Bob Ehrlich was the Governor of Maryland from 2003-2007. Prior to serving as Governor, he represented Maryland's 2nd Congressional district in the House of Representatives. Before serving in Congress, the Governor was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates.  Presently, he is Senior Counsel in the Government advocacy and public policy practice group King & Spalding, in Washington, DC. 

Doug Gansler was first elected as Attorney General in 2006, and re-elected in 2010 .In that last election, he was the only statewide candidate in the nation to run unopposed in both the primary and general elections. Since taking office in 2007, the Attorney General has focused on environmental, consumer, and public safety issues.

       

Ehrlich:

I ran for public office because...

I have strong opinions and a desire to lead.

The achievement I am most proud of is...           

FAMILY:  Kendel, Drew, Joshua.

My first car was...

1966 Ford Falcon.

My fondest high school memory...

The 1975 Gilman championship football game VS. Archbishop Curley where Gilman won the Conference Championship.

My favorite lunch spot is...

My desk; very few out-of-office lunches!

I want to be remembered for...

Integrity and success.

To be simple about it I think we should do what we can to make the world a better place. There are many ways to do that. I chose public service (tikkun olam).

The achievement I am most proud of is...

Raising, with my wife of twenty years, two good boys who know the importance of being a good friend to their friends. I could not have done that without Laura's help, working together to balance the demands of work and being a parent.

My first car was...

A mid-70's silver, hand me down, Oldsmobile Cutlass with red velour seats.

My fondest high school memory is...

Living and working on my own in Uruguay during the second semester of my senior year. The people I met and the experiences I had working in a leather belt factory there profoundly impacted my outlook on the world. And my Spanish got a whole lot better.

My favorite lunch spot is...

Is there any answer other than Attman's deli?

I want to be remembered for...

A Message from the Executive Director...

The numbers are being counted, the ads have ceased (I hope) and Americans reflect. Barack Obama remains our President for another four years. For one observer -me-the most precious of Jewish values, as reflected by Hillel: "That which is hateful to you do not unto others. That is all of the law; the rest is commentary," remains strong.

We debate, we vote and we accept the results. Many may dislike the outcome, but few advocate taking to the streets. We live by the politics enshrined in the constitution and, implicitly, in a Jewish sage. May that process and tradition continue.

Just one day after the real debates between President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney ended, the Baltimore Jewish Council's "mock" Presidential debate was held at Chizuk Amuno Congregation. Governor Robert Ehrlich represented Mr. Romney and Attorney General Doug Gansler represented President Obama.  Rabbi Ron Shulman, President of the Baltimore Jewish Council served as moderator - asking his own questions and those of the audience members. The spirited debate covered topics concerning both foreign and domestic issues, including Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons, the relationship between Israel and the United States, the U.S. economy and the U.S. deficit. Aaron Karacuschansky, a 12th grade student at Beth Tfiloh, conducted interviews with both participants during the reception. To view a copy of the article in the school newspaper, please click here. For more photos from the event, click here. 

Please plan to join Politically Connect and Metropolitan Issues for a special evening at WBAL-TV on Thursday, November 15th at 6:30 pm. Lead Investigative Reporter Jayne Miller and UMBC's Public Policy Department Chair Donald Norris will break down "The 2012 Election Review: Keeping the Media Un-Biased." For location details and to RSVP, please respond to Jasmine Estes or contact Mandee Simmons Heinl. Space is limited.  

The Government Relations Commission met in October and approved three policy statements concerning education, capital punishment and the environment.  The Commission also heard from Baltimore Sun Opinion Editor Andy Green who shared his insights regarding the upcoming election and state referendum issues. 

Governor O'Malley's Trade Mission to Israel and Jordan

The Baltimore Jewish Council, the Maryland Israel Development Center, and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington will be participating in Governor O'Malley's upcoming Trade Mission to Israel and Jordan. The group leaves for the Middle East on Thanksgiving weekend. A full update on the trip and it's outcomes for the State of Maryland will be featured in the December issue of Council Matters. 

Metropolitan Issues

The election is finally over. After 17-months of covering the candidates, how did the media do? As mentioned above, please join Metropolitan Issues and Politically Connect for a special evening at WBAL-TV on Thursday, November 15th at 6:30 pm. Lead Investigative Reporter Jayne Miller and UMBC's Public Policy Department Chair Donald Norris will break down "The 2012 Election Review: Keeping the Media Un-Biased." For location details and to RSVP, please respond to Jasmine Estes or contact Mandee Simmons Heinl. Space is limited.

Trialogue 

Thanks to Hurricane Sandy, our Trialogue had to be rescheduled. We will now meet on Tuesday, November 27th at noon at the Park Heights JCC. Please join us for a lively discussion on "Democracy and Religion: Three Perspectives." While we welcome back Rabbi Andrew Busch, we are excited for our new chairs, Dr. Heather Miller Rubins, Roman Catholic Scholar at the Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies, and Imam Earl El-Amin, Muslim Community of Baltimore. Please contact Mandee Simmons Heinl to RSVP.

The 2012 Kristallnacht Commemoration, We Will Remember: Commemoration through Education, co-sponsored by the Baltimore Jewish Council, Chevra Ahavas Chesed, and The Jewish Museum of Maryland, will be held on Sunday, November 11th at Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion, 6602 Park Heights Avenue at 2:00 p.m.  The program will include an overview of the work in Holocaust education at the Baltimore Jewish Council and The Jewish Museum of Maryland, and by local educators.

RSVP to Jasmine Estes at 410-542-4850 or jestes@baltjc.org or to Laurie Gutman at 410-358-0412.

The Baltimore Jewish Council, American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and American Jewish Committee, held a Lunch and Learn on October 18th. Dr. Paula Kabalo, Founding Director of the International Graduate School for Israel Studies at the Ben-Gurion Institute for the Study of Israel and Zionism, shared with us insights into the life of David Ben-Gurion, including how Baltimore's founders were directly involved with the establishment of the IDF and Ben-Gurion's relationship with Baltimoreans and the American Jewish community.   Our next Lunch and Learn will take place in December.

SAVE THE DATE - June 2, 2013

The Baltimore Israel Coalition has started to plan for a community-wide celebration of Israel's 65th anniversary. The event will take place at the Owings Mills JCC on June 2, 2013.  The day will include activities, food, a speaker, an Israel exhibit, volunteer projects, entertainment and lots more.  It will be a day where people of all ages and all backgrounds come together to celebrate Israel.  If you would like to serve on one of the planning committees for the day or if would like more information, please contact Chana Siff.

 Maayan Jaffe is Managing Editor of the Baltimore Jewish Times. In this role, she collaborates with the Baltimore Jewish Council to inform the community about important political discussions, opportunities and challenges. The JT, an award-winning media operation with the mission of producing high-quality articles of interest and building and strengthening Jewish Baltimore, serves as a platform for community dialogue. 

Maayan comes to the Jewish Times with 17 years experience in journalism, public relations and marketing. She is a former Managing Editor of the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle, Breaking News Editor of the Jerusalem Post and freelance journalist for Running Times, Runner's World, the Jerusalem Report and the Jewish Observer, among other publications.

Maayan worked as a JT staff reporter and business section editor from 2006 to 2009. She returns to the JT from The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, where she served as Marketing and Communications Manager.

"I see the Jewish Times as the glue that holds together Baltimore's diverse Jewish community. We cover synagogue-life, day and congregational schools and issues relating to our community's major local organizations and agencies," Maayan said. "But just as important, we write about the people of Jewish Baltimore. The JT is a snapshot of Jewish Baltimore and a window into the global Jewish world."