I received this information from a source who has asked to be anonymous:
Holden and the Board has addressed the issue with Kohl to cover Holden and themselves. Kohl herself did wish to fire the three (and this decision was approved by the Board), but it was Holden who has the ultimate control of hiring and firing.
The board has given Holden carte blanche to hire and fire whoever he wants. The new high school principal, who was hired about a month ago for the 2007-2008 year (he already has his contract), happens to be one of Holden’s cronies from Kansas, and word has it that he is a former elementary school principal. This new principal is 100% not Jewish. The board has approved this (obviously), but not one member of the high school faculty has been able to give any input because they never met him. This is also why the hiring was not officially announced to the Hillel community, especially because this website is exposing other things about Holden.
Why does Holden have so much power?
36 responses so far ↓
1 >. // Apr 14, 2007 at 9:26 pm
why does mr.holden have so much power?
because of his looks.
[obviously?]
2 anonymous // Apr 14, 2007 at 9:38 pm
One of the conditions for his hiring was that the board was to absolve itself from the administrative decisions in the daily operations of the school. WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?
It was made very clear by Mr. Holden that if he was not permitted to make the changes he saw fit that he would not stay. They were quite intimidated by this and agreed. So that brings up the next question - - what then is the purpose of the board - if they are only able to sit at the sidelines and approve as they are told - it appears they too have been intimidated.
Another NON-JEW????? This is abominable!!!! So as previously stated - Rabbi Kaplan is interim - this is ALL A SMOKE SCREEN. They are using him to calm the storm. They will announce the new principal - Rabbi Kaplan will no longer have any authority (NOT SO SURE HE WAS EMPOWERED TO BEGIN WITH - - PROBABLY WAS JUST THEIR FIGUREHEAD.
The new crony will take over and what better than to hire a loyal friend to build a coalition!!
WAKE UP MY DEAR FRIENDS. Smell the coffee - it is burning and needs to be shut off!!
Do not sit and allow this to continue. Break the new contract, Keep Rabbi Kaplan!
It’s time to ditch Rabbi Druin - - Fire Mr. Holden and get back to basics.
This is an atrocity! Concerned Citizen - where are you?
Let’s blow through the smoke and forge ahead - let’s pursue whatever avenues needed to get this done!
Together we can make a difference ….AND WE WILL!
3 Concerned Citizen // Apr 15, 2007 at 12:04 am
Anonymous,
Oh my G-d!! I am, for once, speechless.
4 Concerned Citizen // Apr 15, 2007 at 12:05 am
Anonymous,
The only way anything can get done now is if the parents overthrow this board and I don’t know that they have the gumption to do it.
I think Hillel as we have known since its inception will soon cease to exist.
I am sick.
5 anonymous // Apr 15, 2007 at 12:10 am
There must be a way to reach out to our fellow friends to move in this direction. These alumni must speak with their parents and friends. I would bet they have siblings still in the school or know people who do.
6 anonymous // Apr 15, 2007 at 12:17 am
Today’s Inspiration
From the website of Laibl Wolf
Your Inner Voices
Listen to the still small voice within and hear the whispers of all the past generations that reside within you and all the generations that will emerge from you.
Aspire to join the cause, the children’s education is at stake. They are our future.
Together we can make a difference!
7 Concerned Citizen // Apr 15, 2007 at 12:20 am
Without our alumni we wouldn’t have come even this far. G-d bless them all.
The problem now is that the parents are the only ones able to oust the board and either they’re asleep at the wheel, apathetic, intimidated, or so disgusted that they’re “non-renewing”.
I don’t see them mobilizing the way we have.
And let me just say to you Anon., I have a very strong feeling I think I know who you are–I could be quite wrong–but if I’m not, I’d like to say that if this school loses you they could never fill the void.
8 Concerned Citizen // Apr 15, 2007 at 12:21 am
ISAAC, WHERE ARE YOU??????????
9 Concerned Citizen // Apr 15, 2007 at 12:25 am
Anonymous,
I contacted several current students already. They are not moving things along.
10 anonymous // Apr 15, 2007 at 12:25 am
The recurring point is that like ourselves, there are others out there who desire the education that Hillel offered. These individuals need to understand the importance of becoming involved and speaking up.
It is hardly believeable that individuals would continue to pay this kind of money for education and not have an interest in the school, faculty, or administration.
Perhaps not enough people know about this site.
11 Concerned Citizen // Apr 15, 2007 at 12:31 am
That’s quite true.
Many parents don’t know about the site.
I spoke to one today who didn’t know.
I don’t have access to parents anymore.
The alumni don’t have to access parents.
