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 - July 25, 2021 - After an enormously successful first year, we do not even contemplate “sitting on our laurels”. Although we recognize the יד השם and tremendous סייתא דשמיא in all of our achievements, we are still working tirelessly to ensure that Mesivta Shaarei Chaim continues to develop into the premier מקום תורה we envision for the community.
Please visit https://www.shaareichaimbaltimore.org/whatsnext for a sampling of some of the new, exciting and dynamic changes and additions taking place for this coming school year of תשפ”א-תשפ”ב.
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Baltimore, Md - July 30, 2021 - Bikur Cholim of Baltimore was founded with one simple goal:
To serve the needs of people facing illness in the Jewish community, their families, as well as people coming from all over the world to Baltimore to receive medical care from our world-class medical institutions.
Bikur Cholim is so much more than just a chesed organization - it’s an institution built on the fundamental belief that patients should be able to focus on getting better, being assured that the community is there to assist in any way possible.
What keeps it all going?
Under the dynamic leadership of our Executive Director, Rabbi Pinchos Rabinowitz, and our Coordinator of Family Services, Bonnie Pollak, Bikur Cholim of Baltimore has grown tremendously and even thr...
President Donald Trump urged senior Justice Department officials to declare the 2020 election results “corrupt” in a December phone call, according to handwritten notes from one of the participants in the conversation.
The notes of the Dec. 27 call, released Friday by the Democrat-led House Oversight Committee, underscore the lengths to which Trump went to overturn the results of the election and to elicit the support of law enforcement officials and other government leaders in that effort.
“Just say the election was corrupt and leave the rest to me and the R. Congressmen,” Trump said at one point to then-Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen, according to notes taken by Richard Donoghue, a senior Justice Department official who was on the call.
Right and left mutually accuse each other of causing the phenomenon, report says
Media coverage of anti-Semitism in the United States last year indicates that the issue has become largely politicized, according to an Israeli study released on Sunday.
In his report "The Discourse on Antisemitism in the United States in the Mainstream Media in 2020," Lior Sirkis of the Tel Aviv Institute for National Security Studies found that "both sides of the political map are increasingly accusing each other of being responsible for the phenomenon. The right accuses the left of being responsible for anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism, while the left attributes it to white right-wing supremacists."
The political divide also reflects divisions within the American Jewish community, Lior Sirkis wrote, whic...
Before boarding Marine One on Friday night, a reporter asked President Joe Biden, “Can Americans expect more guidelines coming out, more restrictions because of Covid?”
“In all probability. By the way, we had a good day yesterday. Almost a million people got vaccinated.”
Covid restrictions, of course, can vary by city, county and state, as well as from business to business.
Thanks in large part to the Delta variant, Covid cases are rising across the country. However, fully vaccinated individuals are at extremely low risk of hospitalization and death. To date, about 164 million people have been fully vaccinated in the United States. As the data indicates, the vaccines have been highly effective.
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.
The Department of Justice on Monday published an opinion indicating that coronavirus vaccine mandates are legal despite only being approved for emergency use.
The judgment was brought to light as areas across the country have either mulled or implemented shot mandates in some capacity amid a surge in cases. The Food and Drug Administration’s emergency use go-ahead “does not prohibit public or private entities from imposing vaccination requirements for vaccines that are subject to EUAs,” the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel wrote. Citizens have a right to be “‘informed’ of certain information, including ‘the option to accept or refuse administration of the product,'” though businesses, government, and oth...
Every year when reading parashat Eikev I am reminded of this story: Once at a kiosk on a Manhattan street I asked for a small squeezed orange juice. I was given a giant glass full of juice. "I asked for a small," I told the kiosk owner in order to correct his mistake, but he pointed to two larger glasses: "What you got was a small. Here, this is a medium, and this is a large!" A glass in Israel that is called "large" is "small" in the United States, but I am sure that in another few years in Israel, what is "large" today will also be considered "small."One of the great dangers that the book of Deuteronomy warns about is a society of abundance where we have everything - and it's all large-sized. It's a challenge to live in poverty, but it is also a challenge to live with wealth. I...
Vice President Harris has some ground to make up in order to be perceived more favorably by the public, a complicating factor for the Biden administration as it maps out its midterm strategy.
Six months into office, polls indicate Harris is viewed less favorably than President Biden. She has also made some tactical missteps outside of the White House that Democrats say show she hasn’t quite yet found her bearings.
Vice presidents historically do not outperform the leader at the top of the ticket. But her lower ratings haven’t gone unnoticed.
In a trio of recent surveys, Harris earned a combined unfavorable rating of 46 percent, according to an aggregate average compiled by RealClearPolitics. That number is 3 points below Biden’s 43 percent in the same category.
In an ...
Baltimore, MD – July 31, 2021 - It is with regret that BaltimoreJewishLife.com informs the community of the petira of Rabbi Yosef Cotton, z’l, husband of Mrs. Dina Cotton, father of Dovid Cotton, Shmuel (Rachel) Cotton, Chaim Cotton and Donny (Brandi) Cotton.
