Need to Know for June 29

New Maryland laws, record-breaking July 4th travel and Abbi Jacobson

On the Books

Planned Parenthood, Pollinator Protection, Taxpayer Protection, Opioid Education, Hometown Heroes, Minimum Wage and Craft Breweries. These are the subjects covered in the new Maryland laws going into effect July 1. To learn how this affects you, read: New Maryland Laws Go Into Effect on July 1

Traffic of Historic Proportions

AAA Mid-Atlantic is estimating that a record-breaking 44.2 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more by road, sky, rail or water to celebrate the July 4th holiday weekend (June 30-July 4). According to a report released on June 28, the amount of Maryland travelers during the holiday weekend is also expected to reach an all-time high at an estimated 927,400.

Jewish women praying at the Western Wall (Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images)

Battle at the Wall

The Israeli Supreme Court will hold a hearing in July on the status of the non-Orthodox section of the Western Wall. The court will convene July 30 to discuss a petition from last year calling on the Israeli government to implement the Western Wall compromise passed in January 2016, according to Anat Hoffman, chairwoman of Women of the Wall, one of the parties to the petition. In October, the court postponed a ruling on the petition to allow the government time to formulate a response. On Sunday, the government voted to suspend most of the compromise. The compromise would have expanded the non-Orthodox prayer section south of the main Western Wall plaza, created a shared entrance to all prayer areas and appointed an interdenominational council to oversee the non-Orthodox section.

Glover Park Targeted

Anti-Semitic and white supremacist fliers were dropped at houses in a Washington, D.C., neighborhood. Jewish and non-Jewish residents of Glover Park found the two-sided fliers on their front doorsteps on June 28, Fox5 reported. The fliers offer several conspiracy theories against Jews and call for a war on Jews. The same flier has appeared in D.C. neighborhoods before. Police are aware of the latest incident. — JTA

‘Broad’ Brushstrokes

Abbi Jacobson of “Broad City” fame will debut a new 10-part podcast about modern and contemporary art on July 10. “A Piece of Work,” produced as a partnership with WNYC Studios and the Museum of Modern Art, will explore works of art through different themes. Jacobson, a graduate of Maryland Institute College of Art, will be joined by such guests as Hannibal Buress, Questlove and Samantha Irby.

Merriweather Memories

If you haven’t heard yet, Columbia’s venerable concert venue Merriweather Post Pavilion is celebrating its 50th anniversary this season with special concerts and events. Jmore’s staff and contributors got together to share some of their memories. Check them out here.

Today’s J-word:

Chazerai (Yiddish)
Meaning: Bad food, junk or garbage; flotsam
Usage: “I love Jmore; the rest is just chazerai!”

Go to the Jmore – Baltimore Jewish Living channel on YouTube to watch the J-Word of the Day video.

Go to facebook.com/JMORELiving every Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. to watch Need to Know with Editor-in-Chief Alan Feiler, sponsored by University of Maryland, Baltimore. Join the discussion on the week’s news and current events. Note: There will not be a show on July 4.