Mothers Lead the Way: Leaving a Legacy

Motherhood is powerful.

As a mother, you try to set a good example for your children by being the best role model you can be.

One special mother we would like to highlight is Glenda Krongold, longtime member of Beth David Congregation and mother to four amazing women. She is a change-maker and leader in the Jewish community who takes great pride in her philanthropic work with JAFCO, her role as a mother and grandmother, and her position as a longtime supporter of Beth David and The Center for Jewish Life project. Read on to learn about Glenda’s role as a community leader as well as a few words from her daughters Randi Lawrence, Robbie Cohen, Loren Kaiserman and Allison Sokol on how the legacy she created has influenced them and their children.

Interview with Glenda Krongold:

Q: When did you join the congregation and why Beth David? What life cycles did you celebrate here? 

A: We became a part of Beth David Congregation about 14 years ago when we moved from Kendall to Miami Beach. It became our Jewish home where we celebrated all of the cycles of life beginning with baby naming. I was brought up in the Conservative movement and although Beth David isn't officially Conservative, it definitely works for me and my family. The rabbi is the heart of the synagogue and there’s nobody better than Rabbi Jacobs. Not only is she a wonderful rabbi and cantor, but she is a truly caring and compassionate leader. Beth David is lucky to have her. I believe that when The Center for Jewish Life is compiled it will attract so many families on so many levels. 

Q: It’s very difficult nowadays for anyone to lead a Jewish life. A lot of people are walking away from being observant. How did you navigate that with your children? How did you raise them so that as adults they wanted to continue to lead a Jewish life?

A: My husband Ronnie and I worked very hard to instill in our four daughters the importance of being proud of their Jewish Heritage. We believed that educating our family through our home and through our family life was an important first step. We observed all the traditions of the holidays. Our Shabbat dinners were special. It was something to look forward to every week. It was a time to invite their friends. Dinner could be very untraditional; each daughter taking turns picking any meal they wanted and they were allowed to go out after dinner. This worked successfully for us. 

We had many conversations about the importance of being a Jew. Ronnie, recently deceased, showed our children, by example, the importances of the survival of the Jewish people. His leadership involvement with Israel Bonds and his serving 11 years on the the United States Holocaust Memorial Council in Washington were just two of the many ways that he served as a model for our children and grandchildren. 

Q: Can you tell me more about your involvement in JAFCO, the Jewish Identity Fund you created, and the positive example it has helped set for your children and community?

A: JAFCO plays an important role in our family. JAFCO is the only Jewish organization in the country for Jewish abandoned and neglected children. We have established a Jewish Identity Foundation in honor of our children and grandchildren to send the children helped by JAFCO to attend high school in Israel, and to go on Birthright Israel and March of the Living journeys. 

Q: What is the best part of being a mother? A grandmother? 

A: I believe a good mother teaches by love and by example. I couldn’t be more proud of the four wonderful mothers my daughters have become. Not only great mothers but the most wonderful daughters any mother could hope for. This is what motherhood is all about. It doesn’t get any better. And with my awesome 14 grandchildren, I’m going to be the best grandmother, or as they refer to me as, the best “Mum.”

Interview with Randi Krongold, Robbie Cohen, Loren Krongold and Allison Sokol:

Q: What are some of the best lessons you’ve learned from your mom? 

Randi: Always have your sisters’ backs. When someone is in need, do whatever you can to help them, be empathetic and compassionate to others (especially on Jewish holidays), never go to bed mad, and put family first - ALWAYS.

Allison: Some of the best lessons that I have learned from my mom include: have great strength during the hardest of times; use patience, even in the most challenging of situations; and be present, as she has always and continues to be there for us to listen, give advice, and help in anyway she can no matter what is going on in her own life. She is the most unselfish person I have ever met.

Q: What were some of the takeaways you have from watching your mom lead the way in the Jewish community? 

Loren: That you can lead even when you are overwhelmed with raising your kids and taking care of your family. 

Robbie: My mom inspires me to be a better mother. Her advice is almost always the right advice. She plays an important role in my life and my kids' lives. Her role in Jewish community is inspiring to my kids and myself.

Q: How did your mom inspire you to embrace your Jewish heritage?

Allison: We grew up with parents who led by example and instilled in my sisters and me a strong sense of the importance of being proud of our Jewish identity and supporting Israel. This is so much a part of who we are, because of our parents.

Randi: By sending us to Hebrew school, having a bat mitzvah and confirmation, having Shabbat dinners and making sure we practiced all the Jewish traditions and rituals. My sisters and I got a gift every night of Chanukah which was always so fun!

Q: Motherhood is powerful. Can you share a memory and quote from your mom that embodies her as a role model to you and your children? 

Randi: Be a parent first and then your child’s friend. Never make fun of someone's weakness and always be compassionate.

Robbie: Having my mom as a role model is one of the most powerful things. She influenced the direction of myself and my children’s character. She passes on the values you want your children to adopt.

Loren: I can't remember a quote but her strength is something that I can only hope to achieve and teach my children.

Q: Can you tell me about her participation in organizations or causes that have effected positive change in the community and the world? 

Robbie: My mother is President of JAFCO for Miami Beach. My parents started a fund at JAFCO to send kids to high school in Israel and on Birthright trips. Not only does it help raise money but she gets involved on a different level. She has taken a group from JAFCO to Parrot Jungle and continues to help the organization in any way she can. I would say, she has made this world a better place.

Allison: When Israel Bonds New Leadership began in Miami, my mom and dad would have meetings and events in our house, recruiting members and communicating to them the importance of buying Israel bonds to support the State of Israel. Their multi-year efforts in growing the New Leadership Division of Israel Bonds resulted in substantial investments being made in the State of Israel, including investments by governmental entities like the State of Florida. Their efforts have had a material and lasting impact on the financial viability of the state of Israel. In addition to this work on Israel Bonds, my mom was instrumental in building The Dave and Mary Alper Jewish community Center in South Miami-Dade County. This was another effort that left a lasting positive impact on our local Jewish community. Another important initiative that my mom was passionate about was the creation of the Krongold Family Jewish Identity Endowment Fund, which was set up to provide funds so that the children of JAFCO could attend The Alexandra Muss High School in Israel Program, March of the Living and other programs intended to solidify their Jewish identity and give them the important experience of visiting the State of Israel.

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