Ran Gvili, Iran, and Us
The following are words I recently shared at an event in the community of Meitar, on behalf of captive hostage Ran Gvili:
“Our dear Itzik and Tali, Ran’s parents, you have just returned from a meeting in the United States with President Trump. It wasn’t you who were privileged to meet him; he was privileged and blessed to meet you. Anyone who meets you comes into contact with the right side of history, the side of truth, morality, justice, and Jewish faith.
“I thought of Ran this week as I lit Shabbat candles. The list that once held so many names has grown shorter and shorter. Every other hostage is either home, or has been brought to burial in Israel. Only one name remains from October 7: Ran ben Tali. An entire people, the entire Jewish...
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi contacted White House envoy Steve Witkoff over the weekend, as tensions rose following President Trump’s warnings of possible military action against the Iranian regime, according to a report by Axios.
The report cited two sources familiar with the matter who said the outreach appeared aimed at easing tensions with the US or delaying potential steps by Washington to further weaken the regime. The contact is seen as an indication that a direct communication channel between Tehran and Washington remains active despite the ongoing deadlock in nuclear talks and public exchanges of threats.
According to one source, Araghchi and Witkoff discussed the possibility of holding a meeting in the coming days, though it was not clear whether the communicat...
Baltimore, MD - Jan. 12, 2026 - The GoFundMe page Julia Leverone created in February for legal fees and bond payments to get Minoska Maldonado-Deras out of Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody was successful, helping to get her out of custody and back with her family in Carroll County.
That’s until Maldonado-Deras, a cousin of Leverone’s husband, was hauled back into custody during an appointment with ICE in October. She’s now in an ICE detention facility in Lousiana, and the GoFundMe page is back in business.
Maldonado-Deras was “doing everything she was supposed to do” following her first detainment, said her husband, Patrick Sortino, including probation meetings with ICE.
Sortino, a U.S. citizen, says he doesn’t have “a...
Baltimore, MD - Jan. 12, 2026 - Gas prices in Baltimore have seen a notable decrease over the past week, dropping 8.1 cents per gallon to an average of $2.78, according to a GasBuddy survey of 663 stations.
Despite this decline, prices are still 1 cent higher than a month ago but 31.6 cents lower than the same time last year.
According to GasBuddy, the cheapest gas in Baltimore was recorded at $2.35 per gallon, while the most expensive reached $3.09, marking a 74-cent difference.
On a broader scale, the national average for gas has slightly decreased by 0.8 cents per gallon, now standing at $2.73. This is a 17-cent drop from last month and 28.9 cents lower than a year ago. Diesel prices have also seen a reduction, with the national average falling 2.3 cents to $3.47...
Baltimore, MD - Jan. 12, 2026 - The Maryland Department of Health on Sunday said it was alerted of a person who recently traveled through the state with measles.
As a precaution, the department wants to let those know who could or may have been exposed.
The infected individual was reportedly aboard BWI shuttles late at night on January 7 into the early morning hours of January 8.
Specifically, they took an Amtrak Shuttle to and from the airport's train station and drop-off points on the lower-level of BWI Airport.
They also boarded a BWI parking shuttle to and from the long-term parking lots.
There was no exposure inside the airport terminals.
As for the individual's train route, they reportedly went from Philadelphia 30th Street Station to Washington, DC Union Station betw...
Baltimore, MD – January 7, 2026 – BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Mr. David Solomon, z’l, father of Danny Solomon.
The levayah will take place Monday at 1:00 PM graveside at Baltimore Hebrew Cemetery, 318 Berrymans Lane, Reisterstown, MD 21136. Shiva will be observed beginning Monday 4:30 PM through Sunday morning at 3111 Marnat Road, Pikesville, MD 21208. The family respectfully requests no visitors on Tuesday from 1-4:30 PM and everyday from 6:00 – 7:45 PM or after 10:00 PM. Minyanim Shacharis - Tuesday – Friday 6:45 AM, Sunday 7:45 AM Mincha/Maariv: 4:50 PM
בלע המות לנצח
Baltimore, MD - Jan. 12, 2026 - A major crash shut down Interstate-95 in Elkridge Monday with delays expected to last through the morning.
Click here for the latest traffic conditions.
According to the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration a major crash has shut down southbound I-95 in the Elkridge area prior to Maryland Route 100. Delays are expected to last through the morning on I-95 and Baltimore Washington Parkway.
Both sides of I-95 were shut down as medivac helicopters were called to transport the injured to Shock Trauma. No other information has been given at this time.
Baltimore, MD – Jan. 11, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Yosef & Sara Miller on the birth of a son.
Mazel tov to the grandparents, Mickey & Basi Lowenthal and Menachem & Suzy Miller
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
Baltimore, MD – Jan. 11, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Joshua Tyler and Charna Rosenberg on their engagement.
Mazel Tov to Yisrael & Rivkah Tyler and Stanton & Niomi Rosenberg
יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
Annapolis, MD - Jan 11, 2026 - There are calls for accountability and federal oversight amid an alleged SNAP scandal at the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) first reported by Spotlight on Maryland.
Multiple whistleblowers told Spotlight on Maryland that two senior state officials allegedly hatched a plan to maintain a high error rate on food stamp payments, hoping to delay $240 million dollars in federal penalties.
Former employees, including a senior official at the DHS have accused two of their superiors at DHS of the plan to buy enough time for the penalties to potentially be canceled after President Donald Trump left office.
