Baltimore, MD - Oct. 16, 2025 - On Shemini Atzeres night, my wife and I were blessed with a newborn son. Little did I realize that on that same night, my Rebbi – one of the most impactful people in my life – would be taken from us without warning. I am in complete shock and cannot find the words at this moment to eulogize him in any way. But in truth, I don’t know if I ever will. Rabbi Hauer’s influence on me runs much deeper than words. As I sit here at my desk at 1:00 am with my shirt torn, the few words of eulogy - which we read just this morning - written by Hashem Himself over the death of his most trusted servant, Moshe - will have to suffice: וימת משה עבד ה'.Moshe Rabbeinu’s life was summed up in those two words, Eved Hashem. ...
נפלה עטרת ראשנו With a heart full of unspeakable sorrow, it is my terrible duty to share that Moreinu V'rabeinu, our teacher, our light and leader, Rabbi Moshe Hauer, has passed away. Rabbi Hauer זצוק"ל passed away suddenly on Shemini Atzeres night. It was the family's wish not to share this news on yom tov so that all the relatives could be properly informed. Instead of mourning on yom tov, we did together what made Rabbi Hauer happiest of all: we danced together, we sang together, we experienced yom tov as the kehillah hakedoshah that he so lovingly and painstakingly fashioned. I can only imagine what nachas he had from watching us be the shul that he wanted us to be. And now, we will mourn. The levaya and funeral details are still being arrang...
Baltimore, MD - Oct. 5, 2025 - Mizmor L’Dovid – Help Finish His Sefer Torah
Dovid Steingroot saved for a Sefer Torah - now we can complete it his memory
Reb Dovid — oh, how we miss you.
Your warmth, your sincerity, your constant growth in Torah and avodas Hashem — they left an indelible mark on everyone who knew you. You were a true example of someone who lived with purpose, always striving to fulfill your mission in this world.
Hashem, in His infinite wisdom, decided your mission was complete. Though it’s hard to accept, we know you accomplished more in your years than many do in a lifetime.
One of your dreams was to fulfill the words, “וְעַתָּה כִּתְבוּ לָכֶם אֶת־הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת” — &ld...
Baltimore, MD – Oct. 16, 2025 – BJL deeply regrets to inform the community of the sudden and heartbreaking petirah of Rabbi Moshe Hauer, ZTV’L.
The levayah will be held this morning, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 at 8:45 am at Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion 6602 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD 21215.Livestream will be available below beginning at approximately 8:30AM
Please note: The parking lot will be closed to vehicles except for family and rabbanim.
Kohanim: Loudspeakers will be set up in the back parking lot.
Kevurah will take place in Eretz Yisrael.
Shiva details to follow
בלע המוות לנצח
With tears in our eyes and hearts breaking, we share the devastating news of the loss of our beloved brother, rabbi, partner, friend, and Executive Vice President Rabbi Moshe Hauer, zt”l. Rabbi Hauer was a true talmid chacham, a master teacher and communicator, the voice of Torah to the Orthodox community and the voice of Orthodoxy to the world. He personified what it means to be a Torah Jew and took nothing more seriously than his role of sharing the joy of Jewish life with our community and beyond. Rabbi Hauer’s leadership was marked by unwavering dedication, deep compassion, and a vision rooted in faith in Hashem, integrity, and love for Klal Yisrael. Whether through his inspiring words, thoughtful counsel, powerful advocacy, or quiet acts of kindness, Rabbi Hauer up...
Baltimore, MD – Oct. 15, 2025 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Cheski and Tziporah Loewenthal on the birth of a daughter.
Mazel tov to the grandparents: Abe & Michele Loewenthal and Eliyahu & Yocheved Eskenazi
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בתם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
“This is the first time in my life that I can actually say Chag Sameach.”
Jerusalem, October 14, 2025 - On the eve of Simchat Torah, exactly two years after the darkest day in recent Israeli history, hundreds of Nova Festival survivors gathered in Jerusalem for a profoundly healing and hopeful holiday culminating in the joyous Hachnasat Sefer Torah procession through the streets and into the Great Synagogue.
Kesher Yehudi planned to host the Nova survivors for the complicated Yom Tov for a second year in a row, “in the merit of our hostages returning home.” No one imagined they would be celebrating the return home of all of Israel’s living hostages earlier that very day.
The beautiful Yom Tov event was held at the Olive Tree Hotel. It included s...
Hours after releasing the living hostages it had been holding since October 7, 2023, the murderous terrorist organization Hamas on Monday evening executed several individuals in Gaza suspected of collaborating with Israel or being involved in the internal conflict between the terror organization and clans or militias in the Strip.
According to a report in Ynet, the executions were carried out in front of a cheering crowd, some of whom also filmed the executions.
Palestinian Arab sources stated that this was a targeted operation against operatives suspected of "treason" or connections with foreign entities.
Several weeks ago, social media pages affiliated with Hamas published chilling footage showing the public execution of three Gazans in Gaza City. Hamas accused the thre...
Four coffins of deceased hostages, escorted by IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) forces, crossed the border into the State of Israel on Monday evening.
The IDF and the Shin Bet said in a joint statement that the coffins are on their way to the National Institute for Forensic Medicine, where identification procedures will be carried out.
IDF representatives are accompanying the families.
