Kol Bogrei March 2011 ~ Adar I–II 5771 Rambam Page  of 4 Connecting Alumni Worldwide

Kol Bogrei Rambam is the Alumni Council’s monthly e-newsletter for and about Maimonides School graduates. Each month we share infor- mation on individual graduates’ ventures and accomplishments, as well as general news notes, all reflecting the school’s mission of preparing educated, observant Jews to be contributing members of society. Your ideas and accomplishments will help sustain and strengthen this key communications tool; please forward to [email protected]. Also, check out the “Alumni” video playlist on Maimonides School’s YouTube channel, MaimoTube!

Alumni Help Define “Community” at 2011 Maimonides School Gala

The theme of the Maimonides Maxine (Lipis) Zizmor, also a School Annual Gala on March 13 was member of the class of 1969, who is “community,” and seven Maimonides special needs case manager in the School alumni helped enhance that Elementary School. focus by sharing descriptions of Recently-married Sarah (Lamport) their wide-ranging professional and Lee ’03 described her decision to personal chesed activities. become a social worker, as which The speakers, who were seated she now specializes in service to the together and passed the microphone hearing impaired. Tova Katz ’01, now one to the other, also reflected on a Wexner graduate fellow at Brandeis how their Maimonides experiences University, spoke of her work with the influenced their worldview so that Foundation for Jewish Camp. Seated service remained a high priority. nearby were Tova’s father, Naty Katz ’73, Maimonides executive director, as Melody Michaelson ’07 led off the well as her aunt, Debra (Katz) Cohen, presentation, describing the fulfill- yet another 1969 graduate. ment she feels when entertaining nursing home residents with music. Ezra Waxman ’06, a Boston Univer- She said her family’s musical proclivi- sity senior, described his participation ties were transmitted by her mother, as one of three U.S. delegates to the Shari (Berger) Michaelson ’69. Peace Conference of Youth in Osaka, Ezra Waxman ’06 (left), Rebecca Jacobs ’74 and Japan last summer. Dani Baronofsky David Zizmor ’99 recounted his Dani Baronofsky ’04 ’04, a law student, teaches CPR and stem cell donation that resulted other emergency medical techniques in a life-saving transplant. Among to first-responders. Rebecca Jacobs Award, emblematic of exceptional those listening were David’s mother, ’74 wrapped up the presentation service to Jewish education. Mr. Wolff, with some thoughts on serving as a still called Bobby by his friends, has Jewish Big Sister. Rebecca, associate served the greater community and director of stewardship for Combined Maimonides School in myriad ways Jewish Philanthropies, is also a charter for the past generation. He acknowl- member of the Maimonides edged members of his Alumni Council Steering family, including his wife Committee and aunt of gradu- Gladys, son Josh ’89, ating senior Ezra Wyschodrod, former Maimonides execu- who attended with the other tive director, and sister members of his class. Marion Gutman ’73, all in attendance. Also among Also at the Gala, the school those on hand to wish recognized Robert Wolff ’59 him well was his classmate with a Pillar of Maimonides Bobby Wolff ‘59 Elliot Hurvitz ‘59.

Sarah (Lamport) Lee ‘03 See p. 4 for more alumni Gala photos! Kol Bogrei March 2011 ~ Adar I–II 5771 Rambam Page  of 4 Connecting Maimonides Alumni Worldwide As Middle East Rages, Gopin ’75 Retains Optimism

