“Our Jewish story is always evolving,” say Wine and Wisdom regulars Steve and Michelle Wions. Etz Chaim is proud to be part of that story, helping the couple grow ever closer to Jewish wisdom and Jewish community.
Steve and Michelle met in college, at SUNY Brockport in upstate New York. Steve, who was co-president of the college Hillel, met Michelle when she stopped by the organization’s table during her freshman year. From the very beginning of their relationship, Judaism was important to the pair, and they decided that Baltimore was the perfect place to raise a Jewish family.
Our 2015 Momentum trips to Israel—one for moms and one for dads—introduced Steve and Michelle to Etz Chaim. Now, they can often be found at our popular Wine and Wisdom events. “Wine and Wisdom is a great way to engage the community,” Michelle says. “I enjoy hearing everyone’s opinions and thoughts, even though we come from different backgrounds. After a Wine and Wisdom event, you’re just smiling the whole way home.” Michelle also learns one-on-one with Elana Pomeranz, discovering the relevance of Torah to everyday life.
Steve encourages others to get involved with Etz Chaim. “Etz Chaim helps people become better Jews, which makes them better people,” he says. He also underscores the organization’s success in bridging different parts of the local community: “There’s no judgment at Etz Chaim. We may have different beliefs, but we all have the same goals.”
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