This year’s awardees include: 

Zelda Miller Award: Chana Friedman

Chana Friedman, a senior account manager at The Columbia Group, has a passion for helping others. With 15+ years of experience in the insurance and human resource field, she has developed a strong skillset and a proven track record of success. Chana enjoys meeting new people and getting involved in the Baltimore community, a place she has always called home.  

After graduating from The Associated’s Young Leadership Council (YLC) in 2023, she is excitedly co-chairing the 2024/2025 YLC cohort. Being involved with The Associated allows her to give back to an organization that gives so much to Jewish Baltimore (and beyond).  

Growing up, Chana always saw her parents giving back to the community, whether it be with their money or their time, and she hopes to instill that same message of tikkun olam to her daughter, Aliza. In her spare time, Chana enjoys spending time with her family and friends as well as baking and using her Peloton. 

Zelda Miller Award: Jake Lieberman

Jake Lieberman was born and raised in the Philadelphia suburbs and moved to Florida to attend college. In 2017, he left sunny Miami and moved to Baltimore where he married his wife, Jen. Currently, he resides in Finksburg, MD. and works as a land development manager and real estate agent. 

Jake enjoys spending time with his family and friends. In his free time, he plays ice hockey, tennis and pickleball. He loves being a father to his son, Landon and everything that comes with it. Jake is passionate about helping to better his community, which piqued his interest in getting involved with the Associated. 

Jake’s Associated journey began when he and his wife, Jen, founded the Couples’ Committee. This committee was created during COVID to help young couples connect through activities on Zoom from cooking classes to couples communication trainings. Over time, Jake came to understand and value the importance of The Associated’s Annual Campaign and how the dollars raised support a multitude of services and program across Jewish Baltimore. Currently, Jake is a co-chair of Engage 365, an initiative that engages young adults in social programming and the early stages of their philanthropy. 

Jake is strategic in helping us engage young adults, and is thoughtful about the experience of non-donor to donor with the help of donor education and relationship building. Jake is a passionate leader and thought partner, who goes out of his way to ensure that the messaging and values of The Associated are made clear to new and prospective donors to the Annual Campaign. 

Fred Walpert Young Leadership Award: Jessica Gorsky Halle 

Jessica is a Partner at Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, LLP and focuses her practice on estate planning and wealth preservation. Jessica graduated cum laude from Syracuse University in 2010 where she studied political science and fine arts. After college, Jessica moved home to Baltimore to attend law school. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2014 where she served on the Law Review. After completing her J.D., Jessica further extended her studies and completed her LL.M. in Taxation with an Estate Planning Certification in 2015. 

Jessica has served as a board member of YAD since 2019. Throughout her time serving, she has been a co-chair of the Couples Committee and the Ben-Gurion Society (BGS). Presently, Jessica serves as co-chair of BGS and co-vice campaign chair. In addition to her work with YAD, Jessica also serves as an ambassador for The Associated’s Baltimore-Odessa Partnership and member of the Israel & Global Managing Council. 

Jessica lives in Owings Mills with her husband, Jordan, also a Partner at Whiteford Taylor & Preston LLP and YAD Board Member. They have a toddler son, Myles, and two dogs, Archer and Cooper. The Halles are excited for a summer of camping, swimming, traveling and of course, cheering on the Orioles! 

Fred Walpert Young Leadership Award: Justin Harvey 

Justin Harvey is the proud father of three daughters, Talia, Arielle, and Aliza, and can usually be found coaching on local tracks, basketball courts or soccer fields in Towson.  

Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Justin and his wife Stacy moved to Baltimore in 2013 and immediately found a home among the Baltimore’s Jewish community. He sits on the boards of Beth El Synagogue, where he’s also served as the seventh grade Sunday school teacher, and the Macks Jewish Connection Network following a stint as a community connector. He works as a portfolio manager and head of analysis at T. Rowe Price. 

Harry Greenstein Young Leadership Award: Rebecca Fruman 

Rebecca currently co-chairs Dignity Grows, an initiative of Associated Women that combats period poverty. She serves in this role concurrent with her role as first vice president of Beth El Synagogue.  

Rebecca is a committed and dedicated leader within the Baltimore Jewish community having first started her leadership journey with The Associated when she participated in the Young Leadership Council. Rebecca served on the executive committee of the Impact board (now YAD) and won the Zelda Miller Campaign Award for her outstanding efforts for the Annual Campaign. Through Rebecca’s leadership, Dignity Grows has engaged women who were previously unengaged and unaware of The Associated. Rebecca is also a strong advocate and supporter of Israel. 

Harry Greenstein Young Leadership Award: Harel Turkel 

Harel Turkel is CEO of SOS Technology Group, a 20-year old Baltimore based technology firm specializing in IT consulting and cybersecurity services. Harel has been recognized by the Daily Record as “Successful by 40” and by SmartCEO as a “Future 50” Baltimore leader. Harel graduated with a BA degree in International Business from Towson University, is a Wexner Heritage Fellow and holds various Microsoft and Cisco level certifications.  

Harel is currently the co-chair of the Israel and Global Initiatives Task Force at The Associated. He is the immediate past president of Jewish Community Services Baltimore and a current Associated board member and board of governors ’member. He is also vice-chair of development at Lifebridge Health and Sinai Hospital board member.  

Harel belongs to Chizuk Amuno Congregation and is currently vice president of development and a board member. Harel is married to Randi, his wife of 16 years and has three children that attend Krieger Schechter Day School in Baltimore — Maia (14), Elan (11) and Ella (6). The family loves international travel and exploring exotic locales. 

Carole Sibel Outstanding Fundraising Achievement Award: Searle Mitnick 

Searle Mitnick has been involved with The Associated since he attended a Young Lawyers dinner in 1970. Since then, he has chaired various professional fundraising groups including the Lawyers Division several years ago. On the service side, he has concentrated on Jewish continuity, having been president of the Center for Jewish Education and chair of the Baltimore area Hillel programs. He is currently a member of the Israel and Overseas managing council. 

Professionally, Searle practices real estate and business law at Gordon Feinblatt LLC. He focuses on commercial real estate transactions. Recently, he has been concentrating much of his attention on the real estate issues involved with the development, construction and operation of solar and other renewable energy facilities. 

Searle was named 2022 Distinguished Real Property Practitioner by the Maryland State Bar Association’s Real Property Section. He is a Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL). In 2021 and 2023, Searle was chosen as Baltimore “Lawyer of the Year” in real estate law by Best Lawyers in America®. 

Julius Rosenberg Memorial Award: Lindsay Klatsky 

Lindsay has volunteered with The Associated since moving back to Baltimore in 2005. She first became involved with the Young Adult Division (YAD) and recently co-chaired The Associated’s Strategic Visioning Task Force. Lindsay currently serves as chair of the Pomegranate Society.   

Lindsay and her husband Matt were supposed to chair The Associated’s Family Mission to Israel in December 2023. Lindsay will participate in the fourth cohort of the Inspired Women’s Project and is excited to travel to Israel with the group in September.   

Lindsay holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Masters of Speech Language Pathology from New York University. She currently works as a private speech language pathologist and loves working with children of all ages.   

Lindsay serves on several other committees and boards including: JSU (Jewish Student Union) Parent Advisory Council, The Soul Center’s Wit Wine and Wisdom Co-Chair of Sponsorship, Chair of the McDonogh Middle School Parent Association, Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) Kennedy Krieger Institute Member and Volunteer, Volunteer Wish Granter Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic.   

When Lindsay is not working or volunteering she enjoys spending time with her husband Matt and children Jordan and Madison, hopefully in New York City or on a beach somewhere.