Yeshivat Rambam's New Rosh Yeshiva: R. Shmuel Silber

Yeshivat Rambam has just announced that R. Shmuel Silber, rav of Suburban Orthodox Congregation, is their new rosh yeshiva.

2008 Baltimore Kosher Community Survey

The 2008 Baltimore Kosher Community Survey is now up and available from the Kosher Community Surveys website.

You can also view the results of last year's survey, as well as completed surveys for other communities around the US, such as Cleveland, Boston and Philadelphia.

Incidentally, last year, in one of the towns surveyed, there was some controversy as to the appropriateness of these surveys; some rabbonim went so far as to decry them as lashon hara. My personal opinion is that not only are these surveys l'toeles, making them permissible (perhaps even compulsory), but in addition, using data generated in a statistical manner, from a large group of people, is the best way (other than, of course, divine revelation, which is, sadly, in short supply these days) for an uninformed person to form as valid an opinion as possible without direct experience. The statistical process ensures that even if a single individual answers irresponsibly, their results don't skew the overall outcome. Contrast this to the real world, where anyone with the necessary means and free time can shout their opinion from the rooftops and influence people in a less than valid way. A rabbi agrees with me.

Star-K Kosher Slurpee List Summer 2008

The Star-K has released their list of kosher Slurpee flavors, updated for Summer 2008.

R. Heinemann Stands By "Sabbath Mode" Ovens

The Yeshiva World recently posted letters from prominent Israeli and American rabbis against the use of "Sabbath Mode" ovens. The letters made reference to an individual opinion that they believed to be erroneous. That opinion, although not explicitly attributed to him, was that of R. Moshe Heinemann of Baltimore's Star-K.

Today, the Star-K sent out an email stating that R. Heinemann stands by his ruling:

June 5, 2008

Regarding Star-K certified Sabbath Mode ovens

Rav Heinemann, shlita, stands by his Psak that it is permissible to raise and lower temperatures on Yom Tov on ovens equipped with that particular Sabbath Mode feature. Please see Star-K website at http://www.star-k.org/consumer.htm , or call our office for details about your particular model. Star-K will, in the next few days, post an audio presentation from Rav Heinemann explaining his views.

For those who wish to refrain from placing their ovens in Sabbath Mode and still use their oven on Yom Tov, please be aware of the possible serious "Michshol" on many models. Opening the oven door will immediately shut off the heating elements, an act clearly forbidden on Yom Tov. Thus, even if you don't raise or lower the temperature, it is still important to keep the oven in Sabbath Mode.

Star-K Certification

Below is R. Heinemann's original teshuva on Sabbath Mode ovens, which can also be found on the Star-K's website, along with additional information regarding Sabbath Mode appliances:

Yeshivat Rambam's New Executive Director

Yeshivat Rambam has just announced their new Executive Directory, Rabbi Ari Lerner, formerly of Bais Yaakov. The Lerners will be switching a number of his children to Yeshivat Rambam.

From the YR email list:

Yeshivat Rambam is pleased to welcome Rabbi Ari Lerner as our new Executive Director. Rabbi Lerner brings with him a wealth of experience as a highly talented financial administrator with a penchant toward innovative and growth-oriented fundraising. His excitement and vision for the future of Yeshivat Rambam is a perfect fit for our school. Rabbi Lerner, his wife Shoshana and 7 children (Be'H), are members of Suburban Orthodox Congregation. B'ruchim HaBa'im.

Kosher Krispy Kreme Kloses

The Krispy Kreme in Owings Mills, which heretofore had been listed as kosher by the Star-K, but possibly certified kosher by the someone else, is now closed. When asked why they were closing, a person who answered their phone said, "We weren't making enough money." Hat tip to IG.

Krispy Kreme (KKD) was trading up nine cents on the news.

Baltimore Hatzalah Makes The News

Baltimore's Hatzalah made the news yesterday responding to an accident near Fallstaff and Reisterstown Rds. A woman was trapped between her minivan and another car, and was later rescued by fire firefighters. Hatzalah was first on the scene and provided support. The woman suffered minor injuries, everyone else is ok. WJZ has a story on the incident, including brief video footage; the Baltimore Sun has an article as well.

Kosher Subway Opens Today

Baltimore's Kosher Subway is open today. A private preview gathering was held last Thursday night, Peninah and I were fortunate enough to attend along with mostly Star-K employees and friends of the owners, and I got a chance to sample some of Subway's sandwiches. I was very impressed, especially by the breads and the selection of toppings.

