Maryland – Historic Snowfall Blankets Baltimore’s Orthodox Community Over Shabbas

Baltimore, MD – Just as women were getting ready to light candles this past Shabbos, the blizzard of the century began to hit the state of Maryland, which affected the Baltimore Jewish community.

For just about twenty-eight hours, it snowed within the Eruv of Baltimore, Who received between 20 – 30 inches of snow, along with a thunderstorm late last night.

“This morning it was amazing to see how many observant Jews were brave enough to walk in snow that was at least two feet deep so that they could attend shu”l, Remarked one Baltimore Jewish resident to VIN News.

Only a few of the roads were plowed. Many people had to walk in the paths of others to make their way up and down the hills within the Eruv.

Another Baltimore resident told VIN News, “For many children they have never seen so much snow”, “and you could tell how much they just wanted to play in the snow”.

Gov. Martin O’Malley warned Marylanders that travel would remain difficult “for the next couple of days” and said he would wait until Sunday afternoon to decide whether to open state government on Monday. BWI Marshall Airport will remain closed Sunday and may not open until mid-day on Monday.

Frigid temperatures promised to delay melting, and forecasters were already eyeing a new system that could bring fresh snow to the area late Tuesday.

According to the Baltimore Sun Baltimore city’s Department of Transportation had spread 10,859 pounds of salt on city streets by early afternoon, with another 7,180 pounds remaining, according to Ryan O’Doherty, the mayor’s spokesman. The city has spent $407,823 to date on storm response.

Baltimore County had 380 salt trucks and plows plying suburban and rural roads all day, but roads chief Tim Burgess cautioned it could be days before residential streets got cleared.