Comments (3)Poor Judgment
November 20, 2009I take exception to the characterizations of President Barack Obama by Dr. Rivka Adler in the Nov. 6 article “God Is Leading Us.” Dr. Adler’s reference to President Obama embodying “the lineage of Esau and Ishmael” strongly suggests President Obama’s heritage and ancestry as a reason she is making aliya.
I would like to think that someone as active in the Jewish community as Dr. Adler would be particularly sensitive to judging someone based on their ancestry. In addition to being offensive, her statement is factually incorrect as our President has not made any statements or actions which would suggest an erosion of the “special friendship” the United States has with Israel. Additionally, he has chosen David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel, two Jews and committed Zionists, as among his closest advisors.
I am comforted by the fact that the vast majority of the Jewish community does not share Dr. Adler’s particular quandry with President Obama’s ancestry…President Obama captured roughly 80 percent of the Jewish vote in last year’s election.
I wish Dr. Adler and her family the best of luck with making aliyah and hope they prosper spiritually, and I wish our President the best of luck in his attempts to help make Israel a safer country.
Matthew Goldberg
Baltimore
Correction
November 20, 2009The Nov. 13 article “EMTs File Suit” should have noted that Dr. Elimelich Goldstein spent one night a week at the firehouse, not one night a year, for 17 years.
Unfair Attack
November 20, 2009It is always easier to attack someone you don’t know. I can’t help but assume that Steve Weissman must never have met the Adlers, or he would undoubtedly have been incapable of meting out such cynical invective at them (“Humbled,” Nov. 13). “Smug triumphalism?” Spend but a few minutes with this caring, jovial couple, who have devoted so much of their lives to the betterment of our community, and you’d know better.
As individual Jews, it is part of our life mission to try to discern what our role is on this earth, and to actualize this knowledge to the best of our abilities. The Adlers are heeding the developments in their lives, and feel that it’s time to move on to write their next noble chapter in the Holy Land. Somehow, Mr. Weissman has sullied their admirable decision, and contorted it into a contention that the Adlers claim to have been privy to divine revelation.
I can only assume that Mr. Weissman’s bile was stirred by the reference to President Obama. Fair enough. If one disagrees, then a rational response would be directed at the small section of the article, which dealt with anything remotely political. However, I fear he lost the forest for the trees in responding with character assassination rather than reasoned dialog. That serves no one.
Jeremy Staiman
Baltimore
The Facts
November 20, 2009The Nov. 13 letter “”Enemies?” has several misperceptions. Sadly, the writer seemed to have missed the point of the film, the evening, and of what the Baltimore Jewish Council does, which is to educate the Jewish and general community about Israel, as well as to advocate on her behalf, doing our part to ensure the country’s safety and security.
* The film was about the experience of six young Israeli women in a male-dominated military, and the effects of war upon them, not about specific “atrocities.”
* There was no political or “hidden” agenda. Rather the intent was to provide the opportunity to watch this powerful film in a safe space, and to process the content with a highly esteemed veteran of the IDF while listening to her stories and insights, and to begin to explore the role and experiences of women in the Israeli military within an intimate setting. The BJC cannot control individual participant comments, though both sides of the political spectrum were represented.
* We believe attendees left with a deeper sense of understanding the many challenges facing the Israeli military.
* Finally, one attendee was a BJC staff member, not four.
We are happy to reaffirm our belief that people in the Baltimore Jewish community remain passionate about Israel. We welcome those who wish to “join the conversation,” to get involved.
Rafi Rone
Deputy Director, Baltimore Jewish Council
Good Job!
November 20, 2009Thank you for the Nov. 13 editorial “Keeping Elderly Warm, Well,” supporting CHAI’s Weatherization Day that assists older homeowners with fall maintenance and energy saving improvements. We also thank the 230 volunteers who came from all parts of the community and had amazing experiences serving 85 seniors in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. In one day, they completed 650 jobs including covering 145 windows with plastic, replacing batteries on 85 smoke detectors, raking leaves on 50 properties.
