Alumni Society News - Fall 2015

News

Fall 2015

Alumni Society Alumni Newsletter of Golda Och Academy

What’s Inside 2 Message from the Head of School 2 Messsage from the Development/Alumni Office 3 New Upper School Principal 4 Our Roots in STEM 6 Building a Brighter Future for STEM at GOA 8 Message from the Alumni Committee 9 Ben Friedman, Class of 2002 11 New GOA Faculty 12 Young Alumni Barbeque 13 Class Notes

Message From The Head of School Dear SSDS-GOA Alumni,

Beginning my tenure as Head of School during our 50th anniversary year has truly been exciting. It has given me the opportunity to look back on all of our accomplishments and at the same time, look ahead with great anticipation for the future of Golda Och Academy.

This fall, we opened our brand new, state-of-the-art Dr Lynne B Harrison STEM Center on our Eric F. Ross Upper School Campus, along with a renovated library in honor of Dr. Raynor and expanded art room in memory of Avi Svirsky z’l (Class of 2001). At the Wilf Lower School Campus, we redesigned our outdoor play space and gave our students more room to enjoy themselves outside! All of these enhancements provide more growth and educational opportunities for our students across grade levels. Our goal here at GOA is to continue challenging our students both inside and outside of the classroom. We want today’s students to move forward and join the ranks of their fellow alums – all of you – well prepared to take on the challenges of the ever-changing work force that they will enter.

Our students are motivated and love to dream big. They enjoy exploring on their own and coming to school to ask questions of their teachers.

They look at a 3D printer not just as something that’s cool in the classroom, but as a device that can be a gateway to a tremendous amount of future growth and opportunities.

No one knows the opportunities that lie ahead after graduating these halls better than you, our alumni. I have truly enjoyed speaking with so many of you, hearing about the great things in your lives from summer internships, study abroad adventures and experiences on your respective campuses to stories about the working world and your incredible accomplishments. The range of interesting and exciting things you are doing truly underscores the fact that your time here at GOA was valuable, not just for the lessons you learned in the classroom but also because of the experiential opportunities that you were all afforded.

We love sharing all of the amazing things happening on our campuses, and of course, love hearing from you. Don’t be a stranger. Come back for a visit and see the changes on our campuses firsthand or, at the very least, keep in touch. Each of you has experienced success in one way or another, and each of those successes has helped shape our history over the last 50 years. We can’t wait to see what the next 50 has in store.

Adam Shapiro Head of School

Message From The Development/Alumni Office We are so fortunate to have the unique opportunity every day to walk through the Upper and Lower Schools to see the amazing teachers, smiling kids and beautiful spaces. Mr. Shapiro recently said, “The newly renovated and constructed physical spaces of our buildings now match the extraordinary education and experiences that have been happening in classrooms for 50 years now.”

How is it that a SSDS-GOA graduate from 1995 can sit in the same room with a graduate from 2007 and have a number of shared experiences? Answers may vary but we are sure they include the sense of community they experienced here at school, the personalized approach and support from teachers, and a sense of shared values.

This is exactly what makes our Alumni Society so strong and vibrant. We want to thank you all for being a part of our community. You have an open invitation to come back and visit school. Come see the new spaces for yourself.

Though some of the physical structures have changed, we are confident you will experience the very same emotions you had as a student.

Many of these physical changes could not have been possible without help from our alumni. We thank those of you who continue to support our school and have helped make our Alumni annual campaign a success. We hope you will continue to show your support when you receive your information on the Golda Och Academy Annual Fund.

As part of our 50th anniversary celebration, we are also excited to invite all alumni to our Alumni Homecoming reunion event on Sunday, May 22, 2016. Please save the date and stay tuned for details!

Wishing you the best,

Stephanie Bash-Soudry Jason Silberfein Director of Development & Alumni Relations

Associate Director of Development

students at the school. In all schools, I have been a person that people go to for advice on working with students and parents and for direction in meeting the needs of individual students.

When I left Gann Academy in 2012, I had the amazing opportunity to go to India with my two daughters. There I worked at a K-12 school as the Acting Assistant Principal. It was the opportunity of a lifetime! When we came back from India, we joined my husband in New York City where he had started a new job.

I have spent the last two years at The Hudson School and am looking forward to bringing the skills and talents I honed there to GOA. GOA: What drew you to the position?

GOA Welcomes New Upper School Principal Ms. Christine Stodolski may be the “new kid on the block,” but she is bringing her street smarts and decades of educational experience to Golda Och Academy.

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ith 26 years’ experience in independent and private schools, Ms. Christine Stodolski has joined Golda Och Academy as the new Upper School Principal.

With an extensive background in the education field, Ms. Stodolski has served in various high-level administrative and teaching roles, including Assistant Head of School at Gann Academy — a Jewish day school for grades 9-12 in Waltham, Mass., as well as the Assistant Head of School at Meridian Academy— an independent school affiliated with the Coalition of Essential Schools in Brookline, Mass.

At Meridian, she developed and implemented an integrated math, science and technology curriculum as well as collaborated on the Tufts University Genomics Project to develop and implement a genomics curriculum with unprecedented access to DNA sequencing technology. Additionally, she served as the Dean of Students, Acting Assistant Headmaster and Co-Chair of the Math Department at the Waring School, a progressive school in Beverly, Mass.

Ms. Stodolski also brings a wider global perspective to GOA having been the Acting Assistant Principal at the Taktse International School in Gangtok, India where she helped set up new systems and structures for teacher supervision, professional development, high school curriculum, accounting and fundraising. Additionally, she served as a consultant on long-term goals for the school.

Ms. Stodolski received a Bachelor of Arts from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania and earned a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from the Klingenstein Center, Teachers College at Columbia University in New York. In

2011, she was awarded a National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Fellowship for Aspiring Heads of School.

