Deborah Lerner Gross Jewish Cultural Arts Center

The Deborah Lerner Gross Jewish Cultural Arts Center was established at the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy, Rockville Maryland at the beginning of the academic year 2002/2003. Under the dedicated direction of Rena Fruchter the Center works together with administration and faculty to increase the arts component in both Judaic and secular subjects for all students from nursery to twelfth grade. In particular the Center focuses on the arts component of the Jewish curriculum, enhancing the teaching of Torah and middot (values) and the love of Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael in creative and exciting ways. As the Center grows, it seeks to sponsor many programs that will be open to the wider community so that it can serve as a resource to increase knowledge, appreciation and enjoyment of the arts. It also intends through newletters, this website, workshops and conferences to be able to share programming ideas and lesson plans with other educators.

The Center was established through the generosity of Ricky and Andrew Shechtel of Princeton New Jersey in memory of Deborah Lerner Gross, beloved Academy parent, who also served as Trustee of the school and member of the Executive Committee.