I am not shy about offering my opinions on a wide array of Jewish and Torah topics, but I do try to leave my personal experiences out of my writings. On occasion, I deviate from this general rule when I feel the individual insight is relevant to the public. For this Parsha, which discusses the rituals which follow childbirth, I am again taking such a liberty. Raising children in today's environment is perhaps more difficult than ever. There was a time not too long ago when parents and their homes were the principal influences on a child's young life. Such is not the case today. In the 1960's, when day school education became the norm for observant families, a large amount of influence was surrendered to our schools and the other children who att...
The Biden administration is canceling student loans for another 206,000 borrowers as part of a new repayment plan that offers a faster route to forgiveness.
The Education Department announced the latest round of cancellations Friday in an update on the progress of its SAVE Plan. More people are becoming eligible for student loan cancellation as they hit 10 years of payments, a new finish line for some loans that's a decade sooner than what borrowers faced in the past.
Casting a shadow over the cancellations, however, are two new lawsuits challenging the plan's legality. Two groups of Republican-led states, fronted by Kansas and Missouri, recently filed federal suits arguing that the Biden administration overstepped its authority in creating the repayment opt...
Quintus Tineius Rufus, also known as Turnus Rufus the Evil, was a Roman governor who challenged the famous Talmudic scholar Rabbi Akiva to debate time and again. The Midrash Tanchuma (Tazria 5) records one of these interesting debates. Turnus Rufus asked Rabbi Akiva, “Which works are more beautiful? Those of the Holy One, blessed be He, or those of flesh and blood?”Let us pause the story right here. Imagine for a moment you are Rabbi Akiva; how would you respond to Turnus Rufus? I don’t know about you, but if I were asked this question, I would respond something along the lines of, “Well, of course the works of G-d are much more beautiful than that of man. What kind of question is that Mr. Rufus. After all, G-d is G-d. He created the entire world, all the trees and ...
Baltimore, MD – Apr. 12, 2024 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to to Rabbi Sholom & Mushki Reindorp on the birth of a daughter.
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בתם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
The Metzora is one who has come up deficient spiritually and is thus afflicted with a type of leprosy. This state is an indication that the healthy lifeforce that naturally breeds robust physical health has been jeopardized by his moral failure which has blocked off that vibrant flow resulting in a partial death of his body, as evidenced in his diseased and rotting flesh.
There are two primary colors associated with the majority of the seventy-two possible signs of these impure skin afflictions governed by the laws of tzara'as, לבנה ואדמדמת— white and red.
The famed 18th century scholar and author of Mesilas Yesharim, Rav Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, reveals that the color white is associated with the impurity of Yishmael, and red with the pollution of Esav.
White i...
Baltimore, MD – Apr. 12, 2024 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Yoel Mayerfeld & Chaya Nelkin on their engagement.
Mazel Tov to parents Yossie & Renee Mayerfeld and Moshe and Gila Nelkin
יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
G-D spoke to Moshe and Aharon, saying: If a man has on the skin of his body: A white blotch or a bright spot …. The Priest shall pronounce him ritually impure, for this discoloration is Tzaraas. (Vayikra 13:1-6)
It was a gift. Not the type of gift that makes you feel loved and appreciated; but the kind of gift that opens your eyes and heart to the realities of life. The gift to which I refer was the gift of Tzaraas (loosely translated as leprosy). Tzaraas was a physical manifestation of a spiritual malady. The Talmud explains that if one spoke Lashon Hara (slander against another), they would be stricken with a strange skin disease. One would have to appear before the kohen (priest) to have the discoloration or blotch examin...
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 11, 2024 Note from Teach MD Community Leaders
Dear Friends,We'd like to inform you of an exciting first step in the fight for nonpublic school transportation funding in Maryland, one of Teach MD's priorities this year. We're thrilled to congratulate and thank legislative champions Delegate Dalya Attar and Senator Shelly Hettleman - who fought for a new pilot program which provides funding for Baltimore and Montgomery Counties, and recently secured half a million dollars for this program! This pilot is a starting point from which we can build towards great impact for day school and yeshiva families. It is a great foot in the door and a major accomplishment! We'd like to thank fellow community members and volunteers who came with Teach ...
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 11, 2024 - The Mishna Berura in O”C 226:2 says that in order to make a Bracha on tree during the month of Nissan, it must be a fruit bearing tree. As such, only trees that bear edible fruit are eligible. Trees that produce inedible fruit, are not eligible to make Birchas Ilanos. Most Cherry Blossom trees (such as the famous Cherry Blossom trees in DC) do not produce any fruit and if they do, it is inedible fruit and therefore, one should not make Birchas Ilanos on Cherry Blossom trees. For further details on this special borcho, please see the following article:
Bracha On a Newly Flowering Tree – Birchas Ha'Ilanos Guidelines | STAR-K Kosher Certification
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Wednesday and reiterated US support for Israel’s security.
