OUR COMMUNITY

H

illel Day School’s 
Annual Gala, themed 
Israel and Hope, will 
be held on Sunday, May 19, 
and promises to be an inspir-
ing and meaningful evening 
emphasizing the impact Israel 
has had on Hillel’s community 
and, in turn, Hillel’s collective 
commitment to, and hope for, 
the State of Israel. 
Hillel will welcome 
best-selling author, for-
mer Special Envoy for 
Combating Antisemitism and 
Delegitimization, and a leader 
in pro-Israel activism Noa 
Tishby as its featured speaker 
for this can’t-miss event open 
to the entire community. 
A Tel Aviv native, Tishby 
is a leader in pro-Israel 
activism and works tireless-
ly to combat antisemitism. 
She is the author of the 
New York Times bestseller 
Israel: A Simple Guide to the 
Most Misunderstood Country 
on Earth and is among the 
best-known pro-Israel figures 
on social media, especially 
since the horrific events of 
Oct. 7. 
Her new book, Uncomfor-
table Conversations with a Jew, 
co-written with Emmanuel 
Acho, a Fox Sports analyst 
and former NFL linebacker, 
will be released April 30. 
Ronen Meir, Hillel’s director 
of security since 2003, will 
receive the Rabbi Jacob E. 
Segal (z”l) Award for his work 
ensuring the safety and securi-

ty of Hillel’s students and staff. 
Meir is beloved by Hillel’s stu-
dents, staff, parents and alum-
ni. Hillel owes a debt of grat-
itude to him for safeguarding 
Hillel, and even more so since 
Oct. 7. Meir, a member of the 
Jewish Community Security 
Incorporated (JCSI), served 
in a special combat unit in 
Israel, where he was born and 
raised. In addition to his work 
at Hillel, he is a part-time 
marine deputy sheriff and 
a reserve deputy sheriff for 
Oakland County.
Hillel’s 2024 Distinguished 
Alumni recipient Owen 
Alterman (‘91) is senior 
correspondent at the Israeli 
international television chan-
nel i24NEWS. In his work, 
Alterman gives wide-ranging 
commentary on the latest in 
Israeli diplomacy and politics 
and in international affairs. 
Alterman has interviewed 
foreign prime ministers and 
foreign ministers and has 
traveled abroad with both 
Prime Minister Benjamin 
Netanyahu and President 
Isaac Herzog. 

 Prior to joining i24NEWS, 
Alterman served as a research 
fellow at the Institute for 
National Security Studies in 
Tel Aviv and, prior to that, as 
an associate at Allen & Overy 
LLP in New York. Owen 
holds an A.B. (summa cum 
laude) in Near Eastern Studies 
from Princeton University 
and a J.D. from Harvard Law 
School. Alterman grew up in 
the Detroit Jewish community 
serving as president (aleph 
godol) of Michigan Region 
AZA and was active at Adat 
Shalom Synagogue. 

The community is invited 
to celebrate Hillel and its 
honorees, stand with Israel 
and hear Noa Tishby for 
this special event, featuring 
a strolling dinner, extensive 
silent auction, raffle prizes, 
dessert and more. 

Donors of $1,800+ can attend a VIP 

Pre-Glow prior to the event. For tickets, 

ad journal and auction information, 

visit hillelday.org/gala24 or contact 

Lindsay Weiss at (248) 539-2920 or 

Amy Schlussel at (248) 539-1484. Silent 

auction bidding will go live on May 5 

at hillelday.org/gala24.

Hillel Day School’s Annual Gala scheduled for May 19.
Save The Date!

Noa Tishby

JN STAFF

16 | MARCH 14 • 2024 
J
N

Ronen Meir
Owen Alterman

Kids* are invited to a spectacular night at 

Temple while their grown-ups enjoy our Adult 

Purim Spiel! 

Be sure to wear your most fashionable 

pajamas, slippers, and bring your pillow and 

sleeping bag to get cozy for an epic movie 

night on the big screen!

