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.
A Charedi man filed a lawsuit against a bus driver after he trapped him on a bus and humiliated him during a bus ride to Beit Shemesh.
The driver, an Arab, was arrested after the incident, convicted of uttering threats, and sentenced to three months probation and NIS 3,000 in compensation.
The civil lawsuit was filed by attorney Menashe Yado of the Honenu legal aid organization, who represents the passenger. In the lawsuit, Yado demands compensation of NIS 75,000 from the driver.
In the lawsuit, Attorney Yado describes the driver's abuse of the passenger: "On April 26, 2021 at around 6:35 am, the plaintiff got on the bus and sat down in one of the seats. After several stops, the plaintiff was left alone on the bus. Then the defendant asked the plaintiff to approach him at the front...
The YomTov of Succos represents multiple ideas within the Torah and the Mepharshim. The Torah tells us that the Chag recalls how we lived in these makeshift houses as we left Mitzrayim. (Behar 23:43) The Gemara questions whether we are commemorating the actual “houses” in which we lived temporarily or whether we are really referring to the Ananei Hakovod which divinely protected us when we were in the Midbar. (Gemara Succah, 11b) Either way, The Gemara concludes we are recalling an event which took place in Nissan, around the same time as Pesach, immediately after Yitzias Mitzrayim, Indeed, Chazal say that Succos would be more appropriately celebrated in the spring but we shifted it to the fall so it would not appear that it was simply a comfortable...
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 27, 2023 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Yitzy Nissel (Passaic) & Rivky Waldbaum (Baltimore) on their engagement.
Mazel Tov to Mr. and Mrs. Binyomin Waldbaum
יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
We are poised to enter the realm of the Sukkah. It is not merely a hut in which we sit in to fulfill this joyous mitzva, reminding us, either of the shade we dwelled in during our sojourn in the desert, or to the Clouds of Glory we were ensconced during that forty-year trek. It is an environment whose very structure is infused with sanctity, which prohibits us from deriving peripheral personal benefit from the Schach, and possibly from the walls too.
The Talmudic term used to describe this aura of holiness is referred to as — חל שם שמים על הסוכה — The name of Heaven is conferred upon the sukkah.
We derive this from the verse that speaks of חג הסכות — The Festival of Sukkos, a seven-day period, לד' — for G-d.
The word for festival &md...
Are you in Eretz Yisrael for Sukkos?If so, this Eretz Hakodesh Sukkos Guide can be a huge help. Click on the graphic below
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.
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 28, 2023 - This evening, Shomrim received several calls reporting individuals attempting to break into cars in the Bonnie area. Multiple Shomrim units quickly responded and observed four individuals attempting to break into vehicles. By maintaining surveillance, Shomrim provided real-time updates to law enforcement resulting in the suspects being taken into custody by Baltimore County Police. Baltimore Shomrim extends its gratitude to the Baltimore County and City Police Departments for their effective and professional response.
Three million herring are stuck on the way to Israel, creating concerns among the gabbaim of local synagogues over a possible shortage ahead of the holiday of Simchat Torah.
In many synagogues, it is customary to serve herring at the Kiddush on Simchat Torah and Shabbat Beresheet.
Bechadrei Charedim reported that there is talk in Jewish food stores of a shortage of herring that will be felt already during the Sukkot holiday, and the shortage is already evident at the larger retailers.
The ship that transports the fish has not yet arrived at the port and it was stopped several days ago at the sea border crossings due to the fact that it brought with it too large a quantity of herring.
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 28, 2023 – 9:35PM – Earlier in the evening there was some confusion at Home Depot in the Reisterstown Road Plaza location when some members of our community were told the store closes at 9PM and were turned away. However, the store is open until 11PM this evening. These photos were taken 10 mins ago.
Entrance is through the Exit door
There are some proposed alternatives for the development of theRed Line.
On Thursday MDOT MTA released maps that illustrate options for mode, light rail or bus rapid transit, as well as alignment, extent of tunneling and potential station locations for each preliminary alternative.
“The Red Line is a major priority for our team and a critical project for the Baltimore region,” said Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold. “The maps of the preliminary alternatives and other information will help stakeholders come to our November open houses fully prepared with questions and comments to keep the Red Line project moving forward.”
In July we told you about the open houses that MDOT MTA were holding for residents to re-educate themselves on the project a...
Sports Fans Support Concession Stand Staffed by Participants with Developmental Disabilities
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 28, 2023 - As thousands of Baltimore Ravens fans celebrated the NFL team’s 25-9 win over the Houston Texans at the recent season opener, Yachad participants and staff marked a second big win that day at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium: the opening of Yachad’s Kosher Grill, the first-ever kosher concession stand run by participants with developmental disabilities.
(L-R) at Yachad’s Kosher Grill: Yachad Baltimore City Director Sima Levine; Yachad participants Yitzi Lencz and Yosef Katz; Star-K Mashgiach Moshe Levi; Kosher Stand Manager Adam Baruch; and Yachad parent Barry Nabozny, who conceived of the initiative.
Yachad, a divisio...
The American diplomat emphasized both the transformative potential and the formidable challenges involved in the process
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Thursday about the growing prospects of normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
The American diplomat emphasized both the transformative potential and the formidable challenges involved in the process.
