Around the Community

Bulk Trash Pickup in Baltimore County

By: BJLife/Councilman Israel ‘Izzy’ Patoka

BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Jeff Cohn

Since taking office, one of the things we have been pushing for is the return of bulk trash pickup. The county discontinued this service years ago, but many residents have asked for this service to be restored. This was especially true during the county’s solid waste work group meetings that took place over the last several months.

I am pleased to share that the county executive announced yesterday during his budget message that bulk trash pickup will be reinstated. As more details become available, we will make sure to keep everyone posted.

This is great news. I am confident the return of this convenience will help cut down on illegal dumping and be another tool in our toolbox to push back against those who take part in this activity. Many thanks to all the advocates who have been pushing for the return of bulk trash pickup and to County Executive Johnny Olszewski for making this a priority.

TA Announces New Lower School Leadership for 2021-2022

By: BJLife Newsroom

BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Jeff Cohn

Dear TA Parents and Friends,

It is with great excitement that after a thorough search process which began almost a year and a half ago, we proudly announce the appointment of Rabbi Dovid Sass as Menahel, and our own Rabbi Hillel Hexter as Associate Menahel of TA’s Lower School beginning this coming school year, 2021-2022.

Rabbi Sass is a talmid of Mir Yerushalyim where he learned under Harav Nissan Kaplan, shlit”a, and Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin, where he learned and received semichah from Harav Ahron Shechter, shlit”a. For the past 15 years, Rabbi Sass has been based at Menorah Academy in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, first as a rebbi and Vice Principal, and for the last 7 years, serving as Head of School. He earned a Master’s of Education from Azrieli Institute at Yeshiva University, completed the Art of Leadership Institute at Harvard University, and received certification from the Principal Training Institute of the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools, as well as the New York City Leadership Academy. Rabbi Sass is highly regarded by peers and colleagues, and is wellknown in chinuch circles across North America. We are confident that Rabbi Sass’ natural warmth and friendly personality, together with his professionalism, passion for chinuch, and leadership style, make him an excellent fit to follow in the footsteps of Rabbi Kahana, and assume the mantel of leadership in our Lower School.

As you know, Rabbi Hexter has been serving in the capacity of parttime Assistant Menahel of TA’s Lower School for several years, in addition to his role as a second grade rebbi. He has proven himself as a strong administrator whose keen understanding of talmidim, chinuch, school management and programming has added both qualitatively and quantitatively to the success of the Lower School. As full time Associate Menahel, Rabbi Hexter’s role and responsibilities will be expanded and enhanced, working alongside the rest of the leadership team of Rabbi Sass, Mrs. Berzon and Mrs. Rosen.

Throughout the search process, almost a dozen experienced and talented candidates from across North America were vetted and interviewed by the search committee. The appointment of Rabbi Sass as Menahel and Rabbi Hexter as Associate Menahel was made with the strong and unanimous recommendation of both the search committee and the Vaad Hachinuch. We look forward to introducing Rabbi Sass to the parent body in the near future.

Rabbi Kahana has been at the helm of our Lower School for over three decades, and his legacy will continue to live on in TA. His love, warmth, and concern for every single talmid under his care is legendary. The thousands of TA students who have passed through his care have been impacted for life, and we, together with the entire TA family are forever grateful. Rabbi Kahana will be available in an advisory and transitional role to ensure that the new administrative team can be as successful as possible.

We want to express our deep appreciation to the hard-working search committee members who saw this process through to the end. We would be remiss if we did not mention the contributions of Rebbetzin Dr. Aviva Weisbord, A”H, to the search process. While she was unfortunately not with us to the completion of the search, her wisdom and clarity remained a guiding force for the committee members who often contemplated what she would think and say during their deliberations.

We share with you our hopes and tefilos that this next era of TA, which builds upon the decades of success of our Yeshiva, continues to inspire and mold our talmidim into Bnei Torah and Erlicheh Yidden, who will iy”H take their proper place among and make great contributions to Klal Yisrael. May Hashem continue to bless our beloved TA and its leadership, administration, faculty members, students and families with Siyata Dishmaya and may we continue to see nachas from all of our talmidim.

Peretz Wertenteil

Chairman of the Board

Shlomo Spetner

Chairman, Vaad Hachinuch

Around the Community New Mask Rule Gets Baltimore Community Business Owner Kicked off Southwest Flight

By: BJLife/Michelle Mond

BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Jeff Cohn

Watch out kids -- it’s not just the dentists who are coming for you if caught eating candy in 2021; it is now the stewardesses. Mr. Avi Mandel, a 35 year old local business owner living with his wife and five children in Baltimore, MD, was flying solo en route to Miami when a sudden twisted turn of events stalled his journey. A sticky situation no doubt, his immediate removal from Southwest Airlines flight 2109 from BWI to Miami was for a minor infraction. The reason he was removed? Chewing on a twizzler.

