Making History: A Portrait of a Three-Generation Family
In 1972, Beth Ginsburg Kopin proudly became a member of the third graduating class of Solomon Schechter Day School. She was part of a small but pioneering group of students and families who embraced the lasting impact of a Jewish day school education. Decades later, her 5-year-old granddaughter Noa, the daughter of Samantha Kopin Silverman (‘02) and Yoni Silverman (Schechter Boston ‘02), steps into Schechter each day as a bright and eager Kindergarten student — making the Ginsburg-Kopins one of the first families in the school’s history to span three generations.
Beth’s family was part of Schechter’s earliest chapter. Her older brother, Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg, graduated in Schechter’s first class in 1970. Their parents, Marvell z”l and Stanley z”l Ginsburg, were visionaries who championed a then-radical idea: full-time Jewish day school education. “My parents got a lot of pushback,” Beth recalls. “But after the Holocaust, they were passionate about rebuilding Jewish pride, identity, and love of Israel. My grandparents, who were deeply connected to the Zionist movement, also saw Jewish education as critical to preserving our Jewish heritage.”
Beth’s earliest memories of Schechter are interwoven with the school’s journey of growth and transformation. “I started at Schechter when it was still housed at Beth Hillel,” she says. “Then we moved to Beth El, and finally to the Lee Road campus. I’ll never forget how dazzlingly modern the Lee Road campus felt compared to the other spaces!”
Her class was small but vibrant with seven girls and 13 boys. Among her classmates was Ari, who decades later would become one of her machatunim (in-laws) when Beth’s daughter, Samantha (‘02), married Ari’s son, Yoni. “Talk about coming full circle!” Beth laughs. Reflecting on those years, she shares, “Schechter wasn’t just a school for me; it was who I was as a Jew. Walking through those doors, I immediately felt at home. I didn’t have to take off my Jewish hat; it was a place where I belonged.”
Beth’s journey after Schechter included public high school, however she never forgot the foundation Schechter provided. “It was such a unique environment,” she says. “I missed the close-knit community and the way my Jewish values were reinforced every day.”
When Beth married Jeff Kopin, sending their children to Schechter wasn’t just a preference — it was a non-negotiable decision. “Before we got married, I told Jeff that our kids had to go to Schechter,” she says. “Not only did he agree, but he became an integral part of the Schechter community, serving on the board and eventually becoming board president.”
Today, Beth feels immense pride as the Schechter legacy continues with Noa. “We’re thrilled that Samantha and Yoni made the choice to continue the Schechter tradition,” she says. “And seeing Noa thrive here is so gratifying.”
She’s especially thrilled that the Ginsburg Early Childhood Center — named in memory of her parents — has found a new home at Schechter’s Northbrook Campus.
“I think this is a pivotal moment in Schechter’s history,” she says. “Starting the connection to Schechter at such a young age creates a solid foundation for the future. It’s incredible to see the energy and vibrancy of this campus and community.”
Over the past six and a half decades, Beth has watched Solomon Schechter Day School grow into a leading institution in Chicago’s Jewish community. She and Jeff take great pride in supporting the school’s fundraising efforts. “It’s inspiring to see how Schechter has stayed true to its core values and nurturing environment while evolving into a cutting-edge, 21st-century learning environment.”
For Beth, Schechter is much more than a school — it’s a lifelong commitment to identity, continuity, and the Jewish people. Through her children — Gabriel (‘00), Samantha (‘02), and Brett (‘05)— and now her granddaughter Noa and Noa’s brother and sister Elan and Romi, the Ginsburg Kopin family story is a testament to the enduring power of a Schechter education and the bright future it builds.
*Are you a multi-generational family? We would love to share your story. Please contact tami.warshawsky@schechter.org
