Impact Report 2022-23

2022-23 Board of Directors

In Memory of Sam Zell

It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Sam Zell at age 81.

The son of Bernard and Rochelle Zielonka, Mr. Zell was born in Chicago four months after his parents’ arrival in the U.S. following their escape from Poland during the German invasion in 1939. Mr. Zell became an iconic and internationally known investor and philanthropist, with deep ties to Chicago and its Jewish community.

In 2015, our school was renamed Rochelle Zell Jewish High School in memory of Mr. Zell’s mother, Rochelle, and in recognition of an extraordinary financial contribution to our school on behalf of the Zell Family Foundation. We are humbled and grateful today, as we were in 2015, for the generosity of Mr. Zell, and for the support of his son, Matt, and Matt’s children (including former students of CJHS/RZJHS).

2022-23 Administrative Team

Message from the Head of School

The 2022-23 school year at Rochelle Zell was one of great energy as activities, programs, trips and Shabbatonim operated at full steam and without restrictions. Not to be outdone by their students, it was also an extraordinary year for parent involvement both in terms of participation in events for parents, and in their volunteer initiatives on behalf of our students and staff.

But even as our school has moved on from the disruptions of Covid, the world outside of Rochelle Zell has changed. Our economy, our ecology, and the stability of our world order all seem to be in flux. Add to that now the brave new world of artificial intelligence, whose impacts on teaching and learning, and many other aspects of our lives, we have only begun to wrap our heads around.

Our school is not immune to these changes in our world. Even before Covid, we grappled with trends like the impact of social media and the ways they have transformed human interactions, the coarsening of public discourse in a politically charged climate, and an overall loosening of institutional loyalties and commitment.

Our graduating seniors each year are particularly sensitive to changes in our school – do the underclassmen of Rochelle Zell, they ask, really get what we’re about as a school? Can they be trusted to be faithful guardians of the “RZ Way” and pass it along to the generations that come after them?

Change is unsettling, but also to be expected. The challenge for us is to preserve what is special about our school – our sense of history and tradition and our Jewish commitments – but in a way that is adaptive and not stuck in the past. This kind of evolution, especially in a world undergoing significant changes, is an unavoidable challenge as we, like many other schools and institutions, attempt to navigate through the ever-changing landscape of a postpandemic world.

In January we were visited by an accreditation team from the Independent Schools Association of Independent Schools (ISACS), of which we are a member school. Their report provided us with many helpful recommendations geared toward helping us remain nimble and adaptive in a changing world. The report also provided us with a great many commendations. In particular Rochelle Zell Jewish High School was commended for:

1. Joyful, articulate, and self-confident students who approach their school experience with curiosity, passion, and engagement. Students’ genuine affection for each other, their teachers, and their school reflect the vibrant learning environment at Rochelle Zell Jewish High School.

2. Dedicated and academically focused faculty and staff who are committed to the social, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual growth of each student. Students are both challenged and supported in expanding their self-confidence, knowledge, and skills.

3. Rich and varied curricular and extra-curricular options in secular and Jewish studies. Faculty have created a strong and varied number of class offerings and activities across disciplines that feed a curious and engaged student body.

4. Intentional design of the school campus that actively supports teaching, community building, and collaborative engagement. The Deerfield Campus is a warm inviting space that provides Rochelle Zell Jewish High School community with a welcoming, engaging, and very well maintained environment that deeply reflects the mission of the school.

As we embark upon a new school year, we will continue to be guided by the best our traditions have to offer, but with an openness to our present-day world and its challenges, and an unwavering commitment to work for its betterment.

With best wishes for the 5784 New Year,

Tony Frank

In looking back upon our time at RZJHS we feel so grateful to be a part of the RZJHS community. We have staff and administrators that are exceptional at their craft and teachers who are not only content experts but supportive mentors to our kids. We are so appreciative that the families that came before ours built a school as special as ours. Bob and I believe it is incumbent upon us to do the same for future generations of RZJHS students.

— Beth Bernat, Parent of Alumni

Message from the President

I am honored to serve as the President of the Board of Directors at Rochelle Zell Jewish High School for my second year. My wife, Debbie, and I feel blessed that our daughters had the opportunity to attend RZJHS alongside students from across the Chicagoland area. We take great pride in being the parents of three graduates from the Classes of 2020, 2021, and 2023.

My foundation and passion for Jewish learning and leadership were nurtured as a Solomon Schechter Day School student. When I explored potential high schools, RZJHS was not yet an option. Thankfully, this community came together to create our school and set a vision for the future. We continue to build upon and expand that vision for future generations each year.

RZJHS provides education beyond the typical high school experience by incorporating Jewish values into the curriculum. The relationships students form with their teachers ground them and inspire them to build connections with their peers and mentors that last a lifetime. RZJHS’s emphasis on becoming productive and positive citizens guides students to support and serve their communities. Graduates leave with critical thinking skills acquired through the dual curriculum, enabling them to understand concepts from multiple perspectives. These skills benefit them not only in college but also throughout their lives.

