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Baltimore, MD - July 21, 2025 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petirah of Mr. Larry Katz, z’l, husband of Mrs. Sandy Katz, father of Avie (Rivkie) Katz, Yehudis (Tony) Goldenberg, Ben Katz, and Aron (Shaindy) Katz, and brother of Barry Katz. The levayah will be held at Levinson’s on Tuesday, July 22 at 12:00 pm. Kevurah will take place at the Agudah cemetery. Shiva will be observed at 3801 West Strathmore, Baltimore, MD 21215Minyanim:Shacharis: 7:15 AMMincha/Maariv: 8:10 PMThe family respectfully requests no visitors between 6:00-7:00 pm  or after...
Iran is attempting to obscure one of the most significant military and intelligence defeats in its history, which reportedly occurred during the first four days of Operation Rising Lion [Operation Am K'Lavi]. The opposition outlet Iran International revealed new details of a series of precise assassinations targeting senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officials. According to the reports, the Mossad carried out a counterintelligence operation in which the timing of the strike was deliberately leaked through a trusted agent close to IRGC commander Hossein Salami. The leak was intended to ensure Salami's presence at the predetermined location of his planned assassination. A similar incident took place within the IRGC's missile command. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head o...
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Baltimore, MD - July, 2025 - The Baltimore community is honored to welcome one of the premier poskim and Torah leaders of our generation, HaGaon HaRav Asher Weiss, shlit”a, for a special weekend of Torah and inspiration. Rav Weiss is widely regarded as one of the foremost halachic authorities in the world today. He serves as the Av Beis Din of Darchei Torah, Rosh Kollel of Bais Medrash Darchei Torah, and the posek for Shaarei Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem. A prolific author, Rav Weiss has published 37 volumes of sefarim, and his weekly shiurim are attended by thousands across the spectrum of Torah Jewry. His reach spans from hesder yeshivos in Sderot to the most prestigious kollelim in Yerushalayim. Rav Weiss plays a central role in developing the next generation of Torah leadership...
Out of concern for the safety of passengers on a Mano Maritime cruise ship that encountered a demonstration of close to 200 Palestinians, it was decided to prevent disembarkation at the island of Syros, where the ship had docked. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar spoke with Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis and requested his intervention in an effort to resolve the docking of the ship in Greece. Additionally, the Israeli Foreign Ministry, through the Israeli embassy in Greece, is monitoring and assisting with the incident. In an interview with Israel National News, Bentsi Kaplan, owner of the Bituach Winery company and a passenger on the ship, described the incident. "The ship was supposed to stop at the island of Syros, which has ten thousand residents, and here there a...
Baltimore, MD - July 22, 2025 - (FOX45) A new poll by U.S. News and World Report ranks Baltimore as the fourth most dangerous city in the U.S., based on murder and property crime data from FBI reports. The city now follows only Memphis, Oakland, and St. Louis. The news comes just months after Baltimore was absent from such rankings for the first time in years, a shift that had been seen as a positive milestone. While some visitors in tourist areas report feeling safe and note a strong police presence, residents in other neighborhoods continue to voice concern about ongoing crime, including recent incidents of vandalism.  
With Israel’s decisive victory over Iran – even as fighting continues in the south and north – many are asking: what will happen to the real estate market when the fighting ends? Will prices drop? Will the market stagnate? Or will we see the familiar pattern of resilience and growth? Looking at Israel’s history, a clear trend emerges. While previous wars created short-term uncertainty, Israel’s real estate market has consistently rebounded – often with surprising strength. During and in the immediate aftermath of previous conflicts, domestic and foreign buyers were understandably hesitant to purchase and developers sometimes delayed projects. But these slowdowns were temporary. After the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Israel’s economy was shaken and inf...
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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Monday that President Donald Trump is seeking to broker a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict, emphasizing his desire to bring an end to the violence. "The president never likes to see that. He wants the killing to end, and he wants to negotiate a ceasefire in this region," Leavitt told reporters, adding that the war has become "quite brutal," particularly in recent days, with reports of rising casualties. She added that securing the release of all hostages held in Gaza remains a central concern for President Trump. "That has been a top priority for this president," stressed Leavitt. Pressed on whether Trump had expressed frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following recent IDF strikes in Gaza, she noted Trump’s rel...
Baltimore, MD - July 21, 2025 - Maryland’s newest jobs report for June showed a decline of 8,500 total jobs, including a net loss of 2,900 jobs in the public sector, which pushed the state’s unemployment rate up slightly, from 3.2% in May to 3.3% in June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A large part of the employment decline was the loss of 3,500 federal government jobs, Maryland’s largest single-month decrease in federal government jobs in almost three decades, the state’s labor department said. “Maryland continues to invest in support resources to help residents who have been impacted by federal layoffs and other actions,” the state’s labor department said in a news release. So far this year, the state has a net positive...
Baltimore, MD - July 21, 2025  - Every person getting booked in jail in Frederick County is asked two questions: “Where were you born?” and “What country are you a citizen of?” If the answer to either question is anything other than the U.S., said Sheriff Chuck Jenkins (R), officers will take the individual to the facility’s “ICE unit” where they determine the person’s legal status. If residing in the country illegally, officers will then place a detainer on them to initiate removal proceedings — if determined appropriate by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “Rather than release a criminal back onto the street, we turn those criminals over to ICE,” Jenkins said. Frederick is one of several Maryland counties where ...
Parsha Hashavua
Rabbi Zvi Teichman on Parshas Pinchas: Visiting Day