The teachers are too afraid to tell the parents.
Students are just kids.
So what is the strategy now?
MICHAEL, ELI, ISAAC, SHLOMO:
HOW CAN WE OUST THE BOARD????????????? (and keep those one or two special women on it?)
12 Concerned Citizen // Apr 15, 2007 at 12:33 am
AARON, if you’re there I’d appreciate your input too!!!!!
13 Shlomo Bolts // Apr 15, 2007 at 12:40 am
Assuming that what you’ve said is true–that Holden, essentially, has executed a coup d’etat against the board–I do not think we necessarily need to take out the board. We only need to take out Holden. For the board, we first need to determine whether the board is being held hostage, or has actual malevolent intent.
I don’t know SO many parents at Hillel, but the ones I do know have the potential to rise to the occasion. I do, however, know most of the current students at Hillel, and I know what they’re made of. If, somehow, we could give them a chance to fight without fearing another crackdown, we would be able to ramp up the pressure and simultaneously gain greater access to the parents through the students.
The main sticking point here is that I don’t know that much about the crackdown; I only know that it occured. If we all put our heads together, perhaps we could figure out how the crackdown happened and how it could be avoided in the future.
14 anonymous // Apr 15, 2007 at 12:42 am
It would seem to me that if Shlomo were to contact the students who he refers to above and have those students speak with their parents and their friends parents — the domino can occur. Perhaps they can be pointed to this site.
Just a thought.
15 Concerned Citizen // Apr 15, 2007 at 12:53 am
Excellent thinking.
Shlomo is a lay leader among current students who still know him.
He is our only hope right now!!!!!!!!!!!!
16 anonymous // Apr 15, 2007 at 1:02 am
GO FOR IT!
17 Concerned Citizen // Apr 15, 2007 at 1:04 am
I just carefully read Shlomo’s post.
He’s suggesting that we take out Holden rather than the board….interesting concept.
I think they really all should go, but I’m on board with whatever is most effective.
Anyone else out there have some input?
18 anonymous // Apr 15, 2007 at 1:09 am
There is not a current list of board members posted. That is a shame for those who may want to contact individual board members (like in the political arena)
In any event - there is no way to accomplish that short of something so unconscionable because they are the only body with the empowerment to do so.
If something done is illegal (by law - not the school by-laws) or criminal - that would be the only way I could see it work. ….and let us not forget - this is not just about Holden, it is about Druin and the new henchman from Kansas.
19 Concerned Citizen // Apr 15, 2007 at 1:20 am
The board members are posted in the archives.
20 Concerned Citizen // Apr 15, 2007 at 2:49 am
I think someone needs to go on to the actual Hillel website and get parent addresses and send every single parent a letter detailing what the heck is going on.
Most of them are in the dark.
Just a thought!
21 Concerned Citizen // Apr 15, 2007 at 2:56 am
The parent I spoke to today was under the impression that everything was back to normal again now that the 3 have been re-hired.
Several of the parents are just clueless–it’s not really they’re fault–they are intentionally being misled.
22 Aaron // Apr 15, 2007 at 11:31 am
You’re on the right track- We must focus on Holden. Remember, at the end of the day, Holden did ONE right thing: he removed the board for the day-to-day operations of the school.
Any dean (or headmaster or head-of-school) cannot do what needs to be done with their hands tied by the board.
We all know that there are certain board members who have used their positions to terrorize teachers and protect their children (at the expense of other children and educational standards). Thanks to Holden, that particular power is, if not gone, at least weakened. That is a VERY GOOD thing.
We shouldn’t be surprised that Holden would bring someone in from Kansas to run the High School because even if this new person does not have the proper talents (or proper ethnicity) for Hillel, this person brings something to Hillel that Holden needs more than anything else: LOYALTY TO ADAM HOLDEN.
Research must be done. Who is this new high school principal? What do those in Kansas think of him? How brown is his nose?
What can be done to make Rabbi Kaplan’s interim position more permanent?
This is a long fight. We must find a way to discredit and isolate Holden so that if he is not removed, he is at least made as irrelevant as possible. At the same time, we must not return the power to the board so that, after two years (I believe he has two more years left on his contract) whoever replaces him will have the power to run the school in an effective and proper fashion.
23 Concerned Citizen // Apr 15, 2007 at 1:56 pm
You’re so smart Aaron.
24 Concerned Citizen // Apr 15, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Just to keep facts straight and not to digress too much:
“Kohl herself did wish to fire the three (and this decision was approved by the Board), but it was Holden who has the ultimate control of hiring and firing.”
Kohl was completely behind Galitzer’s firing.
