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!
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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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
This was permitted after the generation that conquered the land.
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.
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.
(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 bracha HaTov v’haMeitiv was set by the chachamim; HaTov that the bodies did not decompose, and HaMeitiv that they attained burial.
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.
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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.
Baltimore, MD – July 2, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Shlomo Khulin and Noa Stier on their engagement.
יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
לעילוי נשמת Karen Cohn (יוכבד רבקה בת מאיר ע״ה)
Tamuz
From Sefer HaToda’ah
Summarized by J. Sunness 5772
Associated mazal: Sartan (crab)
3rd Tamuz: Yehoshua halted the sun and moon. (Yehoshua 10)
Shiva Asar B’Tamuz
The main purpose of a fast is to bring us to do teshuva
Five bad things that occurred on 17 Tamuz:
Also, Noach sent the dove from the Ark the first time, and the dove could not find rest, like B’nei Yisrael on this harsh day.
Three weeks called ‘Bain HaMetzarim (from Eicha Rabbah; kol rei’echa hisiguha bain hametzarim)
Jerusalem, Israel - July 2, 2026 - The Maccabiah 2026 kicked off on July 1, 2026, with an impressive opening ceremony at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem, Israel.
Under the slogan MORE THAN EVER, the Maccabiah 2026, postponed from 2025 due to the war, officially began with a musical opening ceremony.
The event was attended by President of Israel Isaac Herzog and his wife, Michal; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara; Minister of Culture and Sport Miki Zohar and his wife, Yamit; Mayor of Jerusalem Moshe Lion and his wife, Stav; Chairman of Maccabi World Union Amir Peled; President of Maccabi World Union Michael Siegel; dignitaries; and tens of thousands of supporters in the audience.
During the ceremony, approximately 5,000 athletes from more than 30 countries marched in, marking the official opening of the Maccabiah 2026 Games—the largest Jewish sporting event in the world.
Israel had a delegation of more than 2,000 athletes, including Paralympians. The United States followed with 900 participants, who received loud cheers when entering the stadium. In previous years, Canada, Australia, and South Africa had large delegations; this year, they did not. Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina were well represented in the procession.
Countries represented by a single athlete included Belgium, Bolivia, Estonia, Finland, Guatemala, Poland, and Taiwan.
The evening, hosted by Assi Azar and Anna Aronov, opened with "Rise Up" in a special new musical arrangement created especially for the opening ceremony. Various musical performances and modest fireworks entertained the crowd.
The ceremony also featured international content creator and American social media personality Montana Tucker. Since October 7, she has become one of the world's most prominent voices advocating for Israel and combating antisemitism.
One of the evening's most emotional moments was the lighting of the Maccabiah Flame. This year, the torchbearers were chosen to represent the resilience, excellence, and mutual responsibility of Israeli society and the Jewish people. The torch was carried by Avitar Zeitouni, an IDF disabled veteran and former officer in the Paratroopers Brigade, who was seriously wounded while defending Kibbutz Kissufim on October 7. He was chosen as a symbol of recovery, heroism, and the healing power of sports. Several athletes also carried flags in memory of fallen soldiers.
For the first time, Pickleball, one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, is included in the Maccabiah. In addition to the competitions, the opening ceremony launched a series of special events taking place as part of Maccabiah 2026, including the "Maccabiah City" sports festival, which is joining the Maccabiah for the first time and will be held at Expo Tel Aviv.
An important day will also be held in the Western Negev (Otef Gaza region) — "The Maccabiah and KKL Hug the Otef" — featuring community sports and volunteer activities, alongside memorial ceremonies honoring the 18 young men and women who were murdered in the October 7 attack or fell during the Iron Swords War.
The sports celebration will take place in Israel from July 1 through July 13, bringing together thousands of athletes, families, and sports fans from around the world. Under the slogan MORE THAN EVER, the Maccabiah expresses strength, hope, and the renewed connection between Israel and world Jewry—at a time when that connection is more meaningful than ever.
Baltimore, MD - July 2, 2026 - The Baltimore community recently marked the shloshim of Karen Cohn, יוכבד רבקה בת מאיר ע״ה - a milestone of grief and reflection for a woman whose impact radiated far beyond her immediate family. To the countless close friends who made up her massive, lifelong circle, she was a fiercely loyal confidante. To hundreds of young singles over the years, she became an “Aunt” - a surrogate mother, an advocate, and a living example of selfless devotion.
Her passing on the 9th of Sivan has left an unimaginable void. For over 51 years, Karen and her husband, Jeff, built a beautiful, vibrant life together. Their home was a place of endless warmth, laughter, and a beautiful legacy of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Watching that light go out feels like a collective Churban - the dismantling of a beautiful chuppah that stood as a sanctuary for so many.
