קולaŠryz a`-fenz “רמבם FALL 2013 cŠryz zah-elqk-oeyg KOL ­ RAMBAM Hundreds Transform Chesed into Action They prepared two huge pots of soup for the hungry. They delivered gifts of ap- preciation to police and firefighters. They cleared invasive plants from the shores of the reservoir across Route 9. They wrote messages to soldiers in the IDF and col- laborated with Yachad members prepar- ing gift bags for a women’s shelter. They painted the walls of an inner-city school. School volunteers, more than 500 strong, turned chesed into action Sunday, Nov. 10, literally and figuratively rolling up their sleeves in observance of the school’s first day of community service — Yom Chesed. “We teach our students that it is not the walls of Maimonides School surrounding us Taking a break from painting an inner-city schoolroom are seventh graders (from left) Maya Greene, Danya Gewurz, which are important. It is the doors, which Talya Saltzman and Eve Spear. The Yom Chesed volunteers were assisting Project RIGHT (Rebuild and Improve Grove Hall allow us to take our and values and Together). go out into the world, that matter,” wrote monides faculty and staff. way we see the words of the Talmud com- Rabbi Dov Huff ’00, assistant Middle and ing to life at Maimonides.” Upper School principal, in a dvar Torah Each volunteer was assigned to one of 15 leading up to the event. teams, which worked on projects through- Rabbi Mordechai Soskil, Middle and Upper out the morning at the school or in the sur- School Judaic studies principal, spoke of The response to the event was gratifying rounding area. The highly choreographed achdut — unity — and his words were and almost overwhelming. It included event was the outcome of more than three enhanced by songs from the Upper School students of all ages and their families, Mai- months of detailed planning by a team of boys choir. Mrs. Gewurz also spoke, thank- volunteers chaired by Risa Gewurz, parent ing volunteers and staff contributors. of four students in Grades 2-9. “Everything After breakfast in the gym, volunteers In This Issue: about Yom Chesed, every stage of the broke off into groups to work on specific program, was good — from the school’s projects. Several of these were based in Kindergarten Team...... 2 adopting it, to the massive turnout, to the school facilities — Gift of Life bone marrow tremendous feedback and warmth,” Mrs. screenings, soup preparation for Gittel’s Robots...... 3 Gewurz said. Kitchen, gift baskets for patients sponsored The Yom Chesed agenda began with by ROFEH. Other volunteers were out in Alumni and the IDF...... 4 Shacharit, and the S. Joseph Solomont shul the community, visiting the elderly, and was packed. Davening was augmented by delivering gifts to neighbors, police and Class Notes...... 5 remarks appropriate for the day. Naty Katz firefighters. ’73, head of school, quoted the school’s Middah of the Year...... 6 “For us as a family it was such a special ex- founder, Rabbi Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik, perience, which gave us the satisfaction of zt”l, who taught that “the password of Yom Chesed Panorama...... 7 doing chesed and enjoying the outcome — the Jew is chesed.” Citing the teaching in preparing baskets and seeing the families’ Masechet Kiddushin on study leading to News Briefs...... 8 smiling faces when we dropped everything action, he said, “Today in the most beautiful off,” said parents Rinat and Joseph Naggar. 1 JoiningJoining Kindergarten Kindergarten teachers teachers Irene Irene Blechner Blechner (left), left|), Barry Barry Wilensky Wilensky and and Myriam Myriam Lukoff Lukoff areare students,students, fromfrom left,left, NogaNoga Rose,Rose, AviaAvia Kesler,Kesler, DoronDoron Storm,Storm, TzvielTzviel Kahan,Kahan, TalyaTalya SchorrSchorr andand LilyLily Allerhand.Allerhand faculty profile: The Kindergarten Team Kindergarten is unique. So is teaching at that pri- After years of success in sales, Mr. Wilensky earned a master of education degree from mary level, as the three professionals who comprise Lesley University in 2007, concentrating in early childhood education. He joined the Maimonides School’s Kindergarten team can testify. Maimonides Kindergarten staff in 2011. Mr. Wilensky is a long-time dancer and ad- “I look at these little kids with their back- tunities to teach us. They come up with new ministrator with Hamakor Israeli folkdance packs, going through a whole day of ideas.” troupe. learning, and I am totally ‘wowed’,” declared The three alternate as lead and support Mrs. Blechner said “a tremendous amount” Myriam Lukoff. “Because this is their first real teachers, and there is some cross-curricular of Judaic content is integrated throughout academic experience, we see a lot of ‘light instruction — limudei kodesh teachers the entire Kindergarten curriculum, and bulb’ moments, and they’re really exciting sometimes address general studies. “We what they learn often enriches and enhanc- for a teacher,” Barry Wilensky said. “Once kids each have our own areas of strength,” said es their family Shabbat tables. come through Kindergarten,” added Irene Mr. Wilensky. The three know each