Associated Global Impact

Shalom Haverim! Two very special friends of Maryland asked me to deliver greetings to you from Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres. I just finished up meeting with the Prime Minister at his residence. He is so impressed with the work you are doing to make Maryland a leader among states, and a global leader in innovative healing, high-tech, science, security, and sustainability. We talked about the strong relationship between our two peoples and the ways we can work together to make it even stronger. I told him about the choices you made to pass one of the nation’s toughest laws to divest from Iran, and about the work you are doing to build our country’s #1 best public schools and to earn the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s #1 ranking for innovation and entrepreneurship. President Peres… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/25/13 at 04:11 AM

GOVERNOR’S BLOG DAY 2: Message From Jordan

Greetings from historic Amman, Jordan. Jordan is not only a critically important strategic ally of the United States and Israel, it also happens to be looking to innovation as a primary strategy for job creation. Innovation is also at the center of our Administration’s strategy to further economic growth – and therefore create jobs and expand opportunity in Maryland. One might say, it’s a match made in Amman. Our delegation had a productive day here in Jordan. This morning, Secretary Dominic Murray of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, Maryland Secretary of State John McDonough and I met with Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein at one of the royal palaces. He updated us on the geopolitical climate in the region, and we talked about jobs, innovation, and the ways in which our two peoples can further our… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/23/13 at 08:10 AM

Israel65. Celebrate!

By Sara Amin How do you and your family celebrate birthdays? When you’re very young, maybe there are arts and crafts, moon bounces and games with classmates and neighbors. When you get a bit older, perhaps you see a concert, do a little shopping or enjoy wine-tasting with friends of many years. No matter what, you celebrate the mark of another year in the books. This year, the Baltimore Israel Coalition invites you to celebrate Israel’s 65th birthday on June 2, beginning at noon, with an extravaganza at the Owings Mills Jewish Community Center. So why Israel? And why now? According to Baltimore Israel Coalition staff member, Chana Siff, Israel has contributed so much to the world as a whole, from democracy to innovation to understanding. It is the democratic, national, historical and biblical home of the Jewish people… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/15/13 at 09:01 PM

A Lesson in Language and Leadership

By Rebecca Weinstock We sat on logs facing a field of trees and tall grass at Neot Kedumim, a nature reserve that recreates Biblical landscapes. Two dozen young adults in their mid-20’s listened attentively as Doron, our Israeli guide, taught us the Hebrew word for responsibility - achrayut. Doron explained that achrayut is a special word. It begins with aleph, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and ends with tav, the last letter. The first letter, aleph, is also the first letter of the word ani, meaning I. Responsibility starts with ourselves. We must take responsibility for ourselves before we can take responsibility for others. The first two letters of the word, aleph and het, spell ach – brother. Responsibility begins with ourselves and then extends to those closest to us - our family and friends. When we… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/08/13 at 09:48 AM

The Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership Is Making A Difference

By Suzy Liebman Committee member, Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership and Israel and Overseas Just a few weeks ago, my husband, David, and I traveled with the Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership mission to Ashkelon. We had some amazing experiences: learned traditional Ethiopian dancing at an Ethiopian English class funded through the Partnership, worked with teen volunteers who address pressing social needs in Ashkelon, enjoyed home hospitality dinner with our friends in Ashkelon and participated in many other great experiences. It is amazing to see the growth and connections developed over the past 10 years of the Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership. When we started visiting potential Partnership communities in Israel 10 years ago, Ashkelon was the fourth city we visited. It had all the components we were looking for. There were opportunities to engage people of all ages, create personal friendships and develop volunteerism in both Ashkelon… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 03/18/13 at 01:07 PM

Going Beyond Birthright

By Samantha B. Silver Being Jewish was always something I appreciated because it set me apart from other people. It made me unique and even in my younger years was something that I thought made me special. From history to culture to music, Judaism has always been a strong part of the way I see myself. Of course, in a city like Baltimore, it could be easy for someone to take her Judaism for granted. There are so many of us here. At the same time, having the resources of a large Jewish community has been one of the greatest things about growing up and living in Baltimore. Still, I wanted to learn more about my heritage. After college, I was determined to go on Taglit-Birthright Israel, having heard about it from so many of my friends who had… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 03/07/13 at 03:03 PM

More updated from our Baltimore Birthright Busses

Hopkins Hillel 1/2/2012: So much has happened in the last 48 hours and our group is thoughtful, cooperative and having a wonderful time together. Israel has experienced significant rainfall this winter which was badly needed and thankfully we have experienced none of it since our arrival. In the north we experienced balmy weather that allowed us to put our bare feet in the water at Caesarea. Our group got to know each other with fun games and a moving quote from Ben Gurion. We met our eight soldiers and started to build lasting relationships with them. The group was pretty exhausted by the time they got to the kibbutz, but a few lasted to midnight for the New Year’s eve celebration. Tuesday began with a great jeep ride through the Golan Heights to learn about geography, landscape and political… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/02/13 at 05:19 PM

Baltimore’s Birthright Trips Safely Arrive in Israel

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Every year, Baltimore sends a few bus loads of college students from Hopkins University, UMBC and Towson University on a Birthright trip. Read a recap of the first few days below: Hopkins Hillel: by Debbie Pine, Executive Director We have arrived safely and our trip is off to a fabulous start. We breezed through security in Newark and started our 10 hour flight to Tel Aviv. Most of the group slept and the plane was full with four different birthright groups. We had fun schmoozing and connecting with one another on the flight. We landed in Tel Aviv to warm sunshine and palm trees. Everyone was exhausted and excited to finally be here. We met our tour educator Mooky and got free Birthright t-shirts. We changed money, got cell phones, met our eight Israeli soldiers and began our trek… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/31/12 at 03:53 PM