We are thrilled to have Ms. Stodolski join the GOA team. Earlier this fall, she sat down with us to give us a little more insight into her background and her goals.

GOA: We’re so excited to have our Upper School principal position filled by such a well-rounded professional. Can you tell us a little bit about your background?

CS: I have worked in a variety of schools in numerous positions during my career, ranging from schools offering experiential education and interdisciplinary courses to schools with traditional curricula that offer AP and honors courses. Though I am a math teacher by trade with a focus on algebra, I have also taught a fair amount of science, mainly physics and biology, which was at times combined with a math curriculum. Since the Upper School principal position does not involve as much of a teaching responsibility, I know I will have to work hard and find creative ways to get to know the students well.

My administrative experience also represents a range of positions from Dean of Students to Admissions Director to Dean of Studies with curricular responsibilities. My past positions at many schools, including my last job at The Hudson School in Hoboken, have included similar responsibilities to the ones I have here at GOA. For instance, at Meridian Academy I built the schedule and created new curricula in the areas of math and science. At Gann Academy, I focused on supervising Department Chairs as they worked to hone the curriculum and meet the individual needs of the

CS: GOA is a school that strives for excellence in all areas of its program, and I am looking forward to bringing my insights and experience to that endeavor. I am particularly excited about the STEM initiatives and the new Dr Lynne B Harrison STEM Center. I can tell that the faculty is a dedicated group of educators. I am really looking forward to meeting the rest of the community.

GOA: How would you describe your transition to the school? Any first day “jitters?”

CS: Ms. Jamie Himmelstein, GOA’s Middle School Director, and Mr. Jordan Herskowitz, Director of Student Life and Arts Department Chair, have worked very hard to make my transition a smooth one. I still have a great deal to learn about the school, but I know that the people here are happy to help me with my transition. I also rely strongly on the faith and trust that Adam Shapiro has in my leadership capabilities. He has supported me in joining the team with my own style and perspective.

GOA: What goals do you hope to achieve this year and in the future?

CS: My goal for the first year is to gain an in-depth understanding of the way the school works and of the enduring values the school promotes. I want to explore the ways in which student learning is at the center of the work that teachers and administrators are doing.

I want to support the faculty, ensure they are enjoying their work and growing their practice, and I want to support the students as they grow into Jewish thinkers and learner.

GOA: In your brief tenure here, what are you most excited about?

CS: I am very excited to join the Golda Och community. People at the school take pride in the quality of the community here. They love being connected to the other people in the community. I have seen this already in the warm welcome I received, first from the faculty and then from the students.

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Our Roots in STEM From doctors to Fulbright scholars, these four alumni are just a few of the many graduates making their mark in the field.

BEN HERZBERG CLASS of 2006

For Ben Herzberg, pursuing a career in science seems to have always been part of his DNA. Following graduation from Princeton University in 2010, Ben spent a year in London getting a master’s degree in the history of science and medicine and then headed to Boston to get his MD from Harvard Medical School and the Harvard/MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology (HST). HST is a joint venture between Harvard and MIT to train physicians competent not just in clinical medicine, but also in basic biological science and medical engineering. “The idea is to train ‘physician-scientists,’” said Ben, “who will not just treat patients with the tools of clinical medicine today, but actively participate in advancing those tools towards the new treatments of tomorrow.”

After his Harvard graduation this past spring, Ben began his residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and said he will most likely work in oncology research. The lab he worked at in Harvard is known worldwide for new cancer drugs, and the lab recently published a paper on a new technique to design cancer drugs. Ben said one of the techniques he helped invent is a new strategy to trick cells into destroying those that do a specific activity. It’s a way to convert drugs that are inhibitors into destroyers, which wouldn’t require the same level of new drug development.

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While SSDS-GOA did not have the same STEM focus and offerings it has today, Ben said he often traces much of his success back to the school. He highlighted his great mathematics education (“Thanks, Mr. Laks!”), and his wonderful science teachers (Mrs. Rose and Mrs. Kortenaar). “But more important than any individual teacher or any class, Schechter taught me what it was like to think deeply and to care deeply about problems in the world. This came from all sorts of teachers in all sorts of disciplines: Jane Freeman in English, Eleanor Brooks z”l and Carol Friedman in history, Rabbi Kavon and Rabbi Daniel Siegel in tanach/ rabbinics. It’s really those two things that were critical in getting me to where I am today.”

Ben also points out that he learned strong writing skills at SSDS-GOA. “That’s a skill that’s as important if you’re spending the rest of your life in a lab as it is if you become a lawyer or a real estate mogul. It’s something from my education that began [at Schechter] and one that I rely on every day.”

What’s Ben’s advice to alumni looking to break into STEM? “Find mentors in the field you want to work in, understand the basics of computer programming and train as broadly as possibly. At Princeton, I found a rigorous science training program to train biologists. I had a mentor who said when you are young, train as broadly as possible. If you want to be a biologist, learn physics. Don’t underestimate how important it is to be well rounded. I write every day even though I am in science from grants and proposals to articles explaining my work to notes on patients and case reports.

It’s a skill I use every day much more so than solving any math problem.”

Lee Rosenthal CLASS of 2011 With a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship in hand, GOA alumnus Lee Rosenthal graduated from Haverford College this past spring and headed to Heidelberg, Germany. Since arriving in Germany in September, Lee has been conducting astronomy research with

professors and postdocs that primarily study galaxy formation and evolution using computer simulations. While his official university affiliation is with Heidelberg University, the group he is working with is based out of the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies.

“My academic advisors, both at Haverford and elsewhere, were very encouraging about the idea of doing research abroad after graduating,” said Lee. “I saw the Fulbright as an ideal opportunity to join an international research group for a year, and one of my advisors suggested that I apply for a Germany grant and put me in touch with Professor Volkel Springel.

