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Local Cybersecurity experts warn it only 8 takes one slip New program analyzes diversity 10 of Jewish identity Philanthropist Samuel Himmelrich Sr. 12 dies at 89 INSIDER Beth Tfiloh adapts b’nai mitzvah projects for social distancing
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Food & Arts Welcome fall with a Yankee pot roast 31 ‘Schitt’s Creek’ season 6 has a happy ending In Every Issue The Seen You Should Know D’var Torah The Last Word Amazing Marketplace
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7 14 37 41 42
Opinions Editorials 22 Opinions 23 Society Obituaries 34 Worth the Schelp 38 Around Town 40
27 Stump the rabbi
15 Pittsburgh shooting survivors stay strong
Cover photo: David Stuck
20 B’nai mitzvah DJs adapt
to the pandemic
36 Kol Shalom educates
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Baltimore Jewish Times October 23, 2020
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the seen Ruth Bader Ginsburg to get a statue in her native Brooklyn The late Jewish Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is getting her own statue in her native Brooklyn. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo named the members of a commission last week that would oversee the installation of a statue honoring Ginsburg, who died last month. Cuomo said in a statement that the statue would be somewhere in Brooklyn, the New York City borough where she grew up. “Her legacy as a jurist, professor, lawyer and scholar will endure for generations and we are honored to erect a permanent statue in memory of Justice Ginsburg,” Cuomo said. “Lord knows she deserves it.” The New York Times reported that there are a number of other initiatives to honor Ginsburg, including a bronze statue to be erected next year at a Brooklyn development. New York City last month named a municipal building in Brooklyn for Ginsburg. Among the 19 people Cuomo named to the commission are Ginsburg’s daughter and two granddaughters; Irin Carmon, the
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Jewish journalist and Ginsburg biographer who helped make popular Ginsburg’s late-in-life sobriquet, “Notorious RBG”; Nina Rotenberg, the Jewish NPR judiciary reporter who was a close friend of Ginsburg’s; and a number of her former clerks.
Cuomo also named five honorary members of the commission, including Hillary Clinton, Ginsburg’s colleague on the Supreme Court bench Sonia Sotomayor, and Gloria Steinem, the pioneering Jewish feminist. — Ron Kampeas
Sacha Baron Cohen by Joella Marano is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0; Ginsburg: Justin Katz
Holocaust survivor’s daughter wants her late mother’s interview out of ‘Borat’ sequel
Sacha Baron Cohen
The daughter of a late Holocaust survivor is suing to have her mother’s appearance in Sacha Baron Cohen’s upcoming “Borat” sequel removed from the film, stating that the comedy mocks “the Holocaust and Jewish culture.” Cohen, who is Jewish, interviewed Judith Dim Evans earlier this year “under false pretenses with the intent of appropriating her likeness,” reads the lawsuit, which was filed with the Superior Court of Fulton County, Ga., the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Cohen approached Evans for an interview in what he called a documentary earlier this year, the lawsuit states. Her daughter said that Evans, who passed away this summer, was “horrified and upset” upon learning that the film was a satirical comedy. The attorney representing Evans’ estate declined to tell the Journal-Constitution if Evans had signed a waiver before participating in the interview. In the original “Borat” film, which premiered in 2006, Cohen tricked several people into participating in a similar fake documentary to mock them. The film also satirizes the antiSemitism present in the Borat character’s home country of Kazakhstan. Sources told Deadline that Evans was included to mock Holocaust deniers, not herself, and she was “clued in on the gag” right after it was shot. The sequel, full title “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan,” premieres on Amazon Prime on Oct. 23. Amazon has yet to comment on the Evans lawsuit. —Cnaan Liphshiz jewishtimes.com
7
local news
Cybersecurity experts warn it only takes one slip
By Suzanne Pollak and Carolyn Conte
8
Baltimore Jewish Times October 23, 2020
Courtesy of Maryland Israel Development Center
N
onprofits are being hacked more frequently than ever, and the global pandemic is only making matters worse. “We do see a steep increase,” in cybersecurity breaches, said Asaf Weisberg, founder and CEO of introSight and board director of ISACA, an international association that assists technology professionals and their companies around the world. “The intensity is higher than before.” Because of the increased local threats, the Cybersecurity Association of Maryland, the Maryland Israel Development Center, the Embassy of Israel and Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP had a webinar Oct. 22 for National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. A panel of experts discussed solutions, grant opportunities and emerging technology trends. Four Israeli cybersecurity companies shared their insights and techniques on how to stay ahead of hackers. Howard Feldman “Israel and Maryland are global hotspots of cybersecurity development and, too often, was not believed to be a hate crime. targets of cybersecurity attacks. Our panel of Weisberg said that was common. Hackers strive experts [discussed] emerging cyber threats and to get the most money from easy, vulnerable technological solutions they have developed on targets. Usually, an attack on a Jewish nonprofit is the front lines of cyber protection,” said webinar not an anti-Semitic incident. “If the intentions are moderator Howard Feldman, who is partner and criminal, they don’t care if you are Jewish or not. co-chair of Data Security and Privacy Practice, They are after the money,” he said. Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP, as well as a Taking money from an account or encrypting MIDC board member. files and then demanding money to restore the Hackers are taking advantage of the pandemic information, which is called ransomware, are the as more people work from home, often using two most common ways of hacking organizations, computers that do not have the latest antivirus and they are not new, he said. software. “People are working outside their comfort A third way, however, has arisen recently. zones, and the attackers are taking advantage of Hackers pretending to be IT professionals text that,” Weisberg said from his home in Israel. company employees to say they are eligible for Last month, The Jewish Federation of Greater a COVID-19 grant and then go on to ask for Washington announced hackers stole $7.5 sensitive information, something that should never million from the United Jewish Endowment be divulged to a stranger. Fund and diverted that money into international Local organizations are aware and cautious. accounts. The hackers went for the money and At the Baltimore Jewish Council, The Associated: did not steal donor information, according to the Jewish Federation of Baltimore maintains a robust Federation, which also noted that the incident system of security to prevent hackers and threats.
This includes regular trainings for employees and periodic tests. “We are aware that there are a lot of risks, and what happened with the D.C. Federation has certainly prompted all of us to review our policies and procedures,” said Howard Libit, executive director of the BJC. “I know that our IT experts are constantly looking at ways to strengthen our systems.” A recent survey by ISACA found that only 51% of technology professionals are highly confident that their cybersecurity teams can detect and respond to a cybersecurity attack, Weisberg noted. Only 59% believe their cybersecurity team has the right tools and resources to perform their job effectively. The survey included more than 3,700 IT and cybersecurity professionals from 123 countries. Almost all those taking the survey — 92% — say that cyberattacks on individuals are increasing and 87% of the respondents believe that the quick transition to working from home due to the global pandemic has increased data protection and privacy risk. That is what is believed to have happened to the D.C. Federation. Since then, Federation employees are not permitted to use their personal computers for work, and passwords have been changed. Those are important steps, Weisberg said. He strongly recommended that all companies, no matter how small the workforce or its budget, either hire a cybersecurity officer or designate a current employee to be responsible for all such matters. “You need someone to coordinate,” he said. While Weisberg understands
that many nonprofits don’t have additional funds for this, he stressed, “it’s the cost of doing business.” If employees only use company computers, it is easier to ensure those computers have the latest antivirus software and all updates are done regularly. Often, personal computers are not updated. Another problem is that many home computers are used by several family members. “You never know where your kids are browsing,” Weisberg said, making it harder to ensure no one goes to an insecure site. During October, National CyberSecurity Awareness Month, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued tips to be secure at work. The department recommends that everyone treat their business information as they do their personal information and never share personally identifiable information through tax forms and payroll accounts. Use strong passwords that are not easy to guess, and keep all software updated to the latest version available. Turn on automatic updates and set security software to run regular scans. The federal agency also advises limiting the use of social media. “By searching Google and scanning your organization’s social media sites, cybercriminals can gather information about your partners and vendors, as well as human resources and financial departments,” it notes. It only takes one slip. Many data breaches are traced back to a single security vulnerability, phishing attempt or incidence of accidental exposure. Do not click on unknown links, delete suspicious messages right away and when in doubt don’t open it.
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9
1/10/19 3:10 PM
By Carolyn Conte
I
n a new series, Chizuk Amuno Congregation, the Jewish Museum of Maryland and a variety of community members will put on informational and engaging events to explore the ethnic, racial and cultural diversity of Jewish identity in “Jews of Color, Jewish Institutions, and Jewish Community in the Age of Black Lives Matter.” The multiprogram series consists of virtual events, from Oct. 18 to Feb. 28, on a variety of topics such as population studies,
Latino Jewish heritage and the tensions between Black Lives Matter and Zionism. While each of the events has an expansive theme to review, the organizers hope that by peeking into these issues they can broaden the community’s concept of Jewish identity. A comprehensive preview and registration information is available on JewishMuseumMd.org. The organizers, Tracie GuyDecker, deputy director of JMM; psychologist Harriette Wimms; and Chizuk Amuno
Michael F. Klein The officers, board, and staff of the American Technion Society (ATS) mourn the loss of Michael F. Klein. He was a member of the ATSBaltimore Leadership Council, former member of the national BOD, and honorary lifetime member of the Technion Board of Governors. He was a Technion Guardian, whose many gifts included the Michael F. Klein Architectural Studio Complex. He received a Technion Honorary Fellowship and took part in the 21st Century Leadership Development Program. We extend our condolences to his wife Jennifer and the entire Klein Family. American Technion Society Steve Berger, President Zahava Bar-Nir, Chair of the Board Michael Waxman-Lenz, CEO
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Baltimore Jewish Times October 23, 2020
Harriette Wimms is an organizer of “Jews of Color, Jewish Institutions, and Jewish Community in the Age of Black Lives Matter.”
Leslie Kahan, curly girl photographyby
New program analyzes diversity of Jewish identity
board members Andrew Miller and Abram Kronsberg, shared their goals for the program. Kronsberg first suggested that Chizuk Amuno offer an extended series. “Other programs have been done, but nothing particularly in-depth like this. This is an issue that will be here, and has been here, long term, and so we have to [explore it] long term,” he said. Because he sits on JMM’s board, Kronsberg reached out to GuyDecker for JMM to join the program. Guy-Decker explained that the series aligns with JMM’s mission. “I use this quote regularly, that museums are not community centers, but they can be the center of community,” she said. JMM integrates diversity into its exhibit naturally. “We included a kippah from a nonbinary person in a collection of kippahs, and in a wedding exhibit, we integrated same-sex couples. We are not the arbiters of who is Jewish. We are a museum of everyday Judaism. There are Ashkenazi Jews and also Black Jews. We would not be doing our job if we did not tell everyone’s story.” Andrew Miller, who chairs the social justice board at Chizuk Amuno, was the synagogue president at the time of Freddie Gray’s death, which inspired his passion for the movement. He remembers an event where Ilana Kaufman, executive director of the Jews of Color Field Building Initiative, came to speak at the synagogue, and a lot of Jews of color attended. Miller spoke with some of the visitors and learned more about why they usually felt unwelcome in Jewish spaces. One woman, for example, had been mistaken for a caregiver when she attended a bar mitzvah. “Every one of us has that
story,” said Wimms, who’s Black — a fact she jokes her friends have only suddenly realized. When Wimms attended bat mitzvah classes a while ago, she saw a white woman enter the building unquestioned, but security decided to stop and question Wimms. Because of these misunderstandings around Jewish identity, Miller has been unafraid of backlash when Chizuk Amuno supports Jews of color. When people were unhappy that the synagogue had put up a “Black Lives Matter” banner, he refused to rescind it. For Kronsberg, his motivation is even more personal. “I have a Korean grandchild,” he said. “For me, I don’t want this to be an unwelcoming community for them. We as Jews are always afraid we’re losing people and decreasing in population. Well, there are many people who want to join, who we need to welcome. We also have Jews in distress.” While several recent events, such as the Baltimore Jewish Council’s “18 Days Exploring Racial Justice” and Baltimore Hebrew Congregation’s concert on Black and Jewish music, have explored issues around race and inclusion in the Jewish community, each event offers new options for growth. “This isn’t a laundry detergent where you have to pick the best brand,” Guy-Decker said. “The truth of the matter is this is not new, and it’s not simple. Just like an exercise, you should practice as many [programs] as you have time for. What’s great about being an anti-racist is that you don’t have to pretend you aren’t racist. We’re all swimming in a soup of racism.” cconte@midatlanticmedia.com
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Philanthropist Samuel Himmelrich Sr. dies at 89
S
By Carolyn Conte
amuel Himmelrich Sr., a prominent philanthropist from Pikesville, died Oct. 11, two days short of his 90th birthday. Himmelrich, a congregant of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, was a real estate developer and founder at Himmelrich Associates, Inc. He served as both a life director and chairman of the board at The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, in addition to serving as chair of endowment and on the special task force of Baltimore’s Holocaust Memorial. He
was also vice president of the Council of Jewish Federations. He was born in Baltimore, where he graduated from the Park School of Baltimore. He attended Lehigh University and then served in the U.S. Air Force. Himmelrich stood for unconditional love and honesty, according to his son, Billy Himmelrich. “He didn’t hesitate to share his opinions,” Billy Himmelrich said. “He always said, ‘If you say the truth, you don’t have to remember what you said.’” Billy Himmelrich recalled his
dad’s propensity to share what was on his mind unabashedly. Samuel Himmelrich Sr.’s daughter, Sue Himmelrich, remembered her father as a sporty family man, who supported the Jewish community and who had a flair for food. “He made us breakfast every day and made my mom her coffee because she wasn’t a morning person. And you know, my brother Alfie now does that for his family,” she said. “There is something to be said about role modeling.” Sue Himmelrich emphasized that her father’s devotion to the
community was only one half of the team he made with his wife, Barbara. They created a legacy of charity. Billy Himmelrich agreed. “It’s hard to talk about my father without talking about both of my parents, because they were very much one unit,” he said. For example, Barbara Himmelrich, who served as a head of The Associated board, and Samuel Himmelrich once went on a trip to Russia, where they salvaged Judaica items such as books. In addition to donating time, financial support and gifts to
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Baltimore Jewish Times October 23, 2020
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Samuel Himmelrich Jr. at his father’s grave
Baltimore’s Jewry, they also united the community. “He had this uncanny knack for bringing together people who might have different opinions and doing it in an elegant way where everyone was heard and could come to a common ground,” said Marc Terrill, president of The Associated. Terrill described Himmelrich
as a thoughtful, generous and principled gentleman. They first met in Israel after Terrill accepted The Associated’s invitation to come to Baltimore. “I was meeting the leaders, Barbara and Sam, in Jerusalem in October of 1989. That first time I met Sam, he was just such a kind, warm-hearted person. He let me know that even though I didn’t have family in
Baltimore, I do now,” Terrill said. The two participated in more mission trips together, to the point where they greeted each other with “How’s my buddy?” and a big hug. Himmelrich was even at Terrill’s wedding when a snowstorm in 1993 trapped them in Pittsburgh. “I joke that I had the privilege of sharing my honeymoon with him and 25 other guests,” Terrill said.
