The Balagan

My So-Called Jewish Life

by Amanda Krotki | Dec 11, 2018 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan

Third installment in an ongoing series. It was a chilly, get-under-the-covers-and-stay-there night when I arrived for my latest class of Rabbi Eli Yoggev’s Judaism for Beginners course at Beth Tfiloh. The topic would be “Daily Jewish Living,” or as Rabbi...

Mentsches Among Us

by Alan Feiler, Editor-in-Chief | Nov 30, 2018 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan

There are some people in this world who like to call themselves mentsches. But only a few really live up to that lofty designation, in my humble opinion. And usually, they’d never personally refer to themselves in such a manner. We use the term all the time, but what...

Holidays 2018: How to Survive the Season

by JMORE Staff | Nov 28, 2018 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan

Jmore’s Holiday Guide 2018 features recipe suggestions, a look at Chanukah customs and more Festival of Lights fun. So, let us help you get through the rest of the year in one festive piece. Chanukah Chanukah Brew Ha Ha Lights Up Union Collective: This year’s...

Jmore’s Top Event Picks for December: Holiday Edition

by Natalie Jeffery | Nov 27, 2018 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan

With Chanukah arriving so early this year, we want to make sure you don’t miss out on the must-catch events of the holiday season. From Baltimore’s biggest Chanukah party to a hilarious, holiday-themed comedy show, we’ve got it all here. But...

In Judaism, You Ask for a Nosh and You Get a Nosh!

by Amanda Krotki | Nov 27, 2018 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan

Second installment in an ongoing series Some of you may remember that I casually mentioned that Rabbi Eli Yoggev’s Judaism for Beginners class at Beth Tfiloh Congregation could only be improved upon with the addition of something to nosh on. Well, guess what awaited...

A (Gefilte) Fish Out of Water

by Amanda Krotki | Nov 20, 2018 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan

J-school is in session! Last night, I stepped way out of my comfort zone and into a synagogue. Let’s just say it’s the first time I did that in a month (or several) of Shabbats. A gefilte fish out of water, if you will. What could bring me into a religious institution...

Is Your Pet Jmore Cover-Worthy?

by JMORE Staff | Nov 19, 2018 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan

We’re looking for the cover model for our January pets issue. Send us your best pet photos and tell us in 150 words or less why your furry friend should be on the cover of Jmore — what makes him special, does she have a funny character trait, is he an active...

8 Crazy Holiday Shopping Events

by Natalie Jeffery | Nov 14, 2018 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan

The holidays are approaching and that means it’s time to start thinking about presents — lots of presents. Support Baltimore artists and makers by gifting your loved ones (or those obligatory recipients on your list) with handmade treasures they...

Jewy by Nature

by Amanda Krotki | Nov 12, 2018 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan

I didn’t go to Hebrew school, and I never had a bat mitzvah. I really like shellfish. I grew up in Salt Lake City, for gosh sake! But I am 100 percent, certifiably, pure-grade Jewish. Both parents, all grandparents and so on and so forth. My lineage is legit. Despite...

Separating the Sacred from the Mundane

by Rafael Alvarez | Oct 31, 2018 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan

“All holy writings and their commentaries and explanations, it is forbidden to either burn or destroy them.” —Maimonides (Mishneh Torah, Yesodei Torah 6:8) My father – raised on the eastern edge of Highlandtown during the Great Depression and World...