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RABBI SHAYE GUTTENBERG
Head of School
WELCOME FROM OUR NEW HEAD OF SCHOOL 3,751 miles, 100 hours, 10 hotel rooms, 7 states was my family’s physical relocation from San Jose, CA to Miami Beach, FL; a true road trip. I love driving the open road and discovering new places along the way and this trip promised experiencing parts of America we’d never visited before. We hiked in national parks, sled in a national monument, explored underground caves and nourished ourselves in some great kosher establishments along the way. It wasn’t until we entered Alabama that our reality began to settle in. Every state has a huge sign on the side of the road just after crossing the border. Marking Alabama read: Welcome to Sweet Home Alabama. I am sure that when Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote his famous song in 1974 he couldn’t have imagined it would be the welcome sign into Alabama (especially since he was from Florida). As I hummed Skynyrd’s tune, my mind started to wander as I contemplated home, especially a sweet home. This contemplation was a steady stream of ebbs and flows until Monday, July 8th when I walked into Hebrew Academy for my first day of work and had this incredible sense of deja vu. I don’t believe this deja vu was because of my various visits here this past year, or even visiting the school when I was a child. That feeling washed over me because of the greeting that welcomed me. All the notes and treats on my desk, security greeting me by name, the smiles from staff and the excitement from the administration and board members gave me such a buoyancy. Walking into Hebrew Academy felt like walking into a home. I even started composing an adapted version of the famous song: Sweet Home Hebrew Academy, where the school colors are blue… I know that many of you share these feelings; Hebrew Academy is home sweet home. Home is a place where you are always welcome, feeling a sense of belonging, and you aren’t judged. These are some of the principles and values of our school and I welcome you to come and learn more.
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OUR MISSION
Table of
CONTENTS -3A Year of Innovation by Rabbi Bossewitch
THROUGH THE LIGHT OF TORAH AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE THE HEBREW ACADEMY INSPIRES EACH AND EVERY CHILD TO IMPROVE THE WORLD
-4A Note From Dr. Ami Eskanos, Dean of Admission
-5-12Innovation Across All Divisions
-13Highlights of 2018/2019
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2019-2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Iris Herssein, Esq. Chairman of the Board of Directors Evelyn Katz Associate Chairman of the Board of Directors Jean Kim-Lehmann Senior Vice-President Robert Daniel Senior Vice-President Marjan Katz Senior Vice-President Shmuel Katz, M.D. Senior Vice-President Lillian Tabacinic Treasurer Mark Herskowitz, Esq. General Secretary Miriam Hoffman, Esq. Financial Secretary Dovie Spitz Vice President Jennifer Dobin, Esq. Vice President Steven Ebner, Esq. Vice President Chanie Gottlieb Vice President Tila Falic Levi Vice President Jeffrey Rynor, Esq. Assistant Vice President Ari Ciment, M.D. Assistant Vice President Daniel Sragowicz Director Miriam Abrahams Director Elaine Brauner Dobin Director Michael Budwick, Esq. Director Lisa Falic-Groisman Director Jeremy Goldstein Director Hillary Holland Director Elisha Rothman Director Joey Schottenstein Director Dori Schwirtz Director Sarah Zohar
Senior Jewish Heritage Trip
-1710th Grade Israel Trip
-19A Tribute To Sammy Farkas, z�l
-21New Middle/High School Building
-23Warrior Athletics
-25Mazal Tov to Our Grads!
-27Our Alumni: Where are they now?
-29Grandparents Circle
-30Funding Jewish Education
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DR. AMI ESKANOS
Dean of Admission
Hebrew Academy has enjoyed increasing enrollment over the last decade. This year was no different with an enrollment of over 600 students and we anticipate that enrollment will continue to increase into the 2019-2020 school year. So, where are these new students coming from and what is bringing them to our door? Students come to us from all over the South Florida community and from all around the globe creating a student body that is culturally diverse, interesting, and enjoyable. Since we are an infant through Grade 12 school, we are considered a self-feeding school. There is no one particular school that feeds into our school and there is no particular grade level that serves as a specific intake year. Families come to us from various types of schools such as synagogue preschools, public schools, charter and magnet schools, prep schools, and other Jewish Day schools. They all come seeking the same thing, equal academic rigor in college preparatory general studies and Judaic studies, Ivrit, and Zionism. Hebrew Academy is no longer the best kept secret in Jewish Education. We have done a great deal of work to improve our educational programming and with that we have beefed up our marketing to show off the great things we have accomplished. But better than any marketing strategy is the wonderful word of mouth provided by our families, faculty and staff, alumni, and board members. Positive word of mouth instills confidence in potential families to take the leap and join the Hebrew Academy Warrior Family. Want to see what all the excitement is about? Call 305-532-6421 ext. 105, or send me an e-mail to admission@rasg.org, and we will be happy to set an appointment for your personal Open House.