Terrill hopes the community remembers how grateful Himmelrich was. “He understood that with success and accomplishment comes responsibility,” Terrill said. “He was always giving back and showing expressions of gratitude. I think that’s a lesson for all of us.” Himmelrich is survived by his wife of 68 years Barbara; children Sue Himmelrich, Samuel K. Himmelrich Jr., Alfred Himmelrich and William Himmelrich; grandchildren Hilary Soloff, Molly Soloff, Anna Himmelrich, Jacob Himmelrich, Carrie Himmelrich Salem, Ella Himmelrich, Hannah Himmelrich, Sam Himmelrich, Max Himmelrich and Charlie Himmelrich; and four greatgrandchildren.
cconte@midatlanticmedia.com
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YOU SHOULD KNOW ...
Harrison Spatz I imagine it’s already hard to communicate with someone when your hands are in their mouth! Well, it’s a little more challenging these days. You have to speak up and clearly. To be totally honest, I mean, my sessions take a long amount of time and I see them on a regular basis and am in touch on how they’re doing already so it isn’t awkward. I know them well. What got you interested in dentistry? I like to paint, draw, sculpt. The specialty I’m in is making dentures for patients. It’s kind of like a mix of being a dentist and a sculptor.
By Carolyn Conte
H
ar r is on Sp at z , 28, is a dentist at the University of Maryland who specializes in dentures. Starting July of 2021, he will expand his work with prosthetics at the Maxillofacial Prosthetics Fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, which he was recently accepted into. In this fellowship, he will treat patients with cancer or trauma and find prosthetic solutions for them.
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Spatz, who is from New York, now lives downtown near the University of Maryland. He is active with Chabad of Downtown. How are you liking Baltimore under quarantine? I’ve been here for about two years now. When I first came to look for housing, I met the rabbi [Levi Druk] who was very nice and inviting. Him and his wife invited me and my family to meet him and
Baltimore Jewish Times October 23, 2020
What are some difficult patients you’ve dealt with? We get some patients who have been wearing dentures for a while, and by the time they get to us, well, it’s a complicated case. So we need to explain to them a groundwork of what we’re doing and take things step by step. Sometimes it can be hard to help them understand where we’re coming from. What’s a time when you went outside your comfort zone? Starting residency was kind
of difficult at the beginning. There was a lot of selfteaching. So coming straight from dentist school, it was difficult to get my selfconfidence up to what I was doing. Eventually I got the hang of it. Now, I actually teach in the dentist clinic twice a week, which I actually enjoy. It’s like, see something, do something, teach something. What do you do outside of work? In my free time, I like to explore the city. It’s a little difficult nowadays, but I like to find new restaurants or explore new places, like Ekiben in Fells Point. They serve Asian fusion chicken sandwiches, my favorite, there. You blew the shofar for your patients? Yes, this is the second year I’ve done it. The rabbi [Druk] asked me to last year. It’s really nice. There’s a few patients who can’t see their families or do anything like that now, so it’s something for them to enjoy the holidays. What does your Jewish identity mean to you? I think it’s a very big part of who I am in terms of personality. It influences how I am, the kind of people I am around. I try to go Chabad once a month, keep the cultural traditions as much as I can. cconte@midatlanticmedia.com
Mike Norkin, Cherished Memories Photography
have Shabbat dinners. I am a dentist resident, so there’s a lot more restrictions for seeing patients now, to keep myself and the patients safe. There are restrictions to drilling ... and we wear masks, which makes it hard to communicate.
national By Toby Tabachnik
Wounded victims of synagogue shooting stay strong
Wedner: Ron Wedner; Leger: Adam Reinherz
I
t’s been two years since an antiSemite wielding an assault rifle stormed the Tree of Life building in Pittsburgh, murdering 11 worshippers at the three congregations housed there: Dor Hadash, New Light and Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha. Not a day goes by that Andrea Wedner doesn’t think of her mother, Rose Mallinger, who, at the age of 97, was killed that day. The two were seated in the sanctuary, as they were most Saturday mornings, and before they could run, the gunman opened fire. “I think of her every day, multiple times a day,” said Wedner. “And it still hurts. It hurts the most that she’s not here to enjoy the family and be with us. And what bothers me a lot, too, is the way she died.” Of the 13 worshippers shot that day, Wedner, a member of Tree of Life, and Dan Leger, a member of Dor Hadash, were the only two to survive. Now, two years later, although life is forever changed for both of them, they remain strong and resilient, determined to infuse their lives with meaning. Although some of their injuries are permanent, both Leger and Wedner say they have adjusted. “I’m doing well physically,” said Leger, a retired nurse, who was shot in the chest. “Some days are better than others. I still have some physical problems that will probably be around for the rest of my days that are the result of this. But I’m alive, and they are manageable, and here I am.” Wedner, a former dental hygienist, who was shot in the arm, acknowledged her hand “is not going to be 100%,” but she does have use of it.
“Some things are a little more challenging,” she said. “I’m grateful to have my arm and my hand. So I just deal with it.” Both are grateful to have survived, and are resolute to get the most out of life. While the pandemic has caused each of them to shift some plans — Wedner and her husband, Ron, planned trips that had to be canceled, and Leger’s plans to provide nursing services to the underserved are now on hold — they are both filling their days with activities that bring them joy and fulfillment. As he did before the pandemic, Leger volunteers with the CheckMates program through AgeWell Pittsburgh, making calls to those who are homebound. He also checks in with members of Dor Hadash and is active on the steering committee of the 10.27 Healing Partnership, which helps those impacted by the shooting and others who have experienced trauma induced by hate. And he writes a lot, especially poetry. “As Jews, we’re not supposed to really retire,” Leger said. Wedner, who is also on the steering committee of the 10.27 Healing Partnership, fills her days babysitting her granddaughters, baking, taking walks, reading and keeping in touch with family and friends. In the weeks and months following the shooting, Wedner, like others who were directly impacted by the massacre, was showered with messages of love and support from the local community, as well as from around the world. She is still feeling that love, which she calls “the key to my healing.” “I’ve met so many wonderful people
Andrea Wedner
Dan Leger
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from this,” she said. “And it’s enriched my life.” As the two-year commemoration of the shooting approaches, Wedner anticipates spending the day with her family. “I know last year, leading up to it, and that day, I heard from so many people, and it was really helpful,” she said. “It’s so helpful that we get the support we get from family, friends, just the community.” Leger is trying “not to overplan,” for Oct. 27, 2020, he said, anticipating he will spend the day with his wife, Ellen, and Miri Rabinowitz, whose husband Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz was killed during the massacre. “I’m trying not to overthink it and to let whatever emotions come my way have a place to be.” He has, though, been trying to “fill in some blanks,” he said. Not only has he finally started to examine, and process, his
medical records concerning his injuries, but he is also trying to identify all “the helpers.” “I’ve met with some of the police officers who have been involved, who came to help, and it led me to reach out to the Public Safety department to try to get a list of just who were all the people who were there that day,” he said. “Who were the helpers? Who came? I’m beginning to compile those names and it is just an extraordinary list, an extraordinary number of people who ran in our direction. They didn’t run away. They ran in our direction and they came to help.” He hopes to be able to reach out to some of those people, and, if he is allowed, to acknowledge them publicly. The trial of the gunman still has not been set, the delay due in part to the federal government seeking the death penalty. While Wedner does
not spend a lot of time thinking about the eventual trial, Leger finds its delay difficult. “It’s a prolonging and agonizing process that needs to come to as much closure as it can,” he said. “When people lose their lives, the people who lose those people from their very existence don’t have the opportunity of closure. But there are opportunities for closure about certain elements of the experience.” He is trying, he said, to “learn as much as I can about why it is that we have such a proclivity in our culture for not being able to communicate well enough so that something like this can be avoided.” There are many opportunities, Leger stressed, to honor the memories of “the beautiful people that we lost that day, things like learning opportunities and service opportunities. If anyone
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ever thinks they need an excuse to do something good, think about one of these people and do something in their memory. That’s how we keep them alive.” For Wedner, the memory of her mother, Rose Mallinger, is constant. She remains an inspiration and she is “always around.” “Life goes on,” Wedner said. “You have to keep going. My mother would want us to do that and I have to live on for her and through her. A lot of the things I do and say, I think of her. She’s always there. She keeps me going. She was a strong lady, so I think I may have inherited that from her. She was pretty amazing. She was a hoot. She was something, she really was. I miss her. We all miss her.” Toby Tabachnik is the editor of the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle, an affiliated publication of the Baltimore Jewish Times.
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B A R / B A T iNS I DE R
BETH TFILOH
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F
rom high school graduations to family vacations to wedding ceremonies, people have had to either make drastic changes to their planned life events or else place them on indefinite hold, thanks of course to coronavirus. B’nai mitzvah are no exceptions to this, with synagogues such as Beth Tfiloh Congregation having to find creative new ways to keep ancient customs chugging along. “Because of COVID and everything, we’ve kind of changed our format for how we’ve been doing it,” said Rabbi Eli Yoggev, one of Beth Tfiloh’s rabbis, on how the synagogue has been approaching bar and bat mitzvah learning and projects this year. “So we’ve been having all of our bar and bat mitzvah students, there’s
like around 20 of them, we’ve been having them do projects together.” In this new format, the b’nai mitzvah students meet over Zoom once a month with their instructors, with each student doing a similar project to the others, Yoggev said. One example involved students writing to or calling up senior members of the community who were unable to leave their homes, Yoggev said. “We connected one bar mitzvah student with one senior member of our community,” he said, “provide them questions they could ask them, kind of like do an interview, and either call them or write them.” Yoggev, in addition to Rabbis Mitchell Wohlberg and
By Jesse Berman
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17
Yoggev: Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, courtesy of Yoggev; Miller: Spencer Miller; Bresler: Netanel Fenichel Photography
Chai Posner and Synagogue Program Director Cherie Brownstein, worked to put the program together. “We received a wonderful response from both sides,” Yoggev said. “The kids enjoyed it, and the senior members, they wanted to talk more, and they felt very empowered that someone reached out to them and showed them love.” Sixth-grader Ami Bresler of Pikesville spent the summer emailing back and forth with one of the seniors, as well as a few children from Israel. “It’s really fun and a special thing to do,” Ami said. “We’re able to email or send notes to older people, and email people from Israel that weren’t able to come into America due to COVID.” Not content to call or write, at least one student,
Rabbi Eli Yoggev
Spencer Miller
Ami Bresler
seventh-grader Spencer Miller of Baltimore, actually went to speak with the senior resident he was assigned in person, outdoors and six feet apart. The senior owns a boat at a local marina, and “seemed like a very nice guy,” Spencer said. “I’m interested in sailing, and he also is, so it was great connecting with him outside.” Another project involved
packing bagged lunches for those going through hard times. Donning gloves and sanitizer, Spencer explained, students assembled bags filled with items from their homes, including sandwiches, applesauce, pretzels, candy and drinks. The bagged lunches were then brought to a preapproved drop-off for distribution. Despite all the challenges that
come with COVID-19, Spencer said that his bar mitzvah project this year was actually “more fun, and it’s definitely helped me learn the valuable lessons [that] no one’s alone, and that you should always help people when they’re in need and connect with other people, so no one has to be alone.”
