Follow Your Dreams at Hillel Yeshiva

An exciting program for 7th and 8th grade girls and their mothers was recently held at Hillel Yeshiva. The theme was “Follow Your Dreams. If Not Now, When?”

The mood was set as attendees entered a rainbow-hued room and were greeted by Dr. Ruth Katz, the Head of School, ELC through 8th grade. In her opening remarks, Dr. Katz stated that the program was dedicated to the memory of Morris I. Franco A”H. Franco had his own dream of an institution that would give the children of our community a superior education and emphasize Jewish values and traditions.

Master of Ceremonies Elaine Parker serves on the Boards of Directors of Hillel Yeshiva and the Ezra Abraham to Life Foundation. Parker introduced the theme of the evening by pointing out that higher education beyond high school is critical in today’s world, emphasizing that young women can have a dream and see that dream fulfilled. In effect, women today can have it all: successful careers, motherhood and community service.

Celeste Mishaan, a parent, felt that this program was extremely important and provided an opportunity for our young girls to see that the world is open to them and that they can be anything they want to be.

Parker introduced the 7th and 8th grade girls by quoting “eshet chayil mi yimtza v’rachok mip’ninim michrah.” (An accomplished woman, who can find? Her value is far beyond pearls.) This poem was written by King Solomon in 1040 BCE to praise the role of women, and it is as contemporary today as when it was originally written.

The middle school girls sang a beautiful arrangement of the eshet chayil composed by Yaakov Shwekey accompanied by Dahlia Menaged, Director of Music of Hillel Elementary School. Each guest received a laminated card of the eshet chayil designed by Hillel’s own art teacher, Lauren Wolpert.

A panel of community women spoke about their educational backgrounds and how they have been able to pursue successful careers, be mothers and also be active in service to the community. The members of the panel were:

• Robin Ashkeknazie, a cardiac-care nurse who is currently a high tech IV infusion home care nurse and volunteers countless hours of nursing care to community members in need.

• Rachel Dimitro, who was a senior executive recruiter for accounting and finance professionals and now helps women and men revise their resumes.

• Gitta Sultan Kaplan, who works in a law firm and does pro bono work in the field of reparations for Holocaust survivors and obtains legal status for new immigrants.

• Gayle Krost, who is currently an endodontist. She serves as Chairman of the Hillel Yeshiva Board of Education, is the Vice-President of Hillel Yeshiva and serves on the Board of Directors of the Special Children’s Center.

• Vicki Shammah, who is a vice president at JP Morgan Chase where she manages the Contingent Labor Office. She founded VixList.com, the community classified website, and serves on the Board of Directors of Hlllel Yeshiva. She is also a consultant for the Sephardic Angel Fund.

• Gloria Jemal, a Hillel Yeshiva parent who has a daughter in the 7th grade, who was inspired to continue her own educationl.

Indeed, we were blessed to have Morris I. Franco A”H in our community and be able to continue to see his dream for our children’s futures fulfilled. As a school, and as parents, we want our young women to set goals for themselves, have rewarding careers and fulfill their own dreams. This program enabled the girls to see that anything is possible and to appreciate that this small group of women represented a larger group of women who have realized their own dreams and are invaluable assets to our local community and the Jewish community at large.