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Baltimore, MD - July 22, 2026 - A new state audit found Maryland improperly continued providing public assistance benefits to a lottery winner and incarcerated people, while uncovering a series of repeat management failures that auditors say have gone unaddressed for years.

The Office of Legislative Audits reviewed the Department of Human Services' Family Investment Administration, FIA, which oversees nearly $1.9 billion in public assistance programs serving roughly one million Marylanders each year.

Among the audit's most striking findings, auditors discovered a recipient who won a $2 million Maryland Lottery prize in July 2023 continued receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, benefits until February 2026.

Federal regulations require households to lose eligibility for SNAP shortly after receiving a substantial lottery prize.

Baltimore, MD – Jul 21, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Yaakov & Chen Abergel on the birth of a son.

Mazel Tov to grandparents Bebe Abergel  and Shai & Tami Tsaig of Ashkelon  Israel 

יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!

Jerusalem, Israel - July 21, 2026 - Israel’s next Knesset elections have officially been set for Tuesday, October 27, 2026. Those wishing to participate in these important elections must be listed in the Pinkas HaBochrim (voter registry), which will close on September 3, 2026. Eligible individuals who hope to vote should therefore complete the Aliyah process as soon as possible to maximize the likelihood of being included in the voter registry.

For those already residing in Israel, this period presents a unique opportunity. Chaim V’Chessed has been informed by Nefesh B’Nefesh that its Guided Aliyah program for individuals living in Israel has been expanded and is prepared to make every effort to assist eligible applicants seeking to complete their Aliyah within this limited timeframe.

The Guided Aliyah program is designed to simplify and streamline the Aliyah process for those already living in Israel, making it easier to complete the necessary steps toward Israeli citizenship without leaving the country.

While no specific processing time can be guaranteed, the window before the voter registry closes is short. Those interested in making Aliyah and becoming eligible to vote in the upcoming elections are encouraged to contact Nefesh B’Nefesh immediately to begin the process. 

Click here for more information.


Jerusalem Itself Consoles

There are hardly words to describe this past Shabbat. Dozens of police officers who were wounded in the line of duty came to Jerusalem for a special Shabbat of strength and support. There were lectures, tours, festive meals, songs and, above all — appreciation.


Motzaei Shabbat dancing at the special event for police and their families.

Throughout the weekend, I heard extraordinary stories of heroism. Stories of physical and emotional wounds. Stories from October 7 that we will probably never fully comprehend.

Again and again, one idea came up, something we often hear from groups that visit Jerusalem. The prophet Yeshayahu says: “And in Jerusalem you shall be comforted.” Jerusalem itself offers comfort. It is a source of strength and consolation. It does not erase the pain or the challenges, but it gives them meaning. It connects each person’s private story to the larger story of our people.

One woman from Ramat Gan told me that her husband, a police officer, left home at 6:30 on the morning of Oct. 7, first for Be’eri and then for Sderot, where he was wounded.

“After welcoming Shabbat at the Kotel with thousands of people, after Jews from abroad stop to hear our story, after we walk quietly through the magical alleyways of Nachlaot, learning about its history and looking one another in the eye, we return to our everyday lives with renewed strength.”

Thank you to the Ministry of National Security and to the minister himself who spent the whole Shabbat with the officers. Thank you to the Ministry of Heritage—its director general was also with them throughout Shabbat. Thank you to Golan Azulai, who accompanied us over the weekend, and to Racheli Hadad and the entire staff of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation.

How fitting to hold such an event on the Shabbat preceding Tisha B’Av.

And in Jerusalem, may we be comforted.

A Torah Scroll of Hope

*******************************************************************************


The Sefer Torah written on behalf of the single men and women in Israel.

It is deeply moving to document the Jewish people finding their way back to themselves.

Last week, I wrote here about the shul that opened for the first time in Kibbutz Kissufim, near the Gaza border. The kibbutz members are returning home, and have established the first shul in their community.

After reading the post, a reader named Ashira Landau contacted me and asked to be put in touch with someone from the kibbutz. And that is how the next chapter of the story began.

Ashira is a single woman in her forties. When she turned 40, she decided to commission a Torah scroll dedicated to the single men and women of the Jewish people. It was a creative idea, even an unusual one. Torah scrolls are generally written in memory of those who have passed away, but Ashira wanted hers to convey a different message—one of life, hope and prayer.

She launched a crowdfunding campaign, and quickly raised the necessary funds. She then approached a Torah scribe and asked him to write what would be the first Torah scroll dedicated to the singles of Israel.

I met Ashira when the final letters were being written and the Torah scroll was brought to the “Tent of Heroism,” a site established by bereaved families at the entrance to Jerusalem at the beginning of the war. It was an emotional occasion, attended by hundreds of young people (and some not so young), who are still searching for the person with whom they will build their lives.

The Tent of Heroism had a profound impact, but Shabbat services are no longer held there, and Ashira began searching for a new home for the Torah scroll.

“I called Gal Ofri from Kibbutz Kissufim,” she told me. “He looked into it and called me back almost immediately, overcome with emotion. The entire congregation had agreed: They would be delighted to receive the Torah scroll. They are already planning a festive dedication ceremony. At the end of the call, he said to me, ‘Ashira, you have found a home for your Torah scroll.’”

And now, a religious single woman and the secular members of a kibbutz are working together to plan the celebration.

This week, Ashira wrote to them:

“You are seeking to rebuild your home, and we, too, are seeking to build homes of our own. How fitting that we should join together on this journey. It is a tremendous privilege to know that after all you have endured, you will read the weekly Torah portion from this scroll. And how fitting that all our journeys share one word: kissufim, longing.”

After Tisha B’Av: Days of Comfort

These are days of comfort. Do we know this? Do we feel it?

• Our sages explain that after the great darkness of the days of destruction, after Tisha B'Av, and beginning from Tu B'Av, a light of comfort and joy begins to shine. Let's try to recognize and connect to the Jewish pulse that beats now: after Tisha B'Av come seven Shabbatot called "Sheva D'Nechemta" (Seven of Comfort), named after the seven haftarot of comfort that are read on Shabbat in shuls. This begins this Shabbat, with the words "Comfort, comfort My people, says your God." For thousands of years, the words of the prophets read during this time of year gave our ancestors strength and encouragement, through all the exiles and troubles.
• Comfort is the expertise of women and mothers. See what a wonderful metaphor the prophet Yeshayahu writes. God tells us: "As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you." That is, one must comfort in a natural and loving way, as a mother hugs and soothes her child. This is the model.
• When we want to comfort and strengthen someone, we need to see that our words are precise and truly healing. In the Gemara there is a concept of "vain consolations." These are consolations that harm more than they help. It's worth thinking about what we say and what the person facing us needs to hear.

May we merit comfort and good news.



Baltimore, MD – July 21, 2026 – (BJL) At this time, all projections indicate that there is no need for consumers to be concerned about any Chodosh flour or products until at least August 25th. Further updates will be issued mid-August.

For Yoshon updates, please see star-k.org/Yoshon

Baltimore, MD - July 21, 2026 - When Yecheskel signed up for a kosher hotel program on his winter vacation, he had no idea that he would be drafted as the ‘emergency mashgiach’; the scheduled mashgiach’s flight was cancelled. It was then that he made a mental note to find a program such as STAR-K’s 13th Annual Food Service Mashgiach Training Seminar, held July 6-8.

Opines Yecheskel, “This seminar was awesome, no words. I don't remember the last time I was screwed to my seat from 9 a.m. straight through to 6 p.m. Only complaint - the breaktime was too short, and I was afraid to take a break otherwise in order not to miss anything…It was very informative - lots of knowledge, thought, and the "vibe" by Rabbi Tendler, Flam and the others made it a pleasure to attend.”

This intensive 3-day training program was held for those currently involved in – or who wish to become involved in – hashgacha in venues such as restaurants, catering halls, and hotels. Local attendees were joined by participants from as far away as Latin America and throughout the United States. Many in attendance were empowered to use the tools they were taught either for the STAR-K or for their respective vaadim, such as The Vaad Hakashrus of Rochester and the Boston-based KVH Kosher.

Michael Markson, who has been working for KVH for 30 years, attended the seminar to learn about STAR-K policies, standards and protocols. His Food Service job involves hashgacha for restaurants, caterers, bakeries, and industrial settings

“The knowledge of STAR-K standards is a great benchmark and provides much chizuk for my Kashrus work,” says Mr. Markson.

The following week, July 13-16, the 23rd Annual STAR-K Kashrus Training Program took place. It was also held in STAR-K headquarters, and geared for rabbonim, certifying agency administrators, kollel members, and others serving in klei Kodesh.  One of this year’s new highlights was a factory visit to the Sagamore Distillery (with product tasting!).

One attendee was a rabbi who already works in hashgacha for the Tartikov hashgacha in Williamsburg (Brooklyn). He signed up because he wanted to learn more about the bigger picture of Kashrus.

He remarks, “I know a lot about Kashrus, but I still learned so much information at the STAR-K Kashrus Training Program; it takes time to process it all. Now, while on the job, I see how everything I gained at STAR-K comes into play.”

Not everyone who attended the Kashrus Training Program is presently doing hashgacha work. Rabbi Yehuda Brickman, of Norfolk, Virginia, shares, “I attended the Kashrus Training Program to gain a working knowledge of how the Kashrus industry operates as I consider a career in the Kashrus industry. The presentations provided a great overview of how a Kashrus agency should be structured, how to set and implement standards for food service, and how agencies certify and manage large industrial plants. The Kashrus Administrators were graciously available for discussion, and those conversations provided important insight into contemporary Kashrus. I particularly enjoyed walking through plants and food service venues with the Kashrus Administrators as they explained how they provide certification and everything required to do that properly. Seeing how a leading agency operates was an invaluable experience, and I am very grateful to STAR-K for providing a great seminar.”

The topics presented by STAR-K staff members at both the Food Service Mashgiach Training Seminar and the Kashrus Training Program included everything from Food Service Hashgacha basics and the art of being a mashgiach to important differences between Ashkenazim and Sefardim. A vegetable checking practicum and behind-the-scenes tours of local establishments, factories, and catering venues rounded out each of the seminars. The popular Q & A sessions with STAR-K’s Rav Hamachshir HaRav Moshe Heinemann, shlit”a, and STAR-K Rabbonim completed both seminar experiences.

