Baltimore, MD - We are fortunate to live in a city that has many resources available. Whether it is helping organizations to the community at large for different needs to smaller scale Gemachs, one can access a plethora of services and goods from a variety of ways. There are clothing gemachs, shalom zachor and bris accessories and simcha gemachs, medical equipment gemachs, and so much more. Open up the Eruv List or Advertiser and you will most certainly find what you need.
I would like to introduce a new one to our community. It is Jack’s Lending Library in memory of my father, Jack Margaretten, a”h. While we do have other libraries out there, this one is with a specific niche, one for the grieving family and friends.
This kind of happened ...
The following is a letter that I sent to my talmidim to help them have a proper perspective on this Tisha B’av. My hope is that others could be inspired as well.
Dear Talmidim,
We have all experienced Tisha B’av in the past. It was a day when we heard that we were supposed to feel sad. We sat on the floor and saw how serious our parents were. But honestly, it may not have meant much to us. Life seemed fine, and there wasn’t much to mourn since we sometimes have a hard time connecting with things from the past.
Ask anyone who lived through hard times to explain to you what it means to mourn and be sad. Ask anyone who survived the Holocaust, and they could give you a glimpse into what Tisha B’av means.
Over the last 10 months, we have all heard the news: October S...
Baltimore, MD – Aug. 10, 2024 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Dr. Lee Spetner, z'l, father of Mr. Shlomo (Mindy) Spetner.
Levayah & Shiva in Eretz YisraelShiva wil be observed at Rechov HaKablan 27/13(Shaulson 13/13)The address varies depending on your direction of approach.Har Nof, YerushalayimShacharis 7:30Mincha/Maariv 7:10No Minyanim on Tisha b'Av
Email: sspetner@gmail.com
Details to follow.
Bila HaMaves LaNetzach…
Baltimore, MD – Aug. 10, 2024 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Zechariah & Tova Shear on the birth of a son.
Mazel Tov to the grandparents Aryeh & Miriam Dickstein and Zvi & Shaindy Shear and great-grandparents Arnold & Ina Shear, Ronnie & Ruthie Friedman, Sue Dickstein, and Stuart & Irene Hoffman
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
The U.S. State Department announced Friday the release of $3.5 billion in military aid to Israel.
This substantial aid package reflects a strategic vision aimed at bolstering Israeli military capabilities over the long term, particularly in light of ongoing regional threats and escalating tensions.
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Contrary to some expectations, the $3.5 billion in aid will not immediately flood the region with new weapons. Instead, the funds will be used to finance American weapons systems that are currently in production.
The timing of the aid package is notable, coming as it does amidst acute fears of escalating conflict. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a call with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, reiterated the United States' steadfast support for...
A young Charedi man was stabbed in what is being called a hate crime attack late on Friday night in Crown Heights, within 100 feet of the Chabad Headquarters.
COLLive reported that the incident began after the perpetrator crossed paths with a group of men. He began to intentionally harass and attempt to provoke them by yelling “free Palestine!” and other antisemitic slurs.
The group initially ignored him but the attacker remained in the immediate vicinity waiting and looking for more victims to provoke, the report said.
After continuing to harass multiple other passersby, he confronted and physically threatened another group while screaming “do you want to die?”. He then became physically aggressive and suddenly withdrew a knife, stabbed a young man and then...
US President Joe Biden was asked on Saturday night what his message is to Iran, who has threatened to attack Israel in retaliation for the elimination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
“Don’t,” Biden replied to reporters who asked him the question as he was exiting a church in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
The President issued a similar warning to Iran in April, just one day before it launched a drone and missile attack on Israel.
Asked at the time by reporters what his message to Iran is at this moment, the President replied, “Don’t”.
He added, “We are devoted to the defense of Israel. We will support Israel. We will help defend Israel, and Iran will not succeed.”
On Friday, the deputy commander of Iran&rsq...
"Iran's aerial operations against Israel could last three to four days," said Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, a member of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Commission, Iran International reported on Saturday night, citing an interview published by 'Iran Watch.'
Ardestani reportedly told Iran Watch that Iran "is certainly prepared for the consequences of such an attack and will be ready for any subsequent developments." He added that the Iranian response would "be carried out by surprise and may even last three to four days."
He told the interviewer that "bloodshed would be carried out" to avenge Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran while attending the inauguration of new Iranian president Pezeshkian.
"Therefore, Iran's response to thi...
Iran is set to carry out an order by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to “harshly punish” Israel over the elimination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, a Revolutionary Guards deputy commander said on Friday, according to Reuters.
“The Supreme Leader’s orders regarding the harsh punishment of Israel and revenge for the blood of martyr Ismail Haniyeh are clear and explicit ...and they will be implemented in the best possible way,” said Ali Fadavi, cited by Iranian media.
Asked by reporters about the Iranian remarks, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the United States was ready to defend Israel with plenty of resources in the region.
“When we hear rhetoric like that we’ve got to take it seriously, ...
Many Israeli citizens on Friday reported that they had received a text message including their name, address and warning that the recipient “will be buried by next week”.
The Israel Police spokesperson said, “These are fake messages intended to cause panic among the public during wartime.”
“The police and the Israel National Cyber Directorate are working on locating and blocking the source of the messages. We call on the public not to reply to these messages, to ignore them as planned and, if possible, to block the number from which the message was sent.”
“The Israel Police will use all the tools at its disposal to enforce the law that prohibits the distribution of messages of this type, which constitute a criminal offense, punishable by impriso...
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (Religious Zionism) on Saturday responded to White House spokesman John Kirby's accusation that Smotrich's view would "sacrifice the lives of Israeli hostages, his own country, and American hostages as well."
