Baltimore Jewish Times

07/22/2024

Joe Biden’s decision to end his presidential campaign and endorse Kamala Harris could make American Jewish history: If Harris is nominated and wins, her husband Doug Emhoff would be the first Jewish spouse in the White House. A Harris victory, of course, would make her the first woman president.

If Kamala Harris is nominated and wins, her husband Doug Emhoff would be the first Jewish spouse in the White House.

07/19/2024

It happened almost 10 months ago, but it feels like yesterday. And now, with the July 11 release of a comprehensive Israel Defense Forces report on the Oct. 7 Hamas-orchestrated terror attack into the Gaza border community of Kibbutz Be’eri, the shock, pain and revulsion have been rekindled.

The Be’eri report is one of many IDF investigations into the Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel and the first one ready for public disclosure.

07/19/2024

The daily drumbeat of challenges to the continued viability of President Joe Biden’s candidacy in his pursuit of reelection in November has all the markings of classic Chinese water torture. And its result is just as predictable.

It is belittling to Biden and damaging to his historic and heroic legacy for him to keep trying to prove he is up to the job.

07/18/2024

The doors at the Light Street Presbyterian Church in Federal Hill swing open as Rebekka Paisner enters excitedly with a hug for her friend Sumayya Bilal, the owner of Codetta Bake Shop, housed inside the church building. Paisner was ready to help Bilal prepare for the day.

Volunteering is an important part of how Rebekka Paisner spends her time outside of her Johns Hopkins Ph.D. program.

07/18/2024

This week's digital issue of the Baltimore Jewish Times is here!: https://tinyurl.com/26c96s48
In it, you can read about:
❗A Jewish Pikesville resident is attacked in alleged hate crime
🍨Taharka Brothers announces new Star-K Kosher ice cream flavors
🏠Temple Isaiah congregants build homes for people in need
And more!

07/18/2024

Lately, it seems like all anyone can talk about is how hot it is outside. And it’s for good reason: The whole world, from Texas to California to even countries overseas, is experiencing a massive heat wave.

Recent heat waves have affected all facets of life, including for Jewish outdoor workers and volunteers. Two explain how they're coping.

07/18/2024

The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore has been working on its new Goldsmith Campus for some time. Construction has recently begun, expected to be completed in 2025, and renovations for the Jewish Library of Baltimore and the Center for Sports and Wellness at the Weinberg Park Heights JCC are planned.

As The Associated moves onto its new Goldsmith Campus, its old building is set to be leased to the University of Baltimore.

07/15/2024

A Jewish Pikesville resident wearing a kippah was attacked on July 10 in the Washington, D.C., neighborhood of Foggy Bottom, and authorities are investigating the incident as a hate crime. Ariel Golfeyz, 31, was walking toward the Foggy Bottom Metro station on his way to work at 8:35 a.m.

Ariel Golfeyz, 31, was walking toward the Foggy Bottom Metro station on his way to work at 8:35 a.m. when a man attacked him from behind.

07/15/2024

Two unlikely allies sat down with community members at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation to share their unique story of solidarity and search for peace. Israeli peace activist Moaz Inon and Palestinian peace activist Aziz Abu Sarah have both experienced great losses in their life, before and after Oct. 7.

An Israeli and a Palestinian came together after Oct. 7 to seek peace. Now, they're speaking out across the world.

07/15/2024

Some Temple Isaiah congregants are taking the idea of repairing the world to a whole new level: by building houses for people in need. These congregants are part of Maryland DreamBuilders, an interfaith nonprofit organization that plans mission trips to low-income areas and areas affected by natural disasters.

Temple Isaiah is the only Jewish congregation participating in Maryland DreamBuilders, which builds houses for those in need.

07/15/2024

The Jewish Uniformed Service Association of Maryland-Chabad started out of a rabbi’s house. Twelve years later, the veterans’ and first responders’ organization has a place of its own: the JUSA House, which sits in the middle of an unassuming Pikesville neighborhood.

JUSA-Chabad recently put the finishing touches on the new JUSA House, which offers resources and a third space for Jewish law enforcement.

07/12/2024

A beloved Baltimore ice cream manufacturer recently received kosher certification for several of its flavors, allowing them to be enjoyed by a larger audience than ever before. Taharka Brothers, a company that owns four local scoop shops and sells ice cream in 99 Maryland-based stores, restaurants, schools and hotels, had nine of its flavors officially certified kosher by Star-K Kosher Certification.

Baltimore-based ice cream manufacturers Taharka Brothers have gotten nine of their most popular flavors kosher certified.

07/11/2024

Jeff Pensak went from cooking meals for over 200 congregants at Ner Tamid Greenspring Valley Congregation to becoming the chairman of its board. As the synagogue has been growing rapidly over the past few years, Pensak, who became chairman in early June, has been thinking about its future and how he plans to lead it alongside Rabbi Yisrael Motzen.

“I think we had 60-70 families join in the past year, so it’s definitely been growing,” Pensak said. “Now [Ner Tamid] is no longer the best-kept secret in town.

Jeff Pensak used to volunteer cooking meals for over 200 Ner Tamid congregants. Now, he's the chairman of the synagogue's board.

07/11/2024

Taglit Birthright Israel is facing a major challenge right now: trying to get Jewish young adults to come to Israel on Birthright trips. Just a few years ago, in 2018, a record 48,000 young adults went on Birthright trips.

Birthright, which was already on the decline before Oct. 7, has struggled to recruit Jewish young adults for trips to Israel since.

