Manischewitz just came out with a brand new look (Handout photo)

A water rights seder, trans rights, Manischewitz rebrands and more

water justice seder
The water justice seder, which is open to the general community, is “not meant to replace your family seder,” (Handout photo)

Jews United for Justice to hold waterrights seder

Every yearbefore Passover, members of the seder committee for the Baltimorebranch of Jews United for Justice contemplate a particular social justice issueto explore. For this year’s seder, Adina Potter Yoe, co-chair of the committee,says the decision was unanimous — to focus on water justice. “It will be moreof a community experience than a religious experience,” says co-chair LisaFirnberg, “a great way to educate our community in a format with which they’refamiliar.” The seder will be held March 31 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Chevrei TzedekCongregation at the Edward A. Myerberg Center, 3101 Fallstaff Road in NorthwestBaltimore.

Read more: Jews United for Justice to Hold Water Rights Seder

Baltimore City Public Schools headquarters on North Avenue
Baltimore City Public Schools headquarters on North Avenue (photo courtesy Wikipedia)

Baltimore City Council passesresolution calling for trans protections

The City Council unanimously passed a resolution March 25 calling on the Baltimore City school board to adopt a policy allowing trans students to use their preferred pronouns, access the bathrooms that align with their gender and update school records to reflect their gender, according to Baltimore Fishbowl. The proposal, known as Policy JBB, would update Baltimore City Public Schools’ policy on sexual harassment to reflect a broader range of sex-based discrimination, establishing clear rights for transgender and gender non-conforming students. City Councilman Zeke Cohen (1st District), the sponsor of the resolution, said on the floor that he met with both a transgender teacher and student who described a climate of harassment. Cohen said the student contemplated suicide, and told him, “Councilman, we just want to be seen.” The school board will hear public testimony on the policy at its April 2 meeting and vote on Policy JBB on April 9.

Read more: Council unanimously passes resolution calling on school board to pass protections for trans students

La Food Marketa’s Johntay Bedingfield receives citations

Johnny O and Johntay
Baltimore Co. Executive John Olszewski Jr. chats with Chef Johntay Bedingfield (Pikesville Owings Mills Regional Chamber of Commerce)

Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski Jr. and Baltimore County Councilman Izzy Patoka (D-2nd) honored Chef Johntay Bedingfield of La Food Marketa in Pikesville with executive citations on March 25.

Olszewski, Patoka and Bedingfield
Jessica Normington, Baltimore Co. Executive John Olszewski Jr., Baltimore Co. Councilman Izzy Patoka & Chef Johntay Bedingfield of La Food Marketa. (l to r) (Pikesville Owings Mills Regional Chamber of Commerce)

Bedingfield recently won a tailgate-themed episode of the Food Network’s “Chopped.” Also on hand was Jessica Normington, president of the Pikesville-Owings Mills Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Patoka wrote the following on Facebook, “I have known La Food Marketa chef Johntay Bedingfield and his family for years and am so proud of everything he has accomplished in the food industry and beyond. From helping to run an incredible restaurant to winning Food Network’s “Chopped” to being an all-around kind-hearted person, Johntay embodies the spirit of what the 2nd District of Baltimore County is all about.”

John Olszewski Jr. and Izzy Patoka
Baltimore Co. Executive John Olszewski Jr. & Baltimore Co. Councilman Izzy Patoka at La Food Marketa (Pikesville Owings Mills Regional Chamber of Commerce)
Manischewitz
Manischewitz has updated its products and themes and introduced a new tagline. (Handout photo)

Manischewitz got a brand new box

Just in time for Passover, the 130-year-old iconic Manischewitz Company, the largest marketer of kosher foods in North America, has unveiled a brand new look. The company’s update includes new products and themes and the tagline, “Comfort Foods for the Soul.” Some of the fresher offerings include, hazelnut and cashew butters; birthday cake, hazelnut chocolate chip, red velvet, carrot cake and pistachio orange macaroons; gluten-free matzo-style squares and a s’more matzo kit. To find out about new products, go to manischewitz.com.

Newsweek namesIsrael’s Sheba Medical Center one of world’s 10 best hospitals

Newsweek magazine named Israel’s Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer as one of the top 10 best hospitals in the world. Sheba was placed 10th on the list that includes the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic, Singapore General Hospital and Lausanne University Hospital in Switzerland. The magazine partnered with Statista Inc., a global market research and consumer data company, to develop the list, which was published on March 20. The magazine called Sheba “a leader in medical science and biotechnical innovation, both in the Middle East and worldwide. The center’s collaborations with international parties have advanced innovative medical practices, hospital systems and biotechnology.” Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer was founded in 1948 and is affiliated with Tel Aviv University. It serves over 1 million patients per year.—JTA

Israeli spacecraft Beresheet
Israeli spacecraft Beresheet takes a selfie with Earth, more than 23,000 miles away. (SpaceIL and Israel Aerospace Industries)

Beresheet seesthe sunrise

The Israeli spacecraft Beresheet has sent home a video of a sunrise from the spacecraft’s point of view before it enters the moon’s orbit. The Beresheet camera also caught some selfie images with earth from 81,400 miles and nearly 165,000 miles away. It also sent back a short selfie video. The spacecraft is in its largest elliptical orbit around the earth and is scheduled to intersect the moon’s orbit and be captured in it on April 4 at 251,655 miles from earth. The lunar lander is expected to land on the moon’s surface on April 11. The landing site has been identified as the northeastern part of Mare Serenitatis, or the Sea of Serenity, a flat area on the moon’s surface.–JTA

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