Governor’s Trade Mission Results In Israeli Companies Coming To Maryland

By Barry Bogage
Executive Director
Maryland/Israel Development Center

Governor Martin O’Malley led a very exciting trade mission to Israel and Jordan this past April 20 to 29 with a delegation of nearly 50 Maryland businesses, academic, Jewish and Muslim community leaders. Organized by the Maryland/Israel Development Center (MIDC), the goal of the mission was to promote bi-lateral trade and investment between our business communities as well as research collaboration and exchanges between our academic institutions.

It was a very successful mission. Governor O’Malley announced that four new high tech companies from “The StartUp Nation” which MIDC has been working with are opening offices in Maryland. They are:

Shekel Scales, which builds precision scales for the retail and healthcare industry, opened their Owings Mills office earlier this year. The company already counts GE Healthcare, IBM and Fujitsu among its customers and plans to hire 30 people in Maryland.

“We’re glad to be here. This is a great opportunity for Shekel Scales to innovate new products and introduce them to the U.S. market,” said Shekel Scales Chairman Yoram Ben-Porat. “Our new and existing customers appreciate that we have a local presence.”

Robo-team’s new Maryland office will support the development of robots that collect tactical intelligence, dispose of explosives, conduct search and rescue operations and survey hazardous material spills.

“The R&D we are doing in Israel is fascinating and exciting, but the real challenge starts when the systems hit the ground,” said Shahar Abuhazira, CEO of Robo-team North America. “Maryland is the best location for our training and Customer Support Center. We will benefit from the high-quality personnel there and by being so close to the key organizations we are working with.”

Hybrid Security, developer of artificially intelligent cyber security solutions, will establish a Maryland office within six months.

“We chose Maryland for our U.S headquarters because we see it becoming a leader in the cyber industry,” said Hybrid Security CEO Raviv Raz. “Hybrid Security is a technological leader and Maryland was also the first state to reach out and offer its generous support. I believe it is the right time and the right place in light of emerging cyber threats against the American economy and national security.”

Askimo, an online education startup, will open a Montgomery County office with four employees by the end of the summer. The company is currently headquartered in Tel Aviv.

“Our intention is to establish the company’s global headquarters in the U.S. and to be close to the world’s capital of communications, Washington D.C.,” said Askimo CEO David Butnaro. “We found Maryland very suitable for our needs and goals — the geographic location, the marketing and business opportunities there, and especially the connections and help we are getting through the Maryland/Israel Development Center. I’m looking forward to opening Askimo’s office in Maryland and am sure success, creativity and innovation will evolve there.”

Governor O’Malley said, “These companies are great additions to our high-tech entrepreneurial community and it is a testament to our highly-educated workforce and strategic location that they are choosing Maryland to grow. Israel and Maryland share a commitment to education and innovation, and to making this world a safer place. These companies exemplify those commitments and the strength of the bond between Maryland and Israel.”

The Governor also announced the formation of a high level Israel Advisory Board for MIDC, which he will co-chair along with newly elected Member of Knesset and “native son of Maryland” Rabbi Dov Lipman. Originally from Silver Spring, Rabbi Lipman is also a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and Ner Israel in Baltimore. Twenty Israeli leaders in business, investment, education and medicine agreed to join the board and help identify new business opportunities.

Members include Orna Berry, head of EMC Israel and Israel’s former Chief Scientist, Dr. Raphael Beyar, President of Rambam Hospital who has had a number of sabbaticals at Johns Hopkins Medicine, Noah Lasson, General Counsel of Verint and former MIDC staff member, and David Goren, head of AstraZeneca’s Israel office. AstraZeneca is the parent company of Maryland biotech company, MedImmune.

Governor O’Malley also visited Hadassah Medical Center and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Dr. Jay Perman, President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, Menahem Ben-Sasson, President of the Hebrew University, and Brig. Gen. Dr. Yitshak Kreiss, Surgeon General of the Israel Defense Forces, that will launch collaborative research on trauma care and emergency medicine.

Governor O’Malley also had a very interesting meeting with Intaj@, the information technology association of Jordan. The association had planned to send a delegation of IT companies to Silicon Valley later this year and is now adding Maryland to their agenda.

