Adam Madorsky Social Justice Award Demo

Adam Madorsky Social Justice AwardThe Adam Madorsky Social Justice Award was created in 2016 in memory of Adam Madorsky, son of Karen and Jerry Madorsky, to recognize alumni who have continued to pursue social justice in their personal or professional life. Adam had a wonderful sense of humor and was a compassionate person with an overwhelming desire and ability to help those in need. The recipient(s) of this award will be recognized at the school’s Annual Meeting and will also visit Epstein Hillel to share with students their ongoing efforts, and the ways in which the school’s social justice experiences helped to shape and influence their pursuits and decisions. The recipients will also receive a donation to a charitable organization of their choice.

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Nomination Form

Nominating Criteria

Nominees should be:

  • Alumni of Cohen/Epstein Hillel (graduated or attended) of college age or older.
  • A participant in an ongoing social justice project* (professional or personal), and/or someone who has demonstrated an outstanding effort or action in response to injustice.
  • Available to share their experience at Epstein Hillel with our current students.

*Finalists will be asked to provide supporting references of their social justice work.

Current and former Epstein Hillel/Cohen Hillel families, faculty, staff and community members are invited to submit nominations for this year’s Adam Madorsky Social Justice Award.

For questions or further information, please contact Lori Kreevoy, Director of Development and Community Engagement, at  lkreevoy@epsteinhillel.org

The nomination period for 2023 is now open. Kindly complete the nomination form below.

Previous Recipients of the Adam Madorsky Award

2022 Madorsky Honoree

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Ariele Goldman '03

Ariele Goldman graduated from Epstein Hillel School in 2003 and went on to a local high school. The next four years were challenging for Ariele; she battled social anxiety and other mental health struggles and turned to drugs and alcohol. Ariele left high school and traveled to Israel, hoping to improve her life. Through her twenties, she fought for her sobriety, and finally, at age 28, she was able to conquer her addiction through the help of the 12-Step Program.

Ariele’s story is one of success as she is now a Family Navigator with the Middlesex House of Corrections, MATADOR (Medication Assisted Treatment and Directed Opioid Recovery) program. She works with a caseload of inmates and their families in a program called <em>Families in Treatment,</em> where she provides support, psychoeducation and Narcan training to help bridge the gap between incarcerated individuals and their families. She helps to build a therapeutic relationship that continues even after their release. This essential and meaningful work is a testimony to her deep compassion for those who, like herself, have fallen prey to the opioid epidemic.

Ariele’s journey and her commitment to helping others personify the values of the Adam Madorsky Alumni Social Justice Award.  Ariele’s life path exemplifies the spirit and intent of the award presented to her on June 8, 2022, at EHS’s Annual Meeting.

2021 Madorsky Honoree

Joshua Heerter

Joshua Heerter '99

For over a decade, Joshua has been tutoring, mentoring, and teaching English to non-native-English-speaking students at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston. Joshua is a tenured professional staff member of the Language Lab, which is an especially diverse and dynamic space at the College whose mission is to provide a welcoming environment and academic support for students from underprivileged populations. In addition, he is currently tutoring a dual-enrolled Bridges to College class at Chelsea High School, the students of which are primarily Spanish-speaking immigrants. Through his work, he embodies the Jewish value of welcoming the stranger by supporting his non-English-speaking students with their transition into the United States.

Following Hillel, Joshua attended the New Jewish High School (now Gann Academy). While a student there, he interned for The Jewish Journal writing editorials and human interest stories. Joshua then went on to earn a degree in English Literature at UMass Amherst, completing an honor’s capstone project in creative writing and obtaining a certificate of professionalization in technical writing and professional communication. He attests that none of this would have been possible without the rigorous learning he was provided by Mrs. Madorsky at Hillel.

2020 Madorsky Honorees

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Jason Sidman '91

Jason Sidman is the President of the Board of Directors of My Brother's Table in Lynn.  My Brother's Table is the largest soup kitchen on the North Shore, serving over 3 million meals since its founding in 1982, including 186,000 meals last year alone. Jason's involvement with the Table developed from a personal concern about growing income inequality and the desire to make an impact locally. Jason's goal is to foster the relationship between the Table and the larger North Shore community.  In doing so, he emphasizes shared responsibility for each other and recognition of the human dignity inherent to every person.  

A graduate of Hillel Academy in 1991, Jason earned his PhD in Experimental Psychology from Tufts University.  For over 15 years he has designed and executed innovative research and development collaborations between academic, industry, and government partners. He currently works at Northeastern University, and resides in Marblehead with his wife Renee and sons Caleb and Micah. He has a strong connection to Hillel, including through his parents, Barbara and Alan Sidman, and many of his best friends from Hillel who still remain among his closest friends.

