ספירת העומר : 27 - היום שבעה ועשרים יום שהם שלשה שבועות וששה ימים לעומר
Iran’s first Vice President Mohammad Mokhber was appointed as acting president of the Islamic Republic on Monday after the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in the country’s northwest. Mokhber, 68, largely has been in the shadows compared to other politicians in Iran’s Shiite theocracy. Raisi’s death under the constitution thrust Mokhber into public view. He is expected to serve as caretaker president for some 50 days before mandatory presidential elections in Iran. Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made the announcement...
IDF troops are continuing to operate against terrorist targets in the area of Jabaliya, locating weaponry in a UNRWA facility and eliminating terrorists in close-quarters combat. Additionally, an IAF aircraft eliminated operatives who had fired anti-tank missiles at the troops. No IDF injuries were reported. During one activity in the area, terrorists armed with RPG launchers and identified on their way to attack IDF troops were eliminated in an aerial strike. Meanwhile, an Islamic Jihad tactical-level commander was eliminated in an aerial strike in the eastern Rafah area along with three other terrorists from the organization who were operating against IDF troops in the area. Operations continue in the central Gaza Strip, where IDF tanks struck several terrorists and destroyed militar...
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Baltimore, MD - May 16, 2024  - On Wednesday, May 29th, Jewish Educational Services, an agency of The Associated will be hosting Celebrating Education: JES Educator Awards Ceremony and Annual Meeting.  This momentous event will take place at 7:00 pm at Congregation Shomrei Emunah, where we will pay tribute to not only our incredible awardees, including the 2024 Sam Kahan Distinguished Educator, but also to the 100+ educators who were nominated for awards, and we invite you to join us to celebrate ALL the teachers in our community who dedicate themselves to their students and to Jewish Education. Registration is still open - go to bit.ly/CelebratingEducation2024. This year, we invited community members to participate in our Educator Awards program by nominating outstanding educat...
Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the United States is at fault for the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on Sunday. Talking to Iranian state media, the former minister blamed US sanctions for the crash: "One of the causes of this heartbreaking incident is the United States, which by embargoing the sale of the aviation parts to Islamic Iran caused the martyrdom of the president and his companions." He added that "the crime of the United States will definitely be recorded in the minds of the Iranian people and in history." The Iranian President died when his Bell 212 helicopter crashed. The Bell 212 is a civilian version of a Vietnam War-era UH-1N "Twin Huey," developed in the 1960s by an American company. With Iran not having ties with the Un...
Today (Monday, 20 May 2024) Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant hosted National Security Advisor of the United States, Jake Sullivan at the Ministry of Defense Headquarters in Tel Aviv. The parties held a professional briefing together with the IDF Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Director General of the Ministry of Defense Maj. Gen. (Res.) Eyal Zamir, Head of the IDF’s Operations Directorate Maj. Gen. Oded Basiuk, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog, Head of the Policy Bureau Dror Shalom, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defense Shachar Katz and Military Secretary to the Minister of Defense Brig. Gen. Guy Markizano. Minister Gallant briefed Advisor Sullivan on developments in the war against the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza, as well ...
Rabbi David Chai Hacohen, dean of the Netivot Hatora yeshiva in Bat Yam and a neighborhood rabbi in the city, has instructed his students to omit "Tachanun" during Monday's morning and afternoon davening, following the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. Tachanun is a prayer of supplication, which is not said on festive days or days of thanksgiving. "The President was a very 'special' hater of israel, and he was the greatest of all the Iranians. And may it be G-d's will that the wolves in the forest where he fell will eat him. This is good news for the Jewish people. Even more than Haman - if we make a festive meal on the day he was killed - then even more so, we should not say Tachanun. It is mentioned in the Mishna Berura that o...
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The Iranian Jewish community headed by its Chief Rabbi Yehuda Gerami, published in the name of the "Agudat Kiliman" (the community's nickname) a bereavement notice following the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country's Foreign Minister, and several others in a helicopter crash on Sunday. "We are filled with sadness and sobbing following the deaths of the holy ones of the Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the nation and the servant of the Iranian people, together with other diplomats and officials of Islam, the Iranian Republic, and the Supreme Leader of the Revolution and all the people of his land," the announcement read. "Without a doubt, Iranian history will never forget the memory of the modest and tortured President." "The Kiliman community of I...
An official Israeli source has confirmed to Reuters that Israel was not involved in the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. Raisi and his Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, were killed Sunday when the helicopter carrying them crashed in northwest Iran. Other Iranian officials, along with the helicopter's crew, also died in the crash. Iranian authorities have said that all nine bodies were evacuated from the scene, and the Air Force chief said that some were burned so badly as to be unidentifiable. Lebanon has declared three days of mourning for Raisi. Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad responded to Raisi's death, affirming "Syria's solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran and with the families of the late deceased and his comrad...
The International Criminal Court's Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan is seeking arrest warrants for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of "war crimes and crimes against humanity" over the October 7 attacks on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza, he told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Monday. Khan also said the court is seeking warrants for Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as two other top Hamas leaders: leader of the Al Qassem Brigades Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’ political leader. Khan told CNN that the charges against Sinwar, Haniyeh, and al-Masri include “extermination, murder, taking of hostages, rape and sexual assault in detention.” He added: “The world was shocked on the 7th of Oc...
Tasnim news agency, associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC),  announced deaths of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi and foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on Monday morning. They were killed on Sunday afternoon after the helicopter they were traveling in suffered a hard landing due to inclement weather, and apparently went up in flames. Intense search-and-rescue efforts, impeded by fog and rain, continued throughout the night to find the crash site in Iran's East Azerbaijan province, with diminishing hopes of finding signs of life. According to Iranian Red Crescent Society, all passengers of the flight died in the incident. Rescuers found "no signs" anybody survived the crash, the organization stated on national television. Aside from the Iranian...
Parsha Hashavua
Parshas Emor - Vayavo Haman!

