Bess Goodman z"l

In the early 1940's, Mrs. Bess Goodman heard a rumor that there was going to be a meeting of community leaders where they were going to discuss the possibility of starting a Jewish day school in Washington.

The meeting, held at Tifereth Israel, was being conducted by a gentleman named Jeremiah Weitz, who was in fact NOT discussing Jewish day schools, but was instead discussing schochets in the community. When Mr. Weitz interrupted the meeting to ask Mrs. Goodman what she was doing sitting in the audience, she said she came because she thought they were going to be discussing the start of Washington's first Jewish day school. Mr. Weitz, inspired by her presence, appointed Mrs. Goodman to a committee which would look into establishing just that. After a great deal of effort on her part and that of many others, the committee finally pulled it all together and Mr. Weitz became the first president of the Hebrew Academy in 1944.

When the Hebrew Academy opened its doors to the first kindergarten and 1^st grade classes in 1944, Bess Goodman's son, David, was among the first students. Dr. David Goodman has continued his involvement in the school, having dedicated the Health Room, establishing an endowment for science funding and serving on our Endowment Investment committee.

Mrs. Goodman was also instrumental in implementing a hot lunch program at the school and founded the Ladies Auxiliary and established the Ladies Auxiliary Life Membership society. Mrs. Goodman remained involved in the Hebrew Academy until she was unable to do so anymore. She passed away in 1998, but we are proud that the board room in the center of our building bears her name.