KOL RAMBAM Dec. 2008 • hŠqyz elqk

SCHOOL TO HONOR ABELOWS, MORAH BESSLER AT MARCH 22 GALA School is honoring two of location of the Gala will be changed to its most instrumental and venerable sup- reflect the austerity appropriate to the porters and friends as the centerpiece of current climate. Joseph and Greta Abelow the 2009 Annual Campaign. The Abelow Family has been part of the Greta and Joseph Abelow, whose years fabric of Maimonides School since its and deeds of service to the school would inception. Rabbi Leo Abelow, zt”l, was fill several volumes, will be formally rec- close to the school’s founder, Rabbi Dr. ognized at the 2009 Maimonides Gala, Joseph Soloveitchik, zt”l, and served on scheduled for Sunday evening, March the fledgling school’s Board of Education. 22, at the Young of Brookline. He and his son Joseph served together The school is also honoring Elementary on the Board of Directors. Joseph Abelow School teacher Michal Bessler with a Pillar continues as a member of the Board, and of Maimonides Award. has chaired the Tuition Committee for Maimonides launched its 2009 campaign some 30 years. this month with emphasis on the urgent Mrs. Abelow, a native of Savannah, was need to support the school during chal- a tireless Maimonides volunteer leader lenging economic times. Indeed, the during the 1960s, serving as co-president Continued on page 4 ALUMNUS, A TERRORISM EXPERT, VISITS AND SHARES INSIGHT Pakistan, not Iran, is the most likely crisis Dr. Levitt, a 1988 Maimonides gradu- as deputy assistant secretary for intel- flashpoint that will test the new adminis- ate, is a senior fellow and director of the ligence and analysis at the U.S. Treasury. tration, Dr. Matthew Levitt told an audi- Stein Program on Counterterrorism and He travels widely throughout the Middle ence of fellow Maimonides graduates Intelligence of the Washington Institute for East, and is the author of two books, most and other members of the school com- Near East Policy. He is a former counterter- recently Negotiating Under Fire. munity in a talk Nov. 12. rorism analyst for the FBI, and also served Dr. Levitt explained that Pakistan, already a nuclear power, has a weak civilian gov- ernment, an intelligence system replete with radical elements, and an instability that could make pressure from the U.S. counterproductive. Iran remains a “huge problem,” Dr. Levitt acknowledged. He presented a scenario in which Israel, “believing the timeline (for Iranian nuclear capability) is shorter than everyone else believes,” launches a pre-emptive attack. Israelis, he said, Matthew Levitt ’88 greets two of his former teachers, have acknowledged to him that the Rabbi Zalmen Stein, right, and Rabbi Jon Bloomberg Continued on page 4  Maimonides third graders pose in front of charts that illustrate the results of their student polling, part of their study of the 2008 presidential election.

CHANUKAH, PURIM AND THE VICISSITUDES OF YOSEF’S LIFE By Rabbi David Shapiro, Rosh Yeshiva

[based upon divrei of the Talner Rebbe, Harav Yitzhak Twersky zt”l] Chanukah and Purim are generally seen law (the central theme of Hallel) is to risk Rabbi Twersky, zt”l, on another occasion, as representing, respectively, nes nigleh the theological error of not recogniz- commented on the asymmetry within (an overt miracle, in which God abro- ing His intervention in our lives within the liturgical formulation of “Modim” gates natural law, as when one day’s natural law. Hence the daily requirement (in the Amidah): “al nisecha she-be-chol supply of oil continues to burn for eight to recite chapters 146-150, that empha- yom imanu, ve-al nifle’otecha ve-tovote- days) and nes nistar (a subtle miracle, size the latter. cha she-be-chol eit”—“[We thank you] whereby God implements his providen- It is not coincidental that Chanukah … for your daily miracles with us, and tial plan within natural law, as reflected always occurs as we are reading the your wonders and expressions of good- in the chain of “coincidences” recorded parshiyot of VaYeishev and MiKeitz ness [that you grant us] at all times.” in Megillat Esther) . (Bereishit 37-44). The Ribbono shel Olam “Al nisecha” parallels “ve-al nifle’otecha Ramban, commenting on Shemot 13:16, does not appear as an active participant ve-tovotecha”; “she-be-chol yom” corre- asserts that the Torah requires us to in the narrative from 35:12 until 46:2; that sponds to “she-be-chol eit”; but “imanu” observe mitzvot that remind us of the is, He is “off-stage” from mid-VaYishlach [“with us”] has no counterpart. overt miracles which attended our until mid-VaYigash. Biblical