Inside AMIT Spring 2022

SPRING 2022 / NISSAN 5782

IN THIS EDITION:

A TIME FOR

Building

Bridges

AND EMBRACING DIFFERENCES

PRESIDENT Audrey Axelrod Trachtman EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Andrew Goldsmith

On the cover: The Chords Bridge also called the Bridge of Strings or Jerusalem Light Rail Bridge

DIRECTOR GENERAL Dr. Amnon Eldar CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Shari Weisenberg Designed by Bacio Design & Marketing Inc.

AMIT Offices Around the World NATIONAL OFFICE New York City Tel: 212.477.4720 info@amitchildren.org www.amitchildren.org ISRAEL Kfar Batya Campus 1 Jerusalem Street Ra’anana MID-ATLANTIC & NEW ENGLAND REGIONS Baltimore/Boston/D.C./Philadelphia Tel: 410.484.2223 Robbiep@amitchildren.org MIDWEST Chicago Tel: 847.677.3800 AMITChicago@amitchildren.org Cleveland Tel: 216.591.1119 AMITCleveland@amitchildren.org SOUTHEAST Florida Tel: 954.922.5100 ronir@amitchildren.org

Table of CONTENTS 01 President’s Message 02 Executive VP’s Impressions 03 Isaiah’s Expanding Tent: Secular Israeli Schools Join the AMIT Network 06 From Kibbutz Life to a Torah Way of Life 08 Skating for Israel 10 Magic and the Shema 14 A MIT Schools Win Coveted Education Excellence Prizes 16 AMIT Alumni Leading Israel: The Real Impact Your Investment

18 19 20 30 32

Recipe for Pesach Dvar Torah AMIT Highlights and Successes Development News R emembering Dr. Marguerite Werrin 34 A Triple Investment in Education 36 Welcome and Mazel Tov 37 In Memoriam

AMIT provides an innovative, Jewish, values-based education for 44,000 children

WESTERN Los Angeles Tel: 310.859.4885 AMITLA@amitchildren.org

in Israel each year. AMIT welcomes every child and levels the playing field for the children of Israel through education.

Signed articles do not necessarily represent the opinion of the organization.

Reproduction of any material requires permission and attribution.

Inside AMIT / Spring 2022

President’s Message

BY AUDREY AXELROD TRACHTMAN

“There is no life without a task; no person without a talent; no place without a fragment of God’s light waiting to be discovered and redeemed” — Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, How to Heal A Fractured World

M

y sister, Beth Axelrod Weinberger, passed away on February 6. Beth was given an unfair deal in life -— she was born cognitively impaired. But it did not derail her from living a happy, satisfied life, finding love, and making meaningful connections.

Her success started with my parents. Beth went to Camp Morasha when she was eight years old.

I was going, so Beth was going too. There was no special education inclusion then. Yachad was 30 years in the future. So what? A highlight of shiva was hearing from friends I haven’t spoken to in 50 years, reminiscing fondly about Beth and how natural it was having her in the bunk. They remember her ever-present smile.

After graduating from a paraeducation course at NYU, Beth worked as a teacher’s assistant in a small nursery school. When the school closed, it was hard to find another job. So she volunteered at a local hospital.

For Beth, volunteering was serious business. It meant 9-to-5, rain or shine. She was on a first name basis with doctors, nurses, and orderlies — because she was genuinely interested in everyone she met. But, she desperately wanted to be paid for her work. “Networking” and “advocating” came naturally to her. Beth made friends and they had her back. A nurse in the hospital found out that there was an opening for a tray serving position that Beth could handle, but the hospital didn’t want to hire her. After some not so gentle behind the scenes prodding, Beth was hired.

Against expectations, she did more with the job than I’m sure anyone else could or would have. She would chat with everyone she served. In the process, she made them feel good.

Although Beth always wanted to get married, it was hard to imagine it would happen. The shidduch with Mark was made through friends but it was undoubtedly God’s handiwork. They were a happy couple — she would make sure they got invited and he was the wheels who got them there. I can see Beth and Mark walking home from shul together and talking, not exactly in rhythm

but close. Mark would talk sports. She would nod her head and sort of listen, thinking about what she was making for Shabbos.

Beth was my only sibling. Growing up with her made me acutely sensitive to inequality. It is a major reason that when I stopped working, I doubled down on my commitment to AMIT. At AMIT, we more often talk about leveling the playing field for children from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds. We also do it for kids with learning disabilities. Our mantra — “We are the No. 1 educational network in Israel“ — is based on nine criteria that the Ministry of Education uses in its evaluation. Surprisingly (in a good way), one of the nine criteria is special education inclusion.

I am proud that we are in the top tier for this criterion.

So, how do I tie my sister’s life story into Passover, the Festival of Freedom? Most of us are extremely fortunate. We have the freedom to choose what we want to do with our lives. But too often, while we consider the rich array of choices spread out before us, we fail to notice the people a little off to the side, sometimes out of view.

They don’t have the same freedom to choose their lives. What Beth did was provide people with opportunities to notice her. She had the courage and natural grace to make people see her caring, generous spirit as well as her needs and potential. Beth made everyone kinder and more supportive than they might otherwise have been. And they gave her the freedom to live her life as she dreamed.

This is the lesson I learned from my sister’s life.

Even when others were helping her, she was helping us learn the life lessons of chesed (loving kindness), character, humility and grace. And that’s an incredible legacy.

Thank you, AMIT family, for your kind messages of condolence.

Audrey Axelrod Trachtman AMIT President BUILDING Bridges

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AMIT Children

Impressions

BY ANDREW GOLDSMITH

L

anding in Israel always brings with it some level of excitement — after all, is there any other destination where everyone applauds when the plane lands? After two and a half years of perpetual closure, a palpable communal outburst of joy was followed by shared smiles even during the deplaning bedlam.

She’s open again and not a moment too soon. The talk of damage to the Diaspora/Israel relationship is a real thing.

Reasons aside, Israel’s closure was kind of like calling your mother to ask whether you can bring over the kids for a Shabbat meal, and being told “no.” The reasoning might be valid but there’s still a sting.

The good news is the sting doesn’t last long. They did miss us and genuinely feel bad about the closure. The traditional “Ma Nishma” (always a sincere inquiry) is now accompanied by hugs and warm invitations too numerous even if there were double the time.

I was eager to see firsthand — really to witness — how AMIT did during COVID. Of course we’ve been in close contact, read reports galore, burnt out two IPADs from over-Zooming, but nothing — absolutely nothing — takes the place of walking the halls of our schools, meeting the students and staff, and having a thousand conversations.

It’s the difference between FaceTiming your grandchildren and holding them on your lap — similar but in no way the same.

Throughout this issue of the magazine and in our Annual Report (amitchildren.org/2021report), you’ll see many examples that add up to a singular conclusion — we’ve come through this storm well. Battered at times, certainly, but well. We faced unbelievable adversity with courage and creativity and teamwork par excellence. “No child left behind” became a war cry and anything less intolerable.

It’s not a simple mission and frankly incredibly impractical. Over the last few months I’ve had a running and at times vehement dispute with a supporter who makes the argument that one of our programs, while

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highly successful in transforming lives, simply doesn’t have the capability to grow in numbers in the traditional way. It’s absolutely true — some our programs won’t grow and will never ever be economical. Budgets are always a balance between what you want and what you can afford. The argument that we should focus only on programs that can help the most (and jettison the rest) never quite leaves my mind.

That is until I saw something quite wonderful. I was visiting the Gloria & Henry I. Zeisel and Family Junior College and accidentally happened upon their “wall of graduates.” Each alumnus has a picture, an update and quote — kind of like a living yearbook.

Scanning the faces, I recognized Yaffa Rothman — so would many of you. For two years, Yaffa served as our AMIT student ambassador. She toured the country on our behalf, meeting hundreds of supporters and winning our hearts. As a teenager, she came to us when everyone else had given up on her and Kfar Blatt became her home. While in our care, her father was killed in a terrorist attack and her tough life became much tougher. But our staff never gave up on her and in turn she never gave up on herself. Yaffa graduated the junior college in 2016 and now attends the prestigious IDC Herziliya.

She plans to utilize her talents to become a diplomat in the Israel foreign ministry and every indicator leads us to believe that Yaffa has what it takes to get there.

Budget? Yeah, right. Impractical? Certainly. But still absolutely the right thing to do. AMIT will find a way because we have to. We at AMIT would never knowingly give up on a single child, no matter what they need or how many are in need. And I know you wouldn’t have it any other way.

Chag Kasher V’Samaech — to you, your loved ones, and all of our AMIT children.

Andrew Goldsmith AMIT Executive Vice President

Inside AMIT / Spring 2022

ISAIAH’S

EXPANDING TENT:

Secular Israeli Schools Join the AMIT Network

BY WE N DY E L L I M A N

It is shortly before eight o’clock on a Sunday morning in Rehovot, and most of the Ron Arad High School’s 735 seventh- to twelfth-graders are streaming into class — all but those currently quarantined for COVID-19.

They are a fairly typical Israeli high school population: boys and girls, almost 600 of whom live locally, from families that range from privileged to disadvantaged,

with academic abilities from very strong to its 37 mainstreamed special education students.

What sets this school apart, however, is that while its pupils, its curriculum and most of its teachers are secular, it is part of the religious Zionist AMIT Network — an incongruity that may at first seem startling to Israelis, for whom the secular/religious educational divide predates the birth of the State.

BUILDING Bridges

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AMIT Children

Some parents were apprehensive about the association, but they quickly saw that AMIT is happy for us to define Judaism for our own school.

“We joined AMIT last September because it’s an educational and pedagogic leader,” says Ron Arad principal Keren Shachal, 55, herself secular. “Some parents were apprehensive about the association, but they quickly saw that AMIT is happy for us to define Judaism for our own school.”

A chemistry teacher by training, Tel Aviv-born Shachal came to Ron Arad (then run by the city) five years ago, following seven successful years at the helm of another Rehovot high school. “The Ron Arad School was then three years old and hadn’t found its way,” she says tactfully. “I was appointed to put it on its feet.”

as Ron Arad, and the large Beer Tuvia High School in Kiryat Malachi came on board the year before.)

The decision to expand into Israel’s secular population was triggered by a heartfelt appeal to AMIT from the IDF’s Chief of Staff. “For him, the country’s social divisions are a greater threat to Israel’s future than any external enemy, and he urged us, as educators, to address this,” says Dr. Amnon Eldar, AMIT Director General for the past 20 years. “Our Board of Directors approved our transitioning from a network of solely

She replaced 80 percent of the school’s 70 teachers, introduced electives ranging from social skills and theater arts to volleyball and pre-med, and added matriculation tracks such as sciences, visual arts, diplomacy, social initiatives, and communications. “I see my job as attracting and nurturing the best pupils, giving those from underprivileged backgrounds an equal chance, and making our school a second home for its students and staff,” she says.

It took Shachal five years to stabilize the school, academically, socially, and in the community.

“It was then time to move it up another level, and for this we needed help,” she says. “Together — teachers, pedagogues — we agreed that AMIT, with its 97 years of expertise, could provide this help. We haven’t been disappointed.”

In September 2021, the Ron Arad Junior & Senior High became one of three secular schools to count themselves among the 110 educational institutions that AMIT operates with Israel’s local and national education authorities. (The Nachshon Junior & Senior High in Hevel Modi’in joined AMIT at the same time

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religious Zionist schools to one that reaches out to all Israel — secular to haredi — accepting of one another’s differences while focusing on our broad common denominators.”

While AMIT remains a religious Zionist movement, he clarifies, the academic values based education in all its schools creates a rare meeting-point between the riven sectors of Israeli society. “Educating and nurturing children from diverse backgrounds within a framework of academic excellence, Torah values, and Zionist ideals, can only strengthen our people,” he insists.

Inside AMIT / Spring 2022

AMIT has adopted Visionary Education as its motto to reflect this change, but its core values remain rock-solid. They are first, enumerates Dr. Eldar, love and respect for Torah ideals (honesty, integrity, tolerance and openness, Zionism and its connection with Jewish culture, keeping mitzvot from choice); second, Jewish peoplehood (living together in mutual respect, and addressing differences and disagreements positively and civilly); and third, striving toward excellence and fulfilling potential.

“We’re walking in the footsteps of the prophet Isaiah Isaiah [54:2],” he smiles. “We’re expanding and broadening our tent while strengthening our base.”

Expanding and broadening is an understatement. AMIT intends to take more secular schools into its network until a full quarter of its student body is secular. More than that, at the request of the Education Ministry, it plans to replicate its model high school alternative to traditional yeshiva — the 10-year-old Menorat Ha’Maor High School in Petach Tikva — as needed, as well as enter schools in Israel’s Druze sector.

“Our overall aim,” he continues, “is to make Israel’s schools hubs of values-based education that instill openness, tolerance, religious commitment by choice and Jewish heritage. By nurturing academic excellence in both Judaic and academic studies, AMIT pupils graduate with the skills, values, knowledge, and tools that open a world of opportunity.”

