KOL RAMBAM May 2009 • hŠqyz xii`

MAIMONIDES MOCK TRIAL TEAM WINS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP The Upper School Mock Trial defense attorneys and witnesses. The was a fitting locale for the Mock Trial team is the 2009 cham- weekly trials take place in courtrooms, finals. The Maimonides team was bol- pion, winning the deciding trial on March usually before actual judges. stered by scores of supporters, including 22 in historic Faneuil Hall. Maimonides added Mock Trial to its Upper School students and teachers, who The 27 students, in grades 9-12, finished extracurricular activities in 1999, as pro- filled three school buses for the event. A the 2009 season winning all eight of their posed by Dr. Garry Katz, former princi- panel of three judges presided, and their trials, including triumphs over Brookline pal of general studies. Before this year, combined scoring gave Maimonides a High School, Cambridge Rindge and only the 2006 team had won its regional narrow victory. Latin, Newton South and the champion- round and qualified for the 16-team state Rabbi David Shapiro, Rosh Yeshiva, told ship match against Sharon High School. tournament. team members and friends at a celebra- Eight members of the team represented The students worked closely with David tory reception April 1 that they “repre- Massachusetts in the National Mock Trial Fredette, a Suffolk County district attor- sent the fulfillment of Rabbi Soloveitchik’s Tournament in Atlanta. ney and volunteer with the Mock Trial dream.” Several team members, in sepa- Mock Trial is a community service program program. Also contributing to their rate interviews, concurred. “It really goes of the Massachusetts Bar Association. success were two parents who are lawyers, to show you that the Rav was right,” said Each of the approximately 120 participat- Miriam Kosowsky and Amy Rosen, and Ben Niewood ’10. “In school we spend ing schools received a package of case retired Judge Isaac Borenstein. much of the day in limudei kodesh classes having discussions about what a Gemora materials at the beginning of the season, Faneuil Hall, site of some of the nation’s means, or whether free will exists. I take then prepared both prosecution and greatest oratory since Revolutionary days, Continued on page 7 HUNDREDS CELEBRATE AT MEMORABLE GALA More than 400 seniors, parents, teach- to the honorees on behalf of the school. ers, community leaders, friends and sup- Mrs. Abelow, a retired Maimonides porters convened at the Hyatt Regency teacher, and her husband, still serving on Cambridge on March 22 for one of the the Board of Directors and Scholarship more memorable events in the annals of Committee, each spoke in response. Maimonides School. Also heartwarming was the presenta- The community paid tribute to Joseph tion of the Pillar of Maimonides Award and Greta Abelow, whose service to to Michal Bessler, Grade 3 teacher for the school spans almost a half-century 14 years. Rabbi Stuart Klammer, former and whose family involvement covers Elementary School principal, introduced the entire history of Maimonides. Also Morah Bessler, and was followed at the announced at the Gala was news that the podium by her daughter Avigail Bessler 2009 Annual Campaign has surpassed ’18. The honoree responded with her last year’s total by some 4 percent. interpretation of “the two treasures we Honorees Joseph and give our children: roots and wings.” Greta Abelow with Following a video tribute to the Abelows, members of the Class Barbara Osband, long-time friend, pre- The Gala also was a celebration of the of 2009. See page 5 for sented a beautiful inscribed Chanukkiah Class of 2009. Seniors were introduced additonal Gala photos. Continued on page 5  SCHOOL Community MOURNS LOSS OF MR. Moses FEUERSTEIN The Maimonides School family was sad- Jewish Congregations of America, and a time that saw the renaissance of dened by the passing in February of served on the National Jewish Commu- Orthodox , the creation of a Moses I. Feuerstein, z”l, an active vol- nity Relations Advisory Council and the uniquely American modern Orthodoxy; unteer and benefactor of the school Council of Jewish Federations. the development of its role in the broader for decades and a leader of Orthodox His lifelong relationship with Yeshiva Jewish community; the rise of Jewish Judaism nationwide. University began as an undergraduate— education as a communal priority; and A member of the Maimonides Board of he was the first editor of the student the establishment of day school educa- Directors for some 50 years, Mr. Feuer­ newspaper in 1935. tion as a force in American Jewish life,” said Barry Shrage, a Maimonides director stein also served on the school’s Man- Mr. Feuerstein was “an amazing leader and president of the Combined Jewish agement Committee. Nationally, he at a defining moment in Jewish history, was president of the Union of Orthodox Philanthropies of Greater Boston.