ASSOCIATED’s MItzvah Day goes global

After being inspired by Jewish Volunteer Connection’s annual Mitzvah Day, volunteers in Ashkelon began Christmas by participating in their own mitzvah projects. Einav Koren, a volunteer coordinator in Ashkelon, recaps the day below. Our Mitzvah Day’s had one objective - to collect as much hair as possible. Organized in collaboration with Zichron Menachem - The Israeli Association for the Support of Children with Cancer and their Families, each donor came prepared to donate a portion of their hair after receiving a professional haircut by Il Makiage. Every donation raised money (and hair) to provide wigs for children and teenagers suffering from cancer. During the six-hour event, 71 braids were collected. The youngest donor was five years old and the oldest was 53 years old.The longest braid was half a meter long. We definitely met our goals - to increase… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/26/12 at 01:14 PM

Kolker Fellow, Michal Ettinger, visits Baltimore

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I recently had the pleasure of coming to Baltimore for a week, to learn about THE ASSOCIATED, its agencies, and how the organization betters the Jewish community. It was an amazing opportunity for me to garner ideas that I will share with the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) in Israel, where I have worked for 12 years. I came here as a Kolker Fellow, a professional exchange program funded by the Kolker-Saxon-Hallock Foundation. The purpose of this exchange was so that I could increase my knowledge of JDC and THE ASSOCIATED. A little background about myself. In Israel, I manage program development for children at risk between the ages of six to 12, including literacy, transition to school, after school and therapeutic community-based programs for children. I develop programs for those children placed in out-of-home care and their families. While… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/17/12 at 05:23 PM

Recent Beth Tfiloh grad visits Baltimore’s sister city after reading about the Partnership in the JT

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Sam Rosenfeld, a recent graduate of Beth Tfiloh, tells us about his volunteer experience in Ashkelon. He read about the Baltimore Ashkelon Partnership in the Jewish Times and felt compelled to visit Baltimore’s sister city during Sukkot. After graduating from Beth Tfiloh in 2011, I went to Israel for a year to study in Yeshiva, and I enjoyed it so much that I am still in Israel, spending another year studying in Yeshiva, before college. I spent this past summer in Baltimore and I read a letter to the editor in the Jewish Times which promoted the Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership so I decided to visit baltimoreashkelon.org to check it out. A few emails later, I was set up to visit Ashkelon during the last few days of my Sukkot break. When I first arrived in Ashkelon, I was picked up… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 10/25/12 at 05:49 PM

The Maryland/Israeli Development Center welcomes eclectic group of Israeli entrepreneurs

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‘In Our Own Backyard’ welcomes an eclectic group of Israeli entrepreneurs Nearly 150 people from the Baltimore-Washington corridor turned out for the Maryland/Israel Development Center’s (MIDC) premiere corporate networking program last week. ‘In Our Own Backyard: A Showcase of Israeli Companies in Maryland and Washington, D.C.’, held on October 18 at the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center at Howard County Community College, showcased Israeli companies that have decided to plant roots in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. areas. Company focuses ranged from information and medical technology to development in the defense technology field. Among the companies was Pango, which developed a high-tech pay-by-phone parking management system. NowForce demonstrated its innovative platform of standard mobile phones transformed into life-saving networks. Through deployment on this technology, emergency response teams are able to overcome the ‘Last Mile” problem. Integrated Systems Research… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 10/23/12 at 10:21 PM

“Pleasantly Surprised” in Odessa

“Pleasantly surprised” is a phrase not usually associated with journeys to the Former Soviet Union. However, in the month that I have been living and studying in Odessa I can say that the city and the Jewish community have completely exceeded my expectations. Despite the fact that my research is a full-time commitment, I still have yet to visit all the major Jewish organizations in the city. Julia Ioffe, The New Republic’s Russia correspondent, recently wrote a column about her impressions of Moscow after living there as a reporter and lamented that there were few options for the city’s nearly 150,000 Jews outside of the traditional and religious community. I was shocked to read her article because in Odessa, a city of around 35,000 Jews, there are so many ways to be Jewish. In the time I have been… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 10/15/12 at 09:48 AM

Kathryn David describes her personal connection to Baltimore’s sister city, Odessa

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Growing up in Baltimore, I had always been impressed by the diverse and impressive initiatives run by the THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore. Yet, it was not until I went on the Diller leadership and service trip to Israel in the summer of 2007 that I realized how far-reaching the work of The Associated truly is. As a Diller Teen Fellow, I was amazed that The Associated could be simultaneously running an after school program at a middle school in Mt. Washington and recording oral histories of Ethiopian refugees at a center in Ashkelon. The Diller Program taught me a great deal of lessons, but the one that has impacted me most strongly was that as challenging as it is to push yourself out of your comfort zone, those experiences become the ones that are the most… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 09/06/12 at 04:30 PM

Tal Bouhnik recaps his Birthright Experience

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Tal Bouhnik lived in Baltimore between 2008 and 2009 as a shinshin, one of our community’s first ‘young emissaries’ from Israel. Upon completing his year of volunteer service, he enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces where he currently serves in an intelligence unit. Tal was also in the first cohort of the Baltimore-Ashkelon Diller Teen Fellowship. Read as he recaps his recent Birthright experience: People say that in the army it is the people with whom you serve that makes your experience so unique and meaningful, not necessarily the job or the role you are in. The same is true about Taglit-Birthright Israel. I knew it would be fun to get time off from the army for ten days and travel the country. I had no idea that the people I would meet would make my trip so special.… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/18/12 at 10:24 PM

