The House on Wednesday night passed a bipartisan bill to suspend the debt ceiling, overcoming vocal opposition from conservative and liberal lawmakers and bringing the country one step closer to avoiding an economy-rattling default ahead of next week’s deadline. The legislation — which was crafted through negotiations between President Biden, Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and their designees — cleared the chamber in a bipartisan 314-117 vote and now heads to the Senate, where leaders are hoping for swift consideration as the default deadline looms. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned that the U.S. could run out of cash to pay its bills by June 5, a situation that would plunge the country into its first-ever default — w...
Baltimore, MD - May 31, 2023 - Giant Food, a grocery store chain with 165 locations in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and Washington D.C., is taking protective measures in response to a significant increase in theft and violence, according to FOX45. Measures include limiting store entrances, hiring security guards, reducing the availability of high-cost items, restricting the quantity of items taken to self-checkout stands, and using secure containers for certain items. President Ira Kress stated theft has grown tenfold in five years and violence has increased exponentially, prompting these safety measures. Despite the potential inconvenience to customers, Kress insists these steps are necessary for the business to operate safely and profitably. This reflects a broader problem in ret...
Maryland drivers filling up at the pumps could feel a bigger pinch on their wallets when the state's gas tax increases in July. On July 1, the state tax rate on a gallon of gas will increase to 47 cents per gallon, according to a report published on the state comptroller's website last week. The spike marks a 10 percent increase compared to the current rate, according to a report by Maryland Matters, and is expected to add about 65 cents to the total cost of filling a 15-gallon gas tank. On Wednesday, the average price for a gallon of gas in Maryland was $3.49. A year ago the state average was $4.59 per gallon. Owners of diesel-powered vehicles will also see a similar spike on July 1 when the state tax increases from nearly 43.5 cents per gallon to alm...
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Wednesday, 31 May 2023), paid a condolence call in Bnei Brak to the family of the late Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, ZT'L, the leader of the Lithuanian public, President of the Degel Hatorah Council of Torah Sages, and President of the Vaad Hayeshivot.Prime Minister Netanyahu told the family and students of Rabbi Edelstein:"This is a very great loss. He made a very great impression on me. This is not lip service on my part; he spoke from the depths of his heart about his commitment to education. I think he saw it as the basis for everything."The Prime Minister added:"A man of his stature, it was a privilege to talk with him. Every minute you, his students, were with him was a great privilege. With G-d's help, you should not know any more sorro...
Baltimore, MD - May 31, 2023  -  During the first round of budget hearings, the Baltimore City Council reviewed spending from the American Rescue Plan. City leaders testified that the over $600 million received has been fully allocated, with some agencies, like the fire department, receiving no funding, a fact Councilman Isaac "Yitzy" Schleifer found disturbing, reports WBAL. Questions were also raised regarding the Department of Public Works (DPW), especially why weekly recycling hasn't resumed and why new groups like Clean Corps are receiving $15 million in funding. The DPW will hold a budget meeting on Wednesday night to address these issues.
It was her brother’s active faith that inspired Carol Black to recommit as an adult to being a practicing Jew several years ago, and their shared commitment brought them to the Tree of Life synagogue on the October 2018 day it was attacked. Testifying on the second day of the trial of the man who carried out the deadliest antisemitic attack in US history, Black told jurors Wednesday about how she and others in her New Light congregation heard loud noises as they started Sabbath services. They soon realized it was gunfire, so some of them hid in a storage room. “I just remained calm…I thought by remaining calm, I would not give my position away,” she testified in the Pittsburgh federal courtroom. Black, 71, recalled how she remained hidden even as she sa...
Baltimore, MD - May 31, 2023 - Starting July 1, recreational marijuana will be legal in Maryland, prompting Baltimore County to adjust its systems accordingly, according to WBALTV. The existing Medical Cannabis Act will be updated to apply to recreational sales, entailing adjustments to county code and zoning regulations. As part of these changes, the term 'medical' will be removed from current code and zoning regulations. Restrictions remain in place for dispensaries near schools or daycares and the required distance between dispensaries will be reduced from 2,500 to 1,000 feet, following new state regulations. The bill awaits its final reading and vote on June 5, with council members expressing concerns over the rapid pace of changes.
“Naso es rosh bnei Gershon – Count (lift) the sons of Gershon” (Bamidbar 4:22). In a sense, we are all the Bnei Gershon. Rav Gershon Edelstein, the manhig hador, was niftar, leaving Klal Yisroel utterly bereft. We all need to be lifted. It is nearly impossible to fathom Rav Gershon‘s uninterrupted decades of learning, from the time he was ten. Nor can we comprehend how he taught and disseminated Torah every day for the past 80 years, including the day before he was niftar. Of this, we have no concept. However, there is one aspect of his life from which we may be able to glean. He knew the secret of the Bnei Gershon. Passed over by the family of Kehos, who spearheaded the avodah of the Mishkon, the family of Gershon, the firstborn of Levi, refused to be denied. The...