Most years the portion of Pinchos is read during the Shabbosos of Bein HaMetzarim, ‘between the straits’ of the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av.


It is averred that this is due to our desire to read from the specific sections within this portion of the Moadim, the listing of all the Jewish holidays we celebrate in the course of the year, to express our yearning that these days of mourning over the Churban, the destruction of the Temples, too,  will be transformed one day soon into days of ‘joy and gladness’, as the prophets promised. (בני יששכר)


But there is something even more significant going on here.


The Midrash quoting Rebbi Levi asserts, that initially before the Sin of the Golden Calf each of the months summer were destined to host a holiday.


In Nissan we celebrate Pesach. During Iyar we commemorate the ‘Small Pesach’, Pesach Sheini, where those who missed out in bringing the first Pesach can make it up on the 14th of this month. Shavuos, the day of the giving of Torah, is observed in Sivan. The summer months of Tammuz, Av and Elul should have each housed the holidays of Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Sukkos respectively. Due to our having sinned they were now all relegated to the month of Tishrei, leaving these summer months bereft of their hoped-for glory. (ילקו"ש פנחס רמז תשפב)


In their place we commemorate: the tragedy of the breaking of the Luchos, and other resulting calamities associated with this day, on the 17th of Tammuz; the folly of the spies and the destruction of the two Temples, on the ninth of Av; the forty ‘days of appeasement’ for the sin of the Golden Calf, that commenced on the first of Elul, culminating with the giving of the second Luchos on Yom Kippur.


The reading of the portion of the Moadim, delineating the full gamut of holidays as we celebrate them today with Rosh HaShana on the first of Tishrei, Yom Kippur on the 10th, and Sukkos on the 15th, are all the product of the initiation of a sin that began precisely at this time, and continued to spiral downward disrupting the natural order of the Yomim Tovim.


In the original plan the progression from Pesach, the exodus from Egypt, to Shavuos, the receiving of the Torah at Sinai, would have continued with Rosh HaShana as the day we were restored to eternal life equal to the stature of Adam before his sin. Yom Kippur would have been an exquisite encounter with the Almighty, similar to the entrance of the Kohen Gadol into the Holy of Holies, culminating with a holiday of indescribable joy, Sukkos, celebrating the privilege we have in being in G-d’s constant embrace. 


In the re-formed version, these days now all represent the success of our struggles against a powerful enemy, the evil inclination, and the benevolence of a Creator who accepts repentance and atones our sins, and the joy of that privilege.


There is a command to remember the Sin of the Golden Calf.


Remember, do not forget, how you angered Hashem, your G-d, in the Wilderness. (דברים ט ז)


The Ramban reveals that the intention here is not to remember how bad we were, but rather how, despite our miserable failings, G-d accepted our sincere regret and forgave us. This is a testament, the Ramban emphasizes, to the overwhelming love He has for His children.


The beloved Rebbi Levi Yitzchok of Barditchev extends this idea in novelly interpreting the very verse that would seem to condemn us to long-lasting punishment as proof of our greatness.