Responding to these accusations, Smotrich said, "I respect the position of the US and thank it for its support of Israel in the face of regional threats, but I expect it to respect Israeli democracy and the position of Israel's citizens and politicians with regards to decisions which influence the State's security."
"Just as the US would reject international pressure to reach a deal which involves surrendering to Al Qaeda and bin Laden, so, too, Israel will not surrender to international pressure which would lead to harming Israe...
The Washington Examiner reported that Kamala Harris's running mate, Tim Walz, maintained close ties and even donated money to an organization headed by an antisemitic Muslim Imam.
According to the report, Walz maintained close friendship ties with Imam Assad Zaman, who heads the "American-Islamic Association in Minnesota."
In recent years, Imam Zaman used his Facebook page to share official Hamas press releases, shared posts from antisemitic blog sites, and in 2015 even shared a link to the propaganda film, "The Greatest Story Never Told," which praises Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and was released in 2013.
As Governor of Minnesota, Walz provided support amounting to $100,000 to the organization headed by the antisemitic imam
According to US court records, federal prosecutor...
IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari on Saturday night responded to the elimination of at least 19 terrorists in a school building in Gaza.
"Increasingly in recent months Hamas has focused on exploiting school buildings, often where civilians are sheltering inside, to use them as military facilities, command and control centers, for storing weapons, and to execute terrorist attacks," he said.
Hagari noted that in addition to the Hamas terrorists at the site, Islamic Jihad terrorists were also present.
"According to various intelligence indications, there is a high probability that the commander of the Central Camps Brigade of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization, Ashraf Juda, was at the military headquarters at the Al-Taba’een School that was targeted," he said. "It i...
Baltimore, MD - Aug. 10, 2024 - Baltimore Police have arrested a man, 66, in connection to the fire set outside the Jewish Museum of Maryland.
Authorities say the fire, now classified as a hate crime, happened on August 4th in the unit block of Lloyd Street. The whole incident was captured on CCTV.
Howard Libit, the Executive Director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, previously described to WMAR the security camera footage from the campus that was turned over to the police.
In it, he says, it appeared someone drove up, put something in front of the museum, lit it on fire outside the locked gates, and then drove away.
By August 9th, investigators were able to identify the man in the video. On Saturday, Baltimore City SWAT officers arrested the suspect without incident at a home in the 7...
US Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday night commented on the IDF strike on a Hamas command center which was embedded inside a mosque in the Al-Taba’een school compound.
Speaking to reporters during a campaign stop in Phoenix, Harris said Israel needs to do more to avoid civilian casualties.
"Yet again far too many civilians have been killed," she said, adding, "Israel has the right to pursue Hamas terrorists, but it has the responsibility to avoid harming civilians. President Biden and I are working around the clock on a deal that will free the hostages and bring about a ceasefire."
"We need a hostage deal and a ceasefire," stated Harris.
At least 19 terrorists were killed in Saturday’s strike, and care was taken to ensure that as few civilians as possible w...
Arab countries have reached out to the Hezbollah terror group, asking it to delay its response to the elimination of its Director-General, Fuad Shukr, until after August 15, Al Jadeed reported.
Shukr, Hezbollah's second-in-command, was eliminated in an Israeli strike on July 30.
Recent reports predicted a powerful response by Hezbollah, which would likely move Israel's main efforts from Gaza to its northern border, but which is also likely to impact the chances of a ceasefire-hostage swap deal between Israel and Hamas.
According to the report, "heavy pressure is being exerted on Hezbollah to moderate the response, so as not to provide an excuse for Israel to expand the war with Lebanon."
The terror group has not yet responded to the request.
Iran promised to a...
Baltimore, MD - Aug. 10, 2024 - Portions of a major Maryland gun control law are in serious jeopardy.
A federal judge on Thursday barred the state from enforcing parts of a 2023 bill severely restricting where residents with a legal permit can publicly carry a gun.
The bill essentially banned gun possession in most populated spaces.
Two groups sued, claiming the law violated the second and fourteenth amendments of the constitution.
U.S. District judge George Russell agreed in part, overturning limitations on permit holders from carrying guns on private property, at sites selling alcohol, and within 1,000 feet of a public demonstration.
Russell took special exception to the General Assembly's wide ranging restrictions.
According to Russell, here is some of what the law requ...
Former President Trump's campaign confirmed to Fox News on Saturday that some of its internal communications were hacked.
Liberal media outlet Politico had reached out to the campaign after the news outlet started receiving internal Trump documents.
"These documents were obtained illegally from foreign sources hostile to the United States, intended to interfere with the 2024 election and sow chaos throughout our Democratic process," said Steven Cheung, communications director for the Trump campaign.
"On Friday, a new report from Microsoft found that Iranian hackers broke into the account of a ‘high ranking official’ on the U.S. presidential campaign in June 2024, which coincides with the close timing of President Trump’s selection of a Vice P...
As part of Moshe Rabbeinu's introduction to his review of the last forty years, he makes mention of the fact that (1:10) "HaShem has caused you to multiply and you are now numerous like the stars in the sky." Rashi is bothered by the obvious exaggeration. B'nei Yisrael were a nation of merely 600,000 men which is infinitesimal compared to the infinite stars. Rashi offers an alternate understanding of the pasuk. However, I believe it is possible that Moshe was indeed comparing B'nei Yisrael to the stars in the sky at that very time.
This understanding is based on a commentary of R' Chayim Kanievsky in parshas Lech Lecha (Bereishis 15:5). HaShem brings Avraham Avinu outside and tells him to observe the uncountable stars and tells him that his progeny will ...