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Naomi Remis Sugar '97

As Deputy Director – Programs, Naomi Sugar oversees and manages Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago's (PHIMC) program portfolio including workforce development, behavioral health, substance use, reentry, HIV/AIDS prevention and care, and quality management. Naomi develops data-driven public health interventions at the systems level and supports operational and organizational advancement…

Prior to joining PHIMC, Naomi served as Program Director at Project Sunshine, Inc., where she supervised and provided technical support to teams in the United States and four global sites: Canada, China, Israel, and Kenya. In addition to her role at PHIMC, Naomi is Course Director at Northwestern University’s Program in Public Health, within the global health concentration. Naomi holds a Master of Public Health from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health; she received her Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Washington University in St. Louis.

2019 Madorsky Honoree

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Aaron Lawee '97

Aaron Lawee developed a passion for immigration law in his first year of law school and has been working with immigrant communities ever since. He focuses his practice on removal defense and family based immigration, including naturalization applications, family petitions, U-visas, and VAWA self-petitions. 

A native of Marblehead with both Iraqi and Ashkenazi roots, Aaron attended CHA from Kindergarten through 8th grade.  He then went Marblehead High School, earned a B.A. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from Georgetown Law School. As a law student, he interned at various immigrants’ rights organizations in Washington D.C. Aaron also participated in a fact-finding mission regarding the resettlement of Iraqi refugees, for which he received highest honors.

Following his graduation from college, Aaron served in AVODAH (the Jewish Service Corps) where he worked at a legal services organization, helping people on food stamps and welfare who had lost their benefits. He then spent time in South America learning Spanish before beginning law school, which led to his work in the Hispanic community.

Aaron currently lives in Chicago with his wife, Sara, is a member of Congregation Anshe Emet, and attends services at Temple Sholom. Aaron is also a member of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, a Chicago organization that advocates for positive social change and works to combat poverty, racism, and antisemitism.

2018 Madorsky Honorees

Jacob Abbisso

Jacob Abbisso '14

After Jacob’s Cohen Hillel teacher challenged his classmates to be like a giraffe and “stick their necks out” for others, Jacob decided to help Marblehead’s abandoned animals and raise money for a local animal shelter. He taught himself to twist animal balloons and became known as The Balloon Kid who entertained at birthday parties and local events. To date, he has raised almost $20,000, for the Marblehead Animal Shelter. He has also donated his time and talents to Boston Children’s Hospital, SPUR, Sailing Heals, Save a Children’s Heart (in Tel Aviv), and other non-profits.  Jacob has been a Madrich at Temple Emanu-El, a Sloane Peer Leadership Fellow, president of the Environment Club at Gann Academy, and is on the Stand With Us teen council - a national organization that helps teens advocate for Israel. Jacob also serves on the EHS alumni engagement committee. He is a 2014 graduate of Cohen Hillel Academy, and will be a 2018 graduate of Gann Academy attending Wesleyan University in the fall.

Ashley Orenberg Waterberg

Ashley Orenberg Waterberg '98

Ashley has spent over 20 years exemplifying the spirit of tikkun olam in myriad ways. While in college, she spent time repairing homes in Mississippi that were damaged from Hurricane Katrina and taking care of children in Dominican Republic. After college, she was accepted into the AmeriCorps Program where she helped empower residents in low income areas in Vermont to create change in their communities. She later pursued graduate study in social work and currently works in the Revere Public Schools. Ashley spearheaded the approval of the Gay Straight Student Alliance organization in all the Revere middle schools. She began and is still active in the Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ Youth and facilitates the planning of LGBT-related events in the Boston area. She also has worked for many years on the Governor’s commission for LGBTQ Affairs. Ashley is a 1998 graduate of Cohen Hillel Academy and 2002 graduate of University of Vermont. She earned her MSW from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis in 2010.

2017 Madorsky Honorees

Shane Skikne

Shane Skikne '07

Fueled by his passion for engineering and helping others, Shane started a non-profit company in California, The Launch Studio, which is dedicated to teaching Title I students about entrepreneurship. Students are supported as they design, prototype, manufacture,and market their own products to local businesses. Shane’s Launch Studio has expanded to three schools in the upcoming school year. Shane is a 2007 graduate of Epstein Hillel School, 2011 graduate of Gann Academy and a 2015 graduate of the Olin School of Engineering.

Zach Shwartz

Zach Shwartz z"l '08

Zachary z"l was mensch who dedicated his life to helping others. Zach coached softball and basketball teams for the Special Olympics. Additionally, he volunteered at the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home and lead bingo for the elders at his temple in Malden. Zachary was a 2008 graduate of Epstein Hillel School, a 2012 graduate of Gann Academy, and a 2016 graduate of Boston University. He served on Hillel's Board of Directors and was the first "young alumnus" member of the Board.

Nomination Form

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