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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Baltimore, MD - June 21, 2022 - Kesser Torah is proud to announce the release of a song and music video specifically created for its current campaign. This inspiring song is soon to be on the lips of ohavei Torah worldwide.
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Boredom leads to sin and too much free time is dangerous. This assertion of our Sages is applicable to summer vacation and to Parashat Korach: The rebellion of Korach occurs after the people have been punished with having to wander forty years in the desert. At the moment when they understand that they have an abundance of time on their hands but lack a sense of purpose, weakness sets in and rebellion starts.But there is an alternative way to handle a suddenly available stretch of time as I learned from Itay Bashan, who wrote me as follows:"Shalom Sivan, I am a teacher at the Ohel Shiloh School. We were also on strike this week, but it was amazing to see how our students utilized their time. Malachi is an especially sweet student of ours who stands out because of an identifying feature. He...
January in Baltimore City there was hope for a fresh start to a new year, but that hope quickly diminished as the month became one of the deadliest in decades.
There were 36 homicides.
Now, 25 days into June and the city has seen at least 36 people killed.
One of them was killed early this morning in Federal Hill.
With five days left in the month, it’s likely June will be the deadliest month so far this year.
Last month, several city council members came out demanding a short term crime plan.
“People are calling our offices crying out,” said Councilwoman Middleton.
The Baltimore Police responded releasing a short-term crime plan on June 3, which included enhanced visibility patrols in high-crime areas.
Yet, 22 days later and crime doesn’t seem to be sh...
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Baltimore, MD - June 19, 2022 - Join Rebitzen Spetner’s thousands of students from around the world who have transformed themselves, their homes, and their relationships with their children. Rebitzen Sima Spetner is a child psychologist and venerable parenting and chinuch specialist from Eretz Yisroel who has been teaching chinuch classes for decades. Her warm, engaging classes are filled with Torah hashkafah and practical ideas. Rebitzen Spetner was trained directly by Rav Shlomo Wolbe, and received haskamah from leading gedolim.Topics: discipline, boundaries, the 80/20 ratio: maintaining a positive home, connecting with your child- even the very challenging child, understanding your child’s physical and emotional needs, ruchniyus in the home, and sibling dynamics/ rivalry.Dat...
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.
Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked on Friday met with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for the first time since the coalition fell apart.
In an interview with Rina Matzliah, Shaked said that the "chance of an alternative government have dropped to nil, and we are going to elections."
According to her, if Bennett decides not to run in the coming elections, Shaked herself will head the Yamina party - despite the fact that Bennett would prefer that Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana head the party instead.
Channel 12 News reported that Shaked will clarify that she does not rule out sitting with the Likud and MK Benjamin Netanyahu, who is the first option, from her perspective, and that she will try to provide a solution for all the Israelis who on the one hand were n...
Shabak (Israel Security Agency) is preparing for Foreign Minister Yair Lapid's (Yesh Atid) entry into the Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday or Wednesday this coming week.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's office has prepared a plan for handing over the duties smoothly and in an organized fashion.
If the bill to dissolve the Knesset passes its second and third readings on Monday, the ceremony for changing prime ministers will be held a day or two later.
If Lapid enters the Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday, he is expected to hold his first Cabinet meeting that same day.
Lapid has requested to move to the Prime Minister's Residence on Balfour Street immediately, but Shabak has insisted that the renovations be completed first.
Bennett never mov...
Baltimore, MD – June 24, 2022 – This Shabbos, Pikesville Jewish Congregation (PJC) celebrates the opening of its new building at 7644 Carla Road with festive tefilah, a grand community luncheon and by bringing in the three Rabbis who have served the community. Friday night will include a lively Carlebach Kabbalat Shabbat with a drasha from Rabbi Michael Shore. Shabbat morning davening will be led by Nachum Joel with drashot from Rabbi Yechiel Shaffer and Rabbi Daniel Lerner. Over the last five years the kehilla has grown to 150 families and is marking this next step in its growth by bringing people together and celebrating the accomplishments of the community in its short ten-year existence.Rabbi Yechiel Shaffer, the Mara D’Asra of the Kehillah for the last five yea...
Baltimore, MD - June 24, 2022 - Please be aware that Jelly Belly's are only Kosher when bearing an OU. Unfortunately, a shipment of Jelly Belly without an OU on the Snapple flavored were sold in Seven Mile Market. Please check your package and if it has no OU please return for a full refund. Please also check any other flavors you may have.
Normalization without addressing the Palestinian issue risked further conflict, officials warned
The United States’ Department for Homeland Security (DHS) warned that the Abraham Accords could fuel further conflict in the Middle East, shortly after the landmark deal was signed in 2020.
In a Wednesday report, The Intercept cited an official document titled “Terrorists’ Longstanding Grievances Very Likely Exacerbated by Israel’s Normalization of Relations with Two Gulf States.”
The US-brokered Abraham Accords – spearheaded by former US president Donald Trump – were an August 2020 joint agreement between Israel, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to normalize relations, with Sudan and Morocco later included.
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Following the statement made by the United Nations Human Rights Office, the IDF once again reiterates its call to the Palestinians to share access to the bullet with which the Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed.
"The Palestinian Authority cooperates with Israel on investigations from time to time", the IDF statement read, "The Palestinians' refusal to transfer the bullet and hold a joint investigation with American representation is telling of their motives".
"It should be noted that this was an operational event during which an exchange of fire occurred between IDF soldiers and Palestinian gunmen during counterterrorism activities in Jenin", the IDF notes.
In the IDF statement it is emphasized that ever since the incident, the IDF has been investigating and review...
El Al’s sudden move to no longer offer flights out of Toronto beginning in October has caught the Canadian Jewish community by complete surprise.
El Al will stop direct flights from Toronto to Israel after the end of the High Holy Days on October 27, 2022. The move will mean the end of El Al’s nearly five decade presence in Canada. Flights from Montreal were previously stopped in the early 2000s.
According to the Canadian Jewish News, pre-pandemic, Canada was an important hug for travelling to Israel, with 100,000 Canadians making the trip. The goal was to increase that number by 10 percent in 2023, but El Al leaving the country will have a significant impact on travel numbers, Gal Hana, the Israeli consul of tourism for Canada, told the news outlet.
Hana explained that...
Baltimore, MD - June 24, 2022 - These bikes were left in our yard and we would very much like to have their owners retrieve them. If they belong to you, please email us.
Washington, DC, June 24, 2022 — Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV), today welcomed the U.S. Supreme Court decision reversing Roe v. Wade. The organization made the following statement:
Judaism regards all human life as sacred, including when a fetus is yet to be born. Jewish law permits abortion only in truly extraordinary circumstances. This does not describe the situation in America today, where the overwhelming majority of abortions are done as an elective procedure.
The dialog needs to change: if everything is a human right, then, in the end, nothing remains worthy of special protection. We must return to a society that cherishes human rights, and human life.
The Weekly Shtikle is dedicated le'iluy nishmas my father, Reuven Pinchas ben Chaim Yaakov, a"h.
Of course, the most significant of events that takes place in this week's parsha is the sin of the spies. Ten of the spies delivered negative reports about Eretz Yisrael while only Yehoshua and Caleiv delivered positive reports. My Zadie, R' Yaakov Bulka, z"l, points out, though, that if you look at the positive components of each of the reports, there doesn't seem to be much difference. In pasuk 14:8 Caleiv describes Eretz Yisrael as "eretz zavas chalav udvash" But the ten spies also describe it as such in 13:27, "vegam eretz zavas chalav udvash hi." What is the difference? Also, why did the ten spies use the word "vegam?...