Four Jewish Communal Professionals Honored at Annual DFI Meeting

May 31, 2022 JMORE Staff

(Left to right) The Associated's Marc B. Terrill, Reut Friedman of Friends of the IDF, Rachel Turniansky of the Macks Center for Jewish Education and the JCC's Michael Justice. (Provided photos)

Four local Jewish professionals were recently honored for their service and commitment to the community.

The awards were presented Thursday morning, June 2, at Pikesville’s Beth El Congregation at the annual meeting of the Darrell D. Friedman Institute for Professional Development at the Weinberg Center.

DFI is a division of Na’aleh: The Hub for Leadership Learning. Funded by The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, Na’aleh offers learning opportunities for professionals and volunteers to connect and grow as leaders of Baltimore’s Jewish community.

Marc B. Terrill, president of The Associated for the past 19 years, received the Daniel Thursz Distinguished Jewish Communal Service Award. The annual award recognizes an individual who has worked in the Jewish communal service field for more than two decades and demonstrates exemplary leadership and professional skills.

The Outstanding Jewish Communal Professional Award went to Reut Friedman, director of the Maryland chapter of Friends of Israel Defense Forces.

Rachel Turniansky, director of disability and inclusion services at the Macks Center for Jewish Education, received the Neely Tal Snyder Community Impact Award. This award — honoring the memory and legacy of the Pearlstone Center’s program director, who died in 2015 — recognizes those who develop immersive and hands-on experiences and programming that promote creativity, openness and inclusion.

In addition, Michael Justice, senior director of finance at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore, received the H.E.R.O. Award, which recognizes “unsung” employees who go above and beyond for their organizations.

The annual meeting also featured the final Rina L. Janet Leadership Middot Conversation on Gratitude.

For information, visit naalehbaltimore.org/programs-events/events/naaleh-celebrates/.