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EDITH SHOOLMAN'S HEBREW COLLEGE LEGACY Edith Shoolman was a passionate gardener. And her garden—lush with flowers and ornamentals—was not the only place graced by her nourishing cultivation. One of Hebrew College's most significant benefactors, a woman with a deep commitment to children, teacher training and Jewish education, she named and endowed the Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education in 1993 with a $2 million bequest made after the death of her husband, Eliot z'l. When Mrs. Shoolman died in April at age 98, she ensured that the Shoolman Graduate School would continue to flourish with another generous gift—a $1 million bequest.
President David Gordis remembers her as "self effacing" and "a very fine and refined lady, really an artist and an aristocrat." Initially, she resisted the idea of naming the school. "I had to persuade her that it would be an example for others," he says. Concerned with the impact of their gifts and not the recognition, Mrs. Shoolman and her husband were a rare brand of philanthropist. Always seeking ways to enhance the lives of children, they renewed their interest in Hebrew College through their close friend and attorney, former Hebrew College board chairman Herbert Berman z'l. (Mr. Shoolman's uncle, Max Shoolman, was an original incorporator named in the 1927 Charter of the College.) After her husband passed away, Mrs. Shoolman spoke daily with Berman. His friendship and support became a pillar in her life, and when Berman passed away, his son Henry inherited their daily relationship, which he now calls "a gift." "She and Mr. Shoolman were generous out of genuine philanthropic interest, not out of wanting to see their names in lights," says Berman, who delivered remarks at Mrs. Shoolman's funeral. "They were clearly part of our family, if not in law, certainly in love." Mrs. Shoolman had no patience for what she perceived as wasteful spending, Berman says. He recalls visiting with her one afternoon when her mail arrived. One of the envelopes was decorated with gold foil, and she said, "What are they wasting money for? Isn't there a kid who needs glasses or schoolbooks?" The Shoolmans' zeal for supporting education inspired them to endow the Edith and Eliot Shoolman Fellowship, awarded to Hebrew College students active in the field of Jewish education as teachers or administrators. They were also benefactors of the Solomon Schechter Day School in Newton and Bridgewater State College, Mrs. Shoolman's alma mater, where they established an award given annually to a senior who has shown creative excellence in the study of English. In 1996, Hebrew College awarded Mrs. Shoolman an honorary degree for her contribution to the field of Jewish education—though it took some persuasion. She did not acquiesce until Theodore H. Teplow, trustee, former board chairman and a close family friend, wrote her a letter conveying Hebrew College's strong desire to properly thank and acknowledge her for being an exemplary community member, and that her acceptance of this degree would be yet another gift to the institution. At the commencement exercises, her modest approach to giving was publicly recognized by the presenter, Herbert Berman's widow and former Hebrew College director and trustee, Evelyn Berman: "Countless [people] have unknowingly been the beneficiary of your love and concern for your fellow human being. You have chosen to better their lives with the only reward being their success and happiness. "Like the plants and trees of your garden, which you lovingly nurture year after year, so have you assisted, and in turn improved, the community." President Gordis adds: "Edith Shoolman was one of the early pioneers of the evolution of Hebrew College. Her commitment to the Shoolman Graduate School is what moved us ahead to where we are now. She left an important mark on the College." The Hebrew College community mourns the loss of Edith Shoolman and expresses its deepest sympathies to her sister, Frances Cohen; her stepson, David Shoolman; and her niece, Ruth Donovan. May her memory forever be a blessing. |
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That gift, which will help to support new programs for the professional training of Jewish educators, exemplifies her quiet and generous philanthropy.