commenta- Rabbi Twersky suggested that the first exodus from Egypt so that “on the basis tors have, in fact, pointed to many liter- clause refers to those more overt divine of the great, widely publicized miracles ary parallels between these chapters and interventions that we perceive readily; one will acknowledge the subtle miracles, Megillat Esther (in which God’s name also they are thus “imanu.” The second clause which are the foundation of the entire does not appear). refers to God’s more subtle role in our Torah.” In other words, we heighten our The thematic link between the haftarah daily lives, His “wonders and expressions appreciation of His “subtle role” by occa- and the Torah reading of VaYeishev is of goodness” that are not so obviously sionally focusing on His “overt role.” The generally explained on the basis of the “imanu,” to which we are not sufficiently miracle of Chanukah thus provides a opening verse, Amos 2:6, that men- sensitive. In “Modim” we declare our conceptual framework for our percep- tions—according to a midrashic interpre- gratitude for both manifestations. tion of the miracle of Purim. tation—the sale of Yosef by his brothers. As we approach Chanukah and the The Gemara in Shabbat 118b refers to The Talner Rebbe, zt”l, suggested that Torah readings of Parshiyot VaYeishev our daily recitation of Pesukei d’Zimra the connection lies in the last few verses, and MiKeitz, let us strive to be more (the selections of pesukim, mostly from Amos 3: 3-6, which underscore God’s appreciative of HaKadosh Baruch Hu’s Tehillim, bounded by Baruch she’Amar orchestration, from His “off-stage perch,” hourly role in our lives. and Yishtabach), and cautions against of all aspects of the natural world, and Rabbi Shapiro holds the Rabbi Yitzhak frequent recitation of those chapters of the human social order. The haftarah Twersky Chair in Talmud and Jewish of Tehillim (113-118) that we designate thereby offers a perspective from which Thought at Maimonides School. as “Hallel.” The Rav, zt”l, explained that to understand the events in Parshat to focus on God’s abrogation of natural VaYeishev.  DVAR TORAH MAIMONIDES GRADS SPARK ORTHODOX GROWTH AT UMASS AMHERST

The undergraduate Orthodox community at the weekly for credit, served as education chair on the KHH University of Amherst is growing board and takes responsibility for the kosher kitchen as and flourishing, thanks in no small part to a core of rosh mitbach. Maimonides school alumni. Yoni spoke warmly of Rabbi David Ruderman, who heads “My experiences at UMass Amherst have been marked the Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus at UMass. The with my involvement with the Orthodox group on rabbi, his wife Ariella and their three children “bring a Campus, Kehillat Hillel Ha’azinu (KHH),” said Ellie Gerber vital family presence into Hillel. They host onegim and ’05, who is in his second year as president. “It has been meals at their house, and bring a down-to-earth, Torah a very uplifting experience for me.” Others on the Continued on page 5 four-member board are Yoni Kirby ’05, Chana Mamalut- Salvaggio ’06 and Shifra Baronofsky ’06. The four-year- old organization inspires and enhances all aspects of Orthodox life on campus, Ellie said, “through learn- Mazal tov to… ing, a vibrant Shabbat atmosphere, and various social Ethel Chaya (Leder) ’66 and Feiwel Igel on the birth of their grandson, events.” Elchanan Brandstatter. “I think UMass is a great choice Dr. Shlomo ‘88 and Tami Drapkin on the birth of their daughter, Orli for many of our students and Rachel. Grandparents are Dr. Mark and Rosa (Holcer) Drapkin ’67. encourage many to consider it Dr. Aliza Levine ’90 and Eric Brown on the birth of their daughter, Lilah and to go,” said Tamara Gelb, Arielle. Maimonides director of college Jessica and Elie Gertel ’91 on the birth of their son, Avraham. Grandparents counseling. are Harvey and Reva (Levovitz) Gertel ’68. Ellie related that when he arrived Dina Epstein and Eithan Levisohn ’92 on their marriage. at UMass, “Orthodox life was Sara (Gyenes) ’94 and Jonathan Dauber on the birth of a son. much different then it is today. In Shoshana (Sokoloff) ’94 and Harold Zazula on the birth of their son, just a few short years, it has gone Yonatan Mordechai. from small scale to something Hilary and Avrum Leeder ’95 on the birth of their son, Lev Sholom. really amazing. It’s one thing just to watch, but to contribute to a Chava Zibman ’95, on receiving her Ph.D. in statistics from the University blooming community is really of Chicago. Chava resides in Washington, DC and