Hillel staff and fourth-graders, who designed the display, pose
along their ‘Fence of Peace.’

COURTESY OF HILLEL

faces&places

32 | JANUARY 18 • 2024 J
N

A

t Hillel Day School,
fourth-grade students
and staff came togeth-
er to help soldiers thousands of
miles away.
Hillel fourth-graders were
moved to raise money for IDF
soldiers after they watched
a video of Hillel alum Eric
Lipsky, son of Hillel 3rd/4th-
grade Hebrew teacher Ronit
Marom, who is currently serv-
ing and is in need of supplies
for his unit.
The kids designed their
own fundraiser called “G’
dar
Hashalom” or “Fence of Peace.
”
The student-led project integrat-
ed math, public speaking and
writing skills.
Students sold cups for just
$1 each so that the fundraiser
was accessible to everyone.
With donations from students
from all grades as well as Hillel
parents, over $1,200 was raised.
The cups were arranged on a
fence on Hillel’s property into a

design featuring the Israeli flag,
the American flag, a heart and
the Hillel logo. It is visible on
the playground and reminds
students on a daily basis of their
mitzvah.
The fourth-grade teachers
who led the project were Emily
Parr Gottsegan, Rachel Kellert,
Lauren Partovich, Erica Simon
and Kim Stern.


Hillel’s Fence
of Peace

Hillel’s Fence of Peace raised more than $1,200 for IDF soldiers.

Hillel fourth-graders sold cups for
$1 each during the fundraiser.

Women’s Philanthropy TOV Presents
Empower Hour Event

Join Jewish Federation
of Detroit’s Women’s
Philanthropy TOV for a
creative and confidence-
building evening out
for parents and tweens.
“Empower Hour: Inspiring
Body Confidence Through
Bracelets and Words” takes
place Thursday, Jan. 25, from
6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Max M.
Fisher Federation Building.
Attendees will hear from
Dr. Lisa Klein, pediatrician
at Child Health Associates
and founder of Turning
Teen. Klein will address the
challenges many tweens face
when it comes to feeling
confident about their bodies
because of competing
messages in society and in
the media, and she’ll help
attendees open the door
for discussions about body
image.
Attendees will also be
stringing up some inspiring
bracelets with Robyn
Heicklen of Bracha’s Beads,
assisted by her son Daniel
(check her out on Instagram

@brachas.beads). Attendees
will leave with wearable
reminders of how awesome
they are and with some
new tools and techniques
for talking through topics
about body image and body
confidence.
In addition, attendees will
learn about Dignity Grows,
a cause TOV is committed
to supporting this year.
Dignity Grows works to
combat “period poverty” by
providing girls and women
with the hygiene products
needed to participate in
work, school and everyday
life during menstruation.
Attendees will have the
opportunity to learn more
about this organization
and ways to help further its
mission with TOV.
Register in advance by
Jan. 18. Space is limited. $36
per person, $20 of which is
a donation toward two full
totes for Dignity Grows.
Questions? Contact Amy
Wayne at awayne@jfmd.
org.

SPOTLIGHT