I’ve lived in Milwaukee for all but three years of my life. And while there are certainly times when somewhere new sounds exciting, there are also moments that remind me just how much I love this city.
Right now, Milwaukee proud is an understatement!
Watching my social media feed fill up with posts from childhood friends who moved away years ago, many of whom probably couldn’t imagine moving back, has been so much fun. Suddenly, everyone is excited about the Brewers! People are looking for World Series tickets, talking about coming back to Milwaukee, and celebrating a city that will always be part of who they are.
And I love it.
Watching the Brewers, from ownership and management to the players themselves, and seeing their genuine love of the game and humble pride has been a joy. There’s something special about a team that represents its city so well. It reminds me of the excitement when the Bucks won the championship. That feeling when an entire city comes together, when strangers suddenly have something in common, and when you can feel the energy everywhere you go.
Now, I should probably confess something.
Football is the one sport I follow religiously. I love going to baseball games, and if I’m rooting for anyone, it’s absolutely the Brewers. So I wouldn’t exactly call myself a fair-weather fan. Maybe just a fan who’s finally paying attention! 🙂
The excitement around Milwaukee is contagious.
I decided that owning just one Brewers shirt clearly wasn’t enough for this moment, so off to Kohl’s I went. Apparently, half of Milwaukee had the same idea! There were only three or four racks left, filled mostly with men’s sizes, and very large ones at that. But I found something that will definitely be cozy, even if it’s a little bigger than I intended!
And then, of course, my mind turned to food.
Because that’s what I do.
We’re planning a World Series-themed Shabbat for our family this week, complete with wings, fries, and possibly a baseball cake. The cake will be a joint project with my dad, so we’ll see how that goes!
But then I had another idea.
Could I make a challah shaped like the Brewers’ baseball glove logo?
Well, naturally, I had to try.
I’ve been experimenting with different ways to braid and shape it, and my best attempt so far is… okay. Not terrible. Not quite what I imagined, either. And since I’m a perfectionist at heart, there’s a good chance I’ll be trying again today.
But that’s half the fun!
<escape>A little dough, a little creativity, and a whole lot of Milwaukee pride.</escape>
All this excitement has also brought back some wonderful childhood memories.
When I was young, my mom’s company was a major donor, and we were able to attend the Brewers’ Diamond Dinner. I couldn’t tell you exactly what year it was—my best guess is sometime in the mid-1980s, although I’m sure my dad would remember.
We got to go through the line and have baseballs signed by the players. And somewhere among my childhood treasures, I still have that baseball signed by Paul Molitor, Robin Yount, and the rest of the team.
What I remember just as clearly is sitting in the front row at the dinner because that’s where my mom’s company’s table was. As a kid, that was a pretty incredible experience.
I also remember field trips with Milwaukee Jewish Day School, sitting in the bleachers at County Stadium, and the excitement of just being there.
And then there was Major League.
When they filmed the movie at County Stadium, my family, like so many Milwaukee families, signed up to be extras. Sure, the movie wasn’t actually about the Brewers, but it was filmed in our stadium, in our city, and somehow that made it ours, too.
These are the kinds of memories that stay with you.
And I think that’s what makes this moment about so much more than baseball.
It’s about growing up in Milwaukee. It’s about our families, our childhoods, our shared experiences, and the places that connect us to who we are.
It’s about seeing people who left years ago suddenly feeling that same connection again.
And it’s about watching a city that doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves have a moment to shine.
Milwaukee has so much to be proud of. Our neighborhoods, our lakefront, our restaurants, our communities, and, most importantly, our people.
I hope everyone traveling here, whether for the first time or returning after many years, gets to experience the beauty of this city and the warmth of the people who call it home.
Because Milwaukee really is a special place.
And whether my Brewers challah ends up looking like a baseball glove or just a very enthusiastic pile of braided dough, I’m having a wonderful time celebrating it.
Milwaukee, this is our moment. Enjoy every minute of it.
And no matter what…
GO BREWERS! 