CRE AT ING F UTUR E LE ADERS
EVERY DAY IS OPEN HOUSE AT HEBREW ACADEMY! Contact us for a personal tour and explore our unique programs. To schedule an appointment, please contact us at 305.532.6421 x113 or schedule an appointment online at hebrewacademymiami.org/admissionsappointment. Hebrew Academy is a Modern Orthodox, Jewish, college and yeshiva preparatory, school serving students from birth through Grade 12.
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RABBI AVI BOSSEWITCH
Dean of Academics and Innovation A YEAR OF INNOVATION USING FIVE ACADEMIC PILLARS
Professor Klaus Schwab, the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, explains that we are at the beginning of the fourth industrial revolution. He describes this revolution as fundamentally different than the prior three in that it is “characterized by a range of new technologies that are fusing the physical, digital and biological worlds, impacting all disciplines, economies and industries, and even challenging ideas about what it means to be human”. Amidst this rapidly evolving ecosystem, new paradigms of schooling are emerging, and traditional assumptions about teaching and learning are being challenged. Additionally, there is increased pressure to deliver educational excellence, in turn preparing graduates for the world of today, and an unknown future. In the education field, a myriad of educational trends and buzzwords are swirling around all schools at a high volume coupled with the continued prevalence of “flavors of the month” that quickly fade. Against this backdrop, delivering a cutting-edge academic program requires a deliberate and systematic strategy of which academic areas to invest our resources in, and at times, which to pass on. With this in mind, I would like to present you with the five academic pillars here at Hebrew Academy.
HEBREW ACADEMY ACADEMIC PILLARS Each of these five pillars run school-wide and represent multiyear initiatives. Throughout this issue you will read about signature programs from this past school year that emerge from these pillars and bring them to life. The most significant innovation is not about a particular program; Rather, it is about cultivating and preserving an innovative mindest in which all members of the school community look for new or better ways to advance the mission of our school. Hebrew Academy is blessed with exceptional administrators, faculty, students, lay leaders, and families that, together, build upon our pioneering legacy to ensure the future of our school, our graduates, and the world at large.
LIGHT OF TORAH Light of AND ISRAEL Torah & Israel
CHARACTER Character & &
STEAM² STEAM
MIDDOT
Middot
Innovators INNOVATORS Leaders LEADERS &
Rabbito Avi Bossewitch The mission of our school is unwavering and continues Dean of Academics & Innovation enlighten everything we do.
&Entrepreneurs ENTREPRENEURS
BLENDED Blended AND
& Personalized
PERSONALIZED
Learning
LEARNING
Learning
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OUR LITTLE WARRIORS
Go full STEAM ahead
5 | INNOVATION
This year, our little Warriors in Early Childhood have been busting with activities that promote STEAM learning. In our new STEAM Lab, we included coding and robotics to our N3 and Pre-K curriculum. In Nursery 3, students began the process of understanding and applying coding skills using robots such as; Codepillar and BeeBot. In Pre-K, our students interacted daily with KIBO as they created simple to more intricate coding maps using all of KIBO’s accessories. In early March our students in Pre-K took what they learned throughout the year and began working on a project based learning STEAM project.
Together with our STEAM Specialist, and their Pre-K teachers, they created a new city in Eretz Israel called “Ir Magen David.” They answered questions about the infrastructure of a city, such as; what is in a city? How to build a city from scratch? What’s in a neighborhood? And so much more. They used Google’s Cultural Institute database to take virtual tours of different cities in Eretz Israel. They gathered as much information as possible and they decided that the city should have an airport, a zoo, a mall, a movie theater, an IDF base, a hospital,
a police station, a fire station, and more. Besides learning about the engineering design process, they programmed three of their favorite coding robots, Kibo, BeeBot, and Botley to circumnavigate through the city. Coding is a 21st-Century learning skill that can be applied to other areas of learning such as reading, math, and writing. Through these experiences, our students learn resilience and perseverance, build comfort with ambiguity and open-ended problems, and see failure as an opportunity to learn and innovate. innovate.