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“But then, the child comes in for introductions. Everyone is focused on them. That is an electric moment. Everyone is there for that child. And I can see it, because I’m on stage right there behind them looking out at everyone who is there for them.” Sherman started DJing in 2013 while he was studying business. He now uses his degree to run the marketing department at Washington Talent while still DJing for the company of more than 100 musicians. “I love it, I like the people, I love that we deliver happiness every weekend,” Sherman said.
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Sherman: Ricardo Reyes; Pachino: Christine Schaeffer
Top: Jake Sherman; Bottom: Mike Pachino DJs in 2019.
By Carolyn Conte
Then the economic earthquake of COVID-19 shook up the company. At first, there was a huge decrease in bar and bat mitzvahs. “Everyone in the industry was like, what do we do? The buzz word was pivot. We have a lot of people and we’re starving for work,” he said. But the sun came out, quite literally. “Things started to open up as it got hotter, for outdoor events,” Sherman said. Today, bar and bat mitzvahs look different than before the pandemic. “In any party now, I separate myself [and DJ station]. I wear my mask the second I go to load up,” he said. “I will tell you, the few that I have had? People sometimes forget we’re in a pandemic. It’s interesting to see people still find a way to celebrate the milestones in
life, whether it’s marriage or a mitzvah.” People will dance from a distance, often with a mask on. Though it’s difficult to be sure guests have fun when you can’t see their faces, it’s a challenge Sherman’s willing to tackle. Recently, his company entertained for a backyard party where they streamed the service for more guests to join virtually. For virtual events like this, they send a videographer to set up cameras beforehand. While about 15 people join in person, sometimes 75 join on a Zoom feed. “We manage who can see the feed and allow them to come in and pin them to the screen, and control the audio and visual of it all. So it’s double duty work,” Sherman said. After the party, they create
highlights of the day and share recorded messages. Even with all these safety precautions, there’s still a line to tiptoe across. “We have to make sure we’re safe and the customer is having the experience they want. No one’s ever had to stop because they felt so unsafe yet,” Sherman said. Mike Pachino, a DJ also and member of Har Sinai-Oheb Shalom Congregation, can understand the sentiment. To accommodate safety concerns, he’s pivoted to be a virtual event producer. Since lockdown, he’s orchestrated more than 70 virtual events, including what he calls ZOOMitzvahs. For the online parties, Pachino turns homes into television studios. He sets up cameras for multiple angles, arranges audio and lighting,
offers a tech dress rehearsal and creates a post-montage. He keeps guests upbeat with family-friendly songs while they dance around their living rooms. “Then, I’ll lead interactive games, keeping the crowd moving, smiling and having fun,” he said. The games have to be adapted a little, such as a soccer version of a ring toss. Even with all of the creative options DJs are offering, Pachino doesn’t believe things will return to normal for a while. “I don’t believe that things will go totally back to normal until we are all vaccinated,” he said. “Most of my clients have postponed their service or party to the spring or fall of 2021.” And boy, does he hope that comes soon. cconte@midatlanticmedia.com
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editorials
For president, Joe Biden W
e are in the midst of a presidential election like no other in our lifetime. Although the structure of the race is familiar — two major political party slates contesting one another, and several fringe competitors — the real focus in this election has little to do with the issues and policies that differentiate the contestants. Instead, we are in the unique circumstance where this presidential election turns on voter opinion of the incumbent, President Donald Trump, and whether he has the character, fitness, temperament and competence to lead us for another four years. We all know that there are those who love Trump, and those who don’t. That is to be expected in any political race involving multiple party representatives. But what is different this year is that even voters who otherwise might be sympathetic to a more conservative approach to government are weighing whether they want four more years of Trump, or whether they have had enough. We fall solidly in the camp that has had enough. We believe that a change
in presidential leadership is necessary for the good of our country, and for the continuation of our democratic system of government. We are not unaware that in nearly four years in office, Trump has accrued several accomplishments — many of which are particularly appreciated by members of our community. And we acknowledge that, in the process, Trump has been remarkably faithful to his base and has delivered on many of his campaign promises. But that is all beside the point. That’s because irrespective of our views on each of the policy issues, we cannot ignore Trump’s frightening character flaws and inclinations that have infected his presidency. The concerns are many, and each is significant. Trump’s narcissism, isolationism, fearmongering and promotion of hate and demagoguery reflect a troubling combination of personality flaws and political tactics that are unbecoming of the leader of the free world. His inability to engage civilly with opponents, wholly uninformed
Barrett is qualified J
udge Amy Coney Barrett is impressive. She is intelligent, articulate, confident and poised, and performed well in her public testimony over several days of lengthy proceedings last week before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Barrett has served as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit for the past three years. She has outstanding credentials, and is President Donald Trump’s nominee to fill the U.S. Supreme Court seat held by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Her nomination, hearing and anticipated Senate vote have been rushed by the administration and its Republican allies in an effort to seat Trump’s third Supreme Court pick before next month’s election. 22
Baltimore Jewish Times October 23, 2020
In an unusual year marked by the chaos of the coronavirus and the heightened political posturing prompted by the impending national election, the Barrett nomination process stands out as a naked power move by politicians in a position to effect their will. And they have every right to do so. But it was the political reality of the Barrett hearings, and the opposition’s recognition that Republicans have the votes to elevate Barrett, that resulted in actual “questioning” at the hearing to be very limited. Instead, most of the time was spent by senators (on both sides) making speeches and pandering to their base, only asking questions designed to underline a particular political point.
rejection of science and medical guidance, and unrepentant disregard for the truth leaves voters with little choice but to consider alternatives. Finally, Trump’s disdain for process, disrespect for historic international and domestic governing structures and procedures, moody unpredictability and flip-flops on policy issues, incessant public criticism of those with whom he disagrees — including his own administration’s leadership — and cavalier practice of governing by tweet, all contribute to the perception that Trump’s world is untethered from reality and places our government and each of us at risk. Trump’s America is not the America we want. Fortunately, we have a quality alternative. Joe Biden is a decent, kind and caring human being, a longtime friend of our community and a steady presence and experienced hand who can restore civility, kindness and compassion to our domestic discourse and who can Please see President, page 26
Not surprisingly, Barrett refused to take the bait. She was disciplined in her responses, yet polite and unemotional in the face of repeated challenges and attempted provocation. There’s a lot at stake. As another staunchly conservative justice on the Court, Barrett could pull decisions away from the 5-4 seesaw of recent decades and set it firmly on the conservative side. Democrats fear that could spell the end of the Affordable Care Act and return abortion rights to the whim of state government, where they were half a century ago. Politics aside, there were revelatory moments during the hearings. On the Please see Barrett, page 26
opinions & letters
Reflections two years later
Mike Weiss via Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle
By Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey Myers AS LONG AS WE LIVE we will never forget the lives of those we lost in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting at the Tree of Life * Or L'Simcha building on Oct. 27, 2018. We will never forget who we were with and what we were doing, how we responded and what we have done to honor these beloved martyrs of our community. As we commemorate one of the most significant events of our lives, we still grieve, we still remember, we still survive in a time that continues to challenge us in ways we never imagined. Despite these challenges, we will continue to reach out to teach each other about hope, love and community. Are we better as a nation two years later? While I cannot lessen the impact of more than 200,000 COVID-related deaths in the United States alone, I have learned that during times of trauma, people’s authenticity inevitably rises to the surface. If you are innately a good person, you will find ways to utilize your goodness to help better the lives of others. In the days and weeks following the Oct. 27 attack that killed 11 worshippers from three congregations, strangers from across the globe offered condolences, prayers, encouragement and even lengthy, handwritten letters pouring out their tears. As we approach the second year commemoration, good people once again reach out,
offering continued support, reminding us that they have not forgotten. I still believe that deep down the vast majority of humanity is composed of good people. They reject all forms of “H” (that word is eliminated from my vocabulary), bigotry, racism, and the all too frequent violent acts that often accompany these words. Perhaps during periods of great stress, who we really are is seen in full view, stripped of all pretense and protective gear. Studies have shown that during great stressors throughout history, antiSemitism rises. When coupled with so much else occurring in America at this time, some might suggest that it’s no surprise that the proverbial pot is boiling over. Social unrest. Pandemic. Political upheaval. Economic stress. Serious divisiveness. All at once we find ourselves coping with these entrenched daily travails on top of the indelible mark that Oct. 27 left on each of us. Despite it all, we remain resilient and resolute in moving forward with our lives, with plans to rebuild our synagogue as well as our dreams. There are plenty of helpers out there and we should look to them, in a reference to the famous advice Mister Rogers’ mother gave him as a child when things were upsetting. We, too, must be Please see Reflections, page 26
What’s really not accurate
As a patriotic, freedom-loving American Jew, I was outraged and deeply offended by Sonny Taragin’s (“Not accurate,” Oct. 2) characterization of the Charlottesville Unite the Right “Jews Will Not Replace Us” rally as just being about the removal or retention of “statues of controversial American heroes of the past.” “Heroes”? Chob mir a break. These individuals, as Clifford Fishman noted (same issue, “After the Confederate statues, are Washington and Jefferson next?”), were traitors who took up arms against their country in the interests of preserving slavery. Of course, President Trump would claim that there were “good people on both sides.” What do you expect from an individual who cheats when it comes to tzedakah? This consideration alone should be dispositive as to why no Jew with a conscience could support his reelection. As to President Trump’s so-called pro-Israel bent: Keep in mind, as has been publicly acknowledged (Aug. 18, Times of Israel), the relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem was a ploy intended to appeal to his evangelical Christian base, rather than, say, being done out of any love for Jewish people. Brad Shaw Clarksville
Is the Talmud next?
There is a Jewish angle to Clifford Fishman’s cogent analysis of “After the Confederate Statues, are Washington and Jefferson next?” (Oct 2). 1. Jews fared better in the Confederacy than they did in the Union. Judah B. Benjamin rose to become a very high-ranking official in Jefferson Davis' cabinet, and it was Union General Ulysses Grant who issued the infamous Order No. 11. 2. There were rabbis in the Talmud who were slave owners, and the Tanach accepts slavery as a valid social institution (although, to be sure, “slavery” in the Tanach is not a monolithic enterprise, and the slavery of the Bible is more comparable to indentured servitude than the chattel slavery of the antebellum American South). As a matter of moral consistency: If slave-holding is an automatic disqualifier in the Black Lives Matter era, what should be done about the Talmud? Tear out the pages where the rabbinic slavers are featured? Declare null and void the halachic rulings in which they participated? Of course not. Like Presidents Washington and Jefferson, in Fishman’s words, “we should celebrate their accomplishments” while acknowledging “their sins and their flaws, their mistakes and weaknesses and moral blindness.” Roy Amadeus Annapolis Letters should be related to articles that have run in the print or online editions of the JT, and may be edited for space and clarity prior to publication. Please include your first and last name, as well your town/neighborhood of residence. Send letters to editor@jewishtimes.com or Baltimore Jewish Times, 11459 Cronhill Drive, Suite A, Owings Mills, MD 21117, or submit them online at jewishtimes.com/letters-to-the-editor.