It all started after the Southwest Airlines plane shut its doors shortly after 7:30 PM on Sunday April 18th. After an exhausting day, a masked Mr. Mandel who had just spent the previous two hours dutifully masked through a lengthy check-in, security screening, and wait for the flight to arrive, was finally able to relax. It was then when he remembered he hadn’t eaten all day. Sitting in his aisle seat minding his own business Mr. Mandel took out a book and the only piece of food he had on him -- a twizzler. Carefully lowering his mask to the chin, Mr. Mandel started munching on the twizzler as the plane taxied down toward the runway. A Southwest Airlines stewardess appeared and told Mr. Mandel to put his mask on to which he replied he was eating. The stewardess continued by demanding he lift the mask over his mouth and nose in between bites. Mandel, who is accustomed to flying multiple times monthly during the pandemic mentioned he had never heard about this rule before. After all, the airline does give pretzels out on flights.

As Mr. Mandel finished up his candy, a vehement voice broke out on the loudspeaker announcing that those who eat must lift their masks while chewing, in between bites. Witnesses from the flight related to BJL how at this point many passengers gave a chuckle and looked around amused, having never heard this peculiar rule on a flight before. Lifting up his mask, Mandel spent the next ten minutes reading as the flight proceeded along the taxiway waiting to take off. About 15 (masked) minutes after he finished eating there was an announcement that the flight was being brought back to the gate. Out of nowhere, the stewardess approached Mr. Mandel, relaying the news: due to non-compliance he must immediately depart the airplane.

Flight patrons and frequent flyers from local families to bystanders watched in shock and dismay as the airline insisted that Mr. Mandel depart the airplane due to noncompliance to the “mask between bites” rule 15 minutes prior. Random bystanders started shouting, “This is so wrong!” , “I was here the whole time, he did not do anything wrong!” Not one to cause conflict, Mandel calmly said he would like to understand what exactly he did wrong to solicit this confrontation. The same stewardess continued the “mask between bites” mantra and would not engage in a conversation about it. She then called airport police to physically escort Mandel off the flight, to which he complied calmly out of respect for the others on board who needed to get to their destinations, albeit severely inconveniencing himself. Mandel noted and reassured, this was certainly not an anti-semitic thing, merely an extreme example of what happens when people get drunk on power, and abuse it.

BJL contacted Southwest Airlines for their side to the story which was not so far from Mr. Mandel’s. The airline told BJL how their reports indicated the customer was eating without wearing a mask for a more prolonged amount of time, in between bites, having not listened to the stewardess’s numerous requests to pull up his mask while eating. The airline also highlighted the following rule:

The following are times when a Customer may need to briefly remove their mask: o While eating, drinking, or taking oral medications. Prolonged periods of mask removal are not permitted for eating or drinking; the mask must be worn between bites and sips.

It’s the responsibility of our Crew to enforce federal regulations. “

BJL followed up inquiring as to whether the “Mask between Bites” was in fact a new rule, to which the airline responded that this was not a unilaterally implemented rule. Rather, as of February 2021 a new Security Directive has been administered as a direct result of President Biden’s Executive Order on the Face Mask Mandate which requires airline patrons to wear facemasks at all times, which includes in between bites. Since Southwest shares the Federal Mandate’s requirements with customers prior to travel - due to Biden’s executive order, it is legally grounds for airline removal.

Mandel responded: “It should be a given that people will have to pull their masks down to eat, especially now when so many have thankfully been vaccinated. Pulling down the mask whether for eating a meal, taking a drink, or having a snack, seems frankly less of an infraction than allowing customers to book middle seats, if you ask me.”

An eyewitness who was sitting right behind Mandel relayed the following. “We were on the runway about to take off. The stewardess passed his seat, pointed to his seat number, and announced we were heading back to the gate. Mr. Mandel was masked the entire time. An employee approached the seat and told him to leave, however he refused because he was masked and doing absolutely nothing wrong. Mr. Mandel relayed that at least he should be given the decency of a calm conversation or explanation why he, a masked and compliant frequent flyer, is being suddenly kicked off a flight. The employee then said that if he does not disembark immediately the entire flight will have to deplane. It was then that he got off.” The eyewitness continued, “ I’m all for being safe, but when you see things like this it makes you fear for your liberty. If you can fill middle seats because it’s better for you financially, then you can’t all of a sudden act self righteous when someone innocently eats a snack.”

As for the ending to Mandel’s story, he was switched to a flight on Monday morning; only this time he will most definitely keep his Twizzlers at home.

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Rabbi Ariel Sadwin Recaps 2021 Maryland Legislative Accomplishments

By: Rabbi Ariel Sadwin

BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Jeff Cohn

Last week, the Maryland General Assembly completed the 2021 legislative session in Annapolis. After COVID cut the 2020 session short, no effort was spared by the executive and legislative branches of our state government to ensure that the 2021 session would go on in a safe and effective manner.

