Schechter Alumni Spotlight: Dana Fine Blitstein (‘99)
From healing patients to authoring a children’s book to raising a family with a love of nature and strong Jewish values, Dana leads a busy, meaningful, and multi-faceted life—all with a deep connection to the Schechter community that helped shape her.
Where are you most likely to find Schechter alum Dana Fine Blitstein? At her acupuncture practice, helping patients heal through innovative treatments. But Dana hasn’t lost her love of writing that began at Schechter. The journalist-turned-healer recently published a children’s book, Finding Balance, introducing young readers to Chinese medicine through the adventures of two playful dogs named Yin and Yang who are searching for their little brother, Balance.
Dana’s journey to acupuncture began after breaking her foot and experiencing the transformative power of acupuncture firsthand. Her father’s integration of acupuncture into his medical practice further inspired her. After five years of schooling, she earned both a master’s and a doctorate in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine from Pacific College of Health and Science.
Today, she runs her own practice, Dana Fine Acupuncture, LLC, and says she is so fulfilled by her work. “I love the relationships I build with my patients and helping them heal. Watching people improve and knowing I played a role in their journey is incredibly rewarding.”
Tamar Shames (Azaraf), Shana Greenberg (Slutsky), Rachel Stern, me, Jamie Friedman (Kozin) meeting for lunch!
Dana with Shera Libraty (Benkovitz) in middle school!
At home, Dana and her husband Steven enjoy family outings in nature with their two rescue dogs, and fostering a love of Judaism within their children— Betty, a first grader at Schechter, and Nathan, who will enter kindergarten in the fall. “Raising our kids to love nature and Judaism is what I’m most proud of,” she says. “I love Seeing Betty thrive at Schechter. When she comes home speaking Hebrew, singing Jewish songs, or sharing something rooted in Jewish thought, I’m reminded of the strong foundation Schechter gave me.”
Dana credits teachers like Mrs. Bressler and Mrs. Lifshitz for encouraging her love of writing, which she pursued at The Ohio State University. She also treasures the lifelong friendships she made, including Shera Libraty (Benkovitz) who she speaks to every day.
It’s no surprise that her favorite teacher was her mom, Coach Nan Fine! “I also love that Mrs. Honan, (Sager School Athletic Director/Physical Education and Health Teacher) coached me, I coached Tali Lupivitch (‘10) (1st and 2nd grade Judaic Studies Teacher). Now they both are my daughter’s teachers! And Traci Kranz in the office became family to us when we were at Schechter.”
Dana is thrilled to be able to pass on the gift of a Schechter education to her children. “Schechter gave me the confidence to explain my Judaism to others,” she says. “In college, one of my non-Jewish roommates became a strong ally for the Jewish community because of what she observed in me and my friends — all thanks to the foundation Schechter gave us.”
“Schechter feels like an extension of home,” she adds. “It’s where my brother, Jeremy (‘96) — rabbi at Congregation B'nai Tikvah in Deerfield — and I grew up, where my mom taught, and now where my children and their cousins will also create life-long memories.”
Outside of work and family, Dana contributes to Jewish Chicago: The JUF Magazine and is passionate about her volunteer work with the Israel ParaSport Center, where she helps organize the annual brunch to support the Center’s athletes, including those recently injured in the attack on October 7th. “I feel very strongly about the organization because it not only helps Israel, it also helps people who love sports as much as I do and who now have the ability to play sports because of the Center.”
From healing patients to authoring a children’s book to raising a family with a love of nature and strong Jewish values, Dana leads a busy, meaningful, and multi-faceted life—all with a deep connection to the Schechter community that helped shape her.
Dana’s brother, Rabbi Jeremy Fine (‘96) (Rabbi at Congregation B’nai Tikvah in Deerfield), lives in Deerfield with his wife, Jessica, and their children, Annie, grade 7, and Trudy, grade 4.
