Just last night, Chaim V’Chessed reported on the new rules hastily implemented in light of the new Omicron variant. Israel has, once again, banned foreigners from entering the country, effective tonight at midnight. Several unclear matters remained regarding the new rules: entry by visa holders, and whether those departing for Israel today (Sunday) would be permitted to enter Israel tomorrow, Monday, once the new rules take effect. We are now pleased to report that, due to the unstinting efforts of our colleague Rabbi Nechemya Malinowitz of the Igud, student visa holders will be allowed into Israel, provided they are fully vaccinated or recovered. NOTE: They will not be permitted to enter Israel if they are traveling from a Red country. Additionally, Chaim V&rs...
Baltimore, MD - Nov. 27, 2021 - So unlike the neon fluorescent holiday lights of other cultures, the Chanukah candle illuminates a small humble glow. This points to the essential nature of our kulturkampf with the Greeks, a battle of character vs. image and meaning vs. appearance. Chanukah sensitizes us to that which lies beyond the eye, and that which transcends the pettiness of a gaudy display. This theme cast new light on the story of Yehudis and the celebration of women on Chanukah until this very day. Click here to listen     
Baltimore, MD – Nov. 27,  2021 - It is with regret that BaltimoreJewishLife.com informs the community of the petira of  Rebbetzin Gittel Carmell, a’h, mother of Mrs. Sheila Steingroot. The levaya took place on Har Hazeisim.  Shiva will be observed through Friday morning 12/3 at 7703 Park Heights Avenue from 9:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. and masks are requested at the house. To reach them by phone please call 410-653-3638  Bila HaMaves LaNetzach…
Baltimore, MD – Nov. 27, 2021 – Please be aware that the Baltimore Jewish community COVID testing schedule remains same as usual throughout Chanukah. For more information on testing click here.
The South African doctor who first alerted authorities to the presence of the COVID-19 omicron variant reported that it presents "unusual but mild" symptoms.  Dr. Angelique Coetzee, a board member of the South African Medical Association, first noticed otherwise healthy patients demonstrating unusual symptoms on Nov. 18.  "Their symptoms were so different and so mild from those I had treated before," Coetzee told The Telegraph. "It presents mild disease with symptoms being sore muscles and tiredness for a day or two not feeling well," Coetzee explained. "So far, we have detected that those infected do not suffer the loss of taste  Coetzee reported around two dozen of her patients that tested positive for the coronavirus and displayed these n...
Dr. Anthony Fauci said Saturday morning that he would not be shocked to learn that the COVID-19 omicron variant is already in the U.S. In an interview on NBC's "Weekend TODAY" show, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director told co-hosts Kristen Welker and Peter Alexander that the strain has a large number of mutations that would suggest it could potentially evade immune protection and that scientists can predict it will be more transmissible.  "We don't know that yet, but you have to be careful and assume that that's the case. It also has a bunch of mutations that would suggest it could evade the protection, for example, of monoclonal antibodies and perhaps even convalescent plasma for people who've been infected a...
Fears grow that the pandemic and associated lockdown restrictions will persist for far longer than expected Governments worldwide are scrambling to protect their countries against the new omicron variant of the coronavirus by banning flights from southern African nations where it is believed to be spreading, although several cases were confirmed in Europe and the Middle East. Britain, Germany and Italy detected cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant on Saturday and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new steps to contain the dangerous new strain. The World Health Organization (WHO) designated it a variant of concern and many countries are racing to try and contain it, banning flights from southern Africa. The South African government said the flurry of trav...
Baltimore, MD – Nov. 27, 2021 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Sruli and Sarah Schon (Detroit) on the birth of a son. Mazel Tov to grandparents Chaim and Sherry Berlin and Pearl Schon. יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
Senior Hamas official  publishes an official statement on behalf of the movement in which he calls on residents of the West Bank and Hebron to come to the Cave of the Patriarchs on Sunday to confront and oppose the first Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony, in which President Herzog will light a menorah in the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron.Adding that Israel will bear the consequences of this provocative event.The official  also calls on the masses to come to the Temple Mount to oppose "Judaism" that Israel intends to carry out by placing a menorah in the Western Wall plaza, since he says that in addition to the Cave of the Patriarchs, the Western Wall and the Al-Aqsa Mosque are "Islamic properties."
Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked (Yamina) on Saturday night said that the government will add three weeks to Daylight Saving Time. Speaking Saturday night at a "Meet the Press" event, Shaked said, "Shortening winter time will allow the economy to save on costs, and it will not hurt the students or those who daven thrice daily." "By doing this, Israel is adapting itself to the custom in the US, where they also move the clocks at the beginning of March," she added.
So far Israel confirmed several cases of the new variant Approximately 800 Israelis recently returned from travel to countries where the new and highly contagious variant of the coronavirus was detected, a senior official said on Saturday. Israel's Deputy Defense Minister Alon Schuster said that the Home Front Command is "trying to locate and account for" some 800 people who traveled to states where the omicron strain of the coronavirus was found, including several African states.  "The new variant that was discovered is worrying and it may be more contagious than its predecessors. Thus we prepared for it swiftly," said Schuster, adding that Home Front Command's aim was to interrupt any potential "contagion chains." The World Health Organization on Friday&nbs...
Senior Hamas official  publishes an official statement on behalf of the movement in which he calls on residents of the West Bank and Hebron to come to the Cave of the Patriarchs on Sunday to confront and oppose the first Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony, in which President Herzog will light a menorah in the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron.Adding that Israel will bear the consequences of this provocative event.The official  also calls on the masses to come to the Temple Mount to oppose "Judaism" that Israel intends to carry out by placing a menorah in the Western Wall plaza, since he says that in addition to the Cave of the Patriarchs, the Western Wall and the Al-Aqsa Mosque are "Islamic properties."
The State of Israel opened its borders to vaccinated foreign tourists on November 1, after a period of more than one and a half years during which tourists were barred from entering the country. Now, just four weeks after reopening, Israel is once again slamming its borders shut to foreigners. In response to the new Omicron variant, Israel’s Corona cabinet has decided to, once again, bar all entry by non-citizens. This new edict will be in effect for 14 days, beginning tomorrow night (between Sunday and Monday) at midnight. It is presumed that foreigners who reside in Israel (visa holders) will also be included in the ban. Hence, foreign residents of Israel who find themselves abroad at this time should consider hastening their return to Israel. Similarly, foreign resident...
Israel's Coronavirus Cabinet on Saturday night approved the restrictions recommended by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz (Meretz). During the meeting, the staff of experts presented its position, according to which the COVID-19 vaccinations are more important than ever, in order to prevent severe illness. In accordance with this, the Cabinet members call on Israeli citizens who have not yet received their booster dose to do so as soon as possible. In addition, Israeli parents are called upon to vaccinate their children. The Coronavirus Cabinet also agreed on the following steps: Entry into and exit from Israel: Foreigners from all countries will be banned from entering Israel, other than in special cases approved by the Exceptions Com...
Gedolim and world leaders. Politicians, spies and soldiers. Inspiration and mystery, bullets and bitachon. The Insider has it all. How did a young journalist create a revolution in the Israeli government - by defending the honor of Shabbos? What is the inside story of the Iranian nuclear program -- and how is Israel managing to defend itself? Could a Polish non-Jew possibly be Reb Yisroel’s brother, who’d disappeared during the terrible Holocaust years? For more than 50 years, Reb Yisroel Katzover has been one of Israel’s premier military journalists. As an observant Jew, he has often served as an unofficial liaison between the country’s military and political leadership and the nation’s gedolei Torah. As a pioneer in the world of Jewish music, h...
Baltimore, MD – Nov. 26, 2021 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Mr. And Mrs. Daniel Bortz on the birth of a son. יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
The Weekly Shtikle is dedicated le'iluy nishmas my father, Reuven Pinchas ben Chaim Yaakov, a"h. The Weekly Shtikle is dedicated le'iluy nishmas my Oma, Chaya Sara bas Zecharia Chaim, a"h. When Tamar sends to Yehudah to inform him that she is pregnant from him, the pasuk states (38:25) "And she sent to her father-in-law saying by the man to whom these are, I am pregnant. And she said 'Please recognize to whom these belong.'" The gemara (Sotah 10b) learns from here that it is better for one to have himself thrown in a burning fire than to embarrass his friend, from the fact that Tamar did not say outright that she is pregnant with his child and was willing to face death if Yehudah was not prepared to face the embar...
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