A sample of the questions asked of the Rav include: What are some of the parameters of when a hechsher must be pulled? What is the Rav’s criteria for schechita? Is it a bizayon (disgrace) to wear tzitzis while shechting?

As Kashrus Training Program attendee Rabbi Lazer Kaplan – who is neither in Kashrus nor is considering a career in it, but teaches 11th grade Halacha in Edison, New Jersey -- concludes, “I hope the knowledge I gained will help me bring an awareness to the students that I teach.”

Adds STAR-K Kashrus Administrator and coordinator of the Annual Kashrus Training Program, “We are thankful that the STAR-K hanhala continues to encourage us to run educational programs such as these.  Educating the tzibur about kashrus is at the very core of what we do.”








STAR-K Kashrus Administrator Rabbi Dovid Stern leads the Seven Mile Market Tour, with a focus on Rosendorf Bakery



STAR-K Kashrus Administrator Rabbi Dovid Stern conducts hands-on vegetable checking demonstration


Rav Q & A


Participants of 2026 AnnualSTAR-K Kashrus Training Program


Participants of the Annual Food Service Seminar 


Participants of the Annual Food Service Seminar





Baltimore, MD – July 10, 2026 – TA is urging parents and community members to immediately contact Baltimore County officials regarding a proposed traffic change that could significantly impact access to the school. Public comments are due today. The school's message follows below in its entirety:

Dear TA Family,
We hope you are well and having an enjoyable summer! It was brought to our attention today that Baltimore County is considering reducing Old Court Road to one travel lane in each direction between Greenwood Road and Reisterstown Road. This proposal could significantly worsen traffic congestion during TA arrival and dismissal, create longer carpool backups, restrict access to the school, and add further delays during the school day.

According to the notice, public feedback from the community is due today. Please email [email protected] and respectfully urge the County not to move forward with the proposed plan.

Feel free to craft your own message or use the below template:

As a member of the Baltimore community, and parent at Talmudical Academy at 4445 Old Court Rd, I am writing to express my opposition to the proposal to reduce Old Court Road to one lane in each direction between Greenwood Road and Reisterstown Road. This area already experiences substantial traffic, particularly during school arrival and dismissal times. Removing travel lanes would likely create significant congestion, longer carpool backups, reduced access to Talmudical Academy, and additional safety concerns. I respectfully ask the County to reconsider this proposal.

Thank you

Baltimore, MD – July 20, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Sruly Spero and Racheli Lipner on their engagement. 

Mazel Tov to Chaim & Rebecca Spero and Menachem & Aviva Lipner

Mazel Tov to grandmothers Mrs. Sarah Spero and  Mrs. Susan (Reches) Landesman

יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!

Baltimore, MD – July 20, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Yosef and Huvi Ciment on the birth of a daughter

יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בתם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!

Jerusalem, Israel -  July 20, 2026 - 'On the State of the Jewish People' was the title of a conference at the Nefesh BeNefesh Campus in Jerusalem, Israel, on Monday.

Panels and speakers discussed how we can shape the relationship between Israeli Jews and Jews around the world so that everyone benefits. 

Hosted by the Department for Zionist and Jewish Identity in cooperation with the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, AMI, the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI), and the World Zionist Organization, the conference brought together Israeli government officials, academics, rabbis, educators, community leaders, philanthropists, and representatives of Jewish communities worldwide.  

Discussions focused on strengthening Jewish identity, redefining Israel-Diaspora relations in the aftermath of October 7, fostering new partnerships with Jewish communities abroad, and addressing the challenges and opportunities facing the Jewish people in the 21st century.  The sessions in Hebrew were livestreamed and will be available online. 

Moderators included Jerusalem Post Editor-in-Chief Zvika Klein. OUIsrael CEO Rabbi Avi Berman interviewed Rabbi Shmuel Eliahu. 

Roi Abecassis of the World  Zionist Organization organized the event, and Rotem Yehoshua chaired the sessions.













We are again experiencing the Three Weeks, Nine Days, and Tishah B’Av. Of course, we all pray that Mashiach comes any day, but for another year, this seems to still be our reality.

During these days, we are going to be hearing talks and drashos about achdus, unity, ahavas chinam, and loving our fellow Jews, ahavas Yisrael. The sincere shmuessen will be inspirational and dramatic, and we will genuinely feel that this time we really have to do something toward this goal.

But what does true ahavas Yisrael really look like? I’d like to share some thoughts and one overriding practical suggestion.

There are many major crises currently facing Klal Yisrael, in Eretz Yisrael and around the world. The Iran war’s conclusion has not gone the way we would have wanted, to say the least. Furthermore, tensions and terror in Lebanon against the north of Eretz Yisrael continue.

Internally, the shocking campaign against the yeshivos and Torah learners in Eretz Yisrael over the army draft issue has left us groping for peace and understanding where none appears to be found. Chareidim are being demonized in unprecedented ways.

We are facing many other serious issues in our society as well, too many to list.

Many rabbanim have stated that Israel’s external problems involving security are a direct result to certain powerful government officials who completely lack an appreciation and value for Torah. It’s the zechus of limud haTorah in the yeshivos that provides the State of Israel with success and security, but when that is challenged in a big way, as it is currently, Hashem removes the protection and blessings, and Israel must face many external enemies.

The Torah world and the yeshivos are being devalued by the secular Israeli world and this causes many problems for the State of Israel.

But let’s build on this train of thought and think a little deeper. If the yeshivos are not being appreciated by chilonim, if the chareidi lifestyle is being attacked — from a spiritual perspective, why might that be? Perhaps it is because within our own frum world, we are not appreciating each other. We fight too much, and we fight too hard.

Without going into details — because they don’t really matter, especially in an article like this — over the past year alone, we’ve seen many verbal attacks between groups within the same religious Torah world. Of course, we often have different outlooks and practices, but if any group is led by a genuine talmid chacham, why does one have to delegitimize and demonize them? Why do we have to make them into a pariah? We may not agree and their ways may not be for us, but aren’t they well-meaning and sincere? Aren’t they helping at least some Jews connect with Hashem?

We may feel the need to speak out publicly against certain practices — and even that should be done sparingly — but can we speak about them with love and warmth, even as we say they are wrong? Sometimes we may feel that we have to fight and argue, but do we need to do it so harshly?

Loving my fellow Jews means giving them the benefit of the doubt, acknowledging that though I think they’re wrong, they’re coming from a good place.

There’s a well-known mishnah in Yevamos (1:4) that needs to be applied daily. Despite very serious differences in halachah, many of which affected mamzeirus status, Beis Shammai and Beis Hillel never hesitated to marry into each other’s families. They often vehemently opposed each other, but never fought so hard or so harshly as to make the other group a pariah.

The Netziv makes an important comment in his introduction to Sefer Bereishis. He says that the Second Beis Hamikdash was destroyed because of the baseless hatred in people’s hearts, which means they suspected anyone who served Hashem differently than they did of being a Sadducee and an apikores.

We throw around the word apikores way too easily and apply it to people, and even to rabbanim, who are not “our derech,” and we must stop doing this.

Finding merits for our fellow Jews is really what ahavas Yisrael is all about.

Before we choose to disagree with someone, especially about a particular shitah in halachah or hashkafah, we need to preface our remarks with loving, positive words, such as, “We know they mean well, and they think it’s necessary, especially in today’s times, and perhaps they could be right, but…” There’s no need to be so harsh in our disagreements. And it often produces personal animosity, which creates a terrible divide.

Rav Avrohom Pam made a vital point regarding the greater responsibility of bnei Torah to judge others favorably:

Bnei Torah have a special responsibility to find zechusim for their fellow Jews.

A ben Torah is trained to look for the merit in an incomprehensible statement or halachic opinion found in the Talmud or Shulchan Aruch. He will spend hours trying to resolve a contradiction in the words of the Sages or to defend Rashi from the seemingly irrefutable challenges of Tosafos. He will exert great mental energy to justify the two sides in a halachic dispute between the Shach and the Taz or to refute the Raavad’s critique of the Rambam.

A ben Torah is taught not to judge matters on their surface but to delve deeply into the reasoning behind a particularly puzzling statement or opinion. He knows how to take apart and carefully analyze a statement or train of thought and justify conflicting assertions and opinions. He is trained to focus on the wider picture and not to automatically accept as fact that which appears to be correct at first glance. He is able to see a statement of the Sages in a number of different ways and tries to justify and reconcile each approach.

Shouldn’t this Talmudic training be equally applied to everyday situations in life, when the questionable actions of a person or community can be seen in different ways and yet be judged favorably? A person should always try to find merit for one’s fellow Jews. This will evoke the gratitude of Hashem and bring blessing and success on himself and the Jewish nation.

(Quoted from “A Sense of Responsibility and Acharayus” a pamphlet by Rabbi Sholom Smith, pgs. 25-26)

The Klausenburger Rebbe also spoke strongly about the need to judge our fellow Jews positively, to be dan l’chaf zechus. A collection of drashos on the subject that he gave in 1981 were compiled into a sefer titled Shefa Chaim.

As a survivor of the death camps, the Klausenburger Rebbe had a unique perspective on the importance of judging our fellow Jews favorably. He said that while Jews were living in the camps, they all had a basic feeling of unity for each other. They were all suffering the same horrible fate and they knew it was simply because they were Jewish. This produced a feeling of brotherhood and togetherness.

He thought that after liberation, there would never be fighting among Jews ever again. No Jew would ever think badly of another Jew and would certainly never speak badly of another. The Rebbe remembers being utterly shocked at a highly critical newspaper article he was shown which very unnecessarily denigrated a certain group of Jews, shortly after the war.

The Rebbe says in the sefer:

It is 1900 years since the destruction of the Second Beis Hamikdash and the beginning of this bitter galus we are experiencing. Relatively recently, the terrible rasha, Hitler yemach shemo, killed millions of us, including millions of children.

There are very few of us left, and this yetzer hara to curse and fight each other is still rampant among us? Even the satan, who was given his job by Hashem Yisbarach to prosecute us, is embarrassed at all the pain and suffering he has caused us — and we prosecute ourselves?

We all have to be like the Berditchever Rebbe and judge each other favorably so Klal Yisrael can finally be redeemed from all of the pain of exile.

