Bais Rivkah Raises $1 Million

With the help of community leaders, board members and students, Bais Rivkah has raised $1 million dollars in 24 hours.

Dozens of volunteers worked throughout the night to help the flagship school reach the goal to pay the school’s dedicated teachers.

In 24 hours 1,900 donors from around the world contributed $1,063,388, which includes a bonus round activated once the first $1 million was reached.

“The excitement was palpable throughout the 24 hour campaign, especially when our goal was reached 20 minutes before the deadline and the Grosskopf family offered to match a bonus round up to an extra 50,000,” said Chaya Mushka Bar-Chaim, a volunteer who worked on the campaign.

A group of donors matched all funds received at a four to one ratio; every dollar donated was quadrupled.

The campaign’s matchers included Mr. Shaya Boymelgreen, Rabbi Yitzchak Raitport, Mr. Joseph Kazarnovsky, Mr. Zalman Fellig, Mr. Yerachmeal Jacobson, Mr. Jacob Laine, Mr. Jaim Lapidus, and Mr. Shmuel Kopfstien.

Beth Rivkah was founded in 1941 by the Frierdiker Rebbe. At the time, Jewish day schools in America catered exclusively to boys, so starting a day school for Jewish girls was truly revolutionary.

From the onset of the school’s founding, the Lubavitcher Rebbe has given special attention to Beth Rivkah in all of its aspects; from the small details of the curriculum, to the treatment of every student as an individual.

One of the policies instituted by the Rebbe was that no student would ever be denied a Jewish education due to their family’s background or inability to pay tuition. This has always presented a challenge to those responsible for covering the operating budget, which exceeds $14 million dollars annually.

All funds raised in the campaign will be used directly for paying teachers’ salaries. Distribution of funds will be overseen by the school’s new board-in-formation, which includes Rabbi Eliezer Shemtov, Rabbi Moshe Pinson, Mr. Yerachmeal Jacobson, Mr. Kasriel Shemtov, Mr. Dovid Sputz, Mr. Dovid Junik, and Mr. Itchik Orimland.