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INNOVATION | 6
Another Innovative Year
IN ELEMENTARY The Elementary School incorporated STEAM throughout the 2018-19 school year. They participated in “STEAM and Chagim� where faculty shared ideas with other Jewish schools integrating Judaic Studies learning and STEAM projects. They had a new partnership with the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education, that brought many unique opportunities to integrate STEAM into the General Studies curriculum. They also introduced Engineering in Elementary (EIE), a cutting edge engineering curriculum that correlates with Active Science units. Girls Who Code was a new after school club for upper elementary girls who are interested in learning more about coding.
Creating Future
MENSCHES
Engineering in Elementary Unit: Fifth graders explored package engineering and used the design process to create a package for their basil plants.
Proper social emotional development is fostered through our PBIS inspired school wide Project Gevurah program. Our overall theme is KINDNESS. Studies have shown that being kind and compassionate has benefits for the recipient and the giver alike. We had a Kindness Week with Say Hello Day, Secret Agent Kindness Day, Mix it Up at Lunch Day, Compliments Day, and an interage activity where students made kindness bracelets. Fostering kindness and inclusion are important life skills that we cherish in our school and continue to practice.
New Next Year
LANGUAGE OF MUSIC WITH ARTURO GARCIA-RIBBI
Arturo Garcia-Ribbi, a sought after musician and music teacher, will be working with students in Grades 3, 4 and 5 at the Hebrew Academy this upcoming year to curate a unique music program focusing on the language of music. Students will gain rhythmic and melodic awareness and expand their musical knowledge through the study of musical styles, genres, and music from many varied and unique cultures. Through observations and hands-on experiences while playing a variety of instruments, students will develop skills in reading musical notation, music theory, rhythmic improvisation, and composition, dynamics and performance. We welcome Mr. Garcia-Ribbi and look forward to our students participating in this exciting music experience. 7 | INNOVATION
Second Grade held a STEAM inspired carnival in honor of Purim and used the engineering design process to make carnival games using materials in the classroom.
Students create a chain of kindness
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INNOVATION | 8
EIGHTH GRADERS WIN SECOND PLACE
in International CADENA Initiative Competition
Back in May, our Middle School team participated in the International CADENA Competition and won second place for their board game, “Skilled Survivor!” Their objective was to come up with an idea that could be used before, during, or after a natural disaster in an underprivileged community. CADENA invests in the winning concept, brings it to life, and installs it in the communities around the world that would benefit to help save lives. With the guidance of Middle School Science Teacher, Mr. Gonzalez, our 8th graders Bat Sheva Hazan, Rina Askenazi-Cohen, and Shira Mayer won second place in the competition. Their board game teaches children how to handle and protect themselves during Cadena Team a natural disaster in a fun and innovative way. The team headed to Mexico City for the final competition, where they explored the ancient pyramids, and participated in a CADENA Mission to bring goods and necessities to a community in need. “It was so much fun. I am so grateful to have been given this experience. It taught me so much. While I was helping the mothers with their children get in line to see the doctor, I saw what their situation was and how I was able to help them. I also saw how the mission impacted hundreds of families lives. The missions were life changing and I can’t wait to see what CADENA will do next.” - RINA ASKENAZI-COHEN HA CADENA TEAM MEMBER “This whole experience taught me that people take everything that they have for granted. There are other people around the world that have it so much worse than us and we not only have to be grateful for what we have, but make some contributions to the people that have it rough. That was the biggest lesson I took away from the trip.” - SHIRAMAYER HA CADENA TEAM MEMBER 9 | INNOVATION
MIDDLE SCHOOL MINIMESTER WEEK
Gives Students Real Life Career Experiences
Every year, Middle School students get the opportunity to immerse themselves in courses outside their regular school curriculum through a week long Minimester program. The program allows students to explore exciting and innovative courses, and provides them with the necessary skills to be competitive as a 21st Century learner. This year, students were able to choose a course that focused on art, history, STEM, fitness, animals, or medicine. Each of these areas provided experiences to explore careers in real life settings. Throughout the week students participated in workshops in and outside of the classroom. Some students went on a guided tour through Wynwood Arts District, explored Zoo Miami, the Dolphin Research Center, and the Everglades, visited local doctor’s offices to see firsthand how they are run, and some of the equipment that is used. While our more fitness inclined students learned all about the benefits of Pilates at a local studio.