The Ron Arad School’s pupils are clearly happy to be within the network. Tenth-grader May Bersano, 16, eagerly goes to school each day. “I know that I matter there, and learn things I can’t learn elsewhere. I want to be an actress and they support that. I’m just starting a theater elective and am really excited about it!”

Educating and nurturing children from diverse backgrounds within a framework of academic excellence, Torah values and Zionist ideals can only strengthen our people.

“We’re taking the lead in redefining Israel’s educational landscape to give all young Israelis the best educational opportunities both for themselves and for their country,” says Dr. Eldar. “The Education Ministry has named us its leading education network, and we’re also one of Israel’s largest school systems. So we see ourselves as a role model, guided by AMIT’s values, responsive to changing educational needs and emphasizing educational and pedagogical innovation.”

Naama Sameach, 18, two grades ahead of her, has chosen computer science and diplomacy as her electives “because I want to do something significant with my life,” she says.

Meantime, she too “love[s] coming to school. If I have difficulty in my studies, my teachers work with me till I get it. If I have a request or complaint, I go to the principal, know I’ll be heard, and the issue addressed.”

Ariel Regev, 15, came to Ron Arad following a difficult time in elementary school, socially, and academically.

“The personal attention here has helped me get over all that,” he says. “My English and history, which I really wasn’t good at, have picked up. And the enrichment courses here, like the science programs with the Weizmann Institute, are just wonderful!”

BUILDING Bridges

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AMIT Children

Message from

From Kibbutz Life to a Torah Way of Life

BY HELGA ABRAHAM

I

n addition to academic excellence, one of the central pillars of AMIT’s educational vision is Torat Chaim, the goal of which is to inculcate in students the values of Torah as a way of life. “Our aim is to create a spark in the eyes of students — a spark of meaning, depth, and joy,” says Elad Bar Shalom, Director of the Torat Chaim program at AMIT. Surprisingly, one of the ways in which Bar Shalom and his team are making Torah studies more meaningful to students is by adopting concepts from the secular world. “In order to make religious studies more relevant to students we use tools from psychology, coaching, and group therapy, and we encourage teachers to be more like facilitators and mentors,” he says.

At the same time, AMIT is working to bring the values of Judaism and belief in the land of Israel to secular students, as a way to bridge societal divides in Israel and unify communities. In recent years, more and more secular schools have joined the AMIT educational network and there is a need

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to help these students better understand religious concepts and values.

Bar Shalom, 46, is uniquely suited to the task.

“I come from both worlds and I live in both worlds,” he says as he describes his very secular upbringing. “Secularism is steeped in my family.

My paternal grandfather left a comfortable life and a flourishing career as an engineer in the Czech Republic to till the land on a kibbutz. He was a true pioneer who believed in social equality and unity.”

Religion was not part of his grandfather’s life; he did not have a Bar Mitzvah, nor did Bar Shalom’s father. Both of his parents grew up on the kibbutz and were raised in children’s houses, where the children of the kibbutz lived together under adult supervision, rather than in their parents’ homes.

They suffered from this and from the strict rules that regulated every part of their lives, he says.

Bar Shalom recalls an incident that exemplified this period. “A neighbor of my parents was sent a color TV by relatives abroad, but the kibbutz

Inside AMIT / Spring 2022

did not let them watch it because everyone else only had a black and white TV. A meeting was held to discuss the problem and it was decided that the family could keep the TV set but they were not allowed to use the color option.”

By the time Bar Shalom was born in the mid-‘70s, kibbutz life was more normative — there were no more children’s houses on the kibbutz and much greater freedom. But secularism still reigned and Bar Shalom grew up with no religious education and did not have a Bar Mitzvah. “Having a Bar Mitzvah was not even an option for me since neither my father nor my grandfather had had one,” he says.

Our aim is to create a spark in the eyes of students – a spark of meaning, depth, and joy.

- Elad Bar Shalom Director of the Torat Chaim program at AMIT

But as a teen, he took an interest in the human spirit and soul. As he followed the traditional Israeli trajectory of army service, traveling abroad, and college studies, he began to study the Bible, Jewish philosophy and Hassidism, while practicing meditation, yoga and Tai Chi. By his mid-thirties, Bar Shalom was wearing a kippah, keeping mitzvot, and raising a religious family.

The process of becoming religious led to a major change of career for Bar Shalom — from marketing to education. After teaching for several years in a yeshiva high school, he joined AMIT’s Torat Chaim program, bringing fresh ideas for how to teach Jewish studies in innovative and meaningful ways. “We want students to feel that the Torah is a life model,” he says, where each student can find his or her personal spiritual path.”

Bar Shalom believes that the more young people feel connected to their faith and Jewish identity, the more they will be able to connect with other streams of Israeli society. “My vision is to create a society where all streams talk to each other, respect each other, and complement each other.”

BUILDING Bridges

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AMIT Children

Skating for Israel

BY TAMAR SNYDER

ONLY A YEAR AGO, OLYMPIC ATHLETE HAILEY KOPS WAS STUDYING AT THE MIDRESHET AMIT SEMINARY IN JERUSALEM, WITH PLANS TO ATTEND NURSING SCHOOL UPON HER RETURN TO NEW JERSEY.

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Inside AMIT / Spring 2022

A

fter several knee injuries, Hailey had decided to retire from competitive figure skating. A gap year in Israel focusing on Jewish studies and exploring her homeland served as the perfect refresher.

There, she made new friends and grew spiritually, religiously, and mentally.

But she didn’t hang up her skates for long.

Upon returning from Israel in June, she received a call from the Israeli Skating Federation asking her to rejoin the team. She agreed with one condition: she wouldn’t practice or train on Shabbat.

“As a religious Shomer Shabbat athlete, I enjoy spending Shabbat at home with my family and friends,” she says. Studying at Midreshet AMIT had solidified her commitment to maintaining her spiritual balance and not relaxing her standards.

Although she does compete on Shabbat when necessary, as a Modern Orthodox Jew she eats only kosher foods and won’t fly on Shabbat or Jewish holidays.

“Quietly and in her own way, [Hailey] represented what it meant to be a Modern Orthodox Jew competing at an elite level,” her father, Steven Kops, wrote in a Facebook post. “She would perform her own moments of kiddush hashem (sanctifying God’s name).”

The 19-year-old from West Orange, N.J., made her Olympic debut in Beijing in February, skating on behalf of Israel. She and her skating partner, Evgeni Krasnopolski, finished in 15th place. Before every competition, she prays. They had qualified for a spot at the Olympics by finishing fifth overall at the 2021 CS Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany in September.

Competing at the Olympics was a “dream come true,” she says. “To be able to represent Israel and the Jewish people is really special and something that I always wanted to do,” Hailey says.

EARLY YEARS AS A SKATER Hailey got her start at an early age. The daughter of a figure skating coach, Hailey was already in skates at the age of three. She would wake up early every morning

to train, and competed in several local ice skating competitions. She later trained with Galit Chait, a threetime Olympian who is the head coach of the Israeli Skating Federation.

At the age of 13, she became an Israeli citizen and started competing on behalf of Israel at international competitions.

She and her former skating partner, Israel’s Artem Tsoglin, represented Israel at the 2017 World Junior Championships, 2018 World Junior Championships, and 2019 European Championships.

She has only been practicing with her current skating partner, Krasnopolski, for less than a handful of months. To make up for lost time, the pair practiced for nine hours each day at the Montclair University Ice Arena in Montclair, New Jersey. This was the third Olympic bid for Krasnopolski, 33.

A LOYAL FAN Hailey is grateful for the outpouring of support she has received from family, friends, and Jews around the globe. One especially passionate fan rooting for her was her 11-year-old “little sister” in Israel. The two were paired together as part of a chessed program at the Midreshet AMIT Seminary in Jerusalem that Hailey attended last year.

The seminary is located on the campus of Beit Hayeled, AMIT’s foster home for disadvantaged Israeli children. Hailey and her fellow students became part of a “mishpachton,” a family unit made up of a caring young Israeli couple and 12 children. Twice a week, Hailey helped her “little sister” with homework, went on excursions together, and just hung out. “She continually inspired me,” Hailey says of her “little sister.”

ACHIEVING THE IMPOSSIBLE For the long program in Beijing on February 18, Kops and Krasnopolski skated to Josh Groban cover of “The Impossible Dream,” the song sung by Don Quixote in the Broadway show “Man of La Mancha.” It was a fitting choice as she reflects on achieving her long-held dream of skating in the Olympics, representing Israel.

“I think that every parent wants their children to chase their passion and dreams — no matter how big, challenging, and potentially unattainable those dreams can actually be,” her father told JNS, noting, noting that Hailey representing Israel “has been the greatest honor for us as a family.”

BUILDING Bridges

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AMIT Children

Magic SHEMA AND THE

BY GLORIA AVERBUCH

A GROUNDBREAKING MUSEUM EXHIBITION REVEALS THE CONNECTION

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It began with a remarkable discovery.

Nancy Benovitz was working alone in The Israel Museum in Jerusalem late one evening in 2014. She was studying a silver armband that was part of a bequest made by the late Prof. Dan Barag to the Museum in 2010. Benovitz, currently the museum’s Senior Editor of English Publications in Archaeology, has worked at the Israel Museum since 1988 and holds a master’s degree in classical archaeology with an emphasis on reading ancient Greek inscriptions.

She was attempting to decipher the Greek script on the armband — a particular challenge as the words are written with no spaces, no punctuation, and include misspellings.

Assuming this was a Christian amulet, as were most of the items she had been working as part of the bequest, she noticed the words “with all” repeated several times, as well as the word “love.” “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might,” she repeated to herself.

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“Suddenly I understood that I was looking at Deuteronomy 6:5 — the second verse of the Shema,” says Benovitz. “My heart was pounding; it was so surprising and so exciting.” Painstakingly, she continued to decipher the armband’s inscription, ultimately revealing that it contains most of the Shema and the first verse of Psalm 91, and that it was not a Christian amulet, but rather a Jewish one.

Manuscript of Practical Kabbalah open to a magical recipe for the treatment of epilepsy, which incorporates the Shema.

Ukraine, ca. 1740.

Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv Photo © The Israel Museum, Jerusalem / Elie Posner

Inside AMIT / Spring 2022

Benovitz had made a thrilling discovery and one that would give birth to the wider topic of the presence and function of the Shema in Jewish magic.

Hear O Israel: The Magic of the Shema, the first exhibition of its kind anywhere, debuted in August 2021, and was curated by Benovitz and her longtime colleague at the Israel Museum, Dudi Mevorah, Senior Curator of Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine Archaeology.

Of the 90 objects in the exhibition, the earliest are tefillin from Qumran — the oldest in the world — dating from the 1st century BCE to 1st century CE. The latest items are from the present day and were produced by a practitioner of Practical Kabbalah in Hod HaSharon, Israel. The ancient items are in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic, but those from medieval times onward are in Hebrew. One book on display, Wisdom of Solomon, is an 18th century Hebrew translation of a book of Christian magic written in Latin in the 15th century. Almost all the items on display in the exhibition are from the Israel Museum’s collections of Archaeology and Judaica, as well as from local private and public collections, including The National Library of Israel and the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).

The exhibition is comprised of a preamble, four sections, and a film.

Amulet/pendant with the Shema.

Israel, 20th century.

The Israel Museum, Jerusalem Photo © The Israel Museum, Jerusalem / Elie Posner

The preamble provides a basic explanation of the Shema – its origins in the Torah, and how it came together as a liturgical unit sometime in the Second Temple period.

The first section, Hidden and Revealed, is devoted to amulets and “magic bowls” incorporating the Shema.

Some of the amulets take the form of jewelry, and thus the magical words and images inscribed on them are visible, or “revealed.” Other amulets are written on parchment, paper, or metal, and are rolled and inserted into containers or pouches. The curators have dubbed these “hidden” amulets.

The second section, The Shema in Books of Jewish Magic, displays collections of magic recipes, some of which incorporate the Shema.

The third section, Betwixt and Between, discusses the connection between the Shema and liminal occasions, BUILDING Bridges

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AMIT Children

such as childbirth, the circumcision ceremony (brit milah), the moment before sleep, and the moment before death.

The final section, Between Religion and Magic: Tefillin and Mezuzot, raises the question of the connection between these important Jewish ritual items and the “hidden” amulets in the exhibition.

All share the same basic design concept consisting of powerful, sacred words written on scrolls which are rolled and inserted into containers.

Why the Shema?

“Why is the Shema on this armband?” was the original question that guided Benovitz.

The Shema is a biblical text that has been revered and maintained at the core of Jewish life for over 2,000 years. Although it is not the way we normally think of it, the Shema is also connected to magic, as it has been used for the purpose of protection, health, and success. It can be found on and inside amulets from ancient through modern times.

In fact, the Shema is one of the deepest and most profound aspects of the ancient as well as the more recent history of the Jewish people. Examples include three early 20th-century pendants featuring the Shema prayer that were excavated at the Sobibor extermination camp in Poland in late January 2021, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority. Six similar amulets are part of the Israel Museum exhibition.

