Tziporah Gelman is a familiar figure in the Chicago Jewish community: a mom of five, she helps provide spiritual leadership as the rebbetzin of Kehilat Chovevei Tzion in Skokie, where her husband, Shaanan Gelman, is Senior Rabbi.

Gelman, a 36 Under 36 honoree from 2013, is also a tireless advocate for women to make time for self-care and exercise, through Frumba Chicago, which she founded and directs.

The name “Frumba” is a combination of the popular dance exercise Zumba with frum , the Yiddish word for Orthodox. Frumba Chicago classes differ slightly from other exercise offerings–they are for women only and Gelman sticks to music with cleaner lyrics–and bring joy and movement to women both in the frum and general population.

“It really became a big phenomenon in the city for women who wanted a women-only facility where they could come and work out and socialize and get stronger and just feel fabulous,” Gelman noted.

One reason Gelman is able to connect deeply to women over fitness is that she knows what it’s like to struggle with health and weight herself. A decade ago, “I needed to lose weight to get my life back,” she recalled. She began to exercise and acquired a new perspective on health and fitness, which she’s been teaching other women ever since: “You can get through whatever challenges you are navigating,” and by taking care of ourselves, we also can take better care of all the people who rely on us, too.

In 2017, Gelman opened a Skokie studio, giving Frumba Chicago a permanent home. “It’s a safe space” for women to exercise and come together; “there’s no judgement, just acceptance, meeting people where they’re at–we embrace everyone.”

While Frumba Chicago offered daily classes, Gelman continued to offer Frumba programs in other settings too, including bat mitzvah parties: “They’re so much fun,” she explains. “The kids get really into it.”

When the coronavirus pandemic hit and Gelman was forced to temporarily close Frumba Chicago’s physical space, she started teaching remotely. With so many people locked down and sheltering in place, she realized that women needed to get moving and exercise more than ever.

“The model changed, but the goal is always the same,” she explained, helping “women and girls be strong–physically strong, mentally strong, spiritually strong–so that they can navigate life’s challenges–like a global pandemic!”

Gelman’s reputation spread and women across the country and the globe started tuning in to her daily exercise classes and booking personal training sessions. In some cases, family members who found themselves unable to visit each other because of the pandemic were able to connect during Frumba Chicago classes remotely. One local Chicago woman took Frumba Chicago classes along with her sister in Israel. When health guidelines allowed, Gelman also offered classes outside, physically distanced and with masks.

With the exception of Jewish holidays, Frumba Chicago never missed a day of classes: “it allowed people to keep working out during the madness” of COVID, she explained proudly.

Gelman plans to expand Frumba Chicago, reaching more women. Noting that many Orthodox Jewish women “have very big families and tend to put themselves last,” she has a special message to members of the Jewish community: “I want to see them getting stronger and healthier and crushing their goals.”

As they do, Frumba Chicago–and Tziporah Gelman–will be right alongside them, teaching women across Chicagoland and around the world to get moving.

For information about Frumba Chicago, see https://www.instagram.com/frumbachicago/ or email [email protected]

Yvette Alt Miller, Ph.D. lives with her family in the northern suburbs of Chicago.