flights expediting the removal of families back to Central America. DHS said that it resumed flights for “certain families who recently arrived at the southern border, cannot be expelled under Title 42, and do not have a legal basis to stay in the United States.” The department said that it had started to return families back to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, and said it was “a lawful means to securely manage our border.” “It is a step toward our broader aim to realize safe and orderly immigration processing. By placing into expedited removal families who cannot be expelled under Title 42, we are making clear that those who do not qualify to remain in the United States will ...
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on Monday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus, even though he was fully vaccinated. “I was just informed by the House physician I have tested positive for COVID-19 even after being vaccinated,” he said. “I started having flu-like symptoms Saturday night and went to the doctor this morning. I feel like I have a sinus infection and at present time I have mild symptoms. I will be quarantining for ten days,” he added. Graham was one of 17 GOP senators who have been helping advance a bipartisan infrastructure bill, meaning its supporters will be down a vote until he comes out of quarantine. They only need 10 GOP senators to support it if every Democrat does.  Graham is the first senator known to t...
Baltimore, MD – Aug. 2, 2021 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Mr. & Mrs. Yaakov Kramer on the birth of a Son. Mazel Tov grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Chananya Kramer and great grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Paysach Krohn and Mr. & Mrs. Alex Kramer
Multiple sources reported that US Secretary Blinken promised a, "Collective Response" to Iran following the attack on the Japanese-owned, Israeli-managed MV Mercer Street last Friday. Blinken was reported as saying the U.S. was "working with UK, Romania, Israel, and others on determining the response." The report alleged, "US language quickly escalating on the issue" and that Blinken was telling sources the "US is confident Iran carried attack" while "calling Iran "tremendously irresponsible." The U.S. is also said to be "in 'close contact' with UK, Israel, Romania, in an attempt to deliver a "collective response". An Israeli senior delegation is due to visit Washington this week.
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