Rabbi Druin played a big role in firings too..particularly Heber’s and Elbaz’s.
Frumma Rosenberg played a role in Elbaz’s too.
DON’T FORGET THERE WERE SEVERAL HENCHMEN INVOLVED.
SOME OF THESE HENCHMAN–NOT ONLY THE DEAN–ARE STILL RUNNING AMOK.
How anyone allowed Kohl, who had already been “non-renewed,” and Rosenberg, who had already been demoted and removed as principal for next year, to be given the power to fire others is beyond anyone’s understanding. Defies logic.
Kohl had already been non-renewed so her early dismissal is not really a huge concession. It is a TOKEN GESTURE being made by the board who hopes to quiet us down.
LET’S GET THEM ALL OUT OF HERE.
25 Anonymous // Apr 17, 2007 at 1:33 am
I think that many disenfranchised teachers have instigated a very dangerous movement. I’m sure some of the firings were hurtful, but I think that some of them happened because of a more rigorous scrutiny that hadn’t been in place before at the school. I’m not sure that the scrutiny was done in an effective manner, or were the correct descisions, mind you. But I think the intent of present administration was to create a more professional environment. That profesionalism has been seriously undermined or destroyed( that is, if there was ever really professionalism amongst the students, faculty and administrators to begin with ) Such biting comments made behind closed doors or under the prtection of anonymous sites like these, have seriously done harm. While it is too bad that there seems to be little room for development of teachers at Hillel because someone always seems to have to be made the fall guy or gal. I think Hillel is treading on very dangerous ground for a number of reasons. Many of us are troubled by the idea that non jewish leaders are and will be heading the school, holding a mojority of positions here. But, have any of us stopped to think that the venting of hurtful opinions, which I pray are hopefully generated by good intent and based somewhat on factual information (for the sake of the instigators), have put us as jews in a psoition of vile scrutiny by the very non jewish people we state should not be running the school. If we make these commnets fearfully and underhandedly we sabotage the stance that it matters for a jewish school with a jewish mission to be run by jews because this type of behavior is not in accordance with jewish torah values. STOP THE MADNESS!
26 Michael Newman // Apr 17, 2007 at 8:54 am
“I think that many disenfranchised teachers have instigated a very dangerous movement.”
Was it they that “instigated” the current movement?
“But, have any of us stopped to think that the venting of hurtful opinions, which I pray are hopefully generated by good intent and based somewhat on factual information (for the sake of the instigators), have put us as jews in a psoition of vile scrutiny by the very non jewish people we state should not be running the school.”
The non-jews can critisize me all they want for wanting JEWISH administrators as the heads of the JEWISH school that our JEWISH children attend.
Would parents in a Catholic orthodox school be ok with a Jew for Jesus as its head administrator.
“Such biting comments made behind closed doors or under the prtection of anonymous sites like these, have seriously done harm.”
Aren’t the anonymous posts on this site similar to the anonymous board meetings and faculty meetings where nobody in the community is told what went on?
Oh wait, the posts on this site are actually less anonymous being that interested people can actually find out what is going on.
STOP THE MADNESS….fyi the above post smells fishy.
27 anonymous // Apr 17, 2007 at 8:56 am
What is being exposed should rightfully be exposed for the sake of our teachers and our school.
….at this point, it is irrelevant what they think. We need to effectuate change - there is a difference between professionalism and dictatorial rule.
Our teachers are professional and have been attending professional development classes and seminars prior to the new ruler. If you feel that the rigorous evaluation process is appropriate - so be it - if you work, how many people evaluate you? Think about it - - having over 5 individuals on 15 multiple occasions, is virtually unheard of.
Anything comment?
28 Anonymous // Apr 20, 2007 at 2:54 pm
its funny that people are saying that Mr. Holden is making the school the laughing stock of the community. this school has never been taken seriously and all the students know that which is why they like the school because they know that only at Hillel they can get away with anything. I think that Mr. Holdens intentions is only to make the school better.
by the way whoever made this website is not concerned with what people have to say because you delete peoples posts that are not what you want to hear.
29 Anonymous // Apr 20, 2007 at 2:58 pm
You all sound like a bunch of Nazis, berating someone because they simply aren’t Jewish. What kind of example are you setting by behaving like a bunch of bigots? How can we call ourselves the Chosen People if we discriminate against others on the basis of their creed like Hitler or some member of the Ku Klux Klan? Wasn’t G-d upset when he drowned the Egyptians in the Red Sea and inflicted the 10th plague upon them because THEY WERE ALSO HIS CHILDREN. You people need to have more respect for the G-d you supposedly worship so devoutly.