Many people have remarked to me that they think Subway will have a tough time competing with other local delis like Accents and The Knish Shop. While I agree that they will face competition, from what I've seen Subway does have some unique aspects to it that set it apart:

• parve cheeze


• a wide assortment of breads and toppings (the garlic bread is amazing)


• the Subway name (which doesn't matter much to frum Jews, but will bring non-frum business)


• a very nice and spacious location, with free wifi


• items not available at other locations, such as the meatball sub with cheeze

As such, I think there's plenty of room for a kosher Subway in the local market.

In the interests of full disclosure, I'd like to make it clear that I've received no compensation from Subway (other than the free samples I got last night). I like the food and I like the fact that mainstream American franchises are going kosher. I had kosher Cinnabon and Subway this week; I think it's a signal of where things are going, and I hope it continues.

View Larger Map

Kosher Bed and Breakfast Opens in Ocean City

Steffi's Place is a new kosher Bed and Breakfast located in Ocean City, MD. The B&B is owned and operated by Stephanie and Andy Becker of Baltimore, and is located one block from the Chabad of Ocean City, and is open year round. Service includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, certified by R. Y. Zvi Weiss of Baltimore. The menu looks quite diverse, and there is mention of scotch on Shabbos, which is always a plus.

A one-day stay at Steffi's Place is $109 per person; they also have a Thursday-Sunday Shabbos package which is $325 per person (keep in mind this includes all meals). For reservations, visit their website.

Letter to Yeshivat Rambam Parents

The following letter was sent out to the Yeshivat Rambam parent body today. It contains a more complete outline of the evalution process and the work of the visioning committee, along with a summary of the conclusions and decisions. It's a very clear and concise summary of what was presented at the meeting; it does not address any of the questions that have been raised since the meeting, but does lay out the process and rationale behind the decision that abrogates some of those questions.

Yeshivat Rambam: One Week Later

It's been just over a week since Yeshivat Rambam announced their two-school solution in an effort to attract more families and students. What has happened since then?

Rambam has held meetings with students, as well as with parents of the current eleventh grade class to discuss the changes.

A independant meeting of about fourty parents took place Tuesday night to discuss other educational options for high school students. Options discussed included Beth Tfiloh, Cardin and Yeshiva of Greater Washington (not sure if/why the school formerly known as HAGWASH was omitted). It was reported that Beth Tfiloh has no free appointments for prospective students for two weeks, and is holding a mass testing early in April. It seemed like many parents were anxious to find out more from the school about what the plan for next is going to be, and how the school will maintain or even increase the academic standards with a configuration that will undoubtedly cost more money.

The students put on a Purim shpiel at the school, which portrayed a past, present and future Yeshivat Rambam. Video is available on Facebook, and it's pretty funny. I don't know all the teachers involved, but the ones that I did recognize were very well done.

A person, or persons, unknown sprayed graffiti on the Yeshivat Rambam building that said "F*** Rambam."

The Baltimore Jewish Times has an article in this week's edition entitled "Rambam Splitting Into Two Schools." It features comments from Alex Porcelain and head of the Yeshivat Rambam debate squad, Maddy List.

The discussion on the previous post was intense, to say the least. It's hard to summarize the discussion, but it's clear there are a lot of issues here. Some are meta-issues, such as the value and place of co-education, the rightward movement of Modern Orthodoxy, the balance between secular and religious studies. Other issues are more specific: what will the actual two-school solution look like? Will more people come to the school or leave? What details will emerge at the next meeting in sixty days?

It does seem, however, that most involved in the discussion have accepted the fact that Yeshivat Rambam has to change, or die. While some would prefer to see the school close rather than change, most parents that I have spoken to, and the general evolution in tone of the comments from the previous post, indicate that many that are against the changes conceptually understand that they must be done.

I will add that I'm very impressed with all of the Yeshivat Rambam students who've commented on this blog. The fact that they confidently voiced their opinions, using their real names, and rationally debated with other commentors (most of whom were adults), shows a tremendous amount of self-confidence, courage and maturity. Thank you for participating and yiyasher kochachem.

Exclusive Photos of Baltimore's Kosher Subway, Opening in April

I had the opportunity to talk with Harry Kozlovsky, owner and operator of the new kosher Subway opening soon in Baltimore. Harry gave me a tour of the new restaurant (pictures below) and gave me some more details on the restaurant

Baltimore's kosher Subway is hoping to open around the beginning of April (at the latest, after Pesach), with a Grand Opening, with Jared the Subway Guy, in May. The restaurant's opening has been delayed by a few months, mostly due to logisital issues relating to permits. The space has been completely remodeled with all new construction and furnishings, including seating inside for fifty, with additional seating available outside in warm weather. They plan to be open from 10AM to 9PM, as well as Saturday night's during the winter. The restaurant will also have wireless internet access available.

