Traveling is often an adventure in itself. The people you meet along the way are often different from the usual faces you interact with daily. These “chance encounters” with individuals from diverse backgrounds tend to happen when you least expect them, adding an unexpected layer of richness to the experience.
This year, for our midwinter break, we traveled to Atlanta, GA with my children. With minyanim, kosher food, and plenty of attractions for the kids, it was the perfect spot. Plus, in our quest to visit all 50 states, Alabama is just an hour away, giving us the chance to add yet another state to our list!
As we neared Alabama, we noticed the “Welcome to Sweet Home Alabama” sign along the roadside, with a speed limit of 70 mph. My son and I jumped out for a qu...
Annapolis, MD - Feb. 6, 2025 - In front of a joint session of Maryland's General Assembly, Governor Wes Moore gave his vision for where the state stands and where it's heading.
Moore led with the deadly crash over the Potomac River and quickly transitioned to what he called the 'chaos' in Washington, referring to the Trump administration.
"In the days since the tragedy we have seen the beginnings of a trade war, the shuttering of federal agencies, and thousands of workers laid off," said Moore.
Moore hit on the biggest issue facing lawmakers in Annapolis, the budget.
Warning of the issues to come, as his administration balances a projected $3 billion budget.
"We only have difficult decisions ahead. We must close this $3 billion budget gap and we have to do it in a ...
Jerusalem, Israel - Feb. 6, 2025 - To mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day the Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in Jerusalem, Israel, hosts an annual educational memorial evening.
Head of Mission Ines Demiri welcomed the guests who arrived despite the cold rainy winter night. She quoted from Elie Wiesel, "I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides."
This year the event highlighted the Shoah story of Shelia Altaraz. Efrat Baruch-Altaraz authored her story of survival in the book "Macedonian Sun." The book was first published in Hebrew and is not available in English.
Lea Micha, Head of Central, Eastern, and Balkan Europe at Yad Vashem gave a historical background. She als...
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Thursday, 6 February 2025), on Capitol Hill in Washington, met with the US Senate leadership from both parties.The Prime Minister was welcomed with much esteem; the meeting was warm and friendly. The Senate leadership expressed unqualified support for the Prime Minister and the State of Israel and commended Israel's achievements in the war.Prime Minister Netanyahu clarified Israel's position, and said that Iran had to be prevented from attaining nuclear weapons and that Hamas had to eliminated in Gaza.The bipartisan Senate leadership agreed with these positions.The Senate leaders also committed to passing the law against the International Criminal Court – in addition to the executive orders against the ICC that have been signed by U...
A federal judge pushed back the deadline for President Donald Trump's buyout offer for federal workers on Thursday.
Trump's administration initially told federal workers they needed to decide whether to accept the buyout offer by Thursday. The new ruling delays the deadline to at least Monday, with another hearing on the issue scheduled for that day.
Jerusalem, Israel - Feb. 6, 2025 - Joe Lieberman, z"l, left a legacy of influence in American politics. His observance of Shabbos and Jewish tradition was significant as were his accomplishments as an American politician and lawyer, with a career marked by a steadfast commitment to principle and bipartisan collaboration. Lieberman passed away on March 27, 2024, in New York City.
At the Israel Knesset on Sunday night, MK Ohad Tal hosted a group organized with Rabbi Daniel Cohen for a screening of the documentary, "Centered: Joe Lieberman." At the Knesset event, Lieberman's daughter Hani Lowenstein spoke about her father:
For those not familiar, Lieberman attended public schools in Stamford, CN before earning his bachelor's degree from Yal...
Baltimore, MD - Feb. 6, 2025 - Baltimore County Public Libraries is offering a new service for home-bound residents to get books.
"We've added Library by Mail to really reach as many people in the County as possible, who are unable to come to our libraries," says Julie Brophy, manager of the Adult and Community Engagement Department at Baltimore County Public Library.
Only Baltimore County residents who are home-bound are eligible for the program.
"This is one way to.. bring some of the services right to their doorstep," says Brophy
You also have to have a library card, which can be requested online, and complete the online application for the Library by Mail program.
Specific eligibility requirements and ways to apply can be found on the BCPL website. You can also call 41...
The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the IDF thwarted a plot by a terrorist cell that planned to carry out a suicide attack on a bus in Jerusalem, the two forces announced on Thursday.
The terrorist cell, made up of Fatah and Hamas operatives from the Ramallah area, was arrested in November-December 2024.
The Shin Bet named the members of the cells as Ahmed Jasser Ali, Mander Sheikh Kassem, Bashir Awad, Ammar Subah, and Ali Shwiki.
The Shin Bet investigation revealed that the cell planned to remotely activate an explosive device that would be brought into Israeli territory in order to carry out the bombing.
Along with the other members of the cell, Ali constructed the explosive device and planned to carry out the suicide attack.