“The IDF urges the public to act with sensitivity and wait for official identification, which will first be communicated to the families of the deceased hostages,” the statement said.
Before crossing into Israeli territory, a military protocol was held in the Gaza Strip in memory of the slain hostages. During the protocol, IDF soldiers draped the hostages’ coffins with Israeli ...
Baltimore, MD - Oct. 13, 2025 - Shivas beginning after Yom Tov:
Dr. Eli Schneider, z’l https://t.ly/Ka7H8
Sion Khoshkharaman, z'l https://t.ly/gp3C3
Richard Shefeter, z’l https://t.ly/Y4WfX
Rabbi Chaim Rozwaski, z’l https://t.ly/ysMfm
For all Nichum Avelim listings click here.
Tel Aviv, Israel - Oct. 13, 2025 - After 738 agonizing days in captivity, the last 20 living hostages, all young or middle-aged men, have returned home to the embrace of their families who worked tirelessly for their release, to their friends, and to an entire nation that hoped and waited for this day to come.
The Hostages Families Forum commented: "Our struggle is not over. It will not end until the last hostage is located and returned for proper burial. This is our moral obligation. Only then will the people of Israel be whole."
The Forum also released photos and biographies of each of the newly-released hostages.
Alon Ohel (24) was born and raised in Lavon. He started playing piano at age nine, also plays bass, and studied music in high school. He developed his unique ...
Tel Aviv, Israel - Oct. 13, 2025 - The release of hostages is set to begin on Monday morning at 8:00 a.m.
A source familiar with the details told the newspaper Al-Sharq that Hamas informed the International Committee of the Red Cross that the handover of the hostages will take place from three different locations in the Gaza Strip.
The source noted that Hamas will determine the exact times and notify the Red Cross of the handover locations.
The hostages' families have begun heading to Re’im military base in preparation to meet their loved ones.
An Israeli official estimated that the release will occur in two stages, with some hostages freed at 8:00 a.m. and the second group at 9:00 a.m.
Upon their release, the hostages will undergo an initial debriefing with...
Baltimore, Md - Oct. 12, 2025 - The challah is waiting to be braided yet I find myself here at the computer, again, instead of being in the kitchen. There’s so much I want to say and write as the tears roll down my cheeks while watching all the posts and clips of what we are desperately waiting for. It is Hoshana Raba night and we sit here on the cusp of Shuvu HaBayta, our captive brothers and sisters soon to return Home. I hope that by the time you read this their feet will finally have touched Holy soil and the brocha of Shechiyanu will be joyfully proclaimed. It is truly an emotional evening to say the least. There will be much tefillah said with this particular batch, as there has been with my challah baking for the past two y...
Am I happy about this deal? Yes!
Am I super angry about this deal? Yes!
Am I proud of this deal? Yes!
Am I disappointed about this deal? Yes!
Am I hopeful about this deal? Yes!
Am I petrified by this deal? Yes!!
So here’s a shocker for you. Life isn’t social media. Social media is black or white. Life isn’t.
Two things can coexist and this deal is both incredible and absolutely terrible.
But like many people, I can’t shake this terrible feeling. I can’t ignore the list of monsters we are releasing.
I can’t avoid the videos of the sickos dancing as if they achieved some victory. I can’t swipe past the endless evidence that our enemies duped the entire world.
I am fin...
Baltimore, MD - Oct. 12, 2025 - On Motzei Shabbos Chol Hamoed, Yeshivas Ner Yisroel held its annual Simchas Bais Hashoeva in the Yeshiva dining room and Succah.
Lively dancing of alumni, current talmidim and yeshiva rebbeim was followed by divrei Torah in the Succah from Harav Shraga Neuberger.
Baltimore, MD – Oct. 12, 2025 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Tzvi and Aliza Golub on the birth of a daughter.
Mazel Tov to grandparents Eliezer & Ilana Golub and Yaakov & Esther Spatz.
Mazel Tov to great-grandparents Rabbi & Mrs.Yehuda & Leah Spatz.
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בתם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
Jerusalem, Israel - Oct. 12, 2025 - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening (Sunday, 12 October 2025) [translated from Hebrew]:"Citizens of Israel, my brothers and sisters, this is an emotional evening, an evening of tears, an evening of joy.Because tomorrow, children will return to their border.This is a historic event that blends sorrow over the release of murderers – and joy over the return of hostages.This is a historic event that some did not believe would happen. But our fighters believed. Many among the people believed. And I believed.I know there are many disagreements among us. But on this day, and I hope also in the period ahead, we have every reason to put them aside.Because through joint efforts we achieved enormous victories. Victories that astonished the entire ...
Jerusalem, Israel - Oct. 12, 2025 - United Hatzalah held its annual fundraising gala at the Jerusalem International Conference Center after Shabbos on Saturday night, October 11. The large auditorium was filled for an evening that blended inspiration, music, and celebration.
Popular singer Avraham Fried once again headlined the program, joined by comedian Elon Gold, who both entertained the crowd and served as master of ceremonies. United Hatzalah President Eli Beer greeted guests in the upper hall, where a display of the organization’s signature emergency vehicles added color to the festive atmosphere before Beer opened the evening program.
A highlight of the night was the special performance by former U.S. Ambassador David Friedman and current U.S. Ambassador to Israel...