Kenneth Gelula
Executive Director
Not Our View
November 20, 2009Regarding the Nov. 6 article “God is Leading Us,” discussing the impending aliyah of Rabbi Elon Adler of Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah and his wife, I feel I must respond.
My husband and I are members of MMAE We have always enjoyed the haimish atmosphere in the shul and the welcoming demeanor of it’s congregants. Many of the current members were members of the former Liberty Jewish Center and the old Moses Montefiore. They have spent decades working to build their respective congregations and keep a Jewish presence in the areas where their shuls were located.
About one year ago, I began holding Tot Shabbat services once a month to engage our younger members and to welcome visitors to our shul. MMAE is a great place to be to learn and to grow as a Jew.
I want to make sure that people in the larger Jewish community realize that the comments made by Rabbi Elon Adler and his wife in the article and previous articles do not neccessarily reflect those shared by his congregants at MMAE. My husband and I both feel that we have an important role in building a Jewish community and in instilling Jewish values in our child. We believe that the comments made by Rabbi Adler’s wife regarding her feelings about American Jewry could be particularly damaging to our shul if read by people who have never enjoyed the warmth of our MMAE and its services.
We do not believe that the door is closing on American Jewry. We have been afforded many learning experiences because of living in this country. No country will appear to be perfect for all of its residents. However, we understand that if it was not for American Jewry in this “diaspora” that Rabbi Adler’s wife refers to supporting Israel, their life after their aliyah would not be as pleasant.
We believe that the type of comments voiced by Rabbi Adler’s wife can be especially damaging if read by those considering membership in our shul. They may feel unsure that they want to be part of a congregation whose Rabbi seems to be so critical of the American population as a whole and whose wife feels this is such an unsafe country, that she needs to get her family out safely.
If you are thinking of joining a shul and you are looking for a warm and inviting place for your family to pray and learn, MMAE would be a great choice. We are not all in agreement with what the rabbi and his wife believe or state. Everyone has a right to their own opinion, however as a Rabbi, his and his wife’s comments reflect on our shul.
As for my opinion about the Rabbi’s wife stating that the recent economic downturn is a sign that G-d is closing the doors on the American Jewish community? I shudder to think what a non-Jew would think after reading that comment. Also, the thought attributed to her in the article that the election of President Obama is yet another way for her to know that G-d is closing the doors on American Jewry and the comments she made about President Obama worry me. It is hype like this that creates false impressions and bad will. I am sorry that this article may create an incorrect impression about the beliefs held by congregational members.
Erica Finkelstein-Parker
Littlestown, Pa.
Push Modern Orthodoxy
November 13, 2009Just as there are all sorts of American Jews, there are even more wide variations among Israeli Jews. Eli Yishai’s Shas Party represents mainly Jews from Arab countries. These countries never experienced—or were just spared ?—Reform, Conservative and even Modern Orthodox Judaism. To people like Yishai these are Ashkenazic deviations from his type of Judaism. A second factor to consider is that the concept of civility, tact, diplomacy and understatement are not part of the Israeli mindset. As Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks notes in his book ‘Future Tense’ these concepts have no words in standard Ivrit. The greatest Israeli diplomat was probably Aba Eban, and he was more popular outside than inside Israel!
Coming to Yishai’s tactless comments that triggered such a hostile response from Conservative and Reform American Jews,they were tactless but not wrong ! Gone are the days when Conservative shuls were Orthodox with mixed seating and Reform just added an organ for good measure. He is probably right that Israeli society is not ready for the Conservative move to ordain actively gay and lesbian rabbis, or the Conservative and Reform willingness to bless same sex marriages. Israel follows the British model of an established religion that tries to do the best it can for as many people as possible. The problem in Israel is that the Right wing of Orthodoxy has exerted increasing pressure on mainstream Religious Zionism and managed to increase alienation with astonishing acts like trying to retroactively revoke the Chief Rabbi’s conversions.
