COMMUNITY

Executive Order Signed: Indoor Dining Suspended, Mask Required Over Age Of 2 In Baltimore City

By: Staff Reporter BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Jeff Cohn

An executive order has been signed in Baltimore City suspending indoor dining services in bars and restaurants, as well as requiring masks indoors for anyone over the age of 2.

The Mayor Jack Young’s executive order will take effect Friday at 5 p.m.

Under the mayor’s executive order, restaurants and bars are permitted to Family Members continue socially distanced outdoor dining, along with offering carryout and delivery services.

“I have always stressed that my administration would continuously monitor the data related to COVID-19, and that I would not hesitate to tighten restrictions if the data indicated we should,” Mayor Young said. “Today, I am taking steps to help safeguard and protect our residents, business owners, and their employees.

Additionally, those over the age of 2 must wear face coverings whenever they are in public and maintaining a social distance of at least six feet is not possible. City residents are not required to wear face coverings while seated outdoors at a food service establishment.

“These decisions were not easy, but are rooted in current data and trends we’re seeing in COVID-19 cases in Baltimore City,” Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa said. “When considered together, this information warrants the implementation of restrictions to help halt the further spread of COVID-19.”

The restriction on indoor dining and mandating of wearing cloth face coverings will remain in place for at least two weeks and will be evaluated by health officials daily. The Health Department will monitor the following COVID-19 markers: • Case counts • Case deaths • ICU and acute care hospital bed utilization • Case positivity rates

New Organization Offers Free Plug & Play Tablets to Hospital Patients and their • Number of tests performed

While the Baltimore hospital patients have been affected by or protocol purposes. Jewish community the limitations on and even complete Autopilot: Hospital staff are busy remains fortunate, banning of most hospital visitation. saving lives. The tablets have an autobli ayn hara, to have had few people The importance of family remaining pilot mode so they do not need a nurse hospitalized due to the virus, all with a hospitalized patient cannot be to help once they are plugged in near the patient. 24x7 Support: Technical support is available 24x7 (Yes, that is 7 because overstated, yet this has been mostly poskim have determined that this is impossible for the last few months. hatzalas nefashos) to help with any WellTab™️ is a new non-profit issues. organization providing the next best Baltimore Hatzalah ambulances thing – free plug & play tablets to paare equipped with WellTab tablets that tients and their family members in a are configured for use at participating growing number of locations throughlocal hospitals. Tablets have already out the country (about twenty so far) been used at Sinai Hospital, Johns and a few more in other countries, Hopkins and Levendale locally. The when family can’t be physically close WellTab team has already received apby. WellTab tablets help patients and proval for tablet use in all the major families communicate easily from a New York City hospitals among many safe distance. Keeping families conother places and they will help obtain nected with patients helps patients feel additional approvals from other local more motivated to survive and helps Baltimore facilities as needed. families feel more at ease about the Just to highlight one local example, wellbeing of their loved one. a Baltimore family had been unable to Unique features of WellTab tablets see or communicate with their elderly include: mother, who is at Levindale, for sevContinuous Availability: The taberal months. WellTab helps them feel lets are active 24/7 and can be the reconnected to her and enables the only form of contact a patient has with family to meaningfully communicate his/her closest of kin in hospitals and with her at any time. nursing facilities. Local Baltimore families of hospiPrivacy & Security: The tablets tal patients who do not receive tablets securely connect one patient tablet to through Hatzalah can obtain tablets one family tablet. There is not a potenby calling 917-999-0102. This is a tially vulnerable online meeting that free service. After hospitalization, the can attract trouble makers. tablets are returned to a local WellTab Hospital Friendly: Hospital staff distribution center. More information can easily pause the tablets for privacy about WellTab is available at https://

Maryland Added To NY/NJ Mandatory Quarantine List

New York and New J e r s e y have added 10 states to the list from which travelers are required to self-quarantine for 14 days, and Connecticut is expected to follow suit.

The newly-added states are Alaska, Del- aware (re-added), Indi- ana, Maryland, Mis- souri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Vir- ginia and Washington (re-added). Minnesota has been removed from the list.

