Welcome back to Pull Up A Chair, our monthly podcast where we explore different themes and what it means to build and be a part of a strong Jewish community.

In this episode of Pull Up A Chair, we talk with Baltimore born and bred, Linda Hurwitz, a very active member of The Associated family.

Linda’s energy, passion and commitment to improving the lives of Jews everywhere is her trademark stamp. And it all began when she was fifteen years old welcoming the Russian Jews in Israel making aliyah.

“It was just a defining moment in my life that set my trajectory for caring for a fellow Jew.”

Linda describes the personal and powerful experience. Having woken up at 2 o’clock in the morning, Linda and the rest of her family headed to the Ben Gurion Airport. She would be one of the first people to welcome Russian Jews to their homeland. Not soon after the plane landed, a passenger began to walk off the plane that would change Linda’s life.

“A young girl came off the plane that truly lives within me to this day,” recalls Linda.

The girl was very alike to Linda, having similar hair, height and eyes. As far as Linda could tell, they were even similar in age.

“We gazed at each other… and as she walked off the plane we locked eyes and walked immediately to each other.”

Click here to listen to full podcast.

The Associated Contributors are writers from The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore.