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Tell us a little about yourself and how you entered the world of developmental pediatrics.
Dr. Richter: I grew up in Brooklyn, and life later took us to Lakewood, Israel, and Baltimore. My work with children with special needs began in high school, when friends and I launched a local bnos program for them. I later earned a master's degree in special education, served as assistant director of a self-contained special education program, and provided ABA and direct behavioral support to children.
I attended medical school at Sackler/Tel Aviv University and completed my pediatric residency at Johns Hopkins. A rotation at Kennedy Krieger Institute led to an invitation to help develop a new autism diagnostic program, bringing together my backgrounds in special education and medicine...
Baltimore, MD – September 30, 2026 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petirah of Susan Taragin a"h, sister of Sarah Schabes and Rachel Gray, wife of Dr. Herbert Taragin, and mother of Rabbi Moshe Taragin, Rabbi Reuven Taragin, and Dr. Benjamin Taragin.
Kevura will take place in Israel tomorrow, Wednesday, September 30.
Shiva will begin after Yom Tov.
Details will be forthcoming.
בלע המות לנצח
Baltimore, MD – September 30, 2026 – The Baltimore Orioles are moving forward with another major renovation project at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, this time transforming part of the left-field upper deck into a new social space for fans ahead of the 2027 season.
The project will remove approximately 2,000 seats from the upper deck and replace them with a large gathering area featuring drink rails, standing-room viewing areas, tables and chairs, a central bar, concessions and televisions throughout the space. The new area will be open to all ticketed fans on game days and will also be available for private events on non-game days.
Construction is already underway, with the Orioles planning to have the new space ready for Opening Day 2027. Following the renovations, the estima...
Baltimore, MD – September 30, 2026 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petirah of R' Moshe Elchanan (Heini) Hendler z"l, father of Rabbi Avraham Hendler.
Avraham Hendler will be sitting shiva in Baltimore at 917 Painted Post Road:Sunday night, Motzei Yom Tov, 9:00 - 11:00 PM Monday morning: Shacharis 8:00 AMMincha/Maariv 6:25 PM
Shiva will then continue in Toronto, Canada at 78 Baycrest Avenue. Phone: 443-691-1050
בלע המות לנצח
Baltimore, MD – September 25, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Moshe Lowinger (Lakewood) on his engagement to Esther Shurin (Baltimore).
!יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן
The Yom Tov of joy is upon us. After a month of Elul followed by the uplifting Days of Awe, we are ready to celebrate and explode with happiness for the lot in life we have each been fortunate to have been granted.
The question remains, "Is everybody happy?"
The Tur famously quotes his brother Rav Yehuda who alleged that the three holidays we celebrate each year, correspond to the Patriarchs.
Pesach aligns with Avraham, Shavuos to Yitzchok, and Sukkos to Yaakov.
When the three angels famously visited Avraham, the Torah reports he directed Sarah to 'knead and make cakes' alluding to Matzo. The horn from the ram that substituted for the sacrificing of Yitzchok, was the Shofar that blew at Mount Sinai on Shavuos. Yaakov built 'shelters for his cattle' calling the loc...
Yud Daled Tishriei TShPZ/September 24, 2026
You know I had to write something. Writing is my happy place, and while I enjoy eating good food, I don’t always love making it, so here I am procrastinating once again before the heavy cooking season. I looked in the BJL archives and saw that I didn’t opine about Succos! Imagine that! So here goes, my thoughts about my favorite yom tov, which is also my birthday. At some point I will put up the corned beef and Mashiach’s chicken soup is in the freezer ready and waiting (https://baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=1&ARTICLE_ID=172110).
As I type this in my “office,” a.k.a. the kitchen, I have a view of my succah and even though it blocks out the natural light and the birds ...
Sukkot is the Yom Tov most closely associated with achdut. Its two central mitzvot, the sukkah and the arba minim, present two different models of how people can come together. The sukkah suggests unity through sameness. Everyone sits beneath the same fragile roof, exposed to the same elements.
For nearly three years, Israelis have experienced a far harsher version of that shared vulnerability. We have repeatedly hurried into shelters alongside people we did not know and with whom we may have shared very little. Under missile fire, our differences suddenly mattered less. Inside the shelter, we were all facing the same danger. We spent much time under one sukkah.
The arba minim offer a different model. Each has its own shape, texture, appearance, and character. They are taken together, ...
Baltimore, MD – September 23, 2026 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Hedda Medjuck, a’h, sister of Rabbi Meir Mark.Shiva will be observed at 2535 Smith Avenue on Friday afternoon from 1:00 PM–4:30 PM, with Mincha at 4:30 PM.בלע המוות לנצח ומחה ד’ אלוקים דמעה מעל כל פנים
The YomTov of Succos represents multiple ideas within the Torah and the Mepharshim. The Torah tells us that the Chag recalls how we lived in these makeshift houses as we left Mitzrayim. (Behar 23:43) The Gemara questions whether we are commemorating the actual “houses” in which we lived temporarily or whether we are really referring to the Ananei Hakovod which divinely protected us when we were in the Midbar. (Gemara Succah, 11b) Either way, The Gemara concludes we are recalling an event which took place in Nissan, around the same time as Pesach, immediately after Yitzias Mitzrayim, Indeed, Chazal say that Succos would be more appropriately celebrated in the spring but we shifted it to the fall so it would not appear that it was simply a comfortable time to ...
BDE to Sunkist Fruit Gems, the little neon-colored candies that have been flying through synagogue airspace at bar mitzvahs and aufrufs for generations. After more than 70 years, the iconic kosher candy has been discontinued.Despite their popularity, Ferrara discontinued the candy on May 1, citing declining consumer demand. Other fruit candies may be available as substitutes, including a similar product from Sunsations, but for longtime Fruit Gem fans, there is really only one conclusion: “The Sunkist Fruit Gems as you and I know it, gone,” said candy wholesaler Jon Prince.There is technically a chance Fruit Gems could return, but the candy company says it would take massive demand from consumers across the country. So if you find an unopened bag hiding in your ...
Baltimore, MD – September 24, 2026 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Muttie and Shira Kohn and their family on the birth of a baby boy.
!יה"ר שיזכו לגדלו לתורה לחופה ולמעשים טובים. אמן
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September 24 at 9:33 am
Below are links to helpful articles and lists related to schach mats, along with Sukkos-related videos on our STAR-K Sukkos Video Channel.
Guide to STAR-K Certified Schach
A summary of Rav Moshe Heinemann’s guidance regarding kosher schach
Kosher Certified Schach Manufacturers
A list of schach manufacturers certified by STAR-K
The Halachos of Schach
A more in-depth review of the halachos of schach by Rav Heinemann
After Sukkos: Proper Schach Storage
Guidelines on proper storage of your schach to avoid insect infestation
Audio-Visual Guidance
Listen to STAR-K’s Kosher Conversation ‘Sukkos Special‘ podcast with Rabbi Mordechai Frankel.
Sukkahs-to-Go and Schach Mat Webinar
Watch Rabbi Zvi Goldberg and Rabbi Boruch Beyer discuss various Sukkos-related topics...