The Baltimore kosher Subway is certified by the Star-K; Harry told me that the Star-K is a pleasure to work with. I asked if the Star-K expressed any concern about certifying a franchise of a national brand such as Subway; he told me that they did not, and have been supportive in every way, and that they also had no issues with pareve cheese as a part of the menu. Harry also outlined the economic advantages available as a Subway franchise: many Subway items are already kosher, such as their breads and lettuce; purchasing them directly from Subway distribution results in a tremendous cost savings and insulates them from severe price fluctations (flour happens to be spiking right now, which is causing an increase in expenses for many of the area's kosher establishments). Meat suppliers are still being determined.

Harry also told me that they have plans to expand to Montgomery County in the near future. He didn't have a lot of information yet, it sounds like they are first scouting for the right location, somewhere in the Rockville/Bethesda/Silver Spring area.

Take a look at the pictures below, things are still under construction, but you get the general idea. Check back soon for more information on the opening of Baltimore's kosher Subway.

Presenting: Presentations Gifts - a New Gift Store in Baltimore!

There's a new gift shop in town. Many of you are familiar with Mostly Simchas, a gift shop run by Tova Taragin and Yehudit Shields. They've been operating for almost four years out of Mrs. Taragin's garage. Now, the dynamic duo has teamed up with Ahuva Weinreb and are opening a brand-new storefront location, Presentations Gifts, right near the new Goldberg's Bagels and Salon Kids.

The store is scheduled to open the beginning of May after Pesach and will feature an expanded line of gifts, including higher end items suitable for weddings, such as serving pieces and decorative vases. The new location is six times the size of the current store, so browsing their selection of gift options will be much more enjoyable than in the current location. And if you're a big fan of the personal service and low prices offered at the current Mostly Simchas, don't worry: all the original Mostly Simchas merchandise will be available in the new store, at the same prices as before.

Along with the new store, Presentations Gifts is launching www.presentationsgifts.com, an e-commerce website that will enable online browsing and ordering of all of Presentations Gifts merchandise. The website will also have options for in-store pickup or home delivery. The site is scheduled to launch around the same time as the new store opens.

So make sure to visit Presentations Gifts in Baltimore for gifts for all occasions.

Here's a picture of the new location:

[Disclosure: two-thirds of the ownership of Presentations Gifts are my mother-in-law and sister-in-law]

Upscale Kosher Dining Done Right: Potomac's Pomegranate Bistro

Peninah and I took a trip down to Potomac to try out the new kosher restaurant, The Pomegranate Bistro. It was a great experience. The restaurant was nice, clean, well-decorated; the staff was courteous and service was prompt. The portions were generous, the food was delicious and the prices were reasonable. Reservations can be made quickly and easily via their website. I don't really have anything bad to say.

I highly recommend you give The Pomegranate Bistro a try; it's appropriate both for special occasions and business meetings. As of now, it is, in my opinion, the finest kosher dining experience to be had in the Baltimore-Washington area.

A few pics (including shots of the menu) below.

Exterior of the restaurant.

Foyer/Entryway

Seating area

Menu - Appetizers (you can see the prices, click through and look for the All Sizes link to enlarge)

Menu - Entrees (you can see the prices, click through and look for the All Sizes link to enlarge)

Beef Satay Appetizer (forgot to take a picture before I ate)

Sicilian Eggplant

London Broil

Salmon - a very large piece of fish

Peninah had the Rib Eye Steak.

Amarreto Chocolate Cake - really good.

Dougie's On The Run - Closing

Email from the folks at Dougie's On The Run:

Dear Friends,

It is with sadness that we announce that Dougie's on the Run will be closing for business. A combination of unforeseen factors has forced us to make this difficult decision. Sunday night at Willowglen and Sanzo will likely be our last time to serve you. We will be open from 4:30-7:30 PM. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have supported us. This is a wonderful community and we hope you will continue to support local kosher dining establishments as much as possible.

~Caycee and Aaron Polun

According to my records, they opened for business at the end of October (Hat tip: AS).

Kosher Subway Update

Passed by the old Goldberg's today (on the way to the new Goldberg's) and saw this sign in front of the space next door:

Word from the owners is they are looking to open mid February to early March. More information is availabe at www.koshersubs.com.

