Jerusalem, Israel - Apr. 25, 2024 - An estimated 30,000 people participated in the traditional large Birkat Cohanim at the Kotel on Thursday morning. Despite the intense heat forecasted, people arrived and stood in the sun when unable to find a shaded spot.
The Kessim, Ethiopian religious leaders stood under their colorful umbrellas, the men and women around dressed in white for the holiday.
The security was obviously at entrance points, but the crowd came and went all day without reported incidents. Interestingly, numerous families were in Israel from the US for the first time on Pesach this year, not deterred by the ongoing war situation.
This year, at the end of Musaf, a special prayer was said in the presence of thousands of worshippers, for the...
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 25, 2024 - Seven Mile Market will be open this Motzaei Shabbos, Apr. 27, from 9:30PM - 11:15PM.
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 25, 2024 - The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration will begin a long-term left lane closure on a section of northbound MD 140 (Reisterstown Road) in Owings Mills on Monday, April 29, for BGE’s electric reliability upgrade project.
The closure, which will be between Rosewood Lane and the intersection with Garrison Forest Plaza driveway (opposite the ramps to/from Owings Mills Boulevard), will be effect until early July, weather permitting.
Starting Monday, at 9 a.m., BGE’s contractor will begin the project by temporarily removing a portion of the concrete median, closing one northbound left turn lane and installing temporary concrete barriers. Crews will also shift travel lanes along northbound MD 140 in the projec...
A senior Biden Administration official blamed Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip, for the failure to reach and agreement to free the hostages Hamas has held in Gaza for more than 200 days since the massacre of October 7.
"It’s really down to one guy to accept the deal," the official told reporters, referring to Sinwar.
"Now if there are adjustments here and there that need to be made, of course we’re very much open to that and we would support that because we want to bring these people home,” the official said.
“There is a deal on the table that would bring a ceasefire immediately to Gaza, simply with the release of women, wounded, elderly and sick hostages, that is ready to go. And we have worked it out in meticulous d...
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 25, 2024 - The State Board voted unanimously on April 24, 2024, to appoint Dr. Carey M. Wright as the Maryland State Superintendent of Schools for the term to begin July 1, 2024. Since October 23, 2023, Dr. Wright has served as the Interim State Superintendent of Schools.
The selection of Dr. Wright follows an extensive nationwide search process that began in October 2023. The State Board worked with the firm Hazard Young, Attea and Associates (HYA) to conduct the search for the next State Superintendent.
“During our search process, stakeholders told us Maryland needs an experienced school leader with a clear track record of improving outcomes for children and an understanding of public education in Maryland,” said Search Committee Chair an...
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 25, 2024 - Baltimore County Police arrested Pikesville High School's former athletic director Thursday morning and charged him with allegedly using artificial intelligence to impersonate Principal Eric Eiswert, leading the public to believe Eiswert made racist and antisemitic comments behind closed doors, WJZ media partner the Baltimore Banner reports.
Dazhon Darien was charged with disrupting school activities. Investigators determined that he had faked his voice and circulated the audio on social media in January, according to the Baltimore County State's Attorney's Office Darien's nickname, DJ, was among the names mentioned in the audio clips he allegedly faked.
Eiswert's voice, which police and AI experts...
The IDF’s Nahal Brigade has been withdrawn from the Gaza Strip for it to prepare with the rest of the 162nd Division for future operations, including Israel’s looming offensive in Rafah.
In the past three months, Nahal had operated in the Netzarim corridor, which crosses Gaza from the Be’eri area in southern Israel to the Strip’s coast.
The corridor, built around a road south of Gaza City, enables the IDF to carry out raids in northern and central Gaza while allowing Israel to control access to the north for Palestinians seeking to return after fleeing south. It also enables Israel to coordinate deliveries of humanitarian aid directly to northern Gaza.
The IDF says the road is 6.8 kilometers long and takes just seven minutes to cross it.
In the corridor,...
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 25, 2024 - An Annual Tradition: Matzoh Baking Erev Pesach 5784/2024 at Arugas Habosem (Rabbi Shaya Taub)
Jerusalem, Israel - Apr. 21, 2024 - At the Kotel, preparations are underway for Pesach, culminating in the traditional Birkat Kohanim, with the participation of thousands. During this event, all will join together in prayer for the return of the hostages, for the well-being of the IDF soldiers and security forces, for the healing of the wounded, and for peace for the people of Israel.Birkat Kohanim will take place on Thursday, 17th of Nisan, April 25, 2024, with the participation of Israel's chief rabbis, the rabbi of the Western Wall and holy sites, and masses of the Jewish people.Watch here:- 8:45 AM - Shacharit Morning Prayer- 9:15 AM - First Birkat Kohanim of Shacharit- 10:15 AM - Musaf Prayer- 10:30 AM - Second Birkat Kohanim of Musaf- 10:45 AM - Prayer for the return of ho...
