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December 5, 2022 at 9:04 pm
Nearly every U.S. state is battling high levels of flu-like illness, public health authorities warned Monday as multiple respiratory viruses threaten to overwhelm the health-care system while people travel for the holidays and gather indoors with friends and family.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials say they’re seeing signs of an early and severe flu season that turned significantly worse during Thanksgiving week, the official start of the holiday season.
That ferocious return of influenza is coinciding with the start of a third pandemic winter – with a novel coronavirus that never left.
“It’s a perfect storm for a terrible holiday season,” said the chair of the American Medical Association board, Sandra Fryhofer, an Atlanta infectious-di...
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December 5, 2022 at 8:54 pm
The Central Bureau for Statistics has published its annual report on volunteering in Israel, with findings similar to those in years past.
Around a quarter of all Jewish Israelis engage in volunteer work, the Bureau's survey found. When looking at sector-based sub-divisions, it was found that haredim volunteer the most - some 40 percent of haredim volunteer. Among the religious community, around 32 percent volunteer. 25 percent of people who define themselves as secular do volunteer work, and 18 percent of those who describe themselves as traditional.
38 percent of those who volunteer do so within the framework of an organization or several organizations. 44 percent of respondents who volunteer said that they do so on a private basis, and 18 percent said that they volunteered for or...
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December 5, 2022 at 8:50 pm
B’nai Brith Canada reported on Monday that Walmart Canada has responded positively to its concerns that an item sacred in the Jewish religion was depicted frivolously as a beach towel for women.
The item was a tallit which was depicted in offensive fashion by a third-party seller on Walmart’s website as an “Elegant Sunscreen Scarves Sun Block Shawl Scarf Beach Shawl Towel.”
Walmart quickly acknowledged B’nai Brith’s complaint and acted rapidly to remove the item, the organization said in a statement.
B’nai Brith had alerted Walmart through its Twitter account of the offensive description. The corporation responded to B’nai Brith that it would remove the listing after it conducted an investigation. Walmart apologized for the offence.
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December 5, 2022 at 8:43 pm
IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi strongly criticizes the granting of powers in Judea and Samaria to Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir and Religious Zionism party chairman Bezalel Smotrich in the coalition agreements, Channel 13 News reported.
According to the report, Kochavi, who is expected to end his term soon, claimed in closed conversations, claimed that the splitting of powers which previously belonged solely to the Defense Ministry to give them to Ben-Gvir and Smotrich "breaks the chain of command."
Senior security officials warn that "this will create anarchy, which will damage Israel's international standing and create two different legal systems in the territories: one for the Jews and one for the Palestinians."
Kochavi said that he would not allow Ben-Gvir a...
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December 5, 2022 at 8:41 pm
Arizona officials certified the state’s vote canvass on Monday, officially declaring winners in the high-profile gubernatorial and Senate races, among other contests, as GOP figures vow to fight the election results in court.
The once low-profile certification process turned into a fierce battle between election officials, Republican candidates and some county boards as the GOP seized on printer malfunctions in the state’s most populous county, in part leading Arizona to become an epicenter for voter disenfranchisement allegations.
Election officials have acknowledged mishaps but insist no voter was disenfranchised. Some GOP figures and their supporters claimed officials were lying, unsuccessfully calling on county boards to not certify their canvasses in recen...
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December 5, 2022 at 8:37 pm
Former President Trump on Monday insisted he does not want to “terminate” the Constitution, responding to broad backlash after he said over the weekend its rules and laws should be disregarded so he can return to the White House.
Trump, in a pair of posts on Truth Social, responded to the fallout from his comments on Saturday that the 2020 election should be redone or he should be put back in office. The former president weighed in after internal Twitter communications showed company officials deciding to limit the spread of posts about allegations against Hunter Biden, President’s Biden’s son, in the closing weeks of the 2020 campaign.
“The Fake News is actually trying to convince the American People that I said I wanted to ‘terminate’ the ...
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December 5, 2022 at 8:37 pm
Former President Trump’s weekend call to terminate parts of the U.S. Constitution in order to overturn the 2020 election results was met with derision and opposition by Senate Republicans on Monday.
“I think it’s ridiculous talk,” Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), a newly minted member of GOP leadership. “To besmirch our dedication to the Constitution is ridiculous.”
