February 2018 ~ Shevat - Adar 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 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].

Young Grad’s English Skills Help Dominican Ballplayers Pursue Their Dreams

An aficionado once remarked, “In the teach them about American culture,” he academy, which looks just like a spring- Dominican Republic, baseball is more than explained. training facility.” just a game. It is our passion. It’s almost “When we ask the players about their There are about 60 players in each cycle, our way of life.” dreams, the most common response is mostly aged 17-22. Benjy observed that Benjy Katz ’12 is confirming that that they want to be able to provide for “most players only attend school until observation by working as an English teacher at the New York Mets baseball academy in Boca Chica. In the Minor Leagues, there is a major divide between American and Dominican players, mainly because of the language barrier, Benjy said. “The Mets, along with other teams, have been very proactive over the last few years in trying to bridge that gap by stressing the importance of learning English before sending athletes to the States. To the best of my knowledge, the Mets are the only team though who have a partnership with a university and bring students to the D.R. to teach.” Benjy recently graduated from Drexel University in Philadelphia with a degree in legal studies. “I had a professor for a course called ‘Literature of Baseball’ who was an education consultant for the Mets,” Benjy Katz ’12 (center, back row) with New York Mets prospects at the team’s baseball academy in Boca he related. “A few years ago, he created Chica, Dominican Republic. a partnership between the Mets and a Florida university to take students to the their families,” he said. “My understanding sixth grade. Then they live with an agent Dominican Republic three times a year to is that most players and their families see at a baseball academy and train every day teach English at the Mets academy.” baseball as their one chance” to escape with the hope of getting signed by an poverty. MLB team when they turn 16.” Benjy landed a position there through February, teaching a couple of one-hour “My day consists of attending a coaches’ “Because almost none of the players has English classes to the players four days meeting every morning to give an completed high school, the Mets have a week. “Our goal is to teach them update on my classes, watching practice mandatory GED classes every Thursday for English that will help them get around from 10:00 to noon, lesson-plan in the players -- and actually hold a graduation in the States, in particular the Minor afternoon and teach from 4:00-5:00 and ceremony every year,” he continued. “This League cities where they will play, and to 5:15-6:15,” Benjy related. “I live at the continued on page 3

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February 2018 ~ Shevat - Adar 5778

Page 2 of 4 Retired Alumnus Now a Volunteer with Religious Families in Community

Migdal HaEmek was founded in 1953 administration. “I also lead two after- ago to help provide humanitarian aid as a in the Lower school enrichment programs, one in there. Galilee, designed to accommodate part Jewish studies and the other about the Although it’s only a little more than an of the great influx of Jewish immigrants world of manufacturing. Today I taught hour from Ra’anana, the de la Fuentes’ from North African countries. Today the the children about shatnez in clothing.” new home is a different world in many population is some 25,000. “I am also helping the garin raise funds ways. “The area is close to the ancient Now a garin Torani – a group of young and running Project 1000,” he added. city of Zippori and the beautiful hills of religious Zionist families – has joined “The aim of this project is to sign up the Lower Galilee,” Mordechai related. 1,000 people who will partner “The cooler season is pleasant for hikes with Orot Yehuda with a and nature walks. Right now the spring monthly donation, giving the flowers are in bloom -- cyclamens, garin a base to run projects for anemones and irises.” the community. Its alternative Migdal HaEmek is six kilometers from education programs greatly , and there are small Arab benefit both disadvantaged and villages nearby. “We meet Arabs in the regular children, developing local marketplace and stores, and they creativity and social skills.” also work in pharmacies and other Susan conducts one-on-one occupations. Relations are cordial,” tutoring, “especially helping Mordechai commented. kids to master the mechanics of “We consider Migdal HaEmek as our reading in English and Hebrew, home, as we sold our apartment in Mordechai ’65 and Susan de la Fuente. and also some arithmetic. It is Ra’anana. We feel more in touch with quite a change in our lives from the landscape there. And a Maimonides the real here, and function in our past vocations, even though Susan School graduate and his wife have Hebrew on a daily basis.” did teach for a number of years. But I relocated from Greater to help was always in the business world.” He Following the two-year commitment, them become established. was a quality assurance manager and “We expect to move on to , “After 33 years in Ra’anana, Susan and textile engineer, retiring in 2012 “after to be closer to our children and I recently moved to Migdal HaEmek to the big upheavals in the Arab World, grandchildren,” Mordechai said. “We do two years of senior volunteering,” since most of my work at the time was hope to be in shape still to continue said Mordechai de la Fuente ’65. in Egypt.” with some volunteering activities.” Most municipal institutions don’t meet Mordechai, who the needs of the general religious was born in the population, he said, “and the garin aims Netherlands and to address this deficiency.” came to America in About 40 families belong to the Orot 1952, made aliyah Yehuda Garin, and the de la Fuentes with his family “function as elders, assisting them with in 1984. He said our life experience,” Mordechai said. Migdal HaEmek “We both do volunteer work in the is known for the national religious elementary school, landmark outreach helping the children on a one-to-one and social action basis.” of the renowned Yitzhak Mordechai, who managed a charity Dovid Grossman, fund in Ra’anana for 20 years, said his who moved to the main volunteer focus is as a financial community 50 years adviser and business coach to the garin Mordechai de la Fuente ’65 photographed this view, looking to the east, from Zippori, near Migdal HaEmek.

