As I pen this article, just hours before the levaya of Dovid Hess, a”h, one of Baltimore’s biggest askanim, I can’t help but wonder what will become of our community as the proverbial torch is passed to the next generation. After some research, I was reassured to find that the next generation is continuing the mesora (heritage) that Mr. Hess and other exemplary community-minded members have established. Here is just a sampling of some of the acts of chesed our youth perform, 24/7.

WOW!

Batsheva Feldman, 22, is a graduate student at University of Maryland School of Social Work. Although she tutors and babysits on the side, she also makes the time to learn weekly with a young non-observant female at WOW’s learning program for young professionals. She learns halachos of Shabbos, modesty, and other philosophical topics, and answers questions about Judaism. In addition, she learns with two other college students, weekly, through Skype.

There are three fantastic reasons to eat some type of flax food every day: favorable types of fiber, good-quality fats, and a high concentration of unique, immune-boosting phyto-nutrients. Let me elaborate on why I am I so excited about this blue-flowered plant that grows best in the cool northern climates. Canada is the world’s leader in flax production, while North Dakota is where 96 percent of flax seeds are grown in the U.S.
Flax appeared on the North American continent over 400 years ago, but humans have been eating flax for thousands of years. Flax researcher Dr. Diane Morris writes

With great sadness we inform you the Rabbi Schuster passed away Monday, Feb. 17, 2014, 17th of Adar 1, 5774.

What one person can do when he really cares about the Jewish people.

One day, when Meir Schuster and his friend were in their early twenties, they had just finished praying at the Western Wall. They watched other young people going to the Wall and being lit up by the experience. And the thought struck both of them at the same time: Why can’t someone connect with all these people and bring them closer to their heritage? They noticed one young backpacker leaning against the wall and crying. They watched as he composed himself, and started walking away from his moving encounter.

I would like to bring up a subject that I have not seen addressed in the WWW. As we scramble to work out details of child care for our kids on another "delayed opening/school closing day" as parents we are struck by  how quick and seemingly insensitive our community's schools are to both canceling/delaying school, as well as giving days off in the school year. Recently the Jewish schools closed for the day on a light snow day while other schools opened late, (Baltimore City and County schools all opened.) While our children's safety and well being are the most

As yet another tax season rolls around, here are some planning tips that can be critical to saving you money:

The Standard Deduction

The first decision you should make is whether to use what is called the “standard deduction.” This is a fixed amount that anyone is allowed to claim: $10,700 for marrieds and $5,350 for singles. However, if your deductions add up to more than that, it might be wise to “itemize” them. The items you can deduct are state taxes paid, real estate taxes paid, mortgage interest, charity, and, sometimes, medical and job expenses. You can only itemize these deductions that you paid before yearend.

Your medical expenses are only deductible to the extent they exceed 7.5 percent of your income. They include just about anything that is needed for your health: doctors, dentists, therapists, etc. Medical expenses can include special educational expenses for learning disabilities, nursing home expenses, long-term care insurance, and, sometimes, unusual items. One couple managed to deduct their daughter’s clarinet lessons, which were recommended to correct an overbite.

Dear Rebbetzin Weinberg,

Years ago, we lived in an apartment complex. I got very friendly with one of my neighbors. We helped each other in many ways and had babies at the same time, etc. As toddlers, my friend’s children used to hit and push my children. I thought that her children just had a more aggressive nature, and I coped with it by supervising them closely and trying to keep them apart.

Eventually we bought a house and moved to another neighborhood. Well, it’s a few years later, and my friend just bought a house on our block. And guess what! Her children have not changed! When my kids go out to play, her kids make fun of them and exclude them. My kids always come in crying. What’s more, the bullies are rallying the other children to join them. Everything was fine before these children came to live here.

I mentioned the problem to my friend, and she got extremely offended. She said, “How could you say that! Your kids must have brought it on themselves.”

Many Baltimoreans have never met a deaf person; many others don’t know that we are fortunate to have a thriving community of people who are deaf and hard of hearing right here in our neighborhood. Those who witnessed the Our Way Shabbaton, which was held in Baltimore, now know that deaf people come in all shapes and stripes, just like hearing people. They have their own language and can fit into the community very well, when provided proper support: read, interpreters. In this second article of the series, Leah Caplan continues the story with her discovery of a world