Mazal Tov to all the Honorees!

 

Ofra Hiltzik, thank you for your leadership, commitment, dedication and devotion to the Schechter School of Long Island and to every student who has been educated under its roof. Your tireless leadership, passion for jewish education and love of our children has left a lasting impact on all of our children. Thank you for your guidance and support throughout the years!
 

Ms. Lorber and Ms. Stanton, thank you for your passion, hard work and dedication to all the students at the Schechter School of Long Island. You helped instill a love of learning and confidence in our children to strive to reach their potential. 

Wishing you the best in your retirement!

 

Jonathan Chariton, thank you for continued support as an alumnus of the Schechter School of Long Island and for reconnecting our many alumni during this most difficult time.

Your actions show the importance of community and that we are stronger together!  

 

A special thank you to Ira Kohler (class of 2018) for your service in the IDF defending Israel, our Jewish Homeland, and Jews all over the world. We are so proud of you!
We continue to pray for the release of Omer Neutra (class of 2019) and all the hostages. 
We all must continue to be outspoken and work to Bring Them Home!
Janet, Albert, Julia (Class of 2018) and Ben (Class of 2021) Hakim
 

 

 

 

The Faculty and Staff of Schechter School of Long Island

Proudly, and with Love, Honor Four Exemplary Schechter Stars

 

Ofra Hiltzik Our fearless leader and embodiment of Schechter itself. We celebrate your humanity and commitment to enriching the emotional and academic needs

of our students over the past 40 years.

 

Robin Stanton English Teacher extraordinaire. Generations of students know how to think critically, write clearly, and express themselves empathetically because of you.

 

Deborah Lorber Schechter's STEM architect. You created the path to science for so many, and also demonstrated the importance of loving and caring

for the planet by being thoughtful and humane.

 

Jonathan Chariton Schechter alumnus, '02. You honor your Schechter education by living a life filled with purpose, accomplishment, and humility.

 

Ofra, you continue to lead us into the future. Robin and Deborah, you may have retired from Schechter, but your influence is forever. Jonathan, you inspire today's students to aim high. Four cheers for these four!

Faculty & Staff of the Schechter School of Long Island

ושננתם לבניך ודברת בם בשבתך בביתך ובלכתך בדרך ובשכבך ובקומך

 

Impress them upon your children. Recite them when you stay at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up.

 

Ofra, you exemplify every aspect of this pasuk. You impress these words on every student with your passion, commitment, and individual attention. It is easy for you to "recite them" at the appropriate time because you are at Schechter in the morning and at night, when you are away it is with Schechter, and we are suspicious that you ever go home,
but if you did it would be with Schechter on your mind and in your soul.

 

Thank you for making the Torah live, our students feel seen,
and Schechter a sanctuary worthy of Hashem.

 

Rabbi Joshua Ben-Gideon, Rabbi Steven Conn, Rabbi Jack Dermer, Rabbi Josh Dorsch, Rabbi Jason Fruithandler, Rabbi Joel Levenson, Rabbi Michael Mishkin, Rabbi Eric Rosin, Rabbi Karen Reiss Medwed, Rabbi Kayley Romick, Rabbi Dan Schweber, Rabbi David Siegel, Rabbi Michael Stanger, Rabbi Howard Stecker, & Rabbi Cara Weinstein Rosenthal

             

 

Today, we gather with immense joy and pride to honor Jonathan Chariton.

His unwavering passion and steadfast commitment to the Friends of the IDF, Israel and the Solomon Schechter community, illuminate our hearts and inspire us all. In a world often bewildering and uncertain, Jonathan stands as a beacon of exemplary leadership.

 

His integrity, humility and boundless generosity towards his family, friends and community set a standard that we greatly admire. Jonathan, your dedication brings immeasurable joy and pride to your wife, children, siblings, parents, nieces, nephews and the entire family.

Your achievements fill our hearts with unparalleled nachas, a feeling of deep satisfaction and delight. Tonight, as we celebrate your well deserved honor we extend our heartfelt congratulations. Your remarkable contributions enrich not only our lives,

but also the very fabric of our community. Thank you, Jonathan, for being a source of inspiration and for embodying the values we hold dear.

