Dr. Maxine Miller was a brilliant and determined woman whose impact continues to inspire her family. When she passed in 2023, her daughter, Sarah Liron, decided to honor both her parents, Drs. Maxine and Alfred Miller, with the donation of the Science Wing at AMIT’s Gwen Straus High School. The high school is part of the extraordinary new Kfar Batya campus in Ra’anana, which will be the epicenter of AMIT’s methodology and transformative vision for the future of education.
Maxine’s involvement with AMIT was inspired by her mother, Sarah Ribakow, who was renowned in her Baltimore community for her charitable acts and love of Israel. Sarah Ribakow was a charter member of Mizrachi Women, as AMIT was known, and was so beloved that on her passing, the AMIT chapter was named in her memory. Sarah shared that her grandmother worked as a nurse during WWI and that during WWII, she turned the basement of her home into a kitchen on Passover so Jewish soldiers stationed nearby could enjoy Kosher for Passover food. “My grandmother was a force of nature, and she accomplished an unbelievable amount of good,” Sarah said. “On our first trip to Israel in 1960, we visited Kfar Batya and saw the plaque dedicated to her. That made a big impression on me,” she said of the orphan’s home dedicated in Sarah Ribakow’s memory by the Baltimore community.
Both Maxine and Alfred had PhDs in chemistry and were extremely motivated and ambitious professionals. The donation of the Science Wing perfectly reflects their passion for education, science and community service.
Sarah recalled one Grandparents’ Day at her son’s high school when Maxine let the teacher know that the equation on the blackboard wasn’t balanced. “She was not a shy person,” said Sarah. “She spoke up and used her voice.” Maxine was immensely proud of her children and grandchildren, and they in turn were inspired and influenced by her.
Devoted to AMIT, Maxine rose to the position of international vice president and, upon moving to Israel, helped found the Chug Ayelet Chapter in Jerusalem, acting as co-president into her 90s. She reconnected with her large extended family in Israel and enjoyed a close relationship with them.
Maxine lived a long and impressive life, beloved by family and friends who celebrated her 100th birthday with video and slideshow presentations showcasing the strength of her legacy. She passed away just two months shy of her 105th birthday. “I was extraordinarily lucky to have her in my life for so long,” said Sarah.
