What started as a casual conversation about how to give back has now grown into a movement. Five years ago, Pikesville resident Laurie Rosen decided to do more for her community. But instead of going it alone, she rallied a group of like-minded moms and launched Moms on a Mission, a volunteer group under the Macks Jewish Connection Network that has since become a powerhouse for change.

Inspiration for Action

Having previously volunteered as a PJ Library connector, Laurie was looking for opportunities to stay involved in the Jewish community.

She learned about the VolunTeams with the Macks Jewish Connection Network where a group of individuals join forces to support a particular organization but wanted to see if there was a way to allow for even more flexibility in approaching volunteering.

“I realized that not everyone is comfortable with certain roles, like working at a soup kitchen or volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House,” she said. “That’s why we decided to offer a range of volunteer opportunities throughout the year, allowing moms to choose activities that align with their interests and availability.”

In The Associated’s newest episode of Around the Table, Beth Goldsmith sits down with local parents, Mindy, Amy and Ryan, to talk about the most pressing issues facing today’s teenage children.

Around the Table with Beth H. Goldsmith is a series where we focus on what is important to the members of our Baltimore Jewish community. Take a listen to the most recent episode by clicking the button below.

As the sun began to set one year after the October 7 attacks, people from around Baltimore filed into Beth El Congregation in Pikesville for a community-wide commemoration of that horrific day. Outside, posters of the many hostages taken by Hamas served as a stark reminder of the lasting effects of the attacks. Near the entrance, people placed rocks with messages of love and unity into a memory garden dedicated to the lives lost.

As approximately 1,400 attendees made their way to the sanctuary, they were adorned with small yellow ribbons and stickers depicting Anemone flowers — symbols of peace and support for Israel. An additional 800 viewers joined on the livestream.

Shortly after 7:00 p.m., the program began with opening remarks by Beth El’s Rabbi Dana Saroken. “In the book of Genesis, God sees Adam in the garden alone, and realizes it’s not good for man to be alone. It’s not good for anyone to be alone. This life is too hard to do alone,” she said as she addressed the crowd, emphasizing the importance of community and togetherness, especially in the face of tragedy.

Sophia Trakhtman always knew what it meant to be Jewish. But despite her heritage, Sophia didn’t fully connect with Jewish culture and community until high school. Now, years later, she is a proud member of The Associated’s Young Adult Division’s Volunteer Committee and making a positive change in Jewish Baltimore.

Growing Up a First-Generation Jew

Though her family celebrated the major Jewish holidays like Hannukah and Yom Kippur, Sophia was never strictly observant. However, she did learn about her family heritage through her parents’ accounts of what they experienced before immigrating to the United States in 1990. In the Soviet Union, they couldn’t freely practice their Judaism due to fear of persecution. She knew that she was incredibly lucky to live in a place where she could talk about her heritage with pride.

“I’m fortunate to be able to wear my Jewish star and talk about being Jewish. And to have so much pride in it and celebrate it means a lot.”

As she began exploring her culture and religion more with her peers at school, she learned about some ways to get more involved with other Jewish teens. Through her friends, she discovered NCSY and ended up going to Israel for a month-long trip her senior year.

As we gather this Rosh Hashanah to bring in the new year, it’s important to remember this is a unique and vital opportunity to quietly observe and assess the well being of our older loved ones. The Associated’s AgeWell Baltimore has tips on the signs to look for and how to start a conversation about next steps.

Physical and Cognitive Signs to Watch For

According to Jasmine Demos DNP, MSN, ANP-BC, RN-BC, NPFA, GCN, Doctor of Nursing Practice and Clinical Lead with Geriatric Surgery at LifeBridge Health, family visits during the holidays are a perfect time to evaluate any concerning shifts in your parents’ physical or mental state. She suggests watching for the following signs:

Meet Jenny Schloss, a lifelong Pikesville resident, and her 110-pound Rottweiler, Lucy. Together, Jenny and Lucy volunteer each month at the Jewish Library of Baltimore. The program? Mitzvahh Mutts, an initiative designed to help young children with their reading skills.

