During the Second Temple, the Greek empire reigned (over Israel),1 and they (the Greeks) passed decrees against the Jews and (tried) to erase their religion, and did not allow them to carry out Torah (study) or the commandments. They put their hands on their property and their daughters. They entered the Temple, destroyed and made the pure unclean. The Jews were in great distress because of them and were much oppressed, until the G-d of their fathers had mercy on them, delivering them from their hands and saving them. Then overcame, the sons of the Hasmonean High Priest, (the Greeks) and killed them and saved the Jews from their hands. They appointed a king from the Priests, and the kingdom of Israel was restored for more than 200 years until the destruction of (the) second (Temple). When the Jews overcame their enemies and destroyed them, it was the 25th of Kislev2 when they entered the Sanctuary (inner room) and did not find pure (olive) oil in the Temple, except one jar sealed with seal of the High Priest, and it did not contain enough to light except for one day only. But they lit from it the lamps of the Menorah3 for eight days, until they could crush olives and produce a (new quantity) of pure oil. For these reasons, decreed the Sages of that generation that these eight days that begin on the 25th Kislev, will be days of joy and praise. One lights on them lamps at evening at the entrance to the houses, every evening of the eight nights to show off and demonstrate the miracle. These days are called ''Hanukah'' that is to say ''they rested'' (chanu) on the ''25'' ('th of the month) because on the 25th they rested from their enemies. and also because of those days they (re)-dedicated the house (Temple) which their foes had defiled. Also some say that it is a commandment to increase slightly the festive meals on Hanukah. Another reason is because the work of (building) the Sanctuary (in the desert) was completed in these days. One should tell one's children the story of the miracles that were done for our fore-fathers in those days, (see Josephus) However, these meals are not considered as part of the commandment unless one says at the meal songs of praise. One should increase charity in these Hanukah days, for this can help mend any defects in our souls. This charity, should be given particularly to poor Torah scholars. (KSA 139:1)
1) 352 BCE until 70 CE
2) 139 BCE
3) The Menorah was made of gold and had seven branches.
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Kesser Torah is proud to announce that on June 5th-6th it will be launching its CROWN Funding Campaign!
The monumental growth which Kesser Torah has undergone in the last few years, from a nascent yeshiva to a well-established one of over 125 bochurim, is unparalleled! Kesser Torah is a true asset to Baltimore as it provides a local yeshiva on its own 44-acre oasis just minutes from the heart of the community.
For the many who attended the yeshiva’s Chanukas ha’Bayis in November, it is apparent how the ambiance of the newly constructed Kesser Torah Bais Medrash has brought the shteiging of the bochurim to new heights. The Kol Torah emanating from the Bais Medrash has not only made an impact upon the talmidei ha’yeshiva, but also the community at lar...
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Baltimore, MD - May 28, 2023 - We are thrilled to announce our special Israel real estate event for the Baltimore community!
Our events are designed to provide you with comprehensive information on every aspect of the real estate process, from searching for the right property to navigating Israeli real estate law, mortgage rates, currency transfers, property management, and more.
Whether you are in the early stages of your property search or actively looking to make a purchase, we highly recommend attending one of our events.
For those actively looking to buy, we will be showcasing unique market opportunities and off-plan properties.
The event will take place on Monday June 5th at 7:30 PM at Shomrei Emunah
To register for the event, visit:
www.israelevent.live/baltimore
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Baltimore, MD - May 23, 2023 - Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim - Talmudical Academy is proud to announce its upcoming “Hadran Aloch” Campaign, which will infuse our talmidim with a chashivus Hatorah and an increased sense of accomplishment, and at the same time raise much-needed operating funds for TA through our the crowdfunding campaign..
The theme for this year’s campaign is “Our Torah, Our Key”, and symbolizes TA's mission of imbuing our talmidim with a love and geshmak for learning and living Torah. The campaign will take place on June 14th and 15th, and will feature weeks-long learning, chazara, and Siyumim by our Talmidim, which begins this week.
TA is also thrilled to announce the opportunity we have to recognize four disti...
