Meet Gali Wealcatch
Born in Israel, Gali Wealcatch moved to Baltimore with her family when she was only two. It was here that she formed her deep connection to her community, shaped by a strong Jewish education, formative summers at Camp Shoresh and parents who modeled the importance of stepping up.
Now a mother of three boys, Gali is marking her own path, determined to make a difference in Jewish Baltimore. Today, she is actively involved in her community, from mentoring local teens, to supporting Israel education on NCSY-Momentum Israel trips, to her work with The Associated, where she serves on the board of one of its agencies, Jewish Educational Services (JES).
We recently spoke with Gali about what’s important to her.
I’ll start with the three areas that shaped you as a child. First, your parents.
I was raised in a family with a philosophy that if you see something that needs to be done, you jump right in, you get involved. My parents had an open-door policy when it came to helping others. My father served as Hillel Director at the University of Delaware at one point, my mother worked for many years with Jewish nonprofits. They made us understand how important it was to support the Jewish community.
Jewish education and camp?
I loved school. I went to Bais Yaakov through eighth grade, then switched to Shalheves High School. It was a small, innovative school, housed in the former Baltimore Hebrew building on Park Heights Avenue. The school and the building are no longer there. Yet my time there left a lasting mark.
I also really enjoyed my time at Camp Shoresh. I was a camper and a counselor for many years, which set me on a path of outreach and community engagement.
How did you get involved with JES?
I was a member of The Associated’s Young Leadership Council. In my second year, we had the chance to shadow an agency board, and I matched with CJE (Center for Jewish Education). When the agency was dissolved and split into three separate agencies (Jewish Educational Services (JES), The Macks Jewish Connection Network and the Jewish Library of Baltimore Baltimore, Avi Greenlinger invited me to join the JES Board as it was forming.
Why are you excited about serving on this board?
Growing up, I benefited from the Jewish schools I went to, and I am passionate about the impact a good education has on our children. The teachers in this community are extraordinary, and it’s important to support and empower them.
JES, with funding from The Associated, provides so many wonderful resources to make sure that special education, Jewish day schools and preschools can offer the best education so our children will grow up with strong Torah values. They are equipping our administrators and educators with the best tools to positively impact our children.
What do people not realize about The Associated?
Growing up, I went to the JCC and thought that was The Associated. I don’t feel I truly understood what The Associated was about and its impact until I became involved.
Now I realize how much good The Associated does for our community. They collaborate across lifestyles and perspectives and do so with respect for everyone. The end result benefits all of us. This includes funding programs we care about like The Baltimore Chessed League and the Educator Awards, as well as scholarships for students learning in Israel for their gap year.
You were born in Israel but didn’t return until you were older. What are some of your favorite things to do there?
I love meeting the real people of Israel and going to places not always in the top 10 lists. For example, on one trip, our guide brought us to a mountaintop overlooking Jordan and the Dead Sea to meet Tomer, a father of 12 who makes his own wine, raises his own livestock, and shared his story and perspectives with us over the delicious dinner he and his family prepared.
That being said, I could sit at the Kotel all day. And visiting Yad Vashem is incredibly powerful, as all four of my grandparents are Holocaust survivors. Two of my grandparents were Auschwitz survivors, and one of my grandfathers was a partisan during the war. I remember visiting the partisan exhibit, which is located on the grounds, and it held a special meaning for me.
What advice do you have for your children?
No matter what, be a mensch. Achievements are important, but first and foremost, I want them to be people with ethics and morals who treat people with kindness and respect.
What do people not know about you?
I’m secretly very good at pinball.
The perfect day?
Warm, sunny and waterfront.
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The Associated is a home for everyone in the Baltimore Jewish community. We offer several email lists to help people find a community, engage with their peers and support Jewish journeys around the world.
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