works for the Food and amazing. My time and experi- Drug Administration. ence here have given me the Andrew Geller ’96 on his engagement to Shoshana Eisenberg. opportunity to do that.” Debbie Marton ’96 on her marriage to Koby Frances. “Much of my involvement with Rachael (Gelfman) ’97 and Rabbi Michael Schultz ’97 on their marriage. the group was due to the Jewish Suri (Leeder) ’98 and Menachem Bernstein on the birth of their son, education Maimonides School Sholom. Rabbi David Ruderman, director of the has given me,” Ellie added. “I Rebecca and Elie Mischel ’98 on the birth of their daughter, Esther Emunah. Jewish Learning Initiative at UMass feel a very strong connection to Amherst, poses with Maimonides school Rebecca Israel ’00 and David Sendor ’01 on their engagement. helping the Orthodox commu- graduates Shifra Baronofsky (left), Malka Roditi ’02 on her marriage to Josh Einhorn. Chana Malamut-Salvaggio, Yoni Kirby nity grow. I have grown because (left) and Ellie Gerber. of it, and the community has Anya Salganik ’02 on her engagement to Binyamin Kleinman. grown.” Noah Cheses ’03 on his engagement to Sarah Weinerman. “KHH feels like home. It’s where I belong,” said Chana. She added that she looks forward to davening “because Alav Ha-Shalom everyone enjoys themselves. It’s a traditional, yet The school family is saddened by the loss of Rabbi Jeshua Leeder ‘66 and upbeat service led by a community of students who extends condolences to his mother, Evelyn Leeder, and siblings Mordechai enjoy being together and enjoy what they’re doing, and ‘65, Asher ‘69 and Shayna (Bonnibelle) Heller ‘72. it really shows.” Shifra, who will be Ellie’s successor, said KHH is “a com- Condolences to munity where everyone feels welcome.” Since arriving Alan Gopen ‘73, Richard Gopen ‘74 and Sheldon Gopen ‘79 on the loss on campus in the fall of 2007, she has “helped utilize the of their beloved mother, E. Pearl Gopen Lipman, z”l. family atmosphere I loved at Maimonides and brought Cheryl (Sandler) Thompson ’75 on the loss of her beloved mother, it to the community at UMass.” She helped arrange Jeanette Sander, z”l. Cheryl writes, “My family would be honored to have a women’s Gemara shiur with the rabbi that meets any donations in her memory go to the Maimonides Student Council.” ALUMNI  NOTED EDUCATORS IMBUE STUDENTS WITH LESSONS OF SURVIVAL

Drs. Paul and Anna Ornstein of Brookline clergyman who saved Jewish children Drs. Ornstein are among the pioneers experienced the Holocaust in all of during the war. of self-psychology, one of the first psy- its horror. As teenagers in Hungary, The Germans occupied Hungary in March chotherapy movements to emphasize they witnessed the sudden and brutal 1944. Within two months, Paul Ornstein listening to patients and entering their destruction of their families and commu- told the students, 600,000 of Hungary’s inner world, as treatment. Professors nity. They endured forced labor, starva- 800,000 Jews had been destroyed. Mr. emeriti at the University of Cincinnati, tion, humiliation. Ornstein was sent to a nearby forced they now are lecturers on psychiatry Yet their ultimate message to Maimon- labor camp in June, then to the Ukraine. at Harvard University and co-direct the ides Upper School students on Nov. 10 He and a friend, fearful of death from International Center for the Study of was uplifting. hunger or cold, took advantage of a Psychoanalytic Self-Psychology. The Ornsteins, renowned educators in Russian bombardment and escaped, The Nov. 10 program was underwrit- the field of psychiatry, spent a couple making their way to partisans fighting ten by Maimonides School’s Theodore of hours with Grades 9-12 in obser- the occupation. and Anna Schoenfeld Holocaust Studies vance of the 70th anniversary of the Mrs. Ornstein remembered her small Endowment Fund. Kristallnacht pogrom. They also shared town’s entire Jewish population, about another hour with students in Grade 6-9, 200, consigned to a ghetto—a single offering remembrances and eliciting the house. And on June 6, 1944, the day of students’ thoughts and questions. the Allied invasion of France, they were The couple’s five years as medical stu- transported to Auschwitz. Although Mrs. dents in Germany immediately after Ornstein and her mother were spared World War II “helped us not to hate,” the immediate death sentence on arrival, Mrs. Ornstein said. “We had to distin- mere survival was a constant challenge. guish between our persecutors and After liberation in 1945, they were people caught up in the regime.” As reunited in Hungary, and “were totally displaced persons in 1945, the Ornsteins on our own.” But they immediately real- found themselves stuck in Germany, so ized that “our goal was to get out of they decided to resume their studies—a Eastern Europe and get into the West.” central part of their families’ values and After they were married, the Ornsteins expectations. As medical students in studied medicine in Germany, attained Dr. Anna Ornstein Heidelberg, they were assigned housing, converses with seniors, their degrees and immigrated to the from left, Zehava first in the residence of a former SS . Gale, Rachel Jaret and officer, and later with a “magnificent” Jessica Kasmer-Jacobs.

