The Balagan
by Deborah Walike | Jan 20, 2020 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan
Maimonides, the great Jewish philosopher and scholar, wrote that there are eight levels of charity, each greater than the next one. The greatest is to help out a fellow Jew, and the list goes on to the less impressive gestures of “giving inadequately but cheerfully”... read more
by Michael Olesker | Nov 29, 2019 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, Michael Olesker, The Balagan
You know who I miss? I miss Sam Moss, who had a radio program around here, but only for about 35 years. On Sunday mornings, when the gentiles were in church, Sam was on the radio kibitzing with the Jews. In Sam’s inflections came echoes of Borscht Belt merriment, of... read more
by Jessica Anya Blau | Nov 28, 2019 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan
“You’re Jewish?!” two girls asked while stopping me on the sidewalk near our homes. It was sometime in the second grade. “Yes.” Had their parents been talking about my family, the only Jews in this Southern California suburb? “You killed Jesus!” one of... read more
by Alan Feiler, Editor-in-Chief | Nov 1, 2019 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, Opinion, The Balagan
Some memories just stick with you, no matter how much you try to shake ’em off. And more often than not, these recalled events happened while you were eating, perhaps at a posh restaurant, a friendly neighborhood noshery, in a relative’s dining room or your own... read more
by Rafael Alvarez | Oct 22, 2019 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan
“Time is yet another of God’s creations, and as such, it has a life of its own.” —Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson Almost a quarter of a century ago, Pope John Paul II came to Baltimore and celebrated mass at Camden Yards, selling out the ballpark as today’s home team... read more
by Alan Feiler, Editor-in-Chief | Sep 5, 2019 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, Opinion, The Balagan, Uncategorized
A few weeks ago, I was navigating a dusty, narrow stretch of Oranjestad, the bustling capital of the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba, when I noticed a grouping of nondescript stone walls by the roadside. On top of the walls were wrought-iron Stars of David. Naturally,... read more
by Scott Kiewe | Jun 28, 2019 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan
July is the time to independence and freedom. It’s a month of concerts, regional traditions and languishing outdoors. Here are some of our top picks for enjoying those carefree sunny days and getting deep in the summertime mood. Michael Luwoye and Isaiah Johnson in... read more
by Rafael Alvarez | Jun 25, 2019 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan
I am standing on the roof of 1216 E. Baltimore St., just off the corner of Central Avenue, staring across the skyline of downtown, a fabled stretch of Lombard Street and the distant cranes of the Dundalk Marine Terminal. This is ground zero of Baltimore’s original... read more
by Amanda Krotki | Jun 3, 2019 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan
June – the first official summer month – is good for Father’s Day grilling, Pride celebrations and lots of outdoor festivals. Here are our picks for enjoying all the summer fun in and around Baltimore. HONfest (Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons) HONFest 2019 This is... read more
by JMORE Staff | May 10, 2019 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, Hey Rabbi!, Podcasts, The Balagan
In Episode 8: Hey Rabbi, What’s Up with the Orthodox Dating Scene? Beth Tfiloh’s Rabbi Eli Yoggev and Jmore’s Amanda Krotki discuss how to date an Orthodox rabbi and some of the traditional rules of engagement. Subscribe at: iTunes | Spotify | TuneIn... read more
Read the latest views and thoughts from Jmore Publisher Scott Rifkin, MD 