The Balagan

An Idiot’s Guide to Anti-Semitic Tropes

by Andrew Silow-Carroll, JTA | Feb 20, 2019 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan

(JTA) — Dear JTA, I am an elected official in a large democracy in the Western hemisphere. A lot of my colleagues have gotten into trouble recently for using anti-Semitic “tropes.” I know what anti-Semitism is, but am less sure how that differs from a “trope.” Any...

Facebook Live: Catch Up On Some of Our Recent Shows

by JMORE Staff | Feb 12, 2019 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan

Jmore currently produces two Facebook Live shows each week on facebook.com/jmoreliving. This Week in Baltimore Eating with Richard Gorelick takes place Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. and is a discussion of everything food-related in Baltimore. Your Weekend Agenda takes place...

10 Jew-ish Podcasts You Should be Listening to

by Solomon Swerling | Feb 11, 2019 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan

Whether you’re on a long car trip with a buddy or knitting at home while bopping along to something on your favorite pair of headphones, you might be looking for a fun podcast to keep you company. But among the thousands of series available, how do you find the...

The Steep Price of Getting Stumped

by Alan Feiler, Editor-in-Chief | Feb 6, 2019 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, Opinion, The Balagan

“And the devil jumped upon a hickory stump and said, ‘Boy, let me tell you what …’” –The Charlie Daniels Band, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” I learned something last week. It’s no fun being on the stump. No, I don’t mean wading into the sordid,...

Two Roads Diverged and I Took the One Less Orthodox

by Amanda Krotki | Feb 5, 2019 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan

Eighth installment in an ongoing series So far in Rabbi Eli Yoggev’s Judaism for Beginners class at Beth Tfiloh, I’ve sat quietly and patiently, getting my learn on, agreeing to disagree on certain topics and even coming to terms with what I consider some deeply...

Jmore Loves …

by JMORE Staff | Feb 5, 2019 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan

Over here at Jmore, we’re just brimming with love. We love our jobs, our families, our city, all of it! But, when we decided to write essays about our special passions, we thought we’d take a different approach. Here are just a few of things in life Jmore...

One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Tchotchke

by Alan Feiler, Editor-in-Chief | Feb 5, 2019 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan

Nearly 20 years ago, an old friend left me a voice-mail message, requesting that I call him back immediately. I heard a tone of alarm in his voice. “What’s up?” I asked. “What’s up? I’ll tell you what’s up – tchotchkes!” he shot back. My pal, a longtime Jewish Museum...

Save Me the Aisle Seat

by Amanda Krotki | Feb 5, 2019 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan

When we decided to write personal essays for Jmore’s February “Love Issue,” my first thought was to take the sentimental, but obvious, route and pick my mom (who raised me as a single mother in a strange land at less than half the age I am now) or maybe go with...

A Puzzling Love Affair

by Simone Ellin, Associate Editor | Feb 5, 2019 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan

The smell of a pipe. A half-eaten roll of peppermint Life Savers. A dazzling smile, and The New York Times crossword puzzle. These are the images that spring to mind when I think of my beloved late grandfather, Leon Grill, who passed away in 1989 when he was just 73....

I Won the Sister Lottery

by Molly Blosse | Feb 5, 2019 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, The Balagan

I knew I hit the sister lottery when I was going through a particular rough patch in my late 20s and called her at 3 a.m. in tears. There was no, “Do you know what time it is?” or a gruff “What?” – It was: “What happened? Are you OK?” I wasn’t OK and she talked to me...