Awards, memories highlight PHDS Amudin dinner

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Marc Diamond, Shammai Weiner, Marilyn Katz, Larry Katz, Frank Halper, Rabbi Peretz Scheinerman /PHDSMarc Diamond, Shammai Weiner, Marilyn Katz, Larry Katz, Frank Halper, Rabbi Peretz Scheinerman /PHDS

On June 7, Providence Hebrew Day School (PHDS) held its annual Amudim dinner. The program was bittersweet, as it opened with a memorial tribute to Tichyeh Schochet. In the commemorative video, students, teachers and friends spoke of her tremendous dedication, care and support, even in times of great hardship. Tichyeh was a teacher par excellence, constantly giving of herself to her students at New England Academy of Torah (NEAT), where she served as Judaic Studies Principal, and at PHDS, where she taught in the middle school. Her breadth of knowledge, passion for teaching, strength, understanding and love for every Jew profoundly impacted the entire community.

PHDS honored Lawrence and Marilyn Katz with the coveted Amudim Award. In the special tribute video, Jeffrey Savit, CEO of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island; Frank Halper of Rosenstein, Halper and Maselli; Esta Yavner; Russell Raskin, Esq.; Miriam Esther Weiner, principal of PHDS; and Rabbi Peretz Scheinerman, dean of PHDS, spoke about the Katzs’ mentchlichkeit, kindness and giving nature, and of their staunch support of Jewish education. Larry has dedicated his entire career to enhancing the education of all the students in the Jewish day schools and congregational schools throughout Rhode Island by bringing in the most professional resources and enabling them to utilize the Creativity Center and all of its resources.

Halper recounted the instrumental way in which Larry serves as the backbone of the Scholarship Granting Organization, which has brought in more than $5 million dollars to PHDS and JCDS since its inception. Families with a tax liability in the state of Rhode Island should call Frank Halper at 401-331-6851 to determine if this law can benefit them in a most meaningful manner.

In addition to the many ways in which Larry and Marilyn are active in the community, Marilyn served as a Cub Scout den leader for many of the students at PHDS. Indeed, the Katzes are well-deserving honorees.

PHDS also honored Nadav and Katie Minkin with the Young Leadership Award for their community service to the school and to Congregation Sha’arei Tefilla. Nadav has served on various board committees of the school and as president of the shul. Katie is an active volunteer on the school’s PTF committee.

In addition, the school presented the Alumni Award to the NEAT Class of 2008, a diverse group of ladies who have been very successful in school and in their chosen careers.

Special thanks to Tzippy Scheinerman, who chaired the dinner, and to her committee for all of their efforts in preparing this affair.