A Night of Strength: the Chazak Major Gifts Dinner

More than 120 devoted Beth Tfiloh members and school parents recently gathered at the home of BT members Tsipi and Michael Renbaum for the Chazak Major Gifts Dinner. The evening was an overwhelming success, setting a new milestone in Beth Tfiloh’s history. The guests listened with rapt attention as Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg and Mrs. Zipora Schorr shared their vision for the future of both the BT Congregation and Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School.

After reflecting on his past 34 years serving as Rabbi of Beth Tfiloh, Rabbi Wohlberg turned his focus to the future. “I’ve got to do what I can, to keep Beth Tfiloh strong and vibrant for generations to come,” said Rabbi Wohlberg. “There is something very unique about this congregation and its day school.”

What makes BT so unique? “It’s our very diversity,” stated Rabbi Wohlberg emphatically. “We have created a family; a warm, caring, nonjudgmental, joyous, welcoming family.”

BT Director of Education Mrs. Zipora Schorr captured the unique essence of the Beth Tfiloh family by describing the diversity of BT students, alumni and parents who paid a shiva call to her in a haredi neighborhood in jerusalem after the death of her mother. Whether the students came wearing tzitzit, or were girls and boys wearing jeans, Mrs. Schorr described them all as “erenste yiddisha mentschen – sincere Jewish people.” “How proud I was to be surrounded by these erenste yiddsha mentschen. And how proud am I of all our more than 1,300 graduates,” reflected Mrs. Schorr.

Folllowing remarks by Chazak Co-Chairs Steve Hurwitz and Mark Neumann, the guests viewed a video about the Chazak Campaign, featuring BT members, parents and alumni describing what Beth Tfiloh meant to them. “One of the main reasons we wanted to contribute to the Chazak campaign,” noted BT member and school parent Louis Schwartz, “is that the school and shul have been integral in our lives and have given our family so much. We wanted to perpetuate that into the future and have other families benefit from the same education that our children had. 

Alumna Rebecca Gilette ’06, explained how she took the values learned at BT with her to harvard, where she served as the undergraduate president of Hillel. “BT taught me what it means to be a part of a warm and accepting community of diverse Jews that respects difference and celebrates shared experience.

Elena Segel ’92, now a BT parent, emphasized the importance of continuing to make Beth Tfiloh affordable for all. When she and her family came to Baltimore from the former Soviet Union 23 years ago, she would not have been able to attend our day school without financial support. 

Elena’s experience as a student made such an impact on her that she chose to send her own daughter here. And when the Segels’ financial situation changed, due both to the economy and health issues, her daughter was able to stay at BT thanks to the financial support made available to them. “I want to thank everyone who’s been helping the school, providing financial support that helped, not just my family, but many families, enabling them to continue to send their children here,” shares Elena.

Bob and Irene Russel, donors to the Chazak campaign, were also featured in the video as a multi-generation BT family. “Our involvement with BT began in the mid-70s when our children were of age to be enrolled in Kindergarten,” Irene remembers. “BT was there for us then. Now our grandchildren are at Beth Tfiloh Day School, so BT is part of our family now.”“We’re very proud to be a BT family,” says Bob. “The Chazak campaign is very important to us for the continuity of education at BT.”

Irene agreed. “We certainly hope that through the Chazak campaign, Beth Tfiloh will be there for future generations.” The video concluded with Kindergartner, George B., echoing Irene’s sentiments in his inimitable style: “Chazak: Ensuring a Strong Beth Tfiloh for Today and Tomorrow.”

To learn more about the Chazak Campaign go to www.bethtfiloh.com/chazak. For more information about how you can become a part of the Chazak Campaign please contact Mandi Miller at 410-413-2399.