Amulets and Magic Bowls with the Shema The earliest known amulet with the words of the Shema dates back to the 3rd century. Inscribed on thin gold foil, it was found rolled inside a tiny silver capsule in the grave of an 18-month-old child in Halbturn, Austria. “Hidden amulets” like these, mainly inscribed on parchment and paper, continue to be produced today. The Shema is also inscribed on ancient amuletic pendants, bracelets, and rings, worn, seen, and admired like all jewelry. The curators call these “revealed amulets.”

Although not technically amulets, also on display are earthenware incantation, or magic bowls which functioned like “demon traps.”

These were a popular practice among Jews and non-Jews of Babylonia (present day Iraq).

The bowls, many of which were written for specific clients, AMIT’s Co-Chair of the are inscribed with magic spells intended to remedy Israel Executive Board, the clients’ problems. The Tamar Benovitz, and Jewish bowls quote from the AMIT’s President, Mishnah, Jewish prayers, and Audrey Axelrod the Bible, and quite a few others incorporate the Shema.

Trachtman, giving It appears that after they were AMIT friends and created, they were then buried donors a private tour upside down in and around of the Israel Museum’s the homes of those inhabitants they were meant to protect.

“Magic of the Shema”

exhibition.

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The Bedtime Shema in a miniature illuminated manuscript.

Moravia (?), Austrian Empire, 18th century.

The Israel Museum, Jerusalem

Inside AMIT / Spring 2022

Photo © The Israel Museum, Jerusalem / Elie Posner

Magical Instruction Books Instruction manuals are literally recipe books that provide direction on performing rituals and producing amulets addressing a wide variety of human situations and problems.

The recipes in these manuals were collected and copied over the generations. The books on display in the exhibition, including manuscripts dating back to the 18th century, are open to pages that incorporate the Shema.

Between Religion and Magic: Tefillin and Mezuzot Jewish law (halakhah) prescribes the wearing of tefillin and the affixing of mezuzot to doorposts. These important Jewish ritual items are directly tied to the Shema. The words of the Shema, on which the laws are based, are inscribed on the parchments inside them.

Thus, in terms of their basic form, tefillin and mezuzot are reminiscent of “hidden amulets,” such as those on view in the exhibition. Moreover, both tefillin and mezuzot have been associated with protection since Talmudic times and even before. In fact, phylacterion (phylactery), the word also used for tefillin, is the same word for amulet in Greek. Yet, while there are similarities between amulets and tefillin and mezuzot, there are also differences (e.g., amulets are optional, but tefillin and mezuzot are required by Jewish law). “This issue leads to the broader question of the fuzzy relationship between religion and magic,” says Benovitz.

Amulet/pendant with the Shema.

Yemen, 19th century.

The Israel Museum, Jerusalem Photo © The Israel Museum, Jerusalem / Elie Posner

Amulet/pendant inscribed with the Shema, Psalm 91:1 and Proverbs 18:10 in Hebrew.

Israel, 6th–7th century.

Extended loan from the René and Susanne Braginsky Collection, Zurich Photo © The Israel Museum, Jerusalem / Elie Posner

An Enlightening Experience In addition to serving the general Israeli public, the exhibition has generated significant interest from academia, including higher educational institutions such as Israeli universities. In an effort to further serve young visitors, the Museum has just completed an additional exhibition audio guide for children.

“It has been absolutely thrilling for me to see the visitors’ reactions and receive their feedback,” says Nancy of the exhibition. And while she acknowledges that sometimes the word “magic” throws people off, she contends that, “Magic has been a part of Jewish culture from the very beginning.”

Amulet/armband inscribed with the first two paragraphs of the Shema and Psalm 91(90):1 in Greek.

Egypt or Israel, 6th –7th century.

The Israel Museum, Jerusalem: Bequest of Dan Barag, Jerusalem Photo © The Israel Museum, Jerusalem / Elie Posner

HEAR O ISRAEL: THE MAGIC OF THE SHEMA THE ISRAEL MUSEUM, JERUSALEM August 20, 2021 — April 23, 2022 Listen to the audio guide, see photos and a brief film, available for the time being: https://www.imj.org.il/en, click on EXHIBITIONS

BUILDING Bridges

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6 AMIT Children

AMIT SCHOOLS

Win Coveted Education Excellence Prizes

BY DEBRA KIRSCHENBAUM

S

top by the colorful hallways of YESHIVAT AMIT AMICHAI on any weekday, and you’ll be struck not just by the sound of laughter, but also by a palpable sense of optimism.

AMIT Amichai, a combined junior high and high school in the central Israeli city of Rehovot, combines academic excellence with a love of Torah. But to pupils, it’s more than just a school — it’s also a safety net for the entire student body.

AMIT Amichai is among six AMIT schools that received Israel’s Ministry of Education Excellence Prizes. The prizes confirm what the students at each school already knew: The classroom can also serve as a community. The schools have each found a creative way to become a haven as students navigate adolescence, stress and the deeper challenges within

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Israeli society. Whether grappling with identity and exploration, facing terrorism or COVID-19 loneliness, the students at each of these schools know when they walk through the school door they are entering their second home. And that is the secret of their success.

It’s all rooted in the Jewish idea of kehilah (community).

“Jewish values are the beating heart through which our students are taught to constantly ask themselves what their place and purpose are in the world,” said Shimon Shushan, AMIT Amichai’s principal. Students come from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds and religious observances, and the school has a 97 percent (bagrut) matriculation rate — nearly 30 percent above the national average. “We strive to teach them that their contribution to the world

Inside AMIT / Spring 2022 and their community goes hand in hand with their contribution to their own success and academic growth,” Shushan said.

In the tiny city of Karmiel in Israel’s Galilee, 89 percent of AMIT KARMIEL JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL students matriculate, many with high-level certificates in the key subjects of English and math. Principal Guy Dekel points to a holistic view of the student as the key to achieving educational excellence.

“We hold personal conversations to identify where students have difficulties. And we create a program in accordance, with a plan to bridge their gaps and help them progress,” he said.

At AMIT SDEROT RELIGIOUS JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, the challenges are more readily apparent — the entire school is fortified against frequent rocket attacks from nearby Gaza. Many students are

immigrants from Ethiopia and the former Soviet Union, but despite poverty, language gaps and the persistent threat of terrorism, matriculation rates are an impressive 98 percent. The reason, said Noa Epstein, a teacher and school coordinator, is a commitment to ensuring students don’t give up when faced with challenges, either academic or social.

“We put a maximum effort into giving our students all the keys that they might need in the future, to open all sorts of doors,” she said. The school has tracts for both religious and non-religious students with the same rigorous standards. This, too, serves as a motivator — universally high standards creates a rising tide that lifts all students.

At AMIT MENORAT HAMAOR IN PETAH TIKVA, matriculation rates have climbed from 62.5 percent to 93 percent in just two years — with school leaders

determined that its ultra-Orthodox students graduate fully prepared for professional success. Sixty percent of its students continue toward a computer engineering degree; the school has cracked the code on providing a well-rounded education that teaches Torah as well as technical skills. They do it by personalizing the education to meet the unique needs of each student.

“For each student, a personal plan is built according to his or her academic level,” said Principal Ilan Chamami.

YESHIVAT AMIT NACHSHON, near Beit Shemesh, is located in one of the fastest-growing areas of Israel. As the population swells, the student body has become increasingly diverse. In Israel, most schools are homogenous, but here the diversity is embraced.

Sephardim, Ashkenazim, and immigrants from around the world all attend, as do students who are classified as youth-at-risk. They are integrated together with an emphasis on highlighting each other’s strengths.

And at AMIT KFAR BLATT YOUTH VILLAGE in Petah Tikva, students truly do come to see their school as a home. Many of the school’s 500 at-risk teenagers grew up often not even knowing where their next meal would come from. At Kfar Blatt, the teens are placed in familylike units with surrogate parents, where in addition to academic excellence, they are offered a chance for healthy physical and psychological development.

They live in residences for 16 to 18 girls or boys, along with a young couple and their own biological children. Here, they become part of a family, sometimes for the first time in their lives. Their days include chores and communal meals. That sense of security translates into success: over 95 percent of Kfar Blatt graduates continue to serve in the IDF or participate in National Service, a crucial step toward long-term employment.

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AMIT Children

AMIT alumni leading Israel:

The real-life impact of your investment.

BY HELGA ABRAHAM

the Israel Scholarship Education Foundation (ISEF), an organization that enables disadvantaged students to access every level of higher education.

Through his involvement with ISEF, Amir says he has witnessed how educational opportunities not only change the fate of a student but also that of his siblings, parents, and even neighborhood.

He describes his own experience at AMIT Ginsburg Bar Ilan Gush Dan Junior and Senior High School for Boys as formative. He credits the school with instilling in him the aspiration for excellence as well as love for Israel and religious values. It is for this reason that he has placed his two eldest sons in AMIT schools and continues to be involved with AMIT through his alma mater’s alumni association.

Amir Chenchinski

A

MIT alumnus Amir Chenchinski, 47, is a successful international tax partner with the global firm Ernst & Young who manages to make time from his high-powered job to promote educational projects and help strengthen Israeli society.

Amir lectures at Ono Academic College and is a board member of a pre-army preparation program and of

Much of his own personal success, he says, can be attributed to the education he received at AMIT: “It is the combination of Torah and advanced science and technology which is the key to AMIT’s success and that of its students,” he says. “Torah without modernity or modernity without Torah cannot succeed. One needs the other and this is the model of AMIT.” This combination, he says, will become more and more important as high-tech and innovation become the basis of world economies. “High-tech is the Qatar of Israel,” he says. “It is the wealth that will take Israel forward and AMIT is playing a big part in this process.”

Torah without modernity other modernity without Torah cannot succeed. One needs the other and this is the model of AMIT.”

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Inside AMIT / Spring 2022

Boaz Yosefi: Student Turned Principal

B

oaz Yosefi, the Principal of AMIT Hatzor Haglilit, has a long history with the school and with Hatzor Haglilit, a small development town in northern Israel. He was born there and studied at AMIT Hatzor from the second year of the school’s existence, watching it grow into a fullfledged religious high school for boys and girls.

Shalom Giat: AMIT is my Home

T

he formative years that 39-year-old Shalom Giat spent at AMIT Frisch Beit Hayeled Youth Village, AMIT’s unique residential school for disadvantaged children in Jerusalem, are inscribed in his mind.

“From the age of five, Beit Hayeled gave me a home,” he says. “I received enormous love and warmth there and also tools for life — how to look after myself, how to clean floors, how to deal with my outbursts of anger.”

Unable to serve in the army because of clinical depression, Shalom performed menial jobs for several years until, by chance, he was asked to work as a substitute teacher in an elementary school. “I fell in love with teaching from day one,” he recalls, “and I used a lot of the skills I learned at AMIT, such as how to listen to others and how to be sensitive to the needs of students.”

After serving in the IDF as a commander in the Givati Brigade, Boaz became a teacher by chance: “I had not thought of going into education,” he says, “but when the opportunity arose I saw it as an obligation to return to the community what I had gained from it, and at AMIT, I had learned the values of kindness and giving.”

After serving at AMIT Hatzor as teacher, homeroom teacher, and deputy principal, Boaz was appointed Principal in 2016.

He points out that the school is unique in several ways: “Firstly, we accept every type of student — religious, ultra-Orthodox, traditional and secular — because we strongly believe in Klal Yisrael, one people with one Torah, and secondly we do not separate bright from poor students.”

While this policy creates challenges for his teaching staff, it has proven successful, with 98 percent of students at AMIT Hatzor graduating with a full high school certificate. But for Boaz, academic achievements are not the only goal. “The most important thing,” he says, “is for the students to be happy and I can say that 99 percent of them are happy here.”

While teaching, Shalom acquired a BA in Education and in 2017 he joined AMIT Eitan High School in Ma’aleh Adumim, where he teaches Bible studies, literature, and citizenship. He was recently appointed homeroom teacher and is currently studying for an MA. “I found my vocation,” he says, “and I feel that I have closed the circle. AMIT was my home and is my home today.”

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AMIT Children

REC I PE FO R PE SAC H

ROAST MULLET

in Garlic and Cilantro Traditional Jewish Moroccan Jewish recipe eaten at Pesach IN GRED IEN TS: .2 pounds fillet of mullet, or another white2 fleshed fish such as flounder, tilapia, grouper, sole, haddock, or ocean perch.

1/2 cup olive oil 1 hot red pepper, chopped 1/2 cup cilantro leaves, finely chopped 1 tbsp. garlic, minced 1/2 cut semi-dry white wine Salt and freshly ground pepper Juice of 2 lemons

IN STRUCT ION S: 1. M ix everything except the fish fillets and place in a shallow bowl or baking dish. Add the fish and marinate in the refrigerator for at least two hours.

2. Pre-heat a grill or an oven on grill setting.

3. G rill the fish for about five minutes on each side.

Baste occasionally with the marinade.

ELI ALFASI is a teacher in the AMIT Technological High School in Ramle’s culinary track. He was born in Morocco and made aliyah at the age of six months. Eli learned to cook from his mother and grandmother before earning professional certification from the Tadmor Culinary, Hotelier and Tourism School. He comes to AMIT Ramle after being an IDF chef for 35 years, during which time he won various awards from the IDF for his work, as well as a gold and silver medal in an international army culinary competition held in Europe. He decided to go into teaching upon retirement from the IDF because he heard about AMIT Ramle and decided he could have a strong positive impact on the students’ lives.

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Dvar Torah

Inside AMIT / Spring 2022

PESACH, RAV KOOK AND HELPING OTHERS WITHOUT HURTING ONESELF

BY RABBI ARI ZE’EV SCHWARTZ

P

esach is not only about freeing oneself from slavery but also about helping to free other people from their personal Egypt.

Indeed, kindness toward other people is an essential part of the Seder night. As the Haggada writes, “Anyone who is hungry, come eat.” And while the desire to do acts of kindness to someone else is a great value, nonetheless, Rav Kook warns us about the hidden danger of kindness.

He writes: “The desire to do kindness needs a great shield.

A person with the personality of kindness, who yearns to influence everyone, is also more likely to be influenced from everyone. This is the spiritual law of influence: the one who influences will also be influenced” (Shmoneh Kevatzim 7:23).

That is to say, when a person is negative toward someone else, there is no real danger of being influenced by them since one has put up a shield. Yet the moment a person enters the mode of being kind to someone else, of wanting to give oneself to another person, one has put down their shield and are now open to being influenced.

For example, when a doctor tries to help someone with a contagious sickness, they open themselves up to the danger of being infected. Or when a psychologist tries to help someone with severe depression, they open themselves up to the danger of becoming depressed. This is also true regarding matters of faith. When a religious person desires to help an atheist understand faith, they open themselves up to the possibility of having doubts about their own beliefs.

For this reason, Rav Kook, who was known for being a very kind and giving person, offered the following piece of advice.

“This is the strength of the greatest givers of kindness...that they only influence negativity and not receive from it...God promised Avraham a shield in order that his influencing negativity would not damage himself. He is the role model of this greater type of kindness. “I will be a shield for you” (Bereishit 15:1) (Shmoneh Kevatzim 7:23).

In other words, Rav Kook says that a giving person must learn to develop a shield- healthy boundaries. When giving to others, a person must have the discipline to also keep a distance. This is extremely hard to do for a giving personality. Such a person yearns to give their entire essence to the cause and not simply a part of themselves. But this is what Rav Kook wants us to understand: only one who has a shield can actually help others.

On the festival of Pesach, we want everyone to go free from their personal Egypt, we desire that everyone be redeemed from their struggles and sufferings. As the Haggada writes, “Anyone who is hungry, come eat.”

Yet in order to set someone else free, in order to help someone else be healthy, a person must be free and healthy themselves.

When Rav Kook arrived in Israel, he yearned to help all types of people — secular Zionists, atheists, liberals, vegetarians, free-spirited artists, and poets. Eventually, Rav Kook began to understand that without a shield, without healthy boundaries, he would not be able to help them. And so, Rav Kook went looking for a role model of kindness with healthy boundaries. He found Avraham. “God promised Avraham a shield in order that his influencing negativity would not damage himself. He is the role model of this greater type of kindness” (Shmoneh Kevatzim 7:23).

This was the important spiritual lesson Rav Kook learnt about helping to free other people from their sufferings and do acts of kindness: the giver must never completely merge their soul with the receiver. Without a shield, the doctor, psychologist, and rabbi slowly become sick as well. Only the person who develops a shield and healthy boundaries will be able to truly help others and free them from their personal Egypt.

PESACH SAMEACH! Rabbi Ari Ze’ev Schwartz is a teacher at Midreshet AMIT, teaching classes on Rav Kook, Rambam, and Tanach.

He is the author of “The Spiritual Revolution of Rav Kook: Writings of a Jewish Mystic.”

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AMIT Children

HIGHLIGHTS

and Successes

KFAR GANIM STUDENT CREATES SHMITA APP This past Rosh Hashana began the Shmita (sabbatical) year, in which planting and working the land in Israel is prohibited.

Ilay Furst, a ninth grade student at Yeshivat AMIT Kfar Ganim High School in Petach Tikva, has an app for that.

Called Shmiton, the app allows users to enter a specific fruit or vegetable and easily figure out whether you can purchase it or not.

“The halachot of keeping shmita are very complicated,” explains Ilay. “And since it only comes around once every seven years, people aren’t so familiar with laws.

Sure, there are books that explain how to keep shmita properly, but not everyone has the time or the ability to do their own research. So we put all of the information in one easy-to-use app.”

You see, most vegetables have the “shmita holiness” from the time they are harvested, regardless of when they are planted.

Fruit, on the other hand, is more complicated. Their “shmita status” depends on when the fruit was grown. Therefore, while most vegetables are considered to have “shmita holiness” from shortly after Rosh Hashana of the shmita year, various fruit are only affected by the laws of shmita later in the year, depending on when they were grown. It can get very complicated keeping track of when you can buy regular fruit and vegetables and when you need to be sure to buy only shmita produce — raised on land that has special halachic status, called “heter michera,” or produce that was imported from outside of the land of Israel.

Available for free on Google Play, Shmiton is an easy way to keep track of it all. “It’s simple,” Ilay says. “You look up, for example, pears, and the app tells you that shmita is only an issue from the start of the Hebrew month of Sivan. You look up tomatoes and you learn that you need to make sure to buy only shmita-certified tomatoes from the start of Tishrei.”

There are 163 types of fruits and vegetables in the app’s search engine. Shmiton also has easy to use sections that present the shmita laws for keeping up one’s garden and houseplants, as

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well as how to handle shmita produce in the kitchen.

While Ilay’s teacher, Rav Gilad Cohen, helped him research the laws of Shmita, Ilay created the app design and user interface on his own. “I have always found programming fascinating. There is a lot of information out there — YouTube videos and tutorials — and I kept at it until I learned,” Ilay says.

Ilay “wanted to use his talents and abilities to create something useful that will help people,” says Rabbi Nitzan Berger, principal of Yeshivat AMIT Kfar Ganim. “He was able to identify a real need and design a solution. In doing so, he implemented the very essence of an AMIT religious education — combining technical skills with halachic knowledge, all in the service of helping his fellow Jews keep a mitzvah. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”

Inside AMIT / Spring 2022

AMIT STUDENTS LAUNCH SATELLITE INTO SPACE

“This is a groundbreaking, world-class scientific educational program,” said the director of the Space Agency, Brigadier General (Res.) Uri Oron. The AMIT Ulpana Givat Shmuel satellite was launched along with dozens of other satellites from around the world aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9.

For a group of 16 students at AMIT Ulpana Givat Shmuel, the recent launch into space of the nano-satellite they built from scratch represented the culmination of three years of hard work. It also inspired a love of science and high tech, and has led students to consider broader career possibilities.

“At first, to be honest, I was a bit overwhelmed by the scope of the project, but then I started to learn more about it and got caught up in it,” said Or Porat, an 18-year-old who graduated from Ulpanit AMIT and is currently serving in Sherut Leumi. “Once something captures your interest, you give it your all. And so it was for me with this project.”

The students spent eight hours a week on the project, beyond their regular studies. They worked in the afternoons, Fridays, and during vacations. To achieve their goals, they divided the tasks — one group was responsible for the computers, another for the satellite’s

communications system, a third group for the electric systems, and a fourth for the operations of the satellite.

“The girls learned how to plan a project, to set and keep a timeline, and how to work in a team...whatever they do in their futures, these are important skills,” said Israel Eytan, a computer and cyber teacher at the Ulpana who oversaw this project together with a second teacher, Assaf Daguy. The program was a joint project led by the Herzliya Science Center and the Israel Space Agency in the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology.

As tenth graders, the students learned about space, the satellite’s functions and components, and studied computer coding language. The next year, they wrote the code to operate the satellite’s antennas.

“Sometimes the code didn’t work and we had to keep at it and rewrite it until we succeeded,” Or said.

“Finally we got it right. It was a very moving moment.

The antennas’ operation is crucial, because if they don’t open up as programmed, there is no way to communicate with the satellite.”

In the third year, the girls assembled the satellite from components they received from the Space Agency. They did this in the clean room that was specially created at BUILDING Bridges

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AMIT Children

HIGHLIGHTS

and Successes

Sherut Leumi national service at Seroka Hospital in Beer Sheva, where she is a medical assistant. “I’ve always assumed I would be a doctor,” she says. “But now, thanks to my participation in this program and the incredible experience I’ve had with high tech, I am interested in combining medicine and high tech. Luckily I am living in a country with a lot of options for that.”

Oriya Kerner, another student on the Ulpanit AMIT Givat Shmuel project team, is currently studying at Midreshet Lindenbaum in Jerusalem, and plans to serve in the IDF next year. Like Or, she grew up in Givat Shmuel and went to Ulpanit AMIT throughout high school.

the school for this purpose. “We wore special suits and had devices on our arms to neutralize static electricity,” Or said. “It was all very impressive and high tech.”

Finally, they uploaded the code they had written to the satellite and then checked all of the systems. “We did very thorough tests. We even took it to a special laboratory at Tel Aviv University to undergo tests in a simulator to see how it would withstand the shaking that it would encounter upon launch.”

When the day of the launch finally arrived, the project participants gathered in Herzliya along with their parents where they watched a live feed of the launch.

“You can’t imagine how exciting it was,” said Or. “We all stood up and yelled out the countdown from ten together. It was just — wow!”

As exciting as the launch was, an even more meaningful moment came three hours later, when the group received a message that the satellites had all successfully deployed and were sending signals back to the ground station.

“This was the most amazing thing that I have done in my life so far,” Or said.

“I am so happy that I participated and so grateful to Ulpanit AMIT for this opportunity.”

Or has always been interested in medicine, and volunteered on a Magen David Adom ambulance team throughout high school. She is currently doing her

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The project not only increased the students’ knowledge and awareness of satellites in Israel, but also inspired their peers. “They can see that we succeeded, and can understand that they, too, can achieve great things with the proper support from their schools and if they believe in themselves,” said Oriya.

“It wasn’t just a theoretical project — there are researchers in Israeli universities who are going to use the data that the satellites send back. The satellites have retro-reflectors that send laser beams back to Earth that transmit information. The scientists will use it to further their knowledge.”

Inside AMIT / Spring 2022

70%

OF STUDENTS

come from Israel’s socioeconomic or geographic periphery

44,000

COMPETITIVE SWIMMER HAS EYES SET ON 2024 OLYMPICS “I’d like to combine serving my country with my sport” Nitay Rosenberg hopes to make big waves by achieving a lofty goal: swimming in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris as a member of the Israeli swim team.

The 10th grade student at AMIT Hammer Jr. and Sr. High School in Rehovot began swimming when he was six. “My family had a membership in the municipal pool and there was a swimming teacher who saw me swimming,” he recalls. “She asked me if I wanted to join a swim team and it grew from there.”

As a competitive swimmer with the Israel Swimming Association, Nitay practices nine times a week. He spends several hours in the pool, and also lifts weights and works out in the gym. In the most recent competition, he came in third place among all the swimmers in Israel in his age group.

Focus is critical to his success. “Before I jump into the pool at the start of each race, I focus only on what I am going to do in the water; in that moment, everything else fades away,” he says.

Combining such a vigorous practice schedule with the demands of high school isn’t easy, but Nitay credits the teachers and administration at AMIT Hammer for their support. “When there are competitions, they understand that I may need to leave early,” he says. “My teachers are always willing to help me make up the material I’ve missed, sending me the assignments and going over the material with me.”

After graduating, Nitay hopes to head to the Olympics and also serve in the IDF.

