Baltimore, MD – Mar. 26, 2024 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Yitzy & Nechama Tendler on the birth of a daughter.
Mazel Tov to grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Hillel Tendler and Dr. & Mrs. Yossi Leider
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בתם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
Baltimore, MD – Mar. 26, 2024 – (WBALTV) The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed overnight due to a ship strike, as reported by the Maryland Transportation Authority. The collapse occurred around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, affecting the 1.6-mile bridge that carried the Baltimore Beltway/Interstate 695 over the Patapsco River. Video footage online depicts the entire structure breaking apart and collapsing. Multiple agencies, including the Coast Guard and dive teams, are involved in searching for potential survivors.
Alternate routes suggested include Interstate 95/Fort McHenry Tunnel and Interstate 895/Baltimore Harbor Tunnel. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski are coordinating emergency responses, with assistance from various local and state p...
Hamas announced on Monday night that it has decided to reject the new proposal for a deal to release hostages.
An official statement published by the terrorist organization said that "a short time ago we informed the mediators that the organization sticks to its position that was conveyed on March 14. Israel's response did not meet any of our basic demands - a comprehensive ceasefire, withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the return of the displaced and an exchange of prisoners."
"Netanyahu and his extremist government bear full responsibility for the failure of the negotiation efforts," Hamas said.
An Israeli official said on Sunday night that Israel had agreed to release 700 terrorists jailed in Israel in exchange for the release of 40 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
Analyst...
Baltimore, MD – Mar. 25, 2024 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Yaakov Kerchner (Silver Spring) & Faygie Smith (Baltimore) on their engagement!
Mazel Tov to Shimon & Reva Smith
יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
Washington, D.C. — Today, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (Orthodox Union), the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, repudiated the Biden Administration’s abstention from voting on a resolution at the United Nations Security Council addressing the war between Israel and Hamas.
The leadership of the Orthodox Union stated:
"The Biden Administration has been uniquely supportive of Israel’s war against Hamas for much of the past 5 months, but it’s abstention at the U.N. Security Council today undermines Israel’s effort to defeat Hamas, a goal the White House says it shares with Israel, and perpetuates the UN’s moral equivalence between Hamas and Israel."
Nathan Diament, Executive Director of Public Policy at ...
Baltimore, MD- Mar. 25, 2024 - (FOX45) Supporters of Marilyn Mosby are petitioning President Joe Biden for a pardon after her conviction on perjury and mortgage fraud charges. Mosby falsely claimed a COVID-related financial hardship to withdraw funds from her retirement account and was found guilty of federal mortgage fraud related to a vacation home purchase in Florida. While her sentencing is pending, her supporters argue she was unfairly prosecuted. Legal experts doubt the likelihood of a pardon, given historical trends and political considerations. Additionally, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to cover Mosby's expenses, despite her being declared indigent and represented by a public defender. Mosby faces potential prison sentences for her convictions.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered a statement explaining the Biden Administration's decision to abstain on, rather than veto, a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan today (Monday).
Blinken stated, "Today, the United States abstained on UN Security Council resolution 2728. This abstention, which comes on the heels of the Russian and Chinese veto of our comprehensive draft resolution in the Council, reaffirms the U.S. position that a ceasefire of any duration come as part of an agreement to release hostages in Gaza. While we do not agree with all provisions included in this text, adjustments made by the resolution’s sponsors over recent days are consistent with our principled position that any ceasefire text must be ...
A New York appeals court on Monday temporarily stopped the clock on the looming enforcement of a multimillion-dollar judgment against former President Trump and his company over deceitful business practices.
In a terse order, a state appeals court panel said it would pause the enforcement of the $464 million judgment against Trump, the Trump Organization and top executives, plus interest, if within ten days they post a $175 million bond.
The pause comes after Trump’s lawyers admitted Monday that, despite “diligent efforts,” it would be “impossible” for the former president to secure a full appeals bond due to lack of cash on hand.Read more on The Hill
The US did not use its veto against a UN Security Council Resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during the month of Ramadan and calling for the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas, allowing the resolution to pass. The US did veto a second Russian-sponsored resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire.
The first resolution passed with 14 votes in favor and one abstention, from the US.
US Ambassador to the UN Thomas-Greenfield said that the decision not to use America's veto was made after multiple changes were made to the resolution that America had sought. However, multiple changes the US had sought were not included, such as a section condemning the Hamas terrorist organization.
The resolution is not legally binding.Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjami...
Baltimore, MD - Mar. 25, 2024 - Host Rabbi Zvi Goldberg and guest Rabbi Dovid Heber will review fascinating insights into this rare celestial occurrence. The discussion will include:
• An explanation of what happens during an eclipse
• Whether one should recite a bracha when seeing one
• What the Gemara has to say about eclipses
• Why the Chofetz Chaim zt"l instructed the residents of Radin to view a solar eclipse
• &nb...
It has been cleared for publication that in recent months, Iranian agents have been attempting to smuggle weapons, including advanced arms originating from Iran, into Judea and Samaria with the intention of carrying out terror acts against Israel.
The Iranian agents responsible for these efforts include Division 4000, *the Special Operations Department of the Intelligence Organization of the Revolutionary Guard (IRGC), headed by Jawad Rafari, as well as the Special Operations Unit in the Quds Force on Syrian Soil (18840), operating under the head of Unit 840, Asghar Bakhari.