Baltimore, MD - May 31, 2023 - Maryland's Department of Transportation is facing network problems, affecting real-time MTA bus and mobility services as well as causing system issues at the MVA. For missed or scheduled Mobility trips, call 410-591-5611 and leave a voicemail.
Baltimore, Md - May 31, 2023 - To honor the life and legacy of Harav Hgaon Gershon Edelstein zt'l, Mishpacha had a 'stop the presses' situation. This week's Mishpacha will include a 16 page supplement dedicated to the life and Torah of the Gadol Hador. Please expect newsstand magazines and home deliveries in your area to be slightly delayed this week. Thank you for understanding.
Baltimore, MD - May 31, 2023 – (BJL) Following the widespread sharing of a this graphic, BJL has been asked by many community members to verify the status of Colgate Disposable Toothbrushes. The Star-K has confirmed that this product is not Kosher, with the presence of gelatin (among the other non-Kosher ingredients included) serving as an indicator. Star-K does not recommend its use. It's worth noting that this product is different from regular toothpaste and seemingly similar products.
Baltimore, MD - May 31, 2023  - Today at 2:45PM Moreinu HaRav Aharon Feldman, shlita, will deliver Divrei Hesped on HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein, ZTL. To view livestream, click here: https://nirc.edu/stream/
Jerusalem, Israel - May 31, 2023 - Chaim V’Chessed has reported extensively on the challenges involved in obtaining services at the US Embassy in Israel. Prior to the Pesach travel season, a sudden change in policy discontinued  emergency appointments for newborns. At the time, there was a communal outcry,  which led to the involvement of numerous public officials in the matter. Several U.S. legislators, including ranking members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Senators Richard Blumenfeld (D-CT), Robert Menedez (D-NY) and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), headed efforts with the State Department to rectify the situation.  At the time, the immediate pre-Pesach crisis was resolved. However, the overall state of affairs for American citizens in Israel r...
Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, one of the Charedi  leaders, passed away yesterday at the age of 100. I remember after the great Rabbi Steinman passed away (at the age of 103), a meeting was held in which Rabbi Edelstein was supposed to give his first address as Rabbi Steinman's successor. There was enormous anticipation as to what Rabbi Edelstein's goals and mission would be. In his usual manner, he unfolded a small piece of paper and proceeded to give his list of priorities. He said we needed to fight our enemies but did not mention politics or laws before the Knesset. Instead, he saw the utmost urgency in curbing anger, eliminating lashon hara (insulting speech) and envy, and increasing acts of kindness. The audience was surprised, although whoever was acquainted with Rabbi Edel...
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is expected to launch another campaign for the Republican nomination for president next week in New Hampshire. Christie is planning to make the announcement at a town hall Tuesday evening at Saint Anselm College's New Hampshire Institute of Politics, according to a person familiar with his thinking who spoke on condition of anonymity to confirm Christie's plans. The news was first reported by Axios. Christie, a former federal prosecutor, was a longtime friend of former President Donald Trump and adviser but seemed to stop after Trump's refusal to accept the results of the 2020 elections. Christie also sought the GOP nomination in 2016 and dropped out of that race a day after finishing sixth in New Hampshire's...
Baltimore, Maryland – May 31, 2023 – 4:58AM - Commuters are advised to avoid the 2600 block of Smith Avenue (near Cherokee) due to a fire incident that occurred earlier this morning. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported as the two occupants of the affected home managed to evacuate safely.Local fire services are currently at the scene and efforts are ongoing to clear the area and restore normalcy as soon as possible.                                                                                   ...
Baltimore, MD – May 29, 2023 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Eli Taragin (Baltimore) & Aviva Itskowitz (Pittsburgh) on their engagement. Mazel Tov Ari & Esti Taragin   יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
Mortgage rates are beginning to feel the impact of the debt-ceiling standoff, jumping higher for the second week in a row amid the uncertainty. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.57% in the week ending May 25, up from 6.39% the week before, according to data from Freddie Mac released Thursday. A year ago, the 30-year fixed-rate was 5.10%. “The U.S. economy is showing continued resilience which, combined with debt ceiling concerns, led to higher mortgage rates this week,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. Mortgage rates topped 5% for the first time since 2011 a little more than a year ago and have remained over 5% for all but one week during the past year. Since then they have gone as high as 7.08%, last reached in November. Since mid-Mar...
Elon Musk said Tuesday he was willing to expand his business in China, as he met Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Beijing on his first trip to the country in over three years. China is the world’s biggest electric vehicle market and Musk’s company Tesla announced in April it would build a second massive factory in Shanghai. Musk said he was “willing to continue to expand its business in China", according to a foreign ministry readout in which he also reportedly stressed Tesla’s opposition to economic “decoupling" with the United States. Qin told Musk that China was “committed to creating a better market-oriented, rule-of-law-based and internationalised business environment" for foreign enterprises, the ministry said on its website. The two countries, Qin...
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