Gala Honors Abelows, Bessler helped teach “Growing Up,” an eight- perceived as a threat by Arab countries Continued from p. 1 session program addressing adolescents’ as well, he noted. of Women’s Auxiliary and president of the biological, social and emotional issues. “We have a whole slew of problems, and Parent-Teacher Association in successive The Abelows and Morah Bessler will be we’re going to have to walk and chew years. After her youngest child became a honored in the 2009 Scholarship Adbook gum at the same time,” he said. The situa- teenager, she began a 30-year career on with messages of congratulations and tion requires “much more strategic think- the Maimonides Elementary School faculty, gratitude. Contribution forms have been ing about how to implement our tactical teaching fourth grade general studies and distributed by mail; questions may be ad- counterterrorism so that it’s not just mili- then moving to student support services dressed to [email protected]. Over- tary,” he continued. “I don’t think ‘diplo- until her retirement in 2003. seeing the 2009 Campaign are co-chairs macy’ has to be seen as a bad word… I Morah Bessler was born in Jerusalem and Jonathan and Judy Chiel, Marc and Beth don’t believe you necessarily look weak taught briefly in Brooklyn before joining Epstein, and Peter and Debbie Gyenes. by offering to sit down with a state.” the Elementary School faculty in 1995. Gala Chairs are Reva and Harvey Gertel. That doesn’t apply to terrorist units like Her gentle teaching style, her knowl- Hamas or Al-Qaeda, he stressed. edge and commitment have endeared Counterterrorism Dr. Levitt said he is less concerned with her to a generation of students and their Continued from p. 1 U.S. tactical measures than about strate- parents. Besides teaching Judaic studies result would be no better than buying gic counterterrorism—“our ability to win and Hebrew in third grade, Morah Bessler more time. The “long-simmering Iranian the battle of ideas.” for several years also coordinated and hegemonic intent over the region” is  A sea of smiling, swirling students envelops Saval Campus with the jubilation of Sukkot as the school community commemorates the mitzvah of Hakheil in the courtyard. Students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 gathered on Chol HaMoed Sukkot to share the experience the gathering of the nation in the Beit HaMikdash. Principals, limudei kodesh teachers and seniors explain each component of the ancient ceremony (top), including the mass recitation of the first section of Kriat Shema (Devarim 6:4-9). The ceremonies were followed by enthusiastic dancing, highlighted by clusters of older and younger students together and embellished by a plethora of Israeli flags. (Photos by Robert Borkow)

UMass Amherst also participated in the session, along the social connections I have been able Continued from p. 3 with Rabbi Ruderman and the admis- to make in such a large university.” sions director. The evening, focusing on atmosphere with them that helps the stu- “I look forward to the future of KHH,” “Orthodox life and academic opportuni- dents internalize a spiritual feeling.” Shifra declared. “There is also a growth in ties,” was sponsored by KHH. the amount of Orthodox students apply- UMass has been conducting serious “We have been marketing all over New ing and getting accepted to the univer- outreach to Orthodox families, most England as well as in New York and New sity. These students who decide to come recently at an early December gathering Jersey to attract Orthodox students,” to UMass are allowing themselves to join in Newton featuring Maimonides School said Ellie. “KHH is a small, tightly-knit a community that is truly special and will parent Jay Berkovitz, UMass professor of community, and one very nice aspect of give them friends to last a lifetime.” Judaic and Near Eastern studies. Shifra it, coming from Maimonides, has been  ELEMENTARY ACTIVITY PERIODS DIVERSIFY THE CLASSROOM DAY

