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.
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 20, 2024 - 9:28AM - Due to BGE work, Smith Avenue between Cherokee and Greenspring is reduced to one lane.
Expect delays.
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 20, 2024 – 9:04AM - An accident has just occurred at Reisterstown & Old Court where a car has flipped over. Reisterstown road is blocked off at Naylors Lane going towards Old Court.
AVOID THE AREA
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 20, 2024 -In this episode of Inside the Agudah, Rabbi Ariel Sadwin, the executive director of the Mid-Atlantic region of Agudath Israel of America, sits with Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger, Agudath Israel’s Director of Torah Initiatives, to discuss his work on behalf of the frum community. Rabbi Sadwin has held his current position since 2007.
Rabbi Sadwin learned at Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Baltimore and Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim, receiving semicha at Ner Yisroel Kollel Avodas Levi.
Since 2010, Rabbi Sadwin has also served as the president of Maryland CAPE, the Maryland Chapter of the Council of American Private Education, leading the coalition of nonpublic, parochial, and independent schools across the state of Maryland.
In this interview, he shares his experi...
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 20, 2024:8:31AM - One lane is closed on Park Heights Ave between Hooks Lane and Greenspring Valley Road due to electrical work on downed power lines.
Bais Yaakov carpools: please consider using Greenspring Ave to Greenspring Valley Road as an alternate route to avoid delays.*** Baltimore, MD - Sept. 20, 2024 – 8:37 AM - A traffic accident has occurred at the intersection of Sanzo and Smith, causing delays in the area. Police are on the scene.
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Baltimore, MD - Sept. 18, 2024 - The STAR-K Yoshon Guidelines page on our site has been updated effective 9/15/24. Further updates will be issued as we receive more information.
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The Torah foretells of a time when we will endure a seemingly endless chain of terrible tragedies. We will be so distraught over these increasing curses that have no apparent end in sight.
Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: "Rabbi Yehoshua testified that from the day the Temple was destroyed, there is no day without a curse…"
Rava said: "Every day's curse is worse than that of the preceding one, as it is said 'In the morning, you will say, "Who will bring evening?" and in the evening, you will say, "Who will bring morning?"' (Devarim 28:67)
Which morning does this refer to? If you say morning the next day, who knows if it will be better than today? Rather, the morning that just passed. (Sotah 49a)
The Talmud goes...
After entering the land and harvesting its produce, Bnei Yisroel are given the Mitzvah of Bikurim –bringing the first fruits to the Mishkan or Beis Hamikdash and offering them to Hashem. In a detailed description, our Parsha tells us of the meaningful words to be spoken at the time of the offering. (Ki Savo, 22:5) Lavan and Pharaoh tried to destroy us and caused us great suffering, but Hashem took us out with great power and brought us to this beautiful land which now provides us with such delicacies. Then, in what appears to be a gesture of gratitude, we are to lay the produce before Hashem and bow down. This simple yet beautiful display of appreciation is then followed with another directive: “You shall be happy with all the good which Hashem you...
Hezbollah Director General Hassan Nasrallah spoke out on Thursday for the first time about the pager and communication device explosions that killed and wounded thousands of terrorists in Lebanon.
As Nasrallah spoke the IDF struck various targets in Lebanon and fighter jets were reported flying over Beirut.
Nasrallah opened by thanking the various authorities who tended to those wounded in the explosions. "I thank the Lebanese government, the Health Ministry, the hospitals, medical centers, the civil defense, the Islamic Health Authority, the doctors, and patients. The doctors worked day and night. I thank all those who donated blood. I thank all those who evacuated the wounded.
"Israel crossed all the red lines by detonating thousands of pagers. This could be called a declarat...
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 19, 2024 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Mr. and Mrs. Yissacher Brody on the birth of a daughter.
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בתם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 19, 2024 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Dr. Phillip Berman, z’l, brother of DovBer (Byron) Berman.
Shiva wil be observed through Thursday morning at 6301 Benhurst Road, Baltimore, MD, 21209.
Minyanim:
Shacharis: 8:30 am. Sunday 09/22/2024 through Thursday 09/26/2024.
Mincha/Maariv: 6:40PM Monday 09/23/2024 through Wednesday 09/25/2024.