This duo brings joy and comfort to everyone they meet. Whether it’s helping hesitant young readers find their confidence or brightening the days of residents at North Oaks Senior Living Community, this pair is all about making a difference.

We sat down with Jenny, a preschool teacher at Beth Tfiloh, a devoted mother to two children and a passionate advocate for community involvement. Here are 10 things to know about Jenny — and Lucy too!

Joan Cohe, Executive Director of Jewish Community Services, joined her daughter Marley on an unforgettable March of the Living experience Poland. Read about their journey.

Several years ago, I saw a documentary covering March of the Living and since that moment I have always desired to participate in this experience. I knew that my daughter Marley was the perfect fit to join me on this unforgettable trip.  

For those of you who are not familiar with March of the Living, it is an educational program that brings thousands of individuals from around the world to Poland and Israel to study and experience the history of the Holocaust and to examine the roots of prejudice, intolerance and hate. The actual March begins in Auschwitz and ends in Birkenau death camp highlighting Jewish survival and solidarity. Each year Holocaust survivors join this March. 

As time has moved on and our Holocaust survivors are reaching milestone ages, at some point in the near future, they will not be able to partake in this important experience. This fact propelled me to believe “if not now, when.”  

The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore honors the outstanding dedication and contribution of eight amazing leaders at its 2024 Leadership Awards held at the Gordon Center for Performing Arts.

This year’s awardees include: 

Zelda Miller Award:

Chana Friedman
Jake Lieberman

Fred Walpert Young Leadership Award:

Jessica Gorsky Halle
Justin Harvey

Harry Greenstein Young Leadership Award:

Rebecca Fruman
Harel Turkel

Carol Sibel Outstanding Fundraising Achievement Award:

Searle Mitnick

Julius Rosenberg Memorial Award:

Lindsay Klatsky

Click here for full article.

The surge in antisemitism on college campuses didn’t take Ruth and Jay Lenrow, active volunteers with The Associated, by surprise. Now, the pair is adamant that staying silent about antisemitism is not an option.

Get to know Ruth and Jay as they talk about their upbringing, antisemitism on college campus, The Associated and how they are addressing antisemitism. 

Let’s start at the beginning. Growing up Jewish.  

Ruth: I grew up in Upper Montclair, a Northern New Jersey bedroom community of New York City. There were not many Jewish families in our town. When I was in sixth grade and my sister was in kindergarten, there were perhaps four to five Jewish kids in our elementary school. I remember arriving at Goucher for college and thinking that I never so many Jewish women in one place – except for at Temple. 

Yet, Judaism was always an important part of my life. Our family was Reform, and I grew up at the temple two towns away where we were a third-generation family. 

Jay: I also grew up in Northern New Jersey, and my grandparents were the founders of a local conservative synagogue. As a teen, I was involved with our synagogue youth group, president of the local chapter of AZA and president of Young Judea.  

We moved to Bergenfield, N.J. when I was five. I became friendly with four boys my age who lived on my street. It was here that I was first exposed to the Holocaust. One of their moms was a camp survivor; another mother was raised in a French convent, where she was placed by her parents. They were later killed in the camps. 

CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE.

Asella Medina-Smith is working with The Associated’s Young Adult Division as a 2024 ambassador for Camp Nai – a Jewish summer camp experience for adults. Her job? Get other young people as excited about camp as she is!

Becoming A “Jew By Choice” 

Asella was studying abroad in the throes of the pandemic, living in London and working on her Masters degree in Musical Theatre. While the majority of her peers moved back home to ride out COVID, she remained in England alone, feeling isolated.  

