Hillel Students 
Honor 
Farmington 
Hills First 
Responders

70 | SEPTEMBER 22 • 2022 
 
 
 
 

faces&places

 PHOTOS COURTESY JNF-USA

In recognition of the 21st anniversary of 9/11, students 
from Hillel Day School honored Farmington Hills Police 
and Fire Department members, Hillel’s Security team and 
parents as part of nationwide ceremonies organized by 
Jewish National Fund-USA.
The middle school students were addressed by 
Farmington Hills Police Chief Jeff King, who highlighted 
the immense sacrifices made by emergency services pro-
fessionals and the ongoing need to recognize their contri-
butions while also noting the ultimate sacrifice made by 
hundreds of first responders 21 years ago on 9/11.
“My colleagues and I are blessed with the ability to pro-
tect [our community] on a daily basis,
” King said. “It is 
our calling, and we feel honored to serve, whether we are 
police, fire or EMS responders. One of our first responder 
community’s biggest responsibilities is to remember those 
who have fallen in the past, including on 9/11. Every year, 
we do that and, as the events of that day worsened, it was 
the first responders who never flinched, never rested and 
showed up for work every day, even with the fears they 
had for their families and communities.
”
Jewish National Fund-USA professional Sunny Cohen 
joined with students to present a plaque to the first 
responders in attendance. The plaque acknowledged 
the immense impact made by first responders while 
highlighting the organization’s unique 9/11 memorial in 
Jerusalem, Israel.
Eighth-grader Daniel Shapiro, who attended the cere-
mony, shared how the gathering provided an important 
forum for remembering the tragic events of 9/11. “For 
me, today felt like a time to be serious,
” Shapiro said. “We 
are showing that we are not going to forget the lives lost, 
nor will we forget the contribution that first responders 
have made, and continue to make, to keep our families 
and us safe.
” 

Sunny Cohen, Officer Leann Lugashi and her daughter, and Rabbi David Fein

Sgt. Hadar Saad, Officer Nick West, Officer Steve Syoen, Sunny Cohen, 
Assistant Chief John Piggott, Chief Jeff King and Rabbi David Fein

Hillel Day School students pictured with Chief Jeff King, Officer Nick West, 
and Officer Steve Syoen