The answer isn’t to appoint additional Chief Rabbis for Conservative and Reform Jews in Israel. The answer is to produce Modern Orthodox Chief Rabbis and city rabbis who display civility, tact, diplomacy and who use understatement to bring people closer to their Father in Heaven.
Joe Feld
London
Enemies?
November 13, 2009This past week, I attended a film presentation, sponsored by the Baltimore Jewish Council, at the Associated. The film was advertised as dealing with women in the Israeli military. The film was about women in the military, but with a hidden agenda. The hidden agenda was to focus on these women who have witnessed “atrocities” perpetrated by Israeli soldiers on the Palestinians in the territories.
No where was there any attempt to show the compassion and goodness shown by Israeli soldiers, both male and female, to the Palestinians. In other words, this was a very unbalanced presentation, which was advertised inaccurately.
Recently, a non-Jewish general (I think he is from New Zealand) publicly stated that he has never seen an army more compassionate to the enemies than the Israeli army.
With friends like these, who needs enemies.
After the showing, a woman, who was present, repeatedly said, ”That’s why the Arabs hate us”. No one from the BJC or the speaker tried to tell about the good things that the Israeli soldiers do. Where was the balance in this evening?
A representative from the BHU at Towson followed the film. According to her, there was nothing good about women, or for that matter, men, in the Israeli military. According to her, the Israeli army makes no effort to help former soldiers deal with difficult memories of events, something which I find very hard to believe.
The best thing about the evening was that there were very few participants, four of whom were staff members of the BJC.
Rena Rotenberg
Baltimore
More Pickles
November 13, 2009The Oct. 23 article “Knish And Tell” on Jewish delis did not mention S and H Deli on East Baltimore Street. Our deli’s kitchen was run by our mother Sarah Cohen. Our mother made homemade gefilte fish. She wouldn’t tolerate canned or bottled gefilte fish in our place. She would go to the fish market and check out each fish that she bought by looking at its gills. She filleted the fish, ground it up, mixed it, made it into oblong pieces and cooked it. She also made pickled fish and customers came in for it from all over Baltimore.
Our mother would also not tolerate bottled horseradish. She would go to Tulkoff’s on Lombard Street and get fresh ground horseradish. She would add her own russell (red coloring) into it. And when you would eat it your brow would sweat.
She would also make our kishke. She would soak and scrape the intestines until they were white. She then would stuff them by hand and roast them off. Everyone loved our mother’s food. We roasted our own briskets and we sliced them on sandwiches or platters by hand. We also cooked our own corned beef briskets (no Cryovac).
We were there when the Orioles and the Colts were champions. Many of the players from both teams lunched in our deli. The players used to come down to Nusinov’s when they were on Baltimore Street and then come to lunch at S and H Deli. We introduced them to lox, gefilte fish, kishke, knishes and good Jewish cooking. We became very friendly with Milt Pappas when he was with the Orioles. He loved our mother’s apple cake. Our mother told him, “Every time you win a game, I’ll give you an apple cake,” and he came in to claim one every time he won a game.
When the neighborhood changed, we looked for a new location and opened up as S and H Restaurant and Suburban House. S and H stood for Sydney and Henry and their wives, and Sarah and Harry, our parents.
Louis Goldstein’s brother used to fly his helicopter into Baltimore every month from the Eastern Shore to take back three or four cheesecakes for him and his friends.
Sydney M. Cohen
Baltimore
Humbled
November 13, 2009I am humbled to learn that Rabbi Elan Adler—like President George W. Bush—is in possession of direct, personal guidance from the Lord (“God Is Leading Us,” Nov. 6).
At the same time, I am distressed that, like President Bush, the upshot of such oracular knowledge of the Divine plan is fear-mongering, hysteria and serenely smug triumphalism. For, in heaping obloquy upon President Obama, Rabbi Adler notes that “our current president embodies the lineage of Esau and Ishmael… He’s no friend of Israel.”
