Building of Baltimore’s Associated Jewish Charities Formally Opened

More than 1,000 visitors attended the Open House marking the formal opening of the new Associated Jewish Charities and Welfare Fund Social Service Building in northwest Baltimore. The new building, completed at a cost of $600,000, was built primarily to make services of the Associated Jewish Charities more accessible to clients, according to Harry Greenstein, executive director.

Mr. Greenstein said that during the past 25 years there had been a mass migration from East Baltimore and the city’s Madison Aveme area to the northeast part of Baltimore. He added that in addition to the effect of the migration on the accessibility of the former offices, the greater demands on the welfare agencies had made the old quarters inadequate.

The Jewish Family and Children’s Services, largest of the AJC social service agencies, occupy most of the main level of the new building. Special features of the Jewish Family and Children’s Services include a Family Room, a therapy room and a playroom and nursery.

Five other agencies will occupy the new building, plus the Women’s Division of the AJC. The five agencies are the Hebrew Free Loan Association, the Jewish Big Brother League, the Associated Placement and Guidance Bureau, HIAS and the Jewish Armed Services Committee. The air-conditioned building also has a conference room and two fully equipped kitchens.

Joseph Meyerhoff, chairman of the Building Committee and former United Jewish Appeal general chairman, Robert D. Meyers, chairman of the Dedication Committee and Mr. Greenstein took part in the ceremony of affixing a mezuzah to the door. Funds for the building were raised through solicitation of a small group of contributors during the administration of Louis B. Kohn II, immediate past president.