This year marks the 50th anniversary of Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy’s (HBHA) first graduation ceremony.
Since 1973, hundreds of students have graduated from HBHA. In addition to covering this year’s graduation, The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle and HBHA reached out to alumni celebrating their 10th, 20th, 30th, and 50th graduation anniversaries to learn how their education at HBHA has impacted their lives.
The HBHA Class of 2023 gathered with friends and family to celebrate their graduation on Monday, May 15, in The White Theatre at The J. Each of the 11 seniors was honored with a slideshow filled with photos of their time growing up at HBHA. They each gave a speech highlighting what they’d learned at HBHA and how the academy shaped them into Jewish leaders.
The graduates spoke about their relationships with teachers, impactful moments along their journeys, and plans for the future. Every one of them utilized Hebrew in their speeches. Several of them mentioned the warm and welcoming nature of HBHA, showing appreciation for the familial environment and encouragement they received during their time at the academy.
The graduating Class of 2023 includes Evie Brand, Aviva Clauer, Annie Fingersh, Avi Hammer, Illy Hammer, Zach Hardy, Roman Katz, Benji Kohl, Zachary Liss, Judah Schuster, and Ethan Sosland.
The 1973 HBHA junior high school graduating class. As listed in 1973, pictured are (front row, from left) then-HBHA president Hyman Brand, Allison Ledgin, Deborah Sosland, Bonnie Nussbaum, Giselle Walters and Harriet Puritz; (second row, from left) Susan March, Cary Levine, Nathan Ordo, Amy Bettingver, and HBHA Jewish Studies Director Chaim Alpert; (back row, from left) HBHA principal Rabbi Jay L. Fuchs, Michael Firestone, Stephen Kraft, Irving Cohen and David Garner.
Class of ‘73
Fifty years ago, HBHA’s first graduation ceremony was different from those to follow. In the spring of 1973, the school only went up to ninth grade, resulting in a junior high graduation. Plans were formulated to add senior high school grades soon afterward, but this ninth-grade graduation was the first celebration of HBHA students’ academic successes. The first senior graduation was in 1976.
Under the leadership of then-HBHA president Hyman Brand, principal Rabbi Jay Fuchs, and Jewish studies director Chaim Alpert, 13 students were honored at Congregation Ohev Sholom in May of 1973.
Debbie Sosland-Edelman, one of the 13 students, has worked as the executive director at the Sosland Foundation for over 35 years. Sosland-Edelman said that the concept of g’melut hasadim, or acts of lovingkindness, was one of the most important lessons she learned at HBHA.
“We were taught about the importance of being honest and fair and having integrity,” she said.
Mike Firestone, another of the 13 students, shared a similar sentiment regarding the importance of respect and kindness instilled in students.
“We had excellent teachers; they didn’t just teach material, but they were true role models,” he said. “Since the school was a microcosm of the entire Kansas City Jewish community, we learned to get along with (and respect, and even love) different kinds of people with diverse Jewish backgrounds and aspirations. In fact, we learned to respect all humans.”
Judaism and Jewish values — tenets of HBHA’s curriculum — also left lasting impacts on the alumni.
“I was fortunate to be raised in a loving home imbued with Jewish observance and traditions,” Sosland-Edelman said. “HBHA reinforced what my parents instilled in me and vice versa.” She shared a story that when she was nine years old, her family traveled to Israel. Having recently studied Bereshit, she recalls the meaningfulness of seeing Maarat Hamachpela (the Cave of the Patriarchs) and knowing about the care that Abraham took in finding a burial place for Sarah.
Firestone now lives in Israel, having been a farmer, soldier, explorer, nature guide, and outdoor educator there. He works mainly with Jews and Jewish groups who come to Israel to learn about the land, and he cites his years at HBHA as a driving factor in his life journey.
“Our Jewish lives were jump-started by acquiring a familiarity with basic Jewish texts, ideas, and practices,” he said. “Although I don’t remember ever being told to do so, I think that we all unconsciously felt a responsibility to be Jewish community members, Jewish parents, and even Jewish leaders.”
The junior high school graduating class from 1973 also included (as listed in 1973) Amy Bettinger, Irving Cohen, David Garner, Stephen Kraft, Allison Ledgin, Cary Levine, Susan March, Bonnie Nussbaum, Nathan Ordo, Harriet Puritz, and Gigi Walters.
After the addition of senior high school grades in the fall of 1973, Sosland-Edelman and Firestone (along with most of the 1973 class) continued at HBHA and were part of the school’s first graduating senior class in 1976.
Class of ‘93
Twenty years later, HBHA continued to imbue Jewish values in its students. Alumni from the Class of 1993 reminisce on impactful teachers, close friendships, and Jewish lessons they took from HBHA.
Andrew Mondschein, associate professor of urban and environmental planning and associate dean of research at the University of Virginia School of Architecture, takes pride in being involved in his local Jewish community. He credits his love of Judaism to HBHA.
