Rachel Kohn

Local pulpit rabbis on Israel: ‘We don’t give up on family’

A New York City rabbi recently made national headlines when he announced that, as an act of protest against extremists in the government of Israel, his Conservative congregation would no longer recite the prayer for the wellbeing of the State of…

Word Prompt – BITACHON – Rachel Kohn

People who are anxious or hoping for something are often encouraged to “have bitachon” in Hashem, but what does that mean? Generally, bitachon is used interchangeably with “trust” or “faith” in English, and the phrase in Tehillim “va’ani evtach bach”…

Word Prompt – KOL YAAKOV – Rachel Kohn

It is said that Yaakov‘s voice, and/or his manner of speech, was a distinguishing characteristic of his for Yitzchak. I know what it is like to have a distinctive voice, and it isn’t because my voice is unique – it’s because I sound just like my mom.…

Making decisions with care and vigilance: Government liaison Rabbi Ariel Sadwin

How does one go from learning in kollel to becoming a government liaison for the region’s Jewish community? “That was a leap,” said Rabbi Ariel Sadwin, who has served as executive director of Agudath Israel’s government affairs office for the…

You Should Know … Courtney Kotlicky

Courtney Kotlicky has only lived in the Baltimore area for two years, but they were “two Covidian years — that means it feels like 70,” she joked. The 38-year-old intelligence analyst grew up in D.C. and Northern Virginia, and went on to study…

Getting involved with Kenny Friedman

If you are a longtime Baltimorean, maybe you belong to the Facebook group “Baltimore Synagogues: Then and Now” and have read Dr. Kenny Friedman’s posts on landmarks and figures from the past and present of Jewish Baltimore. If you’re a kosher foodie,…

You Should Know … Sherry Benedek

You can be forgiven for wondering if theater and vocal music instructor Sherry Benedek sings during day-to-day activities in the manner of a Disney princess. “People do assume I sing all the time — because I do sing a lot!” said Benedek, 33, a…

On the record with Phil Jacobs

Forty years later, Phil Jacobs still remembers the rush he felt when he received the news that he was hired as assistant editor for the Baltimore Jewish Times. “I was weaned on the Jewish Times. We got it at home, and I wanted to be part of it,” he…

Out-of-the-box High Holiday gift ideas

Are Rosh Hashanah presents a thing? Maybe they’re not quite as ubiquitous as Chanukah presents, but a nice gift for the brave soul hosting Rosh Hashanah dinner or some new swag for friends and family in honor of the holiday is always welcome. Lior…

You Should Know … Abby Snyder

After serving as legislative and communications director and then chief of staff for State Senator Cheryl Kagan (D – District 17) over the course of two and a half years, Abby Snyder feels ready to transition from the legislative side to the lobbying…

Israeli team rides hard, places high in Maryland Cycling Classic

More than 100 cyclists from around the world competed in the inaugural Maryland Cycling Classic on Sunday, but it was a member of Israel’s first-ever professional cycling team who was the first to cross the finish line in downtown Baltimore. Sep…

Word Prompt – ROSES – Rachel Kohn

Roses for me will always bring to mind my paternal and maternal grandmothers, both of whom went by the name Rose in English. Rose Kohn, Reizel bat Etta, aka “Big Bubs,” was my father’s mother. Born and raised in Detroit, she lived her whole life in…

More Jewish representation on Netflix with ‘13: The Musical’

A Jewish high schooler from Westchester, New York, is the star of Netflix’s movie adaptation of “13: The Musical,” which premiered on the platform this month. Eli Golden plays Evan Goldman, a 13-year-old who is prepping for his upcoming bar mitzvah…

Motive still unkown in killing of Aryeh Wolf

The Baltimore Jewish community lost a son, a brother, a husband, a father, and a friend when Aryeh Wolf, 25, was shot and killed in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 10. In social media posts following his death and during eulogies at his funeral, people…

Israeli teen performs with Coldplay during Brussels concert

If you will it, it is no dream: that is what Israeli 15-year-old Gili Torres learned when Coldplay’s frontman invited her onstage to perform the song “Green Eyes” with the band on her guitar during their concert in Brussels, Belgium. The band shared…

Jewish Baltimore man, 25, killed in Washington, DC

This is a breaking news story and more information will be added as it becomes available. The JT extends its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. May his memory be a blessing. A member of the Baltimore Jewish community was shot and…

Why Tamir Goodman thinks basketball can change the world

Tamir Goodman’s latest partnership is bringing new attention to the potential of sports to bridge even the most seemingly insurmountable divides. But he’s been a believer all along. Dubbed “the Jewish Jordan” by Sports Illustrated when he was still…

Reviewing the record with Ted Farber

When Ted Farber found himself serendipitously present for a major moment in Jewish history, it ended up leading to a 50-year career in the field of Jewish communal work. “I sort of landed in Israel a little bit by accident immediately after the 1967…

Stabbing victim on the mend as Max’s Kosher Cafe prepares to close

It was a bizarre confluence of events: On July 14, less than 24 hours after the owners of Max’s Kosher Cafe announced that the restaurant will close this month after nearly 30 years at its University Boulevard location, Max’s manager Harold Burke was…

Employee stabbed at Max’s Kosher Cafe in stable condition

An employee of Max’s Kosher Cafe in Wheaton is still hospitalized but in stable condition after he was stabbed during an altercation outside the restaurant yesterday afternoon. According to a patron who was at the restaurant at the time of the…