In 1958, with 29 students and two rented school rooms in the Detroit

Labor Zionist building, Hillel Day School was founded by Rabbi

Jacob Segal (z’l) and a handful of parents, educators, rabbis and

lay leaders. The group worked tirelessly to turn their dream of a Jewish

day school into a reality … and a wonderful story began. Today, Hillel is

a thriving educational institution located in Farmington Hills, Michigan

with over 580 students from kindergarten through eighth grade.

Hillel has undergone fi ve expansions throughout the years. Our faculty,

staff and curriculum continue to offer students an education combining

the best of a Jewish and general education. By welcoming Jewish

children from all Jewish affi liations, Hillel creates a sense of community

which extends to the home, synagogue and world around us.

of Hillel Day SchoolHistory

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Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit is founded with 29 students, three teachers and two rented schoolrooms in a Labor Zionist building in Detroit. Rabbi Jacob Segal (z’l) of Adat Shalom Synagogue, leads other local rabbis, educators and lay-leaders in bringing a modern Jewish day school to life. Naomi Floch (z’l) is Hillel’s fi rst Principal.

1958

Hillel moves to the Ten Mile Jewish Center Building in Oak Park. Enrollment reaches 51 students.1960

Hillel offers Kindergarten through sixth grade and additional classrooms are added at Congregation B’nai Moshe. Enrollment is at 115 students.

1963Hillel presents its fi rst student spring musical, Fiddler On The Roof, directed by Goldie Eskin and Sheila Charlip.1965

C E L E B R A T I N G 5 0 Y E A R S A T H I L L E L » 3

his year, Hillel Day School will be celebrating the milestone of its 50th anniversary. Anchored by our values and mission, proud of our students, curriculum and facilities, we are celebrating our past, and building for our future.

FACILITY: Hillel boasts a state-of-the-art educational facility. The recent construction of the Blumenstein Family Gymnasium/Theater Arts facility, the refurbishing of the elementary school science rooms, and the installation of Smart Boards, all enable students to study, act, play, and pray to their fullest potential.

ACADEMICS: Strong and innovative General and Judaic Studies curricula guide all learning. Students learn mathematics and Mishnah, history and Hebrew, reading and Rashi. They create art, star in theater and shine on athletic fi elds. On nationally standardized tests, over 80% of our students scored above grade level in all academic areas. Hillel students are accepted to the fi nest high schools in the area, with over 50% of our graduates attending the Frankel Jewish Academy. They attend outstanding universities, including the University of Michigan and Ivy League Schools, with the religious, ethical and moral foundation that a Jewish day school education provides. This is the Hillel Difference.

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM: Our learning does not stop at the classroom door; it is brought to life through action. Hillel students feed the hungry, visit the elderly, and form bonds with developmentally disabled individuals. Students passionately work to make the world a just and better place.

SCHOLARSHIP: Hillel is able to offer fi nancial assistance to families who cannot meet the full cost of tuition through the generous support of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, the Shiffman Family Day School Tuition Assistance Fund, the Goldman-Hermelin Education Foundation and donors to our annual fundraising efforts.

TODAH RABBAH: We owe the tremendous successes of our school to the dedication of our outstanding faculty, administration, staff, Board of Trustees, Parent Teacher Organization and the support of our Jewish community. We are proud to celebrate our past with you, and look forward to educating the next generations of leaders.

HILLEL DAY SCHOOL AT

50

T

Hillel presents its fi rst Zimriyah, song festival.

1966

Eleven ninth grade students comprise Hillel’s fi rst graduating class. A ground breaking ceremony is held for a new facility which will include 20 classrooms, a gymnasium, a science lab, a chapel, a music auditorium and

lunchroom.

1967

Community leaders retire the fi rst building loan. Hillel Day School moves to its current home on Middlebelt Road in Farmington Hills, where the Little Red Schoolhouse is used for the kindergarten class. Hillel’s enrollment

reaches 270 students.

1970

Rabbi Robert Abramson begins his 14-year tenure

as Headmaster.