Yet, the way Karen left this world was a reflection of the quiet righteousness and fierce conviction that defined her entire life. Surrounded by her grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and closest friends who gathered to say goodbye, she used her very last bit of strength to mouth her final words of love to Jeff. Then, in an incredibly moving moment of profound emunah, she clearly recited every single word of Shema in unison with Rabbi Shmuel Silber during Vidui.
Karen was a true rodefet shalom - someone who actively pursued peace, entirely devoid of ego, and driven by a deep sense of responsibility for other people. That instinct started early. Even as a young girl, she stepped up to take charge of her family’s home on Fridays while her parents worked. It wasn’t because she had to, but because her heart was simply too big to ignore a need.
That same drive is what transformed her kitchen into a legendary, informal counseling center starting back in 2006. For nearly three years, a steady stream of young men from Ner Yisrael and young women from Maalot found their way to the Cohn home. They came for guidance, a safe space, or just a listening ear. Conversations regularly stretched late into the night, sometimes until the sun came up. Karen would go straight to work the next morning without a complaint, routinely opening her doors to do it all over again multiple nights a week, sometimes back-to-back. Through that relentless devotion, she became a maternal lifeline for hundreds of young people who are now married and scattered across the Jewish world.
Where others might see an inconvenience or an interruption to their night, Karen only saw a neshama. When people facing complex, difficult struggles would call the house, she refused to screen them. She would simply say, “Give me the phone.” She firmly believed that if Hashem put someone in her path, it was her job to care for them. She taught everyone around her what it actually means to love unconditionally, even when it isn't easy.
The depth of her connection to people became even more obvious after her passing. Sorting through decades of her belongings, her family found boxes packed tight with old letters, cards, and little mementos. Karen hadn't kept them as mere clutter; she kept them because every single piece represented a real relationship that she valued and refused to let go of.
Through it all, family was her ultimate anchor. Whether it was her own relatives or Jeff’s, Karen invested herself completely - never missing a milestone, keeping people connected, and holding the family together with a quiet, steady strength. Her dedication to Jeff was remarkable, marked by a deep, consistent kavod that truly elevated their partnership.
Even in her final chapter, while enduring immense physical hardships, her faith never flickered. “It’s Hashem’s plan,” she consistently proclaimed. She carried her pain with absolute grace, never questioning and never complaining, inspiring every single person who visited her.
Our Sages teach that while the loss of a righteous woman impacts an entire community, the void is felt most deeply by her husband. For more than five decades, Karen didn't just share a life with Jeff - she was his life. She refined him, cheered him on, and believed in him without a shred of reservation.
The physical presence of her chuppah is gone, but the incredible foundation she built remains unshakable. Her legacy is alive in the families she helped build, the people she pulled out of loneliness, and the values she lived by every single day.
The greatest tribute we can give to Karen’s memory is to strive to live as she did: to care more deeply, to judge less, to listen longer, and to look out for one another with real, selfless concern.
May her heilige neshama have a lichtige Gan Eden.
Baltimore, MD - July 2, 2026 - 12:26PM (BJL) Due to a partial power outage Market Maven is currently closed
Baltimore, MD – July 2, 2026 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Lawrence Niemen, z"l, husband Dr. Linda Niemen, and father of Danielle Sarah (Frank) Storch and Aaron Niemen.
Levayah & kevurah details to follow
Shiva will be observed at 3209 Fallstaff Road, Baltimore, MD 21208
Baltimore, Md - July 2, 2026 - For many years, the Vaad HaRabbonim of Baltimore, through the Agudah of Baltimore, provided a Scrip Program that allowed community members to purchase certificates to give to Meshulachim. These certificates were sold at a modest premium above their face value, with the additional funds remaining here in Baltimore to support our local mosdos.
This program was a tremendous benefit to our community, and we are deeply grateful to the Agudah for managing and facilitating it for so many years. Unfortunately, the Agudah is no longer able to continue operating the Scrip Program.
Announcing Our New Program:
Baruch Hashem, we are pleased to share that a replacement program has now been arranged through The Donors’ Fund. The new program will function very similarly to the previous Agudah Scrip Program, allowing community members to continue purchasing certificates for Meshulachim while helping keep meaningful tzedakah dollars here in Baltimore. When certificates are purchased through TA, the local portion of the purchase will support TA.
The Baltimore Vaad HaRabbonim strongly recommends that community members keep a portion of their tzedakah dollars here in town to support Torah education and our local mosdos. This program provides a simple and practical way to do so.
