The Lessons We Cannot Afford to Miss
Our Sages teach us not to be indifferent. Not to let things simply pass us by. Not to treat everything as a random occurrence, a meaningless coincidence. Not to look at reality as nothing more than a collection of news stories that have nothing to say to us.
Let’s look for a moment at the rescue of the Flydubai plane last week. Naturally, we are always looking for the “hero” of the story. But this week, there wasn’t just one hero. There was an extraordinary chain of rescue, made up of many small pieces that came together — many pieces of a puzzle.
There was the woman who heard a noise and realized that something was wrong; the pilot who had been stabbed and apparently managed to open the door; the heroes who overpowere...
Israel’s Consul-General in New York, Ofir Akunis, has invited New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to view a 47-minute film documenting the October 7 massacre.
Akunis extended the invitation to Mamdani during a memorial ceremony held by the Israeli Consulate in New York on Monday evening, attended by approximately 1,000 people. He also sent the mayor a formal letter inviting him to attend the October 7 screening, which is scheduled to take place in New York on Wednesday, marking three years since the Hamas-led attack.
The film, produced by the IDF, contains footage recorded by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 attack. Akunis urged Mamdani to watch the footage firsthand, saying it could provide a clearer understanding of what occurred that day and why Israel considers its security...
Israel’s National Security Council is warning of a heightened risk of terrorist attacks against Israelis and Jews abroad ahead of the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.
The NSC said Iran and its proxies, Hamas and global jihadist groups view the anniversary as a significant date and may seek to carry out attacks, demonstrations or other acts of violence.
Israelis were urged to avoid Jordan, Qatar, Somaliland and Egypt, including the Sinai Peninsula. Travelers elsewhere were advised to avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, minimize speaking Hebrew in crowded areas and exercise caution around Jewish and Israeli institutions.
The council also warned against posting travel plans or real-time locations on social media and urged Israelis to remain vigilant and...
This Sukkos, Baltimore Shliach and Chaplain Rabbi Chesky Tenenbaum, director of the Jewish Uniformed Service Association of Maryland–Chabad (JUSA), brought the joy and traditions of Sukkos directly to Maryland’s military community.
For the first time, JUSA arranged a Sukkah at the 175th Wing at Warfield Air National Guard Base. One Staff Sergeant was especially appreciative, explaining that the Sukkah allowed him to eat his meals in a Sukkah while working on base.
The Sukkah also led to an unexpected Jewish discovery. A Tech Sergeant stopped by the Sukkah and shared that, although she does not identify as Jewish, she said her maternal great-grandmother was Jewish. Rabbi Tenenbaum explained that according to halacha she is considered Jewish.
Rabbi Tenenbaum then explained t...
BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Rabbi Rephoel Dovid Levi, a”h, father of Rabbi Moshe Chaim Levi.
The levaya took place in Lakewood on Monday, October 5.
Shiva is being observed at 124 Alan Ct., Lakewood, NJ 08701.
Minyanim:Shacharis: 8:00 AMMincha: 1:25 PMMaariv: 8:00 PM
The family will get up from shiva on Monday morning, October 12.
בלע המות לנצח
Baltimore, MD – October 6, 2026 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petirah of Mrs. Lily Kreindler a"h, mother of Shloimie Kreindler.
The levaya will be held today at 2:00 PM at Schwartz Brothers Funeral Home, 114-03 Queens Blvd., Forest Hills, NY.
Shiva will be held at 1324 Samantha Drive, Far Rockaway.
בלע המות לנצח
Baltimore, MD – October 5, 2026 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petirah of Judy Hoffman, a"h, wife of Rabbi Leib Hoffman, mother of Shimon, Shani (Reitberger), Mordechai, Ezra, Shira (Zeilengold), Esther (Swiatycki), and the late Rena Hoffman a"h. Sister of David Rosen, Joel Rosen, and Bracha Polstein.Levaya will take place on Tuesday, October 5, 2026, 12pm at Sol Levinson (8900 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD 21208); Burial will follow at Agudath Israel Cemetery (6300 Hamilton Ave, Rosedale, Maryland, 21237).
Shiva will take place (until Monday morning) at:441 Yeshiva Lane Apt #1 C (Red Door)Pikesville, MD 21208:Shacharis-7:30amMincha- 2:30pmMaariv- 7:45 pm
The family requests no visitors between 3-5pm and after 9:30pm.
בלע המות לנצח
Israel, October 5, 2026: Shortly after 6:30 a.m., Anastasia Stelmachov’s mother called to ask if she was all right. The now 27-year-old paramedic from Bat Yam was nearing the end of a 24-hour shift in the Ariel area when she woke Nashet Nasser, an EMT and ambulance driver.
“I woke up Nashet, my driver, and said, ‘Get up. A war has started,’” she recalls. Nashet, who is Arab-Israeli, leapt awake and both jumped into action.
Soon, the two were instructed to take a bullet-resistant ambulance south. As they approached Ashkelon, they saw rockets and interceptions overhead and columns of smoke across the horizon.
“It looked like a war movie,” Anastasia says.
The ambulance was struck by the blast and fragments of a rocket that had landed nearby, causi...
A medical transport jet carrying six people from Bermuda to Boston disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean early Saturday morning after experiencing apparent electrical problems and a terrifying plunge of approximately 13,000 feet.
