MJBHA Alumni Enjoy Seashell Pasta at UMD Hillel

What could be better than Sea Shell Pasta? Clearly the most popular and memorable item on the MJBHA (and prior to that HAGWASH) lunch menu, this combination of pasta, cheese, and serve-yourself sauce has been a staple item of our lunch program for many, many years. Many of our alumni can remember the lines reaching out of the old cafeteria on Linden Lane, down the hall and up the stairs into the Upper School hallway on days when it was offered.

On Wednesday, November 19, this “delicacy” became more than just a fond memory for a group of our alumni who were treated to a “Sea Shell Pasta” dinner courtesy of Judaics teacher Rabbi Jeffrey Frances and Headmaster Dr. Joshua Levisohn.

         Rabbi Frances teamed with Food Service Director (and “inventor” of Sea Shell Pasta) Mrs. Marcelle Chalom to bring pans of pasta, grated cheese and a gallon of the “secret recipe” sauce down to the UMD Hillel for an evening of memories and a reunion of old students and their former MJBHA teachers. Current staff members Rabbi Binyamin Krakauer, Rabbi Dovid Eisenman and Rabbi Moshe Shields along with beloved (and now retired) teacher Mrs. Elaine Millen accompanied Rabbi Frances and Dr. Levisohn to what turned out to be a very successful event.

“They even brought the trays!” exclaimed Roni Tessler (‘04) who, along with well over 20 of his fellow MJBHA grads, excitedly partook of the evening’s menu. “I’ve been looking forward to this all day” said alumna Danielle Singer (‘04).

The students spent the evening reminiscing about their time in the school and catching up not only with their former teachers but with each other since many of them do not have the opportunity to see each other because of their busy schedules and the size of the campus. It also provided an opportunity for many of them to meet and talk with Dr. Levisohn as he begins his 3^rd year as MJBHA Headmaster.

“In past years, I have sat down with the recent grads and asked them for their feedback about the school. It was very valuable information and a great perspective for me as a new headmaster.  This year, however, with several teachers and many alumni who had already given me feedback, the event was much more informal and social.  And they really seemed to enjoy it, not just the seashell pasta and the visit from the teachers, but the sense that their alma mater was reaching out to them to maintain a connection,” said Dr. Levisohn.

 “Our graduates need to know that the same people and institution that put so much care into their growth, education and overall development while they were in our halls, still care and are more than willing to show it” said Rabbi Frances. “ And while I’ve never understood it or been able to eat it, apparently ‘nothin' says lovin' like seashell pasta in the oven’ ” he observed. “And the fact that when a few people showed up late we had run out only served to bring back the nostalgic memories of when the same thing happened at around 12:55 PM right before 5^th period. Only in this situation, we couldn't make more and send them to class with late notes.”