EDITOR'S LETTER

January 2012

Several years ago a wise person said to me that if you want to know how easy it is to raise three children, simply have a fourth.

What wisdom! Although I don’t have four children, I do have three and I know that when one is away at camp or even sleeping out for a night, things seem that much easier.

First and foremost, there’s the laundry issue. It’s amazing how one less person makes the laundry pile seem manageable. (Could I even skip a day?)

Then, there are the activities. Who knew that driving one less person to practice or attending only one sporting event left me with so much free time? I actually may have a few minutes to start a book.

On the other hand, having multiple children reminds me of how nice it is to watch my children play together, running outside for a game of football or challenging one another to an Xbox game.

Every family is different and every family, whether they have one, two, three or even five children, has special moments. In “Modern Family,” Elinor Spokes talks with families who are raising a single child as well as those raising five children; each talks about the rewards and pitfalls of their particular family size.

Then, iNSIDER looks at some of those Baltimore experiences where everyone knows everyone else. In fact, this weekend, when I went shopping with my daughter, no matter where we went, we ran into somebody either she or I knew. It only reinforced the big/small town experience that still hasn’t changed, even though the Jewish community has spread out in recent years.

We put together a list of very Baltimore things that distinguish our community. Who hasn’t gone to the food store Sunday morning, dressed in sweats and without makeup, only to run into a number of people one knows? … or met friends on the bus trip up to New York for a day of shopping and a show?

Finally, we invite you to make challah this Shabbat with your family, using a delicious recipe courtesy of Joshua Weisberg.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful 2012.

Sincerely,
Rochelle Eisenberg
Editor
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)