Exercising: An Escape and an Opportunity

By Keith Anderle
Administrative Specialist
Access and Volunteer Services
Jewish Community Services

When I was fifteen, I begged my parents to get me a weightlifting bench.  After using the barbells and leg press for the first time, I proceeded to use it daily — as a clothes hamper and homework shelf.

It quickly became apparent that whenever I needed or wanted to exercise, I was much more apt to go outside and run around playing baseball or soccer than I was to sit on an uncomfortable bench. It felt ridiculous pushing or pressing heavy objects that could only be moved with great effort, for what I deemed to be a very minimal reward.  Shortly after that, I began running regularly and I also found a variety of other physical activities that I continue to enjoy to this day.

Many of us view exercising as a chore or something that’s tough to adhere to consistently, what with hectic work and social agendas.  But it doesn’t have to be like this, if you’re able to find an activity that’s both physically enjoyable and that provides an opportunity for you to refresh your mind and outlook.  Exercise is not only good for the body, but it also has been found to improve mood, reduce stress and anxiety, increase energy and enhance self-esteem.

Figuring out what kind of exercise to do is just as important as performing the exercises themselves.  This process of finding the right physical activity is what often prevents us from exercising regularly. Too often we don’t take the time to explore other possible activities before creating excuses such as finding it impossible to enjoy the form of exercise we’ve chosen, or being too busy.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself to find the right exercise for you.

• Do you have natural movements, habits or hobbies that could be slightly modified into exercise activities?
• Do you prefer exercising on your own or with others?
•  Are you more comfortable with a structured activity (like a class) or one where you can go at your own pace?

Once you’ve found the right set of exercises, you’ll likely find the repetitious practice to be enjoyable and you’ll look forward to the activity.  As a bonus, the new found energy you get from exercising will make handling your day easier than before.   The rewards of the activity aren’t just physical, they’re also mentally beneficial.  As a runner, there’s nothing more helpful to my mindset after a stressful day than a good run.  The exercise is therapeutic and it also enables my body to relax afterwards so that I can be better prepared the rest of my day.

As exercising becomes more habitual, it can yield even more benefits.  Besides the physical and emotional perks, you might be able to save money by walking or biking to work sometimes instead of driving.  Exercise could even accelerate your career by giving you opportunities to network through group classes or activities.

Exercising can be a daunting task, but if you’re committed to finding activities that are the right fit for you, it can become a very rewarding one. Many fitness centers and Jewish Community Centers offer one-time free sample classes and short term free memberships that give you chances to try new activities.  Running has helped me — what kind of exercise inspires you?

Living a healthy life is important for us all.  When you need help, you can turn to Jewish Community Services’ highly trained and experienced mental health professionals.   JCS works with families, children, adolescents, couples and adults to develop solutions for life’s challenges and to maintain a healthy perspective on life.

Learn more about what JCS has to offer>>

Call 410-466-9200 for more information.

Volunteering Helps Young Adults Connect to Judaism

By Sam Stern
Jewish Volunteer Connection   

Young adults are eager to volunteer. It’s true! I might even go so far as to say that volunteerism is one of the best ways to keep young adults interested in Jewish communal life.

During my time at Jewish Volunteer Connection (JVC) I encountered a variety of Jews at our young adult events, all of whom knew exactly why they wanted to be there and often why they brought their friends along. In her commencement address a few weeks ago for the Brandeis University Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program, Dr. Erica Brown mentioned that “For the past decade, the tagline of Jewish life has been Tikkun Olam – go fix the world,” and growing up in this culture, many of today’s Jewish young adults in their 20s and 30s are doing just that.

With the drop-off in Jewish engagement for people in their 20s, alternative methods to the classic ‘synagogue membership’ are required. Volunteer programs like JVC are important to sustaining our community, because they fill the need for many young adults to go out and make the world a better place.