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An easy choice for Jewish voters THE PAST FOUR YEARS, especially the past eight months, have been devastating. COVID’s impact is too much for too many to bear. The prospect of four more years of a Trump administration that has torn away the fabric of our society, and divided Americans more than any administration since the Civil War, only compounds our anxiety. Access to quality healthcare, reproductive freedom, combating climate change, enacting gun safety legislation, fair housing and U.S.-Israel relations should be bipartisan matters. The Trump administration has done everything in its power to use them to divide us. Let’s take Israel. Ensuring a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, for decades, has been a cardinal principle of pro-Israel advocacy. Partisanship is not unusual when ideological considerations are in play. In fact, party affiliation is a good indicator of where a candidate will stand on any given issue — but not Israel. Strong support for Israel on both sides of the aisle should be celebrated. Israel should be a uniting force within our community. To use Israel as fodder for partisan fighting simply is unacceptable. The stark reality is that Republicans looking for votes and realizing the significance of Jewish voters in pivotal communities across America are attempting to manipulate our emotions on Israel. Because so many Republican positions are antithetical 24
to core Jewish values, they distort the one area of bipartisan consensus in order to score political points. In so doing, they weaken the unity we should be working to strengthen. Joe Biden exemplifies our Jewish core values, including bipartisan support for Israel. His five decades of support for Israel evidence the longest and strongest record on Israel of any presidential candidate in history. Joe Biden fought for Israel’s qualitative military edge (QME) in the 1980s when he opposed the sale of AWACs to Saudi Arabia. He has backed foreign aid to Israel during his entire career. He strongly advocated for missile defense systems such as Iron Dome as vice president (after Iron Dome received a frosty reception from the previous administration). In fact, he helped broker the recordsetting $38 billion 10-year aid package to Israel, the largest aid package in U.S. history. And, Joe Biden has unequivocally opposed any conditioning of aid to Israel. To suggest that he is anything other than an unwavering friend of Israel is untruthful, manipulative and puts rank partisanship before the safety and security of Israel. As vice chair and a co-founder of the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA), I am proud of the fine work we have done to advocate for our core Jewish values while modeling bipartisanship when it comes to Israel.
Baltimore Jewish Times October 23, 2020
In horror and disbelief, we watched President Trump call neo-Nazis and white supremacists “very fine people,” as they marched in Charlottesville chanting “Jews will not replace us.” It was then that we decided to move up JDCA’s original launch date. Not coincidentally, Joe Biden made his decision to run for president for the same reason based on the same values. JDCA recently ran a successful ad linking the emboldening of white nationalism under Donald Trump and the rise of fascism and hatred in 1930s Germany. The fact that some Republicans closed their eyes to the truth does not lessen the ad’s validity. Instead of discussing it on the merits, some Republicans choose to use the memories of those who perished in the Shoah as partisan shields, pretending that the ad accused the Trump administration of genocide when it does nothing of the kind. What does “Never Forget” mean if we cannot learn from the lessons of history? Instead of condemning the anti-Semitic rhetoric and dog whistles from their Republican leader, these same
Republicans focus on two or three of the least powerful Democrats in the House, a tiny fraction of the 435 members of Congress and 236 Democrats. Anti-Semitism must be condemned in all forms no matter the source. We should not permit ourselves to be fooled by attempts to create false equivalencies. It is absurd to equate the words of a couple of first-term members of Congress with the words of the president of the United States. Anti-Semitism might exist on both sides of the aisle, but while the Democratic Party marginalizes it, the Republican Party ignores it emanating from the top. Trump’s silence speaks louder than his words. His failure to condemn white supremacy when asked to do so at the presidential debate, and his failure to condemn QAnon, a dangerous group of antiSemitic conspiracists, at the recent town hall, tells much about his danger not only to the Jewish community, but to all decent people in America. Golda Meir was the first of nine Israeli Prime Ministers with whom Joe Biden has met. In her infinite wisdom, she once said, “If only political leaders would allow themselves to feel, as well as to think, the world might be a happier place.” Joe Biden is precisely the leader who we need now more than ever. Barbara Goldberg Goldman is vice chair and a co-founder of the Jewish Democratic Council of America.
By David Lienemann - White House
By Barbara Goldberg Goldman
American Jewry’s faithful hour
Trump: Public domain via Wikimedia Commons; Glick: Via JNS.org
By Caroline Glick | JNS
ALMOST ALL THE POLLS say that U.S. President Donald Trump is heading toward defeat next month at the hands of his Democrat challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden. But Robert Cahaly, who heads the Trafalgar Group polling firm, disagrees. Cahaly was the only major pollster that accurately called the 2016 presidential race. In an interview with The Political Trade podcast, Cahaly said his data show Trump headed for another upset victory on Nov. 3. Cahaly said that today, as in 2016, the disparity between his numbers and the marquis polling firms’ numbers owes to the latter’s systematic neglect of what he calls the “Shy Trump Voter Effect.” From the time Hillary Clinton referred to Trump’s supporters as “deplorables” through today as Democrats demonize them as racists and fascists, Cahaly explains that a significant and growing segment of Trump voters will not admit their support for him. Fearing social and professional repercussions, the Shy Trump Voter lies to pollsters and anyone else who asks him what he thinks of Trump. If Trump wins an historic level of support among American Jews, it will be a testament to the wisdom of an unprecedented percentage of American Jews. For American Jewry this year’s presidential election is without question
the most critical one ever. Over the past four years, anti-Semitism has become an undeniable and central characteristic of the Democratic Party to which the vast majority of American Jews have pledged their loyalty for the better part of the past hundred years, while anti-Semitism in the Republican Party has dropped to historic lows. Democratic anti-Semitism has seemingly appeared out of the blue but in truth, the party has been on a largely one-lane road to radicalization for the past 50 years. It’s just that the path turned into a highway over the past four years with the rise of open anti-Semites like Rashida Tlaib, Linda Sarsour, Andre Carson, Keith Ellison and Ilhan Omar to commanding positions in the party. Anti-Semitism runs through Democratic politics, policies and behavior across a spectrum of issues. In foreign policy, hating Israel has become the most passionate position of the progressive grassroots. Biden announced early on that if elected, he will restore the U.S.’s commitment to the Iran nuclear deal he forged with Barack Obama. That means that a Biden administration will cancel the economic sanctions on Iran, ensuring the survival of the regime. It means a Biden administration will enable the cessation of the U.N. arms embargo enabling
Iran to purchase whatever advanced weapons systems it wants. It also means a regime pledged to annihilate the largest Jewish community in the world — Israel — will have an open path to a nuclear arsenal. Biden has agreed to restore the Palestinians to center stage. This isn’t a propeace position. After all, the Abraham Accords are the result of Trump marginalizing the Palestinians. The purpose of a Palestinian-centric policy is to delegitimize Israel, justify a U.S. foreign policy hostile to Israel and a domestic policy hostile to Israel’s supporters in America. Then there is anti-Semitism itself. The good news is that like Trump, Biden can be expected to take on white supremacists. The bad news is that in stark contrast to Trump, Biden can be expected to turn a blind eye to the growing anti-Semitism in his own political camp. Anti-Semitism of course isn’t limited to anti-Zionism. There is also traditional anti-Semitism that involves scapegoating and assaulting Jews simply for being Jews.
There’s a lot of that going on in Democratic circles these days. On Oct. 5, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo held a press conference where he directly threatened the state’s Orthodox Jewish community. In the middle of the Sukkot festival, Cuomo said, “I have to say to the Orthodox community … ‘If you’re not willing to live with these rules [of limiting participation in prayers due to the pandemic], then I’m going to close the synagogues.” It would be one thing to single out Orthodox Jews if they were the only ones rejecting the limitations on religious gatherings. But they aren’t. Not even close. As Daniel Greenfield reported at Frontpage online magazine, the day before Cuomo threatened the Orthodox community, thousands of Shi’ite Muslim men gathered without masks and with no social distancing in Queens to hold an Arba’een procession. Cuomo didn’t mention them. He also didn’t mention them in August when they held a Muharram procession in Manhattan, with no masks and no social distancing, even though the next day, Cuomo threatened to ban Jewish weddings. To justify his singling out of Orthodox Jews, Cuomo held up a photograph of a massive Chasidic funeral. Cuomo failed to note the photo was Please see Trump, page 26 jewishtimes.com
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represent America ably and credibly in the international community. As a senator, Biden led from the center, across party lines, and was universally liked and respected. As vice president to the first African American
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second day, Barrett spent hours testifying — citing cases, and quoting from them — without using notes. Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas mentioned a small notepad Barrett had in front of
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helpers because they need our support to swing the perceived pendulum in the opposite direction. It can seem overwhelming to simultaneously take down the bad and build up the good, but the old adage that “if you
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of a funeral that took place in 2006. According to media reports, Cuomo is the frontrunner to serve as attorney general in a Biden administration. With a record like the one Cuomo has racked up in New York, and with the Democrat House majority incapable of condemning anti-Semitism when it emanates from its own members, it strains credulity to believe a Biden 26
president, he demonstrated an ability to lead effectively in an increasingly multicultural America. And as president, we believe he will bring integrity, civility and compassion to the White House. He will listen to scientists and other experts when it comes to fighting the coronavirus and climate change. He will use taxation
and government spending to address serious domestic policy issues. And we hope that he will use his bully pulpit in today’s times of uncertainty as a platform to unite our fractured country and reform and reconstruct our civic institutions. Joe Biden is a mensch. He is someone we know
and respect. Biden has demonstrated the ability to learn from mistakes and evolve with changing times, even at the age of 77. And he is fortunate to have an intelligent, dynamic running mate in Sen. Kamala Harris. The choice is simple. We endorse Democrat Joe Biden for president.
her, and said: “You know, most of us have multiple notebooks and notes and books and things like that in front of us. Can you hold up what you’ve been referring to in answering our questions?” In response, Barrett smiled and lifted up and displayed a blank notepad. “That’s impressive,”
Cornyn said. And it was. Barrett is not a product of Ivy League schools or the Eastern establishment. She is devoutly religious. She favors an originalist, textualist approach to statutory and constitutional interpretation. All of that makes liberals uncomfortable. But Barrett
will almost certainly be confirmed as the next justice on the Supreme Court. She has the necessary qualifications, and displayed the proper temperament for the job. We wish her well, and hope that she will bring balance, care and compassion to her new position.
sit on the fence and watch you will get splinters” applies. We need to disassemble the fences that separate us and use the wood to instead build bridges. We are all more alike than we recognize, and too frequently we allow the differences to define us. We must use our commonalities to unite us in the goal of
making this experiment of a mixing pot called the United States successful. The silent majority of good, decent people have been silent for too long. When will the day come that they rise up, and state with moral clarity, that words of “H,” bigotry, racism and the violence that they inevitably lead to
administration will protect the civil rights of Jews. This is especially true in the growing number of cases where the anti-Semites are either progressives or members of privileged communities within the progressive camp, and the victims are either Zionist Jews or Orthodox Jews. A Jerusalem Post poll this week claimed that 70% of American Jews intend to vote for Biden. Twenty-five percent intend to vote for Trump. If the numbers are true, Trump is already enjoying a larger
percentage of the Jewish vote than any Republican candidate since Ronald Reagan. If Cahaly’s models are as accurate in 2020 as they were in 2016, it is likely that Shy Trump Voters in the Jewish community will give Trump more Jewish votes than any Republican has received in history.
are unwelcome, and do not belong in our society? Where are the Hebrew Bible prophets reminding us of our responsibilities to protect the orphan, the widow and the stranger? It is “we, the people” who are being tested to extreme limits. Will we pass the test? Each of us can try harder. Do more. Do better. Only the passage of time will show if our collective resolve and hard work creates a unity that truly honors those we loved and lost. On a personal note, I remain humbled and grateful to still be here among congregants, family, friends and community members who share that place, time and memory of something so profound that happened to us all and changed us in the process. May their memories be a blessing to us forever.
Baltimore Jewish Times October 23, 2020
Caroline Glick is an award-winning columnist and author of “The Israeli Solution: A One-State Plan for Peace in the Middle East.” This article first appeared in Israel Hayom.
Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey Myers is the rabbi of Tree of Life * Or L’Simcha in Pittsburgh.
cover story
Does the Talmud have any advice for social distancing during a plague?
Can robots be Jewish?
Some interpret the Bible literally. How do you think the Bible should be interpreted?
STUMP THE
RABBI By the staffs of Washington Jewish Week and Baltimore Jewish Times
They say there are no dumb questions. Somehow that doesn’t help when you want to know something and are afraid to ask. But the staffs of Baltimore Jewish Times and Washington Jewish Week are professional questioners. We’ve asked our local rabbis the questions you want answered — as well as some you don’t. It’s all in the spirit of Jewish knowledge, and trying to find out if we could stump the rabbi. fotostok_pdv; master1305; AaronAmat/ iStock / Getty Images Plus
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The concept of social distancing isn’t foreign to the Talmud, explained Rabbi Joshua Gruenberg, senior rabbi of Chizuk Amuno Congregation, in Pikesville. There is a part in the Talmud where the rabbis say to stay home during a plague, and one rabbi went so far as to keep his windows shut. At the same time, people believed that plagues were caused by spiritual misdoings, and that during a plague the community should look inward to correct what they were doing wrong. “Obviously, we wouldn’t think that our sins caused COVID,” Gruenberg said. “But on some level, as we are dealing with a global pandemic, it is a good time for us to explore our society, because this pandemic does bring to the forefront certain ills of our society that it didn’t create, but that it certainly magnifies.”