This does not mean we should condone wicked actions of our fellow Jews, nor does it mean we should get close and become friendly with Jews who would influence us negatively. Chazal say it is forbidden to be mis’chaber l’rasha, to become connected with wicked people, or to do anything that might strengthen or encourage them.

I am not saying that it doesn’t matter what our fellow Jews do to go against the Torah. But I am saying that despite the need at times to criticize our fellow Jews’ actions where necessary, and especially when they are influencing others negatively, we need to focus on praying for our fellow Jews to repent and to begin to see the truth and the light of Torah. We need to feel compassion and mercy for all those who have yet to see the truth of Torah. Jews mean well even if they don’t do things well. We should never prosecute against our fellow Jews, but rather we should judge them favorably, realizing that if their actions are lacking it is due to their ignorance; it is not their true wish to rebel or defy Hashem.

As Likutei Moharan (282) writes, we have to try and judge even a rasha l’chaf zechus. This does not mean to ignore the evil that he has committed, but we should try to find some good in him. When we find some positive facet to him, then in that particular area of his life, we can say that he is not wicked, and he is truly on the side of good, on the kaf zechus, within that one small aspect.

Rav Eliyahu Dessler explains with regard to ayin hara, causing someone possible damage through an “evil eye,” Hashem takes into account the way people are judged by others in this world. Thus, when it comes to a rasha, if we view him in a slightly positive way by finding the good, then in Shamayim, he is also viewed a little more positively. He is given Divine help to continue his small act of goodness, and this help can ultimately lead him to a complete teshuvah. But it all begins with our trying to find some good, some bright spot in the rasha.

So after we hear all the talks about Jewish unity during this mourning period, let’s take it to action.

Let’s fight less, thinking twice or three times before we feel the need to criticize other groups of Jews, especially in the Torah world. And if we still decide we must speak out, let’s do it with kindness and understanding, rather than demonization.

If we can engender more compassion and a searching for merits among the Torah world, this will create a wave that will spill over into the secular Israeli world, until the day comes when Torah and yeshivos will be valued once more.

Rabbi Boruch Leff is a rebbi in Baltimore, an editor, and the author of six books.

Baltimore, MD –  July 18, 2026 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Rabbi Dr. Moshe Simcha (Morris) Lasson, z’l, father of Elly (Shayndee) Lasson, Danny (Suzann) Lasson, Debbie (Lee Jay) Lowenstein, Dr. Jonathan (Chaya) Lasson, Naomi (Daniel) Miller; and brother of Kenneth (Barbara) Lasson;

The levaya will be held on Sunday, July 19 at 2:30pm at Sol Levinson.

The kevura will take place at the Chevra Ahavas Chesed Cemetery, 9780 Liberty Road, Randallstown, Maryland 21133.

Shiva details to follow

בלע המות לנצח

Baltimore, MD –  July 17, 2026 - BJL is deeply saddened to share the heartbreaking news of the tragic passing of Dovi Reichman, z'l, beloved son of Rabbi and Mrs. Yaakov Yitzchok Reichman, one of our esteemed Chavrei HaKollel.

The levayah will take place today (Erev Shabbos) graveside at 1:15 p.m. at Agudath Israel Cemetery (6300 Hamilton Avenue, Rosedale, MD 21237). 

Shiva details to follow

בלע המות לנצח

Baltimore, MD – July 17, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Avi Younger (Passaic) and Yael Yudkowsky (Baltimore)  on their engagement.

Mazel Tov to the parents Mr. Aaron Younger & Mrs Sara Klarberg  and Ovadiah & Chani Yudkowsky

יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!

Baltimore, MD – Jul 17, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Joseph & Revaya Mimoun  on the birth of a son.

יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!

Baltimore, MD – Jul 17, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Rabbi and Mrs. Aryeh Hartman on  the birth of a son.

יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!


Baltimore, MD - July 16, 2026 - Construction continues to move forward on Torah Institute's campus expansion as the Invest in BalTIimore campaign reaches another important milestone.

Site grading remains underway, with specialized drilling equipment currently breaking through a substantial layer of rock beneath the surface. In addition, the backfill for the storm water management system has been completed, and crews are now installing the underground drainage infrastructure. If work continues on schedule, the new gutters, curbs, and parking lot are expected to be completed before the start of the upcoming school year.

To learn more or support the campaign, visit InvestInTorah.com.










Baltimore, MD –  July 16, 2026 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Harav Yehuda Bukspan, z’l, father of Avrohom Bukspan, Tzvi Bukspan, Leeba (Rabbi Boruch) Braun and Gilda (Rabbi Shlomo) Naiman.

The levaya will be at 11am tomorrow, Friday July 17th, at Levinson's.

Shiva will be observed at 3302 W. Strathmore Ave, Baltimore, MD 21215

בלע המות לנצח

Baltimore, MD – July 16, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Aryeh Septimus (Highland Park, NJ) and and Shira Rosenfeld (Baltimore) on their engagement.

Mazel Tov to the parents Aryeh & Mira Septimus and Moshe & Gitty Rosenfeld יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!

Baltimore, MD - July 16, 2026  - On Tuesday evening, the U. S. House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act by a majority of 308-117. 
If enacted, it would make daylight saving time (DST) permanent across the country. Agudath Israel has long been expressing its concerns on the state and national level that "Permanent DST" will put children at risk and have a disastrous effect on shuls and individuals trying to daven with a minyan before work.
Permanent DST would mean sunrises after 9 am in some parts of the country and after 8 am in most cities in the winter thereby causing many of America’s schoolchildren to head for school in the pre-sunrise darkness and putting them at increased risk.
For the Orthodox Jewish community, the later sunrise occurs; the later davening must begin. It would be extraordinarily difficult – if not impossible – to arrive on time for a job and may affect the start time of our schools.
Please urge your senator to consider all of the effects of DST and compare them to the effects of permanent standard time or maintaining the status quo before rushing into this major change.

PLEASE click here to TAKE ACTION right now!

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Wednesday that nearly $10 billion was found in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program fraud, and 1,000 arrests were made.

“Within a year and a half, we have found billions of dollars, we’re reaching $10 billion soon, and we’ve made 1,000 arrests,” Rollins told NewsNation’s Katie Pavlich, The Hill reported.

Rollins noted that every Republican governor has cooperated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s fraud crackdown, compared to only two Democratic governors.

On Tuesday, Rollins said the USDA’s eligibility changes to SNAP are cleaning up the program, which has been rife with an “astounding” amount of fraud that Democratic and Republican administrations have overlooked.

Baltimore, MD – July 14, 2026 - c

Mazel Tov to grandparents Rabbi & Rebetzin Zvi & Chasida Teichman 

יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a warning on Tuesday to Iran's leaders during the Negev Conference in Dimona.

"We are prepared for any scenario. I can tell you only one thing, and I will say this to the leaders of Iran: Do not count on it being quiet if you attack us. Do not count on a rerun. Because it will not be a rerun, and that was already powerful enough. This will be a different event, much more powerful," Netanyahu threatened.

"The days when someone hurts us and we do not strike them back twofold are over. We did this to the Axis of Evil in Iran, and we will continue to do so to anyone who harms us. That is what we do," he added.

Baltimore, MD - July 14, 2026  -  Gas prices across Baltimore have risen 17 cents per gallon over the past week, according to new data from GasBuddy, as gas prices nationwide increased for the first time since May.

The average price of a gallon of regular gas in Baltimore was $3.86 on Monday, nearly 20 cents higher than the $3.69 recorded July 8 by GasBuddy.

Prices are also 71 cents per gallon higher than they were a year ago.

A new round of attacks between the United States and Iran in the Middle East may have contributed to the increase, according to a GasBuddy analyst.

Baltimore, MD – July 14, 2026 – (BJL) Today erev Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av is Yom Kippur Koton,  a special opportunity to daven on behalf of Achainu B'nei Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel and worldwide. 

[The Nine Days begin at 8:33PM this evening.]

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 –1:50 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 – 7:35  PM (Upstairs 3rd floor)

Bais HaKnesses Ohr HaChaim  -  Rabbi Zvi Weiss – 7:35 PM (Please text 410-458-9522  if you will be fasting)

Bais Nosson - Rabbi Shmuel Friedman –   7:45PM

Baltimore, MD – July 14, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Eliyahu & Chaya Wiener on the birth of a daughter

יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בתם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!

**Baltimore, MD - July 14, 2026 -**The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for Wednesday, July 15, in the Baltimore area. Heat index values are expected to reach as high as 106°, making it feel dangerously hot outdoors. Limit time outside, stay hydrated, and check on vulnerable individuals.

Baltimore, MD – Jul 14, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Avraham and Malka Graber on the birth of a son.

יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!

Baltimore, MD – July 14, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Tzvi Lehrer (Miami) and Miriam Bogart (Baltimore) on their engagement. יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!

Baltimore, MD – July 14, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Dovi Padawer and Adina Portnoy on their engagement. 

Mazel Tov to Yitzi and Chaya, a’h, Padawer and Eliezer and Ilana Portnoy

יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!

Baltimore, MD – July 13, 2026 – 8:38AM (BJL) An accident on Old Court Road near Bedford Road, just past the entrance to Goldberg's, is causing significant traffic delays this morning.
Traffic is backed up on Old Court Road heading toward the Reisterstown Road intersection.
TA Camp carpools may wish to consider using Scotts Hill as an alternate route to avoid congestion.



Jerusalem, Israel - July 13, 2026 - More than 5,000 participants from Israel and around the world are at Herzog College this week for the traditional Bible Study Days, held under the banner "Generation to Generation." For the 31st year, shiurim are at Herzog College in Alon Shvut, with parallel "Tanakh Nights" events taking place in Jerusalem and Modi'in.

Herzog College’s annual Bible Festival spans four days and attracts a broad and diverse audience: teachers, new and veteran immigrants, students, reserve duty soldiers, grandparents who attend with their grandchildren, and sometimes even three- and four-generation families.

Many of the lectures are also live-streamed to an audience of more than a thousand remote participants in Israel and overseas, and they are also recorded for later viewing. 

Part of Herzog's approach to studying Tanakh is the focus on the relevance of the Tanakh to our lives and its importance as the basis of Jewish and national identity. 

Many of the lectures relate to current affairs and the ongoing war, with a track in the English-language program on Sunday dedicated to episodes in Tanakh that deal with issues relevant to Israeli politics and elections.

