[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 52 (Wednesday, April 14, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S2291]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE ASSOCIATED: JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION OF BALTIMORE

 Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I would like to take this 
opportunity to honor The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of 
Baltimore on its 90th anniversary. The Greater Baltimore Area is 
comprised of more than 90,000 Jews, many of whom rely on The Associated 
to provide support and resources to a vibrant Jewish community in the 
region. The Associated was officially formed in 1920 by the merger of 
two community organizations, the Federated Jewish Charities with the 
United Hebrew Charities. The Associated and its agencies have worked 
hard to better the lives of Jewish Baltimoreans for almost a century.
  The talents, commitment, and compassion of Baltimore's Jewish 
community activists, philanthropists, volunteers, and professionals 
have created and sustained The Associated. From Harry Greenstein to 
Marc Terrill, from Jacob Epstein to Jimmy Berg, men and women have 
provided their experience and expertise to help turn the organization 
into one of the most powerful and cohesive Jewish federations in the 
country today.
  Through its Jewish Community Services program, The Associated helps 
support and serve the needs of the entire Baltimore Jewish community. 
It provides a wide array of counseling programs to help with substance 
abuse, relationship problems, depression, and grief. Its social workers 
also offer outstanding support for parents, caregivers, job seekers, 
teenagers, and senior citizens. All of these programs and initiatives 
have been vital in helping many Jewish individuals and families improve 
both their economic and mental health situations while still 
maintaining a positive connection to the Jewish community.
  The Assocaited's international outreach also has been just as 
profound and important as its local impact. Since the early years of 
the federation, it has played an active role in the relocation of Jews 
to Baltimore. It helped more than 3,000 German Jews flee the Nazi 
regime and settle in the Baltimore area and has provided support for 
both Iranian Jews and Russian Jews to resettle in Baltimore in recent 
years as well.
  The federation has also played an integral part in strengthening the 
bond between Baltimore and Israel through its new sister city 
partnership with the Israeli city, Ashkelon. This relationship has 
already spurred initiatives that will help educate Jewish leaders in 
both communities on economic and leadership development. A different 
partnership with the Ukrainian city of Odessa complements the one with 
Ashkelon by promoting cross-cultural exchange and education as well.
  In honor of its 90th anniversary, the federation is doing what it 
does best: helping people. The Associated has called on its community 
to log 90,000 volunteer hours together--1,000 hours for every year of 
existence. This is just one more act of generosity among countless 
others The Associated has sponsored throughout the years.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing The Associated: Jewish 
Community Federation of Baltimore for its continued commitment to 
tikkun olam--repair of the world--and gemilut chasadim--acts of loving-
kindness--as well as all the work it has done to better the lives of 
Baltimore Jews throughout the past 90 years.

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