Every other year, the Baltimore Jewish Hall of Fame (HOF) -- hosted by the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore honors exceptional Jewish Baltimoreans who have made significant contributions to the local and global community through their life’s work in fields such as science, education, business, medicine, law, politics, community service, sports and the arts.
“These individuals spend years in service towards the betterment of the community and we take immeasurable pride in recognizing their achievements” says Maury Garten, event co-chair. “Together their lives reflect the Jewish value of tikkun olam—“repairing the world” agrees Elise Rubenstein, the other event co-chair.
Because of the pandemic, this year’s event will be held virtually onThursday, May 13, 2021 at 7pm. Despite the virtual format, the JCC is committed to fully honoring our inductees and ensuring a worthwhile experience for all participants.
This year’s honorees – the JCC’s 8th set of biennial inductions -- are:
- Leonard J. Attman
- Phyllis B. Brotman*
- David S. Cordish
- Judge Karen “Chaya” Friedman
- Jerrold "Chuck" Hoffberger*
- Linda A. Hurwitz
- Philip E. Klein*
- Neil M. Meltzer
- Paul A. Offit, MD
- Marc Platt
- Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg
*Deceased (for bios of all honorees, please see below)
Beyond celebrating our honorees lives and building a stronger sense of Jewish pride and community, the Baltimore Jewish Hall of Fame raises money for financial assistance for children, teens, and families to participate in JCC programs including Early Childhood Education, abilities & inclusion programming, J Camps, JCC Maccabi, and Membership.
The JCC provides more than $575,000 annually for scholarships, and its goal is to never turn away anyone because of a family’s financial constraints.
Honoree nominations were collected from participants throughout the community. A Selection Committee met virtually for several months to discuss the nominations and voted in a series of blind ballots.
As in past years, the Induction Ceremony will include the professionally produced videos that document the lives of each honoree. Based on previous years, we expect as many as 300 top civic and business leaders from the Baltimore community and beyond to “attend” the event.
For additional information contact Esther H. Greenberg, Chief Advancement Officer at
410-559-3545, or email: egreenberg@jcc.org
Honoree Bios:
LEONARD J. ATTMAN
Leonard Attman combines the attributes of business success, philanthropy, personal efforts to make our world a better place. He is a successful and innovative entrepreneur and respected developer of residential and commercial properties throughout the state of Maryland. Leonard has taken the same passion and innovative spirit to improve the lives of Jews throughout the world and the broader Baltimore community, blending business with philanthropy and work with civic endeavors.
PHYLLIS B. BROTMANz”l
Phyllis Brotmanz”l blazed the trail for women in business and became one of the most respected and influential women in Baltimore business and civic affairs. Her public relations and marketing firm, Image Dynamics, represented local, regional and national clients. She helped establish the Maryland Public Broadcasting station, ran 176 political campaigns, and was the first woman elected as president of the Center Club club.As her sister Lois Rosenfield stated, "When she walked into a room, you could hear the crack of the glass ceiling."
DAVID S. CORDISH
David S. Cordish is Chairman of The Cordish Companies, one of the largest and oldest privately-held development companies in the United States. The Cordish Companies is widely recognized as one of the leaders nationally in the field of entertainment development and its own operation of entertainment venues, restaurants, live performance, and gaming, including Maryland LIVE!
JUDGE KAREN “CHAYA” FRIEDMAN Politics/Law
Karen “Chaya” Friedman is an associate judge on the 8th Judicial Circuit for Baltimore City in Maryland. Chaya is one of a handful of Orthodox Jews who serve as judges in the US, and is the first Orthodox female. Chaya is also the youngest inductee to the Baltimore Jewish Hall of Fame; she turns 50 this year.
JEROLD "CHUCK" HOFFBERGERz”l
Jerold Charles “Chuck” Hoffberger was a Baltimore businessman, sports aficionado, veteran, community activist and philanthropist. Jerry became involved with professional baseball in 1953; he put together a syndicate to buy the St. Louis Browns and moved them to Baltimore as the Orioles. Jerry Hoffberger raised millions for charitable causes including numerous local hospitals, synagoges, universities, and hundreds of projects to improve quality of life. His generosity was also felt worldwide, as President of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds and the Jewish Agency, he played a key role in facilitating the emigration of Soviet Jews to America in the 1970s.
LINDA A. HURWITZ
Linda A. Hurwitz has inspired people to get involved in Jewish causes in Baltimore and around the country. An exceptional leader and fund raiser, Linda is the immediate past National Campaign chair of The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). She is a former president and past chair of National Women’s Philanthropy (NWP), and recently served as JFNA’s National Training chair. She is also served as chair of the Board of The Associated: Jewish Community Federation, and currently co-chairing Na’aleh: The Hub for Leadership.
PHILIP E. KLEINz”l
Philip Klein began his real estate career in 1939 and soon after founded the commercial real estate conglomerate Klein Enterprises, where he served as CEO. Known in Baltimore as “the site man,” Phil Klein’s wealth of knowledge in the real estate industry was virtually unmatched. He was a licensed real estate broker, a real estate appraiser, a certified public accountant, and a principal in the development of twenty-one shopping centers, as well as housing developments in the Baltimore Metropolitan area. Upholding a tradition of hard work and innovative ideas instilled by Phil to his family; Phil also by led example of giving back to the Jewish community and beyond.
NEIL M. MELTZER
Neil Meltzer is president and CEO of LifeBridge Health. As CEO of LifeBridge Health, he has led the system through a period of strategic growth with a mission to transform the organization into an integrated health care delivery system, offering a full spectrum of care. Along with the acquisition of Carroll Hospital in 2015 and Grace Medical Center in 2019, Neil has expanded the system through key partnerships, including alliances with organizations that provide medical transportation, retail pharmacy, urgent care, health insurance, assisted living and more. He was one of 15 national workforce health care champions appointed by former president, Barack Obama.
PAUL A. OFFIT, MD
Paul A. Offit, MD, is a pediatrician specializing in infectious diseases, vaccines, immunology, and virology. Dr. Offit is is the Maurice R. Hilleman Professor of Vaccinology, professor of pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and the director of the Vaccine Education Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He is also an internationally recognized expert in the fields of virology and immunology, and the co-inventor of a landmark vaccine for the prevention of rotavirus gastroenteritis recommended for universal use in infants by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) . Dr. Offit has been helping the FDA to review the data for the latest coronavirus vaccines, and has become a go-to expert for the media with the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccinations.
MARC PLATT
Marc Platt is a world-renowned producer whose projects include Broadway’s blockbuster musicalsWickedandDear Evan Hansen, and movie hitsLa La Land,Legally Blonde,Bridge of Spies,Into the Woods; HBO’sEmpire Fallsand Aaron Sorkin’s recent Netflix historical dramaThe Trial of the Chicago 7along with Disney’s upcoming live-action comedyCruella.
RABBI MITCHELL WOHLBERG Clergy & Jewish Education
Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberghas been the spiritual leader of Beth Tfiloh Congregation for the past 40 years, overseeing an unprecedented growth in the synagogue's membership and programming. Beth Tfiloh is the largest Modern Orthodox synagogue in the U.S. Known for his warmth, humor, and inspiring and insightful sermons which are read by thousands over the Internet, he is also the author of the books, The Un-Haggadah: How to Keep the Conversation and Wine Flowing at Your SederandPulpit Power: Meaningful Sermons on Religion and Politics and Life.
