Repairing the World, One House at a Time:

Spotlight on RTMC Board Member and Team Captain, Roger Rothman

Back in 1992, Roger Rothman read a notice in the Temple Beth Ami bulletin: ”Volunteers needed to repair a house for elderly resident in DC”.  With little home repair experience but a strong sense of the Jewish value of “Tikkun Olam – Repairing the World”, Roger volunteered.  He has been repairing the world, one house at a time, ever since.

Roger fondly recalls that first project.  He and several of his teammates from the Temple pulled out kitchen cabinets and replaced them with new ones, painted the walls and cleaned out debris, while others fixed leaking pipes and faulty electrical systems.  “It was a really good experience”, said Roger.  Many enthusiastic and committed volunteers—men and women of all ages, only some highly skilled in home repair—came together to transform the dilapidated row house into a safe and welcoming home.

The feeling of teamwork and accomplishment that Roger experienced from his first project ignited his passion to continue to serve the community.  He has been involved in home repair projects for elderly and disabled, low-income homeowners ever since, and has accepted greater responsibilities each year, including: Project Day House Captain; RTMC Project Organization Committee; RTMC Board of Directors, and is currently serving as Vice President of the organization.  Not only does Roger generously donate his time, he is also a strong financial supporter of the organization, and encourages others to support the mission of RTMC through monetary donations. 

Lee Sutherland (Board President, left) and

Roger Rothman (Vice President, right) at our House Captains training.

 Jayme Epstein, Community Outreach Coordinator of Yachad, a nonprofit organization that mobilizes synagogues to participate in the annual home repair programs of Rebuilding Together said, “ Roger is extremely dedicated to the program.  He’s been the leader of Temple Beth Ami’s program for many years, enabling the synagogue to take on many big, complex projects”.  Last year, the combined team from Temple Beth Ami and Shaare Torah, which Roger co-captained, refurbished the Aspen Hill home of an older, partially paralyzed woman.  This volunteer project included:  building a wheelchair ramp and boardwalk, replacing a fence, installing grab bars, improving the plumbing and electrical systems, replacing gutters and an awning, patching a ceiling, painting and landscaping.  The homeowner was delighted that she could now live in a home that was wheelchair accessible, secure and comfortable.   As Roger recalled, “At the end of the day, the homeowner was in tears as she thanked the volunteers for their efforts”.

In the many years that Roger has led his synagogue’s project teams, he has always been struck by the difference his teams make in the homes--and lives—of the people they have helped in the community.  “It is very satisfying to walk through a home at the end of a project.  I think through all the things the team planned and then I see the new ramp we built or the new sink and faucet we installed and I know we have changed this person’s life for the better.   The homeowners are so appreciative of what the team has done for them, they respond with tears and hugs for everyone.”  Roger calls this moment “love-in time” and it’s what keeps him leading projects, house by house, year after year.