February 2018 ~ Shevat - Adar 5778

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CLASS NOTES

1978 1984 2007 Mazal tov to Mazal tov to Dr. Sharon Galper and Dr. Shammai Mazal tov to Rachel (Epstein) and Dr. Moshe Lynne (Herschfus) and Michael Blander on the Grossman on the marriage of their daughter Naamah Klausner ’06 on the birth of their daughter, Ariana engagement of their daughter, Reva, to Meir Yaffe. to Shlomo Rand. Naamah’s grandparents are Linda Liat. Grandparents are Beth and Marc Epstein. Reva’s grandfather is Dr. Aaron Herschfus. and Dr. Jonas Galper. Leah (Rosenfield) and Dr. Hylton Lightman on the 2008 birth of their grandson, Noam Yechezkel, son of Eric 2005 Mazal tov to Yael (Refah) and Ephie Mandel on the and Naava Keehn. Mazal tov to Dov Lerner on his marriage to Shani birth of their daughter, Liat Shoshana. Grandparents Ben-David. Dov is the son of Sharon (Epstein) ’81 are Lita and Ghodrat Refah and Shari and Dr. Alex 1981 and Dr. Shlomo Lerner Mandel. Mazal tov to Sharon (Epstein) and Dr. Shlomo Lerner on the marriage of their son Dov ’05 to Shani 2006 2012 Ben-David. Mazal tov to Rachel (Epstein) ’07 and Dr. Moshe Mazal tov to Yoni Nouriel on his marriage to Avigayil Klausner on the birth of their daughter, Ariana Liat. Unterberg. Yoni is the son of Daniel Nouriel. Grandparents are Stephanie and Mitchell Klausner.

Graduate Helps Baseball Prospects Navigate the English Language continued from page 1

is so important because only a select few “Most players are very religious,” Benjy players credit him with paving the way for players here will ever make it to the Major commented. “When I told them that I am them to play professional baseball in the Leagues, and receiving a high school Jewish, they said they’ve never met a Jew United States.” education and learning English will help before but they were all very interested in “He was also the first player to break prepare them to enter the workforce.” learning about what my beliefs and tradi- the color barrier for the Detroit Tigers. tions are. We were able to discuss both “The majority of these players head to I’m grateful that I am able to learn from the similarities and differences between Florida in March for extended spring him and hear stories from his playing our religions and beliefs and talk about training and then to a Minor League days about the adversity he faced and stories from the Torah we are both familiar team,” Benjy said. “Most of them have overcame.” with.” elite talent or tremendous potential and Benjy plans to do some traveling after some have received a signing bonus “Living with the students is Ozzie Virgil, completing his classes, and eventually will upwards of $2 million. I have had a chance the first Dominican player to ever play in be looking for a metropolitan New York to play catch with a few of them, and the Major Leagues,” Benjy said. “Ozzie is work opportunity in the sports industry. watching practice every day is one of the really a great person and a national hero best parts of my day.” in the Dominican Republic. All Dominican

