Build the Ark, Carry the Future

Since October 7, BT has been our anchor. A place where we’ve turned to - to pray, process, and keep going. BT has been more than a school or synagogue. It’s a place where Jewish identity is accepted, supported, celebrated, and deepened. But the threats we facing now aren’t temporary. They aren’t headlines or passing tensions. They’re deep-seated and generational so our response needs to be just as lasting.
 
Jewish professionals facing open hostility at work, families are navigating complicated conversations in their neighborhoods, friendships, and social circles. Jewish students on walking onto college campuses where anti-Jewish sentiment shows up in classrooms, student groups, in gathering spaces, and in quiet moments between friends and even instructors. In a world like this, the difference between surface-level Jewish education and deep, identify-shaping Jewish formation is not just academic but existential.
 
The data is clear and the impact is real. Jewish day schools work. According to the January 2025 Prizmah January 2025 study, “Jewish Day School Alumni on Campus: A Comparative Analysis of Engagement and Identity”:
 
  • 81% of day school alumni say Jewish identity is very important vs. 35% who didn't attend day school.
  • 56% of day school alumni feel "very close" to the Jewish community vs. 19% of other Jewish college students.
  • Day school alumni are 4x more likely to feel strongly connected to Israel (61% vs. 16%).
  • Twice as many day school alumni engage actively in Jewish campus life (53% vs. 23%).
 
Generations before us have invested tremendously to build the foundation of Beth Tfiloh, but if we’re serious about helping Jewish life survive and flourish, we have to keep building - boldly and intentionally. Our children must see in our actions and choices, that Beth Tfiloh isn’t just a school or a synagogue. It’s the bedrock, the place where Jewish identity is rooted and nurtured so that it can continue to grow strong. Let’s make sure it has everything it needs.
 
With the ARK Initiative, we’re preparing the next generation of unmatched education in both Jewish and general studies. We’re investing in extraordinary teachers, stronger security, deeper connections to Israel, a more engaged alumni network, and expanded scholarship opportunities so that every child who belongs at BT can be here.
  
Now is the moment to give more, to go above and beyond and raise the bar even higher so that one day we can look back and say: American Jewish life - and life at BT - changed after October 7. It didn’t get weaker. It got better.
 
In his State of World Jewry Address earlier this year, Dan Senor praised a massive gift to Tel Aviv University, and asked, “Who will be next? And here in America? Who will make that bet on American Jewish life?”
 
The answer is us. We’re asking you to make BT one of your top three philanthropic priorities.  Every commitment is a plank in the ARK - a teacher hired, a student supported, a program expanded, a bond with Israel strengthened. Let’s build our ARK together.

We’re building something that matters. We’re asking you to add your plank to the ARK.