THE RELATIONSHIP OF TWO MITZVOT TO EACH OTHER: “Sippur Yetzi’at Mitzrayim” and “Zechirat Yetzi’at Mitzrayim” By Rabbi David Shapiro, Rosh Yeshiva and each night of the year; the mitzvah their relationship. Netziv (Reb Naftali Tzvi of sippur yetzi’at Mitzrayim is to be per- Yehudah Berlin (the Rav’s great-great- (1) The annual mitzvah of “Sippur formed exclusively on the night of the grandfather), in his Ha’amek Davar on Yetzi’at Mitzrayim” [recounting the 15th of Nissan. Devarim 16:3, writes: “As a father might story of the Exodus from Egypt], and (2) (2) The mitzvah of zechirat yetzi’at tell his son an hour-long story once each the daily mitzvah of “Zechirat Yetzi’at Mitzrayim is fulfilled by a mere mention year, and merely allude to it daily, so are Mitzrayim” [merely mentioning, twice of the fact. Thus, the recitation of the we commanded to recount the entire daily in keri’at Shema, the fact of our pasuk from Bemidbar 15:41 without any story in detail on this night whereas a Exodus from Egypt] commentary or elaboration is sufficient. mere mention suffices every other day.” A. One way to focus our issue is to ask On the other hand, the mitzvah of sippur There is a reciprocal, mutually reinforcing, why both mitzvot are necessary on the yetzi’at Mitzrayim requires a detailed relationship between the daily mitzvah first night of Pesach. Why can’t we satisfy accounting of the many miracles that of zechirah and the once-a-year mitzvah the annual requirement of ve-higadeta were performed in Egypt. of sippur. The Talner Rebbe characterized le-vincha [Shemot 13:8] by reciting, as we (3) The mitzvah of zechirat yetzi’at it as follows: the daily zechirah provides do each evening, the third parashah of Mitzrayim can be performed alone; it a substratum and a context that offers keri’at shema? Why did the super- consists—in effect—of a soliloquy. A greater meaning to the annual perfor- impose the annual mitzvah of sippur requirement of the mitzvah of sippur mance of sippur. On the other hand, onto the nightly mitzvah of le-ma’an yetzi’at Mitzrayim, however, is that the the cursory mention that satisfies the tizkor et yom tzeitcha mei-eretz Mitzrayim recitation has to take the form of a dia- halachic requirement for zechirah would kol yimei chayecha [Devarim 16:3]? logue even if someone is alone. become stale and hollow without the periodic infusion of the detailed and Another way to focus the issue is to ask The Rav, in various shi’urim over many passionate narrative required on the why the Mishnah from Berachot 12b [the years, added three more distinctions. night of the 15th of Nissan. dispute as to whether the daily require- One of them is: the mitzvah of zechirat ment to mention yetzi’at Mitzrayim yetzi’at Mitzrayim does not require more Rabbi Twersky zt”l suggested two analo- applies each evening as well] is included than the mere mention of the fact. No gies, one of which is the relationship of in the Haggadah shel Pesach. Isn’t it, expression of gratitude or praise to the the once-a-year observance of Tish’ah ostensibly, irrelevant to the theme of Ribbono shel Olam is required. On the be-Av to the halachic requirement for sippur yetzi’at Mitzrayim? other hand, the mitzvah of sippur yetzi’at year-round mourning for the loss of the B. Having identified the respective basis Mitzrayim includes the expectation that beit ha-mikdash [see Shulchan Aruch for each of our two mitzvot, zechirah and the narrative will prompt, naturally, Orach Chayim 1:3 and 560:1-5]. sippur, let us now turn to some of their an expression of gratitude and praise May our ge’ulah from Mitzrayim soon be individuating features. The Rav reported (which we express through the recita- superseded by our ultimate ge’ulah [see that his grandfather, Reb Chayim, would tion of Hallel at the Seder). Berachot 12b]. begin his Seder each year by delineating C. We have emphasized the differences Rabbi Shapiro holds the Rabbi Yitzhak four distinctions, three of which are: between the two mitzvot of zechirah and Twersky Chair in Talmud and Jewish (1) The mitzvah of zechirat yetzi’at sippur. Let us conclude by calling atten- Thought at Maimonides School. Mitzrayim is to be performed each day tion to the complementary dimension of  DVAR TORAH CASUAL ART SIGNALED CAREER PATH Mazal tov to… Gary ’70 and Gail Cantor on the birth of their granddaughter, Michal Chana. Michael Goldblum ’77 left