By spending a year in Heidelberg in Professor Springel’s group, I hope to both expand my knowledge and activity in the study of astrophysics, and grow personally by exploring a country and culture that is new to me.”

In college, Lee took a freshman seminar in astrophysics that sparked his excitement about the subject. It met once every other Monday night in the Haverford observatory. The professor gave a short lecture about some physics in the cosmos, such as the deaths of stars or the expansion of the universe, and would then send the class to collaborate on problems. The lectures, said Lee, provided great exercises in creative, off-the-cuff puzzle solving while also creating friendships among the freshmen and fun academic atmosphere.

As for his GOA influences, Lee said, “I definitely owe my interests and ideas about math and

science to recently retired math teacher Mr. Londino, who taught me to see reasoning and mathematics in a simple, intuitive way. He is a fantastic teacher, and helped me develop from a struggling student to becoming proud of my work in physics, astronomy and math.”

Former SSDS-GOA teachers Mrs. Freeman and Mrs. Kortenaar also impacted Lee, who said the two teachers inspired him with their passion for writing and physics respectively. “I owe my interests and abilities in writing largely to Mrs. Freeman, and my pursuit of physics entirely to Mrs. Kortenar,” he said, adding that GOA armed him with the tools he needed to be a successful and independent student in college.

Naomi Ephraim CLASS of 2012

graduate school and eventually earn her PhD and become a professor.

This past summer, Naomi participated in the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the University of California, Berkeley. Her program was specifically in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, where she did research on sustainability in transportation. By the end of the summer, she created a model that uses collected cellular location data to accurately depict a user’s travel patterns. The research, she said, could have implications for both individuals and transportation engineers in terms of lowering carbon footprints and creating a more sustainable infrastructure for the future.

Naomi attributes much of her love of math to Mr. Londino, her AP calculus teacher. “His ‘what not how’ teaching style and theory on the learning of math inspired me to pursue mathematics in college,” she said. “Mr. Londino taught in the same manner through which I learned, and posed challenging but interesting problems that stressed the importance of understanding rather than memorizing formulas.”

With computer science spanning a vast majority of fields today, Naomi encourages anyone interested to consider pursuing it. “For computer science specifically, it’s never too soon to learn how to program. Try to think of how you could tell your computer to solve simple tasks, such as sorting a list of numbers in the fastest way possible. When I first took Intro to Java, it opened a world of possibilities for me.”

From the time she was a young girl, math had always been of interest to Naomi Ephraim. In middle school, she was enthralled with solving complex Rubik’s cubes. In high school, she was fascinated by the algorithm for maximizing points in a given game of Tetris. Though she didn’t realize it at the time, over the years, she had been cultivating her passion for theoretical computer science — the unique intersection of math and computer science.

Today, that love of theoretical computer science has led Naomi to double major in mathematics and computer science at Johns Hopkins University. After graduating this spring, she hopes to pursue cryptography in

Josh PeArlstein CLASS of 2012 Though still in his senior year at the University of Pennsylvania, Josh Pearlstein is taking the STEM field by storm. He has already developed several apps, including his most recent one called Blink. As of the beginning of the summer, Blink had a few thousand users.

The app allows friends to spontaneously get together by predefining common activities, therefore eliminating the need to type them out. Once you create a group, friends are then notified via push notification and can opt into the chat if they are free.

Two years ago Josh had also worked on an app called Notice, an anonymous message

board that was popular at Penn and Stanford University.

While pursuing a computer science major with a minor in math and engineering entrepreneurship, Penn sought out Josh’s talents, asking him to teach his own app development course which is quite unusual for an undergraduate. After working as a teaching assistant (TA) for the class during his sophomore and junior year, he now teaches approximately 50 students and has three of his own TAs. “I really enjoy teaching,” said Josh. “At this point you can finally see the students’ progress, and it’s pretty rewarding.”

The final project, he added, is making a full significant app.

Penn isn’t the only place that has been impressed with Josh’s accomplishments.

After two summers interning at Google, the company offered him a software development position in their New York office. Josh will begin his job there next fall.

“The academic rigor of GOA definitely prepared me for college,” he said. Although SSDS-GOA didn’t have a formal computer science curriculum at the time, Josh said he had many opportunities in high school to work with computers, from The Flame layout and website to the yearbook. “I was always interested in tinkering with computers and figuring out how they worked,” he added. “In high school, I was always the one who was pulled out of my classes to fix the projectors!”

His influences, he said, were Mr. Londino whose engaging approach to math contributed to his love of the subject, along with physics teacher Dr. Jeng who helped foster his affinity for science.

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Building a Brighter Future for STEM at GOA New state-of-the-art Dr Lynne B Harrison STEM Center opens at the Eric F. Ross Upper School Campus

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ne day after saying goodbye to our students on June 17 for the summer, the construction team arrived at the Upper School campus to dig up the concrete for the new Dr Lynne B Harrison STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Center. With only 10 weeks to complete the center by the opening of school on Sept. 3, the team worked tirelessly, and a brand new three-story center was ready for students on the first day of school this fall.

The state-of-the-art facility is named in honor of Dr Lynne B Harrison, community philanthropist and school grandparent, who generously committed $1 million toward the facility. Located in front of the Ulam and the Beit Knesset, two levels are dedicated for STEM and include space for a full competition field for the robotics team (the CodeRunners), dedi-

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cated areas for project construction, additional 3D printers and a fully-stocked workshop with tools and instruments for students. The center’s third floor is a multipurpose space for students to collaborate with one another as well as attend lectures and demonstrations.

“This new STEM center expansion is something we are all excited about, and we know that it will go a long way towards enhancing our program and moving our school forward as a leader in STEM education,” said Adam Shapiro, GOA’s Head of School. “We hope by giving students access to state-of-the-art labs and high-quality instruction, they will be well-positioned to be successful both here at Golda Och Academy and beyond in their future careers.”