Reflecting on the past year, I am incredibly proud of our accomplishments. The RZJHS Board led the way to a successful 2022-2023 campaign year by stepping up their financial commitments and creating a renewed culture of giving within our community. We had a highly successful and impactful ISACS accreditation visit. In January, we brought our successful annual cocktail party back post-Covid, bringing together over 150 current and alumni parents. Finally, we concluded the school year by establishing the Senior Class Israel Endowment Fund in memory of Shelly Moss, a former Major Gift Officer of RZJHS. The Fund’s goal is to ensure that every student who desires to participate in the trip can do so, regardless of their financial circumstances.

I want to express my gratitude to three retiring board members, Rachel Treister, Brad Levin, and Ari Taitz. Their dedication, hard

work, and love will leave a lasting impact on our school. I warmly welcome three new board members, Lori Goldberg, Shana Scholder, and Heidi Brookenthal Shapiro. Additionally, I am pleased to announce that Reuben Warshawsky, a familiar leader in our Jewish community, has been slated as the incoming President, starting in the 2024-25 school year. I want to thank Karen Peaceman, the immediate Past President, who chaired the Committee on Governance and worked tirelessly to ensure we have hardworking and passionate individuals serving on our Board.

In my graduation speech to the Class of 2023, I emphasized the importance of staying connected to their roots and supporting RZJHS as they move forward. I reminded them that they are graduating today because of the generosity and vision of previous generations who founded the school. Just as others have done before them, it is through their contributions that future generations will benefit from the same exceptional and extraordinary education they received.

The gift of an RZJHS education has instilled in our graduates, including members of my family, a sense of curiosity, the ability to question new information, and a deep understanding of our community’s challenges. They are among the most prepared to make a meaningful impact on the future of Judaism and Israel. As we bid farewell to our graduates, I am confident they will continue to make us proud with their achievements and contributions to the world and the Jewish community.

I am filled with great anticipation and enthusiasm for the upcoming school year. I look forward to welcoming the incoming students and bringing them into the RZJHS family with open arms. As a community, we will embark on a journey of growth, learning, and memorable experiences. With the collective efforts of our dedicated board, faculty, staff, students, and parents, I am sure the next school year will be filled with optimism, excitement, and endless possibilities.

Here’s to another remarkable year ahead at Rochelle Zell Jewish High School!

Adam Winick

The sense of belonging and unity felt throughout RZ is infectious. Each morning, students enter a diverse learning atmosphere, curious and ready to learn. Each teacher is committed to meeting the specific needs, requests, and success of all students. Because of difficulties with my Jewish identity in the past, entering a religious high school community did scare me, but RZ clearly meets students where they are in their religious journey, regardless of observance level.

Over the past 4 years I have been shaped into the driven, social, responsible, timely, funny, respectful, curious, Jewish, and confident person I am today, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

— Elan Lerner, Class of 2023

we are Leaders

Student Ambassadors

We formalized our Student Ambassador program as an official student club in 2022 and more than fifty students participated throughout the school year. Student ambassadors volunteered at our community Open House in the fall and our Curriculum Night in the winter, spoke at parlor meetings and with prospective families on tours, led Freshman Tefillah groups, hosted students who shadowed to experience a day at RZJHS, and more! Our students are our pride and joy, and they are a critical part of the recruitment and engagement experience at Rochelle Zell Jewish High School.

Follow our social media accounts to see information about school events, alumni updates, student successes, and more! Make sure you are watching our stories to see our popular Tiger Takeovers, where students take over our Instagram for a day to show us what a day-in-the-life of an RZJHS student is like (you can watch old takeovers by using the Highlights feature in Instagram).

RochelleZellJewishHighSchool

RochelleZellJewishHighSchool

we are Learners

Rochelle Zell School Reflection

Rabbi Zachary Silver

Toward the end of senior year, we read from Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s essay entitled “Children and Youth,” a speech that he originally gave at the 1960 White House conference on education. In it, he articulates the following:

The Greeks learned in order to comprehend. The Hebrews learned in order to revere. The modern man learns in order to use, accepting the maxim which declares: “Knowledge is power.” This is how people are urged to study: knowledge means success. We no longer know how to justify any value except in terms of expediency. Man is willing to define himself as “a seeker after the maximum degree of comfort for the minimum expenditure of energy.” He equates value with that which avails. He feels, acts, and thinks as if the sole purpose of the universe were to satisfy his needs.