So Happy Together

From this week's Jewish Times, an article about parents and children working together features our very own Mostly Simchas:

The pastel pink, blue, purple, green and orange walls of Mostly Simchas exude warmth rarely seen in a gift shop. Its photo albums, picture frames, bulletin boards, magnets and notepads are funky, whimsical and fun.

Sales have skyrocketed in the last couple of years, and it’s not just because of the products, say mother-daughter team Tova Taragin and Yehudit Shields. It’s because of the owners.

We're very proud.

Baltimore Kosher News: Rita's, Schmell's and Amanda's

• A new Rita's has opened in Reisterstown Road Plaza. This Rita's is actually indoors, so it's open all year round. Brain freeze in the summer is one thing; brain freeze when it's below freezing out is quite a rush.
• Schmell's Bakery is under new ownership (Don Tkatch, if the word on the street is to be believed). Plans are to renovate to include sit down for a bakery/coffe shop establishment.
• The folks at Amanda's Fine Dining (formerly The Brasserie) let me know that they have a new website, www.amandasfinedining.com, which has information including menus and hours of operation. They also have new specials in the $16-$25 range, and all fish and beef entrees now include a complimentary house salad (your welcome). They are also hiring a new chef from New York to compliment local chef Bryan Crystal.

Baltimore Jewish Times Adds Comments

An ad in last week's Baltimore Jewish Times says that the online edition of the BJT will soon have comments on all articles. Adding this additional level of interactivity and communication will likely lead to an increase in site visits and usage. I suggested the BJT's blogs add comments earlier this year.

Arutz Sheva Reports Vandalism in Baltimore?

Arutz Sheva reports: "Three black swastikas were spray-painted on the walls of an Orthodox Jewish day school in suburban Baltimore. Racial slurs were also painted on nearby roads."

Anyone know if this was a recent incident, or if A7 is just re-reporting old news? And what school is this referring to?

Update: An anonymous comment points to the crime log page of the local Owings Mills Times for November 21, 2007, which records an incident: "Smith Avenue, 6300 block, Nov. 16. Three black swastikas spray-painted on stone entrance wall to Bais Yaakov High School. Racial slur spray-painted on road sign at Smith and Chelwood roads. Racial slur and Star of David spray-painted on Jersey wall at Smith and Pebblebrook roads."

Dougie's Listens and Responds

The owner of Dougie's On the Run has taken the time to read through the comments on our recent post announcing their opening. I've copied it here, as it contains lots of useful information, but also shows that the proprietors get blogs and see the value in this kind of open dialogue.

To all who have posted and expressed feelings both positive and negative we sincerely appreciate your patience and feedback. As we continue to develop this new business model we will try to improve operations and communicate as clearly as possible. I am the owner of Dougie's on the Run and did want to respond to a few items in the blog.

- We have heard the concerns regarding the safety at the Greenspring and Willowglen location. We also see the danger and have stopped using that location despite how busy it was. We hope to find a safer and more suitable location. Thank you to all who expressed their concerns.

- We absolutely have a masgiach on board at all times. The truck has a locking door between the cab and the kitchen that the mashgiach holds the key to. We have spent a lot of money on securing the truck with a state of the art alarm system that will notify us of a breach even if we are not within earshot of the truck at the time. We have worked closely with the Star-K to develop this concept. Our intentions have always been to provide quality kosher food for the community especially in places where none is currently available.

- Although we do not have New York rents we have many costs that are substantially higher than a traditional restaurant. Our insurance, fuel, and licensing costs are understandably higher than other establishments. Our food, labor, advertising, etc. are just as high as any other restaurant. We have tried to keep our prices competitive for the area.

- We did speak with the gentleman who runs the farmers market prior to setting up in that location. He was thrilled to have us and is saddened that we will no longer be using that location. According to him our presence increased his sales.

- Finally, I would like to once again thank all of those who have expressed feelings both good and bad about our venture. I think the debate is healthy and can only make us better. I would however like to mention that our desire is to be good neighbors, good Jews, and good and honest businessmen. I am happy to address any genuine concerns that do not attack our character, integrity, or level of observance which quite frankly have no basis. Our email address is dougiesontherun@yahoo.com.

