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You may have heard that the New York State Education Department recently published proposed Regulations about “substantial equivalency of instruction” required for students attending nonpublic schools. This can have severe ramifications for yeshivos and day schools across the board in NYS, so we wanted to provide some answers to common questions we are receiving about this serious development. Q: How might the proposed regulations affect my child’s yeshiva? A: The Regulations, on their face, may require schools to make major adjustments to their limudei kodesh and secular programming. For example, the proposed regulations specify 1) the number of required hours – as many as 4-5 hours per day, depending on grade level; 2) more than 12 required subjects, including, at the lower elementary level, consumer and family science, visual arts, theater, media arts, career development, occupational studies, etc.; 3) assessment of teachers to an undefined standard. Results, grades, competencies, graduation rates, or other factors regarding equivalency to public schools are not taken into account for these purposes. To view the proposed Regulation click here. Q: Didn’t the court already strike down the SED Guidelines 3 months ago? A: Yes, those Guidelines were thrown out by the NY State Supreme Court in response to lawsuits brought by Agudath Israel, PEARLS, Torah Umesorah, and other groups. However, the court struck down the Guidelines because the State Education Department failed to comply with the technical requirements for new rulemaking. By publishing its “proposed Regulations” in the NYS Register, SED has now started an “official” process in compliance with those requirements. Q: How do the new proposed Regulations differ from the previous Guidelines?? A: The new Regulations are substantially identical to the previous Guidelines. Q: What happens now? A: There is a sixty day public comment period (until September 2) when individuals can voice their concerns regarding these proposed regulations. At the conclusion of the process, the Regulations come before the Board of Regents for a vote, expected this fall. Q: I heard that State Education Commissioner Elia resigned earlier this week. Does that mean this is over? A: No. The impact of Commissioner's Elia's resignation on this issue is still to be determined, but the proposed Regulations have already been published and the comment period is in place. Q: What is being done to fight for parents who choose, and sacrifice dearly, for their children to attend yeshivos? A: The Agudah has been working with organizations in the community - PEARLS and Torah Umesorah, among others - to oppose the newest incarnation of the state's attempt to control yeshivos. It should be noted that the Catholic and NYSAIS independent schools (which, together with Jewish schools, form the majority of nonpublic schools in NYS) also strongly oppose these regulations. Q: Is there anything I can do? A: Yes! SED is required, by law, to read comments submitted. While many have previously signed petitions, which is important, these comments are required to be read by law. We have set up a system, where, with just a few clicks, you can voice your opinion on this critical matter. Q: I live in Chicago, but the overreach of these regulations concerns me. May I register my comment? A: The regulations do not restrict comments to NYS residents.
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Baltimore, MD - July 2, 2026 - The Baltimore community recently marked the shloshim of Karen Cohn, יוכבד רבקה בת מאיר ע״ה - a milestone of grief and reflection for a woman whose impact radiated far beyond her immediate family. To the countless close friends who made up her massive, lifelong circle, she was a fiercely loyal confidante. To hundreds of young singles over the years, she became an “Aunt” - a surrogate mother, an advocate, and a living example of selfless devotion.
Her passing on the 9th of Sivan has left an unimaginable void. For over 51 years, Karen and her husband, Jeff, built a beautiful, vibrant life together. Their home was a place of endless warmth, laughter, and a beautiful legacy of children, grandchildren, and great-grandch...
Baltimore, MD – July 6, 2026 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Mrs. Roberta Shnier a"h, mother of R' Dovid Shnier.
The levaya will be tomorrow (Tuesday) in Toronto.
Shiva in Baltimore, through Monday morning, will begin with Mincha & Maariv on Wednesday at 3401 Olympia Avenue.
Minyanim:
Shachris (Th, Fri, Mo) - 6:40 a.m.
Shachris (Su) - 7:10 a.m.
Mincha & Maariv (We, Th, Su) - 8:20 p.m.
