Thirty-six years ago, in 1990, Rabbi David and Shulamit Ginsburg arrived in Columbus with their two young children, Yeshayahu, born in Eretz Yisrael, and Avigayil, just two weeks old. What began with Rabbi Ginsburg accepting a position as a Rebbe at Columbus Torah Academy would become nearly four decades of extraordinary leadership, dedication, and service to the Columbus Jewish community.

Foundations of Torah and Community

Rabbi Ginsburg was raised in Silver Spring, Maryland, in a home deeply rooted in Torah and communal responsibility. He attended the Yeshiva of Greater Washington before continuing his studies at Yeshiva Har Etzion in Eretz Yisrael, where he was profoundly influenced by his revered Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein, zt"l. He later earned a Bachelor's degree from Touro College, an MBA from New York University, and Semicha from Yeshiva University.

Shulamit grew up in Staten Island, New York, where her parents helped found the local Young Israel and instilled in her a lifelong love of Torah, education, and Eretz Yisrael. After studying at Michlalah in Jerusalem, where she earned a teaching certificate, she completed her Bachelor's degree in Judaic Studies at Stern College. Deeply involved in B'nai Akiva, she shared her family's passion for Israel, where she and David met, married, and welcomed their first child.

A Life of Service

After his first year teaching at Columbus Torah Academy, Rabbi Ginsburg later returned for eight years to teach an advanced Gemara shiur, inspiring a generation of serious Torah learners.

Alongside his educational work, Rabbi Ginsburg independently prepared for the rigorous CPA examinations while working full-time, passing them with distinction. For the past 33 years, he has served at Smith Tandy under the leadership of Eddie Friedman and Michael Weisz, z"l, exemplifying the ideal of Torah im Derech Eretz.

Yet perhaps Rabbi Ginsburg's greatest contribution cannot be measured by any single title.

For more than three decades, he has been one of the quiet pillars upon which Ahavas Sholom has stood. As our devoted Gabbai, Baal Koreh, and guardian of the shul's zmanim, he has approached every responsibility with meticulous care, humility, and unwavering consistency. A respected Talmid Chacham, he faithfully delivers a daily Gemara shiur, leads Daf Yomi, and has ensured that the Mishna Yomi program after Shacharis continues every single day.

Beyond the responsibilities everyone sees, Rabbi Ginsburg has faithfully safeguarded the cherished minhagim and traditions of Ahavas Sholom. He has quietly made sure that Kaddish is recited for every yahrzeit, that every tefillah is conducted with care and dignity, and that the countless details that give a shul its unique character are never overlooked.

Through periods of transition, he has been a steady source of continuity, preserving the mesorah of Ahavas Sholom and faithfully passing the torch from one Rav to the next. Whether welcoming a new rabbi, filling the gap between rabbinic leadership, or holding down the fort whenever the Rabbi was away, he ensured that the life of the shul continued seamlessly. Never seeking recognition, he has simply done what needed to be done, with humility, reliability, and quiet devotion.

Long before anyone arrived and long after everyone had gone home, Rabbi Ginsburg was there, making certain that the traditions of Ahavas Sholom would not merely continue, but be lovingly preserved for the next generation.

Shulamit has been an equally indispensable partner in that mission. She taught at Columbus Torah Academy for many years and served as one of its most beloved substitute teachers for over a decade. At Ahavas Sholom, she has been a source of warmth, hospitality, and grace, coordinating countless events and creating an atmosphere that made every member and guest feel at home. Shulamit worked for the Columbus Mikvah for many years. She currently leads a weekly Tehillim Zoom Session for Cholim and those in need of Shidduchim, and she cohosts a twice daily Tehillim Zoom session for Israeli and American soldiers and the general situation in Israel.

Investing in the Next Generation

Recognizing the need for stronger youth engagement during Rabbi Rosenberg's tenure, Rabbi Ginsburg helped establish CAST, a vibrant Teen Minyan that became a cornerstone of Jewish life for countless Columbus teenagers. Together with Ira Nutis and the support of local rabbanim, the program flourished for many years, leaving a lasting impact on an entire generation. The Ginsburg children themselves look back on those years with tremendous pride and fondness.

A Legacy of Family

The Ginsburgs' greatest source of nachas is the remarkable family they have built, each child carrying forward the values of Torah, commitment, and service that define their parents' lives.

• Rabbi Yeshayahu Ginsburg, an accomplished Baal Koreh who, whenever he returns to Columbus, enriches the community by leining at Ahavas Sholom, Torat Emet, and the Torah Center. He is an Academic Advisor at Yeshiva University.
• Dr. Avigayil Rapp, an internist in New York who directs a prominent clinical trials organization while raising four beautiful children.
• Sarah Miriam Weixelbaum, a successful CPA who followed in her father's professional footsteps and is the devoted mother of three.
• Dr. Shoshana Ginsburg, who earned her doctorate in Food Science and now conducts post-doctoral research at the Technion in Haifa after making Aliyah.

Our Tribute

For thirty-six years, Rabbi David and Shulamit Ginsburg have embodied a life of Torah, humility, generosity, and service. Through teaching, learning, leadership, hospitality, and countless unseen acts of chesed, they have strengthened not only Ahavas Sholom but the entire Columbus Jewish community.

There are those whose impact is measured by the moments when everyone is watching.

And then there are those whose greatness is found in the thousands of quiet moments no one sees—the daily acts of dedication that become the very foundation upon which a community stands.

For thirty-six years, Rabbi David and Shulamit Ginsburg have been that foundation.

With profound gratitude and admiration, we thank them for their unwavering devotion, their selfless leadership, and the immeasurable impact they have had on our shul and our community. May Hashem bless them with continued health, happiness, strength, and abundant nachas from their beautiful family, and may they continue to inspire our community for many years to come.