The Power of Community
I’m Ran Rovner Koner, Head of Marketing & Organizational Knowledge at JDC-Israel, and the Kolker Fellow for 2024. The Kolker Fellowship is a professional exchange program between The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), aimed at strengthening networks that serve vulnerable Jews and Israelis.
During my fellowship, I visited Baltimore and learned about The Associated’s powerful community. This experience made me ponder the real power of community and its importance.
Shared Values and Partnerships
The Associated’s 30+ years of strategic partnership with the Jewish community of Odesa, Ukraine, is built on shared values. This collaboration supports the local Jewish community, especially the elderly and impoverished, by providing emergency aid, social services, psychological support, and cultural and educational opportunities. This partnership has become even more critical since the Ukraine crisis began.
Similarly, The Associated’s long-time strategic partnership with Ashkelon, Israel, proved crucial following the October 7th attacks. As Ashkelon became the most bombarded city in southern Israel, The Associated partnered with JDC and the local municipality to deploy the Mashiv HaRuach (Reviving the Spirit) initiative. This initiative builds community resilience and sustainable recovery through community development activities, volunteering opportunities, mental health interventions, and upgraded social services. Over 50,000 Ashkelon residents have participated in these activities since the war began. We’re also converting a seaside building hit by rockets into a Seaside Community Center, symbolizing perseverance and the ability to rebuild after crisis and trauma.
Feeling the power of community more personally now, I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have been a Kolker Fellow. I thank The Associated’s lay leadership and professionals, the Kolker-Saxon-Hallock Foundation, and everyone who made this experience possible.
So, what is the power of community? It’s all of us working together, leaving no one behind, and ensuring a strong future for all.
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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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