Cindy and Rabbi Jay Goldstein
Rather than considering themselves a “power couple,” Cindy and Rabbi Jay Goldstein prefer to think of themselves as a “couple who empowers” members of the Jewish community.
“Both of us are motivated to enable others to find Jewish meaning in their lives, whether that be pastorally, educationally or spiritually,” says Jay, who has served as spiritual leader of Owings Mills’ Beth Israel Congregation for 21 years.
For example, says Cindy, executive director of the Darrell D. Friedman Institute for Professional Development, “I work to empower people through their careers by strengthening one-on-one relationships between Jewish communal professionals and between professionals and lay leaders in the Jewish community.”
Frequently, Cindy’s work with DFI overlaps with Jay’s rabbinical duties. That’s the case with a new, grant-funded program called the Relational Engagement Partnership in which DFI has been training six local synagogues, including Beth Israel, to create “listening campaigns” and one-to-one and small group conversations and events. The goal is to encourage congregants to “own” their religious communities by bringing their passions and interests to bear on synagogue programming.
Since the Goldsteins both work in the Jewish world, each of them is intimately familiar with the issues challenging the national community as well as those impacting Jews locally. That helps them problem-solve when one of them is experiencing a professional setback, and to be sounding boards and empathetic listeners for each other.
“There are times when there’s a new synagogue initiative at Beth Israel and I’ll ask Cindy to chair or participate in committees,” says Jay. Likewise, says Cindy, sometimes she’ll ask for Jay’s help running a DFI workshop.
The Goldsteins, who live in Owings Mills and have three children, say they’re less concerned with work-life balance and more with work-life integration.
“There’s no delineation between our communal and professional lives,” says Jay. “Our congregation is one family. When each of our children became b’nai mitzvah, I ask all 800 members to stand and say a Shehecheyanu,” he says. “We don’t see them as congregants. They’re friends and family.”
And that’s the way the Goldsteins like it.
“Our work and life is so intertwined,” says Cindy. “Living a Jewish life, imbued with Jewish values, is what’s important to us. Whether it’s with our family, my parents and the kids, or in the synagogue, the community or in our work, it’s not a balance or a juggle. It’s just our life. It’s very satisfying and happy. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Read more:
- The Fine Art of Giving Back — Harel and Randi Turkel
- Opposites Do Attract — Stacy and Paul Lurie
- Good Counsel … & Good Cereal — Erika and Dr. Lew Schon
- Humility and Support — Ilene and Dr. Bert Vogelstein
- Powerful Stuff — Editor-in-Chief Alan Feiler wonders if his grandparents were a “power couple.”
For Beth Tfiloh senior Ada Key, earning the Eagle Scout rank is about giving back and paving the way for girls in scouting.
At Knit & Nosh, one of several VolunTeams run by the Macks Jewish Connection Network, young adults get together to knit scarves and hats for neighbors experiencing housing insecurity.
With his new book "The AfterWork," Akchin explores finding fulfilment and meaning after concluding one's professional career.
At the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), a growing number of students are discovering that higher education can be far more affordable than they imagined -- and in some cases, completely tuition-free.