As he does throughout his writing, Heschel worries deeply in this text about the priorities of modern society, where the speed of production serves as the ultimate ends toward which we so often strive. He suggests that education, of all fields, must provide students the tools to live a life devoted to wonder and exploring the mysteries of the universe. As Heschel notes, we must learn to comprehend the material in front of us. And additionally, the learning should lead us toward something transcendent, that reaches beyond the particulars of the topic at hand. Only then, will it be lasting beyond that particular lesson. Heschel’s writing is as prescient for our time as it was when he wrote it sixty years ago.

I think that Heschel would be proud of our learning at RZJHS, one that is even more countercultural now than it was when he spoke them. The greatest compliment I ever heard from a student about our learning together was that she learned most from her peers in the class. This school has exemplified to me the potential of

Jewish high school education, a time when students are uniquely hungry to explore themselves and our society as a whole. It is a place that prioritizes questions of existential importance. I have seen how our classrooms are places where students can explore core questions about life with great vulnerability and trust. When they are willing to take these risks, the texts and conversation are a vehicle for them to grow into themselves as Jewish adults.

My favorite time of each week is the D’var Torah at Friday tefillah. There, students reflect on their classroom learning, weaving together texts from throughout the Jewish canon and western literature, all the while bringing forth core aspects about their lives as 21st century teenagers. And of course, they do so in front of their classmates and teachers. This time represents the larger spirit of what this school represents, a covenantal community where students feel safe exploring themselves and also are bound to something larger than themselves.

As you walk up the main staircase at RZJHS, you see the quotes from each year of graduation, which served as the anchor texts for the speeches at each year’s commencement ceremonies. Over the time I’ve taught at the school, RZJHS has strived to provide students language to navigate an increasingly complex world.

There are not linear paths between where we are now and where we’ll be in the future. I’m proud to have been a part of the RZJHS community over the past eleven years for so many reasons. Above all, it has been a community where we study deeply, develop a community of trust, and learn both inside and outside of the classroom, utilizing the language of our deep Jewish canon to explore our contemporary landscape. I will take these experiences with me throughout my life.

we are Explorers

Senior Israel Experience

Giving our students an opportunity to come together as a community is one of the most important traditions of our school.

The Freshman Shabbaton in October provided an opportunity for connection and bonding as a class and nearly every new freshman student participated in this important experience. Seniors served as leaders and mentors for the Class of 2026 with unprecedented participation and eagerness, fostering community and bringing our newest students into the fullness of our school.

Our students from the Class of 2024 headed to New York City in November on a three day trip. Students explored core institutions, enjoyed food and culture, and learned about the American Jewish experience.

Seniors headed to Israel for three weeks in January, coming together as a class and thriving in so many ways as they explored the Jewish homeland. Students actively explored the country via hikes and other outdoor adventures in the North and South. The experiences gave them the opportunity to connect with teachers and fellow students in new ways, and served as a complement to the many speakers and cultural experiences that spanned the Israeli political, religious, and cultural spectrum. Students also had profound and meaningful religious and spiritual experiences, which left a lasting impact on them.

In April, students gathered at the Camp Chi Perlstein resort for the largest ever AllSchool Shabbaton and celebrated the school, Jewish life, and community. The seniors once again led an experience for our younger students, bringing enthusiasm and ruach (spirit) in every moment of the weekend.

Senior Class Israel Trip Endowment Fund

Sheldon Moss was a passionate fundraiser serving the cause of Israel and the Jewish people at many organizations. As the Major Gifts Officer at Rochelle Zell Jewish High School, he championed the school through his leadership and countless fundraising efforts – all to make an impact on the lives of so many. On June 4th, a plaque dedication in memory of Shelly was held at RZJHS bringing together current and past school leadership and Shelly’s friends and family. The event was marked by Shelly’s signature philosophy of fundraising, “Gift giving is not about money, but about building relationships and having a strong passion for the cause.”

Shabbat at the kotel was an experience I will never forget. It sparked something in me that I never felt before. This spark traveled with me throughout the trip. I made it my goal to soak up every experience and opportunity given to me on this trip. I feel that doing so allowed me to connect with each place we visited.

Going to Israel truly strengthened my Jewish identity. In strengthening my Jewish identity, I also created memories that will last forever.

— Zoey Weiss, Class of 2023

In memory of Shelly, RZJHS has established an endowment for our annual senior class trip to Israel. Our goal is to ensure that every student who wants to participate in the trip can do so, regardless of financial circumstance. Please consider a gift to the Senior Class Israel Trip Endowment Fund. We are grateful to the Moss family for making this endowment fund a reality.

For more information, please contact Stephanie Sanderman, Director of Development and Alumni Relations at ssanderman@rzjhs.org or 847-324-3720.

RZJHS is a partner with the JUF in serving our community.

we are Athletes

Participation in athletics is an integral aspect of the overall Rochelle Zell Jewish High School experience. Student athletes are challenged to strive for excellence, learn self-discipline, and attain a strong work ethic, enabling them to succeed in athletics, in the classroom, and in the community.