Ark Initiative Introduction with Jordan Hirsch

Ark Pledge Signers 2

Stuart and Lori Abell
Ivy and Chris Ammann
Jonathan and Tara Attman
Deborah and Louis Baer
Stephanie and David Baron
Talia Berkowitz and Berkowitz
Brooke and Brian Berman
Victoria and Scott Blumberg
Lauren and David Braunstein, Steering Committee
Michael and Rivka Bresler
Tara Brown and Ari Mittleman
Jan and Andy Cardin
Joe and Angelica Carliner
Lois and Gary Cassel
Michelle and Scott Cherry
Jesse and Steve Cleveland
Joel Cohn and Jill Spector
Mandy and Gary Diamond
Sharon and Robert Dondes
Ann Dreyer and Rich Hanna
Jill and Gary Eidelman
Talia Lefkowitz and Byron Edwards
Nicole and Sidney Glick
Carly and Jeffrey Greenberg
Liz and Josh Greenwald
Johanna Gruenhut and Jonathan Flombaum
Jayne and Jonathan Havens, Steering Committee
Midge and Lowell Herman
Vicki and Jesse Hervitz
Samara and Jordan Hirsch, Steering Committee Chairs
Ken Hornstein and Larraine Bernstein
Jordana and Andrew Hurwitz
Linda and Steven Hurwitz
Jessie and Michael Jaskulsky
Robert and Shelley Kaye
Heather and Aaron Levinoff
Laurie Lieberman and Robert Segal
Deena and Dan Lubelski, Steering Committee
Allison and Aaron Magat
Batsheva and Shimmy Messing, Steering Committee
Mandi and Brett Miller
Huppit and David Miller, Steering Committee
Deborah and Searle Mitnick
Laurie and Seth Okin
Rabbi Chai Posner and Rachel Posner
Shoshi and Brian Ponczak
Miriam and Yoni Rose
Sarah and Yaakov Rubin
Dodi and Joey Samuel, Steering Committee
Julie and Josh Schenker, Steering Committee
Henry and Ruthanne Sheller
Jeremy and Jenna Sperber
Vered and Marty Taylor, Steering Committee
Amir and Tamar Tsemach
Holly and Steven Venick
Eileen and Morris Wise
Kimberly and Jason Wynn, Steering Committee
Stuart and Lori Abell
Ivy and Chris Ammann
Jonathan and Tara Attman
Deborah and Louis Baer
Stephanie and David Baron
Talia Berkowitz and Jacob Kanter
Brooke and Brian Berman
Victoria and Scott Blumberg
Lauren and David Braunstein, Steering Committee
Michael and Rivka Bresler
Tara Brown and Ari Mittleman
Jan and Andy Cardin
Joe and Angelica Carliner
Lois and Gary Cassel
Michelle and Scott Cherry
Jesse and Steve Cleveland
Joel Cohn and Jill Spector
Mandy and Gary Diamond
Sharon and Robert Dondes
Ann Dreyer and Rich Hanna
Jill and Gary Eidelman
Talia Lefkowitz and Byron Edwards
Nicole and Sidney Glick
Carly and Jeffrey Greenberg
Liz and Josh Greenwald
Johanna Gruenhut and Jonathan Flombaum
Jayne and Jonathan Havens, Steering Committee
Midge and Lowell Herman
Vicki and Jesse Hervitz
Samara and Jordan Hirsch, Steering Committee Chairs
Ken Hornstein and Larraine Bernstein
Jordana and Andrew Hurwitz
Linda and Steven Hurwitz
Jessie and Michael Jaskulsky
Robert and Shelley Kaye
Heather and Aaron Levinoff
Laurie Lieberman and Robert Segal
Deena and Dan Lubelski, Steering Committee
Allison and Aaron Magat
Batsheva and Shimmy Messing, Steering Committee
Mandi and Brett Miller
Huppit and David Miller, Steering Committee
Deborah and Searle Mitnick
Laurie and Seth Okin
Rabbi Chai Posner and Rachel Posner
Shoshi and Brian Ponczak
Miriam and Yoni Rose
Sarah and Yaakov Rubin
Dodi and Joey Samuel, Steering Committee
Julie and Josh Schenker, Steering Committee
Henry and Ruthanne Sheller
Jeremy and Jenna Sperber
Vered and Marty Taylor, Steering Committee
Amir and Tsemach
Holly and Steven Venick
Eileen and Morris Wise
Julie and Jordan Wolff
Kimberly and Jason Wynn, Steering Committee

Join the Ark Initiative

Ark Initiative Frequently Asked Questions

List of 3 frequently asked questions.

  • If I sign onto the pledge, am I signing on for one year or more?

    The Ark Initiative is meant to be a long-term plan to secure a strong financial base for our future, so that our school and shul can continue to thrive. Your long-term commitment will ensure that the next generation of Jews have access to a Jewish day school education and a thriving Jewish community to which they can belong.
  • Is the Ark Initiative a separate campaign that I need to make a gift to?

    No, the Ark Initiative is a pledge we are asking you to sign. The pledge indicates that Beth Tfiloh is one of your top three philanthropic priorities. Your gifts to the Annual Campaign and Spotlight, as well as any other special gifts you make to BT, are included when you sign on to the pledge.
  • Who are you asking to sign onto the Ark Initiative?

    We are asking everyone who cares about BT to sign the pledge including parents, synagogue members, grandparents, alumni, parents of alumni and the faculty and staff.

Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School

Learning together. For life.
Baltimore’s only Jewish independent preparatory school serving PreSchool through Grade 12.