The Federation of Jewish Women's Organization of Maryland

Federation Award Recipients and E.B.Hirsh Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients (listed below

Annette G. Saxon (2022)
Annette G. Saxon is the Chair of Associated Women which provides leadership development and engagement opportunities for women in the Baltimore Jewish community. She also serves on the Executive Committee, Board of Governors and the Board of Directors of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore and is currently on the Board of Directors of JCC Association of North America and JCC Global. Annette has served as Women's Campaign Chair and General Campaign Co-chair for The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, Board Chair of The Center for Jewish Education, Board Chair of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore and as a member of the Boards of Directors of Beth Am Synagogue, Port Discovery and the Baltimore Tourism Association. In addition, she has held leadership positions on many committees and task forces in the community.

Annette has been honored by the Federation of Jewish Women's Organizations of Maryland as a "Woman of Vision," in addition to receiving the BuildingSTEPS "Volunteer of the Year" award, "United Way Service" award and the International Association of Business Communicators "Award of Excellence."

A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Annette earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from the University of South Carolina and has over 40 years of experience in the fields of public relations, marketing, events and fundraising. She was the Director of Development for Baltimore Hebrew Congregation for over 11 years and has recently retired to pursue other adventures.

Annette and her husband Michael are the proud parents of their two children, Jake and Sarah, who along with their spouses Camille and Randall are all leaders in their own rite. The Saxons are loving life in downtown Baltimore at the Inner Harbor and are members of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation.

Alyson Friedman (2021)
Alyson Friedman has been serving as a community volunteer in Baltimore for over 20 years in numerous capacities. Alyson currently serves as the Co-Chair of Marketing for Na'aleh: The Hub for Leadership Learning at The Associated. She is also a Founding Board Member, Past Chair and Campaign Liaison for the Jewish Women's Giving Foundation (JWGF). Alyson also served as Women's Campaign Chair for The Associated. She recently chaired J-Live, JCC's largest annual fundraiser to support children with scholarship needs. Alyson has also chaired the JCC's Hall of Fame which honors exceptional Jewish Baltimoreans who have made significant contributions to the community in various fields.

Alyson served on the National Women's Philanthropy Board of the Jewish Federations of North America for 6 years. At CHANA, Baltimore's response to domestic violence, childhood trauma and elder abuse in the Jewish community, she proudly served for 17 years as a helpline volunteer and served as a board member and other various roles, including as President. She is also a graduate of ACHARAI: The Shoshana Cardin Leadership Institute's first cohort and the Presidents Circle.

Alyson served as Board President of Art with a Heart, an organization which brings interactive visual arts classes to vulnerable populations. At Art with a Heart, Alyson also currently sits on the Art of Leadership Board. She also sat on the National Board of the Jewish Women's Archive (JWA) whose mission is to document Jewish women's stories, elevate their voices, and inspire them to be agents of change. Alyson served as a tutor at Adelante Latina, a mentoring and college preparatory program for disadvantaged Hispanic female teens in Baltimore City.

Alyson graduated from The University of Michigan with a BA in Communications and Psychology and earned an MA in Counseling Psychology from Towson University. She is married to John Friedman and between them they have five adult children. Alyson is the mother of Jessica and Josh.

Nancy Aiken (2019)
Dr. Nancy Aiken is a licensed psychologist who earned her BA, MA and Ph.D. from the University of Maryland at College Park. She is the Executive Director Emerita of CHANA, the Jewish response to abuse and trauma in Baltimore having led the organization for 18 years. Under her guidance CHANA grew to be a respected provider of services and advocacy on the issues of domestic violence, sexual trauma and elder abuse. Nancy was awarded the 2016 William Marbury Award for Outstanding Advocate by Legal Services of Maryland. Prior to working at CHANA, Nancy was Clinical Director of Harbel Prevention and Recovery Center where she supervised and mentored many counselors who have gone on to serve as clinical directors of social service agencies throughout Baltimore.

She is currently the consulting supervisor at Glenwood Life Counseling Center. During the country's war in the Middle East, Nancy was part of a group of mental health professionals who provided services to soldiers returning to Maryland from deployment(s) during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Nancy received recognition from the Governor and the Maryland National Guard for her work and The United States Army awarded her a Civilian Medal of Service in 2007. As a Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Worker Nancy has traveled to national disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and Harvey. She is a Lifetime Member of the Girl Scouts of America having been a troop leader for 11 years and serving on the board of the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland and in various leadership roles since 2001.

