Welcome to the Jmore Pets issue. I grew up in a home full of pets. My childhood dog is still a warm memory. There were also gerbils, turtles and birds. We once had a duck, saved from a Christian neighbor’s Easter dinner table. The duck, surprisingly, never appreciated our heroism and insisted on tearing up the lawn and chasing us down the street.
My sweet wife, Fran, loves animals and is active in the Baltimore Humane Society. BHS is a wonderful organization that takes in all kinds of homeless pets and finds them new homes. They don’t kill the animals unlike the municipal shelters.
We have an article on the organization’s “Black Tie and Tails Gala,” which is a truly unique event where folks bring their pets to an evening formal event. Anyone who has attended will say it’s the most fun event of the year. I encourage you to support this wonderful community resource.
Other articles in this issue include a piece by Avi Melamed. Avi is a wonderfully bright Israeli Jew who has served as a consultant on Arab politics and organizations for more 20 years. He was an officer in the IDF involved with Intelligence. He speaks Arabic and monitors the media from within the Arab world. He has advised governments and businesses on how to understand the Arab mind and culture.
I had the great privilege last year of joining The Associated on a tour of Israel with a focus on the geopolitical issues. Avi took us to the borders of Israel in a helicopter and on foot. We spent time in the most exposed bunker on the Golan Heights and traveled to Ramallah for lunch with a group of Palestinian business people. We met the Bedouins and with the U.S. ambassador to Israel. I am thrilled to have Avi contributing his unique and unfiltered thoughts on Israel and the quest for peace and security.
Last, but not least, it is no surprise to anyone reading this magazine that we tend to have a liberal perspective. We promote tolerance and inclusion. We promote the rights of minorities. However, Jmore wants and needs more conservative opinions. We are looking for a writer with a responsible conservative bent to offer opinions to our readers. Drop me a note if you’d like to become a Jmore columnist.
Enjoy and be safe,
Scott Rifkin, MD, Publisher
Jmore Publisher Scott Rifkin, M.D., reacts to President Donald Trump's latest poll numbers and the real force behind the growing decline of the Trump movement.
In honor of Jmore's "Aging Gratefully" issue, Jmore Publisher Scott Rifkin, M.D., reflects on aging and approaching retirement as part of the Baby Boomer generation.
Traditional family dishes are remembrances of the ones we love and those we have lost, writes Jmore Publisher Scott Rifkin, M.D.
Jmore Publisher Scott Rifkin, M.D., explains why he found hope in how the public responded after Jimmy Kimmel's recent suspension.