How do you see women’s roles in philanthropy?

I believe we are a generation of modern matriarchs who know their worth, are willing to take a seat at the table and want to use their voice to benefit the community. We just need to find a place to share our time and talent. For me, it’s been The Associated.

At The Associated, there are so many low-barrier ways to get involved, whether it is social, educational or philanthropic. The more you understand The Associated’s mission, vision and values and the more you learn about its work, the better you understand how effective they are in assessing our community’s needs and addressing them with smart solutions. And, I have really enjoyed being part of a community. It makes you realize you are never alone.

How did you first get involved?

My involvement with The Associated truly began when I wanted to connect with people at my age and life stage. Someone suggested Dor Tikvah, a former program at The Associated. The class was filled with young moms juggling life, just like me. That’s when I realized I had found my place.

Since then, we took our first family mission to Israel in 2008. Seeing Israel through the eyes of my children, who were young at the time, was truly magical. Together, we helped build a park and playground in Ashkelon, known locally as Baltimore Park.

This year, you’ve traveled to Israel, London and Berlin in your role. Let’s begin with Israel.

There is a quote, “What the eyes don’t see, the heart cannot grieve over.”

I think that summed up my trip to Israel, post October 7^th. We visited the Kibbutz Nir Oz where many Israelis were killed on October 7, as well as the Nova Music Festival site. It was while we were there that we realized the enormity of the tragedy of that day.

At the same time, we also saw where the money raised by The Associated went to address the trauma and humanitarian needs of the people who were affected. Because of our Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership and our overseas partners, we were already entrenched in Israel on October 6, so we could begin helping Israelis almost immediately. The thank yous we received from recipients really touched my heart.

London?

I traveled to London as part of the National Women’s Philanthropy Board Leadership Conference. Debbi Weinberg from Baltimore was also on the trip. We learned about antisemitism in the country, which is rampant. And an interesting side note. The United Kingdom has no First Amendment right to free speech, so the people we met said it was easier to prosecute hate speech and hate crimes.

On the trip, we visited the home of Jane Harley, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom. As a strong advocate for women in philanthropy and their ability to truly make a difference, she encouraged women to be prepared, show up on time, do their homework and speak up.

Berlin?

One of the things we learned there is that Germany has developed a culture of remembrance, making sure its citizens never forget what happened more than 80 years ago.

I see you are wearing your Lion of Judah pin.

The Lion pin means a lot to me. It reminds me that I am part of a strong philanthropic community that puts itself out there to bring about change.

It’s one of the most important pieces of jewelry I own. I also love my Mazel Ring and the beaded bracelets I created. I don’t leave home without them.

Beaded bracelets?

I took a page from Taylor Swift. She created a community around something as simple as these little plastic bracelets with meaningful words and sayings on them. So, we decided to do something similar and initially chose four Jewish values: Shalom (peace), Ahavah (love), Chesed (kindness) and Tzedakah (charity). These values reflect the essence of what we do every day as women within The Associated. When women wear these bracelets, they can show them off and explain to others why they are passionate about giving back.

They’ve been such a huge hit that since we introduced them, more than 20 other Jewish communities across the country have created their versions.

Who do you turn to for inspiration?

I don’t need to look any further than the strongest woman in the world, who happened to raise me. My Mom raised me and my siblings with deep and strong values – to be a good person, care for others and give back. She is a lifelong volunteer, the best Grandma and, of course, where I get my red hair.

Advice you want to impart to your children?

My three kids are incredibly independent, talented and driven people. They are all in fields that share their hearts with the community. I could not be more proud of the neshama (spirit/soul) they show to the world. My advice to them is the advice I wish I had gotten in my twenties: enjoy the ride, try not to sweat the small stuff, give back when you can and call your mother.

What do people not know about you?

I never learned to ride a bike. Oh, and when I was in college, I answered the phones for America’s Most Wanted.