Baltimore Jewish Hall of Fame Honors 11 Inductees at Gordon Center Ceremony

April 28, 2023 JMORE Staff

2023 Baltimore Jewish Hall of Fame ceremony

Hall of Fame inductee Rhea Feikin (third from left) basks in the spotlight with some close friends. (Provided photo)

A veritable who’s who of Baltimore Jewry came together at Owings Mills’ Gordon Center for Performing Arts Apr. 27 for this year’s Baltimore Jewish Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Catching up at the reception were community leader Erika Pardes Schon, Sen. Shelly L. Hettleman (D-11th) and Chizuk Amuno’s Rabbi Deborah Wechsler. (Provided photo)

Every other year, the Hall of Fame — hosted by the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore — honors living and deceased Jewish Baltimoreans who have made major contributions in such fields as medicine, law, science, education, business, community service and the arts.

This year’s honorees included Maryland Public Television personality Rhea Feikin; attorney Herbert S. Garten; community leader and philanthropist Lowell Glazer; the late Rabbi Israel Goldman of Chizuk Amuno Congregation; community leader and philanthropist Beth H. Goldsmith; the late Harold N. Goldsmith, co-founder of the Merry-Go-Round clothing store chain and owner of Eastern Savings Bank; the family-owned Sol Levinson & Bros. funeral home; Dr. Morton I. Rapoport, former president and CEO of the University of Maryland Medical System; the late JCC President and CEO Louis “Buddy” Sapolsky; Dr Steven Sharfstein, former CEO of Sheppard Pratt; and business and civic leader Leonard Stoler.

Nearly 500 people attended this year’s ceremony and dessert reception.

The reception was held in the Gordon Center’s recently renovated lobby area. (Provided photo)

Established in 2008, the Baltimore Jewish Hall of Fame raises money for financial assistance for children, teens and families to participate in JCC programming including early childhood education, abilities and inclusion programming, J Camps, JCC Maccabi and membership.

Honoree nominations were collected from participants throughout the community. A selection committee met virtually for several months to discuss nominations and voted in a series of blind ballots.

“These individuals have spent years in their professions or giving of their time and talents for the betterment of the community, and we take immeasurable pride in recognizing their achievements,” said Elise Rubenstein, the event’s co-chair.

Added co-chair Ronald M. Attman: “Together, their lives reflect the Jewish value of tikkun olam — repairing the world.”

(Left to right) Associated President Marc B. Terrill, local businessman and community lay leader Jimmy Berg and JCC CEO Barak Hermann attended the Baltimore Jewish Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Provided photo)

Past inductees include Academy Award-winning filmmaker Barry Levinson; the late Jewish community leader Shoshana S. Cardin; the late author Leon Uris; Rebecca Alban Hoffberger, co-founder of the American Visionary Art Museum; Hadassah founder and Zionist leader Henrietta Szold; and Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.).