Five-year commitment from the Goldberg Family will support Rudlin Torah Academy excellence, expand affordability, and invest in a vibrant Jewish future for Richmond.

The Jewish Community Federation of Richmond today announced a landmark $6 million, five-year commitment from Josh and Elly Goldberg to strengthen Jewish education, expand affordability, and support a vibrant Jewish future for Richmond.

The gift will support Rudlin Torah Academy’s growth into high school. It will also strengthen Federation’s ability to grow philanthropy, inspire legacy giving, and invest in the people, programs, and institutions that connect families to Jewish life.

“This extraordinary commitment reflects a powerful belief in the future of Jewish Richmond and Federation’s role in strengthening that future,” said Daniel Staffenberg, CEO of the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond. “RTA represents the gold standard of Jewish day school education in our region. This gift ensures more Richmond families can experience that, and that the children in our community today grow up in a Jewish Richmond that is rich, connected, and full of meaning.”

This gift enables Federation to meet its goal of fully funding Jewish day school scholarships for every K-12 family in Richmond who need support — a milestone that will open RTA’s doors to families who may never have considered it possible. The gift will provide support to advance educational excellence, support educators and school leadership, and continue developing RTA as a gold standard in K-12 Jewish education. It also addresses priorities identified in Federation’s Pulse Survey, including belonging, family engagement, leadership development, and long-term communal sustainability.

“We believe deeply in the importance of strong Jewish education, and that the values taught within the school must also be implemented and supported throughout the community. This, for us, is the key to creating a strong and enduring Jewish future,” said Josh Goldberg. “Our hope is that this investment will help more families access best-in-class general and Jewish education and ensure that future generations come of age deeply rooted in a love of Jewish learning and community. We are pleased to make this gift in partnership with Federation and hope it will inspire others to join us in making gifts that can consequentially enrich our community for decades to come.”

 

The gift will:

• Expand affordability and access to Jewish education for Richmond families.
• Invest in educators, school leadership, and educational excellence.
• Strengthen Rudlin Torah Academy as a center of Jewish learning and community life.
• Advance Federation’s Annual Campaign, Endowment, Next Gen engagement, and Israel partnership work.

Federation will deepen its strategic partnership with RTA through community leadership, advocacy, and support that expand Jewish educational opportunities across Greater Richmond — part of a broader vision for a hub for Jewish learning beyond K-12, open to families, seniors, and community members of every age.

“RTA is one of the finest Jewish day schools in the country, and every Jewish family in Richmond deserves the opportunity to experience what we offer,” said Rabbi Elisha Paul, Head of School of Rudlin Torah Academy. “This transformational gift will help us reach more families, strengthen the student experience, and build a thriving Jewish learning community that is open to all.”

The Jewish Community Federation of Richmond is proud to steward this gift and work with donors, partners, and community leaders to strengthen Jewish education and sustain vibrant Jewish life in Richmond for generations to come.