Rabbi Marc Gopin ’75 acknowledged longer be a rubber stamp” for U.S. to an audience of about 100 at the policy, he said. But he added that school on Feb. 26 that Jews in the countries are still close militarily. and the Diaspora are anxious about The entire region will be “multi- the implications of popular uprisings vocal,” with “liberation coming in throughout the Middle East. But he many different strains.” However, he feels the big picture is promising. anticipates a “sense of solidarity” with Palestinian Arabs. “I believe in the long run this democ- ratization is going to help, even Rabbi Gopin said he has been though it will be uncomfortable for involved with what he calls back- Israeli policy makers for a time,” he channel diplomacy in the Middle East said. At the “very basic level,” he said, for 27 years. He explained that the such protests “naturally give birth to field of conflict analysis and resolution democracy, and building civil society.” delves into the reasons “why people fight.” Equipped with such expertise, Rabbi Gopin is director of the Center “I felt it was possible to start working on Religion, Diplomacy and Conflict on the most impossible conflict of all: Resolution at George Mason Univer- Israel and the Palestinians.” sity, where he is a professor. His Ari Massefski and Donald Adler pose with remarks, entitled “Revolutions and The speaker, who received ordination the Rambam in Cordoba, Spain. The 2010 graduates are visiting worldwide Jewish Evolutions of the Arab World, Egypt, from Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological communities with a program called Kivunim. Jordan and Syria: One Rabbi’s View Seminary at , said from the Front of Citizen Diplomacy,” a “series of halachic values” guides were sponsored by the Maimonides his peace-building efforts. They Alumni Council. include “benevolent care of yourself, the concept of self-searching that “We’re watching history unfold every leads to teshuvah—a daily halachic hour,” Rabbi Gopin said. “We’re still value—empathy with pain, pursuit shocked by the explosion of honesty of peace, pursuit of justice,” as well on the street, the sophistication of as greeting people with pleasantness how they’re revolting… Every day I and showing respect for others. am astonished by the level of sophisti- cation and non-violent protest. Across The most dramatic locale of Rabbi the region there seems to be a kind Gopin’s citizen diplomacy efforts is of learning going on that shows the Syria, where he first set foot about untrustworthiness of ideology.” That’s seven years ago and has since because ideology “doesn’t get you a developed a personal relationship job, or safety, or security.” with the Assad family. Rabbi Gopin described Syria’s relations with Israel The result, he predicted, “is going to as “very dangerous.” The country has be much messier than the moment stockpiles of biological and chemical of liberation. In Egypt, they’re prob- weapons, and the leadership is ably living in a fantasy land right now. “defiant and confident.” The economy Ron Arazi, left, and Noah Cheses, There is a kind of ‘morning after’ for Maimonides 2003 classmates, pose after is growing. “The idea that negotia- democratization, when you wonder completing the Jerusalem Half-Marathon tions can be based on surrender is not on March 25. Four 2010 graduates—Zach what is really going to happen.” Avigan, Ben Fisher, Sam Fisher and Sam M. realistic,” he said. The alternative has Fisher—each completed the full marathon as Israel and its friends are concerned to be a negotiated settlement. part of Team Tzvi, raising donations to help fund a special prosthesis for an injured IDF because “obviously Egypt will no veteran and distance runner. Kol Bogrei March 2011 ~ Adar I–II 5771 Rambam Page  of 4 Connecting Maimonides Alumni Worldwide Maimonides Graduates Here and There...

Elia Altabet ’07 has been recog- Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach, nized with the 2011 Outstanding VA, in three hours, three minutes and Junior Award by the Department of 38 seconds. The Virginia marathon Chemical and Biomolecular Engi- took place on Sunday morning, March neering at the University of Maryland. 20, and Benjay reports that “I then This award is presented to a student drove home for a Megillah reading with an outstanding academic and then it was off to aseudah with record, leadership and service to the family—easily the best Purim the department. Elia plans to pursue ever.” Benjay, a U.S. Navy physician a Ph.D. in chemical engineering or specializing in underwater medicine, a closely related field. “I’m currently lives in Norfolk, VA. researching the possibility of self Zach Weiner ’06 is chief writer for assembly of small organic compounds Macslive.com, which bills itself as “the in aqueous solutions, but I may pursue broadcast home of Yeshiva (Univer- something completely different in sity) sports and the Red Sarachek graduate school,” he said. Elia is also Memorial Tournament.” an undergraduate teaching assistant This year’s tourney took place March for an introductory course in thermo- 24-28 in Manhattan, and Zach and dynamics for sophomore-level chem- Nate Japhet ’08 provided on-line ical engineers. There are more than stories recounting several of the 25,000 undergraduates at UMaryland, Maimonides games. but Elia said he still found classmates Rachel Epstein and Shlomo Golshi- Dr. Hyim Baronofsky ’98 founded razian for a recent Shabbat meal. Family Foot and Ankle Surgeons of Ilan Mitchell ’03 (left) and Dov Mitchell find Illinois a few months ago and now Naomi Mitchell ’06 is an outfielder time for a photo during a break in their Israel has two offices in Chicago’s northern Defense Forces basic training. After completing on this spring’s team at the suburbs. Hyim, a Chicago resident, basic, Dov traveled to Jerusalem to see if he University of Hartford, where she is could spot Gov. Deval Patrick and graduated from Brandeis in 2003 a freshman Judaic studies major. A Robert Kraft, who were touring. An aide spotted and from Scholl College of Podiatric Dov’s Red Sox cap, and he ended up on camera four-year varsity softball and soccer Medicine in 2007. Last summer he with the visiting celebrities. player at Maimonides, Naomi also completed a three-year surgical participated in the Tourney Sport USA residency at St. Joseph Hospital in Hawaii Softball Classic in 2004. She Chicago in forefoot and rearfoot attended the Interdisciplinary Center reconstructive surgery. “I see patients of Herzliya and served for two years with a wide variety of medical issues, in the Israel Defense Forces, including from simple skin problems to complex time with the combat search and reconstructive surgeries and trauma,” rescue team. he said. His website is: www.wix. Dr. Benjay Kempner ’98 has quali- com/ffasil/ffasil. fied for early acceptance in the 2012 Boston Marathon by finishing the Kol Bogrei March 2011 ~ Adar I–II 5771 Rambam Page  of 4 Connecting Maimonides Alumni Worldwide School Seeking 53 “Lost” Alumni

