KOL HILLEL
קול הלל 5786 קיץ
Summer 2026
Board of Governors 2026-2027 / 5786 - 5787 Sharon Minski '97*, Chair Martin Fleischer, Vice-Chair Michael Berkman, Treasurer Sara Sevillia ‘03*, Secretary Jacques Bessoudo David Bitton Natalie Bursztyn Tesone ‘05* Stephanie Gilinski Jeffrey Scheck* Philip Solomon Daniel Toledano Joseph Woldenberg
Educational Administration Rabbi Ari Leubitz, Head of School Rabbi Shlomo Sprung*, Rabbinic Head Craig Carpentieri, Chief Academic Officer Orly Dromi, Director of Early Childhood Education Sarah Oatney-Weiler, Director of Juda and Maria Diener Lower School Josh Meisels*, Director of Samuel and Henrietta Scheck Middle School Benjamin Thompson-Echevarria, Director of High School
*Scheck Hillel Alumnus/Alumna
About Us
Scheck Hillel Community School educates and inspires students from 18 months through Grade 12 to become exemplary global citizens with enduring Jewish identity and values. We offer an individualized, college-preparatory curriculum highlighted by Design/STEM, Capstone, dual college enrollment, arts, athletics, and community service. Our 14-acre campus includes a 115,000 square-foot athletic complex, with plans for future academic expansion. Set within a nurturing and diverse community, Scheck Hillel is one of the world’s largest Jewish community day schools and a two-time National Blue Ribbon School. For more information about Scheck Hillel Community School, or to arrange an in-person or virtual tour, please contact the Admissions Office at 305-931-2831 or email admissions@ehillel.org.
Table of Contents A Note from our Head of School Giving Without Measure Chessed On Campus Learning in Disguise Beyond the Classroom 73 Students. One Unforgettable Chapter. Class of 2026 From A to Z: Academics at Scheck Hillel Academic Highlights From Generation to Generation Jewish Highlights A Year in Jewish Life Jewish Highlights A Standout Year for the Arts Visual & Performing Arts Highlights Lions Roar Athletic Highlights An Evening of Testimony and Strength HIP/PTA 78 Years. One People. The George Feldenkreis Z”L Yom Ha'Atzmaut Day From Ideas to Impact Innovation at Scheck Hillel Campus Connection Alumni Network The Teachers Behind Generations of Lions Lion Tales: Every Lion Has a Story Present in Every Page. Invisible By Design The Power of Giving Business Partners
03 04 05 07 11 13 14 15 17 18 19 21 22 23 25 26
A Note from Our HEAD OF SCHOOL As you turn the pages of this issue of Kol Hillel, you will see a year filled with activity, creativity, and achievement.
what these values look like when they are lived. And that is what we mean by excellence.
Excellence is often measured in outcomes. Grades, awards, acceptances. These are important, and we are proud of what our students achieve. But they are only part of the picture.
Over time, these qualities become part of how our students think, how they lead, and how they carry themselves. By the time they graduate, what they have built is not only a record of achievement, but a foundation they will continue to draw on in the years ahead. We hope these pages reflect it.
At Scheck Hillel, excellence is not defined by a single result. It is reflected in how students approach their learning, how they engage with challenges, and how they show up for one another. It lives in the values we come back to every day: kavod, chessed, shalom, ruach, emet. Not as words on a wall, but as a way of moving through the world. You can see it in the newly formed Debate Team that stepped onto a competitive stage and held their own. In the students who traveled to Yale to compete in mathematics, not just for the trophy, but because they love the challenge. In Grade 3 students who stood before their grandparents at M'Dor L'Dor and honored the stories that shaped them. In a school choir that took the stage alongside Idan Raichel at the IAC conference and carried our community's voice into a room of thousands. In Grade 10 students who walked the land of Israel and returned changed.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Different moments. Different grades. Different rooms. But in each one, the same thing at work: students who showed up not just for the outcome, but for the meaning behind it. That is
RABBI ARI LEUBITZ Head of School
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CHESSED ON CAMPUS
GIVING WITHOUT MEASURE Chessed is part of who we raise our children to be. It is woven into the culture of Scheck Hillel and reflected in the choices our students make every day.