How it Works:
Certificates are sold by the book (similar to a checkbook). Each book contains 50 certificates, and are available in various denominations. In each case, a portion of your purchase remains here in Baltimore to support our local mosdos - in this case, TA. Click here to pick your book of certificates, and place your order!
Once your order is placed, The Donors’ Fund will mail the certificates directly to you at no charge, unless you choose and pay for rush delivery.
Please note the following delivery information:
Two Extra Perks:
The new certificates have an advantage over the previous system. Meshulachim anywhere can accept these certificates. That means that even if you live outside of Baltimore, or travel outside of Baltimore, these certificates can be used wherever your tzedaka giving takes you.
As in the past, TA is pleased to offer a $25 Knish Shop gift certificate as a small token of appreciation for Scrip orders of $500 or more. Previously, we were able to include the Knish Shop gift certificate together with the Scrip certificates. Under the new system, the Knish Shop gift certificate will be mailed separately.
Think Ahead:
Please be sure to order in advance so that your certificates arrive when needed.
If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
We appreciate your patience while we worked to put together this new program. We are grateful that, through this new arrangement, we can continue a program that supports Meshulachim while also keeping significant tzedakah dollars in our community
Baltimore, MD - July 2, 2026 - With Rabbi Naiman’s recent decision to retire from his position as Rav and assume the role of Rav Emeritus, we take this opportunity to express our profound gratitude and appreciation. We recognize our founding Rav and Rebbetzin, Rabbi Abba Zvi and Rebbetzin Rochel Naiman, whose vision, dedication, and unwavering commitment established the foundation of our kehillah approximately 27 years ago.
From the very beginning of BMR, a trailblazer shul in Ranchleigh, Rabbi and Rebbetzin Naiman set out to build a mikdash me’at, a makom Torah and tefillah marked by serious davening, meaningful learning, and genuine achdus. Through their tireless efforts, they transformed a vision into a shul that has become an anchor for many in the Ranchleigh/Greenspring area. We are deeply grateful for the remarkable legacy they have created and thank them for laying the foundation upon which our shul will continue to grow and flourish.
At the same time, we are excited to announce the appointment of Rabbi Rafi Neuberger as the new Rav, and welcome him and Mrs. Rochel Neuberger as the new Rav and Rebbetzin of Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh.
The Neubergers have been valued members of BMR for the past ten years and have become an integral part of our kehillah. Rabbi Neuberger's service as Assistant Rav over the past number of years has allowed him to develop close relationships, while demonstrating his leadership, accessibility, and unwavering commitment to the needs of our members.
A native of Baltimore and a musmach of Ner Yisroel, Rabbi Neuberger brings a deep commitment to Torah, Halacha, and the enduring mesorah that has long guided our shul. We are confident that, with Hashem's help, he will build upon the strong foundation established by Rabbi Naiman while leading BMR into its next chapter of growth.
We warmly invite the community to join us for our daily minyanim and inspiring shiurim. We encourage you to participate, learn, daven, and grow together with us as we embark on this exciting new chapter.
We wish Rabbi and Mrs. Neuberger much hatzlachah and siyata d'Shmaya as they assume this important responsibility. With the help of Hakadosh Baruch Hu, may BMR continue to flourish as a vibrant makom Torah, tefillah, and chesed for many years to come.
Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh 6618 Deancroft (corner Smith) Baltimore MD 21209
Baltimore, MD - July 2, 2026 - Explore the latest issue of Baltimore Jewish Home
Click on the graphic below
Baltimore County, MD - June 30, 2026 - In Baltimore County, curbside collection (trash, recycling, and yard materials) for Independence Day will not be affected on Friday, July 3, 2026. Normal Friday pick-ups will occur as scheduled. However, because the holiday falls on a Shabbos, there is no collection on Shabbos, July 4, 2026.
In the first Haftorah of the Three Weeks, Yirmiyahu sees a vision of a bare almond branch. He describes this to Hashem as “makel shakaid” an almond ‘stick’. He uses neither the word for branch nor the word for staff; rather, he uses the word makel, the stick used by the shepherd to prod the flocks in the right direction. Hashem rarely compliments nevi’im on what they see, but He tells Yirmiyahu that he saw well. What was special about how Yirmiyahu perceived the vision? He identified an almond branch despite the fact that its blossoms were not present. The almond branch blossoms early, so the shakaid aspect implies that Hashem will act soon in punishing Bnei Yisrael. Three weeks after the almond blossom emerges, the fruits are present, so the vision contains a reference to the three weeks. The makel suggests Hashem will deal harshly with Bnei Yisrael. And yet, in the end, there will be fruit. (Ma’aseh Rokem, Rav Karman Barr, cited in 1).
