To celebrate its 150th anniversary this year, Pikesville’s Chizuk Amuno Congregation held the first installment of its outdoor summer concert series on Thursday night, July 22. Entertainment was provided by the band Shrink the Deficit, and activities included lawn games, balloon art, pickup softball, flying disc competitions, face painting and art projects for kids.
Nearly 600 people attended the gathering held on the synagogue’s athletic fields.
Meanwhile, food and drinks were provided by Union Craft Brewing, the Schmaltz Brothers, Seven Seas Sushi, Char Bar DC, the Brooklyn Sandwich Co., Kona Ice and other food service outfits.
Rabbi Joshua Z. Gruenberg welcomes a crowd to Chizuk Amuno Congregation’s SummerFest. (Photo by Steve Ruark) 
Dave Meer, left, and Jon Book perform with their band, Shrink the Deficit, during Chizuk Amuno Congregation’s SummerFest. (Photo by Steve Ruark) 
A crowd gathers around the Schmaltz Brothers food truck during Chizuk Amuno Congregation’s SummerFest. (Photo by Steve Ruark) 
The Rabinovich family, from left, Vered, 7, Ethan, 3, Roye and Orna, of Owings Mills, listen to the rock music of Shrink the Deficit during Chizuk Amuno Congregation’s SummerFest. (Photo by Steve Ruark) 
Ben Waller, of Lutherville, holds his daughter Emilia, 3, on his shoulders during Chizuk Amuno Congregation’s SummerFest. (Photo by Steve Ruark) 
From left, Sheldon Strauss, of Lutherville, hugs Sue Markowitz, of Pikesville, as Mike Tompakov, of Sykesville, dances with his 7-month-old daughter, Stella, during Chizuk Amuno Congregation’s SummerFest. (Photo by Steve Ruark) 
A crowd enjoys Chizuk Amuno Congregation’s SummerFest. (Photo by Steve Ruark) 
Alan Guttman, right, of Pikesville, throws out Dan Wahlberg, left, of Pikesville, during a pickup softball game at Chizuk Amuno Congregation’s SummerFest. (Photo by Steve Ruark) 
Ari Glock, 8, of Timonium, makes contact during a pickup softball game at Chizuk Amuno Congregation’s SummerFest. (Photo by Steve Ruark) 
Asher Brook, 9, of Reisterstown, catches a flying disk during Chizuk Amuno Congregation’s SummerFest. (Photo by Steve Ruark) 
Lily Harryman, 5, of Reisterstown, shows off her face paint during Chizuk Amuno Congregation’s SummerFest. (Photo by Steve Ruark)
Chizuk Amuno’s next summer outdoor concert will be held Thursday, Aug. 12, featuring the band Better Weather.
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The BCO, founded in 1984, will perform the works of Frank Zappa, Beethoven, Mason Bates and Karena Ingram.
For more than 130 years, Sol Levinson & Bros. has been woven into the fabric of Baltimore’s Jewish community.
Led by local Israel-American cellist Amit Peled, the Mount Vernon Virtuosi aims to inspire people beyond musical enjoyment.
A former college campus activist, Veksler will speak at Chizuk Amuno on June 8 at the Ruth and Jay Lenrow Visiting Scholar-in-Residence for Combating Antisemitism.