Celebrating 10 Years of the Jordan Alexander Ressler Arts Endowment

On opening night of Beauty and the Beast Jr., Scheck Hillel Community School honored Jordan Alexander Ressler and the passion he had for the arts. Through the Jordan Alexander Ressler Arts Program, Scheck Hillel students, 18 months through Grade 12, are inspired to discover their talents and chase their dreams. Every day on campus, we are reminded of the vibrancy of Jordan’s legacy, when 1,000 students participate in learning: rehearsing for musical theatre, performing in band, orchestra or drumline, discovering the masters as young as Early Childhood, building AP portfolios or enhancing a campus display with their own art. 

This year, 2017, marks the 10-year anniversary of a generous gift that took the school’s arts program to the next level, transforming it to become a cornerstone of the Scheck Hillel student experience. Scheck Hillel is grateful for all that Jordan’s family has done to enrich the arts and create student opportunity, so we may honor his legacy as a community.

Special thanks to our talented team of arts faculty who prepare our students for their future. Led by the talented Aaron Margolis, as our Jordan Alexander Ressler Arts Chair, our roster of faculty includes: Rosa Benattia, Anthony Campisi, Hadassah Freiberg, Nicole Kinzel, Dionne Lockett, Angelica Losada, AJ Oberlender, Sandra Resler, Justine Rosales, Manny Schvartzman, Linda Shapanka, Edith Shlesinger, Ellen Sorin, Ann Sweet, Matt Villa.  

Simy Bentata, a senior who will graduate next month to study industrial design at the Pratt Institute in New York, shared her experience as a student artist. “Having this art program here at Scheck Hillel, led me to achieve so much. I’m sure I wouldn’t have been accepted to Pratt without these years here, because I had so much time for my art and to work with teachers like our Morah (Edith Shlesinger). Hillel has so many resources that allowed me to build a portfolio. It was my first step to discovering who I wanted to become. “

We look forward to seeing you at our Spring Concert, Tuesday, April 4, in our Diener Athletic Center when nearly 100 band, orchestra and drumline students will perform. Save the date of May 8 for our Fourth Annual Evening of the Arts Student Art Exhibit, including a live auction to benefit Kulanu Scholarship Fund, featuring our largest showcase of student artwork, ECE through Grade 12.

Jordan Alexander Ressler, z”l, chased his dreams and made them come true.  Guided by his passion for life and love for the arts, he launched a successful career in film and theatre after graduating from Cornell University. Credits included original productions of “Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays” and “Jersey Boys,” both of which moved to Broadway. Sadly, Jordan passed away in a tragic accident in 2004 when he was only 23 years old.  In 2007, his family created the Jordan Alexander Ressler Arts Program at Scheck Hillel Community School to seed a legacy of children inspired to discover their own talents, ignite their own passions and chase their own dreams. This year, the school proudly celebrates the endowment’s 10-year anniversary.