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Baltimore, MD - Mar. 30, 2026:Baltimore Pesach Zmanim 2026 - Eruvs are UP!
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Baltimore, MD - Apr. 5, 2026:
Q: There is a bracha which is recited once a year upon seeing a newly flowering fruit-bearing tree. I have a number of questions regarding Birchas Ha’ilonos:
When is the optimal time to say this bracha? Does the bracha have to be said during the month of Nisan?
What rules apply concerning the location of the person when saying the bracha? How far away can you be from the tree when saying the bracha? Can you be inside a house or other structure? Can you be in a car? Is it necessary to be at a site where there is more than one tree?
What limitations are there regarding the type of tree over which this bracha may be recited? Does the tree need to be fruit bearing? How old should the tree ...
Jerusalem, Israel – Apr. 5, 2026 – This year’s Chol Hamoeid Birkat Kohanim at the Kotel, which typically draws tens of thousands of people, was significantly scaled back. Due to ongoing security concerns and the threat of missile attacks, the Home Front Command, police, and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation limited access to the minyan held inside at Wilson’s Arch, located at the northeast corner of the Kotel Plaza.
Birkas Kohanim begin at the 56:42 mark.
Haifa Area, Israel – Apr. 5, 2026 – In the Haifa area, MDA EMTs and paramedics are providing medical treatment at the scene to four casualties, including an approximately 82-year-old man in serious condition who was injured by a heavy object, and three casualties in mild condition with shrapnel and blast injuries. Additional teams are providing medical treatment to four people suffering from anxiety symptoms.
When emergency teams arrived at the street, they saw a multi-story building that had been hit, with extensive destruction at the scene. Residents reported that there were casualties trapped under the rubble on the lower floors. Responders managed to move large pieces of concrete by hand and rescued an 82-year-old man from the debris who was in serious condition but consci...
A US official told Al Jazeera on Sunday morning that the pilot of the F-15E fighter jet, which was shot down over Iran on Friday has been located amid heavy exchanges of fire.
Fox News reported that American forces have successfully extracted the pilot from Iranian territory.
US President Donald Trump confirmed the rescue and wrote on his Truth Social platform: "WE GOT HIM! My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND! This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hun...
There are two major concepts which form the driving force of the Hagaddah and the Seder in general. First, is the Chiyuv Sipur Yitzias Mitraim, and the second is that one must feel as if he himself is being taken out of Mitzraim on the night of Pesach, an idea discussed more fully in the Hagaddah.
With these two concepts being the principal themes, how then does the final part of the Seder, Nirtzah, fit into this framework? These intriguing, yet seemingly unrelated songs, raise a significant question as to exactly what role they play in the Seder and by extension, the Yom Tov of Pesach.
On a simplistic level one could answer their function is similar to that of the Afikoman and Mah Nishtana - to heighten the interest and enjoyment of the S...
Baltimore, MD – Apr.1, 2026 – BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Leah Rivka Quinn, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Mordechai & Naomi Quinn, and granddaughter of Mr. & Mrs. Phillip & Dayna Klitzner and Rabbi & Mrs. Yonason & Tirtsa Quinn.
Shiva has concluded
בלע המות לנצח
Baltimore, MD – Apr. 1, 2026 – (BJL) Special thanks to the organizers and volunteers who made it possible—including Councilman Yitzy Schleifer and team, Frank Storch and the Project Ezra team, Dr. Bert Miller, our partners at the Baltimore City Fire Department, Baltimore City Police Department, Department of Public Works, Department of Transportation, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs.
As we bask in the afterglow of our Sedarim, where we retold the story of Yitzias Mitzrayim and we prepare for the last days of Pesach, where we mark Kriyas Yam Suf, it is easy to lose sight of the tumultuous days which occurred between these two amazing events. B’nei Yisroel leave Mitzrayim behind in the distance, only to realize that the Mitzrim have had a change of heart again and were in hot pursuit. Of course, we would assume that having just witnessed the Maccos and the Multiple Nissim that Hashem had done for them, that Bnei Yosroel would not be afraid – surely Hashem would protect them and punish the Mitzrim again. Yet, they were afraid, they were “very” afraid. The Torah tells us that they saw Mitzrayim chasing after them and they wer...