Dougie's On The Run Schedule

Just received an email from Dougie's on the Run with schedule information:

Dougie's On the Run will be at the following locations...
this week, beginning November 4, 2007:
*********************************************************************************************************
Sunday - Greenspring & Willowglen Ave. for dinner, 4:30 - 7:30pm
Monday - Social Security on Security Blvd. near Gwenoak for lunch at 11 - 2pm
Tuesday - Greenspring & Willowglen Ave. for dinner, 5 - 8pm
Wednesday - Owings Mills at Red Run Blvd. & Mill Run Circle for lunch, 11 - 2pm
Thursday - Woodholm Elem on Mt. Wilson Lane for dinner at 5 - 7:30pm
Fridays we'll be closed on a regular basis
Sunday - Etz Chaim on Fords Lane for dinner at 4:30 - 7:30 pm
*********************************************************************************************************

We hope to be adding more times & locations soon...including a downtown location, so stay tuned! Thanks for patience and your support as Dougie's gets up and running in Baltimore!

If you know anyone who wants Dougie's updates, have them email us & we'll be happy to add them.

As excited as many of you undoubtedly are, let's try to keep the comments somewhat civilized.

Goldberg's Has Left the Building

Word on the street is that Goldberg's has officially relocated and opened up shop in their new location.

Dougie's Express Open for Business

Dougie's On the Run is open for business. The Dougie's truck is serving customers right now, on the corner of Greenspring and Willow Glen (no word yet on their full schedule).

I stopped by and picked up an order of Fire Slammers, which were delicious. All the food is prepared fresh on the spot. The menu looks to be comparable to the menu at the full-service Dougie's; they have burgers (pastrami, chili and portabello mushroom), hot dogs, wraps, deli sandwiches, chicken, salads, bloomin' onions, all the Dougie's favorites. Prices were a little on the high side (a half order of Fire Slammers is $7.49, burgers range from $4.95 to $10.50), but I guess kosher food isn't less expensive even if you sell it out of a truck. There were about four people inside the truck, taking orders and cooking food. There were about six or seven folks ordering or waiting for their orders.

Here's a few shots I snapped with my phone:

Order here

Washing station

Logo

Where the magic happens.

Thanks to Penny for the tip.

2007 Baltimore Kosher Community Survey Results

The results of the 2007 Baltimore Kosher Community Survey are in.

The Brasserie Reborn: Amanda's

A few months back, the owners of The Brasserie sold their establishment to the Shalom Kosher Group, owners of Shalom Strictly Kosher Market and Max's Kosher Cafe in Silver Spring. The restaurant was closed for remodeling just before Rosh HaShannah, and reopened this past Wednesday as Amanda's. Penny and I stopped by last night to check things out.

When news came out that the new owners were also the proprietors of Max's, which is known for it's schwarma but not for it's ambiance, there were worries that Amanda's would devolve into nothing more than a glorified Kosher Bite. Thankfully, that is not the case. There is little difference between the old Brasserie and the new Amanda's. In remodeling, the coat room was removed, and some updates were made to the decor, but overall the place looks pretty much the same. Most of the staff from The Brasserie are back as well.

The menu is also not much different; appetizers all looked familiar, as well as main courses (for a refreshed, check out the old Brasserie menu). There were a few new items, such as a stuffed chicken entre, as well as a few old favorites that finally came off the specials list and onto the menu (Chilean Sea Bass, anyone?). The prices were on average about the same, leaning towards a bit more affordable. The current menu was not very comprehensive, with a focus on chicken, steak and pasta dishes; no sign of the Mexican fare previously offered by The Brasserie. Sushi is now presented as a separate menu, and it appears that the selections have increased.

The food took a long time to arrive, at least thirty minutes. In the old Brasserie days, I don't recall it taking this long; perhaps the wait was mitigated by the fact that a complimentary house salad was provided with each entre ordered. Amanda's has done away with the free salad, so the wait for the food was that much more frustrating. When the food finally did arrive, I was pleasantly surprised that, although the menu was at first glance the same, the food was much improved. I thoroughly enjoyed my steak, which came with a very tasty honey/peper sauce; and I actually ate all my green beans, which rarely happens. Penny had the stuffed chicken which she also enjoyed (according to the waiter, her old staple, flounder stuffed with imitation crab meat, will be added back on the menu in the coming weeks).

Overall, I was pleased with the new Amanda's. The lack of a salad irked me a bit, and the wait time was frustrating, but the food was good and the ambiance acceptable. I'm happy to say that there is still a nice place to go for special occasions in Baltimore; our fears of a fast food joint were unfounded.

Amanda's is located in Pomona Square, in the location previously occupied by The Brasserie. They are currently taking reservations for dinner only, with plans to open for lunch in the next few weeks.