All in all, it was a very exciting and productive trade mission to will expand Maryland’s trade and research relationship with Israel and launch new opportunities in Jordan.

Learn about MIDC and what they are doing at marylandisrael.org.

What To Do This Week In Baltimore

Check out these great events for the whole family sponsored by THE ASSOCIATED or ASSOCIATED agencies.

Sunday, May 19
HaZamir Baltimore Concert
Fresh from a recent trip to New York, where they performed jazz at Lincoln Center, 30 students from 12 area high schools will showcase their musical talent in the Seventh Annual HaZamir JCC concert. Held at the Weinberg Park Heights JCC, Sunday’s performance will feature a diverse repertoire of traditional and contemporary Jewish choral music.
The concert begins at 4:00 p.m. and tickets are $10. For information, go to http://http://www.jcc.org/teens/hazamirchorale/.

Monday, May 20
PJ Pals Storytime

Join Rebecca Levitan, the Macks Center for Jewish Education Librarian, for a special children’s story time at Soft and Cozy Baby, 915 W. 36th Street. Listen to some wonderful PJ Library stories, make a craft and enjoy a free snack. Event, which runs 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., is free for families with children ages six months through five years. Contact Lara Nicolson, lnicolson@cjebaltimore.org for more information.

Tuesday, May 21
JCS Parent Discussion Series
How do you raise great kids in today’s complicated world? Howard Reznick, Senior Manager of Jewish Community Services (JCS) Prevention Education, will tackle this question and provide tips on how to guide your child in making responsible and wise choices. This is the first of a monthly parent discussion series for parents of children of all ages.

This free program, also sponsored by the JCC, will be held at the JCS Owings Mills location, 3506 Gwynnbrook Avenue and begins at 6:00 p.m. Babysitting is available for a small fee. For information and to register, contact Lorna Walsh at 410-843-7568 or lwalsh@jcsbaltimore.org.

Tuesday, May 21
Bookworms at Federal Hill Preparatory School
Adult volunteers are invited to read to second-graders at Federal Hill Preparatory School from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Meet at 9:25 a.m. at Chizuk Amuno Congregation parking lot (far corner by Stevenson Road and 695) to carpool or just meet at the school, 1040 William Street in Baltimore. Bring a new or gently-used book to read and then to donate to the class. For more information or to register, please contact Mike Andrews at mandrews@associated.org.

Future Events
May 30
ASSOCIATED Women’s 2013 Annual Meeting

Nancy Lublin, founder of Dress for Success and CEO of dosomething.org , a social entrepreneur, author and think-outside-the-box leader, will share her story and experiences reimagining volunteerism, business and technology. Be inspired by Lublin and other women at the ASSOCIATED Women’s 2013 Annual Meeting, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Beth Israel Congregation, 3706 Crondall Lane.

To register, go to associated.org/womensannualmeeting.

Sunday, June 2
Israel65.Celebrate!
Join our community for a celebration of Israel’s 65th birthday, featuring Matisyahu, Jewish-American reggae and alternative rock musician. The day-long celebration also includes interactive activities for all ages, Israeli food and vendors, an innovation exhibit and much more.

Israel65.Celebrate! will be held at the Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC, 3506 Gwynnbrook Avenue. Tickets are now on sale for the Matisyahu concert, which begins at 4:00 p.m. Prices are $25 for adults and $15 for children under 13. To purchase tickets, go to baltimoreisraelcoalition.org.

Tuesday, June 11
Business & Professionals Group’s Annual Real Estate Industry Group Event
Meet the leaders of the real estate industry at one of the hottest events and spaces in Baltimore. Mill No. 1 is an adaptive reuse of 19th-century cotton mill buildings transformed into a mixed-use project overlooking the Jones Falls stream. Donald Manekin (Union Mill), Bill Struever (Clipper Mill) and David Tufaro (Mill No. 1) will discuss historic revitalization, the Jones Falls area, and much more. Guests are invited to tour the mill after the program.

Open bar and heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served. Mill No. 1 is located at 3000 Falls Road. The event, which begins at 5:30 p.m. is $35 in advance; $45 at the door. To register, go to associated.org/reig.

Engaging Young Downtown Jews

By Rabbi Jessy Gross
Director, Charm City Tribe

It is 6:30 on a Friday evening. Smells of matzo ball soup and freshly baked challah fill the house, while slowly Shabbat dinner guests begin to trickle in. Quinoa, roasted root vegetables, homemade olive tapenade and lentils are added to the food spread.  There’s chatter in the air as folks introduce themselves and begin to get acquainted.

When there is critical mass we begin by way of welcome. I welcome newcomers and “repeat attenders.” As I always do, I explain that I hope to use my home as a “lab for Jewish experimentation,” and invite them to participate fully in that process.

I briefly explain the purpose of the rituals to welcome Shabbat – namely that they are a series of steps we take to move from the busy, fast-paced rush of the six days prior into the seventh day – a day where Jewish tradition invites, even commands us – to mark wholly different than the previous six. I welcome them into a time in which sharing the company of one another, enjoying delicious food and simply being present in community and conversation becomes the priority. I invite guests to share something they are happy to let go of from the week prior and one thing they are looking forward to in the week to come. We light candles, bless wine, break bread and settle into Shabbat.

What links most Charm City Tribe events together are the operating values that drive our efforts to build and strengthen community among 20- and 30-year-old Jews living in downtown Baltimore. I often begin a program by explaining the various levels participants might access to understand what is taking place.

For example, when lighting Shabbat candles, making Kiddush and saying motzi over challah, I invite those who are familiar with the prayers to join me, and those who are less familiar to see each ritual as moving further away from the business of the week and deeper into a place that invites rejuvenating rest.

Multiple points of entry are crucial to engagement work. The basic structure of Charm City Tribe in its first year was to focus on three tiers of programming.  Participants would have the opportunity to tap into the rhythm of the Jewish calendar with events popping up around the Jewish holiday cycle.

We made Hannukah candles in December, hamentaschen in February and cheesecake in anticipation for Shavuot. During these workshops, participants had a chance to learn about the holiday and engage with certain themes presented by the holiday.

Another way to plug into Charm City Tribe is through Shabbat experiences. Every month I host a Shabbat potluck dinner in my home. While there are new people each time there are also those who come back month after month.

As we move into next year I believe we will soon see more dinners happening – in other people’s homes. As well, I hope to have a monthly Shabbat afternoon gathering that ends with a Havdallah poetry slam and music jam session. Plans for that are already underway.

Perhaps the most important goal is still to come – to give birth to micro communities of 20 and 30 year olds engaged in some type of ongoing communal experience. One group of young couples may decide to get together monthly for Shabbat dinner. Another may decide to get together before six Jewish holidays next year for a cooking class that teaches about the upcoming holiday through the lens of food.  Another group may come together to study the mitzvah of bikur cholim – visiting the sick – while still another group may decide to get together for an Israeli film club. The earliest inklings of these groups are just now starting to form, and I look forward with excitement to moving into year two.

While we have had great successes this first year it is important to note that we are really just beginning. It is not difficult to bring people out for a happy hour to celebrate Sukkot or a service project on Good Deeds Day. It is more challenging to try to address the many challenges that arise when trying to engage people in ongoing, meaningful ways.

The good news is – there is a lot of incredible energy and tremendous creativity among the 20 and 30 year olds living downtown, and I can’t wait to see what year two of Charm City Tribe brings to light.

A Successful Relationship Relies on Generosity

By Mairi MacRae, LCSW-C
Therapy Services, Jewish Community Services

As most couples can attest, it takes hard work to maintain an intimate, stable and fulfilling relationship. Among the many elements that go into a successful partnership, such as values, sexuality, shared interests, parenting philosophies, housekeeping and finances, you might be surprised to hear that one trait stands out as contributing most positively to the  relationship. That quality is generosity.

The University of Virginia’s National Marriage Project looked at the role of generosity in the marriages of 2,870 men and women in a study published in 2011. Generosity was defined as “the virtue of giving good things to one’s spouse [including expressing affection] freely and abundantly.”

“Generosity is going above and beyond the ordinary expectations with small acts of service and making an extra effort to be affectionate,” said research director W. Bradford Wilcox. The study found that the individuals who scored highest for generosity were much more likely to report that they were “very happy” in their marriages.

