When Elissa Ness talks about her Jewish identity, she points to her early years growing up as a young girl in Pikesville. Her father, an immigrant from Poland who arrived in Baltimore when he was five, shared his love of religion, Jewish tradition and Jewish values with his family.
Elissa recalls many Shabbats and holidays attending services with her family at Beth Jacob Synagogue, where she also attended Hebrew school. Seders and their annual Rosh Hashanah lunches were always huge celebrations filled with family and friends and lots of laugher and song.
That identity would stay with her when she went to the University of Maryland, College Park, married and returned to Baltimore to raise her son. Her commitment to a strong Jewish community never wavered and she could always be found volunteering for many organizations throughout Jewish Baltimore. This fall, she received the prestigious Carole Sibel Outstanding Fundraising Achievement Award which recognized her work as a dedicated fundraiser for The Associated. Here are eight things to know about Elissa.
Who said studying at the library doesn’t have long-term benefits? In fact, the library was where Elissa first met her husband, Bob. Well, actually, Elissa was introduced to him at the University of Maryland, College Park bookstore. But when her friend made the introductions, she wasn’t really paying attention. Fast forward several hours later when she stopped by the card catalogue at the university library to look for a book. Standing next to her was Bob, doing his research too. The two talked, went out that evening and have been together ever since, celebrating their 50th anniversary this year.
She’s held numerous volunteering positions throughout Jewish Baltimore. Elissa’s first involvement with The Associated began when she was in her early 30s, joining the Young Women’s Leadership Council – a place where she first met her friend, Linda A. Hurwitz. Since then, she’s served on the board of The Associated and the Macks Center for Jewish Education (CJE). Elissa is a past Levindale Auxiliary President, a past president of the Federation of Jewish Women’s Organizations of Maryland, and current deputy chair of Women’s Division, Israel Bonds. And since last year she’s also asked women to endow their Lion of Judah gifts because she believes that the future of Baltimore’s Jewish communities lies with the work of The Associated.
