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November 19, 2023 at 4:13 pm
The day after Simchas Torah, I wrote an article about Levi, a bochur from Yeshiva Ateres Shmuel in Waterbury, who was called up to serve in the IDF on Simchas Torah as this terrible war was just beginning. As the word spread in yeshiva during hakafos the community and yeshiva gathered around Levi who was clutching a sefer torah, singing acheinu as well as others songs.
The article made its rounds at that point. But the story of Levi continues to inspire.
Last week Levi’s rebbe, Rabbi Chaim Bernstein, traveled to Eretz Yisroel. Rabbi Bernstein was going to help out the community of Ofakim, which he had raised funds for. He called Levi’s mother asking if there's anything he could bring or do for Levi. His mother said "Levi just wants to learn with you”.
On Levi&rsqu...
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November 19, 2023 at 3:25 pm
Rosalynn Carter, former first lady and wife to President Jimmy Carter, has died. She was 96 years old.
Carter was known for her work in her duties as first lady, as well as in the charitable work she participated in long after her husband left the Oval Office. She was active in various philanthropic causes, including mental illness, homelessness, and human rights.
Born Eleanor Rosalynn Smith in Plains, Georgia, in 1927, Carter grew up in a small town, working with her mother to help out the family after her father died of cancer when she was 13 years old. Carter attended Georgia Southwestern College (now part of Georgia Southwestern State University). While in college, she began dating Jimmy Carter, who was home from the U.S. Naval Academy. Also from Plains, Jimmy Carter met Rosalynn lon...
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November 19, 2023 at 1:48 pm
The members of the War Cabinet were ordered to rush to an emergency meeting at the IDF Central Headquarters in Tel Aviv amid reports of the progression of a possible deal to free hostages from Hamas captivity. The meeting, which was supposed to begin at 9:00 p.m., was made earlier to 8:00 p.m.
According to a report by Channel 12, an Israeli official confirmed that the meeting was scheduled for earlier because of a possible hostage deal.
Earlier today, Deputy National Security Advisor of the United States Jonathan Finer told CNN that while the distance between the sides has gotten smaller, a deal has yet to be reached to bring back the hostages.
The Washington Post reported on Saturday night that Israel, the US and Hamas have agreed to a tentative deal that would free dozens of...
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November 19, 2023 at 1:29 pm
Two verses from the Torah portion we read on Shabbat morning explain concisely our way of acting in the world and, by contrast, the way of our enemies.The first verse simply describes what the Palestinians do: “And all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of Avraham his father — the Philistines stuffed them up and filled them with earth.”The Philistines stopped up with earth the wells that Avraham, Yitzchak’s father, had dug. It’s not just that our enemies don’t build or do anything positive for themselves; they destroy what we have built. They could have transformed Gaza into Singapore and instead chose to bring misery to themselves and horrible suffering to us. How symbolic is the image of a stuffed up well since this action d...
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November 19, 2023 at 12:21 pm
The names of three IDF soldiers who fell during the war with the Hamas terrorist organization were cleared for publication today (Sunday) after their families were notified.
The fallen soldiers were identified as
-First Sergeant Yakir Biton, a 34-year-old resident of Jerusalem, who served in the 8717th Battalion, 261st Brigade.
-Sergeant Major Rani Tahan, a 40-year-old resident of Sde Nehemia, who served in the 8717th Battalion, 261st Brigade.
-Major Chen Yahalom, a 35-year-old resident of Kfar Azar, who served in the 8159th Battalion of the Artillery Corps
Biton and Tahan were killed in battle with Hamas terrorists in Gaza on Saturday. Yahalom was killed in a car accident while on his way back from Gaza.
On Saturday night, the IDF announced the deaths of six...
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November 19, 2023 at 12:20 pm
IDF soldiers of the Paratroopers Brigade, together with the Armored Corps, Engineering Corps and the Israeli Air Force, operated in the Sheikh Ijlin and Rimal areas in order to identify and destroy Hamas infrastructure and assets. During the operations, the soldiers located approximately 35 tunnel shafts as well as a large number of weapons and eliminated terrorists.
