May 2018 ~ Iyar - Sivan 5778

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Kol Bogrei Rambam is the Alumni Committee’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 com- munications tool; please forward to [email protected].

Alumnus Making an Impact through Jewish Divorce Resource Line

Rabbi Jonathan Hefter ’02 is the a program whose purpose is to empower programming for high schools and program director for the Jewish Divorce individuals in this process and equip them colleges. “That experience was very eye- Resource Line sponsored by the Organiza- to make the best decisions possible.” opening for me and made me realize how tion for the Resolution of Agunot (ORA). Jonathan studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion critical ORA’s work is in facilitating positive The program, called One Step Forward, for two years before embarking on change in people’s lives and in the Jewish provides support, guidance and referrals his undergraduate career community,” he said. to hundreds of Jewish women and men at Yeshiva University. He who are going through the separation received semichah from YU’s and divorce process. Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theolog- Ideally, he expressed, “There is nothing ical Seminary (RIETS) in March that we would want more than to go out 2014 and two months later of business.” his Master’s in Social Work “By providing assistance and resources from the Wurzweiler School of early on in the divorce process, One Social Work at YU. Step Forward empowers individuals to “I can trace my decision to effectively advocate for themselves in pursue social work to early the Jewish and civil divorce processes, influences in my life,” he said. ensures the timely issuance of the get, “The core values of social and prevents divorces from degenerating work, which include the into situations of get-refusal,” Jonathan dignity and worth of each explained. person, the importance of “Our work at ORA is focused on creating family relationships, and social social change in an effort to rid our justice among others, reso- community of abuse perpetrated through nated with me as an Orthodox get refusal,” he said. “Before launching Jew and a rabbinical student.” the helpline, ORA was primarily focused “These were also themes on agunah advocacy, as well as on educa- familiar to me from my experi- Jonathan Hefter ’02 and family tional initiatives promoting the halachic ences growing up, both at prenuptial agreement.” (Agunot in today’s home and in the Boston Jewish commu- “The issue of agunot is very much on Jewish world are women not living with nity. In particular, my mother and paternal people’s minds, in Israel, America and their husbands, yet who are not free to grandfather are proud social workers around the world,” Jonathan commented. remarry because they cannot obtain a get, with years of service to their respec- “While many will narrow the discussion to a halachic document of divorce.) tive communities and proven records in cases of documented get refusal, it is clear However, ORA discovered that “many their dedication to improving the lives of that throughout the divorce process there callers did not need advocacy help, but others.” are opportunities for abuse to be perpe- instead needed information, emotional While studying for his ordination at RIETS, trated. Whether this abuse takes the form support, and referrals to other agencies Jonathan said, he accepted a year-long of refusal to cooperate in the get process that could help them in other aspects of rabbinic internship at ORA, where he their divorce process. One Step Forward is was involved in the agency’s educational continued on page 5

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May 2018 ~ Iyar - Sivan 5778

Page 2 of 5 Undergraduate Part of a Team That “Can Change the Lives of Millions”