To help with the design process, GOA worked closely with the Center for Initiatives in Jewish

Education (CIJE) and the Gruss Foundation, who lent their expertise and support to ensure the new facility met the school’s needs.

The new addition is an extension of the Dr Lynne B Harrison STEM program, which broadened GOA’s STEM initiatives in 2013 thanks to a generous donation from Dr Harrison. Her initial grant enabled the school to hire a new STEM Coordinator as well as fund a new intensive high school STEM class, high school robotics team, computer science electives, 3D printers and a brand new Macintosh lab. “STEM work is the foundation for 21st century prosperity,” said Dr Harrison. “Attracting our Jewish youth to these professions and giving them top-quality education in these disciplines is of key importance. The time for the STEM Center is now.”

To visit the Dr Lynne B Harrison STEM Center, please contact Stephanie Bash-Soudry, Director of Development and Alumni Relations, at sbashsoudry@goldaochacademy.org or 973-602-3612.

Rabbi Joyce Raynor Honored with Library Renovation

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n honor of Rabbi Joyce Raynor’s retirement on June 30, 2015, more than $127,000 was raised to renovate the Bernard J. and Zelda Meislin Memorial Library at the Eric F. Ross campus. Having served our school for the last 30 years as a teacher, principal and Head of School, the library project is a tribute to Rabbi Raynor’s dedication to Golda Och Academy and its students. Rabbi Raynor developed our Israel programs into a national model of excellence and grew our endowment from $3M to $47M, completing the Building on Tradition campaign to meet the $15M Och Match. She has made a tremendous impact on our school and on the day school field.

The redesigned library features a lounge area, collaborative work areas, charging stations, flexible seating and presentation/meeting space. Thank you to our donors for bringing this project to life and to our past presidents Eleanor Kramer and Jimmy Schwarz for leading this project.

The Art Room Project in Memory of Avi Svirsky z”l

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s part of this year’s capital improvements, our Upper School students are enjoying a new, redesigned art room in memory of Avi Svirsky z”l, a graduate of the Class of 2001, and a beloved son, brother, grandson and friend who was taken from us all too soon. Born and raised in our community, Avi was truly a creative soul. Even from an early age, he was clearly an artist. His imagination was always humming, and his ideas were always flowing. In a life that was much too short, he managed to live louder and more creatively than most.

Those closest to him sought out a project that would pay tribute to Avi’s life, honor his interests and make a difference for current and future students at a school that was important to him. With a target fundraising goal of $25,000, the Art Room Project was initiated to upgrade the existing facilities. The expanded and redesigned space features flexible workspaces; new art drying and storage solutions; as well as new lighting, easels and drawing boards to promote observational drawing education.

For more information, or to support these projects please contact Stephanie Bash-Soudry, Director of Development and Alumni Relations, at sbashsoudry@goldaochacademy.org or 973-602-3612.

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Message From The Alumni Committee Dear Alumni,

It’s incredible to think we are celebrating 50 years of our school’s history. From Solomon Schechter to Golda Och Academy, from Union to West Orange, hundreds of students have walked through the doors of our school. Inspired by their teachers and the Schechter-GOA community, they have graduated as future Jewish leaders with a commitment to Israel and Jewish values.

Over the last 50 years, we have built a robust alumni society that we should all be proud of. This past year, for example, has been one of our most exciting yet. A total of 171 gifts were made to the school last year by alumni. The fruits of this generosity are incredible and far-reaching. Thanks in part to alumni contributions, the Upper School opened a state-of-the-art, three-level STEM Center this fall and new play spaces at the Lower School. A brand new Art room was dedicated to the memory of Avi Svirsky z’l thanks to several alumni who spearheaded the effort. Together, we have made tuition affordability a reality, providing scholarships and tuition assistance to over 50 percent of current students.

To us, however, the most meaningful statistic is that more than 10 percent of our current parent body is alumni families.

Alumni recognize the incredible education they received and want to pass it on from generation to generation. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we want to encourage even more alumni involvement. Whether it means attending events, making a contribution or sending your children through the same doors you walked through, we know that our community will continue to grow and strengthen.

Lawrence Elbaum, Class of 1998, Co-Chair • Evan Majzner, Class of 2001, Co-Chair

Living in the city? Kids ready for school?

Thinking of moving back to the ’burbs?

Email admissions@goldaochacademy.org or call Mara Suskauer at 973-602-3601 to set up a tour of our state-of-the-art Wilf Lower School Campus.

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Alumni in Film: Ben Friedman, Class of 2002

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en Friedman’s love of art and performance were kindled at Solomon Schechter playing such roles as Lazar Wolf in Fiddler on the Roof and Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He was the art editor and cover artist for the Nuts and Raisins literary magazine, and had numerous wonderful high school teachers who inspired him to keep on writing. Since graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in English and Film, Ben has pursued his passion in creative writing while seeking answers to life’s big questions.

This has taken him through a host of diverse and interesting locales, from studying transcendental philosophy and shiatsu massage at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, to writing an epic biblical adaptation of Shmuel Aleph at the Pardes Institute in Jerusalem. He’s also worked at a major marketing agency in Manhattan, at a treatment center for the cognitively impaired and underprivileged, on an organic farm in Connecticut, at a rustic retreat center in Northern Massachusetts, and as a tutor, consultant, and freelance writer and editor.

In his spare time, Ben has lectured at the Joseph Campbell World Mythology RoundTable of New York; studied yoga and meditation at the Kripalu Yoga Center; performed his poetry (slam and verse) at such venues as the Nuyorican, the Cornelia Street Cafe and the Norman Rockwell Museum; and been published in a number of literary magazines, including The Alligator and Sonic Boom.

His primary creative outlet, however, has been screenwriting, and he’s thrilled and honored that the six feature-length scripts and numerous short screenplays he’s written since high school have received strong accolades from the Austin Film Festival, Denver/Starz Film Festival, Roswell Science Fiction Film Festival, American Gems Literary Competition, Shore Screenwriting Competition and Screencraft Screenwriting Competition.

