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