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 1, 2026 - More from Baltimore’s Community-Wide Biyur Chometz 5786/2026, including Baltimore City Councilman Yitzy Schleifer putting out the fire, as he does so many times throughout his service to the broader Baltimore community.
Neveh Ilan, Israel - Apr. 1, 2026 - Native Baltimoreans Meir & Sarah Raskas, now living in Neveh Daniel but spending Yom Tov in Neveh Ilan (a suburb of Yerushalayim), wish everyone a Chag Kasher V’Sameach, letting everyone know the reality of living in Eretz Yisrael as they prepare to spend their one Seder with emunah and bitachon among family and many new friends.
Baltimore, MD – Apr. 1, 2026 - 9:57AM (BJL) Police activity near Smith & Maurleen Rd has traffic slowing in the area.
Tel Aviva, Israel - Mar. 31, 2026 - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Tuesday, 31 March 2026) [translated from Hebrew]:"My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel, on the eve of this Festival of Freedom, Israel is stronger than ever. The entire world hears our lion’s roar in our struggle against the evil regime in Iran, a struggle in which we have achieved immense, enormous accomplishments.But at the same time, there are painful costs. Only yesterday, we lost four of our best sons. On behalf of the citizens of Israel, and on behalf of myself and my wife Sara, I send our deepest condolences to the families of the fallen. We all embrace with love the families who lost what is most precious to them, and we all embrace with love our heroic wounded, wounded in body and soul...
US President Donald Trump said today (Tuesday) that the war against the Iranian regime will not "last much longer" and said that the US is "obliterating" Iran's forces.
“We’re not going to be there too much longer. We’re obliterating the s-t out of them right now, it’s a total obliteration," Trump told the New York Post. “But we won’t have to be there much longer - but we have more work to do in terms of killing their offensive, whatever offensive capability they have left."
When asked about the Strait of Hormuz, Trump stated that he expects the shipping lane "automatically reopen" with the end of the war and that "the countries that are using the strait, let them go and open it."
He said that the Strait of Hormuz is a secondary con...
Baltimore, MD – Mar.31, 2026 – BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Mrs. Mina Krumbein, a’h, nother of Mrs. Aviva (Rabbi Arthur) Marks and Mrs. Chana Esther (Avraham) Goldman
Kevura is in Eretz Yisroel
Shiva will be observed at 3113 Taney Road, Baltimore, Md 21215 Visiting Times:
Tuesday between Noon - 9:00 p.m. Wednesday (Erev Pesach) 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Mrs. Aviva Marks: 667-273-1438 Mrs. Chana Esther Goldman: 443-660-9278
בלע המות לנצח
JCN & Tikva House Thank Star-K’s Kashering Team; Our Dedicated “Chametz Busters Crew”Baltimore, MD – March 31, 2026 - The Jewish Caring Network (JCN) and the Rabbi Ephraim & Etti Rubin Tikva House extend heartfelt thanks to Dr. Avrom Pollak and the entire Star-K kashering team, with special appreciation to Rabbi Sholom Tendler, for their incredible work and simcha in preparing Tikva House for Pesach.This remarkable crew kashered nine sinks, nine countertops, five hot water urns, two microwaves, and seven hospitality rooms, ensuring the home is fully prepared for Yom Tov.Tikva House is now at or near full capacity for Pesach and is ready to welcome families in a warm, uplifting environment. All meals—including Yom Tov and Seder provisions—are thou...
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit cleared for publication on Tuesday morning that four IDF soldiers fell during combat in southern Lebanon.
- Captain Noam Madmoni, aged 22, from Sderot, a team commander in the Nahal Reconnaissance Battalion (934th), Nahal Brigade, fell during combat in southern Lebanon.
- Staff Sergeant Ben Cohen, aged 21, from Lehavim, a soldier in the Nahal Reconnaissance Battalion (934th), Nahal Brigade, fell during combat in southern Lebanon.
- Staff Sergeant Maxsim Entis, aged 21, from Bat Yam, a soldier in the Nahal Reconnaissance Battalion (934th), Nahal Brigade, fell during combat in southern Lebanon.
- Staff Sergeant Gilad Harel, aged 21, from Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut, a fighter in the Nahal Reconnaissance Unit (934) of the Nahal B...