Jewish Federations Launch Annual Campaign with Mission to Odessa and Israel

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July 9, 2012 In the heart of Odessa, an elderly Jewish couple awaits a food package that will keep them from going hungry. A teen connects with her Jewish identity at a summer camp program. A Jewish child receives a state-of-the-art education in a new, modern classroom. Jewish Federation leaders will see how Federation dollars impact these lives and others next week during The Jewish Federations of North America’s Campaign Chairs and Directors (CCD) Mission. The annual mission, taking place July 9-15, will this year visit Odessa and Israel. More than 100 lay leaders and professionals from 32 communities will take part in the mission, which showcases programs and organizations supported by Jewish Federations and our partner agencies. The CCD Mission kicks off Jewish Federations’ Annual Campaign to care for Jews in need at home, in Israel and in… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/09/12 at 04:05 PM

Taglit- Birthright Israel Ashkelon Update RT 26-215

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Dear Parents and Supporters, I’m writing to you with an update related to our plans in Ashkelon. After carefully considering the security situation, the government of Israel gave Taglit- Birthright Israel and its organizers clearance to do our planned trip in Ashkelon this morning after all. We are looking forward to the opportunity to see our Israeli participants’ community and meeting their families. I want to assure you that safety concerns are the first priority of our trip organizers. The fact that the government and Taglit- Birthright Israel have deemed this to be a safe time to visit Ashkelon is significant. Ashkelon is Baltimore’s sister city in Israel and the home city of most of our Israeli participants. We feel very lucky to be able to take advantage of this opportunity to visit Ashkelon. While in Ashkelon, we will… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/27/12 at 08:33 AM

Meet the new Baltimore-Odessa Partnership Co-chairs

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One of Eastern Europe’s hidden gems is Baltimore’s sister city, Odessa, says Brett Cohen, the new Baltimore-Odessa Partnership co-chair. Working with Andrew Razumovsky, the team says they plan to bring the vibrancy of Odessa culture and Jewish life to Baltimore – and vice versa. Razumovsky, whose grandfather was born in Odessa, first visited our sister city in 1977. He said a lot has changed since then. What was then a small, dying community is today a dynamic Jewish hub. “You see the young generation in Odessa growing into real community leaders,” he says. Cohen got involved because of his passion for the Israel and Overseas agenda of THE ASSOCIATED in general. He thinks the organization has done a terrific job educating our youth about Israel, but that the vivid Jewish past of our people in Eastern Europe – prior… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/27/12 at 04:18 AM

Shalom from Israel! We are all safe and well, after completing our first two days in the country!

The first of a series of updates from Baltimore’s Taglit-Birthright Israel Summer Trips So far, we: >>visited Rosh HaNikra Grottos in the Northwest corner of the country, >>completed a demanding hike at Nachal Kziv and demonstrated our ability to support each other through challenging terrain >>swam in the Mediterranean Sea at a beach in Nahariyya >>visited the old city of Akko as well as the open-air market there, >>and we began to explore and deepen our relationships with Jewishness. Of our North American participants, half of the bus hails from Baltimore, Maryland, while the other half comes from many other parts of the United States. We have eight Israeli participants for the duration of the trip from Baltimore’s sister city, Ashkelon. Here are some excerpts from an on-the-bus journal that we thought you might appreciate. We asked: What have… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/22/12 at 04:09 AM

Ashkelon Solider Killed by Palestinian Terrorist

Golani Staff-Sergeant Moshiashvili, 21, from Ashkelon, was killed Friday in a clash with a Palestinian terrorist near Kissufim. May his soul rest in peace. Read more. read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/02/12 at 11:32 PM

Baltimore-Ashkelon funds English Classes at the Ethiopian Community Center in Ashkelon.

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A new Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership (BAP)-funded project is up and running on Monday evenings at Havatzelet Ethiopian Community center. The project is called “Teaching English to Ethiopian Israelis at Havatzelet.” Havatzelet Ethiopian Community Center is a small building in the center of Shimshon neighborhood, a neighborhood of “shikunim:” high-density, low-cost housing - rows of 4-story bare concrete buildings, of small overcrowded apartments, with no air-conditioning and no elevators. Many Ethiopian families live in this neighborhood and their kids spend most of their time outdoors. Havatzelet has a small staff of young Ethiopian Israelis who work hard within the bounds of a limited budget trying to provide a framework to keep these kids off the streets. During the three years that Havatzelet Community Center hosted a previous BAP project (LEAP – Ladies Ethiopian Art Project), we became aware that many of… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/01/12 at 02:10 AM

Twenty-fourth Annual Ashkelon Race - honoring Sargent Lior Mor - takes place in Ashkelon

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The twenty-fourth annual Ashkelon Race took place recently in our sister city. For the last two years, the race has been run in remembrance of Sargent Lior Mor. The sargent fell while on duty. More than 1,000 runners took part in the race, running one of three distances: 1.5 kilometers. 2.1 kilometers or 10 kilometers. The race took place throughout the city, starting and ending at Delilah Beach. A festive raffle took place during the race. Proceeds benefited the city of Ashkelon and Mor’s family. The winner of the 10k race was Asaf Dimro, with a time of 34:36. Look at these incredible pictures! read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 05/20/12 at 07:51 PM

The Khazar DNA Project: In Search of the Long Forgotten Khazar

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By Eran Elhaik Special to the Global Impact Blog The Khazars are one of the most mysterious populations of the Old World whose abrupt disappearance from the history pages has tantalized scientists for years. Who were these Eurasian warriors who ruled a quarter of the Old World for over seven centuries? Were they Giants, Amazons, Turks, or Mongols? Were they all Jews or just their rulers? What happened to them and where are they now? This Khazar DNA Project aims to trace the descendents of the Khazars by searching for their particular DNA signature in the genomes of 500 worldwide populations. Sounds like searching for a needle in a sack of hay? It’s somewhat similar, but imagine that you have a magnet! How can we trace the Khazars? Our DNA is like a history encyclopedia. It tells us the… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 05/02/12 at 04:49 AM

Celebrate Ashkelon! Celebrate Israel!