14 of the student body participates in athletics programs

varsity sports

76% are two-sport athletes

14%

43% are three-sport athletes

1 regular season conference championship

graduating senior who will be playing at the collegiate level

1 conference tournament championship

1

The Athletics Program shaped me into a leader, fostering my determination to excel and my ability to inspire and work with others.

— Anna Ferdkoff, Class of 2023

we are Alumni

Calling all Alumni and Parents of Alumni, We Miss You!

Whether you call us CJ or RZ, we value our alumni as an integral part of our community! Every graduating class of our students has left an indelible mark on our school. You have created our strong RZJHS of today and we are grateful. We want to be here for you through all stages of your lives and support you along the way. Please make sure you send us news of engagements, marriages, birth announcements, achievements, and sorrows so that we can share.

If your contact information changes, please be sure to send us your updated email address, phone number, and home address so we can stay in touch. We look forward to alumni events coming your way soon – you don’t want to miss out!

No matter where you go, Rochelle Zell Jewish High School wants to be a partner on your journey. We can’t wait to hear from you. Contact me anytime at ssanderman@rzjhs.org or 847-324-3720.

Stephanie Sanderman Director of Development and Alumni Relations

Mazal Tov to our newest Alumni, the RZJHS Class of 2023!

We are proud of our graduates who will be attending the following colleges and programs next year:

Beloit College

• Carleton

Illinois State University

• Duke University

• Elmira College

• Lake Forest College

Santa Clara University

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

• Marquette University

• Stanford University

Tulane University

• Northwestern University

• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• University of Colorado, Boulder

University of Maryland

• University of Miami

University of Wisconsin

• University of Illinois

• University of Michigan

• Wake Forest

• Harvard University

• Reichman University

• Trinity College

• University of Iowa

• University of Minnesota

• Washington University in St. Louis

we are Parents

RZJHS Parent Organization

The goal of the RZJHS Parent Organization is to build and engage parent community, support RZJHS events and faculty and staff, provide spirit and fun for our students, and act as ambassadors for the school. The Parent Organization, led by veteran Co-Presidents Beth Bernat and Jodi Weiss, went above and beyond this year as they celebrated our students and staff alike.

We kicked the year off with a Parent Coffee Social on our beautiful patio which set the tone for the year. Our tradition of celebrating student birthdays is always a party with our parents passing out Munchkins, cookies, and other treats monthly. The RZ birthday swag also helps our students feel special. In addition, parent volunteers showered our faculty and staff with treats all year including apples and honey, a Nespresso maker for the lounge, an ice cream sundae bar, a special brunch, and so much more. The Chanukah Lunch is always a hit, and this year was no exception. Over 15 parent volunteers set up and served over 200 people Mizrahi, latkes,and sufganiyot, and we volunteered throughout the year at various Holla for Challah Fridays and bourekas baking during Yom Haatzmaut.

The P.O. also sponsors adult education opportunities and book

discussions. In the fall, Rabbi Silver and June Kramer taught a class just for parents. We held our first ever Morning@RZ, giving parents a taste of a Friday morning by participating in allschool tefillah, a bagel breakfast and Holla for Challah! This Spring we were treated to a recipe demonstration and book talk from our own P.O. volunteer, Karen Nochimowski, as she brought to life her cookbook, 6-Minute Dinners.

A huge thank you to Jodi Weiss for her four years of service and to Beth Bernat for her three years of service as Co-Presidents. The entire RZJHS community is grateful for your commitment and drive!

As we approach the 2023-2024 school year, we are pleased to announce our new Parent Organization Co-Presidents, Meredith Anders and Jen Koplow. Watch your email for information on our parent coffee kick-off and all of our programs throughout the year. To get involved, please contact Stephanie Sanderman, Director of Development and Alumni Relations at 847-324-3720 or email ssanderman@rzjhs.org

As our youngest enters her final year at RZJHS, we are filled with gratitude for the countless opportunities our family has been afforded here, the values that have been instilled in our children that will forever shape their lives, and for the dedication and warmth of the staff that have created an environment where our children have thrived. We are proud to be part of a community that has provided our children with an exceptional education, nurtured their growth, and celebrated the richness of our Jewish heritage.

— Lisa & Jim Levitas, Parent of Alumni and Current Student

we are

Grandparents and Special Friends

Grandparents and Special Friends at RZJHS

Grandparents and Special Friends are a vital part of the Rochelle Zell Jewish High School community. Your support, even if from afar, means the world to us and surely to our students. Thank you for being there for them and for the RZJHS community. Over the course of the 22-23 school year we enjoyed seeing many of you at our October Grandparents Meet and Greet and, of course, our Annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day in May.

