The Etz Chaim Center for Jewish
Living and Learning has certainly come a long way since I worked in its 300-square foot office in the Imperial condominium on Clark’s Lane, close to 30 years ago. Its metamorphosis into the 21st century became even more obvious to me after meeting with Rabbi Shlomo Porter, the organization’s long-time Dean and President, and native South African Rabbi Nitzan Bergman, its new Executive Director.
The new Etz Chaim is a “tree of life” that branches out and leaves no Jew behind; it provides a rich, meaningful Torah education and lifestyle experience to Jews of every age and stage.
The newly synthesized Etz Chaim comprises several branches:
The Jewish Collegiate Network (JCN), under the directorship of Rabbi Efy Flamm, is dedicated to providing Jewish college students on all local campuses with an enriching and positive Jewish experience. Rabbi Flamm, along with his wife Penina and their family, have become famous for hosting Shabbos meals that attract 50 to 80 college students weekly. New this semester is the UMBC program run by Rabbi Idan Scher, and a Towson followup program run by Rabbi Tzvi Calko.
WOW! focuses on Jewish young professionals in their 20s and 30s. Rivka Malka Perlman is its dynamic director. Its core program is six-week learning/social programs, which meet for one-and-half-hours a week plus two Shabbatons.
The Jewish Family Initiative (JFI) is run by Rabbi Yisroel Porter, together with his wife Chaya. Its cornerstone program is “Raising Kids to Love Being Jewish,” which includes the Jewish Woman’s Renaissance Project, a 10-day trip for mothers to Israel. They have also partnered with JEP MD to reach
out to public school girls, ages 7 to 13, and are planning to do the same for boys.
Partners in Torah (PIT), directed by Toby Friedman, currently has hundreds of successful partners seeking out their Jewish heritage together.
Senior Jewish Learning (SJL) is directed by Rabbi Dovid Lefkowitz, who brings inspiration and a lot of fun to hundreds of seniors throughout the community.
Jewish U, launching after the chagim, will be a course-based program for participants from all of Etz Chaim’s branches who are ready to embrace the nuts and bolts of Jewish life. Rabbi David Fohrman’s Alpha-Beta Curriculum will be taught by Rabbi Porter.
Where to from here? Israel of course! The Israel Scholars Program (ISP) promotes trips and intensive learning in the Holy Land.
“All our branches are working as a team,” says Rabbi Shlomo Porter, “with much more synergy. My vision is that JCN will engage students on campus, pass them on to WOW! which can then pass them on to JFI, which can introduce them to Partner’s in Torah. And they can all attend Jewish U!”
“Our mission is clear,” explains Rabbi Bergman. “We believe every Jew should be provided with the education and experience necessary to make informed Jewish decisions. Should they decide to embrace it, we’re there to hold their hand. We have an awesome team, and we are constantly improving and expanding all of our programs.” One change resulting from Rabbi Bergman having joined the staff is that Rabbi Porter will be teaching more. The team has also been bolstered by the recent appointment of a vibrant new operations manger, Mrs. Vicki Reches.
The success of Etz Chaim is evident in the words of its participants:
One of the JCN Towson students says, “Efy really expressed how important our religion is. The class not only taught us how Judaism started but also proof of why it’s real. Moreover, it explains that there is meaning behind everything that the Torah teaches us.”
Fallon Gross, 24, a WOW! participant, says, “I have grown in my observance and understanding, so that I can appreciate all that I do within Judaism and know why I am doing it. I get more out of Shabbat, holidays, and other practices that I never felt as connected to before. I am ever growing in my observance, and learning Torah has helped me understand what I am observing and what more I want to be doing.”
A JFI and PIT participant says, “Shabbat has a new meaning for me now. I get it! We stop creating to recognize there is a Creator. It is a time of peace and reflection for me that I never allowed myself before. I am becoming a better wife and mother for it.”
I think that everyone would agree that carrying on the mission of Etz Chaim is vital to the Jewish future. And to those who ask how the organizationwill fund what is now a very substantial budget, here is Rabbi Porter’s answer: “To achieve and sustain these exciting goals, the partnership and support of the entire community is essential. Etz Chaim’s name is taken from the verse ‘It is a tree of life to those who take hold of it, and those who support it are fortunate.’ My life’s work and passion has been – and is – to make the sentiment of the verse a palpable reality here in our exemplary Baltimore community.”
