Aberdeen, MD - Oct. 9, 2025 - Even a government shutdown couldn’t stop the light and joy of Sukkos from shining at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) in Maryland. Thanks to the dedication and determination of Rabbi Chesky Tenenbaum, Baltimore Shliach and director of the Jewish Uniformed Service Association of Maryland–Chabad (JUSA), a Sukka was once again proudly built on base — ensuring that Jewish soldiers and personnel could celebrate the holiday with meaning and tradition.
Despite layers of red tape caused by the shutdown, JUSA–Chabad worked tirelessly to make sure the Sukka stood tall in its familiar spot — the courtyard of the main Chapel — open and accessible for all soldiers and employees of APG throughout the days of Chol Ha...
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana on Thursday sent US President Donald Trump an official letter inviting him to speak in the Knesset, following the agreement on the release of hostages as part of Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza.
“Today is a historic day. Your leadership, courage, persistence, and vision have led not only to a deal securing the release of all Israeli hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7, but also to an unprecedented regional agreement accepted by nearly every nation in the Middle East,” Ohana wrote to Trump.
“This victory would not have been possible without the sacrifice of our brave soldiers, the resolve of Prime Minister Netanyahu, and the close partnership you have forged with him - and with the one and only Jewish State - throughout your life,...
A federal grand jury in Virginia has indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James on charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan said James faces up to 30 years in prison per count, up to a $1 million fine on each count and forfeiture if she's convicted.
"No one is above the law. The charges as alleged in this case represent intentional, criminal acts and tremendous breaches of the public’s trust," Halligan said. "The facts and the law in this case are clear, and we will continue following them to ensure that justice is served."In a statement, James said the charges were part of President Donald Trump's effort to impose "political retribution at an...
Baltimore, MD - Oct. 9, 2025 - Mayor Brandon Scott unveiled Downtown RISE: A Master Plan for Downtown, a comprehensive long-term revitalization plan for Downtown Baltimore, on Thursday.
The plan builds on the mayor's "Downtown RISE: Strategic Action Plan" and "Downtown RISE: A 10-Year Vision", which were launched last year.
Officials said this new plan, a collaboration between Mayor Scott's administration, Governor Wes Moore's administration, Downtown Partnership of Baltimore and a diverse downtown stakeholder group, serves as a framework to make the city's downtown "more livable, pedestrian friendly, and vibrant."
The plan was released for public engagement, continuing the administration's commitment to hearing from Baltimoreans from all corners of the cit...
Baltimore, MD - Oct. 9, 2025 - The Department of Juvenile Services may be under new leadership, but this week, city officials said they're still waiting to see change on the streets.
On WBAL Radio, Mayor Brandon Scott and Police Commissioner Richard Worley both voiced ongoing frustrations over repeat juvenile offenders.
“Unfortunately, these young people still continue to drive our violence,” Worley said. “We’re arresting the same kids, and the same kids are getting back out.”
“Look, this is a small group of young people that we continuously see over and over again,” Scott echoed.
Worley went on to point to a string of burglaries that hit Hampden businesses hard last month. Surveillance video shows a group of young people breaking into sev...
The government approved early Friday morning the framework for the release of all hostages - both the living and the deceased, the Prime Minister's Office announced.
Ministers Bezalel Smotrich, Orit Strock, Itamar Ben Gvir, Yitzhak Wasserlauf and Amichai Eliyahu voted against the deal. Minister Ofir Sofer from the Religious Zionist Party voted in favor.
Following the government's approval of the agreement, the ceasefire in Gaza has taken effect.
In an unusual move, American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner participated in the meeting for half an hour.
Speaking during the meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "We are at a momentous development in the last two years. We fought during these two years to achieve our war aims. The central one of these war aims is ...
US President Donald Trump held a Cabinet meeting today (Thursday) following the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Hamas terrorist organization that will see all of the remaining hostages released by early next week.
At the start of the Cabinet meeting, Trump addressed the ceasefire agreement. "As you know, last night we reached a momentous breakthrough in the Middle East ... we ended the war in Gaza, and on a much bigger basis, created peace."
"We secured the release of all of the remaining hostages, and they should be released on Monday or Tuesday," he added. "Getting them is a complicated process - I'd rather not tell you what they have to do to get them."
The president stated that he will try to come to the region over the weekend for a signing of the agree...
Baltimore, MD – Oct. 9, 2025 – BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Dr. Eli Schneider, z’l, father of Rabbi Refoel Schneider.Shiva will be observed at 30 S Adelaide Ave, Apt 2H, Highland Park, NJ 08904, starting Thursday morning, Oct. 16 through Tuesday morning.Minyanim:Thursday Shachris 7:05amThursday Mincha/Maariv 6:05pmFriday Shachris 7:10amSunday Shachris 8:00amSunday Mincha/Maariv 5:55pmMonday Shachris 7:05amMonday Mincha/Maariv 5:55pmTuesday Shachris 7:10am
בלע המוות לנצח
Fishers, IN - Oct. 9, 2025 - A police department in Indiana is asking parents to talk to their children about e-bike safety after a growing number of complaints and accidents involving teens riding recklessly around the city.