For a dedicated group of Middle School students, that commitment comes to life through Chessed on Campus. Led by Sari Mizrahi, Chessed on Campus turns values into action. This year, they visited nursing home residents, spent time with children with special needs, and showed appreciation for Hatzalah volunteers who spend their lives helping others.
One of their most meaningful connections is with a nine-month-old boy at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. He has spent his entire life in a hospital bed waiting for surgery. His world is four walls and the same ceiling. The students walk into that world and fill it with joy. They sing. They play. They read Tehillim. They bring warmth and Chizuk (strength and encouragement) to a family that has been waiting a very long time in an unimaginable journey. Week after week, what began as an act of chessed revealed itself as something far greater. The moment those students walk through that door, the baby's face fills with light. For a child who has never known a world outside that room, he knows, without a doubt, that something wonderful just arrived. For the students, that is the moment they carry with them all week. His picture hangs in their classroom. His name is in their tefillot. What began as an act of giving, grew visit by visit into the deepest kind of chessed: the kind where you stop counting what you gave and start showing up because you cannot imagine doing otherwise. This is what it looks like when Scheck Hillel's values take root. We are not just educating students, we are shaping mensches.
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LEARNING IN DISGUISE Some lessons are easy to recognize. They come with notebooks, clear instructions, and answers to check at the end. But some of the most meaningful learning looks different. A wedding in a classroom, a marketplace built by students, a day that moves between history and discovery. At Scheck Hillel, these moments are not extras. They are part of how we teach. Because when learning is experienced, not just explained, it stays.
Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and the Letters Q and U.
By the end of the ceremony, every child understood something no worksheet could teach the same way, Q and U go together. Always. It’s not a rule they memorized. It’s a memory they lived.
Ask a Kindergartner what they remember about learning to read, and they might tell you about the wedding. Mrs. Lugassy’s Kindergarten classroom transformed into something entirely unexpected: a wedding venue. Not just any wedding, but the union of Q and U, two letters that, as every young reader learns, belong together forever. The setup was as real as it gets. Students took on roles as bride and groom, parents, and guests. A chuppah was assembled, the room was decorated, and the story unfolded as the children brought each moment to life with the kind of commitment only five-year-olds can.
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SCAN THE QR CODE TO WATCH THE Q+U WEDDING ON OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE.
LEARNING THAT MOVES
BUILT BY STUDENTS
Not every classroom has four walls. At Scheck Hillel, field trips are not a break from learning. They are where learning comes to life. Grade 3 Wild Florida Adventure Park: Students
connected their classroom studies to the natural world around them.
Grade 4 St. Augustine:
Students walk the streets of the nation’s oldest city, exploring the fort, landmarks and architecture they’ve studied.
Grade 5 Orlando & Kennedy Space Center:
Students engage with history at the Holocaust Center of Florida, and explore space at the Kennedy Space Center.
It started with an idea. A Grade 4 class set out to build a business, not as a concept, but as something real. Students were guided through the full process: identifying a need, designing a product, building a brand, setting a price, and preparing to sell.
Grade 6 Zoo Miami:
Each group created their own product line and storefront, transforming the classroom into a small marketplace. On market day, Grade 2 students arrived ready to shop, and Grade 4 stepped into their roles as business owners, making their pitches and completing their sales.
Students observe habitats firsthand, applying what they’ve learned about ecosystems, conservation, and species behavior in a real environment.
By the end of the day, the class had earned more than $1,000, every dollar donated to the Annual Lion Fund. What began as a lesson in entrepreneurship became something larger: an understanding of responsibility, ownership, and the impact of giving.
Grade 7 Dania Beach:
Students study coastal ecosystems along Florida’s shoreline.
Grade 8 Wynwood Walls: Students
explore how murals at Wynwood Walls reflect culture and community.
WHAT STAYS WITH THEM These moments may not look like traditional lessons, but they are the ones students remember. Because they lived them, not just learned them.
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“One day, you'll be in a classroom, in a meeting, or in the middle of a dif�icult conversation, and you'll realize you're drawing on something you learned here."
"We came in with cartoon backpacks and now we leave with invisible ones full of lessons, love, memories, and maybe still one expired snack." MAIA W. '26, SALUTATORIAN
RABBI ARI LEUBITZ Head of School “Mr. C's (Mr. Gerry Cirulnick, Upper School English Teacher) energy got you motivated to learn. His class was very dif�icult, and I loved every second of it.”