By way of contrast, allow me to offer as a counterexample, former NASDAQ head Bernard Madoff. Madoff is of the distinguished (pure-bred) lineage of Abraham, Moses and Hillel, and an intimate of the American Orthodox elite, both social (Fifth Avenue Synagogue) and religious (Yeshiva University- Rabbi Adler’s rabbinic alma mater.)
A Weekly Web Poll question suggestion for the BALTIMORE JEWISH TIMES: Between President Obama and Mr. Madoff, who has caused more concrete, immediate and lasting damage worldwide to the welfare, well-being and good name of the Jewish people? The “pure” Jew or the Esau-Ishmael mixture?
Let me keep in mind that the Bible has specific contempt for leaders who voice anti-Torah values in offering policy directives in the name of God.
Steve Weissman
Casey Cares
November 13, 2009Thank you for the Oct. 30 article “Help With Healing,” an articulate and accurate article about our foundation, Casey Cares. I truly appreciate the JEWISH TIMES helping to get the word out about our charity and the special children who we serve. Being such a long article, there was much room for error, and I have to say all facts were correct – including the spelling of the names. Hats off to Abigail Sussman and the JEWISH TIMES for writing such a great story.
Pam Goode, Communications Director
The Casey Cares Foundation
Kristallnacht
November 13, 2009In response to Prof. Robert Wistrich’s essay last week at http://www.jewishtimes.com (A New Kristallnacht In The Making?), the 10th of November in Vienna was a day of a general Nazi pogrom. In Vienna a total of 71 synagogues and prayer houses were dynamited, the torah scrolls were burned and the buildings destroyed. The only building which survived was the Seitenstettengasse adjacent to the Kultusgemeinde, the Jewish community building. The interior of the synagogue was destroyed.
Thirty thousand Jews were arrested throughout the entire Reich’s territory and sent to concentration camps—Dachau, Buchenwald and Sachsenhausen. Two thousand Jews were killed by the SA and SS . In Vienna most of the killings took place at the Gestapo headquarters on the Morzinplatz. A fine of 1 billion Reichsmark [1938 currency] was imposed on all Jewish communities in Reichsdeutschland.
What was the response by Western democracies to these atrocities? The response was mild. Western press reported the pogrom. German diplomats continued their accreditation. There was no increase in visas for Jews seeking to flee Germany and all of that was witnessed by the free press of England, France and the United States.
In 1939 Britain issued the “Weissbuch” [White Book] which limited the only avenue of escape through the Youth Aliyah which required certificates for entry to Palestine.
This apathy displayed in the international arena gave impetus to the Wannsee conference in 1942.
Siegfried Buchwalter
Baltimore
More Silbergs
November 6, 2009I enjoyed the October 9 article “Having Fun In Business” about Keith Silberg. What needs to be known is that he is donating a portion of each auction sale proceeds to the Associated. Today, so many young people who have an opportunity to give financially or by volunteering their time haven’t been cultivated to do so. Keith feels strongly about sharing his success with others. We need more Keith Silbergs.
Louie Rosenstock
Baltimore
Mentor Rabbi
November 6, 2009My first years of pulpit service were at Baltimore’s Beth El, where I had the honor and privilege of being Rabbi Jacob Agus’s first assistant from 1972 to 1975. Rabbi Mark G. Loeb was gifted to serve as Rabbi Agus’s assistant, too.
Regarding your wonderful Oct. 16 tribute articles to Rabbi Mark Loeb, I add that although he was not the oldest rabbi among us, he acted as a friend and Big Brother to those of us privileged to serve this great Beth El congregation as Rabbis.
When I met with colleagues who also served as assistant rabbis at Beth El, we had similar stories. Rabbi Loeb helped us or advised us about some aspect of each of our rabbinic careers, which was of enormous help. We heard this from each other, but never from Rabbi Loeb. He did his good deeds for his colleagues at the highest level… for its own sake’, without publicizing his helpfulness with anyone else.