These days, you don’t need advanced promotes the development of social inno- According to the World Health Organiza- degrees, years of experience or powerful vation after extensive research on the key tion, Sarah said, the average person in the contacts to improve the lives of thousands issues affecting the world. developing world needs 12 liters of water of people. Sulis came into being through identifying for all of his or her daily needs, including Sarah Pomeranz ’15 is the co-founder of the gaps between existing measures cooking and cleaning. (She added that Sulis, a fledgling company emerging from in water sterilization and the solutions the average American uses close to 100 the Innovation Lab at Rutgers University needed to resolve the problem, she said. gallons a day.) in New Brunswick, NJ, where she recently The four co-founders are veterans of the The device has been tested in a Rutgers finished her sophomore year. Sulis is Innovation Lab, an incubator for social lab for variables such as turbidity and developing a “simple, innovative piece innovation ventures developed in the direction of sunlight. Sarah and the team of technology” that sanitizes water for Forum course. Now Sulis has evolved from will be traveling to India for two weeks in personal use. a concept to a full-fledged company with July to achieve field test results and speak the goal of to customers on the ground. She said her impacting 10 company has developed connections million lives by with both governments and non-govern- 2025. mental organizations there to establish “We are distribution channels. competing in Later this summer the four will spend six the interna- weeks in a private castle in London in tional Hult Prize the Hult Prize Accelerator, along with 39 competition other teams working on energy-based with other social innovations. The top teams will social entrepre- pitch in the fall at the United Nations and neurs from all the winner will be awarded the $1 million over the world, prize. Meanwhile, the team has launched a vying for a $1 crowdfunding campaign. million prize,” Sarah, a management major with a Sarah said. concentration in entrepreneurship, also In March the carries an academic minor in social justice. Rutgers team As a freshman, she was involved with placed first in another innovation project – a kit for indi- the regional vidual protection from malaria. “Through competition Sulis, I have found a way to apply my Sarah Pomeranz ‘15 and the Rutgers team with their device after winning the among over 50 business skills to my passion for solving regional Hult Prize competition. teams from all global issues and learned more than I ever over the world, thought possible along the way,” she said. “We believe that we can change the lives including Harvard, Princeton and Brandeis. “Clean water is going to be the most of millions around the world cheaply and Sarah described the device as a container sustainably with nothing more than the limited resource in the future,” Sarah that uses reflectors to concentrate solar asserted. “Our device, at $10 per unit, will natural power of sunlight,” Sarah declared. radiation into the barrel of water, where “With the hard work and dedication that have many applications for commercial it then interacts with a metal catalyst to markets.” More information is available has gotten us this far, we will continue to sanitize the water. “It’s easy to use, which expand as a company and redefine ‘liquid at www.suliswater.org or from Sarah at is crucial,” she said. “You put the device in [email protected]. sunshine.’” the sun for seven hours and it will kill the The concept for Sulis was developed in bacteria and pathogens in the water.” the Rutgers Honors College Forum, which

May 2018 ~ Iyar - Sivan 5778

Page 3 of 5 Graduate Running for Congress in the Country’s Most Jewish District

“I hope to be a Millennial Jewish voice in -- “A tax system overhaul, and on a federal “I am not surprised that I have strong Congress for expanding opportunities for level, less burdensome and de-motivating support in areas such as the Upper West my generation.” taxation, that would exclude items that Side and Boro Park, but many Modern Naomi Levin ’00 is the only Republican do not belong in taxable income and are Orthodox Jews on the UWS are not regis- on the ballot for U.S. House in Congres- especially problematic to New Yorkers.” tered to vote in this district, so voter enroll- sional District 10, which she said is “the (She listed some examples -- rent expense, ment will be something I need to tackle,” most Jewish district in City insurance-approved out-of-pocket Naomi observed. and the .” She is also on the medical expenses, and dividends paid “Another key challenge I face is reaching Conservative and Reform party tickets. from taxed corporate income.) Naomi said Millennial voters,” she continued. “About The district is composed of most of the she is working with state majority party a third of residents in the district are west side of and part of leadership to influence this issue. Millennials. I think that I have the potential Brooklyn. -- Superior educa- to activate them, given that I am also a “Just like my parents, who tional opportuni- Millennial who is running on issues that came here with only one ties “through allo- appeal to them, such as promoting the hundred dollars and two suit- cating funding to expansion of opportunities in emerging cases each, and were able to excellent charter tech and entrepreneurship, and STEM succeed, I want everyone to school programs.” education programs.” have the opportunities our -- “Policies that She added she has launched a special country has to offer,” Naomi keep our city campaign to reach female voters (www. declared. and our country facebook.com/WomenUniteForNaomi). “That is what initially got me safe, a key issue “I plan to host events to promote this involved in politics. More being advocating message, and have been approached by immediately, however, as a for putting in a various political action committees that resident of the Upper West maximum pres- are eager to support female Republican sure campaign candidates this election cycle.” Side, I got interested in this Naomi Levin ‘00 particular race when I found to address the Naomi said she was surprised to find how out that our Congressman championed Iranian regime’s much support she has in many Manhattan the Iran nuclear deal.” The incumbent is nuclear proliferation. A particular pain neighborhoods, such as Battery Park City, Democratic U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler. point in my district is Iran’s increasing which she discovered while petitioning power in the region, and our congress- for signatures in April. She is also getting Naomi, who earned a dual degree man’s participation in that.” from Boston University in biology and endorsement from unexpected groups, computer science, has been working Naomi noted that “another key issue is such as the Reform Party of New York. with emerging tech and young entre- parents in the religious communities of “My campaign needs your help. We need preneurship. She is currently a software Boro Park and the Upper West Side do volunteers, connections and funding,” engineer at Yext, Inc., a digital knowledge not take advantage of the public school Naomi said. Her email address is naomi@ management company based in New York system, but pay tax dollars for it anyway.” naomiforcongress.com. “I’d love to hear City that recently issued its initial public She pledged to work with state officials from you.” offering. and agencies to allow residents to earmark tax-deferred college savings plans “for More information can be found at www. The candidate believes that “we must public, private or religious elementary or naomiforcongress.com/issues. She protect our country economically, cultur- secondary schools, which was provided added, “You can follow my campaign ally and physically,” and thus has outlined by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act but not yet adventures on Twitter (www.twitter.com/ three “practical, common-sense goals” in incorporated in New York State.” NaomiLevinNY) and Facebook (www. her campaign for Congress: facebook.com/naomilevinNY).”

