Around the Community

The Magic of TA Grandparents Day Photo credit: Esky Cook

On the morning of Friday, May 20th, there was magic in the air at TA, as over 850 grandparents, greatgrandparents, and special friends came to TA for an unforgettable experience. This was TA’s 5th Grandparents’ Day in recent years, and it proved to be an incredible experience to all those who came.

Upon arriving in the TA parking lot or via shuttle bus from the MTA down the road, the campus was alive with student and volunteer ushers greeting guests, music playing, and welcome banners and signs. After checking in and receiving a “Proud TA Grandparent” pin, a beautiful keepsake gift bag, along with a personalized schedule for the day, grandparents and special friends proceeded to the gym, where they were treated to a vast delectable assortment of breakfast items to choose from.

After spending some time eating, mingling and getting to know each other, it was time for the main event - the opportunity to spend time with their grandchildren. Using their personalized schedules and guided by an army of student ushers, grandparents found their way to their grandchildrens’ classrooms to participate in lessons and projects. In the classrooms, TA’s dedicated and talented Rabbeim, morohs and teachers treated our guests, and our talmidim, to fascinating and interactive presentations on a variety of topics. Our 5th grade grandparents were treated to amazing Gadol Fair presentations by our talmidim, and enjoyed seeing all of their beautiful showboards. Grandparents came away amused, inspired, uplifted, and a little more knowledgeable too!

The final part of the program, the Oneg Shabbos Assembly, took place on TA’s beautiful turf field, with ample cold water bottles distributed by our Middle School student ushers. After being joined by over 500 students, Rabbi Dovid Sass, the Lower School menahel, welcomed everyone and recognized all the members of TA’s administration, staff and faculty that worked so hard to allow Grandparents’ Day to come to fruition. He then introduced Rabbi Yehuda Lefkovitz, TA’s president of TA for over 3 decades to address the assemblage. TA was privileged to have Rabbi Menachem Goldberger lead the crowd in his famous and hartzig ‘lecha dodi’ tune, followed by a beautiful choir by our 5th graders, led by Rabbi Moshe Dovid Robinson. Rabbi Hillel Hexter kept the boys and grandparents on their feet with exciting raffles and prizes, while Rabbi Yitzchok Dinovitzer on the piano kept the music in the air!

At the conclusion of the program, all guests were presented with a piece of Erev Shabbos potato kugel as they departed. One grandparent commented, “this event was spectacular and we are so blessed to have been able to attend!” TA’s guests left with a feeling of pride in the Yeshiva, promising to join us once again at the next grandparents day in Yerushalayim!

An incredible event like this could not have happened without the hard work & devotion of many individuals. Thank you to Mrs. Sarala Wertenteil and Mrs. Aliza Samet for creating an amazing breakfast display, together with their group of amazing parent volunteers.

Our TA Administration, Hanhalah, Rebbeim, Morohs, teachers, and office personnel, all worked tirelessly in the weeks leading up to Grandparents Day to ensure the most unforgettable TA experience for our grandparents. Thank you for all of your hard work and everything you do for our yeshiva on a constant basis!

JCSL by “Shimz Cars” reaches mid-point of the 2022 season

With four games completed, the 2022 season of JCSL by Shimz Cars is running smoothly. And with the parity in team strength this season, the Camp Shoresh Title is still up for grabs.

Players continue to show up each week to the well-manicured Fired Up Promotions fields, wearing their snazzy Web Interactive Technologies jerseys. And thanks to the efforts of the “NW Regional Grounds Crew Team” of Ghee and Baba, the fields are fully lined and set with the appropriate Premier Financial equipment each Sunday morning

With a double-header played in week 3, many players were initially unsure of what changes to expect. But after consulting the Dr Stanley Markovitz Orthodontics League Rules and Regulations, all players minds were put at ease.

Continue below for some of the excitement from games 2, 3 and 4 of the season: --------------------------------------------

Stutman Chiropractic 16 KD Gold & Coin Exchange 8

Following a thrilling come back and walk-off win in week 1, Stutman Chiropractic decided to ramp things up in week 2. After giving up an early first inning run, the Chiropractors came back with 4 runs of their own, thanks to a couple of singles and a 3-run, opposite field HR by Shulie Hochman. Stutman Chiropractic played strong defense behind P Doc Stutman while turning things up on offense. Each player collected at least one hit with 9 getting 2 or more. Levi Ackerman and Yitzchok Sheen each hit bombs to the warning track while Dovid Pensak contributed with an opposite field home run.

Levin and Gann 16 PsychCare 15

the field and to return to their championship form from 2 and 3 years ago.

Trailing 3-0 after the top of the first, LG came back with 3 of their own to tie. However, some costly misplays and lack of timely hitting put LG behind for the next 7 innings. LG headed into the bottom of the 8th down 5, but never down in confidence.

After scoring 4 in the bottom of the 8th and giving up 1 in the top of the 9th, it was showdown time in the bottom of the 9th. Down by 2, Yehuda “Stay Young” Pensak (coming out of retirement from 2 decades ago) led off with a single down the 3rd base line and came into score later in the inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Yaakov “The Spinner” Rappaport walked to force in the tying run. Baruch Glazer then hit a scorching liner to right-center that got down to score AY “Really a SS” Rappaport for the winning run.

AMF Creative 15 Believe and Achieve Sports 8

AMF Creative came out firing from the 1st inning and never looked back. They were backed by the toughness of Yanky Goldsmith, who survived a violent collision and a previously fractured wrist, (and still managed to hit a 2-run HR) along with a stellar pitching performance. Dan Gutman was unstoppable with his 5-5 performance along with 4 RBIs. Aryeh Wolf went 3-5, also with 4 RBIs; and both Moishy Stal and Binyamin Guttman had 3 hits apiece. AMF Creative controlled Believe and Achieve with lockdown defense and inspired play in an all-around strong team win.