other Indeed, she said, Kindergarten teaching is Blechner, “they are always ‘our’ kids.” well enough to add some spontaneity in often an extension of parenting. “They’re The three have taught the Kindergarten sec- their presentations. Orit Steinberg joins with us awake more than they are with their tion as a team for three years, following the the class for Ivrit three days a week, and own families,” she said. “And this isn’t an carefully crafted dual curriculum that de- the teaching team brings Hebrew naturally 8-to-3 job. We don’t shut ourselves off.” fines every level of learning at Maimonides. into lessons throughout the school day. The “There is a lot more emotion involved The teachers regard their responsibilities team also works with a Kindergarten aide, with Kindergarten,” Mr. Wilensky observed. as profound. “We develop physical, social, Kayla Brody. “Things happen that can hurt feelings. We and emotional well-being,” Mrs. Blechner Mrs. Blechner, who began teaching in the help them get through those emotions. said. “We instill in them their Jewish identity Maimonides Kindergarten in 1997, earned a We provide love and support.” Mrs. Lukoff and teach them how to integrate with the bachelor of business administration degree pointed out that “we have experience as secular world.” from Baruch College and is a graduate of parents ourselves.” “We begin the process of teaching them Rivka Breuer Teacher’s Seminary. She and Kindergarten is also the reception station how to be in school and to make new her husband Zev ’76 have four children who for what Mrs. Blechner calls “diversity within friends,” said Mr. Wilensky. attended the school. Mrs. Blechner also has halachic .” In recent years the team Mrs. Lukoff commented that the team “nur- taught after-school Mishmar and cooking has worked with students whose primary tures independence. We get them to the classes. language at home was not only English or point of being independent when they walk Mrs. Lukoff holds an undergraduate degree Hebrew but also Russian, French, Italian and into the classroom.” in psychology from McGill and teaching Farsi. There are family and cultural traditions “We also teach that we learn from mistakes,” certification from Machon Ate in Tzfat and connected to these varied backgrounds, Mrs. Lukoff added. “Mistakes are opportuni- Machon Chana in Brooklyn. She began and Mrs. Blechner said “we validate and ties for self-acceptance and growth. We tell teaching Maimonides Kindergarten in 2003 celebrate this diversity.” the kids, ‘That’s why pencils have erasers’.” and also has taught gymnastics in several “Most of these kids will be here for many She added, “We also celebrate their oppor- area day school after-school programs. years,” Mrs. Blechner said. “We see the im- pact we have.” 2 Rabbi Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik, z”tl Robotics Accelerating Founder Ken Rosenstein says he has a five-year plan for come up with their own codes, using those skills, Rabbi M.J. Cohn, z”l Principal Emeritus his elective robotics class for Middle School and then dealing with the curveballs that reality students. “We already are beyond where we keeps throwing at them…It all looks so simple Abraham Levovitz, z”l anticipated,” the science and math teacher said. until the robot starts moving.” President Emeritus “And I will never be satisfied with where we are, Participants will confront a more complex task because as soon as we get there we will want to in the winter, “for which they will need to not Sam Wald ‘92 go farther.” only remodify their machines but also have their Chairman, Board of Directors Now in its third year, the robotics group meets machines begin working with other machines,” after school for a two-hour weekly session. “We he added. Jeffrey Swartz Chairman Emeritus capped it at 10 students — but we are currently “Anybody can build a machine from a set of running at 19, almost all in sixth grade,” Mr. directions. Anybody can write computer code Rosenstein said. “We are wildly oversubscribed; Nathan Katz ’73 that resides strictly in a computer,” Mr. Rosenstein Head of School there’s a waiting list.” continued. “Our team will take building outside “Our concept is: we take mechanical ingenuity, the box and find a plethora of problems when Frederique Smits combine it with coding knowhow and put them coding meets reality. We deal with those Director of Institutional Advancement together to create machines that are capable of problems.” accomplishing successively more intricate tasks,” Faun Zarge Mr. Rosenstein emphasized that “the process Director of Strategic Engagement The Kindergarten Team Mr. Rosenstein said. is more important than the result. Across the “We start with simple targets so that students board, kids understand that frustration is part Ariella Belopolsky can master a group of discrete skills,” Mr. of the experience. There are stratospheric Director of Admissions Rosenstein explained. “Once we have that, we are quantities of frustration involved — welcome to now in the process of doing moderately complex the real world.” Mike Rosenberg tasks. Kids need to modify their machines and Editor