his mark on Maimonides School—literally, according to his class yearbook. He “has the distinction of being the Lisa (Brecher) ’76 and Jeremy Aranov on the birth of their granddaughter, Dina Devora. only person to ever illustrate his Nach tests. He is also the creator of Lynn (Schneider) ’78 and Yossi Groden on the engagement of their daughter, MaimoMan and MaimoMs,” the account reads, adding, “It would take Sarah Leah. hundreds of MaimoMen to clean his graffiti from the desks.” Rabbi Jeffrey ’81 and Leah Kuperman on the birth of a daughter, Temimah The graffiti, and the desks, are long gone, but the nascent artist is now Tirzah. a successful architect based in New York. Ian ’89 and Noa Linden on the birth of their son, Eitan. Michael, who grew up in Stamford, CT, says he decided to become an Roselyn Farren ’92 and Steve Greenwood on the birth of their son, Ori Yedidya. architect in second grade. He joined the Maimonides student body in Dr. Yardaena Osband ‘93 and David Glazer on the birth of their son, Gilad Grade 10, and as a senior he and Michael Teplow were art editors of Elyashiv. HaLapid. Allie Alperovich ’94 and Jeremy Simon on the birth of their daughter, Hannah After graduation, Michael earned a Elizabeth. bachelor of arts degree at Columbia Dr. Gil ’94 and Shari Bloom on the birth of their son, Avi Chaim. College, then a master of architec- Dr. Ira ’94 and Lisa Winer on the birth of their daughter, Amalya Rachel. ture at Columbia Graduate School Shlomit (Keehn) ’94 and Arieh Taube ’94 on the birth of their son, Daniel of Architecture and Planning. After Avraham. working in a number of New York Yehudit Robinson ’95 on receiving her master of arts degree in English City firms from 1984 to 1991, he literature and Bible from New York University. She is director of media at Manhattan Day School. and three friends established The Timna (Taube) ’95 and Erez Glambowsky on the birth of their son, Max Building Studio, an architecture Jacob. and design partnership, in 1992. Rabbi Yehudah and Lisa Septimus ’95 on the birth of their daughter, Tzipa Michael and John Field continue to Dalya. lead the small firm in their Midtown Dr. Ernest Mandel ’96, who with his wife Rachel received the Young Leader- Manhattan office. ship Award from the Westville in New Haven, CT. Michael has worked on residential, Rabbi Noam ’97 and Aliza Shapiro on the birth of twin sons, Akiva Netanel The atrium of Barkai Yeshivah commercial, industrial and medical and Doron Yehuda. in Brooklyn, designed by work, and “green” residential proj- Elizabeth Solomont ’97 on her engagement to Phil Levy. The Building Studio. ects, including his own house— Dr. Hyim Baronofsky ‘98 and Elana Blivaiss on the birth of their daughter, the first LEED-certified house in Livia Hannah. New York City. The Building Studio also has designed a number of Batia Charpak ’98 on her engagement to Steve Blumenthal. shuls and other Jewish institutions. Among these are Congregation Josh ’98 and Susie Loberfeld on the birth of their son, Zachary. Beth Shalom in Lawrence, NY, Barkai Yeshivah in Brooklyn, and the Josh ‘99 and Sarah Blechner on the birth of their son, Elijah Joseph. design for the Ohel Chabad Visitors Center at the gravesite of the Miriam Gedwiser ’99 and Oren Bassik on the birth of their daughter, Aderet Lubavitcher Rebbe in Queens. Dahlia. Michael explained that part of his challenge as a synagogue architect Ilya Pittel ’01 and Avital Silman on their engagement. is to help a congregation articulate a vision for its institution. “While Noah Cheses ’03 on his marriage to Sarah Weinerman. a shul may know what it needs on a practical level, very few people Craig Linda ’03 on his marriage to Elisheva Estreicher. can see how to elevate these functional elements into a final product Ariella (Hollander) ’04 and Daniel Wiesenfeld on the birth of their daughter, that is more than the sum of its parts,” he said. “The congregation’s Leah Tamar. relationship with Halacha and tradition should be embodied by the Tamar Kram ’06 and Ephraim Shafner ’06 on their engagement. shul’s design, and the philosophy of the congregation should become visible in its building.” Condolences to… Halacha and tradition affect design on multiple levels, he continued. Robert ‘65, David ‘68 and Alan Soll ’74 on the loss of their beloved father, “Practically, we have to deal with mechitza decisions; position of the