Sounds good, but what exactly does “a generous partnership” mean, and how do you get there?

• First, your partnership needs to have matured and developed to the point where you go beyond a focus on “me” — beyond the insecurity and selfishness that cause us to view a partner’s behavior primarily in terms of “How does this affect me?”

• If you conceive of a relationship as a competition between two partners, a competition focused on proving who is the better person, or who is going to get more out of it, you can’t have a generous or happy relationship.

• Blaming your partner for disappointments, failures and difficulties in your life will also prevent you from having a happy relationship.

• You have to reach the point where you see what was good and bad about relationships in the family or families you grew up in, so that you do not unthinkingly try to recreate family life as you experienced it, even if it was “perfect.”

• You need to be able to make conscious decisions about the kind of relationship you want, be able to communicate this with your partner, and then make any behavior changes needed to realize those decisions.

Once you develop to the point where you feel sufficiently secure in your ability to give, and your partner is also at this point, you will be able to focus on “we first,” rather than “me first.”  You can live in a relationship where you both give in a spirit of generosity, without fearing you will be taken advantage of, or that the relationship is unbalanced.

Here are some practical suggestions for achieving a generous relationship between partners:

• Give by doing daily practical acts of kindness — like cleaning the cat toilet, making dinner when your spouse has to work late or bringing occasional surprise gifts like flowers or your partner’s favorite ice cream.

• Give psychologically by supporting your partner’s dreams and goals.

• Have realistic expectations and don’t expect your partner to focus solely on your aspirations or problems at work.

• Say or do at least five positive things for each negative interaction with your partner, suggests John Gottman, marital researcher, Co-founder of the Gottman Relationship Institute, and author of 40 books including “Why Marriages Succeed or Fail” and “What Makes Love Last?”

Generosity in a partnership involves a state of mind and the behavior, both words and actions that goes with it.  It’s a little like that bumper sticker that urges us to “practice random deeds of kindness” — only generosity in this context means deliberately and thoughtfully focusing on your partner. The more you practice generosity, the more it becomes a good habit, and the more it can nurture your relationship.

For more about the UVA study, see http://nationalmarriageproject.org, and “The Generous Marriage” by Tara Parker-Pope, The New York Times Magazine, December 8, 2011.

To learn more about how JCS can help you solve life’s puzzles please visit jcsbaltimore.org or call 410-466-9200.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next For The Jewish Museum of Maryland

By Marvin Pinkert
Director of the Jewish Museum of Maryland

Earlier this month, many of you saw the article by Jennifer Moses celebrating her roots journey back to Lombard Street and the Jewish Museum of Maryland. I know that many of you saw it, because when I opened my web version of the New York Times on Monday morning, this article was listed as the most popular/most shared piece in the entire travel section.  It stands to reason that people were emailing it to their Baltimore friends and relatives.

Like Jennifer, I get a thrill from uncovering the shards of the past that give me a glimpse into the world of my ancestors.  One of the great joys of being Director of JMM is that I get to spend some of my time looking backwards, joining in the simchahs and tzimmeses of centuries past – only to discover how much I have in common with those who struggled to build the community we have today.

But my job is also to look forward, to work with my friends on the JMM Board and my colleagues on the staff to imagine a future for the museum. Last September we drafted a “futures” report, and this seemed like a good time to share our progress towards our vision. The central premise of the report was that the most vital mission of the Jewish Museum of Maryland is making connections:  connecting the Jewish community to its common heritage, connecting the non-Jewish community to the Jewish experience and connecting the past to our present and future.

To accomplish this mission we decided to focus our energies on what we nicknamed “the 4 D’s.”
• Destination – a commitment to building an audience at 15 Lloyd Street
• Documentation – a commitment to preserving and sharing the intellectual and material culture of the Maryland Jewish community
• Discourse – a commitment to using history as a springboard to dialogue on current issues and events
• Discovery – a commitment to engaging people of all ages to think about our Jewish past as an inspiring and surprising world to be explored In the past six months we have made significant strides towards each piece of this vision.

