b'Jacob Rheingold INSPIRING A LIFETIME OFJEWISH CONNECTIONWhen McDonogh School graduate Jacob Rheingold heads off to college at Tulane University this fall, hell be packing a strong Jewish identity.Thats thanks to his involvement in severalThe wahlberg 4Front Signature Programs, which are housed at and managed by the JCC. DuringFamilyhis high school years, he participated inBUILDING STRONG JEWISH IDENTITY its Social Innovation Fellowship program,THROUGH OUR SHINSHINIM PROGRAMwas a Diller Teen Fellow and a juniorJodi Wahlberg, mother of five and teacher atcounselor for other Diller teens. He says hisKrieger Schechter Day School, believes in year-experiences in these leadership initiativesround Jewish life and Jewish identity building. have enhanced his Jewish identity in so many ways.Having been involved in the Baltimore Jewish community for more than 20 years, the Wahlbergs Ive made so many friends andhave participated in a host of programs, eventsconnections, says Jacob. Meeting otherand activities that enhance Jewish engagement, Jewish students outside of school enhancedincluding J Camps, Diller Teen Fellows, adult sports my understanding of the Baltimore Jewishleagues and synagogue life.community. I learned how everyone can be Jewish in their own way. This past year was no different. Even duringa pandemic that brought closures and lockdowns, Jacob says his involvement in JewishJodi and her family, for the second year in a programming was a lifesaver during therow, hosted one of the Macks Center for Jewish pandemic. It helped me stay in touch withEducations shinshinim.my Jewish identity and my Jewish friends.That was the most unique and fantastic At Tulane, Jacob plans to stay engagedexperience, a gift that we really feel like we gave in the Jewish community. 4Front madeour kids, Jodi says. Ofir, our shinshin, would me want to get involved in every Jewishlabel things around the house in Hebrew, and program I can get my hands on in college.once a week at dinner, we would practice our I plan to join Hillel and I really want to giveconversational skills. He brought Israeli culture back to the community.to our home, and I feel like we made a life-long connection. Jodi says that their son, Ben, even applied host family experience in a Dvar Torah about Abrahams and Sarahs generous hospitality to three visitors. Each program that weve participated in opens another door and deepens our engagement with the whole community, she adds.'