“Very inappropriate,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), an ally of the former president. “The statement was inappropriate and I’m glad to see him clarify.
“Most Republicans are frustrated, but that wasn’t the answer,” he added.
Trump’s remarks came in a post on Truth Social on Saturday and bookended a crazy...
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December 5, 2022 at 8:36 pm
Incarcerated lawyer Michael Avenatti was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Monday in Southern California and ordered to pay more than $10 million in restitution after admitting he cheated four of his clients out of millions of dollars.
The sentence should run consecutively to the five years in prison he is currently serving for separate convictions in New York, U.S. District Judge James V. Selna said during a hearing in Santa Ana, California.
It is the last of three major federal criminal cases to wrap up against the 51-year-old Californian.
Avenatti pleaded guilty earlier this year to four counts of wire fraud and a tax-related charge despite not reaching a plea deal with federal prosecutors, saying he wanted to be accountable and spare his family further embarrassment.
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December 5, 2022 at 3:14 pm
The agreement gives Bezalel Smotrich sweeping powers over Israeli settlements and daily Palestinian life
Far-right Religious Zionism party received considerable authority over the Israeli government's civilian activities in the West Bank, according to a partial coalition agreement published on Monday.
The deal reached between the incoming prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the leader of Religious Zionism Bezalel Smotrich will see the faction influencing the appointment of key officials as well the final approval of construction and demolition of houses in a majority of the territory. The agreement, however, requires that the minister appointed to this post, which will likely be taken by Smotrich himself, will act in coordination with the next prime minister and will need h...
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December 5, 2022 at 3:13 pm
Elon Musk on Saturday evening said there is "definitely some risk" to his personal safety.
"Frankly," Musk said in a Twitter Spaces discussion, "the risk of something bad happening or literally even being shot is quite significant. I'm definitely not going to be doing any open air car parades, let me put it that way."
"It's not that hard to kill me if somebody wanted to, so hopefully they don't."
During his roughly two-hour discussion, Twitter's new owner spoke of his future plans for the company while emphasizing the importance of free speech.
"Throughout history," he adds, "free speech has been highly unusual, not common. So we have to fight really hard to keep that because it's such a rare thing and it's by no means something that's default. C...
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December 5, 2022 at 3:06 pm
Chinese hackers have stolen tens of millions of dollars worth of US COVID relief benefits since 2020, the Secret Service said on Monday.
The Secret Service declined to provide any additional details but confirmed a report by NBC News that said the Chinese hacking team that is reportedly responsible is known within the security research community as APT41 or Winnti.
What is the hacker group APT41?
APT41 is a prolific cybercriminal group that had conducted a mix of government-backed cyber intrusions and financially motivated data breaches, according to experts.
Several members of the hacking group were indicted in 2019 and 2020 by the US Justice Department for spying on over 100 companies, including software development companies, telecommunications providers, ...
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December 5, 2022 at 2:50 pm
Baltimore, MD – Dec. 5, 2022 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Shulamis and Yosef Leder on the birth of a daughter.
Mazel tov to grandparents, Sarah and Louis Leder
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בתם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
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December 5, 2022 at 1:45 pm
Baltimore, MD – Dec. 1, 2022 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Sol Mogilensky, z’l, brother of Marsha (Avi) Grant and Judah (Lynne) Mogilensky.
The Kevurah will take place in Eretz HaChaim cemetery in Beit Shemesh on Sunday.
Shiva will be observed through Shacharis Sunday, Dec. 11 at 1902 Rookwood Rd., Silver Spring, MD, 20910. (Best parking is in the extra parking lot for Sniders’s grocery store.). All visitors should wear masks.Shiva following Shacharis until 12noon; 1:00-6:00p, then from 7:00-9:30p (Friday until 1:00PM)Shacharis: Tues/Wed/Fri: 7:00AM Motzaei Shabbos: Visiting 7Pm-10PMShacharis Thurs: 6:50AM (Sunday: 8:00AM)
Mincha/Maariv: 4:30PM
Bila Hamaves Lanetzach...
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December 5, 2022 at 1:12 pm
Dear my brothers and sisters, Jewish people living in America,
We have to clear some things up.
I have recently been very vocal about antisemitism in America, and I have called for my brothers and sisters in America to come home, to come back to Israel.
