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You may have heard that the New York State Education Department recently published proposed Regulations about “substantial equivalency of instruction” required for students attending nonpublic schools. This can have severe ramifications for yeshivos and day schools across the board in NYS, so we wanted to provide some answers to common questions we are receiving about this serious development. Q: How might the proposed regulations affect my child’s yeshiva? A: The Regulations, on their face, may require schools to make major adjustments to their limudei kodesh and secular programming. For example, the proposed regulations specify 1) the number of required hours – as many as 4-5 hours per day, depending on grade level; 2) more than 12 required subjects, including, at the lower elementary level, consumer and family science, visual arts, theater, media arts, career development, occupational studies, etc.; 3) assessment of teachers to an undefined standard. Results, grades, competencies, graduation rates, or other factors regarding equivalency to public schools are not taken into account for these purposes. To view the proposed Regulation click here. Q: Didn’t the court already strike down the SED Guidelines 3 months ago? A: Yes, those Guidelines were thrown out by the NY State Supreme Court in response to lawsuits brought by Agudath Israel, PEARLS, Torah Umesorah, and other groups. However, the court struck down the Guidelines because the State Education Department failed to comply with the technical requirements for new rulemaking. By publishing its “proposed Regulations” in the NYS Register, SED has now started an “official” process in compliance with those requirements. Q: How do the new proposed Regulations differ from the previous Guidelines?? A: The new Regulations are substantially identical to the previous Guidelines. Q: What happens now? A: There is a sixty day public comment period (until September 2) when individuals can voice their concerns regarding these proposed regulations. At the conclusion of the process, the Regulations come before the Board of Regents for a vote, expected this fall. Q: I heard that State Education Commissioner Elia resigned earlier this week. Does that mean this is over? A: No. The impact of Commissioner's Elia's resignation on this issue is still to be determined, but the proposed Regulations have already been published and the comment period is in place. Q: What is being done to fight for parents who choose, and sacrifice dearly, for their children to attend yeshivos? A: The Agudah has been working with organizations in the community - PEARLS and Torah Umesorah, among others - to oppose the newest incarnation of the state's attempt to control yeshivos. It should be noted that the Catholic and NYSAIS independent schools (which, together with Jewish schools, form the majority of nonpublic schools in NYS) also strongly oppose these regulations. Q: Is there anything I can do? A: Yes! SED is required, by law, to read comments submitted. While many have previously signed petitions, which is important, these comments are required to be read by law. We have set up a system, where, with just a few clicks, you can voice your opinion on this critical matter. Q: I live in Chicago, but the overreach of these regulations concerns me. May I register my comment? A: The regulations do not restrict comments to NYS residents.
Baltimore, MD – Apr. 29, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Aharon and Rachelli Stern on the birth of a son.
Mazel Tov to grandparents Ephraim & Sarah Stern and Asher & Dena Sondhelm.
Mazel Tov great-grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Uri & Aviva Sondhelm and Rabbi & Mrs. Eli &Renee Singer
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 29, 2026 - 4:23 PM (BJL) - Police are blocking the right northbound lane on Reisterstown Road just before the Pikesville Library. Expect delays in the areah/t: BMore Traffic
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 29, 2026 - A Maryland Supreme Court decision vacating a $152 million opioid verdict is not expected to change Baltimore’s immediate budget plans, city officials said Monday, even as the ruling removes a potential source of future funding for overdose response efforts.
The court last week vacated the judgment against drug distributors McKesson and Cencora, eliminating money the city had anticipated but had not yet received for its Opioid Restitution Fund as officials prepare upcoming spending decisions.
A representative with the Mayor’s Office said the city’s upcoming budget should not be affected and that the plan to reduce overdose deaths, using the Opioid Restitution Fund and city agencies, is still on track.
“While the verdict limits local...
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 29, 2026 - Republican candidate for Maryland Governor, Ed Hale, said he hopes to remove a statewide vehicle emissions program that he argues is too expensive.
Hale, in a news conference on Monday in Hyattsville, specifically addressed the fees surrounding the Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (VEIP). Last year the fee increased from $14 to $30.