Yirmiyahu’s vision is an apt description of how Chazal perceived the Three Weeks. Hashem has dealt harshly with Bnei Yisrael, but does so to move them in the right direction and not to desert them. If we can use the opportunity of the Three Weeks to increase our feeling of closeness to Hashem, we can make this time more meaningful and fruitful, and have it contribute to our daily spiritual level throughout the year.
Halekach v’halibuv (cited in 1) says that some say that Shabbos Chazon has more kedushah than any other Shabbos of the year. The Tiferes Shlomo cites a hint to this in the verse in Lecha Dodi, “Rav lach sheves b’emek habacha”. One can read ‘sheves’ as ‘Shabbos’, in which case the sentence can mean that the Shabbos that is within the valley of tears (i.e. the 9 days) is the greatest. There is no mourning on Shabbos, because Shabbos represents in the time domain what the Bais Hamikdash represents in the space domain. That is, on Shabbos, the Shechina is present within us, even while we are in galus. The contrast between our mourning for the absence of the Bais Hamikdash and the close presence of the Shechina during the other days, and experiencing the presence of the Shechina on Shabbos, makes Shabbos Chazon potentially truly great. Chazon means vision, and on this Shabbos we are to have a vision of the way we should live our lives and of our hopes for the future.
In Rav Yitzchok Mirsky’s Hegyonei Halacha (part 2, pp 233-241), there is a beautiful exposition of what the process of mourning for Yerushalaim is all about. He brings the statement from Chazal “Kol hamisabel al Yerushalaim zocheh v’roeh b’simchasah”. The Chasam Sofer and Torah Temimah, among others, ask why the statement is said in the present tense (Everyone who mourns for Yerushalaim merits and sees its joy; why doesn’t it say will merit and will see?). A second question is why Tisha Ba’av is called a Mo’ed (like the other holidays), with some of the halachic aspects of a Mo’ed. Rav Mirsky points out that the mourning for Yerushalaim has a different character from mourning for someone who has died, in that there is an aspect of joy and comfort within it. In the Chumash, Ya’akov would not be comforted for the loss of Yosef. Rav Yossi says that we are comforted for the dead but not for the living. When someone has died, there is no hope remaining of seeing him, and with time the mourner is comforted. But for one mourning over Yosef who was still alive, there is still a purpose for the mourning and the seeking of the person, so that Hashem does not provide the nechama that one has when mourning the dead. Similarly, the fact that we have been mourning for Yerushalaim for the past 1,900+ years is a sign that our hope is true and that Yerushalaim will return to us; otherwise it would have been forgotten. There is a famous story told variously about Napoleon, a Czar, or another powerful ruler who heard Jews mourning. When told they were mourning for the temple lost hundreds of years before, the ruler said that if people can still mourn for Jerusalem after so long, surely it will be revived and return to them. There is an aspect of joy and of mo’ed in knowing that the connection with Hashem and Yerushalaim is still present. We are to observe Tisha B’av with awareness of Hashem’s love for us, in the same way that we experience this love in observing the shalosh regalim.
So we are supposed to recognize the part of Yerushalaim that remains living, and work on intensifying our connection to the Shechina that is here. The Nesivos Shalom (cited in 1) notes that in the Haftorah, even after we sin and while Hashem is rebuking us, Bnei Yisrael are called banim mashchisim, corrupt children, but we remain ‘banim’, children, nonetheless. Similarly, it is said that a sefer of the Tanach never ends in complete punishment. Yet, the last sentence of Eichah seems to: “For even if You had utterly rejected us, You have raged sufficiently against us.” We repeat the previous sentence, Hashivenu, to end Eichah on a more positive note. Yet, even the last sentence has comfort. If Hashem did not still care about us, did not have a connection with us, He would reject us but would not be angry at us. One is angry at a child, with whom there remains a connection, not at someone not cared about.
Rav Shimshon Pincus emphasizes our ongoing relationship with Hashem in a different way in his Galus u’Nechama (beginning p. 113). He asks why believing in the coming of Moshiach is one of the 13 Ikarim of the Rambam. How does this affect our everyday life? He says that Bnei Yisrael are to live a “chaim meshutafim” a life in partnership with Hashem. If there is a business and it is not going well, the partners worry but the employees generally continue receiving the same salary and don’t have to share the concerns of the business partners. When Hashem entered into the Bris Bain Ha’besarim with Avraham, He included in it revealing to Avraham the difficult times that Bnei Yisrael will have in the future, being strangers and enslaved in Mitzraim. Likewise, partners share in the anticipation of future events as part of their ongoing relationship. Rav Pincus gives a mashal. A newly married choson is in the yichud room with his kallah. He talks about how he hopes they have many children so that they can say kaddish for him in the future. The choson is missing the boat; being married is about having a relationship with your wife and sharing experiences, positive and negative. Similarly, the belief in Moshiach reflects our shared life with Hashem, which includes living now in partnership with Him.
