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.
There were red flags from the beginning of Amy’s relationship with her now ex-partner, but the pandemic marked the turning point.
“We were together [nearly] 24 hours a day and it was like a pressure cooker,” Amy recalls.
As the months went on, Amy’s partner’s emotional instability grew. His abuse escalated from emotional and financial to physical, and she knew she had to move out.
Yet the pandemic left her unemployed, money was tight and safe shelter options had dwindled. When petitioning for a protective order she turned to CHANA.
CHANA, an Associated agency, arranged safe housing in another city prior to her trial for a final protective order, as well as transportation and housing in Baltimore for the trial.
“I’m on the more secular side of Judaism, but working with a Jewish agency made me feel comfortable, especially when I saw they served Jews across the religious spectrum. They even offered to help me find a Zoom High Holiday service. CHANA does a great job providing a welcoming and safe space.”
*Not her real name or photo.
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