There were lectures by Rav Menachem Leibtag, Rav Alex Israel, Rabbi Reuven Spolter, Prof. Mira Morgenstern, and Rav Nathaniel Helfgot about conflict resolution, Jewish redemption, clashes between politics and religion, and who rules in a Jewish and democratic state. 

This year’s Study Days include Tanakh shiurim in four languages: Hebrew, English, French, and Russian. Tuesday’s sessions in English will focus on sources for our prayers in Chumash. 

Prof. Avishalom Westreich, President of Herzog College, said: "Especially in these days, when the State of Israel and the Jewish people face complex internal and external challenges, the study of the Tanakh is not merely an echo from the past, but illuminates our life in the present, offering us a path for understanding current events."

Photo essay scenes from the Alon Shvut campus include several teachers and students with Maryland connections. 























Hardline supporter of Israel, US Senator Lindsey Graham, passed away on Saturday evening after a brief and sudden illness, the communications director for his office said in a post on Twitter/X early on Sunday.

"Senator Graham's family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period," the statement read.

Emergency personnel responded to a call for “cardiac arrest” at Graham’s home on Saturday night, according to police scanner audio obtained by NBC News.

Photographs reviewed by NBC News showed that paramedics carried a person on a stretcher from Graham’s home to an awaiting ambulance. Police cars and fire trucks were also on site, NBC reported.

Baltimore, MD - July 12, 2026 - Coalition for Jewish Values, representing over 2,500 traditional, Orthodox rabbis in American public policy, mourns the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham, a steadfast friend of Israel and the Jewish people, whose moral clarity and courage distinguished his decades of public service. He confronted antisemitism, defended religious liberty, and treated Jewish concerns with seriousness and respect.

Senator Graham understood that America’s bond with Israel is rooted not only in strategic partnership but in shared moral purpose. He championed Israel’s security with unwavering resolve, strengthened U.S.–Israel defense cooperation, and stood firmly against efforts to delegitimize the Jewish state. His voice was consistent, principled, and deeply informed by an appreciation of Jewish history and its role in providing the ethical foundations of American and Western civilization.

For the Orthodox Jewish community, his advocacy was felt in practical ways: in his support for conscience protections, his insistence on America’s responsibility to oppose hatred, and his recognition of Israel as the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people. He understood that defending Israel and defending religious liberty were inseparable from defending the values that make America strong.

He was a co‑sponsor of the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), a major federal school‑choice bill that will advance access to private and parochial education for families of all faiths and none across the country. This, like his annual sponsorship of the Senate resolution designating Religious Education Week reflected his belief that faith, learning, and moral formation are essential to a healthy society — a conviction that resonated strongly with America’s Jewish communities and with all who value religious freedom.

Annapolis, MD - July 12, 2026 - Maryland lawmakers passed a new rule this year that is projected to save utility ratepayers in the state $20 million a year.

But actually getting those savings for Marylanders will take more legwork — potentially a lot more.

On July 2, a trio of Maryland agencies banded together to ask the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to make several utilities stop charging consumers a surcharge for participating in the regional electric grid, which is operated by PJM Interconnection.

They point to the new law, that took effect July 1, requiring utility companies to be a part of a regional grid. Though it was technically optional before the law passed, utility participation in the regional grid has become commonplace.

Naava Kodesh, in partnership with Congregations Shomrei Emunah, Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion, and Ohr Yisrael, invites you to hear firsthand from Rabbi Marwick, Rabbi Rose, and Rabbi Rubin following their recent mission to Eretz Yisroel.

Hear what they experienced, who they met, and the insights they gained from visiting schools and meeting with leading Rabbanim, mechanchim, askanim, and community leaders throughout Eretz Yisroel.

🗓️ Tuesday, July 14
🕣 8:30 PM
📍 Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation

To register:
https://naavakodesh.org/baltimore

About Naava Kodesh:
Naava Kodesh helps individuals, families, and communities explore Aliyah through education, firsthand experience, and meaningful connections with communities, schools, Rabbanim, and organizations throughout Eretz Yisroel, providing practical guidance and reliable information for those considering Aliyah.

Learn more: www.naavakodesh.org

Join the Naava Kodesh Baltimore WhatsApp community:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/DC1Rn0tCTUsCvMoIgnmcuf

Baltimore, MD – July 12, 2026 – Today, Chaverim of Baltimore held its annual Member Appreciation BBQ at the Meadowood Park Pavilion. Volunteers and their families enjoyed a delicious BBQ, snow cones, and a custom cake. The event also featured a special awards presentation ceremony recognizing outstanding dedication.

So far this year, Chaverim has responded to more than 2,700 calls, continuing to be an invaluable resource to the Baltimore community. While many of those calls involve roadside assistance—such as jump starts, tire changes, and car lockouts—Chaverim's work extends far beyond that. Volunteers regularly assist with house lockouts, gas refills, generator and heater support, traffic control, and even vehicle pull-outs. Their ability to respond to such a wide variety of urgent needs makes Chaverim a trusted, friendly helping hand in times of need.

A special thank-you goes to Pariser's Bakery for generously sponsoring the cake, and to Market Maven and Wasserman & Lemberg for their assistance in providing the food that helped make the event such a success.




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US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that American forces launched a third round of strikes against Iran early Sunday morning, following an attack by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.

“At 7:15 p.m. ET today, US Central Command forces began launching the third round of strikes this week against Iran after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces blatantly attacked M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz," CENTCOM stated.

“A civilian crew member is missing and the vessel is unable to continue the journey due to an onboard fire and significant engine-room damage."

CENTCOM added: “Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels, but has again failed."

Baltimore, MD – July 9, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Zacky Lerner and Liel Gholian on their engagement.Mazel Tov to Ari & Shoshana Lerner and Behnam and Limor Gholian

Mazel Tov to grandparents Rabbi Dr. & Mrs. Ivan and Arleeta Lerner and Morton and Carole Pancer  

יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!

Baltimore, MD – July 10, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Joel & Rachel Gedalius on the birth of Miriam Shoshana.

יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בתם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!

Baltimore, MD - July 10, 2026 - More than 470 heat-related emergency room visits were reported during last week’s Independence Day heat wave, more ER visits in one week than had been recorded for the entire heat season that began in May, according to new data.

State officials had warned last week of potential health problems from the record high temperatures, which hit triple digits on several days.  And Wednesday’s update of the Weather-Related Illness Data Dashboard from the Maryland Department of Health confirmed it.

From the start of the annual heat season in May through last week, there had been 916 heat-related emergency room or urgent care visits. But more than half of those cases, 473, occurred last week, from June 28 to July 4.

The dashboard also reports 935 calls for heat-related emergency medical services so far this summer, with half of those calls occurring last week as well.

Baltimore, MD - July 10, 2026 -  A Dunkin' store located at 30 Catskill Commons in Catskills, NY, inside Walmart, is displaying a STAR-D letter. The store is not certified. Corrective action is being taken.

From Sefer HaToda’ah

Summarized by J. Sunness 5772

Associated mazal:  Lion

Also called Menachem-Av:  Comfort after the destruction of the Temple.  Also, Menachem Alef Bais, Hashem will comfort the alef bais of Eicha.  We minimize simcha.

Rosh Chodesh Av:  Yahrtzeit of Aharon HaKohen;  some fast, adopt some customs of mourning even though Rosh Chodesh.

9 days: Don’t eat meat or wine, because the korbonos and nesachim were battel.

Shabbos Chazon: Last of 3 Haftoros of punishment, to be followed by 7 of comfort. 

When Shabbos Chazon is Erev Tisha B’Av, on motz’ai Shabbos only bless on light.  After fast, say havdala with bracha on wine (No besamim).

Seudah Hamafsekes:  Only one cooked item, customarily egg (symbol of aveilus), sit on cloth on floor, dip bread in ashes.  Can keep shoes on.  Can eat after, only if has kavana before.  Some have minhag to have a set meal earlier in day, as a reminder of the seuda during the second Bais Hamikdash, and that we will have in the future after the Geula.

Tisha B’Av:  Eating and drinking, washing, anointing, wearing leather shoes, and marital relations are forbidden.  If fast is on Sunday, and choleh has to eat, say havdala first.  Can’t learn Torah because it gladdens the heart (Pekudas Hashem yesharim m’samchai lev)  Can learn Eichah, Iyov, sad parts of Yirmiyau, perek  V’ailu megalchin.  Change sleeping comfort.  Minhag after Chatzos to clean house and wash floors, as a sign of the geula coming soon, and because Moshiach will be born on Tisha B’Av.

Don’t say Tiskabel in Kaddish until Mincha—Eichah ‘Susam Tefilasi’. Sefardim have minhag of proclaiming what year it is since churban bais sheni.  Minhag not to read Eichah from klaf—we are waiting for geula, so sofrim have not taken time to write it. Someone sitting shiva comes to shul to hear Eichah and kinos. 

Aneinu said by chazzan in Shacharis.  Nachamu said in Mincha.  Put on tallis and tefillin at Mincha, not in Shacharis. 

When Tisha B’Av is on Sunday, after the fast one says havdala and the bracha for wine, not for spices or for the fire.

There is a minhag to do netilas yadayim after the fast, since you only washed up to the knuckles in the morning.  One does not eat meat, cut hair, etc untl Chatzos of the 10th of Av.  When the fast itself takes place on the 10th, one has these restrictions only the night following the fast, not on the day of the 11th.

Reminders of the Churban (zecher l’churban):  Leave 1 square amah unplastered near the entrance to your house. Leave one item off the table for a weekday meal.  A woman should not wear all her jewelry at one time.  Ashes are put on Choson’s head, and a glass is broken at the chupah. 

After the churban of the second Bais Hamikdash, there were some who stopped eating meat totally, etc, out of mourning for the churban.  Rabbi Yehoshua told them that if they stop eating meat because there are no korbonos, why don’t they stop drinking water (no water libations), stop eating fruit (no bikkurim), etc?  He said you can only decree on the public what they are able to do, and therefore these definitions of continued reminders of the churban were adopted.  If we had only the sin of not appropriately mourning Yerushalaim, it would be enough of a reason to prolong our galus.

Mishna Ta’anis lists five events that happened on Tisha B’Av.