Addressing the challenges of robotics are, from left, Yaakov Baker, Eliana Abraham, Sarah Goldstein, Meirit Cohen and Shlomo Warren. Naomi Ribner Designer

MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL

Rabbi Mordechai Soskil Principal, Judaic Studies

Judith Boroschek Principal, General Studies

Rabbi Dov Huff ’00 Assistant Principal

Brian Cohen Middle School Director

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Rabbi David Saltzman Principal

Reena Slovin Associate Principal

Kol Rambam is published quarterly by the Maimonides School Office of Alumni and Community Relations.

Comments, questions, and suggestions should be addressed to:

Maimonides School 34 Philbrick Road Brookline, MA 02445 (617) 232-4452 x405 [email protected] 3 Defense Forces enlistees pose at a recent gathering of their military support group (garin). From left: Leora Nouriel ‘10, Penina Simkovitz ‘12, former student Dina Wecker, Nate Japhet ‘08, Sara Flesh ‘12, Rivka Rumshiskaya ‘11 and Jacob alumni profile: Frisch ‘12. Rivka Rumshiskaya ‘11 testified that “serv- fate in our ancestral homeland,” Nate de- ing in the army has been a very gratifying clared. “I also made this move for religious Destination IDF experience. It has taught me a lot about reasons, because I feel that only in Israel not giving up and it has awed me by can the mission of the Jewish people be showing what the power of one 20-year- fully realized.” The Israel Defense old can be. The army isn’t run by college “The army is a meeting place between all graduates or professors. It’s teenagers kinds of people — people I would oth- Forces have become a who just finished high school who step erwise have never met,” Rivka observed. up to the plate. Everyone can make a dif- “You come across a tremendous variety of destination for dozens ference if they want to.” stories and lives, and it’s incredible how Nate Japhet ’08, who began basic train- much you learn and how much you can of Maimonides School ing earlier this month, explained that “I give in these situations.” graduates. Over the past am doing the army because everyone Rivka’s initial military specialty was in- is required to serve…Even though as a structing soldiers “who are going through decade, more than 30 23-year-old I am only required to serve conversion in the army…My job included six months, I feel that since I have the teaching various classes on Judaism. physical capability and motivation, I have have enlisted in the IDF Drawing on Judaic and teaching knowlSteve Shimshak- ‘96 a responsibility to serve the same amount edge that I received in my year at semi- through a variety of pro- of time as other Israelis.” nary and my education at Maimo I would Nate is with the Nachal infantry division, prepare and create courses to teach about grams. and noted that “it seems like I will be Jewish values and ideas.” continuing a Maimonides tradition — Ben Now she has decided to return to basic They have served as officers and enlisted Nouriel ’05, Jonah Liben ’06, and Jonathan training, this time for a combat unit. “I am women and men, in the combat arms, Milgram ’09 all did Nachal.” looking for a whole other side of the army and as intelligence experts, educators, Rivka recalled that “when I was 14 and on experience, to meet new people, and to fitness instructors, paratroopers, naviga- a trip to Israel, I saw a bunch of soldiers. defend my home in a more real way. My tors, border patrol, shooting instructors, Something within me stirred. I felt that new unit is called field intelligence and combat engineers and radio specialists. I also had to join and protect and fight it specializes in collecting information to One was a spokesperson for the Defense for my nation.” That’s what motivated her help our forces.” Ministry. Two are part of an elite program aliyah, she said, and “the dream came true “It’s a great feeling to know that I am mak- combining army service and medical last December when I was drafted into ing a difference,” she asserted. school. the army.” What is the appeal that explains this surge “I made aliyah because I want to be part of participation? Two recent recruits offer of the greatest Jewish project of the past their explanations. 2,000 years: to be the masters of our own

44 CLASS NOTES Contact your class secretary (see listings below) to share your news. If you would like to serve as a class secretary, contact Mike Rosenberg (617) 232-4452 x405, [email protected] to volunteer.