shul- William Soll, z”l. chan, rabbi, and women in the shul, Shabbat elevators. On a more concep- Mark Blechner ’67, Zev Blechner ’76, Renee Blechner Hirsch ’76, Elisha tual level, we try to infuse a shul with the ideas about worship, ‘mikdash,’ ’96, Josh ’99, Mickey ’02 and Shoshana ’07 on the loss of their beloved mother and grandmother, Mrs. Toby Blechner, z”l. shul tradition, and insights from Midrash, Halacha and historic precedent.” Lynne (Weinberg) Steinberg ’67 on the passing of her beloved father, Rabbi Michael said he draws upon the knowledge and experience he gained Charles Weinberg, z”l, who was the associate principal and director of Hebrew at Maimonides “every day, especially now that my daughter Emma is in studies at Maimonides from 1971–1974, rabbi at Beth Malden from high school” at SAR in Riverdale, where his family has resided since 1999. 1949–1976, and a former president of the Rabbinical Council of America. “I can appreciate what a great education we got, and how truly fortunate Perry Antelman ’82 on the loss of his beloved mother, Sylvia Antelman. we were to be at Maimonides at a time when the Rav was so present and so involved in the school and in the broader community.” ALUMNI  HISTORIC QUINCY Shul DONATES ITS Property TO Maimonides One of the state’s historic Orthodox observed. “From an educational point has donated its building, of view, we hope students will be inter- grounds, and contents to Maimonides ested in delving into the history of this School. The school has responded with congregation, interviewing its members. a commitment to preserve the shul’s Perhaps this will influence their career legacy through scholarships, displays choices.” and exhibitions. Some 20 years ago, the board of Beth Congregation Beth Israel of Quincy’s Israel established an endowed scholar- ultimate gift consummates some 15 ship at Maimonides to benefit students years of conversations with Maimonides in need. The sale of the building and about the school’s role in safeguarding grounds will enhance that endowment, cherished objects and memories. said Harold Krasnoff, who for the past The shul’s sifrei Torah, seforim, and ritual several years has been the synagogue’s and decorative items now reside at last president. Maimonides. The majestic Aron Kodesh “We knew that the shul eventually was (pictured at right) is being preserved going to have to close because of condi- intact because of its unique construction tions,” said Mr. Krasnoff. “We established and historic value. Efforts are underway a committee to talk about what we could to move it intact to a museum or histori- do, and how we should go about turning cal society. over whatever assets we have, for the “We have a responsibility to preserve sole purpose of continuing to keep chil- the history and legacy of Beth Israel dren to be able to attend Maimonides.” The intricately carved Aron Synagogue, its members, its rabbi, and He noted that Rabbi Jacob Mann, z”l, Kodesh was created by famed designer and builder Sam Katz. its unique position in the history of who served the community for more Orthodox Jewry on the South Shore,” said than six decades, was a strong supporter Harvey Gertel, the Maimonides Board of Maimonides who knew the school’s the Pillar of Maimonides Award. Rabbi member who serves as the school’s rep- founder, Rabbi Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik, Mann’s son, Rabbi Abraham Mann, is a resentative in the process. zt”l, and established an endowed schol- member of the class of 1955. The trove of documents, books and ritual arship at Maimonides in the early ’90s. Congregation Beth Israel was established objects “will enhance the Maimonides The Congregation and Rabbi Mann were in 1918, and for decades was the spiritual educational experience,” Mr. Gertel honored by the school in 1992 with and communal home of European immi- grants employed in the nearby Fore River The Beth Israel building on Grafton Street in shipyards. During its peak years—the Quincy, built in 1918. late 1940s through the ‘50s—Beth Israel Photo by Donna Stanger. boasted a five-day Hebrew school and a congregation of more than 200 house- holds, often filling the shul to capacity. Rabbi Jacob Mann, born and educated in Jerusalem, responded to a help-wanted newspaper advertisement and began leadership in Quincy in 1942. Mr. Krasnoff, who joined the congrega- tion in 1964, said at that time “there was no place to put a chair” on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Less than four decades later, a victim of chang- ing demographics, the shul struggled to maintain its daily minyanim. Rabbi Mann “stayed on with us because he knew once he left there wasn’t going to be anything to keep it open,” said Mr. Krasnoff. The rabbi retired in 2003 at the age of 93.  Gala: Treasure the Past, Embrace the Future