While our participation as “distance-lobbyists” certainly had its share of challenges, we watched - day in and day out - the impressive dedication and perseverance that was on constant display from the legislators and their staff.

The 2021 session was Agudah Maryland’s fourteenth, but it was one which primarily saw the most intense debate focused on issues where our community does not have an established political philosophy (eg. police reform, sports betting, criminal justice, parole decisions, to name but a few).

Our legislative goals were focused on maintaining and expanding the programs that are vital to our community, and ensuring that our way of life is protected

State Tuition Assistance-BOOST

Precisely five years ago, a new program was created: a nonpublic school scholarship program called BOOST (Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today). The initial allocation was $5 million. In the years since, we’ve struggled in our efforts to expand the funding of the program. Each year, Governor Hogan allocates $10 million to the budget, only to have it cut down by the legislature. This time, however, the Governor pushed a bit harder and was able to secure the full allocation. We look forward to seeing many more students receive their due scholarships as a result of the additional $3 million added to the program.

The other private school benefit programs – the textbook/technology program and the aging school facilities grant, were level funded for an additional $9.5 million.

Security Grants

With school and shul safety a constant concern and priority, we are pleased that three separate state funded security programs once again received their due allocations. The nonpublic school safety improvement grant received $3.5 million, and the two additional security programs for entities considered to be at risk of a hate crime – one which benefits schools and another which also helps shuls and other non-profits – were level funded at $2 million and $3 million respectively. These programs, in addition to the increased funding of the federal NPSG (Non-Profit Security Grant), have provided our institutions and facilities with all of the tools needed to do “their part” towards protecting our people.

529 Tuition Savings

Ever since the changes to the federal tax code in 2017, Maryland’s 529 college investment program has also been a source of great benefit to those who invest in elementary and secondary education. This year the program once again withstood the threat of legislation removing K - 12 students from utilizing the generous benefits of Maryland’s 529 program.

However, legislation to modify access to the state contribution portion of the 529 program, known to many as the “Maryland Match”, passed the legislature. Most prominently, the eligibility criteria was changed, and a lifetime cap per account holder was implemented. All of the information on that can be found on our website.

Preserving Religious Liberty

Perhaps the most important issue for an organization tasked to represent a community such as ours and its institutions, is to ensure that our spiritual identity is preserved and that we can remain true to our religious mission. Agudah Maryland invested extensive time, effort, and resources this session to address potentially harmful legislation that would have effectively erased the unique character of private, religious schools. The bill attempted to impose uniform admission policies in all Maryland schools - both public and private - without allowing for appropriate safeguards. While efforts to bolster these protections made progress and areas of compromise were found, the legislation ultimately did not come up for a vote on the Senate floor.

COVID-19 Relief Bills

Throughout the many months of the pandemic, several major federal COVID–relief bills have been enacted to address a host of critical areas of need. We are indeed gratified that the needs of private schools families have not been ignored at such a critical time by congressional leaders of both parties. In Maryland, that has evolved into millions of dollars being allocated for use by our schools. In Agudah Maryland’s dual role representing the Jewish schools and as chair of the private school coalition, we continue to work with our partners and state education officials to ensure that the relief funds made available are allocated in a manner that serves the best interests and most vital needs of our schools.

Thank you for your interest in the work of Agudah Maryland, and thank you for being our trusted partner in protecting, advocating, and serving the needs of the community.

We wish you and yours continued good health, and a safe and successful completion of the school year!

Rabbi Ariel Sadwin

Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, Agudath Israel of Maryland

JEWELS / TA Bochurim Finish First Perek of Chumash and are Farhered by Rabbi Yaakov Hopfer Shlita

In yet another impressive milestone reached by the JEWELS Satellite Class at Talmudical Academy, the boys completed the first perek of Lech Lecha. Each Talmid dressed in his white shirt l’kovod the event. Many of them were able to read and translate all of the pesukim. Rabbi Yaakov Hopfer was invited to the siyum and to “farher” them on the material. After listening to the boys read and translate pesukim, they answered questions, and demonstrated a good understanding. Rabbi Hopfer was very impressed! In the build up to the bechina, the boys did chazarah with their Rebbi and their Morah. They were excited to start the next perek that day!

What a nachas it was for all involved to witness such pure simchas hatorah. In fact, the boys sang with the Rav after completing the farher. This was the result and culmination of hard work and determination by the Talmidim and their incredibly talented teachers. The day’s events were planned and orchestrated by their fantastic Rebbi, Rabbi Mordechai Abrahams, and Morah, Mrs. Tali Leshnof. They deserve a great deal of credit.

Many of the Moros who taught the boys for many years came to the siyum. Rabbi Yisroel Fuchs, Executive Director, and Mrs. Shuli Bamberger, School Director, were also present for this special simcha.

The JEWELS Satellite Class at Bais Yaakov also finished the first perek of Lech Lecha before Pesach and had their own special siyum