73 STUDENTS. ONE UNFORGETTABLE CHAPTER. The Class of 2026 did things their own way. They were the ones organizing study nights nobody asked them to organize, filling the bleachers for each other's games, and making sure everyone felt like they belonged. Not because it was expected. Just because that's who they are. They led quietly, included genuinely, and somewhere along the way became one of the closest classes this school has seen.
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JAIA H. ‘26
"Here they know you by name, they want you to succeed, and this community is special. I was excited to come to school every day." MICHAEL F. ‘26
"We have been blessed with a gift. And that is a values based education." AVICHAI M. ‘26, VALEDICTORIAN
The class of 2026 in two songs:
“Baile Inolvidable” BAD BUNNY
“Freed from Desire” GALA
"Playing soccer at (Scheck) Hillel was something else. We had Shabbat together, we showed up for each other. It wasn't just a team, it was a genuine family." MARCOS F. ‘26
"Theater was a really fun and effective way to meet new people. You also get to physically see the results at the end. It was one of my favorite things." SAFA C. ‘26
"If we needed any evidence this next generation was ready to carry our traditions, I couldn't �ind a better group of people to offer you proof." MR. BENJAMIN THOMPSON-ECHEVARRIA Director of High School "(Scheck) Hillel brought speakers and courses on AI and I went to all of them. It was really helpful to learn about the future." ALEX P. '26, Pursuing Computer Engineering
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2 025/ Jacob
Briana
Nicole Mijal
Sophie
Jonathan
Ester Delilah
Samuel
Abitbol
Bazon
Benmeleh
Ackerman
Anidjar
Arias
Arwas
Torah Tech Florida International University
Babson College
Bar Ilan XP Yeshiva University Stern College for Women
New York University
Aish Hatorah Yeshiva University
Nathan
Haylee Gabriella
Eden Leah
Ori Itzhak
Amit
Maor Elias
Gabriella Jodie
Yeshivat Ashreinu Florida Atlantic University
Cogan
Daniel
Edelboim
Edri
Elbaz-Starinsky
Elbilia
Faith
Torah Tech University of Florida
University of Florida
Florida State University
Derech Ohr Somayach
Israel Defense Forces
Florida Atlantic University
University of Miami
Dan
Akiva
Millie Gabrielle
Jordan
Camila
Claire
Hailey
Fridzon
Friedman
Goldstein
Gonzalez
Gruszka
Guralnik
Hardoon
University of Miami
University of Miami
George Washington University Parsons School of Design
Bar Ilan XP Northeastern University
Avichai Simcha
Aish Hatorah Yeshiva University
Kassandra Lisette
Michael
Sara
Eva Briana
Anabella Chaya
Danielle
Lazega
Lugassy
Malca
Maleh
Mandelblum
Mashiah
Meisels Yeshivat Har Etzion (Gush) Yeshiva University - Honors
Northeastern University
Yeshivat Ohr Sameach
Northeastern University
University of Miami
University of Michigan
Baer Miriam Touro University- Lander College for Women
Liam David
Jacob Michael
Moises
Judah
Serina
Nathan
Joel
Rochman
Rodan
Saba
Sabag
Sadoun
Schonfeld
Schuster
Israel Defense Forces
Torah Tech
Torah Tech
Florida Atlantic University
Florida International University
University of Florida
Bentley University
Riana Sadie
Abraham Simon
Aviv David
Zagranichny
Zfaz
Zohar
Northeastern University
Yeshivat Migdal HaTorah University of Florida
GRADU 9
Aish for Women Touro University- Lander College for Women
/2026 David Isaac
Shilo
Roy
Safa
Enrique
Eva
Igal
Bentolila
Biton
Blatt
Carpentieri
Carreño
Chelminsky
Clebañer
Santa Fe College
University of Florida
Boston University
University of Miami
University of Florida
Lyla Star
Joel David
Michael
Eli
Marcos
Rachel Adina
David Leonardo
Faith
Feldman
Feldman
Fischbach
Fishman
Fishman
Freeman Aardvark Israel
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of Florida
University of Michigan
Babson College
Midreshet Ora Reichman University
Itay Nachum
Jaia Eliana
Samuel
Sabrina
Alexandra
Gabriela
Jake
Haroush
Herdan
Hirshbein
Jamri
Kattan
Koenig
Labbie
University of Florida
University of Florida
Derech Ohr Sameach
Northeastern University
Northeastern University Cornell University
Yeshiva University Stern College for Women
Broward College
Ely
David Eliyahu
Hila
Alexandre Reuven
Liv
Eitan
Benjamin
Mizrahi
Norman
Osovitzki
Pery
Raviv
Resler
Riven
Indiana UniversityBloomington
Florida International University
Israel Defense Forces
Reichman University
University of Florida
Midreshet Eshel University of Miami
Liat
Michelle
Tally
Elias
Esther Leah
Debora Raquel
Maia
Shechter
Solomon
Strimber
Tabacinic
Tamir
Toledo
Weitzman
Reichman University
The University of Texas at Austin
Babson College
Bentley University
University of Miami
Boston University
University of Michigan
UATES 10
ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHTS
A
B
165 students took 360+ AP exams, with an 89% pass rate.