The operation was exposed and thwarted by the ISA and IDF while investigating detained Palestinian operatives who had attempted terrorist attacks against Israeli targets. Investigations revealed information about the...
Baltimore, MD - Mar. 25, 2024 - Gasoline prices in Baltimore have increased by 2.9 cents per gallon in the past week, with prices 22 cents higher than a month ago and 24 cents higher than a year ago. Nationally, diesel prices rose by 2 cents per gallon to $4.02. Patrick De Haan from GasBuddy attributes these hikes to attacks on Russian oil refiners, warning of potential global ripple effects. The cheapest gas in Baltimore was $3.23/g, while the most expensive was $3.89/g. Nationally, gas prices rose by 6.4 cents per gallon in the past week to $3.51/g, up 27 cents from a month ago and 8.7 cents from a year ago.
A three-mile long Maryland Transportation Authority project is set to begin this week.
The MDTA said various repairs and rehabilitation work will happen on the Beltway from the Broening Highway Interchange to just west of the Sparrows Point exit. Throughout construction, at least one lane of the Beltway will be open at all times, according to the MDTA. Drivers should anticipate a delay between five to 10 minutes, especially during rush hours.
Phase one of the project, which is set to start this week, will include reducing traffic to one lane in each direction south of MD 157 and north of MD 151.
The construction includes replacing a section of pavement near the Peninsula Expressway underpass, repair of backwalls, repairs at six bridges crossing Bear Creek and the Tradepoint At...
Baltimore, MD - Mar. 25, 2024 - Baltimore City officials have postponed work to upgrade two Pratt Street intersections downtown.
The work on the intersections would have installed ramps to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines.
On March 24, the city’s transportation department said the normal roadway conditions at the two intersections will remain in place until further notice.
No reason was given for the delay.
This report will be updated.
Shayetet 13 Company Commander LTC A. summed up the IDF's activities in Shifa Hospital in Gaza which have entered their sixth day.
"In a special operation, we raided Shifa Hospital in Gaza. The operation was launched after we received precise intelligence regarding the return of terrorists and the renewed use of the hospital as a site for the consolidation of power by the Hamas terror organization." the commander stated.
"During the raid, we found a large amount of weapons hidden among medical supplies and patients and displaced civilians in the hospital. During the operation, we separated the patients and displaced civilians and the terrorists," he added.
IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari said overnight that so far, 170 terrorists were neutralized in or around the hospital compound wh...
Former President Donald Trump could find out Monday how New York state aims to collect over $457 million he owes in his civil business fraud case, even as he appeals the verdict that led to the gargantuan debt.
After state Attorney General Letitia James won the judgment, she didn't seek to enforce it during a legal time-out for Trump to ask an appeals court for a reprieve from paying up.
That period ends Monday, though James could decide to allow Trump more time. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee has been trying to avoid having to post a bond for the entire sum in order to hold off collection while he appeals, but courts so far have said no.
James, a Democrat, told ABC News last month that if Trump doesn't have the money to pay, she would seek to s...
An Israeli official said Sunday night that Israel has expressed agreement to release 700 terrorists jailed in Israel in exchange for the release of 40 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
Analyst Barak Ravid reported that of the 700 terrorists, about 100 are serving life sentences for serious acts of terror which they carried out.
Israel rejected a similar offer proposed by the Qatari brokers several weeks ago, but Hamas at the time was demanding a significantly higher number of terrorists serving life sentences in Israel.
It was also reported that the Israeli agreement followed pressure by the head of the CIA in talks held in Qatar over the weekend.
According to the official, Israel also agreed to discuss a US proposal to allow Gazans to return to northern Gaza after the hostages are relea...
Baltimore, MD – Mar. 24, 2024 – Purim 5784 - A frantic reader sent BJL this note and asked that we post a PSA about traffic rules also applying on Purim. The reader writes: “Just saw a child almost run over by a guy making a right from the left-hand lane; I've seen too many close calls today.”Also, people should not be stopping cars in the middle of traffic to collect funds....Please, please, please be extremely careful _________Join an official BJL WhatsApp group: bit.ly/2Qpdea2Join BJL status: bit.ly/32HUBnJ
Hundreds of residents of the Dolev area in the Binyamin region made their way this morning to the intersection where the shooting attack against an Israeli minibus took place on Friday to read the Book of Esther - one of the commandments of the holiday of Purim.
During the attack, IDF Sergeant Major Ilay Garfinkel was killed in action and six more soldiers were injured. The incident lasted for nearly 5 hours, during which residents of the nearby towns were forbidden from driving on the roads and the town of Dolev was entirely cut off.
The reading was planned by representatives of the nearby towns and Binyamin governor Israel Ganz.
Ganz stated: “Now as then, our enemies are attempting to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children (Esther ...
"Hard disagree," said Democratic Senator from Pennsylvania John Fetterman, reacting to the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken comment on Israel's potential isolation if the military advances with the Rafah operation plan.
"Israel shouldn’t face isolation when Hamas terrorists are still present and hiding behind civilians," read Fetterman's post on X (formerly Twitter).
He added that "Hamas owns this humanitarian catastrophe and must surrender, release the hostages NOW, or be eliminated."
Senator Fetterman, labeled as a "political anomaly," emerged as a political warrior for the Jewish state, but has shown probably the most visible support for Israel since the October 7 attack. In November, he displayed posters of Hamas' hostages in front ...
