Miller Family Dedicated Lower School Playground

Disney World may call itself the happiest place on earth, but we know the truth. The happiest place on earth is really the Beth Tfiloh Lower School playground.

That’s why Wendy and Jeff Miller chose to dedicate the playground when making their gift to the Chazak Campaign — to ensure that the happiness their children enjoyed as BT students, as symbolized by that playground — could be experienced by many other Jewish children for generations to come. Their generous gift is infused with the simcha, or joy, that the Miller family brings to every endeavor, embodying the words of Rebbe Nachman.

The Millers’ connection to BT began when a former BT PreSchool teacher who was a close family friend told them “it was the best PreSchool in town and we must choose to send Josh. The rest is history,” exclaims Wendy. “Our children were already so happy and thriving in the PreSchool, making wonderful friends and learning wonderful Jewish values at such a young age. We wanted them to continue on their path of learning in a nurturing environment and attain lifelong Jewish values.”

The Miller children had many joyous milestones throughout their education...with their parents cheering them on every step of the way: watching a “most memorable” senior class movie, produced by the entire class of ‘06 under Josh’s direction, in a packed High School theater — Josh’s favorite High School memory; the thrill of cheering on Adam ‘08 and the rest of the Varsity Tennis team as they worked together to bring a championship trophy home to BT; seeing 6 year-old Erin ‘12 play young Eponine in the High School’s first production of Les Miserables; and, of course, each of their children having a most meaningful senior trip to Poland and Israel, which Adam notes was his favorite High School experience.

BT is more than just a school for the Miller family. “BT was our true partner in parenting!” shares Jeff, expanding on the many ways Beth Tfiloh shaped their family’s Jewish connection: “We learned Jewish values as our children were learning. We learned about derech eretz and tikkun olam. We were given opportunities to share holidays with our family and friends like only children at Jewish day school can experience. Nowhere is Purim more fun for kids and adults than at a day school, and particularly at BT. We started having weekly Shabbat dinners and baking challah because of our inspiration from the clergy and teachers at BT.”

BT is more than just a Jewish day school and synagogue to the Miller children. “It is more of a community and a family with long lasting relationships,” says Adam. That’s especially true for Josh, who met his fiancée, Abby Levitsky ‘06 at BT. For Erin, BT means “having important Jewish and community values instilled in me. Through walking the halls of BT as a student, to revisiting them as an alumni, I feel embraced and celebrated for who I am, and a part of a community larger than myself.”

While the Millers have received so much from BT, they have given back considerably, chairing Spotlight, Beth Tfiloh’s annual Scholarship event, and serving on the Synagogue’s Board of Directors. Additionally, Wendy served on the School’s Board of Trustees and Parent Association board, co-chaired the America Cooks Kosher cookbook project and the Chazak Campaign’s marketing committee, among many other leadership roles. Other Jewish communal organizations are fortunate to benefit from the Millers’ expertise, commitment and generosity, including The Associated, the Jewish National Fund (JNF), and Israel Bonds, among others.

But others are also benefitting from the Millers’ communal involvement: their children are learning the meaning of leadership from the example set by their parents. “I feel very proud to have parents who support BT and the Jewish community as a whole,” comments Adam. “They are true role models to me, and I aspire to be as philanthropic as they are one day.” That journey has already begun through Adam’s support of the BT Alumni Campaign. “I feel that being part of a Jewish community and having a strong sense of Jewish values in today’s world are so important for young Jews,” he explains, noting that BT instills both of those in “every one of its students.” Adds Josh, who stays connected both through his support of the Alumni Campaign as well as through participating in Alumni Association events, “Mostly all of my tight-knit class is in touch with each other — and this is coming from someone who lives on the other side of the country!”

“My brothers and I often talk about how people who went to BT have a certain sensitivity to others and selflessness,” expresses Erin. “Because of this, I feel a sense of gratitude to this place that introduced me to such quality friends, teachers, and role models.” That gratitude inspires Erin to support the BT Alumni Campaign, like her brothers.

That same sense of gratitude is the reason for the Miller parents’ steadfast support of BT. “Very simply, it is our way to say thank you for what BT has done for our family,” expresses Wendy. “Our dream is for BT to educate many more generations of children in our Baltimore Jewish community that we are so blessed to be part of. And, we also hope our gift will inspire others to give a gift of gratitude!”