KR Newsletter July FINAL.Qxd
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cŠqa KOL RAMBAM July 2007 • fŠqyz a` Founded in 1937 by Rabbi Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik, l"vf lew SENIORS In COMMENCEMENT SpotlightmŠanx Members of the Class of 2007 received Elana Kesselman addressed the ceremony in their diplomas on Sunday, June 17, during English, testifying to the school's central role commencement ceremonies held before of community as well as an educational hundreds of teachers, parents, relatives and institution. "Regardless of what the real world actually holds, we know we are better friends in Fox Gymnasium. prepared for it," she asserted. Rabbi Dr. Graduation was defined by pomp and Joseph B. Soloveitchik, zt"l, founder of circumstance, music and laughter, cheers Maimonides School, "saw fit to create a and applause, and highlighted by remarks school where all could walk with dignity and by student speakers and school leaders. faith… We're bringing with us the gift the Rav left us." She also spoke of the solidarity Noam Hassenfeld delivered the valedictory of the graduating class, and the lessons in Hebrew, addressing the quest for identity. learned from various academic subjects. Dr. David Savitz greeted his granddaughter "In order to make our lives worthwhile… we Aviva in her kindergarten classroom— Other student speakers were Melody a familiar scene throughout the school need to realize that G-d is in every minute Michaelson and Aliza Petrack, who read during the 11th annual Grandparents and detail of the world," his translation read. "We excerpts from the teachings of the Rambam, Special Visitors Day on May 18. Nearly 200 need this emotional connection… yet at the a long-standing tradition at Maimonides people took part in the day, hailing from same time we must never forget the Jewish commencement. 13 states and two Canadian provinces, as Maimonides celebrated the beauty and tradition." Judaism, his translation read, "is Rabbi Yair Altshuler, Middle and Upper breadth of its many generations. our very identity… Whatever kind of life you School principal, focused his first graduation choose to live, always remember that you address on leadership. Maimonides has are a member of a people that has lasted by been "a greenhouse and a factory for its heritage, its sense of community and its leadership," he said. "You should, and you spiritual awareness." will, become leaders, and you will remember Continued on page 2 DEDICATION OF BEIT MIDRASH A MILESTONE Maimonides School believes there is unity in diversity, and hundreds of Middle and Upper IN THIS ISSUE School students and teachers celebrated that spirit on April 27. Closing Chapter 2 The school dedicated a new beit midrash, Museum Leader 2 where some 50 students of Sephardic lineage now participate in daily worship.The A Memorable Gala 4 refurbished classroom is a gift to all Edmund Shamsi, benefactor for the Maimonides Maimonides students, however, as it is 70th Anniversary Plans 5 Sephardic beit midrash, carries a Torah scroll to its earmarked for Judaic Studies classes when new Aron Kodesh. Rabbi David Shapiro, Rosh not in use for prayer. New Elementary Principal 6 Yeshiva, helps with the chuppah. Continued on page 7 CLOSING THE LAST CHAPTER MAIMONIDES GRADUATE A KEY MEMBER WITH A MESSAGE OF LOVE OF HOLOCAUST MUSEUM'S LEADERSHIP by Rabbi Stuart Klammer, Elementary Principal 1996-2007 When a head of state or high-ranking beneficial "while I was in the Foreign The xey ilr tells us that the connecting of two diplomat visits the U.S. Holocaust Service, and especially when I had my things that were previously separate is what creates Memorial Museum, chances are he or assignments in Israel" from 1982 to happiness in life. Thus, we have the unifying of she will receive a guided tour from a 1986."Everything about the connection dy`e yi` ,ux`e miny and myb (from miny) and ux`. 1962 Maimonides with the State of Israel came School graduate back to me…. My Hebrew was As I come to the last chapter of my wonderful, special, who made a mid- quite good, and part of the fulfilling years at Maimonides School I thank Hashem for life decision to work reason was the education creating this connection for me and my family.We have in the Jewish I got at Maimonides." Another, established friendships, professional relationships and community. he acknowledged, was that he many special bonds with the community, and with so boarded with Hebrew teacher Arthur S. Berger has many families and individuals. Jacob Lamdan, and "he really been the museum's required us to speak Hebrew After 11 years I have seen many of the students' senior advisor for in the house." progress from their birth to kindergarten to sixth grade external affairs and beyond.What a zekf to