Around the Community

Chayeinu Presents Sessions for National Prizma Mental Health Summit

In May, Prizmah Center for Jewish Days Schools held their virtual Mental Health Summit. The three-day conference for Jewish day school educators and staff had presentations from top experts in fields relevant to the social-emotional mental health of our Jewish day schools. Colleagues from across North America participated in an interactive online gathering where they engaged in high level learning, collaboration, and growth.

Amongst the list of renowned presenters were Dr. Michael Kidorf, Ph.D and Erich Kaufmann, LCPC, two of Chayeinu Baltimore’s education experts. “Chayeinu is very proud to have presented at Prizma’s Mental Health Summit,” said Chayeinu’s director, Esti Ziffer. “By delivering 4 sessions over the course of the conference including three deep dives, Chayeinu had an opportunity to share on a national platform its unique data-driven approach to combating substance use through education and awareness. Tremendous thank you to Dr. Michael Kidorf and Erich Kauffman for devoting so much time to preparing and delivering these impactful sessions.”

Dr. Kidorf, Clinical Psychologist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Chayeinu’s Director of Education, gave a deep dive keynote presentation entitled “Teenage Drinking and Mental Health: Evidence-Based Prevention”. The indepth series spanned three 90-minute sessions to help school administrators and educators understand the link between teenage drinking and mental health concerns, and increase awareness of evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies. Dr. Kidorf explained that about 10 - 15% of teenagers experience a mental health disorder, and many of these disorders co-occur with problem drinking. Over the course of his deep dives, Dr. Kidorf explored the prevalence and consequences of teenage drinking; fundamental principles of substance use prevention that can be implemented in both school and home settings; and current approaches to the treatment of alcohol use disorder in adolescents, and how school faculty can support parents who have children misusing alcohol or drugs.

Mr. Kaufmann provides individual, couples and family therapy to treat anxiety, mood disorders, and addiction, and is an addictions counselor at the Retreat at Sheppard Pratt. His workshop, entitled “Vaping and Mental health: Connecting the Dots”, provided school administrators and educators factual information about the bi-directional relationship between vaping nicotine and mental health. Using scientific literature on the psychological harms of vaping, Mr. Kaufmann demonstrated that vaping often results in nicotine use disorder, an often chronic condition that is strongly associated with mental health concerns. He continued to outline that children with conditions like ADHD and mood and anxiety disorders are at heightened risk to initiate vaping and progress to nicotine use disorder. The workshop provided a strong foundation for developing educational and prevention programs to support children and their parents.

Rachel Dratch, Prizmah’s Director of Educational Innovation, described the Chayeinu sessions as “really well received. The topic is urgent and important. There was so much gratitude from participants that there is a forum to address these topics. Each of the presentations were thoughtful and relevant.”

Chayeinu promotes increased addiction awareness in order to prevent the harmful use of alcohol, drugs, and other addictive behaviors in our community. Within the Baltimore community, Chayeinu does so by providing educational programs and other resources to encourage healthy lifestyles and responsible choices.

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Strong Community Showing To Support Delegate Dalya Attar!

Memorial Day Kaddish Service held at Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery

Delegate Dalya Attar launched her re-election campaign at the Royal Restaurant, with over 200 supporters attending. Delegate Dalya Attar has served four sessions in Annapolis, and the election that will allow her to represent us for another four years is this July.

The room was filled with community members and supporters from across the 41st district, along with many elected officials and Delegate Attar’s colleagues in Annapolis. Delegate Attar thanked the crowd for their support, to which she attributed her success, and asked that everyone continue to support her by voting in July.

State Central committee candidates Alex Friedman, Shevy Friedman, Sandy Rosenbluth, Isaac Yitzy Schleifer, Tzvi Skaist and Tzvi Topper were in attendance as well, and they will be on the ballot with Delegate Attar.

Thank you to the community for their continued support for and showing up in large numbers to show their support. We urge everyone to go vote on July 19th!