Additionally, the soldiers operated in a Hamas military base belonging to the terrorist organization’s military intelligence unit. During the operation, IDF soldiers located ammunition depots and seven rocket launchers.
Embedded in the Rimal area are the residences of senior Hamas officials, who took control of the buildings in the area to conduct and direct terrorist activities. Military posts and Hamas infrastructure...
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November 19, 2023 at 12:20 pm
The IDF Spokesperson has responded to reports that an Israeli cargo ship was hijacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. "The hijacking of a cargo ship by the Houthis near Yemen in the southern Red Sea is a very grave incident of global consequence. The ship departed Turkey on its way to India, staffed by civilians of various nationalities, not including Israelis. It is not an Israeli ship." the military stated.
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November 19, 2023 at 12:20 pm
The Saudi news station al-Hadath reported that Houthi rebels in Yemen had hijacked the "Israeli cargo ship" Galaxy Leader, which was sailing in the Arabian Gulf. According to the report, there were 22 crew members on board. No additional sources have confirmed the report. The Houthi military spokesman is promising a statement in the coming hours.
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November 19, 2023 at 12:19 pm
The IDF has cleared for publication that based on IDF and ISA intelligence, IDF troops exposed a 55-meter-long terror tunnel 10 meters deep underneath the Shifa Hospital complex.
A deep staircase leads to the entrance of the tunnel shaft, which consists of various defense means, including a blast-proof door and a firing hole. This type of door is used by the Hamas terrorist organization to block Israeli forces from entering the command centers and the underground assets belonging to Hamas.
The tunnel shaft was uncovered in the area of the hospital underneath a shed alongside a vehicle containing numerous weapons, including RPGs, explosives, and Kalashnikov rifles.
IDF and ISA forces are continuing to uncover the route of the tunnel.
"The findings clearly prove that numerous buildings i...
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November 19, 2023 at 10:49 am
Baltimore, MD – Nov. 19, 2023 – Starting today, Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim is beginning a new Mincha Minyan every Sunday at 12:30 PM.
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November 19, 2023 at 10:43 am
When my son was a young boy, he would wipe off our kisses. As hard as that is for a parent, we tried to respect his boundaries, and hoped that he would grow out if. The years came and went, and we couldn’t kiss him, stroke him or show too much overt physical affection.
He never said, “I love you.” But he did love us, and we didn’t need to hear the words to know how he felt.
At some point in his early teens, I struck a deal with him. Each year, I would take my kids to the side on the eve of Yom Kippur, give them a special blessing, and tell them how proud I was of how they used the unique gifts with which each was bestowed.
He reluctantly assented that at that time, once a year, I could give him a kiss. For years, I waited for that one special moment when I could ...
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November 19, 2023 at 10:29 am
Jeruslem, Israel – Nov. 19, 2023 – While in Yerushalayim for the Mir Yeshiva’s annual Yarchei Kallah, Rabbi Moshe haKohein Rappaport made sure to take time out to give brachos to chayalei tzvah hagana l’Yisrael.
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November 19, 2023 at 9:57 am
President Isaac Herzog today, Sunday, released a special message of hope and unity to Jewish communities around the world. The message follows the President’s special address broadcast live to the hundreds of thousands of participants in the March for Israel demonstration, which took place in Washington DC last week, and against a background of a dramatic and worrying rise in antisemitic attacks around the world. In the message the President stressed, “This is not only a war between Israel and Hamas. Israel may be fighting on the ground, but it is fighting the battle of the entire civilized world. We are determined to stand up to this evil.”He added, “In the wake of the massacres, we have seen a terrifying surge of antisemitism throughout the world. This fact has ex...
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November 19, 2023 at 9:47 am
Baltimore, MD – Nov. 19, 2023 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Mrs. Tziporah Heimowitz, sister of HaRav Moshe Mintz
Shiva will be observed through Friday afternoon at 401 Yeshiva Lane, Apt. 3-C.