STUDENTS EACH YEAR

98%

OF GRADUATES

serve in the IDF or perform National Service

1

#

EDUCATION NETWORK

by Israel’s Ministry of Education for the fourth consecutive year

90%

OF STUDENTS

graduate with bagrut diploma

328,000 ALUMNI

are proud citizens of the State of Israel and found in every profession and walk of life BUILDING Bridges

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AMIT Children

2 0 2 1 -2 2

Ambassadors’ Club $1,000,000 +

Anonymous, NY Helen and Jacob Greenfield, z”l, NJ Evan and Layla Green Family Foundation, CA The Joan S. and Leon Meyers Foundation, NY Ellen, z”l, and Meyer Koplow, NY The Lewis and Wolkoff Family Legacy, CO Sarena and David Koschitzky, Mira and Saul Koschitzky, Tamar and Eric Goldstein, and Joel Koschitzky, US, Canada and Israel The Moise Y. Safra Foundation, NY Ellen and Stanley Wasserman, NY

2 0 2 1 -2 2

President’s Circle $36,000 - $49,999 Anonymous, MA Joseph Abelow, z”l, Israel Ofra and Amiad Altshuler, Israel Kol Hanearim Inc., NY Ike, Molly and Steven Elias Foundation, NY Marsha and Tom Friedman, NJ Keren Yerushalayim, Israel Kivunim Foundation, Israel Magbit, Israel

$250,000 - $999,999

$25,000 - $35,999

Estate of Marilyn Rappoport, AZ Shari and Jacob M. Safra, NY Ethel and Lester, z”l, Sutker, IL Marsha Slavitt, z”l, CA

Anonymous, FL Anonymous, MA Anonymous, NY Raquela and Avi Adelsberg, NY American Embassy, Israel Ann and Yale Baron, NJ Doris and Marcus, z”l, Blumkin, NY Rosa and Isaac Cohanzad, CA Jewel and Ted Edelman, NY Gazit-Globe, Israel Larry and Ita Golzman, NY Harwit Charitable Trust, CA Mildred, z”l, and Alvin Hellerstein, NY Russell Jay Hendel, MD Norma and Emanuel, z”l, Holzer, NY Max and Sunny Howard Memorial Fund, NY Debbie and David Isaac, NY Brenda and Albert, z”l, Kalter, NY Kislev Tuvla Veschar, Israel Gitta and Richard Koppel, Israel Matanel, Israel The Joan S. and Leon Meyers Foundation, NY The Dorothy Phillips Michaud Charitable Trust, CA Elana and Daniel Miller, NJ Debbie and Samuel Moed, NJ Phyllis and Arthur Rosenbaum, NY Harriet and Heshe Seif, NJ Amnon Shaashua, Israel Robyn Price Stonehill and David Stonehill, NY Zahava and Moshael Straus, NJ Sylvia and Morris Trachten, z”l, Family Foundation, Israel Villar Group, Israel Zeldin Family, FL

$100,000 - $249,999 Lee and Lou, z”l, Benjamin, FL Joan and Norman Ciment, FL Susan Ederson, z”l, NY The Barbara and Fred Kort Foundation, CA Ellen and Emanuel Kronitz, Israel Estate of Marilyn H. Phillips, NY Joyce and Daniel Straus, NJ Samis Foundation, WA Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, MD Pauline Zonon, z”l, NY

$75,000 - $99,999 Jerusalem Foundation, Israel

$50,000 - $74,999 Anonymous, NY Hadassah and Marvin Bienenfeld, NY Canada Foundation, Israel Suzanne and Jacob Doft, NY Education for Giving, Israel David Goldman Charitable Trust, Israel Harvey Goodstein Foundation, PA The Kolatch Family Foundation, NJ Ria and Tim Levart, NJ Leon, z”l and Gloria, Edward, Sari, and Howard Miller, NY Barbara and Jules, z”l, Nordlicht, NY Norman and Bettina Roberts Foundation, NJ Audrey Axelrod Trachtman and Chaim Trachtman, NY

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$18,000 - $24,999 Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, Israel Aaron and Marie Blackman Foundation, CA Adrienne and Leon Brum, FL Michael Cleeman, NY Pnina and Jacob Graff, CA Amy, z”l, and James Haber, NY Pearl and Marty Herskovitz, Israel Hamifal Education Childrens Home, Israel Sarah Liron and Sheldon Kahn, CA Keren DM (Glencor), Israel Margaret Mann, z”l, NY Sharon and Solomon Merkin, NJ Nerine Trust Company, Israel Jennie and Avi Rothner, IL Shemesh Foundation, Israel Ina and David Tropper, NY Youth Villages for Advancement and Excellence, Ltd., Israel

$10,000 - $17,999 Anonymous, CA Trudy and Ted, z”l, Abramson, FL Renee and Steve Adelsberg, NY Rom Israel Bamont, Israel Adar Sachar Benlleumi, Israel Gary Alter, CA Amdocs, Israel Arizot Yerushalayim, Israel Max and Anna Baran, Ben and Sarah Baran and Milton Baran, z”l, CA Zelda and Solomon Berger, NY Daisy Berman, z”l, NY Helen and Henry Bienenfeld Foundation, PA Barbara and Leonard, z”l, Bloom, MD Henry Ben Ezra, Israel Natan Ben Natan, Israel Deborah Stern Blumenthal and Michael Blumenthal, NJ Lotte, z”l, and Ludwig Bravmann, NY Bressler/Robbins Foundation, IL Ethlynne and Stephen Brickman, MA Herman and Kate Caro Foundation, NY Vanessa and Raymond Chalme, NY The Chrein Family, NY Michelle Chrein, NY Diane and Howard Cole, NY Christian Friends of Yesha Communities, Israel Marion Crespi, NY Jone and Allen Dalezman, MA Lisa and Ephraim Dardashti, PA Adena and Ezra Dyckman, NY Danielle and Ronald Ellis, Israel Ruth and Gene Fax, MA Eve Finkelstein, Israel Lisa Rosenbaum and Ronald Fisher, MA Beth and Harry Fried, NJ Rosalyn and Ira Friedman, NJ Marisa and Andrew Gadlin, NY Randi and Alan Gelman, Israel

Inside AMIT / Spring 2022

Gemstone Cultural Heritage, Israel Anne and Sheldon Golombeck, NY Paula Yudenfriend and Arlin Green, PA Harvey Greenberg, z”l, VA Haruach Halsraeli (The Israel Spirit), Israel Laura and Jonathan Heller, NY Chanie and Barry Holzer, NY Michelle and Natalie Horovitz, Israel Ithaca United Jewish Community, NY Edith and Herman Itzkowitz, PA Nicole and Gabriel Izbicki, Israel Suzanne and Norman Javitt, NY Ruth and Hillel Kellerman, CA Rona and Ira Kellman, NY Keren HaYesod, Israel Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek, Israel Toba Kippen, GA Leah Klein, z”l, NJ Ruth and Daniel Krasner, NY Rochelle and Seymour, z”l, Kraut, NJ Arlene Kupietzky, CA Ruth and Robert Lewis, NY Los Angeles Jewish Fund/Leslie Mendelsohn, CA Zipporah and Rabbi Arnold, z”l, Marans, NY Etella and Haim Marcovici, NY Lisa and Leon Meyers, NY Mifalai Matmanot Meuchadim, Israel Migdal Hevra LeBituach, Israel Judy and Albert Milstein, IL Elana and Shami Minkove, NY Mischcon Family Charitable Trust, Israel Marilyn and Leon Moed, NY Momentum Engine Growth, Israel Ruth and David Musher, NY NivGal Inc., Israel North American Conference of Ethiopian Jews, Israel Regina Peterseil, z”l, NY Hedy and Paul, z”l, Peyser, MD Lauren and Mitchell Presser, NY Barbara and Joel, z”l, Rascoff, NY Estelle Rubin, z”l, FL Shirley and Milton Sabin, FL Jan and Sheldon Schechter, NY Rita and Eugene, z”l, Schwalb, FL Seligsohn Foundation, PA David Shapira Services, Israel Shemesh Foundation, Israel Celia and Reuven Sherwin, Israel Judy and Isaac Sherman, NY Shibley Righton LLP, Israel Chana and Daniel Shields, NJ Sally Sidman, IN Marilyn and Herbert, z”l, Smilowitz, NJ Sondra and Myron Sokal, NY Francine and Aaron Stein, NJ Naomi and Gary Stein, NY Judy and Mark Teitelbaum, MA Rovazi Torpiasholi, Israel Tishrei Transport, Israel Valium, Israel Elaine and Michael Weinberger, z”l, NY Hedya Stavisky Weiss, Israel Judy and Morry Weiss/SapirsteinStone-Weiss Foundation, OH Marguerite, z”l and Ronald Werrin, PA Yoreinu Foundation, Israel Youth Towns of Israel, Israel Helene and Gerald, z”l, Zisholtz, NY

$5,000 - $9,999 Anonymous, FL Anonymous, IL Anonymous, Israel Anonymous, MA Anonymous, TX Marilyn and Greg Adler, NY Rebecca and Avi Adlerstein, PA S. Adelsberg & Co, NY Sarah and Maurice Aghion, MA Allie Alperovich and Jeremy Simon, NY Beth and Bradley Alter, IL Agudat bet Sefer Tichon, Israel Nicole and Raanan Agus, NY Randi Schatz Allerhand and Joseph Allerhand, NY Ann and Hy, z”l, Arbesfeld, NY Michael Atar, UK Lolly and Harris, z”l Bak, NY Rachel, z”l, and Martin Balsam, NY Amy and Ephraim Bassan, Israel Marcia Baskin, FL Tamar and Ethan Benovitz, Israel Phyllis and Edward Berkowitz, NY Andrea and Bryan Bier, NJ Evelyn and Isaac Blachor, NY Beth and Reuben Blumenthal, NY Freda and Elliot Braha, NJ Sari and Stuart Braunstein, NY Adrianne and Leon Brum, FL Margaret, z”l, and Chaim Charytan, NY Barbara and Melvyn Ciment, MD Trina and Paul, z”l, Cleeman, NY Daniel Eli Cohen, Israel Florence Cohen, z”l, NY Shevi and Milton Cohen, NY Karen and David Cole, NY Dexel Factory, Israel Michael and Elizabeth Diamond, NY Renee and Harvey Douglen, Israel DSJ Management, NY Elaine and Lewis Dubroff, NY Hattie and Arthur Dubroff, NJ Susan and Fred Ehrman, NY Linda and Barry Eichler, PA & NY Sherry and Aaron Eidelman, NY Yaffa and Michael Eisenberg, Israel Ester Eisenberg, z”l, CA Phyllis and Joseph Eisenman, NJ Fanny and Dov Elefant, NJ Sheila and Kenneth Fields, NJ Lilly and Alfred, z”l, Friedman, NY Naomi and Avi Friedman, Israel Michelle and Leonard Fuld, NJ Marisa and Andrew Gadlin, NY Judith Isaac and Walter Gadlin, NY Shifra and Perry Garber, NY Linda and Norman Garfield, PA Rita Geller, IL Abigail and Ari Glass, NY Miriam and Felix Glaubach, NY Shari and Maurice Gluckstadt, NY Paulette and Max, z”l, Goldberg, NY Esther and Jack Goldman, NY Shira and Gadi Goldress, NY Sandra E. Goodstein and Arthur Rosenblatt, PA

Gorlin Family Foundation, MD The Gottesman Fund, NY Sara and Ronald Gottlieb, FL Sharon and Melvin Gross, NY Phyllis Hammer, MA Debbie and Robert Hartman, IL Debbie and Eddie Herbst, CA Howard Heller, MA Shulamit and Avram Holzer, NJ Aviva Hoschander-Sulzberger and Vernon Sulzberger, NY Peggy and Robert Insel, NY Shulamit and Joakim Isaacs, Israel Malky and Bezalel Jacobs, NY Sandra and Richard Jackson, TX Debra Jakubovitz-Fletcher and Tim Fletcher, CA Jewish National Fund, NY Barbara and Manfred Joseph, NY Connie and Alan Kadish, NJ Robin and Simon Kahn, Israel Hermann Kaiser, NJ Ruth and Jerome Kamerman, NY Ruth and William, z”l, Kantrowitz, NY Harriet and Joel Kaplan, NY Elissa and Michael Katz, NJ Evelyn and Shmuel Katz, FL Keren Roi, Israel Ruth & Hillel Kellerman, CA Rochelle Stern Kevelson, NY Estate of Morton Kinzler, z”l, FL Diane and Barry Kirschenbaum, FL Chani and Steven Klein, NY Jane Klitsner, Israel Sandra and Mitch Knishbacher, VT Ruth and Ethan Kra, NJ Evelyn and Lawrence Kraut, NJ Edy and Jacob Kupietzky, IL Donna and Jeffrey Lawrence, MD Sara Leifer, NY Diane and David Lent, NY Kari and Joshua Levine, NY Dorothy, z”l and Robert Lewis, NY Mindy and Seymour Liebman, NY Audrey and Haskel Lookstein, NY Rita Lourie-Galena, PA & NY Rita Lowi, CA Keren Magi, Israel Adama Makhteshim, Israel Meira and Solomon, z”l, Max, NY Manette and Louis Mayberg, MD Benay and Ira Meisels, NY Caroline and Marcelo Messer, NY Grace and Martin Miller, FL Judith Goldberg Ness and Seth Ness, NJ Gloria and Burton Nusbacher, NY Bea and Irwin, z”l, Peyser, NY Suzy and Paul Peyser, NY Esther and Donald Press, NY Tzippi and Ira Press, NJ Judy and Jerry Pressner, NY Joyce and Stanley Raskas, NY Tovah and Daniel Reich, NJ Evelyn Reichenthal, TX Reut Foundation, Israel Fritzie and Sheldon, z”l, Robinson, IL Sandra and Evan Roklen, CA

