Sulam Gala 2023 Honorees: Debra & Dennis Berman

Dennis and Debra married in August, 2007. They are known for their philanthropy, which includes the once-every-four-years Mission to Israel undertaken by the entire high school of Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy. Dennis and Debra have been committed to making the strong attempt that every Sulam student should be able to join the trip, and they have provided funds for shadows and almost anything requested to make sure that each Sulam student can attend. B”H, over the six MJBHA Missions to Israel, almost every Sulam student has been able to attend! Dennis and Debra have dedicated to the memory of their parents - Melvin & Helene Berman and Manny and Naomi Sands - the English translation editions of ArtScroll Yerushalmi Bava Metzia as well as a volume of ArtScroll’s English edition of Ein Yaakov. Dennis and Debra are also significant supporters of Chabad of Potomac, Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem and Washington, Yeshiva of Greater Washington, Torah School, Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy, and many other institutions. Dennis and Debra have also served on numerous boards of various organizations.

Dennis Berman has lived his entire life in Maryland, growing up between Baltimore and Washington, and has been living in Potomac since 1983. Dennis graduated from Cornell University in 1971 with a BS in Electrical Engineering then again in 1973 with an MBA.

Dennis is a ba’al teshuva, having become observant at the age of 33. From knowing virtually nothing Jewishly, Dennis has celebrated, as a participant, twice completing Shas (to the level of familiarity) along with his sons Jeff, Brian, and Yehoshua plus his son-in-law, Moshe, as well as other family members and friends. Presently, Dennis is in the process of learning Talmud Yerushalmi on schedule to complete Shas for the third time along with the next siyum HaShas scheduled for 2027.

Dennis is a General Partner of Berman Enterprises which is a family owned, three generation real estate business founded by his father Melvin Berman, and his Uncle, Wolford Berman, continued by Dennis and his cousin, Gary, and now in the third generation with all three of Gary’s children - Kevin, Adam, and Casey -along with three of Dennis’ six children - Jeff, Brian, and Ben.

Both Dennis and Gary specialized in building projects which they conceived, often designed, and general contracted themselves as well as being their own on-site supervisors.  Over 35 years ago, Dennis along with Gary Berman and Michael Epstein, Dennis’ brother-in-law, joined Jeffrey Cohen - the CEO - in the formation of Beco Management, a real estate development and management firm. Dennis also served on the Board of Trustees of Federal Realty Investment Trust for 15 years.

For Dennis, his construction experience led to his second “career” as the master builder of Orthodox Day Schools.   In 1998/99, Dennis designed, general contracted and supervised - along with his construction assistant, Sharon Baratt - the reconstruction of the vandalized and partially destroyed Peary High School into the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy.  This was followed by a reconstruction of the Belt School to Yeshiva High School, Girls Division and Torah School.   When Montgomery County wanted the Belt School back, Dennis along with Jeffrey Cohen was instrumental in the reconstruction of the Montgomery Hills School into the present Yeshiva Girls and Torah School netting a significant profit to the Yeshiva that paid off the Yeshiva’s debt as well as providing funding for the expansion of the Yeshiva Arcola Avenue building.

Debra was born in New York and raised in California. She was an intelligence officer for the CIA and worked in counter terrorism her last three years at the agency. She became a ba’al teshuva at age 40. She has been involved in Jewish outreach and in-reach in both the Los Angeles and greater Washington communities. Through her actives on the board of EMET, Hasbara Fellowships and other organizations, she has shown a deep commitment to promoting a strong US-Israel relationship and is an advocate for pro-Israel policies. Debra is also an advisor to the organization, In Shifra's Arms, an organization that provides counseling and support to pregnant Jewish women as an alternative to abortion.

Dennis and Debra reside in Potomac in a family compound with Brian and Dafna Berman and six grandchildren on one side; Dr. Moshe and Naomi Chinn and four grandchildren directly across the street; and Dr. Saul and Beatriz Yanovich - their machatunim - next door on the other side. Besides their time in Potomac, Dennis and Debra spend a great deal of time in Israel where they own a home in the Old City and visit often with Rabbi Yehoshua and Elliana Berman and six grandchildren in Ramat Beit Shemesh.

They often visit Florida where the rest of the children and grandchildren live: Jeff and Cori Berman and their two children in West Palm Beach; plus Ben and Elizabeth Berman and four grandchildren along with Chavie and Jordan Lichtenberg and two grandchildren in Miami Beach.

They have traveled much of the world together visiting all Seven continents including Antarctica. Dennis and Debra are also known to head out on a moment's notice with Dennis flying them in his plane to anywhere in the Continental USA.  Dennis and Debra are particularly proud of their oldest grandchild - Eitan - who has just joined the Israel Defense Forces.