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Wishing you a Safe, Happy & Healthy Shana Tova!
Blessings from Harav Gamliel Rabinowitz Shlita to all those who give generously.
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Baltimore, MD - Sept. 22, 2024 - As always, Shabsi's Judaica looks forward to assisting you with all your Yom Tov needs.
Click on the graphic below for a larger, printable version of Shabsi's Judaica Yom Tov season schedule!
BaltimoreJewishLife.com (BJL) is proud to partner with STAR-K CERTIFICATION that realizes that there is no substitute for a person’s own Rav. In an effort to offer a possible solution, it has launched its Institute of Halachah as a public service. Over the years, the agency’s Kashrus Hotline has answered generic halachic questions from kosher consumers the world over, including inquiries regarding the kosher status of foods and certified Sabbath mode appliances. The formation of a separate official division within STAR-K testifies to the need for addressing these issues.
The Institute of Halachah is directed by HaRav Mordechai Frankel, under the guidance of HaRav Moshe Heinemann, STAR-K’s Rabbinic Administrator. It is an invaluable resource for a diverse array of rabbis to discuss general halachic matters, as well as gain access to source materials for shiurim and answers to congregants’ questions.
Shailos for regular or Kashrus shailos may emailed or discussed using this widget.
During the Second Temple, the Greek empire reigned (over Israel),1 and they (the Greeks) passed decrees against the Jews and (tried) to erase their religion, and did not allow them to carry out Torah (study) or the commandments. They put their hands on their property and their daughters. They entered the Temple, destroyed and made the pure unclean. The Jews were in great distress because of them and were much oppressed, until the G-d of their fathers had mercy on them, delivering them from their hands and saving them. Then overcame, the sons of the Hasmonean High Priest, (the Greeks) and killed them and saved the Jews from their hands. They appointed a king from the Priests, and the kingdom of Israel was restored for more than 200 years until the destruction of (the) second (Temple). When the Jews overcame their enemies and destroyed them, it was the 25th of Kislev2 when they entered the Sanctuary (inner room) and did not find pure (olive) oil in the Temple, except one jar sealed with seal of the High Priest, and it did not contain enough to light except for one day only. But they lit from it the lamps of the Menorah3 for eight days, until they could crush olives and produce a (new quantity) of pure oil. For these reasons, decreed the Sages of that generation that these eight days that begin on the 25th Kislev, will be days of joy and praise. One lights on them lamps at evening at the entrance to the houses, every evening of the eight nights to show off and demonstrate the miracle. These days are called ''Hanukah'' that is to say ''they rested'' (chanu) on the ''25'' ('th of the month) because on the 25th they rested from their enemies. and also because of those days they (re)-dedicated the house (Temple) which their foes had defiled. Also some say that it is a commandment to increase slightly the festive meals on Hanukah. Another reason is because the work of (building) the Sanctuary (in the desert) was completed in these days. One should tell one's children the story of the miracles that were done for our fore-fathers in those days, (see Josephus) However, these meals are not considered as part of the commandment unless one says at the meal songs of praise. One should increase charity in these Hanukah days, for this can help mend any defects in our souls. This charity, should be given particularly to poor Torah scholars. (KSA 139:1) 1) 352 BCE until 70 CE 2) 139 BCE 3) The Menorah was made of gold and had seven branches.
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 26, 2024 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Yisroel Tesser & Miri Sachs on their engagement.
Mazel Tov to Chaim & Estie Tesser and Dovid & Chaya Bruria Sachs and grandparents Chaim & Toby Pollack
יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 26, 2024 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Mendel Orkin (Baltimore, MD) & Yaffa Muchnik (Oxnard, CA) on their engagement.
Mazal tov to Rabbi Jeff & Debbie Orkin and Rabbi Dov & Racheli Muchnik
יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 26, 2024 – 2:57PM - Park Heights Ave remains closed between Hooks Lane and Greenspring Valley.
From Bais Yaakov Park Heights campus: "please consider alternate routes when arriving at or leaving our Park Heights campus. (Stevenson or Greenspring to Greenspring Valley are options, or Reisterstown to Craddock to Greenspring Valley is another option.)"