• It was decreed on the generation of the midbar, because of the sin of the meraglim, that they would not enter the Land.
• The first Bais Hamikdash was destroyed.
• The second Bais Hamikdash was destroyed.
• Beitar was conquered
• Yerushalaim was plowed after the churban.
• Also, the Spanish expulsion
• (Also, events precipitating WWI)

Shabbos Nachamu:  1st of seven Haftoros of comfort from Yeshayahu.

The total number of psukim in the 7 haftoros=144, which is one more pasuk than the tochachos in the Torah in B’chukosai, Ki Savo, Nitzavim, and Ha’azinu.

Tu B’Av (15th of Av) has some of the characteristics of a yomtov.

               No tachanun, a choson does not fast if this is his wedding day.

This day serves as a zecher to a number of things that Bnei Yisrael rejoiced in at different times:

• The day on which the dying in the desert ended

They were not sure that there was no error, and they slept in their ‘graves’ each night until the full moon was seen on the 15th of Av.  Hashem also resumed speaking to Moshe on that day, because there was simcha in B’nei Yisrael.

• The day that women who inherited a portion of land were allowed to marry men from other shevatim.

This was permitted after the generation that conquered the land.

• The day that Binyamin was allowed to marry women from other shevatim (after Pilegesh b’Giv’a)

These two conditions relating to marrying between different shevatim were lifted on the same day.

Women went out dancing on both Tu B’Av and Yom Kippur.  These days were special in being purified from sin and having sin forgiven, so there was a special protection regarding tzniyus in the women going out dancing.

• The day that Hoshea ben Elah removed the guards and barriers that Yeravam had set on the roads so B’nei Yisrael could not come up to Yerushalaim for the shalosh regalim.

Hoshea opened the roads and said that “Whoever wants to go up to Yerushalaim can go”.  However, this act transferred the guilt for Bnei Yisrael not going up, from the wicked kings on to the people, because many had already gotten used to worshipping avoda zara and did not go.  The 10 shevatim were exiled during Hoshea’s reign.  He should have said “Everyone go up to Yerushalaim”, instead of making it optional.

• The day they stopped cutting wood for the mizbe’ach.  After the 15th of Av, the sun is less strong and wood cut after that becomes wormy.  The simcha was that those people who cut the wood could now resume learning Torah.

(My son Avraham told me that Rav Gifter said that this shows that it is a great simcha when even a small group of people resume learning.)

• The day that those killed in Beitar were buried

The bracha HaTov v’haMeitiv was set by the chachamim;  HaTov that the bodies did not decompose, and HaMeitiv that they attained burial.

• It was also the last day to plant or graft trees before Rosh Hashana, in terms of shemitah and orlah calculations.
• Some mussar sefarim say that Tu B’Av (rather than Rosh Chodesh Elul) is the beginning of preparation for the Yamim Nora’im, and a person should start making a chesbon of his deeds from the whole year.  Thus, the days of teshuva start from Tu B’Av and extend to Hoshana Rabba.  A hint of this is in Parashas Nitzavim:  meichotaiv eitzecha ad sho’ev maymecha;  from the woodcutters (Tu B’Av, the last day of cutting wood) to the water drawers (Hoshana Raba, the end of the nisuch hamayim for thechag).

Baltimore, MD - July 9, 2026 - A quiet Wednesday evening commute turned into a scene of utter devastation when a Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) bus lost control on Reisterstown Road, striking nearly a dozen vehicles before crashing into a commercial building. The chaotic, chain-reaction pileup triggered a massive emergency response, left dozens injured, and is causing traffic delays throughout the area today.

The incident began just before 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, when an MTA bus traveling along the busy Reisterstown Road corridor suddenly lost control. Over a span of several blocks between Old Court Road and McHenry Avenue, the transit bus plowed through traffic, striking 11 vehicles in its path. The destructive sequence finally came to a halt in the 1500 block of Reisterstown Road, where the bus snapped a utility pole, tore down power lines, and crashed directly into the front of a FedEx Office storefront.

The force of the multi-vehicle pileup left a massive field of debris scattered across several blocks. At least one vehicle was flipped entirely onto its roof, while others were left unrecognizable with severe frame damage. Responding to the sheer volume of vehicles and victims involved, the Baltimore County Fire Department quickly upgraded the emergency to a second-alarm mass casualty incident, bringing over 100 first responders rushing to the scene.

"It looks more like a war scene," Baltimore County Fire Chief Joseph Dixon said during an evening press briefing, describing the scale of the destruction.

The crash completely overwhelmed local emergency resources, requiring medical ambulance buses from Hatzalah of Baltimore, (providing 3 ambulances, EMTs and paramedics), and neighboring Howard and Anne Arundel counties to assist Pikesville and Baltimore County crews with triage and transport. At least 15 ambulances were on the scene alongside the University of Maryland Shock Trauma GoTeam. In total, first responders evaluated and transported 33 people to local hospitals.

While most injuries were described as non-life-threatening, one victim suffered critical injuries, had to be extricated from a passenger vehicle, and was airlifted from the scene via a Maryland State Police Medevac helicopter. The driver of the MTA bus became trapped inside the heavily damaged cab of the vehicle. Rescue crews worked frantically to extricate the driver, who was eventually freed and rushed to a local hospital on a stretcher.

The exact cause of the crash remains unknown and is under active investigation by the MTA Police and local authorities. Investigators will be looking into whether a mechanical failure, a sudden medical emergency, or specific traffic conditions triggered the event. Because the final impact brought down heavy utility lines and caused potential structural damage to the FedEx building, Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) personnel and building inspectors remained on site through the night.

Commuters are advised that the affected stretch of Reisterstown Road will experience disruptions today while cleanup and utility repairs continue. Motorists should anticipate local traffic delays throughout the day and are encouraged to allow extra travel time or seek alternate routes through the area.

This article was compiled and summarized using AI technology from local news reports.

Baltimore, MD - July 9, 2026 - A Flood Watch is in effect from 2:00 PM through 11:00 PM today.

The National Weather Service warns that strong thunderstorms moving through the area, combined with a tropical air mass, may produce torrential downpours capable of causing flash flooding.

Jerusalem, Israel - July 9, 2026 - Koach Eitan, an Israeli nonprofit supporting individuals and families living with stroke, brain injury and aphasia, won a $10,000 grant at the Nonprofit Navigator Conference in Jerusalem, Israel, after being selected as one of four winners in a "Shark Tank"-style pitch competition.

The organization was chosen from 40 nonprofits that presented their work at a conference held at the Nefesh B'Nefesh Campus in Cinema City Jerusalem 

Koach Eitan was founded after native Baltimorean Eitan Ashman suffered a massive stroke in August 2017 at the age of 42. His wife, Leora**,** initially created a Facebook page to update family and friends on his recovery and share the realities their family faced. That effort gradually evolved into Koach Eitan, which today supports families in Israel and abroad.

"The struggle of building something from nothing while living through it was and is extremely challenging," Leora Ashman said. "But we do it to fill a void that is so needed."

The nonprofit focuses on three areas: peer-to-peer support, community inclusion, and public education about stroke, brain injury, and aphasia. One of its signature initiatives is the Let's Talk communication tool, which provides practical strategies for communicating with individuals living with aphasia. This condition affects language but not intelligence.

To promote inclusion within Jewish communal life, Koach Eitan also created an annual World Aphasia Shabbat, observed each January by a growing number of synagogues worldwide. The organization has developed accessible Jewish resources, including blessing cards with visual icons and a Passover Haggadah designed to encourage meaningful participation for people living with aphasia.

The Ashmans have also shared their message with communities in the United States. During Eitan's first trip to America since his stroke, they visited Atlanta and Baltimore for World Aphasia Day programming. While staying with family in Baltimore, they spoke at Sinai Hospital, local synagogues, and parlor meetings.

Leora Ashman praised the response of Baltimore rabbis, including Rabbi Motzen, Rabbi Marwick, and Rabbi Goldberger, for recognizing the importance of understanding the challenges faced by individuals living with aphasia and their families.

Ashman said the award comes at a particularly difficult time for many Israeli nonprofits.

"The war has taken so much of the charitable giving that many incredible organizations rely on," she said. "For a cause as misunderstood as brain injury and aphasia, fundraising has become even more challenging. That is what made this win especially meaningful. Finally, someone listened and saw that there is a whole community of people who need to be seen and understood. Just being seen can further recovery and give families the strength they need every single day."

Nearly 100 nonprofit leaders attended the conference for workshops, meetings with funders, and live pitch sessions before a panel of Israeli philanthropists.

The grant will help Koach Eitan strengthen partnerships with rehabilitation centers across Israel, expand its Lifeline peer-support program, and increase its team of social workers and volunteers so families can connect with the organization before leaving rehabilitation and continue receiving support as they transition home.

The need continues to grow, Ashman said to BJL.

"In the past week, I received two calls from new families with no one to talk to who understands what they are going through or what they need," she said. "We help those families navigate their new reality and replace the feeling of isolation with one of belonging."


Koach Eitan World Aphasia Shabbat parlour meeting in Baltimore



Smiling after winning the prize at NBN confernce

Bodkim and askanim from across the country convened for chizuk, professional networking, and discussions on emerging issues and industry developments 

New York, NY - July 9, 2026 - It’s a process most people barely think about when dropping off  suits, sweaters, coats, or even tablecloths at a shatnez laboratory. Yet for the approximately 150 shatnez testers in the U.S. who inspect materials for mixtures of wool and linen, it is painstaking, meticulous work requiring extensive training, experience, and unwavering attention to detail.

It’s a craft that Rav Yosef Sayagh knows inside out. A world-renowned expert on hilchos shatnez, he has spent nearly 36 years in the field and trained approximately 250 bodkim to identify wool and linen under microscopes using specialized techniques, while performing inspections without damaging garments.

The director of the International Association of Professional Shatnez Labs (IAPSL), Rav Sayagh was among the presenters at the Orthodox Union’s recent National Shatnez Conference at OU headquarters in New York, which drew 55 bodkei shatnez and askanim from Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

“I want consumers to know how thoroughly testers check,” he says. “In a man’s suit, for example, we inspect approximately 35 places. Additionally, testing procedures are complex and time-consuming, particularly when examining tweed fabrics that require inspection of every single color.”

Following its recent City Eruv and Chevra Kadisha Leadership conferences, the OU's National Shatnez Conference continued a broader initiative to support professionals whose highly specialized work is essential to Jewish communal life but is often performed in relative isolation. Through chizuk, networking, and discussions of emerging issues and complex halachos, the conferences help strengthen those who dedicate themselves to serving Klal Yisroel.