After the sin G-d exclaims: “...on the day that I make My account, I will take this sin of theirs into account.” (שמות לב לד)


The traditional understanding of this verse is that when G-d will hold us accountable for our sins He will also apportion part of the punishment on behalf of the sin of the Golden Calf, so that we won’t be inundated with the full consequences of that particular sin in one big wave.


The Barditchover says ‘poonk’t farkert’ - just the opposite.


When G-d observed our audacity to sin even after having experienced the plagues in Egypt, the miracle at the sea, and the revelation at Sinai, He realized how stiff-necked we were and the level to which we struggled internally to overcome our instincts. This not only displayed how difficult it was but it also highlighted and magnified the good choices we had made. These were no slouches, G-d realized, as it were, who automatically followed the traditions of their forefathers. The same mighty battles they fought internally when they failed, were the same drives that should have prevented their declaring, “We will do and we will adhere!”, at Sinai - yet they overcame. 


The accounting in the verse refers to those moments when G-d remembers us fondly and desires to bestow blessing upon us, He promises to recall the mighty forces we fight against, as evident in the episode with the Golden Calf, thereby multiplying His appreciation for our choices and the rewards associated with that accomplishment. (עבודת ישראל בלק בשם הקדושת לוי)


The Sefer Chareidim, the great sage and kabbalist, Rav Elazar Azkiri, teaches that the verse that directs us to remember how ‘we angered Hashem’ is a summons to each one of use to personalize it and realize how we too have come up short in our duties to G-d. This should compel us to rise up and engage in a process of self-introspection in returning to His embrace, as He so lovingly exhibited after the sin of the Golden Calf.


There is one caveat however, we must never become apathetic, we must continue to long and yearn for the closeness we are missing. Otherwise we are shamelessly shunning His affection, and guilty of the worst sin - ingratitude.


We are not to mourn over the difficulties we face but rather over the distance that has developed between us and G-d. We pine for the days when we can sense once again His closeness, His inspiration, His joyous love for us.


We must ache for those ‘missing days’ of summer.


As a child, for over eight years, I was fortunate to spend the two months of summer in a wonderful overnight camp. The days were filled with great activities, terrific friends and a very devoted and talented staff. Despite the many distractions, the highlight of the summer were the two visiting days when my very loving parents came to share in my happiness and shower me with candy, games and other assorted goodies, and most significantly, their affection.


On visiting day the regular camp activities ceased in order to devote our attention in spending time with our parents and family.


I remember very clearly waiting very anxiously at the camp gate to finally catch a glimpse of my father’s car pulling into the parking lot. I recollect even more acutely those days when my parents, due to circumstances, didn’t make it up to camp for visiting day.


During these three weeks we experience something very similar. Whereas during the rest of the summer we are distracted by our music, games and fun, we are tasked with diminishing somewhat our routines and focus on what we are truly missing.


We wait like a child, wondering when will our mothers hug us, after a month hiatus from that special warmth, when will our fathers raise us high in their arms, gleaming with pride and joy in their eyes.


My friends, it is visiting day.


When will Hashem finally show up? What gifts await us when He arrives?


Are you desperately waiting at the gate thinking about the sweetness that is in store for you?


If you long, He will arrive!