Blinken highlighted the profound impact that normalization could have on the region, saying, "First, it would be transformative if we can get there. You would go from a region where there have been, as you know better than anyone, decades of turmoil – go back to 1979, even earlier – and moving that to the prospects for a much more stable and integrated region, to have at the same time a rap...
An appeals court Thursday rejected Donald Trump's bid to delay a civil trial in a lawsuit brought by New York's attorney general, allowing the case to proceed days after a judge ruled the former president committed years of fraud and stripped him of some companies as punishment.
The decision, by the state's intermediate appellate court, clears the way for Judge Arthur Engoron to preside over a non-jury trial starting Oct. 2 in Manhattan in New York Attorney General Letitia James' civil lawsuit.
Trump is listed among dozens of possible witnesses, setting up a potential courtroom showdown with the judge. The fraud ruling Tuesday threatens to upend his real estate empire and force him to give up prized New York properties such as Trump Tower, a Wall Street offi...
Baltimore City Schools failed to make more than $5 million in retirement contributions to hundreds of employees, according to a new report by the Office of the Inspector General.
That report, published today, also found senior management for City Schools had been aware of the missing retirement contributions since 2019.
The IG began investigating in July after receiving a complaint that City Schools had not initiated retirement contributions for more than 570 employees hired between 2014 and 2021, who were eligible for the City’s Retirement Savings Plan. According to the complaint, this resulted in more than $5 million of missed employee deductions and employer contributions for City Schools employees.
The City of Baltimore Employees' Retirement System (BCERS) manages the ret...
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 28, 2023 - Please find below links to helpful articles and lists related to schach mats, along with Sukkos-related videos on our new STAR-K Sukkos Video Channel.
Guide to STAR-K Certified Schach
A summary of Rav Moshe Heinemann’s guidance regarding kosher schach
Kosher Certified Schach Manufacturers
A list of schach manufacturers certified by STAR-K
The Halachos of Schach
A more in-depth review of the halachos of schach by Rav Heinemann
After Sukkos: Proper Schach Storage
Guidelines on proper storage of your schach to avoid insect infestation
Audio-Visual Guidance
Listen to STAR-K’s Kosher Conversation ‘Sukkos Special‘ podcast with Rabbi Mordecha...
The US has raised its concern “at the highest level” about Israel’s continued settlement activity, its UN envoy told the Security Council as she pledged her country’s commitment to a two-state solution and the normalization of Israeli ties in the region.
“Make no mistake: the expansion of settlements undermines the geographic viability of a two-state solution, exacerbates tensions, and further harms trust between the two parties,” Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.
She spoke in the aftermath of a dramatic spike of 303% in housing starts from the first and second quarters of 2023, according to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics published this month.
From January to March of this year, ground was broken for 255 settler homes, compared to 1,...
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 28, 2023 - Today, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) shared that during a regular check of the water in Druid Lake Reservoir, they found tiny amounts of a microbe called Cryptosporidium. This little bug is usually found in places like lakes and rivers, and can sometimes cause stomach issues, especially in folks who have weaker immune systems like the elderly, kids, or people who are already sick.
This finding only affects some parts of Baltimore's water system. But don't worry, our drinking water is still safe for most of us. This situation is different and not as serious as other water problems we've had before. Here's a map you can check to see if your area is affected.
Cryptosporidium, or Crypto for short, is a microbe...
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 28, 2023 - Everyone in Baltimore recognizes that when Sukkos arrives, they'll meet people they may not have seen in ages. Where will they usually meet up? Home Depot at the Reisterstown Road Plaza, of course.
Through the efforts of the managers and associates, the hub for so many last-minute Sukkah needs will be open tonight, September 28, 2023. As long as you are in the store and shopping before 11:00 pm, they will stay open.
Thank you to the store manager Erica McLaurin for arranging and allowing The Home Depot to be open again after hours.
Please be sure to show your hakaras hatov to The Home Depot personnel.
Jerusalem, Israel - Sept. 28, 2023 - Taking a walk through the crowds around Machane Yehuda Market, the shuk, in Yerushalayim erev Sukkos one can find lulavim and esrogim and Sukkah decorations wherever you look. This year the big tent for the Arba Minim Market was back across the light rail tracks of Jaffa Road.
Even in the midday heat, people were carefully inspecting before deciding which etrog fit their specifications. Children were helping near the various tables in the Arba Minim Market.
Along with fresh vegetables and fruits, lulavim were for sale in the shuk. Of course, challah and pastries and brightly colored decorations were piled high.
One surprise was to see Shulem Lemmer, known professionally simply as "Shulem," the American Belz Hasidi...
El Al Israel Airlines said on Thursday it would add flights to New York in 2024 after the United States agreed to admit Israel into a program that will allow visa-free entry by Israeli citizens.
Starting next June, Israel's flag carrier will add a daily flight to New York's JFK Airport that will bring daily flights to JFK and Newark airports to as many as six per day and 33 per week.
On Wednesday, the US government said Israel would be admitted to the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP) as of Nov. 30.
"This is a breakthrough, and we are preparing to expand the flight frequencies based on the expected increase in demand," CEO Dina Ben-Tal Ganancia said, adding that New York had long been the top destination for Israelis.
El Al said a survey it commissioned of Israeli a...