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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Dear Friends,
"How does he do it?", is a question I have often asked myself. Never complaining or questioning, R' Dovid accepts his Nisayon with inner strength.
In the words of the beautiful song "A Yid" I found the answer.
"And a Yid understands that Hashem has a plan and that's all it takes to make it through".
At this time of the year, when we ask Hashem for forgiveness, R' Dovid reminds us that G-d's love is unconditional and we can turn to him as a father (Tatte), not only as a king.
"His Tatte loves him, that's what R' Dovid holds on to".
The Whole Story: In the year 2011 Rabbi David Frid was diagnosed with ALS, which causes complete deterioration of the muscles in the body. In the beginning, he heroically fought to function on his own, even a...
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Baltimore, MD - Sept. 21, 2023 - Click on the letter below for a larger, printable copy
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 2023 - Every Shabbos table offers every Jewish family an incredible opportunity by which they can share their joy for Shabbos, for Yiddishkeit and for HaShem with their children. Unfortunately, our schedules are hectic and many people don’t have the time to prepare themselves to utilize the Shabbos table to its fullest. Therefore, we at ACHIM created TableTalk as a pre-packaged talking points pamphlet which is attractive, fun and has something for everyone. Limited copies are distributed to many shuls on a weekly basis but they are snatched up very quickly. Get yours ASAP or click on the graphic below and print your own.What’s in it and what’s all the excitement about?TableTalk features:• Weekly halachic dilemma creating ...
The Biden administration wants to stop medical debt from hurting Americans’ credit scores.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced this week that it has begun a rulemaking process to remove medical bills from Americans' credit reports.
For years, medical debt has harmed people’s credit scores. Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is announcing plans to remove medical debt from Americans' credit reports and allow millions of people to invest in their futures. pic.twitter.com/XSxPiVzZMi — Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) September 22, 2023About 20% of U.S. households have medical debt, with about $88 billion in medical bills appearing on credit reports, the bureau sa...
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.
Auto thefts have dramatically spiked across the country, and many fear insurance rates may continue to follow.
Experts say nationwide auto insurance rates are rising upwards of 20%, mostly due to the increased cost of living, but also due to the increase in auto thefts.
In Baltimore City, auto thefts are up more than 220% compared to this time last year.
The latest statistics posted by Baltimore Police show as of September 16, 2023 there have been 7,708 auto thefts reported across the City so far this year.
That averages out to about 29 thefts a day or more than one car an hour.
“It's frustrating. I have to go through all these other extra financial situations with this,” said Kiera Atkins, whose car was stolen from the FOX45 News parking lot last week.
The extr...
Jewish women report encountering a greater degree of antisemitism than men, according to a recent report.
The findings come from a joint study from Ipsos and Jewish on Campus entitled, “Antisemitism on College Campuses.”
When asked if antisemitism is a threat to their university, nearly half (49%) of female Jewish students surveyed responded in the affirmative.
When asked the same question, male Jewish students were less likely to say the same. Specifically, 38% of male Jewish students responded in the net yes category. While this still represents a sizable proportion of the demographic, it constitutes a considerably smaller proportion of Jewish men than Jewish women.
Women report more antisemitism across the board
This Jewish male/female disparity in perceive...
At the end of this week's parsha, Moshe is told to go to the mountain where he is to pass away. The pasuk states the reason(s) why he is dying here (32:51): "Al asher me`altem bi... al asher lo kidashtem osi," (Concerning the rock-hitting incident) because of that which you trespassed against me... that which you did not sanctify me. Why is it that two reasons are given? The GR"A on Pirkei Avos 3:1, "lifnei mi ata atid litein din vecheshbon" writes that din, judgement, refers to the direct judgement of a person's deeds. Cheshbon, calculation, refers to what that person could have been doing at that time. So, one is judged not only for their bad deeds, but for the good deeds they could have been doing at that time. This, suggests Meshech Chachma, is the meaning of this pasuk. "Al ...
Six or seven Muslim nations will join Saudi Arabia in making peace with Israel following the conclusion of the long-sought normalization deal with the Saudis, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen revealed in an interview with KAN News on Friday afternoon.
Speaking directly after Netanyahu's speech at the UN General Assembly in which he heralded the dawn of a "new Middle East," Cohen said that "it's important to restate what the prime minister said, peace with Saudi Arabia is also peace between Jews and the Muslim world.
"Six or seven nations from Africa and Asia will join the peace deal with the Saudis," Cohen said.
