Dean Polik & Paul Malakoff z”l
For more than 85 years, Hillel UW has brought the Seattle Jewish community together to celebrate Passover, sustained in large part by the devotion of lay leaders who saw these gatherings as sacred opportunities for connection. Morris Polack z”l, for whom our annual Passover Fund was originally named, generously gave his time and resources to Hillel—personally greeting guests at Passover lunches and encouraging friends to make gifts to ensure the tradition would continue. After Morris’s passing in 1993, Paul Malakoff z”l carried that spirit forward, warmly welcoming students and community members from Hillel’s front door, often in his beloved red apron proclaiming, “Pesach’s my name and matzah’s my game!”
When Paul died in 2017, Dean Polik—Morris’s nephew—embraced this sacred role alongside Paul’s sons, Ed and Lew, continuing the tradition of joyful hospitality. In tribute to Paul, Hillel UW established the Red Apron Society, annually recognizing two students who embody the quiet generosity he cherished—“the mensch who is doing good for Hillel without being conspicuous”—and inviting them to wear one of Paul’s special red aprons at our Passover lunches. Last October (2025), our community lost Dean after a courageous battle with cancer. To honor his deep commitment to bringing the community together, it felt only fitting to rename the fund the Morris Polack z”l & Dean Polik z”l Family Passover Fund, ensuring their shared legacy lives on each year at Hillel UW’s community Passover tables.
This Passover, over 275 individuals each day from all generations – grandparents, parents, and children – joined us for Kosher-for-Passover lunches at Hillel.
Additionally, hundreds of Jewish college students and Jconnectors celebrated Passover by attending Hillel UW’s two first-night Seders, a lunch or program, fostering a connection with fundamental Jewish traditions.
Thank you to our 2025 Donors!
Visionary Sponsor
Acme Food Sales, Inc.
Lead Sponsor
Gwenn and Dean z”l Polik
Major Sponsor
Tillie and Alfred Shemanski Foundations
Champion Sponsors
Michelle Feder and Lewis Malakoff
Heike and Edward Malakoff
Jennifer Malakoff
The Okrent Family Foundation
Sandie Zieve and Family
Patron Sponsors
Joseph and Karyn Barer
Rosemary J. Coleman and Davis B. Fox
Henry M. Levy
Brian and Nancy Quint
Benefactor Sponsors
Anonymous
Albert and Arlene Azose
Laurie Bernbaum and Alex Rosen
Rebecca and Jay Buxbaum
Stephen and Gina Dichter
Madelyn Holzman
Tom and Jo Ann Hornsten
Aaron and Nancy Marcus
Gerald and Sandra Ostroff
Donald and Jo Anne Rosen
Henrika and Michael Sandorffy
Allan Steinman and Diane Sigel-Steinman
Jacob Van de Rhoer and Lucille Noel
Red Apron Society Awardees
2025
Susana Mogil
Jake Myers
2024
Abigail Ward
2023
Talya Lehrich
Mika Peizer
2022Lauren HarrisSolomon Lubell
2021
Addie Bjornson
Haley Masters
2020
Shana Edouard
Liam Geisser
2019
Abigail Freeman
Jacob Freyd
2018
Anna Kornfeld Simpson
Noah Zwiren