A panorama of scenes from the 2009 Maimonides School Gala, held March 22 at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge (top to bottom, left to right): Elliot ‘83 and Allison Mael chat with Peter Gyenes (center); seniors Rebecca Boroda, Michael Shrager and Ellie Epstein (right); gathering at their table are (front, from left) Debbie Swartz, Ronald Fisher, Lisa Rosenbaum and Dr. Robert Pick, and (rear, from left) Board Chair Jeffrey Swartz, Nathan ‘73 and Amy Katz, and Judith and Jonathan Chiel ‘75; seniors Asher Zimble and Zevvy Goldish (right) spot familiar faces in an old photo; honoree Joseph Abelow; seniors, from left, Aliza Katz, Jessica Kasmer-Jacobs and Rachel Jaret; Mr. Abelow accepts a gift from the school, presented by Barbara Osband and Harvey Gertel; honoree Greta Abelow; Morah Michal Bessler, Pillar of Maimonides Award recipient, with Rabbi David Saltzman, Elementary School principal; Mr. Swartz officiates at the live auction.

2009 Annual Campaign/Gala Continued from p. 1 individually, with Josh Yarmush deliver- ing a dvar Torah and Ellie Epstein and Marissa Schwartz presenting a gift to Morah Bessler. Other speakers were Jeffrey Swartz, chair of the school’s Board of Directors, and Rabbi Yair Altshuler, Middle and Upper School principal. The event also culminated the school’s first on-line Chinese Auction. Over several weeks, some 150 people, from as far away as Israel, contributed more than $11,000. An additional $3,300 was raised at a brief live auction at the conclusion of the Gala. David Schiff ’85 was master of ceremo- nies. The chairs of the Gala were Reva ’68 and Harvey Gertel. Chairing the Annual Campaign were Jonathan ’75 and Judith Chiel, Marc and Beth Epstein, and Peter and Deborah Gyenes.  SCHOOL ESTABLISHES NEW ASSISTANT ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES Reena F. Slovin has been School principal. “Currently, named assistant principal she is training our limudei Maimonides School has established a of the Maimonides Elemen- kodesh staff in the meth- Board of Trustees, a group of senior vol- tary School, beginning July odologies and applications unteers and community leaders who will 1. She succeeds Dr. Jack Bill- of differentiated instruc- serve as a sounding board and overall ings, who is moving out of tion. She also works with advisory group. state. Dr. Billings has served our first grade and seventh The new board, part of the school’s as assistant principal for the grade staff implement- revised bylaws, will be chaired by Marc past two years after several ing the ‘Hidden Sparks’ and Beth Epstein. The first meeting was years as an Upper School program.” scheduled for Sunday morning, May 3. social studies teacher and “Her involvement with grade dean. Mrs. Reena Slovin According to Jeffrey Swartz, who chairs teacher coaching, training the Board of Directors, “the directors Mrs. Slovin, who has three decades of and consulting at Maimonides has been believe that it would be extraordinarily educational experience, is client services a very positive and rewarding experi- valuable to gather a group of trustees coordinator for the ence for our staff and has given her who care deeply about the school and programs of Gateways Access to Jewish the opportunity to work closely with its mission and who can serve as ambas- Education. Gateways provides on-site administration, faculty and students,” sadors on behalf of the school.” special education services, works with added Rabbi Yair Altshuler, principal of teachers on curriculum modifications and the Middle and Upper School. The trustees, who are expected to meet provides teachers with professional devel- at least twice a year, will receive fre- “I am eager to continue my work with opment including weekly coaching. quent reports about the school and have Rabbi Saltzman, with whom I have opportunities to share thoughts and As a Gateways consultant with Mai- already had the opportunity to col- insights