He argued that "95%" of emissions were corrected in newer car models, and said the program should be completely eliminated. He argued the fees are outdated and should be removed to relieve families' pockets.
The state program which was established to help protect the environment, has been in place since 1979, and generates more than $50 million for Maryland's Transportation Trust Fund. State ...
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 28, 2026 - As fewer Marylanders qualify for federal tax breaks that used to keep health care costs down, state officials report that higher monthly premiums have led thousands to opt for lower-coverage healthcare plans than in previous years.
Approximately 8,000 Marylanders who previously selected gold plan coverage opted to take on a bronze plan this year, according to healthcare officials. That’s higher than the previous estimate initially reported to lawmakers in January of roughly 5,000 people downgrading their plans.
That said, overall enrollment since last year has not greatly changed, showing that people are willing to take on higher-risk plans if it means they can stay covered, said Johanna Fabian-Marks, deputy executive director for Maryland Health Ben...
Baltimore, MD – Apr. 28, 2026 – (BJL) A beautiful scene unfolded today at The Club when Nesanel Danziger celebrated completing Meseches Succah, which he finished over bein hazmanim, surrounded by four friends.When Yaacov Orlievsky, Star-K mashgiach at The Club, learned of the siyum, he wanted to make sure it was done in the most appropriate way, including reciting the special siyum Kaddish. He went out into the parking lot and found others, bringing them into the eatery to quickly help gather a minyan so Nesanel could make the siyum with a minyan.What followed was a heartwarming kiddush Hashem in broad daylight — with singing and genuine simcha. A simple gathering became a powerful reminder of the beauty of Torah, of the Baltimore community, and the achdus of Klal Yisroel...
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 28, 2026 - On Sunday evening, Beth Tfiloh Congregation hosted Jon and Rachel Goldberg-Polin as the featured speakers for its annual Dahan Lecture, sponsored by the Haron Dahan Foundation. The synagogue’s 1,600-seat sanctuary was filled with people from across the Baltimore Jewish community, representing many congregations and backgrounds, who had come to hear their story and to show respect for a family whose strength and faith have inspired Jews around the world.
The synagogue’s 1,600-seat sanctuary was filled with people from across the Baltimore Jewish community, representing many congregations and backgrounds (Photo Credit: Israel Orange Studios)
The program was conducted with the dignity and kavod the moment required. The thoughtful...
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 28, 2026 - A new UMBC poll reports that Baltimore City and County residents say the amount of local taxes and fees they pay is a key issue for them.
The poll states that in Baltimore City, it's 71% important, and in Baltimore County, it's 69% important.
In this year's budget, Governor Wes Moore vowed no new taxes or fees, which stayed true throughout this legislative session.
Some critics attribute that decision to it being an election year, but the tax and fee increases of 2025 were never taken away, and some are now just starting to kick in.
In 2025, the General Assembly and Governor Moore passed and signed $1.6 billion dollars in new taxes and fee increases, some including:
Vehicle excise tax in Maryland increased from 6% to 6.5...
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 28, 2026 - The average price for regular unleaded fuel in Maryland is 10 cents more Tuesday then to what it was on Monday.
According to AAA, the average price for regular gas in Maryland on Tuesday was $4.11 per gallon. That price was $4.01 on Monday.
The price of regular fuel in Maryland was below the national average. The country’s average on Tuesday was $4.17 per gallon.
Maryland ranked 20th out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., for the most expensive regular gas prices. California was the most expensive, with its average being $5.96 per gallon.
The average price of regular fuel in Maryland has jumped over $1 per gallon since the war in Iran began on Feb. 28.
The record high-average price for a gallon of regular gas in Maryland was $5....
Annapolis, MD - Apr. 28, 2026 - Maryland’s plan to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge hit a major setback Tuesday, as state officials abruptly canceled a key construction contract, undercutting Gov. Wes Moore’s repeated claim that the project was the nation’s “fastest-moving” large infrastructure effort.
