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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME AUGUST 4, 2016
Moshe Heideman - not quite the real deal, but not that far behind either. This gives our community many advantages over the hustle and bustle of places like New York. Yankees or Orioles? Let’s Go Mets!! We hear you’re the president of R’ Weiss’ Shul? Tell us about Moshe Heideman?
How does it feel to be a New Yorker living in Baltimore? Have people accepted you for who you are? Actually, that’s been a pleasant surprise moving here. The community is great. Baltimore has preserved a special type of closeness that isn’t really seen anywhere else. Baltimoreans shouldn’t sell themselves short. They like to think they’re stuck in the stone age. It’s more like vegan cheese
Are you the youngest Shul president in Baltimore? That probably depends how you define a Shul. They seem to have their own dictionary for these things around here. What are some of your goals for your presidency? Well Rabbi Weiss is an incredible manhig and our talented board is working on some great intiatives. In addition to the obvious, I’ve always thought a Shul’s purpose is to anchor families and provide a buffer against the vicissitudes of life. In that regard, we are looking to expand our efforts to create value for the whole family. We are listening to what our members would like to see, and trying to take
What do you do for a living? I operate Heideman Design, which is a branding firm specializing in corporate identity and marketing consulting, but we do everything from product campaigns to logo designs to event marketing. We tell stories, and help refine clients’ messaging. What made you decide to go into that field? Actually, when I was a Madrich in Yeshiva (OJ shoutout) they had me in charge of the Mishmar program. I had to make flyers every week, and I’ve been designing ever since. I started with general advertising, but soon realized that effective marketing can only come from strong branding, so I moved into that niche. I love the creativity involved in developing a new identity for a company or organization and the exposure to various industries keeps it interesting. I think the passion comes because of the direct impact branding has on every business. What we do matters the next day and every company can benefit. Pro bono work is also immensely gratifying when
your cause is that much more effective because of clear branding, strategic marketing, or stimulating visuals. What makes your company unique? We take a really macro view of our clients’ needs. Whether it’s a business card or a billboard, we tie it in to the bedrock essence of the client’s business model and reason for being. I think this is hard to find in general graphic design firms that doesn’t have a real focus on branding. That is something that really hits the bottom line, because you end up selling your customers on you and not just your product. Favorite thing about Baltimore? Dougie’s Tenderloin Steak. Rare, with fries and coleslaw. Worst dating story? I told my wife on our first date that I would definitely marry her. A little advance notice is always a good thing. Then she tried to break up with me but I didn’t let her. All’s well that ends well. Hidden Talent? Doing the Rubix Cube?
B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M
I grew up in the tri-state area and moved down here to learn in Ner Yisroel. Another incentive was that all the Dougies’ up there closed down. Soon after coming to Baltimore, I met my wife and the rest is history. I don’t like tomato sauce or chocolate. With that, I’d understand if you want to stop the interview right here.
That’s what they tell me. I’m just glad that election didn’t make it to Facebook.
cues for what the Shul means to them. Also, part of the challenge of operating in a very transient neighborhood is that the feeling of belonging that is often missing. I think it’s important to ignite that and build that intimate atmosphere.