Baltimore, MD – May 23, 2024 -  BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Binyamin Bakaev & Tova Miller on their engagement. Mazel Tov Vadim & Sara Bakaev and Ed & Iris Miller. יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
Rabbi Labish Becker - Behar 5784 The Shemitta Antidote #2 from Agudath Israel on Vimeo.
 
A federal judge sentenced former Baltimore prosecutor Marilyn Mosby to 12 months of home detention and three years of supervised release, both to be served concurrently, plus 100 hours of community service. Mosby, 44, decided not to speak before the sentence was delivered. U.S. District Court Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby said the defense's calculation of 12-18 months "is not appropriate in this case." She factored into her sentencing decision, speaking to Mosby, "the findings of two juries that you did something wrong ... breached a public trust ... that is very difficult to restore." The judge said evidence has shown a pattern of dishonesty, and that there are victims, though "not in the traditional sense." "You have an absolute right to maintain your innocence ... and should not b...
Baltimore, MD - May 23, 2024 - Maryland State Police plan to increase patrols on some state highways this Memorial Day weekend, and troopers will be targeting impaired, aggressive, and distracted drivers. According to a release from state police, troopers from all 23 barracks will conduct high-visibility patrols on interstates and major corridors starting Friday and continuing through Monday. The State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort team will also be out to identify impaired drivers, authorities said. Drivers are likely to see increased patrols and traffic stops on the following roads this weekend: Eastern Maryland: Routes 50, 13, 301, 404 and 413. Central Maryland: Interstates 495, 95 and 695. Western Maryland: Troopers will increase patrols in areas ...
Baltimore, MD - May 23, 2024  - Rabbi Shragi Hershkowitz addresses the talmidim at Yeshivas Toras Simcha on Pesach Sheini.  The Rav discussed the mitzvah of Pesach Sheini.  He explained that the people who were tamei on Pesach were unable to participate in the karban Pesach.  They nevertheless sought to have the zechus of this mitzvah.  So, they approached Moshe Rabeinu and asked if there was a way for them to have the zechus of the mitzvah.  Moshe told them that he would need to ask Hashem, which he did and we have the mitzvah of Pesach Sheini.Rav Hershkowitz explained that even if these people had not made this inquiry of Hashem clearly there would have been another occasion where Moshe would have been instructed to explain this mitzvah to Klal Yisrael. ...
Balimore, MD - May 23. 2024  -  The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore will honor leaders at a special ceremony on May 28 at the Gordon Center for Performing Arts. These eight exceptional leaders will be recognized for their outstanding dedication and contributions to The Associated and the broader Jewish community.    This year’s awardees include:  Zelda Miller Award: Chana Friedman Chana Friedman, a senior account manager at The Columbia Group, has a passion for helping others. With 15+ years of experience in the insurance and human resource field, she has developed a strong skillset and a proven track record of success. Chana enjoys meeting new people and getting involved in the Baltimore community, a place she has always called home. &nb...
Baltimore, MD - May 23, 2024  - People in Baltimore have been dying of overdoses at a rate never before seen in a major American city. In the past six years, nearly 6,000 lives have been lost. The death rate from 2018 to 2022 was nearly double that of any other large city, and higher than nearly all of Appalachia during the prescription pill crisis, the Midwest during the height of rural meth labs or New York during the crack epidemic. A decade ago, 700 fewer people here were being killed by drugs each year. And when fatalities began to rise from the synthetic opioid fentanyl, so potent that even minuscule doses are deadly, Baltimore’s initial response was hailed as a national model. The city set ambitious goals, distributed Narcan widely, experimented with ways ...
Baltimore, MD – May 23, 2024  -  BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to R’ Yaakov Sholom & Efrat Greenfeld on the birth of a son. Mazel Tov grandparents Rabbi Jonathan Aryeh & Rebetzin Michal Seidemann יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
Baltimore, MD -  May 23, 2024 - The Rama (OC 493:1) says when Lag B’omer occurs on Sunday (as is the case this year) one may get a haircut l’kavod Shabbos on Friday from any time after Shacharis.
