Dear Hebrew Academy of Morris County Parents and Friends of the school:

“Educate a child in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

This has been a guiding principle at the Nathan Bohrer-Abraham Kaufman Hebrew Academy of Morris County since the school’s inception in 1967.  For 29 years, Lillie Brandt has been an important link in our educational chain as a teacher in HAMC's Early Childhood Center. With tremendous grace, intelligence and love, Lillie has nurtured our ECC children during their first steps toward building an educational and spiritual foundation for life. 

In recognition of Lillie’s extraordinary devotion to our children and to this institution, the extended Brandt family— along with friends and current and former leaders of the HAMC— have together created a permanent endowment in Lillie’s name to support the Early Childhood Center and the HAMC in perpetuity. Commitments to the HAMC Lillie Brandt Early Childhood Center Fund exceed $500,000. You will hear about continued efforts to build support for this vital fund.

In light of Lillie’s history with the school and this highly successful fundraising effort, the HAMC Board of Trustees, with great pride and gratitude, is proud to rename our Early Childhood Center:

The HAMC Lillie Brandt Early Childhood Center

To help celebrate this tremendous milestone in the history of our school, the Board of Trustees will be honoring Lillie Brandt at this year’s Annual HAMC Scholarship Gala Celebration and Auction at the Crystal Plaza on Thursday, May 6, 2010.

From the time they arrived at the HAMC in 1975, Lillie and her husband Ron have devoted themselves to the school in many ways. Lillie and Ron’s three daughters, Shari, Allyssa and Rachel are all HAMC graduates. Ron served as a Board Member for 18 years and as President of the Board from 1983-1986.  Lillie is best known for her work as a teacher in the ECC three-year-old class, but she has done so much more. Lillie has also served as a Board Member and Secretary of the Board, Parents’ Association President, ad journal Chair, library volunteer, transportation coordinator and editor of the monthly newsletter for parents.

In addition, Lillie and Ron have served as lay leaders to the community at large. Ron served as President of Mount Freedom Jewish Center, Lillie has volunteered her time for Hadassah and Deborah Hospital and they both have been active volunteers with United Jewish Communities of MetroWest.

Lillie’s passion for children and love for Judaism has contributed so much to the beautiful ECC program that has given generations of ECC children the foundation for “learning for life.”

Please join us in celebrating Lillie’s achievements and help us honor her at this year’s Annual HAMC Scholarship Gala Celebration and Auction on May 6, 2010 at the Crystal Plaza.   This spring, in order to honor Lillie, a Donor Recognition Wall will be dedicated in the ECC wing. All families past, present and future will be able to purchase plaques with the funds benefitting the Lillie Brandt ECC Endowment. Our hope is that all the children that have passed through Lillie’s class will be honored on this wall.

Moreover, we have the pleasure of announcing our Distinguished Service Award recipient. Please congratulate Mr. Aron Schwartz, who will also be honored at the Gala Celebration. Aron has served as legal counsel to the HAMC Board of Trustees since 1996 and has been an integral part of the Board and the school for many years. Aron and his wife Amy have three children who are all graduates of the HAMC. Please review the enclosed bio for more information.

We will also be honoring Ms. Luiza Finberg with the Longevity Award for ten years of dedicated service to our school.

We hope that all of you will be able to attend this wonderful evening of celebration. It is a rare opportunity for us to gather as a community and celebrate our school and leaders.

This year we are “going green” and our ad journal publication will be online. To purchase ads in honor of Lillie Brandt, Aron Schwartz, Luiza Finberg and the school, please go to www.hamcdinnerjournal.org and follow the instructions. If you need assistance, please email us at Adjournal@hamc.org.  Proceeds from the ad journal and the reception allow for our continued growth and development and ensure our ability to provide financial assistance to all families in need.  We believe all Jewish children deserve an education from the Hebrew Academy regardless of their parents’ ability to pay.

Thank you for your continued commitment to and support of the Hebrew Academy of Morris County, where “learning for life” begins. Please join us on May 6th at the Crystal Plaza. We look forward to seeing you there.

Warm Regards,
                                
Beena Levy                                                  Moshe Vaknin
President, Board of Trustees                          Head of School