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Baltimore Jewish Council Annual Meeting
Keynote Speaker
Michael Singh
Director of the Washington Institute
and
former Director of Middle East Affairs at the National Security Council
Thursday,
June 14, 2012
4:00-6:00pm
Chizuk Amuno Congregation
8100 Stevenson Rd. Pikesville, MD
Please RSVP to
Lisa Chandler |
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Delegate Benjamin F. Kramer
Benjamin Kramer has been a member of the Maryland House of Delegates since 2007, serving the 19th District in Montgomery County. A Maryland native, he currently serves on the Economic Matters Committee
and has lived in Montgomery County his entire life. To read the Spotlight interview with Delegate Kramer, please click here.
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Holocaust Remembrance Commission
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Yom Ha'Shoah Commemoration 2012
Sunday, April 22nd
at 7:00 p.m.
Beth El Congregation
The theme for this year's Yom Ha'Shoah program is L'Dor Va'Dor: From Generation to Generation and features a keynote address by Menachem Rosensaft, Founding Chairman of the International Network of Children of Jewish Holocaust Survivors. To emphasize the importance of remembrance, Judi Komins, Chair, Holocaust Remembrance Commission, and a member of the Second Generation, offers her reflections. Please click here to read Judi's reflections. To view an invitation to the
Yom Ha'shoah commemoration and to R.S.V.P., please click here.
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Joshua P. Weintraub D.D.S.
Josh Weintraub has been a leader for some time now with the Baltimore Jewish Council. A dentist by profession, Josh always finds time to give back to the community.
Involved with AIPAC, Josh is also currently co-chair of the Baltimore Israel Coalition, and the BJC's Israel Advocacy and Awareness Committee. He is alum of the BJC Leadership Development Program Class of 2008 and currently serves on the BJC's Nominating Committee for 2012 -2014, is a member of the Board of Directors, and was a part of the BOAST Summer Task Force in 2011. To read more about Josh and his community involement, click here.
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| A message from the BJC...
 Are you registered to vote? Do you know where your polling place is? Do you know what is on your ballot?
Maryland's Presidential Primary Election is tomorrow, April 3, 2012. The Baltimore Jewish Council urges you to make your voice heard by casting your vote. Polling places will be open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. For information regarding the Primary Election, visit the Maryland State Board of Elections website at www.elections.state.md.us.
We would also like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a happy holiday - whether you celebrate Passover or Easter.
The BJC Staff |
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Yom Ha'atzmaut 5772 / Israel Independence Day 2012 |
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 A new coalition of 22 Jewish organizations interested in supporting Israel through education, advocacy and community-building is putting on a community-wide Israel Independence Day celebration in Baltimore. For more information, including how to enter a raffle for two tickets to Israel on El AL, click here or visit www.baltglobalimpact.org/independence
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EVENTS
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Maryland Education Credit Advocacy Day 2012
in Annapolis |
The Baltimore Jewish Council, in conjunction with the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, The Maryland Catholic Conference, The Friedman Foundation, Agudath Israel and Maryland Council for Private Education (CAPE) hosted the 2012 Maryland Education Credit Advocacy Day on March 27, 2012. Advocates from all over the state, including teachers, parents, children and business leaders, lobbied legislators to express support for the Maryland Education Credit and held a rally in Lawyer's Mall. To read an article about the event from Baltimore Jewish Life, click here.
LEGISLATION
We are proud to announce the Iran Certification Act unanimously passed both the Maryland Senate and House chambers. During crossover week, each bill will travel to the opposite house for approval and final passage. To learn more about the Iran Certification Act, click here.
The Maryland Education Credit (formally the BOAST bill) hearings were held on March 14th and 15th. The hearings went well, but the House Ways and Means Committee leadership is NOT supportive of the bill despite the broad array of support from legislators and constituents from both parties. For more information, including how you can take action, click here.
The Senate Budget and Tax Committee unanimously approved the $1 million request for the Sinai Brain Injury Unit. The House Capital Budget subcommittee will make decisions shortly. Operating Budget decisions on funding for LifeBridge's Domestic Violence Prevention Program (DOVE) at Northwest Hospital Center and Jewish Museum of Maryland State Aided Institutions funds will also be made soon. Budget hearings for the newly revamped Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORC) program now known as the Options Network and Maryland Israel Development Center funds occurred and decisions will be made in the upcoming week.
Legislative session ends April 9th and we look forward to sharing final updates with you.