BUILDING Bridges

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AMIT Children

Leah and Arnold Rotter, CA Kristina Reiko Cooper and Len Rosen, Israel Idelle Rudman, NY Karen and Roy Simon, NY Vivian and Solomon, z”l, Rosen, FL Gale, z”l and Eric Rothner, IL Elizabeth and Gidon Rothstein, NY Paul H. Rubenstein Charitable Foundation, OH Hedda Rudoff, NY Tunie and David Schorr, Israel Esther and William Schulder, NJ Deanne and Leonard Shapiro, Israel Jane Shiff, NJ Shuv Family, Israel Mark Sibilia, Canada Mollie Siegel, NJ Rosalyn and Richard Slifka, MA Marsha and Jan Spector, GA MA Stern, Israel Adina Straus, NY Nechama and Howard Taber, NY Talpiot Religious Children’s Village, Israel Yvonne and Joseph Tanenbaum, GA Hope and David Taragin, MD Lilly Tempelsman, NY Sandra, z”l, and Max Thurm, NY Bertie, z”l, and Fred Tryfus, NY Jessica Tuchinsky, NY Villar Group, Israel Audrey and Max Wagner, NY Marilyn and Lee Wallach, NJ Paula and Leslie Walter, NY Anne and Mark Wasserman, NY Marion and William Weiss, NJ Roselyn and Walter, z”l, Weitzner, NY Linda and Stanley Weissbrot, IL Linda and Steven Weissman, NY Booky and Jerome Wildes, NY Stella and Samy Ymar, MD Esther and Dov Zeidman, NY Tamar and Benjamin Zeltser, NY Eva Zilz, NY

*As of April 1, 2022

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Founders’ Circle Anonymous, FL Anonymous, MA Anonymous, NY Anonymous, NY Anonymous, Israel Goldie Abers, z”l, CA Trudy and Ted, z”l, Abramson, FL Nicole Schreiber Agus and Raanan Agus, NY Edith H. and Haim Agus, z”l, NY Alisa West Orange-Essex Chapter, NJ Aliza Oceanside Chapter, NY Randi Schatz and Joseph Allerhand, NY Rosalind Alper, z”l, NY Joseph Anmuth, z”l, CA Ann and Hy, z”l, Arbesfeld, NY Asara-Rishona/South Shore Chapter, NY Aviva Brooklyn Chapter, NY Avivah Chapter, WA Ayelet Queens Chapter, NY Lolly and Harris Bak, NY Mollie Baller, z”l, FL* Rachel, z”l, and Martin Balsam, NY Ann and Yale Baron, NJ Beersheva Delray Beach Chapter, FL Stella B. Behar-Testa, z”l, NY Joan and Shael Bellows, IL Nina and Sam Bellows, z”l, IL Lee and Louis, z”l, Benjamin, FL Irving Benveniste Fund, NY Beatrice and Harry, z”l, Berger, NJ Honey and David Berger, NY Thelma, z”l, and Harvey Berger, MA Zelda and Solomon Berger, NY Daisy and Herbert Berman, z”l, NY Anne and William Bernstein, z”l, CA Benjamin Bernstein, z”l, NY Roslyn and Matthew Besdine, z”l, NY Beverly Hills Shirah Chapter, CA Elizabeth Beylin, Citibank N.A. Trusts & Est., NY Rosalin Bieber, z”l, MI Dassie and Marvin Bienenfeld, NY* Dahlia and Arthur Bilger, CA Birah Chapter of Greater Washington D.C., MD Evelyn and Isaac Blachor, NY Sarah Black, z”l, TX Aaron and Marie Blackman Foundation, CA Barbara Bloom, MD Doris and Marcus, z”l, Blumkin, NY Deborah Stern Blumenthal and Michael Blumenthal, NJ Beth and Reuben Blumenthal Renee Bohm, z”l, MD Boro Park and Tova Brooklyn Chapter, NY Ethlynne and Stephen Brickman, MA Adele and Jules Brody, NY Elaine Brown, z”l, NY Beverly Brown, z”l, Israel Laurie and Eli Bryk, NY Lois and Michael Burak, NY Goldie Bursten, z”l, MO

Canada Foundation, Canada Celia Carson, z”l, CA Miami Beach Chai Chapter, FL Margaret, z”l, and Chaim Charytan, NY AMIT Chicago Council, IL Julia Chosner, z”l, NY Joan and Norman Ciment, FL Barbara and Mel Ciment, MD Michael Cleeman, FL S. Trina and Paul, z”l, Cleeman, NY Greater Cleveland Chapter of AMIT, OH Rosa and Isaac Cohanzad, CA Freda Cohen, z”l, CT Florence and Melvin Cohen, z”l, NY Sherry and Neil Cohen, NY Joseph and Claire, z”l, Cohen, NY Shevi and Milton Cohen, NY Diane and Howard Cole, NY Jone and Allen Dalezman, MA Darchey Noam Long Beach Chapter, NY Daroma Long Beach Chapter, NY Yolande and Ernest, z”l, Dauber, TX Lila Denker, z”l, FL Irmgard and Joseph Deutsch, z”l, FL Dimona Boca Raton Chapter, FL Suzanne and Jacob Doft, NY Adina and Marc Dolfman, NY Irene and Murray, z”l, Dorit, CA Florence and Albert Dreisinger, z”l, NY Hattie and Arthur Dubroff, NJ Dvorah Shalom Chapter, FL Adena and Ezra Dyckman, NY Selma and Jacob Dyckman, NY Dina and Moses Dyckman, z”l, NY Jewel and Theodore Edelman, NY Gina and Graham Edwards, England Linda and Barry Eichler, NY Carole and Gary Eisen, NY Esther Queens Chapter, NY Ike, Molly and Steven Elias Foundation, NY Gail and Martin Elsant, NY Emek Hanahar Bronx Chapter, NY Dorothy and William, z”l, Engel, CA Esther Ben David Chapter, NY Esther Chapter, MA Selma and Irving Ettenberg, z’’l, FL* Ruth and Gene Fax, MA Frances Feder, z”l, NY Lillian Feketis, z”l, FL Chaiki and Ziel Feldman, NY Jack Fink, z”l, NY Myrna and Eli Fishbein, z”l, NJ Theresa and Michael, z”l, Foley, NY Rosalyn and Ira Friedman, NJ Ruth Friedlander, z”l, NY Clara T. Friedman, z”l, NY Jacqueline and Zev Friedman, NY Lilly and Alfred, z”l, Friedman, NY Sylvia K. Friedman, NY Florence Furedi, z”l, FL Marisa and Andrew Gadlin, NY Galil-Moorings-Simcha Chapter, FL Rose Garfin, z”l, FL Galila Chapter of Chicago, IL Gayl Shechter Chapter, NY* The Gazit-Globe, Israel

Inside AMIT / Spring 2022

Clara Gero, z”l, Israel Gesher Tzion-Atlanta Chapter, GA Geula-Shalvah Miami Beach Chapter, FL Lea Gilon, NY Dorrice and Harry Ginsburg, z”l, AZ* Leelah and Joseph Gitler, NJ Miriam and Felix Glaubach, NY Gloria Sheer Bronx Chapter, NY Golda Meir Chapter, FL Golda Meir Staten Island Chapter, NY Evalyn R. Goldberg, IN Gertrude Goldberg, z”l, NY Paulette & Max, z”l, Goldberg, NY Mildred and Hyman, z”l, Golden, NY Esther and Jack Goldman, NY David Goldman Charitable Trust, Israel N & L Goldsmith Foundation, NY Harold Goldstein, FL Tamar and Eric Goldstein, NY Helen Goldyk, FL Anne and Sheldon Golombeck, NY Harvey Goodstein Foundation, NY Lois Selevan Goodstein, z”l, NY Pnina and Jacob Graff, CA Adele Gray, z”l, FL Bertha K. Green Chapter, NY Evan & Layla Green Family Foundation, CA* Morris L. Green, z”l, NY Paula and Arlin Green, PA Helen and Jacob Greenfield, z”l, NY Hilda Gross, z”l, FL Sharon and Melvin Gross, NY Julius Guggenheimer, NY Olga Guttmann, z”l, FL Amy, z”l, and James Haber, NY Hagudah Lekidim Hachinuch, Israel Lillian and Elliot, z”l, Hahn, FL Phyllis Hammer, MA Milton and Miriam Handler Foundation, NY Felicia Hanfling, z”l, NY Hanita Brooklyn Chapter, NY Debra and Robert Hartman, IL Harwit Charitable Trust, CA Havtacha Chapter, NJ Laura and Jonathan Heller, NY Mildred, z”l, and Alvin Hellerstein, NY Russell Jay Hendel, MD Barbara Hirschhorn, z”l, MD Marcia and Philip Holzer, z”l, NJ Norma and Emanuel, z”l, Holzer, NY Ima Hollywood Chapter, FL Max and Sunny Howard Memorial Foundation, NY Peggy and Robert Insel, NY Ithaca Area United Jewish Community, NY Debbie and David Isaac, NY Israeli Brooklyn Chapter, NY Michele and Ben-Zion Jacobs, NY Elaine and Robert Jacobs, NY Suzanne and Norman Javitt, NY New Jersey Council, NJ Kadimah Chapter, CT Robin and Simon Kahn, Israel Eva and Joseph Kahn, z”l, NY Sara Liron and Sheldon Kahn, CA Hannah, z”l, and Hermann Kaiser, NJ

* Lifetime giving equals $1,000,000 or more.

Brenda and Albert, z”l, Kalter, NY Ruth and Jerome Kamerman, FL Miriam and Sol Kanarek, NY Kansas City Nitzanim Chapter, MO Ruth and William, z”l, Kantrowitz, NY Marilyn and Edward Kaplan, FL Ida and Gustave Kaplan, z”l, FL M. Karasick/Deborah Chapter, CA Shirley Z. Kaufman, z”l, FL Laurie Kayden Foundation, NY Rona and Ira Kellman, NY Ruth and Hillel Kellerman, CA Rena Kent, z”l, NY* Amy and Todd Kesselman, NY Dora Kesten, z”l, NY Kfar Boca Chapter, FL The Kirkland & Ellis LLP, IL Kislev Tuvla Veschar Inc., Israel Kivunim Foundation, Israel Susan Alter Klaperman and Gilbert, z”l, Klaperman, NY Jane Klitsner, NY Kolatch Family Foundation, NJ Ellen, z”l, and Meyer Koplow, NY* Gitta and Richard Koppel, NY Laurie and Robert Koppel, NY Zlata Korman, z”l, FL Sylvia and Leon Korngold, z”l, NY Barbara and Fred Kort Foundation, CA Sarena and David Koschitzky, Canada Joel Koschitzky, Israel Ruth and Daniel Krasner, NY Rochelle and Sy, z”l, Kraut, NJ Kravitz Family, z”l, CA Dorothy Kreiselman, NY Ellen and Emanuel Kronitz, Israel Suri and David Kufeld, NY Sarah Kupchik, z”l, FL Arlene and Moshe Kupietzky, CA Ann and David, z”l, Kupperman, NY Celia Kurr, z”l, FL Bertha and Irving, z”l, Kutoff, MN Dena Ladin, FL Greta Landis, z”l, NY Esther and Stanley Landsman, NY Sylvia Lansky, z”l, NY Francine and Alvin, z”l, Lashinsky, NY Erna Lazard, z”l, FL Agatha I. Leifer, z”l, NY Miriam and Louis Leifer, z”l, NY Sheila, z”l, and Elihu Leifer, MD Ria and Tim Levart, NJ Alice Levi, z”l, NY Gerald Levy, z”l, NY Linda and Alan Lewis, FL Dorothy, z”l, and Robert Lewis, FL Ruth and Robert Lewis, NY Minnie Lieberman, z”l, NY* Mindy and Seymour Liebman, NY Rose Lippin, z”l, NY Lela London, z”l, NY Long Island Council, NY Audrey and Haskel Lookstein, NY Los Angeles Council, CA Gertrude Louzoun, NY Bernice and Mitchell Macks, z”l, IL

Gershona Maden, z”l, NY Maera Chapter, NY Millie and Lawrence Magid, NJ Manhattan Council Chapter, NY Mae Manney, z”l, NY Zipporah and Arnold, z“l, Marans, NY Etella and Tivadar Marcovici, NY Ilse Marcus, z”l, NY Margate Chapter, NJ Margolit Queens Chapter, NJ Matanel, Israel Meira and Solomon, z”l, Max, NY Benay and Ira Meisels, NY Sema and Moshe Menora, z”l, IL Sharon and Solomon Merkin, NJ Shirley Mesirow, z”l, IL* The Joan S. and Leon Meyers Foundation, NY Lisa and Leon Meyers, NY* The Dorothy Phillips Michaud Charitable Trust, CA Leon, z”l, and Gloria, Edward, Sari and Howard Miller, NY Judy and Albert Milstein, IL Marilyn E. Mitnick, z”l, NY Myra and Samuel, z”l, Mitzner, NY Mizrachi East Chapter, NY Marilyn and Leon Moed, NY Debbie and Sam Moed, NJ Naomi Chapter, NY Negba Foundation, Israel Robert Neiman, z”l, KY Celia and David Neuman, MD Miriam and Bernard Neuman, IL Miriam Neustadter, NY New England Council/Ra’anana Chapter, MA Dahlia Kalter Nordlicht and Mark Nordlicht, NY Barbara and Jules, z”l, Nordlicht, NY* Isidore Okun, z”l Minette and Nate Olick, CA Rose Orloff, z”l, FL Linda and Ira Panzier, NY Paul S. Pariser, MT Pearl Schwartz - Houston Chapter, TX Thelma Pearlman, z”l, FL Tama and Emanuel Penstein, z”l, NY Regina and Pincus Peterseil, z”l, NY Ingebord Petranker, z”l, CA Bea & Irwin, z”l, Peyser, NY Suzanne and Paul Peyser, NY The Philadelphia Council, PA Marilyn Phillips, z”l, NY Eve and Stuart L. Pinkert, IL Esther and Donald Press, NY Lauren S. and Mitchell Presser, NY The Prospect Park Aviva Chapter, NY The Queens Council, NY Jane and Bill Quint, z”l, CA Bethia Straus and Paul Quintas, IL The Raanana California Chapter, CA* The Raanana Channah Chapter, NY The Rae Koenigsberg Chapter, MD Roman Rakover, z”l, CA Barbara and Joel, z”l, Rascoff, NY Joyce and Stanley Raskas, NY Marc and Micheline Ratzersdorfer, z”l, Israel Evelyn and Sidney, z”l, Reichenthal, TX

