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20 December 7 • 2017 jn M ore than 500 past students, teachers and their fam- ilies descended upon Hillel Day School on Friday, Nov. 24, for the school's 60th Anniversary Reunion, representing nearly every graduating class and teachers from all six decades of the school's existence. "I've never seen so many happy people in one place!" Steve Freedman, head of school, said as he greeted attendees. Alumni reconnecting with old friends and old teachers beamed with warmth and nostalgia as they toured the trans- formed facility, introduced one another to their children, and reminisced as they peered through yearbooks. Rachel Tessler Lopatin, class of 1982, now living in New York, was able to acknowledge her kin- dergarten teacher, Fran Fine. She and students from the 1980s who learned Torah with Adina Tzeel when they were third- and fifth-graders flocked around her and leaned in for hugs and kisses. "This is truly remarkable," said Michael Rubyan, class of 2001, who now lives in Ann Arbor. "I'm so glad to be here." The reunion is part of a yearlong celebration of the school's mile- stone year. In the spring, the 60th Anniversary Gala will honor six teach- ers who have each devoted more than 25 years of service to Hillel Day School: Clara Gaba, Adina Levin, Malka Littman, Ayala Perlstein, Rivka Schuchman and Pam Smith — as well as Dream Maker Brian Hermelin. The event will feature a special performance by Israeli singer/songwriter Michael HarPaz, a member of the class of 1987. Barbara Eskin, who has taught at Hillel for more than 40 years, both as a permanent and guest teacher, includ- ing when the school was briefly located at Congregation B'nai Moshe in the 1960s on 10 Mile Road in Oak Park, days later was still reveling in the experience of seeing so many Hillel friends. "I loved every minute of the reunion," she said. "Every minute!" • Gabriella Burman, class of 1988, is Hillel's communications coordinator. Nostalgia Reigns Hillels hosts alums spanning 60 years at an anniversary brunch. Past Hillel presidents Nancy Glen, Ellen Glen, Arlene Tilchen and Robert Schostak with Head of School Steve Freedman GABRIELLA BURMAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS jews d in the PHOTOS BY MELANIE WEBER ABOVE: Teacher Adina Tzeel with Lowell Friedman and Rachel Morse Geller, both class of 1987, and Jennifer Morse Mattler, class of 1983. M enorah in the D, the sev- enth annual celebration of the Festival of Lights, will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12 in Downtown Detroit's Campus Martius Park. Festivities will feature an array of activities, live enter- tainment, a variety of kosher food and numerous games, crafts and fun for all to cel- ebrate Chanukah in the city. Menorah in the D has become "the" community-wide meno- rah lighting event to celebrate Chanukah. The free event is hosted by The Shul-Chabad Lubavitch, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit and Chabad of Greater Downtown Detroit, along with support from Quicken Loans and other various sponsors. "The menorah being placed in the heart of the city of Detroit is a reminder to us all that we should continually work to illuminate the world around us," said Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov, spiritual director and founder of The Shul of West Bloomfield. At 5:30 p.m., families can enjoy Chanukah crafts, face painting, jugglers, balloon sculpting, interac- tive experiments, pictures with the dreidel mascot and more. Detroit Pistons Extreme Team will also have a high-energy show prior to the lighting. In addition, attendees will enjoy performances by fire jugglers beginning at 5:45 p.m. All activities are free, includ- ing snacks, hot soup, traditional sufganiot ( jelly donuts), Kind bars, marshmallow roasting and coffee courtesy of the Roasting Plant. An array of kosher food options will also be for sale (cash only), prepared by various local cater- ers. At 6 p.m., dignitaries, elected officials and community leaders, including Detroit Pistons representa- tives Earl Cureton, Adam Schneider and Arn Tellem, will help light the larger-than-life menorah to celebrate the first night of Chanukah. Following the lighting ceremo- nies, attendees can take part in the Detroit Pistons' Jewish Heritage Night at nearby Little Caesars Arena as the Pistons take on the Denver Nuggets. Game time is 7 p.m. There are exclusive discounted tickets and on-court experiences coinciding with Menorah in the D. Chabad-organized public meno- rah lightings are now seen annually in hundreds of locations worldwide, from the White House to the Eiffel Tower. The celebration of Chanukah and the lighting of a public menorah are particularly relevant to Detroit and its area residents during diffi- cult times. To RSVP (preferred to get a handle on food supplies) and for more details, such as where to park, and about the Pistons' Jewish Heritage Night, visit menorahinthed.com. • Time To Kindle Menorah in the D to rock the fi rst night of Chanukah. ABOVE: Lighting the menorah at a previous Menorah in the D.