In my youth, almost every Orthodox shul had a shamash. I fondly remember the elderly shamash who would pinch my cheeks at my grandpa’s shul when I was young. For those unfamiliar with the role and responsibilities of the shamash, I’ll explain. If you google the term, you’ll be informed that Shamash was a Mesopotamian sun god. Actually, there may have been some shamashim who thought of themselves in such terms. Nevertheless, for centuries, until rather recently, the shamash assisted the rabbi, the chazan, the baal koreh, and the gabbayim in the many tasks involved in maintaining and running a shul. In the shtetls of Europe, the shamash, using a special wooden mallet, would knock on the doors of congregants to wake them up and remind them to get to the minyan.

Although summer will be over by the time you read this, I can’t help but reflect on our amazing vacation experience this summer as well as express my gratitude for past vacations grand or simple. I do love summer. It is a great time to explore Hashem’s world and to spend time with family – and even with oneself in self-discovery and introspection. Summer is a break from the mundane stresses that abound in day-to-day living. It is a season that can herald adventures and experiences and can help us refocus on what’s truly important. I have seen many beautiful mountains, bodies of water, sunrises and sunsets, and the occasional bear. I have enjoyed delicious barbecues and night kumzitzes with my children. I have observed their awe of His world at Niagara Falls. Most importantly, I have seen them relaxed and happy to just “be.”

This week, I went to visit my father, who resides with my brother in Passaic. My son from Lakewood called and asked if his son Yosef could come to see me while I was there. Always happy to see a grandchild, I said sure, although I wondered how Yosef would get to Passaic. I was so surprised when the door opened and the whole family popped in. The surprise visit made me smile and gave me an idea for this article. 

Surprises happen to everyone – sometimes deliberate and sometimes spontaneous, sometimes welcomed and sometimes not.

For many Marylanders, the cost of property taxes or rent can be challenging. To help ease this burden, the state offers the Homeowners and Renters Tax Credit programs, designed to provide financial relief to eligible residents.

What Are These Tax Credits?

The Homeowners Tax Credit is available to low-income homeowners, helping reduce the amount of property taxes owed based on income. If your property taxes exceed a certain percentage of your income, the state will cover the difference, making homeownership more affordable.

A prayer offered without kavanah (intent) is like a body without a soul.

When the rabbis taught us that lesson, they were encouraging us that, when we recite our personal and public prayers, rather than merely reciting the words, we should garb them with our own personal meanings and thoughts. Just as our clothing choices help us stand apart, so do our contemplation and intent transform even standardized prayers into deeply personal, unique offerings.

Many in the Jewish community are rightfully concerned about the potential Harris/Walz administration’s policies against the state of Israel. It is known that she is considering an arms embargo on Israel, but I would like to point out something equally important: Kamala Harris’s colluding with the Islamic regime in Iran.

Sometimes a person can hear the same thing over and over again without really grasping its true meaning. I can attest to this as I’ve often struggled with the idea of free choice vs. Divine intervention – that is, until last week. Someone at the Shabbos table explained it so succinctly that I could practically hear his idea clicking into place in my mind. He announced to everyone at the table that Hashem is the One who decides what events will happen to us. We have free choice only in deciding how we will react to what He sends our way.

Wow! To say I was blown away by our host’s pronouncement would be an understatement. Suddenly, it felt like the dawning of a new day. Everything made sense to me, and I realized that this was something I wanted to begin working on as soon as possible. I knew it would not always be easy to achieve, especially when difficult tests came my way, but I was eager to try.

I am a physician assistant who began my medical career in the intense environment of a hospital ICU. I loved the work and the sense of urgency that came with it. As I transitioned into motherhood, however, I found that the demanding hours were no longer feasible. Seeking a better work-life balance, I moved into psychiatry, initially for what I jokingly referred to as “Mommy hours.” Little did I know that this somewhat unconventional move into psychiatry would not only align better with my personal life but also unveil a profound professional passion.

During my early years in psychiatry, I realized something that had been right under my nose: I had been suffering from postpartum depression without recognizing it. Despite having a therapist and being aware of the challenges of life, it wasn’t until I was immersed in the field that I truly understood what I had been experiencing. This revelation was life changing. Effective treatment improved my life immensely and sparked a deep passion for psychiatry, especially for serving women during their childbearing years and beyond. I became particularly interested in how hormonal fluctuations impact a woman’s mental health.

*  *  *

Former governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan, is running for Maryland’s vacant Senate seat this November and is hoping to become a champion for Israel in the U.S. Senate.

Hogan has not held political office in Maryland since 2022, when his second term as Maryland governor ended. He was the third most popular governor in the United States, with a 70% approval rating when he left office, according to a 2022 Morning Consult poll. Hogan has nonetheless remained active in politics. He briefly considered running for president at the urging of his dear friend, Senator Joseph Lieberman, z”l. Ultimately, he decided not to do so and endorsed Nikki Haley for president instead.

 Every time I walk into a voting booth and pull the curtain, my heart races with the responsibility of making the best decisions. Unfortunately in the past decades, I missed a few primary elections, but I’m more careful today. Although I prefer the excitement of voting on Election Day, sometimes I vote early. It’s easy to say, “My one vote doesn’t really count,” but that’s not true. Whether I cast my ballot early or on Election Day, I am aware that my vote does count among all the others in our Jewish community.

A good voter turnout impresses leaders in government, and that makes a difference for our community’s needs being met. This is why some people are concerned about a low voter turnout in the presidential primary this past May. Sandy Rosenbluth, Chief of Staff for Dalya Attar and member of the Maryland Democratic State Central Committee, along with her husband, Ronnie Rosenbluth, a former member of the State Central Committee, are upset that very few people in our district voted. “Poor voter turnout gives us less influence with elected officials,” says Mrs. Rosenbluth.