BUILDING Bridges

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AMIT Children

Chai Society Blanche Katz Renov and Joseph Renov, z’’l, Israel The Rishona Chaper, FL Norman and Bettina Roberts Foundation, NJ Fritzie and Sheldon, z”l, Robinson, IL Rochlin Foundation, Israel Ellen Rogoff, z”l, NY Sandra and Evan Roklen, CA Vivian and Solomon, z”l, Rosen, FL Miriam and Howard Rosenblum, NJ Lottie Rothschild, z”l, CA Etta Rubin, NY Herbert and Augusta, z”l, Rudnick, NY LI Sabra Massada Chapters, NY Shirley and Milton Sabin, FL Shari and Jacob M. Safra, NY* The Moise Y. Safra Foundation, NY Sam Samson, z”l, CA The Sarah Kronovet Chapter, NY The Sarah Ribakow-Tikvah Chapter, MD The Savannah Chapter, GA Jan and Sheldon Schechter, NY Ellen and David Scheinfeld, z”l, NY Janet Schiff, z”l, FL Gertrude Schneider, z”l, FL* Charlotte Schneierson, NY Elaine and Saul Schreiber, Israel Daniela and Laurence Schreiber, NJ Shirley and Paul Schulder, z”l, NY Alice Schuster, z”l, NY Rita and Eugene, z”l, Schwalb, FL Diana Schiowitz and Paul Schwartz, Israel Pari and Henry Schwartz, NY Carmi Schwartz, z”l, Israel Dorothy Sebulsky, z”l, CA Seed the Dream Foundation, PA Harriet and Herbert Seif, NJ* Bashie R. and Irwin Selevan, z”l, NY Alan Selevan, z”l, NY Esther, z”l, and Jacques Semmelman, NJ Shalhevet Great Neck Chapter, NY Shalva Chai Englewood Chapter, NJ Deanne and Leonard Shapiro, NY The Margaret Rose Shapiro Chapter, FL Rose M. Shapiro, z”l, FL The Sharona Chapter, CA Judy and Isaac Sherman, NY Chana and Daniel Shields, NY Deena and Adam Shiff, NY The Shira Chapter, PA The Shoshana Hempstead Chapter, NY Mollie and Israel, z”l, Siegel, NJ Deborah Silberman, NY* Roselle Silberstein, z”l, NY Silbert Charitable Fund, NY Elaine and Walter Silver, z”l, FL Samuel Silverman, z”l, FL Renee, z”l, and Gerald Silverstein, NJ Ruth and Hyman Simon, z”l, NY Marc Singer, Israel Harold Skolnick, z”l, CA* Marsha Slavitt, z”l, CA Marilyn and Herbert, z”l, Smilowitz, NJ Sondra and Myron Sokal, NY

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Arthur Solomon, z”l, NY William Solomon, z”l, NY Francine and Aaron Stein, NJ Hilda and Arthur Stern, z”l, NY Sandra and Harold Sternburg, z”l, ME Robyn Price Stonehill and David Stonehill, NY* Ruth and Meyer Strassfeld, z”l, FL Joyce and Daniel Straus, NJ* Zahava and Moshael Straus, NJ Gwen and Joseph Straus, z”l, NY Adina Straus, NY Aviva Hoschander-Sulzberger and Vernon Sulzberger, NY Ethel and Lester, z”l, Sutker, IL* Rosalee Swerdloff, z”l, FL Marion Talansky, Israel Rose Tapp, z”l, IL Marvin Walter Tasem, z”l, MN Anna Teich, z”l, FL Lilly Tempelsman, NY Sara, z”l, and Leo Thurm, NY Sandra, z”l, and Max Thurm, NY The Tikvah-B’noth Zion Chapter, CA Morris and Sylvia Trachten, z”l, Family Foundation, CO Audrey Axelrod Trachtman and Chaim Trachtman, NY Ina and David Tropper, NY The Trump Foundation, Israel Bertie, z”l, and Fred Tryfus, NY Audrey and Max Wagner, NY Ellen and Stanley Wasserman, NY* Ida Wax, IL Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Inc., MD* Marcia and Lee Weinblatt, NJ Hindy Weinstock Geula Teaneck Chapter, NJ Bronka Weintraub, z”l, NY Judy and Morry Weiss, OH Marion and William Weiss, NJ Susan Wexner, NY The Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Foundation, England Sylvia and William Wolff, NY Yedidut Toronto, Israel The Yeftah NPO, Israel The Yonkers/North Riverdale Chapter, NY The Yoreinu Foundation, Israel Jacob Zarember, AZ Hilde and Benjamin Zauderer, z”l, NY Tamar and Benjamin Zeltser, NY Gloria and Henry Zeisel, z”l, NY* Herbert M. Ziff, NY The Zionah Chapter, NY Helene and Gerald, z”l, Zisholtz, NY Molly and Jack Zwanziger, IL

*L ifetime giving equals $1,000,000 or more.

Anonymous, FL Anonymous, NY Anonymous, NY Anonymous, NY AACI- Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel, Israel Sally Aaron, IL Judy and Cyrus Abbe, NY Merryll and Jonathan Abrahams, NJ Elizabeth and Howard Abramowitz, CA Ellen and Irwin Adelsberg, NY David and Jocelyn Adelsberg, NY Leah and Jonathan Adler, NJ Africa Israel Nechasim Ltd., Israel Allie Alperovich and Jeremy Simon, NY Myrna and Charles Alpert, NY Daniel Altshuler, CA Galia Antebi Louzon, NY Judy and Uri Aqua, NY Roberta and Alan Aronoff, NY Judy and Ronald Aronson, Israel Sharon Ashkenzi CA Betty and Owen Atlas Rumelt, NY Ayco Charitable Foundation, NY Yaela and Neil Baine, PA Sarah Leah and Nachum Barishansky, NJ Alyssa and Daniel Barzideh, NJ Olga Becher, Israel Renee and Steve Bellin, MA Henri Bengualid, NY Amanda Markovitch and Benishai Isaac Benishai, NY Beatrice Berger, NJ Diane and Noah Berkowitz, NY Jennifer Bernstein and Geoffrey Platt, NY Ellen and Morris Bienenfeld, NJ Sandra and Howard Blank, NJ Barbara and Jonathan Blinken, NJ Lois Blumenfeld and Norman Sohn, NJ Bnei HaChomot (Sons of the Walls), Israel Debbie and Sheldon Bootin, TX Rosalyn Bramson, NY Marisa Braunstein, NY Elaine and Seymour Brief, FL Alice Burstein, NY Esther Cardash, IL Dina and Lawrence Caroline, PA Mark Chass, Israel Francine and Joshua Chesir, NY Beth Chiger and Neil Sambrowsky, NY Joan and Norman Ciment, FL Mindy and Jay Cinnamon, GA Abby and Elad Cnaan, NJ Benjamin Cohanzad, CA Michael Cohanzad, CA Barbara Cohen, CA Daniela Cohen, NY Hedy and Morris Cohen, PA Joseph Cohen, NY Jason and Leora Cohen, FL Wendy and Sanford Cohen, FL Helen Corwin, z”l, MA Donna Dalnekoff, NJ Judy and Michael Daniels, IL Amy and Gary Davis, TX David Diamond, Israel Stan Dorman, MD Susan and Philip Fishbein Druck, NJ

David and Sandra Dunkelberger, PA Sheera and Kenneth Eckstein, NY Yael and David Edelstein, NY Debbie and Richard Eisenberg, NY Kenneth Eisman, NY Pearl Elias and Steven Bachrach, PA Epiphany Prayer, Israel Barbara Epstein, NY Jonathan Esensen, CA Ariana and Leroy Fass, GA Elliot Feinerman, FL Sherry and Mark Fessel, NY Jeanne Finkelstein, FL Geoffrey Ian Firestein, Israel Tanya and David Fischer, MA Sharon and Jeffrey Fishman, CA Shani and Sam Frank, NY Roberta and Adam Fried, NJ Linda and Lawrence Friedman, IL Reva and Mark Friedman, Israel Vivian Sue and Joseph Fuller, NY Dennis and Rita Funk, CA Judy and Victor Gaba, Israel Debby and Steven Gage, NY Kenneth Gainer, NY Aharon Gamliel, Israel Barbara and Benjamin I. Geller, CO Barbara and Steven Geller, IL Debbi and Marc Geller, IL Caron and Steven Gelles, NY Sharon and Seymour Gertz, IL Janet and Gilad Gevaryahu, PA Golda Meir Deerfield Beach Chapter, FL Justin and Michelle Goldberg, NY Naomi and Stanley Goldis, PA Laura and Joseph Goldman, MD Stacey and Amir Goldman, PA Alan Goldsmith, VA Sorie Goldstein, Israel Susan and Steven Goldstein, NY Caryn and Avi Golombeck, NY Anne and Joseph Gontownik, NJ Daniela and Zev Gontownik, NJ Florence Goodman, OH Aviva and Justin Gordon, IL Toni and Nick Gordon, NY Sam and Annie Grauer, NY Norman Green, CA Eudice Greenfield, IL Goldie and Alex Gross, NY Linda Grossman, GA Felice and Michael Grunberger, MD Reginetta Haboucha, NY Arie Halpern, z”l, NJ Barbara and George Hanus, IL Doug Hauer, MA Haves, Pine & Seligman, NY Milton Heching, FL Robert Heidenberg, NJ Michael Heino, NY Ellen and John Hellman, Israel Robin and Mark Hoenig, NJ Ann Holstein and Edwin Altman, PA Robyn Horowitz and Yehoshua Grossman, NJ Shulamit and Joakim Isaacs, Israel Nancy Isserman-Horwitz and Joe Horwitz, PA Elaine and Mervin Jacobs, FL Taren and Ralph Metson, MA David Jasse, NY Yael and Evan Jerome, NY John J. Flemm Foundation, NY Jule and Elenor Wocky Foundation, Israel Susie Julius, CA Tirza and Sam Kahan, IL

Deborah and David Kahn, NJ Carol and Steve Kallet, NY Karen Kaplan, IL Marilyn and Edward Kaplan, FL Rebecca and Avi Katz, NJ Malka Katzin, CA Laura and Daniel Kaufthal, NY Genene and Marc Kaye, NJ Craig Keebler, WA Judy and Abraham Keehn, NY Keren Shlioh, Israel Gloria and Sanford Kestenbaum, Israel herly and Albert Khodari, CA Anna and Steven Kirshblum, NJ Cara Kleiman and Kalman Major, NY Anne Beverly Kogut, TX Rachel and Bryan Koplow, NH Deborah Peacock and Nate Korn, NM Susan & Saul Koss, MD Eva Kowalski, CA Debbi and Lee Krantzow, NJ Rebecca and Emilio Krausz, NY Naomi and Michael Kraut, MD Sara and Alan Kravitz, NY Mark Kristoff, CT Rochelle and Stanley Kroll, IL Suri and David Kufeld, NY Jason Kuflik, NY Paula and Irwin Lancer, NY Rachel and Shawn Langer, NJ Cheryl and Lee Lasher, NJ Ayal Latz, Israel Laurie Laulicht Hasten and Bernard Hasten, IL Carole and Emanuel Lax, FL Arlene and Zvi Lefkovitz, NY Oshrat and Noam Leibovitz, Israel Helen Leiderman, NJ Jane Levy Neustadter and Alan Neustadter, NY Aviva and Nathan Lichtenstein, IL Roslyn and Joel Linderman, CA Janice Linzer, PA Leslie and K.C. Littner, Israel Sharona and Michael Loeffler, FL Ineke and Marcel Loewenberg, Israel Naomi and Carl Lopkin, MA Melvin Lubin, NJ Rachel Lurie, NY Allie and Alexander Luxenberg, NY Iris and Shalom Maidenbaum, NY Diana and David Makkabi, CA Rita and Jerry Malin, MD Caryn and Larry Gordon Malitzky, NY Frances Mauer, IL Naomi and Israel Max, NY Pegi and Gerard Medioni, CA Jenny Michael, NY Debra and Eitan Milgram, MA Grace and Martin Miller, NJ Marcy and Sheldon Millman, NJ Lee Mondshein, MA Rhonda and Michael Mont, NY Miriam and Ted Mordfin, MD Vera and Robert, z”l, Moreen, PA Arlene Moriber, NY Miriam Muskin, OH Hilary and Barry Ness, NY Bernice Novick, IL Reena and Raphael Novogrodsky, NJ Bobbie and Jerry Nussbaum, IL Grace and Scott Offen, MA Sarah Okon, MA Careena and Drew Parker, NJ Naava and Jeffrey Parker, NJ Brenda and Edward Parver, NY