ANNOUNCING NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL ELECTIVES FOR THE 2019-20 SCHOOL YEAR: MUSIC HISTORY, CHINESE, AND CHESS CLUB. 10 |
INNOVATION | 10
11 | INNOVATION
HIGH SCHOOL
introduces
3D PRINTER AND PRODUCES MEDICAL DEVICE PROTOTYPE This year, Juniors were hard at work exploring the form and function of the endocrine system. Like many careers, the endocrine system relies heavily on communication. To explore the depth of this communication, students chose a career that requires extensive communication and developed a comparison between components of that career and components of the endocrine system. As students were exploring the major anatomical parts and their physiological functions, they began asking leading questions about diseases associated with the thyroid and hormone production. This transitioned them into part two of the project: exploring associated diseases and disorders such as diabetes, thyroid cancer, Graves disease, and growth disorders. One of the essential questions asked while investigating a disease is: how do we use our knowledge to develop preventions and/ or cures? To begin answering this question, students designed a medical device prototype that would improve the life of an individual diagnosed with their assigned disease/disorder. Their finished prototypes were 3D printed and are now on display along with their product brochures at the High School.
NEW FOR 2019-20
at Fana Holtz High School! • The High School will be offering Dual Enrollment in conjunction with FIU. Students in grades 9-12 will be able to take a Criminal Justice course with Professor Morales and earn three college credits right here on our campus. • Exciting new electives for the upcoming school year: Graphic Design, History of Comic Books, Yoga (Mindfulness), and Financial Literacy & Entrepreneurship. • The High School will be introducing majors into their curriculum. Students in grades 9-12 will have the opportunity to choose between a Pre-Law or Journalism track. Through expert instruction, real life experiences and a unique curriculum, students will gain special insight into these professions. The program is taught at the Honors & AP levels.
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INNOVATION | 12
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IT’S BEEN
YEAR
WHAT A
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SENIOR
Jewish Heritage EXPERIENCE
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Back in May, Hebrew Academy's year long Senior Jewish Heritage Experience (SJHE) came to an end as Seniors returned from their 12 day trip to Europe and Israel. To say the trip was moving, spiritual, and educational simply won’t do it justice. The students began their journey in Berlin, where the evil of WWII was rooted and flourished. They visited the Reichstag (German parliament now and during WWII), the Holocaust Memorial of Berlin, Sachenhausen (a concentration camp for political dissidents, Jews, gypsies, and homosexuals), the Lauder school, and Villa Wannsee (where the logistics of the Final Solution were decided and implemented). While in the center of Berlin our students came face to face with an anti-Semite holding up a sign declaring Jews are murderers as he verbally spewed a racist rant. This jarring experience made the fact that antiSemitism is alive and well, even in the center of Berlin, a reality for the students. After spending two days in Germany the students continued on to Prague and learned about the Maharal. They toured Jewish Prague and various synagogues and museums including the Altnoy, Meizel, and Pinkas shuls and the Terezin Ghetto. After a beautiful Shabbat in Prague, at the kosher King David Hotel, the students were treated to a private concert by a world famous Klezmer band. The final leg of the Europe experience included Krakow, Lublin, and Warsaw. A few of the places that were visited included Auschwitz 1, Birkenau, the Rama shul, the Tarnow Shul and Bima, Majdanek, the Children's Forest, the Warsaw ghetto wall, the Yeshiva of Lublin, and much more. A few days later the students left Poland and traveled to Eretz Israel where they spent an incredibly spiritual evening celebrating and davening on Yom Ha’aztmaut with over 5,000 fellow Jews at Teddy Park in Jerusalem. After two days of decompressing, which included laser tag at an army base, and a segway tour of the City of David, the students welcomed Shabbat at the Kotel. The students ended their trip motzei Shabbat as they flew back to Miami.