Finally, our connection to Yerushalaim and the Mikdash, both now and when the geulah is realized, supplies us with strength. Rav Yaakov Emden (cited by Rav Mirsky) asked why, in Pirkei Avos, does the mishnah that contains “Rabbi Yehuda ben Taima say, be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, swift as a deer, and strong as a lion to do the will of your Father in heaven” continue with “Yehi ratzon milfoneicha…sheyibaneh Bais Hamikdash Bimhaira v’yameinu.” the yehi ratzon asking for the building of the Bais Hamikdash that was incorporated into the end of the shemonah esreh? What does this plea have to do with the first part of the mishna? Rav Yaakov Emden explains that in galus we are weakened and do not have the strength to serve Hashem properly. The plea to build the Bais Hamikdash is a plea to restore our strength and serve Hashem in this more powerful way. May we merit this speedily.
Note: Two talks on the naaleh.com website were tremendously helpful in preparing this talk. These were:
1. Mrs. Shira Smiles, Shabbat Chazon: Valuable Vision
http://www.naaleh.com/viewclass/2186/single/ (There is an accompanying 8 page source sheet as a pdf file)
2. Rabbi Beinish Ginsburg, Mourning over the Real Jerusalem
http://www.naaleh.com/viewclass/2164/single/ (discusses Rav Mirsky’s article)
Baltimore, MD - July 1, 2026 - For over 18 years, Menucha has served as a vital sanctuary for families, providing menucha – rest and peace of mind – through high-quality programming. Rabbi Engelsberg will now oversee these critical operations, ensuring that the organization continues to provide the genuine care and expert programming that Baltimore families rely on. In addition to daily operations, he will work closely with the Board of Directors to advance financial planning and strategic growth initiatives to ensure Menucha’s long-term sustainability.
Rabbi Engelsberg brings a new dimension to the organization, including experience in non-profit fundraising, public speaking, and community engagement. He joins the team following his most recent position as a full-time member of Kollel Toras Moshe in Toronto, Canada, having previously learned at Kollel Tiferes Tzvi in Yerushalayim for many years.
"We are thrilled to welcome Rabbi Engelsberg to lead our team," said Rabbi Yaakov Wealcatch, president of the Menucha Board of Directors. "Menucha is built on the belief that every family deserves support, acceptance, and community. Rabbi Engelsberg’s leadership will be instrumental in nurturing our programs – from our Day Program and Sunday Funday to our Mishmar programs and other respite programs – ensuring we continue to meet the needs of the 150+ families we are privileged to serve."
Rabbi Engelsberg expressed his commitment to the organization’s mission:
"I feel truly honored and privileged to be joining Menucha. I look forward to partnering with our incredible staff, dedicated volunteers, and generous donor community to provide wonderful programming for our participants, thereby giving much necessary menucha to our families ."
The community is invited to welcome Rabbi Engelsberg as he assumes his new role this July. A formal event will be scheduled later this year to give supporters and families an opportunity to meet him in person.
To learn more about Menucha’s mission, its programs, or how to support local families, please visit menuchainc.org or contact us today at 410-635-1034.
Baltimore, MD - July 1, 2026 - Excitement filled the air as Torah Institute's Pre-1A talmidim celebrated their Chumash Siyum at Ateres Elka last Sunday.
Beautifully organized by Preschool Director Mrs. Fleurli Muller and her dedicated staff, the event marked a memorable milestone in the boys' Torah learning.
Menahel Rabbi Shimon Hirsch and Sgan Menahel Rabbi Doniel Hexter of Grades 1 & 2, proudly assisted each talmid as they read their individual pesukim before the audience.
Hundreds of proud parents, grandparents, and family members gathered to share in the simchah, celebrating the boys' achievements with spirited, leibedig dancing that brought the event to a joyous and unforgettable conclusion.
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Baltimore, MD – Jul 1, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Erich & Tsiporah (Orshan) Kauffman on the birth of a son.
Mazel Tov to grandparents Bruce & Lois Kauffman and Martin & Sheila Orshan
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
Baltimore, MD – July 1, 2026 - This morning at Torah Institute (TI), a simple but heartfelt act of kindness left a lasting impression.
According to those in the area, an unidentified parent took the time to go around to the construction workers, personally take everyone's slushy order, and then drove to Royal Farms to purchase and deliver them.
