So right off the bat, Ronnie Rosenbluth is a close friend.
Last week, camera men and news reporters and “investigative” reporters and all sorts of media both local and national discovered Tov Pizza.
They learned of it, because Ronnie was employing former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, giving Mr. Abramoff an opportunity of transition into the world after serving almost five years in prison.
In their rush for the “exclusive” interview, I hope they took the opportunity to learn more about this place that has done and is doing so much more than serving quality food.
It’s difficult to know where to start.
Over the years some of the kids who have worked at Tov sometimes get tagged with labels, the most popular being “off the derech,” or off the path.
For some of those young adults, Tov is a needed chance to succeed. Ronnie takes them, pays them and gives them an opportunity for a reference, to learn job skills and to get them on a path that has a good direction.
Many of those kids we see behind the counters have gone on to graduate from high school, get their GED or continue their education and graduate from college.
Where else but at Tov would a young black man from the Caribbean island discover a job that would lead into a conversion, a frum lifestyle, aliyah and marriage?
Or how about the flag football team Tov sponsors in Israel?
Name another restaurant, shop or any place for that matter where the community’s elected officials and police command come in for a bite to eat and a community briefing?
There really isn’t any other such place.
I have gone to Ronnie before when I knew of parents who didn’t have food on a particular day to feed their children. I left with enough food to feed many families.
Six days a week, people come in for a mincha minyan.
Tov was the headquarters of the birth of Shomrim, the public safety organization that has brought peace of mind to so many in the Orthodox community.
Ronnie, himself, is politically active. He registered Monday for an at-large Democratic State Central Committee seat. He’s the president of the Cheswolde Neighborhood Association and past president of the Hebrew Free Loan and vice president of Shomrim.
Most of all, he’s a friend to so many in so many, many ways.
It makes total sense that he’d reach out and give Jack Abramoff a safe harbor in his transition.
When Mr. Abramoff is finished at Tov, Ronnie and his restaurant will still continue to be one of the centers of friendship and kindness in this community.
He’ll still be reaching out to help.
Ninety nine percent of the people he helps aren’t well known. Yet he treats everyone with open arms.
Oh, and by the way, for all of us, after 26 years, we know Tov as the place to come and sit with our family and friends and just enjoy.
So, is it any wonder that Mr. Abramoff is at Tov Pizza?
No, he’s right at home there with good people.
People helping people.
Ronnie helping us all.

Ronnie Rosenbluth is a shining example of what is great about the Orthodox community in Baltimore. He not only talks the talk, but he walks the walk. He is involved in the community. He cares about his neighbors. Not only does he believe in second chances, he is willing to be the person to provide that second chance. For people who don’t know him, he is also politically active. He is the man who should be representing us on the Baltimore City Council. Our current council member hasn’t lived in the community for years. She is out of touch with Orthodox Baltimore City whom she in theory represents. And while she has a very good “liaison” to the Orthodox Community, it is a very telling statement to me that she needs someone for the position.

While it maybe premature to start this ball rolling, I’m calling on Ronnie to challenge Rikki Spector and represent our area on the city council. He is just the type of person who should be representing our district and he would do so the way he approaches everything else. That is with compassion, common sense and care.

You heard it here first. Ronnie Rosenbluth for City Council. He brings a face to the Orthodox Community that needs to be seen by the rest of Baltimore City.