Under his leadership, ORT became a leading university in Uruguay, distinguished by its academic excellence, inclusivity, and commitment to education.
Charlotte passed away in February 2024, and this ceremony—which she had always organized with great dedication—was filled with meaning and moments that served as a tribute to her legacy.
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Featuring speeches by her son, Dr. Jorge Grünberg, and her grandson, Matías Grünberg, the ceremony highlighted the profound influence Charlotte had on the institution and on Uruguay’s educational community.
The event was also attended by other prominent figures, including Ruperto Long, president of LATU, and Rafael Rosenberg, a member of the Friends of Universidad ORT Uruguay Group, who shared their thoughts and expressed their gratitude for Charlotte’s contributions to education in Uruguay.
Words filled with emotion and gratitude
Dr. Jorge Grünberg, rector Universidad ORT Uruguay Charlotte’s son, opened the ceremony with a moving speech that combined gratitude, memories, and a call to carry on his mother’s legacy.
“Today is a day that puts me to the test,” said the rector, as he shared in the joy of being together and the sadness of his mother’s absence—the beloved general director.
Grünberg highlighted Charlotte's dedication to this annual gathering, which she organized meticulously and with great enthusiasm to bring the ORT community together.
“This gathering was his annual event. Every year, his wish was to meet all of you in person,” he recalled.
He also emphasized how his mother always led the way, even in difficult times, and how she guided the institution from its humble beginnings to become a national and international educational leader.
Commitment to our legacy
Grünberg, visibly moved, recalled ORT’s early days, when the path ahead seemed almost insurmountable.
“We had humble but proud beginnings. Our CEO helped us see a path to contributing to the country that, at the time, seemed very difficult to follow,” he said, referring to Charlotte’s resilience and her conviction that education is the true engine of progress.
During his speech, the rector called for the continuation of the mission his mother had championed throughout her life: “All of us here pledge to carry on your work and your mission: the mission of educating Uruguayans and bringing modernity to our beloved country.”
A tribute from the heart of his family
The tribute continued with Matías Grünberg, Charlotte’s grandson and the university’s assistant coordinator of analytics, who shared stories from people who knew his grandmother and from those who were inspired by her life and work.
Matías, on behalf of his entire family, expressed his gratitude for the support and kindness they have received since Charlotte’s passing.
“Today I speak on behalf of myself and my sisters, Victoria and Florencia, who are unable to join us but who have also been inspired by her example,” she said, making it clear that Charlotte’s legacy lives on in the younger generations of her family.
Matías shared with the audience excerpts from the 5785 Jewish Calendar, which was dedicated especially to his grandmother, including heartfelt messages from figures such as the Vice President of the Republic, Beatriz Argimón, and former presidents Julio María Sanguinetti and Luis Alberto Lacalle Herrera.
“For me, as for thousands of Uruguayans, Charlotte is associated with what were the great passions of her life: ORT and education,” Lacalle wrote in his tribute.
These words, along with others, reflected the magnitude of his legacy in Uruguayan education.
Presentation of the Jewish Calendar 5785
During the ceremony, the special edition of the 5785 Jewish Calendar was presented, a publication that Charlotte had prepared with great care every year.
This year, the program includes a foreword written by his granddaughter Victoria Grünberg and various testimonials highlighting his impact and contributions to the field of education.
Dr. Jorge Grünberg noted that, although his mother was unable to be there in person to organize the event, “she inspired us and continues to be with us in spirit.”
The presentation of the journal was not just a symbolic gesture, but a way to keep alive the tradition Charlotte had started, in which every page reflected her love for the community and her desire to inspire others through education and culture.
A symbol of friendship and remembrance
A highlight of the event was the unveiling of a mural titled *La radio*, created by artist Roberto Cadenas and specially commissioned by Charlotte before her death.
This work holds special significance, as it is a companion piece to a mural created by the same artist in 2023 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Uruguay and Israel, located in the town of Zikhron Ya'akov, Israel.
The mural unveiled at ORT not only beautifies the university’s campus but also symbolically connects with its “sister” institution in Israel, representing the friendship and cultural ties that bind the two countries.
Both works embody the idea of an artistic and diplomatic bridge that transcends borders, and their presentation was one way of honoring Charlotte’s love of culture and art.
In the mural, the figures and symbols emerge from a common center, connected by lines that resemble cables or roots, suggesting a network that expands in both directions, like a radio that transmits not only information, but also identity and memory.
At the top, a walled city represents Jerusalem and the eternal bond with the land of Israel, while the colorful latticework that runs across the mural symbolizes the paths connecting the Uruguayan Jewish community to its roots.
Thus, the mural reflects the idea of a cultural identity that, like radio waves, resonates across generations and distances, keeping alive the history and the bonds that unite Israel and Uruguay.
An event to remember and move forward from
The event concluded with a special thank-you from Dr. Jorge Grünberg to everyone who helped ensure that this ceremony was not “just another meeting,” but rather a distinctive, unique, and deeply heartfelt celebration.
“My mother isn’t here physically, but she’s with us,” he concluded.
Rosh Hashanah 5785 at Universidad ORT Uruguay more than just a celebration of the Jewish New Year: it was a tribute that reaffirmed the entire community’s commitment to the legacy of a woman who believed in education as a tool for change and left an indelible mark on the lives of all who had the honor of knowing her.
May the year 5785 bring peace, inspiration, and the strength to continue the educational mission that Charlotte de Grünberg began and that will continue to guide ORT into the future.
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