By Melanie Ross Levin, Life and Legacy Manager at Jewish Federation of Delaware
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For Peter and Suzy Grumbacher, Jewish legacy is not simply about remembering the past—it is about taking responsibility for the future. The Grumbachers have called Delaware home for more than five decades. Rabbi Peter Grumbacher, Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Beth Emeth, came to Delaware in 1972 after studying and being ordained at Hebrew Union College. During his years of rabbinical leadership, he devoted himself to guiding Jewish life and community.
Their story—and their “why”—is rooted in memory, resilience, and hope.
For Peter, the object he chose to highlight in the My Why campaign was an American flag.
The flag was presented to his family at his father’s funeral in recognition of his military service. It is a symbol of both survival and gratitude.
Peter’s father survived imprisonment in Dachau before immigrating to the United States. Soon after arriving, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and proudly served his adopted country.
“My father fought the very evil people who murdered his mother and two sisters, in addition to the six million other Jews who died in the Holocaust,” Peter shared.
Holding the folded flag, Peter reflected on the legacy his father left behind.
“I became a rabbi in part because I wanted to do what I could to secure the future of the Jewish people,” he said. “Though my father and I took different paths, our hearts went in the same direction.”
For Suzy, her Jewish journey and commitment to Hadassah began during a formative year spent in Israel while Peter studied at Hebrew Union College. By the end of that year, she had fallen in love with both Israel and Hadassah.
Her “why” includes her Hadassah Leadership Award certificate and collection of Hadassah pins—symbols of decades of service and advocacy.
Together, Peter and Suzy have witnessed significant changes in Jewish life. Yet, rather than discouragement, those realities reinforce their commitment to strengthening the organizations and institutions that remain.
“A Jewish legacy is important not only in terms of numbers,” Peter reflected, “but also in various means of impacting tomorrow’s community.”
Their message is both timeless and urgent: “Jewish community matters because we are one people responsible for one another.”
As part of the My Why campaign, Peter and Suzy remind us that legacy is not simply what we leave behind—it is what we help build today for generations still to come.