“Shatnez is a unique type of prohibition, and the poskim treat shatnez with unique stringency,” says OU Director of Torah and Halacha Initiatives Rabbi Ezra Sarna, the conference organizer. “If a person mistakenly buys a piece of non-kosher meat and eats it, it's a terrible thing, but it is an isolated experience. Every moment you are wearing shatnez is an additional aveira. Every community relies on shatnez testers and askanim. The conference’s core goal was to be mechazeik their yiras sh__omayim and expertise. Beyond that, my hope is that bringing together leaders in the industry will foster greater collaboration and new ideas that will enable clothing companies to obtain ‘shatnez-free’ certification.”

The program combined practical guidance with broader discussions about the future of the profession. Sessions explored common shaylos and teshuvos; the challenges inherent in garment factories and how shatnez may be unknowingly incorporated into garments; advancements in shatnez testing over the years, new resources for testers; and the responsibility of the bodek.

The gathering served as the launching ground for shatnezlist.com, a searchable tool for testers and consumers designed by Rabbi Sarna, which identifies clothing and other items found to contain shatnez according to brand.

Other event highlights included inspiring words from OU Kosher Chief Executive Officer Rabbi Moshe Elefant, who offered chizuk to the bodkim and askanim serving Klal Yisroel.

Among the recurring themes was the need for greater consistency across the industry. Rav Sayagh called for testers to adopt unified standards and policies, noting that questions frequently arise regarding whether certain items require inspection.

“These items include polyester and viscose men’s jackets, inexpensive suits, sweaters that contain only five percent wool, 100 percent linen shirts, and recycled materials, among many others,” he explains. “I emphasized that all shatnez laboratories should operate according to the same guidelines and provide the same guidance to consumers.”

Another key takeaway was the importance of staying current. Rav Sayagh underscored the importance of staying up to date with colleagues on developments in the field, including new fibers and new places to check for shatnez inside garments.

“In the past, for example, baseball gloves were made with recycled materials, then they were not, and now they often are. Some are permissible, some are not. Testers must be up to date with the current standards,” he says. “That is why bringing the industry together is so important. When everyone is operating from the same knowledge base, consumers can have greater confidence in the results.”

The conference also gave participants a rare behind-the-scenes look at how garments are manufactured. OU Kosher Rabbinic Coordinator Rabbi Daniel Sharratt shared findings from his observations of textile manufacturers at work.

“Having an understanding of what actually takes place on the factory floor during textile manufacturing really brings to light the issues and pitfalls surrounding the prohibition of shatnez,” he says. “It’s a privilege to share these insights with shatnez testers, who help protect Klal Yisroel from violating this prohibition, so that they can gain a better understanding of the textile industry as a whole.”

 Other presenters included IAPSL Founder Rabbi Yoel Schocket; Dayan and Rosh Chabura of the Greater Washington Community Kollel Rabbi Yitzhak Grossman; Rabbi Moshe Bresler of the Vaad L’Mishmeres Shatnez; and Director of Private Labels and Rabbinic Coordinator at Kof-K Kosher Supervision Rabbi Dov Chastain.

A close talmid of Rav Sayagh, Rabbi Chastain also serves as the shatnez tester for the Rochester, New York, community. He especially valued the opportunity to learn where shatnez has been found in new products, information that he and Rav Sayagh then disseminate to shatnez testers around the world. 

“The conference created a great platform to network with other bodkei shatnez_,_ learn about new developments in the shatnez landscape, and hear what other testers are finding so I know what to look out for,” says Rabbi Chastain. “It was also a tremendous source of chizuk, both from the stories and experiences that were shared and from the opportunity to discuss relevant shaylos and teshuvos. A huge yasher koach to Rabbi Sarna and the OU for organizing it.”

Rabbi Mordechai Djavaheri, teaches experiential areas of halacha, including shechitah, safru__s, shofar, tzitzis, eruvin, mikvaos, and bedika__s tola’im. As he prepares to add shatnez to his curriculum, he is among a group of rabbis studying with Rav Sayagh to become bodkei shatnez. The group was invited to attend the conference.

“We hope to open shatnez laboratories in Riverdale and Washington Heights to meet the strong demand for local shatnez testing among the many students, young professionals, and families in the area,” he says. “Learning shatnez not only enables me to practice, but also allows me to teach my students how real the issues of shatnez are by demonstrating the actual shatnez issues found in their own clothing.”

Rabbi Djavaheri was particularly struck by the participants’ shared commitment to working together for the benefit of Klal Yisroel.

“It was inspiring to see the broad range of backgrounds and ages represented among the testers in attendance. Some were meeting for the first time, while others were longtime friends, yet all were networking, collaborating, and literally feeling their way through complicated garments while discussing the techniques and science of shatnez. More than once, small groups naturally clustered around a few individuals engaged in an electrifying conversation or closely examining a piece of fabric.”


Rabbi Aharon Drebin (second from left), of Flatbush, New York, and Rabbi Mordechai Gholian (second from right), of Baltimore, Maryland, analyze fabric at the OU National Shatnez Conference.


Shatnez testers from Borough Park, New York, and Linden, New Jersey, together with OU Kosher's Rabbi Daniel Sharratt (second from left).


OU Director of OU Halacha Initiatives Rabbi Ezra Sarna introduces the new shatnezlist.com website.


Shatnez testers learn from Lakewood’s Rabbi Yoel Schocket, founder of the International Association of Professional Shatnez Labs (seated, left), and Flatbush’s Rabbi Aharon Drebin (seated, right), at the OU National Shatnez Conference.

Baltimore, MD - July 9, 2026  - A new WalletHub study that compared more than 180 cities in the United States found that Baltimore is the second-most stressed city in the United States, just behind Detroit, Michigan.

The study examined 39 key metrics, including work, financial, family and health-related stress to rank the most and least stressed cities. Baltimore earned the top rank in the work-related stress metric.

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"Some stress is out of our control, due to issues with family, friends or employers. However, where you live can play a big role in how stressed you are," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. "Cities with high crime rates, weak economies, less effective public health and congested transportation systems naturally lead to elevated stress levels for residents."

Baltimore, MD - July 9, 2026 -  The Pikesville Library will be closed tomorrow for building maintenance.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, that US forces were likely to strike Iran again tonight.

"They are behaving very badly, as they have for 47 years," Trump said about the regime, noting that the US "hit them hard" after they launched drones and a missile at ships.

"We'll probably hit them again tonight. I'll give them a little warning; we're going to hit them hard tonight," he added and stressed his dissatisfaction with the regime.

According to the President, "It's not even a war; it's the denuclearization of Iran. It's not about regime change. Even though I think it's regime change when you knock out the first group, the second group, I think that's the ultimate regime change, but that's not what it's about. It's about not wanting them to have nuclear weapons."

Jerusalem, Israel -  July 8, 2026  - Changing the Jewish narrative from victim to victor was the theme of Pulse of Israel’s Fourth Annual Conference at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem, Israel, on Tuesday night. With hundreds of participants attending in person and online, From Victims to Victors: The Jewish People’s Next Chapter focused on Jewish strength, Israel’s sovereignty and regional leadership**.** 

Offering perspectives on what’s ahead for the Jewish state and broader Middle East was an impressive line-up of government, military, technology, and business experts, including in person or via video message: Avi Abelow, Pulse of Israel CEO; Brigadier General (Res.) Oren Solomon; Congressman Marlin Stutzman (R-IN); Caroline Glick, International Affairs Advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich; Middle East scholar Dr. Mordechai Kedar; Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy; tech expert Hillel Fuld; geopolitical analyst Topaz Ram; Ken Abramowitz, President/Founder of SaveTheWest.com; Regavim International Director Naomi Linder Kahn; JNS CEO and journalist Alex Traiman; Yossi Dagan, Head of the Samaria Regional Council; and Yishai Fleisher, International Spokesman of the Hebron Jewish Community. 

The evening was moderated by Israeli media personality Ari Abramowitz, co-founder of The Land of Israel Network and Arugot Farm, projects devoted to reconnecting people with the heart and spirit of the Land of Israel.

In opening the conference, Abelow spoke about “pushing the envelope to change the narrative,” after decades of focusing on Jewish victimhood. “The real narrative today is that of victors, not victims,” he said. “We shouldn’t be ashamed of bringing God into the narrative, front and center.  We are stronger now than we were in Biblical times…living in geulah times, rebuilding our eternal capital, and we stood strong in the middle of a seven-front war. This isn’t about luck or our leaders. It is the fulfillment of Hashem’s ancient promises to us.”

Speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister, Glick addressed Israel’s standing in the world since October 7, 2023, from diplomatic, economic and military perspectives. She noted his economic legacy as proof that strength underpins everything Israel has achieved: per-capita GDP has grown from $1,700 when he first took office in 1996 to roughly $70,000 today, placing Israel 14th in the world, ahead of Germany, France and England. She asked why every Abraham Accords country has held its peace with Israel since October 7, noting that  "Both Netanyahu and Trump were correct: you achieve peace through strength," Glick said. "Everything we've achieved is a function of our own capabilities and the incredible courage of our people."

Middle East analyst and expert on Islam, Kedar, explained how Israel's victorious rounds of fighting with the “axis of resistance” have made Israel a key player in the Middle East.

Sharing multiple slides, Linder Kahn illustrated the work Regavim has done to document illegal Arab building.  

Filled with emotion, Abelow presented Pulse of Israel’s Brave Leadership of Zion Award to Yossi Dagan, Head of the Samaria Regional Council. Dagan was a resident of Sa-Nur in the northern Shomron, one of four communities that were dismantled as part of the 2005 disengagement plan.  Abelow was there in the summer of 2005, those very difficult days.  “For us, the gerush wasn’t 21 years ago; it was yesterday,” Dagan said. “This prize doesn’t belong to me — it belongs to those who fought the disengagement, and especially to the thousands of families who will return to Yehudah v’Shomron. We are building 18 new settlements in the same area. The northern Shomron will have many more Jews than before. We are fixing the mistake. 

