Three prestigious Jewish communal awards were presented to Sharon Seigel, Sarah Mersky and Ashley Pressman on May 22 as part of the annual Celebration of Professional Leadership by The Darrell D. Friedman Institute for Professional Development at the Weinberg Center (DFI), a program of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore. The ceremony was held at Beth El Congregation in Pikesville.
The Daniel Thursz Distinguished Jewish Communal Service Award was awarded to Seigel, senior director of Engagement and Outreach at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore. Each year the award recognizes an individual who has worked in the field of Jewish communal service for at least 20 years and exemplifies professional leadership in the greater Baltimore community.
Mersky, deputy director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, received the Outstanding Jewish Communal Professional award for demonstrating exceptional promise and a commitment to a career in Jewish communal service.
The Neely Tal Snyder Community Impact Award honors the memory of Neely Tal Snyder z”l by recognizing a professional with a strong commitment and passion for Jewish community. Pressman, executive director at the Jewish Volunteer Connection (JVC) and winner of the award, has helped to build immersive and hands-on experiences/programs that have community impact and demonstrate creativity, openness and inclusion.
Pressman also publishes the JVC Schmooze, a bi-weekly newsletter which includes a piece on Jewish learning and leads the national cohort of volunteer service organizations.
The Darrell Friedman Institute for Professional Development at the Weinberg Center is a member of the Center for Leadership, a new community-wide program of The Associated that engages, develops and inspires both lay and professional leaders to strengthen the Baltimore Jewish community.