Donna Verdun has been teaching at Mai- ished decorating an ornate magen david ule chorus and orchestra within the monides Elementary School since 1985. mirror, which will be hung in the office. school day. “This allowed students who This year, she had a chance to expand her Meanwhile, the students always have free wished to participate in these special- resume—with “Dance Sensation.” access to all the art materials, as well as to ized offerings to do so without making Mrs. Verdun is one of six faculty volun- Ms. Moore’s bookshelf, where “I have art separate trips to the school on weekends teers who recently designed and directed books that self-teach. Lots of kids go after or remaining late in the day.” The activity 45-minute weekly activity workshops for that bottom shelf.” plan also includes about 30 students who use this time to receive individualized children in Grades 3, 4 and 5. “The ele- Third grader Zach Drapkin is excited about instruction in mathematics and reading mentary administrative team is trying an extra period of art every Tuesday after- through SuccessMaker, he added. to nurture a school that is responsive noon, especially since it’s his agenda. “You to the individual learner,” explained Dr. can do anything you want,” he exclaimed. Fifth grade teacher Avi Pittleman works Jack Billings, principal for general studies. “Sometimes I work with stencils, or make with the SuccessMaker program. “The “One of the initiatives facilitating that pictures of courts. Sometimes kids look forward to it a lot,” he said. goal has been the inception of an activity I make paper airplanes, and sometimes I Participants work at their own pace and period every Tuesday afternoon.” help somebody else.” receive instant notification of their scores. Students especially enjoy the voice-recog- “Each Tuesday at 3 p.m., all third, fourth Dr. Billings noted that the activity period nition software, Mr. Pittleman added. and fifth grade students are distributed also provided an opportunity to sched- into groups and attend the various work- shops,” said Dr. Billings, who is teaching French in a weekly activity session. “The plan is that every eight sessions, the stu- NEW TEACHER’S AGENDA: INQUIRY, ACTION dents will be resorted.” Katie Muratore arrived at Maimonides School for the first time The program in part is a response to in September to teach science to 160 students in Grades 3–6. results from a parent survey, expressing a Undaunted, “after two weeks I got to know all the kids, and I desire for some diversity during the class- love it. It has been very positive so far.” room day, said Rabbi David Saltzman, Dr. Jack Billings, Elementary School principal for general study, principal. “So far the kids seem to be agrees. “Ms. Muratore is one of the greatest practitioners of excited about a break from their class- hands-on, inquiry-based instruction I have ever observed,” he said. room experience,” Rabbi Saltzman said. “From the moment children enter her classroom, they are asking The principal is handling one of the activ- questions instead of simply recording what a teacher might say. ity periods—a journalism group. “We just Children learn by doing as opposed to simply listening.” Ms. Muratore grew up in Foxboro and earned her undergradu- Ms. Katie Muratore put out our first newspaper. Students with students not only did the writing and editing but ate degree in Elementary Education at Wheelock College, less also folding and distributing, he said. than two miles from Maimonides in Boston. She also carried “Now that they have seen the finished a major in teaching math and science. While student teaching in a Brookline public product, they are motivated even more school, “I knew that in my classroom there were students with all levels of learning.” to continue.” So she returned to Wheelock for a master’s degree in teaching students with special Mrs. Verdun said, “Dance Sensation… is needs in Kindergarten through Grade 8. a fun way to exercise through dance. For At Maimonides, Ms. Muratore created a “circular curriculum” for science in 2008–2009. years I’ve taken aerobics, and for the last During the first semester, “we’re all learning about weather—just learning about it at couple of years a Latin dance class. So different levels.” Third graders are discovering the weather cycle, fourth graders are I’ve tried to combine the things that I’ve focusing on the instruments of measuring weather, and fifth graders are studying the learned.” science of weather. For Grade 6, which for the first time is part of the at Brenda Slobodkin in Student