The Canadian-registered Gulfstream G100, operated by Latitude Air Ambulance, was carrying four Canadian crew members, a Bermudian patient and a family member who was accompanying the patient for medical care. The aircraft departed Bermuda shortly before midnight and was scheduled to arrive at Boston Logan International Airport early Saturday.
As the aircraft approached Massachusetts, air traffic controllers struggled to communicate with the crew. The pilot reportedly indicated that the aircraft was experiencing electrical problems, and a controller was heard ask...
Hamas official Ghazi Hamad said Monday that Ali al-Amoudi, the terror group’s de facto leader in Gaza, survived an Israeli attempt to eliminate him in a strike several days ago.
The Israeli strike took place Saturday in Gaza and targeted al-Amoudi, whom the IDF has described as the most senior Hamas figure remaining in the Gaza Strip. The military said following the strike that its results were under review.
Al-Amoudi was not reported among those killed, and Hamas officials have now said that he survived the attempted assassination.
Al-Amoudi was a close associate of Yahya Sinwar and served as head of Sinwar’s office. He was released from an Israeli prison in the 2011 Gilad Schalit prisoner exchange after serving nearly 20 years and later joined Hamas’s political b...
Baltimore, MD – October 4, 2026 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petirah of Marilyn (Baila Malka) Frenkel, a"h, mother of Dr. Tzipie Moss, Mrs. Devorah Muller, Dr. Chanie Brandsdorfer, and Dr. Moishe Dov Frenkel.
Shiva will take place at:3123 Enclave CourtPikesville, MD 21208:Sunday night 10/47:45 pm Maariv minyanShiva is 7:45 pm-9:30 pmMonday 10/58:00 am Shacharis minyanShiva is 8:00 am-12:00 pm4:00 pm -7:30 pm6:30 pm Mincha/MaarivTuesday 10/6, Wednesday 10/7, Thursday 10/81:00 pm - 4:00 pm6:00 pm- 8:00 pmFriday 10/910:00 am - 2:00 pmTzipie will be sitting in Baltimore the whole shiva.
Her siblings will be sitting shiva in Baltimore with her on Sunday night and Monday. They will then be returning to their own communities.
בלע ה...
Baltimore, MD – October 1, 2026 - (BJL) The spirit of Zman Simchaseinu was felt Wednesday night of Chol Hamoed at Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah, as members of the Baltimore community gathered for a lively Simchas Beis Hashoeva filled with singing, dancing, and the simcha of Yom Tov.The celebration brought together young and old to share in the special joy of Chol Hamoed Sukkos and celebrate together as a community.
Agudath Israel of America is welcoming new federal regulations for the Education Freedom Tax Credit, set to launch in January 2027. Eligible taxpayers can receive a federal tax credit of up to $1,700, or $3,400 for married couples filing jointly, for contributions to qualifying scholarship-granting organizations.
Rabbi A. D. Motzen, Agudath Israel’s national director of government affairs, thanked Trump administration officials for working with stakeholders to develop the regulations.
“Agudath Israel thanks the many senior officials and staff across the Trump Administration who listened to the concerns of stakeholders and worked collaboratively with each other to produce regulations that will help millions of students across the country,” Motzen said.
Motzen also urged...
Iran is preparing for a potentially broader military response if the United States resumes large-scale attacks, with Iranian officials warning that U.S. interests outside the Middle East and countries supporting American military operations could potentially be targeted. No final decision has been made on the scope of any response.
Iran has reportedly instructed allied groups in Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq to prepare for a possible coordinated response. The plans could extend from the Strait of Hormuz to American interests throughout the region and beyond.
Simultaneously, Tehran continues diplomatic efforts. Iran recently proposed a seven-day plan that, if accepted, could halt hostilities across the region and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The proposal includes relief from the U.S. blockade o...
Baltimore, MD – October 1, 2026 – A new Maryland law taking effect Thursday changes how certain juveniles accused of crimes are charged, allowing more cases to begin in juvenile court rather than automatically being handled in adult court.
Supporters of the Youth Charging Reform Act say the change can give young people faster access to education, treatment and rehabilitation services. They argue that placing eligible juveniles into the juvenile system sooner can address underlying issues and help prevent them from continuing to reoffend.
The law keeps the most serious offenses eligible for adult-court prosecution. Prosecutors can also still request adult charges for juveniles when the circumstances meet the requirements of the law.
Supporters also point to the previous syste...
BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Chaya Malka-Mona Freishtat, a’h, mother of Alan Freishtat.
The levaya will take place Thursday at Eretz HaChaim Cemetery in Beit Shemesh, following the arrival of EL AL Flight 1002. The approximate time of the levaya is 6:15 PM Israel time. Because the timing is dependent on the flight’s arrival, those planning to attend are advised to check the flight status beforehand. I was not able to reliably verify the live status of Flight 1002 from the available flight-tracking sources.
Shiva will begin following the Chag. Click here for shiva times: https://www.baltimorejewishlife.com/chesed/nichum-aveilim.php
New details are emerging following the terrifying incident aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, where an Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and the aircraft suddenly plunged during the midair struggle.
Israeli officials have classified the incident as a terrorist attack and are investigating whether the co-pilot acted alone. Investigators are also examining his background and online activity, including reports of disturbing posts about killing Jews and indications that he may have been radicalized. Officials have said there is currently no clear evidence that Iran directed the attack.
Passengers described terrifying moments as the plane entered a steep dive and began spinning. Three Israeli passengers rushed toward the cockpit after hearing a struggle and helped ...
