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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.
Baltimore, MD - June 3, 2026 - Maryland motorists will face an increase in the state gas tax rate starting next month, but whether they notice the change is another thing entirely.
New tax rates released Monday by the Office of the Comptroller set the new tax rate on gasoline at 46.6 cents per gallon, a net increase of six-tenths of a penny more than this year’s rate, and the first increase after two year of slight declines. The tax is in addition to the federal tax on gas of 18.4 cents a gallon.
Robert Rehrmann, the director of the Board of Revenue Estimates, said the overall increase this year was not driven by the war with Iran.
“Although Middle East geopolitical shocks triggered a spike in gasoline prices beginning in early March, the average price over the full 12-month...
Baltimore, MD – June 3, 2026 - 7:11AM (BJL) The traffic light at the intersection of Reisterstown Road and Slade is flashing yellow.
Baltimore, MD - June 2, 2026 - The following was sent today to the OCA parent body:
Dear OCA Families,
Since OCA was founded 15 years ago, our goal was to create a safe environment in which your children - our students - would thrive, educationally, socially, and emotionally. We have been blessed to grow as a community in our rented space. We are now at a pivotal moment in our history and have the opportunity to start our next chapter in a home of our own.
With gratitude to Hashem, we are thrilled to announce that we have recently invested in a permanent home for our school! All grades will be united under one roof at 7133 Rutherford Road in Windsor Mill. We have tremendous hakarat hatov to the Building Committee and OCA Board for their tireless efforts over the past three years to he...
Get incredible FREE gifts with all your camp and summer purchases!Spend more, get more!Fully stocked up for all your camp and summer needs.Click HERE to shop Hosiery Plus!
Baltimore, MD - June 2, 2026 - SPECIAL UPDATE: The Board of Elections website is accepting online voter registration and voter modifications at ChangePartyMD.com until 11:59PM tonight
Baltimore, MD – June 2, 2026 – 3:13PM - (BJL) – A tree is down at the corner of Highgate and Ludgate, impacting traffic in the area. Expect delays, particularly near Cross Country School.
"…Who has sanctified us with holiness of Aharon and has commanded us to bless His people Israel באהבה — with love."
Although the Torah clearly instructs this obligation to confer the three specific verses enumerated in the command, but nowhere in those verses does it indicate a need for them to express these sentiments with 'love'.
Although many struggle to answer this dilemma, there is a novel suggestion that the entire question is based on a false premise.
The love is not referring to the Kohanim blessing the people with love but rather to G-d Who out of His boundless love for His children, commanded the Kohanim to bless them.
There is one other blessing we recite that also emphasizes the nature of it being an expression of G-d's lov...
Baltimore, MD – May 28, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Yossi Slakin (Baltimore) and Gitty Katz (Cedarhurst) on their engagement.
יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
For years, liberal and Reform organizations have presumed to speak on behalf of Diaspora Jewry, including American Jews, while advancing their agenda at the Kotel.
This week, that changed.
A bill was introduced in the Knesset's Constitution Committee that would grant the Chief Rabbinite official jurisdiction over the Kotel, designating it as a formal Makom Kodosh. The legislation would prohibit Nashot HaKotel from conducting protest activities at the site.
As expected, liberal and Reform representatives appeared at the committee - loudly proclaiming, in the name of American Jewry, that such a move would sever the bond between the Jewish people and their holiest site.
For the first time, they were not the only voice in the room.
Our voters brought us into the WZO, and it was...
Baltimore, MD – May 25, 2026 – BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Mrs. Karen Cohn, a”h, wife of Jeff Cohn, mother of Gobbie (Shayna) Cohn, Rafi (Chedva) Cohn, and sister of Simmy (Effie) Sonstein and Marcie (Ofer) Lurman.
The levaya will be held at Levinson’s on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at 2:00PM - Click here to watch the livestream
The kevurah will take place at the Chevra Ahavas Chesed cemetery 9780 Liberty Road, Randallstown, MD 21133.
Shiva through Monday, June 1, will be observed at 3214 Northbrook Road, Baltimore, MD 21208
Shacharis: 6:50AM (Sunday: 8:00AM)
Mincha/Maariv-Plag: 6:40PM
Mincha Erev Shabbos: 3:00PMMaariv Motzaei Shabbos: 9:17PM
בלע המות לנצח
Please Daven For Yael bas BatshevaA sweet young Baltimore girl needs our tefilos and support.Please help this special family with mounting medical and travel expenses, and most importantly keep Yael bas Batsheva in your tefilos for a complete refuah.https://thechesedfund.com/ybf/ybf
We wish we were sharing better news. Unfortunately, Yael’s treatment has not been working as well as everyone had hoped, and her medical team is now looking toward a specialized treatment option in Seattle that could potentially be life-saving. As parents, hearing this is heartbreaking, but we are holding tightly onto hope and doing everything possible to give Yael every chance to fight.
Because of her fragile condition, Yael is not well enough to travel on a commercial flight. Her doctors have advise...
Baltimore, MD – May 25, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Moshe Males (Baltimore) and Shira Neumann (Monsey) on their engagement.
Mazel Tov to Micha & Penina Males and Ari & Chana Neumann
יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
Baltimore, MD - May 25, 2026 - There are questions over outside players potentially having a hand in the race for Baltimore County State's Attorney.
Sarah David is listed as being publicly backed by the Working Families Party, a political group with financial ties to George Soros.
"So, that's an independent expenditure group, so they can't coordinate with our campaign at all," David said.
David is denying any direct affiliation with the progressive billionaire who has spent millions reshaping the nation's justice system.
According to campaign filings, in just the last month alone, the Working Families Party spent half a million dollars on David’s behalf. Records show roughly $260,000 went toward television advertising, while another $240,000 was spent on mai...
Baltimore, MD - May 24, 2026 - (BJL) What a beautiful day in Baltimore! Today, May 24th, Mesivta Toras Chaim was zoche to celebrate the Hachnasas Sefer Torah of the Taffel family — and what a Simcha it was! 🕺🏻 The celebration began at Bnei Jacob Shaarei Zion with the completion of the Torah alongside Rabbi Ron, the sofer, who flew in personally from Eretz Yisrael to bring this holy Torah to its new home. The Torah was then danced through the streets by a beautiful crowd of community members, rabbanim, and the talmidim and alumni of Mesivta Toras Chaim — all the way to its new home on Clarks Lane. A true Kiddush Hashem! ✡️ The day culminated in a magnificent seudah at Bnai Jacob, where Mr. Jay Taffel shared the deeply moving story behind this Torah — sponsor...
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