Baltimore, MD – May 9, 2025 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petirah of Dr. Simeon Joseph Krumbein, z’l, husband of Elaine Krumbein and father of Michael (Judith) Krumbein, Tsippora (Jim) Rosenberg, Aliza (z"l) Krumbein, Tova (Malkiel) Nechamkin, Miriam (Ephrayim) Naiman, Eliezer (Pessiya) Ramm and Channah (Jeffrey) GarfinkelShiva will be observed through Friday afternoon, May 16, at 3106 Labyrinth, Baltimore, MD 21208Minyanim:Shacharis: 7:30AMMincha/Maariv: 7:55PMErev Shabbos Mincha: 3:30PM The family respectfully requests no visitors from 12:30PM-2:30PM, 5:30PM-7:00PM and after 10:30PM
Bila HaMaves LaNetzach…
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Baltimore, MD – May 9, 2025 – For many years, Baltimore has had only one Neitz minyan. As our community continues to grow, so do our needs. With that in mind, Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah will be launching a new Neitz minyan beginning this Sunday, May 11, 2025 / 13 Iyar, 5785.
The minyan will take place upstairs in the old house — as you face the main shul, it’s the building on the left.
The Sunday–Friday Nusach Sfard minyan will begin 20 minutes before Neitz. This Sunday, the minyan will begin at 5:36 AM.
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Baltimore, MD – May 7, 2025 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petirah of Elizabeth Lehmann, a’h, mother of Leonard (Vivian) Lehmann, Richard (Susan) Lehmann, Rabbi Daniel (Lisa) Lehmann, and David (Pam) Lehmann.
The levayah will be graveside on Friday, May 9, 2025, at 2:00PM at United Hebrew Cemetery, 3901 Washington Blvd, Halethorpe, MD 21227.
Shiva will be observed through Thursday morning, May 15th, at 5906 Berkeley Ave, Baltimore, MD 21209The family will not accept visitors between the hours of 12pm and 2pm, 5pm and 6pm, or after 9:30pm. Minyanim:Shacharis: 7:00 AM (Sunday 8:00AM)Mincha/Maariv: 6:35 PM
Bila HaMaves LaNetzach
Towson, MD – May 12, 2025 – The Baltimore County Police Department has announced the activation of six new speed cameras in four designated school zones, set to begin operating on Monday, May 19, 2025.
The new camera locations include:
Krieger Schechter Day School – 8100 block of Stevenson Rd (both directions)
Pleasant Plains Elementary School – 1200 block of East Joppa Rd (westbound)
Saint Paul’s Lutheran School – 12000 block of Jerusalem Rd (westbound)
Rossville Elementary School – 7400 block of Rossville Blvd (both directions)
For the first 30 days, drivers exceeding the posted speed limit by 12 mph or more will receive warnings instead of citations.
All camera zones are clearly marked with signage. According to state ...
IDF soldier and American citizen Edan Alexander has returned to Israel after being held hostage in Gaza for over a year and a half. His first testimony, reported by Kan News, paints a grim picture of his time in captivity.
Edan described being tied hand and foot inside a cage, deprived of daylight, and suffering from extreme hunger in a Hamas-controlled tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip.
During his release, Alexander was visibly weakened, struggling to walk due to the toll of prolonged confinement.
His grandmother, Varda Ben Baruch, reflected emotionally: “Today is the second Passover, for those who could not celebrate Passover. Edan is celebrating Passover today, he is a free man.” His father, Adi, having just landed in Israel, said, “I saw the picture. He looks ...
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday aimed at lowering the cost of certain prescription medications.
According to the Associated Press, a White House official said the order directs the Department of Health, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to negotiate reduced drug prices with pharmaceutical companies.
Kennedy praised the move, calling it a long-overdue step that Congress had failed to take.
“Some estimates show the pharmaceutical industry spends three times more on lobbying than the next largest industry,” Kennedy said.
If negotiations fail, the administration plans to implement a new rule that would tie U.S. drug prices to the lower costs paid by other countries.
“The United States will no longer subsidize the healthcare of foreign countries,&rdquo...
Bethesda, MD - May 12, 2025 - On Wednesday, May 7th, Magen David Sephardic Congregation of North Bethesda, Maryland, hosted "Voices of October 7th," a deeply emotional event highlighting the personal stories of those impacted by the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel. Survivors and family members shared their experiences to honor the memory of the victims and to ensure the truth about the atrocities committed on that day is never forgotten.
Among the speakers was Noam Ben David, a survivor of the Nova Music Festival massacre, who was shot and also lost her boyfriend David during the attack.
Noam was treated at Laniado Hospital in the aftermath of the attack, receiving both medical care and emotional support. In recognition of her incredible fortitude and commitment to share her ex...
Baltimore, MD- May 12, 2025 - JUSA-Chabad hosts reception with local Community and Law Enforcement members for Israeli Police officers who came to the state as part of the Police Unity Tour and Police Week Celebrations. The Jewish Uniformed Service Association of Maryland – Chabad (JUSA) extended a warm welcome to a delegation of Israeli Police officers during a special event held at the JUSA Chabad House, part of the annual Police Unity Tour and National Police Week celebrations. The officers arrived in Baltimore after completing a 94-mile bicycle ride from Delaware as part of their participation in the Unity Tour.The gathering, held in collaboration with the Chabad Israeli Center of Baltimore, brought together law enforcement officials from Maryland and beyond to foster internation...
The accompanying illustration is a reflection of what we’re going through these days during the Counting of the Omer, when we count each day (for seven full weeks) from the Exodus on Passover until the giving of the Torah on Shavuot. There are times in life when progress has to be slow. Precious and sacred things are built gradually, one level at a time. We climb rung by challenging rung because not everything can be achieved in one leap.