Young adults today want to work with multiple demographics, from seniors to impoverished people to individuals with special needs. Providing young adults with a wide range of groups to work with helps keep them interested and motivated.

At every JVC event for young adults, we strive to make sure that we incorporate components that increase their Jewish identity. We created new Jewish learning flyers, and if time allows, we hold a discussion. The topic of the Jewish learning is a section of Jewish text that relates to helping others, or specifically the group we are serving that day. We want to remind all of our volunteers that while helping their community by itself is terrific, there is a Jewish purpose to volunteerism.

Volunteers make a difference in our community, in our city, in our nation and across the world.  We are fulfilled by the desire to express our Judaism in ways that make sense to us. Celebrate our strong young adult community in Baltimore and maybe try volunteering if you have a little time.

Check out JVC’s upcoming young adult volunteer opportunities>>

Making Facebook Count

By Elizabeth Schuman
Senior Women’s Associate
ASSOCIATED Women

Seven Naval officers, the majority in military fatigues, are grouped in a semi-circle, holding red, white and blue U.S. Mail packages with signs reading: The U.S. Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group Forward November is ASSOCIATED! Thank you!

Though admittedly a patriotic moment, it’s the story behind the photo that’s worth a thousand words. One of the men pictured sent the photograph as a thank you to his Baltimore friends in THE ASSOCIATED’s Young Leadership Council (YLC) for their overwhelming support.

What did YLC do? The group sent 11 care packages, crammed with food and treats, to him and his colleagues on active duty in the Middle East. By email, he wrote:
Seeing how much care and love went into this project was awesome. Reading the thank you cards was quite humbling for me, as I realized people that my sailors and I don’t know appreciate what we are doing 7,000 miles away from home. Please let everyone know that their packages have been distributed to our troops in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Oman and the UAE. You have made some overworked and tired sailors happy with this generous taste of home.

We’ve posted the photo and an excerpt of his remarks on the ASSOCIATED Women Facebook page. Thanks to social media, the story doesn’t dwell in a letter. Nor does it lie dormant in a report. Instead, with a click, everyone on the ASSOCIATED Women Facebook page knows the feel-good story. Technology makes it simple to link people and stories.

So, too, is how we come together as a community of ASSOCIATED Women. Where once our communication was limited to a letter or phone call, now we reach visually, verbally, instantly with Facebook and Twitter. We align ourselves with “likes” thanks to Pinterest and Foursquare. We discover something new with a sweep of our finger across a miniature screen.

In November, ASSOCIATED Women launched its Facebook page. Our overarching goal was to provide a vehicle for instant, constant communication. One of our first projects was documenting the Women’s Community Mosaic, a series of tiling sessions culminating in an exquisite mosaic at Sinai Hospital.

Photographs from the sessions were posted. We saw more than 300 women and girls create this magnificent piece of community art. Online, participants shared their joy about the experience. Together, our online community watched the mosaic come to life with the support and guidance of the team at Art with a Heart. The project lives on – not only as a centerpiece in the real world, but as a touchstone in the virtual one.

Our Facebook page welcomes sharing programs, ideas and stories that connect us all. Good thing, since our shtetl has grown exponentially. One of the major trends shaping today’s and tomorrow’s Judaism is globalization. No longer is the next generation primed to stay local and live in the same zip code where their parents live. Instead, people expect to travel across borders – time and place are irrelevant. People expect to communicate myriad ways – in person and online.

No matter how fast the speed or new the medium, however, what does not change is the need to connect and stay connected. And that brings us back to Facebook and the growing repertoire of social media tools.

We have nearly 200 members in our online Facebook community. Inspired by friendships that build slowly, we hope to become stronger and grow larger day by day. By design, we’ve created a closed group, meaning that only members can view and post messages. ASSOCIATED Women Facebook is here for announcements, event postings, and messages to one another. Please join us as we take the next steps in our communal and personal Jewish journeys.

Because whether you are right next door or a world away, we invite you to share your story … and perhaps, a photograph or two.

