I really didn’t want to go out to a meeting on a cold Sunday night with slippery, icy roads.
By the time the evening was over, I was so gratified that I had been invited to attend.
Joblink of Maryland was holding a parlor meeting to further identify its important purpose and hopefully raise funds.
The meeting was graciously hosted by Jerry and Susan Wolasky in their beautiful home.
Rabbi Yissochar Frand of Ner Israel was the keynote speaker, and was just amazing in his message.
Joblink provides employment related services to all Jews.
In the past two years it has:
• Provided employment-related services to over 700 individuals
• Placed or supported 163 individuals in jobs with an aggregate compensation of over $9.4 million. Joblink’s annual budget is approximately $155,000.
• Each placement costs Joblink approximately $1,734.
• For every dollar that goes towards the budget, over $30 is produced for the community.
Joblink works with those seeking employment in all occupational areas, including law, finance, accounting, internet technology and administration ranging from entry level to upper-level management.
In addition, Joblink has assisted dozens of other unemployed and underemployed people in our community by providing the following services:
• Resume assistance
• Networking on behalf of job seekers
• Career and life counseling
• Workshops and presentations on relevant topics such as resume writing, interview skills and the federal jobs application process.
• It has established an effective network of “synagogue captains” to act as job information liaisons.
• It’s established a national consortium of similar community-based job placement organizations to share job related information and best practices.

“The fact that the event was so enthusiastically attended shows that the value of Joblink to the community is so vital,” said Elly Lasson, executive director.  “Employment is a staple in sustaining any viable (Jewish) community.  While it is a continuous challenge, the economic climate of the past few years has certainly exacerbated the needs at both the family and community level.  Joblink continues to serve individuals within the entire Jewish community, regardless of affiliation, in helping them connect with opportunities that would not be accessible without a professionally-run conduit.
“Our clients,” he continued, “include those who are not only unemployed, underemployed, and those seeking to enter the workforce for the first time, but also those who are seeking a job change for quality of life reasons.  The salary range of those who seek our services is vast, from minimum wage to others making up to $300,000 a year.  Each person has his or her own unique situation and at Joblink, we attempt to customize an approach to meet their respective needs.  For some, it is resume assistance and interview preparation. For others, it is career guidance and life coaching.  For yet others, it is simply a matter of a strategic referral within our network of corporate contacts.”
Andrew Singer, a senior vice president at Constellation Energy, and a JobLink board member, told the packed audience that “finding a full-time job is a full-time job.” He added that at times he wasn’t sure if students in school preparing to enter the work force understood the effort necessary to find full-time employment.
Mr. Singer also said that in many cases employers understand that the skills required by a job and that are brought to the table by the applicant are almost a “given.”
More and more employers, he said, are looking to hire employees they feel have exceptional attitudes, people that are likeable as well as capable.
It was then Rabbi Frand, who in his almost touchable oration, taught the meeting participants that helping to find employment for a person is a mitzvah that impacts almost every part of that person’s life from image of self, to parenting, to being a better spouse, and to giving back to the community.
“Try to image what it is like to lose a job,” he said. “The incessant calls from credit card companies. How does it feel when a school won’t let your children attend? You can’t pay the mortgage. There are devastating effects when a person loses a job or is under employed or underpaid.”
Rabbi Frand added that it seems to be worse for men, because he said men tend to define themselves by their work. “It’s devastating,” he said.”
So I don’t usually push contributions on this blog space. But JobLink needs help, because it is turning over every stone to employ Jewish Baltimore and keep it employed. When you think about it, the best way to keep our wonderful array of social services in financial health is through employment.
So you can go to joblinkemployment.com for more information. If you can’t write a check, maybe you can do something that’s perhaps even better. Maybe, just maybe you know someone who’s got an opening in their business. Let JobLink know. They’ll take care of the rest. And you might be doing the biggest mitzvah of your life, you’re giving a person back their self esteem, in some cases keeping families together, fed, sheltered and educated.
So I’m glad I ventured out on a freezing cold Sunday night. I’m even more glad that some of Baltimore’s Jewish leaders were there as well.
Because as Rabbi Frand pointed out. There are people who are cold inside of their homes as well as outside of their homes, here and now in February of 2011.
The power goes out in some Jewish homes not just because the weather is snowy or windy. It goes out, because the bill can’t get paid.
It doesn’t have to be so cold.
JobLink wants you to know that.