The thoughtful gesture was greatly appreciated by the crew, who have been working hard on the school's construction project. It was a meaningful expression of appreciation for their dedication and hard work especially in today's intense heat.
While the identity of the parent remains unknown, Torah Institute wanted to publicly express its gratitude.
"Whoever you are, thank you. We truly appreciate that you went out of your way—not only to buy the slushies, but to take everyone's order and personally deliver them. It was a beautiful gesture that showed how much you appreciate all that these workers are doing for our school."
Baltimore, MD – June 30, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Saadiah and Ruthie Angster on the birth of a son.
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
Baltimore, MD – June 30, 2026 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Dr. Joseph H. Miller, z’l, father of Ed (Iris) Miller and Leslie (Adam) Rosen.
The levaya will be held tomorrow morning at 9:00am at Levinson’s
The kevura will take place at theBeth Tfiloh Cemetery, 5800 Windsor Mill Road, Woodlawn, MD 21207.
Shiva and Minyan details to follow
Your year to grow.
Your year to ask.
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State-of-the-Art Outpatient Facility Brings Together Multidisciplinary Cancer Services, Improving Access, Convenience and Care Coordination for Patients; Modern Space Provides Views of Cylburn Arboretum, Art Therapy Room,
Survivorship Programs, “Infusionarium” for Pediatric Patients and More
Baltimore, MD - June 30, 2026 — The Mandy & Dennis Weinman Cancer Building on the campus of Sinai Hospital of Baltimore is expanding access to comprehensive outpatient oncology services for patients of all ages in one centralized, state-of-the-art facility.
The three-story, 125,000-square-foot building will house outpatient adult and pediatric cancer services, bringing together specialized physicians, cutting-edge technology, infusion treatment, radiation therapy, research and supportive care in a modern, patient-centered environment.
The building offers views of the neighboring Cylburn Arboretum in private spaces for those receiving chemotherapy and other infusion treatments. With the guidance of patient and family advisory panels, the facility features natural light and surfaces as well as a curated art collection and a living room with fireplace, all designed to create a comfortable and healing environment. For pediatric patients, there is a playroom, art therapy room and an “Infusionarium,” a special space providing an immersive experience for children undergoing chemotherapy and infusions.
The hospital will dedicate the $95 million building with a “gong-ringing” ceremony on June 30 featuring Maryland Lt. Governor Aruna Miller, doctors, donors, elected officials, community leaders and patients, followed by tours of the new facility. There will be a community open house that afternoon.
“The Mandy & Dennis Weinman Cancer Building represents a transformational moment for Sinai Hospital and the patients we serve,” says Amy Shlossman, president of Sinai Hospital and Grace Medical Center. “Every detail of this facility, from bringing outpatient services together in one location to creating welcoming spaces that support healing and well-being, was designed with our patients in mind. We are proud to offer a destination for cancer care that reflects the excellence, compassion and innovation our patients deserve.”
Teams from Sinai’s Alvin & Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute will begin seeing patients in the Weinman Building on July 10, when the facility is fully open for patient care_._
Adult Services
The upper floor of the Mandy & Dennis Weinman Cancer Building is dedicated to adult oncology services, offering a modern, patient-centered environment designed to support comfort, efficiency and coordinated care for patients who often interact with a wide variety of specialists and services, ranging from oncologists and surgeons to social workers, lab technicians, genetics specialists and researchers.
"Cancer treatment can be physically and emotionally demanding on patients and their families. Our vision was to bring outpatient oncology services together under one roof in a modern, thoughtfully designed and bright space. Our team wanted to provide a seamless experience that allows patients to focus on their treatment and recovery," says Pallavi P. Kumar, M.D., cancer center director for the oncology service line at LifeBridge Health, including the Alvin & Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute at Sinai and Northwest hospitals and the William E. Kahlert Regional Cancer Center at Carroll Hospital.
She adds, “This building reflects what our patients and families shared was important, and spaces were created that feel calm, open and filled with natural light. Delivering excellent clinical care is our priority. As we care for our patients, the vision is to be recognized regionally for our commitment to compassionate, innovative, comprehensive care that reduces disparities and the burdens of cancer in our communities.”
The adult infusion area includes 32 bays featuring a mix of private and semi-private spaces organized into smaller care pods to create a more personalized treatment experience. Two nourishment stations are conveniently located within the infusion area to enhance patient comfort during visits. A dedicated fast-track infusion section accommodates treatments lasting less than one hour, helping improve convenience and patient flow.
This floor also includes 16 exam rooms designed to streamline the patient experience. Patients enter through the public-facing corridor while physicians and care teams access rooms from a separate staff corridor and centralized workroom. This layout enhances collaboration among care teams while supporting patient privacy and operational efficiency.