She lives in Baltimore County where she has volunteered as an Emergency Medical Technician and was Hereford Volunteer Ambulance 2017 Member of the Year currently serving as the Treasurer. Nancy is married to Gary, is the mother of two, grandmother of three and enjoys hiking, running marathons and triathlons.

Jo-Ann Mayer Orlinsky (2018)
A graduate of Mt. Holyoke College, Jo-Ann Mayer Orlinsky served in various positions during 23 years with the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, among them, Chief Administrator of the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health program (MOSH) and as the Chair of the MOSH Advisory Board.

Active politically, she has served as a staff member of the Democratic National Committee and as Special Assistant to then U.S. Senator Joseph D. Tydings. She is curently the campaign Chair for City Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke.

A former Chair of the Maryland Commission for Women and the Governor's Advisory Council on Rape and Sexual Offenses, she has also served on the National Boards of WEAL (Women's Equity Action League) and the American Jewish Congress. She was an elected Maryland Delegate to the U.S. Conference on women for International Women's Year.

She is currently the Chair of Voices of Jewish Women, an email network of more than 150 progressive Jewish Maryland women. She has served Federation on the Resolutions Committee and as Legislative Chair for the past 5 years. During her many years of volunteering, she has served on the Boards of the Greater Baltimore Chapter of Hadassah, the Maryland Women's Heritage Center, the Baltimore Jewish Council, Greater Homewood Community Corporation, National Council of Jewish Women, New Directions for Women, the Baltimore YWCA, Maryland State Department of Education's Committee to Implement Title IX and The Associated Women's Division, among others.

Jo-Ann is the mother of Eric Orlinsky and his wife, Dr. Diane Orlinsky and grandmother of their four children: Rachel, Charlie, Lexi and Sara and the mother of Judith Orlinsky West and her husband John.

Debra "Debs" Weinberg (2017)
Debra Silberman Weinberg is a person who has successfully been able to serve as both a volunteer leader and a professional leader in the Jewish community. Debra is proud to be a leader in a number of organizations both locally and internationally, many reflecting the diversity of the Jewish people and her love of Israel. She has spent all of her adult life strengthening Jewish communities locally and around the world. She considers herself "a connector" and a "builder".
Professional pursuits: From 2005-2015 "Debs" served as the Executive Director of ACHARAI: The Shoshana S. Cardin Leadership Development Institute, a community-wide bridge-building program for incoming presidents of boards of Jewish organizations. Prior to ACHARAI, "Debs" served for ten years as the Director of The Darrell Friedman Institute for Professional Development (DFI) known formerly as the Baltimore Institute for Jewish Communal Service, which cultivated and trained professionals for work in the Jewish community.

Debra is also a certified leadership coach, a graduate of the Georgetown University Leadership Coaching certificate program, with particular interest in board development for not-for-profit organizations, and leadership development for volunteers and executives.

Volunteer passions: As the incoming Chair of The Associated, Debs has worked her way up the leadership ladder, Debra served as the international Chair of the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute (HBI), which explores fresh ways of thinking about Judaism and gender worldwide and currently serves on the Advisory Board of the University of Michigan Hillel.

She earned an M.A. in Modern Jewish History from the Baltimore Hebrew University and an M.S.W. from the University Of Maryland School Of Social Work with a certificate in Jewish Communal Service from the Baltimore Institute for Jewish Communal Service (BIJCS), now separated into DFI and the Baltimore Hebrew Institute (BHI) at Towson. A lifelong learner, Debra earned a certificate in "Women, Leadership and Change" through the Johns Hopkins University and participated in the first class of the Weinberg Fellows Program: Leadership Training for Executive Directors of Non-Profit agencies in 2001.

She is happily married to Joe Weinberg, her high school sweetheart, and they have successfully raised three children, Jenna, Daniella and Ben to be "upstanders".

Rochelle "Rikki" Spector (2016)
Former City Councilwoman Spector was the dean of the Baltimore City Council, serving her seventh elected term since her appointment in June 1977.She is a member of numerous boards and commissions including the Maryland Science Center, Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc. (CHAI), Chimes Maryland Foundation, Park West Medical Center, Women's & Children's Advisory Board of Sinai Hospital, and University of Maryland Harambee Treatment Center Community Advisory Board. Councilwoman Spector is the City Council Representative to the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), the City Council Liaison to the Mayor's Task Force for Annapolis, and the Vice Chair of The Transportation Steering Committee of the National Association of Counties (NACo). She is a former President and current Legislative Committee member of the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) and National Association of Counties (NACo).Councilwoman Spector is a graduate of Baltimore City Public Schools and attended Baltimore Hebrew University and the Returning Women program at Goucher College. She is the mother of three sons; the grandmother of three girls, four boys; the great-grandmother of one boy.