Selah Maya Zighelboim
What inspired God to create humanity? Rabbi Nochum Katsenelenbogen, of Chabad Owings Mills, said that before creation, God was missing nothing — except a relationship. God was alone and God wanted a relationship with free beings. So God created us and gave us ways of connecting to Him — the mitzvot, Katsenelenbogen said. “So, God doesn’t need us; He wants us,” the rabbi said. “He didn’t give us
commandments because He needs them to be fulfilled, but because He wants us to relate to Him.” Katsenelenbogen pointed out that if God created humanity because God needed us to do something, then we would have been disposed of after the mission was fulfilled. “But God needs nothing. He chose to bring us into being as a pure act of love.”
Carolyn Conte
What is a Jewish custom that didn’t exist 100 years ago?
The “traditional” bar and bat mitzvah candle lighting ceremony. Rabbi Charles Arian of Kehilat Shalom in Gaithersburg likes to put “traditional” in air quotes because, he said, it’s fairly newfangled as Jewish practices go. “The bat mitzvah didn’t even exist 100 years ago,” he said. Usually conducted by the DJ during the party, the ceremony involves family and friends being called to light a candle for someone who couldn’t attend the celebration. “The DJ almost always refers to it as the ‘traditional’ candle lighting ceremony,” Arian said, which gives it a sense of being a hallowed religious custom even though, if the party is on a Saturday afternoon, it ignores the fact “that lighting candles actually violates Shabbat.” Arian remembers attending a bar mitzvah party with his wife, a Jew by choice who was never taught about the traditional bar and bat mitzvah candle lighting ceremony in her conversion classes. Arian composed a rhyme to give her a sense of how candle lighters are traditionally called to the menorah.
“You’re my best friend Even though you’re not a Jew. So Mary Christina Come light candle number 2.” Arian said the motivation behind the practice is a commendable one, and the idea of turning it into a Jewish tradition is understandable. “The motivation is good — it honors people who can’t be there. There’s a desire to slot the practice in an accessible category and to fit into the chain of Jewish tradition, when it’s counter to tradition,” Arian said. “It reflects legitimate Jewish instincts.”
David Holzel
Does Judaism believe in exorcism? And would you perform one if asked?
“Like so many, many, many things that may seem obscure, exorcism is something you can find in Judaism,” said Rabbi Amy
What does Judaism say about cremation? Traditionally, Judaism does not endorse the practice, said Rabbi Rory Katz of Chevrei Tzedek Congregation, in Baltimore. “There’s a belief in the importance of maintaining the integrity of the human body, and a desire for the person to be able to return to the soil in a natural way,” she said, adding that some draw a negative connection between cremation and the Holocaust. Still, “I am sure there are good reasons people choose to do cremation,” she said. “Like most rules in Judaism there’s always good reasons for exceptions.”
Jesse Berman
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Baltimore Jewish Times October 23, 2020
Urn: KangeStudio; Robot, Kirillm; Magnifying Glassgrandriver: E+ / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Does the Talmud have any advice for social distancing during a plague?
Can robots be Jewish?
“From an Orthodox perspective, I don’t think that will be possible because, based on precedent, only humans are able to become Jewish,” said Rabbi Eli Yoggev of Beth Tfiloh Congregation, in Pikesville. Yoggev pointed to a responsa of Rabbi Chacham Tzvi that addresses whether a golem, which shares some similarity to a robot because it is life-like and created by a human, could form part of a minyan. He concludes that a golem could not count as part of a minyan. “We count the birthing process in terms of, genetically, being given birth to from a woman, a human, a female,” Yoggev said. “There’s precedent from that from the Bible and tradition, where it talks about somebody being from a woman.” Exploring the question of whether robots could be Jewish brings up some interesting points about what makes something human, Yoggev noted. Intellect and speech are signs of humanity, but Yoggev doesn’t define humanity by those traits. Some may also say that what makes something human is a human soul. Yoggev personally doesn’t focus on this because souls are difficult to understand and define. Selah Maya Zighelboim
Schwartzman of Temple Rodef Shalom, in Falls Church. Schwartzman said there is at least one example of an exorcism-like event in the Tanach, or Hebrew Bible. In the Book of First Samuel, King Saul was being invaded by an evil spirit until David relieved him by playing the harp. Schwartzman said there are also references to exorcism in various texts, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, which mentions disease-causing demons. But if a congregant approached Schwartzman for an exorcism, “the answer would be no. Maybe there is some rabbi out there who has done it, but I’m not the right person.” Schwartzman said she would certainly meet with the person and try to help them any way she could. It’s possible the person could be mentally unstable or have other challenges. In that case, Schwartzman
would refer them to the proper social services or medical care. But if a person truly believed they had to have an exorcism, Schwartzman said she wouldn’t know where to start. “I had no classes in rabbinical school on exorcisms. So I really don’t know much more than those basic facts.”
Eric Schucht
Why did God wait until Mt. Sinai to present the Torah to the Jewish people, instead of presenting it to Abraham, the first Jew?
Abraham did not receive the Torah because the Jewish people had to be more ready for it, said Rabbi Etan Mintz of B’nai Israel in downtown Baltimore. “The Jewish people had to go through the transformative experience of becoming a nation, of going through the exile and going through the Exodus, until they were
ready for the revelation at Sinai, at that seminal moment of the receiving of the Torah,” Mintz said.
Selah Maya Zighelboim
Who is your favorite character in the Talmud?
That would be like asking Rabbi Sarah Krinsky of Adas Israel Congregation, in Washington, D.C., who her favorite congregant is. But prominent in Krinsky’s winner’s circle is Beruriah, a firstcentury Torah authority whose father and husband were sages. Beruriah was known for her wisdom and piety — and for being one of the few women in the Talmud known by name. “We meet her first when a few rabbis are talking about her,” Krinsky said. The Talmud says that she learned 300 laws from 300 teachers in one day. She was that good. So when Rabbi Simlai came to Rabbi Yohanan and asked Yohanan to teach him the Book of Genealogies within three months, Yohanan berated him: “If Beruriah couldn’t learn the material in three years, how can you expect to learn it in three months?” What we start to learn about her is that she’s not about learning for the sake of learning more. “Her Torah learning makes her more compassionate.” Beruriah was married to Rabbi Meir. Their neighbors threw loud, drunken parties that interfered with the rabbi’s Torah studies. Once he grew so angry that he prayed for God to get rid of them. Beruriah overheard and reminded him that the Psalmist called for the end of sin, not of sinners. One should pray that evil
Some interpret the Bible literally. How do you think the Bible should be interpreted?
“The rabbis teach us that there are 70 faces of the Torah,” said Rabbi Andrew Busch of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. “Judaism has always understood there are a multitude of understandings of any biblical text.” While some verses — like the prohibition of murder — seem straightforward, Busch said that “our tradition has always seen a rich multiplicity of views, in terms of how we might understand the text.”
Jesse Berman
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The Jerusalem Apartment
What’s the best joke you’ve ever heard involvinga rabbi? Here’s Rabbi Hyim Shafner’s favorite: “Yosseleh, a young congregant, comes to the rabbi for a shidduch, a match for marriage. The rabbi fixes him up with woman after woman, but the young man always has some complaint. One is too short. One too tall. One too fat. One too thin. Finally, exasperated, the rabbi says to him, ‘Yosseleh, you are looking for a person, not an etrog!’ “I can’t remember when I first heard it,” said Shafner, who leads Kesher Israel in Georgetown. “It was a long time ago. I like it because it is a joke that teaches something profound; in this case that humans, and especially partners, are not measured by how objectively perfect or fitting they are.”
Eric Schucht
HAVE A simcha IN THE FAMILY? SHARE YOUR GOOD NEWS where all your friends can see! Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Births, Engagements, Weddings
disappears, then there will be no evildoers. Meir realized she was right. Beruriah knew her husband well and how to Jewish comfortTimes him, Krinsky said. Shabbat, when Rabbi Meir was at Ad One Name services, their sons died suddenly in their room. Sales Rep Beruriah covered them up and told no one, Date including her husband when he returned in the evening. “They have gone out,” she said when he Name asked about them, then prepared Havdalah and Date Created: the evening meal. had finished eating, she told him 1st When proofhe Date: she had a problem that she’d like some advice 2nd proof Date: about: Something had been left to her in safe keeping. Now the owner wanted it back. Must she return it? Of course, Meir said. Beruriah led her husband to the bed where their sons lay. Meir was devastated. But Beruriah reminded him that God had given them their sons and now God had taken them back. This midrash may not appeal to the modern sensibility, Krinsky said, but it shows that “she’s taking her Torah knowledge and using it to bring comfort to another person. “She operated within the gender system she was born into,” Krinsky added. “I love that she was able to find a powerful place for herself in her family and in society.”
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Baltimore Jewish Times October 23, 2020
David Holzel
What does Jewish law say about genetic tinkering?
Rabbi Velvel Belinsky of Ariel Center, in Pikesville, said the answer depends on why you’re tinkering. “When a woman is pregnant, if the doctors found out there is something unhealthy about the child, then definitely it is a mitzvah to try to prevent all of the illness the child might have after birth,” he said. However, it’s not OK to eliminate the fetus altogether because of a disability, as all life is sacred. But when it comes to artificial treatment of a specific gene to design a baby with dark or light hair for the parents’ preference, it’s not OK. “Every medical involvement comes with side effects. So, if this medical involvement prevents or heals an ailment, it is not only permitted but required by Jewish law. But if the medical involvement is for a desire, this is where it would come with the cost of unwelcome side effects, and Jewish law would not allow that.”
Carolyn Conte
Jesse Berman and Carolyn Conte are staff reporters for Baltimore Jewish Times. Eric Schucht is staff writer for Washington Jewish Week. Selah Maya Zighelboim is editor of Baltimore Jewish Times. David Holzel is editor of Washington Jewish Week.
Koldunova_Anna / iStock / Getty Images Plus
TheJerusalemApartment.com
food & recipes By Keri White
WELCOME FALL with a Yankee pot roast Yankee pot roast
Serves 6 2 tablespoons cooking oil 4- to 5-pound chuck roast Salt and pepper to season meat 4 garlic cloves, crushed 1 large onion, sliced 4 carrots cut in large chunks 3 parsnips cut in large chunks 1 small turnip, cut in large chunks 4 stalks celery cut in large chunks 3 cups beef stock 1 cup red wine 1 tablespoon fresh or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary 1 tablespoon fresh or 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 whole bay leaf ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
rudisill / iStock / Getty Images Plus
K
ids love it because the meat is tender, adults love the complexity of the flavors and, most importantly, the cook loves it because you just throw everything in the pot and leave it alone for 4 hours. This can also be done in a slow cooker, but the instructions below are for an oldschool oven braise. Topping the finished pot roast with chopped parsley gives a burst of freshness to this hearty dish and adds a nice visual dash of bright green when you serve it. Since the vegetables are all contained in the pot, you don’t need much in the way of sides — a loaf of crusty bread and a bottle of dry red wine complete this meal beautifully. “Why is it called Yankee?” I wondered.
Some research revealed that the cooking technique was brought to New England by French immigrants in the form of etouffe and was adapted to local ingredients. The name may be a nod to the stereotypical frugality and ingenuity of New Englanders: The recipe takes an inexpensive cut of meat and patiently braises it to tender deliciousness. The long winters of the region necessitated warming comfort foods, and cooking the dish slowly over several hours served the additional purpose of heating up the kitchen. The inclusion of vegetables is also said to be a tradition of the New England, or Yankee, version — perhaps as a clever way to stretch the meat and cook the meal with maximum efficiency and minimum effort.
Heat your oven to 275 degrees. Generously sprinkle the roast with salt and pepper. In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil, and sear the beef on all sides. Remove it from the pan, and add the garlic and onions, scraping up any browned bits. When the onions and garlic are fragrant, place the beef, along with any drippings, back in the pan. Add the vegetables, broth, wine, thyme, rosemary and bay leaf. Cover and place it in the oven. Roast for about 4 hours until the meat is falling apart. Remove the bay leaf. Sprinkle parsley over the pot roast just before serving. Keri White is a food writer in Philadelphia. This originally appeared in the Jewish Exponent, an affiliated publication of the Baltimore Jewish Times.
