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.
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Yeshivas Ohr Yechezkel, WITS, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a student population of nearly 100 Talmidim in its Mesivta and Yeshiva Gedola, is committed to providing aspiring Talmidim with an excellent Yeshiva education combined with a high caliber General Studies program, set in a warm, nurturing, and supportive environment.Parents and Talmidim alike recognize the Yeshiva’s focus on * Cultivating a Talmid’s passion for Limud HaTorah* Developing the total Mensch* Appreciating the individuality of each Talmid* Creating successful and happy TalmidimThe Yeshiva attracts Talmidim from across the country, including 12 current Baltimore talmidim.Parents who are interested in finding out more about the Yeshiva are encouraged to attend the Open House at the home of Mr. and ...
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Baltimore, MD – Nov. 29, 2025 – BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Gerald Barr, z’l, father of Paul Barr, Louis Barr, Avi Barr and Beverly Weisbrot. Paul is currently sitting in Baltimore.Details for the other avelim is forthcoming.Click here to watch the livestreamed levayah on Har Menucht, Yerushalayim at 8:00AM (Baltimore)
Shiva will be observed at 5904 Simmonds Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215
Minyanim:
Sunday morning - Shacharis at 8:00 a.m.
Shacharis - Sunday 8:00am / 6:30 a.m.
Mincha/Maariv - 4:30 p.m.
The family respectfully requests no visitors between the hours of 12:00 - 1:00 p.m 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. or after 8:30 p.m
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Baltimore, MD – Nov. 26, 2025 – BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Dr. Sam Zygler, z’l, husband of Ruthie Zygler, and father of Lloyd (Rachel) Zygler, and Jeff (Leah) ZyglerShiva will be observed through Thursday morning at 2524 Farringdon Road, Baltimore, MD 21209 beginning at 1:00pm Sunday. Minyanim: Shacharis: Monday-Thursday 7:30 AMMincha/Maariv: Sunday-Wednesday 4:30 PM The family requests no visitors from 12:00 pm- 1:30 pm or after 9:00 pm. .בלע המוות לנצח
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Baltimore, MD – Nov. 29, 2025 – BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Dr. Abba Spero, z’l, husband of Mrs. Sara Spero, father of Mr. Chaim (Rebecca) Spero, Rabbi Yechiel (Chumi) Spero, Mr. Moshe (Gila) Spero, Mrs. Chavi (Reb Chezky) Schneider, and Mr. Yehuda (Tova) Spero an brother of Rabbi Ephraim Spero.
The levaya will take place tomorrow, Sunday, November 30, at 1:30 pm at Sol Levinson. Click here to watch Leayah recording Shiva will be observed through Friday afternoon at 5901 Key Ave., Baltimore, MD 21215The family respectfully requests no visitors between 12:30-130pm and 530-630pm or after 10pm.Minyanim: Shacharis: Monday-Friday: 8:00 amMincha/Maariv: Monday-Thursday: 4:30 pmMincha Friday: 1:00 pm
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Baltimore, MD – Nov. 30, 2025 – BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Rebbetzin Hadassah Poliakoff, a’h, wife of the late Rabbi Manuel M. Poliakoff, z"l, mother of Mr. Abba David (Laura) Poliakoff, Mrs. Aviva (Rabbi Eliezer z"l) Cohen, Mrs. Rena (Rabbi Avi) Schochet, and Rabbi Ephraim (Channa) Poliakoff.
The levaya will take place Monday, December 1, at 1:00 pm at Sol Levinson.For those in the New York area, there will be an opportunity to give kavod ha’acharon as the aron begins its journey to Eretz Yisroel. This will take place on Monday evening (12/1) at 7:30 PM at:JFK Airport – Building 75North Hangar RoadJamaica, NY 11430
The Levaya in Eretz Yisrael is called for 7:30pm on Tuesday, December 2, at the Beit Levayot at Har Hamenuchos. (Pleas...
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.
Israel is preparing for a significant escalation in Lebanon following Hezbollah’s continued military buildup in the country, Kan News reported.
According to the report, Israel presented US envoy Morgan Ortagus with evidence of Hezbollah’s ongoing entrenchment and expansion in Lebanon, warning that continued activity will lead to responses from the IDF.
The US is attempting to calm tensions, but Israeli sources say an escalation “appears inevitable.”
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz is expected to arrive in Israel next week, likely as part of US efforts to prevent an escalation.
On Tuesday, at an Israel Hayom conference in New York, Waltz stressed that, "Israel has the right to defend itself" and that Hezbollah must be d...
The Trump administration announced Tuesday it has paused all immigration applications, including green cards and US citizenship processing, for immigrants from 19 non-European countries, citing national security and public safety concerns, Reuters reported.
The pause applies to countries already subjected to partial travel bans in June, further tightening restrictions on immigration, a central feature of President Donald Trump’s political platform. The list includes Afghanistan and Somalia.