1976

4 « C E L E B R A T I N G 5 0 Y E A R S A T H I L L E L

I n celebration of Hillel Day School’s 50th anniversary, a group of 50 Fabulous graduates were selected

to represent the school’s alumni. Nominations from the community, through a ballot that ran in

the Jewish News, as well as a committee of Hillel parents and administration, chose these alumni to

represent a small sample of what Hillel Day School graduates look like 1, 5, 15, 25 and even 50 years later.

These are quite a distinguished group of people. Their fi elds of work and interests span business, law, the

rabbinate, education, journalism, music and the arts, community service and philanthropy.

They have won Pulitzer prizes and Hopwood Awards, Fulbright Scholarships and Emmys. They have

attended Harvard, Yale, Brown, Cornell, the Jewish Theological Seminary and the Royal Academy of the

Arts. These are exceptionally diverse people. However, when the subject was Hillel, they all said the same

thing: they would send their children to Hillel. Not only did Hillel help them develop critical thinking skills

and Jewish values, but they forged lasting friendships. Many of them communicated that the strong Jewish

identity that they developed at Hillel inspired them to be successful adults who work towards the greater

good of our world.

We salute all of Hillel’s graduates over the last 50 years, and all of the parents and grandparents who were and

continue to be committed to giving their children and grandchildren the gift of a Jewish day school education.

We hope that you will enjoy these stories.

Steve Freedman, Head of School Jim Berger, President

Listed by Hillel Day School graduation date.

1. VIEDER FAMILY The Vieder family has been associated with Hillel Day School since its beginning. Larry Vieder, Cantor at Congregation Adat Shalom, was a founding member. Brothers Sandy and Mark are both graduates of Hillel. While Sandy was attending Hillel, his older brother Tom enrolled his fi rst-born. Eight Vieder children, all boys, went on to graduate or are currently attending Hillel. There has been a Vieder male attending Hillel for the past 40 years!

2. JUDGE MARK GOLDSMITH ’67

3. MARTY LIEBMAN ’70Audio producer and editor for clients such as GM, Ford, Daimler-Chrysler and EDS. Received an Emmy award in 1994 for an original music score. Has two children that graduated from Hillel and 11 nieces and nephews that have either graduated or are attending Hillel.

4. ROBERT SCHOSTAK ’71

5. WILLIAM LANSAT ’72Litigation specialist in child protective proceedings. Appointed by Governor Engler and reappointed by Governor Granholm to serve on the Governor’s Task Force on Children’s Justice. Attorney on the “Nathaniel Abraham” case.

6. LISA LIS ’74Community lay leader and philanthropist for Jewish and secular organizations. Chair of the Jewish Women’s Foundation, co-chair of the Detroit Federation’s Family Mission of 2008, board member of Gleaners Community Food Bank, 2006 Jewish National Fund honoree, and 2000 Sylvia Simon Greenberg award recipient. Has four children who are attending or have graduated from Hillel.

7. RABBI MARTY PASTERNAK ’74National Director of Synagogue and Rabbinic Activities for the State of Israel Bonds. Collaborates with regional offi ces to help oversee over 800 congregational events per year that raise as much as 140 million dollars. Takes members of the rabbinic cabinet and board of directors on an annual Israel conference.

Four classrooms in the kindergarten/fi rst grade wing are added to accommodate an enrollment of 400 students. Hillel

affi liates with the Solomon Schechter Day School movement.1979

The mortgage is retired thanks to the generosity of

Hillel parents and other community participants.1982

William, Ethan and Marla Davidson endow a new wing, currently Hillel’s fourth/fi fth grade wing, and is the fi rst renovation at the Middlebelt campus. The Jean and Sam Frankel wing, currently the second/third grade

wing, is named, as is the Mary and Mike Must Multi-purpose Room. Enrollment reaches

503 students.

1986

Kindergarten moves from the Little Red

Schoolhouse to the main building.1987

Celebrating 50 Fabulous Alumni

J U D G E M A R K G O L D S M I T H CLASS OF 1967Pioneering Spirit for Jewish LearningJudge Mark Goldsmith was a member of the fi rst graduating class of Hillel Day School. “I credit Hillel for helping develop my love of Jewish learning and the Hebrew language.” Judge Goldsmith also recalled how “Hillel provided a great opportunity to blossom in general studies due to the intimacy and warmth of its teachers.”