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arts & culture By Sophie Panzer
A
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‘Schitt Creek’
season 6 h
From left: Annie Murphy, Dan Levy, Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy of “Schitt’s Creek”
and son duo are executive producers and star alongside Catherine O’Hara, who plays Rose family diva matriarch Moira, and Annie Murphy, who portrays socialite daughter Alexis. After five years on the air, the show has garnered critical acclaim for its emotional depth, dry wit, epic one-liners and creative costume design (Moira Rose has a wig for every occasion.) As far as finales go, season 6 was exceptionally strong. Each of the Roses got the goodbye they deserved and demonstrated heartwarming emotional growth — particularly regarding their appreciation for family and community — while staying true to the zany quirks that made them so compelling. Moira makes her triumphant return to show
Baltimore Jewish Times October 23, 2020
business and learns how to be present for her family. Johnny builds a motel franchise fueled by appreciation for small-town communities and the colorful personalities he clashed with for so long. Alexis transforms her narcissism into healthy independence and sets out to pursue a public relations career in New York. Drama king David finds true love with Noah Reid’s steadfast Patrick Brewer and settles down in the town he was once desperate to flee. Judaism is not a central theme of the Roses’ story, but the show never lets you forget that David, Alexis and Johnny are Jewish. While Patrick is hopped up on pain meds after his wisdom teeth are removed, he calls David “the Jewish Channing Tatum.” Later, he advises David to stop stress-eating bagels. In a desperate
Copyright 2020 Pop Media Group LLC
t this point in 2020, TV audiences have settled on their preferred forms of escapism. My parents are on what appears to be the 137th season of “The Walking Dead,” engrossed in a zombie dystopia even more gruesome and endless than the one we inhabit. One of my friends, comforted by storylines nestled safely in the past, can’t get enough of historical dramas like “Downton Abbey.” I gravitate toward lighter fare in my streaming queue. Wholesome reality TV like “Queer Eye” and hilarious sitcoms like “Parks and Recreation” have graced my laptop screen at some point during the past six months. At a time when so much is uncertain and negative, any show where people are actually decent to each other and the stakes are lower than the average trip to the grocery store strikes the perfect balance between indulgent fantasy and audacious hope. Pop TV’s beloved comedy “Schitt’s Creek” fits nicely into this comforting lineup. Final season 6 premiered on its home network on Jan. 7 and hit Netflix on Oct. 3, along with “Best Wishes, Warmest Regards: A Schitt’s Creek Farewell,” a documentary about the making of the show. The feel-good sitcom follows the Rose family after they lose their fortune and are forced to move into the tiny eponymous rural town Eugene Levy’s Johnny Rose once bought as a joke for his onscreen son David, who is played by Eugene Levy’s real son Dan Levy. The father
’
6 has a happy ending attempt to escape a sex party, the couple excuses themselves to go to their car for their wine. “Don’t worry about it, plenty of vino here,” host Jake says while David and Patrick exchange panicked glances. “It’s just that ours is, um, kosher,” David improvises. There is even a prayer scene. After Johnny departs for New York with his business partners to pitch their motel franchise to a group of investors, Moira pleads with her children to join her on the floor, join hands and pray for their success. “To whom it may concern,” she begins reverently. Reader, I shrieked. David and Patrick’s relationship has been the show’s chief source of cuteness since
Patrick serenaded David at an open mic in season 4, and season 6 continues that dynamic beautifully. Highlights include Patrick donning his nighttime mouth guard and “nose thing” breathing aid to comfort a humiliated David after he wets the bed, David rallying his reluctant family to attend Patrick’s dream escape room bachelor party and Patrick singing Mariah Carey’s “Always Be My Baby” to David during their wedding vows. Like all final TV seasons, season 6 faced the pressure of neatly wrapping up plot and character arcs. It rose to the challenge with countless nods to earlier plot threads. One particularly successful come-full-circle moment was David and Moira’s trip to Herb Ertlinger Winery, the site of Moira’s glorious
drunken train wreck of a fruit wine commercial in season 1. The pair arrive for a wine tasting and proceed to get accidentally drunk together, much to the irritation of the beleaguered owner. Come for David’s teeth-sucking looks of disgust, stay for Moira tipsily declaring, “Now I’m getting hints of tomato.” That is not to say the season is without its flaws. The plotline for Emily Hampshire’s Stevie, David’s best friend and co-owner of Rosebud Motel, felt oddly paced, as she leaves the motel briefly to explore other career options before rapidly returning. Some of the farewells are a little too sickly sweet, such as when Moira’s singing group, the Jazzagals, descend on her for a group hug when she announces she has earned a role on the reboot of her old soap opera. Some of the gags are more cringeworthy than funny, like Johnny’s discomfort when Alexis starts dating a man who is his age after breaking up with her beloved boyfriend, Dustin Milligan’s Ted. In the end, these minor issues did not detract from superb storytelling. Season 6 reminded me of a bowl of matzah ball soup — comforting, satisfying and a cure for many ailments. Moments like David and Patrick’s town hall wedding and Johnny’s last grateful look at the town he called home for three years are just what the doctor ordered to restore our faith in happy endings. Sophie Panzer is a staff writer for the Jewish Exponent, an affiliated publication of the Baltimore Jewish Times.
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obituraries CAPLAN — On Sept. 27, Doris Caplan (née Davis) of Baltimore at 102. She was predeceased by husbands Alex Walpert and Bernard B. Caplan; siblings Alice Berger, Norman Davis, Alvin Davis, Jesse Davis, Theresa Windesheim, Helen Rubenstein, Charles “Bucky” Davis and Mildred Davis; and parents David and Etta Davis. She is survived by grandson Evan Pickus and nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Contributions may be sent to Har Sinai-Oheb Shalom Congregation, 7310 Park Heights Ave., Baltimore, MD 21208. COOPER — On Sept. 26, Stanley Cooper of Baltimore at 84. He is survived by children Gale (Gilbert) Apodaca and Lisa (Ronnie) Pachino and grandchildren Alex Apodaca, Ross Apodaca, Steven (Marsha) Kushnir, Rashi Pachino, Michal Pachino, Evan Pachino and Conor Pachino. He was predeceased by wife Marion Cooper (née Slotkin); brother Bernard Cooper; grandson Erik Pachino; and parents Rose and Abraham Cooper. Contributions may be sent to the charity of your choice. ELLING — On Sept. 29, Rivka S. Elling (née Heifetz) of Baltimore at 67. She is survived by husband Howard J. Elling; daughters Malka (Gary) Gutin, Hadassah (Abie) Franco and Ruth Elling; sister Shira (late Yehuda) Harbater; and six grandchildren. Contributions may be sent to Alvin and Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute at Sinai Hospital, 2401 W. Belvedere Ave., Baltimore, MD 21215. 34
HERMAN — On Sept. 19, Barbara Herman (née Stricker) at 83. She is survived by husband Rabbi Floyd Herman; children David Herman and Beth (Jeffrey) Newman; and grandchildren Caleb and Sarah Newman. Contributions may be sent to Har Sinai-Oheb Shalom Congregation, 7310 Park Heights Ave., Pikesville, MD 21208. KRUPNIK — On Sept. 25, Ruslana Krupnik (née Rubinshteyn) of Baltimore at 68. She is survived by husband Moysey Krupnik; children Alla (Marc) Kaplan and Ilona (Alex) Indenbaum; sister Ludmila Rubinshteyn; and grandchildren Liana Kaplan, Jenna Kaplan, Zackary Kaplan, Daniella Indenbaum and Izabella Indenbaum. She was predeceased by parents Anatoliy and Yevgenia Rubinshteyn. It is with great sadness and pain that our family lost our beautiful Mamachka, adored wife and cherished Babushka. She is no longer in pain and we will forever remember her. Contributions may be made to the Gastric Cancer Foundation, PO Box 338, Millbrae, CA 94030, gastriccancer.org. LAZARUS — On Sept. 21, Harry H. Lazarus of Delray Beach, Fla. He is survived by sons Ronald E. (Linda) Lazarus and Brian S. (Carin) Lazarus and grandchildren Ethan Blaker and Rachel Davidoff. He was predeceased by wife Beverly Lazarus (née Kuff); parents Bessie and Julius Lazarus; and siblings Louis and Albert Lazarus, Eva Gershman, Rose Wolf, Clara Duckett and Selma Cassin. He raised two sons in Baltimore and attended
Baltimore Jewish Times October 23, 2020
Oheb Shalom prior to retiring in Delray Beach, Fla. He was a fixture in the clothing industry in Baltimore, becoming president of T.I. Swartz and later a senior executive with Jos. A. Bank and London Fog. Contributions may be sent to The Associated Jewish Charities, 101 W. Mt. Royal Ave., Baltimore, MD 21201. MINDEK — On Sept. 23, Laurie Hope Mindek (née Fink) of Columbia at 72. She is survived by husband Howard Mindek; children Tali Mindek (Nicholas and Desmond LaRosa) and Michele (Don) Peugh; brother Ian Fink; sister-in-law Madeline Mindek (Gary Gibbs); and sister-inlaw Linda Mclaughlin. She was predeceased by parents Ira and Teresa Fink. She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and grew up in Oceanside and Baldwin, N.Y. She attended Roosevelt High School and Adelphi University, before earning a master’s degree from the University of Maryland. Her nursing career in mental health counseling started at Phipps Clinic at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, then Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C. She taught nursing clinical skills as an adjunct professor at PG County Hospital and Villa Julie College (now Stevenson University). Her career led her to running her own private practice in Bowie. In 1970 she married Howard Mindek, a photographer and professional musician and teacher. Together they raised two girls, Tali (37) and Michele (35), whom she loved very much. Contributions may be sent to American Cancer Society, Hadassah or American Red Cross.
NUDLER — On Sept. 21, Sylvia Nudler of Baltimore at 72. She is survived by brother Moshe (Miri) Rosenberg; niece Sivan Rosenberg (Tzach Kafri); nephew Yoav (Danielle) Rosenberg; great-niece May Rosenberg; great-nephew Yoni Rosenberg; and many other cousins and friends. She was predeceased by parents Boris and Paula Nudler. Contributions may be sent to the charity of your choice. PAUL — On Sept. 23, Florence Paul (née Koch) of Baltimore at 88. She is survived by children Ronnie Paul, Jesse Paul (Stacey Rosenberg) and Sandi Paul (late Stanley Kogan); sister-in law Roberta Koch; grandchildren Rachel (Robby) Rollins, Stephanie (Dustin) Knight, Matt, Aaron, Katie (Jorge Gorriti) and Jake Paul and Tessa Rosenberg; and great-grandchildren Sylvia Rollins and Leòn Gorriti. She was predeceased by husband Leonard Paul; parents Harry and Sylvia Koch; and siblings Celia Koch, Lillian Bender, Beatty Etterman and Jeremy Koch. Contributions may be sent to the Maryland Food Bank. POPOK — On Sept. 24, Alla Popok of Baltimore at 57. She was a loving, open-hearted person who loved her family dearly. She loved life and was a shining star who shined bright. She is survived by son Alex Pinchuk; sister Lana PopokVaughn; life partner Vladislav Shafirovich; and many loving friends. She was the aunt of Dominique, Julian and Jasmin G. Dorissa Vaughn. ROTHENBURG — On Sept. 21, Beverly Harriett
Rothenburg (née Arnberg) of Baltimore at 76. She is survived by children Betty Rothenburg and Benjamin Rothenburg. She was predeceased by husband Theodore Rothenburg; sister Sharon Arnberg; and parents Daisy and Maurice Arnberg. Contributions may be sent to Ahavas Yisroel Charity Fund, 115 E. Sudbrook Lane, Baltimore, MD 21208. SINGER — On Sept. 21, Ira Singer of Columbia at 71. He grew up in New York, both in Levittown on Long Island and in Forest Hills, Queens, where he attended Forest Hills High School. He went on to graduate from Queens College before earning his master’s degree from New York University. He started his career teaching music in New York City and then in Prince George’s County. It was during this time that he married the love of his life, Linda. His career took him into the computer industry where he worked for Digital Equipment Corporation and Oracle. He eventually taught Hebrew school music and was a choral director. As much as he loved teaching, the most important thing to him was family, specifically being around his wife and children. He is survived by wife of 46 years Linda Singer (née Lewis); daughters Tracy Singer (Dan Goldberg) and Amy Singer; mother Antoinette Singer; brother Harold (Carrie) Singer; and grandson Max Ethan Goldberg. He was predeceased by father Fred Singer. Contributions may be sent to American Cancer Society, 405 Williams Court, Suite 120, Baltimore, MD 21220 or Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N.
Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601. STERN — On Sept. 26, Leona Stern (née Isselbaecher) of Columbia and formerly of N. Bellmore, N.Y., and Lake Worth, Fla., at 91. She is survived by children Sharon (Daniel) Freedman and Jeffrey (Bonnie) Stern; grandchildren Elissa (Jonathan) Schuyler, Scott (Pamela) Freedman, Michelle (Jay) Friedman, Jennifer (Adam) Levin and Samantha (Etai) Dvora; and great-grandchildren Mathew Schuyler, Brooke Schuyler, Hailey Freedman, Ryan Freedman and Maribelle Friedman. She was predeceased by husband Berthold Stern; parents Emmi and Albert Isselbaecher; and brother Kurt Isselbaecher. Contributions may be sent to the United States Holocaust Museum or the Jewish Federation of Howard County. WOLFSON — On Sept. 23, Robert R. Wolfson of Cockeysville at 92. He is survived by sons Joseph (Mary) Wolfson and Eli (Lynn) Wolfson; grandchildren Jill Wolfson Jacobson (Eric Jacobson), Sharon Wolfson, Chaim Wolfson and Natalie Wolfson; and great-grandson Jeremy Jacobson. He was predeceased by wife Elizabeth Wolfson (née Bodenheimer); brothers Zev (Ella) Amitai, Thomas Wolfson; and parents Julius and Charlotte Wolfson. Contributions may be sent to Beth Israel Congregation, 3706 Crondall Lane, Owings Mills, MD 21117, or Chevra Ahavas Chesed, Inc., P.O. Box 2085, Ellicott City, MD, 21041-2085. WASSEL — On Sept. 26,
Sevelyn Wassel (née Amernick) of Owings Mills at 90. She is survived by children Jerold Marc (Shelbie) Wassel, Scott Eric (Mindy) Wassel and Cheryl Wassel (Tim Mulligan); siblings Rita Amernick and Marvin Amernick; grandchildren Danya Wassel (Georgina Wakefield), Molly Wassel, Jordan (Dani) Wassel, Brandon (Jessie) Wassel and Adam Wassel; and great-grandchildren Asa WasselWakefield and Lucas Wassel. She was predeceased by husband Dr. Bernard “Barney” Victor Wassel. Contributions may be sent to American Cancer Society, 405 Williams Court, Suite 120, Baltimore, MD 21220. WOOD — On Sept. 30, Mona Wood of Pikesville died of cancer at 85. She is survived by children Gillian (Edward) Meigs and Courtney (Jayme) Wood and grandchildren Jenny Meigs, Lucy Meigs, Skylar Wood and Hayden Wood. She was predeceased by husband Benjamin J. Wood who she was married to for 42 years. She dedicated much of her life to volunteering and found great joy in all the work she did on behalf of Hadassah — both the local chapter and the national organization. She was a life member, national board member and was fulfilled by supporting Hadassah through many of the organization’s initiatives and projects. Above all, she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. Contributions may be sent to www.hadassah.org. The Baltimore Jewish Times updates obituaries regularly on its website, jewishtimes.com. Obituaries are not verified and may be condensed for space. To submit an obituary, go to jewishtimes. com/submit-obituaries.
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May Their Memory Be For a Blessing The Baltimore Jewish Times extends condolences to the families of those who passed. To receive our weekly obituary eletter, visit jewishtimes.com/ obitsignup To submit an obituary, visit jewishtimes/ submit-obituaries
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synagogue spotlight By Jesse Berman
What’s happening at ... Kol Shalom
Kol Shalom educates preschoolers in nature
Courtesy of Tree of Life Preschool at Kol Shalom
A
nnapolis’ Kol Shalom has a solution for those concerned that social distancing is keeping their toddlers too cooped up: The synagogue’s Tree of Life Preschool takes place largely outdoors. Even before the pandemic, the preschool spent a significant amount of time outside. With special training in the Montessori and Reggio Emilia approaches to education, Allison Charapp, the school’s education director, had put together a preschool program where the children would be outdoors about half of the day, celebrating nature while learning Jewish traditions and prayers. There “was no real concept other than we knew we wanted a Jewish practicing preschool, and we wanted nature to be involved,” Charapp said. When social distancing became the norm, the children began spending even more time outside, coming indoors only to eat or during bad weather. Charapp explained that both the Montessori and Reggio Emilia educational styles allow children to play and explore to learn different concepts. “The children just have a lot more choice in how they approach their own learning than [in] a traditional classroom,” Charapp said. There are zero worksheets and significantly more free time 36
Top and bottom left: Tree of Life preschoolers; Right: Education Director Allison Charapp with her son
THERE “WAS NO REAL CONCEPT OTHER THAN WE KNEW WE WANTED A JEWISH PRACTICING PRESCHOOL, AND WE WANTED NATURE TO BE INVOLVED.” Allison Charapp to work with the educational toys and materials of their choice. Charapp said working with the children can bring her back to the type of innocence and enthusiasm that can fade with adulthood. “We went out to the sukkah this morning, and one little darling came up to me,” Charapp said, “and she was like ‘We get to do our mitzvah!’ And I was like, ‘That’s so cool!’ Because as an adult I was thinking, ‘Do I want to get pictures of this? How do I get that on the Facebook?’ Like, I’m thinking ahead. And they
Baltimore Jewish Times October 23, 2020
just bring you back to it’s just this beautiful moment.” Kol Shalom Rabbi Josh Wohl had nothing but praise for Charapp and the job she has done, noting how “she goes above and beyond,” going so far as to drive individual children back to their homes when their parents are unable to pick them up. “She really works hard,” Wohl said. “She puts in 60-, 70-hour weeks, so I think the parents appreciate that, and they appreciate the individual attention.” While originally from Pittsburgh, Charapp has been
a resident of the Annapolis and Washington, D.C., area for the past 30 years, she said, having moved to the area to be with her then-fiance and nowhusband. She recalled being initially approached years ago by the synagogue’s rabbi and several different congregants to apply for the new position. The synagogue opened its preschool program in September of 2015, following nine long months of planning and work to deliver their labor of love, said Charapp. It has gone from an initial class of three students to over 30 last year, Wohl said. He added that there is currently a waiting list for parents to enroll their children, with both Jewish and non-Jewish families welcome to apply. Wohl also felt the preschool helped to reinforce the Kol Shalom brand, which he described as “very focused on environmental issues, focused on nature, and I think we have a really good reputation in the larger community, and a lot of that is due to the preschool.” “I find out every day how Judaism is so naturally tied to just living,” Charapp said. “It’s so ingrained, it’s so natural. And, through the eyes of the child, I’m seeing more and more ways that God is just this beautiful force … that we are able to work with, and just enjoy life.” jberman@midatlanticmedia.com
d’var torah
By Shamir Burg
Parshat Noach
Courtesy of Krieger Schechter Day School; Fly View Productions / E+ / Getty Images.
What do we want our legacy to be? Each of us will have a legacy, something that will outlive us. While we can’t control who will tell our story after we die, we can determine much of what there is to be said about us. We shape the themes and plot points of our stories through the ways we choose to live our lives. We are the authors of our stories; those who come after us will be their editors and readers. In my Torah portion, it says, “This is the line of Noah.” Then it says, “He was righteous in his generation,” before listing his children’s names. Most of the time in the Torah when it says “this is the line of so-and-so” it immediately lists a genealogy. But not in this case. I think that the Torah is trying to teach us something important here. Our legacy is more than just our children. As Bachya ibn Pakuda taught: Your lives are scrolls, write on them what you want to be remembered. One more thing about Noah: The Torah doesn’t only say that Noah was “righteous,” but it points out that he was righteous specifically “in his generation.” The rabbis try to figure out what “in his generation” means. They ask whether it is a statement of great praise because it is hard to be righteous when others around you are not or if it is a statement that he was more righteous than others in his time but would not have been considered righteous in another time. The rabbis don’t agree about
Upcoming Special Sections Breast Cancer Awareness October 30 Support and information for those affected by breast cancer and their loved ones.
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I NEED TO THINK NOT JUST IN GENERAL ABOUT THE LIFE I WANT TO LEAD, BUT ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN MY GENERATION. this question, but I think that their question suggests something important: I need to think not just in general about the life I want to lead, but about what that looks like in my generation. We are living in unprecedented times and terrifying times. If Noah is remembered for righteousness in his generation, what do we want to be remembered for in ours? And what choices do we have to make now for that to happen? Shamir Burg is a seventh-grade student at Krieger Schechter Day School.
Seniors November 6 From home health aides to financial planners to nursing homes, this is the perfect venue to show how your business can help older Jewish residents navigate these challenging times.
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worth the schlep
CALENDAR
O C T. 2 5 - O C T. 2 8
M I N D T O O L S , O C T. 2 7
PUMPKIN PAINTING AND CARVING Join Moishe House Baltimore for fall crafts. The first 10 community members to register from the Baltimore area will receive a paint kit and mini pumpkin. Moishe House is targeted at post-undergrad Jewish young adults, ages 21-33. To learn more, contact moishehousebaltimore@gmail.com. 7:30-8:30 p.m. Online (Register at tinyurl.com/ MHBmore1027). Free.
W E D N E S D A Y, O C T. 2 8
TWO JEWS, THREE OPINIONS
S U N D A Y, O C T. 2 5
THE AMAZING INFLUENCE OF HEBREW ON THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE Columbia Jewish Congregation will continue to explore the influence Hebrew has had on Harvard, Yale, Columbia and other American educational institutions, and what George Washington and Thomas Jefferson felt about Jewish people. This class will explore interesting mistranslations of some original Biblical texts, how the revival of the Hebrew language developed and how new vocabularies were created to keep up with the ever-changing world. Knowledge of Hebrew is not necessary to enjoy this class. Register in advance. 11 a.m. Online (ColumbiaJewish.org). Free.
PJ ABC Does your family have a child between 4-6? 38
Baltimore Jewish Times October 23, 2020
Do you want to connect with a young family in Israel? Join the Macks Center for Jewish Education to participate in PJ ABC. Also scheduled for Nov. 9, Nov. 11, Dec. 14, Jan. 10, Feb. 15, March 8 and April 11. 11 a.m.-noon. Online (Visit Associated.org). Free.
T U E S D A Y, O C T. 2 7 A DISCUSSION WITH NANCY GRACE
From street assaults and home predators to computer hackers, protect yourself and your loved ones and learn how to stay safe in the face of daily dangers with this essential guide from a legal expert, TV journalist and victims rights advocate. 8-9 p.m. Online (JCC.org/gordon-center/event/ nancygrace). $28.
CONVERSATION WITH MELISSA HYATT Baltimore County Police Chief, Melissa Hyatt, the first Jewish woman to hold this position, will discuss her career path, her vision for Baltimore and how her work is influenced by Jewish values. Contact Alexis Miller at ammiller@associated.org or 847-400-4343. 6:30 p.m. Online (Associated.org). Free.
TO BE OR DO: ADDRESSING RACIST BYPASSING BEHAVIORS In the fight for racial justice, many ask, “What can I do?” Becoming antiracist is the goal, and each of us must be in constant pursuit of it. Join The Weinberg Center’s Darrell Friedman Institute for Professional Development for this program. 9:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m. Online (thedfi.org/ events/racist-by-passing). Free.
Radachynskyi / iStock / Getty Images Plus
The Darrell D. Friedman Institute, part of the Weinberg Center, offers this professional development opportunity to learn about how to identify triggers, vulnerabilities and strengths and how to manage them in different situations. Noon-1 p.m. Online (TheDFI.org or Associated.org).
Multisession event with The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore. Registration in the first event will enroll you in all four sessions. Session 1: What Exactly is a JewishDemocratic State? – defining the nature and role of religion within the political sphere. Session 2: I’m ReConFormOdoxAtive! – Jewish identities and communities in modern Israel, and their relationship with the state. Session 3: From Abraham to Ben Gurion – the historical relationship with the Land of Israel, from Torah through Zionism. Session 4: Making the Wilderness Bloom – Israeli success stories of confronting eco-concerns & challenges. Noon-1 p.m. Online (Associated.org). Free.
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around town
Out & About 2
3 1 PAINT NIGHT: Har Sinai-Oheb Shalom Congregation held a “Paint Night in the Sukkah,” where attendees listened to music while painting and making new friends. 2 FOOD DRIVE: Baltimore Hebrew Congregation members held a food drive for GEDCO’s CARES, sorting and delivering more than 250 bags and boxes filled with canned goods, pantry needs and personal hygiene products for the needy. 3 BACK TO SCHOOL: Beth El Congregation’s Berman-Lipavsky Religious School held its first day of Hebrew school, Oct. 18.
|Snapshots| To celebrate the Associated’s Centennial year, we’re featuring photos from the history of the Associated and its agencies! Participants in a sewing class at the JCC, 1982. Can you identify anyone in this photo? Contact Joanna Church, 443-873-5176 or jchurch@jewishmuseummd.org. To see more of the Jewish Museum’s extensive collection and find out who has been identified in past photos, visit jewishmuseummd.org/tag/once-upon-a-time-2/.
