Glenda Mendelsohn was born in Fayetteville, NC and grew up in a very close knit small Jewish community. Even though there were only 4 Jewish kids her age in the community, her parents and extended family stressed the importance of Judaism and Jewish life in their one Synagogue. After graduating from college and spending a little time back home in Fayetteville, Glenda decided to move to NYC to attend social work school at Yeshiva University and find her place among a larger Jewish community. Glenda was determined to broaden her relationships with Jewish people and she looked at NYC as the ideal place to accomplish that call.
Glenda lived in NYC for 14 years. She received her MSW from Wurzweilier School of Social Work and a Post-graduate certificate in Couples and Family Therapy from the Ackerman Institute for the Family. She also met her husband, Michael Clagett while in the program at Ackerman and became pregnant with their one daughter, Emily. While in NYC, Glenda worked with Jewish elderly in a variety of settings and enjoyed a very rich, enlightening Jewish life as a member of the vibrant B’Nai Jeshurun Congregation. Glenda and Michael felt particularly at home in the inspiring musical environment of BJ.
After moving to NJ and then Pa., Glenda and Michael wanted to find a new Jewish home/synagogue. They first joined Congregation Beth El in Yardley, but decided to relocate to Adath Israel when Emily was beginning 3rd grade. Emily had spent her early years at Abrams Hebrew Academy and Solomon Schechter Day School. But by 3rd grade she was in public school, and while Glenda and Michael enjoy numerous friendships with people in the Beth El community, they ultimately felt that Adath would be a good place spiritually and educationally for the family. They were particularly attracted to Adath’s inclusiveness and its emphasis on community engagement.
At Adath Glenda has been engaged in several community activities. She was a member of the School Board and of the Adult Education committee, under Beverly Rubman’s leadership. Glenda is a member of Women’s League and has co-chaired the Afternoon Tea for a number of years. She enjoys her yearly role as Coordinator of the One Book One Jewish Community Program and through these activities has made very valuable friendships at Adath.
In 2007 Glenda and Michael completed their two year course of study with Rabbi Grossman and enjoyed celebrating their B’Nai Mitzvah along with 5 other classmates. That same year Emily celebrated her wonderful Bat Mitzvah, which was a very special moment in this family’s life.
This year, inspired by her dear friend, Beverly Rubman, Glenda is helping to create and develop the Bikor Cholim committee. They hope that this committee made up of active volunteers will meet the needs of congregants who are sick or home bound and can benefit from acts of caring. Glenda is also serving on the Board of Trustees and is honored to be in this position and very appreciative to be a Torah Fund Honoree this year.