New York plans to levy a $2,000 fine against certain travel- ers who leave airports in the state without submitting a form that says where the travelers are arriving from and where they’re going.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said the fines would apply to trav- elers from the list of states – including Texas and Florida – who are required to quarantine for 14 days under New York’s travel advisory. New Jersey and Con- necticut do not have this rule in place.

These are the 31 states currently on the list:

Maryland Added To NY/NJ Mandatory Quarantine List • Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California Delaware Florida Georgia Indiana Iowa Idaho Kansas Louisiana

Maryland

Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska North Carolina North Dakota New Mexico Nevada Ohio Oklahoma South Carolina Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Washington Wisconsin

NEW! COVID-19 Testing Resource

To help expedite testing Avi Rosenberg, MD, PhD. Testing in our community, kits will be available at several the JCOVID Medical different locations in the community. Team is now offering COVID-19 Turnaround time of tests is usually PCR (polymerase chain reaction) 2-4 days. To learn more, please visit testing under the auspices of Dr. COVID.baltimorejewishlife.com.

Eruv of Baltimore Announces New Eruv Expansion Along Green Summit Road

By: BJLife Newsroom BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Jeff Cohn

Anew Eruv boundary has been constructed all along Green Summit Road between Greenspring Avenue and Old Pimlico Road (see map) – the entire area south of Green Summit Road is now included within the Baltimore Eruv (including Summit Park Elementary School and the grounds surrounding the school).

Very important note: Only the sidewalk on the south-side of Green Summit Road is included within the Eruv – not the north-side sidewalk!

It is now possible to walk on Shabbos from Greenspring Avenue all the way across Green Summit Road to Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah Synagogue. And, all the homes now included within the new Eruv boundary can be accessed from the south-side sidewalk of Green Summit Road.

Many thanks to Eruv of Balti- more, Inc. for undertaking this proj- ect. Special thanks to R’ Yonah Ribiat for managing this project and over- seeing it’s construction.

The Jewish Community Softball League (JCSL) by “Shimz Cars” season begins

On Sunday, July 5 th the JCSL by Shimz Cars kicked off their season.

All teams arrived promptly to the PeoplesBank fields at Reisterstown Regional Park, ready to partake in the slow pitch league.

Prior to the opening week, the league’s 96 players were divided between eight teams via a draft system, ensuring parity in competition. The teams are each named for their individual team sponsors: Donny Ankri Architects, Fired Up Promotions, Kaylah Diamonds, LBSI, Levin &

Gann, Seven Seas Sushi, Stutman

Chiropractic, and The Kitchen Spot.

All teams will compete for seven regular season games, with the top four teams facing off in a round of playoffs. The playoffs winners then battle each other in the Premier Financial championship, where each team will vie to take home the Premier Financial Trophy.

Thank you to Yosef Chaim Weil (of Impulse Productions) for the photography that accompanies this article.

Week 1

Fired Up Promotions Seven Seas Sushi 10 10

It was a grinding game between Seven Seas and Fired Up Promotions, with both teams battling all game to put up runs. Heading into the 9 th , Seven Seas carried a 10-7 lead. Fired Up entered the bottom of the 9 th with some work to do.

Ahron Leib Wealcatch led off the 9 th with a single, followed by a Max Cantor double, which brought the shrewd and incorrigible veteran, Noam Shiman to the plate. Shiman hit a sac fly, David Flamm hit a double to score Cantor, and after a few more plays, Fired Up found themselves down 10-9 with two outs.

It came down to Ben “The Professor” Blackman who hit a scorching ground ball through the infield to score Flamm and tie the game. (When asked about his game-tying hit, Blackman turned the questioning on the interviewer, demanding to know “What happened?”)

Donny Ankri Architects Kaylah Diamonds 11 11

If you like hold-your-breath, softball, you would have enjoyed this one between Kaylah Diamonds and Donny Ankri Architects.

Drama started early with a highlight reel catch by Architect CF Levi Zaslow, who pulled in a sensational over the shoulder catch. Without time to react, Levi crashed into the fence, face first, while holding onto the ball.

The Architects struck first with 2 runs in the 1st but Kaylah stormed back with 6 runs in the 2nd. The Architects returned the favor with runs in the 6th, 7th and 8 th , leveraging clutch hits by Donny Ankri, Josh Zaslow, Howie Friedman, Modo Artman and Asher “The Beard” Sondhem.