Judge Goldsmith earned degrees from the University of Michigan and Harvard Law School. He was a partner of the Detroit-based law fi rm Honigman, Miller, Schwartz & Cohn, LLP before being appointed Circuit Court Judge in 2004.

“The centrality of Judaism in my life promoted my sense of social justice and gave me an affi nity towards professions that would promote social justice,” he said of his career in law.

Judge Goldsmith serves on the board of the Center for Study of Citizenship at Wayne State University, is president of the Federal Bar Association Eastern District Michigan Chapter, and participates in the Oakland Bar Association Inn of the Court.

He is married to Judy and has two children: Jared and Molly, HDS class of 2007.

ship at Wayne State University, is president o

2.

C E L E B R A T I N G 5 0 Y E A R S A T H I L L E L » 5

The Goldman-Hermelin Education Foundation is formed for the purpose of

scholarship assistance. The new Sadie and Irwin Cohn, Joyce and Avern Cohn and Rita and John Haddow Playground is dedicated.

1989 Dr. Mark Smiley begins

his 13-year tenure as Headmaster.

1990

The Mala and Henry Dorfman Elementary

School is named.

1991

Due to increased enrollment, which reaches 636 students, six classes are housed in

portable units.

1992

8. JOEL LEVIN ’75Retired aircraft carrier pilot and United States Navy Commander of an F-18 Squadron. Now a pilot for Fed Ex who fl ies an MD-11 internationally.

9. MICHAEL THIRMAN, MD ’76Director of Leukemia Biology at the University of Chicago. Scholar, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board of the Leukemia Research Foundation. Has three children that are attending or have graduated from the Solomon Schechter Day School of Metropolitan Chicago.

10. SHARI FERBER KAUFMAN, J.D. ’78Jewish community lay leader and philanthropist for organizations including IDF, Friendship Circle and ARMDI. Past Hillel Day School Board member. Mother of fi ve children whom attend or have graduated from Hillel.

11. RABBI GRETA BERNARD BROWN ’80Graduate of Brandeis University and the Jewish Theological Seminary. Passionate about children and education, she serves as a middle school Judaic Studies teacher and as the sixth grade dean at the Solomon Schechter School of Westchester, New York.

12. TAMI BROWN ’80

13. JULIE HERMELIN ’81Directs reality television shows, music videos and short format fi lms. Founder of the Vodka Latka, “one of the hippest [and largest Hanukah] parties for Jews in the entertainment industry.” Board member and LA Co-Chair of Reboot, a nonprofi t organization that works to help young Jews explore issues of identity, community and meaning. Lives in Los Angeles with her husband and three sons. Has six nieces and nephews that attend or have graduated from Hillel.

14. MARIANNE M. BLOOMBERG ’83Director of Mission Outreach and Development at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. Works with groups when they return from missions to Israel to ensure that they stay connected. Coordinates volunteer management programs and staffs fundraising and leadership development programs for Federation. Member of the Board of Trustees at Congregation Shaarey Zedek. Has two children currently attending Hillel.

15. RABBI LAURIE PHILLIPS ’83Rabbi at the Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles, California. Supervises over 60 teachers as head of the temple’s religious school. Previously worked for the Jewish Center Camping Association, where she worked to enhance their Jewish education program.

16. CHERYL COOK ’84 Jewish community professional who specializes in new types of outreach. Works as the Chief Operating Offi cer of Hazon in New York City, an innovative organization whose vision is to “create a healthier and more sustainable Jewish community — as a step towards a healthier and more sustainable world for all.”

R O B E R T S C H O S T A K CLASS OF 1971Continued CommitmentWhen Bob Schostak started at Hillel in the third grade, there were only nine other children in his class. Forty-two years later, with an enrollment of over 600 students, Bob became Hillel’s 14th president. Hillel has always held an important place in the Schostak family lore. Bob, along with brothers David, Tzvi, and Mark, and sisters, Lindsey and Stephanie, are all Hillel graduates. Bob and wife Nancy’s three children, as well as eight of their nieces and nephews, have also either graduated or currently attend Hillel.

