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
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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.