In October we extended our hours and expanded our tours, critical steps in growing our audience. We experimented with advertising on radio and TV and we put some effort into making ourselves known outside of Baltimore. In January we opened “Zap! Pow! Bam!,” a family-friendly exhibit about the connections between American Jews and the classic superheroes. The exhibit received excellent coverage in the Baltimore Jewish Times, The Baltimore Sun and The Washington Post.  The net result: a 38 percent year-to-year increase in attendance for the last 12 weeks, a down payment on our drive to become a destination.

We’ve also been picking up the pace of research on our future exhibit projects:  Passages through the Fire:  Jews and the American Civil War (October 2013 through February 2014); The Mah Jongg Project (April 2014 through July 2014); The A-maze-ing Mendes Cohen (September 2014 through January 2015) and Jews, Health and Healing (opening February 2015). We’ve been investigating salacious stories about Confederate spies, tracking down descendants of some of Baltimore’s oldest Jewish families and conducting oral interviews with medical practitioners. The explorations of our collections and archives that precedes each exhibit, adds to our store of documentation.

At the same time we’ve had an exceptionally successful program season. Many of our programs have a direct tie to our current exhibits (for example, Rabbi Simcha Weinstein, voted the “hippest rabbi in New York,” came to speak on his book “Up, Up and Oy Vey”… and you won’t want to miss our June 16 program – “Clark Kent’s Bar Mitvah Party.”

But a portion of our programming is dedicated to the intersection of history and contemporary life. Our April 14 Herbert H. and Irma B. Risch Program, a concert/lecture on immigrant communities that featured HIAS CEO Mark Hetfield, is a great example of this type of discourse. But the progress I’m most excited about are the steps that we’re taking towards becoming a place of discovery.

Last Sunday I gave a tour to three people – two were grandchildren of the last President of Shomrei Mishmeres, Tobias Miller, and they were delighted to discover their father and uncle in an exhibit photo. The third was a college student who told me that she was asked to visit a historic site as part of an experiential learning project. She revealed that she had never been in a synagogue and the whole tour was an amazing discovery.  We are actively learning from our visitors and beginning to forge concepts on how to infuse each visit with a living history component.

If you are interested in helping us shape this piece of our vision I invite you to join us on Monday morning May 20 at 11 am. We will be holding an “On-site Insight” program – “Making the Old New Again” – as part of our contribution as hosts of the national museum convention (AAM).  The program is open to the general public and as an extra bonus it’s our two-for-one admission day during Museum Week. Don’t let our friends from New York have all the fun, come visit yourself.

To learn more, go to jewishmuseum.org.

What To Do In Baltimore

Check out these great events for the whole family sponsored by THE ASSOCIATED or ASSOCIATED agencies.

Sunday, May 5
Nurture Your Nature at the Pearlstone Center
Tap into the natural world at the Pearlstone Center’s beautiful, tranquil setting at this creative and inspired women-centered afternoon. Make cheese, pickles and more. Donate your handcrafted projects to community organizations. Then, discover hands-on-farming and learn about healthy living.
Sponsored by ASSOCIATED Women, “Nurture Your Nature” begins at 2:00 p.m. For information and to register, contact Carly Frank at cfrank@associated.org.

Sunday, May 5
JCC Open House

Stop in at the Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC, 3506 Gwynnbrook Avenue, this Sunday morning, 9:00 a.m. – 12 p.m. for a morning of family fun. Get in shape for summer with a free fitness class — SMRT Core: Self-Myofascial Release Therapy and Core Training on a foam roller. Bring your kids and have them try out the obstacle course. Join by Sunday and get the month of May free.
For more details, visit jcc.org or contact Membership Services at 410- 356-5200, ext. 3506.

Sunday, May 5
Cook and Serve Dinner at the Children’s House at Johns Hopkins Hospital
Are you a teen who is looking to make a difference in someone’s life? Join other teens to help cook and serve dinner to the families who are staying at the Johns Hopkins Children’s House at Johns Hopkins Hospital, 1915 McElderry Street.
This volunteer activity, which runs 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., is coordinated by the Diller Baltimore Teen Fellows. To sign up, contact Megan Goldsmith, 410-843-7477, mgoldsmith@associated.org.

