Dear Readers,
Welcome to our annual spring Travel issue. I hope you enjoy the articles and they give you great ideas for that special vacation.
Some of you know I sit on the board of the Maryland Zoo. If you haven’t been there in a few years, you really have to visit.
Under the leadership of Don Hutchinson, the zoo has become a major Baltimore attraction. Gone are the days of cages, and now you can see all the world’s animals in natural settings. The penguin exhibit is Disneyesque. The new African animal exhibit will open this summer. There are also fantastic behind-the-scenes tours and petting areas. Kids will be inspired to protect these beautiful animals.
For those who want to see animals in the wild, the zoo is sponsoring a trip to Kenya in September to see the Great Migration cross the Mara River.
I was on this trip several years ago and it is life-changing. I’ve been everywhere but this is the best trip I’ve ever taken. This will be five-star “glamping” with incredible surroundings. The great herd is more than one million wildebeest and zebras; they jump into the river together to avoid the crocodiles. You’ll also see elephants, lions, giraffes, etc.
This is right out of a National Geographic special. Anyone interested should drop me a note at Scottrifkinmd@gmail.com
Last month, I wrote about my flirtation with Major League stardom when I got a chance to hit batting practice with the Orioles during spring training a few years ago. My brother, Alan, a national legal star, has insisted that I acknowledge that he arranged for the batting session. Sure, he has had a 20-plus year relationship with the team but I remember the events differently.
Now admittedly, I’ve had more than my share of concussions, but I remember being drafted in the 57th round of the Major League draft. That’s the well-known round when they draft 57-year-old rotund superstars. So, with a grip on reality no more tenuous than our president, I am declaring Alan’s story to be fake news.
Last but not least, I hope everyone had a wonderful Passover surrounded by their loved ones.
Be well and travel safely,
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.
Last weekend's Flower Mart once again demonstrated that there's nothing to fear about downtown Baltimore, writes Michael Olesker.
A junior at Roland Park Country School, Katie Grossman writes about a recent experience that spurred her to take action to fight antisemitism.
At a time when many Jews fear appearing Jewish in public, seeing Judaism depicted correctly onscreen is reassuring, writes Jewish content creator Rabbi Yael Buechler.