Residents of Fishers, Indiana, say they’re increasingly encountering young riders zipping through trails, sidewalks and city roads, often at high speeds and without warning.
“You don’t hear them and then suddenly they’re there,” said Fishers trail user Peggy, who recently had a close call with a fast-moving e-bike. “I was coming through the tunnel, and an e-bike came by quite fast. They do go fast, they’re nice. And it was so quiet that both he and I jumped.”
Chris Carr, who owns a local bike shop, said the problem is...
Sukkos 5786/2025 –Broadcast of Birchas Kohanim – Sukkos 5786/2025 from the Kotel
Birchas Kohanim begins at the 56:18 mark
Baltimore, MD – Oct. 9, 2025 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Ariel and Sarah Sonnenblick on the birth of a son.
Mazel Tov to grandparents Yussi & Risa Sonnneblick and Phil & Judy Sanfield
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
Washington, D.C. - Oct. 8, 2025 - US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: "I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan. This means that All of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace".
"All Parties will be treated fairly", he added, "This is a great Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen".
"Blessed are the peacemakers". Trump concluded.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu published the f...
Baltimore, MD – Oct. 8, 2025 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Mr. and Mrs. Zev Polsky on the birth of a son.
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
President Trump said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker should be imprisoned for failing to protect immigration agents—without specifying what laws the Democratic leaders allegedly broke.
Trump made the statement Wednesday on Truth Social, as Illinois leaders condemned the president’s ramp up in immigration raids and recent federalization of National Guard troops in the state. Trump’s threat didn’t quiet their criticism.
“This is not the first time Trump has tried to have a Black man unjustly arrested,” Johnson said on social media. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Pritzker in an interview on MSNBC responded by calling Trump “a wanna...
David finds himself surrounded by King Saul and those allied to him who have slandered him. Although, by the hand of fate King Saul is suddenly diverted to dealing with the Philistines, leaving David to live another day, David turns to G-d to save him from his tormentors.
He appeals, תצפנם בסוכה — "Hide them [the righteous] in a Sukkah — shelter, מריב לשונות — from the strife of tongues." (תהלים לא כא)
The Gaon of Vilna sees in this verse that the objective of the mitzva of Sukkah is the subduing of the inclination from speaking Loshon Hora — slander.
He points out how the very letters in the word סוכה indicate this.
The pronunciation of the word סוכה — Sukkah engages four out of the five parts of our mouth—our li...
Baltimore, MD – Oct. 6, 2025 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Mr. and Mrs. Shlomo Tendler on the birth of a daughter.
Mazel Tov grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Hillel Tendler and Rabbi & Mrs. Yisrael Gold
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בתם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) and Jewish Federations of North America today released a comprehensive study that found over half (55 percent) of Jewish Americans experienced at least one form of antisemitism in the past 12 months and 57 percent believe that antisemitism is now a normal Jewish experience.
The study continued to show that nearly one-in-five respondents were either physically assaulted, physically threatened, or verbally harassed because of their Jewish identity in the past year, while over one-third witnessed an incident of actual or threatened antisemitic violence.
The study, conducted in partnership with Columbia University researchers, also reveals American Jews have significant safety concerns and are experiencing psychological effects. 79 percent of Jews are concern...
US President Donald Trump on Sunday commented on the talks with Hamas, scheduled to begin Monday in Egypt, on Trump’s plan to release the hostages and end the war in Gaza.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned Hamas that “time is of the essence or massive bloodshed will follow.”
“There have been very positive discussions with Hamas, and Countries from all over the World (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) this weekend, to release the Hostages, end the War in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have long sought PEACE in the Middle East. These talks have been very successful, and proceeding rapidly,” wrote Trump.
“The technical teams will again meet Monday, in Egypt, to work through and clarify the final details. I am told that the first phase should be...
Paramount announced Monday that it has acquired The Free Press, the media company founded by journalist Bari Weiss, who will now serve as editor-in-chief of CBS News. The move, described as part of Paramount's broader effort to modernize its news operations, marks a significant shift in leadership under CEO David Ellison.
Weiss confirmed the acquisition in a message to subscribers, writing, "This morning, The Free Press is joining Paramount." She called the move "a testament to many things: The Free Press team; the vision of Paramount’s new leaders; the luck of starting an independent media company at the right moment; and the courage of my colleagues to leave behind old worlds to build a new one."
Weiss, who will continue to serve as CEO and editor-in-chie...