May 2018 ~ Iyar - Sivan 5778

Page 4 of 5 Maimonides School Graduates Here and There….

Several 2014 Maimonides School gradu- personality, and service to Stern; and the arly interest in the relationship of Judaism ates received pre-Commencement Lisa Wachtenheim Memorial Award for and Christianity to each other, to other reli- departmental recognition at Stern College Service. Rena Weinberg accepted the gions, and to human culture, philosophy for Women. Yael Green received the Phyllis Gordon Solomon Memorial Award and the liberal arts.” Bernard Brown Award for Excellence in for Excellence in Pre-Law Studies. ******* Business Studies at Sy Syms School of ******* Business. Shira Krinsky was presented Shuli Roditi Kulak ’00 and her husband the Malka Fishhaut Memorial Award Moshe Forman ’15, a sophomore at David are the honorees of the upcoming for excellence in Jewish Studies. Liorah Muhlenberg College, recently received Prospect Heights Shul Summer Gala in Rubinstein received the Ida Lamport the Martin A. Rosoff Clu Memorial Award, Brooklyn. Shuli oversees logistical opera- Hurewitz Memorial Award for Excel- presented to the student “who has tions of the shul, including set up, High lence in Psychology; the Prof. Nathaniel revealed, through schoolwork or related Holidays, and child programming. L. Remes Memorial Award for character, activities, sympathetic concern and schol-