Kindergarten visited the Redstone Barnyard for a hands-on day of exploration, meeting farm animals and discovering life on a working farm.
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D
AP CLASSES
From A to Z: Academics at Scheck Hillel This year’s academic story is made up of many moments, some measured in numbers, others in impact. From A to Z, here is a look at what our students achieved.
E EARLY APPLICATIONS Class of 2026 submitted 591 early college applications, a school record.
CS50 AT HARVARD
DEBATE TEAM
Students attended a CS50 lecture at Harvard, a testament to their strength in STEM.
Twelve students competed in Scheck Hillel's first-ever debate season. Andrea C. ’27 placed 2nd overall and Tamar G. ’27 placed 3rd.
F
G
FLAMINGO GARDENS
GILINSKI HILLEL AMBASSADORS
PK4 students made their first field trip to Flamingo Gardens, exploring native wildlife and Florida's natural landscape up close.
I INTERNET OF THINGS HACKATHON At the CIJE Hackathon, students took ideas from concept to code in one day. Salinity Shield earned 2nd place; Hydro Buddy received Best Presentation.
BARNYARD EXPERIENCE
Ambassadors completed a year of leadership and service initiatives, representing the school with purpose.
J
H
HIGH SCHOOL AWARDS
100+ students were recognized across academics, the arts, athletics, and school life.
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JUNIOR BOOK AWARD CEREMONY More than 20 high school juniors were recognized with book awards from colleges and universities nationwide.
K-2 LITERACY SCREENINGS Students were screened for early literacy, supporting early intervention and stronger outcomes in a multilanguage diverse community.
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M
LOWER SCHOOL GROWTH
MMATHS AT YALE
MAP assessments show most Lower School students above national averages in Math and Language Arts.
In Scheck Hillel’s first appearance at the Math Majors of America Tournament for High Schools (MMATHS) competition at Yale, Jeremy D. ’27 placed 3rd and Ami K. ’28 placed 10th. The Hillel Lions 2 team took 1st in the Guts Round.
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N
NATIONAL MERIT
O
P
ONE HUNDRED DAYS OF SCHOOL
PRESTIGIOUS SCIENCE ACHIEVEMENT
QUICK MARKET
Avichai M. ’26, Anabella M. ’26, and Nathan S. ’26 were named National Merit Commended Students.
Kindergarten marked 100 days of school through counting challenges and classroom celebrations.
Zachary R. '30 earned the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Award, ranking in the top 10% of middle schoolers nationwide.
ECE students ran their own farmers market, practicing counting and real-world skills through play.
R ROBOTICS TOURNAMENT Grade 9 students placed 3rd at the CIJE VEX IQ Robotics Tournament.
U UNIVERSITY ACCEPTANCES Seniors earned acceptances to 52+ universities, including NYU, USC, Tufts, and others.
X
X-PANDING OPPORTUNITIES New programs and competitions expanded opportunities across all divisions.
Q
S
T
The Silver Knight Awards recognize outstanding high school seniors for academic excellence and community service. 15 students were nominated: Sophie A., Nathan C., Haylee D., Gabriella F., Joel F., Millie G., Jaia H., Alexandra K., Eva M., Anabella M., Avichai M., Jacob R., Nathan S., Debora T., and Maia W.