Every tiny detail of the the SJHE trip was planned out with thoughtfulness and sensitivity. The trip progressed from the places where Nazi ideology was born and flourished and ended with the ovens and gas chambers where their evil was actualized. There were places of hope sprinkled in between that sent a clear message to the students that despite all the horror they were seeing, the heritage of the Jewish people lives on. The city of Prague is a testament to this. It would have been easy to depend on the places we visited to move the students. Just stepping foot on the soil of Auschwitz or Majdanek is a transformative experience. But in true Hebrew Academy fashion, spirituality and meaning were injected into every moment. Whether singing Ani Maamin at the gates of Auschwitz, singing Avinu Bashamiyim at the Children’s Forest where over 600 young Jewish children were slaughtered, dancing around the grave of Rabbi Elimelech, or singing Hatikva on the train tracks in Birkanau, every moment was infused with a sense of meaningfulness and spirituality that one rarely encounters in life. The SJHE trip deeply affected the lives of 29 students who may have otherwise never had such an experience. One student expressed in a nightly reflection circle after visiting Majdanek that after a lifetime of wanting to leave Jewish school and not feeling connected to Judaism, for the first time in her life she is proud to be Jewish. Another student shared that despite living in an orthodox home, the Shabbat in Jerusalem was the first time in three years he fully kept Shabbat (how could he not after he saw the lengths Jews in the concentration camps took to light Chanukah candles, put on tefillin, and keep Shabbat). At one moment or another every student expressed how deeply affected they were by the places they visited. More importantly, every student left with the understanding that a spark can become a flame and that flame a wildfire. That every person is special and a single person can make a significant difference. Warm regards,
MARJAN KATZ HA BOARD MEMBER/TRIP ATTENDEE
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“
10TH GRADE Israel Trip
“
“I was born in Israel and lived there until I was 3 years old. Then we
moved to Florida but visited every summer. All those summers, are NOTHING compared to this year’s Israel Trip. It was motivating,
inspiring, and exciting all at the same time. When you’re in Israel for vacation, it's doesn't have that same effect on you as the trip does. This
is something I say every time I am interviewed about the Israel Trip
because I truly believe that, that’s what it makes me feel. Whenever I come back from vacation in Israel with my family etc., I expect to go back to my usual routine, etc. But after we landed in Miami International, I felt a hole in my chest. Everyone told me that at least I’m back home but I’m really not. It might be where I physically live but Israel is my real home, where I’m supposed to be, and hopefully, B”H, we will all return HOME.”
HAREL TWITO (10TH GRADE)
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A TRIBUTE TO SAMMY FARKAS, Z”L
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HOW GROWN-UPS LEARN RESILIENCY FROM CHILDREN In education we often focus on what is done right, but rarely do we look at the things that were not stellar and place the focus on the valuable lessons learned from those situations. This year my students have taught me that out of even the worst situation we can come together and grow to be stronger. I learned the valuable lesson this year about resilience. This past year, I experienced something I pray to never experience again: the sudden loss of a dear student to our school community, our home, one of our own. When I received that dreadful phone call I knew my life would change forever, and I knew our school would never be the same. The high school students taught all of the adults what resiliency is, and how to cope with difficult situations and how to eventually pick our heads up, and carry on. It can never be said that there is a silver lining when there is loss of life, but the next best thing would be, we all learned what resilience and perseverance is, and we (the adults) all learned it from our dear students. One thing I can say for sure we did right, was following the lead of our amazing students. The love and care that went into every day after Sammy passed, was not only a tribute to Sammy, but it was another day that everyone said “we will get through this”, and it generally came with an arm around the shoulder, or a hug. Communication was key, and the teachers and students all bought into the idea that we are “mourning together” and we need one another. The Torah tells us “For man is a tree of the field” (Deuteronomy 20:19), why a tree? I think the comparison is that of resilience. A tree is deeply rooted, and can sustain harsh weather, and winds of strength. No matter how
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hard you try and pull that branch, once you let go, it bounces right back and (almost) back to its original position. Resiliency is about bouncing back and about understanding there is a G-D who runs the world. The weekly evening shiurs dedicated to Sammy, were packed. The lunch and learns were well attended. The slogans were not just slogans, they were new ways of life. To “Live like Sammy” required a change, and the students lived up to the challenge. New friendships were made, old friendships were strengthened, and support for one another (no matter the grade) was something I know Sammy would love. Everyone in time will need to test their resiliency, our school community was tested with a blow that most wouldn’t understand. Our resilience came from our students, and the adults followed. It was a beautiful lesson to experience, adults learning from the children. As it says beautifully in Masechet Taanit 7a - Rabbi Hanina said: “I have learned much from my teachers, and even more from my friends, but from my students, I have learned more than from all of them.” May we all merit to “Live Like Sammy”, be “Sammy Strong” and continue to support one another through it all. May Hashem comfort the Farkas Family, and allow us to continue to perform good deeds in memory of our dear classmate, and to bring nachat to the soul of Sammy a”h.