As we look towards the new school year, we have many opportunities for grandparents to get involved. Keep your eyes peeled for our weekly e-News for learning opportunities and events. We love and value our grandparent community and are excited to see you visiting our school. We also invite you to support Rochelle Zell Jewish High School by joining the Grandparents and Special Friends Association with an annual donation. Your support empowers students at RZJHS to think critically, live Jewishly, and become responsible and involved citizens in the modern world.

From all of us at Rochelle Zell Jewish High School, thank you! We are looking forward to seeing you soon.

Angie and Larry Adler

Chairs, Grandparents and Special Friends Association

To sign up for e-News, reach out to Stephanie Sanderman, Director of Development and Alumni Relations, at ssanderman@rzjhs.org or 847-324-3720.

Sign

We appreciate the entire faculty and administration at Rochelle Zell Jewish High School for the fine education, both Jewish and secular and the nurturing atmosphere you have provided for our grandchildren, Dina and Benjamin, and all the students at RZ, so they are able to reach their full potential. Todah rabah!

— Marilynn and Jack Barrish

we are Community

The Parent and Parent of Alumni Cocktail Party is Back!

Over 150 parents and alumni parents joined together on January 21st for an evening of cocktails, conversation, and community. The night kicked off with Havdalah and then guests were treated to food, drinks, magic, and a candy station that was the hit of the night! It was great to see our friends from Chicagoland Jewish High School days and brand new RZJHS Class of ’26 parents enjoying each other’s company. Thank you to our wonderful chairs and host committee members: Gigi Cohen and Michael Levin, Naomi and Jack Korol, Rebecca Minkus Lieberman and David Lieberman, Sue and Marc Sacks, Beth Bernat, Lisa Levitas, Brad Levin, Jodi Weiss and Adam Winick. We can’t wait to see everyone next year.

Save the Date for our 2024 Parent and Parent of Alumni Cocktail Party on January 20, 2024!

Keeping Our Community Safe

Members of the Rochelle Zell Jewish High School security team contribute to the well-being of everyone in our school. Their friendly faces are the first ones you see as you enter the building. Inez Drazin, Director of Building and Administrative Services, said, “We have students, faculty and staff, and parents in our building from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm for academics, activities, and athletics. Our community’s safety is our priority. We are proud of our security team and all they do to create a safe and welcoming RZJHS environment.” We are grateful to TSS Chicago, Matt, Bryan, Tony, and Autumn for their above and beyond efforts.

we are RZ Thank

you! Together, as a community, we exceeded our fundraising goal and raised over $2,063,000 to support our annual campaign. You led the way by helping our academic programming and extra-curricular activities thrive. In addition, your support helped provide tuition assistance so that all eligible students were able to attend our school regardless of financial circumstances. Your gift made an impact.

Whether you are a longtime supporter or just joined our community this year, we are grateful to count you among our ranks of donors. Your commitment to providing a quality Jewish education for all our students is greatly appreciated.

Continue to make a lasting impact on our community. Donate today.

We are grateful for the financial support we receive from generous funders in the community and the Jewish United Fund. Tuition alone does not cover the total cost of educating our students. To meet our annual operating budget, which sustains rigorous academic programs, generous tuition assistance, team-oriented athletics, engaging extracurricular activities, and more, we must raise over $1.7 million each year. Please consider making a gift to ensure we meet our financial needs. Your generosity allows us to continue our mission to create well-rounded students who think critically, live Jewishly, and become responsible and involved citizens in the modern world. On behalf of everyone at RZJHS, thank you!

Make your gift online at www.RZJHS.org, by scanning the QR code on this page, or mail your donation in the enclosed envelope. For more information, contact Stephanie Sanderman, Director of Development and Alumni Relations, at ssanderman@rzjhs.org or call 847-324-3720.

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Easy Ways to Support RZJHS

1. Make a Gift to the Annual Campaign

Give to the Annual Campaign to provide an ongoing source of revenue that allows us to offer educational opportunities and extracurricular activities that may otherwise be reduced or eliminated.

2. Tributes and Memorials

Honor or celebrate loved ones and life cycle events by making a gift to RZJHS. We will send the recipient a customized card for gifts of $18 or more and your donation will help support the Annual Fund.

3. Become part of our Legacy Society

We invite you to join the RZJHS Legacy Society by including a legacy gift to RZJHS in your will or estate plans. If you are just thinking about including RZJHS in your legacy plans and would like to learn more, contact Stephanie Sanderman, Director of Development at ssanderman@rzjhs.org.

4. Celebrate with a Facebook Fundraiser

Set up a birthday fundraiser and help Rochelle Zell Jewish High School raise vital funds to support our school. To create your birthday fundraiser on Facebook follow these simple steps:

1. Visit www.facebook.com/fund/RochelleZellJewishHighSchool

2. Highlight the amount of money you wish to raise

3. Select the date you want your fundraiser to end

4. Create a title and a short description of why you want to support RZJHS.

5. And finally, tell people about it! Don’t be afraid to tell everyone you know about your fundraising and why you’re choosing to support RZJHS.