When I came to Detroit a decade-and-a-half ago to serve Adat Shalom Synagogue, a plant from Rabbi Loeb accompanied by a warm personal note was already on my desk. As I type, I see that 15-year-old plant on my round table in my synagogue office and think of how joyful I felt when I first noticed it. Rabbi Loeb sat with me at that round table after Adat Shalom Services on the first day of Rosh Hashanah 5769-2008 and we commented on the plant’s durability. He and I smiled. I will remember those smiles and be appreciative of being able to share tefillah with Rabbi Loeb a little more than a year ago today.
He was what you wrote: a wonderful friend and an outstanding Rabbi. I will miss him.
Rabbi Herb Yoskowitz
Farmington Hills, Mich.
Prefix Or Fixed?
November 6, 2009In reference to an advertisement on page 45 of the October 30 issue in which an advertiser offers a “prefix menu,” I assume that I could order unsweetened iced tea as my drink, salad with nonfat dressing, mini-rolls with polyunsaturated margarine, a demitasse of soup, and an entrée consisting of a super-sized hamburger and refried beans. After a dessert of a mousse made with semi-sweet chocolate, I would end it all with decaffeinated coffee.
Does anyone out there proofread advertising copy?
Jeff Amdur
Baltimore
Go Forth
November 6, 2009Rabbi Gila Ruskin’s beautiful Torah commentary “Be a Blessing” on last week’s Torah portion “Lech Lekha” was excellent in terms of her examples of Abraham being a mentsch, for which his good deeds sets the example for us all. But when I read the words “Go for yourself from your land, from your relatives, and your father’s house (birth place) to the land that I will show you. (Israel) This really hit home.
Why? Because I want to make aliyah to Israel with my husband, but we keep making excuses or putting it off due to family concerns. While we read “Lech Lecha” every year, this time I had to wrestle with this issue and question. If Abraham and Sarah had to leave their parents to start a new life, G-d must have had a good reason to urge them to leave because we are also taught in the Torah to honor our parents.
Now it would seem that leaving one’s parents in their older years would not be a way to honor them. Yet, we are taught that Abraham’s father was an idol maker and that goes against G-d’s Torah laws. However, we are not given any information about Sarah’s parents if they were doing anything that would be a problem.
As for our parents, neither of them were or are idol makers. So how do modern day Jews like us in the Diaspora deal with this?
Rabbi Ruskin and the Torah remind us of the tests Abraham had to endure. And how our Sages teach us: “By definition, a heavenly test is one that forces a person to choose between G-d’s will and his own nature or understanding of what is right.” In my “Stone Commentary” of Lech Lecha it stated: “Clearly, it would be no challenge to Abraham, who was the epitome of kindness, to be asked to help the needy, but it would be a supreme test of faith for him to desert his aged father and homeland or give up his cherished beloved son as an offering.”
Will this be our test? Will all of us Jews be tested to some degree? After all, in these more modern times we can still be in touch and love our family from a far. We can write, call or e-mail them daily, send pictures via the internet and/or visit them once or twice a year. Or better yet try to get them to join us.
Also, I love my only living parent, my dear mother, and care deeply about my siblings, brother and sister, and of course we love our daughter and grandson, along with some cousins and relatives and/or friends who are more like family to us. Nevertheless, something in “Lech Lekha” keeps pulling at my heart that we must go. And it’s later than we think. Abraham and Sarah were 65 and 75 when they left Iraq, Lenny and I are senior citizens, too. But Israel needs all of us Jews to be there for them morally, spiritually and financially. These are difficult times when Israel cannot depend on the U.N. or this new American administration and other nations for its survival. Only trust in HaShem will save us.
I read according to our Sages: “Man’s highest goal is to accept the Divine wisdom as the sole truth.” And the truth for me, is not according to the Obama administration’s czar’s goals that go against our Torah or the Acorn organization’s way of doing things.
