Barry Levinson, the Baltimore-born, Academy Award-winning filmmaker, will be among the keynote speakers next Wednesday evening, June 17, at the annual meeting of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore.
The meeting, which will be held virtually this year due to the pandemic, will also feature remarks by Pikesville native and Academy Award-nominated film producer Marc Platt, Gov. Larry Hogan and Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.).
Considered the great chronicler of the Jewish Baltimore of his youth, Levinson, 78, is also known for such celebrated films as “The Natural,” “Bugsy,” “Good Morning Vietnam” and “Wag the Dog.” He won the Academy Award for Best Director in 1988 for “Rain Man.”
In a 2017 interview with Jmore, Levinson, who graduated from Forest Park High School in 1960, spoke about his acclaimed quartet of films set in his hometown — “Diner,” “Tin Men,” “Avalon” and “Liberty Heights.”
“Writers write about what they know. Baltimore is what I know,” he said. “My first 18 years were in Baltimore, so I wrote about family and friends. That’s the way you begin. You can’t speculate about what people outside of your community are going to relate to. You can’t even guess. If it’s interesting to me, I hope it’s interesting to other people. Sometimes, that’s the nature of film.”
Performing at the annual meeting will be the Krieger Schechter and Cardinal Shehan joint school choir, which recently performed on TV’s “The View” with Tony Award-winning actor and singer Billy Porter, as well as the HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir.
attended The Associated’s annual meeting
last year
at Beth Tfiloh Congregation. (File photo)
Among other matters of interest and official business, the annual meeting will highlight the centennial celebration this year of the Associated’s founding.
In addition, Debra S. Weinberg, the federation’s outgoing chair of the board, will be recognized for her accomplishments during her tenure. Beth H. Goldsmith, incoming chair of the board and co-host of “The Upside” virtual program presented by Jmore and the Associated, will be officially welcomed into her new post.
Last year’s Associated annual meeting was held at Pikesville’s Beth Tfiloh Synagogue, featuring bestselling author and social entrepreneur Wes Moore and attracting more than 400 supporters of the federation.
To watch the annual meeting, visit the Associated’s website (https://associated.org/event/the-associated-annual-meeting/), Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/theassociated/) or YouTube page ( https://www.youtube.com/user/jewishbaltimore).
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Avi Jacobs and Avraham Zhu emerged victorious at JewQ, held recently in Stamford, Connecticut.
The old Hendler's Creamery plant facility at 1100 E. Baltimore Street is scheduled for demolition on April 15.