Temple Beth Sholom Schools Honors Rosenthal Family

Temple Beth Sholom Schools (www.tbsschools.org), a Sarasota preschool to eighth grade private school, recently honored supporters Ed and Betty Rosenthal during an all-school family Shabbat celebration.

Approximately 200 children, staff, parents and grandparents attended the celebration on the morning of Friday, Oct. 24. Papa Ed and Mimi Rosenthal, as they are fondly referred to, were gifted with a handmade bowl from the children containing fresh vegetables from the school’s over 20-bed organic garden along with flowers, cards and bread. Preschoolers up to eighth graders sang together to songs like “You Raise Me Up” and “Hallelu Hallelu”.

“The Rosenthals have a longstanding commitment to making our school the very best it can be within our community,” said Wendy Katz, intern director of TBS Schools. “They are generous, innovative and make positive changes – whether it’s educating our community about the importance of pesticide safety or developing precautionary principles regarding toxic chemicals. They are visionaries that pave a bright future for TBS Schools.”

The couple, whose three grandchildren are currently enrolled and whose children previously attended the school, started the sustainable and pesticide-free gardening program through generous donations and contribute annually. This year, the Rosenthals purchased a canopy to provide summer campers a sanctuary from the sun.

“Thank you for making this home to us,” said Betty Rosenthal during the ceremony.

In addition to funding field trips to the Van Wezel and gifts to commemorate the childrens’ Bar Mitzvahs, Ed and Betty also established the Holocaust Remember Me Orchard where families can plant a tree to remember a loved one and a child lost during the Holocaust. Betty planted a sapling in memory of her mother Marie Cohen Hedida and Florikan Liebmann, a 10-year-old lost in the Holocaust.

Every month for the remainder of the school year, TBS Schools will honor individuals for their support of the school.

About TBS Schools

Temple Beth Sholom (TBS), a Sarasota preschool to 8th grade private school, is open to all faiths and established its preschool program in 1974. TBS Schools has been in its current building located at 1050 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota, Fla. since January 1988. The Justin Lee Wiesner preschool program consists of classes for baby play and children up to 4 years of age. The Goldie Feldman Academy (GFA) was founded in 1992 as an expansion of the Justin Lee Wiesner Preschool. It has continued to grow and flourish under the careful guidance of the administration, dedicated teachers, volunteer leadership, staff and the demand for excellence from its parents. At GFA, TBS Schools nurtures the whole child as one who is capable of an infinite amount of possibilities. The caring and qualified staff is committed to helping each student reach his/her full potential. The Goldie Feldman Academy at Temple Beth Sholom is the only private Jewish school in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Justin Lee Wiesner Preschool is accredited by Florida Kindergarten Council. Goldie Feldman Academy is accredited by the Florida Kindergarten Council and the Florida Council of Independent Schools. For more information, visit www.tbsschools.org.