How to join ASSOCIATED Women on Facebook

• Log into Facebook or join Facebook by following the online instructions
• Search for ASSOCIATED Women
• Click on the button in top right and ask to join
• Wait for your confirmation
• Read. Post. Enjoy.

Log onto ASSOCIATED Women on Facebook today>>

RELATED ARTICLE: Camp Tzedek: Little Hands Doing Big Things>>

Camp Tzedek: Little Hands Doing Big Things

By Stacey Getz
Camp Tzedek committee

Every year my college friends and I get together for a “girl’s retreat” to catch-up on life and enjoy our long-lasting relationships. Topics of conversation have varied greatly over the years, but at this point they naturally gravitate toward our children.

Last year as we sat around thinking about summer plans, someone in our group expressed interest in teaching our young children about giving back to the community. It turned out that one of my friends had started a program in her home town with other families – a one-week community service camp for elementary-age children.

Of course! In thinking about my own children, who attend one of Baltimore’s Jewish day schools, I’m happy to say that they know something about community service and performing mitzvahs. But the idea of a one-week summer experience with multiple mitzvah projects really made sense to take it to the next level.

After receiving enthusiastic responses from other families in my area, I contacted Jewish Volunteer Connection and made the suggestion. Before we knew it, “Camp Tzedek: Little Hands Doing Big Things” was the newest pilot program for the summer of 2012.

We then asked ourselves what should these youngsters do for their mitzvah projects during the one-week camp period? Spend a morning at Kayam Farm learning about the environment? Yes. Visit Weinberg Village and get to know some of the senior residents? Great. Listen to a speaker from Healthcare for the Homeless and create care packages? Absolutely. As long as this experience stuck to the goal of exploring the Jewish people’s role in Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) through interactive and fun activities, the possibilities were (and are) endless.

And, naturally, knowing that it is still camp, we plan to offer traditional camp activities, including swimming and games every day.

Thanks to a conversation started by moms and the hard work of Jewish Volunteer Connection, Jewish Baltimore has a new way to engage our children.

Register for Camp Tzedek now>>

For more information, contact Dayna Leder at dleder@associated.org or 410-843-7491.

Frada’s Engagement

By Frada Wall

Four years ago, I was doing volunteer work at the Hackerman Patz House.  We took dessert and drinks to serve the families.  After they finished their treats, one little boy came up to me and said, “What are we going to do now?”  I said, “Who wants to play a game where we have a team?”

Three little boys raised their hands, one being my Cameron who I had just met that evening.  Since there were only three interested, Cameron and I were one team against the other little boys who were brothers.  Every time Cameron and I got a point, he would jump in my lap and give me a hug and kiss.  By the time I left that night, I adored Cameron.  When I got home that evening, I thought to myself that I should have invited Cameron and his family (mom, dad and sister Cassidy) out for Christmas dinner as they were not Jewish and Christmas was a few days away.  The next morning I called the house and spoke with the manager asking for the Jones’ family’s phone number.  Bill, the manager, said he could not give me their phone number but if I wanted to give him my number, he would tell them that I wanted to speak to them.  The very next day, Jeff, Cameron’s dad called me and I asked him if I could invite them out for Christmas dinner?  He said absolutely and we set a time when I would pick them up.  When I got there, Cameron came out and walked in front of my car.  I rolled down my window and said, “Cameron, aren’t you getting in the car?  He replied, “Yes, after I kiss you.”  He did kiss me while the rest of his family got in the car and then he got in the car.  I asked them where they would like to go and they all yelled at once, “Pizza Hut.”
I could not believe it, but that is where we went.

Cameron and his family were in Baltimore because he was having several surgeries to lengthen his leg.  They came into Baltimore from their home in New Mexico several times and after our first dinner they always called when they came in and we got together.  Amazingly, I was conceived in New Mexico because my dad was in the army there and my mom went to stay with him.  When he got his overseas orders my mom came home pregnant with me and my dad went to India.

