In the 1960s, there was sexual predator in the area named Bob Weisman.
He was also known as “Big Bob,” the name of his ice cream truck business.
Mr. Weisman was also an advisor for Kellam AZA and King AZA as part of BBYO.
If you are a survivor of his or if you know of someone who is, please respond to this blog or call me directly at 410-468-2711. If it’s anonymity you seek, it’s anonymity you will get.

I’m sorry, but did anyone listen to the story the mugging victim told the mayor last week at the Glen Avenue Association meeting at the JCC?
The man was slugged in the face. And then an assailant got a stick and hit him in the arm with it.
The victim, who was walking with his son near Dorset and Labyrinth must have posed quite a threat to the four youths who attacked them. Men carrying prayer books on Jewish holidays, after all, can be quite intimidating.
I’m sorry.
But did I hear Mayor Sheila Dixon tell the audience that we have to concern ourselves about the life of the child who did the attacking?
Did the head of the city say something like we have to feel for the child and ask what in his life wasn’t going correctly so that would cause him to commit a crime?
I know I need the wax cleaned out of my ears, but did the mayor ask about the victims?
Because if she did, I am pretty sure I didn’t hear her concern.
We have hate crimes going on here Ms. Mayor.
If this was white on black, I’d bet that the made-for-TV reverends of the world would be on the muscle, marching to validate their double standards.
But as Jews, we’re not permitted to see in this a hate crime? Jewish people walking along residential streets being pounded on by black teenagers? This wasn’t an exchange of dialogue between cultures. This was an out and out crime against civil rights. That’s what this was.
Instead, we’re asked to consider the family circumstances of the perp by the mayor of our city?
I don’t think so.
I want to consider the family of the victims for a change.
It’s been well over a year since the first meeting at Cross Country Elementary School where we were told that the community would be better policed. We had just come through a period of time where 33 homes had been broken into.
Now, instead of homes, the criminals are “breaking” people, Jewish people.
And the Jewish community can’t be lulled to sleep that it only happens once in a while.
This might as well have been you or your son or your parent.
The police presence, as good as it is, has to continue in the community, especially when we are walking to shuls at night.
The quality of Jewish life can’t be compromised by a group of thugs looking for a recreational beat down. And the mayor of our city shouldn’t be validating any of this through soft talk.
It’s got to end. Safety has to be part of our lives.
It should be a priority. Shouldn’t it be Ms. Mayor?

On Wednesday morning during davening, I received the news from a friend and Shomrim colleague that a special announcement had to be made in shul.
The night before as many seven Jews were attacked and beaten as they walked in their community in the Labyrinth, Clarinth and Gist areas.
It was not quite the beginning of the second day of Passover.
By Wednesday evening, Shomrim foot patrols working with the City Police had suspects. That night when Shomrim members could get behind the wheel, cars were saturating the impacted areas. The City Police thanked Shomrim volunteers for everything they had done to assist in the suspects’ identification.
On Thursday morning I parked on the corner of Labyrinth and Gist right next to Fallstaff School.
And I watched.
I watched as Jewish boys on their way to davening slowed their pace when they saw black youths in “hoodies” walk by.
I saw a young frum boy stop, look behind, and run hard towards the Community Kollel.
It’s not like he was in the mood for a good run.
There were four more so-called high school students coming from Reisterstown Road along Labyrinth towards Gist.
The students reached Gist, three boys and a girl. The girl and one of the boys stood in the middle of the street and literally made out. The two other boys stopped and waited.
All of this was just in the shadows of a community that is focused on the beauty, the spirituality and the warmth of Passover.
Freedom?
I bet the one boy I saw literally stop his walk when he saw two hooded black youths saunter by, wasn’t thinking about how “free” he was.
Our kids have to worry about walking to shul to daven on a Thursday morning in Upper Park Heights during the Festival of Freedom.
How ludicrous is that?
Members of Shomrim can’t fully enjoy their holiday, because they are out on patrol in the neighborhood.
Yet, in a few weeks when the weather warms up, you city dwellers will probably be asked to vote by someone connected to a mayoral candidate.
Ask them what their candidate is really doing for crime and for community relations?
If you were sitting with me on the corner of Labyrinth and Gist the other day, you’d know the answer.

My husband & I have eaten at the Sunday brunch a few times with my husband’s large family. We were treated well, the food was good & plentyful. We are very satisfied with this restaurant.