In addition, the second floor includes a procedure room for minor outpatient procedures performed under local anesthesia, including select gynecologic, melanoma-related and other minimally invasive treatments.
Pediatric Services
The pediatric area was designed to create a comforting, family-centered environment that supports children through every stage of treatment. Located on the first floor, the space combines advanced clinical care with engaging, age-appropriate services aimed at reducing stress and promoting healing.
The clinical area includes seven private infusion bays and seven exam rooms, each designed with ample space to accommodate family members and caregivers. Additional specialized spaces include a dedicated phlebotomy room and an area for patient vital signs at check-in.
The pediatric infusion area features recliners, PlayStation gaming systems and a variety of activities and entertainment options designed to provide comfort and distraction during treatment. The Stacy’s Place “Infusionarium” has lights on the walls and ceiling, giving a theater-like feel with a large wall screen, designed to create an immersive experience for patients.
Large, bright and colorful, dedicated art therapy and playroom spaces encourage creative expression and play, recognizing the important role both can have in a child’s emotional well-being and healing journey. The availability of Child Life specialists, art therapy, music and pet therapy all add to that experience.
“Children experience cancer differently than adults, and their care should reflect that,” says Aziza Shad, M.D., the Ellen W. P. Wasserman chair of pediatrics and chief of pediatric hematology and oncology at the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai. “Art therapy gives our young patients a way to express emotions that can be difficult to put into words while creating moments of comfort, creativity and normalcy during treatment. Spaces filled with color, light and opportunities for self-expression can play a vital role in supporting a child’s emotional well-being and physical healing throughout their cancer journey.”
Dr. Shad adds, “As cancer affects the entire family, we also want to ensure that our families feel cared for and supported, so there are quiet spaces for family members to relax and recharge. Our Child Life specialist and social worker will be onsite in the new building to provide essential support for children facing illness and their families.”
The pediatric outpatient clinic is named the Alfred I. Coplan Pediatric Hematology Oncology Outpatient Center.
Radiation Oncology
As part of Sinai’s multidisciplinary approach to cancer care, many patients also receive radiation treatment, which is located on the ground floor of the Weinman Cancer Building.
“With multidisciplinary cancer treatment, it is more important than ever that patients can easily access the many specialists involved in their care and that those physicians can work together to support each patient’s individualized care,” says David Perry, M.D., chair of radiation oncology for LifeBridge Health. “As the Sinai campus evolved and grew over time, patients often faced a 10-minute walk between their oncology and radiation appointments. Now, with services located together in one building, patients can move more easily between appointments, care teams can collaborate more efficiently and the overall experience is significantly improved for everyone.”
The radiation oncology department offers a comprehensive range of advanced radiation therapies, including intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), brachytherapy and other highly targeted treatments designed to maximize effectiveness while minimizing exposure to healthy tissue. LifeBridge Health’s radiation oncology program is accredited by the American College of Radiology, and the cancer program is additionally accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer through the Integrated Network Cancer Program.
The department also offers radiotherapy for osteoarthritis and will soon provide radiopharmaceutical treatment for metastatic disease, including radioligand therapy for prostate cancer_._
The Weinman Family Department of Radiation Oncology was named in 2006 by the Toby and Melvin Weinman Foundation and the late Michael Weinman. The Toby and Melvin Weinman Foundation was created by Dennis’ grandparents and run by Dennis’ uncle and late father. Michael Weinman was a long-time Sinai Hospital Board member and a nephew of Melvin and Toby.
Research
As part of LifeBridge Health’s commitment to innovation, discovery and advancing cancer care, a laboratory within the Mandy & Dennis Weinman Cancer Building will support clinical research, allowing onsite collection and processing of specimens.
Sinai Hospital offers patients access to clinical trials that may provide early access to emerging and potentially life-saving therapies. Clinical trials are the foundation of cancer research and play a critical role in identifying better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.
Through affiliations with leading national cancer research organizations, LifeBridge Health connects patients with cutting-edge clinical trials and investigational therapies. Available research opportunities are reviewed through multidisciplinary clinics and weekly tumor board meetings, where specialists from across oncology collaborate to identify the most appropriate treatment options, including clinical trials, for individual patients.
Currently, LifeBridge Health has 30 adult oncology clinical trials and 45 Children’s Oncology Group pediatric trials, available through the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai. Research opportunities span a wide range of areas, including treatment, prevention, screening, supportive care and observational studies. Clinical trials may be appropriate at many points along a patient’s cancer journey, from newly diagnosed, early-stage cancers to advanced disease.