A couple of years ago, Cameron’s doctor moved to Florida and instead of Baltimore, they had to go to Florida to see his doctor.  Several months after not seeing them, his dad called me; we kept in touch via phone. He told me to pick out a week to visit them in New Mexico as Cameron missed me “soooooo much.”  I did pick out a week and I went to visit them.  I had a great time with them.

The day I was leaving and rolling my suitcase out to the car, Cameron said, “Aunt Frada would you please go back in my room and I will call you when you can come out.” I did so. Two seconds later he called me to come out.  His mom Susan was sitting at the children’s piano playing it and Cameron was down on one knee with a black box in his hand.  He asked me to marry him and I accepted.  He still reminds me whenever we speak that we are engaged.  I have to wait quite a while as he is only 10 years old!

Volunteers Needed for Stony Run Trail Work

Bolton Street Synagogue, in partnership with Blue Water Baltimore, THE ASSOCIATED, and the Roland Park Civic League, will be transforming the synagogue’s lower parking lot into a beautiful area of native landscaping, and completing a long-desired section of the Stony Run Trail. Please join us as we clean up the stream, pull out invasive plants, clear debris, and more.  All tools and gloves provided.  Just bring your energy, enthusiasm and reusable water bottle!

Volunteer dates & times:
• Sunday, April 15, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Sunday, April 22, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Read more on the Baltimore Sun>>

To register or for more information, contact Aleeza Oshry at 410-843-7423 or aoshry@associated.org.

Now I Understand

By Ashley Pressman
Executive Director
Jewish Volunteer Connection

When I began working at Jewish Volunteer Connection in 2004, I wanted to find new and innovative ways for Jewish young adults to volunteer. Working with a committee, we decided to bring dinner to the Ronald McDonald House once a month.  When asked why we chose that project, I answered that the families staying there were going through a tough time and we could help to ease their burden by making sure they had a hot meal when they got back from the hospital each night.

I knew the answer to give. It’s a good and true answer.  But I didn’t really understand.

A few years later, I reconnected with a college friend through Facebook and entered her life at a point when her 2 ½-year-old son had recently been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Through Facebook, I followed her through treatment and, ultimately, to a stay at a Ronald McDonald House in New York.  I remember her posting about the nights when she would stumble home to get a few hours sleep while her husband sat at their son’s bedside.  And I remember thinking – I hope someone’s making sure that she gets something to eat.

And then I understood.

I understood that ultimately, we serve because there are people in need and problems to be solved. When all is said and done, we don’t volunteer just because it feels good, although it does. We don’t do it just because it’s a resume-builder, although it is.  We don’t do it just because we think we might meet that special someone at a volunteer project, although we might (just ask me and my husband).

We volunteer because we recognize that someone is in need and we have the power to help.  As the Jewish sage Hillel says, “If I am only for myself, What am I?” For me, the answer is “I am a part of the community.”

Recently, after nearly four years, my friend learned that they are again entering the battle against brain cancer.  I feel helpless. What can I do? How can I help?

Now I understand.

I can help by making sure that a family in Baltimore dealing with a medical crisis doesn’t have to worry about dinner by bringing a meal to any of Baltimore’s three hospital housing facilities (including the Hackerman-Patz House at Sinai Hospital.) I can make sure that the siblings of children with chronic medical needs get special attention through the Jewish Big Brother Big Sister program. At my son’s birthday party in a couple of weeks, I can get the guests to make get-well-soon cards for my friend’s son and children like him.

At JVC, our motto is “Go Forth and Do Small Things.” It’s easy to become overwhelmed by problems we think are too big for us and situations we fear we can’t affect.  But as Pirke Avot says, “It is not yours to finish the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.”

Now I understand.

I can’t do everything.  But I can do something. Everyone can do something.

For more information about volunteer opportunities in the community, visit www.jvcbaltimore.org or contact JVC at 410-843-7489 or apressman@associated.org.