Devra and Avi Weiss ‘94 will be honored by Solomon Schechter Day School of Las Vegas -- their children’s day school -- in March. Devra and Avi moved to Las Vegas in 2009. Avi is a urologist and Devra is a freelance consultant to Jewish and other nonprofits. With their chil- dren Jerusalem (Jeri) in 5th grade and Shalom (Shai) in 2nd grade, they are both very involved in the Jewish community. Avi serves on the board of Jewish Nevada and is the founding Presi- dent of the Summerlin Minyan Project. Devra is Treasurer of the Schechter board, President of the board of the Jewish Community Center of Southern Nevada, and has served in volun- teer capacities for Jewish Nevada and the Melton School for Adult Education. Devra and Avi say that they believe in living an engaged Jewish life, enhanced by the rhythm of the Jewish year, enriched by sharing it with community.

February 2018 ~ Shevat - Adar 5778

Page 4 of 4 Maimonides Alumni Here and There…

This summer the campers at M-Cat leader on and off the court. She is an May 13. The catalogue is available at the Sports Camp will be led by one of absolute pleasure to coach.” gallery shop. Yeshiva University’s all-time greats During her three years at Y.U., Michal has The catalogue’s essays focus on the in intercollegiate basketball. And she been honored more than 15 times by portrayal of Alexander the Great as ideal still has another season of eligibility the Skyline Conference. Three times this ruler, mystic, lover, and philosopher in remaining. season she received weekly honorable Persian poetry and art, and how Islamic Michal Alge ’14 again will serve as mention for NCAA Divisions II and III medicine, philosophy, and science director of the M-Cat Sports Camp by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers contended with and developed the for first through seventh graders at Association. classical tradition. Tzvi’s contribution Maimonides School in late June and explores the Islamic interpretations of * * * * * * early July. classical mathematics, astronomy, and Dr. Tzvi Langermann ’68, long-time astrology. Michal set the all-time career professor of Arabic at Bar-Ilan University, rebounding record for the Lady Macs a * * * * * * is a contributor to Romance and Reason, few weeks ago. the lavishly illustrated Rabbi Asher Lopatin ’02 plans to move And she ended catalogue accompanying to Metro Detroit this summer to create the 2017-2018 the current exhibition of an academic center focused on civil season with a the same name at New York discourse and to lead a new Modern statement game University’s Institute for the Orthodox synagogue. Congregation against SUNY Study of the Ancient World. Etz Chaim was originated by a group Purchase on Feb. of Huntington Woods residents who 17, amassing 25 Romance and Reason say they are responding to the growth rebounds. The explores Islamic of shomer Shabbat families in their last one was representations and Michal Alge ’14 neighborhood. her 914th. She adaptations of ancient Greek has scored 864 figures and thought. Asher has announced his resignation career points over three seasons, so the at the end of this academic year as The exhibit was organized by the program record of 1,134 is within reach. president of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah institute in partnership with the in Riverdale, NY, where he has served “Michal's value to the team is National Library of Israel. The display since 2013. Before that he was rabbi at immeasurable,” said Michael Alon, of Islamic manuscripts from the 11th Congregation Anshe Shalom B’nai Israel coach of the Lady Macs. “As co-captain through 18th centuries is at 15 East 84th in Chicago. of the team, she is the consummate St., New York (212-992-7800) through

Rebecca Zibman ‘02 and Tani and Yehuda, two of the children at Gan Shelanu in Jerusalem, get into the Super Bowl spirit – as they do every year. “By Sunday, the three-year-olds were walking around saying ‘Go, Pats,’” said Rebecca, who operates the gan with classmate Gila Betesh-Maresky.