“To understand what Judaism means to me, culturally and spiritually, I'm really grateful to have been somewhere I could explore it in full, across levels of observance, history, scripture, traditions, and more,” Mondschein said. “Without having that breadth of experience, I don't know that I would have been able to find what’s most meaningful to me about my Jewish heritage.”
In addition to being a place of both secular and Torah study, HBHA has also been a place of self-discovery. In Mondschein’s 13 years at HBHA, one of the most impactful lessons he learned was to “be proud of who you are and [not] be afraid to encounter the world on your own terms.”
Liz Zitron, another ‘93 graduate, works in education at Pierce College in Tacoma, Washington, as an associate professor and chair of the College Success department. Zitron is also a librarian and consultant. She gravitated toward education because of her experiences at the academy, “particularly those with Joe Cernick, Gloria Kagan, Brian Ballman, and Theresa Niehus,” Zitron said. “[HBHA teachers] challenged me and supported me in meeting challenges, and they encouraged me to think big about what kind of life to live.”
The class of 1993, consisting of just six people, became fast friends who regularly connect with each other to this day. Both Zitron and Mondschein mentioned their gratitude to HBHA for these close relationships.
“At HBHA, I learned the value of lifelong friendships, which I still have with my classmates,” Zitron said. “We regularly Zoom, attend each other's events, and love each other.”
“I had a great experience at HBHA, but ultimately the best part of the experience was forging a bond with my classmates, who have become lifelong friends,” Mondschein said.
The Class of 1993 also included (as listed in 1993) Elizabeth Ellis, Nathan Epstein, Seth Mandl and Hagit Nagar.
Class of ‘03
Alumna Leslie Fogel, a graduate of HBHA’s Class of 2003 and a pediatric rheumatologist and researcher at Washington University, attributes a significant life lesson to her time at HBHA. Fogel recounted the words of Edna Meltzer (who still teaches at HBHA today): “Don't be right, be smart.” This resonates with Fogel to this day, reminding her to prioritize critical thinking and wisdom over seeking to just be correct. The value of this lesson extends beyond academia and into every aspect of her life.
Professionally, Fogel cites juggling multiple demands and managing time effectively as the most important skills she learned at HBHA. In addition to academics, she played sports and worked on the school newspaper.
“Although the demands on my time have changed as I've gotten older, having to prioritize and organize commitments continues throughout your life,” said Fogel.
When asked how HBHA shaped her Jewish life, Fogel said, “HBHA made me comfortable in all Jewish spaces throughout the community. It also showed me that there are so many ways to be Jewish, which can coexist harmoniously.”
Today, Fogel is heavily involved in her Jewish community as a member of Bais Abraham Congregation in St. Louis, Missouri, and is chair of its home hospitality program. Additionally, she has servedon the medical advisory committee at Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School.
The Class of 2003 also included (as listed in 2003) Zachary Arlan, Mayya Burdyugova, Scott Claster, Zachary Claster, Abby Cook, Alexander Edelman, Yaakov Garfinkle, Max Gibson, Laura Gilman, Jennifer Kanter,Aaron Lindenbaum, Samuel Loren, Mika Mandelbaum, Miriam Mandl, Shira Mann, Katya Noykhovich, Haley Organ, Ethan Pack, Michele Pener, Joseph Rosenberg, Sarah Seaman, Shmuel Shron, Anna Silverman, Max Stettner, Jesse Temple and Daniel Wacjman.
Class of ‘13
The Class of 2013, still young adults, express many of the same sentiments as the older alumni.
Daniel Goldberg, a senior copywriter at advertising agency MERGE in Chicago, Illinois, continues Jewish traditions with his fiance, Hannah, such as hosting Shabbat dinners. He said that HBHA “gave me a strong foundation of knowledge that allows me to easily connect with Jews in every community I join.”
Sarah Herman Schuster, another 2013 graduate, built on her HBHA experiences in the Jewish professional world. Although she no longer works at a Jewish agency (she currently works at New York Life Insurance Company as a senior associate), her professional path included a double major in political science and Jewish studies from the University of Kansas and more than two years working for Hillel International. She is currently a board member of KU Hillel and is involved in the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City’s Young Adults Division.
Both Goldberg and Schuster say they graduated from HBHA with ambition, drive, and confidence.
“My time at HBHA taught me the importance of advocating for what I want,” Goldberg said. He also said that the school's smaller size allowed him to learn ways of working under tighter constraints and unique challenges.
“One of the most important lessons that I learned during my time at HBHA is that you can do anything,” Schuster said. “...This lesson carried on both in college and in my professional life — if you want something done, you cannot sit back and wait for it to happen. You have to make it happen.”
The Class of 2013 also included (as listed in 2013) Samuel Abrams, Michael Azbel, Cameron Burns, Rachel Kaseff, Nathan Mendel, Rachel Oberman, Avery Parkhurst, and Slater Sousley.
As HBHA celebrates the 50th anniversary of its first graduation ceremony, it is clear that the school's influence extends far beyond the classroom.
The Chronicle invites any graduates that we were unable to reach to write about their HBHA experiences for future commentary sections.