Find other volunteer opportunities>>

Ve’ahavta Lereacha Kamocha

By: Maayan Jaffe
Communications & Marketing Manager
THE ASSOCIATED

May 6 is going to be an active day for the Baltimore Jewish community – especially for those living in our neighborhood. CHAI’s “Good Neighbor Day” will refocus the organization’s annual spring event as a day of community giving, specifically by and for those living in the Glen, Cross Country, Fallstaff, Mount Washington and Cheswolde neighborhoods. It is becoming a day exactly as it sounds, a day of working together to strengthen and beautify our neighborhoods, as well as to help our senior residents prepare their homes for the summer. But it will still be a day to roll up your sleeves and have some fun!

CHAI board member Doni Greenwald says that for the past four years he and his family have volunteered on CHAI Weatherization Day and Senior Home Repair Day. He doesn’t consider himself a “handy guy,” he says with a smile, but he really gets into the work: raking leaves, trimming hedges and changing batteries in smoke detectors.

“It’s a great family event. I usually bring my kids, and they love it!” Doni says. “The seniors we visit appreciate seeing the kids as much as they appreciate the work we do.”

This year, the day will be even more meaningful for him and his family, says Doni. Volunteers are being encouraged to rally their neighbors to action, to inspire and encourage them to organize their own neighborhood projects, with the help and support of CHAI and the neighborhood associations. Examples of group projects could include park clean-ups, bulb/tree/community garden planting, yard and storm drain cleaning, alley/synagogue/church clean-ups, and assisting vulnerable members of the community.

“No one wants to take and not give,” says Doni. “The frum community is one of CHAI’s primary beneficiaries. Good Neighbor Day presents an opportunity for members of the frum community to show their appreciation for what CHAI does by giving back – to the organization and to each other.”

Glen-area resident David Brucker knows just how true Doni’s statements are. In his upper 80s, the retired registered nurse says that without the help of CHAI and its volunteers he would have long ago been moved into a geriatric facility. “When you get a little older and have been in the same home for a long, long time, it becomes a very comfortable place. It can be very traumatic to have to move to a new environment,” David explains, recalling how, during the fall’s Weatherization Day, a team of cadets from the area fire house performed basic yard work and removed debris to prepare the grass for the winter – something he could never have done on his own nor afforded to pay for.

“I live on social security – at least I try to live on social security. Maybe it is better to say I survive on social security. CHAI volunteers are a big help to me in many, many ways, and it is a wonderful thing to see they can do,” David says.

“It is clearly a part of our teaching to respect the elderly, to care for the elderly, but also to care for one another – for our neighbors,” says Richard Fradkin, an active CHAI volunteer. “This is doing for your neighbors as you would have done to you. It is wonderful to see the smiles on the homeowners’ faces, to see the people who live in our neighborhoods and need our help – and to do something about it. They can be the littlest things, but they make a big difference.”

CHAI executive director Ken Gelula agrees: “We are fortunate to live in our community. Let’s show our appreciation by taking time out of our busy lives to roll up our sleeves and help each other and our neighborhoods.”

Do you want to get involved, too? Visit http://www.chaibaltimore.org for more information about the May 6 volunteer day. You can also contact Chedva Rose at crose@chaibaltimore.org or 410-500-5325.

Security Grants

By: Toba Rainess
Deputy Director
Baltimore Jewish Council

When Federal budget cuts left zero funding for the Homeland Security Grant Program this year, the Baltimore Jewish Council immediately took action. Working with the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and the office of Senator Barbara Mikulski, we advocated for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to restore funds to the program and to assure that the Baltimore region be included as a designated recipient area. Through combined efforts, the grant program went from a starting point of $0 to $10 million. Recently, Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the grant allocation and also set forth new guidance intended to enhance non-profit security.

