Scheck Hillel Community School—one of the world’s largest Jewish day schools—celebrated its Class of 2023 Commencement on Sunday, May 21, and welcomed keynote speaker and Scheck Hillel alumna Shelley Greenspan ‘08, the White House Jewish liaison. An audience of nearly 2,000 community members, both in person and around the world, listened as Greenspan opened her remarks with gratitude for her parents’ choosing to send her to Scheck Hillel.
“I am deeply honored to be speaking to you as an alumna of this remarkable institution: Hillel. I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to return to this school that shaped me so profoundly and played such a pivotal role in my journey. And I am thrilled to join you in celebrating this incredible milestone: your graduation.”
” ... My parents, like many of yours, were looking for a school that would provide the greatest opportunities for my future. ... This school gave me everything they were looking for and more.”
She detailed her journey as a testament to Scheck Hillel’s nurturing environment and exceptional education, emphasizing three main lessons: knowing one’s personal beliefs, challenging conventional wisdom and appreciating that each student is part of the larger Jewish story. These values, she said, continue to guide her in her role as White House Jewish liaison, where she now proudly is preparing to launch the country’s first-ever U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism.
Greenspan concluded her address by reminding the graduates of their roots and the lessons learned at Hillel. She urged the Class of 2023 to face the future with courage and confidence, and to use their education as a tool to shape their futures and expand their horizons for the Jewish people.
“Class of 2023, as you enter this next chapter, my hope for you is that you stay true to yourselves and to your values. May you go from strength to strength. Mazel tov and congratulations!”
