When Yeshiva Har Torah fifth-grader Georgie Gelnick won a raffle’s “Principal for the Day” prize, she chose principles over parties by requesting from Mrs. Sara Duani, Interim Associate Principal, that the school host Boots for Israel for one of its popular “Sole-idarity” boot-packing events. Most students would have opted for recess, screening movies in the auditorium, or pizza and ice cream parties, noted BFI founder Yakir Wachstock during a brief interview with the busy “new principal.”
For Principal Gelnick, however, the pursuit of chesed comes as naturally as walking, and is even in her genes. Georgie is the great-granddaughter of distinguished philanthropists Eugen and Jean Gluck (z”l). Not only did she honor her lineage by following in their colossal footsteps, she also held the event on the anniversary of her great-grandmother’s yahrzeit. The couple rose from the ashes of Auschwitz to become a testament to the American Dream and, most notably, a credit to the Jewish People by helping others’ dreams come to fruition.
The bar has been set quite high for Georgie by her entire family: the Glucks, as well as Peyser/Rifkin families, who are devoted pillars of the global Jewish community and champions of chesed enterprises like Boots for Israel. Their collective legacy of altruism demonstrates that descendants stand upon the shoulders of their ancestors not to merely remain idle, but to continue walking in their ways.
The event itself was a success, but the meaning with which Georgie imbued her time in charge reflects the ideal image toward which the Jewish people strive. “Because one of you was able to do this, every one of you has the power to do this,” Principal Duani told the entire fifth grade. Even though the event was initially supposed to be exclusive to girls, Mrs. Duani decided to include the entire grade in order to honor the insight and share the inspiration of Georgie’s decision. Is there a better way to generate the aliyah of a soul than by protecting the feet of the protectors of Israel?
Echoing this sentiment, when asked by Yakir if she wanted to record a message how others can help am Yisrael, Georgie replied in the spirit of her great-grandparents: “If you really want to help, go for it. Don’t let anyone say you can’t do it, because you definitely can.” Almost a century earlier, young Eugen Gluck faced the horrors of Auschwitz and made a vow: “I’m going to survive this. And I’m going to show you how human beings are supposed to treat each other.”
Addressing the assembly, Georgie may have become Principal Duani’s competition when replacing homework with the “assignment” of making someone else smile. With the thunderous cheering from Georgie’s classmates that shook the YHT lunchroom, where the 220 boots-packing event took place, it was evident that she received an A for the day.
For more information on volunteering or hosting your own event, please visit www.bootsforisrael.com. For donations and sponsorship opportunities, go to thechesedfund.com/bootsontheground/bootsforisrael. Also, follow our trail on Instagram @bootsforisrael, Facebook page, or email us directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
By Jeremy Uliss