Support Maimonides, the science unit combines all three topics, with more depth, she said. Services oversees a fourth- and fifth- The emphasis shifts to energy for the spring semester, she continued, when Grade grade theater group. “It seems to be 3 learns about sound and light as forms of energy, Grade 4 concentrates on electri- relaxing and low-key, and it is bringing cal and magnetic energy and Grade 5 experiences energy in motion, using simple out positive leadership roles with certain machines. Sixth grade will begin study of earth science, focusing on the rocks and students,” she said. minerals inside the earth. Art teacher Anne Marie Moore offers her Ms. Muratore said she also is involved with math support and enrichment in the 18 third, fourth and fifth graders the entire Elementary School. On her own time, “I like to read, play guitar, ski and do a lot of inventory of her art room. But she always things outdoors.” She is also a role model for energy conservation. “I do not own a car,” has a major project going. They just fin- she said. “I live a five-minute walk from school.”  MAIMONIDES SCHOOL ROUNDUP OF FALL SPORTS Girls’ soccer game on paper for them,” he said. “This curios- Maimonides girls’ soccer in 2008 was “very suc- ity, and their motivation, were the main keys” cessful,” says Coach Gabrielle Wallace, not only to the successful season. because the team had a record of 6-2-2 and The team practiced four days a week, missing qualified for post-season play, but also because most of the three weeks incorporating Rosh Rabbi Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik, “all the girls on the team worked hard and Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. The two lŠvf developed better teamwork over the season.” regular season losses came immediately after Founder “The soccer season makes everyone’s day very the chagim, Coach Odon noted. Rabbi M.J. Cohn, lŠf Principal Emeritus long and challenging, but there is nothing Seniors who have played their final interscholas- better than the feeling you get after practice is tic soccer game are Joey Blechner, Harry Chiel, Rabbi David Shapiro over and you know you are working toward a Joe Hasson, Ben Marks, Jonathan Milgram, Avi Rosh Yeshiva goal,” said the second-year coach, adding that Packer, Gabe Rozman, Aaron Schacht, Mike Jeffrey B. Swartz her pun was intended. Shrager, Josh Yarmush and Asher Zimble. Chair, Board of Directors The girls practiced Monday–Thursday eve- Abraham Levovitz, lŠf nings, returning to Maimonides around 8, and President Emeritus also practiced on Sundays. “I encourage the By Anna Massefski ‘13 Nathan Katz ’73 girls to continue conditioning on their own in Although Maimonides School’s varsity vol- Executive Director the off-season because it is hard to get really leyball team was eliminated in the state tour- good in just a couple months during the actual nament this year, players and their coach Mike Rosenberg Editor soccer season,” added Ms. Wallace, who is also are proud of what they feel was a success- a Middle and Upper School Spanish teacher. ful season. Their tournament opponent was Erica Schultz Designer Like the boys’ team, the girls had to be flex- Sutton High, where the game was played on ible because they would practice on different Nov. 2. The final scores were 25-16, 25-16 and Tamara Kesselman fields of varying quality. “The field situation 25-15. The M-Cats played hard and it showed, Director of Admissions wasn’t easy but the players were very flexible but Sutton had a few extremely skilled players and we did the best we could given the situa- who gave them trouble. Middle & Upper School tion,” the coach said. Rabbi Yair Altshuler Some athletes on this year’s team partici- Principal Senior captains Leslie Black, Ellie Epstein and pated for the sake of playing and making Shani Weiner “worked hard at leading the team long-lasting friendships with students in other Ken Weinstein Principal, General Studies and contributed during practice and games,” grades (anyone in Grades 7–12 can try out for the coach said. The other senior players were varsity and junior varsity). “I liked it because Rabbi Avi Bossewitch Ms. Katie Muratore Middle School Coordinator with students Rachel Jaret and Aliza Stein. Ms. Wallace is both teams connected to each other, and optimistic about the future of the program. everyone improved a lot over the season,” said Stephanie Samuels Assistant Middle School Coordinator “We had a great group of new players who are Sophie Edelman, a sophomore on the varsity. looking forward to next season already.” Both Maimo