THE ROAR POST
SILVER KNIGHT NOMINEES
Students lead writing, photography, video, and social media across four issues of the school newspaper.
W
V VALUES-BASED EDUCATION Rooted in emet, shalom, ruach, chessed, and kavod, students grow in knowledge and character.
Y YUNMUN Students traveled to N.Y and represented Bolivia at Yeshiva University’s Model UN.
WELCOME TO MIDDLE SCHOOL Grade 5 spent a day experiencing middle school life firsthand, a preview of what's ahead.
Z ZERO LIMITS From early milestones to national recognition, this year reflects the depth and range of academics at Scheck Hillel.
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JEWISH HIGHLIGHTS
From Generation to Generation
In Grade 1, students stand for their Siddur presentation, receiving their first Siddur surrounded by family and teachers. It is a moment that marks a beginning, but it does not feel new. The words, the rhythm, the experience of tefillah are already woven into their lives. Now, it becomes something they begin to carry on their own.
There are things we learn, and there are things we inherit. At Scheck Hillel, Jewish life is not something students step into all at once. It unfolds over time, through moments that connect them to those who came before them and to what they will one day carry forward. It begins early. In Early Childhood, children stand beside their grandmothers at the Generations Challah Bake. Students braid challah alongside their grandmothers, sharing stories, learning the motions, and preparing for Shabbat together. What happens is not explained step by step. It is shown, shared, and passed from one to the next. Long before they can name it, they are already part of it. That sense of connection deepens as they grow.
By Grade 3, that understanding takes another step. At the M’dor L’dor presentation, students give voice to what they have been building over time, reflecting on their connection to Jewish life, tradition, and identity. What once felt like something they were stepping into, now begins to feel like something that belongs to them. From a grandmother’s hands guiding dough, to a Siddur held for the first time, to standing and speaking in their own voice, these are not separate moments. They are part of the same story. One that is learned, lived, and carried forward, m’dor l’dor.
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JEWISH HIGHLIGHTS
A Year in Jewish Life
SHABBAT B’YACHAD Families across divisions gathered for Shabbat, sharing songs, brachot, and moments that strengthened the connection between home, school, and tradition.
ABA MINYAN Each Friday, fathers joined their children in middle school for tefillah, creating a consistent space for connection, routine, and shared Jewish practice.
PURIM From creative costumes to Megillah reading with Rabbi Sprung, Purim brings energy, laughter, and simcha to every corner of campus.
UNDERSTANDING HAVDALAH Kindergarten students welcomed fathers and loved ones for a hands-on Havdalah experience, bringing the transition from Shabbat, to the week, to life.
HEBREW: THE LANGUAGE THAT CONNECTS US Hebrew is lived across our classrooms, connecting students to Torah, tefillah, and the Jewish people. Scan the QR code to experience Hebrew in action.
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VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS HIGHLIGHTS
A Standout Year for the Arts At this year's Upper School Theatre Awards and Season Celebration, Nathan S. '26 became the first recipient of the Jordan Alexander Ressler Theatre Award, the program's new highest honor. Open to graduating seniors who have demonstrated sustained and meaningful contributions to Hillel theatre, the award recognizes dedication, growth, leadership, and a commitment to helping others succeed. Nathan has been part of the Jordan Alexander Ressler Performing Arts Program since Grade 6, contributing across seven years in an extraordinary range of roles: actor, rehearsal assistant, lighting programmer, lighting designer, set designer, and the first president of the school's rejuvenated International Thespian Society chapter following COVID. When theatre students were asked who inspired them and who helped them feel welcomed and find success in the program, Nathan was the name mentioned most often. This year, he also led the cast of 16 Upper School students in Newsies Jr. as Jack Kelly while also serving as Lighting Designer. The production ran for three performances.
MATILDA JR. A Juda and Maria Diener Lower School Production Roald Dahl's Matilda Jr. came to life through the energy, creativity, and hard work of 35 Lower School students. Led by Miel L. ’34 in the title role, the production gave young performers the opportunity to build confidence, collaborate with their peers, and experience the magic of bringing a story to life on stage.
Kol Hakavod to all recipients and everyone who contributed to an outstanding season. Student performers across Matilda Jr. and Newsies Jr.
