Message from our Dean Dear ICJA Family: What an unexpected, even historic, past year this has been! And in spite of the challenges of educating through a pandemic and going virtual quite literally overnight, this was an impressive year of growth and learning for our entire school community. Academically, our students and teachers were recognized for their excellence. Our graduates were accepted to renowned universities, yeshivot, and seminaries. And then, when the pandemic hit, our school seamlessly and successfully transformed into an online experience so that we could continue offering the finest general and Judaic education despite the pandemic's challenges. But what continues to make me so very proud to be an ICJA alumnus, a parent of alumni, and ICJA teacher and dean is how everyone – teachers, students and parents – came together to rise to the challenges of this past year. Teachers who had never taught online learned to do so with one day's notice. Students who never learned online learned to adapt and succeed in their studies (see this year's AP and Jerusalem Exam results). And parents who suddenly found themselves working from home were still able to support our efforts to the fullest. Our teachers expanded their repertoire in technology and new methodologies. And our students inspired us with their acts of chesed, their leadership and scholarship. But beyond the thousands of hours of online learning, we came together to celebrate in new ways. First came the Edward A. Crown Scholarship Dinner, which went online and was attended by more than 400 people. Celebrations of Yom HaAtzmaut and memorials for Yom HaShoah and Yom HaZikaron were created online. And extracurricular programs - from concerts to game shows to preserve our sense of community, were broadcast online. We were able to welcome alumni and working parents to events they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to attend. We were apart, and yet, in some ways, we were brought even closer together. Throughout the year, your support of ICJA enabled and inspired us to reach our goals – even when we had to reevaluate and recreate those goals mid-year. In spite of finishing our annual campaign remotely and virtually, we raised more scholarship dollars than ever before, from more people than ever before. Three times a day, we read the Shema where we are commanded to teach our children and speak the words of Torah ()ושננתם לבניך ודברת בם. But, the Torah continues with the command that these teachings should extend when we are at home and on the road. In other words, the inspiration of Torah must be ever-present in our lives. For nearly eight decades, ICJA has taught students to be inspired and proud Jews, prepared to engage and ennoble the world by taking the teachings of Torah and general knowledge everywhere. This rang true more than ever for ICJA this year. But this would have never been possible without your partnership. Thank you for joining with us in this sacred task. Thank you for supporting our efforts. Thank you for helping us realize the dreams of generations past—who never could have imagined what our school year looked like–and generations to come! B'virkat HaTorah, Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D. 2
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.