“I cannot remember a time when my family, especially my mother, was not involved with The Associated,” she reflects. Her mother, the late Shoshana Cardin, was a towering figure in Jewish communal life, launching initiatives at the JCC, leading The Associated’s Women’s Division and eventually heading the organization itself. “The Associated has always been a part of my family,” Rabbi Cardin says, a sentiment that now extends into her own work within the Jewish community.

A Passion for Sustainability in Jewish Life

For years, Rabbi Cardin has been deeply involved in environmental advocacy, a commitment that now finds a natural home within the Baltimore Jewish community. The Associated, recognizing the pressing need to integrate sustainability into its core mission, has taken a leadership role in Jewish environmental efforts.

“Baltimore has become a hub for Jewish environmental activity,” Rabbi Cardin says proudly, citing the presence of Pearlstone and Adamah Headquarters. The formation of the Baltimore Environmental Sustainability Network (BESN), which she co-founded along with Mark Smolarz and Sam Sobel, is a testament to that commitment. “BESN is dedicated to making sustainability one of the top priorities for the Jewish community of Baltimore. Every decision we make should align with the goal of sustainability.”

This approach, she explains, is rooted in Jewish tradition itself. “Judaism was founded as an agricultural society—our economy, our spirituality, even our philanthropy were all tied to the land. The Bible teaches us that if we do not treat the land well, it will ‘spit us out.’ Our covenant isn’t just with each other and with God—it’s with the land itself.”

To truly understand what drives Rabbi Cardin—her commitment to sustainability, her belief in community and her deep spiritual roots—you have to get to know the many layers that make her who she is.

So, here are 10 things you might not know about Rabbi Cardin (but should).

1. She’s a trailblazer in Jewish leadership.

Rabbi Cardin was one of the first women ordained as a Conservative rabbi, breaking barriers and opening doors for future generations of women in Jewish leadership.

2. She believes our biggest challenge is the human spirit.

Asked about the greatest obstacle in facing the climate crisis, Rabbi Cardin doesn’t point to science or policy. “It’s us,” she says. “If we get the human spirit right, we will pursue the right policies. It’s about shifting our mindset, about seeing nature not as something separate from us, but as something that supports us all.”

3. She chops wood—for fun.

When asked about something unexpected that people may not know about her, Rabbi Cardin shared that she loves chopping and splitting wood. It’s meditative, grounding—and yes, impressive.

4. She writes, a lot.

Rabbi Cardin is an author of multiple books on Jewish life, spirituality and ethics. Writing is one of the many ways she explores and shares her passions. Her latest book, To Forever Inhabit This Earth, about Judaism and its relationship to nature, is now out.

5. She believes in action over perfection.

Her philosophy on sustainability is practical: “You don’t have to be perfect you just have to be committed.” She encourages individuals and institutions to start where they are.

6. Her vision for the future is – green.

Rabbi Cardin’s vision is clear: a Baltimore Jewish community where sustainability is ingrained in every decision, every policy and every act of tzedakah. “We must ensure that all our actions are compatible with the permanence of life,” she says. “That’s what BESN is all about—helping our community align our values with our actions so that we not only care for our people today but preserve our world for generations to come.”

7. She finds renewal in nature. But doesn’t have a “favorite” go-to spot.

“I don’t have favorites in that regard. The world is so full of options and opportunities. I think we need to learn how to be enchanted with nature wherever we find it.”

8. Family is her foundation.

“My husband, children and grandchildren, siblings – they ground me, inspire me. I continually learn from them all about what really matters, about how to be a better person, about my obligations to others, about always seeking to do more,” Rabbi Cardin shares.

9. If she had her own podcast, her dream guests would be…

“I suppose if I could bring my mother back, I would bring my mother and my father… Then maybe Moses. I think I’d like to interview Moses and see what that was like. Or Ben Franklin – there was an incredible guy.”

10. The advice she’d give her younger self?

Don’t be timid! “You wouldn’t think I was so timid the way I’ve lived my life, but at times I was more timid—maybe more deferential—than I should have been.”

With leaders like Rabbi Cardin at the helm, Baltimore’s Jewish community is not just honoring its past—it’s building a greener, more sustainable future.