Elaine and Joe grew up in Israel, where the values of community, service, and responsibility were woven into their daily lives from a young age. They met while serving in the Israel Defense Forces, forming a bond grounded in shared purpose and a deep love for their homeland. After completing their military service, they each went on to study law at the Tel Aviv University Faculty of Law, graduating and beginning their legal careers in Israel.
Driven by a desire for new professional and personal opportunities, Elaine and Joe made the bold decision to move to New York, where they continued to pursue their careers and build a life rooted in the values they inherited from home. When their first child, Mikey (Class of 2026), was born, it became clear to them that they wanted to raise him in an environment that reflected those same values — a place where he would receive an exceptional education within a strong Jewish framework, develop a deep love for Israel and the Jewish people, and learn to see all human beings with compassion, dignity, and kindness.
They found that home at the Schechter School of Long Island.
As Mikey began his SSLI journey, the Benlevi family’s connection to the school deepened year after year. And when their second child, Lavi (Class of 2033), was born, that bond only grew stronger. It felt completely natural that Lavi would join his brother at SSLI — a community that had already become an extension of the Benlevi home and a partner in shaping their children’s Jewish identities.
Over the years, Elaine and Joe have volunteered their time, energy, and resources to ensure that SSLI remains a vibrant, nurturing environment for all students. Elaine, in particular, has been deeply involved in a wide range of initiatives, helping strengthen both the school and the broader community. She has promoted and sponsored meaningful volunteer programs such as visiting with Holocaust survivors, and programs that bring wounded Israeli soldiers to meet and inspire SSLI students. Elaine has also played a key role in the K–12 Sukkot event, spearheaded numerous PA fundraisers — including the annual Evening of the Arts — took active part planning and executing every school wide holiday event, and supported a variety of academic enrichment opportunities that benefit students across all grade levels. Their support is not only hands-on, but deeply rooted in a commitment to the values Schechter embodies. Their family’s active presence has helped strengthen the warm and inclusive culture that defines the SSLI experience.
Elaine and Joe firmly believe that their contributions enable SSLI to sustain and expand its dual-curriculum excellence and its mission of nurturing future generations of Jewish leaders grounded in tradition, academic rigor, and ethical responsibility.