Comments on: SAVING HILLEL

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:50:24 +0000

What a bunch of lying rotten scoundrels.

By: Angry Parent

Angry Parent — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:16:38 +0000

Oy Vey! Chutzpah, Chutzpah! did you just say ‘…our Jewish identity shone brightly everyday?’ What is going on at Hillel is the Hallmark of Jewish Education. Is that what you mean?
If the school is so successful academically, why not renewing those teachers’ contract? If you don’t have enough money to pay the teachers you have right now, where are you going to get the money to pay those ‘Top Notch teachers’ you promise to bring in next year? Probably they will feel honored not to teach at Hillel but to participate in the dismantlement of once a respected Jewish Educational Institution. The reality is that you are not expecting parents to ask logical questions, are you? Chaval…

By: Admin

Admin — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:01:05 +0000

An excerpt from Dr. Holden’s Annual Meeting remarks…
Dear Friends,
This school year seems to have come and gone in an instant! Like all
schools, we faced some challenges but, upon reflection, we end the year
with strength and with renewed optimism for the future.
This year we honored our promise to be fiscally responsible. We are
projecting a surplus that has been matched only once in the past decade, and then at a time when the
school had 220 more students than today. We now have three years of audited financials guaranteeing a
transparency expected of all fine schools. We maintained a scholarship, professional discount and
financial aid fund of more than $2.5 million. Over the past two years, we have raised Annual Campaign
parental involvement from less than 20% to more than 50%, and we surpassed this year’s goal. We clearly
are becoming strong stewards for those who generously invest in Jewish education.
We also kept our pledge to improve educational standards. This year, SAT–10 test scores increased in
Grades 3, 4 and 5. They are solidified in Middle School, where the median score for both reading and
math is more than one full grade level above natural age. Advanced Placement scores rank Hillel’s Upper
School 20% above the Florida average and 10% above the national average.
And most important of all, our Jewish identity shone brightly every day. We enjoyed remarkable
schoolwide activities that brought together our entire community in celebration. We built international
partnerships and strengthened informal programming. With an integrated Israel 60 program as our
foundation, this year saw us literally live our mission!

By: Face It

Face It — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:05:23 +0000

Of course Chaim Botwinick is not responsible for Hillel. What can he do? What can anybody at “Federation” do? Nothing.

Let’s be realistic, why should he sacrifice himself for a losing cause and a hopeful situation. I don’t blame him. Its not really his position to clean up Hillel — even Lookstein couldn’t. We would all lose more by him sacrificing himself for Hillel.

Parents should take the responsibility for their own children and vote with their feet. The power brokers at Hillel do not primarily care about your children.

By: Realistic Person

Realistic Person — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:30:04 +0000

Yes there are. Just not connected with Hillel.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:57:59 +0000

“We are pleased to share that CAJE President/CEO Dr. Chaim Botwinick has spent a great amount of time with our administration and has approved our thoughtful, just process. Coupled with a comprehensive administrative review, Hillel has right-sized throughout every division.”

Indeed, if Druin and Holden state this in a letter, then Botwinick IS responsible.

Are there no accountable leaders left in South Florida?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:56:28 +0000

As long as Dr. Botwinik is allocating CAJE monies to this institution and as long as his name is now beginning to appear on letters sent to Hillel parents on Hillel letterhead, he does indeed bear some of the responsibility.

If he doesn’t endorse these decisions, then why are Druin and Holden implying in writing that he does?

Sorry, but you can’t pass the buck that easily.

By: Honest Person

Honest Person — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:50:06 +0000

Dr. Chaim Botwinick is a fine man. It is not his job to change Hillel. It is your Board and Dr.Holden and Rabbi Druin who have destroyed the Hillel Day School. Doctor Botwinick is not the Hillel President or Dean. Dr.Botwinick is well respected in the Jewish Community of South Florida. He does an excellent job as CEO of SAJE.Put the blame where it should be directly with the Hillel Adminstration and Board Members.

By: Truth

Truth — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:07:28 +0000

I hope Russ Bonwitt et al are happy with the hatchet job they’ve committed on the entire South Florida Jewish community

By: New to this site......and shocked at what I am reading!

New to this site......and shocked at what I am reading! — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:48:12 +0000

I was just told about this site. I am shocked and appaled at what I am reading. I am a former Hillel student, who attended school there in the 80s.
I went to Hillel from 2nd grade until 7th grade. While attending the school, I recieved the finest jewish education, as well as special attention for a learning disability, and special tutoring! The principal at the time was Dr. Levy (RIP) and he was an amazing man.

I remember one specific incident that occured, that will stay in my mind forever. My parents were newly divorced, and money was tight. We (my brother and I) were “latch key kids” and were home alone for a few hours every day after school. We had just finished learning about how to make your home “Kosher for Passover.” At the time, the rabbis at Hillel taught with so much passion, that my brother and I came home alone after school, and basically threw out every morsel of food in our kitchen! Beacuse when you are on a budjet…not many food groups, are kosher for passover. Not to mention we (as a family did not even keep kosher)

Needless to say, my mother came home and cried! She cried, because she had no extra money to replace the groceries we had just thrown in the garbage, and not to mention down the garbage disposal!

My mother had to explain to us that what we learned at school was not “LAW” at our home. She taught us how to learn, and study judaism, with an open mind. We learned the torah, studied the talmud, learned how to read and write hebrew, and at the same time..come home and follow the “laws” of my home, in which my mother and father instilled.

Needless to say,the next day, Dr. Levy was on the recieving end of my mothers wrath!!! Bless his heart…..he immediately wrote my mom a check, FROM HIS PERSONAL CHECKBOOK to compensate for the food my brother and I had thrown away!

It is a shame that Hillel has become the type of school that has spawned a website such as this. Shame on the admin! Shame on the non kosher kitchen! Shame on the principal for firing good teachers!
I am really shocked at what I am reading….it’s really sad.