teams worked all season under Elementary School the supportive and encouraging eyes of Coach Rabbi David Saltzman Boys’ soccer Tyler Walsh. “Making the state tournament was Principal Eight wins in 10 games. The top seed in the a great achievement. We posted a strong regular post-season sectional tournament. Not bad Dr. Jack Billings season record (9-5) and the tournament games Principal, General Studies for a school where boys’ soccer is really still in against Sutton were hard fought. I was very its infancy. proud of each player on the team for her contri- “[Director of Athletics] Hal Borkow found butions during the season and in the playoffs.” three fields for us—but two of them didn’t Kol Rambam is published by the The varsity made it to the state tournament Office of Alumni and Community have goals,” laughed Pedro Odon, Upper for the first time since 2003. Every member Relations at Maimonides School. School physics teacher and soccer coach, as of the team was thrilled to be going to the he reflected on the exigencies of the sport at tournament, especially Coach Walsh and the Comments, questions, Maimonides. Once the M-Cats got settled at seven seniors—Ariela Modigliani-Caviglia, Tova and suggestions should Kelly Field in Hyde Park, “they were very moti- Ramelson, Avital Bailen, Jessica Kasmer-Jacobs, be addressed to: vated—especially the seniors.” Leah Sarna, Hanna Flesh and Zehava Gale. Leah Maimonides School The second-year coach emphasized that his says, “A state tournament game was a good way 34 Philbrick Road players have a unique intellectual approach to to end my volleyball career. The other team had Brookline, MA 02445 (617) 232-4452 x105 the sport. “They really listened to me, and they more height and more practice, but we played [email protected] had questions that made me break down the well and went down with dignity.”  Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage 34 Philbrick Road Paid Brookline, MA 02445 Brookline, MA Permit No. 59990 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Notes & Lost in Yonkers: Rehearsals are continuing s for the Maimonides School Drama Club’s 2009 w production, Lost in Yonkers, with performances e The Blue-And-White Hills? A November trek through the scheduled for Sunday and Monday, March N Blue Hills Reservation south of Boston represented far more than a seventh grade field trip. The program was designed 15 and 16, in Fox Gymnasium. Cast members to represent an experience are Talia Deitsch ’09, Naftali Ehrenkranz ’12, in Israel. “For the first time Zevvy Goldish ’09, Stephanie Guedalia ’10, Eitan in Maimonides history, the Kahn ’12, Yael Koevary ’10 and Alex Wiener ’11. seventh grade went hiking in Seniors Avital Bailen and Jesse Turk are pro- the Galil—and all it took was ducer and director, respectively, of the student- a 40-minute bus ride to get run production. there,” said Hebrew teacher Tomer Ben Shoham. “We Mumbai Memorial Mitzvot: Maimonides Middle hiked up Mount Meron and School students this month pledged to take upon Mount Tavor, we crossed themselves the observance of a mitzvah to honor Nahal Dishon and Nahal the lives of those who died in the terrorist attack on Kziv, and we even built maps Chabad Lubavitch of Mumbai on Nov. 27. Chesed of Eretz Israel on every path representatives from Grades 6-8 set up a “Mitzvah we walked.” The educational Wall,” where commitments ranging from tefillah plan was conducted by a and tzedakah to refraining from gossip and helping group of seniors who volun- the Jewish community in India were posted. Middle teered to plan, prepare and School teachers and staff shared a community lead the groups, he said. meeting focusing on the attack.

Musaf Milestone: Dr. Itzhak Goldberg of Englewood, NJ, Baruch Dayan Ha-Emet: Maimonides School recently marked his 25th year of serving as the Maimonides acknowledges with sadness the recent passing of School Kehillah’s Ba’al Musaf for the Yomim Noraim. During Norton Levy, z”l, high school mathematics teacher from the 1980s, as a Brookline resident, Dr. Goldberg davened at 1969 to 1978. Mr. Levy, a graduate of the University of the Maimonides shul, and he learned particulars of Rosh Chicago and Harvard, taught in public high schools Hashanah and Yom Kippur Musaf directly from Rabbi Dr. for almost 20 years before arriving at Maimonides. He Joseph B. Soloveitchik, zt”l, founder. He is cited in several attended the 30-year reunion of the Class of 1978 last footnotes in the new machzorim that feature the Rav’s summer. Mr. Levy was the nephew of Maimonides ­commentary. School benefactor Arthur Levy, z”l.