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SPRING CONCERT The Spring Concert brought together Middle and Upper School students for an evening that reflected the full range of musical expression at Scheck Hillel. Eight ensembles took the stage, from Chorus and Concert Band to Full Orchestra, each contributing to a performance that moved seamlessly across styles and generations. Soloists Alice B. ’30 and Anat P. ’30 performed Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, while Jacob A. ’26, Alex H. ’27, Ethan L. ’27, Ella M. ’29, David N. ’26 took the spotlight in Vivaldi Rocks!
WELCOMING NEW THESPIANS
Six students were inducted into the International Thespian Society, recognizing their dedication and achievement in theatre and performing arts. Kol Hakavod to Enrique C.'26, Haylee D.'26, Michaella D.'29, Ella M.'29, Adi R.'29, and Ariella S.'29.
ANNUAL ART SHOW The Annual Art Show showcased creativity, technique, and growth through a wide range of mediums.
ON A NATIONAL STAGE: IAC PERFORMANCE This year, our students performed in front of thousands at the Israeli-American Council (IAC) Conference, sharing the stage with Israeli musician Idan Raichel and hostage survivor Sagui Dekel-Chen. Our students took the spotlight with confidence, energy, and pride, representing Scheck Hillel and the Jewish community in a moment that was far bigger than any school stage. It is the kind of experience that stays with students for years to come. A special thank you to our Lower School Music Teacher Laura Bass for helping make this opportunity possible.
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ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS
Lions Roar
300
+ 22
+7
STUDENT ATHLETES PARTICIPATING IN ATHLETIC PROGRAMS
TEAMS COMPETED ACROSS ALL DIVISIONS
TEAMS REACHED POST-SEASON PLAY
CHAMPIONS
SEMIFINALS
Varsity Boys Soccer
FINALS LS Boys Basketball
3RD PLACE · ATLANTA
Varsity Boys Flag Football
LS Girls Basketball
GROWING THE PROGRAM
Boys Volleyball, Tennis, and Varsity Girls Flag Football
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HIP/PTA
An Evening of Testimony and Strength There are moments that leave a mark that does not fade. Earlier this year, our community gathered to hear Omer Wenkert share his story. On October 7, 2023, Omer was taken hostage and held in captivity for 505 days before returning home. He spoke openly about that experience, and about the strength it took to endure and return, with clarity, honesty, and a quiet determination to keep going. To sit and listen to that kind of testimony is not easy. It is not meant to be. But it matters. Listening as a community, parents, educators, and families side by side, becomes its own act of solidarity. A reminder that these stories are not carried alone. The evening reflected something essential about who we are. Our connection to Israel is not abstract. It lives in people and in their stories. What happens in Israel is not distant. It is personal. We are deeply grateful to our HIP/PTA for bringing our community together in this way. Creating space for an evening like this is not simple, but it is essential.
Am Yisrael Chai.
HIGHLIGHTS
Mishloach Manot
Family Fun Run
Mahjong Night
ECE Movie Night
Our HIP/PTA brought Mishloach Manot to every classroom, filling the school with Purim joy.
Our youngest Lions hit the course with big energy and even bigger smiles.
No kids, no carpool. Just tiles, laughter, and great company.
A special evening that brought ECE families together for a movie, snacks, and lots of fun.
A year of community, connection, and moments worth celebrating.
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THE GEORGE FELDENKREIS Z”L YOM HA’ATZMAUT DAY
78 Years. One People. Our campus came alive in blue and white as we celebrated 78 years of Israel the Scheck Hillel way.
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INNOVATION AT SCHECK HILLEL
From Ideas to Impact
Dylan C.'28, Jack F.'28, and Jose T.'28 walked into engineering class with an idea and walked out with something that could change a life. Their invention: a pair of glasses fitted with an AI camera that helps blind and visually impaired people navigate the world around them. The glasses detect objects in the path ahead, identify people standing nearby, and send real-time alerts so the wearer knows what and who is in front of them before it's too late. It isn't a concept. It isn't a sketch on paper. It works. That kind of thinking is becoming a signature of what happens inside Scheck Hillel classrooms. Here, students don't just study problems. They solve them.