Future Events
Saturday, May 11
The Movement @ the Gordon Center
Come see the Baltimore Improv Group and The Collective perform an evening of unscripted comedy and dance based on audience suggestions. Performance begins at 8:30 p.m. at the Gordon Center For Performing Arts, 3506 Gwynnbrook Avenue, Owings Mills. Tickets are $15; $10 for seniors/students. For details, visit gordoncenter.com.

Tuesday, May, 14
JCC Lunch Spectacular Series Featuring Carolyn Enger
Stop by the Weinberg Park Heights JCC, 5700 Park Heights Avenue, for lunch and music by renowned concert pianist, Carolyn Enger. Listen to the sounds of Enger as she performs Shavuot-themed pieces such as “Three Israeli Dances” by Robert Starer and “Five Pieces for Piano” by Paul Ben-Haim.
Program runs 11:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. Cost is $8 for JCC members and $12 for non-members. For information, call Sara Shvartzman at 410-500-5903 or register at sshvartzman@jcc.org.

Tuesday, May 21
JCS Parent Discussion Series
How do you raise great kids in today’s complicated world? Howard Reznick, Senior Manager of Jewish Community Services (JCS) Prevention Education, will tackle this question and provide tips on how to guide your child in making responsible and wise choices. This is the first of a monthly parent discussion series for parents of children of all ages.
This free program, also sponsored by the JCC, will be held at the JCS Owings Mills location, 3506 Gwynnbrook Avenue and begins at 6:00 p.m. Babysitting is available for a small fee. For information and to register, contact Lorna Walsh at 410-843-7568 or lwalsh@jcsbaltimore.org.

May 30
ASSOCIATED Women’s 2013 Annual Meeting

Nancy Lublin, founder of Dress for Success and CEO of dosomething.org, a social entrepreneur, author and think-outside-the-box leader, will share her story and experiences reimagining volunteerism, business and technology. Be inspired by Lublin and other women at the 2013 ASSOCIATED Women’s 2013 Annual Meeting, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Beth Israel Congregation, 3706 Crondall Lane. To register, go to associated.org/womensannualmeeting.

Sunday, June 2
Israel65.
Join our community for a celebration of Israel’s 65th birthday, featuring Matisyahu, Jewish-American reggae and alternative rock musician. The day-long celebration also includes interactive activities for all ages, Israeli food and vendors, an innovation exhibit and much more.

Israel65.will be held at the Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC, 3506 Gwynbrook Avenue. Tickets are now on sale for the Matisyahu concert, which begins at 4:00 p.m. Prices are $25 for adults and $15 for children under 13. To purchase tickets, go to baltimoreisraelcoalition.org.

Engage Your Children In Volunteering

By Stacey and Randy Getz
Stacey is the Chair of the Jewish Volunteer Connection’s Family Committee

YOU ARE YOUR CHILD’S ROLE MODEL! As a parent, sometimes I’ve realized that fact a little too late–like when I drive a tad too fast or maybe don’t give someone the benefit of the doubt. I’d like to think though, that my positive influences on my children outweigh those transgressions.

One area where my husband and I attempt to set a positive example is in making it a priority to help those who are less fortunate and trying to treat others as kindly as possible. There are lots of ways to do that, and we want our children to know that these values are important lifelong goals.

The Jewish concepts of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world and making it a better place, and Derech Eretz, the idea that we should try to follow a proper course in dealing with others, are the ideal.

On a daily basis we have many opportunities to do small acts of kindness, whether it is saying please and thank you, holding the door open for someone, lending a hand, giving a compliment or a number of other things often taken for granted. We as individuals have the opportunity to make the day a little brighter and a little easier for others we encounter during our day.

Volunteering is another way to make a difference. There are so many opportunities to lend a helping hand – from making food for the Hannah More Homeless shelter in Reisterstown like families did on a recent Sunday to JVC’s Mitzvah Makers or visiting the elderly at local nursing homes. There are so many meaningful activities for those that need our help.

We continue to learn how we can make a difference. And, the interesting thing is, these activities probably make us feel as good as the recipients.

Now as parents, we are watching our children contribute to their communities–at school, on the athletic fields, at Mitzvah Makers programs, participating in Camp Tzedek and with their peers and friends.

Being involved with JVC has enhanced my family’s volunteerism. We hope you will join us on our journey.

Learn how your family can volunteer. Go to jvcbaltimore.org.