In the top of the 9 th , Kaylah needed 3 runs to tie the game. Kaylah tied it up with a chance to take the lead but with 2 outs and a man on 3rd, Sondhelm made a marvelous diving outfield catch to end the game.

Levin & Gann The Kitchen Spot 8 3

Levin & Gann was determined to build on its momentum from last year’s championship season. L&G used patience, shut down pitching, and stingy defense to come from behind for an 8-3 victory.

It took about 5 innings for the offense to shake off the rust but once they got going, they never looked back. L&G was down 2-0 through 5 but scored runs in the 6 th , 7th, and 8th, while shutting down The Kitchen Spot for 6 straight innings.

LBSI Stutman Chiropractic 19 11

The boys of summer were back this week as Stutman Chiropractic took on LBSI in a heavyweight matchup. Pitchers Moshe Stutman and Aaron Adler both looked sharp, issuing few walks while keeping the ball in the park. Both lineups still managed to pile on runs though in a nailbiter contest into the late innings. After LBSI seemed to pull ahead with a 12-7 lead going into the eighth, Stutman Chiropractic strung together a one-out rally to pull within one run in the final frame. The defending pennant winners were able to find the gaps and claimed victory with a 19-11 final.

Week 2 Kaylah Diamonds Seven Seas Sushi 11 7

Seven Seas took a 2-0 lead in the first but Kaylah Diamonds responded early to get the game to 6-2.

A Seven Seas’ player came to the plate trying his very best to earn his sushi roll bounty for the week, only to hit a weak grounder to the catcher who defied all of Tom Emanski’s teachings and overthrew the ball to first base. Unfortunately for Seven Seas Sushi, the story did not end there.

A surging comeback was in full swing when the same Seven Seas’ superstar rounded third without touching the bag. Kaylah’s Adam Ben-Zev immediately challenged the play, selling the case to the Umpire (just as Lou Pinella did in his heyday.)

After the play was overturned, Kaylah Diamonds protected their turf the rest of the way while going on to squeeze out five more runs - a true testament that Diamonds are forever. Game ball was awarded to Richard Buck who made two gold glove worthy plays at the mound while leading the team with two walks as a hitter.

The Kitchen Spot Donny Ankri Architects 19 7

The Kitchen Spot won this one with pitching, hitting, and defense.

Stutman Chiropractic Levin & Gann 13 6

Yehuda Roll led the way with 4 hits as Stutman Chiropractic picked up their first win of the season. Mark Stutman added 2 hits and two RBIs while pitching a great game and his team supported him in the field behind him. Stutman Chiropractic put the game away with a 5 run 7th, featuring a “Little League home run” by Hillel Stutman, who dashed around the bases while the ball trailed wildly behind him.

LBSI Stutman Chiropractic 18 6

Fresh off their week 1 win, LBSI was positively fired up and brought the energy again with a relentless attack through 8 innings en route to an 18-6 victory over Fired Up Promotions. With some lockdown pitching by perennial Cy Young contender Aaron Adler and sparkling defense in left by Jeremy Bittan, LBSI kept Fired Up in check as they cruised to their second win of the season.

Maryland’s Economic Recovery Continues: State Adds 68,300 Jobs in June, Unemployment Rate Drops to 8%

By: Staff Reporter BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Jeff Cohn

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics today reported that the State of Maryland added 68,300 jobs in June, and the unemployment rate decreased to 8.0%—nearly 28% lower than the national unemployment rate and better than 32 other states in the nation. In May and June, as the state began its COVID-19 recovery, Maryland gained 96,700 jobs.

Maryland’s unemployment rate is the lowest in the region, including Virginia at 8.4% and the District of Columbia at 8.6%.

“Our economy is open, recovering, and doing better than many other states, but only the people of Maryland can keep our state open for business by continuing to follow public health guidance,” said Governor Hogan. “In Maryland, we were able to keep more than 70 percent of our economy open throughout this entire crisis without shutting down, and 98 percent of our economy is now open and able to operate in a safe way. We have already gained back nearly 97,000 jobs, and our unemployment rate has stayed much lower than the national rate, far better than most states in America, and is the very best among all the states in our region.”

