Hillel has announced the appointment of Rabbi Robert Kaplan as High School Principal. We applaud this decision.
We do not condone negative comments that reflect adversely upon the reputation of the school or its mission.
Thank you for your support at this difficult time.
Mrs. Debbie Galitzer
Mrs. Debbie Heber Wiznitzer
Rabbi Yitzchak Lefkowitz
19 responses so far ↓
1 Anonymous // Apr 13, 2007 at 8:46 am
To whom was this announced??
2 admin // Apr 13, 2007 at 10:09 am
This was announced to the “Hillel Community” in News from the Hillel Community Day School, which I posted yesterday. I didn’t get it directly; it was forwarded to me by others.
3 Concerned Citizen // Apr 13, 2007 at 10:58 am
This is to appease the board through the negotiation process. Who knows if it will even help.
4 Anonymous // Apr 13, 2007 at 11:12 am
Many with whom I have spoken feel that this is to take the focus off with 36 days left of school. More than likely they are thinking that people will forget over the summer and the heat will be off. Who knows?
He is not the principal - he is holding the interim role til the announcment is made - - this is a quote from the original posting of the Rafa Russ letter:
“We have completed our national search and look forward to introducing our new High School Principal and other educational administrators in the coming weeks.”
There is obviously NO intention to make Rabbi Kaplan the Principal as a long term solution - - if there was - they would have done so already! This is as Concerned Citizen said - - an interim measure to appease the parents, students, and the board in hopes that everything will calm and be pushed to the wayside and kick up again when no one is interested (over the summer).
Food for thought. Again, cautious optimism is what should be felt at this time - - a fear of the institution USING Rabbi Kaplan is evident based on the letter!
5 Concerned Citizen // Apr 13, 2007 at 11:32 am
The “national” search is being conducted in the Dean’s backyard back in his hometown where his cronies live.
We don’t need a national search. We have got perfectly qualified individuals who have dedicated their lives to the school right here, right now.
The teachers, students, parents already know and respect people like Mr. H, Rabbi Kaplan, Mr. C and others. Why not use them?
They know the school culture inside out, are respectful of parents and students, are extremely competent.
Why does the board keep on insisting on having these searches that bring us one ineffective person after another? No one understands this.
Why keep searching when what you’re looking for is right under your nose!
6 Concerned Citizen // Apr 13, 2007 at 11:42 am
Yes, they will unfortunately probably USE Rabbi Kaplan and then spit him out as they did to Dr. Levy, Dr. Zakon and countless others.
Michael was quite astute when he earlier pointed out that appointing Rabbi Kaplan as INTERIM WHATEVER is merely a strategy being used to distract the masses, cool down their anger, so that they will forget about what’s happened and the mess the school is; then they’ll go back to business as usual by sweeping the real issues back under the rug.
This blog is not going anywhere, however, and therefore, these issues will continue to be brought to the forefront until they are properly addressed.
There are moments where all this nonsense begins to wear me down but when I remember who and what I’m fighting for and I’m reinvigorated.
Mostly, it is the alumni who inspire me and remind me why Hillel is worth fighting for. Every time I read one of their posts, I am reminded–
The school has turned out so many who have gone on to contribute to the Jewish community and world at large that I would hate to see a missed opportunity for future Jewish youth.
That’s what this is all about–ensuring that we have a strong population of Jewish leaders in the next generation who will be around to replace us, support Jews everywhere, support Israel, and make the words “NEVER AGAIN” remain a reality. Hillel is the link. It helps create that next generation of Jewish leaders. I wish more people cared about that and would vocalize it here.
7 Anonymous // Apr 13, 2007 at 1:35 pm
This is how the board is undermining and serving to break the foundation upon which this school was built to make it an elitist school. Why does a Jewish School need a school-wide Jewish and Student Life Division? Isn’t that the very nature of our school? It would seem that this type of department is only needed if the school is moving away from the immersion curriculum and moving towards a secular based education. Judaism, is an intergral part of our current curriculum - - isn’t this strange?
Unsure why it is needed.
8 Concerned Citizen // Apr 13, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Good point.
9 Shlomo Bolts // Apr 13, 2007 at 2:27 pm
I have heard much worry about how board members for this timed it so well, and they’re so smart, and time is on their side and things will fizzle out once the school year ends. I disagree. Perhaps that’s what they were thinking when they chose their timing, but they are sorely mistaken.
I will be home for the week before graduation. I know that a lot of other alumni will be home as well. I also know that our current student leaders, the high school seniors, have a lot of free time on their hands that last week, and that they are more or less immune to punishment that late in the game.
The upshot is a lot of people who can not be suppressed, and who have lots spare time to devote to fixing our school. That last week is a great chance for us. Once again, I will be home then, and will undoubtedly make some visits to school–in part to see my old friends, and in part to ask some interesting questions.
Anyone want to come with? Let’s get together a group of alumni and student leaders (and teachers, if they are willing) to ask the key questions. No yelling, no strident language, just a search for answers and understanding. Who’s in?
10 anonymous // Apr 13, 2007 at 2:43 pm
It will be interesting to see if you will be welcomed and whether they will even entertain such a dialogue as they do not seem to care about what the masses have to say.
Case in point:
Have you received the other communications from the school - - perhaps the Roots to Wings invitation? - - this appears to be the event replacing the annual dinner - - however, it is only for the privileged as it costs a minimum of $150 per person to attend the event - - - which happens to be the venue for Dr. Holden to deliver the State of the School address, the successes of the current year and the plans for the future year.
I find it astonishing that this information is only offered to those who can or desire to pay such amounts to attend.
I further believe that all parents/members are entitled to this information in an open and public venue. ….and even if the school has plans to provide this information once again, it should be provided to the parent body as a whole first and prior to the private event. This is a discriminatory practice that should not and can not be tolerated.
I appeal to all members/parents to stand up and speak up for your rights to this information. This is a school to which we pay tuition and we are entitled to the information — …..and it should not just be for the privileged few.
Any thoughts?
11 Concerned Citizen // Apr 13, 2007 at 2:44 pm
G-d bless you!
12 Concerned Citizen // Apr 13, 2007 at 4:11 pm
PARTIAL VICTORY IS OURS
Thanks to this website and your voices–
Rabbi Lefkowitz, Mrs. Heber, and Mrs. Galitzer have been reinstated and their requests were granted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
13 Concerned Citizen // Apr 13, 2007 at 4:42 pm
Shlomo,
Objective 1 has been achieved…We are on our way now to objective 2.
The power of our voices is immense! Keep up the great work….Same to all Hillel alum and parents!
14 Juno // Apr 13, 2007 at 6:11 pm
Please!!!
15 Anonymous // Apr 13, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Again - - -are we sure???? Has this information been validated?
16 Concerned Citizen // Apr 13, 2007 at 7:02 pm
YES. It has been 20000000% validated.
Why would we want to undermine our own cause?
17 Concerned Citizen // Apr 13, 2007 at 7:04 pm
You can call them to confirm.
18 Anonymous // Apr 13, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Thank you - - Kol Hakaod - - We should keep working together to achieve.
19 Anonymous // Apr 13, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Hakavod! (spelling error - sorry)
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