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From the robotics lab where teams competed across divisions, to the Lion's Den Patent Challenge, where students compete for a real 20-year utility patent issued in their name, Scheck Hillel has built a culture where innovation isn't an elective. It's a mindset. And this year, three students proved exactly what that mindset can produce.
Scheck Hillel students aren't waiting to go out and build the world. They're starting now.
ALUMNI NETWORK
Campus Connection Scheck Hillel Community School has been ranked #4 in Best Jewish Schools in America by Niche.com, the country's leading college and school search platform. We are proud of the students, faculty, and families who make this community what it is.
JARED FIRESTONE. From Scheck Hillel to the Olympic Stage Scheck Hillel alumnus Jared Firestone represented Israel in skeleton at the 2026 Winter Olympics. This year he came back to campus to speak with our Middle School students about perseverance, identity, and what it means to carry the spirit of Am Yisrael into every arena.
RUDY ROCHMAN. Inspiring the Next Generation Israel advocate, IDF soldier, and social media voice to over 200,000 followers, Rudy Rochman, brother of Liam R. ’26, spent his formative middle school years at Scheck Hillel. This year he came back to speak to our high school students and remind them that the values built here travel far. "HILLEL IS AN INSTITUTION THAT TRULY INVESTS IN THE JEWISH FUTURE OF ITS STUDENTS," he said. "THE YOUTH IS THE KEY TO A BETTER FUTURE."
ONCE A LION, ALWAYS A LION
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30 + 29
CURRENT SCHECK HILLEL PARENTS ARE ALUMNI
ALUMNI RETURNING AS NEW PARENTS THIS 26-27 SCHOOL YEAR
FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS ARE FORMER LIONS
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LION TALES: Every Lion Has a Story
THE TEACHERS BEHIND GENERATIONS OF LIONS Lion Tales celebrates the people, families, and traditions woven into the fabric of Scheck Hillel. Few stories embody that spirit more than those of Mr. Yossi Yativ, and Mrs. Tova Yemin. Together, they represent more than a century of dedication to the school and generations of students whose lives they have helped shape.
For 43 years, Mr. Yossi Yativ has called Scheck Hillel his second home and second family. He began as a Hebrew teacher and today teaches Israel Education to Grade 9 students, after spending two decades leading the school's Grade 9 trip to Israel. Through it all, he says the work has remained exciting, challenging, and most of all, rewarding. The impact of those years can be seen in his own family. His son Michael graduated from Scheck Hillel in 2003, his grandson Kevin graduated last year, and today his granddaughter sits in his Israel Education class. Three generations, one teacher, one school.
"I am teaching students whose parents were my students," he says.
"There is no greater feeling than that." After more than four decades at Scheck Hillel, his battery is still fully charged. He remains proud to help instill Jewish values, strengthen students' connection to Israel, and plant the seeds for future Jewish leaders.
MR. YOSSI YATIV
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MRS. TOVA YEMIN When Mrs. Tova Yemin first walked through Scheck Hillel's doors, she never imagined the school would become her second home for more than four decades. Before joining the faculty, her children attended and graduated from Scheck Hillel. Today, her grandchildren are among the generations of Lions who have followed. Along the way, she has taught the children of former students, watched students become colleagues, and worked alongside some of the school's original founders. Although Hillel has grown tremendously, she believes its heart has never changed.
Together, they re�lect what makes Scheck Hillel so special, a community that feels like home. One that welcomes each generation, stays connected long after graduation, and continues to shape the lives of those who are part of its story.
"Hillel has always been built on warmth, values, kindness, love for Israel, and a deep commitment to Jewish education," she says. Looking back, she describes her years at (Scheck) Hillel as a lifelong calling and a profound labor of love. Through every change and transition, one thing has remained constant: Hillel is family.
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This page. And the one before it. And the one before that. Every moment you just read about was made possible, in part, by people who gave. Giving doesn't have a face. But without it, some of these pages would be blank. That is the ANNUAL LION FUND. Present in every page. Invisible by design.
GIVE The Annual Lion Fund supports the people, programs, and opportunities that make the Scheck Hillel experience possible.
TODAY 25
From academics and athletics to the arts, Jewish life, student leadership, tuition assistance, security, and faculty excellence, every gift helps strengthen our school today and for the future.
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As of July 1, 2026
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