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The Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership is turning 10 next year! Over the last decade, THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore has placed meaningful connections between Baltimore and Ashkelon as a priority. Whether you are looking to join a committee or simply to share an experience with one of our brothers and sisters in Ashkelon – in person or over the Internet (or both!), you can be a part of our sister city relationship. The Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership opens doors to establishing meaningful and lasting global friendships, partnerships and connections with our brothers and sisters in Israel. Personal relationships not only enhance our lives, but represent our best hope to reconnect Jewish young adults and children with the homeland and to ensure we have a vibrant, global Jewish future. The sister city initiative raises awareness of Israeli issues, promotes greater participation in… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/23/12 at 03:22 PM

Celebrate Ashkelon! Celebrate Israel!

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/23/12 at 02:50 PM

Experience Israel

By Fran Sonnenschein Executive Director Baltimore Zionist District (BZD) In a couple of weeks, the Baltimore community will have the honor of celebrating the 64th anniversary of the creation of the State of Israel. Living some 6,000 miles away, we witness the tremendous progress and growth Israel has undergone during its wondrous history. The blossoming of a desert into a flourishing land - truly a land of “milk and honey.” Israel has become the world’s center for irrigation and agricultural growth, medical innovations and technology, putting Israel at the leader-board. With all the apparent obstacles in its way, the perseverance in preserving the Zionist dream has given her strength to continue, to grow and to flourish. We have so much to be proud of! At BZD, we pride ourselves on developing and building a personal relationship with the State… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/16/12 at 09:54 PM

The City of Ashkelon congratulates its volunteer organizations at Pesach

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On Sunday evening, April 4, representatives from 40 volunteer organizations and N.G.O’s gathered at The Ashkelon Volunteer Center for a traditional toast before Pesach. Hagit Kutaru, director of the Ashkelon Volunteer Center, emphasized the importance the city places on its volunteers and voluntary organizations, especially in the area of support services for the needy. Read more on the Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership website. read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/04/12 at 01:03 PM

MIDC welcomes start-up nation’s best

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MarketReach America 2012 welcomes eclectic group of Israeli entrepreneurs By Maayan Jaffe Nearly 150 people from the Baltimore-Washington corridor turned out for the Maryland/Israel Development Center’s premiere corporate partnering program last week, on March 29. The event, this year held at Baltimore’s Constellation Energy headquarters, showcased the newest Israeli innovations coming out of two Israel incubators – Mofet and Misgav venture accelerators. Technologies ranged from information technology and med-tech to green-tech and agri-tech. The Maryland show was part of a week-long trade show, run by Trendlines, MIDC’s Israeli partner. Trendlines also oversees the Mofet and Misgav venture accelerators, creating and developing businesses to improve the human condition. The Israelis travelled to five cities in five days, hoping to find potential investors and collaborators. Using a speed-dating-type presentation (five minutes for each company) the start-up heads demonstrated their products and… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/03/12 at 07:48 AM

Celebrate Israel Together

By Baltimore Jewish Council It doesn’t take more then five minutes of reading a newspaper to read about the threat Iran presents to the United States and Israel. In turn, radicalism in Egypt and Syria, threats from Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as strained relationships arising out the Arab Spring, remain continuing problems. Israel will deal with all her “obstacles” and come out a stronger country, but we need to stand behind her and support her through this difficult time. Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, is a day to celebrate Israel’s independence and all the previous struggles that she overcame. It is a day to celebrate her accomplishments and to let the world know that we stand behind her. The Baltimore Israel Coalition, a new Baltimore initiative, is an informal group of 22 local organizations joining together to support… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/02/12 at 08:06 PM

Amazing 2012 Diller Teen Fellows Video

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This is a must see! View video. read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/01/12 at 12:36 PM

Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation to host ‘Start Up Nation’s’ Dan Senor

The Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation Merrick School of Business University of Baltimore is hosting Dan Senor, renowned author and foreign attaché. Mr. Senor is coming to to speak on his best selling book, “Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle.” The keynote will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Tom Loveland, Rob Rosenbaum, David Lingelbach and the Maryland/Israel Development Center’s Barry Bogage. Seats are limited. Tickets available on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, visit the UB website. read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 03/27/12 at 08:55 PM

Partnership with Israel

By Ariela Lerman Macks Center for Jewish Education Every year in Baltimore, we get the chance to see the power of relationships between Baltimore and Ashkelon, and specifically with students in both cities. The opportunity to create a personal connection with each other is undeniably impactful in the lives of our youth. Take for example, one of the past Yeshivat Rambam students who was connected with a student at the Madaim school in Ashkelon. They worked on a project during one year of school and continued the connection as they grew older. This student then graduated and went to study in Israel for the year. He made a special trip to Ashkelon to finally meet his partner face-to-face and spent Shabbat at his house. This is the true meaning of partnership. Each year, through the Gesher Chai program, we… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 03/27/12 at 08:28 PM

Increasing number of Israeli entrepreneurs focusing on social justice

We’d like to think that our work through the Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership has had an impact on this trend, too ... at least in our sister city! TEL AVIV (JTA)—Capitalism in pursuit of social justice. The notion is becoming more common in Israel as a new generation of entrepreneurs and innovators in the fields of high-tech, industry and real estate is delving into philanthropy. “The culture of venture capital and the startup nation also transfers into innovation in the field of philanthropy,” Andres Spokoiny, president of the Jewish Funders Network, said in a telephone interview ahead of the Jewish Funders Network International Conference that was held here last week. “One of the goals of the conference is to foster networking among highly empowered, highly independent individuals.” Read the full JTA article. read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 03/26/12 at 11:34 PM

Diller Teen Fellows Weigh in On Their Week in Baltimore ... So Far!

