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Benjamin Rothman’s life took him fromUngvar in Hungary, where he
was born in 1927, to the Auschwitz death camp, where he was deported
at the age of sixteen, along with his brothers, to Cochabamba in Bolivia,
where he emigrated after the Holocaust. Despite succeeding in busi-
ness and being a pillar of the small Jewish community in Cochabamba,
Rothman throughout his life kept a low profile, while donating to Jewish
education both in Israel and Latin America. When he passed away in
2011, his family was determined to commemorate his memory in a
fitting way.
“Benjamin and his brothers were scarred for life fromwhat they had
experienced as young men in the camps” says his niece Ruth Nagiel.
“After they arrived in Bolivia they worked very hard to rebuild their
lives, but they were also dedicated to the Jewish community and felt it
was important to donate to Israel, especially to help children. Benjamin
had a huge affinity with children, especially those facing challenges.
He never forgot how he and his family had faced terrible challenges”.
The connection between Rothman’s relatives and the new school was
natural. “They wanted to donate to a project in Israel that would help
the weakest children” says Singer. “We were there to ensure that their
money could be put to the best use and make this the most innovative
educational venture”.
In early 2014, the education ministry started construction of the new
school on the Kadoorie campus and the educational team, bolstered by
the legacy of Benjamin Rothman, began building its vision.
“Benjamin Rothman had a huge affinity with children, especially those facing
challenges. He never forgot how he and his family had faced terrible challenges”.
the connection between Benjamin’s Rothman’s relatives and the new school
was natural.
Ruth Nagiel, Rothman’s niece
A legacy of devotion to children