Haron Dahan Remembered for Philanthropy

Haron Dahan's life included fighting in World War II and millions of dollars in philanthropy in, around and beyond his Pikesville community.

Dahan, a former developer, died March 11. He was 87.

The Baltimore Jewish Times spoke with family members and Beth Tfiloh’s Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg.

The Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School was named in Dahan's honor in 2003 after millions in donations his family had made to the congregation.

Read Wohlberg's eulogy of Dahan on Beth Tfiloh's website.

He first came to the United States from Israel in 1960, according to the paper, and came to Baltimore in 1968. He started selling homes while he was still learning English.

“My father didn’t know any of the terminology when he first got into real estate,” Nissim Dahan told the Jewish Times. “In fact, he used to sit in the closet and listen to the other salesmen speak to clients so he could learn all the building terms.”

In addition to Beth Tfiloh, Dahan also gave to Bar-Ilan University in Israel, where the nanotechnology department and electrical engineering building are named in his honor.

“One of my father’s favorite expressions was ‘He who is wealthy is the one who is happy with his own life,’” Nissim Dahan told the paper. “Helping offer Jewish education to others was something that made him very happy.”

Services were held last week at Beth Tfiloh, followed by internment at Beth Tfiloh Cemetery, according to the Jewish Times.

Contributions in his memory can be made to the Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School Scholarship Fund, 3300 Old Court Road, Baltimore, MD 21208.