The Baltimore Jewish Council has sent information out to ASSOCIATED agency, synagogue, day school and community leaders, encouraging them to apply for a grant. The deadline for submission of applications for review by the Council is Wednesday, March 21. For more information on the Homeland Security Grant Program, please contact Toba Rainess, BJC Deputy Director, or Keith Tiedemann, BJC Director of Security, at 410-542-4850. You can also access information on our website at www.baltjc.org.

Giving Should Be a Personal Expression

By Abe Wasserberger
THE ASSOCIATED

Do you remember the days when economic and social persecution of Jews was commonplace and Jews were forced to stick together in order to preserve and strengthen the Jewish people and community? Thank G-d, it is not 1920 anymore and Jews are able to partake in all of the cultural and social activities that draw them. Our people learn at some of the best universities and hold professions and volunteer positions among some of the most important companies and organizations. Jews can be a part of whatever moves them.

This is cause for celebration! – unless you are the Jewish Federation. Jews no longer feel threatened in America and therefore their philanthropic behaviors no longer rely on giving for self-identity or preservation. In 1950, nearly every Jew in the U.S. gave to the Federation campaign. Today, Jews give to the general causes that move them. According to the 2010 Greater Baltimore Jewish Community Study, only 11 percent of Jewish Baltimoreans give only to Jewish causes. Over half of all households with incomes of at least $100,000 do not contribute to THE ASSOCIATED Annual Campaign.

As to one’s philanthropic behavior and distribution patterns, this implies that being American – being a Baltimorean – comes before being a Jew.

And, no, it is not a money issue. In a study conducted 10 years ago, of nearly $30 billion given by 865 Americans, $5.2 billion came from 188 American Jews, constituting 22 percent of all the mega gifts generated that year. Today, 157 Jewish Federations plus 300 network communities raise and distribute $1 billion through the Annual Campaign each year from just over 300,000 donors. This is still far less than the $5.2 billion given 10 years ago by 188 Jews.

Do we need the Annual Campaign? The testimonials (and data) from our service recipients indicate that we certainly do.

• Some 3,400 households sought assistance for a physical or developmental disability in the last 10 years, according to the Greater Baltimore Jewish Community Study. The Annual Campaign promotes awareness and appreciation for people with different abilities.
• Forty percent of seniors over the age of 65 who are living alone are in poor or fair health. ASSOCIATED programs and services seniors age with dignity and independence.
• One in three in Jewish Baltimore is just managing, including some who cannot make ends meet. Our foreclosure prevention and mortgage modification assistance guarantees these families remain in their homes.
• Only 14 percent of non-Orthodox 18-34-year-olds feel it is very important to be part of a Jewish community. THE ASSOCIATED Annual Campaign supports new grassroots, community-building opportunities for young adults.
• Only 21 percent of non-Orthodox 18-34-year-olds feel very emotionally connected to Israel. We connect hundreds of young Jews with the Land of Israel each year through allocations to Taglit-Birthright Israel and MASA.
• The costs of Jewish education are a significant barrier for households with children and incomes below $50,000. Non-traditional, immersive Jewish learning experiences for families with young children ensure these families stay connected.

Read our service recipients stories>>

As you can see, when we talk about the future of Jewish philanthropy, we are talking about the future of the Jewish people.

So here’s the challenge – and we need your help: How do we creatively engage in a life-long relationship with our major donors, their families, children, foundations and trustees.  How do we get new donors? How do we make THE ASSOCIATED more relevant to you?

Share your feedback on our Facebook page  or comment right here.

Jews can give to whatever causes they choose. We hope that you will choose a vibrant Jewish future. If you haven’t made your pledge yet, consider DONATING NOW.

Abe Wasserberger is responsible for planning and implementing all current and yet to be cultivated revenue streams beyond THE ASSOCIATED’S Annual Campaign.  Abe came to the ASSOCIATED in November, 2011 with vast experience in development in North America and throughout the World.  Abe will develop and secure funding for projects that are critical to our community. Contact Abe>>