The Kabbalists explain that during the Omer, we refine seven inner traits, one each week: Chesed (the capacity to give), Gevurah (the ability to set boundaries), Tiferet (the ability to balance the first two), Netzach (which means both endurance and eternity), Hod (the ability to show gratitude), Yesod (which integrates the previous traits and conn...
Liqaa Maki, a researcher at Al Jazeera's media institute, believes that the Hamas terror organization stands to benefit significantly from the deal that led to the release of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander.
Although Hamas did not receive any direct compensation for Alexander’s release, Maki argues that the group achieved a substantial strategic and diplomatic victory.
According to Maki, the deal exposed a growing rift between the United States and Israel, caused embarrassment to the Israeli government, and highlighted a deterioration in trust between the two allies.
Maki further noted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suffered diplomatic humiliation, as he appears weakened in the eyes of US President Donald Trump.
Among the gains Hamas has made, Mak...
Baltimore County, MD - May 12, 2025 - With the Baltimore County Council expanding from seven to nine members in 2026, the Redistricting Commission is holding two additional public hearings to discuss the proposed councilmanic districts for the next election cycle. The hearings are scheduled for 6 p.m. May 12 at the Middle River Recreation Activity Center and 6 p.m. May 19 at the Randallstown Community Center. I encourage all residents to attend and share their feedback. For more information about the Redistricting Commission, please click here.
Tel Aviv, Israel - May 12, 2025 - Arab media are reporting that the Hamas terrorist organization has handed American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander to representatives of the Red Cross, who are expected to hand him over to Israel.
A senior Hamas official told Al Jazeera earlier on Monday that the time of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander's release has been coordinated with the Red Cross.
The hostage's family confirmed that after his release, Alexander will depart for Qatar to meet with President Donald Trump and the Emir of Qatar.
The Alexander family explained that "President Trump and the Emir of Qatar want Edan to come meet them, but it all depends only on what Edan wants and his medical condition."
Yael, Edan's mother, arrived in Israel on Monday...
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has lifted a freeze on security funding for religious institutions this week, ending a months-long pause that drew alarm from Jewish groups that had advocated for expanded federal security funding.
The Nonprofit Security Grant Program provides funding for synagogues, schools and Jewish community centers to pay for security measures to protect their buildings from attack. Congress provided $274.5 million for the program in 2025.
Reimbursement payments to participating institutions were halted in March as part of an overall funding freeze on FEMA, the federal disaster relief agency. At the time, nearly 80 members of Congress from both parties signed a letter urging the Trump administration to reverse course.
That appears to have happened this...
Hostage soldier Edan Alexander is expected to be released by Hamas at around 6:30 p.m., though there may be delays, an Israeli defense official says.
Hamas will hand over Alexander to the Red Cross in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, the official says. No release ceremony is expected to be held by Hamas.
After being handed over to Red Cross representatives, Alexander will be brought to IDF special forces inside the Gaza Strip, and from there taken to a facility at the Re’im base.
At the IDF facility near Re’im, Alexander will receive an initial physical and mental checkup, and meet with members of his family who will be waiting there. He will then be airlifted to Sourasky Hospital in Tel Aviv.
Baltimore, MD - May 12, 2025 - Park legally or pay up. That's been the message from the city after the Baltimore Department of Transportation announced it was cracking down on illegal parking earlier this year.
Since Baltimore DOT began enforcement around the clock on March 10, it's issued at least 53,304 parking citations and counting.
That's nearly 10,000 more tickets issued than the same time period last year, with 43,620.
"The best way to avoid not paying one of these fines is to not park illegally. We have no sympathy for folks who do illegal things," Mayor Brandon Scott said last week.
More changes are coming this week, targeting those who park in the evenings and overnight where they don't live.
"Too many of our residents who p...
Baltimore, MD - May 11, 2025 - With clear skies and such a beautiful night, it's perfect weather for the last night to say Kiddush Levanah for Iyar — which is tonight, all night!
Baltimore, MD – May 11, 2025 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Avi Wohlgemuth and Tamar Epstein on their engagement!
Mazel Tov to Michoel & Chaya Rivky Wohlgemuth and Jonathan & Deeni Epstein.
Mazel Tov to Grandmother Mrs. Marion Gutman.
יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
Jerusalem, Israel - May 11, 2025 - Hamas is reportedly expected to announce the release of American-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander tonight, Walla reported on Sunday.
Alexander's parents confirmed the development to Channel 12, stating, "We are waiting for Hamas's announcement, and [US envoy Steve] Witkoff updated us that this is expected to happen."
Hamas published a propaganda video of Alexander before Passover, which his family allowed for publication.
In April, Hamas's al-Qassam Brigades claimed to have lost contact with the group that is holding Edan Alexander following a direct strike at their location, their spokesman, Abu Obeida, said.
“We announce that we have lost contact with the team guarding soldier Edan ...
Jeruslaem, Israel - May 11, 2025 - President and First Lady Herzog departed this evening for a state visit to Germany. Following the visit, they will return to Israel together with the President and First Lady of Germany for a reciprocal visit._President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog departed this evening, Sunday, for a historic one-day state visit to Germany, at the invitation of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, marking 60 years since the establishment of full diplomatic relations between Israel and Germany.As part of the visit, which will take place from May 11–13 (13–15 Iyar), the President will meet with the President of Germany, the Chancellor of Germany, the President of the Bundestag, and other senior government officials. He will also be the guest of honor...
