Tell me about how you grew up:

I grew up in a sweet little town called Metuchen. My father, Royal, was a Conservative Chazzan and salesman, and my mother, Bashe, was one of the nation’s first learning disability teacher’s consultants. My grandmother lived with our family and played a huge role in my life. She was hilarious, nurturing, charitable and deeply committed to Judaism and to family.

Although I was raised in a secular environment, my parents gave me and my brothers a Yeshiva education and we went to a Modern Orthodox Hebrew-Speaking sleepaway camp. As a result of these influences, I became shomeret Shabbat (Sabbath observant) at around 13 years old. I discovered a meaningful Jewish life and a love of Israel, ultimately spending six years there, culminating in graduating from Bar Ilan University. My husband Neil and I got married during college and had our first child in Israel.

How did you come to be a social worker?

I’ve always had a strong sense of justice. From a young age, I knew I wanted to go into psychology or social work to help others feel understood and to be a presence for them. I was a Baltimore City Public School Social Worker for 26 years. Over 20 years ago I opened a practice which includes, but is not exclusive to, becoming a CHANA clinician. Second to raising my children, it is one of the greatest honors of my life.

We came to Baltimore for my husband’s post-doc at Shephard’s Pratt. It was the last place we ever expected to be. We ended up staying here because we fell in love with the community. It is delightfully warm, down to earth and refreshingly heterogeneous.

I understand you are a prospective member of the Associated’s Jewish Women’s Giving Foundation (JWGF). What made you interested in joining?

JWGF brings together Jewish women in Baltimore to collectively address critical issues in our community, in Israel and globally. Through pooled resources, JWGF provides grants and support to various initiatives and organizations. This just aligns with my values as a person, as a female and as a member of this ever distinct and striving religion called Judaism.

The women that are part of JWGF deliberate on many grant requests, making sure that women in need get the dollars to make a difference. There is a direct impact for women who are unjustly struggling, and because of JWGF, their lives are exponentially improved. The money goes directly to them, no intermediaries. JWGF gives people a sense of hope, be it here at home, in Israel or for our people abroad, like Ukraine.

I can’t wait to be fully part of this amazing Foundation starting in the Fall.

How did you balance your career, volunteering and raising four kids?

Ha! Did I now? I looked up to God and said, “give me strength”. It was an amazing juggle, which I enjoyed, and a blessing. My husband and I teamed up and both gave 100%. One parent was always there if the other couldn’t be. I had no family around to help. Sometimes I relied on friends, as they would me. Work or volunteering was done either after bedtime or with my kids present and involved as well.

Now, your four children are married and you have 13 grandchildren. What’s it like being a grandparent?

Once you become a grandparent, it’s an indescribable experience. To watch your child become a parent and to observe the love they bestow upon their children is a gift that’s larger than life. There are so many principles involved in raising a child. As a grandparent, it’s a simpler love and getting to experience the joy without having to worry about the nuances of parenting.

What inspired you to write your book “Your World: A Book of Comfort For Parents, Teachers and Caregivers To Benefit Kids of All Ages“?

My friend calls this book my fifth child. One day about ten years ago, when my oldest grandchild was three years old, she came home dismayed from a play date. I heard myself say to her in a whisper, “But we’re here for you.” I knew that was an overly simplified response, and nothing she could understand at three, but it captured the essence of what I hope for each child and for each of us regardless of age.

So, that night I went to sleep and was tossing and turning. I had to write out my thoughts for her. I realized the obvious, that she, her siblings and cousins would see the world for its beauty, but would also be exposed to some pretty harsh realities-and that they, like all of us, would be susceptible to three inevitabilities: (1) every family has challenges, (2) when we’re out in the real world, like school or work, there will be some form of pain and (3) no one is actually immune to the pangs of anguish of history, be it the history of wars, the Holocaust or be it racism.

All of this is inevitable, but very normal. I wanted to write a book of reassurances and comfort that each person can apply to themselves and their family. This is what the book discusses, in addition to healthy dependencies. Someone is always there for you. I am here for you.

With so many juggles of family and your practice, what do you like to do for fun?

I love to read. I love to be connected to friends (walks, laughs, meals together). I love doing nothing special with the people I love. My Zumba classes are an absolute outlet, joy to the world kind of experience.

What’s a fun fact about yourself that people may not know:

I really want to go to the Oscars! I used to watch Awards shows with my grandmother and her comments were, well, I cannot say in this interview. But I also (nerd-alert) enjoy unfiltered news and I am a C-Span wonk.