Please note: No Mincha/Maariv on Sunday.
Visiting Times: (except after Shacharis on Sunday 09/22/2024):
Monday - Wednesday 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
No Visitors After 8:00 pm.
Bila HaMaves LaNetzach…
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 19, 2024 - (WMAR2News) During National Preparedness Month, the American Red Cross is emphasizing fire safety, especially as house fires have recently caused significant damage and loss of life. The most common cause of house fires is cooking, with 48% starting in the kitchen, often when people leave pots or pans unattended. Electrical equipment and heating sources are also common culprits. Nadine McCrindle, a regional disaster officer with the Red Cross, stresses the importance of not leaving flammable items like oil and grease unattended and being cautious with heating devices. Having working smoke detectors, particularly near sleeping areas, is crucial. "Close before you Doze!" Closing your bedroom door at night can provide extra time to safely escape th...
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 19, 2024 - Illegal and stolen guns are at issue Wednesday as Baltimore police sweep city streets--while lawmakers push for stiffer penalties.
According to Mayor Brandon Scott, so far this year BPD has seized 1,647 guns, many of them stolen--with 42 guns seized over the last seven days.
Among those weapons, a Glock 9-millimeter handgun recovered from a man Monday afternoon during an investigation on Pennsylvania Avenue near North Avenue.Police arrested the suspect.
The mayor was at City Hall Wednesday with news of all the guns seized.
"This not about whether my police officers and detectives are doing the work, they're going to continue to do that each and every day," Scott said.
But as police snatch the guns off streets, some Maryland lawmakers--includ...
The Japanese firm Icom Inc. has said that the hand-held radio model affected by Wednesday's explosions in Lebanon was discontinued approximately a decade ago, the Japan Times reported Thursday.
The firm has said that it is investigating the situation.
Icom said that the company exported its IC-V82 two-way radio to various regions internationally, including to the Middle East, until October 2014, when it ceased production and sale of the devices.
The company also halted production of the batteries needed to power the radio's main unit, the Icom statement noted.
Icom also said that they cannot determine if the radios in question were their own products, but that all their radios are manufactured at a factory in Wakayama Prefecture. Icom itself follows govern...
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 19, 2024 - Baltimore City Police detectives are searching for the TAG number of the BMW that is connected to the 3 robberies that happened this week on Greenspring Ave and Green Meadow Parkway. If you have high-resolution security cameras that may have captured it, please call the Northwest District at 410-396-2466.
The BAC company, which manufactured the pagers that exploded in Lebanon on Tuesday, was set up by Israel as part of a complex operation, The New York Times reported.
The Hungarian-based BAC held a license to use the Taiwanese company Apollo Gold's branding.
The explosions, which on Tuesday affected pagers and on Wednesday affected hand-held radios, targeted Hezbollah terrorists almost exclusively: Out of over 3,000 injured and less than 40 dead, just four of the victims were allegedly unconnected to Hezbollah - among them the son of a Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese MP. The son himself, however, had on his person a Hezbollah pager, casting doubts on claims that he was a civilian.
The Times noted that the Wednesday explosions may have involved "more ...
Israelis across the country received fictitious text messages under the title of "emergency alert" late on Wednesday night, which called on them to leave where they were and find a protected area, Israeli media reported shortly after the incident.
The possibility that the message was sent out by Iranian officials has been undergoing examination, KAN News reported after the messages were widely spread out.
Furthermore, the IDF responded to the fictitious message and clarified that they did not send out the text announcement, KAN added.
"The announcement was not distributed on our behalf. There is no change in the defense policy of the Home Front Command," The IDF statement noted.
In the screenshot of the message, the sender appears to be named "OREFAlert," similar to the Home...
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 18, 2024 - 10:06PM - A second attempted carjacking just occurred in front of the Agudah of Greenspring. Two suspects exited a dark blue sedan and pointed guns at the victim, who managed to escape unharmed.
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 18, 2024 - 9:53PM - An attempted armed robbery occurred on the 6800 block of Maurleen Road. Two suspects, driving a black sedan, pointed a gun at the victim. Fortunately, the victim was able to drive away unharmed.