To say that I received a lot of heat from American Jews is a laughable understatement. They have responded in one of a few ways.
Either they’ve said I am overreacting, and antisemitism in America isn’t really that bad.
To them I respond, according to the FBI, 60% of all religious hate crimes in America are targeting Jews. Does that sound safe to you?
Numbers don’t lie.
Another response I get is that Israel is so hard to live in and it’s no better in Israel than it is in America.
To them I respond, there has n...
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December 5, 2022 at 12:51 pm
Drivers in Maryland are getting a little relief at the gas pump during the holiday season. Gas prices have fallen in Baltimore by an average of 15.7 cents per gallon in the last week, according to an analysis by GasBuddy. The current cheapest gas station in Baltimore is priced at $2.96 per gallon, while the most expensive is $3.99 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.
According to AAA, prices have fallen 34 cents since this time last month and are approaching prices seen last year. At this time last year, the average cost of a gallon of gas in Maryland was $3.34 per gallon.
The national average has also fallen to 15.8 cents per gallon in the last week.
The head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, Patrick De Haan, is expecting even further price reductions.
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December 5, 2022 at 11:55 am
Residents of Maryland have an additional 24 months to obtain their REAL IDs, a document that will be necessary to board domestic flights and enter certain federal buildings, after the Department of Homeland Security on Monday extended the enforcement deadline to May 7, 2025.
Officials said the extension is needed, in part, because of lingering problems from COVID-19 that caused backlogs in state agencies charged with issuing driver’s licenses.
Precautions in many states included automatically extending expiration dates of driver’s licenses and identification cards, and shifting to appointment-only schedules.
In Maryland, 88 percent of licensed drivers and identification card holders — about 4.3 million residents — are REAL ID compliant, well above ...
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December 5, 2022 at 11:49 am
Baltimore, MD – Dec. 4, 2022 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Shaina Devorah Kuritsky, a’h, daughter of Rabbi Dovid Kuritsky and Mrs. Chana Kuritsky, sister of Chana Esther Kleinman, Yaakov Kuritsky, Chashy Kuritsky, Avrohom Dovid Fried, Yechiel Kuritsky, Zecharia Kuritsky, and Elchonon Kuritsky.
Shiva will be observed through Friday afternoon at 3923 Clarinth Road, Baltimore, MD , 21215.
Minyanim:
Shacharis: 7:00AM
Mincha/Maariv: 4:25PM
Bila Hamaves Lanetzach...
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December 5, 2022 at 11:48 am
Baltimore, MD – Dec. 2, 2022 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Mr. Avraham Dov Wolfish z’l, father of Chaim (Shani) Wolfish.Shiva through Wednesday morning, Dec. 7, is being observed at 3108 Hatton Rd, Baltimore, MD, 21208 Minyanim Monday through Wednesday AM 6:45am Shacharis
Mincha/Maariv 4:30pm
Bila Hamaves Lanetzach...
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December 5, 2022 at 11:21 am
A Jewish man and his son were shot at with a BB gun while leaving a kosher supermarket in Staten Island, New York City on Sunday afternoon.
The father and his 7-year old son were standing outside the Island Kosher grocery store when they were shot at by a passing Ford Mustang. The incident is being investigated by the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Face, the New York Daily News reported.
The visibly Jewish father and son were outside the store at around 4:20 p.m. when the driver of the Mustang fired several pellets from his gun at them. One of the pellets grazed the boy’s ear and hit the father in the chest.
After firing at them, the Mustang fled west. According to police, it did not have any license plates.
The two victims received minor injuries and were treated at the ...
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December 5, 2022 at 11:15 am
The United Torah Judaism party signed a coalition agreement with the Likud Monday morning, Israel Hayom reported, bringing Opposition Leader and Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu closer to completing the formation of a new government.
Negotiators for the two sides met for nearly 12 hours overnight in marathon talks to achieve a breakthrough, after negotiations hit an impasse last week.
With the new agreement, the Likud has secured the backing of four of its five right-wing allies, leaving only the haredi Shas party to sign an agreement.
Earlier Monday morning, the full coalition agreement between the Likud and the Religious Zionist Party was released, showing that MK Bezalel Smotrich will be appointed Interior Minister mid-way through the government’s term, aft...