His current writing project is a historical drama about the Golden Age of American comics, and how the children of immigrants (mostly Jewish) helped invent a new American mythology, full of paradoxical tensions between the best and worst in American culture.

While his is truly excited about his most recent venture, a short science-fiction script he wrote called Borders of the Imagination has won the Golden Blaster for Best Screenplay at the Irish National Science Fiction Film Festival.

Ben is putting his past filmmaking experiences to use as he attempts to produce it. Borders of the Imagination tells the story of an America in which children’s imaginary friends are coming to life by the thousands, and the ways in which society and individuals might realistically react to such a rupture in history. It’s an allegorical take on the issues of xenophobia, racism, and violence still sadly prevalent in America today, as well as a personal exploration of the Torah’s teachings on how we should treat the stranger among us.

With help from fellow alumnus Gary Finkler (storyboard and design support) and Schechter student Reuben Meltzer (director), Ben and his team have put together a three-minute trailer with a production grant from the Roswell Science Fiction Film Festival, which they are using as the showpiece of an ongoing fundraising effort. They are hoping to begin shooting this spring.

To see the trailer, learn more about Ben and his work, or get involved in the film’s production, contact him at Friedmab@gmail.com.

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ALUMNI CAN HELP STRENGTHEN GOA TODAY! (Formerly Shomrei Torah Annual Campaign)

552 Number of GOA students enrolled in 2015-16

50% Percentage of GOA students that receive

75%

financial aid

The yearly operating costs that

$1M

are covered by tuition and fees

171 Total gifts from alumni 2014-15

Why Give?

•

Academic and Teaching Excellence

•

Student Life and Extracurricular Activities

•

Jewish Community and Identity

•

Affordability and Financial Aid “We are very happy with the top education our son

receives at GOA and it is your generous tuition assistance that makes it possible for us to send him. The sense of community and Yiddishkeit and the love for Israel that GOA instills in him will last a lifetime! Thank you again for affording our family this opportunity.”

—GOA Parent

GOA needs to raise over $1 million annually to fund operating expenses not covered by tuition

Give online today at

www.goldaochacademy.org/annualfund

Welcome New GOA Faculty

Mr. Daniel Cymbala – Language Arts – US

Mr. Cymbala graduated from Grinnell College in Iowa with a degree in Philosophy and a minor in European Literature.

Prior to GOA, Mr. Cymbala taught English at a public charter school in Plainfield and has taught American Literature at a university in mainland China.

Ms. Lauren Faugno – Language Arts/ Social Studies – US

Ms. Faugno was born and raised in New Jersey and graduated from The College of Saint Elizabeth with degrees in English and Secondary Education. Prior to GOA, Ms. Faugno taught middle school English at Brauser Maimonides Academy in southern Florida. Ms. Faugno recently started taking figure skating lessons.

Ms. Sandi Fein – Learning Specialist – LS

York City.

Ms. Fein received her Bachelor’s in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Ithaca College and her Master’s in Special Education from Hunter College.

Prior to GOA, Ms. Fein taught at the Heschel School in New

Ms. Christine Garrity – Foreign Language – US

Ms. Garrity is a graduate from The College of New Jersey with degrees in Spanish and Secondary Education.

Throughout college, she traveled with a number of different groups to Chile, El Salvador and Cuba.

Ms. Garrity brings her love for travel, culture and Spanish into the classroom.

Ms. Caren Heller – Arts – US

Ms. Heller earned her Bachelor’s degree at Rutgers University and her Master’s degree in Dance and Dance Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College.

Ms. Heller has worked at Camp Ramah in the Poconos, California and the Berkshires for many summers directing their dance programs.

Mr. Nicholas Kaminski – Arts – US

Mr. Kaminski is excited to return to GOA as its Music Teacher and Choir Director after serving as a leave replacement last year.

He holds Bachelor’s degrees in Music and Communication from Rutgers University. Prior to working at GOA, Mr. Kaminski worked as a freelance musician in professional musical theatre venues around the country and internationally.

Ms. Manmeet Kukreja – Math – US

Ms. Einat Pinsker – Hebrew – US

Ms. Tara Ann DelRusso – Physical Education – US

Mr. David Shemesh – Hebrew – US

Ms. Kukreja earned a Bachelor’s in Economics and Education from Delhi University and Annamalai University in India, respectively. She holds a Master’s degree in Math Education from Southern Connecticut State University. Ms. Kukreja has taught math both in India and the US and is excited to bring her love of the subject to the GOA classroom.

Ms. DelRusso received her Bachelor’s in Health Education from Montclair State University and her Master’s in Nutrition Science from The College of Saint Elizabeth. She has been in the health and fitness industry since 2000 and is looking forward to teaching at GOA. She hopes to bring her passion of teaching health to the classroom.

Dr. Liati Mayk–Hai – Judaics – US

Dr. Mayk–Hai recently earned a PhD in Jewish Literature from The Jewish Theological Seminary and holds a Master’s in Hebrew Literature from JTS and a Bachelor’s in English from Rutgers University. Her doctoral research focused on issues of race and social justice in English/Yiddish Jewish American poetry of the Great Depression. Dr. Mayk–Hai played softball for the Israeli National Team.

Ms. Sara Osmer – Math – US

Ms. Osmer earned her Bachelor’s from DePaul University and her Master’s in Secondary Mathematics Education from Hunter College. Prior to GOA, she taught in a Manhattan independent college preparatory school for eight years. Ms. Osmer is a committed teacher whose aim is to make mathematics meaningful and relevant to students’ lives. Ms. Osmer also loves playing music and singing.

