Reaching Out

Hillel Day School spurs nationwide day of
Torah study as tsunami aid fund-raiser.

W

here would you expect to
find elementary and middle
school students during
recess or right after school? Normally,
they would be on the basketball court,
hanging out with friends or hurrying
home.
On Jan. 13, more than 100 stu-
dents and parents sat together in small
groups engaged in the study of Torah
at Hillel Day School of Metropolitan
Detroit in Farmington Hills.
When school resumed after winter
break, the Hillel community searched
for a swift, appropriate response to the
tsunami disaster. Gemilut chasadim
(acts of kindness) projects are already
an integral part of the Hillel school

culture, but this presented a special
challenge and opportunity.
Hillel wanted the students to raise
funds in a uniquely Jewish way, while
developing a sense of connection to
other children, both here and in Asia.
It would have been easy to simply put
out a collection box and learn about
this event in class.
"We wanted our students to have a
direct opportunity to positively effect
change in their world," said Saul A.
dean of Judaic studies.
Rube,
"What better way to do this than
through the voluntary study of
Torah?"
School administrators proceeded to
coordinate a tsunami relief Learn-a-

Clockwise from top right:

Jacob Kahn, 8, of Farmington Hills raises his hand to answer a question.

Eli Newman, 13, ofWest Bloomfield ponders a point during the Torah study.

liana Weinfeld, left, 5, with her mom, Jodie, of Farmington Hills, Madeline Adelman, 10, of
Bloomfield Hills and Carly Sternberg, 9, ofWest Bloomfield at the Learn-a-Thor.

1/20
2005

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