Washington, D.C. - Apr. 24, 2024 - Late yesterday, the Senate passed the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act with bipartisan support just days after the House passed the bill. The legislation includes a crucial provision allocating an additional $390 million for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), with $160 million made available for the fiscal year 2024 and the remaining funds set aside for 2025. This supplemental funding brings the total NSGP appropriations for the current year to an unprecedented $434.5 million, representing a more than 40% increase compared to the previous year's funding level of $305 million. Michael Masters, National Director & CEO of the Secure Community Network (SCN) — the official safety and security organization of the Je...
From the time that Rabbi Chaim Aryeh Zev Ginzberg was a young yeshiva bochur learning in Eretz Yisroel through today as a seasoned rov for almost 40 years, he had the merit to do what most of us just dream about. He had developed a close and personal connection to almost all of the gedolei hador of the previous generation and spent a great deal of time with many of them. He would personally ask them hundreds of contemporary shailos in all areas of halacha and hashkafah, and he immediately committed their responses in writing, often reviewing with them what he had written.
These responses comprise the sefer Shailos Uteshuvos Divrei Chachomim, which, in a new edition, contains hundreds of shailos that were neve...
In response to the video released today by Hamas of their son Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin, the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, have released a statement in which they called on all involved to work for the release of their son.
“Seeing the video of Hersh today is overwhelming. We are relieved to see him alive but we are also concerned about his health and wellbeing as well as that of all the other hostages and all of those suffering in this region," the parents stated.
"We are here today with a plea to all of the leaders of the parties who have been negotiating to date. This includes Qatar, Egypt, the United States, Hamas, and Israel: be brave, lean in, seize this moment, and get a deal done to reunite all of us with our loved ones and end the suffering in this region...
One hundred or more protesters gathered on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin on Wednesday to participate in an unruly anti-Israel demonstration.
The rowdy protests invited hundreds of onlookers, some of whom joined in on the anti-Israel chants on the school's South Lawn. UT Austin is one of many American universities where anti-Israel protests have intensified over recent days, as the Israeli military's war against Hamas continues in the Middle East.
The Austin Police Department (APD) and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) were observed making arrests. Some officers monitored the protests on horseback.
APD, KKK, IDF / they're all the same," the group was heard chanting.
Protesters also chanted "Pigs go home!" at the Texas law enforc...
The Senate passed a long-delayed $95.3 billion foreign-aid package sending much-needed ammunition and military equipment to beleaguered Ukrainian soldiers and fortifying Israel’s missile defense systems, while also forcing the sale of Chinese-controlled TikTok in the U.S.
The 79-to-18 vote brought to a close months of wrenching debate over Ukraine that sharply split the Republican Party, with rank-and-file members openly rebelling against their leaders. The fight also called into question both how far the U.S. would go to defend the country, now in the third year of trying to repel Russia’s invasion, as well as America’s leadership role in the world.
The measure passed the House on Saturday and now goes to President Biden’s desk. Biden, who h...
Agudath Israel of America calls upon officials at all levels of government, law enforcement, and Columbia University leadership to immediately quell the raging antisemitism and violence that has been allowed to overtake the university.
The "protestors" for peace and cease-fire -- at Columbia and other universities -- have unmasked themselves as faithful agents of the terror organizations whose cause they now champion thousands of miles away.
The charade is over.
Jews worldwide hardly need a more poignant reminder of the pointed verses we are poised to soon recite at the Passover Seder.
We pray that the Almighty deliver us from these evil forces and continue to protect the Jewish nation.
US President Joe Biden said on Monday that he condemns the antisemitic protests taking place on the Columbia University campus.
At the same time, the President also said to reporters that he condemns “those who don't understand what's going on with the Palestinians."
A reporter asked Biden, "Do you condemn the antisemitic protests on college campuses?" to which the President replied, “I condemn the antisemitic protests. That’s why I have set up a program to deal with that. I also condemn those who don't understand what's going on with the Palestinians."
Biden, in a statement ahead of the holiday of Passover issued on Sunday, denounced the spike in campus antisemitism since October 7, though he did not specifically mention Columbia Universi...
A barrage of at least 30 rockets was fired on Monday evening towards the city of Tzfat in northern Israel, with sirens sounding in the city as Israelis were gathering to celebrate the start of the holiday of Passover.
The rockets exploded in open areas, and there were no reports of physical injuries or damages.
Shortly after the sirens in Tzfat, sirens warning of an infiltration of a hostile aircraft were sounded in Shlomi and other communities located near the border with Lebanon.
Several minutes later, the Home Front Command said the incident had concluded.
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 22, 2024 - Thank you again to Baltimore City DPW, DOT, BPD, BFD, Councilman Yitzy Schleifer & Frank Storch and the Chesed Fund for making this possible.
BJL appreciates and thanks all those who sent these photos.
Chag Kasher V’Sameach חג כשר ושמח
Baltimore, MD – Apr. 22, 2024 – 10:33AM - The right lane on Park Heights, just before Old Court coming from Smith Ave, is blocked due to a disabled vehicle.
Police are on the scene.