Ms. Jamie Perrello – Science – US

Ms. Perrello graduated from Dartmouth College and earned a Master’s in Physical Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania. She has taught high school chemistry and coached field hockey and cross country at various private schools, including Montclair Kimberley Academy. Most recently, she had been an Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Ms. Perrello loves to run, is an avid reader and enjoys creating and appreciating art.

Ms. Pinsker earned her Bachelor’s in Music Education from the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem and her Master’s degree in Media and Communications from The New School in New York City. She has worked as a Hebrew language instructor for Hebrew schools and day schools for over 15 years. Most recently, Ms. Pinsker worked as a Hebrew language instructor at Stern College.

Mr. Shemesh has lived and worked in Israel and Canada. He earned his Bachelor’s from Leningrad State Conservatory in Russia and his Master’s in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary. He has worked in various Jewish day schools.

Ms. Elissa Siegel – First Grade General Studies TA – LS

Ms. Siegel is a California native and graduate of The University of California, Los Angeles where she worked in the television industry.

While raising her three kids in Montclair, Ms. Siegel has been an active volunteer in the Montclair Public Schools over the past 15 years.

Ms. Tsipi Taube – Judaics – LS

Ms. Taube was born and raised in Israel. She earned her Bachelor’s in Clinical Nutrition and Diatetics and Secondary Education at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and her Master’s in Biochemistry at Sackler School of Medicine – Tel Aviv University.

She is excited to bring her love for Israel and for the Hebrew language into the classroom.

Ms. Leann Winn – Science – US

Ms. Winn holds a Bachelor’s in Marine Science and Psychology from Coastal Carolina University and a Master’s in Environmental Education from Florida Institute of Technology. Prior to GOA, she worked as an educator at the Brevard Zoo, Miami Museum of Science and Ripley’s Aquarium.

Ms. Debbie Zisa – Math – US

Ms. Zisa earned degrees in Math and Science from SUNY at Stony Brook. She joins GOA in her 38th year of teaching. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Zisa loves to cook and bake.

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Young Alumni Barbeque, Wilf Lower School Campus, August 13

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Class Notes: News From Our Alumni Class of 1988 Mazel tov to Jonathan Evan Goldberg on his engagement to Tara Napoleoni. Jonathan is a litigation and employment law partner at FisherBroyles, a full-service national law firm.

He is also the President of Cherub Improv, a non-profit providing free improv comedy to underserved communities. Tara is the principal of P.S. 183, a New York City public elementary school. The couple resides in NYC and is planning a Spring 2016 wedding.

Class of 1989 Mazel tov to Joshua Sachs on his marriage to Melanie Sylvan on Aug. 16 at Temple Har Shalom in Park City, Utah. Joshua is an owner of Henderson Sachs, a law firm in Orlando, where he focuses on business and real estate.

His wife, Melanie, is director of marketing and communications for the Tavistock Development Company, a real estate developer in Orlando.

Class of 1990 Mazel tov to Adina Jacobson on her engagement to Alexander Brodsky.

Mazel tov to Marsha and Philip Goldwasser on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Noam on September 5.

Class of 1998 Jason Wilf and Lawrence Elbaum took time out for a tour of the Upper School and a visit with Head of School Adam Shapiro. They especially enjoyed looking at Gan photos in their yearbook!

Class of 2000 Mazel tov to Merisa (Vinick) Fink and husband Asher on the birth of their son, Nick Jacob, born April 2. Nick joins big sister Clara.

Class of 2001 Mazel tov to Blair Kaminsky on her marriage to Daniel Klingenstein on May 31 at Temple Emanu-el in Closter, NJ. Approximately 10 alumni were in attendance, including four who were in the bridal party. Currently Blair is an associate at Holwell, Shuster and Goldberg LLP, a litigation firm in Manhattan, where she handles complex commercial disputes.

has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Rochester and is currently a manager in Ernst & Young’s Financial Services Risk Management Advisory practice in New York. He is pursuing his M.S. in Finance in an executive program from the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business. His fiancee graduated from Indiana University with a B.A. in Telecommunications and is a Digital Project Manager at Tag Worldwide in New York. An April 2016 wedding is planned. It is noted that this couple was introduced by Becky Isaacson, Class of 2004.

Class of 2002 Mazel tov to Aviva Roland who was the 2015 Leo Brody Award Winner. She was honored at the JPro Annual Meeting on June 19.

Mazel tov to Aviva and Rabbi Scott Roland on the birth of their daughter Nili Shira on August 4. Nili weighed 6 lbs, 12oz.

Mazel tov to Mallory Zipkin on her promotion to Camp Co-Director of Camp Yachad at the JCC of Central New Jersey in Scotch Plains. Mallory joined the camp in 2014 as Associate Camp Director and had grown up at Camp Yachad as a camper.

Class of 2003 Mazel tov to Noah Kohan on his marriage to Elise LaPointe at Temple Sinai in New Orleans, LA on February 22. The couple celebrated with a second line in the historic French Quarter, dancing in the street with their guests. Class of 2003 alumni in attendance included Cory Julie, Lenny Winters and Sam Knee. Noah and Elise met in Washington, DC where they currently live and work. Noah consults as a Senior Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Elise teaches special education at a local public school.

Mazel tov to Jill Rudnitzky, Class of 2004, on her engagement to Daniel Brand. Jill was recently promoted to Senior Vice President of the Michael Alan Group, a boutique experiential marketing agency headquartered in NYC. Daniel is a managing director of CVC Capital Partners, a global private equity firm. The couple resides in NYC and is planning a January 2016 wedding.

Class of 2004 Mazel tov to Max Oshman and Jessica Reisberg, Class of 2006, on their engagement.

Mazel tov to Matthew Fenichel on his engagement to Rachel Adelman. Matthew FALL 2015

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Class Notes: News From Our Alumni Rowan University while his wife is a special education teacher at Haddonfield Middle School. The couple’s camp romance was also featured in a nj.com article in July.

