Dr. Felix Glaubach speaking at NCSY StaffCon in 2019. Photo: Josh Weinberg
Dr. Felix Glaubach, a visionary philanthropist and dedicated supporter of Jewish youth, passed away this past December at the age of ninety-three. His legacy is deeply intertwined with NCSY’s Shevet Glaubach Fellowship, a program that exemplifies his commitment to nurturing future Jewish leaders.
“Felix was gregarious and outspoken in business and in social settings, all of which dovetailed remarkably with the big dreams he dreamt for the Jewish people through his philanthropy,” said Rabbi Micah Greenland, international director, NCSY.
A generous contributor to NCSY, among other Jewish causes, Dr. Glaubach has said investing in NCSY “is the best investment we (Miriam and I) can make to continue and perpetuate Jewish traditions.”
An orthodontist who embarked on a midlife career change and became a successful co-founder of a home care agency, Dr. Glaubach lived in Bal Harbour, Florida, with his wife Miriam. They were supporters of Yeshiva University, Shaare Tzedek Hospital and the Miriam Glaubach Center at Nishmat, among other important causes.
The Glaubachs’ commitment to the fellowship was truly a family affair.
With a record-breaking $5 million donation in 2019, the Glaubachs established the Shevet Glaubach Fellows program, an NCSY initiative designed to train the next generation of Jewish leaders. The program “quickly became a cornerstone of NCSY’s efforts to empower young adults,” said Rabbi Greenland. “Through Shevet Glaubach, hundreds of collegiate leaders have gained skills and a sense of responsibility for the spiritual vibrancy of North American Jewish communities, in turn impacting tens of thousands of Jewish teens and the communities in which they live.”
Since its inception, the Shevet Glaubach Fellowship has expanded from two NCSY regions to all ten regions across North America, engaged over 350 fellows and placed fellows in forty-five communities.
“Each year,” Rabbi Greenland said, Dr. Glaubach “made it a point together with his wife to personally address the participants, sharing his wisdom and experiences.”
The Glaubachs’ commitment to the fellowship was truly a family affair. Felix and Miriam involved their six children—Baruch, Esther, Tammy, Shulamit, Simeon and Yonatan—in every aspect of the project’s planning and development. Some of the Glaubach children joined the project’s advisory board, ensuring their parents’ vision would continue for years to come.
“Felix was over ninety when we first met,” said OU President Mitchel Aeder. “Yet, in each of our discussions about Shevet Glaubach (and business and politics and world affairs), he was sharp, feisty and passionate. He was especially passionate about Jewish youth and the Jewish future. May Hashem grant nechamah to Miriam, and to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”
Steve Lipman is a frequent contributor to Jewish Action.