Let’s listen in to Rabbi Pinchas Juravel of Kof-K Kosher, as he explains some of the key facts behind kasher l’pesach coffee and to tea to Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger.
Baltimore, MD - Mar. 17, 2023 - The claim to fame of the Jewish people is so much more than just our ability to make "good chicken sandwiches." We were given the secret recipe to be able to live a life of great purpose, meaning, and vitality. Tune in to this week's episode of The Torah Sparks Podcast to find out more about this secret and to hear a play on words on a play on words for "When Adar enters, we increase in joy." Click here to listen
Baltimore, MD – Mar. 17, 2023 – 8:39AM - Use caution at the intersection of Park Heights and Old Court due to an open manhole cover.
After a full accounting of all the donations that were given and of the various materials and vessels that were constructed, was concluded, the Torah describes the details for the actual setup of the Mishkan. Targum Yonoson reveals how each of the vessels correspond to four divisions of our people. The wealthy who are provided with the means to distribute their bounty to others are symbolized in the Table upon which the Showbread were placed, twelve specifically, alluding to the twelve tribes. The Elevation-offering Altar symbolizes the offerings they distribute to the poor. The Menorah reflects on the righteous who illuminate the world with their protective merit. The Gold Altar, whose incense gives off an exquisite scent, reminiscent of the Torah scholars' wisdom that enthuses o...
Numerous Parshios are devoted to the creation and fabrication of the Mishkan and its utensils. The details contained in these Torah portions are not simply the architectural framework for this sacred space and its vessels; these details contain the roadmap for successful, enriched, and meaningful living. Betzalel made the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. And he overlaid it with pure gold from inside and from outside, and he made for it a golden crown all around (Exodus 37:1-2).” The Talmud (Yerushalmi Shekalim 6:1) explains that the Ark was unique in its construction. It was comprised of three separate boxes. The innermost box was made of gold, the larger one which held it (the inner one) was made of wood, and...
Newly released FBI data found that hate crimes were at a record high in the United States in 2021, revealing a dangerous pattern not seen in over two decades. The number of reported anti-Jewish hate crimes rose from 683 in 2020 to 817 in 2021, and comprised slightly more than half of all religion-based hate crimes in 2021, consistent with FBI data from prior years. There were also 109 antisemitic assaults reported, a 16 percent increase from 2020. Overall, antisemitic incidents increased 19.6 percent. The Anti-Defamation League (AD), reacting to the overall data – which recorded 10,840 incidents in 2021, the highest in more than 20 years – said that the updated tally gives a “complete picture of hate crimes in America” which is a more accurate representation of th...
Baltimore, MD – Mar. 16, 2023 - Manischewitz Vegetable Soup Mix with Mushrooms Lot H2060 with a best buy date of 03 01 2024 has been found to be infested and should not be used.
Rabbi Yonah Sklare is a Rosh Kollel in Baltimore, MD as well as Magid Shiur at Congregation Shomrei Emunah. His refreshingly creative approach to learning as well as his captivating presentation style, have attracted a diverse and beloved following. He lectures at numerous local institutions, including Women’s Institute of Torah Seminary, as well as out of town and online. Rabbi Sklare received semichah and his PhD in Talmudic Law from Ner Israel Rabbinical College. He can be reached at rabbisklare@gmail.com.
Two commanders of local branches of the Islamic Jihad and Hamas terrorist groups were killed in clashes with Israeli forces in Jenin on Thursday. The two killed were identified as Nidal Hazem, a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement's al-Quds Brigades and the commander of the Baha Force unit, and Youssef Shreim, a member of Hamas's al-Qassam Brigades. A third individual identified as Omar Awadin and a fourth individual were killed amid the clashes as well and 20 others were wounded. The IDF, Shin Bet and Border Police announced after the raid that they had assassinated Hazem and an additional member of the Islamic Jihad movement named Youssef Abu Ashrin. Abu Ashrin has not been reported as one of those killed in Palestinian reports and it is uncl...
The Maryland House of Delegates and Senate will be voting on Governor Moore’s state budget.  His budget proposes a $2 million cut (20%) to the BOOST Scholarship Program AND includes a gradual phaseout to totally eliminate this cherished program.Please take a minute to urge your senators and delegates to “fully fund the BOOST program” and to “reject the phaseout language”. Simply fill in your name and address and click send!Please click https://p2a.co/A2XwE2i to email your SENATORPlease click https://p2a.co/C7KisD8 to email your DELEGATES
Baltimore, MD - Mar. 16, 2023 - Please be advised that bottles of La Valentina Trebbiano d'Abbruzzo discovered in Canada bear an unauthorized STAR-K symbol and are not certified by STAR-K. Anyone seeing this wine for sale and bearing a STAR-K symbol is asked to contact STAR-K at once. Corrective action is being taken.
