Kol HaKavod Summer 2018 כל הכבוד קי ץ תשע׳׳ח INSPIRING EXCELLENCE JOSEPH KUSHNER HEBREW ACADEMY . RAE KUSHNER YESHIVA HIGH SCHOOL FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL JKHA/RKYHS VALUES A proud grandparent was delighted by the breadth and scope of the JKHA/RKYHS experience during a special day THERE ARE SIX CORE VALUES THAT FRAME THE JKHA/RKYHS EXPERIENCE. IN THE PAGES AHEAD, dedicated to grandparents. He exuberantly exclaimed, “There is something here for everyone.” In just a few words, he captured the educational philosophy of JKHA/RKYHS: Every child matters, including a nursery child using his/her senses RECEIVE A GLIMPSE OF HOW OUR SCHOOL LIVED THESE VALUES IN THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR. to learn about the environment, a sixth grade mishnah student emerging as a new chain in the link of the Oral Tradition, or a young scientist exploring the intricacies of genetic engineering. Every student in JKHA/RKYHS is encouraged to think critically, develop his/her curiosity, and to personalize learning. JKHA/RKYHS’ enriched and exciting learning environment inspires students to make meaning out of their learning, and be independent and thoughtful students. Explore ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE Learning is not measured by grades, or market-ready skills. The most important learning benchmarks are the choices our Opportunity students make, the lives they lead and their commitment to their heritage. During this critical time of Jewish history, we are passionately committed to preparing our students to be strong members of our community, appreciate the infinite gifts of The cornerstone of a JKHA/RKYHS education Students constantly exercise and cultivate We provide students with clear learning learning, identify as proud Jews, advocate for Israel, and live their lives informed by the values of Torah. is Torah living—embedding a love of Torah leadership skills by assuming responsibility goals and dedicated support for our learning, embracing Torah values, and for school programs and co-curricular wide-ranging, innovative, and thematic Teachers encourage our students to reach the highest standards of performance. To facilitate growth, we carefully monitor our students’ learning and offer them many opportunities to deepening our connection to the State of activities, and enjoy enhancements and secular and Judaic curricula that exceed discover their latent talents, find their voices and facilitate engagement in a range of informal and co-curricular activities. As students grow and mature, they begin to recognize Israel, while developing rigorous analytical opportunities outside the classroom. standard requirements and ensure each their obligations to others and for others. Through learning and doing, students become activists and advocates for what is right. They are the next links in our dynastic chain, based skills in the study of Tanach and Talmud. child’s academic success. on what they learn in their homes and in JKHA/RKYHS. As you read about the depth of the JKHA/RKYHS experience described in this issue of Kol Hakavod, you will no doubt echo what the grandfather told me, that there is something T here for everyone. H I N We are delighted to share our nachat with you.—Rabbi Eliezer E. Rubin, Head of School, Klatt Family Rosh HaYeshiva K CRITICALLY The ability to think critically is a necessary Providing students the opportunity to FROM OUR PRESIDENT We seek to inspire a sense of wonder and skill both in the academic realm and in the make a difference in the lives of others and lifelong love of learning. We make discovery real world. Students develop the capacity to the world around them, we focus on the It is incredible to think that the new school year is upon us. Just yesterday we were packing our kids for camp, and yet here and creative expression a vital part of the comprehend, analyze, and express content development of strong, meaningful Jewish we are assembling school supplies. Thankfully, our school again stands ready to provide a vibrant learning environment to educational experience. across academic disciplines and to reconstruct identities, cultivating concern for others all the active minds within its walls. Of course, that energy comes not from the building, but from the dedicated educators a previously held point of view in light of new through chesed, service learning projects, and administrators that bring their passion into it every day. Having said that, much has been done to ensure that we information and perspectives. We provide and social activism. have a top-notch physical facility to match the high caliber of our staff. Thanks to the generosity of our school community, opportunities for higher level thinking. driven by the desire to honor the memory of Naomi Rosenfeld z”l, we expect to soon open the Naomi Rosenfeld Kehilah Center. This vibrant new space will provide an exciting new place for children to experience Jewish life and learning. We also look forward to new outdoor recreational facilities being completed this school year. Unfortunately, the complexity of Mazal Tov to the Class of 