Fay ('43) and Jack ('42) Brickman Endowed/Annual Scholarship

The Brickman Scholarship provides scholarships for students who demonstrate financial need according to the Office of Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs at the College of Charleston. The Brickman Scholarship was created to provide significant supplementary financial aid to a deserving male or female student involved in the Jewish Student Union/Hillel and/or a declared Jewish Studies major or minor.

The Brickman Scholarship is suited to a young man or woman with demonstrated financial need, a desire to achieve scholastically and who – through his or her leadership in community or civic service – has also demonstrated the attributes of character that will reflect positively on the namesakes of the scholarship.

The final decision for awarding of the annual scholarship resides with the Director of the Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program, who may choose to use a nominating or application process to assist in the discernment. Although the intent is to provide the deserving student four years of scholarship support, it is dependent on the student’s on-going need for financial assistance, his/her continued demonstration of a commitment to service and character, and acceptable academic progress.

This scholarship is being established by Tippy Stern Brickman and Fay and Jack Brickman’s children in honor of Fay and Jack Brickman. The scholarship is created to celebrate their parents’ incredible lives, to honor their significant contributions to the family and the community, and to express how much their lives have touched their children, grandchildren, extended family members, and the community.

A love of God, family, learning, and service to others are beliefs imparted to both Fay and Jack by their parents from generation to generation – M’Dor L’Dor – as they worked to provide a better life for their children. Their parents escaped Eastern Europe under the oppressive prejudices and pogroms, and immigrated to America with nothing materially. Their profound faith and strong belief that America would provide unlimited opportunity fueled their hard work and determination.

Fay and Jack, steeled by the examples their parents set and their Jewish faith that teaches optimism in the face of obstacles, endured the economic setbacks brought on by the Depression and fought at home and overseas during World War II in order to preserve the freedoms and way of life cherished by all Americans. After graduating from the College of Charleston (Jack in 1942 and Fay in 1943), they left Charleston for Charlottesville, VA, where Jack graduated at the top of his class from Virginia Law School. Jack and Fay returned to Charleston where they quickly embraced the mantle of leadership and became and remain today pillars of the Jewish, legal and general communities, perpetuating M’Dor L’Dor by setting an example for their own six children and extended families.

Through their beliefs and their service to others, they taught their family that Judaism is rooted in the concept of Tikkun Olam – man is created in God’s image – that man partners with God to help repair the world and make it a better place. They taught their children that love for fellow man and – Maasim Tovim – good deeds are true marks of a life well lived. Jack and Fay work each day for the Jewish people, clearly understanding that there is no mandatory retirement age when you are a member of the Jewish community. Whether through Jack’s leadership of every major organization in the community, including the Advisory Board of the Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program, or Fay’s service as president of the synagogue sisterhood or her compassion as co-head of the synagogue condolence committee, they impact the community with their generosity and values that are their legacy to the community and to their family.

Tippy Stern Brickman, who is the daughter-in-law of Fay and Jack, is the youngest daughter of College of Charleston President Emeritus Theodore Stern, who led the College from 1968 – 1978 and is widely credited with putting the College on the path to being a leading liberal arts and sciences university.