Israel & Global
The Trip of a Lifetime: Jewish DeafBlind Adults Explore Israel for the First Time
By Yael Zelinger, Jewish DeafBlind Experience, Coordinator For many members of the Jewish DeafBlind community, traveling to Israel as a fully accessible Jewish group has been a long-held dream. For years, participants in Jewish DeafBlind Shabbatons talked about what it might mean to experience Israel in a way designed specifically for their needs. In November […]
Yolka: A New Year’s Tree; A Tree of Childhood Celebration
By Valery Viner, Jewish Connection Network’s Russian Speaking Parent Connector Yolka, the New Year tree As a child, born and partly brought up in the former Soviet country of Ukraine, Yolka played a significant part in my life and in every Soviet child’s life. It represented something magical because on the eve of New Year’s […]
From the Kotel to the Kitchen Table: Momentum Trip Reflection
Written by Michele Birenbaum, Momentum Israel Trip Cohort Member (second from the right in the photo) Luckily, it took me less time to decide to go on a Momentum Israel Trip with the Jewish Connection Network than it has taken me to decide how to start this reflection. When I think about my amazing trip, […]
Meet Yael, Our New Shlicha!
The Associated, in partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel, and all of Jewish Baltimore, is excited to welcome Yael, our newest Senior Community Shlicha/Emissary, to Baltimore! Yael will be with us for the next few years, and we are so excited to learn more about her. Read below for our interview with Yael. Welcome […]
Parenting, Israel and October 7: Reflections from Momentum Moms
Raising kids in 2025 is full of surprises and challenges. In today’s Jewish world, especially after October 7th, those challenges can feel even more complex — but also filled with opportunities to guide our children with love, strength, and hope. We sat down with two moms, Lauren and Claire, to hear about their experiences raising […]
10 Things I Learned Exploring Jewish Finland and Latvia
At the end of May, I had the pleasure of participating in JDC Entwine’s Insider trip to Jewish Finland and Latvia, in partnership with Repair the World. JDC (the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee or “The Joint”) is the leading Jewish humanitarian organization, working in 70 countries to lift lives and strengthen communities. Entwine, an […]
Empowering Your Jewish Future
Did you know that in 1897, Theodore Herzl established a parliament called the World Zionist Congress? This representative body still meets every five years to debate key issues and shape the future of the Jewish people. You can register today to vote in the upcoming elections and make your voice heard! Have you ever met […]
One Year Later: Reflections on the Tragedy of October 7th
Our Israeli shlicha (emissary), Maian Rahvalschi shares her deeply personal reflections on the tragic events of October 7, 2023, and how they continue to shape her life one year later. She writes candidly about the pain of witnessing her homeland under attack while living abroad and the strength she draws from the Baltimore community, which […]
Rediscovering Israel with Momentum
Written by Randi Moody Randi was part of the Jewish Connection Network’s first Momentum cohort. Momentum’s Journey of Growth program is an immersive experience that empowers women to connect to Jewish values, engage with Israel, and take action in their homes and communities while fostering unity without uniformity. When I began my journey with Momentum, […]
From My Family to Yours: Tips for a Successful Israel Adventure
My father had a way of speaking things into existence long before they would happen. When my father held his first grandchild, my nephew, he said casually, “maybe we should all go to Israel together for his bar mitzvah.” And so it wasn’t really a surprise when, more than a decade later, our extended family […]