At Smith Jewish Academy, acts of generosity often begin with a simple question: How can I help?

For SJA parents Colette Friedenson and Tslil Shtulsaft, that question has been passed down across generations — and now, it is helping open the doors of a Jewish education for a new kindergartner.

The newly established Anne and Bernie Shom Scholarship honors the life and legacy of Colette’s grandparents, Anne and Bernie Shom, longtime pillars of the Uptown community and owners of Rex Hardware for more than 60 years. Known for their humility, warmth, sense of humor, and deep commitment to helping others, Anne and Bernie built a life defined not by recognition, but by quiet, consistent acts of generosity.

After Bernie’s passing in 1983, Anne continued to run the hardware store well into her 80s — a testament to her resilience, independence, and strength. She was known not only for her work ethic, but for her compassion: hiring employees from recovery programs, supporting those in need of a second chance, and always finding ways to give, no matter how modest the means. As her family reflects, giving was simply part of who she was, whether it was a small check sent faithfully each year or opening her home to anyone who needed a place at the table.

That spirit of generosity lives on through her family — and now, through this scholarship.

In the same spirit of living Jewish values through action and community, Colette’s mother, Beverly Thorne, has become a devoted teacher at Smith Jewish Academy, continuing the family’s longstanding commitment to Jewish learning and connection.

Created as a tribute to Anne and Bernie’s values, the fund will provide tuition support for a kindergarten student at Smith Jewish Academy, helping ensure that more families can access the kind of education that shapes strong Jewish identity, community connection, and lifelong belonging.

For the family, this gift is not about recognition; it is about continuation.

Anne did not have the opportunity to receive a Jewish day school education herself. But she believed deeply in Jewish life, in family, and in community. Supporting Smith Jewish Academy felt like a natural extension of those values — an extension of home. As her family shared, “just because she’s not here doesn’t mean she can’t keep doing the work she was already doing.”

That idea — of legacy not as something remembered but as something actively lived — sits at the heart of this scholarship.

Today, Anne and Bernie’s great-grandchildren are part of the Smith community. They are growing up in the kind of environment their great-grandparents would have cherished: one rooted in learning, connection, and Jewish life. And through this scholarship, that circle widens, making it possible for another child and family to experience the same sense of belonging.

In a school that so often feels like an extension of home for its families, the Anne and Bernie Shom Scholarship is a powerful reminder that generosity, when lived and shared, can ripple far beyond a single lifetime.

The Anne and Bernie Shom Scholarship is a powerful reminder that a family's values can continue to make a difference for generations. Through this fund, Anne and Bernie's legacy of generosity, community, and Jewish commitment will help future students access a Smith Jewish Academy education.

If you have been considering a meaningful way to honor a loved one, celebrate a family legacy, or support the future of Jewish education, we would welcome the opportunity to talk with you about creating a scholarship, endowment fund, or other named gift at Smith.

To learn more, contact Director of Development Kiel Majewski.

Honor the people who shaped your life by helping shape the lives of future Smith students.