|
|
Class of 1976 Reunion
The ICJA class of 1976 gathered to share memories and catch up on friendships November 14-15. Sixty people attended the reunion in Chicago at the Crowne Plaza O'hare, and another 40 people gathered in Israel and two in Canada to join the affair via live videoconference. The Chicago group enjoyed a dinner and program at the hotel, followed by a midnight showing of The Sting, one of their favorites from back in the day. On Sunday morning, the program continued with brunch and the videoconference.
Read excerpts from a speech by a member of the class, George Lennon:
They say that time can’t stand still. Well, I think that in the last several hours we were able to accomplish this. We have all moved on in our lives and chosen many different paths, but the one common link that we all have had was four wonderful years growing up as a family. Many of us go back even further with Hillel Torah and Akiba.
Those high school years were not always perfect in our lives, as many of us had more difficulties than others, but the fact that so many of us came together for this short interlude in our lives really says something special about Ida Crown. Yes, we have all gone in many different directions, and we are now trying to create our own mark on life, but we can all look back and know through thick and thin that we, as family, are there for each other.
Ida Crown is a warm nurturing environment that does in many ways shelter its students from the outside world for four years. We do miss many opportunities that other schools do offer, but Ida Crown does allow its students to grow in a safe environment away from many of the frightening issues that confront us today.
One more thing – I want to publicly thank Rabbi Matanky – Lenny – for what he has done for the Chicago Jewish Community and Ida Crown over these past several years (I won’t say how many years). Julie and I now have four graduates from Ida Crown, and our baby is now a freshman. These years go fast, as all of you know. Our kids also have pushed the envelope and have knocked on the door to get out and see what is happening outside of the Ida Crown circle – We all know you can walk around the halls of Ida Crown forever and always end up in the same place.
What Lenny has done has been truly amazing. The educational standards are excellent, and what is most important to Lenny, and the kids all know this, is to have a love and appreciation for Israel.
An incredible percentage of students travel to Israel after high school to various yeshivot, universities and programs, and nothing is more important to him. And it shows, many of the children stay more than one year – some join the army and many decide to make Aliyah. He also wants them to leave the “Ida Crown Circle” with a strong appreciation for Judaism, no matter what path they take. This is not an easy task as so many children come from different backgrounds and have different ideas about what Judaism means to them – some connect immediately and some connect later in life, but they all share that one common bond and that is the Ida Crown Jewish Academy.
Now that we are all over 50, we have all faced and will continue to face many challenges, whether they are with our own health, our children, financial – unfortunately that is the difficult part of life; but you should always know that we have each other, and we should all continue to stay in touch. If you haven’t kept in touch, please visit the school or call Lenny and find out what is going on.
|
reunion '76
   
   
   
   
   
  |
|
