Friedman Fellowship
Are you hiring or promoting a new professional? Give them the opportunity to expand their professional skills, increase their Jewish knowledge, learn from their peers, network and explore.
The purpose of the Friedman Fellowship is to build the capacity of the Baltimore Jewish community to attract, develop, and retain high quality professionals who will lead and deliver services of excellence.
Friedman Fellows are able to customize their journey and focus on developing skills that best align with their professional goals and the needs of their organizations.
The Friedman Fellowship is a signature program of Na’aleh, through it’s DFI division, to invest in exceptional leaders who will empower themselves to learn, to be inspired and “to rise”, ensuring the vitality and vibrancy of the Jewish community.
Goals Include
1. To promote the field of Jewish communal service
2. To bring added value to Jewish organizations and our community
3. To enhance new professionals’ skills and Jewish knowledge
4. To take them to the next step in advancing their careers in the Baltimore Jewish community
“Sarah was tremendous. What an incredible hour of practical, poignant and promising points to elevate our presence. 🙂 Bring Sarah back!! Thanks so much.”
Linda Hurwitz
“This was a very useful and timely program with wonderful, practical tips that I will definitely utilize in my work. Thank you! “
Jacki Ashkin, JCS
“I liked hearing and learning from jewish educators from all denominations across the community. I liked the regularity of it, that it happened every day at the same time. I liked that Elul provided the platform and then there were so many takes on how to use Elul as a time for growth and reflection. I liked seeing people I don’t know on the Zoom.”
” It gave me incentive to get up early each day to learn. Really started my day off by giving me something to think about in relation to myself and the holidays Absolutely LOVED welcoming and celebrating the month of Elul in such a meaningful, insightful and inspiring manner. Thank you.”
Orthodox community
“I loved hearing from so many different members of Baltimore’s Jewish community that I would not have had the opportunity to do so. I loved waking up each morning to an interesting learning session from the comfort of my own home. In normal times, I would not be able to commit to a month-long/everyday program, so I probably would not have signed up. Because these are not normal times, I was able to attend each session.”
“The time commitment was manageable, and the teaching that I received within that 30-minute period sustained me throughout the day. I also liked that it was communal; I began to see the same people every day, and this deepened my commitment to my daily dose of Torah. I could read every morning by myself but probably wouldn’t.”
Sign Up For The Friedman Fellowship Mentoring Program
Mentee FormPast Friedman Fellows
2017 Fellows
Andy Katz, Executive Director, Beth Israel Congregation
Laura Green Kendal, Kids Center Director and J Day Camp Assistant Director
Chaya Lasson, Jewish Hospice Program Manager, Gilchrist Services
Marisa Obuchowski, Israel and Overseas Engagement Associate, The Associated
Talia Orencel, Director of Engagement and Social Justice, University of Maryland Hillel
Sara Rubinstein, Special Needs Director, Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore
Maddie Suggs, Director of Public Affairs, Baltimore Jewish Council
Rachel Walkins, Finance and HR Coordinator, Pearlstone Center
2016 Fellows
Lauren Gluck, Logistics Coordinator, Baltimore Chapter, Atlantic Seaboard NCSY
Rebecca Chinsky, Senior Director of Recreation and Maccabi, Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore
Samantha Kahan, Diller Teen Program Associate, Jewish Volunteer Connection
Ari Paskoff, Assistant Camp Director, Capital Camps and Retreat Center
Janna Zuckerman, Program Manager, Center for Jewish Camping, The Associated
Abby Weinstock, Operations Director, Pearlstone Center
2014 and 2015 Fellows
Corinne Bernstein / Lexie Kahn, Engagement Associate, University of Maryland Hillel
Rabbi Rachel Blatt, Director of Congregational Learning, Beth Israel Congregation
Risyl Edelman, Northwest Neighbors Connecting, CHAI
Rachel Feldman, Hospitality Director, Pearlstone Center
Courtney Federoff, Disability Services Team Leader, Jewish Community Services
Sara Feldman, JOIN for Teen Supervisor, Jewish Community Services
Stephanie Hague, Israel and Overseas Associate, The Associated
Rafi Hakiminia, Head Mashgiach, Pearlstone Center
Andy Harkavy, Director of BEIT-RJ, Baltimore Area Reform Jewish Education
Brad Kerxton, Middle School Director, Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore
Joseph Levin-Manning, Director of Engagement, UMBC Hillel
Emily Peisach, Early Childhood Coordinator/Noah’s Ark Camp Director, Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore
Daniela Levine, Senior Development Associate, The Associated
Autumn Sadovnik, Director of Lifelong Learning, The Edward A. Myerberg Senior Center
Liz Schuman, Senior Development Associate, The Associated
Reeut Singerman, Digital Marketing Manager, Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore
2012 and 2013 Fellows
Molly Amster, Director of Volunteer Services, CHAI: Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc.
Melissa Berman, Assistant Director of Arts & Culture, Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore
Sora Brill, Donor Center Community Campaign Associate, The Associated
Brad Cohen, Director of Education, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation
Marisa Danto, Development Associate, The Associated
Carly Frank, Development Associate, The Associated
Rabbi Kelley Gludt, Director of Congregational Learning, Beth Am Synagogue
Nechama Goldman, Coordinator of Information and Experiential Education, Association for Jewish Outreach Programs
Ilana Knobel, Special Events and Catering Coordinator, University of Maryland College Park Hillel
Caren Leven, Director of Congregational Engagement, Temple Oheb Shalom
Rabbi Darren Levin, IO Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus, Johns Hopkins University Hillel
Lane Levine, Community Network Director, CHAI: Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc.
Amanda Max, Children Services Director, Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore
Lara Nicolson, PJ Library Baltimore Coordinator, Macks Center for Jewish Education
Morris Panitz, Program Director, Pearlstone Center
Rabbi Jessica Shimberg, Associate Director for Jewish Life and Learning, University of Maryland College Park Hillel
Ahuva Spetner, Program Director, Bais Yaakov School
Loryn Strauzer, Assistant Director of University Admission, Towson University
2010 and 2011 Fellows
Cara Behneman, Jewish Student Life Coordinator, UMBC Hillel
Rebecca Cohen, Development Associate, University of Maryland College Park Hillel
Carly Cowley, Engagement Associate, Johns Hopkins University Hillel
Jonathan Falk, Program Director, Johns Hopkins University Hillel
Adam Goldberg, Director of Engagement, Towson University Hillel
Yona Gorelick, Engagement Director, Goucher College Hillel
Tanya Gutsol, Engagement Associate, University of Maryland College Park Hillel
Stacy Israel, Special Needs Coordinator, Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore
Sarah Langert, Development Associate, The Associated
Rivka Malka Perlman, Outreach Director, Sinai Alliance (WOW!)
Jakir Manela, Director of Kayam Farm, Pearlstone Center
Allison Mondell, Program Director, Johns Hopkins University Hillel
Michelle Ostroff, Senior Associate, The Associated’s Center for Community Engagement and Leadership
Rabbi Yisroel Porter, Director of Jewish Family Programming, Etz Chaim Center
Stephanie Rosenau, Program Associate, ACHARAI: The Shoshana S. Cardin Leadership Development Institute
Mickey Rubin, Director of Engagement, Johns Hopkins University Hillel
Dodi Samuel, Foreclosure Prevention Coordinator, CHAI: Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc.