Abelow closed the conference with an uplifting message of strength and gratitude. “Thank you to all for choosing truth, strength and faith,” he said. “The world is starving for moral clarity and principled leadership. No matter how strong the lies or the pressure, we’re not here to apologize. We are reclaiming the land and living our truth amid the birth pangs of a new era. Victory doesn’t just mean defeating our Islamist enemies in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. Victory is the Jewish people reclaiming their mission as a people living with deep faith, Torah values, and an acknowledgment of something far greater than ourselves.

“Together we are ch_anging the story, bringing the redemption closer. The best days are ahead of us.”_

 Tour guide and former Baltimore resident Peter Abelow led special tours before and after the evening conference for VIP supporters.

###

Pulse of Israel is a project of the 12Tribe Films Foundation, featuring high-quality short videos with VIP personalities that entertain, inspire, and educate about Israel. The heart of the project is a dedication to the truth. The Pulse of Israel aims to cut through the noise of public opinion by amplifying the truth vis-à-vis current events in the State of Israel and the world. 
















Baltimore, MD –  July 8, 2026 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Mr. Chaim Shenker, z’l, father of Mrs. Hadassah (Rabbi Yitzchak) Sanders. 

Shiva, through Tuesday morning, will be observed at 760 Cedarlawn Avenue. Far Rockaway, NY 11691

Minyanim:

Wednesday 
Mincha/Maariv - 8:10 pm

Thursday
Shacharis - 7:30 am
Mincha/Maariv - 8:10 pm

Friday
Shacharis - 7:30 am
Mincha - 1:45 pm

Sunday-Monday
Shacharis - 8:00 am
Mincha/Maariv - 8:10 pm


US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Wednesday evening announced that its forces have begun launching strikes against Iranian targets.

The confirmation came after explosions were heard in Iran. The explosions were reported in Bandar Abbas and in Chabahar, among other places.

“At the direction of the Commander in Chief, US Central Command forces have started conducting additional strikes against Iran to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," said CENTCOM.

“The United States is holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway," it added.

Baltimore, MD – July 8, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Eli and Ahuva Englander on the birth of a daughter.

Mazel Tov to grandparents Dovid & Chaya Fink

יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בתם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!

Baltimore, MD - July 7, 2026 - With the recent extreme heat subsiding, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) will resume normal solid waste operations effective Tuesday, July 7. Residents should place their trash and recycling out according to their regular collection schedules.

In addition, Residential Recycling Drop-Off Centers, the Quarantine Road Landfill, and the Northwest Transfer Station have returned to their normal operating hours.

Solid Waste crews will continue to complete any remaining delayed collections as quickly as possible.

We appreciate residents' patience and understanding while crews worked safely during the period of excessive heat.

Summer Collection Hours Remain in Effect

DPW's summer sanitation collection schedule remains in effect. Collections may begin as early as 5:00 a.m., so residents are encouraged to place their trash and recycling out the evening before their scheduled collection day, allowing crews to complete routes before temperatures rise.

For real-time updates, residents are encouraged to stay tuned to DPW on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Baltimore, MD - July 7, 2026 -  Bonnie Road is Closed Between Labyrinth and Szold

Baltimore, MD – July 7, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Dani Samet (Baltimore) and Gitty Schneider (Ramat Beit Shemesh) on their engagement.

Mazel Tov to  Ronnie & Aliza Samet and Ari & Leba Schneider

יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!

US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced early Wednesday morning that its forces launched a series of powerful strikes against Iran.

The official statement was published minutes after Iran reported intense explosions in Qeshm Island, Bandar Abbas and the port city of Sirik.

CENTCOM said the purpose of the strikes was "to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway."

It added, "The US strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire."

The United States decided on Tuesday to revoke the general license authorizing the sale of Iranian oil after several Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

A senior administration official called Iran's actions in the Strait "wholly unacceptable" and said they will be met with consequences.

The official reiterated, "As President Trump and the administration have repeatedly affirmed, the MOU in effect with Iran is entirely performance-based. Iran will only reap benefits if they exhibit good behavior."

Earlier, three tankers reported being hit by Iranian missile fire in the Strait of Hormuz and a nearby area. One of the vessels struck by Iranian missiles was a Qatari-owned liquefied natural gas tanker. In response, Qatar summoned the Iranian ambassador for a formal reprimand.

Baltimore, MD - July 7, 2026  - Just months after Maryland lawmakers approved a utility relief package aimed at lowering energy costs, Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) is seeking another increase that would raise the average residential customer's bill by about $8 a month.

The utility has asked the Maryland Public Service Commission to approve the increase as part of its latest rate case, saying the additional revenue is needed "to sustain a safe and reliable system," not to fund new programs or services.

If approved, the increase would cost the average customer about $96 a year, offsetting a significant portion of the estimated annual savings many customers are expected to receive under Maryland's recently passed Utility Relief Act.

The request comes as many Marylanders continue to struggle with high energy bills. Over the past year, FOX45 has spoken with numerous residents who said rising utility costs have forced difficult financial decisions, including choosing between paying electric bills and buying groceries.

MIDTOWN EAST, Manhattan (WABC) -- The effort to stabilize an under-construction high-rise in Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday is expected to last "into the night," keeping streets shut down and buildings evacuated, officials said.

A city official said a team that was sent in late Tuesday afternoon has completed their initial assessment and contractors can now move forward with the installation of temporary shoring to stabilize the building.

It all started when a structural column buckled on the 21st floor, and additional structural issues were subsequently discovered, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.

"The building remains unstable," Mamdani said during a news conference Tuesday afternoon, as there had been additional movement in one of the columns since city officials arrived. "This is an extremely serious situation."

Baltimore, MD – July 7, 2026 – (BJL) Despite a power outage affecting part of the Agudah Park Heights neighborhood, life at Agudah continued without missing a beat. The photos capture the resilience and determination of the community, as the boys remained focused on their learning in the dark and Maariv proceeded as scheduled. Even without electricity, the commitment to Torah and tefillah never flickers.




“Have people in Israel heard about Charlotte?” one of my readers in New York asked me this past week. She urged me to write about one of the most talked-about events to have shaken the local Jewish community in recent days.

Charlotte Herzberg, an eight-year-old girl from Monsey, New York, was riding her bicycle near her home when she was struck and killed by a car. The driver, who immediately accepted responsibility for the terrible accident, was the best friend of Charlotte’s father, Yudi.

“At that moment, my wife and I understood that we were facing an enormous challenge and test,” Yudi said in his eulogy for his daughter. “My best friend did not do this deliberately. It was a terrible accident, and we were not going to allow this tragedy to tear us apart. The Satan was testing us. He wanted to show that our beautiful neighborhood could not withstand machlokes—conflict and division. But the Satan underestimated us. We were going to prove him wrong.”

Yudi and his wife were determined to transform their tragedy into a force for unity and peace among the Jewish people.

The following day, when members of the community came to pay a shiva call, they witnessed an extraordinary sight: Yudi and his best friend—the driver who had struck Charlotte—embracing, crying, and literally holding one another up. Nearby, Chumi, Charlotte’s mother, and the driver’s wife held each other and wept.

Before the shiva ended, Charlotte’s family launched a campaign called “Shalom for Charlotte,” encouraging Jews everywhere to forgive, let go, and move forward. The grieving family is asking people to reach out to friends, relatives, neighbors, and colleagues, to release old grudges and resentments, repair broken relationships, and then share their stories.

At the time of writing, 2,409 stories from 42 countries had already been posted on the campaign’s website.

We can all choose to assign blame and cling to our grievances, the family says. But instead, they are asking people to “take the pledge and make shalom for Charlotte. Bring more shalom into the world and help bring Moshiach.”

The stories are remarkable. Two brothers who had not spoken for years began speaking again. Business partners who had been estranged for three months cleared the air and started rebuilding their relationship. A shul that could have been torn apart by the tragedy chose instead to unite around the campaign. Parents who had become estranged from their son sent him a message saying, “We’re thinking about you, and we hope everything is okay”—and received a response from him for the first time.

During the Three Weeks, we speak often about ahavat chinam—unconditional love. When the “Shalom for Charlotte” website had received “only” 500 stories, Rabbi Elya Brudny, one of the leading rabbis of American Jewry, devoted a class to the campaign.

“I could give many classes about the importance of creating peace within a community and refining one’s character,” he said. “But these days, we are witnessing a living lesson before our very eyes. There are extraordinary people among us who are asking us to rise higher.”

You can take part at: https://shalomforcharlotte.com/

Sasha and Sapir Came Home—and Are Now Building a Home of Their Own

Sasha Troufanov and Sapir Cohen were abducted to Gaza two and a half years ago. On Sunday, they were married and began building a home together in Israel. That sentence is worth re-reading.

Every word spoken beneath the chuppah suddenly took on a deeper meaning.

“Behold, you are consecrated to me with this ring, according to the law of Moses and Israel,” Sasha said as he placed the ring on Sapir’s finger.

In interviews after his release, he said: “When I was abducted, my Jewish identity meant nothing to me. The first time I ever put on tefillin was after I was freed from captivity. I did not know there was a God. It is incredible. I was abducted because I was Jewish, yet I did not even know what that meant. Today, I do.”

Then came the breaking of the glass.

Rabbi Berel Lazar, the Chief Rabbi of Russia, who has supported the couple and officiated at their wedding, placed the glass on the ground and recalled the surgery Sasha had undergone on his leg after being wounded in captivity.

And there he stood, on both feet, healthy, strong, and smiling, as he declared:

“If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill. Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not place Jerusalem above my greatest joy.”

By then, many were in tears.

Sasha and Sapir were abducted from Nir Oz, but their story is also the story of Jerusalem. They both understand that.

Sapir once told me in an interview that her captors would speak to her about Judaism, the Ten Commandments, Jerusalem, and the Torah. The more she knew, the more unsettled they became.

“Ana Yahud,” she would tell them. “I am Jewish.”

One of the terrorists told her he disliked her because she was constantly looking out for the people around her, helping them and bringing “light into the darkness of Gaza.”

He was right.

The seven wedding blessings were recited beneath the chuppah. Sasha’s mother, Yelena Troufanov, and his grandmother, Irena, were there. Both had also been abducted to Gaza and later returned home. Since then, they have become symbols of faith, hope, and Jewish identity, particularly among Russian-speaking Jews.

One person was deeply missed: Sasha’s father, Vitaly, of blessed memory, who was murdered on October 7.