Hundreds of anti-government protesters arrived in the haredi city of Bnei Brak on Thursday morning, heading to a number of locations. A large number of protesters set up a mock recruiting office; others attempted to reach the street where MK Moshe Gafni, one of the heads of the United Torah Judaism party, lives, but police prevented them from doing so. Protesters also headed to the municipality building where they blocked the entrance with barbed wire. Police later removed them. "We have come to transfer the burden of conscription to the haredi population, because if there is a dictatorship here, we will have to come here to conscript soldiers," protesters announced. "We repeat that without democracy there is no people's army." Haredim and haredi MKs are increasingly being targete...
Russia and the United States ratcheted up their confrontational rhetoric Wednesday over a U.S. surveillance drone that encountered Russian warplanes and crashed near Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula, which the Kremlin has illegally annexed. At the same time, the two countries’ defense chiefs opened a dialogue about the incident. The Kremlin said the flight proved again that Washington is directly involved in the fighting in Ukraine and added that Moscow would try to recover the drone’s wreckage from the Black Sea. U.S. officials said the incident showed Russia’s aggressive and risky behavior and pledged to continue their surveillance. Russia has long voiced concern about U.S. surveillance flights near its borders, but Tuesday’s incident signaled Moscow&...
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, this morning (Thursday, 16 March 2023), at Platform 17 in Berlin, held a memorial ceremony for victims of the Holocaust, together with Holocaust survivor Franz Michalski, German Jewish community representatives and members of the delegation. Prime Minister Netanyahu: "I am very moved, Chancellor Scholz, when we both stand here representing the new Germany and the reborn Jewish state. Less than 80 years ago, six weeks before the end of the war, when Berlin was already in ruin, the Nazis sent the last shipment of Jews to be exterminated. Our world has changed. Germany has changed. The Jewish state was reborn. But we know that the calls for the annihilation of our people have not stopped. The main lesson we have lea...
 The U.S. economy that has withstood aggressive interest rate hikes, an oil shock from the war in Ukraine, a labor shortage and stubborn inflation is still facing an uncertain future coming out of the coronavirus pandemic. A strong labor market and signs of slowing inflation have kept the U.S. from falling into a recession despite the Federal Reserve increasing its interest rates at a historically fast pace over the last year to cool the economy. The Fed is trying to navigate a tight line of cooling inflation without tipping to economy into recession and achieving a soft landing. So far, the economy has been able to weather the rapid rate hikes and inflation is down from record highs seen last summer, though is still triple the central bank’s goal of 2%. Wage g...
The food line at the Baltimore Dream Center at MIX Church in East Baltimore is where hunger is met by hope for more than 300 families each week. “We had like a grandmother who had her grandkids. She lost her son and they had absolutely nothing,” said Danielle Darby, “She walked from West North Avenue. That’s at least a 45 minutes to hour walk just to get a box of food.” Food that comes from the Maryland Food Bank. With SNAP benefits returning to pre-pandemic levels, the average benefit has dropped by $82 each month. That’s an estimated 50 meals per family. Food Bank President and CEO Carmen Del Guercio says inflation is also taking its toll on both the hungry and those who are trying to feed them. “Obviously, people are having a hard time mak...
Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby announced in a statement he is seeking reelection. Mosby has held his position since December 2020. His experience at City Hall began as a representative of the west side's 7th District. He held this seat from 2011 to 2016. This news comes after The Board of Ethics found, last May, that City Council President Mosby had violated three ethics rules. A judge ruled that he violated the first and third rule, but said the board erred on the second rule violation. His full statement on his reelection can be found below:
Today, Council President Mosby met with members of the media to discuss a number of issues including his work as City Council President and his plans for the future. During those conversations, he did share his i...
Maryland State Police is warning citizens to be aware of a phone scam involving police impersonators that is currently active in Maryland. Maryland State Police have received reports from citizens advising that callers contact them claiming to be state troopers or police officers. The reports are attempts to gain financial information or money from citizens. The impersonator states they need to obtain information from the caller due to a police investigation or they are asking for a donation to support law enforcement and their families. In some instances, the impersonator will use a real name of a law enforcement officer in an attempt to gain trust of the victim. The Maryland State Police does not call individuals and request money from citizens under any circumstances. Citizens are ur...
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