On Wednesday, State Treasurer Nancy Kopp announced that the three major bond rating agencies have reaffirmed the State’s AAA bond rating, all with stable outlooks.

Also this week, Governor Hogan announced that the State of Maryland has uncovered a massive and sophisticated criminal enterprise involving more than 47,500 fraudulent unemployment insurance claims in Maryland and totaling over $501 million. Maryland’s swift and decisive actions to notify federal authorities and expose this illegal scheme helped shed light on related fraudulent criminal activity in other states across the country. The Maryland Department of Labor continues to coordinate on the ongoing investigation with the U.S. Attorney’s come Newcomers Night.

All shiurim are free of charge; however, sponsorship opportunities are available — you can sponsor a shiaccessing these lectures or for sponsoring a shiur can be obtained by either emailing nsheibaltimore@gmail. Office and the DOL-OIG.

According to today’s report, the Leisure and Hospitality sector experienced the most growth with an increase of 23,200 jobs. The Trade, Transportation, and Utilities sector increased by 14,900 jobs from the Retail Trade (10,100); Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities (3,200); and Wholesale Trade (1,600) subsectors. Other sectors that experienced growth include: Other Services (9,000); Education and Health Services (7,900); Mining, Logging, and Construction (5,700); Manufacturing (2,300); and Professional and Business Services

N’shei weekly Summer Lecture Series

N’shei Agudath Israel Yamim Noraim with a presenis presenting a weekly tation on August 10 by RebSummer Lecture Series, betzin Rochel Naiman, who which began on Monday, June 22. will guide us in “Reaching our The shiurim are all on timely topics Destination: Following the Teof interest to the women of Baltimore. shuva Map on the Journey from Upcoming shiurim will take place on Elul to Simchas Torah;” AuMonday evenings at 8:00 p.m. gust17, Rabbi Tzvi Mordechai

In total, there are eleven weekly Feldheim will discuss “Preparshiurim by prominent lecturers in our ing for Elul;” August 24, Mrs. community. Rabbi Heinemann initiatNaomi Frankel will lecture on ed the series, speaking on the topic of getting “A Head Start for the “Rosh Chodesh Tammuz, a Prelude to New Year;” and on August 31, the Three Weeks,” followed by Rabbi Rabbi Simcha Cook will disShlomo Slatkin, who discussed “Findcuss Rosh Hashanah. ing the Good in Others.” N’shei Agudath Israel of

Last week, Mrs. Esther Badian Baltimore is part of an internaspoke about “Shiva Assar B’Tamtional organization of women muz,” and this week, Rabbi Sholom dedicated to achdus, commuTendler discussed “The Answers to nity service, education, and Your Commonly Asked Kashrus charity. Our members include Questions.” women from different shuls,

Upcoming lectures include: July schools and organizations. 20, Rabbi Yisroel Roll will present: N’shei provides the women “Like Yourself and Stay Married: in our community with qualMarriage Gone Bananas — The Art ity programs to enhance their homes of Emotional Support;” July 27, Mrs. and their families. N’shei organizes Gitty Horowitz will speak about “Tihalachah and hashkafah shiurim, insha B’Av;” and on August 3, Mrs. Shicluding our annual Teshuvah and Pera Hochheimer will speak about “Tu sach shiurim given by Rabbi Moshe B’Av.” Heinemann, shlita. Each year, N’shei

The series will conclude with four officially welcomes the women who important lectures for the upcoming are new to the community at our Wel

ur or sponsor an ad. Information for (1,300).

com or calling/texting Mrs. Chavi Barenbaum at 410-935- 3010. You can also arrange in advance for a sign language interpreter. Due to the pandemic, this year, N’shei will not be having its annual N’shei Café. However, in addition to our Summer Lecture Series and other programming, N’shei has helped sponsor the highly successful Bnos in a Box. While we have not been able to raise money, we have been spending money on quality programs. We would greatly appreciate N’shei dues and donations, so we can continue bringing you quality programs. Dues are still only $20 and can be sent to: Mrs. Sandy Cohen at 6314 Cross Country Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21215. We are in need of volunteers to help with our programming, especially in the areas of publicity, telephone calls, and computers.

We look forward to having you join our lectures and participate in our events.