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December 3, 2021 at 3:18 pm
State health officials confirmed three cases of the COVID-19 omicron variant in Maryland.
The omicron variant was confirmed in the United States with the first case in California. It quickly spread to Minnesota, then several more cases were confirmed in New York, and even more in Colorado, Hawaii and Nebraska.
The omicron variant is a new and potentially more contagious variant of COVID-19 that was discovered in southern Africa. There's still a lot unknown about omicron. Researchers are working as quickly as they can to learn more, but they said what they see so far is concerning.
Gov. Larry Hogan said Maryland has one of the most robust testing surveillance systems in the country to identify and track variants. He further urged Marylanders to get vacci...
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December 3, 2021 at 2:32 pm
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.
Everyone is surely familiar with the miracle of the oil, which we commemorate on Chanukah. The Chashmonaim found only enough oil for one day (not even enough for one day according to She'iltos d'Rav Achai) but the oil lasted for eight days.
This was not, however, the first miracle with oil in Jewish history. For the haftarah of parshas Vayeira, we read about another miracle with oil. In Melachim II (perek 4) a poor woman (the widow of Ovadiah HaNavi, according to Midrash Tanchuma) comes to Elisha HaNavi in dire need....
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December 3, 2021 at 1:40 pm
In a letter written on behalf of the Committee of NYC Religious and Independent School Officials and addressed to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Health Commissioner Dave A. Chokshi, the Committee expressed its opposition to the city’s newly promulgated vaccine mandate for nonpublic school employees.
The Committee represents the large majority of nonpublic schools in New York City including the leadership of Catholic schools, Islamic schools, Lutheran schools, Greek Orthodox schools, Adventist schools, Historically Black Independent schools, and Jewish schools.
The letter, written by Agudath Israel’s Rabbi David Zwiebel in his capacity as chairman of the Committee, noted that although the schools represented by the Committee “support and generally encourage Covid...
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December 3, 2021 at 1:01 pm
With the murder of Alta Fixsler etched irrevocably in our collective memories, Chayim Aruchim’s Thursday night session at the 99th convention of Agudath Israel of America took on a palpable sense of urgency as it addressed the medical world’s cavalier attitude towards life, one that often has tragic results.
While Chayim Aruchim has been advocating for the religious rights of critically ill patients for over a decade, the Alta Fixsler case cast the spotlight on the very real need for its services, and the convention session focused on whether a similar situation could occur in the United States. The session was dedicated l’iluy nishmas Alta bas Rav Avrohom a’h, and in his opening remarks, Chayim Aruchim president Rabbi Shmuel Lefkowitz noted that the that assisted ...
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December 3, 2021 at 1:01 pm
Kamala Harris's office is undergoing a reset after a difficult first year, which saw a rocky start for the vice president.
The reset, which includes the departure of Symone Sanders — the most recognizable official in the office — is the result of Harris’s public stumbles, a streak of bad press and staff squabbling, particularly in the communications office, according to sources familiar with the vice president’s office.
The turmoil has raised worries among Democrats about her prospects as a presidential candidate.
“No one seems happy,” said one source close to the vice president’s office.
News of Sanders’s departure was followed by reports that two more press aides would depart in the coming weeks: Peter Velz, t...
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December 3, 2021 at 12:31 pm
Accused Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley's parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, have each been charged with four counts of homicide involuntary manslaughter.
The charges were filed in 52nd District Court in Rochester Hills, Michigan, Friday morning.
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December 3, 2021 at 12:16 pm
Baltimore, MD – Dec. 1, 2021 - It is with regret that BaltimoreJewishLife.com informs the community of the petira of Rabbi Elchonon Bronfin, Z'L, father of R’ Reuven Bronfin. R' Reuven Bronfin (410-340-8414 ) will be sitting shiva through Monday at 1445 East 19th, Brooklyn, NY, 11230.Baltimore Shiva: Tuesday & Wednesday at 6303 Ivymount, Baltimore, MD , 21209Shacharis: (Tues & Wed) 7:15AMMincha/Maariv: (Tuesday) 4:30PM
Bila HaMaves LaNetzach…
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December 3, 2021 at 11:25 am
At Maariv tomorrow night, Motzoei Shabbos, December 4th, residents of chutz la’aretz begin to say Vesein Tal Umatar during the Shemonah Esrei in the bracha of Boreich Aleinu. Residents of Eretz Yisroel already began saying Vesein Tal Umatar on the 7th of Cheshvan.
If one became aware after completing the bracha of Mevareich Hashanim that one omitted Vesein Tal Umatar, one should wait to insert it right before “Ki atah shomeiah” in Shema Koleinu.
If one has already completed the bracha of Shomeiah Tefillah, one may insert Vesein Tal Umatar before saying Retzei. If one has already started Retzei, one must return to the bracha&nbs...
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December 3, 2021 at 10:17 am
The resource-rich UAE also inked an order for military transport helicopters worth over $19 billion
The United Arab Emirates signed a contract worth over $15.8 billion for 80 French-made Rafale warplanes and committed billions of dollars in other deals as President Emmanuel Macron kicked off a tour in the Arab-Gulf region on Friday.
Considered as the biggest international order ever made for the Rafale jets, it comes as Macron held talks with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed at the start of a two-day trip.
The resource-rich UAE, one of the French defense industry's biggest customers, also inked an order for 12 Caracal military transport helicopters for a total bill of more than $19b.
"This is an outcome of the strategic partnership between the two countries,...