"I'm telling you, I have met with several officials from Muslim nations with which Israel does not share formal ties."
Cohen causes diplomatic debacle ...
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Over three millennia ago, our great leader Moses addressed the people of Israel as they were about to enter the Promised Land.
He said they would find there two mountains facing one another: Mount Gerizim, the site on which a great blessing would be proclaimed, and Mount Ebal, the site of a great curse.
Moses said the people’s fate would be determined by the choice they made between the blessing and the curse.
That same choice has echoed down the ages not just for the people of Israel but for all humanity.
We face such a choice today.
It will determine whether we enjoy the blessings of a historic peace of boundless prosperity and hope or suffer the curse of a horrific war, of terrorism and despair.
When I last spoke at this podium five years ago, I warned...
Auto workers at 38 plants across the U.S. will go on strike at 12 p.m. EST on Friday.
United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain provided a strike update calling on more plants to "stand up" and strike.
Fain said the 38 plants are part distribution facilities at General Motors and Stellantis in 20 states.
Fain said that there has been significant improvement in offers from Ford and that is the reason the strike will not be expanded there.“We do want to recognize that Ford is serious about reaching a deal,” he said.
The three strikes that began at plants Ford, GM and Stellantis plants one week ago will go on, the union said.
Ford was spared additional strikes because the company has met some of the union’s demands during negotiations over the past week, said UAW Preside...
One of the more common assumptions people mistakenly make, is that dairy products are easier to certify than meat. How many times have you heard someone say “I’ll just have the breakfast at this establishment. Their hechsher isn’t the greatest, but it’s just milchigs. What can be the problem?”
Let’s listen in to Rabbi Sholem Fishbane, Kashrus administrator at the cRc, and Executive Director of AKO, as he clarifies this common misconception.
I was talking to a friend of mine, and he told me he needed to get an oil change on his car. I thought about this and it occurred to me that during this auspicious time of year, don’t we all need an oil change? No, not on our cars, but on our spiritual vehicle of life.
So much of the year, we are fueled by our physical wants and needs. We are fueled by jealousy, desire, and our own ego. But on Yom Kippur, our vehicle comes to a full stop, and we perform an inner oil change. We change our focus and mindset. We change from a physical geared perspective in life, to a more spiritual geared perspective. We associate with the G-dly spark within us, and we become fueled by our spiritual wants, desires, and aspirations.
Failing to perform an oil change on a car can lead to the...
The report also stated that Saudi will get a U.S. offer for a nuclear facility as part of deal, and that the proposed site would be guarded by American forces
Government officials from Israel and Saudi Arabia met in secret recently to discuss a potential normalization agreement between the two countries, according to a report from Israeli public broadcaster Kan on Thursday evening.
The specific details of the meeting have not been made public.
Saudi Arabia will get a U.S. offer for a nuclear facility as part of an agreement, the report stated, and that the proposed nuclear site would be guarded by American forces.
The report of the secret meeting by Israeli and Saudi officials comes at the same time that Washington is reportedly considering twin defense tre...
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 22, 2023 - Tropical Storm Warnings have been extended to six Maryland counties and Chesapeake Bay as winds over 39 mph are expected to hit North Carolina on Friday before moving north to Maryland and Virginia on Saturday, notes Pikesville Patch. Notable areas like Worcester, Somerset, and Ocean City are bracing for heavy winds and rainfall, leading to potential flooding and property damage. Coastal flooding is anticipated on Saturday, with storm surges varying from 1 to 6 feet across different regions. The storm, possibly becoming Tropical Storm Ophelia, could make landfall in eastern North Carolina on Saturday morning, with potential to reach hurricane intensity. Authorities urge residents to secure outdoor items and prepare for possible power outages. The storm'...
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 22, 2023 - Yesterday Mayor Brandon M. Scott released the following statement on tonight’s City Council confirmation hearings held for Acting Police Commissioner Richard Worley and Acting Fire Chief James Wallace.
Mayor Brandon M. Scott said:
“Tonight, Acting Police Commissioner Richard Worley and Acting Fire Chief James Wallace both showcased the grace, deep knowledge base, and leadership qualities that prompted me to nominate them to lead our two top public safety agencies in Baltimore.
“Acting Commissioner Worley outlined a proactive vision to improve community policing, continue our police department’s pathway out of the consent decree, and apply his unique perspective as a life-long Baltimorean to the job. Already in the role of Acting C...