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Baltimore, MD – May 27, 2023 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Mr. Manny Sadwin, z’l, husband of Mrs, Loretta Sadwin and father of Rabbi Ariel (Pessi) Sadwin, Mrs. Elisheva (Avrohom Shmuel) Shnidman, Mrs. Rivka (Ari) Kahn and Rabbi Moshe (Ruchama) Sadwin.Shiva will be observed at 407 Neale Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20901Minyanim:Shacharis - Monday-Friday: 7:30amMincha/Maariv: Sunday-Thursday: 8:10pm Mincha Erev Shabbos: 3:00pm Bila HaMaves Lanetzach…
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Baltimore, MD – May 24, 2023 – Have you noticed all the publicity – the lawn signs, the press coverage, sporting an angelic sleeping baby girl dressed in pink -- for the AIM Event, and wondered what AIM is?
AIM is a much-needed Baltimore-based organization that will be holding its inaugural annual event, a dairy dessert reception at its Gala Chinese Auction, on Tuesday, June 6, at the Hilton DoubleTree Hotel in Pikesville, at 7:30 p.m. It will feature a musical performance by Chayala Neuhaus and promises to be an exciting and entertaining evening – AND a purposeful one, knowing that you are helping numerous families of newborns in our community by helping them raise happy and healthy generations of Klal Yisroel! As Mrs. Shayna Meiselman, AIM Event Coordinator, ex...
BaltimoreJewishLife.com (BJL) is proud to partner with STAR-K CERTIFICATION that realizes that there is no substitute for a person’s own Rav. In an effort to offer a possible solution, it has launched its Institute of Halachah as a public service. Over the years, the agency’s Kashrus Hotline has answered generic halachic questions from kosher consumers the world over, including inquiries regarding the kosher status of foods and certified Sabbath mode appliances. The formation of a separate official division within STAR-K testifies to the need for addressing these issues.
The Institute of Halachah is directed by HaRav Mordechai Frankel, under the guidance of HaRav Moshe Heinemann, STAR-K’s Rabbinic Administrator. It is an invaluable resource for a diverse array of rabbis to discuss general halachic matters, as well as gain access to source materials for shiurim and answers to congregants’ questions.
Shailos for regular or Kashrus shailos may emailed or discussed using this widget.
After the participation of all the tribes in the inauguration of the Tabernacle, the Torah tells of Moshe's entry into it to hear the word of G-d.
Several perplexing details regarding the way G-d communicated His words are enumerated.
Firstly, is the fact that the voice emanated from between the two cherubim atop the ark cover. What is the significance of specifically projecting from between the cherubim?
Secondly, G-d is depicted as a מִדַבֵֵּר — in the reflexive form, literally, 'speaking to itself', as Rashi explains, the voice would speak to itself, and Moshe would listen to it. Does G-d talk to Himself?
Additionally, the verse emphasizes how G-d spoke to 'him', Moshe, excluding expressly Aharon from the 'conversation'. Why is it ne...
So, there I was, standing and talking with my brother-in-law outside of Shul one evening. He pointed to a car driving nearby and said, “Hey, there’s a car driving without his headlights on.”
At that moment, an idea occurred to me. You see, the Jewish people are called, “A light unto the Nations.” This statement is not just a fact; it is a calling of our destiny. We are a light, and as such, we are meant to shine that light to the rest of the world.
Unfortunately, however, so many Jews don’t realize their sense of value and holiness, and as such, so many of the Jewish people today are simply driving “without their headlights on.” They are driving in the dark, clueless of their identity and unknowing of their spiritual potential. ...
It was with a great deal of mixed emotions that I learned of the decision by Diversified Business Communications (Portland, ME), producers of Kosherfest since 2003, to cancel Kosherfest 2023 and beyond. It was nearly 33 years ago that I launched Kosherfest with great trepidation. Looking back, I can proudly say that the show was an amazing run and the impetus for a glorious chapter in the growth of kosher and the Jewish community. I very much cherish all the relationships I have made over the years and am particularly grateful to the wonderful people at Diversified who went beyond the call of duty to assure Kosherfest’s success.
The exponential growth of kosher in all categories is extraordinary. The last three plus decades of the show was a period when tens of th...
The beginning of Sefer Bamidbar is truly a magical time. Klal Yisroel has received the Torah. They have been given instructions for and built the Mishkan and its Keilim. They are then counted and have “heads” of all the Shevatim named. The Kohanim and Leviyim are separated out for counting, anointing and are prepared to do the Avodah. Leadership, roles, instructions are all in place. Indeed, Hashem is prepared to bless them when one more set of Halachos are offered – the option of becoming a Nazir. (Naso, 6:1)
The Torah makes it clear that Neziros is not the preferred way for a Jew to live. In fact, the very first verb used to describe the act is “Yafli” – to disassociate or separate. Moreover at the...