Meirowitz, and Judith Meirowitz and Hannah (Kornreich) and Ilan Lastoffon Meir Laymen. Brahna’s parents are Linda 1965 Arthur Tischler. the birth of their daughter Juliet Rachel. and William Kessler. Mazal tov to Rabbi Edward and Meira Grandparents are Patricia and Louis Korn- (Katz) Davis on the marriage of their 1996 reich and Nancy and Stanley Lastoff. 2007 daughter Tamar to Allan Galper ’88. Ophir and Rachel Stemmer on the birth Mazal tov to Mazal tov to of their son Eitan. Grandparents are Dr. 1966 Rachel and Ernest Mandel on the birth of Joel Stemmer and Dr. Anat Rachamimov- Elana (Kesselman) and Adam Arroyo their son, Micah Binyamin. Grandparents Stemmer. on the birth of their son. Grandmother is Contact Dr. Tamy (Simon) Chelst, (248) are Shari and Alex Mandel. Tamara Kesselman Golan. 353-2268, [email protected]. Raphi Savitz on his marriage to Glenda 2003 Adam Lamport on his engagement to Mazal tov to Drs. Kenny and Tamy (Si- Berman. Raphi is the son of Evelyn Savitz Sarah Treidel. Adam’s parents are Cheryl Mazal tov to mon) Chelst on the engagement of their and Joseph Savitz. and Jay Lamport. son Dr. Dov Chelst to Michal Levine. Mirele Davis on her engagement to Shoshana Spellman on her marriage to Nadav Kessous. Mirele’s parents are Linda Avriel Herrmann. Shoshana’s parents are 1997 and Jonathan Davis. 1969 Marcia and Roger Spellman. Aliza and Ari Baronofsky on the birth of Ariella Mitchneck on her engage- Mazal tov to their daughter Rivka Noa. Grandparents ment to Yechiel Robinson ’01. Ariella Shira and Asher Leeder on the engage- are Devora and Jerald Baronofsky. is the daughter of Colleen and James 2008 ment of their son Yehuda ’05 to Shella Yardena and David Brickman on the Mitchneck. Mazal tov to Friedman. birth of their son Eitan. Grandparents are Shira Simcha Nouriel on her marriage to Arielle Birnbaum on her engagement to Ira and Shari (Berger) Michaelson on the Ethlynne and Stephen Brickman. Bezalel Haberman-Browns. Shira Simcha is Solly Silverman. Arielle is the daughter of marriage of their daughter June ’05 to the daughter of Daniel Nouriel. Dr. Herbert Birnbaum. David Gerrie. 1999 Jodi and Eitan Rosenberg on the birth Ilana Brandt on her engagement to Mazal tov to of their daughter, Eliana Chaya. Grandpar- Adam Bernstein. Ilana is the daughter of 1975 Gretchen and Stewart Brandt. Tally (Aliphas) and Jake Palefski on the ents are Tzila and Shmuel Rosenberg. Mazal tov to Stanley Rotman on the birth of their daughter, Mijal Batsheva. Max Levy on his engagement to Ariela birth of a grandson, Elad Ze’ev Rotman. Grandparents are Perla and Amnon Ali- 2004 Rosenberg. Max’s parents are Robin and phas and Sandi and Paul Palefski. Philip Levy. Mazal tov to 1980 Esti (Polen) and Elisha Mallard on the Max Vogel on his marriage to Haley Ellie (Dubitzky) and JeffBerlin on the Contact Amy Levenson, amy.leven- birth of their daughter Chana Avigail Vinick. Max’s parents are Cheryl and Alan birth of their son Mayer. Grandparents are [email protected] Nitzah. Grandparents are Rabbi Nehemia Vogel. Anne and Jonathan Dubitzky. and Lauri Polen. Elisheva (Klausner) and Ezra Pinsky on Miriam (Stramer) and Jonathan Marcus 1988 the birth of their daughter Noa. Grandpar- 2009 on the birth of their son, Binyamin Dov. Contact Elka Tovah (Menkes) Davidoff, ents are Miriam and Mitchell Klausner. Mazal tov to Grandparents are Evelyn and Chaim (781) 480-4242, [email protected]. Stramer and Ellen and Sy Marcus. Benjamin Marks on his engagement Mazal tov to Allan Galper on his marriage 2005 to Elly Arons. Ben’s parents are Paul and to Tamar Davis, daughter of Rabbi Edward Barbara Gold Marks. 2000 Mazal tov to and Meira (Katz) Davis ’65. Allan is the Avi Geller on his engagement to Hallie Mazal tov to Yehuda Leeder on his engagement to son of Linda and Jonas Galper. Dobkin. Avi’s parents are Sandra and Dan Shella Friedman. Yehuda’s parents are Rona (Behar) and Joshua Karp on the Geller. Shira and Asher Leeder ’69. 1992 birth of their daughter, Dahlia. Grand- mother is Lenore Behar. June Michaelson on her marriage to Mazal tov to Penina (Stein) and Yossi Steve Shimshak ‘96 David Gerrie. June’s parents are Ira and Former students Meystel on the birth of their daughter Melissa and Reuben Taube on the birth Shari (Berger) Michaelson ’69. Mazal tov to Michal Levine on her of their daughter Rayna Abigail. Grand- Sara. Grandparents are Rabbi Zalmen and engagement to Dr. Dov Chelst. Parents are parents are Dina Levovitz and Ben Zion Freyda Stein. Tobie and Dr. Bob Levine and Drs. Kenny Taube. 