Jerusalem, Israel - Sept. 26, 2024 - Director General of the Israel Ministry of Defense, Major General (Res.) Eyal Zamir, has concluded negotiations in Washington for a substantial $8.7 billion U.S. aid package to support Israel's ongoing military efforts. The package comprises $3.5 billion for essential wartime procurement, which has already been transferred to the IMoD, and $5.2 billion designated for air defense systems, including the Iron Dome, David's Sling, and an advanced laser system.
Maj. Gen. Zamir, dispatched by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, engaged in a series of high-level meetings with U.S. government officials. At the Pentagon, he met with Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Amanda Dory, and Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainme...
Part of the nature of man is to find the easy way out. We innately seek pleasure and want to do things in the easiest way possible. As psychologist Dr. Doug Lisle points out, we all want to be able to accomplish our tasks with the least possible effort. That’s fine when we can reach our goals and conserve both physical and mental energy. But often times, the “easy way” is dangled in front of us and we run to grab it, because we can only see the immediate result. We rarely stop to think about long-term ramifications. When it comes to our health, there are things dangled in our faces every single day. But when I pursue something that brings a quick fix, am I truly fixing the problem in the long-term, or am I just getting some short-term b...
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 25, 2024 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Dr. Michael Novice, z’l, father of Mr. David Novice.
Click here for a livestream of the Levayah which will be held Thursday at 3:30 at Garden Of Remembrance Memorial Park at 14321 Comus Road, Clarksburg, 20871
Shiva will be observed at 11813 Kim Place, Potomac MD 20854 through Tuesday evening
Bila HaMaves LaNetzach…
China’s newest nuclear-powered attack submarine sank in the spring, a major setback for one of the country’s priority weapons programs, U.S. officials said.
The episode, which Chinese authorities scrambled to cover up and hasn’t previously been disclosed, occurred at a shipyard near Wuhan in late May or early June.
It comes as China has been pushing to expand its navy, including its fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.
The Pentagon has cast China as its principal long-term “pacing challenge,” and U.S. officials say that Beijing has been using political and military pressure to try to coerce Taiwan, a separately governed island that Beijing claims as part of its territory.
China says its goal in building a world-class military is to deter ...
The IDF confirmed on Thursday evening that in an airstrike on the Dahieh suburb of Beirut, IAF fighter jets eliminated Muhammad Hussein Srour, the commander of Hezbollah's aerial unit.
"The terrorist advanced, directed, and commanded over many aerial terror frameworks including drone, cruise missile, and UAV attacks on the Israeli home front. In the past years, he was one of the leaders of projects to manufacture UAVs in Lebanon and founded explosive UAV and reconnaissance sites in Lebanon, some of which were located under civilian buildings in Beirut and other areas," the IDF stated.
Srour joined the organization in the 80s and held a variety of positions, including as a commander in the Aziz surface-to-air missile unit and the Radwan Force, and a Hezbollah representative to Yemen ...
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 26, 2024 – 11:51AM – Be aware of a vehicle fire on 695 outer loop at Exit 23. All lanes are currently blocked.
H/T: Baltimore Traffic Group
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, September 13th, ordered that the safe return of northern Israel's residents to their homes be added to the war's objectives. During the next week, dozens of Hezbollah operatives were killed and thousands were maimed when their communication devices exploded. Israel did not claim responsibility for the explosions, but foreign media reported that the Mossad was behind them.
The following Friday, IAF jets guided by the Intelligence Directorate, targeted and eliminated Ibrahim Aqil, head of operations and commander of the Radwan Force of the Hezbollah terrorist organization, during a meeting with Radwan Force commanders in the Dahieh neighborhood of Beirut. In addition to Aqil, 15 other Hezbollah terrorists were eliminated in the strike, ...
For this commandment which I command you today, is not concealed from you, nor is it far away.
It is not in heaven, that you should say, "Who will go up to heaven for us and fetch it for us, to tell [it] to us, so that we can fulfill it?"
Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, "Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us and fetch it for us, to tell [it] to us, so that we can fulfill it?"
Rather, [this] thing is very close to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can fulfill it. (Devarim 30 14-15)
The subject of this verse is a matter of debate. Some suggest it is referring to the injunction to learn Torah, while others posit it is the instruction to do Teshuva — repentance.
Either way, the Torah is revealing to us that it is readily accessible...