RABBI AHARON ASSARAF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, JUDAIC STUDIES
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Rendering of new Middle School/ High School Building on SchwartzJacobs Campus
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GROWING with EXCELLENCE Back in 2018, Hebrew Academy broke ground
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING,
on a building initiative designed to align with 21st
ART, AND MATH (STEAM) CENTERS
Century Learning. The new facility will include a completely student-centered building that
Certain classrooms will be dedicated to hands-
offers an innovative, engaging, and academically
on learning in science and technology, which is
excellent experience, which will fully prepare
critical to providing students with a curriculum
our students for success and leadership in the
relevant to today’s world. The fully modernized
world they are inheriting. This $15 million initiative
labs are designed to maximize the use of floor
includes a state-of-the-art Middle and High
space and allow for easy, flexible arrangements
School building and a $2 million educational
to facilitate project-based learning.
endowment. With this milestone, we are continuing to shape the landscape of Jewish
If you would like to learn more about our new
education.
Middle School/High School building, head over to hebrewacademymiami.org/capitalcampaign.
The student-centered facility will house over 40,000 square feet of innovative learning space that includes classrooms equipped with flexible walls and floor-to-ceiling windows designed to seamlessly draw together the rooms and the natural world.
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WARRIOR
ATHLETICS
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Warrior Alumni, Family & Friends, What a year! We had over 300 athletes participate in sports this year, which was a record and tallied to over 80% of the student population for grades 4-12. Our 5th Grade Basketball Warriors won the JAL championship and completed back-to-back undefeated seasons for the second consecutive year. Our Cross Country program had its most successful year as they sent nine runners to Regionals. Our Varsity Boys Volleyball Team defeated all the other Jewish Schools in South Florida, and our Varsity Boys Basketball team finished runner up in their District for the first time in 10 years! All of these accomplishments have highlighted a very successful 2018-2019 school year in Warriors Athletics. We offer it all from Cross Country, to Flag Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis, Soccer and more. We had over 50 students play three sports, which means they are involved in a sport for the entire school year. With limited numbers, this is a great thing for our school and really helps develop each of our athletes as much as possible. Our 5th Grade Basketball Warriors completed a perfect 17-0 record in their past two years to claim back-to-back JAL Championships! They added two more JAL banners to our gymnasium walls and became the first ever team to complete back-to-back undefeated seasons in any sport. This also marks the 6th overall JAL Championship for our school as our Girls Basketball team and Boys Flag Football team have both won two titles each. They will look to win the IAL Championship next season when they head to 6th Grade! Our Varsity Boys & Girls Cross Country teams had their most successful season in school history as they sent nine athletes to the FHSAA Regional Meet. Their previous record was six and student runners Samantha Ebner, Abby Hoffman and Akiva Itzkowitz all set personal bests/school records this season! Our Varsity Boys Volleyball team defeated Hillel, Posnack and Katz for the third straight season to remain the top jewish school in South Florida while the Varsity Boys Basketball team secured their first FHSAA District Runner up trophy in the last 10 years. Both of these accomplishments are very special and the future is very bright for both programs! In conclusion, what a year to be a Warrior. The most athletes participating of all time, school records being broken, and Championships being brought back to our school to add banners to our gym walls! All of these feats show how far we have come as an athletic program and that the only way is up for our Warriors. I will look to grow our program each year with the number of participation only going up. With all the successes in 2018-2019, I am looking forward to an even better 2019-2020! Go Warriors!
