$10 million latest gift from Leonard and Lynne Barrack raises their giving to school to $25 million

Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy has received a $10 million gift from the Barrack Family Foundation, a contribution that has allowed the Jewish day school to purchase a significant portion of the Schwartz Campus from the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.

The move marks the largest single donation in the school’s history, securing its physical footprint for decades to come.

The purchase marks the end of years of leasing for the academy, which has been the largest tenant on the 35-acre property since 2008.

The newly acquired section includes two buildings, tennis courts, and a soccer field, and will be renamed the Leonard & Lynne Barrack Campus for Jewish Life.

School leaders described the gift as transformative. “This is a huge milestone in our school’s history,” said Jonathan Zabusky, co-president of the board.

“Owning our campus gives us the autonomy to chart our future and the flexibility to plan long-term.” Head of School Rabbi Marshall Lesack said the acquisition reflects shared values between the school and its longtime supporters.

“This gift is about ensuring we can continue to educate future Jewish leaders and strengthen the community,” he said.

Leonard Barrack, whose family foundation has now contributed more than $25 million to the school, said he and his wife, Lynne, were motivated by a deep personal connection. “The school’s future is aligned with Jewish values and learning,” he said.

Founded in 1946 as Akiba Hebrew Academy, the school was renamed in 2007 in honor of Leonard Barrack’s late brother, Jack.

Barrack Hebrew Academy serves students in grades six through twelve and is recognized as the nation’s first pluralistic Jewish secondary day school.

The acquisition also supports the Jewish Federation, which will redirect resources from the sale to broader programs serving the Greater Philadelphia community.

For Barrack, the shift from tenant to owner positions the school to invest in facility upgrades, expand academic and extracurricular offerings, and move forward with a recently launched multi-year strategic plan.

“This gift secures our future,” Rabbi Lesack said. “It gives us the foundation to grow, to innovate, and to ensure that generations of students will continue to thrive.”

Leonard and Lynne Barrack are recognized as among the leading Jewish philanthropists in Pennsylvania, with a focus on giving primarily in the Philadelphia area and to Jewish organizations, while also contributing nationally and internationally.