The Maryland Commission on Middle Eastern Affairs has long been an important factor in representing and advising on matters relating to the state’s Middle Eastern population. Representatives from different countries in the region, including Egypt, Kuwait, Iran and Lebanon, offer their guidance on policies that could affect Maryland’s Middle Eastern community from a variety of different cultural perspectives.
Recent appointments to the commission, announced on Feb. 26, are meant to introduce new perspectives on local Middle Eastern affairs. Eight Middle Eastern countries, along with three representatives of the United States with experience in Middle Eastern politics and history, are now on the commission, bringing the total number of countries represented in the commission from six to nine.
Among the 21 recently appointed members of the commission, four represent the interests of Maryland’s Jewish and Israeli populations. Like the other members, they have all been selected due to their leadership credentials and frequent engagement with their local community.
These commission members will serve a key role in representing Maryland’s Israeli and Jewish populations in local affairs. Here are brief introductions to get to know them better.
Aharona Rosenthal
Rosenthal is a familiar face to anyone involved with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s Judaic studies department. As the director of Judaic studies, she manages the college’s Judaism-related curriculum and has also served as a senior lecturer and adjunct professor on modern Hebrew literature.
“As an Israeli citizen and a third-generation Holocaust survivor, I’m acutely aware of the significance of this position, especially against the backdrop of a concerning rise in antisemitism in our area,” Rosenthal said of her appointment. “My ambition extends beyond merely strengthening ties between the state of Maryland and the Israeli and Jewish communities; it encompasses a dedicated effort to meticulously address and adhere to the needs of the Jewish community through a thoughtful and positive approach.”
Because of her involvement in education, Rosenthal also hopes to advocate for a more thoughtful approach to Jewish education and representation in the field, leading to a better understanding of Jewish culture and history in the broader sphere.
Rosenthal is also the author of “Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again: Friddie’s Story,” a Reader’s Favorite-award winning novel inspired by her family’s history in Holocaust-era Romania.
“I’m determined to combat bias and ensure our communities’ contributions and voices are acknowledged and respected in the broader societal narrative,” she said.
Laura H. Salganik
A sociologist and statistician, Salganik now serves as the co-chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Howard County and a board member of the Jewish Federation of Howard County. She is also board secretary for Association of Community Services of Howard County, an association that works to strengthen the county’s nonprofit sector.
“It’s an honor to be able to contribute to strengthening relationships between the Jewish community and other communities in Maryland,” she said in an interview with the Baltimore Jewish Times. “And to work with the other commissioners to further the governor’s agenda for Maryland.”
Salganik noted that while Baltimore has a very tight-knit Jewish community, it is also important for the community to establish friendly relations with other minority populations in the area.
“The JCRC works to build relationships with those outside the Jewish community in Howard County, and I look forward to being involved with other communities at the state level,” she added. “I see a lot of value in people with different backgrounds working together towards a common goal.”
Rabbi Susan Grossman
Grossman is rabbi emerita of Beth Shalom Congregation in Columbia, but she has also devoted much of her life toward interfaith work meant to bring members of different religious communities together.
“Through my time [as senior rabbi], I have been very active in bringing the Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities together through interfaith work, particularly around working towards peace in the Middle East,” she said.
She has the unique distinction of being one of the first women to be ordained as a rabbi by the Jewish Theological Seminary after the institution started to accept women in 1983, and was featured in The Forward and New York Jewish Week as a rabbi to watch in the 21st century.
Grossman served as Beth Shalom’s rabbi for 25 years before retiring in 2022. She still remains active as part of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, which she served on for 30 years.
Before becoming a rabbi, she was also a journalist, and in both positions, her work has taken her all over the world. She has represented the Conservative movement in high-level meetings at the White House and with figures like Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and King Abdullah II of Jordan. In part because of this work, she has been very involved in the Jewish-Muslim solidarity movement.
“It’s a very challenging time for Jewish-Muslim affairs. My Muslim colleagues and I would always say that if we can’t get along in the United States, where we have equal rights and freedom of speech, we won’t be able to get along anywhere,” Grossman said. “I hope that we can work together on issues of mutual concern and build a relationship based on mutual respect and cooperation.”
Alissa Deaver
The former director of development at Maryland Hillel, Deaver is intimately familiar with Maryland’s Jewish community on campus. She has a great deal of experience in planning events, including fundraising campaigns and opportunities for student engagement.
Similarly to Rosenthal, Deaver is also descended from Holocaust survivors, which she feels has greatly influenced her Jewish identity.
“As the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, whose legacy continues to inspire me, I recognize the profound importance of never forgetting the atrocities of the past and ensuring they never occur again. My family’s history drives my commitment to fostering understanding and acceptance among all communities,” she explained.
In addition to her work as part of Hillel, Deaver has been honored with many community engagement-related awards due her previous professional involvement. In 2015, she was recognized as Crofton’s Citizen of the Year by the Greater Crofton Council because of her contributions to the area’s business community. She later went on to serve as CEO of the Greater Crofton Chamber of Commerce.
As much of her work involves communication, Deaver hopes to use her professional skills to foster communication among the commission’s members.
“I aspire to create an inclusive environment where everyone, regardless of their background, feels valued and respected,” Deaver said. “By learning from one another, we can build a future where the lessons of history guide us towards a more compassionate and tolerant society.”
