$1 Million Gift From Grandma Creates School Scholarship Fund

NORTHBROOK, IL — The family of the mother of three graduates of Solomon Schechter Day School and the grandmother to three current students gave a $1 million gift to endow a new scholarship fund in her name. The Etta Jonas Scholarship Fund has been established to provide scholarships for Schechter students in perpetuity, the school announced Thursday.

Etta Jonas, of Glencoe, passed away last October at the age of 74. She never missed a chance to attend a Schecter event, according to a message from the president and head of school. The endowment gift will leave a "tremendous legacy" to the school, further connecting her life to the Schechter community.

"Jewish education and the Solomon Schechter community were near and dear to our mother's heart," her children said, according to the announcement. "It was her wish to afford the Schechter experience to as many children and families as possible and thereby ensure the community will thrive."

Etta and David Jonas, her husband of 47 years, raised three graduates of the school, Orete Harkavy (Class of 1987), Jonathan Jonas (Class of 1989), and Ann Schneiderman (Class of 1995). Three of her grandchildren already attend Solomon Schechter Day School – in 2nd, 4th and 7th grades – and two more are due to begin class in the fall. And when Jonathan and his wife Heidi welcomed a new daughter in February, they named her Etta after her late grandmother.

Etta's children have continued her devotion to Jewish day school and Solomon Schecter, according to the administrators. Orete is co-president of the Sager Parent Organization, Jonathan recently joined the SSDS Board of Directors and Ann has spent the last 12 years teaching at Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School.