Photos of the new Goldberg's Bagels

I happened to be over near Goldberg's new location in downtown Pikesville, and snapped this picture on my phone. Their new location is near the corner of Old Court and Reisterstown Rd., where Joan and Gary's used to be located, nearby where Blockbuster used to be located.

View Larger Map

Baltimore Kosher News Update

A few quick updates:

• Someone posted to the following to the Luach.com Baltimore page: "Would you support a dairy restaurant in the MT Washington Area? Would you support a dairy restaurant in the MT Washington Area. I'm looking to see if the Kosher world would support a full service fun, funky dairy concept restaurant in the Mout Washington area of Baltimore. Your input would be greatly appricated." I think this would be great; strangely enough, I find myself missing 921. They'd have to compete with Cocoaccino's, which still does not have free wifi.


• I've received several emails about the Dougie's Express (thanks!). I've contacted "Dougie" and gotten confirmation, and had a brief conversation with Aaron Pulon, who's running the the Baltimore Dougie's Express. It's going to be a van that stops in various locations (downtown, Social Security, Joey Pollak's office, etc.) at specific times. They've got a MySpace page, with no real information. I'm hoping to have a more detailed conversation with Mr. Pulon now that the holidays are over to get more details.


• I had a brief chat with someone at Amanda's, formerly The Brasserie. They were closed down (apart from sushi) from Yom Kippur through Sukkos, should be reopening soon. I'm going to try to talk to them this week also.

That's all the news that's fit to print, please let me know if you hear anything, and thanks to everyone who wrote in.

Dougie's (Express) Coming to Baltimore

Just so's you don't think I've lost my game: yes, I've heard the murmurings that a Dougie's (or Dougie's Express) is coming to Baltimore; that the deal is signed and will be announced soon. I'm working on getting in touch with those involved to see about getting some more concrete information. Meanwhile, all you hat-tip fiends, you know where to find me.

Hat tip to T, Esq. and YS, amongst others.

Liebes Closing

Tomorrow is the last day to shop at Liebes Kosher Deli, a long-time Baltimore kosher establishment. Liebe's recently sold to new owners, who are apparently closing down the shop to pursue other business ventures. If anyone would like to write up a history of Liebe's, I'd be happy to publish it.

The Brasserie Sold to Max's

Word on the street is that The Brasserie has been sold. The new owners are, reportedly, The Shalom Group, who also own Max's Cafe in Silver Spring (they also own Shalom's Kosher Market next door). Word is that Max's will be revamping the space over the next few weeks to make Max's a more affordable eatery.

Interesting news, to say the least. Max's in Silver Springs is good food (much better than Kosher Bite) in a somewhat nice environment (again, nicer than Kosher Bite...why is that the standard?). One thing that Max's does and does well is schwarma; Max's has a dedicated schwarma chef (a Palestinian, actually) who is passionate about his craft. It is probably the best schwarma in the Baltimore/DC area, so hopefully it will make it's way to Baltimore.

Hat tip to AS and IG.

Dutch Wonderland Tickets For Sale

We've got some extra tickets for Dutch Wonderland for sale. We got rained out yesterday after only a few hours of fun. Tickets are normally $28.95, we're selling these for $20 a piece, and if buy four or more, their $18.75 a piece (that's four for $75). The passes are good for ages 3-59, for any day of the 2007 season (which is over October 7, 2007, check schedule for exact dates). We've got around 12 tickets, first come, first serve, so get them while they are hot.

Contact me at greggersh AT yahoo DOT com, or leave a comment below with an email address I can reply to.

This was my first trip to Dutch Wonderland, I was very impressed. It's perfect for kids between the ages of 2 and 10.

UPDATE: The tickets are all sold. Thanks!

Concerned Parents of TA

Someone has started a blog entitled Concerned Parents of TA (Baltimore). From the first post on the blog:

It is the goal of this blog to provide a forum for parents to provide candid feedback to the school, but also to explore, in a constructive manner, ideas that can be implemented to make TA the school that we all know, hope, and expect it to be.

It will be interesting to see if this works. I'm sure there will be lots of anonymous venting, as well as impassioned defenses of the school. I would encourage everyone to either comment under their real names or to adopt a consistent pseudonym, so that there is a sense of conversation, rather than a free-for-all. Also, the administration of the school should be following this blog very carefully, as well as participate in the conversation non-anonymously, which will show that you're listening and help to keep the conversation civil. The feedback you'll get from parents commenting on the blog will be very valuable. Also, it's just about a given that this blog will end up on the first page of Google results for searches for TA, etc., which means people looking for and at the school for the first time will find this blog. If there's silence from the administration, it will look bad from the outside.

