Cohen Hillel Academy Graduates 22

This article was submitted by Diane Knopf

The Cohen Hillel Academy graduating class of 2012 completed their Hillel experience in a heartfelt ceremony at Temple Ner Tamid in Peabody on June 19, with almost 300 parents, relatives, friends, faculty and staff in attendance.

Ken Schulman, who is retiring as head of school this year, addressed the graduates with real affection with the following:

“You brought us joy from the moment we met you. We loved teaching you, taking care of your needs, coaching you, playing with you and discussing meaningful, and sometimes not so meaningful, issues. You left us speechless, breathless and sometimes puzzled. We watched you grow from cute to adorable to handsome and gorgeous. You challenged us, stretched us and helped us be better people as a result. You have become more than we ever could have imagined, hoped for, or dreamed of and we wish only happiness and success for you.”   

Amanda Turkanis, daughter of Ellen and Barry Turkanis, a 1999 Hillel alumna and graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, and now herself a second grade teacher, spoke to the graduates about “allowing their imaginations to flourish and grow and that the possibilities of the future remain endless.” 

She recalled fondly “the special teachers that encouraged me to work hard at Hillel and helped me to realize I was capable of so much.”

In her student address, Samantha Gilberg, daughter of Rhonda and John Gilberg of Marblehead, made an analogy between Hillel and the Western Wall in Jerusalem and how both represent a “community of thoughts, dreams and wishes. In the very same way that individuals leave notes at the Kotel, when students leave Hillel, as our graduating class is today, a small but important piece of them is left behind, kept in the Hillel community. However, this piece remains in our hearts forever to help guide us through life. It is one of the many characteristics that makes Cohen Hillel Academy a warm and loving place, and connects us to what Judaism is about - tradition, community and giving to others.”

The ceremony was capped off by the presentation of three awards.  Sophie Jacobs, daughter of Cindy and Dan Jacobs of Peabody received  the Isaacson Memorial Award for excellence in both Jewish and General Studies; Samantha Gilberg received the Hyman Addis Memorial Award for a positive attitude and commitment to the Jewish people and religion, and Morgan Cooper, daughter of Diana and Marc Cooper of Beverly received the Dr. Bennett I. Solomon Memorial Faculty Award for Menschlichkeit. 

The graduates of the class of 2012 include Jeremy Adner (Swampscott), Jared Blyer (Peabody), Amanda Callum (Swampscott), Morgan Cooper (Beverly), Rachel Garfield (Marblehead), Samantha Gilberg (Marblehead), Tyler Gilman (Peabody), Alex Golding (Danvers), Sydney Goldman (Swampscott), Maxine Greenstein (Beverly), Max Gross (Marblehead), Sophie Jacobs (Peabody), Noah Kaplan (Beverly), Zach Korff (Salem), Jade Leong (W. Lynn), Rachel Liacos (Marblehead), Akiva Or-Shahar (Andover), Max Pastan (Marblehead), Whitney Rosenberg (Swampscott), Josh Tassinari (Marblehead), Tali Weinstein (Marblehead) and Jocelyn Zimmerman (Peabody).

Additional information about the K-8 Jewish day school serving all of Boston’s North Shore communities may be obtained by contacting Barbara Tanger, Director of Recruitment and Admissions at 781.639.2880 or at btanger@cohehillel.org.