Opinion
A Tribute to Toby Essrog, a True Woman of Valor
Baltimore’s Jewish community lost a gentle, compassionate and gracious soul late last week with the passing of Toby Essrog, z”l. You might ask how did a non-Baltimorean, the son of a rabbi, born in Erie, Pa., who grew up in Tucson, Ariz. (yes, that’s me), come...
Why I Mourn for the Holy Temple on Tisha B’Av
Throughout the year, many of us do not usually think too much about the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, but the Talmudic Sages wanted us to. They suggested we always leave a part of our home renovation unfinished to remind us of the destruction and to...
Being Jewish in Space is an Out of this World Experience
On Thursday night, July 23, Rabbi Dr. Eli Yoggev of Pikesville’s Beth Tfiloh Congregation participated in a Zoom program presented by the Jewish Museum of Maryland titled, “How to Be Jewish in Space!” The program was a preview to the JMM’s “Jews in Space: Members of...
The Past Belongs to All of Us
Years ago, I covered a Baltimore Jewish Council meeting at the headquarters of The Associated back when the BJC’s offices were located there. The meeting featured a South African-born Jewish attorney and activist who’d relocated to Baltimore. He spoke about the...
Sign of Inspiration and Compassion
This past Wednesday, during one of my almost daily walks, I found a sign on the east corner of Stevenson Road and Woodvalley Drive. That’s across the street from Chizuk Amuno, and I knew it was the east because that is the direction we face when we pray. It said, “I...
Let’s Take Steps to End Police Brutality Now
When the editor-in-chief of Jmore asked me if I would be interested in writing a column about my perspective on what is going on in the aftermath of the George Floyd tragedy, at first I wanted to say no. The reason is because I don’t have a clear...
Five Tips to Make Shabbat More Special during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Feel like the walls of your home (and maybe your cranial cavity as well) are closing in on you during this pandemic? Even after more than a month of social distancing and self-separation, the process of Isolation isn’t easy. But for some, Shabbat itself can be a...
The Sweet Sacrifice of Giving Thanks
There are two directions that rabbis take when dealing with our new and difficult COVID-19 reality. Both are reflected in the different forms of korbanot, or sacrifices, mentioned in our Torah portion. The first is to think about which sins may have brought about...
Remembering Jerry Lapides and his Unique Klezmer Take on the Blues
With the walls that sometimes feel like they’re closing in during this pandemic, my wife and I decided the other day to get out and take a good, long walk. After careful deliberations, we agreed to stroll around Fells Point, one of our favorite haunts in town. Passing...Upcoming Events
Aug
7
Fri
all-day
National Refugee Shabbat @ Cong...
@ Congregation Beit Tikvah
National Refugee Shabbat @ Cong...
@ Congregation Beit Tikvah
Aug 7 all-day
Friday, August 7 7:30 pm National Refugee Shabbat Leader: Debbie Badawi Please join us for our National Refugee Shabbat. We will explore some history of refugees in the US and a few liturgical readings on[...]
Aug
9
Sun
1:00 pm
Jewish Museums Across the Seas: ...
@ Jewish Museum of Maryland Online
Jewish Museums Across the Seas: ...
@ Jewish Museum of Maryland Online
Aug 9 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Discover the history of Jewish people in Britain with the Jewish Museum London. From a medieval mikvah telling the story of the first Jewish community in Britain to photographs belonging to children who travelled on[...]
Aug
11
Tue
11:00 am
Masada virtual tour with BZD
@ ZOOM
Masada virtual tour with BZD
@ ZOOM
Aug 11 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
On this tour we will visit one of the most important sites to visit in Israel- Masada! The last stronghold of the Jewish revolt against Rome and its legions before the long exile. We will[...]
Publisher’s Notes
Read the latest views and thoughts from Jmore Publisher Scott Rifkin, MD Latest Print Edition