On another occasion we have discussed some interesting perspectives on the meaning of the term sefiras ha’omer and the role it plays in connecting Pesach to Shavuos. I recently saw an intriguing perspective from Noam Jacobson, whose creative videos continue to entertain while providing deep insights on the parsha on a weekly basis.


In our parsha, the name of the upcoming chag is not even mentioned. We are simply told (23:16) that it is after counting 50 days from the bringing of the korban omer. Even a date is not provided as Shavuos could technically fall on any one of three days before we had a set calendar. In this sense, Shavuos represents the holiday which is the dominion of man. We are in control of the date on which it falls.


Conversely, he understands the word omer – as used as a measurement – to be a callback to the omer per person that was collected of the mann each morning. The mann represents our complete and utter reliance on HaShem for all of our sustenance.


We may now understand Shavuos as the perfect confluence of our own handiwork and that of HaShem. We are commanded to bring two loaves of bread as an offering – loaves which we ourselves have produced by cutting wheat, grinding it into flour, kneading and baking it. As we offer it as a korban we are reminded of the lesson of the mann that no matter how much toil we put in to our sustenance, it is ultimately all from the grace of HaShem.


(I highly recommend viewing Noam Jacobson’s far more entertaining presentation on his YouTube page.)

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Baltimore, MD – May 19, 2024 – Today, volunteers took time from their busy schedules and repaired matzeivos and trimmed trees at the German Hill Road Jewish Cemetery, in Dundalk. Participants included the organizer Steven Venick and Barry Dubin, Jeremy Diamond, Larry Franks, Chen Goodman and his son, Hillel, Pikesville Tree Service’s Levi Lowenstein, Levi, Ephy Rosenbloom, and Shalom Rosenbloom.
Jerusalem, Israel – Today, House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik delivered an address to members of the Israeli Knesset in Jerusalem following an invitation from Speaker Amir Ohana highlighting how America stands with Israel and House Republicans’ fight to protect Jewish students on American college campuses.  Rep. Stefanik is the highest ranking member of the House of Representatives to visit Israel since the October 7th terrorist attacks. Read her full address below. “Thank you, Speaker Ohana, for your kind introduction and for inviting me here today. Mr. Speaker, MK Moshe Tur-Paz, MK Dan Illouz, distinguished guests, and dear friends: I am profoundly honored to speak in the hallowed halls of your Knesset, in your eternal capital, the holy c...
SimchasSimchas Simcha
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening (Sunday, 19 May 2024), at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, met with northern confrontation line local council heads, listened to their requests, and was presented with the existing gaps in the decision on a plan for the north. The Prime Minister instructed the directors general of the Prime Minister's Office and the Finance Ministry to meet with the local council heads in order to bridge the minor remaining gaps and present him tomorrow with an agreed-upon plan that will be submitted for Government approval during the week. Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked the local council heads for being steadfast. Prime Minister Netanyahu at the end of the discussion [translated from Hebrew]: "In the end, the revival and the momentum ...
Baltimore, MD – May 19, 2024 - 1:38PM - An accident at the intersection of Willow Glen and Fallstaff is causing traffic congestion. Please avoid the area.
Nichum AveilimNichum Aveilim Aveilim
On another occasion we have discussed some interesting perspectives on the meaning of the term sefiras ha’omer and the role it plays in connecting Pesach to Shavuos. I recently saw an intriguing perspective from Noam Jacobson, whose creative videos continue to entertain while providing deep insights on the parsha on a weekly basis. In our parsha, the name of the upcoming chag is not even mentioned. We are simply told (23:16) that it is after counting 50 days from the bringing of the korban omer. Even a date is not provided as Shavuos could technically fall on any one of three days before we had a set calendar. In this sense, Shavuos represents the holiday which is the dominion of man. We are in control of the date on which it falls. Conversely, he understands the word omer – ...