Class of 2005 Mazel tov to Zach Bier and fiancée Heather Abrahamian, former SSDS student, on their engagement.

recognized with a Leadership Award at her graduation from George Washington Business School in June.

Class of 2012 Mazel tov to Danielle Rockman who received the Woman’s Auxiliary Award of Muhlenberg.

Class of 2006 Mazel tov to Ben Herzberg on his graduation from Harvard Medical School and the Harvard/MIT Division of Health, Sciences and Technology (see story on Page 4).

Class of 2007 Mazel tov to Haley (Vinick) and Max Vogel on the birth of their daughter, Etta Moriah, born March 27.

Mazel tov to Hillary (Lederman) Weller on her marriage to David Weller on May 25, 2014.

Mazel tov to Rebecca Linfield on her marriage to Leon Moskatel on June 21 in Beverly Hills, CA. Rebecca is currently in her second year of medical school at UCLA as a David Geffen Scholar, and her husband is a third year medical student at USC. Mazel tov to Adi Segal on his marriage to Danielle Schindler on June 14 at Temple Emanu-El in Closter. The couple met at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires and is currently living in Voorhees, NJ. Adi is in medical school at

Mazel tov to Sara Isaacson on her engagement to Josh Kaufman.

A March 2016 wedding is planned.

Sara recently graduated from Cardozo Law School and passed the New York and New Jersey State bar exams.

Class of 2008 Mazel tov to Alyssa Nydick and Jonathan Cohen, Class of 2007, on their wedding on May 31.

Class of 2011 Mazel tov to Emily Cohen who graduated from Rutger’s University with high honors and was accepted into a doctoral program in physical therapy at New York Medical College.

Mazel tov to Dani Wolberger who was

Mazel tov to Dov Fields on his marriage to Dana Kline on August 16. Dov is in his second year of a PhD program in physics at CUNY. Class of 2015 Mazel tov to Michal Karlin who was selected to attend the Bert B. Weinstein Institute for Counselor Training in January. Under the educational direction of the National Ramah Commission, the Weinstein Institute provides an intensive experience of Jewish studies, leadership workshops and the sharing of best practices. This annual five-day program is designed for a select group of college freshmen and sophomores returning to camp as counselors who are chosen by camp directors for their leadership potential.

Faculty News Mazel tov to our STEM coordinator Dr. Shira Kelmanovich and husband Joseph on the birth of their son, Zev Jacob, on May 4, weighing 7 lbs., 3 oz. Zev joins big brother Raviv.

Mazel tov to Lower School program coordinator Gena Jarmel on her marriage to Matthew Jarmel on June 28 at the Chart

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House. The wedding was officiated by Rabbi Geoffrey Spector and his wife, Lower School Assistant Principal Karen Spector.

Mazel tov to Upper School Hebrew teacher Rina Yuhaev on the birth of her grandaughter, Arin, born June 25 in Israel.

Mazel tov to Rabbi Adam Gindea and wife Jessie on the birth of their daughter, Charlie, on May 9, weighing 7lbs., 3oz. The baby’s naming was held at the Upper School to include high school students and faculty.

Mazel tov to former faculty member Marilyn Loewenthal on the birth of her grandson, Alec Meyer Speyer, born on September 10 weighing 7 lbs., 2 oz.

Sharon Moran z”l

Our school community suffered a tremendous loss with the passing of Sharon Moran z”l, our Upper School Spanish teacher, who died following complications from surgery. Señora Moran was, in every sense of the word, the life of the party. Always with a smile on her face, she made it her goal to check in with her colleagues and students to see how things were going and was always eager to celebrate the great things happening in their lives. She cared deeply about the success of her students and always went above and beyond to ensure that they not only understood Spanish, but that they would develop a love for the language at the same time.

Señora Moran was a teacher and artist at heart having taught at Golda Och Academy for the last 10 years as well as at Kittatinny, Hopatcong, Millburn, Pequannock and Randolph high schools. Throughout her 40 years of teaching, she was also active in the Teachers Union.

She also authored the book Daughters of Destiny, a collaboration of one-act plays depicting great women throughout history. Sharon also founded and was the artistic director for the Rockaway Townsquare Players & Playhouse, a community theater she ran for nearly 20 years. In addition, she was president and co-creator of the Travelling Stage Company, which performed one-act plays written by Sharon throughout New Jersey.

As a friend and the former Foreign Language department chair at GOA, Susan Bakerman only has fond memories of Sharon. “Sharon was a truly amazing person,” she said. “She loved life, which was evident not only in her teaching, but in her acting as well. Sharon always looked for the positive in her students and was very proud of their achievements, no matter how big or small. She was able to connect with her colleagues, and once you met Sharon you felt as if you had known her forever. She will be missed but her legacy will live on.”

Our Sincere Condolences To the family of Seymour Rosner z”l, beloved father of Shari-Beth Susskind and grandfather of Noah (Grade 11), Ben (Class of 2013) and Jacob (Class of 2011).

To the family of Naomi Wilzig z”l, beloved mother of Sherry Wilzig Izak and grandmother of Jesse (Class of 2004) and Jonathan (Class of 2006).

To the family of Lorna Scherzer z”l, beloved grandmother of Paul and Rachel Scherzer and greatgrandmother of Nathan (Grade 5), Aaron (Grade 5) and Isaac (Pre-K).

To the family of Bella Chaya Morgenstein bat Sarah Rosa ve Yosef Weisberg z”l, sister of Tsipi Israel, Upper School teacher.

To the family of Norman Mast z”l, beloved father of Dr. Harold Mast, father-in-law of Linda and grandfather of Sara (Class of 2012), Jason (Class of 2014) and Carly (Grade 9).

To the family of Hagit Lahmi z”l, sister of Yaron Bluevise, sister-in-law of Lilach Bluevise, aunt of Tal (Class of 2015), Dana (Grade 8) and Ella (PreK).

