Baltimore Jewish Life | Suspected Arson Attacks Target Garbage Cans and Garage in Park Heights Area

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Posted on 09/06/23

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Suspected Arson Attacks Target Garbage Cans and Garage in Park Heights Area

By: BJLife Newsroom

Baltimore, MD - Sept. 6, 2023 - (BJL) In the past 24 hours, multiple fires were reported in the Park Heights area, and arson is suspected as the cause. At approximately 1:00 yesterday afternoon, several garbage cans were intentionally set on fire on Clarks Lane. Another garbage can fire was reported at 11:45 last night. Additionally, around 1:00 a.m. this morning, a fire was deliberately ignited in a garage located on the 3700 block of Clarinth.

In the past 24 hours, multiple fires were reported in the Park Heights area, and arson is suspected as the cause.

Baltimore, MD - Sept. 6, 2023 - (BJL) In the past 24 hours, multiple fires were reported in the Park Heights area, and arson is suspected as the cause. At approximately 1:00 yesterday afternoon, several garbage cans were intentionally set on fire on Clarks Lane. Another garbage can fire was reported at 11:45 last night. Additionally, around 1:00 a.m. this morning, a fire was deliberately ignited in a garage located on the 3700 block of Clarinth.

The owner of the garage sent this message to the Clarinth Road Group Chat:

Hi everyone I just want to bring to your attention that my garage was set on fire last night. BH it was brought under control thanks to the quick thinking of a “good samaritan” who flagged down the fire department as they were responding to another call of a fire in the neighborhood. My insurance company is offering $5k for information leading to the arrest of the arsonist. In case you wanna get your detective caps on.

Baltimore Shomrim has obtained security camera footage related to at least one of these incidents and has ensured its submission to the appropriate authorities. Both the police and Fire Marshals are actively investigating these incidents.

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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.

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Hilchos Chanukah

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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The Rosh in siman chof says that the mitzvah of a rabim is stronger than a regular mitzvah because the posuk says “Venikdashti” amongst Klal Yisroel, the source for a minyan. This premise will hold true even if it is for a mitzvah deRabbanan like to hear kedusha or borchu; nevertheless, it will be doche a mitzvah deOraysa of a private person of not freeing a slave. The Rosh concludes that this must be the case because the gemara is not speaking in a case where the tzibbur was laining Parshas Zachor which is min haTorah, so we see that this point of a tzibbur being stronger is even if one is just doing a mitzvah deRabbonon.

The Trumas Hadeshen, based on this Rosh, says in siman kuf ches that the mitzvah of Parshas Zachor is to listen to it with a minyan. Therefore, if one has only one of the following options of either hearing Zachor with a minyan, or Krias Hamegillah with a minyan, one should choose Zachor with the minyan since the mitzvah is min haTorah. The Shulchan Aruch in siman kuf mem vov, seif bais concurs.

The Pri Chodosh in seif koton bais asks where did the Rosh learn this halacha that one needs a minyan for the reading of Zachor? In addition, why don’t find a person has a chiyuv to hear any of the other mitzvos of zechiros (for example, remembering Yetzias Mitzrayim or Maaseh Miriam) betzibbur?

The Hagahos Peulas Sachir on the Sefer Maaseh Rav for the Gra says that the chiyuv of tzibbur for Amalek will come as a result of the shita of the Yereim in siman taf lamed heh that holds that the mitzvah of erasing Amalek is not a mitzvah for every private person, but rather a mitzvah on the tzibbur under a king. With this in mind, it makes sense that we should read the parsha of Amalek betzibbur to remind us that this is a tzibburdige din.

There are many poskim who disagree and say you do not need a minyan; however, according to the Rosh we can understand why we need a minyan.

Let us hope we are zocheh to the tzibbur and the king Moshiach to wipe out Amalek!

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