I am very proud of the Jewish Community’s recent Shabbaton held at the Pearlstone Retreat Center.
Leaders of the Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, as well as major Jewish denominations came together, had dialogue, had meals and meetings with the one thought of insuring that we are, indeed, one Jewish community.
There are already initiatives in places coming from the weekend. Best initiatives of all, however, friendships were made. Stereotypes were broken down. Yes, we even have them within the same religion.
My favorite initiative: language and lexicon. We are working to no longer be “ultra Orthodox” or “twice a year Jews.” Instead we are all Jews from Baltimore. That is music to my ears.
Certainly, we have differences in worship and background. Yet, as these men and women and their families learned at Pearlstone, what we share, what we have in common far outdistances any differences.
May the work of co-chairs Liora Hill, Yehuda Neuberger and Linda Hurwitz and the entire Associated staff and organizing committee result in many, many lasting and learning friendships.
Like I’ve said over the years, there’s a reason why so many people from out of town tell me so many great things about Baltimore’s Jewish community. But I’m sometimes so close to the forest, I can’t see the trees.
These are trees I can see. These trees have roots and are ready to bloom.