To the family of Greta Meier z”l, beloved mother of Ron Meier, mother-in-law of Rabbi Joyce Raynor and grandmother of Rachel Meier (Class of 1999) and Jessica Werner (Class of 2002).

To the family of Lennard Steinberg z”l, beloved brother of Marty Steinberg and brother-in-law of Wilma Steinberg, Upper School Language Arts teacher.

To the family of Jocelyn Voiron, z”l, beloved wife of Guy Voiron, mother of Chloe (Class of 2008), Seth and Remy.

To the family of Eugene Steinberg z”l, beloved father of Norman Steinberg, father-in-law of Amy Davidson, and grandfather of Jason (Class of 2007), Brian (Class of 2010) and Jonathan (Class of 2010).

To the family of Gene Fixler z”l, beloved husband of Rona Wexler and father of Ariel Fixler z”l (Class of 2001).

To the family of Edith Ullmann z”l, beloved mother of Sharon Kaufmann and grandmother of Ari Kaufmann (Class of 1998) and Rena Kaufmann Abrams (Class of 2001).

To the family of Cantor Erno Grosz z”l, beloved father of Diane Grosz Gelman and grandfather of Max Gelman (Class of 2014) and Rebecca Gelman.

To the family of GOA Lower School teacher Deb Patterson z”l, beloved wife of Tom Patterson and mother of Kyle and Andrew.

To the family of Howard Lipstein z”l, beloved husband of Nora Gordon-Lipstein and father of Liza LipsteinMandelbaum (Class of 1998).

To the family of Ron Baylis z”l, beloved father of Lower School Admissions Director Mara Suskauer, father-inlaw of David Suskauer and grandfather of Maya (Grade 2), Eyal (Pre-K) and Orly.

To the family of Abraham Joselow z”l, beloved father of Rabbi Deborah Joselow, father-in-law of Upper School teacher Brad Gerstle, husband of Rita Joselow, and grandfather of Lev (Class of 2011), Shai (Class of 2014) and Eitan (Grade 9).

To the family of Bernardo Romanowsky z”l, beloved father of Moises Romanowsky, father-in-law of Dr. Amelia Romanowsky, and grandfather of Maia (Grade 3) and Rafael (Gan).

To the family of Fred Wohl z”l, beloved father of Steven Wohl, father-in-law of Maury Wohl, and grandfather of Aliza (Class of 2003), Elie (Class of 2006) and Josh.

To the family of Elaine Steiner z”l, beloved mother of Michelle Berger, mother-in-law of Bruce Berger and grandmother of Emily (Grade 9).

To the family of Bernard Sudaley z”l, beloved father of Amy Burke, father-in-law of Vincent Burke and grandfather of Emma Burke (Grade 7).

To the family of Adrienne Cymbala z”l, wife of Upper School teacher Daniel Cymbala, mother of Benjamin and Jonah, daughter of Marc and Johanna Leopold, and sister of Jeff Leopold.

To the family of Malvina Lefkovitz z”l, beloved mother of Tova Silberman, and grandmother of Lori (Class of 1997) and Andrew Nusbaum and Mandi Silberman Ricard (Class of 1993) and John Ricard.

To the family of Nava Yedidya z”l, beloved mother of Iris Poller, mother-in-law of Glen Poller and beloved grandmother of Mathan Poller (Grade 11).

To the family of Gerry Biller z”l, beloved mother of Rabbi Mark Biller, mother-in-law of Ellen Biller, and grandmother of Mira (Class of 2010) and Julian (Class of 2015).

To the family of Elaine Cannon z”l, grandmother of Annie Cannon (Grade 11) . Elaine was the wife of Annie’s late grandfather Irving, and a very special and beloved friend to Annie’s parents Howard and Beth Cannon.

To the family of Miriam Stolar z”l, beloved mother of Brian Stolar and grandmother of Jay (Class of 2001), Sean and Gabriel.

To the family of Dr. Yitzhak Berger z”l, husband of Barbara Berger and father of Neeli Berger Margolis (Class of 1994) and Amos Berger (Class of 2000).

To the family of Esther Aronoff z”l, beloved mother of Paul Aronoff, mother-in-law of Lower School teacher Hope Aronoff, and grandmother of Toren (Class of 2013), Sion (Class of 2015) and Nadav (Grade 11).

To the family of Batia Horn z”l, mother of William Horn, mother-in-law of Edna Horn, grandmother of Dan Horn and his wife, Rebecca, and great-grandmother of Isabel (Grade 2) and Isaac (Gan).

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Alumni News 15

1418 Pleasant Valley Way West Orange, New Jersey 07052

GOA is accredited by the NJ Association of Independent Schools and is a beneficiary agency of United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ. It is affiliated with the Greater MetroWest, the Solomon Schechter Day School Association, and United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, NJ Region.

Eric F. Ross Upper School Campus 1418 Pleasant Valley Way West Orange, NJ 07052 (973) 602-3600 Wilf Lower School Campus 122 Gregory Avenue West Orange, NJ 07052 (973) 602-3700 Stephanie Bash-Soudry Director of Development & Alumni Relations Jason Silberfein Associate Director of Development Glenn Slavin Director of Marketing & Communications Erin Sternthal Marketing & Development Associate

SSDS-GOA College Alumni

Basketball Game and Open House

Jeffrey Landau Chair, Board of Trustees Adam Shapiro Head of School Christine Stodolski Upper School Principal Carrie Zucker-Siegel Lower School Principal Julia R. Malaga Chief Financial Officer We welcome your feedback about this newsletter. Please share with us your comments and suggestions by sending an email to Erin Sternthal, esternthal@goldaochacademy.org.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015 Lunch and open house starts at 1:00 pm Basketball game to follow

Classes of 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 you are invited to this special event!

For more information contact alumni@goldaochacademy.org