Advance registration required by 3/18 at 

www/temple-israel.org/event/PurimKids

$10/child. Children must be able to use the 

toilet independently. Geared toward children 

12 and under.

For questions, contact Helene Deutch at 

248-661-5700 or hdeutch@temple-israel.org

Temple Israel

5725 WALNUT LAKE ROAD, WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI 48323 | WWW.TEMPLE-ISRAEL.ORG | 248-661-5700

Our zany clergy are back at it, and no one running 

for office is off limits! Come eat, drink and laugh 

your way through another adults only Purim spiel!

Celebrate Purim the way only Temple 
Israel does!

Saturday, March 23, 2024
7:00PM WINE & APPETIZERS
7:30PM PURIM SPIEL 
FOLLOWED BY DANCE PARTY & 
HAMENTASHEN

No charge. Open to the community. Casual dress or 

come in costume. RSVP is required. For adults only!

www.temple-israel.org/event/2024AdultSpiel

For questions, contact Maya Grinboim at 

248-661-5700 or maya@temple-israel.org

JN-PURIM24.indd 1
JN-PURIM24.indd 1

Kids* are invited to a spectacular night at 

Temple while their grown-ups enjoy our Adult 

Purim Spiel! 

Be sure to wear your most fashionable 

pajamas, slippers, and bring your pillow and 

sleeping bag to get cozy for an epic movie 

night on the big screen!

Advance registration required by 3/18 at 

www/temple-israel.org/event/PurimKids

$10/child. Children must be able to use the 

toilet independently. Geared toward children 

12 and under.

For questions, contact Helene Deutch at 

248-661-5700 or hdeutch@temple-israel.org

Temple Israel

5725 WALNUT LAKE ROAD, WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI 48323 | WWW.TEMPLE-ISRAEL.ORG | 248-661-5700

Our zany clergy are back at it, and no one running 

for office is off limits! Come eat, drink and laugh 

your way through another adults only Purim spiel!

Celebrate Purim the way only Temple 
Israel does!

Saturday, March 23, 2024
7:00PM WINE & APPETIZERS
7:30PM PURIM SPIEL 
FOLLOWED BY DANCE PARTY & 
HAMENTASHEN

No charge. Open to the community. Casual dress or 

come in costume. RSVP is required. For adults only!

www.temple-israel.org/event/2024AdultSpiel

For questions, contact Maya Grinboim at 

248-661-5700 or maya@temple-israel.org

HFL’S Special Needs 
Fund Increases Loan 
Amounts

Hebrew Free Loan (HFL) 
increased its loan fund cap for 
one of its critical named funds, 
the Pitt Fund for Special Needs. 
 Through the generosity of 
Ina and Murray Pitt, the fund 
was established at HFL to help 
Jewish families across Michigan 
better afford the kind of life-en-
hancing services, specialized 
equipment, therapies, experi-
ences and programs that assist 
a person with developmental, 
cognitive, mental and physical 
challenges. The fund can be 
used to help support the needs 
of both children and adults. 
Examples include home 
modification or personal 
equipment needs such as 
wheelchair ramps, vehicles with 
wheelchair lifts, hearing aids 
or other necessary equipment 
not covered by insurance; the 
cost of services such as special 
transportation, a paraprofes-
sional, a therapy dog, therapeu-
tic or residential services, or 
respite/childcare; experiences, 
such as special summer camps 
and other recreational activi-
ties; or help with future plan-
ning, such as legal fees to help 
families create a plan or trust 
for their loved one.
Where previous loans from 
the Pitt Fund for Special Needs 
were capped at $10,000 per 
borrower, the fund now offers 
loans at $10,000 per borrower 
with one qualifying co-sign-
er, or loans for amounts of 
$10,001-$20,000 with two qual-
ifying co-signers. Each borrow-
er’s situation will be reviewed 
on a case-by-case basis through 
HFL’s normal loan process. 
For more information on 
this, or any of the agency’s loan 
funds or donor opportunities, 
visit www.hfldetroit.org or call 
(248) 723-8184. 