Shacharis 7:15am - Nichum Aveilim from 10am-12pm.
Mincha 2:30pm - Nichum Aveilim from 4pm-5:30pm.
Maariv 8pm - Nichum Aveilim until 9pm.
Bila Hamaves LaNetzach...
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November 19, 2023 at 9:44 am
Baltimore, MD – Nov 19, 2023 - A spokesman for BGE told BJL, "I'm sure the area indeed still smells of gas. Please assure the community it has been mitigated and is safe. The smell will go away. The crew believes the box that was hit will likely take 2 months to repair."
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November 18, 2023 at 8:00 pm
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott on Saturday afternoon formally announced that he is running for reelection in 2024.
Scott held a campaign event at the Cahill Recreation Center in west Baltimore, where he spoke in front of supporters to make the announcement.
“Residents of Baltimore deserve a mayor who is going to do the right thing, not just sometimes, not just when they think no one is looking, but every single, solitary time,” Scott said. “Even when it’s not popular. Even when it will hurt their political career. Even when folks are yelling and screaming and calling you every name but the name your mama gave you.”
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November 18, 2023 at 7:50 pm
Following are Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks at the press conference this evening (Saturday, 18 November 2023), with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Minister Benny Gantz, at the Kirya in Tel Aviv [translated from Hebrew]:
"I would like to open with heartfelt condolences to the families of our heroic soldiers who have fallen in the Gaza Strip. We all embrace the families with boundless love and we all salute the fallen heroes. They fought for us all, to defend our home, and thanks to them our lives are assured. May their memories be blessed and may G-d avenge them.
Today I also saw the march of the hostages' families. I would like to tell the hostages' families: We are marching with you. I am marching with you. The entire people of Israel are marchi...
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November 18, 2023 at 7:19 pm
Baltimore, MD - Nov. 17, 2023:
Dear Friends, We have each other and we must treasure each other. For the nation that dwells alone and has had good reason to feel alone, Monday and Tuesday were days of incredible strength and hope. On both days, we rallied together in the hundreds of thousands and reminded ourselves that we are never alone because Hashem is with us and because we stand together with and for each other. On the National Mall on Tuesday, it was reassuring to hear governmental and faith leaders speak with perfect moral clarity in support of our people. It made us feel less alone. But it was even more impactful to see the massive gathering of Jews and to stand with hundreds of thousands expressing our shared commitment to the future of Israel, to our ability to li...
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November 18, 2023 at 7:18 pm
Baltimore, MD – Nov. 13, 2023 - It is with deep regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Jaquelyn Levine, a’h, mother of Isobel (Zev) Griner.
The graveside levayah will be 10 AM on Wednesday, November 15 at King David Memorial Gardens, 2714 Hollywood Road, Falls Church, VA 22043.
Shiva Information:
Isobel will sit shiva Wednesday following the funeral at her brother's home,12 Debra Ct, Potomac.
She will sit shiva in Baltimore at her home, 3305 Northbrook Road, from Thursday, November 16, until the following Tuesday morning, November 21. Visiting times are 10am-1pm and 4pm-8pm. Friday:10am-1pm only. Motzei Shabbos:7-9pm.
There will be no minyanim.
Bila Hamaves LaNetzach...
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November 18, 2023 at 7:17 pm
Amid an ongoing shortage of nirsevimab, an RSV immunization for young children, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that more than 77,000 additional doses will be distributed "immediately."
These doses will be going to doctor's offices and hospitals through the CDC's Vaccines for Children Program and commercial channels, according to Thursday's announcement.
Nirsevimab, marketed as Beyfortus, is a long-acting monoclonal antibody administered as an injection to protect infants against severe illness from respiratory syncytial virus or RSV infections, which are the leading cause of hospitalization in infants.
"Helping to ensure the availability of this preventative option to reduce the impact of RSV disease on elig...