by Ora Levine

The classrooms are set up to perfection, the desks in neat rows, the whiteboards wiped clean, the office organized, the papers filed. The school year has begun! I’m sure you hear cheering every morning from your child, right? Your children probably have their bags packed and are waiting dutifully outside, excited to go – just like all those camp days.

Perhaps one day, when humans go to Mars, we’ll be able to achieve that reality. For now, we’re stuck dragging our children out of

Reviewed by Rabbi Mordechai Shuchatowitz, Head of the Baltimore Bais Din

Any member of the Baltimore kehilla who has school-aged children is well aware of the fact that there is no busing service for private school children. It is the responsibility of the parents to transport their children to and from the schools they attend. The most common method by far of getting one’s children to school is by forming a carpool with neighbors.

It is obvious that every parent has certain hopes: that

We frum Jews of Baltimore take pride in living in one of the strongest Orthodox Jewish communities in America. It’s also one of the oldest; Jews have lived in Maryland since 1729. This article is not a summary of that long and very interesting history, recounted in the new book, On Middle Ground: A History of the Jews of Baltimore, by Eric L. Goldstein and Deborah R. Weiner. Rather, I propose to tell a number of short stories – episodes that stand out – that I found enlightening.

One of the requirements of the holiday of Sukkos is to be happy. Happiness is a feeling, and feelings are difficult to produce upon command, so we are given some suggestions of ways to make ourselves happy. The Rambam in the Mishna Torah says that one of the ways is to drink wine and eat meat. Of course, that doesn’t mean to be a glutton or a drunkard, but to eat meat and drink wine in moderation. Indeed, after coming home

Dear Dr. Kidorf,

My family and I have become fans and fervent readers of this column, and it has provided very thoughtful conversations at our Shabbos table. Last month, someone asked about whether they should talk to their son about drinking as they were not a “drinking” family. This hit home for me because I have a similar concern. Sukkos and Simchas Torah are quickly approaching. This time of the year concerns me because there is so much drinking everywhere that it has become part of the Jewish culture. I have been to many shuls where I see men pouring drinks and passing them around. It is so easy for a young boy or girl to pick up one of these drinks without anyone really knowing.

The older I get, the more grateful I am to Hashem for what I have – and for what I don’t have.

To have wonderful children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren is to be truly blessed. Being able to interact with and know them is even more special. Many of us have a natural tendency to take blessings for granted, which, unfortunately, seems to be human nature. It is therefore good to be reminded to “count our blessings,” which is one of the reasons we recite the Modim (thanksgiving) prayer five times daily – three times privately and twice publicly.

Last week, a tall green plant that I wanted to cut down because I was sure it was a weed gave me a big surprise. My husband, who likes to plant seeds from the vegetables we eat, said, “Let it grow.” Now, I’m glad I did because hidden behind one of the leaves was a shiny green pepper. That plant just took time to bear fruit. There are all kinds of seeds that can bear fruit – like making calls in support of an important new bill before Congress.

Mushroom Barley Soup

This is a great starter for a Yom Tov night meal. I fondly remember having hot soup on a chilly night in the sukka. Made with all fresh ingredients and no soup mix. My secret to a creamy soup? It’s unsweetened soy milk. When serving with a fleishigs meal, check that the package is parve. I use the brand Nature’s Pantry. Make ahead and defrost when ready to use.

1 c. barley

1 package white button mushrooms or 8 large white mushrooms

1/4 c. white cooking wine

2 large yellow

My closest brush with British royalty was in the summer of 1976. My friend Chaya and I were counselors in a camp located in the Laurentian mountains. How excited we were to receive free tickets – compliments of her father’s congregant – to the Montreal Olympic Games (XXI Olympiad) held about an hour away! It was thrilling to look behind us and get a good glimpse of the British Royal family – the Queen, Prince Philip, Princes Charles, Andrew, and Edward, and Prince Anne’s husband, Mark Phillips – sitting close behind us in the bleachers. They were there to cheer on Princess Anne, a member of the British equestrian team, who rode her mother Queen Elizabeth’s horse, Goodwill.

by Chana Lebawitz

 Chava Masha crouched at the edge of the pool and danced her fingers in the water. Star swam to her, nuzzling her outstretched hand. She tapped his back, and he dived down into the deep blue. He leaped into the air and landed belly-down with a splash. She tossed him a handful of fish. She stretched as he ate his reward. She slapped his back again, and he was off, his graceful body skimming the surface until he was 10 feet below it.

There was something so satisfying about the blue, blue water and the larger-than-life animals. She got down on the water bed, half submerged in water, and Star leaped up beside her. She threw him another handful of fish, then stood to dry off.