Meet Some of the Shalhevet Community

Chavi Wintner: School Community as a Parent

When Chavi Wintner was considering schools for her daughter, she knew the right one would demonstrate genuine commitment and investment in its students. That’s what drew her to Shalhevet.

Chavi immediately noticed how the teachers, rebbeim, and administrators care deeply about each individual student. A second-year parent at Shalhevet, Chavi and her family attend all of her daughter’s basketball games. She cherishes not only the players’ skills but their “behavior, team spirit, and great sportsmanship.” When the team made it to the state championships last year, she watched with amazement at the Kiddush Hashem the girls made with their talents and middot — both on and off the court.

But Shalhevet is in many ways Chavi’s community as it is her daughter’s.

Now in her first year on Shalhevet’s Board of Directors, Chavi is invested in budgeting, fundraisers, events, and community programs — and it’s something she takes great pride in. “I have always been a person that believes if you have something that is valuable or useful to an organization,” she explained, “it’s your role and duty to help in any way you can.”

Elijah Stern: Building Relationships and Values

The relationships Elijah Stern (‘23) forged over his four years at Shalhevet — with friends, faculty, and rebbeim — are ones he knows will last a lifetime

Elijah forged those bonds in all areas of student life. A Firehawks basketball player his entire time at Shalhevet, he cherishes the years spent alongside his best friends on the court, leading and working alongside them. In conversations with rebbeim and teachers, he sought guidance on whichever personal or general questions were on his mind. “The relationships that I created at Shalhevet won’t end when I graduate,” Elijah said. “I see them as everlasting.”

Beyond those connections, Elijah is proud to carry on the lessons and values Shalhevet imparted to him: advocating for his beliefs; making confident decisions; strengthening his relationship with God; embodying his Modern Orthodox ideals; and living as a proud Jew. Whether strolling on the LA streets with his kippah or leading the Shabbos teen minyan at his shul, Elijah feels empowered to be true to himself and his values.

After graduation, Elijah is excited to spend his shana ba’aretz in yeshiva and return to the U.S. for college, where he plans to attend business school and also study sociology. It’s a future Elijah feels eager to embrace and prepared to begin.

Amalia Abecassis: Changing How We Teach Holocaust History Through Art

For Amalia Abecassis (‘23), the idea of joining a vibrant, welcoming, and empowering Jewish community was always something of a dream. At Shalhevet, that dream became reality.

“I instantly felt warmly accepted,” she said. “At Shalhevet, I rediscovered my Jewish identity as the engine of my faith. Surrounded by a Jewish community, I strengthened my connection with G-d and with myself as a person.” Now a senior, the extent of Amalia’s contributions extends quite far.

Passionate about preserving the Holocaust’s memory as the number of survivors dwindles, Amalia turned to the provenance of looted artworks. She wanted to shed light on those injustices while personalizing the victims of that theft. Partnering with a European research organization, Amalia designed an 83-page curriculum that she taught at high schools and presented at public events — alongside partnering with museums and educational websites. At Shalhevet, she led focus groups for sophomores and advanced seminars for juniors and seniors.

Recently admitted to Stanford University, Amalia plans to continue her research and strengthen her identity. “Thanks to my Shalhevet community,” she said, “I have found my true values and feel confident that when I leave Shalhevet, I will continue to embrace them.”