We are looking forward to celebrating with you at our Anniversary Celebration at 7 pm on June 1, 2023. We will be honoring Brett and Alana Fine, and Michael Becker. Tickets and ad sponsorships can be purchased below.
Your sponsorship will assist Berman Hebrew Academy in continuing to provide an excellent education for our students.
If you have any questions, please reach out to anniversary@mjbha.org.
Brett and Alana Fine Guests of Honor
Alana and Brett have been volunteers in the many Jewish communities they have lived in and they are passionate about enhancing the experience of the children who attend Berman.
Alana and Brett were Hillel High School classmates in Deal, NJ and remained close friends while Alana attended Barnard and Brett attended Columbia Engineering. After Alana finished her Clinical Psychology PhD, Alana and Brett moved to Hong Kong for a year, where Alana volunteered as a docent for a Holocaust program, while Brett worked at an internet start-up. They later moved to Stamford, CT, where they welcomed Gabriella (’21) and Zachary (’22) to their family. Brett served as treasurer of the Young Israel of Stamford until their next move to Minneapolis. Sylvia and Lily (’30) joined the family as true Minneapolitans during the Fines’ eight years in Minnesota. Brett chaired the Building Committee for the new Modern Orthodox synagogue in their neighborhood and Alana chaired the Youth Committee for the shul. At long last, they arrived in Silver Spring ten years ago. Brett has been an executive at UnitedHealth Group for over 17 years, while Alana runs her own clinical psychology practice.
Alana has served on the Berman Board of Directors for five years, and most recently joined the Executive Committee. Key focuses for her have been alumni relations and the theater program. She also organizes an annual delivery of thank-you baskets to local Fire and Rescue squads on 9/11 and redistributes extra Purim treats to Holy Cross Hospital healthcare workers.
Brett has taken an active interest in preparing Berman students for college and beyond. He teaches a high school class on investment banking and management consulting. He also organizes internships for high school students in STEM and business. Brett has been very involved in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and is the past president of the Washington, DC chapter.
Brett and Alana have played central roles in recent Berman capital projects. They sponsored the renovation of the Upper School Beit Midrash and the school cafeteria. They also funded the new café and the renovation of the front entrance of the building. They are very grateful for this wonderful honor and look forward to the bright future ahead for Berman students.
Michael Becker Faculty Honoree
Michael Becker was born in Newport News, Va. Throughout elementary school he would travel 45 minutes each way to the Jewish day school in Norfolk, VA. When he was eleven years old his family moved to Maryland and settled in Kemp Mill. He started at Berman, then Hebrew Academy of Greater Washington for his sixth grade year and stayed there through his high school graduation in June of 92. It was during these years where his interest and passion for teaching began and started developing. After his college graduation from the University of Maryland he spent one year teaching at the Jewish Primary Day School. After several years teaching in Montgomery County Public Schools he returned home and followed in his mother’s footsteps by becoming a lower school teacher at Berman. Twenty quick years later and he has taught several grades and coached multiple basketball teams. He has many wonderful memories from his years teaching at Berman. Among his favorites would be working with staff who were his teachers and in the last couple of years having the chance to work alongside teachers who were once his students.
