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PHOTOS BY MELANIE WEBER

in
the

Nostalgia Reigns

Hillels hosts alums spanning
60 years at an anniversary brunch.

GABRIELLA BURMAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

M

ore than 500 past students, teachers and their fam-
ilies descended upon Hillel Day School on Friday,
Nov. 24, for the school’s 60th Anniversary Reunion,
representing nearly every graduating class and teachers
from all six decades of the school’s existence.
“I’ve never seen so many happy people in one place!” Steve
Freedman, head of school, said as he greeted attendees.
Alumni reconnecting with old friends and old teachers
beamed with warmth and nostalgia as they toured the trans-
formed facility, introduced one another to their children,
and reminisced as they peered through yearbooks.
Rachel Tessler Lopatin, class of 1982, now living in New
York, was able to acknowledge her kin-
dergarten teacher, Fran Fine. She and
students from the 1980s who learned
Torah with Adina Tzeel when they
were third- and fifth-graders flocked
around her and leaned in for hugs and
kisses.
“This is truly remarkable,” said
Michael Rubyan, class of 2001, who
now lives in Ann Arbor. “I’m so glad to
be here.”
The reunion is part of a yearlong
celebration of the school’s mile-
stone year. In the spring, the 60th
Anniversary Gala will honor six teach-
Past Hillel presidents Nancy Glen, Ellen Glen, ers who have each devoted more
Arlene Tilchen and Robert Schostak with than 25 years of service to Hillel Day
Head of School Steve Freedman School: Clara Gaba, Adina Levin,
Malka Littman, Ayala Perlstein, Rivka
Schuchman and Pam Smith — as well as Dream Maker Brian
Hermelin. The event will feature a special performance by
Israeli singer/songwriter Michael HarPaz, a member of the
class of 1987.
Barbara Eskin, who has taught at Hillel for more than
40 years, both as a permanent and guest teacher, includ-
ing when the school was briefly located at Congregation
B’nai Moshe in the 1960s on 10 Mile Road in Oak Park, days
later was still reveling in the experience of seeing so many
Hillel friends. “I loved every minute of the reunion,” she said.
“Every minute!” •

ABOVE:
Teacher Adina
Tzeel with
Lowell Friedman
and Rachel
Morse Geller,
both class
of 1987,
and Jennifer
Morse Mattler,
class of 1983.

Gabriella Burman, class of 1988, is Hillel’s communications coordinator.

20

December 7 • 2017

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Time To Kindle

Menorah in the D to rock the
fi rst night of Chanukah.

M

enorah in the D, the sev-
beginning at 5:45 p.m.
enth annual celebration
All activities are free, includ-
of the Festival of Lights,
ing snacks, hot soup, traditional
will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec.
sufganiot (jelly donuts), Kind bars,
12 in Downtown Detroit’s Campus
marshmallow roasting and coffee
Martius Park.
courtesy of the Roasting Plant.
ABOVE:
Festivities will feature an
An array of kosher food options
Lighting the
array of activities, live enter-
menorah at will also be for sale (cash only),
tainment, a variety of kosher
prepared by various local cater-
a previous
food and numerous games,
Menorah in ers.
crafts and fun for all to cel-
At 6 p.m., dignitaries, elected
the D.
ebrate Chanukah in the city.
officials and community leaders,
Menorah in the D has become
including Detroit Pistons representa-
“the” community-wide meno-
tives Earl Cureton, Adam Schneider
rah lighting event to celebrate
and Arn Tellem, will help light the
Chanukah. The free event is hosted
larger-than-life menorah to celebrate
by The Shul-Chabad Lubavitch,
the first night of Chanukah.
in partnership with the Jewish
Following the lighting ceremo-
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit
nies, attendees can take part in the
and Chabad of Greater Downtown
Detroit Pistons’ Jewish Heritage
Detroit, along with support from
Night at nearby Little Caesars Arena
Quicken Loans and other various
as the Pistons take on the Denver
sponsors.
Nuggets. Game time is 7 p.m. There
“The menorah being placed in
are exclusive discounted tickets and
the heart of the city of Detroit is a
on-court experiences coinciding
reminder to us all that we should
with Menorah in the D.
continually work to illuminate
Chabad-organized public meno-
the world around us,” said Rabbi
rah lightings are now seen annually
Kasriel Shemtov, spiritual director
in hundreds of locations worldwide,
and founder of The Shul of West
from the White House to the Eiffel
Bloomfield.
Tower. The celebration of Chanukah
At 5:30 p.m., families can enjoy
and the lighting of a public menorah
Chanukah crafts, face painting,
are particularly relevant to Detroit
jugglers, balloon sculpting, interac-
and its area residents during diffi-
tive experiments, pictures with the
cult times.
dreidel mascot and more. Detroit
To RSVP (preferred to get a handle
Pistons Extreme Team will also have on food supplies) and for more
a high-energy show prior to the
details, such as where to park, and
lighting. In addition, attendees will
about the Pistons’ Jewish Heritage
enjoy performances by fire jugglers
Night, visit menorahinthed.com. •

