SPRING 2019 FEATURES
12 What’s Happening at GOA 14 L’hitraot Mr. Laks 3 Reunions 16 Buddy Program 8 Alumni Back on Campus 18 Mission: Puerto Rico 10 Annual Basketball 21 Erica Rabner Concert Game and Open House 22 Class Notes
NEWS
Jewish Leaders Beyond the Classroom Walls
Alumni are bringing the leadership skills they learned from Schechter/GOA to their college campuses Last spring, we unveiled our new mission, vision and values for Golda Och Academy. Yet our alumni continue to prove that these values – love of learning, community, respect, repair of the world, Jewish life and learning, and love of Israel – live beyond the walls of our campuses. They are the foundation that has helped our alumni on college campuses grow and flourish and eventually use their leadership skills to go out into the working world, start impressive careers and even volunteer their time to worthy causes in the community.
That same year, Lindsay applied to be part of a first-year leadership program with Brandeis Hillel and was chosen to be one of the two first-year representatives to the Hillel Student Board. On the Hillel Board, she had the chance to interact with upperclassmen who she characterized as “creative, capable, bright, and passionate individuals.” These members quickly became Lindsay’s friends and mentors and inspired her to take on other leadership positions in the community.
As a day school, Golda Och Academy prides itself on raising the next generation of Jewish leaders. Currently, there are five alumni serving as presidents of their campus Hillel or Chabad. Below we have highlighted some of their accomplishments within their organizations.
Recognizing the diversity of Jewish students, Lindsay helped create a pluralistic communal
Lindsay Biebelberg ’17 President of Hillel, Brandeis University Since Jewish life was very important to Lindsay (right) when applying to colleges, she always knew Hillel would be part of her campus life. What she didn’t foresee, however, was taking on a board leadership position. After attending a Hillel Shabbaton for first-year students at the beginning of her freshman year at Brandeis, Lindsay said, “I knew that Hillel would be my home in college. I had met so many passionate Jewish people of all different denominations with a wide array of passions, and I found the unity we achieved despite diversity to be so beautiful.”
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