Bob is dedicated to Hillel and Jewish education through his service as president of Hillel’s Goldman-Hermelin Education Foundation. He also sits on Federation’s Israel and Overseas committee, and acts as its Forum Chair. With the creation of the Schostak Family Foundation Endowed Fund at Oakland University, he has helped to establish a Judaic Studies minor in the university’s College of Arts and Sciences.

The Schostak brothers have all supported Detroit’s Jewish community with their time, resources and expertise: David currently serves as president of Congregation Adat Shalom; Tzvi was instrumental in developing the curriculum for Detroit’s Florence Melton Adult Mini-School, and Mark sits on both the Hillel Finance Committee and on the Executive Committee of the Jewish Community Center.

Bob is dedicated to Hillel and Jewish educaof Hillel’s Goldman-Hermelin Education FouIsrael and Overseas committee and acts as

4.

T A M I B R O W N CLASS OF 1980Beloved TeacherTami Brown has been teaching 3rd or 4th grades at Hillel for the past twelve years. “It was so nice to go back and work with the teachers that I had, and had admired,” said Tami.

For Tami, teaching at Hillel has been a great place to work. “I came away with a great education and Jewish background. Now, I’m teaching the children of friends with whom I attended Hillel.”

Tami is married and has four children who either currently attend, or who have graduated from Hillel. Her mother, Leah Beurer, is also a teacher at Hillel, and Tami’s two sisters, Nita and Orit, are graduates as well.

Directs reality televisiovideos and short formathe Vodka Latka, “one olargest Hanukah] partieentertainment industryand LA Co-Chair of Reboorganization that worksexplore issues of identimeaning. Lives in Los Ahusband and three sonand nephews that atten

12. M I C H A E L H A R P A Z CLASS OF 1987Singer/Songwriter/ActorMichael was born and raised in Detroit and grew up taking the Oak Park bus to Hillel Day School. “I guess my professional career started right here at Hillel. You see, I was the Abba in my model Seder.”

Not long after graduating from Hillel’s last 9th grade, Michael had a quick rise to Israeli music fame; within a year after he moved to Israel in 1997, he joined the hit band Hi Five, which received three gold records. Michael returned to Detroit in 1999 and participated as one of the 50 Jewish music stars on the 2006 CD “Voices of Israel” in support of Israel. He also sang at the 2004 Yahrzeit observance of the 9/11 tragedy at the World Trade Center site.

Since then, Michael has produced and written with some of the world’s top selling artists and has performed for dignitaries and Heads of States. Currently, Michael is acting in the hit TV series in Israel — HaBorer — “The Mediator.”

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21.

C H A R L E S O R N S T E I N CLASS OF 1988Pulitzer Prize WinnerCharles Ornstein is an investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times. In 2004, he co-authored an investigative series on Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center, a troubled hospital in south Los Angeles. In awarding the newspaper the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, the Pulitzer board praised the team “for its courageous, exhaustively researched series exposing deadly medical problems and racial injustice at a major public hospital.”

In 2006, Charlie chronicled lapses in the nation’s organ transplant system, which triggered a congressional investigation and changes in federal regulations. The coverage also garnered several journalism awards.

Charlie gives credit to Hillel which “not only provided me a rigorous Jewish and secular education, but also encouraged me to be creative and think big. When I went to high school and college, I felt that I was a step ahead because of my background at Hillel. My teachers at Hillel expected a lot of us but they also cared a lot for us.” Charlie lives in Burbank with his wife, infant son and two beagles.

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6 « C E L E B R A T I N G 5 0 Y E A R S A T H I L L E L

Hillel embarks on an $11 million capital campaign for the renovation and creation of a middle school wing.

The Shiffman Media Center, the Rudolph Shulman Chapel, and the Fisher-Sherman Science Wing are named.

1993

The Bradley Bluestone (z’l) playing fi eld is dedicated.1994

Hillel dedicates the new Middle School wing on

the newly named Schostak Family Campus.1996

Garden of Wonder, elementary playground, donated in honor of Miriam and Fred Ferber by their

children. Also that year, The Jane Rudy Schostak Outdoor Classroom was dedicated.