CHAD BISHOP
Athletic Director
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CONGRATS Class of 2019 *
congrats class of 2019
Joseph Abrahams
Elisheva Adouth
Rafaela Benson
Jack Benveniste-Plitt
Hadassah Bixon
Shayna Boymelgreen
Elie Dahan
Dylan Del Giglio
Noah Dobin
Ezriel Duchman
Alexander Farkas
Ariela Glick
Judah Goldring
Yisroel Goldstein
Eden Grosz
Kayla Herskowitz
Adira Kahn
Mery Kamhazi
*
David Lure
Jonathan Malove
Hannah Mayer
Shani McCarley
Abigail Merran
Daniel Merran
Roye Ovaknin
Jonathan Posner
Salomon Rosenthal
Noah Rotenberg
Zeev Rotenstein
Catherine Safdie
Yakov Schwab
Kayla Sedighim
Joshua Shaulson
Amit Shushan
Essence Slomianski
Zoe Sugar
* Valedictorian * Salutatorian 25 |Yonatan Teitelbaum
Raquel Zohar
YESHIVOT AND SEMINARY ACCEPTANCES 2019 Aish Be’er Miriam Netiv Aryeh Maayanot Midreshet Amit Harova Midreshet Moriah
Orayta Torah Tech Yeshivat Mevaseret Tziyon Yeshivat Reishit Yeshivat Torat Shraga
COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES MANY GRADUATES ARE RECIPIENTS OF MERIT AWARDS AND HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR PRESTIGIOUS HONORS PROGRAMS AT THE FOLLOWING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES:
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Arizona State University Bar-Ilan University Barry University Baruch College Binghamton University Brandeis University Broward College Cornell University Fashion Institute of Technology Florida Atlantic University Florida International University Fordham University IDC Herzliya Indiana University Instituto Marangoni Miami Laboratory Institute of Merchandising Lynn University Miami Dade College Miami International University of Art & Design
New York University Nova Southeastern University Ohio State University Pennsylvania State University Pratt Institute Rutgers University Stern College for Women Tulane University University of Arizona University of California, San Diego University of California, Santa Cruz University of Central Florida University of Chicago University of Florida University of Maryland University of Miami University of Texas, Austin University of Wisconsin Yeshiva University | 26
ALUMNI
Spotlight
Mazal tov to Josh Bitran (‘09) and Vivi Simon (‘12) on their marriage back in August 2018!
WITH DR. ARI CIMENT (‘92)
Q. HOW DO YOU FEEL HEBREW ACADEMY SET THE PATH FOR YOU TO GET WHERE YOU ARE TODAY? A. Hebrew Academy helped set the path by imprinting on me a love of science and positive loving encouragement from the very beginning.
Mazal tov to Zachary (‘10) and Elisheva Janof on the birth of their baby girl, Emma Claire, back in June!
Q. WHO WAS A PARTICULARLY MEMORABLE TEACHER OR ADMINISTRATOR? WHAT IS ONE IMPORTANT LIFE LESSON THEY TAUGHT YOU? A. Mr. Joe Ackner was my favorite science teacher who actually taught my father as well and taught for over 30 years. He taught me that in order to inspire you can’t just hand a textbook to a child and review a topic. Learning is best when it is an active engaging process. Q. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO CREATE A LEGACY FOR JEWISH EDUCATION? A. Jewish education is needed to ensure the Jewish people and ultimately our Jewish state of Israel. Hebrew Academy promotes the ideals that I look for in a school and a community: orthodox Judaism with an emphasis on Zionism.
Mazal tov to Daniel (‘98) and Miriam Oppenheimer on the Bat Mitzvah of their oldest daughter this year!
Q. HOW HAVE YOUR CHILDREN BENEFITED FROM BEING AT HA? A. They have benefited by having teachers and role models that espouse Jewish values/tradition/Zionism in a haimishe fashion. Q. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU TO SUPPORT HA? A. Hebrew Academy is essential for our local community. The Jewish presence in Miami Beach would not be what it is today if not for Hebrew Academy. Ari Ciment is a Board certified MD in internal medicine and pulmonary and critical care medicine. He serves as President of the Medical Staff at Mount Sinai Medical Center. He is also clinical Associate Professor at Nova Southeastern, FIU Medical School, and Mount Sinai Medical Center Internal Medicine residency programs. He is currently authoring a book on the Parsha to be printed shortly by Mosaic Press.
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Mazal tov to Rachel Furst ('11) and Stephen Rothstein on their marriage back in June 2018!
Mazal tov to Jackie and Babba Yesharim (‘03) on the birth of their baby boy Elijah Emet! And to siblings and HA students Cyrus and Celine!
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? DAVID LERNER
Class of 1984 “I studied Jewish folklore at Harvard University and medicine at the University of Miami. As a radiologist, I have served since 2013 as a Medical Officer at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, where I was involved in quality assurance for mammography, and FDA review of new medical imaging devices. I am currently living near Washington, DC, where I have enjoyed the opportunity to revisit many landmarks which I remembered from my Hebrew Academy ninth grade class trip - in 1981!”
