Epstein Hillel School will honor Amy and Mark Farber, recipients of the Dr. Bennett I. Solomon Community Leadership Award, at the school’s annual gala celebration on Nov. 3.
Hosted in partnership with Lori and Larry Groipen and taking place at Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead, the Gala will feature entertainment by stand-up comedian, Joel Chasnoff. Chasnoff is known for his clever comedy based on real Jewish experiences, such as his nine years of Jewish day school, his tour-of-duty as a tank gunner in the IDF, and everyday Jewish life. The dinner reception and dessert will be catered by Bruce Silverlieb, of The Party Specialist.
Amy and Mark Farber have been actively involved in the North Shore’s Jewish, civic, and business communities for nearly 50 years. Their three children are all graduates of Cohen Hillel Academy (now Epstein Hillel School), and they are proud grandparents of four boys, two of whom are current EHS students.
Amy has devoted decades of service as an active community volunteer, sitting on the boards of the Beverly Preschool, Women’s Division of the Jewish Federation, and Cohen Hillel Academy, where she also served as co-chair of the school’s parent organization. Amy has been involved in innumerable capacities at Gloucester’s Temple Ahavat Achim, including being a two-term president of the Board of Directors, longtime chair of the Membership Committee, member of the Building Campaign Committee, and co-president of Sisterhood-Hadassah. Amy and Mark were honored by the temple in 2014 for their decades-long service and commitment, and they were recognized as “Honorable Menschions” by the Jewish Journal in 2018 and 2022, respectively.
Mark is the fourth of five generations of independent shoe retailers, and with Amy, founded Mark Adrian Shoes in Gloucester in 1975. (The business continues today with their son, Adam, as owner.) Mark is in his tenth year as an Epstein Hillel School board member and is the immediate past two-term chair. He also has served on many Epstein Hillel board committees and was a past board member of Cohen Hillel Hebrew High School. In 2022, the school presented Mark with the Leadership Award for his long and distinguished service at Epstein Hillel School and passion for Jewish day school education. At Temple Ahavat Achim, Mark has served as a member of the Investment Committee, Building Campaign Committee, and president of the Board of Directors. While currently serving his 30th year as volunteer caretaker and chair of the temple’s Mt. Jacob Cemetery, he is also a recent member of the Hevra Kadisha North Shore Boston burial society. Mark’s proudest and most rewarding service has been as a volunteer in-school tutor at Epstein Hillel School and Temple Ahavat Achim Hebrew school for the last six years, as well as a volunteer substitute teacher at EHS.
The Dr. Bennett I. Solomon Community Leadership Award recognizes the extraordinary commitment made by individuals to Epstein Hillel School and the North Shore Jewish community. As principal of Cohen Hillel Academy from 1979-1987, Dr. Bennett Solomon (z’’l) was a man of great vision. He cherished working with people – parents, students, faculty, administration, board members, and community leaders – challenging them to achieve their common goals. His spirit and vision live on in the work that Epstein Hillel School and the entire community continue to pursue.
For tickets to the 2024 EHS Gala and/or to make a tribute in honor of Amy and Mark Farber, please visit epsteinhillel.org, or contact Lori Kreevoy at lkreevoy@epsteinhillel.org, 781-639-2880 x203.