An official memorandum cited last week’s attack on US National Guard members in Washington, in which an Afghan man was arrested as a suspect. One Guard member was killed and another critically wounded.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has prioritized immigra...
Malcolm Hoenlein, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations in the United States, expressed deep concern at the Israel Hayom Conference in New York over the demographic shift working against the Jewish people and the American Jewish community.
Hoenlein, 81, whose involvement in American politics began in the 1950s when he joined the presidential campaign of Adlai Stevenson, has witnessed many incidents of antisemitism throughout his life and in recent years warned that what happened in Europe could also happen in the United States. “Unfortunately,” he said, “this prophecy has come true.”
“For the past twenty years I have been warning about the phenomenon,” Hoenlein said, “but even today people do no...
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Republicans will hold onto a GOP-controlled vacant congressional seat in ruby-red Tennessee after winning a hotly contested special election that grabbed plenty of national attention.
Republican nominee Matt Van Epps on Tuesday defeated Democratic rival Aftyn Behn, according to the Associated Press, in the high-stakes race to succeed former GOP Rep. Mark Green, who resigned from office in June to take a private sector job.
"This race was bigger than just one campaign,"Van Epps said in a statement after declaring victory. "It represented a defining moment for Tennessee and for the direction of the country." With the GOP clinging to a razor-thin majority in the House, the special election was seen as a must-win for Republicans.
President&n...
Baltimore, MD - Dec. 2, 2025 - The Edible Arrangements store located at 100 N. Charles Street in downtown Baltimore has chosen to discontinue its kosher certification. The Pikesville store, located at 3765 Old Court Road, remains Kosher certified.
Baltimore, MD – Dec. 2, 2025 – BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira Mr. Barry Ziman, z’l, brother of Mr. Benyamin Ziman.
Kevurah will take place in Westbrook, Connecticut. Date and time TBA.
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Baltimore, MD – Dec. 2, 2025 – HaRav Malkiel Kotler, shlita, Rosh HaYeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha (BMG) in Lakewood, paid a special visit to TA today. Throughout his visit, the Rosh HaYeshiva met and greeted talmidim from across the yeshiva — from the elementary divisions through the yungeleit of TA’s new Kollel — offering warm divrei bracha and chizuk.
After davening Mincha with the TA Mesivta, HaRav Kotler, shlita, delivered a more formal address to the Mesivta talmidim and then continued on to meet with the TA Kollel yungeleit, further uplifting all who had the zechus to hear from him.
Baltimore, MD – Dec. 1, 2025 – BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Mrs. Etta Vogel, a’h, mother of Aron Moshe (Shelley, a'h) Vogel, (Rabbi Yisrael Meir Vogel, z'l), Dovid Tzvi (Elissa) Vogel, Daniel Usher (Florence) Vogel; and Rabbi Gershon L. (Chaya) Vogel and sister of Bettye A. Soffer.
The Levaya will be held at 12 noon on Wednesday 12/3 at Levinson’s.Kevurah will take place at Adath Yeshurun Cemetery, 6700 Bowleys Lane, Rosedale, MD 21237. Shiva will be observed at 413 Brewers Bridge Road, Jackson, NJ 08527.בלע המות לנצח
The Trump administration has fired eight immigration judges in New York City, sharply cutting staff at one of the country’s busiest immigration courts as President Donald Trump vows to speed up deportations, The New York Times reported late Monday.
The judges, including an assistant chief immigration judge who supervised colleagues at the court inside 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan, were told their jobs were over as part of a nationwide shake-up of the immigration bench, the paper said, citing union and Justice Department officials.
The New York firings are part of a broader wave: Roughly 90 immigration judges have been dismissed across the United States this year, with only 36 replaced, according to the Times. That represents a sizable churn in a...
So much confusion in the air regarding the recent news about beer. Is it kosher? Does it need a hechsher? Is this relevant to everyone? Do I need to stock up on beer before January 1st, 2026? We interviewed Rabbi Sholem Fishbane - Kashrus Administrator at the Chicago Rabbinical Council, and Executive Director of AKO, to find out exactly what is going on with the beer. Let's listen in to this insightful conversation.
Baltimore, MD – Dec. 1, 2025 – BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Louis Kaplan, z"l, husband of Helen Kaplan and father of Yossi (Rebecca) Kaplan, Tzvi (Miriam) Kaplan, Breindy (Yaakov) Davidson and brother of Seymour Kaplan.Click here to watch Levayah livestream today, Dec. 2, in Eretz Yisrael at Gezer Regional Cemetery at 1:30pm (Baltimore).
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Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell Technologies, and his wife, Susan, have pledged $6.25 billion to support a new federal savings program created for America’s children, known as "Trump accounts."The program, tucked into the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, provides every child born between Jan. 1, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2028 with a one-time $1,000 government deposit at birth. Families can open an account once the child has a Social Security number, and funds cannot be withdrawn until the child turns 18.
These investment accounts are simple, secure, and structured to grow in value through market returns over time. At age 18, these young Americans can have a financial foundation for continued education, job training, home own...