Comments (0)Who Else Will Care If Not Us?
October 9, 2009Linda A. Hurwitz
Special to the Jewish Times
Through my involvement with the Associated, I have visited Jewish communities around the world and witnessed the impact made by the Baltimore Jewish community. As the chair for the Commission on Israel and Overseas, I am proud of our efforts throughout the global Jewish community. Our work is saving lives and reviving Jewish life around the world, as well as enriching our own, here in Baltimore.
I have been asked on occasion why we allocate community resources overseas. Certainly local needs are compelling and have grown in the past year and a half. Yet, supporting Jews around the world is rooted in our Jewish tradition, history and values. Hillel said: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?”
I believe our responsibilities start at home, but also stretch to every Jewish community around the world. As Jews, we are given the gift of a covenant, a homeland and an entire people to whom we feel connected. Jewish people all over the world feel as if they are a family.
In the former Soviet Union, working with our overseas partner, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, we are providing hunger and medical relief to more than 166,000 elderly Jewish adults who would otherwise be left to fend for themselves. Additionally, we are helping 24,000 children who might otherwise be forced to live on the streets without food. Who else will care for our brothers and sisters if not us?
Sadly, we have seen anti-Semitism rear its ugly head in countries around the world. Partnering with the Jewish Agency for Israel, we are rescuing Jews from places of danger; whether it is Iran, Yemen or Ethiopia, we are ensuring that every Jew can live safely.
Our partnerships with Ashkelon, Israel and Odessa, Ukraine not only add value to those communities, but also strengthen our community. Through the Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership, we are building new generations of volunteers and leaders for both communities. We are enabling teens to connect with Israel and their Jewish identity through friendships, exchanges and educational programs.
The Odessa Partnership has exposed us to our sister city’s beautiful culture and it is now enabling us to turn college students and young professionals in Odessa into leaders in their community. We continue to look for new ways to invest our resources locally to strengthen Jewish identity by connecting with Israel and other Jewish communities. On Nov. 16, the Associated will hold its first community summit on Israel education and engagement. We look forward to bringing together organizations, synagogues, leaders and volunteers, as we discuss how we can provide more opportunities for teens, college students and young professionals to visit Israel.
Although we are burdened with challenging times, our opportunity to share in meeting the needs of world Jewry is one of the highest forms of tzedakah.
Linda A. Hurwitz is chair of the Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore’s Commission on Israel and Overseas.