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December 3, 2021 at 10:15 am
Imagine that you have enough money for just one thing - Shabbat candles or Chanukkah candles. Today we light six Chanukkah candles and after them Shabbat candles, but let's suppose that we don't have enough money for both. Which are more important?Rabbi Eyal Greiner, head of a hesder yeshivah (that combines Torah learning with army service) in Moshav Tefahot up north, explains in his new book about Chanukkah that the Gemara debates this matter and reaches an unequivocal conclusion: Shabbat candles come first. We should first concern ourselves with lighting up our home on the inside, light that symbolizes shalom bayit (peace in the home), family togetherness, our private world in here. Only afterwards do we concern ourselves with lighting up the street, the world out there.This is...
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December 3, 2021 at 10:09 am
This weeks parshah begins with yet another setback for Yosef: “Mikeitz she’nus’ayim yomim… - at the conclusion of two years…”. What is this referring to? Rashi at the end of last week’s parshah explains that after Yosef interpreted the dream of the sar ha’mashkim, and the sar ha’mashkim was then freed from jail to serve the king once again, Yosef was confident that he would finally be saved. After all, Yosef had asked the sar ha’mashkim, who he had just helped, to ask the king to free him from jail. However, because he put his trust in man, and Yosef was on such a high spiritual-level that doing so was beneath him, he was punished with yet another 2 long-years stuck in an Egyptian dungeon (and spent a total of 12 whole years in ...
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December 3, 2021 at 10:08 am
New York Police on Thursday arrested a man who stole an unoccupied school bus in East New York and struck 15-20 parked vehicles.
The incident was reported on Thursday afternoon around 3:00 p.m. when the man stole the bus at East 51st Street between Linden Blvd and Lenox Road, according to WABC TV.
Authorities tracked the bus through multiple precincts, eventually taking the suspect into custody in Brownsville at Jamaica and Sheffield avenues.
The suspect struck multiple vehicles along the way as well as a building on East New York Avenue.
Police attempted to Taser the suspect but he was only struck with one prong. He was taken to an area hospital.
One officer suffered a minor hand injury and three other people reported minor injuries in the incident.
While there were no children...
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December 3, 2021 at 10:00 am
Iran's chief negotiator Ali Bagheri made two proposals to salvage the deal on Iran's nuclear program
Germany, France, and the United Kingdom (E3), in coordination with the United States, informed the Iranians that the proposals they presented in the framework of the negotiations on the nuclear deal in Vienna were "neither serious nor acceptable.”
On Thursday, Iran's chief negotiator Ali Bagheri said he made two proposals to salvage the deal on Iran's nuclear program, WallaNews reported, citing an E3 diplomat.
“One sums up the views of the Islamic Republic on the lifting of sanctions, and the second concerns Iran's nuclear activities,” the diplomat said.
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December 3, 2021 at 9:57 am
The order failed to mention female access to education or work outside the home
Afghanistan’s Taliban government released on Friday a decree on women’s rights, stating that women should not be considered “property” and must consent to marriage.
The order failed to mention, however, female access to education or work outside the home, Reuters reported.
"A woman is not a property, but a noble and free human being,” the decree, released by Taliban spokesman Zabihillah Muhajid, said.
“No one can give her to anyone in exchange for peace… or to end animosity.”
The government set out rules governing marriage and property for women, proclaiming that women should not be forced into marriage and that widows should have a sha...
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December 3, 2021 at 9:55 am
Did you know that Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States of America? Fascinating, right? But wait, it gets even better. Rhode Island’s claim to fame is not just that it is the smallest state in the U.S; it also happens to have the longest name out of all U.S. states. The official name, used on all state documents, is “Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.” This is actually crazy. I’m telling you. You cannot make this stuff up. As it turns out, Rhode Island is the smallest state with the longest name!
There is a valuable insight and lesson to be learned from here. That is, the greatness of being small. The Jewish people are promised in the Torah to be “the smallest of nations.” Yet, despite our smallness, the Jewish people have ...
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December 3, 2021 at 9:50 am
Baltimore, MD – Dec. 3, 2021 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Yehuda and Naema Tenenbaum on the birth of a son.
Mazel Tov to grandparents Beth and Morty Tenenbaum and Yehuda and Shoshana Fishkind and great-grandparents Stanley and Renee Fishkind and Rom Sones.
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
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December 3, 2021 at 9:50 am
As traffic jams worsen in world's most expensive city, light rail builder says relief is on the way
Tel Aviv is embarking upon one of the world's most ambitious mass transit projects and relief could not come soon enough for commuters stuck in endless traffic jams in Israel's commercial and cultural capital.
The Red Line light rail is set to start operations in one year, forming the backbone of an integrated network that will eventually include three light rail lines and three metro subway lines branching out across the Gush Dan region.
The project's slogan in Hebrew is קשה עכשיו, קלה אחר כך (hard now, easy later).
However, at least one transportation expert interviewed by i24NEWS asserts that relief is possible sooner, and the...
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December 3, 2021 at 9:41 am
Four more cases of the ‘Omicron’ variant of the coronavirus have been identified in Israel, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to seven.
Of the seven total carriers of the Omicron variant in Israel, one was vaccinated with the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine who returned to Israel recently from Malawi. Another was fully vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, including a booster shot, and was found to be infected with the Omicron variant after returning from South Africa.
Another infected person who received all three shots of the Pfizer vaccine recently returned from Britain.
Four others were unvaccinated and had recently traveled to South Africa.
Israel’s Health Ministry reported Friday morning that there are an additional 27 likely cases of Omicron in Isra...