The blog was brought to my attention by a commenter on my previous post. If I had to guess, I'd bet that the person who left the comment is the one who started the blog.

Cost of Being an Observant Jew

CartoonBarry has a good breakdown of the costs of being an observant Jew. His prices are based on Monsey cost of living, and some of the numbers seem strange (who pays $800 a month to their shul?) but overall it's a fairly accurate accounting.

We just signed our payment agreement for tuition for our three kids for the coming year: $26,000. And that's before scholarships, banquet ads, scrip; not to mention hot lunches, books, uniforms, and who knows what else. It boggles the mind.

It's All About the Message

AddeRabbi writes:

I had the good fortune of taking a graduate school class in the history of Jewish Education with Prof. Shaul Stampfer. His emphasis on community-driven ‘market forces’ as a major determinant of the success or failure of educational institutions was truly eye-opening. Every educational institution in the world makes 'business' decisions about what alumni accomplishments to take pride in and what not. Every announcement and every photo in their publications and on their websites are part of this general promotion of their product. News concerning alumni which does not promote the school's vision in some way will simply not be advertised. News which really provides an example of the type of alumni achievement that the school strives for will be celebrated.

This is important not only in the context of alumni, but also in regard to the current parent body and the entire community (even those unaffiliated with the school directly). Some things need to be emphasized, and some things don't, but it has to be done very deliberately and carefully given the communal context.

Press Release: Baltimore Soon To Offer a Kosher Subway Restaurant

Just received this press release:

PRESS RELEASE                                                           

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Email: koshersubs@gmail.com

Web: www.koshersubs.com
Phone: (240) 715-1903

SUBWAY® BALTIMORE KOSHER SUBS To Open in the Fall

July 28,
2007 (Baltimore) – Come Fall, Baltimore will join Cleveland and Brooklyn offering a
Kosher SUBWAY®. The anticipated location will be at the 700-718 Reisterstown
Road Shopping Center in Pikesville, MD. 
Kosher Subway will offer the authentic Subway menu available for dining
in, catering or take-out. The menu will feature Glatt Kosher meat and pareve, non-dairy cheese as well as seafood
and vegetarian offerings under the Kashrus supervision of the Star-K of
Baltimore. 

With more than 28,000 locations in 86 countries, the SUBWAY® restaurant chain is the world's largest submarine sandwich franchise. The SUBWAY® sandwich chain has surpassed the number of McDonald's locations throughout the United States, Canada, and most recently, in Australia and New Zealand.

The SUBWAY® restaurant chain is now growing into the Kosher marketplace with the addition of very successful SUBWAY® Kosher restaurants already opened in Cleveland, Brooklyn, and openings have been announced for Los Angeles, Cedarhurst, and Kansas. In the next year, SUBWAY® Kosher restaurants will be opening in 15 additional locations across North and South America. The SUBWAY® brand offers a variety of options that tie in well with the desire to promote healthy eating and healthy lifestyles. It will be great for health conscious fitness enthusiasts and all families.

Baltimore Orthodox Community member Harry Kozlovsky, a partner in SUBWAY® BALTIMORE KOSHER SUBS stated, "We are excited to bring the flagship SUBWAY® brand experience to the Baltimore area kosher population. The availability of kosher, healthy, quickly prepared, very reasonably priced food, in a clean, happy, and friendly atmosphere, will be a great amenity for the vibrant Baltimore community."

SUBWAY® restaurants are famous for made-to-order foot long and 6-inch submarine sandwiches, served on SUBWAY® exclusive Italian, wheat and a variety of seasoned breads that are baked fresh daily in each restaurant. Hot and cold subs, many with 6 grams of fat, are available with an assortment of meats, fish, vegetables and condiments, toasted, all added at each customer's request.

Subway will be open six days a week for lunch and dinner and be available for dining in, take-out and catering services. In addition to offering a typical Subway® menu, it will also offer the very popular SUBWAY® Fresh Fit for Kids children's menu.

Harry Kozlovsky , Cleveland residents: Ghazi Faddoul, SUBWAY® franchisee and Development Agent, and Charles Zuchowski, the pioneer of the Cleveland SUBWAY® kosher concept, among others, have joined together to bring the SUBWAY® kosher experience to Baltimore and other communities in the future.

