Although the UAE’s forces are not taking part in Blue Flag, the chief is visiting as an observer The United Arab Emirates’ Air Force Major General Ibrahim Nasser Mohammed al Alawi touched down in Israel for a visit during the country’s massive “Blue Flag” military exercise. Although the UAE’s forces are not actually taking part in the drill, al-Alawi was welcomed by Israel’s military for his first official visit since the Abraham Accords normalized ties between the two nations. The official was greeted with an honor guard reception managed by Israel’s Air Force Commander Major General Amikam Nurkin at the country’s Palmachim Air Force Base.
The White House on Monday said it will require airlines to check U.S.-bound travelers’ proof of Covid-19 vaccination and provide contact information to federal officials as part of new rules to lift pandemic travel restrictions on international travel starting next month. The Biden administration earlier this month said it plans to lift pandemic restrictions that barred most visitors from dozens of countries, including the U.K. and Brazil, on Nov. 8, allowing in vaccinated travelers. The rules were put in place first by the Trump administration in early 2020 and then extended by the Biden administration this year. Another change is that inbound travelers, including U.S. citizens, who are unvaccinated, will have to show proof of a ne...
The first case of AY.4.2 in Israel was identified last week in a child who travelled from Moldova A newly uncovered Covid subvariant, known as AY.4.2, appears to be slightly more contagious but not more deadly than its original Delta variant, according to Israel’s Health Ministry. The ministry reported that according to initial investigations, the sub-variant is 15 percent more contagious than the original Delta variant, according to Channel 13. However, it does not appear to be more deadly and is not vaccine resistant, the institution clarified.
'Orbital Reef' is one of several private outposts planned in the coming years Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin on Monday announced it wants to launch a space station that will house up to 10 people in the second half of the decade, as the race to commercialize the cosmos heats up. The space station will be named "Orbital Reef" and is a joint venture with commercial space company Sierra Space - known for their Dream Chaser, a winged space-plane designed to carry cargo - and has the support of Boeing and Arizona State University.  "For over sixty years, NASA and other space agencies have developed orbital space flight and space habitation, setting us up for commercial business to take off in this decade," said Blue Origin executive Brent Sherwood. "We will expand access, low...
The first direct commercial flights between Israel and Morocco took off in July Israel's National Security Council on Monday canceled a travel warning that had been in effect for more than a decade. In a statement, the council said the decision was taken following an assessment that the estimated level of threat to Israelis in Morocco declined after last year's normalization agreement signed by the two countries.  “The estimated level of threat in Morocco has dropped,” The Council said in a text message. “At the same time, it is advisable to continue to exercise increased vigilance while staying in the country.” Israelis were allowed to travel to Morocco even before the countries agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations under the Ab...
Biden was ranked above only former US president Donald Trump United States President Joe Biden is facing plummeting approval ratings during his administration’s first year, a recent poll confirmed. A survey of Biden’s approval ratings revealed the president holds only 42 percent approval 272 days into his term, the second lowest ranking among recent presidents. The poll, which was conducted from October 1 to October 19 this year, marks Biden’s worst results to date. The leader’s sharp decline in popularity can be attributed to a number of factors - including the recent chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and an increase in US Covid outbreaks caused by the Delta variant, experts from CNN explained. He is also under pressure to push his prop...
Laurel, MD - Oct. 25, 2021  - 4:05PM - A multi-vehicle collision closed both directions of U.S. Route 1 Monday afternoon in Laurel, Howard County police said. Check traffic map here County police said Route 1 was closed in both directions between Maier Road and Davis Avenue. The collision is located at Whiskey Bottom Road. SkyTeam 11 video showed at least four vehicles were involved in the collision. As 3:52 p.m., police tweeted that Route 1 is open north of Whiskey Bottom Road, but it remains closed in both directions south of Whiskey Bottom Road to Davis Avenue.
