Marc B. Terrill, President of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, received the Daniel Thursz Distinguished Jewish Communal Service Award. This annual award recognizes an individual who has worked in the field of Jewish communal service for at least 20 years, serves the greater Baltimore community and demonstrates leadership and exemplary professional skills.

Reut Friedman, Director of the Maryland Chapter of Friends of Israeli Defense Forces, (IDF), received the Outstanding Jewish Communal Professional award for demonstrating exceptional promise and a commitment to a career in Jewish communal service.

Rachel Turniansky, Director of Disability and Inclusion Services at the Macks Center for Jewish Education (CJE) received the Neely Tal Snyder Community Impact Award. This award honors the memory of Neely Tal Snyder z”l by recognizing a professional with a strong commitment and passion for Jewish community. The winner of this award has helped to build immersive and hands-on experiences/programs that have community impact and demonstrate creativity, openness and inclusion.

In addition, Michael Justice, Senior Director of Finance at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore (JCC) received the H.E.R.O. Award. This award is new this year and recognizes an “unsung” employee who goes above and beyond their typical daily job, to care about the overall functioning of the organization and the people that surround them, and supports their organization with “Heart, Excellence, Reliability and Optimism.” 

Na’aleh is funded by The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore. The Annual Meeting will also include the final Rina L. Janet Leadership Middot Conversation on Gratitude. 

About Marc B. Terrill: For the past 19 years, Marc has served the Baltimore Jewish community as President of The Associated, leading our Associated network through difficult times, and always striving for a vision that ensures that Jewish Baltimore is thriving and collaborative.

Marc’s commitment to this community was on display throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and in The Associated’s Centennial initiative. Through COVID-19, The Associated worked with its network of agencies and the entire Jewish community to discuss the challenges of the day and ensure that our community remained whole. We raised the necessary funds and made difficult decisions that ultimately served us well during the most challenging of days. In addition, Marc ensured that the Centennial Initiative continued despite the extraordinary economic challenges facing the world. As the groundwork for securing The Associated network for the next generation, he worked diligently to keep it moving forward, and to date the campaign has raised roughly $120 million in funding for our collective future.

Marc is devoted to and strongly believes in the sacred work that our professionals do to serve the many different facets of Jewish life in Baltimore. At a national level, Marc served as Chair of the Jewish Communal Service Association (now JPRO) from 2012-2014 and received the nationally recognized Mandelkorn Distinguished Service Award in 2015.

Marc is a visionary. He works with stakeholders – professionals and lay leaders alike – to achieve his vision, knowing that the collaboration between pros and lay leaders will make the final product flourish.

About Reut Friedman: Reut’s determination, professionalism and drive to serve our community in a larger role and to give back to her home, Israel, in a more direct way, was a blessing to FIDF. She worked with her volunteer partners in growth, innovation and inspiration. She believed in the mission of the organization from her kishkas. As a former IDF soldier, she is strong and committed and brings a real touch that just cannot be taught or learned.

From her professionalism to her leadership style, from her commitment to the mission to her commitment to the soldiers of Israel, from her love of the IDF to her love for her community here in Baltimore, Reut Friedman is one worthy of our recognition and admiration.

About Rachel Turniansky: Rachel has a vision for an inclusive Jewish Baltimore. She provides the language and tools that create space for the participation of people of all ages with disabilities. Rachel works steadily and with purpose opening hearts and minds and building programs and initiatives that have changed the face of the Baltimore community. You might not know Rachel, but you can be sure that you have benefited from her expertise, compassion and universal design approach. 

In addition to her role as Director of Disability and Inclusion Services at CJE, Rachel is the principal of Gesher LaTorah, the community’s Jewish education program for students with significant disabilities. When you come to Gesher LaTorah, you learn that the world can look different than it does now. This is a world where everyone is valued, and everyone has what they need to be a full participant in Jewish learning and living. Rachel not only has a vision for an inclusive Jewish Baltimore, but she is also the creator of that world.

About Michael Justice: For 35 years, Mike has worked at the JCC, interacting with all management levels and program areas to build and manage budgets, provide payroll support and supervise three full-time staff, to name a few. Mike offers his extensive budgetary and financial knowledge to everyone and is considered an essential backbone of the agency.

Mike is successful because of his ability to get along so well with everyone. He is trusted and valued by the entire JCC team who has the privilege to know and work with him. Mike gives 110% in everything that he does, spending countless hours helping staff at various levels with their budgets and ensuring that the JCC remains fiscally sound, responsible, compliant and connected to the mission. The J team knows they can call upon Mike for assistance and many take advantage of his generous open-door policy.

About the Darrell Friedman Institute for Professional Development at the Weinberg Center and Na’aleh: The Hub for Leadership Learning

The Darrell Friedman Institute for Professional Development at the Weinberg Center is a division of Na’aleh: The Hub for Leadership Learning. Na’aleh is funded by The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore. Na’aleh offers community-wide interactive and inspiring learning opportunities for professionals and volunteers to connect and grow as leaders working together to ensure a vibrant Baltimore Jewish community.

About The Associated

The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore strengthens and nurtures Jewish life by engaging and supporting community partners in Greater Baltimore, Israel and around the world.