The Diller Teen Fellows from Ashkelon, our sister city, are in town. Last night, they and their Baltimore counterparts, spoke about their experiene thus far: “Through playing basketball, singing together, discussing serious topics, maagals and just hanging out, the Baltimore group and the Ashkelon group have come together to form Ashkemore. It’s crazy to think that the Ashkemore teens have only been together for a couple of days because it seems like we have been long-time friends. Now we are at laser tag and after a weekend full of interesting discussions and activities, it is now game time!” —Reid Danels, Diller Baltimore Teen Fellow “So we are here in America and it’s unbelievable! At the first meeting, we were so excited because we’ve been waiting for it for so long. We just came to Baltimore and met everyone and… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 03/26/12 at 04:17 AM

From Italy: Act 2 ... and the Internet is working

By Bobbie Luterman, Melissa Lebowitz & Brenda Schuman Beth Tfiloh Preschool Remember our last blog when we described the unbelievable community project called the “Theatre Curtain”? Well, it gets better! We mentioned the theatre curtain because it was a perfect example of the value that the city places on their children within the community. Asking the children to be the creators of the very curtain that would hang in their beautiful theatre was a big honor and a statement about what they believed about the abilities of their children, they are truly considered citizens of this community. So.. over the last couple of days we made many new connections that have deepened this experience even further. We realized that the values that we hold as Jewish people are synonymous with the values that the Reggio community and their educators… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 03/25/12 at 01:54 PM

From Italy - Dj Schneider Jensen (Part II)

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March 22, 2012 “The place where theory and practice touch is like the magic moment when night becomes day.” This quote, by Loris Malaguzzi, the founder of the Reggio Emilia approach, represents how I felt as I watched the interactions of a teacher and his children yesterday. I doubt my interpretation of the experience could even begin to represent the powerful feelings I had as I watched a four-year-old figure out how to represent the game “Ring Around the Rosie” on paper. In a nutshell (and you must know, I can tell this story much better than type it because the gestures and enthusiasm really helps), goes something like this: Matteo, the atelerista, wanted to know how the children would represent the game on paper. Ateleristas are not typically teachers, they are usually artists who work in these schools. … read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 03/22/12 at 01:56 PM

From Italy - DJ Schneider Jensen

March 21, 2012 This is the first time I have had the chance to sit with a computer keyboard, at a computer that is going to be connected to the internet (hopefully!). I have been writing my thoughts - pages of them - but will try to give you a more concise update. You should know that the keyboards here have some keys I have never seen. Where we have the shift key to capitalize something, they have the “< key,” and my pinky finger is drawn to that. Also, the @ key is next to the letter l, but first you have to hit a key labelled “alt gr.” Know where I found the quotation marks? Where the @ key is on our home computers! At least the ! is in the right place, so I can still… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 03/22/12 at 01:55 PM

CJE Video Blogs - from Italy!

The Louise D. and Morton J. Macks Center for Jewish Education has taken a group of educators to Reggio, Italy to experience firsthand a teaching model they have been learning about for the past several months. Named after the town in Italy where it was developed soon after World War II, Reggio Emilia has become a curriculum model of excellence that has attracted worldwide attention. It is a pre school curriculum that promotes the creative expression of ... and the role of the environment in education. Aileen Friedman “writes” the first blog: You will be able to view all video blogs as they become available at www.associated.org/globalimpactblog. For more information about the CJE, visit www.cjebaltimore.org. read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 03/21/12 at 01:23 AM

Update from Sigal Ariely: No School Again Today

Last night, a lot of people from Asheklon participated in a wedding at the Tel Aviv port; the daughter of one of Ashkelon’s Municiaplity’s Deputy Mayor. Lots of ministers, Knesset members, city council members, the mayor, other deputies, municipal spokespeople ... On the way, we heard that three Grad rockets were launched at Beer Sheva . One was intercepted, one fell in an open field, one hit the ground. A few minutes later it was annonnced, “No school in Beer Sheva tomorrow.” After a few more minutes, most of the south region mayors joined this decision… Read the rest of the update. read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 03/15/12 at 04:05 AM

Rocket Barrage Eases in Southern Israel

March 13, 2012 After five days of rocket fire from Gaza into Southern Israel, the attacks have begun to subside and Israelis expect to return to normal life in the coming days. Since Friday, when Israel Defense Forces assassinated two major terrorists, more than 200 rockets have been fired into Israel’s south, threatening more than 1 million people. “When we heard news of the killing of two mega terrorists, everyone in Israel knew we needed to get ready for a reaction. When something like this happens, we are facing rockets attacking our cities,” said Sigal Ariely, Ashkelon resident and JFNA’s director of the Ashkelon-Baltimore Partnership. “Luckily, this was only a very short period of tension. I hope that it ends, and we won’t have to feel that again in the next few days.” Read the full update. read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 03/13/12 at 08:38 PM