For other SUBWAY® Baltimore Kosher Subs

details, please go to www.koshersubs.com and send all
inquiries to

koshersubs@gmail.com.

 

More Information on Kosher Subway in Baltimore

Rumors of a kosher Subway coming to Baltimore have been circulating for some time. Through a bit of research and journalistic finesse, Presence has managed to uncover and confirm most of the details. I spoke with Harry Kozlovsky, one of the partners in the new venture, and he has confirmed that a kosher Subway will be opening in Baltimore in the fall of 2007. The restaurant will be located in the same strip mall that Goldberg's Bagels is currently located (if you notice, the two spaces next to Goldberg's across the small alley are closed or closing, my guess is this it where the kosher Subway will be).

That's all the information I have to report now, but you can be assured that the kosher Subway is happening. A press release will be going out early next week (either Sunday or Monday); we'll have the details here, which will include information on the restaurant, the restaurant's website (which is not yet live, so I'm not yet linking to it), along with additional information on some of the people involved and time frame for opening. Make sure to check back here over the weekend to get the scoop!

Pikesville Library Open

For those of you sick of schlepping out to Towson, the Pikesville library is open once again. It's almost exactly the same as the old library, except the door is in a different place.

No, seriously, this time, we're closed

Word on the street is that the Brasserie is really closed now. Last night was purportedly the last night of full menu service. Sushi may or may not be available (as a non-sushi issue, I'm not terribly concerned).

In other Baltimore kosher restaurant news, I finally found something at Accents I am going to order again (the teriyaki fired beef wrap). I went to David Chu's right before the nine days, and it was very good. Rumors of a Dougie's Express opening up in Baltimore (some kind of mobile thing). No new news on the Kosher Subway, although I've heard from various folks that it's going to be moving into the spot next to Goldberg's current location.

More on Abuse

DMZ writes about his experience with the subject of the Baltimore Jewish Times' latest article on sexual abuse, adding a unique and personal perspective to the topic.

Kosher Subway Rumors

A while back there were rumors of a kosher Subway opening in the Baltimore. This week, I received a number of anonymous email from someone identifying himself only as "koshersubwayfresh." This individual claims that the kosher Subway is happening in Baltimore, sometime around the end of the summer. I really don't have any other information, so take it with a grain of salt. But, if it's true, you heard it here first, check back for updates, I'll post as I get more information.

Krispy Kreme still Kosher

I've been hearing lots of talk that Krispy Kreme in Owings Mills was no longer kosher; indeed, they are no longer certified by the Star-D. I called the Vaad today to double-check, as the Star-K's website, as of this morning, still listed Krispy Kreme as under the Star-D. Turns out it is true that Krispy Kreme in Owings Mills is no longer under the Star-D, but someone from the Vaad does go in and check it on a regular basis and it is, according to the woman I spoke with, OK. So there you go, feel free to make your own inquires.

This applies only to the Krispy Kreme at 10021 Reisterstown Road in Owings Mills.

[Update: I forgot that Diana posted about this a while back. Consider me enforced.]

R. Weinreb in Sderot Kassam Attack

R. Tzvi Hirsch Weinreb was in Sderot during a Kassam attack. R. Weinreb has been "blogging" many of the details from his Blackberry. No one from the OU delegation was injured in the attack.

Jewish Times Cover Baltimore Rabbis

The Baltimore Jewish Times has an article about the statements of both the Vaad and the Baltimore Board of Rabbis condemning abuse. I'm glad the Jewish Times is finally covering the efforts of the Vaad, as it's an important part of the overall story; unbeknownst to many, they are still working on steps to combat the problem of abuse in our community.

BHU in Trouble

According to the Jewish Times, Baltimore Hebrew University is in trouble. I can't really comment on the role or affect BHU has on the Baltimore community; all I know is that their library is a great resource and it would be a shame to lose it.

More on Confronting Abuse in Baltimore

The Forward has an article entitled Baltimore Roiled by Abuse Charge Against Late Rabbi. Overall, it looks like a decent summary of the situation; there was, however, one error, I believe

More research, including conversations with victims, rabbis and mental health professionals, led to a February 23 cover story, which told the story of “Steve,” a survivor of sexual abuse in the synagogue.

The paper did not reveal the identity of the victim nor of the alleged abuser. According to Jacobs, the paper suspected that Shapiro was the rabbi in question but could not confirm it.

After the first article came out, a friend walked up to Jacobs and identified Shapiro as the rabbi in question.

In the "Steve" article, the Jewish Times did not reveal the victim, but did name one of t