Baltimore, MD, May 23, 2024—The Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV), today extended its commendation and gratitude to Secretary of State Antony Blinken for his commitment to work with Congress to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its officials. This came in response to the announcement by the ICC Prosecutor that he would seek arrest warrants against Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials. To Sen. James Risch, in a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Mr. Blinken said that "there's no question we have to look at the appropriate steps to take to deal with, again, what is a profoundly wrong-headed decision" by the ICC. And to Sen. Lindsay Graham during a hearing of a Senate appropriations subcommittee hearing, Mr. Blinken said h...
IDF Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari announced Thursday the continuation of a targeted military operation in Rafah, Gaza, aimed at liberating hostages held by Hamas.  In an English-language video statement, Hagari emphasized the precision and necessity of the operation to combat Hamas and bring home Israeli hostages. "Those who may have forgotten how savage and barbaric Hamas is have received a chilling reminder when they saw the horrifying footage of our girls being held in captivity," Hagari stated, referring to a recent video showing the abduction of five female soldiers from the Nahal Oz base during the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas. "Those young girls need to come back home. They need to come back home to their families. We must do everything to fulfill our cr...
Baltimore, MD – May 23, 2024 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Jerry Wittenstein, z’l, fathe of Devorah (Jay) Taffel. Shiva will be observed in Jerusalem & Baltimore.In Jerusalem on Thursday and Friday, May 23-24, and in Baltimore, Monday and Tuesday,  May 27-28. Shiva Information for Jerusalem: Arzei Habira 48/5. Minyanim-- Shacharit at 7:45, Mincha/Maariv around sunset. Shiva times: Thursday - 09:30-13:00, 14:00-18:00, and 20:30-21:30. Friday - 09:30-14:00. Shiva Information for Baltimore: 3913 Pinkney Road, Monday and Tuesday 10 am - 12 pm, 1 - 5 pm, 6:30 - 9 pm.  Bila Hamaves LaNetzach...  
The Israeli Foreign Ministry on Thursday reprimanded the ambassadors of Ireland, Spain, and Norway on Thursday in Jerusalem, in response to their governments' decisions to recognize Palestine as a state. During the meeting with Foreign Ministry Director-General Yaakov Blitshtein, the ambassadors were shown a video released by the Hostage Families Forum. The video depicted the moment five of the remaining 132 hostages were taken captive during the Hamas-led October 7 attack.  The footage shows the five young women, some with their hands tied behind their backs and bloodied faces, being threatened by their captors. The Spanish and Irish ambassadors, Maria Salomon Perez and Sonya McGuinness, both women, were visibly affected by the distressing images, according to a report ...
Baltimore, MD - May 23, 2024  - Read the Current Issue of Baltimore Jewish Home. Click on the graphic below.
Donate Now and Watch Every Talmid Shine  Baltimore, MD - May 19, 2024 - When you enter the doors of Kesser Torah’s Bais Medrash, you are instantly transported into the world of Abaye and Rava.  You watch as bochurim engage in a generations-old milchemta shel Torah, and you cannot help but be amazed at the tremendous growth of every talmid.  Kesser Torah is not just a jewel in the crown of Baltimore; every bochur in the yeshiva is the crowning achievement of his Rebbe, Yeshiva, family, and larger community. Every bochur in Kesser Torah feels valued, and this is why so many alumni return to the Bais Medrash each year for the annual four-hour Retzufos Seder prior to Pesach Bein ha’Zmanim. This year was no different! In a testament to their deep-rooted love...
Following announcements by several European countries, including Spain, Ireland, and Norway, that they will unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced a nonviolent response that has the world in a tizzy. In his announcement, Smotrich said that he would take financial steps which would topple the Palestinian Authority in Judea and Samaria, where the European countries have declared they would recognize "Palestine." Among these steps is a complete halt to the transfer of tax money to the Palestinian Authority, and no extension of the indemnity extended to banks which transfer money to banks in Judea and Samaria. Smotrich also called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take a number of financial steps which will deal a critical blow...
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