Beth Goldsmith (2015)
Beth H. Goldsmith was born in Philadelphia, raised in Baltimore, and is a cum laude graduate of Goucher College with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Education. She also holds a Certificate of Advanced Study in Education from the Johns Hopkins University. Beth's involvement with The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, began in 1978 when she joined Young Women's Leadership, and continued as she took on a series of campaign roles, from Worker Training to Super Phone Day Chair. She served as Women's Campaign Chair for the 1986 Campaign. Beth, and her late husband, Harold Goldsmith, moved to Aspen, Colorado, in 1987 where she continued her community involvement as a member of the boards of The United Jewish Appeal Aspen Valley Campaign, and the Aspen Valley Medical Foundation. She also served as Chair of the Board of The Aspen Country Day School, and as President of Les Dames d'Aspen, and the Aspen Youth Center. Returning to Baltimore in 2006, she became reengaged with The Associated through her work with the Center for Community Engagement & Leadership (CCEL), serving on its Executive Committee and Co-Chairing Chapter Two. After graduating from ACHARAI: The Shoshana S. Cardin Leadership Development Institute, Beth served as General Campaign Chair for The Associated's 2012 Annual Campaign. A member of The Associated's Board of Governors and Board of Directors, she now serves as Co-Chair for Israel and Overseas. She is a member of the Board of Governors of The Jewish Agency for Israel, and the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Federations of North America where she serves on the Development Cabinet. She also serves on the boards of Goucher College Hillel, and Chizuk Amuno Congregation. Beth is Chair of the Board of Eastern Savings Bank and President of The Goldsmith Family Foundation.

Peggy K. Wolf (2014)
Peggy Kaufman Wolf is the immediate past president of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. She is currently Director of Admissions and Financial Assistance at Roland Park Country School but will step down at the end of this school year. Peggy has been a member and officer of many boards in the Jewish community as well as the wider Baltimore community, including the Baltimore Jewish Council, Baltimore City Commission on Community Relations, Central Scholarship Bureau, Hillel of Greater Baltimore, and the Baltimore Jewish Community Center.
A native Baltimorean, Peggy grew up at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. She is the daughter of the late Dr. Clementine and Judge Frank A. Kaufman and the granddaughter of the late Pauline and Rabbi Morris Lazaron. Rabbi Lazaron served as rabbi of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation from 1915 until 1946. Pauline Horkheimer Lazaron was president of The Federation of Jewish Women's Organizations of Maryland from 1927 until 1929.
Peggy graduated from The Park School and continued her education at George Washington University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and then a Master of Arts in Teaching in Early Childhood Education with honors. Her entire career has been spent in the education field.
She is married to attorney Fred Wolf III and has two children and four grandchildren.

Ellen Lightman (2013)
  Ellen Lightman is a co-chair of the Baltimore Israel Coalition and a past president of ACHARAI: the Shoshana S. Cardin Leadership Development Institute. She is a past chairperson of AIPAC's Leadership Council of Baltimore and serves on the organization's National Council. She is a vice president of the Louise and Morton Macks Center of Jewish Education. She serves on the board of the Baltimore Jewish Council and served on the board of the Shoshana S. Cardin High School.
A member of Congregation Shomrei Emunah since its early days in 1971, she co-founded its sisterhood and facilitated the synagogue's becoming a member of the Baltimore Jewish Council. She was a participant in The Associated's Young Women's Leadership Council in the 1970s.
Ellen and her husband Dr. Noah Lightman are past Chairpersons of NCSY, Atlantic Seaboard Region. One of the few women to have done so, she served on the executive committee of the Orthodox Union.
A native of Newport News, Virginia, from a young age Ellen witnessed the necessity and the reality of Jews from various parts of the Jewish community coming together for the benefit of the entire community. In 1997, she was a co-founder and creator of The Twain Shall Meet: a Program for Jewish Interaction, under the auspices of Shomrei Emunah. Its overall purpose was to foster enduring interaction and understanding among the diverse segments of the Baltimore Jewish community. It provided a forum for Jewish leaders of different backgrounds and affiliations to share experiences, values, and perspectives.
Ellen is a retired clinical social worker. She was the founder and principal of Professional Image Consultants, serving individuals as well as Fortune 500 companies. She is a graduate of Stern College for Women and received her MSW from Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University. She is a graduate of Goucher College's Women in Management Program and a participant in the Yaffe Scholars of Mercaz at Beth Tfiloh.
She and Noah have a son Ezra who lives with his family in New Jersey and a daughter Tammy who lives with her family in Singapore. All six of their grandchildren have visited Israel.

