The Belgian city of Aalst on Sunday went ahead with its traditional carnival despite calls from Israel to ban the event over its anti-Semitic floats and costumes. Once again, reported Deutsche Welle, this year's parade included participants dressed in costumes of caricaturistic Jewish stereotypes, with some wearing hooked noses, insect costumes, and exaggerated outfits meant to depict Orthodox Jews. One of the floats also included three Jewish caricatures placed alongside gold bars. Some revelers were also dressed in costumes meant to represent Nazi officers, the report said. Lawmakers in the European Parliament had urged officials in Aalst to make sure this year's parade was free from "manifestations of hatred." This is the second year in the row that the carnival features anti-Semitic tropes. Last year, it featured a float caricaturing Orthodox Jews with hooked noses and sitting on gold bags. Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz on Thursday called on the Belgian authorities to ban the carnival in the city of Aalst. “Belgium as a Western Democracy should be ashamed to allow such a vitriolic anti-Semitic display. I call upon the authorities there to condemn and ban this hateful parade in Aalst,” Katz tweeted. Aalst Mayor Christoph D’Haese said on Thursday that Katz’s call to cancel the festival was “truly disproportional.” “I absolutely call on people to avoid these sensitive subjects,” he said in an interview with the VRT network, as quoted by The Associated Press. “But that is something completely different than the ban which is called for here.” On Sunday, D'Haese again dismissed the criticism and calls for a ban on the festivities, saying "let Aalst be Aalst." "This is not an anti-Semitic parade," he told reporters, according to Deutsche Welle. "Aalst is not an anti-Semitic city." In December, UNESCO, the UN’s culture committee, withdrew the Aalst carnival from its heritage list over the anti-Semitism. D'Haese initially defended the presence of the anti-Semitic float, saying that “it’s not up to the mayor to forbid” such displays, and that “the carnival participants had no sinister intentions.” However, ahead of UNESCO's decision to withdraw the carnival from its heritage list, D'Haese renounced Aalst's place on the list before it could be stripped of the designation. PINNED Scroll for more news 
Baltimore, MD - May 13, 2026 - Led by Rabbi Dovid Turk, and joined by local Mechanchim and Rabbonim, the Yeshiva will be geared towards bochurim returning from Eretz Yisroel looking for a serious Bais Medrash as they integrate back into our community.
For more information or to apply please visit our website www.YeshivasOrchosChaim.com or reach out directly to Rabbi Turk at dturk@yeshivasorchoschaim.com
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Baltimore, MD - May 14, 2026 - There are certain people whose presence continues to shape a city long after they are gone. Rabbi Yehuda Naftali Mandelbaum, zt”l, was one of those people. This past week marked his 31st yahrtzeit, yet for so many in Baltimore, his memory still feels remarkably alive. To many, he was a legendary rebbe, mechanech, mentor, and community leader. But to those of us who knew him personally, he was something even greater. He was the living example of what a ben Torah could look like when Torah fully penetrates a person’s heart, personality, and home. I grew up spending countless hours in the Mandelbaum home together with his son, my friend Osher Zelig. What I remember most was not grandeur or intensity, but happiness. The home was simple, warm, alive, a...
Baltimore, MD - May 15, 2026 - Tefillas Hashlah is a Tefillas Avos Al Bonim, written by Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz - The Shelah HaKadosh. It is recited by many daily but has a particular significance to be recited the day before Rosh Chodesh Sivan which this year is on Shabbos. As such some recite it before Shabbos. For a full discussion see here: https://torahanytime.com/lectures/448653.
It is a special and beautiful prayer for children, who will grow up to be G-D fearing and righteous.
Click on the graphic below for the complete tefilah in a large, printable version
Parshas Bamidbar commences with the tziva from Hashem to once again take a census of Bnei Yisroel. (Bamidbar 1:2) Hashem is very explicit that the census is to be taken “according to their families and according to their father’s household”. (1:2) The Torah then recites the tally for each family (except Shevet Levi, who was excluded from the count) (1:48) reaching a total of 603,550 (1:46). This stands in stark contrast to the census taken in Parshas P’kudei where the tally was taken of the entire B’nei Yisroel, without any regard to the amount in each particular Shevet. (Pikudei, 38:26)
This raises two significant questions. First, why are we doing another census so close to when the last one was done? Second, why in the 2...
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. 
יום ירושלים, Yom Yerushalayim, is an Israeli national holiday commemorating the reunification of Jerusalem and the establishment of Israeli control over the Old City in June 1967. The Chief Rabbinate of Israel declared Jerusalem Day a minor religious holiday to thank Hashem for victory in the Six-Day War and for answering the 2,000-year-old prayer of "Next Year in Jerusalem".
שחרור הכותל 1967
1967: ISRAEL CLAIMING ITS HERITAGE
Baltimore, MD - May 14, 2026 - (BJL) Darchei Tzedek will not be having a Yom Kippur Koton Mincha today.
Jerusalem, Israel - May 14, 2026 - Yom Yerushalyim, Jerusalem Day, is an Israeli national holiday commemorating the reunification of Jerusalem following the Six-Day War in 1967.
Yom Yerushalyim began on Thursday evening and will conclude at sundown on May 15, before Shabbos.
The annual Flag March was held on Thursday afternoon, ending at the Kotel for Maariv with the participation of tens of thousands of people.
