Happy Passover Canadian Friends of Boys Town Jerusalem Boys Town Jerusalem is a unique ‘community of youth’ where boys from every economic, social and cultural Mylwvry rivn tyrq background acquire an inspiring technical, Torah and academic education which is so vital to Israel. March 2014 | Volume 13 | No. 1 “Start Up Nation” Starting Young 1st Prize Trophy for BTJ Robotics Team The up-and-coming generation of the “Start up Nation” at Boys Town Jerusalem has been working overtime this year AND THE RESULTS ARE IN! The BTJ Robotics Team, composed of 10 junior high students (ages 13 and 14) who have been eating, sleeping and breathing robotics for months, was awarded first prize for Robot Mechanical Design in the recent FLL-Israel (“FIRST Lego League”) Robotics Competition. Boys Town led all Jerusalem schools in the regional competition with impressive scores when pitted against the top 36 Jerusalem schools selected for the contest. “This champion robot started out as a box of hundreds of Lego pieces and For the handpicked students on the Boys Town robotics team, mastering several containers of electronic components and wires,” explained eighth- the knowledge of physics, electronics, math and computer programming grader Yehudah Neimark. “Our team worked for months to design and that goes into practical robotics has become their passion. Their robotics construct a robot whose speed, maneuverability and (artificial) intelligence studies are extracurricular, and these young men have spent up to seven could break records.” Boys Town’s first-prize robot was cited by the FLL hours each afternoon and evening in the school’s state-of-the-art Judge judges for its superior design, assembly and performance. David B. and Irma R. Follender Robotics Center, breathing life into their mechanical creations. “All of the boys are exceptionally good students and very special people,” praised their advisor, electrical engineer Avishay Harel. “They are thirsty for knowledge, and are top candidates to advance in Israel’s ‘start-up nation’ of sophisticated hi-tech.” The FLL Contest was not merely a robotic battlefield, Harel stressed. “The theme ‘Nature’s Fury’ demanded that the contestants devise technological solutions to save lives in natural disasters.” The Boys Town team focused on rescuing victims trapped under the rubble of earthquakes and other disasters. The team created an innovative “life signal transmitter” in the form of a simple, inexpensive bracelet that can lead first responders to people who are buried alive. The bracelet, which includes a heartbeat Continued on page 2 Canadian Friends of Boys Town Snowstorm Breaks The Jerusalem Kiryat Noar Yerushalayim Ice for BTJ Students Founder Rabbi Alexander S. Linchner, l”z Russian Boys Felt at Home! Founding Chairman The heavy snowfall that struck Jerusalem this winter paralyzed the city and the school. For Eric Exton, l”z students and staff at Boys Town Jerusalem, it provided a (white) backdrop for an outpouring of President heartwarming acts of kindness. Jules N. Kronis, Q.C. Treasurer Eldon Moses Boys Town chef Avi Chamal had just finished serving breakfast Thursday morning when the Honourary Chairs snowstorm began and school was dismissed. The kitchen crew made very special treats for their Leslie Dan captive diners. “We wanted to spoil them a bit,” said the chef. Charles Flam (Montreal) Members As for the Russian-born Halifax students, the storm’s Stephen Zatzman hardships had a silver lining, Montreal explained Rabbi David Ben Jon Dlusy Zimrah, who heads the Rabbi Dr. Moise Ohana Russian-language “OhrDessa” Toronto program. “The massive snow Mark Bernick Alan Burger reminded them of home, and Marty Collis eased their homesickness,” he Janice Maser smiled. Earl Miller Brian Morris Dr. Harriet Morris “Everyone at Boys Town Eldon Moses is especially grateful to Alina Turk our Russian students for Aaron Weinroth Marlene White their hard-working efforts shoveling, clearing broken Winnipeg Lyle Smordin tree limbs and their sincere goodwill,” said Natan Tal, managing director of the school. “It’s times Calgary like these that bring the Boys Town Jerusalem family all the closer.” “Sadly,” he reported, “The Gordon Hoffman storm damage to the Boys Town campus was extensive. A preliminary estimate puts the damage at Vancouver a minimum of $50,000. Dr. W. Barrett Benny Chaim Kornfeld Executive Director Jerry Tollinsky Continued from page 1 Administrative Assistant Debbie Basch “Start Up Nation” Starting Young sensor and personal ID data including blood type, is programmed to broadcast a signal to the Contact us: rescue team via radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. Canadian Friends of Boys Town Jerusalem 200-2788 Bathurst Street Boys Town added elocution and public speaking training in order to prepare the boys for their Toronto, ON M6B 3A3 Tel: 416.789.7241 Fax: 416.789.1090 detailed presentations which they made to the team of tough