with directors. monides over the past two years, Mrs. laborate and share ideas and plans for Slovin worked with both Judaic and the future,” Mrs. Slovin said. “It is clear general studies teachers, support staff to me that both Rabbi Saltzman and I and administration in the Elementary love working with children, supporting and Middle Schools. teachers and finding many good reasons Cast members of the Maimonides Drama Club’s 2009 production of Lost in Yonkers She was “an integral contributor in the to smile.” are (front, from left) Penina Simkovitz, development of the current Mrs. Slovin was on the staff of the New Alexander Wiener, Talia Deitsch, Eitan Kahn and Reva Bergel; rear, from left, and English language arts curriculum,” Jewish Academy in Worcester for 20 Jesse Turk (director), Stephanie Guedalia, said Rabbi David Saltzman, Elementary years, including several years as direc- Naftali Ehrenkranz, Zevvy Goldish and Yael tor of Judaic studies. She also served as Koevary. Producer was senior Avital Bailen. special needs coordinator and instruc- tor, a position and program that she initiated at the school. She was integrally involved in the day-to-day operation of the school as well as its long-range plan- ning and development. Mrs. Slovin is a graduate of Ramaz high school in Manhattan and Cornell University. She earned her master’s degree in special education at Boston University and is certified in elementary special education in Massachusetts. She also is a graduate of Harvard University’s Department of Reading and Language Advanced Graduate Study Program. “I believe that Maimonides gives chil- dren access to the best of both Jewish and general education, and I am thrilled to contribute to helping Maimonides deliver this education in the best way possible,” Mrs. Slovin declared.  “DOING GOOD RATHER THAN FEELING GOOD” Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski told Maimonides “There’s nothing wrong with enjoying life,” he told Middle and Upper School students March 23 the students. “But enjoying life is not the goal… that “we have a role in life, and a duty in life, of Your goal in life has to be something dignified, dong good rather than feeling good.” something that suits you as a child of G-d.” Rabbi Dr. Twerski is founder and medical direc- He implored the students not to touch Rabbi Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik, tor emeritus of Gateway Rehabilitation Center, alcohol—even Kiddush should be no more lŠvf a not-for-profit drug and alcohol treatment than “a taste.” Your brain, he said, is “too pre- Founder system in Pennsylvania. He is recognized as an cious” to be altered by substances. Rabbi M.J. Cohn, lŠf international authority in the chemical depen- Rabbi Twerski was at the school after attend- Principal Emeritus dency field. Rabbi Dr. Twerski served as clini- ing the annual Gala, at which his daughter-in- Rabbi David Shapiro cal director of the Department of Psychiatry law, Morah Michal Bessler, received the Pillar Rosh Yeshiva at St. Francis Hospital, Pittsburgh, for more of Maimonides Award. His granddaughter Jeffrey B. Swartz than 20 years, and was an associate professor Daniella Bessler received her siddur with her Chair, Board of Directors of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh fellow first graders at the Chagigat HaSiddur, Abraham Levovitz, lŠf School of Medicine. also on March 23. President Emeritus

Mock Trial State Champions was able to do that really makes me proud to Nathan Katz ’73 Executive Director Continued from p. 1 say ‘I went to Maimonides School’.” the skills I learn from those discussions and Harry noted that at the beginning of the Mike Rosenberg Editor use them in Mock Trial.” season, the captains “were overwhelmed by “Our mock trial team is the embodiment of the number of students who took tryouts so Erica Schultz Designer modern Orthodoxy,” said Leah Sarna ’09, seriously and displayed excellent skills and who with classmates Harry Chiel and Michael talent. The moment I looked at our roster Tamara Kesselman Kosowsky were team captains. “We argue a after constructing the team—that was when Director of Admissions court case, and right after the trial we daven I knew that this would become an extraordi- Middle & Upper School Mincha outside. We reschedule trials meant nary season.” to be on Friday afternoons or on Purim, but Rabbi Yair