watch them grow! And how since October 2005, After graduating from Yeshiva the students, and our school, have grown in zeipgex, overseeing international relations, VIP University, Mr. Berger earned a master's spiritually, and zeinyb, physically, in so many ways! I outreach, and aspects of public and degree from Howard University and smile when I consider the zecn, the cqg, the beautiful media relations and development. continued post-graduate studies at spoken Hebrew, the dlitz, and the connections with He also assists in fundraising Washington, D.C., researching political Israel that have been strengthened.I think about art and activities. From November 2000, he leadership in Africa and the Middle East. music and gym and computers and library and the directed the Museum's communi- In 1970 he began a 25-year career in the numerous after school programs. But, most of all I think cations department. U.S. Foreign Service, with assignments about the growing and building that have been not only to Israel but also Uganda, Mr. Berger, who grew up in Rhode accomplished in the zenyp, souls, of our children. They Ethiopia, Brazil and the Netherlands, as Island, graduated from Maimonides in are already,and will be even more profoundly,leaders in well as in Washington. He was 1962. The administrative and high the Jewish community. Maimonides School and the spokesman at the American Embassy in school wings of the new Brookline legacy of the Rav are felt throughout the world through Israel from 1982 to 1986. Then he campus were completed just in time for our students. moved on to positions with the commencement there. He still American Jewish Committee and the With such an extraordinary faculty, who really care and remembers Rabbi Isaiah Wohlgemuth Weizmann Institute of Science before give their all,our students have an amazing opportunity as "an incredible person—he helped joining the Holocaust Museum. to grow each day, each week and each year! me write my bar mitzvah speech." The museum has three mandates, he Mr. Berger spoke of how his The final dyxt of this school year is zwg zyxt; the final explained. One is remembrance—a dyxt of my career at Maimonides School is zwg zyxt; Maimonides education was especially perhaps like the dnec` dxt, red heifer, the different paths that one takes in life may be an enigma; another way of saying this is that life is, of course, myd cia, in Commencement Continued from page 1 G-d's hands. that leadership means responsibility, risk, sacrifice and lots of hard work." He However, for me a key message from the is one dyxt urged the graduates to make the that I learned many years ago when I first started synagogue "the main hinge of your learning .The in interprets the `xnb cenlz oiyeciw zkqn community life," show gratitude to names of the various places to which l`xyi ipa traveled parents and "above all, always in the xacn, desert; towards the end of the dyxt remember that you are part of a long the Torah mentions the strange sounding place: chain that links us back to Har Sinai." dteqa ade z`, Et Vahave Basufa; the Talmud explains this to mean, that whatever challenges one faces in Jeffrey Swartz, chair of the Maimonides learning Torah, the end is always love (dad`=ade). Board of Directors, praised the class as "an extraordinary group of leaders… Dear Maimonides School, dear Maimonides families, borne aloft on the strength of your and, especially, my dear Maimonides students: education, now and always." He urged dteqa ade z`,I leave you with the message of dad`,love! Amy Tischler exults with her diploma on the the graduates to be critical thinkers and May you go lig l` lign, from strength to strength! commencement stage. Sharing her special creative leaders, and "our prayer is you DVAR moment is Chrstopher Dore, grade 12 dean. will always be able to forge a loving 2TORAH Mazal tov to... Naftoli '57 and Evy Stern on the marriage of their daughter Nava to Itamar Tsuri in Haifa. ceremonial aspect.The second, education, means Joy (Singer) '75 and Michael Sydney on the engagement of their son Joshua to Beth Shrager. not only training teachers ("90 percent of our Judy (Golub) '79 and Rich Glass on the bar mitzvah of their son,Andrew David. visitors and most of the teachers that we train are Perry Antleman '82 on his marriage to Tamara Kesselman,Maimonides School director of admissions. not Jewish") but also government personnel like the FBI, Foreign Service and the United Nations. Rabbi Asher '82 and Rachel Lopatin on the birth of their son,Gideon Bert Shalom. The third mandate,he said,is to combat genocide Orit (Benitah) '92 and Seth Gribetz on the birth of a daughter,Nicola Raquel. today. "It's the only national institution that's Paul '93 and Shulamit Hurwitz on the birth of their daughter, Sheindel Nava.