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Baltimore Jewish Times October 23, 2020
BACK TO SCHOOL: Courtesy of Amy Goldberg; FOOD DRIVE: Courtesy of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation; PAINT NIGHT: Courtesy of Har Sinai-Oheb Shalom Congregation SNAPSHOT: Courtesy of the Jewish Museum of Maryland, 1996.63.95
1
the last word By Carolyn Conte
HEALING CHILDREN AND CREATING COMMUNITY:
Courtesy of Wimms
“I
Harriette Wimms
f not now, when?” asks Hillel in Pirkei Avot 1:14. It’s a quote that, according to Harriette Wimms’ friend, Justin Fair, encapsulates Wimms. “Harriette perfectly harnesses this energy and gives with [it] a message of light, of perseverance, of the promise of relief and humor,” Fair said. Wimms, 52, was born in California but grew up in a Christian home in St. Mary’s County in Southern Maryland. “When I was six, I told my mother I did not believe in organized religion,” Wimms said. “I had my own ideas, I was into alternative music and I was always in the library learning.” She loved to read about Judaism, but it wouldn’t be until much later that Wimms would feel welcome to convert. Wimms eventually earned a full ride to Towson State University to study English. “Honestly, it saved my life. I had internalized a lot of racism and sexism and classism from St. Mary’s County, where I just did not fit in,” Wimms said. “But English gave me a way to externalize it.” After graduation, Wimms helped youth with disabilities and taught creative writing. She continued her education at Johns Hopkins University to study psychology so that she could give the kids she worked with a better context for their development. “I saw a difference between the kids in the city and county but I didn’t have the words for
Harriette Wimms (left) and her family
their trauma before,” she said. A mentor suggested to her that she should go further, so on a whim, Wimms applied to the medical school at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Among hundreds of applicants, she and just five others were accepted. There, she studied philosophy and psychology. Wimms continued to employ her writing skills in creative and clinical outlets. For example, when she worked at the Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital, she used writing to help youth through social and emotional difficulties. Around that time, Wimms met her current partner and found out that he was Jewish. “I told him I always wanted to be Jewish but that I had felt I couldn’t be because I’m Black,” she said. “I can still remember the look on his face. He thought I was joking.” He welcomed
Wimms to a service at Chizuk Amuno Congregation. “I don’t know if I can even describe the experience. It was like speaking a language I had always known. It was like coming home. Judaism is me!” Wimms dove into the Jewish community. She had a bat mitzvah, learned Hebrew, joined Hinenu: The Baltimore Justice Shtiebl’s board and developed new spaces and programs such as Baltimore’s Jews of Color chavurot and the national Jews of Color Shabbaton this December. When she’s not celebrating Judaism, Wimms devotes herself to social justice and professional development. Wimms created Mt. Washington’s first adolescent behavioral program, which tripled its projected clientele within a year. She also designed curriculum for Baltimore
Montessori, Inc., and worked with other schools to initiate new services. Today, she commits almost every workday hour to her own practice, The Village Family Support Center of Baltimore. She also currently works for the Loyola Clinical Centers and Itineris, a program to help individuals on the autism spectrum. And she’s not done. “I will forever advocate that money should not impact access to mental health care,” she said. Wimms does so by providing free services to community members in need and trains community agencies about mental health awareness, issues of diversity, trauma on child development and neurodiversity. Most recently, Wimms co-organized “Jews of Color, Jewish Institutions and Jewish Community in the Age of Black Lives Matter,” which started Oct. 18. Wimms also recently organized a theatrical event, “Here’s What Jewish People of Color Need You To Know,” which shows Nov. 14. Even with her busy professional life, Wimms makes time to cook for her family, which includes her ex-wife/ co-parent, her partner and their three 16-year-old sons. On Fridays, Wimms davens, cleans, attends services and prepares her home for Shabbat. “I make a really mean challah,” she joked. cconte@midatlanticmedia.com
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EnsorPlumbing.com 504 330 410 410-504-6
410-842-6272 GraniteGarageFloors.com
443-921-5789
LEHNHOFFSLANDSCAPING.COM
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Baltimore Jewish Times October 23, 2020
WE WILL SEE YOUR KITCHEN, BATHROOM, BASEMENT OR ADDITION THROUGH FROM CONCEPT TO CREATION! We make beautiful homes affordable.
Ardent is a design and build company. Reasons To Choose Ardent Home Improvement: • We Guarantee all our work for a lifetime • The Best Craftsmen work with our company • We stay on the job until it is completed • Cutting Edge Design & Build Experts
20% Off Cabinets
• Passionate about every job we do • Over 30 years experience in the Home Remodeling & Design Industry • When you hire Ardent we do the work, Owner Is on every job
FREE CONSULTATION Serving Baltimore and surrounding counties
443-275-2055 ardenthomeimprovement.com
24 HOUR Emergency Service • 410-240-5299
WHAT WE CAN DO:
• Fixture Repair • Water Heaters • Clogged Drains • Gas Lines • Plumbing Repairs • Water Treatment • Well Systems • Water Heaters • And More...
License #97825
Central Maryland's Choice for Plumbing Needs
410-240-5299
support@donovanwaterworks.com www.donovanwaterworks.com
50 OFF Any Service of
$
$250 or More (Code: FIFTY)
With coupon. Not valid with other offers or prior service. Must present at time of estimate. Expires 12/31/20.
% 20Winterization OFF Service
(Code: WINTER) With coupon. Not valid with other offers or prior service. Must present at time of estimate. Expires 12/31/20.
75 OFF Sump Pump
$
Installation (Code: SUMP)
With coupon. Not valid with other offers or prior service. Must present at time of estimate. Expires 12/31/20.
jewishtimes.com
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e are here for you, we’ll get through this together!
9 BEST O 01
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Let us Help You Remain at Home...Where You Want to Be.
WINNE R
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Personal Care and Hygiene Walking Assistance,
Light Housekeeping and Errands Laundry & Linen Washing Safety Monitoring & Companionship
Call 833-9-HOMECARE
or visit us on the web at www.homecentris.com Serving the community for 17 years!
Premier Associates
NORTHBROOK ROAD - $649,000
BARTONWOOD - $129,900
4 BEDROOMS , 3 BATHS
2 BEDROOMS, 2 BATHS, TOP FLOOR UNIT
PARK TOWERS WEST- $89,900
THE IMPERIAL - $79,000
NO STAIRS, PRIVATE REAR ENTRANCE, 2 BRS, 2 BATHS
NEWLY RENOVATED, 3 BEDROOMS, 2 BATHS
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FOURWOOD COURT - $199,000
PARK TOWERS EAST - $69,000
2 BEDROOMS, 2 BATHS
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RENOVATED, 1 BEDROOM, 1 BATH
T SO
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SMITH AVENUE - $419,900
WEDGE WAY - $549,900
4 BEDROOMS, 3 BATHS
4 BEDROOMS, 4.5 BATHS
WE HAVE BUYERS LOOKING TO PURCHASE A HOME IN THE
MIDFIELD, TIMBERFIELD & LIGHTFOOT AREA.
HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT SELLING YOUR HOME? IF SO, PLEASE CONTACT US TODAY! WE HAVE BUYERS IN YOUR AREA LOT - RAINTREE COURT - $425,000 B u y i n g o r S e l l i n g a H o m e?
Experience Matters! BARRY NABOZNY
BROKER/REALTOR • 410-977-7600 410.581.1000 1517 Reisterstown Road Corner of Old Court Road Baltimore, MD 21208
410.581.1000
6 Church Lane Baltimore, MD 21208
First Floor 107 - The spacious 2 bedroom 2 bath condo on the first floor has a 25 foot balcony. Easy access from the front lobby or back elevator. Eighth floor 808 - Large eat in kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths with balcony and sunset views. All utilities included in monthly fee. Full service elevator building. Margaret Rome 410-530-2400
Park Towers West – 7121 Park Heights Ave
VEL SE 2 LENHOU TOW
Park Towers East – Penthouse
Stunning East building Penthouse with over 2500 square feet! Picture yourself here because it is move-in ready, with 2 master bedrooms and a guest bedroom. Look out over the skyline of Towson from the 2 balconies. The skylights and a wall of windows provide great natural light and beautiful sunrise views. All new windows, a gourmet kitchen with new appliances and gas cooking. Full service elevator building. For information call Margaret Rome 410-530-2400
SE HOU ENT P Y UR LUX
L POO OOR D N I
Broker-Owner • Home Rome Realty
www. .com HomeRome.com | mrome@HomeRome.com
410-530-2400
M
LIVE RAD SHOW IO Sun 1 AM68 2 Noon 0/WC B
Real Estate the right way
Rome
16 Lamplighter Ct 21208 Annen Woods Rarely available two level brick townhouse with 3 bedrooms 2 ½ baths, fireplace, family room, and two sets of sliders to the enclosed patio. Gas heating and cooking. Two assigned parking spaces in front. Ready to move in NOW. Call 410-530-2400.
This one is a wow! Mid Century Modern interior by Jay Jenkins. Fabulous use of space and space planning. Gourmet granite kitchen with Viking gas cook top. Superb storage. Originally four bedrooms. Now 3 with a two room master suite, heated floors, marble bath, walk-in dressing room and closet. Curved wall room addition with second kitchen and disappearing wall of sliding glass. Dream lower level with spiral stairs, perfect for in law, media, home offices, music, and tons of storage. Perfect for entertaining with private oversized deck. More like a country club than a home. Margaret Rome 410-530-2400
Greengate Rancher 2117 Burdock Rd.
Margaret Rome author of
ER NCH E RA T A ENG GRE
46 Bellchase Ct. 21208 Four bedroom Brick Colonial in Valley Gate is immaculate, move-in ready and has it all! If you want to keep everyone at home check out the attached INDOOR in-ground swimming pool and separate temperature-controlled pool room. High ceilings and skylights make this space perfect all year round! Wine connoisseur? There is a temperature-controlled wine cellar with racking, tasting tables, and an independent cooling system. Perfect ‘stay at home’ home! Margaret Rome 410-530-2400
SELL YOUR HOME WITH MARGARET ROME
O S ONBDUYS C TWOREAT G
Unique Ruxton ‘DECK’ house rarely available. Four bedrooms, a loft, a spiral staircase, wood floors, high ceilings, a couple of fireplaces, a studio filled with light. Tucked and hidden, this private contemporary retreat makes a bold statement of beauty, strength and livability. For information Margaret Rome 410-530-2400
1504 La Belle Ave 21204
6000 Ivydene Terrace 21209 Only twelve units in this Mount Washington COOP. 2BR 2Ba top floor with over 1800 square feet. A formal dining room with glass sliding doors, large laundry/storage and 15’ deck overlooking a wooded scene. Enjoy the eat-in kitchen with gas cooking, double ovens, dishwasher, refrigerators and window over the sink. A hidden gem! Margaret Rome 410-530-2400
9 120 ILL 2 H L PIL
This forever home is on a private wooded acre with no grass to mow! Spectacular contemporary rancher. The kitchen designed for the gourmet cook, Subzero, gas 6 burner stove, Solid walnut island. Where are the kitchen outlets? They are all hidden! Hardwood floors, custom recessed lighting everywhere! And the main level master suite has TWO separate full baths. Enjoy outside privacy from the deck off the open kitchen, dining and living rooms. Two stacked stone gas fireplaces, one in the living room one in the lower level great room. Two car garage with available lift. Total perfection in every single space. Margaret Rome 410-530-2400
8978 Furrow Ave 21042, Howard County
T REA RET ATE V I PR
7500 Travertine Dr. #402 Three bedrooms, den and two baths in The Highlands. Granite, quartz, hardwoods, gas heat/cooking and attached garage. Luxury abounds in this Dogwood model with 1900’, top floor with custom updates throughout. For information please call 410-530-2400
BR RY 3 UAR Q E TH
410-530-2400
FOR A TOO LATE OR SOLD ON YOUR HOME CALL MARGARET ROME
4 Green Heather Ct 21208 Luxury abounds in this 5-6 bedroom, 6000’ ultra-sleek livable sculpture on 2+ acres! Five full baths, gourmet kitchen, wood floors, a couple of whirlpool tubs, a gym, a sauna, a 3 car garage, 11 skylights, 13 sliding glass doors and an open floor plan that lets your furniture define the spaces. Inground pool, gazebo , basketball/tennis court, outdoor kitchen, extensive decking. New and ready for you to play, entertain and enjoy this summer. Margaret Rome 410-530-2400
E N/ IQU DER UN MO RARY/ PO TEM CON
Virtual Tours at www. HomeRome. com