Altshuler Other team members are seniors Pnina Principal we make things work. Amidst our ‘pump up’ Grossman, Natan Kawesch and Hana Snow, speeches before a trial, we have a couple of Ken Weinstein juniors Zachary Avigan, Steven Fine, Benjamin Principal, General Studies dvrei Torah or brachot for the team. We argue Fisher, Sam Fisher, Samuel Ming-Sum Fisher, law in the secular world without compromis- Daniel Lasman and Esther Petrack, sophomores Rabbi Avi Bossewitch Coordinator ing our religious practices.” Jonathan Robison, Yitzhak Snow and Aaron Gavvy Rosen ’10 added that the championship Zwiebach, and freshmen Annie Davis, Yonina Stephanie Samuels Assistant Middle School Coordinator “also has this kind of romantic, underdog kind of Frim, Jonathan Michaelson, Gabriela Mizrahi- Arnaud, Tess Niewood, David Rubinstein, Elliot feeling to it, that a small Jewish private school, Elementary School which most other schools have never even Salinger and Chana-Sophie Vester. Rabbi David Saltzman heard of, just took the tournament by storm and “A Mock Trial championship represents the Principal upset all of the higher ranked teams.” synthesis of the outside world with the ideas Dr. Jack Billings “Winning the state tournament has instilled a of Torah philosophy that each of you repre- Principal, General Studies greater sense of school pride,” said senior Avi sents,” Dr. Katz wrote to the students. “Your Fuld. “Other schools, states, and institutions victory validates the ideas of the Rav that one are going to hear about Maimonides School can live in the modern world while remaining Kol Rambam is published by the because of Mock Trial, and knowing this team a true Torah Jew.” Office of Alumni and Community Relations at Maimonides School.

Comments, questions, and suggestions should be addressed to: Maimonides School 34 Philbrick Road The Maimonides Mock Brookline, MA 02445 Trial team in Faneuil Hall with presiding judges (617) 232-4452 x105 and Massachusetts Bar [email protected] Association officials.  Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage 34 Philbrick Road Paid Brookline, MA 02445 Brookline, MA Permit No. 59990 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Notes & Brachot were the focus of a recent middot unit in s the Elementary School. The culmination of the w e Thirty-seven students in Grade 1 received siddurim program unit was a Bracha Fair in the Brener March 23 to highlight the school’s annual Chagigat Building gymnasium, during which children rotated N HaSiddur in the Brener Building gymnasium. A full among five booths staffed by Grade 5 students. house of parents, grandparents, other relatives, teach- Topics ranged from what we think about when we ers and friends applauded the spirited musical program say brachot, to various categories. Teacher Joanna and presentation. Rabbi David Saltzman, principal, Parker coordinates the middot program in the presented each child with his or her personal siddur. elementary grades. Hazzan Devin Goldenberg conducted and accompa- nied the singing children.

The Lady M-Cats of Maimonides School are the cham- pions of the Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls Maimonides Upper School students brave invitational tournament, held March 6–8 in the cold at a Boston rally in support of Israel during Operation Cast Lead. The Teaneck, NJ. Maimonides defeated Stern Hebrew High Maimonides delegation comprised a School of Philadelphia in the finals Sunday, 49-35. Senior full third of attendees at the Copley Ellie Epstein led the M-Cat scorers with 18, including 12- Square event. “We were the only school represented, and our presence with 20 for-14 from the foul line. Freshman Yael Pomper added large Israeli flags was prominent,” Ken 14 points and Erica Singer added eight. Weinstein, principal for general studies, told parents. “Kol hakavod to our student leaders and teachers who made this a priority.” Tomer Ben Shoham of the faculty coordinated the entire process. Photo by A.J. Edelman ’09. The architect whose firm designed Maimonides School’s Brener Building has died. Earl R. Flansburgh, 77, was an award-winning architect who special- ized in planning and design of educa- tional facilities. His work on the Clark Road building beginning in 1989 fol- lowed the firm’s design of a two-story classroom addition built at the south end of the Elementary School wing on Saval Campus.