Rabbi Matthew Bellas of Olney Remembered After Tragic Passing

Tragedy struck the community of Olney, Maryland, and Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School as cherished Rabbi Matthew passed tragically.

Olney, located in the northeastern part of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, tragically losses impactful Rabbi, Matthew Bellas.

Before his passing, the Canadian-American Rabbi was the lower school principal of Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School. Sadly he passed on Monday, the 30th of December, 2024.

According to reports, he was from Vancouver British Columbia, where he grew.

Many remembered him and paid tribute to him for his invaluable impact on the lives of the students and the Worshipers of his parish.

According to Rachael Spiegel:

Yesterday the kids lost their beloved lower school principal, Rabbi Matthew Bellas. Every time I saw him he was full of joy, and I know that joy radiated back toward him from the staff and students who got to spend each day with him at school.

During Covid Rabbi Bellas read Harry Potter aloud to his students over Zoom. While over a dozen kids logged in at first, within a month it was down to Jack and Dalia. For over a year they made their way through 3 full books. Each week after virtual school, and then in person school, the kids ran home, settled in with some ice cream, and listened to Rabbi Bellas read the latest chapter, with a voice for each character, just to them.

I can’t tell you how much that time meant to all of us. And that is who Rabbi Bellas was. He took the time to connect with each student and brought a smile to everyone’s face. He will be missed by all of us. My heart is with his family, as well as the staff at JDS. Sending everyone love and comfort.

David Levy and Rachel Ain wrote:

Even as we add a candle each night the lights are a little dimmer tonight as we received the news that Rabbi Matthew Bellas passed away today.

Matt was a friend from day one of Rabbinical School at JTS. I will always remember how we had our first year seminar meeting with our entire class and each of us were invited to introduce ourselves. A few people had mentioned a rabbinic parent or grandparent in their intros. When it was Matthew’s turn, he said “My name is Matt Bellas, and I am the first in a long line of rabbis.” Matthew had a way of bringing his warm humor to all of his interactions. Matthew would loudly drop a “huh” in class or the Beit Midrash. You could tell from its pitch if this was a sound of discovery, frustration, a question, or a celebration.

Matthew went on from school to follow his dream of being a Jewish Day School leader. Matthew was my niece and nephew’s principal at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School and I loved hearing stories about my old friend now “the principal.” He wrote amazing Chanukah plays that brought the joy of Chanukah and a deep sense of accomplishment to all his students.

I wish we had stayed in closer touch. This photo is from Thanksgiving ’23. At either the Maryland or Chesapeake House rest stop on 95. The Bellas family was on their way to NY and we were on our way to Maryland and it was just a simple joyous coincidence, a stop and chat in the parking lot. I am sorry that was the last time we saw each other, I should have nudged him out of the car for a hug, but I cherish all the memories of Matthew and know they are a blessing.

The Congregation Har Sholom also weighed in on how devasted the news was. The post reads:

Dear CESJDS Families,

I was deeply saddened, as I know you were, to receive news of the passing of Rabbi Matthew Bellas z”l. He was a charismatic, immensely talented Jewish educator who cared deeply for his students, teachers, and the entire CESJDS community. I first met Rabbi Bellas more than 20 years ago, when we were both rabbinical students at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. He always possessed a unique kindness and sincerity, and he was so infused with a love of Torah and the Jewish people. I was thrilled when his career brought him to our community 11 years ago. I loved watching Rabbi Bellas’s creativity on display at the annual Hanukkah musical, and even though he was unable to be present for this year’s performance, the parody of him—complete with his signature sweater vest—was so precious.

According to pieces of information we have gathered, Rabbi Matthew was ordained a Rabbi at the age of 8 in 2004. Growing up in a Jewish family, he pursued Jewish studies and attended JTS (Jewish Theological Seminary of America).

He later furthered and bagged a Master of Art in Education.

He had worked at Vancouver Talmud Torah as the school’s Rabbi. In 2014, he relocated to Rockville MD, and was later conferred as the lower school Principal at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School.

Sadly, he left behind a wife and his children; Yaakov, Maya, and Aliza.

May his soul rest in perfect peace.