The Mandy & Dennis Weinman Cancer Building will serve as a hub for adult and pediatric survivorship services designed to support patients beyond diagnosis and treatment, recognizing that cancer care continues long after therapy ends.
For adult patients, the building will house the Dr. Michael J. Schultz Cancer Survivorship Program, developed around the belief that survivorship begins at the moment of diagnosis. Named to honor retired LifeBridge Health surgeon Dr. Michael Schultz, the program is designed to connect patients with navigators, coordinators and a range of supportive services to address the physical, emotional and practical challenges of cancer care. Resources may include nutritional counseling, financial planning support, psychosocial services, healing therapies such as yoga and massage, and rehabilitation services through the Rehabilitation Institute at Sinai. The program also includes Survivors Offering Support, which connects newly diagnosed patients with trained cancer survivor mentors.
The Weinman Cancer Building will also be home to “The Next Step”: The Kara Amey Cancer Survivorship Program, established and funded through the generosity and vision of the Amey family, which provides specialized long-term follow-up care and education for childhood cancer survivors. Through an interdisciplinary team that includes pediatric oncologists, primary care providers, pediatric and adult sub-specialists, a nurse navigator, social worker, art therapist, dietitian, neuropsychologist and other clinical experts, the program supports childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer survivors' physical, emotional and psychosocial well-being throughout their lives.
The pediatric survivorship program also participates in research focused on the long-term effects of cancer and cancer treatment, helping advance knowledge and improve quality of life for future generations of survivors. Through a ‘Shared-Care’ model, survivors can maintain connections with the physicians who treated them as children while benefiting from coordinated care from survivorship specialists and primary care providers.
Healing by Design
The Mandy & Dennis Weinman Cancer Building was thoughtfully designed with the help of a patient and family advisory committee that envisioned a space centered on healing, comfort and well-being. Multidisciplinary teams of healthcare providers and other staff put in hundreds of hours to ensure the building will meet the needs of caregivers, patients and their families, now and into the future.
Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the neighboring arboretum, filling the space with natural light and calming views of nature. Thanks to the generosity of local artist and philanthropist Wendy Jachman, more than a dozen curated works are featured throughout the building as the first phase of the Jachman Family Art Collection. Jachman, whose work has long focused on art that elevates feelings of strength and self-healing, also created several custom tapestries for the space.
Natural design elements such as stonework, soft pastel tones and organic patterns create a serene, welcoming atmosphere. To deepen the building’s connection to nature and its focus on healing and wellness, one of the building’s architects designed a unique moss installation that is safe for immuno-compromised individuals, complemented by a custom light fixture above the stairs from the parking level to the ground floor.
Throughout the building there are spaces designed for families and visitors, including the SECU MD Foundation Living Room with a fireplace and an area where people can work while waiting.
About Mandy and Dennis Weinman
Mandy and Dennis Weinman share a long-standing connection to Sinai Hospital and a deep commitment to advancing compassionate cancer care in the community. Their transformative $5 million gift helped make possible the creation of the Mandy & Dennis Weinman Cancer Building.
Dennis Weinman, who serves on the LifeBridge Health board of directors and served on the Sinai Hospital board for 12 years, was inspired to support the project after hearing the vision for the future of cancer care at Sinai. The Weinmans have also shared that Dennis’ grandmother, Toby, received compassionate cancer care at Sinai years ago, an experience that helped shape their commitment to this transformational project.
This quote from the Weinmans is on display in the new facility: “The Mandy & Dennis Weinman Cancer Building stands in honor of the resilient spirit of every patient and the dedicated team of physicians, nurses and caregivers who walk beside them. This union of quiet bravery and compassionate care transforms and inspires us all.”
Final Notes
The Weinman Cancer Building features its own entrance and dedicated parking, further enhancing convenience and accessibility for patients and families navigating cancer treatment.
The Alvin & Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute serves more than 30,000 patients annually, creating the need for a larger, more integrated facility designed to support the future of cancer care in the community. The Weinman Cancer Building marks an investment in cancer services at Sinai, including the recent recruitment of additional specialists in hematology, thoracic and colorectal surgery and an expanded focus on research.
Along with the $5 million gift from the Weinmans, the health system has received more than 60% of its $20 million goal, through both private and public funding, to support the building and the services offered there. This includes $1.5 million in federal funding and $2.5 million in state funding.
Building construction began in summer 2023 and was completed at the end of 2025. In the project’s final phases in 2026, crews finished internal renovations of the radiation oncology treatment area and the radiation oncology administrative offices.
Sinai Hospital is also recruiting volunteers to serve as greeters and escorts in the Weinman Building.