Well, there you have it; I guess that solves it for me. We all can certainly be a blessing when we do good deeds, but also when we do the hard things which are usually the right things to do even if you have to sever some ties to reach that highest Jewish goal of eternal purpose and Jewish destiny: Total trust and faith in Hashem in The Land of Israel.
I came to this conclusion that if there are Jews who are drawn to the” Lech Lekha” call, then it must be G-d’s will. The difficult uncertain times and changes that are now going on in our world and in America today might well be the G-d of Israel’s wake-up call for Jewish souls to return to Zion where we are most needed to help with Israel’s survival as a truly Holy nation, as it was intended to be—just as American Christians and American Jews and others have been rising to the occasion to help save America’s constitutional laws and its freedom of religious heritage from various new threats.
So too, Jewish Americans need to rise to the occasion on behalf of Israel’s Jewish G-d given moral and ethical laws and its physical and spiritual survival.
Barbara A Bloom
Owings Mills
Pro Peace?
November 6, 2009Mitchell J. Baird establishes reasonable standards for those organizations that bad mouth Israel but could still be considered as pro-Israel (“Can One Badmouth Israel?” Oct. 30). His list of do’s and don’ts certainly eliminates many groups from being considered as pro-Israel, placing them instead in the category of being the opposite. Included are J-Street, Americans For Peace Now, the New Israel Fund and others who have shown their true colors by recent actions.
Certainly the organizations that have been rapid to condemn Israel for its defensive actions against an entrenched Hamas in Gaza, after southern Israel endured 11,000 rocket and mortar attacks against Sderot and neighboring cities and towns, cannot be considered to be pro-Israel. Nor the groups that have asked that the grossly biased Goldstone report be recognized as appropriate be pro-Israel.
Fortunately, the mask of deceit has been lifted for J-Street, as its leaders have told its student affiliate that they should no longer use the slogan pro-Israel and pro-peace, and instead restrict it to pro-peace, and, when propitious pro-Palestinian and pro-peace, describing their activities accurately.
Nelson Marans
Silver Spring
Quality Of Life
November 6, 2009Thank you for the wonderful story about Gayle Newman’s inspiring work at Weinberg Village (“Rules Of Engagement,” Oct. 23). Gayle is a proud member of the staff of the Jewish Community Center. Funding for her position comes primarily through the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Working with CHAI and Edgewood Management, Gayle’s commitment and creativity have positively influenced the quality of life for hundreds of seniors in Weinberg Village.
Louis “Buddy” Sapolsky
President, JCC of Greater Baltimore
Beth Am Missing
October 30, 2009Thank you for highlighting the activities of Jewish families in downtown Baltimore in the Oct. 23 iNSIDER article “Urbanite… Suburbanite.”
We couldn’t help but notice that Beth Am Synagogue was not mentioned as a resource for families who live in the city. Beth Am has for more than 30 years been committed to our city neighborhood of Reservoir Hill. Our vibrant congregation and active religious school draw members from neighborhoods throughout Baltimore City and Baltimore County.
Many young Jewish city dwelling families are Beth Am congregants. Members of the greater community are always welcome to join us for our family programming. On Oct. 30, we will have a musical Kabbalat Shabbat, which is ideal for children and adults of all ages. Monthly Tot Shabbats are also open to all. Our weekly Shabbat morning services draw a multigenerational crowd that lingers over Kiddush lunch. We are delighted to welcome guests and visitors.
Julian Lapides, President
Alyson Bonavoglia, Youth Education Committee Chair
Shame, Eh?
October 30, 2009Shame! Shame! Shame!
The BALTIMORE JEWISH TIMES is celebrating 90 years of keeping the Jewish community informed. On Sunday, Oct. 18, at Beth Israel Congregation, the Jewish Educational Alliance (JEA) celebrated 100 years of service to the Jewish Community of Baltimore. More than 450 people attended with guests from all walks of life and from many parts of the U.S. The JEA was honored with proclamations from the governor, mayor, senators and many other elected officials.
Only the JEWISH TIMES could not find the reporter or space to cover this important historical event in Baltimore Jewish history.
