On Wednesday night, May 7, more than 300 community members came to Owings Mills’ Gordon Center for Performing Arts for the induction ceremony of the Baltimore Jewish Hall of Fame.
This year’s honorees were Ralph Brunn, former head of the Baltimore Spice Co. (and son of Gustav Brunn, creator of Old Bay Seasoning); the late Ralph and Shirley Klein, philanthropists and owners of Klein’s Family Markets; community leader and activist Marcy K. Kolodny; the late Janet B. Kurland, who worked at Jewish Community Services for more than four decades; Marc B. Terrill, former president and CEO of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore (and host of Jmore’s “Marc My Word” podcast); the late philanthropists Marvin and Jane Schapiro; former Baltimore City Councilwoman Rochelle “Rikki’ Spector; businessman and philanthropist Leonard “Boogie” Weinglass; and the late Rabbi Joel H. Zaiman, who led Pikesville’s Chizuk Amuno Congregation from 1980 to 2003.
Also among this year’s inductees were the early female Jewish members of the Maryland State Bar Association from 1920 to 1929.
Established in 2007, the hall of fame honors local Jews who made significant contributions in such fields as business, law, education, community service, science, the arts and medicine. The induction ceremony is held every other year and hosted by the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore.
“This is truly my favorite event,” said Morris “Maury” Garten, who co-chaired the ceremony with Katie Applefeld. “I love learning about so many Jewish individuals who have made a profound impact — not just on Baltimore but on the broader community and, in some cases, the entire world.”
Said Applefeld: “The Hall of Fame is a unique opportunity to educate our community, including the next generation, about these incredible individuals and their lasting legacies.”
For information, visit jcc.org/baltimore-jewish-hall-of-fame/.
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