The Federation of Jewish Women’s Organizations of Maryland will be holding its 108th annual convention on Thursday, May 16 at Har Sinai-Oheb Shalom Congregation. Under the theme of “A Woman Who Builds Bridges for a Better Community,” the country’s oldest Jewish women’s federation will be honoring notable women from its many component organizations, including CHANA, Kappa Guild, Inc., Associated Women and synagogue sisterhoods from Beth Tfiloh Congregation, Ner Tamid Greenspring Valley Synagogue and Chizuk Amuno Congregation, among others.
The theme for this year’s convention is “Breaking Down Barriers to Combat Hate,” a salient theme during a time when antisemitism is on the rise and thoughtful dialogue is more necessary than ever.
Meredith Weisel, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Washington, D.C. office, is set to be the convention’s keynote speaker. Weisel’s five years of working at the ADL have been primarily focused on advocating for anti-hate crimes legislation and making Jewish education more accessible. Before that, she served as director of Maryland government and community relations at the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington.
The E.B. Hirsh Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors female Jewish leaders who have made a sizable impact on the local community over the years, will be presented to Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin. Cardin was recently appointed president of the Baltimore Board of Rabbis. She also founded the Jewish Women’s Resource Center and co-founded the New York Jewish Healing Center while she was living in New York.
Convention tickets are $60 each.