2006 and Tamy (Simon) Chelst ’66. Dov’s 1994 Maya (Krohn) and David Joyandeh on grandfather was Rabbi Isaac Simon, z”l, a the birth of their daughter Michal Orly. beloved Maimonides School teacher. Mazal tov to Sara and Benjamin Tauber 2001 Grandparents are Risa and David Krohn. on the birth of their daughter Shayna Mazal tov to Brahna Kessler on her engagement to Abigail. Grandparents are Alice Tauber and Zack Kuperwaser on his engagement to Dr. Alfred Tauber. Jessica Fialkoff. Zack’s parents are Judith and Mark Kuperwaser. CONDOLENCES 1995 Sarah and Gabriel Mitchell on the birth Mazal tov to of their daughter Maayan. Grandparents are Francine and Michael Mitchell. Yehudit (Robinson) and Sam Daitch on the birth of their daughter Rachel Chaya. Yechiel Robinson on his engagement to Grandparents are Debbie and Morris Ariella Mitchneck ’03. Yechiel is the son Robinson. of Debbie and Morris Robinson. Karen and Judah Levine on the birth of their son Matan Shlomo. Grandparents are 2002 Tobie and Bob Levine. Mazal tov to Sara Meirowitz and David Finkelstein Yael (Kletter) and Will Keller on the birth on the birth of their son Rafael Noam. of their daughter Ariella. Grandmother is Grandparents are Rabbi Rim and Anne Esther Kletter. 5 Derech Eretz Sets Tone for K-5 Year Rabbi David Saltzman, Elementary Jessica Mocle comprise a team that Divrei Torah are discussed at the School principal, finds gratification in coordinates integration of the middah Monday meeting, and on Fridays “I some of the most ordinary situations. throughout the school environment all expand upon them and teach other “Yesterday some coffee spilled on year long. The effort is modeled after lessons,” Rabbi Saltzman said. “Concrete the desk while I was teaching,” he the successful hakarat hatov program examples that we found early in recounted. “I was going back and forth last year. Bereishit have been very helpful.” to get paper towels, and a student The new topic was presented at an One measure of progress is “the path to came over to me twice and brought assembly where teachers introduced derech eretz.” Rabbi Saltzman explained, me more towels. He noticed that I the middah with some skits and fifth “We have little cards shaped like needed something. He internalized the graders followed up by leading student footprints. When students and teachers message of derech eretz.” group discussions. notice somebody doing derech eretz Derech eretz happens to be the theme A cornerstone of this effort is the — something without being asked of the Elementary School’s 2013-14 Monday Morning Middah Meeting — they are posted on a display on middot program. The episode with the that takes place in each classroom. The the wall in the stairwell closest to the towels “is the perfect act of derech eretz meetings focus on different aspects of Kindergarten.” that we are looking for, that we are derech eretz. There are also a few larger The footprints detail examples of trying to have kids and teachers notice,” projects that implement derech eretz how someone had sensitivity and Rabbi Saltzman said. in school as well as at home and in the consideration for another person, and Here is how the middah is officially community. how this translated into action. “After defined in the Elementary School: “The committee spent a considerable two weeks we could see what derech “Derech eretz is an enhanced sensitivity amount of time trying to fine-tune eretz looks like,” Rabbi Saltzman said. to other people’s feelings. When I treat which aspect of derech eretz we wanted Derech eretz also was the theme of people with derech eretz, I am taking to teach the kids,” Rabbi Saltzman said. a Sunday morning Family Learning other people into consideration in my “We thought, ‘How can we be sensitive session. “We looked at a mishna in actions and words. If all people treat and caring about what other people’s Pirkei Avot and learned definitions and others with derech eretz, there is more needs or desires or wants are, without meanings beyond what we’re learning caring, consideration and harmony in their having to express that to us?’ We in school,” Rabbi Saltzman said. our schools, communities, and homes.” try to make it practical, specifically in Rabbi Saltzman, Grade 2 teacher the school setting — derech eretz in Nehama Libman and Grade 1 teacher the lunch room, derech eretz in the hallways.”