"Senior officials that work in state government should be there to protect taxpayers and do the right thing, and I'm really proud...
Baltimore, MD - Jan. 11, 2026 - Two senior state officials allegedly hatched a plan to maintain a high error rate on food stamp payments — rather than making every effort to correct the errors, as their department is supposed to do — to delay hundreds of millions of dollars in federal penalties, according to multiple whistleblowers.
Former employees at the Department of Human Services accused two of their superiors at DHS of crafting the plan to get the state off the hook for $240 million in new federal penalties. The penalties are tied to the state’s high food stamp payment error rate.
The plan was to “leave correctable errors uncorrected” to preserve or increase the error rate and secure a delay in penalties, according to a former employee who wa...
Baltimore, MD - Jan. 11, 2026 - TA Wishes Mazel Tov to its 3rd Graders on their Haschalas Mishnayos this Morning!
Over the weekend, several security situation assessments were held in the IDF, led by the Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, amid the latest developments in Iran.
"We are monitoring developments in Iran," the IDF stated, emphasizing that "the protests are an internal Iranian matter." However, it was further stated that "the IDF is prepared for defense and continuously improving its capabilities and operational readiness."
"We will know how to respond with strength if necessary. The IDF will do everything required to protect the citizens of the State of Israel," the IDF's statement read.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the ongoing protests in Iran during a cabinet meeting and said: "We are supporting the brave and courageous citizens of Iran - and...
Baltimore, MD – January 7, 2026 – BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Howard Frand, z’l, father of Avi (Shterna) Frand.
The levaya will be held Sunday, January 11th at 1:15pm at Young Israel of Bayswater.
Avi will be sitting shiva at 2919 Marnat Rd. Apt C, Baltimore, MD.
Monday-Thursday: Shacharit at 7:00 am, Mincha-Maariv at 4:55 pm.
Friday: Shacharit at 7:00am
Visiting hours:
Monday-Thursday: 7:15am-10:30am; 5:00pm-7:00pm
Friday: 7:15am-10:30am
בלע המות לנצח
US President Donald Trump has in recent days been briefed on new military strike options against Iran, as he weighs whether to follow through on his threat to respond to the regime’s violent crackdown on protesters, The New York Times reported on Saturday, citing multiple US officials familiar with the discussions.
Officials said the President has not made a final decision but is seriously considering authorizing a strike in response to Iran’s suppression of demonstrations sparked by widespread economic grievances. He has been presented with a range of possibilities, including potential strikes on nonmilitary sites in Tehran, the officials told The Times, speaking on condition of anonymity.
When asked about preparations for possible strikes, the White House poi...
Informed sources told Iran International on Saturday night that Iranian security forces are using lethal force against protesters across the country, with early estimates pointing to mass casualties as a sweeping crackdown intensifies under a near-total internet shutdown.
Footage sent from Kahrizak, south of Tehran, shows several dead bodies in body bags. Eyewitnesses who provided the videos said dozens of bodies can be seen at the site, with additional bodies reportedly placed in another nearby industrial shed.
Earlier videos from Fardis, Karaj, and from Alghadir Hospital in eastern Tehran showed similar scenes of bodies on the ground, indicating what appears to be a mass killing unfolding in multiple locations, not limited to a few cities.
The internet blackout, which began ...
Baltimore, MD – Jan. 9, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Zach Goldstein and Shayna Rothstein on their engagement.
Mazel Tov to Dr. and Mrs. Marc Rothstein
יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
Parshas Shemos begins the horrific enslavement and persecution of Klal Yisroel in Mitzraim. Indeed, enslavement was not enough, Parroh enacted a multitude of other decrees to insure there was no opportunity for them to gain freedom. Parroh’s astrologers had informed him that the savior of Bnei Yisroel would be born in the near term so he enacted a directive that the midwives should kill all baby boys as they were born (Shemos 1:16). The Torah goes on to tell us that Shifra and Poo’ah (identified as Yocheved and Miriam) refused to kill the boys because they feared Hashem (1:17). The Torah then tell us that “Because they feared G-d, He made them houses” (1:21). Houses? Maybe he should have blessed them with many children, perhaps with long life...
Baltimore, MD - Jan. 9, 2026 - Maryland — A concerned community member recently contacted Misaskim of Maryland regarding an elderly Jewish man who had passed away with no known family or funeral arrangements in place. Upon investigation, Misaskim discovered that, due to the absence of next of kin, the niftar had been released to the state and was scheduled for cremation, R”L.
Recognizing the grave urgency of the situation and the sacred obligation of kavod hameis, Rabbi Ariel Sadwin of Agudah of Maryland utilized his extensive relationships with state and city officials to secure the necessary authorization for burial in accordance with halacha.
Following this approval, Misaskim of Maryland immediately coordinated the retrieval of the niftar and arranged for proper tahara and...
The daughter of Pharoah, elsewhere known by her name בִּתיה — Bisya, plays a pivotal role in the story of Moshe. Not only does she save him from the waters of the Nile, but she also confers upon him the name he is forever noted by, despite possessing many other names. She converts and goes on to raise Moshe as her own son, and is rewarded by G-d in turn by being called by G-d as בַּת י-ה — Daughter of G-d.
According to the Arizal, Basya was the reincarnation of Chava, the 'Mother of All Living', meriting to enter Gan Eden alive.
Was it merely her devotion to raising Moshe that warranted such great note and reward? Certainly, risking her life as well in defying her father Pharoah's edict to kill the newborns, amplified her merit. Clearly, she must ha...