Families, people of all ages, arrive by the busload from all parts of the country to celebrate, sing, dance, and walk through the streets. The scene at Damascus Gate each year is intense as the huge crowd tries to enter the narrow space.
The official celebrations in Yerushalayim begin in the morning, with the Prime Minister and President speaki...
Jerusalem, Israel - May 14, 2026 - Multi-talented Katia Bolotin is a pianist, songwriter, and composer of contemporary classical music. As an educator and writer, she strives to inspire Jews of all backgrounds. She has written and spoken for Aish HaTorah and Chabad.
"Timeless Torah Wisdom: Making it Relevant for an Ever-Changing World" was published by Mosaica Press in 2025. Bolotin provided me with a hardcover copy of the book for review.
When reviewing a book, I usually read it from cover to cover. I do not recommend that approach for this book. It is organized as a collection of short chapters for each weekly parshah, beginning with Bereishis and continuing through V'zos Haberachah.
Bolotin selects one topic from each parshah and develops it for contemporary readers, seeki...
"Wherever I go, I am on my way to Yerushalayim."
This oft-quoted sentiment is famously attributed to Rebbi Nachman of Breslov.
This remarkable notion of living every moment of our lives inspired by the quest for the holiness, enthusiasm, and joy of all that Yerushalayim embodies, has a much earlier precedent in Jewish history.
As the nation begins their trek towards the promised land, the twelve tribes are directed to travel within four encampments, consisting of three tribes within each division, encircling the Sanctuary that was the focal point of all their journeys.
Each tribe brought their distinct role and qualities to this joint effort, signified by the דגלים — flags each with its unique insignia reflecting the blessings conferred by Yaakov and Moshe on each of the tri...
Multi-Agency Launch of Comprehensive Plan to Protect Residents from Dangerous Heat Through Summer
Baltimore, MD - May 14, 2026 — Today, City Administrator Faith Leach, joined by the Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD), Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Department of Planning (DOP), Baltimore City Recreation and Parks (BCRP), and the Enoch Pratt Free Library, announced the official start of the Code Red Extreme Heat season, a coordinated, multi-agency effort to protect residents from the dangers of extreme heat.
Effective May 15 through September 15, city agencies and partners are working together to ensure residents have access to cooling resources, critical information, and...
DPW Urges Residents and Businesses Across the City and Baltimore, Harford, Howard, and Carroll Counties to Conserve Water to Protect the Regional Water Supply
Baltimore, MD - May 14, 2026 - As the Baltimore region heads into the summer months, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW), in coordination with Baltimore, Harford, Howard, and Carroll counties, is issuing voluntary water restrictions due to low water levels in the City’s three reservoirs, which supply drinking water to 1.8 million people across Baltimore City and surrounding region. Residents and other water customers who use public water in the Baltimore region are urged to limit non-essential water use.
Rainfall levels across the region remain significantly below seasonal averages, and much of Maryland ...
Baltimore, MD – May 14, 2026 – (BJL) Today is Yom Kippur Koton, a special opportunity to daven on behalf of Achainu B'nei Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel and worldwide.
Please note the following Yom Kippur Koton/Mincha Minyanim in town:
(If you know of any others, please let us know so we may add them to this list.)
Khal Ahavas Yisrael Tzemach Tzedek (KAYTT) Rabbi Dovid Heber –1:40 PM
The Ezras Noshim will be open for women. ArtScroll Yom Kippur Koton booklets will be available.
Community Kollel - 2:45PM
Agudah of Park Heights - Rabbi Moshe Heinemann – 7:15 PM (Upstairs 3rd floor)
Darchei Tzedek - Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz – 7:15 PM (Downstairs Beis Medrash) Confirm attendance to ensure a minyan - text Jan Meisler at 410-733...
After ordering from the Kosher Dunkin or Playa Bowls and receiving the delivery from non-kosher locations, concerned community members asked us to repost....
Baltimore, MD - Jan. 6, 2026 - Some topics need to be revisited as technology evolves. Food delivery service apps such as Door-dash and Uber-eats definitely fall in that category. So even though we already covered the basics last year, let’s find out what’s new in this field with Rabbi Sholom Tendler a Kashrus Administrator at the STAR-K.See here for an article by STAR-K about the use of the apps https://www.star-k.org/articles/kashrus-kurrents/6947/delivery-and-ride-apps/
Baltimore, MD - May 14, 2026 - Explore the latest issue of Baltimore Jewish Home.Click on the graphic below:
Jerusalem, Israel - May 13, 2026 - On May 13, 2026, President Isaac Herzog convened the President’s Conference for a Shared Israeli Future at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem, Israel. The conference featured speakers, panels, and dialogue forums that addressed President Herzog’s vision for rebuilding Israeli society and moving from crisis to repair ahead of Israel’s 80th anniversary.
The conference opened with an address by President Herzog, followed by remarks from Becky Caspi, Director-General of the Jewish Federations of North America’s Israel office, a partner of the conference.
During the conference, addressing the rise of antisemitism faced by Jewish communities around the world, President Herzog said: “We must als...
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Watch: Anti-Semitic Belgian Carnival Goes Ahead Despite Calls For It To Be Cancelled (Video & Photos)
The Belgian city of Aalst on Sunday went ahead with its traditional carnival despite calls from Israel to ban the event over its anti-Semitic floats and costumes. 
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