2021: A Year of Change and Hope
It was a year filled with challenges, but also a year filled with hope. Although it began with COVID-19 cases surging, January brought an unprecedented vaccine roll-out that solidified our belief that tomorrow would be brighter.
Even though the pandemic continued to take center stage in 2021, our community began to get out there, reconnect and affect change. We worked to overcome challenges — whether it was soaring antisemitism, rockets fired on our partner city Ashkelon or a spike in domestic violence and mental health issues.
The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, through our network of 27 agencies, has been working behind-the-scenes to ensure our community stayed strong.
Here are the stories of the year — the personal tales of the people who were impacted and the people who stepped up to bring about change.
Go to associated.org to learn more.
If there was one silver lining in teaching virtually, says Jill Grimm, it was that she finally had time to participate in the Winter Teacher’s Institute, a Holocaust workshop presented by the Jewish Museum of Maryland and the Baltimore Jewish Council (BJC) — both Associated agencies.
For this Crofton Middle School history chair and teacher, it gave her new insight into how to teach this subject.
This year’s workshop focused on children of the Holocaust. Jill invited survivors, who were young at the time, to speak virtually to students.
“Sometimes it’s hard to get kids to care about history, but when they see real people, it’s powerful. These survivors went to school — played sports — then everything changed for them. Our students could relate to their experiences.”
Students then engaged in conversations about oppression, abuse of power and what happens when people aren’t valued.
Moving forward, Jill plans to expand her Holocaust lessons from two days to a week.
“As people rewrite history and say the Holocaust didn’t happen, it’s important we teach about it.”
A Chizuk Amuno congregant and fourth-generation Holocaust survivor, Zoie read the poem at Roland Park Country School's annual Holocaust remembrance gathering.
A community staple, the market will be held every Tuesday from 2 to 6 p.m. (rain or shine) in the parking lot of Pomona Square shopping center.
YAD: The Young ADult Caring Corner at Sharsheret, helps young adults with loved ones’ cancer diagnoses.
David Bergman's latest volume of poetry deals with the aging process and triumphing against adversity in life.