Mincha (Fr) - 3:00 p.m.
Maariv (Motzei Shabbos) - 9:20 p.m.
Visiting Hours:
After Shachris until 1:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
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Baltimore, MD – June 30, 2026 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Dr. Joseph H. Miller, z’l, husband of Ellen Miller, father of Ed (Iris) Miller and Leslie (Adam) Rosen.
The levaya will be held tomorrow morning at 9:00am at Levinson’s
The kevura will take place at the Beth Tfiloh Cemetery, 5800 Windsor Mill Road, Woodlawn, MD 21207.
Shiva will be observed at 3503 Southvale Road, Baltimore, MD 21208.Please park at Pikesville Middle SchoolViisting: 8:00AM-Noon, 2:00-9:00PM Friday until after MinchaMinyanim:Shacharis:Thursday 7:00am Friday and Sunday 8:00am Monday & Tuesday 7:00amMincha/Maariv will be at Plag: 6:55pm - Mincha/Maariv: Thursday, Shiva Asar B'Tammuz: 8:15PMMincha Erev Shabbos: 3:00...
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Baltimore, MD – July 2, 2026 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Lawrence Niemen, z"l, husband Dr. Linda Niemen, and father of Danielle Sarah (Frank) Storch and Aaron Niemen.
The Levayah will be held at Levinson's on Sunday, July 5, 2026 at 2:30 PMKevurah will take palce at Beth Tfiloh cemetery.
Shiva will be observed at 3209 Fallstaff Road, Baltimore, MD 21208 (Ari Fuld Building in rear of house)Parking available in the back of the houseMinyanim:Shacharis - N/AMincha/Maariv: 8:20PMMincha: Erev Shabbos: 4:30PMVisiting Times:Mon – Thurs: 10 am – 12:30 pm and 6-9:30 pmFriday: 10 am – 12:30 pm and 3-5 pm
“Have people in Israel heard about Charlotte?” one of my readers in New York asked me this past week. She urged me to write about one of the most talked-about events to have shaken the local Jewish community in recent days.
Charlotte Herzberg, an eight-year-old girl from Monsey, New York, was riding her bicycle near her home when she was struck and killed by a car. The driver, who immediately accepted responsibility for the terrible accident, was the best friend of Charlotte’s father, Yudi.
“At that moment, my wife and I understood that we were facing an enormous challenge and test,” Yudi said in his eulogy for his daughter. “My best friend did not do this deliberately. It was a terrible accident, and we were not going to allow this tragedy to tear us ...
Baltimore, MD - July 5, 2026 - Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion will host a daily Plag Mincha/Maariv minyan Sunday through Thursday throughout the summer.Mincha will begin this week at 6:51PM.
Baltimore, MD – July 5, 2026 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Mrs. Sidie Weiskopf, a’h, mother of Rabbi Mordechai Weiskopf. The Levayah took place today, Sunday July 5th, at 12:00 pm at 142 Grandview Avenue, Yeshiva of Spring Valley, Girls Building. Shiva details to follow.
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Baltimore, MD - July 5, 2026 - On June 21, more than 100 women from across the Baltimore Jewish community gathered for an inspiring evening of connection, chizuk, and growth. The event, organized by Elevate and hosted at the new Ohel Moshe hall with the support of A Single Impact, The Amida Army, Elite Rise, and Let’s Connect, drew a diverse crowd representing a broad spectrum of ages, backgrounds, and stages of life. The women in attendance reflected the unity and diversity that defines Baltimore’s Jewish community. Elevate, an organization dedicated to supporting young married women, fosters meaningful connection and Torah growth for women in the community. Through weekly chaburahs, Rosh Chodesh gatherings, shiurim, and special events, Elevate creates opportunities ...
Baltimore, MD – July42, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Uriel Schwartz and Chanie Meiselman on their engagement.
יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
Baltimore, MD - July 2, 2026 - Explore the latest issue of Baltimore Jewish Home
Click on the graphic below
Baltimore, MD - July 4, 2026 - Over 80,000 Marylanders are without electricity on Motzaei Shabbos after extreme heat hit the area and severe storms hit the state during the evening hours of the Fourth of July.
According to the BGE Outage map, over 80,000 people are affected by power outages statewide.
As of 9 p.m., over 33,900 people are without power in Harford County.
Over 19,000 people are without electricity in Baltimore County, and nearly 11,000 people are powerless in Anne Arundel County.
Over 6,100 customers are without power in Carroll County, and another 3,500 are being affected in Baltimore City.
3,000 people in Howard County are also without electricity.
It's unclear when power will be restored across these areas.
My parents’ rescue at Entebbe taught me that freedom survives only because people choose to defend it.
On July 4, 1976, as America celebrated its bicentennial, four C-130 aircraft flew blind over the dark waters of the Red Sea and across the Horn of Africa. The pilots took their planes beneath the sweep of commercial radar, their crews relying on basic radio, manual navigation, and raw nerve. The planes were carrying Israeli commandos to a disused airport-terminal building in Uganda, on the shores of Lake Victoria.
Inside that terminal were 106 hostages. Two of them were my American parents.
For nearly a week, Palestinian and German terrorists had held the passengers from a hijacked Air France flight hostage inside the airport terminal, threatening to kill them unless imp...
There are many places in the Torah where we see the effect of different types of behavior. Anger inevitably leads to mistakes, kindness can have positive consequences for generations and humility keeps one from losing sight of what’s right and wrong. Parshas Pinchas contains a far more subtle but unmistakable lesson.
After counting all the Shevatim and their progeny we are introduced to the Bnos Tzlafchad. These daughters brought to Moshe Rabeinu’s attention the apparent inequity in that they were not going to have a chelek in Eretz Yisroel because their father had died in the Midbar and chalakim were only being given out according to the male lineage. (Tzlafchad had no sons) Moshe had to ask Hashem what should be done about their seemingly legiti...
A nation is traumatized.
In a frenzy of immorality, instigated through the counsel of Bilaam, the Moabite women not only seduce the general populace to debauchery, but Zimri in a shocking act of brazenness takes his paramour, a Midianite woman, to the entrance of the Tent of Assembly sinning with her in public. This resulted in a plague that kills twenty-four thousand people in one fell swoop.
The plague was stifled only after Pinchos zealously takes action to kill Zimri and Cozbi.
In reward for his courageous act in 'turning back' G-d's wrath from the Children of Israel, he is rewarded a 'covenant of peace', and that he and his descendants will merit to be 'Kohanim forever'.
Can an act of a single individual possibly atone for a communal sin and quel...
Baltimore, MD - Jul 3, 2026 - Parents, grandparents, Rebbeim, and friends gathered at the Cheder's annual Mesibas Preida to celebrate the graduating eighth-grade class and their years of growth as Bnei Torah.
The program commenced with heartfelt words of inspiration from Board Chairman Rabbi Hillel Tendler and Rabbi Hirsch, who encouraged the graduates as they prepare for the next stage of growth in Torah.
A special highlight of the evening was the tribute to Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz, beloved first-grade Rebbe for more than 35 years, recognizing his decades of dedication to generations of Talmidim.
Rabbi Hexter arranged for two first-grade boys to perform a touching song in honor of the graduates, symbolizing the beginning and culmination of their experience in the Cheder.
Representa...
Baltimore, MD – July 3, 2026 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Ori Dek, z’l, brother of Rabbi Alon Dek
The levaya will take place on Sunday, July 5, at 7:00 p.m. in the New Cemetery, Ben Tzvi Street, Hadera, Israel Shiva will be observed at: 21 Ebn Gvirol St, Apt. #1, Hertzliya
Minyanim:
Shacharis: 8:00 a.m., Mincha/Maariv at 7:35 p.m. Visiting hours from 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. and 4:00–10:00 p.m.
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