Linda A. Hurwitz (2012)
   Linda L. Hurwitz is the immediate past chair of National Women’s Philanthropy of The Jewish Federations of North America. She has served as the 2009 Campaign chair for The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, as well as their Young Women’s Leadership chair, Women’s Department Campaign chair, Major Gifts, New Gifts, and Upgrade chair. Ms. Hurwitz is a founding co-chair of the Ashkelon Partnership with Baltimore’s sister city and serves as chair of The Associated’s Commission on Israel and Overseas. Ms. Hurwitz is president of the Board of Trustees of the Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community Day School. She is the recipient of all three of The Associated Young Leadership Awards as well as a graduate of The Wexner Heritage Foundation, and ACHARAI: Shoshana S. Cardin Leadership Development Institute. Linda is a graduate of Duke University, Phi Beta Kappa in education, and earned a degree from The Johns Hopkins University in Administration and Supervisor of Education.
    Linda is the proud mother of three beautiful children and one son in law.  She is also married to her perfect partner, Steven.

Myrna Cardin (2010)
   Myrna Edelman Cardin is an educator, an active community leader, and the esteemed wife of U.S. Senator Benjamin Cardin. Born and raised in Baltimore City, she attended Baltimore City public schools, graduated from Towson University, and was an elementary school teacher in Baltimore County. 
    Myrna served for eight years as the Executive Director of the Maryland Association of Non-Public Special Education Facilities.  She also worked as the Director of Parent Relations at The Park School in Baltimore and served on the Board of the Dyslexia Tutoring Program.
Recognizing the importance of giving back to the community, Myrna has maintained leadership positions with numerous organizations.  She is currently a board member of The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore and Hillel of Greater Baltimore. She served as president of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore from 1993-1995 and was the President of the Baltimore Jewish Council from 1996-1998. In 1999-2000, she co-chaired the March of Dimes Gala, in Washington, D.C. From 1997-2002, Myrna served on the American Red Cross Advisory Committee on Holocaust and War Victims Tracing and Information Center. Additionally, Myrna was Volunteer Coordinator for the Baltimore City Life Museums and a Trustee of the University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation,
On Capitol Hill, Myrna has been active in the Congressional Wives for Soviet Jewry, the Democratic Spouses Forum and the Congressional Club.  Since 1997, she has been a member of the advisory board of Congressional Families Action for Cancer Awareness.
Myrna has received numerous awards recognizing her leadership, among them: the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation’s Distinguished Citizen Award, the Maryland Democratic Party’s Distinguished Leadership Award, the Hannah Moore School Award, and the Israel Bonds Golda Meir Award.
    Myrna and Ben are the proud grandparents of Madeline and Julia children of daughter Deborah Cardin and son-in-law Jonathan Willis. In her free time, Myrna enjoys hiking, reading and, most of all, spending time with her family.


Lois Rosenfield (2009)
   Lois has been Executive Director of the Baltimore Chapter, American Jewish Committee for 37 years. In addition, she has a long history of community volunteerism. Lois was instrumental in establishing a day care program and a “Parenting Center” at Towson State College (now University). She helped create “Groceries NCJW,” which provides weekly groceries to those who don’t qualify for other food assistance programs.
    As Chair of the College of Fine Arts and Communication at Towson University, Lois helped to establish a permanent collection of a variety of Maryland art forms for display throughout the University. While Chair of the Salvation Army Board, she ran an eight million dollar capital campaign to expand their homeless shelter, build a new Boys and Girls Club, and improve other existing facilities. In addition to personal visits to CEO's of every major bank, insurance companies and utilities, she was instrumental in obtaining government support for these projects.
    Lois is a past president of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation and National Council of Jewish Women, Baltimore Section. She chaired the Baltimore Jewish Leaders Assembly and served on the board of ACHARAI:The Shoshana S. Cardin Leadership Development Institute and was a Trustee of Baltimore Hebrew University.
    Lois is listed among Maryland’s Top 100 Women and Baltimore's Most Influential Women by local media. She had an audience with Pope John Paul II in the Vatican and attended the prayer service at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen when the Pope visited Baltimore in 1995.
    She is married to Mark and is the proud mother of Jimmy and Laura Rosenfield, Stuart and Vicki Rosenfield and grandmother of Emily, Will and Danny.

PROUD WINNER OF THE 2011
GOVERNOR'S SERVICE AWARDS

Governor's Commission on Service and Volunteerism Chair,
Maurice "Mac" Nachlas with President Lynda S. Weinstein