1997

J O R D A N F I E L D CLASS OF 1991Enhancing Lives through BaseballJordan Field only missed one day of classes during his years at Wayne State Law School; he was busy taking his dad to see the last game played at Tiger Stadium. As a young student at Hillel, Jordan always dreamt of becoming a Detroit Tiger; although he didn’t make the team, he is now the Director of Public Affairs for the Detroit Tigers Foundation. Jordan spends his days overseeing and running the foundation, executing its mission to use the game of baseball to enhance the quality of life in our community with a focus on youth, education and recreation.

“The best part of Hillel is the sense of confi dence and comfort it gave me about who I am and about being Jewish. I still have the same two best friends that I met there in kindergarten.” Jordan lives in Berkley with his wife, Marjie (Friedman) and a one-year-old son, Logan.

17. RABBI AVI FRIEDMAN ’84Rabbi at the Summit JCC in New Jersey. Committed to helping guide the Conservative Movement forward by creating an atmosphere of scholarship and spirituality with education for all ages. Teaches religious school, b’nai mitzvah students and Florence Melton Adult Mini-School classes. Board member of Jewish Family Services. Passionate about family and his son Jonah’s special needs organizations. Has two nieces that currently attend and three nephews who have graduated from Hillel.

18. GARY WEISSERMAN ’84 University of Michigan – Flint professor who teaches Instructional Project Design that “melds technology with social activism.”

19. JOSH OPPERER ’85Partner at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohen LLP. Founding chair of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit’s Class of a Million, member of the Federation’s Israel and Overseas committee and past president of the Young Adult Division.

20. TREVOR HART ’86Clinical psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychology at Ryerson University, Toronto. Researches and examines risk factors for HIV/AIDS transmission among high-risk populations. Received a 2006 New Investigator Award from the Canadian Institute of Health Research for research in HIV/AIDS, and a 2004 fellowship from the National Institutes of Health to study randomized clinical trials involving behavioral interventions.

21. MICHAEL HARPAZ ’87

22. CHARLES ORNSTEIN ’88

23. JENNIFER BLEYER ’89Reporter for the City section of The New York Times, founder of Heeb magazine in 2001. Engaged to Amir Bar-Lev, a documentary fi lmmaker.

24. ERICA GUYER ’89Fulbright Scholar who researched Canadian Aboriginal law at McGill University. Graduated from Brown University, with honors, with a BA in Anthropology; received an MA in Anthropology from Arizona State University; and a JD from the University of Chicago Law School. Now works as an attorney specializing in wealth planning and tax-exempt organizations in New York City.

25. MICHAL BERRIS ’90

26. MARA REINSTEIN ’90

27. DR. BARRY ROSENBERG ’90Holds an MD/ MBA degree from the University of Michigan after leading the creation of this dual degree program. Trained as a resident in general surgery, and works as a health care and management consultant at The Boston Consulting Group.

28. RACHEL RUSKIN ’9029. JULIE RUSKIN ’93

R A B B I J E N N I F E R T I S D A L E CLASS OF 1991Rabbi with Mazel

Rabbi Jennifer Tisdale feels very lucky. Not only is she able to live in the community that she loves, but she also works at Temple Israel, the congregation at which she grew up. “People thought that it might be an obstacle, but it has defi nitely been an asset,” says Jennifer. “I know generations of families here and have a close connection to the community.”

At Hillel, Jennifer loved Hebrew and studying Torah. By the age of 12 or 13, she knew that she wanted to be a rabbi. “The education at Hillel was top-notch,” she said. “Teachers there helped show me how to keep a sense of humor.”

Jennifer is engaged to be married in November. “As for sending my kids to Hillel, I have full confi dence that they would get an excellent education. I would love to see them at my old stomping ground.”

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R A C H E L R U S K I N CLASS OF 1990

J U L I E R U S K I N CLASS OF 1993Sisters’ HomecomingRachel Ruskin was living in New York, while her sister, Julie, resided in Israel, when they both decided to move back to Detroit. Their grandfather had become very ill and they wanted to spend time with him and to be closer to their family.

Both sisters took positions in the Jewish community. Rachel is the Assistant Director of Camp Tamarack, and Julie is a social worker with Jewish Family Service, working at the Frankel Jewish Academy. “You don’t realize how much Hillel affects you, but it

really did have a strong impact on our lives,” said Julie. “Our grandfather is smiling down knowing that we’re both home and working in the Jewish community. We know that he is pleased.”