65 New Donors to RZJHS in the 2022-23 year

Over $2,063,000 raised for the annual fund (exceeding goal by 21%)!

of Empower Illinois eligible students were funded

2022-23 HONOR ROLL

We are proud to share our Fiscal Year 2023 Donor Honor Roll. We hope you are moved by the number of donors that have made a gift to the Rochelle Zell Jewish High School Annual Fund this year. Together we make up a caring community of students, alumni, family, and friends with the same goal to support RZJHS. Thank you for your generosity, care and commitment.

Anonymous (2)

Adrienne and Neil Aaronson

AbbVie

Deanna and Brett Abrams

Jacqueline and Leo Abramson

Angie and Larry Adler

Rachelle and Alexander Aisen

Renee and Jim Akers

Brad Alexander

Abra and Murray Alscher

Amazon

Meredith Grossman Anders and Darren Anders

Leslie and Greg Apter

Arnold Simonsen Family Foundation

Arthur J. Gallagher Foundation

Carole and Donald Babendir

Ilana and Mort Balaban

Amie and Jonathan Barrish

Marilynn and Jack Barrish

Bridget and Jim Baumstark

Larry Becker

Susan Glazer Belgrad and Rabbi Marc J. Belgrad

Cheryl and Rabbi Kenneth Berger

Judy and Stephen Berkeley

Alex Bernat

Beth and Robert Bernat

Charlie Bernat

Congregation Beth Shalom

Chantal and Ron Blaustein

Jeff Block

Herm and Fran Brandau

Rachel Braun Rubenstein

Michelle Andre and Larry Breitman

Deborah and Thomas Brejcha

Jack Brody

Tammy Brody

Bella and Paul Brookenthal

Carol Brumer Gliksman

Adam Budin

Karen and Ethan Budin

Olga and Igor Burda

Alan Bush

Leslie Dossey and David Bush

Angie Butera

Naoma and Michael Cahr

Charles & M.R. Shapiro Foundation

Rebecca and Steven Charous

Lois Solomon Chasin and Lawrence Chasin

Anne Lanski and Barry Chazan

Bob Cogan

Judith and Arthur Cohen

Binyamin Cohen

Claudia and Doug Cohen

Gigi Cohen and Michael Levin/ Magid Glove & Safety Mfg. Co.

Sandra and Ian Cohen

Ayelet and Yinam Cohen

Margaret and Lee Cohn

Rachel and Ronald Cooper

Cortney Stark Cope and Jonathan Cope

Deborah Copley

Marci Koblenz and Glen Cornblath

Sara and Steve Coven

The Crown Family Philanthropies

Crown Family Foundation

Maryl and Medwin Dayan

Carol Rosenberg Derman and Gordon Derman

Janice and David Dlatt

Jane and John Douglas

Inez and Jerry Drazin

Eileen and Howard Dubner

Hillary and Brian Dunn

Laura Durava/Mobile Mark, Inc.

Lynn and Richard Dusing

Karen Lobl and David Eisenberg

Greta Rothschild and Robert Eisenstadt

Shira K. and Norman Eliaser

Elm Family Foundation (Harkavy, Jonas, and Schneiderman Families)