30 admin // Apr 20, 2007 at 3:02 pm
“by the way whoever made this website is not concerned with what people have to say because you delete peoples posts that are not what you want to hear.”
Really? What did I delete?
It’s funny that you wrote the last two “Anonymous” posts 4 minutes apart from the same computer under the assumption that I would think that you are two different people. I don’t.
31 Michael Newman // Apr 20, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Anonymous: You are correct to say that every person is a child of G-d. I just don’t know what G-d would think of a non-Jew being the decision maker on which topics Jewish youth will be educated.
When I was at Hillel, in the spirit of our Jewish education, every administrator addressed the community first with some sort of d’var torah, religious ideal etc…
How is it now? Is teaching Judaism no longer the ideal of Hillel? Should we change the name of the school? You think Notre Dame would accept a Lubavitch headmaster?
The whole concept is absurd.
32 Michael Newman // Apr 20, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Furthermore, along your line of reasoning, you would support a Palestinian/Arab in becoming the P.M. of Israel since “we are all G-d’s children.”
Is that smart?
33 Anonymous // Apr 20, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Excellent analogy!
The question Hillel must ask itself is:
Do we want to be A SCHOOL OF JEWS or do we want to be A JEWISH SCHOOL?
There’s a big difference between the two.
We are all G-d’s children. 100% true.
And because Jews believe in Tikkun Olam and believe we should help ALL of G-d’s children:
–Jews have marched alongside blacks during the Civil Rights Movement.
–Israel is the first country to send out rescue workers when earthquakes or tsunamis strike other parts of the world and wipe out thousands.
As Jews, we very much do care for our fellow neighbors.
However, caring about your fellow neighbor does not mean that you practice the same religious beliefs .
I don’t see prestigious Catholic schools appointing Jews as their Deans or appointing Jews as principals of every division.
This is not on account of prejudice at all.
This is rather because we live in a free country that allows each religion to freely raise their children and teach them the ways of their own religious beliefs, holidays, customs, history, etc.
We should embrace this freedom. We appreciate living in a diverse, pluralistic, mutitcultural, multireligious tolerant country.
We should not, however, foresake our heritage.
Jews make up less than 1% of the world population.
What is THE KEY that has enabled us to remain united and strong in the face of every attempt to obliterate us?
The answer is : a strong united Jewish community that provides the next generation with a strong Jewish education.
We must know who we are if we wish for our children to know who they are and where they come from.
If we don’t care about this , we can send our kids to non-parochial schools (Miami Country Day, Ransom, Pinecrest) and allow them to marry non-Jews. And that is valid for some people. I respect people who make that decision.
But, parents who send their children to Hillel do so because they WANT their children to learn about Jewish traditions, holidays, the land of Israel, how to prevent another Holocaust, and why it’s important to stay married within the faith .
If those values are no longer important at Hillel, why would a parent continue to send their children to Hillel? (….just so they don’t have to rub elbows with kids at Krop?…not a good enough reason!)
A Jewish day school needs to be run by a Jewish Head of School who can appreciate what our goals are (and not just our academic goals but our spiritual goals as wel) in ways that a Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, or Moslem cannot fully apprehend.
There’s nothing wrong with having a Moslem dean either…but why would we want to?
Certainly Jews are not Deans at Moslem parochial schools? It’s a ludicrous idea and most people understand why.
It’s surprising that we are even having this discussion to begin with, but apparently certain board members don’t grasp what everyone else grasps– How MYOPIC can one be already?
——————————————————–
On a separate note,
It’s funny what the student says about Hillel being a joke academically–I constantly hear 2 very different opinions. It’s almost as if there are two academic worlds at Hillel, or two different Hillels living side by side in a parallel universe:
I hear from top students that they are inundated with work and being constantly challenged.
From some students who are not in APs or top classes, I hear that school is a joke and that they get good grades for doing almost nothing.
We need to survey the student body too in order to see what is really going on here.
Then we can make data-driven decisions or find ways to reconcile this issue.
I am glad the student brought up this issue because it is well worth looking into.
34 Ivory Tower // Apr 21, 2007 at 11:48 pm
Then you hear students moan about any work…
AP students have a job: do the AP classes and do them well..
Commitment is vital.
35 Anonymous // Apr 21, 2007 at 11:52 pm
That’s true. AP students moan about too much work. But you will never hear them say that Hillel is a joke. They take one AP after another and are involved in so many extra curriculars that school to them is quite challenging. Others at Hillel have a very different experience. Perhaps there is a way to create more balance.
36 Anonymous // Apr 21, 2007 at 11:53 pm
Michael makes me curious to know whether D’var Torahs are still given before the beginning of assemblies and the like.
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