Mazel Tov!

 

Love,

Mom, Dad, Joelle, Jordan, Anat, Jared, Remy, Colbie, Heath, Palmer, Lily,
Aunt Gayle, Uncle Steven, Jaclyn, Justin, Andrea, Brett & Nick

 

Chariton - We are not surprised that you are being honored tonight because you have been fighting diligently for what is right since 2001, when you lobbied the Schechter administration to continue allowing us to wear pajama pants to school. Although it is hard to top that memorable achievement, you continue to amaze us with all you have built since,
including your beautiful family, deep friendships, and successful career-all while
bringing that same brand of thoughtfulness and humor to everything you do.

From 1 Barbara Lane to 27 Cedar Swamp Road, down the street past NAPA
to the Annex and all the way to Eretz Yisrael and back again,

you have always led with passion, dedication and respect.
We are proud to call you one of our own.

 

Mrs. Hiltzik - Todah Rabah for being the backbone of our beloved school for so long. Your dedication to Schechter, your love for your students, and your firm but gentle nudges ("sheket!") have shaped all of us and every student who has passed through Schechter's halls.

 

The SSLI HS Class of 2002

Mazel Tov to all the honorees on this well deserved honor!

Ofra: Thank you for working tirelessly to make the Schechter School of Long Island
the wonderful, nurturing place it is. Your dedication to the school

and its community is inspirational. 

Ms. Stanton: Thank you for giving each of my children the tools they needed to learn and thrive. You were an engaging and wonderfully creative teacher, and you made an incredible impact on all of your students. You are missed! 

Ms. Lorber: My fellow Obie! Your love of all things science was infectious. Thank you for being such an excellent teacher and resource for Schechter students.
Can't wait to meet up with you down South.

Jonathan: Thank you for everything you've done to keep Israel safe and for your work as an admin in the Schechter community WhatsApp chat. Wonder which is more challenging....

Fay, Kenny, Gabriel (2020), Meira (2022) & Ariel (2025) Duftler
 

I heard the phrase "Schechter Blessed" a lot growing up but never understood its meaning until recently. As a Senior in college in the midst of a very stressful job hunt, I did not expect to get an email from Ofra asking for my resumé. She had heard that I was looking for a job and refused to stand by and watch one of her "babies" struggle. She is really that kind and thoughtful. It isn't just Ofra that makes the Schechter community a blessing - the same can be said of the entire staff and faculty, even those no longer at Schechter.

Just last week, when a storm stranded me in a North Carolina airport, Gala honoree Deborah Lorber picked me up, brought me to her house and took me out to breakfast before my flight left the next day....and Ms. Lorber had never actually been my teacher! I jokingly asked, "is this what Schechter blessed actually means?" Upon reflection, it was just a small example of what that really means. My sister Noa had a similar experience during her Gap year in Israel, having been welcomed into the Israeli home of a former Head of School during Rosh Hashanah. Noa extends a message of gratitude for the times Ofra brought her into her office to help talk her through the struggles & anxieties of High School.

 

Schechter has guided me and built me into the woman I am today. I don't know where I would be without the Schechter Community and I never want to live in a world without it.

There is no other place where people really care about you the way students and alumni are cared for at Schechter.
Zoe Jurmann

 

צדק צדק תרדוף

It is our responsibility to chase justice.

The idea is that this is meant to be a life of hard work, striving for
each individual to be treated fairly and equally.

 

Ofra, you exemplify this truth from the moment you wake up until the moment you don't actually go to sleep. You know that true justice comes from a new generation that is loved enough to feel confident in taking risks, knowledgeable enough to know who they are, and empowered to always strive for growth. You, as the judges discussed in Parashat Shoftim, know that each individual deserves your attention and care and you live that each day
as you go from one person to another, solving problems and showing your love.
Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for us at Schechter.

 

Thank you to you and of course thank you to our other honorees, Jonathan Chariton, Deborah Lorber & Robin Stanton for making SSLI such a special place.

 

Jason, Jessie, Liba, Micah, & Hadar