ARIELA WOLFSON
Class of 2018 “I just spent a year at Midreshet Moriah in Jerusalem, Israel and I begin Stern College in the fall. This summer I will be working at Camp Simcha Special and Camp Kaylie. Hebrew Academy was my second home from Pre-K until 12th grade!”
EDEN GLICK
Class of 2017 “After I graduated I decided to draft into the Israeli Defense Forces where I became a combat soldier. It is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve experienced things I never thought I would have, learned a whole new language, and met amazing people. I fell in love with Israel and I am hopefully going to make Aliyah. Hebrew Academy to me means that I always have a family to fall back on and great friends that I will have for life.”
SETH SALVER
Class of 2006 “I am partner at Salver & Salver, LLP. I was elected to the Bal Harbour Council in 2014, and was selected as Vice Mayor in 2016, in 2018, I was reelected to my second term without opposition. I am married to Perla Salver née Maikhor, who has been teaching at Hebrew Academy since 2014. Our daughter, Anna, has been a Warrior since she was three months old and will be starting Nursery 2 next school year.”
MICHAEL BIXON
Class of 2016 “After graduating from the Hebrew Academy in 2016, I spent 1.5 years studying abroad in Israel. I am now a sophomore at Yeshiva University where I am majoring in Economics, and minoring in Finance, while playing collegiate level basketball for the Yeshiva University Maccabees.”
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Alumni, we want to hear from you! If you have any special news to share, please email Jackie Smith at jsmith@rasg.org.
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Q&A
with the chairs of Hebrew Academy’s exciting new initiative, THE GRANDPARENTS CIRCLE
,
WITH SUPER MOTHER-DAUGHTER TEAM, LILLIAN TABACINIC AND DIANA SRAGOWICZ
From left to right: Sami Sragowicz (HA First Grader), Yakov Sragowicz (HA Third Grader), Yosef Kopel (HA Fifth Grader), Isaac Kopel (HA Third Grader), Lillian Tabacinic, Moises Tabacinic, Clara Kopel, Ezra Aqua, Avi Sragowicz (HA Fifth Grader), Ariela Sragowicz (HA Ninth Grader), Sarita Sragowicz, (HA Nursery 2), Benji Sragowicz (HA Seventh Grader), Ethan Aqua, Shmuel David Kopel
Q: OF ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS TO BE INVOLVED WITH, WHY HEBREW ACADEMY? LILLIAN: Hebrew Academy is a wonderful institution where three of my children
graduated from and 8 grandchildren currently attend. Giving a Jewish child the opportunity of an excellent education where Torah values and thoughts are embedded through the Judaic studies is imperative.
DIANA: I live and breathe Hebrew Academy. I love that our school combines
Jewish and secular knowledge to produce the next generation of leaders who will change the world.
Q: TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GRANDPARENTS CIRCLE: L: Grandparents Circle gives us a chance to be involved in our grandchildren’s education through the
Hebrew Academy and offer them our time, talents and treasures!
D: By joining our Grandparents Circle and supporting our school you will get to be a part of an amazing movement, an inter-generational effort to bring meaning into our children’s lives!
Q: WHY HAVE YOU TEAMED UP FOR THIS NEW INITIATIVE? L: As the next generation becomes more involved as lay leaders, I thought it was a great opportunity to join my daughter in this important endeavor. We get to create opportunities for other grandparents to connect with each other and their grandchildren. D: My mother has vast experience and not only provides enthusiasm, but also wisdom. Plus, you can’t
have a Grandparents Circle without a grandparent! I couldn’t think of a better teammate! To learn more or to get involved with the Grandparents Circle, head over to Hebrewacademymiami.org/grandparentscircle
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HEBREW ACADEMY Who We Are
1947
HEBREW ACADEMY FOUNDING YEAR
50% over
STUDENTS ON SCHOLARSHIP
over 71 years strong, like the State of Israel
601
STUDENTS ENROLLED and growing...
7
LANGUAGES SPOKEN AMONG STUDENTS English, Spanish, Hebrew, French, Russian, Bukharian, Portuguese
100%
COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE RATE
27
ATHLETIC TEAMS (Grades 4-12)
80%
STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN ATHLETICS IN GRADES 4-12
60%
OF GRADUATING SENIORS ATTEND GAP YEAR IN ISRAEL
8
STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE IDF AFTER GRADUATION over the last 3 years
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HEBREWACADEMYMIAMI.ORG
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