Volume 8, Issue 1 / Tevet 5765 / January 2005
Gala Reunion in Jerusalem Celebrates Contributions
to Israeli Society by Chicago Olim
It was an evening of renewed acquaintanceships, nostalgia, divrei Torah, and overall good feeling as hundreds of former Chicagoans gathered at the Inbal Hotel in Jerusalem on Thanksgiving Eve to pay tribute to the Hillel Torah Day School. At least half of the over 300 alumni who made aliyah, as well as 100 teachers and scores of former shlichim, turned out for the Mifgash. They came from as far away as Kiryat Shmoneh in the North and Beersheva in the South and dozens of locations in between.
The reunion celebrated the successful integration of four decades of Hillel Torah graduates into Israeli society and their contribution to Israel. "Our alumni are achievers - rebbeim and doctors and lawyers and teachers," noted Dean Emeritus, Rabbi Avraham Bruckenstein, who now lives in Jerusalem and organized the event.
The high percentage of graduates living in Israel - close to 20% - is not coincidental. One of the school's major emphases is the inculcation of love for Eretz Yisrael in the students and strengthening their personal link to the country. Rabbi Bruckenstein, the driving force behind this effort, would go to Israel to look for outstanding educators to teach in the school and, with the help of the Jewish Agency, would train them to work with American youngsters. Israel became an extension of the community itself, as the students conversed in Hebrew during classes, celebrated Israel Independence Day and Jerusalem Day, and developed ongoing relationships with the Jewish Agency aliyah shlichim.
Several alumni spoke about the major impact Hillel Torah had on their lives, crediting the school with their decision to live in Israel. "I'm definitely here because of Hillel Torah," stated Yoel Polsky, a 1991 graduate who is now a captain in the IDF Signal Corps. "After years of speaking Hebrew and learning about Israel and having a relationship with the shlichim, it's natural to want to be here. It influenced my whole family to come."
Akiva Werber, Director for English Speaking Countries at the Jewish Agency's Department of Immigration and former shaliach to Chicago, noted that Hillel Torah embodies the ideals of holistic Judaism - Am Yisrael, v'Eretz Yisrael, al pi Torat Yisrael.
A survey is now being conducted to determine alumni motivation for aliyah. The results will be professionally tabulated and assessed and the results shared with other schools.
Written by: Shifra Paikin
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