JFNA Briefing: Israel’s South Under Fire - March 12, 2012

On day four of the current escalation, with continuing rocket assaults in the South, it remains unclear to both politicians and analysts how long this violence will continue and at what level. One million Israelis are living under threat and taking refuge in shelters, safe rooms and along roadsides each time an alert is sounded. Not unexpectedly, Israel’s crisis hot lines are seeing a spike in calls from worried residents seeking to be reassured. Since Friday, dozens of people have been treated for trauma and four Israelis have been injured, one severely. For many, the high security situation takes them back to the trauma they suffered from previous attacks. Nati Haktz’or, 24, from Beer Sheva, lost his right leg six months ago in a Grad missile strike. Since the start of these attacks, he has stopped sleeping in his… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 03/13/12 at 01:25 AM

Ashkelon Update from Sigal Ariely

Since earlier this afternoon we had many sirens, three in the past hour-and-a-half. We have this routine: You hear the siren, run to hide under the staircase, and wait, listen . One boom - the Iron Dome is being launched at the rocket. A second boom, almost immediately after the first one - a successful hit. ... Crazy how you get used to craziness… Read the full update on the Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership website. read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 03/12/12 at 05:34 AM

Sigal Ariely: Purim Fun Turns ‘Code Red’

It was going to be just another routine Purim .. but as we know our reality is never “routine.” The weather this Purim was going to be gorgeous, after a few rainy winter days, everyone waited for the sun to rise and the kids to dress up in their costumes and give out mishloach manot. My youngest, Gily, was a cute Minnie Mouse this time. They had a Purim carival at school and she came home with a basket full of candies. The next morning we woke up at 5:15 a.m. and joined the Youth Council bus going to Mt. Hermon to enjoy the snow!! (Sorry Baltimore , while you had no snow this year, Mt. Hermon has tons of snow, the bigest amount in years. We got there at 10:00 a.m. - the fourth bus in the parking… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 03/11/12 at 05:56 AM

Talya’s Trip to Odessa

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By Talya Nack When I first got involved with IMPACT, THE ASSOCIATED’s young adult division, I never believed that one day I would be with a group of 19 amazing professionals and lay leaders visiting programs and agencies halfway across the world in Odessa, Ukraine. It all started six and half years ago when I attended my first IMPACT event. Like most people, I was invited by a friend who thought that this would be a good group in which to get involved. For the next two years or so, I stayed involved, but on a pretty superficial level. I would attend social events, I even sat on the events committee for a year, and made my minimum donation. I felt that THE ASSOCIATED did great work but, not to sound selfish, I was not so sure what was… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 03/08/12 at 08:26 AM

Baltimore’s First Birthright Alumni Event - A Success!

THE ASSOCIATED held the community’s first Birthright Alumni event last night at the Maryland Institute College of Art. The college is hosting an exhibit from the Bezalel Art School in Israel. More than 30 alumni were in attendance to network, meet (and reunite). Most stayed for the showing of “Waltz with Bashir,” which was held after the event. Check out these pictures (more to come on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/theassociated): read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 02/17/12 at 04:51 PM

Letter from the FSU: ‘She washes clothes in a natural spring, outdoors, in 27 degrees’

Dear readers, It is only a few days since we received this letter from a JDC colleague, Asher Ostrin, writing from the frigid FSU. It brings into sharp focus the importance of THE ASSOCIATED Annual Campaign as a critical partner in reaching every Jew in need, wherever they are—even in the most remote, isolated regions of the world. Have a good week, THE ASSOCIATED ________________________________________ From: Ostrin Asher Subject: Field Briefing February 10, 2012 Dear all, There has been a great deal in the media over the last two weeks about the cold snap in Europe. Michael Geller in our NY office put out a wonderful press release about the JDC response in places like Bulgaria and Ukraine. Unquestionably, lives are being saved. During this time I was in St Petersburg, Moscow, and Minsk. On my return to Israel,… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 02/13/12 at 08:12 PM

Federation Mission Witnesses Ethiopian Jews Completing the Journey

A short plane ride between Ethiopia and Israel became the journey of a lifetime earlier this month, as more than 80 Ethiopian Jews made aliyah to Israel during The Jewish Federations of North America’s dramatic “Completing the Journey” mission. The mission, which took place Jan. 29 to Feb. 2, enabled 60 participants from 15 communities to witness a part of the conclusion of more than three decades of Ethiopian-Jewish aliyah, which began in the 1980s and 1990s with Operations Moses and Solomon. The mission was part of an effort to complete the rescue of the remaining ancient Ethiopian Jewish community. At the behest of the Government of Israel, Jewish Federations are spearheading the effort to raise $5.5 million on behalf of the Jewish Agency for Israel to take care of the remaining approximately 6,000 “Falas Mura” community members in… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 02/13/12 at 08:07 PM

As extreme winter weather hit Europe, JDC activated emergency response

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Last week, a sudden wave of dangerous winter weather gripped Eastern Europe and parts of the former Soviet Union. The death toll continued to rise as rescue crews evacuated dozens of people from snowblocked villages in Serbia and Bosnia. In towns across Bulgaria, temperatures plunged to their lowest since records started 100 years ago. It was so cold in the capital Sofia that ATM cash machines froze up, according to Trud newspaper. JDC immediately activated its emergency winter response system to supplement the critical care it already gives to tens of thousands of Jewish elderly and needy children across the region. JDC mobilizes quickly and efficiently under extreme conditions such as those caused by this deep freeze because an emergency protocol is inherent to its winter relief program throughout Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Especially… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 02/07/12 at 05:09 PM