M A R A R E I N S T E I N CLASS OF 1990Celebrity JournalistWriting was the only subject in which Mara Reinstein claims that she excelled at during her years at Hillel. “The English program was great and my teachers were always supportive and encouraging,” Mara remembers. Now a senior writer at US Weekly magazine, Mara spends her days interviewing and writing about movie and TV celebrities. She travels to movie sets, fi lm festivals, and has visited fi ve different Survivor locations around the world. One of Mara’s most memorable interviews was with Selma Blair, a Hillel classmate and fellow Hillel bus rider. “We spent the whole interview talking about Hillel rather than the movie she was shooting in Vancouver.”

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M I C H A L B E R R I S CLASS OF 1990 Ceaseless ScholarSeventeen years after graduating from Hillel Day School, Michal (Michelle) Berris is still furthering her education. At the Technion, the Israel Institute of Technology, she is currently working on both an MD degree and a PhD in mechanical engineering, a combined seven year program. She also received her BS and MS degrees in mechanical engineeringfrom M.I.T. Putting her brains to good use, Michal’s research involves designing a mode of locomotion for a micro-robot that will allow doctors to operate on fetuses with congenital deformities. When not working, Michal likes to have fun mountain and road biking.

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25.

C E L E B R A T I N G 5 0 Y E A R S A T H I L L E L » 7

Hillel receives accreditation from ISACS (Independent School

Association of Central States).

2000

Steve Freedman begins his tenure as Head of School.

2003

Hillel raises $5 million to fund the construction of a new gym/theater arts facility and renovation of playing fi elds. The Blumenstein

gym is named.

2005

K E V I N S C H W A R T Z CLASS OF 1992Grass-roots PeacemakerThis past summer, Kevin Schwartz was one of fi fteen students sent by the State Department to Tajikistan to study the Tajik dialect of Persian.

Kevin has written extensively on issues related to Middle Eastern politics, history and society with an emphasis on the politics and security of Iran. His research has ranged from Israeli and Palestinian grass-root peacemakers, and decision-making processes in the Iranian government, to classical Persian literature and Islamic legal thought. He holds an MA from Harvard University in Middle Eastern Studies, and is pursuing a PhD in Near Eastern Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

I L A N A K O H E N L I S S A N D Z A C H A R Y L I S S CLASS OF 1994Newlyweds Met in 2nd GradeAlthough they had been a couple since 7th grade, Ilana Kohen and Zachary Liss kissed for the fi rst time as the leads in Hillel’s 8th grade play, Bye, Bye Birdie. Luckily, it wasn’t their One Last Kiss! Ilana and Zach stayed together through high school and college, and were married in the fall of 2006.

Ilana graduated from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. She is a Client Advisor for Schechter Wealth Strategies in Birmingham and also serves as a board member of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit’s Young Adult Division. Zach is completing his last year at Wayne State University Medical School. Will their children go to Hillel? “You bet!” says Ilana.

J E N N I F E R M A I S E L O F F CLASS OF 1994Artistic EdgeAcross the Atlantic, Jennifer Maiseloff is pursuing a graduate degree in theater design at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, a school that has acclaimed graduates such as Dame Judi Dench and Sir Anthony Hopkins. Although her current school boasts some prestigious alumni, it was her grammar

school lessons that have left a lasting mark on her. “I’ve always appreciated my Judaic background, heritage and values,” Maiseloff says, “that I learned from Hillel Day School.”

30. OWEN ALTERMAN ’91Lawyer in NYC who graduated from Princeton University and Harvard Law School. Worked as a foreign law clerk to the Honorable Asher Dan Grunis of the Israeli Supreme Court. Also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Romania and worked at internships in Hong Kong and Sierra Leone.

31. JORDAN FIELD ’91

32. RABBI JENNIFER TISDALE ’91

33. ADAM SCHWARTZ ’92Hollywood screenwriter. Co-wrote feature script New Year’s Steve, with Hillel graduate Josh Herman, which was purchased by 20th Century Fox. Co-wrote My Big Fat Independent Movie that played the fi lm festival circuit. A 2005 winner of the Talent Scout TV Writing Contest. Also has written for the MTV Movie Awards and Talk Soup.