U.S. Rep. Anthony Brown said Monday he will run for attorney general in Maryland. Brown, a Democrat who is a former lieutenant governor, confirmed his plan to run for the office next year in an interview. He is the first major Democratic candidate to enter the race after Attorney General Brian Frosh said last week he would not seek another term. “Whether its health care, the environment, criminal justice reform, we need an attorney general who is going to be pushing the envelope on progress and not just satisfied with the status quo,” Brown said. “Brian has done a fantastic job, and I intend to take it to the next highest level.” Brown is a three-term congressman who represents Maryland’s 4th Congressional District, which includes a large part of Prince Geo...
According to Gov. Larry Hogan, 98% of seniors receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as Maryland’s COVID-19 health metrics continue to decline across the board. “As one of the most vaccinated states, Maryland’s case rate and positivity rate are among the lowest in the country, and they are continuing to drop,” Hogan said. “Maintaining immunity is critical to keeping our health and economic recovery going, and we urge eligible Marylanders to get a booster shot as soon as possible.” Positivity Rate, Case Rate, Hospitalizations Continue to Decline Across the Board: - Maryland’s COVID-19 positivity rate (3.21%) has declined by 37.1% since Aug. 22. - Maryland’s COVID-19 case rate per 100,000 (12.6) h...
Baltimore, MD - Oct. 25, 2021  - A capacity crowd of approximately 250 filled both the main section and the entrance foyer of the Khal Chassidim "Chassidische" Kollel building on 6004 Park Heights for the dinner honoring the Yahrzeit of the great Gaon HaRav Michoel Forshlager, ztk"l.  The fact that the crowd never thinned out until the event ended and people were continuously leaving and entering indicated that they were coming mainly for the event and not just for the food.  Besides the Kollel and many community members, several Rabbonim came as well.  Among them were HaRav Yaakov Hopfer, HaRav Yissochor Dov Eichenstein, Rav Jonathan Seidemann, Rav Uri Milrod, Rav Shmuel Friedman, and Rabbi Eitan Mintz.  HaRav Moshe Heinemann expressed interest, saying that it was...
Last Thursday, the Baltimore County Planning Board voted to approve the Pikesville Revitalization Plan as amended. This is terrific news, as our office has been working with many Pikesville community organizations, business stakeholders, residents and county staff over the last several years to bring this to fruition. This revitalization action plan focuses on the Pikesville Commercial Revitalization District (CRD). Several recommendations were outlined in previous plans, but without adequate funding and a persistent project campaign, many were never addressed or became unfeasible. Pikesville has a rich history and the community embraces a variety of cultural and economic backgrounds. Pikesville’s neighborhoods are among some of the oldest in Baltimore County. The purpose of this ...
Baltimore, MD - Oct. 18, 2021 - Bonei Olam by the numbers: 23 Baltimore couples currently being worked with.  7 babies born in the past 12 months. 16 couples assisted by Bonei Olam this past year.  Click here and help Bonei Olam with our Baltimore campaign - as our online fundraiser is NOW LIVE - so we can say "YES" to every couple who approached us for help.
United Hatzalah volunteer EMTs treated an 18-year-old charedit woman after she was hit by a bus at the intersection of Yirmiyahu and Brandeis Streets in Jerusalem. United Hatzalah volunteer EMT Rami Dweib who was one of the first responders at the scene relayed: “The person injured was a pedestrian who, according to eyewitnesses, was hit by the bus that afterward hit a cement block. Together with other EMS personnel, I treated the woman for her injuries. She was then taken to Hadassah Har HaTzofim Hospital in serious condition. (Her condition has since been upgraded to good.) Due to the nature of the incident, United Hatzalah’s Psychotrauma and Crisis Response Unit was dispatched to the scene to provide treatment to eyewitnesses.”
