Hillel Academy was established in 1962 by a small group of dedicated and visionary people in order to provide quality and intensive Jewish and secular education to the children of the community. They recognized that the future of the Jewish community and its continuity is dependent upon preparing knowledgeable and educated leaders for the next generation. The local community is among the smallest in the United States to house a Jewish day school, and the school continues to be one of the most important factors in encouraging people to relocate to the Broome County area. Every effort is made to ensure that every Jewish parent who wishes to send his/her child to the school is able to do so.

Hillel Academy students come from all area congregations. Families affiliated with the Conservative, Orthodox and Reform congregations join with those who are not affiliated to send their children to the school. A microcosm of the Jewish community, Hillel Academy emphasizes the need to work cooperatively and respect each others beliefs, traditions and practices, while studying classical Jewish sources and modern Hebrew language together. An excellent and highly individualized secular program ensures that students are prepared for higher educational opportunities and expectations. Indeed, alumni have taken their place in the Jewish and general world as leaders in their communities and renowned in their professions.

For all these reasons, Hillel Academy has received continuous and substantial support and encouragement from all segments of the community.

Since its formation, Hillel Academy has been known to be an outstanding institution that provides educational excellence. The primary factor responsible for this well-deserved reputation is the faculty. Each is an expert is his/her field, professional and experienced, and brings to the school a wealth of expertise, knowledge and skills. Many of the teachers are long-term members of the school community and contribute their unique talents to Hillel Academy’s program.

In recognition of its excellence, Hillel Academy was selected in 1988 by the U.S. Department of Education’s National School Recognition Program as “one of the nation’s most outstanding schools.” The staff of Hillel Academy are not satisfied with achievements of the past and continue to strive for excellence in their educational programs. Their goal is to provide the best possible secular and Judaic education to the Jewish youth of the community.

Entering its 45th year, Hillel Academy has been setting the standard for excellence in education in Broome County. Its challenging, dual curriculum blends secular and Judaic studies into a comprehensive and integrated educational package that helps develop children into individuals with high scholastic standards, strong moral character and positive Jewish identities. Always searching for innovative educational practices, Hillel Academy has adopted a modified multi-age school organization and teaching environment. Students have the benefit of larger social groupings and creative teaching approaches, while being grouped for core subjects in order to ensure continued high levels of achievement.

Hillel Academy is also proud to be the only area school at which three languages are taught to all students. The school has always taught both English and Hebrew, and a second foreign language to middle school students. In 2004, an innovative third language program was begun with the introduction of Spanish in Kindergarten and continuing at each grade level. Concurrently, the school adopted a new mode of computer instruction, integrating computers with the other academic areas. Hillel Academy is currently experimenting with providing a laptop computer for all eighth-graders so that they can take advantage of the school’s wireless Internet connection during any class that it may be needed. Full implementation of this new program will occur over several years.

Hillel Academy facilities include two computer labs, a library, a modern, fully equipped science laboratory with state-of-the art equipment, an individualized learning center and an enclosed outdoor play area. Besides the standard academic curriculum, programs in the areas of music, art, computers, library and physical education are also offered.

In 1991, Hillel Academy instituted the successful WRITING TO READ program. It has now installed a complete computer lab so that every child can work on a computer at the same time. This computer-based program has proven to be an invaluable educational tool in teaching kindergarten students the joy of writing and reading. Hillel Academy is one of the only schools in the area to offer this program in kindergarten. Having an expanded, full-day kindergarten program since 1997, Hillel has already created a curriculum that enhances the child’s readiness for first grade – something that other schools are just beginning to plan. Hillel Academy also runs the collaborative Pauline Piaker Ganeinu Pre-K Program together with, and housed at, the JCC.

Hillel Academy is organized to promote and ensure that each student reaches his or her maximum academic potential. To achieve this goal, the faculty emphasizes the development of the critical thinking skills that are essential in preparing a child to assume their future role as integrated members of the community. Most of the eighth-graders graduate from Hillel with High School Regents credit in foreign languages, Hebrew, as well completing the Math A and Earth Science Regents – both high school requirements – besides advanced placement in Spanish.

Religious studies occupy an important part of each school day. The school’s primary goal is to instill Jewish morals and values through the study of Torah. Children are also taught to read, write and speak Hebrew. The content of the Jewish history program includes exposure to family genealogy, the history of the Eastern European community, immigration to the United States, American Jewish history, the rise of the various branches of Judaism, the Holocaust and the history of the modern state of Israel.

Hillel Academy takes great pride in providing its students with a nurturing educational environment, the highest quality instruction, state-of-the-art technology and a caring, dedicated staff. It also takes great pride in providing them with a sense of place and time in history – a sense of their own heritage, to help them become knowledgeable, responsible Jews with a commitment to Jewish living, Jewish values and the American democratic tradition.