34. JAIME RAY NEWMAN ’92Attended Boston University’s School for the Arts and Northwestern University. Movie credits include parts in Catch Me If You Can, Rumor Has It and Lonesome Matador. Best known for her roles as Mindy O’Dell on the series Veronica Mars and as Kristina Cassadine on the soap opera General Hospital.

35. KEVIN SCHWARTZ ’92

36. JESSICA ALTER ’93Harvard Business School graduate who organized classmate trip to Israel to expose future business leaders to Israel. Founded the Ellen J. Alter Fund for Women, a non-profi t in honor of her late mother, that raises money to help women and young girls. Works at Bebo, Inc. a leading consumer internet start-up in the social networking space in San Francisco, CA.

37. ILANA KOHEN LISS ’94

38. ZACHARY LISS ’94

39. JENNIFER MAISELOFF ’94

40. YANIV BRANDVAIN ’95Researches genetics and biological evolution as an NSF Pre-Doctoral Fellow at Indiana University. Received the William H. Drury Award as an outstanding ecology and evolution student from the College of the Atlantic and was a Barry M. Goldwater Fellow. Published in Science magazine, the Journal of Gerontology: Biological Sciences and the American Naturalist.

41. ALEX GRAHAM ’95

42. AARON LEWIS ’95National Bluegrass Fiddle Competition Winner. Member of Bluegrass Fusion band, Special Ed and the Shortbus, in Richmond, VA.

43. REBECCA GOODMAN ’96

44. AVI LEIBOVITCH ’96Israeli army volunteer and class commander during the 2006 Israel-Lebanese war. Planning to study business at Bar-Ilan University and make aliyah.

A L E X G R A H A M CLASS OF 1995A Legacy ContinuedWhile most Make-A-Wish kids want trips to Disneyland or Hawaii, Alex dreamt of creating a public service announcement that encouraged people to, “treat people who look differently no differently than they treat people who look normal.” Alex was able to watch her public service announcement shortly before her death from cancer in January 1999. What Alex didn’t get to witness was the way her short but eventful life has lingered on in the hearts of many, especially TEAM ALEX, a group of bicyclists that participate in the Make-A-Wish Wish-A-Mile bike ride held every July. Alex’s legacy is also kept alive by Hillel’s middle school through its Alex Graham Garden and Make-a-Wish fundraising efforts.

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ile bike ride held every July. Alex’s legacy is and Make-a-Wish fundraising efforts.

41. Rochelle Iczkovitz, teacher and Principal, retires after 36 years. A new K-2 playground is dedicated in honor of Terri Farber Roth. Hillel institutes its fi rst eighth grade trip to Israel in culmination of their years of Jewish

and Hebrew studies.

2006

8 « C E L E B R A T I N G 5 0 Y E A R S A T H I L L E L

50th Anniversary Celebration EventsThursday, October 25, 2007 6:30 pm Ladies Night Out! Fashion Show Event

Thursday, November 8, 2007 7:00 pm Musical, Too! presentation of Aladdin

Sunday, November 11, 2007 2:00 pm Musical, Too! presentation of Aladdin

Wednesday, November, 21, 2007 8:30 am Alumni Homecoming Minyan and Breakfast

Thursday, March 27, 2008 7:00 pm Musical production of Bye, Bye Birdie

Sunday, March 30, 2008 5:00 pm Musical production of Bye, Bye Birdie

Thursday, May 8, 2008 3:30 pm Israel Independence Day Carnival

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 7:00 pm Patron Fundraising Event

Thursday, May 29, 2008 5:30 pm Annual Dream Maker Dinner and Jubilee Celebration

For information about upcoming events contact Cheryl Schanes, Development Coordinator at 248-539-1488 or at cschanes@hillelday.org

Celebrations for Hillel’s 50th Anniversary commence. Enrollment is 581.2007

SAVE THE DATEJOIN IN THE CELEBRATION OF HILLEL DAY SCHOOL’S 50TH YEAR

HILLEL HOMECOMINGYou are cordially invited to attend minyan and breakfast for

Alumni, and Past Faculty and ParentsWednesday, November 21, 2007at Hillel Day School8:30 am Minyan 9:00-10:00 am Breakfast