Volunteering in Translation

By Rebecca Weinstock THE ASSOCIATED I just returned from a 10-day visit to Ashkelon, our sister city in Israel. In addition to traveling with the Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership Mission, I spent several days visiting public-sector organizations and meeting with social-change activists in Israel. As I reflected on these site visits and meetings, and previous conversations with volunteers and professionals in the Jewish community, it occurred to me that the act of volunteering is actually quite complex, perhaps even more so when it includes a cross-cultural encounter. Generally, we think of volunteering as giving without expecting something in return. The volunteer is the one who donates his or her time or skills or resources to help someone else in need. However, I think that by expanding our perception of volunteering to include a mutually beneficial relationship – with both parties giving… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 02/02/12 at 08:26 AM

Shabbat in Marrakech

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By Risa Kelemer Shabbat in Marrakech was relaxing we davened and ate at the one local synagogue. Erev Shabbat we were waiting to be bused to the Shul, when ten horse pulled carriages rolled up to the curb. We traveled in style through the city, waving at the passing cars. Our carriage was the first, and it was quite a sight to turn around and see the convey of kivunim kids in their carriages behind us. Dinner and lunch were both cooked by the rabbis wife, and served in an outdoor tent in the chatzer of the Shul. It fascinated me when I looked at the top of the tent and noticed that the poll to which the tent was strung had a crescent moon on top of it- a symbol of Islam. I suppose that in a Muslim… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/31/12 at 05:25 AM

Precious Israeli Rain

By Jakir Manela “Blessed are you, G-d ruler of the universe, who is good and does good.” One of the great things about Judaism is that we say the blessing above whenever it rains. Something we might consider a normal, natural occurrence, yet being in Israel reminds us of just how precious rain is amidst all of Israel’s water conservation challenges. We have been blessed this week to witness three or four distinct rainstorms and yesterday evening we even had the pleasure of running through the rain to get to our bus. It is a privilege to be present in the holyland while such a precious natural resource falls down upon the land from the heavens. Could it be that the rain has fallen on our merit? Probably not, but as we head toward Shabbat and finish our work… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/20/12 at 02:35 PM

The Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership Working Mission Takes Off!

A group of dedicated Baltimore volunteers and professionals left for Ashkelon earlier this week. Follow their experience through Israel and our sister city as they learn and grow… By Diane Weiner My return visit to Israel and to Jerusalem is especially meaningful because I am sharing it with my husband Jeremy. Avi Melamed’s discussion of Israel’s security concerns, while being here and actually seeing the areas in question, deepened my appreciation of all the complexities and dilemmas Israel faces. Yoram, our guide, took us through the Old City sharing information and insight about the unique significance of Jerusalem, which is shared by Jews, Christians and Muslims. It is important to note that Israel respects and protects access to the sites for all faiths. We ended our tour at the Kotel, which was as moving for me as it was… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/19/12 at 04:10 AM

The Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership Spirit of Volunteerism

In our Israeli sister city of Ashkelon, the folks are celebrating the spirit of Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership volunteerism. In the city’s most recent community newspaper, a quarter-page article ran about some of the most meaningful recent visits: “Many Baltimore families who came to Israel within the last several months requested private volunteer experiences in Ashkelon with the goal of giving back to their sister city. Einav Koren, the Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership Volunteer Coordinator works to find each family an appropriate opportunity. ... Dr. Jim and Dorothy Wolff visited Ashkelon recently. While there, they volunteered at a home for kids at risk. The children gave them a warm welcome…” >Read the article in HEBREW >Read the article in ENGLISH Interested in learning more about the Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership? Check out www.baltimoreashkelon.org. read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/18/12 at 04:26 AM

The final BHI blog - Masada

By Micky Rubin Baltimore Hebrew Institute Although this was perhaps the most physically demanding day of our journey through the holy land thus far, I can honestly say that I felt as if I had accomplished something special by the time I had laid my head down to sleep in the evening. Our adventure began in the morning as we made our way to a yoga studio in Mitzpe Ramon. While I am a fitness enthusiast, I quickly realized that balance and overall flexibility are areas in which I need plenty if work. Still, like many of my classmates, I came to appreciate the calming effect that yoga can ultimately have on the mind and soul. I would be lying if I said I am not giving serious consideration to incorporating yoga into my regular exercise regimen. We continued… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/04/12 at 04:54 AM

A Visit to the Yishuv of Alon

By Ruth M. Szykman Baltimore Hebrew Institute The western side of the Judean Hills are green. Terraced and farmed for thousands of years. You continue past Jerusalem and head east, the climate turns arid and you enter the Judean Desert. Too sparse to cultivate, you now think of nomadic life. This is where Abraham grazed his flocks. This is where David ran away to hide from Saul. The hills meet in folds and you see sparse vegetation where the water collects and trickles into gulleys and gulleys into river beds. The direction of flow of this rain would be east towards Jordan and the Dead Sea if there happened to be enough water. Here, halfway between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, some social visionaries decided to try a new social model. In 1982 the ‘yishuv’ (village) of Alon (oak)… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/04/12 at 02:14 AM

Yad Lakashish

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By Shifrah Hill MAJE graduate student Baltimore Hebrew Institute A few days ago, we visited a non-profit organization called Yad Lakashish (“Lifeline for the Old”), which provides work and financial assistance to aging immigrants in Jerusalem. In a variety of specialty workshops, including painting, ceramics and metal work, they create Judaica items such as chanukiot and challah covers, as well as items of general interest such as stuffed animals, paintings and cards. This work provides them with a sense of purpose and self-confidence. Though the workers are not professional artists, the staff are masters of their trade and design items people will be interested in purchasing. Production is broken down into tasks that can be easily accomplished by the workers. I was surprised to learn that Israel is mostly a “young” country, which does not always have a way… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/03/12 at 01:46 AM

BHI Shabbat Blog (But Plublished Just After Shabbat…)

