When I moved to Baltimore in 1979, you could count the number of shuls on one or two hands. If a fellow congregant didn’t show up for a minyan, you worried. I venture to say the number of shuls have quadrupled, at least, are bursting at the seams. Many of them have expanded or are in the midst of expansion. Nowadays, there is no need to worry if Tom, Dick, Moshe, or Miriam are not in shul. No doubt, they are at another local shul enjoying a simcha!

In this multi-part series, I’ve polled local shul-goers and asked, “What is your favorite shul and why?” Here are some of their answers.

When Chaya* got back from seminary and started to explore career options, her priorities were that it should be family-friendly, something she enjoys, and that the schooling would not put her heavily in debt. She had worked in office management but wanted something more meaningful. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree, she got a job teaching at Bnos Yisroel’s middle school.

“I decided to teach, having no idea if I would be successful or not,” recalls Chaya. “Teaching was very demanding with a lot of prep work to do at home, but I loved it and found it very fulfilling.”

Bnos Yisroel started raising teachers’ salaries while Chaya was teaching there. She says this made it more feasible for her to teach. But even more importantly, it was a very concrete statement about how the school values their teachers. 

I remember the day we met – in September 1980 – as if it were yesterday. My childhood friend, Robin Gottdiener, and I had both given birth at Sinai Hospital over the three-day Yom Tov of Rosh Hashanah. Since we were staying in separate rooms, we decided to get together in hers so we could take turns watching our newborns while we davened.

We happened to be shmoozing when we heard an energetic knock on the closed door. After Robin said, “Come in,” a jubilant voice announced, “It’s Bubby Broder time!!!” and a bubbly, blonde-sheitel-clad, much-too-young-looking bubby bounced in. As she turned around to close the door behind her, I had just enough time to whisper to Robin out of the side of my mouth, “Who is she??”

 I later found out that this selfless neighbor of ours walked approximately three-and-a-half miles roundtrip each Shabbos and Yom Tov – if need be, with the aid of one of her many decorative canes! – in rain, sleet, snow, and even blizzard, to visit any hospitalized Yid.

Shortly after the Simchas Torah war began, I scribbled a heartfelt message to a soldier on a Star-K memo pad sheet. A week later, I was very gratified to see a WhatsApp photo of a smiling IDF soldier holding my note. The initiative to collect letters and children’s drawings for the soldiers was at the behest of my coworker, Adina Michelsohn. She also put me in touch with four young, energetic Baltimoreans who are passionately working day and night to help ensure the chayalim and their families get the help they need. Here is their story.

There is no shortage of beautiful, interesting, and fun dating venues in Maryland, but what’s a dater to do when the mercury drops and the great outdoors is no longer a comfortable option? I polled matchmakers and daters for their best “Baltimore and beyond” winter dating ideas.* Mind you, they did include some outdoor suggestions for those more tolerant of the cold, but no worries for those who aren’t – spring is right around the corner!

What does one do when the lights and heat go out on one of the darkest and coldest days of the year – and on erev Shabbos, no less! The responses of community members to the blackout of Shabbos Chanukah, 5783, showed ingenuity and resilience. Here are their stories: