The JGC is inspired by the life and legacy of Dr. Judith Grunfeld, née Rosenbaum (1902 - 1998), the formidable teacher, headmistress, and right-hand woman to Sarah Schenirer during the nascent stages of the Bais Yaakov Movement in Kraków, Poland. While critical to the movement's success as an educator, administrator, and fundraiser, Grunfeld eventually went on to revolutionize Jewish education beyond Kraków. After fleeing Nazi Germany with her husband in 1934, the couple settled in England, with Dr. Grunfeld becoming headmistress of the Jewish Secondary School in London founded by Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Schonfeld. It was there that Rabbi Schonfeld and Dr. Grunfeld evacuated and cared for hundreds of Jewish children during WWII and the devastating Blitz of London.

Building on the Shoulders of Giants

With many of the children having been rescued from the Nazi inferno in mainland Europe, the vast majority never saw their parents again. Grunfeld's dedication to klal Yisroel at its darkest hour exemplifies the power of frum women to sustain and uplift their communities through Torah.  At the Judith Grunfeld Center, it is our mission to provide women and girls with the opportunity to empower themselves and others in the same way. In building our community, we aim to instill a strong sense of belonging and responsibility for one another, a deep appreciation for our past and a shared commitment to Klal Yisroel's future.