Once again, the ancient words carried extraordinary meaning, a prayer for all that will now fill this new home, and for the home of the Jewish people:

“Who created joy and gladness, groom and bride, rejoicing and song, delight and celebration, love and fellowship.”

Amen. Mazel tov!

Baltimore, MD –  July 6, 2026 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Mrs. Roberta Shnier a"h, mother of R' Dovid Shnier.

The levaya will be tomorrow (Tuesday) in Toronto.

Shiva in Baltimore, through Monday morning, will begin with Mincha & Maariv on Wednesday at 3401 Olympia Avenue.  

Minyanim:

Shachris (Th, Fri, Mo) - 6:40 a.m.

Shachris (Su) - 7:10 a.m.

Mincha & Maariv (We, Th, Su) - 8:20 p.m.

Mincha (Fr) - 3:00 p.m.

Maariv (Motzei Shabbos) - 9:20 p.m.

Visiting Hours:

After Shachris until 1:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

בלע המות לנצח

Baltimore, MD – July 6, 2026 – (BGE) As of 9 a.m., more than 70,000 customers have had power restored following the first storm on July 4, with 14,451 customers remaining without service. Following the second storm on July 5, 14,000 customers have had power restored, with 10,500 customers still experiencing outages.

Baltimore, MD –  July 6, 2026 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Elsie Blum, a''h, sister of Rabbi Elchonon Oberstein.

The levaya and kevura will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, July 7 in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Shiva will be  observed at 3002 W. Strathmore Avenue, from Wednesday morning through Monday morning. 

Minyanim:

Shacharis: 8:30 am
Mincha/Maariv: 6:50 pm

The family respectfully requests no visitors from 12:30-1:30 pm, 5:30-6:30 pm and after 10:00 pm.

בלע המות לנצח

Dor Holech VeDor Ba

When I was born 80 years ago, my parents had three teenage children. All have now passed away, my sister at the age of 96½. This marks the end of that era.

Many of you know that we come from Montgomery, Alabama, the Heart of Dixie. I was fortunate to go away to yeshiva, but what was it like in those years—the 1940s, before I was born? In short, what type of Jewish environment did my big sister have growing up?

One year ago, my daughter Shani decided the two of us should go visit Elsie. She said, "Let's go while she is alert and able to appreciate our visit." She bought the tickets and made all the arrangements.

I want to share with you what my sister told me about growing up in the Oberstein home long ago.

First of all, the grandparents lived in the house. Zayde Eliezer had a long white beard and was so frum that he refused to eat meat or chicken in America. He ate milchigs and fish.

Zayde had a Maariv minyan in our home every night. Elsie remembered sitting on the front porch when a car pulled up. There were three brothers from Georgia, and one said, "Is this the house where we can say Kaddish? We're passing through town, and they told us that at your house we can say Kaddish."

Elsie told them they had the right address: "Come on in."

Was Elsie close to her Bubby, Leah Weinstock? You couldn't get closer. They shared the same bed. Zayde slept in one bed, and Elsie and her grandmother shared the other. Elsie said that every night they would say Krias Shema together.

Bubby was in charge of the kitchen. The standards were set by her. I remember we had a blech on the stove, and my mother never, ever cooked on Shabbos. This was many years after her parents were no longer alive.

When I was about 5 years old, my sister got married. I wasn't allowed to attend because they thought I would act up.

She was a Jewish girl from a small Southern town. I think Hadassah gave her a scholarship to a one-week Zionist camp for college students, Brandeis Camp. Elsie was 17, and she met Julius, who was already a college graduate. They were told to bring a blanket for the campfire. Elsie "forgot" and asked this handsome guy if there was room on his blanket.

Fast forward: when they renewed their vows after 50 years, I was asked to officiate.

For many years, up to very recently, Elsie was the pillar of the shul in Fort Worth. She was the most devoted person, personally making sure that there was a luncheon every Shabbos. Otherwise, no one would come to shul. She raised her family and passed on her Yiddishkeit.

Then something amazing occurred.

One day, I got a phone call from Elsie's granddaughter, Elizabeth. She said, "Uncle Leonard, I have an Orthodox boyfriend, Ira. What do I do?"

She was a student at NYU at the time, and I put her in contact with Rabbi Yonoson Schippel of Gateways, and he took it from there.

Elsie's granddaughter became observant.

But it's more than that.

Lizzy Savetsky is a major influencer with over 500,000 followers. Originally she was a fashion influencer, but several years ago she gave that up because she now devotes her passion to supporting the State of Israel and promoting Jewish identity.

She lost many followers and received threats when she became pro-Israel, but she gained many more.

Today, Elsie's granddaughter and her husband, Dr. Ira Savetsky, are in the top echelons of the American pro-Israel scene. Best of all, their children are growing up shomer Shabbos and attend the same day school as a number of my grandchildren, SAR.

The moral of the story:

Elsie lived to see her own flesh and blood—her great-grandchildren—grow up in a way that would have made Zayde Eliezer and Bubby Leah proud.

Something eternal came from saying Krias Shema with her Bubby.



Baltimore, MD - July 5, 2026 - On June 21, more than 100 women from across the Baltimore Jewish community gathered for an inspiring evening of connection, chizuk, and growth. The event, organized by Elevate and hosted at the new Ohel Moshe hall with the support of A Single Impact, The Amida Army, Elite Rise, and Let’s Connect, drew a diverse crowd representing a broad spectrum of ages, backgrounds, and stages of life. The women in attendance reflected the unity and diversity that defines Baltimore’s Jewish community. 

Elevate, an organization dedicated to supporting young married women, fosters meaningful connection and Torah growth for women in the community. Through weekly chaburahs, Rosh Chodesh gatherings, shiurim, and special events, Elevate creates opportunities for women to engage with Torah, build relationships with mentors, and form lasting friendships. 

The highlight of the evening was the powerful presentation given by Rabbi Zave and Rebbetzin Rachel Rudman, beloved mechanchim visiting from Eretz Yisroel. The Rudmans shared their deeply personal journey following Rabbi Rudman’s diagnosis with epilepsy, a challenge that significantly impacted their daily lives, including multiple daily seizures which necessitates stopping to drive.Their story highlighted how they navigated these difficulties while maintaining their Emunah and ability to see the yad Hashem throughout their journey.

The Rudmans’ message to the crowd was the importance of leaning on Hashem and trusting that He provides each individual with the tools needed to endure and grow through life’s challenges. Rebbetzin Rudman offered a poignant metaphor, comparing times of struggle to a tulip bulb hidden beneath the soil, unseen, yet quietly preparing to blossom. In time, she explained, the purpose behind our nisyonos becomes clearer, strengthening us in ways we could not have imagined. The Rudmans also highlighted the extraordinary support of the Jewish community during their journey, from meals and housing during treatment in America to occasional kumzitzes organized by family to uplift their spirits. The evening left attendees inspired, reminded of the power of Emunah, community, and resilience.

     Elevate is grateful to Mr. Klugman for the tech setup and for helping to ensure the evening ran smoothly.

Baltimore, MD –  July 5, 2026 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Mrs. Sidie Weiskopf, a’h, mother of Rabbi Mordechai Weiskopf.

The Levayah took place today, Sunday July 5th, at 12:00 pm at 142 Grandview Avenue, Yeshiva of Spring Valley, Girls Building.

Shiva details to follow.

בלע המות לנצח

Baltimore, MD - July 5, 2026 - Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion will host a daily Plag Mincha/Maariv minyan Sunday through Thursday throughout the summer.

Mincha will begin this week at 6:51PM.

Baltimore, MD - July 4, 2026 - Over 80,000 Marylanders are without electricity on Motzaei Shabbos after extreme heat hit the area and severe storms hit the state during the evening hours of the Fourth of July.

According to the BGE Outage map, over 80,000 people are affected by power outages statewide.

As of 9 p.m., over 33,900 people are without power in Harford County.

Over 19,000 people are without electricity in Baltimore County, and nearly 11,000 people are powerless in Anne Arundel County.

Baltimore, MD – July42, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Uriel Schwartz and Chanie Meiselman on their engagement.

יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!


Baltimore, MD –  July 3, 2026 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Ori Dek, z’l, brother of Rabbi Alon Dek

The levaya will take place on Sunday, July 5, at 7:00 p.m.
in the New Cemetery, Ben Tzvi Street, Hadera, Israel

Shiva will be observed at:
21 Ebn Gvirol St, Apt. #1, Hertzliya  

Minyanim:

Shacharis: 8:00 a.m., Mincha/Maariv at 7:35 p.m.
Visiting hours from 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. and 4:00–10:00 p.m.

בלע המות לנצח

Baltimore, MD - Jul 3, 2026 - Parents, grandparents, Rebbeim, and friends gathered at the Cheder's annual Mesibas Preida to celebrate the graduating eighth-grade class and their years of growth as Bnei Torah.

The program commenced with heartfelt words of inspiration from Board Chairman Rabbi Hillel Tendler and Rabbi Hirsch, who encouraged the graduates as they prepare for the next stage of growth in Torah.

A special highlight of the evening was the tribute to Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz, beloved first-grade Rebbe for more than 35 years, recognizing his decades of dedication to generations of Talmidim.

Rabbi Hexter arranged for two first-grade boys to perform a touching song in honor of the graduates, symbolizing the beginning and culmination of their experience in the Cheder.

Representatives from each of the three eighth-grade classes shared Divrei Torah, followed by a moving video chronicling the boys' years at the Cheder, including Divrei Bracha from the three Sgan Menahalim.

Rabbi Hirsch, together with Rabbi Adlin and Rabbi Reischer, concluded the evening by presenting each graduate with a special gift, with dancing that followed.

We wish all the parents and grandparents lots of Nachas.














My parents’ rescue at Entebbe taught me that freedom survives only because people choose to defend it.

On July 4, 1976, as America celebrated its bicentennial, four C-130 aircraft flew blind over the dark waters of the Red Sea and across the Horn of Africa. The pilots took their planes beneath the sweep of commercial radar, their crews relying on basic radio, manual navigation, and raw nerve. The planes were carrying Israeli commandos to a disused airport-terminal building in Uganda, on the shores of Lake Victoria.

Inside that terminal were 106 hostages. Two of them were my American parents.

For nearly a week, Palestinian and German terrorists had held the passengers from a hijacked Air France flight hostage inside the airport terminal, threatening to kill them unless imprisoned terrorists held in five countries were released.