Bais Yaakov Dedicates Elementary School Building in Memory of Rabbi Mendel D. Freedman, Z”L (Video & Photo Essay)

By Bais Yaakov of Baltimore
Posted on 10/25/18

“Baruch Shehechiyanu V’Kiyimanu, V’higiyanu Lazman Hazeh…” On Wednesday, October 24, hundreds of Bais Yaakov Elementary students, teachers, parents, and guests gathered at Bais Yaakov Elementary School for the dedication of the building in memory of Rabbi Mendel D. Freedman, Z”L, on the occasion of his first yahrtzeit. Also joining the dedication were members of the Freedman family who came from near and far to attend the event.

Rabbi Yitzchok Sanders, principal, Lower Elementary, elaborated on Rabbi Freedman’s legacy, and explained that with the dedication, Bais Yaakov will be crowned with Rabbi Freedman ideals of Torah, yiras Shamayim, chessed, and chinuch habanos. He also recalled how Rabbi Freedman strove to create an individualized environment for all students and bring them close to Hashem and His Torah.

“Today’s naming is the ultimate recognition of respect, love and hakoras hatov by Bais Yaakov of the overarching role Rabbi Freedman, z”l, played in the development of the school,” Rabbi Sanders asserted. “We will strive to continue along the path he forged, as well as the path of his forebears, Rabbi Hirsch Diskind, z”l, and Rabbi Binyomin Steinberg, z”l.” Rabbi Sanders emphasized that as students and teachers enter the building each day, they will now be reminded of Rabbi Freedman and his ideals, which are perpetuated in the halls of Bais Yaakov.

Rabbi Paysach Diskind speaking on behalf of the Freedman family, spoke of how Rabbi Freedman’s exemplary actions served as a shining example as to how one should conduct herself. “As we expose the sign, we will always remember his legacy, which continues in the school today, as it is still a place where girls are happy to learn yiras Hashem, ahavas Hashem, and ahavas Yisrael.”

Rabbi Yochanan Stein, principal, Upper Elementary then told the girls that a special snack awaited them back in their classroom, courtesy of the Freedman family. “When you make a brachah on the snack, and answer amen to each other’s brachos, you will be building bricks in shamayim, thus creating an aliyah for Rabbi Freedman’s neshamah.”

A delightful presentation was then performed by the Second, Third and Fourth Graders, as they shared heartwarming memories of Rabbi Freedman.

Closing out the program, Rabbi Aaron Gross, Director of Development called upon Rabbi Aryeh Leib Freedman and Rabbi Shmuel Freedman to uncover the sign on top of the building. May it truly bring an aliyah to Rabbi Freedman’s neshamah.