I have served as a very proud member of the board of Pearlstone from its inception in 2001. Pearlstone, today, in 2018, is a 180-acre nature retreat and conference center as well as a working organic farm complex just 24 minutes from Pikesville. Once you arrive at Pearlstone, driving through woods-lined roads and bountiful cornfields, you are in the picturesque outdoors, far from the hustle-and-bustle of city and suburban living. You have entered the scenic rural countryside. You will witness lovely sunsets at dusk and marvel at the bright stars and vast heavens by night. You may sing and roast kosher marshmallows at a campfire or relax by toasty fireplaces in our lobby or lounges. Then you will experience a deep and restful sleep in one of our newly-redecorated guest bedrooms. You will be awakened by the crowing of the Pearlstone roosters in the morning. You will enjoy watching the Pearlstone goats grazing in grassy pastures and squawking chickens running about. The air is fresh, so take deep breaths and suck it all in. Take a morning stroll and visit the large pond for boating (soon to be licensed for fishing), and the two large outdoor swimming pools. Visit our farm and gardens and pick strawberries and blueberries. Welcome to the Pearlstone!
Culinary Farm to Table
The Pearlstone kitchen is a certified OU kosher facility. It is run by a master chef and a talented hardworking staff. Its farm-to-table culinary excellence delights guests with healthy farm-fresh offerings and delicious meals. We take great pride in our culinary treats feeding our thousands of guests in our dining rooms. We have a wonderful coffee bar and superb snacks in between meals.
The diversity of guests is quite remarkable. Pearlstone hosts not only Jewish groups but also Christians, Muslims, meditation groups, corporate groups, youth groups, and many others in its beautiful facility. Spiritual seminars; yoga retreats; meditation retreats; silence retreats; hobby groups; as well as religious, secular, and non-profit organizational retreats are all examples of activities held at the Pearlstone. Its large outdoor pavilions and spacious grounds are perfect for corporate picnics and BBQs. Pearlstone is an ideal setting for weddings and other lifecycle events. It also offers Jewish holiday programs for many Yamim Tovim.
For the last 15 years, Pearlstone has run a very successful, always-sold-out Passover program for the entire holiday. Pearlstone, which possesses its own sefer Torah, is well-equipped with all davening needs for visiting groups. Its heimishe atmosphere creates a lovely Shabbos experience. There is a very special Pearlstone ambience, and celebrating a Shabbos weekend in its angelic outdoor environment makes for a day of rest imbued with an aura of spiritual feeling.
Over 6,000 children visit the biblical farm each year, with their families or with Hebrew schools, Jewish day schools, and secular schools. They learn the Torah laws pertaining to agriculture of the land of Israel and experience the farm-to-table concept of agriculture.
My Passion for Pearlstone
My 18 years serving on the Pearlstone board has instilled in me a passion for Pearlstone. I consider this magical place, which is an affiliated agency of the Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, one that provides a serene and fabulous get-away for our community as well as for many non-profits from all over America. The Associated Jewish Charities owns all the land at Pearlstone and contributes many valuable services and support to Pearlstone. It is truly a kiddush Hashem for all who experience its operations.
At a recent board retreat, the board members were given a hay ride tour of the farm, the strawberry and blueberry patches, and the spectacular grounds overlooking cornfields, woods, and rolling green pastures. Pearlstone is a “green” facility that takes into account all environmental issues and is totally environmentally-friendly. Solar energy and water conservation are important issues in the Pearlstone mission. The dining room has implemented a policy of bal tashchis (minimizing waste), and food waste is measured, with the results posted for guests to see. Every meeting of board members begins with a dvar Torah given by the men and women who serve on the board. This always sets the tone for our mission: that Pearlstone be a special place, where Jewish spirituality and ideals are the guide to run the retreat and farm operations.
The Organic Biblical Farm
The most amazing part of Pearlstone is the fantastic Torah-inspired biblical farm. The crops grown are buckwheat, tomatoes, asparagus, lettuce, corn, and many vegetables and fruits. They are all ingredients used by the kitchen staff to prepare healthy, delicious food. It’s a farm of chinuch, teaching Jewish halachic principles like shemitah, yovel, orlah, ma’aser leckach, peah, shikcha, kilayim and other agricultural halachos, which except for orlah and kilayim, are mostly related only to Eretz Yisrael. Even so, they are taught and partially observed at Pearlstone to teach us in the Diaspora all these important halachos. Our farm staff often studies Mishnayos and halacha to familiarize themselves with the principles and halachos pertaining to agriculture. During the shemita year, the land lays partially, though not completely fallow, and is given somewhat of a rest. Crops grown at Pearlstone are also regularly given to poor and needy as tzedaka, which is another Torah concept taught to guests and visitors of Pearlstone.
Our Outstanding Leadership
Pearlstone is directed by Jakir Manela, who was originally brought to Pearlstone to manage the farm. Today Jakir has emerged as the executive director of Pearlstone. Under his dynamic leadership, and together with his incredible staff, Pearlstone offers the highest level of hospitality and Jewish ideals to its many thousands of guests each year. The Pearlstone Retreat Center was founded with the vision and generosity of Richie Pearlstone and the Pearlstone family. Their ongoing generous support and working dedication continues, with a family member, PJ Pearlstone, having served as a past board chair. Rachel Steinberg Warschawski was the immediate past board chair, and, currently, Aaron Max serves the board chair.
Josh Fidler, the founding board chair, continues to help current leadership through the new master plan and capital campaign, guiding the future growth of the Retreat Center and Farm. Pearlstone is at the beginning of a major campus expansion with new spacious facilities being planned and new buildings soon to be erected. Pearlstone has an aggressive master plan to take it to new levels never imagined possible. The future opportunities for the retreat center and farm will make Pearlstone, as its name implies, a truly precious jewel in the crown of the Baltimore/Washington Jewish communities.
Eli W. Schlossberg is an Executive Trustee of Ahavas Yisrael and author of My Shtetl Baltimore. For more information about Pearlstone, see www.PearlstoneCenter.org.
