Ran Gvili has been returned to Israeli soil, but some hostages had been held in Gaza since 2014. The Anxious Generation warns us about the terrible outcomes youth face when phones and social media dominate young lives. Economic uncertainty envelops today’s college graduates while at the same time, materialism seeps its way even into the less cosmopolitan Jewish enclaves. How are Jewish families supposed to raise children in the confusion of such an environment??
The answer of course is to provide them with the best Jewish Day School education. At AJA, children grow in Torah values and knowledge, prepare for engagement in the world through top-notch college-readying academics, and understand their place in Jewish history care of the rich Zionism and Hebrew language infusion that characterizes an AJA diploma. Our Diapers to Diploma, babies to twelfth grade, learning center, builds young girls and boys into proud and knowledgeable Jewish adults. Our graduates are leaders on campus, in Federations, and in the IDF. Schools like AJA are a research-proven way to ensure the continuity of the Jewish community, well beyond simple tribalism. A thoughtful, meaningful, and richly-lived Judaism and a confidence to stride forward into the world, even one laced with rising anti-Semitism, is exactly what AJA provides our students.
Shirley Brickman, and the love of her life Dr. Perry Brickman o”bm, fully understood this message. Their commitment to supporting Jewish education and AJA in particular has been consistent, generous, and timely. Shirley continues to be the pistol she always has been and she makes me laugh every time we talk on the phone or meet in person. Shirley’s adoration of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren is a life lesson in intergenerational love. I have been blessed to have been taken under the wings of her angelic beneficence. Honoring Shirley at our annual Evening of Honor does not come close to the recognition that she, and Perry, absolutely deserve.
Dinah and Jonny Farazmand know full well how to roll up their sleeves and get something done. Dinah’s role in supporting AJA through her leadership of our GOAL Campaign continues to impress each and every year I have been here. Jonny’s role designing and executing on big community events solidifies his reputation as a community builder and connector. Also nice is that PizzaLi regularly appears at AJA events! It is always special to sit with Dinah at Board meetings, and special but concerning to signal to Jonny from across the auditorium as another massive havdala candle at a concert on our stage is about to set off the school’s smoke alarms. AJA loves that we have arrived at this point of our lifecycle, when the babies of yesteryear now send their babies to this amazing school!
Julie Fine is one of AJA’s greatest ambassadors. She too is an alum and she too has her children here at AJA. This Year’s Martha Sanders Educator of the Year is an amazing kindergarten teacher, a parlor meeting font of wisdom, a student intake consultant, and one of the smiliest members of our staff. We celebrate her tonight and express appreciation for the abundant energy she brings to the oldest students in our Early Childhood Department.
Thank you for saying yes to coming to the Evening of Honor! We are so glad that you elected to honor Shirley, Dinah & Jonny, and Julie. Even more importantly, we appreciate your support for the Jewish education we provide at AJA. We are confident that you will enjoy the evening and that you will continue to partner with us to fulfill our mission and raise the next generation of Jewish souls successfully!
Daniel Cohen, President, Board of Trustees
The Glue That Holds It Together
When I think of the four individuals that we are honoring tonight - and we mustn’t forget the fifth, our dear Dr. Perry Brickman, z”l - that phrase comes to mind. Each of our honorees is part of the glue that supports and strengthens our school. They give generously of their time and resources to Atlanta Jewish Academy, and they pour their hearts into the bonds that hold our institution together.
Officially, Shirley, Dinah & Jonny, and Julie, represent three distinct categories of honorees. Yet as we reflect on their contributions, it becomes clear how their roles intersect and enrich our school community in countless ways. As the saying goes, it takes a village. We are grateful to our honorees for being an essential part of our village - and for being leaders of it.
Together, we have built an incredible basket for our students and our broader community. Keeping that basket sturdy, vibrant, and exceptional year after year requires real care, sustained dedication, and meaningful commitment. It requires leadership, generosity, and a willingness to step forward - again and again. It requires people like our honorees. Their contributions - their glue - join with the efforts of those who came before them and with those gathered here tonight, binding it all together.
The work doesn’t end this evening. In many ways, it continues because of evenings like this. Tonight, as we honor Shirley, Dinah & Jonny, and Julie, we also invite each of you to follow their inspiring example: to strengthen this basket through your own generosity and support. Your participation ensures that AJA can continue to provide the exceptional education, grounded in strong values and community, that our students deserve.
Thank you to our honorees for your extraordinary leadership and commitment to our school. And thank you to everyone here tonight for investing in AJA and in our shared mission.
Thank you for strengthening our basket. It holds something truly exceptional.