The decision to off-ramp contractor Kiewit Infrastructure Co. from the project’s critical second phase came after its proposals “far exceeded” state estimates, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
The move forces Maryland back into the market for a new builder at a pivotal moment, as project costs have surged from roughly $1.8 billion to more than $5.2 billion. It transforms what Moore has framed as a model of speed in...
WASHINGTON, April 28 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice has indicted former FBI Director James Comey a second time, CNN reported on Tuesday, citing two sources familiar with the case.
The specific charges were not yet clear nor was it clear where the case would be brought, according to CNN.
The indictment would mark the second time the Justice Department under Trump has indicted Comey, a longtime foe of President Donald Trump.
Comey was charged with making a false statement and obstructing Congress in September, but a federal judge dismissed the case after finding that the prosecutor who secured the indictment was not lawfully appointed.
Baltimore, MD – Apr. 26, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Yaakov Shoob and Esther Leah Paige on their engagement.Mazel Tov to Mordechai & Chavi Shoob and Dovid & Sara Paige. Mazel Tov to grandparents Yosef and Liba Paige and Drs. Menachem and Moshay Cooper.
יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
Baltimore, MD – Apr. 28, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Ezri and Shoshana Lowenthal on the birth of a son.
Mazel Tov to grandparents Rabbi and Mrs. Normie Lowenthal
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
The United Arab Emirates said it would leave OPEC as of May 1, in a move it says will help it meet changing demand but which analysts see as a heavy blow to the organization.
“This decision follows a comprehensive review of the UAE’s production policy and its current and future capacity and is based on our national interest and our commitment to contributing effectively to meeting the market’s pressing needs,” the Gulf state said in a statement.
The country will also exit OPEC+, a group of major oil producers, and gradually increase production afterward, it added.
The move threatens to hobble the cartel at one of its most pivotal periods in recent years. After the debut of U.S. shale oil, OPEC’s power to sway markets appeared greatly diminished. It teamed...
On April 28, 2026, President Isaac Herzog met with leaders and members of the Jewish community from across Kazakhstan and Central Asia at the “Beit Rachel” Synagogue in Astana. Attendees at the meeting included the Chief Rabbi of Kazakhstan, Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen, and the Rabbi of Astana, Rabbi Shmuel Karnauch. The President heard from them about the activities of the community and discussed the challenges they face, efforts to preserve Jewish identity, and the importance of the connection with the State of Israel.President Isaac Herzog:“I am moved to be here as the President of the State of Israel. The Jewish story of Kazakhstan spans hundreds of years, which today translates into a modern and developing relationship. “I thank President Tokayev for inviting...
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 28, 2026 - TA recently held an asifa entitled “Parenting in the World of AI.” Rav Aharon Lopiansky, shlita, Rosh HaYeshiva of the Yeshiva of Greater Washington, addressed a packed room of parents and faculty. Following his presentation, Rav Lopiansky answered both pre-submitted and live questions from the audience. Afterward, Rav Lopiansky met with TA Rebbeim, continuing the conversation and exploring the challenges and opportunities this presents within our classrooms.
The Rosh Yeshiva focused on how certain habits, while appearing benign or even helpful, can have detrimental long-term ramifications. He explained that to become a Ben Torah, a person must be an amel baTorah. True growth comes from working and thinking - developing the ability to ...
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 28, 2026 - The Baltimore Bandits secured a hard-fought championship at the RCCS hockey tournament. Led by captain Shlomo Trachtenburg, the Bandits won a thriller in double OT in the playoffs and then beat the North Woodmere Wolves 3-0 in the championship. The annual RCCS hockey tournament, run by Yisroel Merkin, raised over $6 million to assist cancer patients in our communities. The Baltimore team raised over $125,000 and was also led by Alternate Captains Harry Auster, Dovie Gibber, and R’ Yitz Cusner. Other Baltimore players included Reuven Klein (honorary captain), Meir Bohbot, Dov Frankel, DJ Listhaus, Shmuli Ellis, Dan Ellis, Justin Nichols, and Eric Pines.
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