The Jewish Uniformed Service Association of Maryland-Chabad (JUSA) and the Jewish War Veterans of Maryland and hosted a Kaddish Memorial Day Service at the Jewish Section in Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery, one of the only such ceremonies in the country. Over 60 veterans, elected officials and community members attended the meaningful service led by Rabbi Chesky Tenenbaum, director of Jewish Uniformed Service Association of Maryland, Chaplain Major in Maryland Defense Force and JWV. The service started with the reading of the names of Jewish service members that lost their lives since 9/11 by Commander of The Jewish War Veterans of Maryland, COL Erwin Burtnick (Ret.) and Rabbi Chesky Tenenbaum.

It was followed by heartfelt Kel Molei and mourners Kaddish in memory of our fallen Veterans and heroes.

For more information about JUSA’s Veteran programs please email rabbict@jewishusamd.org.

The commander of the Jewish War Veterans of Maryland COL Erwin Burtnick, USA (Ret), reading the names of Jewish service members that lost their lives since 9/11. Chaplain Major Rabbi Chesky Tenenbaum Leading the Kaddish Memorial Day Service.

Chaplain Major Rabbi Chesky Tenenbaum giving the invocation at the main Memorial Day event at Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery.

Around the Community OCA’s Hachnasat Sefer Torah

Over the past year, OCA invited students, parents, grandparents, and friends from near and far to participate in the unique opportunity to scribe a letter in a brand new Torah scroll. The new Torah served as a connection and link from one generation to the next.

On June 1 the school celebrated the culmination of a year-long Torah writing project with an overwhelming feeling of simcha, achdut, accomplishment, and appreciation to Hashem for reaching this milestone! The community came together to witness the last letter being written by OCA’s rabbinic advisor, Rabbi Binyamin Marwick. ECC students led everyone in song, and OCA 2nd graders wrapped the Torah in a wimple made with personalized drawings by OCA students.

After the ceremony, over 600 participants joyously danced the Torah to its new home in OCA’s newly renovated Dinovitz Beit Midrash. It was a spectacular sight! The evening concluded with a delicious dinner buffet for all to enjoy.

Yeshivas Ner Yisroel Memorial Day Yarchei Kallah 2022 Photo Credits: Eli Greengart

The Yeshiva hosted a two day Yarchei Kallah on Sunday and Monday of Memorial Day weekend. The sugya d’kalla was Pikuach Nefesh. The days’ schedule was full of shiurim and shmuezen by various members of the Hanhala. Hundreds of in person attendees and nearly a thousand more via livestream enjoyed hearing from Moreinu Rosh HaYeshiva HaRav Aharon Feldman, Mashgiach Ruchani HaRav Beryl Weisbord, Menahel HaRav Boruch Neuberger, HaRav Shraga Neuberger, HaRav Yissocher Frand, HaRav Tzvi Berkowitz, HaRav Dovid Rosenbaum, HaRav Zvi Einstadter & HaRav Tzvi Krakauer.

Sunday evening Rabbi Eytan Feiner of The White Shul spoke before a capacity filled Mechina Beis Medrash about Savoring the Unparalleled Sweetness of Torah. He spoke about the special nature of setting aside time for Limud HaTorah and specifically as a benefit for the upcoming Yom Tov of Shavuos. Rabbi Feiner’s drasha followed a Kabolas Panim and shmorg with the Yeshiva Rebbeim. Talmidim took the opportunity of the less formal setting to speak and spend time with their Rebbeim. At the closing dinner Monday evening HaRav Aaron Lopiansky of The Yeshiva of Greater Washington spoke about the importance of coming back to one’s personal Makom Torah and reconnecting with it’s unique kochos.

Talmidim came in from out of town to take part in all or some of the days. Alumni traveled in from across cities the country including: Atlanta, Brooklyn, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Far Rockaway, Five Towns, Los Angeles, Monsey and Passaic. There was a tremendous ruach among the participants. The energy spilled over to the Rebbeim, Yungeleit and current Talmidim in Yeshiva. Seeing so many fellow talmidim come back and learn in Yeshiva was very special. A current member of Kollel Avodas Levi remarked that the increased Koach haTorah in the Beis Medrash was palpable. A Talmid who traveled in from out of town said the following: The schedule, maare mekomos, shiurim, divrei chizuk and even the food could not have been better – and appears to have exceeded even high expectations. A special thank you to Mr. Bill Goldberg and Chef Daniel Levy for the magnificent meals and snacks throughout the Yarchei Kallah.