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JEWISH GREEK DIALOGUE
The Greek and Jewish communities share commonalities and concerns when it comes to the relationship between Israel, Greece, and other Mediterranean nations.
 In May, Congressman John Sarbanes will host the Council's Jewish Greek Dialogue. The topic will be "Israel, Greece, and Cyprus: Democracies for a Prosperous Eastern Mediterranean" and will include guest speakers from the Cypriot, Greek and Israeli Embassies. Invitations to this May event will be sent in early April. For more information please contact Mandee Simmons.
INTERFAITH TRIALOGUE
The final Interfaith Trialogue of the program year takes place on Tuesday, May 15th at noon at the Park Heights JCC. Our three co-chairs, Rabbi Andy Busch, Imam Yahya Hendi and Father Rich Bozzelli will address the environment. Our religions share a common founder - Abraham - but do they share the same beliefs regarding the importance of caring for our world? What are our ethical duties as stewards of the Earth? And how do religious influences impact our attitudes and behaviors toward the environment? Please RSVP to pgwynn@baltjc.org or contact Mandee Simmons for more information on what is sure to be a lively discussion.
TIKKUN OLAM
The premise of Tikkun Olam encourages us to work in partnership with G-d to repair our world... now you have an opportunity to actively participate. In partnership with THE ASSOCIATED and Blue Water Baltimore, we invite everyone to come out to Bolton Street Synagogue on April 15th from 1:00pm-4:00pm. We will be working to transform the synagogue's lower parking lot into a beautiful area of Stony Run Path. For more information or to RSVP contact Mandee Simmons or Aleeza Oshry.
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ISRAEL ADVOCACY AND AWARENESS COMMITTEE
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Zaki Djemal |
JOIN US... On Wednesday, April 4th, at 8:30 am, the Baltimore Jewish Council's Israel Awareness and Action Committee (IAAC) and the Embassy of Israel will co-sponsor a breakfast meeting with Zaki Djemal, Regional Director for IsraAID North America, Israel's forum for International Humanitarian Aid. Zaki Djemal was Chief Logistics Officer for Israel's rescue mission in Haiti following the massive earthquake - Israel was the first nation to respond -and has worked in development in Nepal. Mr. Djemal will offer his unique insight into Israel's social, economic and political achievements, as well as challenges in bringing humanitarian aid to countries around the world. The event takes place at the Jewish Community Services Building on Park Heights Avenue. A light breakfast will be served. Dietary laws observed. Click here to view the invitation, and please RSVP to
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Ben Dror Yemini |
On Monday, March 12th, the IAAC had the privilege of hosting Ben Dror Yemini, an opinion editor for the Israeli paper Ma'ariv. Mr. Yemini has conducted extensive studies on the media and misrepresentations of Israel. He urged the group to question and counter false accusations the media, some individuals, and organizations say about Israel.
BALTIMORE ISRAEL COALITION
The Baltimore Israel Coalition hosts an educational conference call about Israel every month. The March call, sponsored by the Baltimore Zionist District, was titled, "Religious-Secular Relations in Israel." Yossi Klein Halevi presented facts, problems and positive developments related to the topic. To listen to a recording of the call or to get information on future calls, please visit www.baltglobalimpact.org/israelcall
ISRAEL CONNECTIONS
For the latest issue of Israel Connections, click here.
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Elijah Cummings Youth Program
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A core belief of ECYP is that leadership skills are developed both in and out of the classroom. In March, the ECYP Fellows headed to the Baltimore City Public Safety Training Academy for a full day of training alongside Baltimore Police Department (BPD) recruits.
 | | ECYP Fellows at BPD training day |
Throughout the day, the teens learned first-hand about fire safety, crowd control, police department ethics, and explored the meaning of esprit de corps. In fact, after morning instruction, these young leaders challenged themselves on BPD's famed obstacle course-featuring a 60 foot tower climb.
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ECYP Fellows at BPD training day |
All of these young men and women pushed themselves to new heights of teamwork, physical endurance, and courage in the face of fear. We thank BPD Director of Education and Training John King for facilitating this special day for our youth.
This month, the leadership workshop will be an overnight retreat at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis! To volunteer, explore Board membership opportunities, or request information about ECYP, please visit us online at www.ecyp.org or contact Jason Daniel Fair, Director, at 410-843-7510. Don't forget to "Like" us and follow our activities at www.facebook.com/ECYPIsrael!
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