The Foundations: Henry Rothvogel – Resilience, Strength, and Vision

 

The story of Rothvogel Debt & Equity is deeply rooted in the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of Henry Rothvogel, a man who overcame unimaginable hardships to build a lasting legacy.

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Born in Lodz, Poland, into a prominent Hasidic family in the kosher meat and poultry trade, Henry’s early life was one of faith, discipline, and hard work. His family had strong ties to the Kinsker and Ger Hasidic sects, but as a boy, he had a transformative encounter with the Kozhnitzer Rebbe. ​He later became a shamas (helper) to Reb Areleh M’Kozhnitz, witnessing miracles firsthand.

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His life took a tragic turn when the Nazis invaded Poland. Forced into the Lodz Ghetto, Henry volunteered for work under the Nazis to bring home extra loaves of bread for his family—though these "Nazi loaves" were filled with sawdust. He endured forced labor at BMW, then was deported to Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen, eventually surviving the Death March by making a daring escape. Running through fields under enemy fire with three French soldiers, he later found refuge in a small town. Using forbidden news he had acquired in the camps, he struck a deal with a local German butcher—"Hide me from the Nazis, and when the Russians come, I’ll hide you." The deal saved both their lives.

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After the war, Henry made his way to America, arriving in Baltimore. Like many immigrants, he arrived with nothing but built everything. He started a business selling kosher poultry, later opened a grocery store, and eventually ventured into real estate. His hands-on approach and work ethic were unmatched—he laid every beam to last a century, mastered ironwork, roofing, plumbing, and electrical work, and built his portfolio in cash.

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But before he could build his business, he built his family. It was in America that Henry met Etta Rea, a third-generation Baltimorean—just south of the Mason-Dixon line—who would become the matriarch of his new family. Their worlds could not have been more different—Henry, the Polish survivor who had known only hardship and war, and Etta Rea, raised in a well-established American Jewish family. But together, they built a new life, blending tradition, resilience, and warmth into a family that would thrive for generations.

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His real estate empire grew, and he founded Green Jade Realty, named for his five sons: Jeffrey, Allen, Danny, Eric, and Gershon. It was a true family business, built with hard work, pride, and integrity. By the time he retired, Henry had built up a substantial portfolio consisting of residential homes, multi-unit dwellings, and farmland across Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. But his real legacy wasn’t just in the properties—it was in the values he passed down: integrity, relentless work ethic, and the responsibility to build with purpose.

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Carrying the Torch:

Rabbi Vogel – Faith, Ethics, and Real Estate

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Henry’s son, Rabbi Jeffrey Vogel, or as he was called by many, "Izzy" (short for Israel, his Hebrew name), carried forward these same principles, blending his commitment to faith, education, and real estate investment. He was originally set to attend Columbia Law School, but his life took a profound turn after a near-death experience swimming in the Mediterranean. As he struggled in the waves, he made a promise to God:

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"If You save me, I will dedicate my life to teaching Torah to children."

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And so, he did. He became a rabbi, earning semicha (rabbinic ordination) from Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, and later co-founded Politz Hebrew Academy in Philadelphia, where he spent 25 years teaching and writing curriculum.

But while his passion was Torah education, he understood the necessity of financial independence to support his family. He turned to real estate, following in his father’s footsteps—starting with fix-and-hold properties, and later taking over the family portfolio. His business acumen allowed him to build wealth while staying true to his calling as a teacher.

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From a very young age, Joseph Vogel had a front-row seat to this dual life of education and investment. His father taught him real estate fundamentals early on:

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• At 12 years old, his father taught him to underwrite a rental property.

• At 15, he was working on construction sites, learning firsthand what it takes to build and maintain properties.

• He regularly attended meetings with architects, builders, bankers, and lawyers on days off from school.

• He sat in on town hall meetings, watching Rabbi Vogel navigate zoning regulations, market trends, and investment strategies.

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Through all of this, he saw the beauty, opportunity, and responsibility in real estate investing. More importantly, he saw how integrity and fierce work ethic—relentless, unshakable, and immovable—must be the foundation of every deal.