I lived in Vancouver from 1995-1997.  It’s a great little Jewish community of 20,000. They were so welcoming and warm when I moved there not knowing anyone. I loved watching the Olympics there.  I was bummed not to be have gone back to visit friends and see the games. A few friends shared pictures of themselves at the 2010… read more

Working for a media company, we get a lot of press releases. In the old days, people had to take the time to send or even fax them to you. Now, with a click of a button, thousands of releases are e-mailed with the click of a button. This morning while pleasantly reading a New York Times story about… read more

Every once in a while, it’s nice to get a nod to know you’re doing the right thing. I mean, our mission is to strengthen the community that we serve. But it’s a difficult thing to measure. Today, we got a little validation. Right there on the front page of one of the leading dailies in the world—the New… read more

I have this overwhelming urge to blurt out “You lie!” But, after all, I believe in the saying, “be the change you want to see in the world.” I want greater civility, so I won’t do it. Still, I’m incensed by the Sunday New York Times Op-Ed by Turki al-Faisal, a former Saudi Ambassador to the United States not… read more

This week Baltimore City’s controversial new trash collection schedule came into effect. Instead of getting two weekly pick ups and two bi-monthly recycling days, we now only have one garbage day. Plus, there is also a limit to how much can be picked up each week. Another bad move by Baltimore City? No, because it also made the change… read more

I recently returned from my annual fundraising expedition.  Each year our group, Jodi’s Climb for Hope travels the globe to raise money for promising breast cancer research. Our mountain climbs often take us to remote, if not less developed countries. The past two years Jodi’s Climb for Hope journeyed to Ecuador and Tanzania. After fabulous experiences, it’s always nice… read more

As a board member of The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, I had a front-row seat to the board’s dealings on the Owings Mills JCC Shabbat opening issue. Many things stand out in my head. People on both sides of this difficult issue had a great deal of passion and clear thoughts about it.  While the debate was… read more

The following remarks combine the thoughts of Peter Augustini with mine on the loss of Jodi Alter Buerger, Mr. Augustini’s wife and my sister. Jodi A. Buerger lost her four and one-half year struggle with cancer ended early this morning May 8, 2009.   My sister Jodi was the inspiration to create Climb for Hope. When she was diagnosed… read more

The Prophet Elijah came early this year. Well, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) was actually late to his own gala dinner of the Elijah Cummings Youth Program in Israel (ECYP), having spent the day dealing on Capitol Hill with the economic crisis. But he did make the appearance here two weeks before Passover. His event made me think: It would… read more

Almost two weeks ago, the Baltimore Sun published an editorial applauding Israel for its investigation of alleged solider misconduct in its recent offensive into Gaza.  I can’t say I disagree with that statement. CLICK HERE What troubles me in calling out Israel and writing “The military code of the Israel Defense Forces, the best army in the region, obligates… read more