For more information, contact Rabbi Zev Silber, principal, at 722-9274 or at hillel@stny.rr.com.

Established in 2001, Hillel at Binghamton sponsors social, educational, religious and cultural programs for the 3000-plus Jewish students at Binghamton University. Its office is located in the basement of the Old Student Union and the student lounge is on the third floor of the New Student Union. Executive Director Shana Kantor leads the organization. Joining her on the staff are Assistant Director Ellen Rosenshein, JCSC Jackie Farber, Program Associate Rachel Petroff and Office Manager Sandy MacDuffee. They provide the students of Binghamton University with a pluralistic Jewish atmosphere that encompasses students from all backgrounds.

The real leaders of Hillel at Binghamton are the students. Seven student leaders are elected to the executive board and additional students lead more than 15 program areas. These include Arts, Community Service, Israel, Social, Sports and Religious (Reform, Conservative and Orthodox). The student leaders work with the Hillel staff to plan programs that cater to all the Jewish students on campus.

Hillel at Binghamton has just completed its fifth year of programming and is continuing to grow. It reaches more than 1,600 different students each semester, 500 of whom are active and participate on a regular basis. Here are the highlights of the 2005-06 academic year:

• 1,100 students who participated in the Israel block party celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut. During the year Hillel also hosted a concert performance of the Israeli band Fools of Prophecy, sponsored an Israeli Film Festival and sent students to Israel on birthright, missions and through MASA.
• Friday Night Shabbat dinners averaged 175 students each week in the Food Court of the Union and included a special Light Up The Night Shabbat right after Passover where more than 300 students participated in smaller dinners at 14 different locations. Hillel also hosted many guests on Shabbat to enrich the atmosphere including Reform and Conservative rabbinical students, Orthodox women scholars, the head of Ayecha and Israeli educators.
• Social justice and making the world a better place (tzedek and tikkun olam) are very important values to Hillel’s students as they both give charity and do something. Groups of students went to Mississippi both during winter and spring break to help rebuild after the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. Hillel at Binghamton also sent two buses of students to Washington for the rally about Darfur on April 30. Students are taking a lead role in the organization of a new student group called S.A.G.E. (Students Against Genocide Everywhere). And the Mitzvah Marathon that Hillel co-sponsors with Chabad enabled over 1,000 students to do something positive in memory of those who perished in the tragedy of 9/11.
• Kaskeset, Hillel’s a capella group, produced a new CD, students organized a theater group and performed the play “I Never Saw Another Butterfly,” and the Arts group sponsored a coffee house arts festival each semester. Hillel’s student newspaper went through a change and is now called KosherStyle.
• Hillel at Binghamton also had regular social programming, including an opening weekend welcome back barbecue, a semi-formal dance each semester, a Chinese kosher dinner and outings to roller skating, ice skating and skiing, among others.

Hillel at Binghamton sponsors many programs every week in order to ensure a wide variety of options for Jewish students on campus. Some of the other innovations this year included strengthening the programming it sponsors in the residential communities by developing a community building committee. While Hillel’s JCSC Fellow regularly programs in each of the dorm communities, she also supervised students who hosted programs. These events normally centered around celebrating and learning about the different Jewish holidays. Many students who do not come to Hillel’s regular programs participated in these.

Some of Hillel’s other innovations included:

• Sponsoring a Media Summit with the Career Development Center. This brought alumni back to campus to talk about their careers. Students were able to network with the guests and found it very valuable.
• During Homecoming Week, Hillel sponsored one of the student events, Double Dare, based on the TV which fit the theme of Back to the Eighties.
• Hillel students worked with the University Program Board to bring the rock group O.A.R. to campus in the spring. This was the first time Hillel co-sponsored a major concert on campus.

During the 2006-07 academic year Hillel at Binghamton will be celebrating its fifth year and honoring the rich history of the JSU on campus. At least two special events are being planned.

With the help of many co-sponsors, Hillel plans to bring Paul Rusesabagina, the hotel manager in “Hotel Rwanda,” to campus on Thursday, October 12. He will speak at the Events Center at 7:30 pm. During Homecoming weekend, October 13-15, Hillel will also have a reception and join Chabad in celebrating Simchat Torah on Saturday night, October 14.

Hillel is planning a celebration in New York City during the spring of 2007. This is a chance to honor those who have played an important role in BU’s Hillel and inform others of its story.

All Hillel at Binghamton events are open to the community. Those interested can reach the Hillel at Binghamton office by calling 777-3424 or e-mailing skantor@binghamton.edu.