Baltimore, MD - June 1, 2023 – 3:42PM - Traffic has come to a standstill due to an accident on 795 just before Exit 4. This incident is causing significant backups extending to I-95.
If you're in the vicinity, expect considerable delays.
Use alternate routes.
Baltimore, MD – June 1, 2023 – Due to a flooding issue at the DoubleTree, the Epstein-Norman Chasuna to take place tonight has been moved to Valley Mansion - 594 Cranbrook Road, Cockeysville, MD
All of us are familiar with the celebration that is held when a new Torah scroll is brought into a synagogue. But what happens when a Torah scroll is torn or its letters fade and it is no longer fit for use? Yesterday evening an unusual photo was taken at the Kotel (Western Wall): 19 Torah scrolls were displayed in a special ceremony, after which they would be brought for genizah or interment to a respectful burial site.These scrolls served millions of people over the years. It is likely that whoever is reading these words encountered one of these scrolls when visiting the Kotel. They were removed again and again from the holy arks that housed them on Bar MItzvahs, on Shabbatot, at the beginning of each month for Rosh Chodesh, on Simchat Torah when worshippers danced with them, and on othe...
Deadly Italy shipwreck: The Italian Corriere Della Sera news website hypothesizes that the Israeli and Italian intelligence agents met to spy on a Russian money transfer to Iran.
The website states that "Russian figures" have recently transferred their investments from Lake Como to luxury hotels on Lake Maggiore, where the shipwreck occurred.
MK Ram Ben-Barak (Yesh Atid), who in the past served as Vice Mossad Chief, told Reshet Bet about the Mossad agent who was killed in the wreck. "He was not there for a birthday party or vacation. It wasn't an operation, but it was connected to his work."
As previously reported, an Israeli Mossad agent Erez Shimoni was killed when the boat he was on with Italian intelligence agents capsized in Lago Maggiore in Italy. Four peo...
Baltimore, MD - June 1, 2023 - Baltimore's Public Works Director, Jason Mitchell, defended his proposal to substantially increase executive salaries within his agency at a council meeting, according to FOX45. The proposed budget for the fiscal year 2024, $35 million more than the current year's, would raise the pay of the top 50 employees to over $100,000 annually. Mitchell justified this hike stating that the current salaries were not competitive with those in neighboring counties, leading to a significant number of vacancies.
Councilman Yitzy Schleifer opposed the proposal, highlighting the disparity between the high salaries of office personnel and the lower wages of other employees. The discussion also touched on the department's delay in resuming weekly recyclin...
The legal representatives of several Canadian, Canadian-Palestinian, and Jewish organizations have filed a legal brief to bar former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett from Canada.
Bennett is set to address the Simon Wiesenthal Center's annual event in Toronto next month.
According to the representatives, Canada should bar entry from Bennett according to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The complaint states, "The federal government has the domestic and international legal obligations to exclude perpetrators of atrocities."
The complaint explains that Bennett has been "deeply involved in the development of illegal Israeli settlements in the Palestinian West Bank." It cites a Peace Now report according to which Bennett's government increased the development of "se...
Federal prosecutors have obtained an audio recording of a summer 2021 meeting in which former US President Donald Trump acknowledges he held onto a classified Pentagon document about a potential attack on Iran, multiple sources told CNN on Wednesday.
The recording indicates Trump understood he retained classified material after leaving the White House, according to multiple sources familiar with the investigation.
In the recording, Trump’s comments suggest he would like to share the information but he’s aware of limitations on his ability post-presidency to declassify records, two of the sources said.
CNN has not listened to the recording, but multiple sources described it. One source said the relevant portion on the Iran document is about two minutes long, an...
Chana Nachenberg, who was seriously injured in the suicide bombing attack at the Sbarro restaurant in Jerusalem in 2001 and had been in a coma ever since, has succumbed to her injuries.
She was pronounced dead at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv on Wednesday evening.
With that, the death toll in the attack now stands at 16.
Her father, Yitzhak, said after his daughter's death, "Our daughter, Chana Tova Feiner Nachenberg, died after almost 22 years of heroism. She was supposed to turn 53 years old in one month. 21 years and nine months have passed since the attack, with my daughter unconscious, in a coma, at Reut Hospital in Tel Aviv. About three weeks ago, she was transferred to Ichilov Hospital, where she died this evening."
Chana Nachenberg was 31 years old at the time of the attack...