Why not inject some awe into autumn, especially only a couple of weeks before the start of the Days of Awe?
Last Sunday evening, Sept. 11, approximately 220 local nature lovers attended the Fall Harvest Celebration at the Pearlstone Center in Reisterstown. The gathering was the first major fundraiser event at Pearlstone since its 18th anniversary celebration in September of 2019, prior to the pandemic.
Co-chaired by Alyson Friedman and Batsheva Messing, the celebration began with a strolling cocktail hour and a tour of the Pearlstone campus, including its newly restored stream. Also featured was a farm-to-table feast prepared by Pearlstone’s kitchen and an after-party bonfire.
“We are beyond grateful to pause on this solemn day of remembering the many lives that were lost in our country [on Sept. 11, 2001] to celebrate our wonderful Jewish community at Pearlstone/Hazon, our Baltimore gem,” said Friedman, “transforming lives through immersive retreats, Jewish environmental education and climate action.”
Said Messing, alluding to the Torah-mandated precept for a sabbatical year in the seven-year agricultural cycle: “As we come to the end of a shmita year, we are blessed to be able to gather together to celebrate this land and all it provides us with. As we prepare for a new Jewish year, we reflect on what we have achieved thus far, look forward to a promising future.”
Sitting Pretty: Fall Harvest revelers enjoyed a cocktail hour before dinner was served. (Photo by Becca Friedman) 
L’Chaim!: Attendees at the Fall Harvest Celebration toasted the reason for the season. (Photo by Becca Friedman) 
Reaping the Harvest: Alyson Friedman (right) and Batsheva Messing served as co-chairs of this year’s Fall Harvest Celebration at Pearlstone. (Photo by Becca Friedman) 
Falling for Autumn: Approximately 220 people attended this year’s Fall Harvest Celebration and enjoyed a farm-to-table feast at Pearlstone. (Photo by Becca Friedman) 
All Smiles: Enjoying a good schmooze at the festival were (left to right) Tara Cornberg, Shani Dinovitz and Adam Baumwald. (Photo by Becca Friedman) 
Soul Man: Local jazz guitarist Michael Raitzyk entertained revelers at the Fall Harvest Celebration. (Photo by Becca Friedman)
Pearlstone is an agency of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore. Among the sponsors of the Fall Harvest Celebration were Chesapeake Contracting Group, National Lumber, Kitchen Saver, Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School, Innovative Party Planners, Stevenson Village, Strategic Factory and Herzog Wine Cellars.
For 35 years, the late Deborah Brodie, aka Bubbie Cookie, amassed a collection of over 200 Jewish ritual objects, which she used to teach her Hebrew school students with special needs.
In a recent talk at Beth Tfiloh, Elisha Wiesel called on Jews to cultivate joyfulness in their faith and sense of community.
Conceived by Columbia resident Benjamin Kintisch, "Life Review: The Hospice Musical" offers a thought-provoking and occasionally amusing perspective on mortality.
A junior at Roland Park Country School, Katie Grossman writes about a recent experience that spurred her to take action to fight antisemitism.