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Irving “Papa” Gelman, a Man Who Made a Difference

TVT’s beloved founder, Irving (Yitzchok) Gelman, passed away on March 4, 2018.

A Holocaust survivor who founded Tarbut V'Torah Community Day School, in loving memory of his daughter, Naomi Gelman Weiss, Irving became the "Papa" of many as he touched the community through his generosity, vision, tenacity and devout belief that every Jewish child deserves a stellar Jewish education. Irving believed that the key to the Jewish survival is lifelong learning. Since its opening in 1991, Tarbut has grown from 36 students to a flourishing TK-12 college preparatory school with over 530 students, making it one of the largest Jewish Day Schools in the nation. 

Both Irving and his future wife, Rachel (Rochelle), were born in Poland and educated in a Tarbut (culture) school, one of many that flourished throughout Europe in the late 1930's. By June of 1941, Nazi terror had come to their town, Hosht. Irving, along with his entire immediate family and his friend, Rachel, spent the next 16 months in hiding, in a hole under the floor of a Ukrainian woman's farm. By the sheer force of his personality and his gift for making visions come to fruition, Irving rose above the struggles of the Holocaust and arrived in the United States in 1946 with only $5.60 in his pocket. After marrying his sweetheart, Rochelle, they settled in New Jersey, started a family and a successful textile business. Irving saved his children’s Jewish day school, Yavneh Academy, from financial and political disasters and became known as Mr. Yavneh.  After selling his business, all of the Gelmans moved to Orange County, California. As a true visionary, along with his belief in Jewish education, Irving created Tarbut V’Torah, naming it after the schools in Europe. He added the Torah part to ensure that a Torah based Jewish theology would always be seen as the essential element of his school. Irving will be remembered as a charismatic leader, "Papa" to all, and a messenger of quality Jewish education to Orange County, earned by his uncompromising persistence and determination. Having lost his daughter Naomi in 1989 when she was 38 years old; his grandson, Joshua Joseph in 1993 when he was 7 years old; and his son, Glenn in 2014 when he was 60, he was no stranger to the trials of life. Yet, he always had a smile, a story and his great sense of humor.
Irving is survived by his wife of 70 years, Rochelle; his son-in-law, Lou Weiss and many devoted grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. 


Irving "Papa" Gelman, was an incredibly special mensch, and truly one of a kind. His legacy will continue for many generations to come. Papa Gelman, Chai, Chai, v'Kayam (Papa Gelman lives and endures).
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TVT Community Day School is a TK-12 Independent Community Day School in Irvine, CA
Founded in Loving Memory of Naomi Gelman Weiss