In a statement following the call, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that Blinken made clear to Gallant “that the US will stand with Israel against any threats by Iran and its proxies.”
“Secretary Blinken and Minister Gallant also discussed ongoing efforts to secure the release of all hostages through an agreement for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza,” said the statement.
“Secretary Blinken welcomed Israel's recent announcements of urgent steps to facilitate the entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza and to improve humanitarian deconfliction and coordination, reiterating that incidents such ...
The Hamas terror group has expressed uncertainty as to whether it could gather 40 civilian hostages for release in a prisoner swap deal with Israel, officials familiar with the negotiations said.
The terror group's uncertainty complicates talks for a deal which would include a six-week ceasefire, the return of Gazans to northern Gaza, and the release of hundreds of convicted terrorists in exchange for less than a third of the hostages currently held in Gaza.
According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), a Hamas official said that the terror organization would not commit to releasing 40 living hostages, but would commit to 40 hostages in total.
Hamas took approximately 240 Israelis hostage on October 7, and approximately 100 were freed in a November 2023 prisoner s...
The IDF announced on Thursday that the IDF and ISA eliminated the terrorist Nasser Yakob Jabber Nasser. As a part of his activities in Hamas' military wing, he was responsible for funding a significant part of Hamas' military activities in Rafah.
Last December, he transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars to Hamas for its military activities.
In addition, over the past few days, IDF troops conducted precise operational activities in the area of Shejaiya in the northern Gaza Strip. The troops eliminated terrorists and struck terrorist infrastructure. In one of the activities, the troops conducted a targeted raid on a Hamas post used for training exercises.
Following the raid, an IAF aircraft struck and destroyed the post.
On Wednesday, the IDF confirmed that IAF aircraft,...
U.S. consumer prices increased more than expected in March as Americans continued to pay more for gasoline and rental housing, leading financial markets to anticipate that the Federal Reserve would delay cutting interest rates until September.
The third straight month of strong consumer price readings reported by the Labor Department on Wednesday also suggested that the pick up in inflation in January and February could not be solely attributed to businesses raising prices at the start of the year as economists had argued.
The report followed news last week that job growth accelerated in March, with the unemployment rate slipping to 3.8% from 3.9% in February. The stubbornly higher cost of living looms large over the Nov. 5 presidential election. Still, there were some silv...
Jerusalem, Israel - Apr. 11, 2024 - The Pesach travel season has begun. Thousands of travelers from around the world will make their way to Israel to spend the upcoming holiday in the Holy Land. At the same time, many residents of Israel will be traveling to destinations abroad. These will include many students and their families traveling to their home countries for the holiday. Chaim V’Chessed underscores the critical importance of obtaining suitable travelers insurance. This insurance provides essential coverage for any medical emergencies that may arise during your journey.
Traveling from Israel
Residents leaving Israel must ensure that they are covered by a comprehensive medical insurance plan. Standard kupat cholim coverage does not extend outside Is...
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 11, 2024 - A storm system is expected to move into Maryland on Thursday afternoon, bringing rain, thunderstorms, damaging winds and a chance for an isolated tornado.
The region is under a hazardous weather outlook, according to the National Weather Service. The alert affects areas including the Chesapeake Bay, Tidal Potomac River, and the I-95 corridor through central Maryland, northern Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
According to the latest forecast, showers will likely start around 3 p.m. Thursday. Thunderstorms are possible overnight into Friday, and winds at times are predicted to reach 30 mph.
As the storms move through the region, an isolated tornado is possible Thursday night while heavy rainfall from thunderstorms may lead to isolated...
Immediately after Monday’s solar eclipse, the number of people searching Google for eye-related injuries jumped while one doctor in New York City says she treated a surge of patients with eye pain.
"I had several patients come in panicking saying ‘I don't want to go blind,’" Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a New York City-based double board-certified doctor tells Fox News Digital. "I couldn't believe it, people actually looked at the eclipse without protection."
Doctors and eye specialists had been warning the public for days not to look directly at the sun, but apparently, some did not heed the advice.
Looking at the sun without protective equipment such as solar eclipse glasses can harm vision and can lead to serious and permanent damage. Nesheiwat sa...
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 11, 2024 - A political expert says Baltimore City's race for city council president will be competitive, but one candidate might have an early edge.
New campaign finance reports show Councilman Zeke Cohen holds the lead in fundraising.
University of Maryland Baltimore County political science professor Ian Anson said he sees the Democratic primary for Baltimore City mayor as a race between two early leaders, but the City Council president race has Cohen with a few things going in his favor.
Cohen has nearly $481,000 in cash on hand.
Former councilwoman Shannon Sneed has about $237,000 on hand.
Incumbent City Council President Nick Mosby has $230,000 on hand, but told 11 News there were errors in the report filed Tuesday night and that an amended report w...
