by Leonard Schleider | Sep 23, 2020 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, Opinion
In my humble opinion, these are troubling times for the Jewish community. And as someone who loves being Jewish and loves being part of Baltimore’s wonderful Jewish community, I must say that I am horribly concerned about our current state of affairs and the future of... read more
by Alan Feiler, Editor-in-Chief | Sep 16, 2020 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, Opinion, The Balagan
I’m not trying to pat myself on the back. But over the years, I’ve developed a capacity for something that my younger self, as a cub reporter, would never believe possible: I can listen to someone rant and rave about nearly anything, and still keep my big yap shut.... read more
by Rabbi Eli Yoggev | Sep 15, 2020 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, Opinion
Shimon ben Lakish, better known as “Reish Lakish,” is one of the more fascinating personalities in the Talmud. He began his career as a gang leader, robbing and pillaging at will. At one point, he even worked as a gladiator. Later on in life, he became a great rabbi... read more
by Dr. Jennifer Jimenez Marana | Sep 11, 2020 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, Opinion
In his recent video series “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man,” Fox Sports analyst and former NFL player Emmanuel Acho reads a letter from a white woman who grew up during the 1940s. She wrote that racism was part of her life growing up, but now... read more
by Michael Olesker | Aug 10, 2020 | Blogs, Michael Olesker, Opinion
In his drinking days, Pete Hamill liked to hang out at Greenwich Village’s Lion’s Head Tavern with a bunch of other New York literary types who made the place an ethnic think tank and not just a drunk tank. The Irish writer and raconteur Malachy McCourt, with a... read more
by Jack Gilden | Aug 4, 2020 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, Commentary, News, Opinion
Maybe the world doesn’t quite see it this way but when Bari Weiss resigned her plum job recently at The New York Times, it was one of the most significant news stories of the year. While many people fantasize about telling their boss to take this job and shove it, as... read more
by Jonathan Oleisky | Aug 2, 2020 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, Community, Opinion
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... read more
by Rabbi Eli Yoggev | Jul 29, 2020 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, Opinion
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... read more
by Rabbi Eli Yoggev | Jul 28, 2020 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, Opinion
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... read more
by Alan Feiler, Editor-in-Chief | Jun 25, 2020 | Blogs, Blogs & Opinion, Opinion
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... read more