Today we’d like to introduce you to Shalom Zirkind.
Hi Shalom, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
When we first moved to Baltimore, our entire focus was on running the Friendship Circle — building programs of love, inclusion, and support for children with special needs and their families. That work introduced us to so many incredible families across the city. But along the way, something unexpected happened.
Again and again, we kept meeting families who lived in the Hunt Valley area who would quietly say, “We wish there was something Jewish here… there’s nothing for us nearby.” At first, we didn’t think much of it — Baltimore has a strong Jewish community, just not in THIS part of the county.
But the more conversations we had, the more we realized there was a real void — not just a lack of programs, but a genuine hunger for Jewish connection. Parents wanted a place for their kids to learn. Adults wanted a warm Jewish touchpoint. People wanted Shabbat dinners, classes, and a sense of belonging without having to drive 20-25 minutes each way.
So we started small. A pop-up challah bake here, a Shabbat dinner there, a kids’ class in someone’s living room. And every time, more people showed up. They brought friends. They asked for more. Little by little, what began as a side project grew into something we could no longer ignore. Hunt Valley wasn’t just asking for Jewish life — it was begging for it.
That’s really how Chabad of Hunt Valley was born: not from a master plan, but from listening to people, showing up for them, and realizing that this area deserved a Jewish home of its own. Today, thank G-d, the community has blossomed beyond anything we imagined – with Hebrew school, women’s classes, teen programs, Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, seniors’ outreach, and a real sense of family.
And in many ways, even with all we’ve built, it still feels like we’re just at the beginning of the story. Because Lutherville, Timonium and Hunt Valley keeps surprising us. The warmth. The growth. The endless potential. And we are humbled and energized to be part of it.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth? Not exactly — but meaningful? Absolutely.
When we began building Jewish life North of the Beltway, we weren’t stepping into an existing community structure. We were creating something from scratch in a part of Baltimore County that had no Jewish infrastructure at all. That meant every program, every relationship, every event started with one conversation, one invitation, one family at a time.
There were moments of uncertainty — wondering whether people would show up, whether there was enough interest to sustain real growth, whether we could create a community in a place where Jewish life had been pretty much non-existence, There were times raising our own family, and developing a brand-new Chabad presence felt like a marathon with no map.
Space has always been a challenge too. Without a permanent building, we’ve become experts in transforming anything — a park, a storefront, a clubhouse, a borrowed room, a country club — into a place of Jewish warmth. It makes us very creative, but it also means constantly planning, schlepping, improvising, and hoping the weather cooperates.
Another challenge is awareness. Many families didn’t know we existed at first. We had to build trust, show consistency, and prove — through action — that we were here for the long haul.
But every struggle brought something beautiful with it: the first time a parent said, “My child finally feels connected,” the joy of a packed Shabbat dinner in a rented room, the moment a new family walked in and said, “We’ve been waiting for this.”
Those moments carried us.
The road hasn’t been smooth — but it has been full of purpose, growth, and unexpected blessings. And looking back, the challenges themselves helped shape the warmth, creativity, and deeply personal nature of the community we have today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At Chabad of Hunt Valley, our work centers on building Jewish life in a part of Baltimore County that had none. We focus on creating meaningful, joyful, and accessible experiences for every age — from a creative, hands-on Hebrew School to CTeen programs, women’s classes, family Shabbat dinners, seniors’ outreach, and large community holiday events.
We’re known for our warmth, our creativity, and our ability to make Judaism feel alive. Whether it’s a farmers-market Shabbat dinner, a Glow Purim party, or a thoughtful women’s workshop, we try to craft experiences that speak to real people and real needs.
What sets us apart is that everything we’ve built came from listening to the community and growing organically, one relationship at a time. Nothing was here before — no infrastructure, no programs — so our entire model is deeply personal. We meet people where they are, without judgment, and invite them into a space where they feel at home.
What we’re most proud of is the transformation we see: children who love coming to celebrate holidays , adults reconnecting with their Judaism, families finding community, and Lutherville-Timonium and Hunt Valley becoming a place where Jewish life is vibrant, welcoming, and filled with purpose.
Chabad of Hunt Valley is a division of Chabad Lubavitch of Maryland.
What were you like growing up?
Shalom grew up in Montreal in a home shaped by deep commitment, kindness, and Jewish pride. His parents were originally sent by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in the 1960s to support the Jewish community in Tunisia. When it eventually became too dangerous for Jews to remain there, they moved to Montreal and spent decades building Jewish life with incredible dedication. Shalom grew up watching his parents pour their hearts into the community — from visiting Jewish businesses to help men put on tefillin to organizing programs and supporting Jewish students at McGill University in downtown Montreal. Also helping his father with fundraisers and sharing the joy of Jewish holidays to Jews of all backgrounds and affiliations. Being surrounded by that level of purpose and warmth shaped him from a young age and gave him a natural love for helping others and building community.
Nuchie, meanwhile, grew up in a large and lively home with a father who worked long hours as a radiologist and a mother who devoted herself full-time to raising 13 children. Their home was always full — full of noise, full of warmth, and full of people who were welcomed with open arms. Her parents raised all their children with a genuine love for every Jew, a deep sense of responsibility toward others, and a strong belief in opening their home and hearts whenever someone needed connection or support. It’s no surprise that nearly all of her siblings went on to run Chabad centers across the world, from Nice, France to Kelowna, British Columbia to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Both Shalom and Nuchie grew up in environments where Judaism wasn’t only practiced — it was lived with sincerity, joy, and generosity. Those childhood experiences shaped the work they do today in Hunt Valley: creating a space where every person feels seen, welcomed, and valued, and where Jewish life is warm, vibrant, and accessible to all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Jewishhuntvalley.com
- Instagram: Chabad_hunt_valley
- Facebook: Chabad of Hunt Valley