judges. T.F.: 1.866.989.7241 Email: [email protected] For his part, advisor Avishay Harel is already gearing up to give the team intensive lessons in Please visit us at www.btjcanada.org computer programming to prepare them for victory in the next round of contests, the Robots and Technology Competition. “In great part, we owe the prizes we win to all Boys Town supporters BN # 100764638RR0001 who have made our education possible,” Harel said. “We’re especially grateful to BTJ Chairman, Mr. Josh Weston, who initiated the school’s Robotics program and is also a founding sponsor of The office of Canadian Friends of Boys Town Jerusalem the FLL Competition. Thanks to the generosity of Boys Town supporters, our students are gaining is grateful to Rabbi Moshe Linchner, knowledge for a lifetime.” Dean, Yoni Strimber, Development Executive, Shoshana Kory, Administrator, Shoshana Levovitz (USA Office) and Melanie Rosenberg, Media Plus, without whose help this newsletter could not have been published. Thank you! Please visit us at www.btjcanada.org 2 March 2014 | Volume 13 | No. 1 Young Student Chooses to Stand Behind BTJ Benjamin Steps up with Project Give Back He was so passionate about Boys Town and all that they do. You could Ben Aviv presents gifts for the BTJ library to feel Ben’s genuine connection to this charity. I know he will be a lifelong Jerry Tollinsky, National Executive Director, supporter of Boys Town.” Canadian Friends To back up his newly committed friendship to Boys Town Jerusalem, Ben has added several books to the Maks and Leah Rothstein Library, first in honour of his presentation and later in celebration of his birthday. Ben has also started to think of how he will help Boys Town Jerusalem in connection with his Bar Mitzvah which is in just a few short years and he hopes to visit the school himself soon. Canadian Friends of Boys Town Jerusalem is extremely grateful to Ben for his dedication and for his commitment. We look forward to a long and warm relationship with him and we will be honoured to be recognized by future students in Project Give Back. Canadian Friends of Boys Town Jerusalem were pleased to learn BTJ Librarian that Benjamin Aviv, 9, had selected Boys Town Jerusalem in receives and unpacks gifts Israel as his chosen Tzedekah in his grade four class at Associated from Ben Aviv Hebrew Schools of Toronto. Ben’s school is participating in ‘Project Give Back’. Project Give Back is an individualized curriculum-based program aimed to enhance responsibility and develop a deep seated feeling in one’s self to make a difference in the lives of others. The program follows specific guidelines geared to enhance the grade 4/5 Language Arts Program. Designed by 17-year elementary school teaching veteran, Ellen Schwartz, the program is geared to teach children the true power of giving which links her years of teaching expertise with the skills of fundraising, thus instilling a true love of giving back and community outreach which will help to change future lives. Ben was the first in his class to make his presentation which included visuals that he prepared to back up his remarks. Ben’s research included studying the Boys Town web site and interviewing the Canadian Executive Director, Jerry Tollinsky. Amy Greenberg, representing Project Give Back, who attended Ben’s presentation said, “Ben’s presentation was magical. Canadian Friends of Boys Town Jerusalem proudly acknowledges the relationships we have built with donors across Canada who direct their generous gifts through the Jewish Foundations. Become a Friend for Life – Remember BTJ in your Will – Please call 416.789.7241 March 2014 | Volume 13 | No. 1 3 8031-S Passport 3.0_OUTPUT.qxd 10/16/13 5:15 PM Page 32 A School with a Mission Boys Town Jerusalem (Kiryat Noar Yerushalayim) was founded in PASSPORT 1948 by Brooklyn-born Rabbi Alexander S. Linchner, to provide TO young refugees to the new State of Israel with both technological skills1 and the values of our sacred Jewish heritage. Today, Boys Town Jerusalem’s modern, 18-acre campus in the Bayit Vegan neighborhood of Jerusalem is one of the nation’s top centres of NACHAS technological education. The nearly 1,000 students who study and live on the Boys Town Jerusalem campus mirror the ethnic diversity of Israel’s overall population, including a high percentage of children from immigrant families. Over 75% of the student body comes from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Students range in age from 12 to 20, 32 entering the junior high school and continuing through post-graduate Turning Young Boys programs. Boys Town’s mission is to turn young boys from limited from Limited Backgrounds backgrounds into young men with into Young Men limitless futures. with Limitless Futures BOYS TOWN JERUSALEM I learned the basics of 8031-S Passport 3.0_OUTPUT.qxd 10/16/13 5:18 PM Page 14 mechanics and technology at Boys“ Town Jerusalem which steered my course in life.