Caring for Others is What it Means to be Human

Rosalie Rosenzwog

Today, women are involved in philanthropy, from charitable giving to social activism. But, Rosalie Rosenzwog, a Baltimore native growing up in a family with limited means, recalls a different time.

"Most women did not have credit in their own right back then," Rosalie shares. "There was a time when I would ask my husband to write a check for my contribution each year."

Rosalie says her parents, who owned a hardware store on Reisterstown Road, didn't have much and that she "came from a different world than what she ended up in." But, Rosalie recognized from an early age that caring for others is what it means to be human.

"I remember walking out of the movie 'Watch on the Rhine' crying," she says. "That's when I made a mental commitment to do whatever I could for the rest of my life to make sure we (as Jews) were together and as strong as possible."

Rosalie became involved in The Associated in 1949 when she participated in her first G-Day, a day when women went door-to-door soliciting donations to help care for Jewish refugees.

"One of the most moving things for me was going to homes of people who had been here just

a short while. They would bring out a little purse containing nickels, dimes and quarters and hand it to me as a donation," recalls Rosalie.

She largely attributes her philanthropic giving to her husband and father-in-law. "My father-in-law would say to my husband, 'after you take care of Rosalie and your children, you make sure to give to charity,'" she recalls. "My husband took great pleasure in being able to give charity later in his life."

Rosalie was one of the first at The Associated to endow her Lion of Judah gift nearly 25 years ago. She sees her endowment as another way for her to continue what she believes in while empowering the next generation to do even more.

"The Associated is the central address for Jewish philanthropy," she says. Proud to make an impact on her community, Rosalie's endowment will support the Jewish causes she cares about, today and into the future.