LBSI 18 Worthy Insurance 13

With the drama surrounding the allnight sub-committee deliberations and lack of clarity regarding the very many conflicting weather reports, the media completely neglected to cover what should have been dubbed the Game of the Season with the rematch of the 2021 JCSL championship game.

The Finkelstein Bash brothers of Baltimore along with their very Worthy teammates, were stymied by LBSI future stars Tzvi Perlman, Jesse Meyerowitz and Jake “The Rake” Grayman who went a combined 8 for 12 to hammer home the win. Steller defense by Moshe Mutterperl and Ari Elman helped solidify the win.

Long time LBSI co-captain and chief advocate Mendy Rauh said after the game, “Sometimes you just need to believe in the young guys and ultimately they will carry the day…”

AMF Creative 6 LBSI 2

In the second game of a twin-bill, on a scorching hot day, AMF Creative had to reach deep following a disappointing Game 1 loss. The team didn’t disappoint. AMF rode the shoulders of pitcher Yankie Goldmith, who found his groove and allowed just two runs to a very strong LBSI squad. The offense got started with a 2 RBI single from their senior captain Aaron Friedman. Moishy Stal finished the day 4-4 and Aryeh Wolf went 3-4 with 2-RBI. However, it was the defense that was once again on fire - led by veterans Binyamin Guttman, Binyamin Blackman, and Moishe Treitel.

Levin & Gann PA 13 Worthy Insurance 2

After dropping the 1st of the two-bill in uncharacteristic fashion, Levin & Gann made sure to straighten itself for its 2nd of the double header vs Worthy Insurance. It was Levin & Gann who was the “worthier” team in this match up as they won via the mercy rule, 13-2. With great defense, pitching and timely hitting from every player, Levin & Gann improved to 2-1 on the season.

Believe and Achieve Sports 6 KD Gold & Coin Exchange 4

In game two of the day’s doubleheader, Believe & Achieve Sports looked to bounce back from an upsetting first game loss. They took an early lead with some fantastic baserunning by speedy Yaakov Furman. After KD tied it up, Binyomin Goldenberg responded for B& A, knocking in a two-run homer. But Goldenberg wasn’t done. In the top of the 6th, with runners on second and third and two outs, he hit a two-strike change-up passed the shift, giving him 4 RNIs for the day and giving B & A a 2-run lead. Captain Meir Parry came in to close it out and pitched KD into a game-ending double play.

Around the Community Kehillas Ohr Yisrael Celebrates a Hachnasas Sefer Torah

Chanukas Habayis: NCSY Joins Yachad Baltimore In New Office For Baltimore Divisions Of OU Programs

Kehillas Ohr Yisrael, a vibrant community under dynamic Torah leadership, led by the young & energetic Rabbi Duvi Rubin, welcomed their first new Sefer Torah given by Moshe & Shoshi Meystel, in memory of their grandparents, with heartfelt & joyous singing and dancing. Hundreds of people escorted the Torah down Lightfoot Drive from the Meystel home on Chippewa Drive, passing Cherokee & Navajo Drives. They crossed Greenspring Avenue with Baltimore County Police & Shomrim coordination, towards their newly renovated Shul at 2429 Lightfoot Drive where the dancing continued with even greater excitement! Kehillas Ohr Yisrael has become a beacon of Torah, a close-knit family full of simcha, and the pulse of the Summit Park and Indian Village neighborhoods. To find out more, go to KOYB.org.

By: BJLife Staff Reporter

Photo credit: Shevi Lowenstein

BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Jeff Cohn

After close to 40 years in an apartment-turned-office on Clarks Lane Atlantic Seaboard NCSY joined Yachad Baltimore to move into a new office for the Baltimore divisions of Orthodox Union programs at 307 Reisterstown Road. It took about a year from the beginning stages of deciding to join Rosenbloom Pest Control as tenants of their new location until the opening of the newly renovated Orthodox Union office. This office will serve as the regional office for Atlantic Seaboard NCSY and the home of Yachad Baltimore. Atlantic Seaboard NCSY sees roughly 3,000 Jewish teens from Cherry Hill, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Greater Washington, and Virginia, with 100’s of teens participating in Baltimore’s 4 separate programs, NCSY, JSU, TYA, and BGCubed and 12 Baltimore-based staff members. In other words, with the tremendous help of Hashem, Baltimore NCSY outgrew their original workspace.

For over 35 years Yachad Baltimore has been providing programs to enhance the lives of Jewish individuals with disabilities and their families. Yachad, as its name denotes, is built upon the idea of inclusion and currently offers programming 4 nights week, highlighted by new and exciting separate-gendered events.

On Wednesday, May 18th, Atlantic Seaboard NCSY and Yachad Baltimore invited local volunteers, donors, and participants to celebrate the new office and its potential for even more growth in both numbers of participants and impact. The new office was decorated by Space Planning and Interior Design Services by Gali Wealcatch and brought to reality by AEG Contracting, who went above and beyond to create a home for NCSY and Yachad . The office features a large programming space where the event was held. This space allows Yachad and NCSY to host programming within the office and creates an environment of welcoming for participants, a place to visit with their NCSY and Yachad staff and advisors. Atlantic Seaboard NCSY and Yachad Baltimore welcome you to stop in and learn about the programming available to the community.

For more information regarding NCSY, please reach out to atsoffice@ncsy.org. For Yachad, please reach out Sima Levine, Baltimore Yachad Director, at levines@ou.org.