באהבה,


צבי יהודה טייכמאן









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Jerusalem, Israel - July 21, 2025  - A delegation of Latin American Ambassadors to Israel visited (monday) the National Headquarters of Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national emergency services agency. The visit included a tour of MDA’s advanced operational and medical facilities, briefings on the organization’s lifesaving efforts during the October 7 attacks and Iranian missile strikes during Operation “Rising Lion”.Ambassadors from Panama, Ecuador, Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Paraguay, and Guatemala took part in the visit, which was spearheaded by Ruth Wasserman Lande, MDA’s head of global strategy, and led by MDA Director General Eli Bin.The delegation was introduced to MDA’s cutting-edge emergency response capabilities, from its ...
Agency Sets Priorities with Rider-Focused Improvements in Service, Safety, Communication and Accessibility  Baltimore, MD - July 21, 2025 -The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration today released its inaugural Customer Experience (CX) Action Plan – a comprehensive initiative designed to improve the public transit experience across the system. The plan outlines a clear set of actions to be implemented over the next year to improve service reliability, communication, accessibility, cleanliness and safety systemwide. The plan was shaped by input from thousands of riders, stakeholders and advocates. “Riders will always be at the center of everything we do,” said Maryland Transit Administration Chief Customer Experience Officer Michael He...
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Baltimore, MD – July 21, 2025 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Mr & Mrs. Binyamin "BB" Bakaev on the birth of a daughter. Mazel Tov grandparents Mr. & Mrs. Vadim Bakaev and Mr. & Mrs. Ed Miller Mazel Tov to great-grandparents Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Miller, and Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Shapiro יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בתם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
The headquarters of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) in the Bronx was vandalized with anti-Israel graffiti, the New York Post reported. The office was covered in red paint during the vandalism yesterday (Sunday). A sign which read “AOC funds genocide in Gaza” was placed at the site. A group calling itself the Boogie Down Liberation Front claimed responsibility for the vandalism. The group put out a statement saying: “The Bronx is sick and tired of people like AOC and Ritchie Torres using us as a stepping stone for their own political careers. The Bronx stands with the people of Palestine and we denounce the hypocrisy of AOC who voted to fund Israel’s ongoing genocide and starvation campaign in Gaza. [expletive deleted]"   The group appear...
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Republican legal activists are filing a complaint in defense of U.S. Attorney Alina Habba after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called for federal district judges to remove her from her position.  Jeffries’ complaints about Habba stemmed from her decision to charge Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., with obstructing Homeland Security agents during an altercation at an immigration facility in Newark on May 9.  McIver has pleaded not guilty. She is now headed for trial on Nov. 10."The so-called U.S. Attorney in NJ maliciously indicted Congresswoman LaMonica McIver for doing her job," said Jeffries in a post on X. "Habba is a woefully unqualified political hack who must go. "She must be rejected by the Federal District Court Judges who are considering w...
The European Jewish Association (EJA) issued a statement on Monday expressing deep concern over the conduct of the Belgian authorities toward two Israeli participants in the Tomorrowland music festival, who were questioned following a complaint alleging that, as IDF soldiers, they had committed war crimes. EJA Chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin noted that the politically motivated investigation reflects a distorted and flawed moral compass, as IDF soldiers operate within the framework of their lawful duties to defend their country—duties comparable to those of any soldier serving in a democratic nation. Meanwhile, the individual who filed the complaint is known for his public support of Hezbollah—a terrorist organization responsible for the deaths of numerous civilians...
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Baltimore, MD – July 21, 2025 – 1:16PM - A three-car accident has been reported in the right lane of Smith Avenue at Greenspring, heading away from The Quarry. Drivers should expect delays and use caution in the area. 
The Department of Justice confirmed Monday that it has received Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's criminal referral related to her bombshell claims that Obama-era officials "manufactured and politicized intelligence" to create the narrative that Russia was attempting to influence the 2016 presidential election, Fox News has confirmed.  The Department of Justice declined further comment, but confirmed to Fox News that the department received the referral.  Gabbard released unclassified documents Friday that reportedly show "overwhelming evidence" that then-President Barack Obama and his national security team laid the groundwork for what would be the yearslong Trump–Russia collusion probe after Trump's election win against former Secreta...
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Belgian authorities have arrested two Israeli citizens attending the Tomorrowland music festival in the country and interrogated them on suspicion of war crimes in Gaza. The arrest followed a report submitted by the Hind Rijab Foundation, which works to prosecute IDF soldiers around the world. The report stated that the two "are involved in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and even crimes of genocide committed during the fighting in Gaza." The two were identified and arrested by the Belgian federal police during the festival. After a short interrogation, the two were released. During the festival, the Israeli pair waved the flag of the IDF's Givati Brigade, leading the organization to submit its report. The two have apparently left Belgium and are on their way back to Israel. ...
BAltimore, MD - July 21, 2025 - Nearly $66,000 in employee travel requests recently approved by Baltimore’s spending board show top members of Mayor Brandon Scott’s staff and eight Baltimore City Council members will be attending a political conference in Ocean City next month. Approved gradually by the Board of Estimates since April, the requests authorized so far provide funding for 26 city employees to attend the bi-annual Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) conference from Aug. 13 to 16. Ocean City’s Roland Powell Convention Center hosts the event every summer, as it marks the most significant gathering of local government officials from across Maryland and typically features a closing speech by Gov. Wes Moore. The travel requests for all 26 city employees total...
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