Throughout their lives, Esther and Jack Stone, z”l, always stressed the value of tzedakah and the importance of Jewish education. They also placed great emphasis on their family and their community, and always showed great concern for those around them.
Esther, a longtime member of AMIT, was a teacher for more than 50 years and Jack, who worked in New York’s garment industry, volunteered for many Jewish organizations. They valued the AMIT’s mission of educating children from diverse backgrounds in Israel and always felt that education is crucial to Jewish continuity.
When the Stones’ children, Steven and Gary, unexpectedly lost their mother last year, they decided to pay tribute to her and their father by dedicating a classroom in their memory at AMIT’s Hallel Junior and Senior High School for Girls in Rehovot.
“My mother always loved teaching,” said Steven Stone, adding that Esther taught at several New York schools, including Toras Emes Yeshiva, Yeshivas Etz Chaim, and Magen David Yeshiva, where Esther taught from 1978 until she retired in 2001.
Esther felt that teaching is the most important job on earth and she cherished the important role teachers play in inspiring the next generation of Jewish leaders.
Gary and Steven believe that their parents would feel gratified knowing that the classroom named in their memory will be used with the values they held dear in mind. AMIT Hallel school not only offers its students outstanding academics, it gives them a warm, nurturing environment-all of which results in an incredible 100% pass rate on the matriculation exam and numerous prestigious awards in robotics and other competitions.