Baltimore, MD – Oct. 25, 2021 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Shaya Lager and Yitty Koval  (Cleveland, OH) on their engagement. Mazel Tov to  Suri & Micha Lager and Rabbi Yisroel and Ruchi Koval and grandparents Nochum and Malki Indich and Jake and Rochel Koval יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
Strong thunderstorms may hit before a cold front Monday in Maryland, according to the National Weather Service. Severe weather was projected to hit late Monday afternoon through evening. The storms could cause damaging wind gusts and an isolated tornado, forecasters advised. In addition, the middle Chesapeake Bay and nearby waters are under a gale warning Tuesday afternoon and evening due to the potential for strong winds. Looking ahead, officials said there was a slight threat of severe thunderstorms and flooding Friday.
Riyadh-Tel Aviv flight comes after report that Biden's NSA raised possibility of normalization with MBS A direct flight from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will land at Ben Gurion Airport on Monday evening, Israel's Kan pubcaster reports. The flight will be a VIP class Boeing 737-700 aircraft with registration A6-AIN owned by the Emirati Royal Jet airline. The Riyadh-Tel Aviv flight comes after a report that White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan raised the possibility of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords during a meeting last month in Riyadh with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), according to three US and Arab sources involved in the talks. The sources said that during the conversation, MBS did not immediately reject the proposal t...
Baltimore, MD – Oct. 25, 2021 - It is with regret that BaltimoreJewishLife.com informs the community of the petira of Mrs. Miriam Dickman, a'h, mother of Moshe "Shepsie" (Mimi ) Dickman, Howard (Linda) Dickman, Sandy (Rabbi Abba) Cohen, (410.330.5237) and David Dickman and sister of Shirley Light. The funeral will be graveside service today (Monday) at 3:00 P.M. at Shaare Torah Cemetery (for Google Maps/Waze/GPS - 2920 Goettel Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15227). Shiva will be observed at 5912 Phillips, Pittsburgh, PA, 15217. Minyanim: Mincha/Maariv (M-TH) 6:10 PM Shacharis (T-FR) 7:30 AM (Sunday 8 AM) Visits are welcomed from 9 AM -1 PM (T-Friday), 2PM -5 PM (T, W, TH), and 6-9 PM (T, W,TH) Bila HaMaves LaNetzach…
Rabbi Sacks passed away on Shabbat morning, just as Jews throughout the world read the Torah portion of Vayeira. What did Rabbi Sacks teach us about this portion? That the most fundamental priority of the Jewish people is education. “Who was Avraham, and why was he chosen?” he asks and answers: “Avraham is not described as a righteous man, as Noach is, or as one who protests injustice, like Moshe, or as a warrior, like David, or a prophet, like Isaiah. There is only one place, in Parashat Vayera, where the Torah mentions why G-d chose Avraham: ‘For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him, to keep the way of the L-rd by doing what is right and just.’ To translate this into our vernacular, it is as if G-...
Tomorrow is the first anniversary of the death of Professor Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, the highly esteemed international lecturer and public intellectual. I have many personal memories of Rabbi Sacks, have often quoted his words of wisdom, and have heard numerous stories about him. But Rabbi Zalman Vishedsky shared with me a story that in my opinion is more important than all the rest. Rabbi Sacks once said that he lectured hundreds of times a year, met thousands of people every month, and spoke constantly with people of every type throughout the world. Which question, do you suppose, was he asked most often?You can try to guess: Was he asked about the Torah's perspective on science? About Judaism in the modern era? About halacha and the new media? In response to this query about the ...
Deficits in diversity and cultural understanding are the issues detailed in a new report from the Randallstown NAACP about the Baltimore County Police Department. The report details problems and offers recommendations on how to create a more diverse and inclusive environment. "One of the things we found out was that the police department was not representative of the community, the population in Baltimore County," said Ryan Coleman, head of the Randallstown NAACP.The report detailed that 50% of the community in Baltimore County is African American, but only 11% of the police department is.The report focused specifically on recruiting, hiring and retention."As we looked at those areas, we got to a deeper question of not only diversity, but the culture of the police department," Coleman sai...
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