2018! this project made it impossible to finish before our students arrived. However, we expect our children soon having access Our students are attending the following prestigious colleges, universities, yeshivot and seminaries listed below: to something truly special, and we are eager for the opportunities these dynamic new facilities will offer our children to Barnard College SUNY - Binghamton exercise their bodies as well as their minds. Brandeis University SUNY - Stony Brook CUNY - College of Staten Island Stern College for Women Our Yeshiva has reached even greater heights of excellence, and its reputation continues to attract many new students in all divisions . We are fortunate that our local communities Drexel University Stern College Honors Program are growing, with many new families benefiting from the Bonim program. We also appreciate that so many families throughout the region are choosing to send their children to IDC Herzliya Tulane University Honors Program our Yeshiva. This growth has enabled us to further expand and diversify the programs offered to our students, without detracting from our “small school” feeling. Johns Hopkins University University of Connecticut Middlesex County College University of Maryland, College Park Montclair State University University of Maryland Honors Program I am also personally excited to welcome Jeremy Halpern, who has agreed to join me as school co-President. Jeremy is a long-time and passionate supporter of our institution, Muhlenberg College University of Michigan and brings tremendous skills and enthusiasm to the role. I look forward to working with Jeremy, as well as all the other lay leaders who give so much of their time and energy to New York University University of Pennsylvania supporting Rabbi Rubin and all the professional staff that makes JKHA/RKYHS such a special place. Pennsylvania State University Yale University Princeton University Yeshiva University Jeremy and I take great pride in our institution, and in having the opportunity to play some a part in advancing its noble goal of developing upstanding members of tomorrow’s Rutgers University Yeshiva University Honors Program Jewish communities. The world seems to be changing at a greater pace than ever, presenting new challenges but also exciting new opportunities. Working in partnership between Rutgers University Honors Program the school and our parents, we look forward to empowering our children to use the amazing new tools at their disposal in constructive ways, and to help them establish healthy Amudim Midreshet Moriah Reishit habits and maximize their educational experience. Ashreinu Midreshet Torat Chessed Tiferet Bar Ilan Israel Experience Midreshet Torah v’Avoda Torat Shraga Thank you all so much for being a part of our school community. —Dov Lando, President, JKHA/RKYHS Board of Trustees Mechinat Kol Ami Nativ Yeshivat Hakotel Machon Maayan Netiv Aryeh Yeshivat Torah v’Avoda Midreshet Amit Nishmat 2 Midreshet Harova Orayta 3 JUDAIC STUDIES ENGAGEMENT JUDAIC STUDIES ENGAGEMENT Whether in tanach, gemara or tefilah and chagim, the Judaic Studies department at JKHA works to implement innovative techniques and At RKYHS, Judaic Studies and Torah learning aren’t simply subjects taught in a classroom—they are experienced by students through exciting educational strategies to engage students in their Torah learning. and engaging supplementary activities and Torah Lishma (Torah learning for its own sake) opportunities. Lower School students took part in multi-sensory and participatory experiences to internalize Torah lessons in exciting and memorable ways. Students trekked through the hallways to the Land of Canaan, they “met” Rashi to learn about his life and his works on both the written and oral Torah, visited a petting zoo for parshat Noach, and more. “Judaic Independence” was a theme for Early Childhood and Lower School. Students were given opportunities to take an active role in their learning and tefilot, including a brachot initiative in Early Childhood, the Ani Tefilati program in Lower School where students recorded 1,100 days of outside of school davening, and the mishna club which welcomed 50 third and fourth graders who opted to learn extra Torah during their lunch period. School unity was promoted when the The second semester of Torah learning at RKYHS brought the monthly Rosh Chodesh Chizuk program. Designed to give students an ongoing opportunity Lower School community came together to strengthen their personal growth, small groups of students with their Rebbeim and morot focused on learning about areas of interest, inspiration, and on a Motzei Shabbat to participate in a community-wide Havdalah. JKHA struggle for them. Topics such as developing Torah habits, the psychology of spiritual growth, the meaning of mitzvot, Pirkei Avot, and inspirational sayings Early Childhood students and their from the Torah were discussed in a comfortable, informal setting. families also joined together for the inaugural Shemama Pajama event where students engaged in storytelling RKYHS instituted a new program for all ninth and tenth graders called Religious Guidance.