http://www.jewishtimes.com JFS Head Solomon Resigns by Karen Buckelew Staff Reporter February 6, 2004 When Steve M. Solomon announced just days ago that he was leaving his position as executive director of Jewish Family Services, the news was met with enthusiastic congratulations from colleagues and friends. That's not because he found for himself a new, exciting position in the social work field. In fact, Mr. Solomon hasn't yet secured his next job. No, those who know Mr. Solomon are excited to hear that the 51-year-old Montreal native finally is fulfilling his lifelong dream of making aliyah. Mr. Solomon, his wife, Esther, and youngest son, David, 9, are packing up after seven years in Baltimore and moving to Israel this summer. "I feel that on a personal level and a professional level, it's time for me to look at pursuing one of my grander goals, which always has been to live in Israel and make a professional contribution in Israel," Mr. Solomon said. The family already had a taste of Israel last fall, when Mr. Solomon took a three-month sabbatical from JFS to consult for the Jewish Agency for Israel, temporarily relocating to an apartment in Israel. Both Mrs. Solomon and David "got the bug as much as I did," said Mr. Solomon of their autumn in Israel. "I felt, spiritually, very powerfully connected." While Mr. Solomon has not yet found a new position, both he and his wife, a nurse, want to give back to Israel, especially in its current state of strife. "Israel is in a difficult time," he said. "We want to do what we can to be not standing on the sidelines, to be there and contribute. I want to ... help improve social conditions in Israel in general." JFS president Lee I. Sherman said Mr. Solomon certainly has improved the status of JFS since his arrival. "Steve has been a tremendous leader for the agency," said Mr. Sherman. "He has strengthened our ties with the entire Jewish community, with other agencies in the community and with the religious community, in particular with the Orthodox community. He'll be greatly missed." In a statement, Marc B. Terrill, president of the Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, said, "Our community's loss is Israel's gain. While I know we will all miss his leadership and passion for Jewish communal service, I am delighted that he is fulfilling this lifelong dream." Mr. Solomon said the timing is perfect both to leave JFS and to move to Israel. Five of his six children, ranging in age from 31 to 9, are out of the house, and David still has not put down the types of roots that come with adolescence that make it difficult to take a child out of school. Plus, Mr. Solomon said, JFS "is in very strong shape. I've achieved many of the objectives I've set out for myself." Mr. Solomon, an ordained rabbi with a master's degree in social work, said his goal at JFS was "to transform the organization, to move JFS from an agency of the 1960s to a contemporary agency." On the administrative front, he said he created a management information department and a new personnel department to help the agency run smoothly, as well as implementing a new compensation system for employees. He said he also created a developmental disability department at the agency, and opened two new homes for disabled adults. JFS now serves five times the number of disabled clients it had when Mr. Solomon came on board. JFS also has expanded its outpatient mental health clinic, opening a branch office in Owings Mills to better reach the Jewish community farther north of its Upper Park Heights headquarters. To improve services to the elderly, the agency has stationed staff members at hot spots for the senior community - two at Milbrook Apartments, one at each one of the Weinberg senior living buildings, and at eight different independent apartment buildings in the Park Heights corridor. The agency also opened a new teen center on Old Court Road to reach out to troubled or at-risk kids, as well as its Jewish hospice program to serve the terminally ill. Mr. Solomon said he also takes pride in the spirit of collaboration he tried to instill in the agency. Partnerships with other organizations including the Jewish Community Center, the Center for Jewish Education and CHAI, or Comprehensive Housing Assistance Inc., make possible programs like the teen center and the senior outreach programs. And a source of special pride for Mr. Solomon are the newly forged partnerships with the Board of Rabbis and the Rabbinical Council of Greater Baltimore. JFS even provides staff and an office for the Board of Rabbis. "These are things that give me very great personal satisfaction," Mr. Solomon said. JFS has not yet begun the search for a new executive director, said Mr. Sherman, and has just started to form a search committee for that purpose. Mr. Solomon will not actively participate in the search process, but he has made it clear he is available for help if needed. He has not yet chosen an official date for his last day, but is aiming at about five or six months from now. While Mr. Solomon will be missed, his colleagues are excited about his next step, according to Mr. Sherman. "We're certainly thrilled for him that he's making aliyah," he said. "This is something I know is very important to him."