Some of t...
A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from obtaining access to certain Treasury Department payment records.
Treasury officials "will not provide access to any payment record or payment system of records maintained within the [Treasury] Bureau of Fiscal Service," Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly wrote in a temporary restraining order.
Baltimore, MD – Feb. 6, 2025 – A series of weather systems will bring rain, snow, and freezing rain to Baltimore over the next few days, potentially impacting travel and outdoor plans.
Today (Thursday): Rain likely until early afternoon, with patchy fog lingering until 4 p.m. Expect cloudy skies and a high of 44°F, with southwest winds at 7-9 mph.
Tonight: Patchy fog will clear before midnight, leaving mostly cloudy skies and a low of 36°F with light west winds.
Friday: Mostly sunny and breezy, with a high of 45°F and gusts up to 23 mph. Overnight temperatures will drop to 27°F under mostly cloudy skies.
Shabbos: A wintry mix of snow and rain is likely by the afternoon, with highs around 36°F. Light southeast winds may develop.
Motza...
Baltimore, MD – Feb. 6, 2025 – Bottles of of Öncü brand "Salata Sosu" salad dressing, manufactured in Turkey by Acemoğlu Gıda, were found in a kosher grocery store in London bearing an unauthorized STAR-K symbol. Corrective action is being taken.
Baltimore, MD - Feb. 6, 2025 - Despite a surge in funding, Baltimore City student test scores remain among the lowest in the nation, according to results released by the federal government. And these scores have renewed calls for City Schools’ CEO to be replaced.
Former Baltimore City Mayoral Candidate Shannon Wright is often skeptical of government press releases.
“People are going to tell you all the wonderful things that they want to hear. The best way they can spin it,” said Wright.
With that in mind, when Baltimore City Schools in late January posted a press release to its website summarizing 2024 federal test results known as NAEP, Wright wanted to know more.
“I rather look at numbers,” said Wright.
So, Project Baltimore did look at the ...
Baltimore, MD – Feb. 6, 2025 – 9:07AM - (BJL) Traffic signals are flashing at two intersections:
Reisterstown Road & Rosewood Lane (Flashing Yellow)
and
Clarks Lane & Cross Country. (Flashing Red & Yellow)
Reminder:
Flashing red and yellow lights on a traffic control signal does not mean the light is ‘non-functioning’. Drivers approaching a red flashing light must stop and can only proceed when the intersection is clear, and drivers approaching a yellow flashing light should slow down and use caution but can proceed through the intersection without stopping.
Baltimore, MD - Feb. 6, 2025 - Explore the latest issue of Baltimore Jewish Home.Click on the graphic below:
The Pentagon on Wednesday issued a statement summarizing the meeting between US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“This was Secretary Hegseth's first hosting of a foreign dignitary as Secretary of Defense in the Trump Administration,” said Department of Defense Spokesman John Ullyot.
He added that Hegseth “emphasized the unbreakable bond that exists between the United States and Israel and praised Israel as a model ally in the Middle East. Secretary Hegseth stressed that the United States remains 100 percent committed to Israel's security.”
The statement also added that Hegseth and Netanyahu discussed Hamas' October 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel. “Secretary Hegseth praised Prime Minister Neta...
Baltimore, MD – Feb. 5, 2025 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Eli Walfish (Queens) & Yakira Bogart (Baltimore) on their engagement!
Mazel Tov to Phil & Rivka Bogart
יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
Baltimore, MD - Feb. 5, 2025 - The Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) is pleased to announce updates to its Community Pitch-In Dumpster Request Program that are designed to promote greater equity and access to resources. These changes aim to empower communities, especially those in underserved areas, by enhancing opportunities to organize clean-up events while ensuring transparency and fairness in resource allocation.
Under the previous program, only community association presidents were eligible to request dumpsters for clean-up efforts. The revised program eliminates this restriction, allowing any resident or group to request assistance from DPW, regardless of their affiliation with a community association. The program enables each neighborhood to request up to four d...
Baltimore, MD - Feb. 5, 2025 - Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV) joined in an amicus curiae brief filed yesterday in the cases Fuld v. PLO and U.S. v. PLO in the Supreme Court of the United States. These cases pertain to the attempt of Miriam Fuld, widow of Ari Fuld, and other victims of PLO-sponsored terrorism to sue in American federal court. The Supreme Court agreed to hear these combined cases later this year.
Mark Pinkert, Jason Torchinsky, Erielle Davidson, and Jared Bauman from the law firm of Holtzman Vogel Baran Torchinsky & Josefiak took the lead on the amicus brief, which was filed on behalf of a coalition of seventeen Jewish, Pro-Israel, and civil rights organizations, including CJV.
The amicus brief traces the history of the P...
Baltimore, MD – Feb. 5, 2025 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Menachem Hochberg & Elisheva Ehsanipoor on their engagement!
יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
