Stronger Than Ever, Hillel Provides Light
A sold-out crowd of donors and students emphasized the urgency and clarity that Hillel provides on campus.
After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.
The annual Hillel dinner at Congregation B’nai Torah on Thursday, April 24, hammered home yet again the urgent and timely role Hillels of Georgia plays on campuses along with the amazing local Atlantans who rise to support it.
Hillel CEO Rabbi Larry Sernovitz told the AJT, “The real story tonight is empowering our students to be leaders and providing connections across the state in our own lives.”
The crowd of 400 included donors and supporters, and a cadre of poised and confident students. The evening’s theme was “Stand With Hillel,” and honored soon-to-be-outgoing Consul General Anat Sultan-Dadon. Honorary event chairs were Helen and David Zalik, Lindy and Norman Radow, Etta Raye Hirsch, and Lynne and Jack Halpern .
After a cocktail hour and plated dinner by A Kosher Touch, Amy Dosik, chair of Hillel Board of Directors, followed by event co-chairs, Sara and Ross Kogon, welcomed the group. Congregation B’nai Torah Rabbi Joshua Heller talked about the “spiritual whiplash” of events … from Yom HaShoah to joyous Israel Independence Day relating to Parsha Shimini.
He stated, “We have to come together to stand up. It’s life or death for the 59 hostages still held.”
A Yom HaShoah candle lighting took place on stage “in memory of those who perished 80 years ago or 18 months ago.” He prayed for the hostages’ return and “wisdom for this new generation to carry us forward.”
Rabbi Sernovitz then emphasized the positive light that “not only are we still here, but our future is bright. I’m blown away by this sold-out crowd.”
He explained that life after college would be enhanced with Hillel’s partnership with Jewish Family & Career Services with career centers for things like job training. “We focus on both doing well and doing good.”
A pair of video presentations highlighted students, one from Kennesaw State explaining how on Oct. 8, her “friends” turned to hate. Hillel gave support like being escorted to class if needed, and providing empowering classes on Zionism and Israel. One student said he had newfound courage to wear a kippah to class. Dosik spoke of Hillel’s “buffet of programming to help students find their way.”
Accepting the We Stand with Israel Award, Sultan-Dadon spoke about who is on the right and wrong side of history. “We share responsibility to remember the past along with what we are doing to move forward to fight. We should not be still fighting for 18 months with 59 outstanding hostages. The international community should have demanded the hostages’ release.”
She thanked Hillel for adding the light for students on campus to view being Jewish as a privilege, not a burden.
Event co-chairs, Michelle and Gary Simon, introduced Matthew Bronfman, chair of Hillel International Board of Governors, by reciting his extensive resume which included Harvard, BHB Holdings and running IKEA in Israel. Bronfman began by quipping, “You’d think I couldn’t hold a job.”
Jada Monroe (UGA Class of 2028) and Rami Fabian (Emory class of 2025) provided student voices. The later stated, “After Oct. 7, there was a shift in subtle side glances to visible isolation.”
Monroe spoke of Hillel’s safety net and helpful programs like Content Creators. No stranger to the stage, Avery Kastin, Development Chair for Hillels of Georgia, gave an emotional ask for money by evoking a Holocaust story where factory women banded together to share breadcrumbs so the youngest could survive. … “Now, too, we can only rely on other Jews for strength, resolve and resources … if we don’t give enough today, we may be scraping breadcrumbs tomorrow. We are $78,000 short of goal. Get a tech-savvy student here to show you how to use the QR code.”
To conclude, Michelle and Rob Leven, fellow event co-chairs, and Jim Grien, Marcus Foundation Board member, presented Lisa and Seth Greenberg with the Billi and Bernie Marcus Visionary Award.
New board member Andre Schnabl told the AJT, “The prime reason I got involved was Oct. 7, and Hillel rising to the occasion.”
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