With Excerpts from the Book and an Introduction by Elaine Berkowitz

A welcome new contribution to the genre of frum biography is scheduled to appear in Baltimore bookstores in time for the High Holidays. Written about a Baltimorean, by a Baltimorean, Raphael Blumberg’s They Called Him Rebbe: The Life and Good Works of Rabbi Boruch Milikowsky (Urim Publications) brings to life a personality who had a profound influence on many hundreds of students during his 40-year career at Talmudical Academy. And, after reading about his kindness and wisdom in dealing with teenage boys and, of course, his brilliance in Torah and

“We’re Here for a Reason”

From the Life of Rabbi Binyamin Moshe Dinovitz, zt”l

If anyone in our community epitomizes old-school Baltimore, it has to be Rabbi Binyamin Moshe Dinovitz, zt”l, who was born and raised and spent his entire life in the city. Born in 1920, Rabbi Dinovitz spoke only Yiddish for the first five years of his life. That’s what his immigrant parents spoke, of course, and so did all the children on the streets of East Baltimore. It was only when he started school that he learned the “foreign language,” English.

He had a normal upbringing for the times, but

As we wrote last month, Rebbetzin Weinberg, zt”l, was an integral part of Baltimore for as long as anyone can remember. During those many years, her door – and her heart – were open to all. Not just to those from any one narrow segment of the community, not just to those who were influential, not just to those who were charming and talented. She truly reached out to everyone. “Who is honored?” it asks in Pirkei Avos, replying, “one who honors others.” Rebbetzin Weinberg embodied that dictum. She saw and honored the tzelem Elokim in each person. She was