Shame! Shame! Shame!
Jerome Sefret
Baltimore
Appalling
October 30, 2009If I understand correctly, among other wonderful traits that were part and parcel of Rabbi Mark Loeb’s personality, it is supposed to be commendable that he performed a commitment ceremony between two women (“Rabbi Mark G. Loeb,” Oct. 16).
I’m appalled that the JEWISH TIMES even printed that letter. I don’t understand how a man who was supposedly such a bastion of Judaism and did all these wonderful things can be praised for something that goes against the basic tenets of the religion he represented. He should have taken a stand and said “No,” regardless of anyone’s feelings being hurt.
I had a phone conversation with him once when I was considering going to a Conservative shul. I told him I wanted a place where men and women could sit together, but that the main tenets of Judaism, such as believing that the Torah came directly from G-d and is immutable, were followed. His response: “Go find another shul.” He was just another leader leading his flock down the wrong path.
Michael Caplan
Baltimore
A Real Pickle!
October 30, 2009The October 23 article “Knish And Tell” on David Sax’s book about Jewish delis brought back many memories of growing up in Northwest Baltimore in the 1940s and 50s.
Some of those memories include frequenting Jewish delis there where one could purchase a hot dog on a roll with a slice of bologna and a pickle for 15 cents, or a corned beef on rye for a quarter and a Coke for a dime!
These delis included: Ballows on W. North Ave. near Pulaski, Nate’s & Leon’s (the best banana cream pie) on W. North Ave. near Linden, Kessler’s on lower Park Heights Ave. near Keyworth, Cooper’s on lower Pimlico Road, Danny’s in the Park Lane Shopping Center on Reisterstown Road & Cold Spring Lane, Uptown Deli on Park Heights Ave. near Roger and Paul’s on Garrison Blvd. & Forest Park Ave. Also, there was Jake’s on Reisterstown Road near the Plaza, the infamous Mandell’s (best New York cheese cake) in the Hilltop Shopping Ctr. on Reisterstown Road & Rogers and Sid Mandell’s in the Woodmoor Shopping Ctr. on Liberty Road.
There were probably others, but these were the ones that I remember frequenting with the guys or after a movie date for a sandwich or some dessert. They are all gone now, and the days and years have passed by all too quickly!
Calvin Polansky
Las Vegas, Nev.
We Have It All
October 30, 2009In the article on urbanite suburbanite the downtown shul at 27 Lloyd St. was left out. B’nai Israel is a very active shul. We have a very active young people group, sisterhood, and services every Friday night and Saturday morning. Our Saturday kiddush is a set down full lunch where we talk with our friends. We also have programs and Friday night dinners.
As a member of the board and president of the sisterhood I would like everyone in the downtown area to come and see our 137-year-old beautiful shul. We really have everything you want.
Sonya Shemer
Baltimore
Disappointed
October 30, 2009The community rejoices in the 90th anniversary of the BALTIMORE JEWISH TIMES and appluds its impact on our community. At the same time, I feel that the 100th anniversary of the Jewish Educational Alliance, celebrated Oct. 18, 2009, at Beth Israel Social Hall, deserved more coverage. Due to philanthropist Michael S. Levy’s family who dedicated the JEA builing at 1216 E. Baltimore St. in his memory in 1909, thousands of youngsters inherited the benefit of a home away from home. The youngsters who received the opportunity to expand their lives through cultural, social, and athletic activities under the guidance of a caring staff blossomed into citizens of stature to become societal leaders in the arts, law, medicine, business, military and civic areas.
Close to 500 attended the Centennial Celebration. Preteen friends of over 50 years ago shared laughter and tears at the warm memories fostered by the JEA. The still functioning JEA Fellowship Association formed by the JEA alumni sponsored this momentous event. The Michael S. Levy family was honored with a plaque presented to Ellen S. Patz and her daughter Susan in gratitude for the original JEA building.
Rae Rossen
Baltimore