07/11/2024

Inside the lobby of The Gordon Center for Performing Arts, J Camps counselors passed out a multitude of flags to the young campers sitting cross-legged on the floor. Japan, Germany, Puerto Rico — the children waved their flags around, talking and laughing.

“Do you know what all of these countries have in common?” asked a woman standing at the front of the room. “They all compete in the Maccabiah Games.”

This marked the start of a day of special programming at the JCC of Greater Baltimore-based summer camp, focused on the Maccabiah Games and featuring special guests from the Maccabi World Union.

Athletes from the Maccabiah Games and JCC Maccabi Games visited J Camps for a day of fun and educational sports-themed programming.

07/05/2024

The Jewish community in France is the world’s third-largest Jewish population. It numbers more than 450,000 people.

The choice between National Rally and France Unbowed is frustrating, as neither one is seen as supportive of France’s Jewish community.

07/05/2024

On June 25, a unanimous Israeli Supreme Court ruled that there is no legal justification for the country’s longstanding military exemption given to ultra-Orthodox religious students, and the military was ordered to begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish men. Although the court did not set a timeline for drafting the more than 60,000 draft-age religious students, it ordered the suspension of millions of dollars in government subsidies to ultra-Orthodox yeshivas that support draft-age students who refuse orders of conscription.

Neither the court nor most public expression on the issue demeans or disrespects the study of Torah by those who choose to do so.

07/05/2024

In 1787, Lord George Gordon changed his name to Yisrael Bar Avraham Gordon and converted to Judaism. The British politician, who had incited the anti-Catholic Gordon Riots in London seven years before, spent the last few years of his life in Newgate Prison.

It's not uncommon for prisoners to embrace religion or convert while serving time. But why is it uncommon for them to embrace Judaism?

07/05/2024

Last week’s presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump was historic. It was also disappointing.

07/04/2024

Happy Fourth of July! What are your Independence Day plans?

07/03/2024

Har Sinai-Oheb Shalom Congregation members celebrated a tremendous milestone for the synagogue’s rabbi emeritus. On Friday, June 24, congregants gathered for a special Shabbat service honoring Rabbi Floyd Herman for the 60th anniversary of his ordination.

Har Sinai-Oheb Shalom Congregation hosted a special Shabbat service to commemorate the 60th anniversary of their rabbi emeritus's ordination.

07/03/2024

Normally, summer camps are a great opportunity for children to forget about the stresses of daily life for a few weeks. But the events of Oct. 7 changed everything — and even Jewish summer camps, with their focus on summer fun and Jewish education, have had to take steps to address what happened.

Following Oct. 7, Jewish summer camps in Maryland are taking steps to add more Israel-related programming to their curricula.

07/03/2024

Even before Oct. 7, antisemitic vandalism had been a problem for Baltimore’s Jewish community. Flags have been stolen, graffiti has been painted and flyers advertising white nationalist causes have appeared in the county and city alike.

As vandalism on the property of Jewish institutions and families becomes more common, community leaders discuss what to do about it.

07/02/2024

Here is part two of the results from this year’s Best of Jewish Baltimore reader’s choice competition. All of these winners and runner-ups are chosen by our readers, who nominate and vote for their favorite businesses and organizations in categories ranging from best preschool to best car dealership and everything in between.

Here, we present the results from the camps, education, community/recreation, kosher food, home services and retail categories.

06/28/2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin went on a shopping trip to North Korea last week, seeking military munitions and missiles to support Russia’s draining war effort in Ukraine. In so doing, Putin confirmed much of the speculation about Russia’s dwindling weapons stockpile and the heavy price Russia is paying for its aggression in Ukraine, along with its increasing political and economic isolation from most of the Western world.

Vladimir Putin essentially came to North Korea hat in hand, seeking needed military assistance from his newfound friend, Kim Jong Un.

06/28/2024

The threat to northern Israel from Lebanon is real. And it is getting worse.

In 24 hours last week, Hezbollah launched more than 300 rockets and drones across the Lebanese border into northern Israel.

06/28/2024

In addition to his work in finance, Bruce S. Hoffberger is a hobby pilot.

Bruce Hoffberger has worked in Baltimore's Jewish community since the 1970s. Now, he prepares to become chair of the board at The Associated.

06/28/2024

Joe Biden and Donald Trump rambled and jabbed each other with insults in a debate that included exchanges about Israel’s war with Hamas and neo-Nazi violence. The debate in Atlanta Thursday night, moderated by CNN’s Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, was the first of two scheduled for this presidential election.

Joe Biden and Donald Trump rambled and insulted each other in a presidential debate that included exchanges about the Israel-Hamas war.

06/27/2024

Part 2 of the results from the Best of Jewish Baltimore reader's choice competition is here! Be sure to check out who the Baltimore Jewish community voted for: https://tinyurl.com/xbtcf5e
Also in this issue:
🗳Hogan vs. Alsobrooks: Where the Senate candidates stand on Israel, antisemitism and the future of the U.S.
🤵The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore reveals how they plan to honor Marc Terrill's legacy
☀Beth Sholom switches to 100% solar energy
and much more!

06/27/2024

Saadiah Angster, a fourth-generation Baltimorean, began taping the podcast, “Jewish Boy Calls His Mother,” after losing his father, Zalman Angster, in 2020. For most people, the loss of a parent is a life-altering event.

Saadiah Angster, a Baltimorean, began taping his podcast, “Jewish Boy Calls His Mother,” after losing his father, Zalman Angster, in 2020.