Dolores and Albert Erlebacher

Marcy Horwitz and Steven Erlebacher

Shari and Ahiad Erlich

Facebook

Arlene and Arnie Feinberg

Nancy and Maury Fertig

Gal Finer

Daniel Fishbaum

Anne McDonagh and David Fishbaum

Judy and Tim Flater

Jennifer and Stewart Flink

Beth and Robert Footlik

Wendy and Ben Frank

Nessia Frank

Rachel Gottlieb and Tony Frank

Kim and Alan Frankel

Laurel and Zachary Frankel

Rabbi Alex Freedman

Davida and Joseph Fruchter

Arielle Galante

Elizabeth and David Geifman

Jennifer Dunitz-Geiringer and John Geiringer

Sheila and Larry Gerber

Laurie and Phillip Gerber

Betsy Gidwitz

Esther and Wallace Ginsberg

Marina Gitlin and Anton Mostovoy

Alan Giuliani

JoAnn and Ron Glass

Rabbi Sheryl Katzman and Rabbi Elliot Goldberg

Ira Goldberg

Lori and Scott Goldberg

Sharon and Elliot Goldman

Karen and Jay Goodgold

Stephanie and Jeffrey Gordon

Emily and Daniel Gottlieb

James Gottlieb

Jenna Greenberg

Sue and Dale Griffith

Ellen Grindel and Harris Halpert

Orete and David Harkevy

June and Richard Gross

Rachel and Charles Gruenberg

Natalie and Brian Gurin

Eli Gurin

Rachel Gurin

Diane and Isaiah Halivni

Mark Harris

Nina and Arnie Harris

Harry and Sadie Lasky Foundation

Pat Hartman

Rebeccah Hartz and Ron Schrag

The Harvey Miller Supporting Foundation

Andrea and Moshe Herman

Patricia Hermann

Danit Steinbach and David Hirsch

Renee Hirsch and David Y. Schwartz

Laurie and Andrew Hochberg

Jamie and Daniel Hochberg

Sue and Larry Hochberg

Louise Holland

Lorraine Horwitz

Sarah and Steve Horwitz

Mark Iris

Harold Isenberg

Israel Bonds

Aviva Levine Jacobs and Stu Jacobs

Myra and Ken Jasenof

Florence Jesser

Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago

Gail and Allen Juris

Wendy and Daniel Kahn

Richard Kahn

Julie Ann Sklaver and Aaron Kamins

Eli Kamins

Michele and Nelson Kanter

Sara and Albert Karoll

Cindy and Michael Katzoff

Martha and Garrett Keefe

Judi Katz Kelly and Daniel Kelly

Hannah Kelly

Rabbi Allan Kensky and Adina Kleiman

Karen and Michael Kesner

David Kleinerman

Daniel Kleinman/LA-CO Industries, Inc.

