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Meet Randi Buergenthal

I am a native Baltimorean, but I didn’t grow up in Pikesville or Randallstown, or the areas that most of you think of when my peers say they grew up in Baltimore. I am not really good at the high school Jewish geography game, because I was one of three Jews in my high school graduating class; I guarantee you that you did not know me in high school.

Fighting Racial Discrimination in Druid Hill Park

Article by Barry Kessler with Anita Kassof. Originally published in Generations 2004: Recreation, Sports & Leisure by the Jewish Museum of Maryland. Part I: Everyone for Tennis? Glancing back at the hundreds of spectators surrounding the clay tennis courts in Baltimore’s Druid Hill Park that blazing Sunday […]

Proud of My Jewish Identity

How am I teaching my children? Heidi Topaz and Melissa Goldmeier, Community Connectors for the Macks Center for Jewish Education (CJE), were asked about their Jewish identity, and how they are passing on these values to their children.  Melissa Goldmeier, Downtown Community Connector.   What does it mean to you to be proud of your Jewish identity?  […]

Local Students Take Action for Change

In this episode of Pull Up A Chair, we talk with Reuben Danyali and Carsyn Levitt, two local teens who recently participated in one of 4Front’s signature programs. Through STAC, Students Taking Action for Change, Reuben and Carsyn developed an understanding of the political process, […]

A Tribute to Dr. Aviva Weisbord

A little more than three weeks ago, we lost a treasured friend, prolific speaker, and community advocate. Rebbetzin Dr. Aviva Weisbord A’H was all that and more to her staff at SHEMESH, a program of the Associated. Here are some thoughts and insights that they shared as they recalled their beloved Executive Director, Aviva.    The […]

These Are Not Normal Times

By Brittni Barcase This story was featured in “My Life During A Pandemic” No one can prepare you for the loneliness that accompanies motherhood. It can be extremely isolating. One minute you are a single person in the world and the next minute you are […]

My Life During A Pandemic

At this point, we have heard the phrase “these are unprecedented times.” And while we may tire of hearing those words, it doesn’t change the reality that these are indeed, unprecedented times. Now that we are fully into the new year, we decided to reach […]

Making Traditions Our Own: Celebrating Winter Holidays as An Interfaith Family

By Lauren Gill, CJE Community Connector Just before Christmas, my daughter, Madeleine, came to me to ask me what can only be described as a barrage of questions on all things Santa.             “How does Santa get to all the houses in one night?”            “How […]

Ilana Kaufman On The Upside

“We loathe to define it. So we have a conceptual framework – at the end of the day, it’s important for people to be able to racially self-identify. It needs to be fluid and,” she adds “it depends on context.” Kaufman points out that Jews […]

Hillels in Maryland Nurture Mental Health During COVID-19 Pandemic

It was early September. The semester had barely started when Sophie Gansky, a senior at the University of Maryland, College Park, found herself quarantining with her roommates in their off-campus apartment.   Gansky had been exposed to COVID-19. Now, stuck in an apartment for two weeks, […]