The long-awaited updated directory not have any surface or electronic Gurewitz ’89, Aharon Halevy ’01, Ian of Maimonides School graduates contact information for these gradu- Herman ’84, Michelle Hoberman ’77, went to the printer on March 25, and ates, representing some 3 percent Ilan Hochman ’79, Arthur Hollander is expected to be mailed third-class to of Maimonides alumni. If you have ’58, Earl Hollander ’53, Dalit Inbal ’74, graduates in the before any information as to how to contact Daniel Katchen ’72, Rachel (Cutter) Pesach. the following, please write info@ Kvadrat ’80, Joshua Leeder ’63, Regina maimonides.org or call (617) 232-4452, Lesh ’70, Philip Levin ’75, Joshua The volume lists more than 1,700 ext. 405: Lieber ’86, Yisrael Lieber ’89 and Mon alumni and their contact information Margolis ’97. in three separate groupings: alphabet- David Adler ’87, Jeffrey Adler ’83, Paul ical, chronological and geographical. Berger ’61, Israel Birnbaum ’66, Shalom Also, Ann (Belofsky) Miller ’60, Rabbi The alphabetical listings include, Cohen ’64, Miriam Epstein ’89, Marian Morton Miller ’60, David Mizrahi ’80, when provided, details on family, Finkelstein ’67, Rita Finkelstein ’64, Aliza (Freundlich) Nohi ’84, Esther education and profession. Graduates Melvin Fisher ’54, Faith Freedman ’84, Peres ’79, Carmen Rahimi ’79, Chaim are listed in 33 states and the District Yael (Shuchatowitz) Freedman ’03, Robinson ’81, Nechama Robinson ’82, of Columbia and nine foreign coun- Darren Gerber ’89, Barry Gershkowitz Dina Roizenblit ’77, Tamar Rosenblum tries. The 220 alumni in Israel repre- ’75, Barak Ghalili ’81, Alfred Goldin ’75, ‘77, Steven Samuels ’77, Lea Stern ’89, sent almost 13 percent of the total. Charles Gottlieb ’65, Roni Grad ’85 and Alan Swartz ’77, Dina Turetsky ’98, Robert Green ’73. Rabbi Leonard Weiner ’63, Cynthia Also listed in the directory are 53 White ’77 and Caroline Yaghoubzadeh alumni defined as “missing.” That Also, Pamela (Rutberg) Greenwald ’74, ’80. means the Alumni Office does Suzanne (Bavly) Greenwald ’85, Ari

Alumni spotted at the March 13 Maimonides Gala (clockwise, from left): Robin (Aronson) Katzman ‘79, husband Scott, parents Jacob and Ruth Aronson, pose with Gil Ehrenkranz; Rabbi David Ehrenkranz, Pillar of Maimonides honoree, with Rebecca (Kolodny) Schwartz ‘82; 1959 classmates Robert Wolff (left) and Elliot Hurvitz; Josh Wolff ‘89 presents a Pillar of Maimonides Award to his father; Rabbi Reuven Cohn ‘65 with seniors, from left, Yitzi Snow, Elan Baskir and Betzalel Kosowsky-Sachs.