A Shared Vision for Jewish Education: The Founding Families of Gottesman RTW Academy
In 1966, two Morristown couples, Morty z"l and Beatsy z"l Wertheimer and Charlotte and Alvin z"l Turner, shared a vision to create a Jewish day school where their children could receive an exceptional education while growing up connected to their Jewish community. Joined by Michael z"l and Midge z"l Rubenstein, dedicated families, local rabbis, and Jewish leaders, they turned that vision into reality. With limited resources but tremendous determination, hard work, and community support, Hebrew Academy of Morris County (HAMC) was born.
Today, 60 years later, the renamed Gottesman RTW Academy honors both the school’s founding families and the extraordinary generosity of longtime benefactors and alumni parents, Paula and Jerry Gottesman. Their $15 million challenge gift through the Paula and Jerry Gottesman Family Supporting Foundation of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ provided transformative support for the school’s future. As a pluralistic community day school welcoming families from across the spectrum of Jewish life, that same spirit of community and commitment continues to shape our school.
The “RTW” in our name honors the three founding families -- the Rubensteins, the Turners, and the Wertheimers -- whose vision, dedication, and belief in the power of Jewish education laid the foundation for the vibrant community that exists today.