In 1948, the school was founded by Rabbi Dr. Simon A. Dolgin as part of Beth Jacob Congregation and began with an enrollment of 37 students. In 1961, Rabbi Menachem Gottesman assumed the leadership of the school, which was located at that time in the basement of Beth Jacob. In 1964, the school moved to its current location one block from Beth Jacob. By 1988, the school had expanded its campus to include its original building and the adjacent property. Rabbi Gottesman led the school until 2003 at which time Rabbi Y. Boruch Sufrin began his tenure as the Head of School. In 2014, Rabbi Sufrin received the Covenant Foundation award for Excellence in Jewish Education.
Community
Hillel's philosophy is to imbue its students and parents with a strong sense of community and belonging. Through a variety of extracurricular programming such as intergenerational learning, Tikkun olam, chessed activities and social events, Hillel families and alumni are engaged in ongoing involvement with the school.
Israel and Zionism
Israel and Zionism are central tenets of Hillel's philosophy. Hillel's partners with Israel's National Service Organization and hosts four Sherut Leumi volunteers annually to integrate Israeli culture into Hillel's curriculum. Several Israeli educators engage in teaching Hebrew language Immersion programs beginning in Early Childhood, and regular use of Hebrew is integrated throughout the school. In addition, Hillel collaborates with The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and the Zeitlin School Tel Aviv, through the L.A. Tel-Aviv Twinning program to host Israeli students each year and ensure that as part of the exchange, all Hillel eighth graders participate in an Israel trip experience as the culmination of their eighth grade year.
At Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy, technology is integrated into the fabric of student learning and experiences. Technology goes beyond a class, a time, or a place; rather, it is a tool to solve a problem or challenge, a path towards innovation. Technology use at Hillel is intentional, purposeful, and geared towards making learning engaging and meaningful. In 2016 Apple announced that Hillel received the Apple Distinguished School award for successful implementation of its one-to-one Individualized Technology Initiative.
