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Campaign Update

May 12, 2005

May 12, 2005, marked the DEDICATION and GRAND OPENING of the Florence & Chaftez Hillel House at 213 Bay State Road. Leadership donors including Boston University president, Aram Chobanian, and Chairman of the Board, Alan Leventhal, were honored at a recognition luncheon and participated in ribbon cutting ceremonies for named areas within the building. Alumni and students, parents and friends, came together with Boston University leaders at the School of Law Auditorium where the dedication festivities commenced. Opening ceremony participants included President Emeritus Jon Westling, Rabbi Z. Avi Heller (UNI’97), Jenna Toplin (COM’05), BU Hillel Board President Oscar Wasserman (LAW’59), and Rabbi Joseph A. Polak (Hon.’95) , BU Hillel director since 1970. A torah procession under chuppa (canopy) was led by alumni rabbis who passed the torah scrolls to student leaders in front of the former Hillel House. The students carried the torah’s to the new building where the festivities continued. Members of the Parker-Mantell families affixed the mezuzah to the doorpost. Continuing presenters were President Emeritus John Silber, BU Hillel National Advisory Board President Jeffrey Parker (SMG’77), Hillel Student Board President Ari Dach (CAS’05, SMG’05), Rabbi Bruce Ginsburg (CAS’73), and the Kol Echad Hillel a cappella group. Photographer Zion Ozeri welcomed guests to view “A Nation’s Diversity: A Jewish Family Album” on display in the Rubin-Frankel Gallery.

Please click on a photo below to see a larger version.

BU President Aram Chobanian presents a recognition plaque to Charlotte Florence together with Rabbi Polak on behalf of Lenny Florence and his Family for giving his name and generosity to Hillel, the center for Jewish life at Boston University.
Roberta and Irwin Chafetz, accompanied by their grandchildren accept a plaque from President Chobanian and Rabbi Polak for their naming gift to Hillel.
Adolfo and Bella Picciotto, pictured with Danny Picciotto (SMG’96, GRS’01), are recognized for naming the Picciotto Chapel in memory of Abramo Picciotto (SMG’96).
David and Theodore Teplow, representing the Stone/Teplow Families, are recognized for naming the Vestibule in memory of Judge Harry K. Stone, N. Louis Stone, Dr. Dewey D. Stone, and Evelyn Stone Teplow and in honor of Leonard Florence and Irwin Chafetz.
Felica Rubin is recognized for naming the Rubin-Frankel Gallery. She is pictured with her daughter, Betti Rubin Jacobson (CAS’95). The Rubin-Frankel Gallery is a gift of Felicia and Irving Rubin in honor of Edith and Neftali Frankel. Neftali Frankel is a survivor of Auschwitz-Berkenau.
Karyn (LAW’94) and Aaron (CAS’87, LAW’93) Polak are recognized for naming the first floor elevator lobby arcade.
Rabbi Polak chats with Naava (SED’78) and Jeffrey (SMG’77) Parker. Jeffrey is president of BU Hillel’s National Advisory Board. Their son Jeremy (CAS’07) is active at Hillel.
Rabbi Polak recognized Boston University for their generosity to the campaign for Hillel. Accepting the plaque for the University are Alan Leventhal, chairman of the board of trustees, and Boston University President Dr. Aram Chobanian.
Torah procession under chuppa makes its way along Bay State Road to the Florence and Chafetz Hillel House.
Torah’s are placed in each of three chapels; reform, conservative, and orthodox.
Shofar’s are blown to recognize the movement of torah’s from the old Hillel building at 233 Bay State Road to the new Florence & Chafetz Hillel House at 213 Bay State Road.
Kol Echad a capella group sings in celebration
Students enjoy the festivities of the milestone occasion.
Members of the National Advisory Board affix a mezuzah to the Rabbi’s Study. L to R: Marty Kalikow incoming Hillel Board Co-President, Wayne Zuckerman, Brad Klatt, Bonnie Artman Anfang, Jeffrey Parker, and Oscar Wasserman, outgoing Hillel Board President.

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