$10 per person, please make checks payable to Hillel Day School

Supported by The Charlotte Tessler Fund for Alumni Affairs

CHAIRPERSONSRochelle IczkovitzJennifer Morse Mattler, Class of 1983Robert Mattler, Class of 1972

Miry Bernard Serlin, Class of 1987Jennifer Levin Teper, Class of 1984 Risa Tisdale VanDerAue, Class of 1988

For more information contact Cheryl Schanes, Development Coordinator at 248-539-1488 or email cschanes@hillelday.org

45. OREN GOLDENBERG ’97Honors fi lm graduate whose feature-length documentary fi lm, Our School, focuses on students’ challenges in getting an education in the city of Detroit.

46. DANI WOHL ’97

47. JENNIFER SCHANES ’98Graduated Cornell University and currently attends Harvard Law School. Law clerk for the Department of Justice – Counterterrorism Section, Heyman Fellow. Leadership positions at Harvard include Social Action director of Jewish Law Student Association.

48. JEREMY BARUCH ’00

49. DAVID KURZMANN ’00 Co-founder of the Israel Initiative for Dialogue, Education and Advocacy (IDEA). The Israel IDEA educates the U-of-M community through proactive initiatives, thus combating the negative stereotypes and vilifi cation of Israel found on campus.

50. ZACK YOST ’00President of the University of Michigan Student Assembly and co-founder of the Michigan Action Party (a non-partisan political party). J E R E M Y B A R U C H CLASS OF 2000

Committed to Making a DifferenceIn 2006 alone, Jeremy was the recipient of numerous academic awards, at least one of which would grab the attention of the literary scholarly world, and the other which is internationally esteemed for Jewish education and leadership. As a recipient of The University of Michigan Hopwood Award, Jeremy shares the company of acclaimed writers such as Arthur Miller and Elizabeth Kostova. Jeremy was also selected as one of only twenty adults in the United States to receive a Wexner Graduate Fellowship and was designated a Davidson Scholar, given to individuals pursuing career areas of Jewish education and

Jewish communal leadership.

“Hillel provided me with the friendships, education and sense of self to interact proudly as a Jew with the world at large,” said Jeremy who certainly experienced the world fi rst-hand this year during his travels to 18 countries in Europe, the Mideast, the Far East and Central America.

Jeremy is currently working on the completion of his thesis, Twentieth Century Conceptions of Maimonides. This fall, he will begin another chapter in his commitment to Jewish education and leadership when he enters New York’s Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School.

D A N I W O H L CLASS OF 1997Scholar-AthleteIn Dani Wohl’s eighth grade yearbook, his classmates nominated him most likely to be an NBA star. During his three years as a point guard for Hillel, he led them to many victories. While he didn’t make it all the way to the NBA, he is the only Hillel graduate to play basketball for the men’s University of Michigan team. He received the scholar-athlete award all three years he wore his maize-and-blue jersey. He now applies his intensity and strong work ethic as an Investment Analyst at JP Morgan Private Client Services in Bloomfi eld Hills. Dani has also been a featured speaker and role model for Hillel students.

D A N I W O H L CLASS OF 1997Scholar-Athlete

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arge,” said Jeremy who certainly

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R E B E C C A G O O D M A N CLASS OF 1996Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle PublicistRebecca Goodman considered herself a troublemaker while a student at Hillel Day School. Now that her half brother, Noah, is entering fi rst grade at Hillel, she loves talking to him about her Hillel teachers and experiences.

Rebecca is a fashion publicist for Paul Wilmot Communications and manages the public relations activities for four upscale clothing lines. She previously worked in PR at Ferragamo, Hermes, and Henri Bendel. After graduating from the University of Michigan with a BA in Communications, Rebecca

moved to NYC to begin her career. Her three best friends from Hillel all work and live in New York City as well. “We are all still good friends and will be for life.”

wHillel

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For information on enrollment or Open House events, please contact Helene Brody, Admission Director at hbrody@hillelday.org or call 248-851-3220.

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