Life in the Corridor רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר, הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה דּוֹמֶה לִפְרוֹזְדוֹר בִּפְנֵי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. הַתְקֵן עַצְמְךָ בַפְּרוֹזְדוֹר, כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּכָּנֵס לַטְּרַקְלִין: הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר, יָפָה שָׁעָה אַחַת בִּתְשׁוּבָה וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, מִכָּל חַיֵּי הַעוֹלָם הַבָּא.                     וְיָפָה שָׁעָה אַחַת שֶׁל קוֹרַת רוּחַ בָּעוֹלָם הַבָּא, מִכָּל חַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם ה...
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A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was involved in an accident on Sunday. Iranian State broadcaster Tasnim reported that the president was on board the helicopter when it was involved in an accident in the East Azerbaijan province in northwest Iran. Live updates: 6:05: An Iranian official has told iranina helicopter crashReuters that "the lives of Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian are at risk following the helicopter crash. We are still hopeful but information coming from the crash site is very concerning." 6:00 p.m.: Western sources say that they now estimate that President Raisi did not survive the crash. A US State Department spokesperson told CBS News that the US is "closely following reports of a possible hard landing of a helicopter in Iran carry...
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was involved in an accident on Sunday. Iranian State broadcaster Tasnim reported that the president was on board the helicopter when it was involved in an accident in eastern Azerbaijan. According to Tasnim, Red Crescent rescue forces and military and police auxiliary forces had begun a massive operation to find the helicopter. According to the report, the convoy consisted of three helicopters, with the helicopter also carrying Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. Associated Press reported that communications with the pilots were lost. According to state media, individuals who were on the aircraft made contact after the incident, noting that the hope that the incident ended without loss of life has increased.
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A terrorist tried to stab Border Police officers this morning (Sunday) at a checkpoint near the town of 'Abu-Dis' in the Judea and Samaria area. The terrorist arrived at the checkpoint, pulled out a knife, and tried to stab the officers operating there. The officers identified the terrorist, responded quickly, and shot him, neutralizing him. There were no casualties among the Israeli forces. On Thursday, a career IDF soldier was wounded in a stabbing attack at the Yitzhar Hagedola Junction, south of Shechem (Nablus). The victim arrived by vehicle to the Samaria Brigade, where he received medical treatment and was evacuated, conscious, to Beilinson Hospital. According to the victim, the terrorist attacked him as he was opening the window of his vehicle, and stabbed him.
At Saturday evening's international rally in Hostages Square, a recorded message from Former United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was screened for attendees. In the message, Clinton said, "To all who are gathered, let me first express my deepest sympathy for the losses that have been suffered, and for those families who are still separated from their loved ones." "I know, having met family members of hostages, how deep the pain is, and I know that you will never stop advocating for the release of your loved ones, your family members, your friends, everyone who was kidnapped and is being held hostage. "These hostages represent so much more than just who they are. They are citizens of 17 countries, they practice five religions, they are our fellow men and women and yes ch...
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