By Sam Stern Student, Baltimore Hebrew Institute Saturday was the last day of 2011. It was also Shabbat. Over the past few days our group has been here in Israel, learning about social services and touring Israel. We took a break for Shabbat. On Friday evening, Mickey Rubin and I led a Shabbat service for the rest of the members of our trip, and we were able to enjoy a spiritual moment and reflect on all we had seen. It was amazing to reflect on the children’s home, Bet Elizrakai, and the community for adults with special needs, K’far Idud. It was equally special to share the feelings we had experienced at Yad Vashem, and how it felt to be in Jerusalem. Our community from Baltimore had the opportunity to come together in a holy way in a holy… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/02/12 at 05:19 AM

BHI Students in Israel: ‘The Country is Gorgeous Beyond Description’

By Rich Dinetz Student, Baltimore Hebrew Institute On our drive to Haifa around 8:30 a.m. this morning, December 28, the windows on the left side of the bus were filled with a sparkling blue aura as we drove north up Israel’s coast along the Mediterranean Sea. Once we arrived in Haifa, we walked through Baha’i Gardens, a gorgeous shrine belonging to the Baha’i, who are people of a religion that believes in all religions of the world. They believe in full equality among genders. Their library includes texts that analyze all religions of the world. This garden is not part of the state system of Israel. It is a separate entity. Learning about the Baha’i was fascinating and this sight is just one of many incredible places in Israel that are gorgeous beyond description. After visiting the gardens, we… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/30/11 at 03:14 AM

Chanukah is over, but check out this awesome candle lighting!

This year’s Community Mitzvah Day spread a little extra light than in year’s prior. Towards the close of the morning, Baltimore volunteers at Ashkelon teens participating in the Net@ program shared a candle-lighting experience ... via Skpe! The Net@ program, a collaboration of the Jewish Agency for Israel, Cisco Systems, Inc., United Israel Appeal, and Appleseeds Academy, and supported in Ashkelon by THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, uses a holistic approach to empower youth from Israel’s geographic and socio-economic peripheries with advanced technology education, social values, and leadership skills. On December 25, however, it was more about the jelly doughnuts! Check out these pictures: read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/28/11 at 03:19 AM

Run, Jerusalem, Run

By: Drew Fidler Last week, I had a surreal experience. I went to see my brother-in-law’s brother run the Jerusalem Night 10K (ריצת לילה בירושלים). It was a crisp night with a completely clear sky. I could not help but marvel at the spectacle of this historic location combined with such a modern day occurrence. The full moon was bright and it shined magnificently against the Jerusalem stonewalls of the Old City and the Jaffa Gate as a thousand runners from ages 13 to 80 stood ready and waited for the race to start. As music pumped loudly in the background, I could not help but stare at the magnificent site in front of me. It was one of those moments when you realize just how special Jerusalem is and can be. In Jerusalem, layers of stone and history… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/20/11 at 02:45 AM

Israeli Knesset Members Visit Baltimore

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More than one dozen top-level members of the Israeli Knesset, including ministerial advisers, government officials and Israeli journalists, were in in Baltimore last Wednesday. The visit, arranged through the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), was meant to foster increased understanding by the delegation of communities in North America. This is the second mission of its kind in the last two years. In Baltimore, the delegation met with executives from THE ASSOCIATED and some of its key agencies, including those from Jewish Community Services, Baltimore Jewish Council and the Louise D. and Morton J. Macks Center for Jewish Education. They also took a tour and met with students at the Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School. While taking a “break” at the Jewish Community Services building, THE ASSOCIATED caught up with a couple of members of the delegation: Albert Sachrovitz,… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/19/11 at 02:33 AM

The Warm Home

By Susan and Jeffrey Posner The six of us walked down the long cobble-stoned alley toward the Warm Home on our last morning in Odessa. We were greeted by the Jewish Ukrainian woman who owned the house where eight Jewish seniors come once a week to congregate, talk and find much-needed companionship. The Warm Home program was developed by the Joint Distribution Committee in the Ukraine to alleviate the loneliness that plagues the elderly. Seniors often lose a sense of belonging to a community as spouses and friends die and the seniors find themselves alone. This program provides them with a place a get together and enjoy each other’s company. Gathered around the table at the Warm Home were eight seniors in their eighties. Three was visually impaired but despite that they were all engaged and eager to talk… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/16/11 at 03:52 AM

J-Friend

By: Drew Fidler The hardest part about moving to a new country besides the different language, converting from metric to imperial, and generally navigating in a city where all of the streets crisscross in a completely unidentifiable pattern is establishing a routine and finding friends. As I am currently spending my days looking for a job, I have to find ways to fill the time that is not spent writing emails, making phone calls or going on meetings and interviews. Its genetic: if I do not go out of the house get away from the computer I tend to go a little crazy. It was in one such crazy moment that I decided it was acceptable to post an ad on JANGLO. (JANGLO is an online website designed to help connect Jerusalem’s English speaking community. They post apartment listings,… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/14/11 at 04:29 AM

Walking into a Shul in Vienna

By Stephanie Rosenau Walking into the synagogue in the Jewish section of Vienna, I noticed the beautiful blue vaulted ceiling, the dark wood that lined the walls and the sea of kippot in the men’s section below. It felt familiar, and it felt good to be in shul after an emotional week on a mission in Odessa, Ukraine with THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore. My siddur was in German and Hebrew and I tried to compare the two languages to help me understand my bubbie’s first language, Yiddish. We chanted the morning service, listened to the Torah and enjoyed the barber shop-like quartet that complimented the chazan. In all, seven people from this mission participated in the service. One of the highlights of the service was when Rabbi Steven Fink of Oheb Shalom of Baltimore was given… read more

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/05/11 at 03:33 AM

Odessa - Lev Avot