CLASS NOTES 1994 2006 Mazal tov to Dr. Michal Eisenberg on her marriage Mazal tov to Ezra Waxman on his marriage to to Ze’ev Gal. Michal is the daughter of Laura and Dr. Judite Ferreira. Ezra is the son of Sheila and Dr. David 1977 David Eisenberg. Waxman. Mazal tov to Sara (Popkin) and Michael Salzberg on the birth of their granddaughter, Laura Karen. 2001 2009 Parents are Meira (Salzberg) ’04 and Rabbi Ben Mazal tov to Rachel (Galper) and David Borden on Mazal tov to Yoey Schacht on his marriage to Houben ’03. the birth of their daughter. Grandparents are Linda Penina Kozlovsky. Yoey is the son of Phyllis and David 1978 and Dr. Jonas Galper. Schacht. Mazal tov to Leah (Rosenfield) and Dr. Hylton 2002 2011 Lightman on the birth of their granddaughter, Mazal tov to Eva (Fenton) and Hillel Broder on the Mazal tov to David Schwartz on his marriage to Tamar. Parents are Aryeh and Rafaella Greenfield. birth of their son, Asher Kalman. Grandmother is Dr. Dena Guttman. David is the son of Dr. Rebecca 1982 Anne Fenton. (Kolodny) ’82 and Steven Schwartz. Mazal tov to Dr. Rebecca (Kolodny) and Steven 2003 2012 Schwartz on the marriage of their son David ’11 Mazal tov to Meira (Salzberg) ‘04 and Rabbi Ben Mazal tov to Talia Epstein on her marriage to Eytan to Dena Guttman. Rebecca is the daughter of Prof. Houben on the birth of their daughter, Laura Karen. Baratz. Talia is the daughter of Beth and Marc Epstein. Nancy and Dr. Gerald Kolodny. Grandparents are Eileen and Jeffrey Houben. 1986 2013 2004 Mazal tov to Gabriella Cohen on her marriage Mazal tov to Mazal tov to Meira (Salzberg) and Rabbi Ben to Avery Feit. Gabriella is the daughter of Sherri Elissa (Levine) and Eliot Green on the marriage of Houben ’03 on the birth of their daughter, Laura (Rabinovitz) ‘87 and Dr. Judah Cohen. their daughter Yael ‘14 to Jared Kraay ‘14. Elissa is Karen. Grandparents are Sara (Popkin) ’77 and the daughter of Dr. Lawrence Levine. Michael Salzberg. 2014 Reuven Harow on the engagement of his son Shuki, Mazal tov to Yael Green and Jared Kraay on their currently serving in the IDF, to Miriam Shabtai. 2005 marriage. 1987 Mazal tov to Josh Kirschner on his marriage to Dr. Jodie Eisner. Condolences to Mazal tov to Sherri (Rabinovitz) and Dr. Judah Josh is the son of Adrienne and Dr. Steven Kirschner Cohen on the marriage of their daughter Gabriella Mazal tov to Aliza Wolfe on her marriage to Ryan Frances Green ’69 on the loss of her beloved father, ‘13 to Avery Feit. Sherri is the daughter of Marlene Ahern. Aliza is the daughter of Barbara Rosenblum Rabbi Beryl Chafetz, . ז”ל .and Stanley Rabinovitz and Dr. Michael Wolfe.

May 2018 ~ Iyar - Sivan 5778

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One Step Forward Provides Support, Guidance and Referrals continued from page 1

or in another area, the most important While some callers are looking to and social services referrals, information question is: What are we as a community learn about the Jewish or civil divorce and guidance,” Jonathan said. “I hope to doing about it?” processes, others have specific questions be able to continue to contribute to the His full-time position includes both about complex divorce situations, Jona- Jewish community, helping individuals daytime hours and a few evenings a week, than said. “Together with the staff at ORA and organizations create positive social “to make the helpline more available. One and our contacts in other agencies, we try change for all Jews worldwide.” Step Forward fields calls from individuals to help them find solutions.” Jonathan, his wife Sefi, and their three across the U.S. and around the world, Even if all get-related issues disappear, young children reside in Riverdale, NY. from the full spectrum of the Jewish “The services that we offer encompass a community.” wide range of resources, including legal

Ephie Mandel and Eitan Katz (right), Maimonides 2008 classmates, celebrate receiving their master’s degrees in marketing from Yeshiva University – members of the Another recent gathering of Class of 1976 members in Israel included first class in the new graduate program. Ephie’s wife (front) Elihu Stone (left) and Dr. Yoel Anouchi; (rear, from left) Esti (Hoelzel) Yael (Refah) ’08 (left) recently received her juris doctor Gross, Beulah Trey, Judy Thaler-Lev and Renee Blechner-Hirsch. degree from YU’s Benjamin Cardozo School of law.

Classmates from all over the world celebrated with Ezra Waxman ’06 and Judite Ferreira (center) at their recent wedding. Guests pictured include Casey Anis, Moshe Arazi, Justin Charlap, Eli and Margaret Zwiebach-Cohen ‘08, Ross Eisenberg, Sam Israel, Reuven Kawesch, Toby Kuperwaser, Yonah Liben (and his fiancee Nofar Dadush), David Micley, Jonathan Packer, Joseph Sugarman (and his fiancee Dana Petrov), Raphy Rosen and Josh Warren, as well as 2007 graduates Danit (Rozman) Keller, Yael Krimsky and Shira Petrack.