Jennifer and Jonathan Koplow

Naomi and Jack Korol

Zelda Korol

Dorothy and Dan Korzon

Anna and Alex Kosarev

June Kramer

Sara Kushnir

Michael Lapporte Family

Lapporte-Frankel Family

Philanthropic Fund

Judi and Myron Laserson

Susan Lazar

Judy Leapman

Jane and Scott Lederman

Leonard and Diane Sherman

Family Foundation

Michal Lerner

Debbie and Ian Lesch

Andrea and Benjamin Leshem

Alexa Levin

Sherry and Brad Levin

David Levin

Sandy and Mark Levin

Mollie and Matthew Levin

Murray Levin

Bobbie and Stuart Levin

Arielle and Victor Levitan

Lisa and Jim Levitas

Sandra and Martin Levy

Kathy and Robert Levy

Rebecca Minkus-Lieberman and David E. Lieberman

Gail and Rabbi Howard Lifshitz

Claudia and Gerry Linda

Sari Lindner

Sally and Brian Lipson

Bonnie Lipton

Laeh Litin

Louise and Gershon Locker

Samantha Orbach and Jason Loeb

Naomi and Sruli Lopin

Ann and Michael Luban

Karyn Lutz

Riv and James Lynch

Alexis Mall

Bonnie and Lee Malmed

Diana and Mikhail Maltsman

Cathy and Tom Mandler

David Marcus

David Martinez

Luis Martinez

Rebecca Mati

Rachel McDowell and Taylor McDowell

Liat and Ron Meisler

Sandra Mell

Elisa Rotman and Rabbi Aaron Melman

Heidi Baruch and Pablo Michalewicz

Sarah and Stuart Miller

Wilfred J. Minkus Charitable Trust

Amy and Joseph Mishell

Elise Ecanow and Avi Mlotek

Robyn Murphy

Risa and Lonnie Nasatir

Carolyn H. Rosenberg and

Steven B. Nasatir

Ronna and David Ness-Cohn

Barbara and Donald Newman

North Suburban Synagogue Beth El

Charone and Peter Ousley

Avram Pachter

Sandy Starkman and Larry Pachter

Eleanor Parker

Ali and Louis Paster

PayPal

Karen and Alan Peaceman

Marcie and Brad Pickard

Steffanie and Greg Pinsky

Sabra Pitler

Lisa and Jeff Pivo

Hannah and Brian Pogrund

Abby Polin

Sergey Poroshkov

Tammy Shuster Pretekin and Louis

Pretekin

Harriet and Sol Price

Lori and Richard Rabinowitz

Resnick Charitable Fund

Harriet and Joey Resnick

Anne and Aaron Robbin

Randee and Robert Romanoff

Jessica Rosenberg

Michal and Ed Rosenthal

Ellen Rostker

Marcy and Morry Rotenberg

Jennifer and Douglas Roth

Greta Rothchild and Robert Eisenstadt

Benita and Rabbi Bernard Rotman

Dave Rubin

Aviva and David Rubin

Stacey and David Rubin

Roberta and Michael Rubinson

Rocky and Earl Rubinoff

Roberta and Michael Rubinson

Susan and Marc Sacks

Andrea and Kenneth Saffir

Stephanie and Steven Sanderman

Sheri and David Sandrof

Gila and Eric Saxton

Staci and Ari Studnitzer

Susan and David Schaff

Lynne and Howard O. Schechter

Becky and Loren Schechter

Adam Schneider

Julie Dann and Bradley Schneider

Lilach and Carl Schrag

Eli Schrayer

Lynn and Skip Schrayer

Erica and Rabbi Michael Schwab

Shawna and David Schwalb

Marci Dickman and Ralph Schwartz

Michelle and James Seidenberg

Shoshana Sendlin

Lori and Dan Shachtman

Ayala Shahaf

Samuel Shanes

Tamar Shapira

Heidi and Danny Shapiro

Lori Stark and David Shapiro

Marci and Keith Shapiro

Sarilee and Sheldon Shapiro

Cindy Shekhtman

Karen and Hal Sider

Carla Silver

Daniel Silver

Maureen Gecht and Randy Silver

Tamara Frankel and Rabbi Zachary Silver

Lauren and David Silverman

Lawrence Silverman

Elizabeth Silver-Schack and Larry Silver

Karyn and William Silverstein

Julie Mednick-Simmons and Russell Simmons

Abby and Howard Simon

Ellen Singer

Lisa and Sid Singer

Beth and Jorge Singman

Liz and Alan Sklar

Carolyn Reinglass and David Sklar

Joyce Sklar

Cheryl and Lawrence Sklar

Eleanor and Louis Skydell

Ellen and Dennis Slan

Marilyn and Rodny Slutzky

Sheila and Michael Small

In Memory of Sarah Small

Stephanie and Michael Smerling

Jill and Jeremy Smiley

Betty Sobelman

Emily and Rabbi David Soloff

Melissa and Marc Spellman

Merle and Mark Spielman

Rachel and Howard Spiro

Denise and Stuart Sprague

Rabbi Peter Stein

Susan Wishnick and Allen Steinberg

Nancy and Dov Steinberg

Leslie Rosen Stern and Andrew Stern

Leslie and Phillip Stern

Yvette and David Stone

Ben Strauss

Shaina and Brad Sugar

Mary Sullivan

Elise and Marc Swatez

Zena Goldenberg and Marc Swetlitz

Cindy and Ari Taitz

Harriet and Robert Tecktiel

Nicole and Eugene Terry

Jamie and Kevin Tessier

Rachel and Jeremy Treister

United Way

Susan Verson

Cheryl and Peter Waldstein

Tami and Reuben Warshawsky

Limor and Mark Wasserman

Hollis and David Wein

Ava and Jeff Weinstein

Laura Weisbach

Lee and Michael Weisman

Hope and Daniel Weiss

Jodi and Daniel Weiss

Jody Zalkin-Weisskopf and Philipp B. Weisskopf

Gary Willis

Linda and Al Winick

Debbie and Adam Winick

Annie Winick

Carly Winick

Elizabeth Winick

Lynn and Leo Wiznitzer

Nicole and James Woldenberg

Robin and Clifford Wolf

The Wolf Mosnaim Charitable Fund

Jacqueline Kott-Wolle and David Wolle

Riva and Harry Wolle

Rachelle Wolynetz Frankel and Peter Frankel

Mimi Sager Yoskowitz and Marc Yoskowitz

Sharon and Gary Zalkin

Zell Family Foundation

Matt Zell

Jennifer and Michael Zukerman

THANK YOU! As of 7/1/2023

If we inadvertently omitted your name or you would like to be listed differently in the future, please contact Stephanie Sanderman, Director of Development and Alumni Relations, at ssanderman@rzjhs.org or 847-324-3720.

Thank you for being Leaders, Learners and Life-long Friends of RZJHS. Every dollar makes a difference. We are grateful for you. Together #WeAreRZ

Rochelle

Zell Jewish High School

1095 L ake Cook Road

Deerfield, IL 60015

847.470.6700

We are accepting applications for the 2024-25 school year!

Access applications, forms and more on our website, www.RZJHS.org or email admissions@rzjhs.org.

Subscribe

Email admissions@rzjhs.org to get on the list for our Admissions Newsletter.

Prospective Families Open House

Attend our Open House on Sunday, November 5 to learn more about RZJHS.

Apply

Apply by December 15, 2023 for a tuition credit.

Incoming 9th grade placement test

RSVP on our website under admission events to take the test on December 10, 2023 or February 11, 2024.

Family tours and student shadow days

Please contact the admissions department at 847.324.3706 or admissions@rzjhs.org to schedule.

Save The Date

February 6, 2024 is Curriculum Night for families of incoming 9th grade students.

Tuition Assistance

We are proud to offer personalized approaches to help Jewish families manage tuition. Apply early – the deadline to complete applications is January 16, 2024.

Mission

Rochelle Zell Jewish High School creates a culture of academic excellence that inspires and prepares our students to think critically, achieve their full potential, and live Judaism as responsible and involved citizens in the modern world.

Rochelle Zell is a partner with the Jewish United Fund in serving our community.

Affiliated with Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools and Lake Michigan Association of Independent Schools.

Accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education and The Independent Schools Association of the Central States. www.RZJHS.org