“I was just living in London on my own, and it was very hard obviously, and I was feeling this need for a spiritual connection,” she explains. “So I started reading about Judaism again, which I had been interested in back in high school. I realized I needed some kind of community that no matter what I could have and hold on to.” 

After taking some time to process her feelings and talking to a few rabbis, Asella made the decision to convert. “I was like, wow, this is exactly what I’ve been looking for… our theology, our laws, our practices, our traditions — it all felt right for me.” 

Click here for full article.

The Associated’s Young Adult Division’s (Almost) Summer Soiree is right around the corner! In just a few weeks, on May 16, spend a night to connect, unwind and show the strength of community.

May 16, 7pm – 10pm
Mt. Washington Mill – Dye House
1340 Smith Ave
Baltimore, Maryland 21209United States

You’re invited to an unforgettable soiree that promises to be the highlight of the season! Get ready for an evening filled with fun, as we celebrate the joys of being Jewish and our strength and unity during both good times and challenges. Throughout the night explore with us how we all play a part in addressing antisemitism.

Let’s connect and unwind, and together, we’ll show the strength of our community

Click here for full article and more details.

Mental Health affects everyone, regardless of demographic. That’s why The Associated’s Jewish Community Services (JCS) works tirelessly to improve the lives of the Baltimore Jewish community every single day. Join Beth H. Goldsmith as she spends a day with the wonderful staff at JCS that make it all possible.

Click here to watch.

Just because he’s retired, doesn’t mean Duke Zimmerman has slowed down one bit! Whether he’s volunteering at The Associated, writing a book or traveling the world, Duke is always on the go. Here are a few things to know about Duke!

His family was in the poster business for four generations, and he is writing a coffee table book about the family and their posters with his daughter Lori Gale. 

“My grandfather, Norman I. Shapiro, started a small printing business in his basement with a little printing press in 1914. He was one of seven brothers. In the late 1920s and early ‘30s, they expanded to seven cities. They printed posters for circuses, carnivals, movies, vaudeville, racing, burlesque and more. We are creating a colorful coffee table book with these images and stories. And there are wacky stories!  

Martin Luther King Jr. once worked in the family business. 

When Martin Luther King, Jr. was putting himself through Morehouse College he worked at  Southern Poster Printing, one of the family’s businesses located in Atlanta. King folded paper, wrapped packages and ran errands. Later, when King began organizing marches, he asked the family business to print posters. “We found a telegram from MLK to my Uncle Bernie inviting him to a dinner with Sammy Davis Jr. to organize one of those marches. 

Click here for full article.

Looking for something new to spice up your Passover holiday? Community members from The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore share some of their favorite recipes – from delicious sides to desserts and more!

Recipes include tasty desserts and sides so take a look.

Click here for full article and recipes.

Harel Turkel and Rebecca Fruman, active volunteers with The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, were recently announced as recipients of the Harry Greenstein Award. The award salutes a young man and woman who have demonstrated a profound commitment and sustained leadership to The Associated, its annual campaign and the general community.

What is it like to be recognized for your accomplishments? Harel Turkel and Rebecca Fruman, The Associated’s Harry Greenstein Award winners, talk about the honor, share thoughts on their next steps and tell us a little bit about themselves we may not know. 

How did you learn about the Harry Greenstein Award? 

Harel: I was out of town at a conference and received a call from a committee member. When I heard that I had won this prestigious award, I was humbled and grateful. I have since received congratulatory emails from past award recipients and being a part of this distinguished cohort is very significant to me.

Rebecca: It’s a funny story. We were on spring break, driving to the Grand Canyon. Micah Damareck called me, yet we never finished the conversation, because the calls kept dropping.  I remember he said, ‘I have some exciting news for you… ‘and then the call dropped. I called back and he went on to say, you won the Green…, and the call dropped again.  

When I finished the conversation later, I felt both surprised and humbled to receive an award for something I love spending time doing. And I was honored to be receiving this award with Harel, because I know how much he does for the community.

Click here for full article.