Owings Mills native JORDAN HALLE credits his Whiteford, Taylor and Preston colleague, Howard Feldman, with introducing him to The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore. It was Feldman who first told him about the work of the organization, and Halle soon began attending its IMPACT (young adult) events.
Believing that becoming involved is a great way for him to give back and grow as a leader, this year, Halle is co-chairing IMPACT’s Young Professionals Committee with Ali Blumberg. Together, they are organizing three programs that they hope will engage young Jewish Baltimore.
WERE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE ASSOCIATED BEFORE YOU BECAME INVOLVED?
I didn’t know that much about the organization, but growing up, I would see The Associated’s signs everywhere. When I started speaking with people and learning about their work, I realized I wanted to be involved and give back to a community in which I felt connected.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON?
I am co-chairing IMPACT’s Young Professional Committee with Ali Blumberg. On January 24, we are hosting a professional development program, “Embracing the Art of the Schmooze.” It’s a networking event – a chance to meet other professionals – as well as an opportunity to learn about how to develop your professional network. It will be led by a business and leadership consultant.
Later this winter, we will host a “Mitzvahs and Mimosas” brunch for young adults to socialize and give back to a local organization that will partner with us. And in April, we are planning “L’Dough V’Dough,” a challah-making experience with Holocaust survivors, where we hope to have personal and meaningful conversations with survivors over baking.
WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUNG ADULTS TO COME AWAY WITH?
I want them to feel they belong to a community and have an opportunity to grow as its future leaders, while at the same time know that they are doing something good for the Jewish community and the people of Baltimore City and Baltimore County.
BEING JEWISH MEANS?
Being Jewish means being the most recent part of a direct line through history reaching back thousands of years and, as a result, belonging to a community in every corner of the globe. The best example of this is when Jessica (my wife) and I were on our honeymoon in Florence over Rosh Hashanah, where we heard the shofar and enjoyed a Rosh Hashanah dinner at the local Chabad Center.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE JEWISH HOLIDAY?
Passover. As soon as my wife and I bought our first house, I said we are hosting the Passover Seder for her family and mine. I love the sense that Jews all over the globe are doing the same thing and that we have an oral tradition going back millennia.
I also go all out for Chanukah – I put blue lights and holiday inflatables outside on my lawn.
SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU?
I graduated valedictorian in my law school class at the University of Baltimore School of Law.
For more information about these events, visit associated.org/impacthappenings.
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