M-CATS Hosting Tournament Maimonides School will host a four-team boys’ tournament and Shabbaton Jan. 2-5. The M-Cats will compete against teams from Beren Academy in Houston, Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy in Livingston, NJ and Torah Academy of Bergen County of Teaneck, NJ. Games are scheduled for Friday morning, Motza’ei Shabbat and Sunday morning, all in Judge J. John Fox Athletic Center. The tournament, modeled after successful invitational events that took place in the late 1980s, is designed to be a community event. Besides the actual games, fans will be entertained during a skills competition. There will be home hospitality for the visitors, with Shabbat in Brookline. A Victorious Maimonides soccer players and coach pose after the Lady M-Cats defeated New Mission to become the volunteer committee has been working on school’s first interscholastic team to qualify for the third round of an MIAA post-season sectional tournament. the details for several weeks. 6 A Yom Chesed Panorama

M-CATS Hosting Tournament

Yom Chesed volunteers of all ages address a wide range of community projects and needs. Underlying the entire enterprise is the central- ity of chesed to Jewish values and practice, and to Maimonides School’s mission. See the Yom Chesed movie: www.maimonides.org.

7 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Brookline, MA 34 Philbrick Road Permit No. 59990 Brookline, MA 02445 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

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NEWS BRIEFS

pecial collection More than 30 emifinaliSts Seniors Beni Snow srael success stories Inbal Kohelet books written by and about Rabbi and Baram Sosis have been named and Adi Levitz, the Bnai Akiva shlichot S Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik, zt”l, have Ssemifinalists in this year’s National I attached to Maimonides School this been donated to Maimonides School by Merit Scholarship Program. The designation academic year, have been highlighting Kenny Wintman ’74. He gave one set of results from their performance on the 2012 Israelis’ achievements and success during books to the Levy Library and another com- Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/Na- monthly Tzionut sessions with students plete set to the new Beit Midrash in the shul tional Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The in grades 4-8. In September the students balcony. Kenny was Rabbi Soloveitchik’s nationwide pool of some 16,000 semifinal- learned that Israel is the first nation that student assistant while an undergraduate ists includes the highest-scoring entrants revived a language. The October session at . His father Abraham, in each state. Most will qualify for finalist focused on science, including Israel’s first z”l, was the Rav’s driver in Boston for many status next spring. astronaut, Ilan Ramon, z”l. “We asked the years. kids to name something they would take with them to space, and watched a video about Ramon’s life, about having a dream come true,” Adi reported. The next Tzionut session will consider Israel’s burgeoning technology sector.

OMBER ANNIVERSARY Upper School students took part in a brief, S meaningful observance to mark the 12th anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Rabbi Mordechai Soskil, Middle and Upper School Judaic Studies principal, said that “as citizens of the we have a responsibility to acknowledge this day.” He added that focusing on individuals who responded heroically will help stu- dents “try to find meaning in a day that had tragedy for so many.” Students watched a video entitled “Boatlift,” featuring first- person accounts of the evacuation of some 500,000 people from Manhattan by boat following the collapse of the World Trade Center. The anniversary had special signifi- cance for many members of the Class of 2014. Daniel Lewin, z”l, father of one of their Kindergarten classmates, Ithamar Lewin, was a passenger on the first flight that targeted the World Trade Center. During the memorial program, seniors Liorah Ruben- stein and Daniel Schwartz read selections from poetry written by Charles Lewin, 8 Kindergarteners Ozzie Vidan (left) and Danny Missaghi break in a new dreidel in this photo taken by The Boston Herald. grandfather of Ithamar.