The levayah will take place at Levinson’s, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021 at 1:00 PMKevurah will take place at Chevra Ahavas Chesed in Randallstown
Shiva will be observed at 7638 Carla Rd, Pikesville, MD, 21208
No visitors 12-1 and 5-6 or after 9:30 pm Minyanim:Shacharis: 7:30 AMMincha/Maariv: 8:00 PMBila HaMaves LaNetzach…
Baltimore, MD – July 31, 2021 - It is with regret that BaltimoreJewishLife.com informs the community of the petira of R’ Yisroel Alter ben Yaakov, z’l, father of R’ Yaakov Goldstein
The levayah will take place at tomorrow, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021 at 1:00 PM at Gutterman's Funeral Home Rockville Centre, 175 N. Long Beach Road Rockville Centre, NY, 11570Click here to watch Levayah on ZOOM
Shiva will be observed at 287 Martin Avenue, Staten Island, NY., 10314.R’ Yaakov Goldstein may be contacted at: 443-414-6432 Minyanim:Shacharis: 8:00 AMMincha/Maariv: 8:00 PM
Bila HaMaves LaNetzach…
Nachman Ash says booster shot for older adults can help reduce number of patients in serious condition
Israeli Health Ministry Director-General Nachman Ash said on Sunday morning that "we do not see a slowdown in morbidity" as the positive test rate passed the 3 percent mark.
The percentage of positive tests stood at 3.17 percent out of 66,449 tests administered on Saturday, according to Health Ministry data, as the country takes measures to try and control an outbreak of the highly infectious delta variant of COVID-19.
Israel on Sunday registered 2,080 new daily COVID-19 cases with 212 patients listed in serious or critical condition and 37 people on respirators.
A total of 6,474 fatalities have been recorded since the pandemic first arrived to Israel.
A campaign began on Sunday to...
Baltimore, MD – Aug. I, 2021 - It is with regret that BaltimoreJewishLife.com informs the community of the petira of Moshe Nathan, z’l, husband of Devora Nathan and father of Michael Shraga Nathan and Chaim Velvel Nathan.
The levayah will take place at tomorrow, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021 at 3:30 PM at Levinson’s
Shiva will be observed at 6507 Williamson Ave, Baltimore, MD, 21215
Bila HaMaves LaNetzach…
State Department issues statement on Blinken-Lapid conversation: They agreed to work with the United Kingdom, Romania, and other international partners.
The State Department issued a statement on Saturday following US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s conversation with Foreign Minister and Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid.
The statement said that the two “discussed the attack on the Mercer Street, a commercial ship which was peacefully transiting through the north Arabian Sea.”
“They agreed to work with the United Kingdom, Romania, and other international partners to investigate the facts, provide support, and consider the appropriate next steps,” added the statement.
The Foreign Ministry released a statement earlier following Lapid’...
Iran 'not just Israel's problem,' FM Yair Lapid says
Israel's Defense Minister Benny Gantz held an emergency meeting on Friday with Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of General Staff Aviv Kochavi and other security officials following the attack on the Israeli-linked tanker off the coast of Oman in the Arabian Sea that resulted in the death of two crew members.
Zodiac Maritime, owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer, said the incident on board the MT Mercer Street on left one Romanian and one British national dead.
An unnamed Israeli "senior official" told Hebrew-language media outlets that Israel will continue to act against "Iranian aggression in the region" and is "likely" to respond to Friday's attack.
"They were in such haste to atta...
Biden says new restrictive measures to follow as Sydney sees military help maintain lockdown
Mushrooming outbreaks of the Delta variant prompted China and Australia to impose stricter Covid-19 curbs on Saturday, as the World Health Organization (WHO) urged the world to contain the mutation before it turns into something deadlier and draws out the pandemic.
In the United States, President Joe Biden said on Friday that new restrictive measures will "in all probability" soon be introduced.
China's most serious surge of coronavirus infections in months spread to two more areas Saturday -- Fujian province and the megacity of Chongqing -- in an outbreak that now spans 14 provinces.
"The main strain circulating at present is the Delta variant... which poses an eve...
Israeli and US officials say the attack has the hallmarks of the ongoing 'shadow war' with Iran
Israel is pressing for international action against Iran over Friday's deadly attack on a ship managed by an Israeli billionaire, according to the Israel's top diplomat.
The MT Mercer Street tanker was struck by a drone on Friday, killing two crew members.
There has been no claim of responsibility for the strike, but several Israeli and American officials said that the attack has the hallmarks of the ongoing "shadow war" between the Jewish state and the Islamic Republic.
On Friday Israel's Foreign Minister and Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid said he has ordered the nation's diplomats to push for UN action against Iranian terrorism.
"I'...
Ofer, a man hospitalized in serious condition with coronavirus, wrote a heartfelt request to those who did not yet receive the coronavirus vaccine, begging them to vet vaccinated.
"I've been hospitalized for a week already in serious condition," he wrote. "Right now I'm in the ICU. There were nights when I was certain that that's it, I won't wake up in the morning."
"This is a horrible disease, it's not connected to flu at all. People beside me have died.
"The difference is this: People who were vaccinated also got infected - except that they were released home after two days, while I deteriorated more each second.
"The conclusion? Go get vaccinated. Yes yes, me, the big-time antivaxxer, is begging you - go get vaccinated. Don't take th...