Inside AMIT / Spring 2022 Jordan S. Penkower, Israel Roni and Robert Pick, NY Elisa and Alan Pines, NJ Judith and Michael Poretsky, FL Karen Presser, MD Belinda Raikin, PA Debbie and Michael Rand, NY Daphna and Daniel Raskas, MD Daphne and Joshua Rawson, NY Shira Reich, NJ Wendy and Stuart Riback, NY Shulamit and Avi Rockoff, MA Lynn and Marc Rohatiner, CA Anna Roseman, z”l, NY Marcia and Philip Rosen, NJ Sondra and Arnold Rosen, NY Miriam and Howard Rosenblum, NJ Ellen and Eric Roskes, MD Sarah and Jeff Rosner, PA Rhoda and Stephen Sand, PA Leslie Schapira, CA Phyllis and Jay Schapira, CA Shirley and Matthew Schein, Israel Elaine and Saul Schreiber, Israel Keryn and David Schreiber, IL Zelda Schuman, Israel Evan Schwartzberg, NY Scope Metals Group Ltd., Israel Ruth Shane, MD Ruth and Irwin Shapiro, NY Yaffi and Yoseph Shmidman, Israel Shorashim Yisrael Fund, Israel Helene Shrago, NE Elana Sinensky and Adam Blumenthal, NY Ellen and Saul Singer, MD Joy and Barry Sklar, NJ Marilyn and Ivan Soclof, OH Henry Soussan, AE Phyllis and Mark Speiser, NY Sydelle Spero, Israel Debra G. Speyer, PA Rena and Bruce Spinowitz, NY Lizzy Straus, NY Nancy and Franklin Strong, PA Chaya and E. David Subar, Israel Pia Sussman and Stuart Pollack, PA Naomi and Ira Sved, PA Esther and Henry Swieca, NY Susan and Robert Taub, NY Sylvia and Avi Tuchman, MA TWINCO, Inc., TX Joy and Michael Volk, CA Rivka Wakslak, NY Hindy Walfish, Israel Yael Weinreb, CA Shirley Weinstein, NY Baila and Stanley Weiss, NY Barbara and Michael Weiss, NY Cathy and Allan Weiss, NJ Lillian and Sherwyn Weiss, FL Rita and Howard Weiss, NY Elaine and Mark Weitzman, NY Jeanette and Neil Wermuth, NJ Ellen Werner and Elliot Shaller, MD Shlomzion Malka Wertman, Israel Sharon and Joseph Wiesel, NY Douglas C. Williams, CA Bibsi and David Zuckerbrot, Israel Roseanne and Jack Zwanziger, IL

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AMIT Children

EVENT Highlights NATIONAL

The Second Annual Bessies Virtual Gala

AMIT held its second annual national virtual gala, The Bessies, on Sunday, November 21. We went big and virtual for a second year in a row as circumstances did not allow for in-person regional events. Named after AMIT founder Bessie Gotsfeld, the gala showcased student filmmakers from various schools around Israel who were given the opportunity to present their short films. The event honored supporters throughout the United States who have demonstrated enormous passion for AMIT’s mission, including Renee & Steve Bellin, Joyce Kosowksy, Naomi & Carl Lopkin, and Sarah Okon (Boston); Beverly Elefant, Naomi Redisch, and Shirley and Milton Sabin (Florida); Judy and Mark Teitelbaum (Greater Washington, DC); Yael and Jessy Battash, and Lisa and Ephraim Dardashti (Philadelphia); Frank Lee and Joel Levine (Los Angeles); Wendy Lefko Messeloff (Cleveland); Rachelle Gold (Chicago), Barbara Bloom (Baltimore), Barbara Fisher and Keren Fisher (Atlanta); Marilyn and Greg Adler and Melissa Adler (New York). We also awarded The Marvin Leff, z”l, Leadership Award to Rosalyn Bramson.

AMIT + ANU: VIP Access to New Museum of the Jewish People In December, AMIT hosted a virtual event providing supporters to an at-home tour of Tel Aviv’s newest museum, ANU – Museum of the Jewish People. The museum celebrates the multiculturalism of Jewish diversity and adopts an inclusive, pluralistic approach.

The virtual visit included a tour of the “Wonder Women” exhibit, highlighting Jewish women who made significant contributions to society throughout the ages.

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The Bessies was hosted by Shira Haas, star of Unorthodox and Shtisel. It featured AMIT student filmmakers who created films on various topics, and we were honored to have guest host judge Assaf Bernstein, director of The Debt and Season One of Fauda.

During the gala, participants voted for their favorite student film in real-time. The winning film, Night and Day in Sderot, was created by Ayala Mastbaum, a twelfth grader at the AMIT Sderot Religious Junior and Senior High School.

Together, we laughed, we cried, and felt proud as we heard about the innovative and groundbreaking work that AMIT is doing and the impact it is having on our more than 44,000 students. Almost 1,500 people watched the Gala, AMIT’s biggest annual fundraising effort. Not only will your support help prepare our children to compete in the 21st century, but you are responsible for lifting up so many students from disadvantaged backgrounds and enabling them to reach their full potential and thrive as productive Israeli citizens.

Inside AMIT / Spring 2022

TRI-STATE

Men’s Night Out

with other leaders who are invested and passionate about AMIT and our 44,000 students. Chairs Avi Adelsberg and Andrew Gadlin stewarded the dedicated committee across the tri-state area through planning the event and garnering an incredible response from all over. Poker 2021 was incredible and we can’t wait to see what 2022 brings. Congratulations to Jason Saibel on his first place poker win, Zev Gontownik for his second-place win, and Yoni Gontownik for bronze! Also, congratulations to Jessie Fisch and David Ohana on their respective blackjack and roulette wins.

AMIT Poker Night 2021 was simultaneously familiar while being fresh and new. We were back in person, at a new all outdoor venue in New York City, but stuck to our roots with amazing steaks, charcuterie, and carving stations — nary a vegetable was found (potatoes don’t count)!

Needless to say, the food was mouth-watering, the cigars smoky and rich, and the Scotch was aged and delicious.

Over 125 attendees gambled (for a good cause) the night away on a beautiful evening, mingling and networking

EMERGING LEADERS

AFLI Movie Night at the Safra Center

Even a lightning storm couldn’t ruin the vibe at The Safra Center in New York as over 40 supporters attended AMIT’s Movie Under the Stars event. Participants enjoyed catching up with friends, classic movie snacks, fresh popcorn, and a night to remember! Thank you to our generous sponsors: Jonathan Tropper, The Fried Family, and The Sturm Family.

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AMIT Children

Remembering DR. MARGUERITE WERRIN Longtime President of AMIT Philadelphia Council’s Shira Chapter

BY TAMAR SNYDER

W

hen Marguerite Werrin was just four years old, she was diagnosed with a lazy eye. Her eye healed, but the experience encouraged her to become a doctor— at a time when there weren’t too many female physicians.

Marguerite went on to become a well-respected infectious disease specialist based out of Pennsylvania.

In addition to working at the hospital, Marguerite opened a successful medical practice which she shared with her beloved husband of more than 40 years, Dr. Ron Werrin.

In addition to her family and medicine, Marguerite was passionate about AMIT and absolutely loved its mission.

A longtime and active member of AMIT, Marguerite served for over a decade as President of the AMIT Philadelphia Council’s Shira Chapter.

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stopped her from accomplishing her goals and leading a full and meaningful life.

“She was one of the most magnificent people I have ever met — smart, warm, a wonderful leader in her dignified, warm, and quiet way,” said Robbie Pearlstein, AMIT’s Regional Director, MidAtlantic & New England.

“She understood the dynamics and got along with everyone, and was very open to people and ideas.”

When it was difficult for her to leave her house, AMIT members would show up at her home and Marguerite would run AMIT meetings from her place at the head of her dining room table. AMIT gave her life a tremendous sense of purpose, Ron said. “She believed in the amazing mission of AMIT and would speak about it quite often.”

For many years, Marguerite suffered from a connective tissue disorder that made her physically weak and frail.

Yet, the illness never

Though Marguerite needed a wheelchair to get around for much of the last 12 years, she didn’t let that restrict her. She and her husband traveled to Israel several times and visited various AMIT schools throughout the country. During the second intifada, the couple visited AMIT Frisch Beit Hayeled in Gilo. “The area was under

Her drive served as an inspiration to everyone who knew her. “She had so much courage and tenacity, and she always looked at the positive,” said Robbie.

Inside AMIT / Spring 2022

siege and there were sandbags to ensure bullets wouldn’t get into the building,” he recalled. “They let us in and we were so impressed by the idealism of the school, and the values they were imparting in the kids. We were both very taken by it.”

One of Marguerite’s best qualities was her ability to accept help from others. “It was very brave of her — not many people are willing to be seen in a wheelchair and be dependent on others,” Ron said. “But she made the decision that she wanted to live and have a meaningful life, and that’s exactly what she did.”

When Marguerite’s mother, Mrs. Emilie Weill, z”l, passed away at age 97 in 2020, Marguerite and Ron memorialized her by rehabilitating an old Sefer Torah that was originally written before World War II. They donated the Sefer Torah to AMIT Tiferet Gur Arye Junior College at AMIT Hammer in Rehovot. Before they had this Torah, the students had to borrow a Sefer Torah from a local shul for their daily minyan. In June 2021, the family participated in a Hachnasat Sefer Torah on Zoom, which their daughter and her family who live in Israel were able to attend.

“It was the last simcha that Marguerite attended,” Ron said.

Sadly, Marguerite passed away in August 2021. Given her passion for AMIT, she had generously made a legacy gift years ago by naming AMIT as a beneficiary of her IRA. To honor Marguerite’s memory, her family is rehabilitating and rededicating two more Sifrei Torah to be donated to AMIT

schools. One Torah will be named for Marguerite, and the other will honor the memory of Ron’s late parents, Sophie (Shaindel) and Dr. Nathaniel (Noach) Werrin. The family plans to attend a Hachnasat Sefer Torah in person this time at the end of April, while also celebrating a Bar Mitzvah. “It will be a very big simcha,” Ron said.

In addition, the Conversational English Program at the AMIT Sderot Religious Junior and Senior High School will be renamed in Marguerite’s honor. It will now be known as the Marguerite Weill Werrin Conversational English Program. More than a quarter of students at the Sderot school are members of the Ethiopian community, and nearly half of the seventh grade students come from low-income homes and do not even know the English alphabet. Helping these students master English was one of the last critical projects that AMIT Philadelphia supported under Marguerite’s leadership.

Even though this special woman is no longer with us, she continues to give in so many ways.

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AMIT Children

A Triple Investment in Education

FOR RITA SCHWALB, EDUCATING YOUNG PEOPLE IS ONE OF THE SMARTEST INVESTMENTS SHE CAN MAKE. “ISRAEL’S MOST IMPORTANT AND NATURAL RESOURCE IS ITS YOUTH,” SHE SAYS. “EVERY CHILD IS PRECIOUS.”

BY TAMAR SNYDER

A

s a retired English teacher, Rita has seen firsthand the transformational power of education — both in her own classroom and on various AMIT campuses.

A longtime President’s Circle member, she has been involved with AMIT for more than half a century. “I’ve always enjoyed teaching and have long admired how AMIT has been able to design such innovative curricula,” she says.

When Rita learned about the opportunity to set up a charitable gift annuity benefiting AMIT, the decision was easy.

Second, she receives a charitable income tax deduction for the charitable gift portion of the annuity.

But the real reason she set it up was to invest in an organization that needs support to continue achieving such a substantial social impact.

AMIT’s educational network takes children, many of whom come to AMIT from the periphery, and “transforms them into Zionistic, productive citizens who are respectful of their Jewish traditions,” Rita says. “I’m so proud that municipalities come to us and say, ‘Help us take schools and transform them into AMIT schools.’ That’s a good investment.”

It’s a “triple investment” she says.

First, the charitable gift annuity provides a steady stream of income, a portion of which is often tax-free.

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She and her late husband, Eugene z”l, first visited AMIT schools in person in the 1970s. They toured AMIT Kfar Batya in Ra’anana, a residential school for children whose home lives were difficult. “We were blown away

Inside AMIT / Spring 2022

by the care and attention the students received, as well as the wonderful leadership,” she says.

On a trip several years later, the couple visited AMIT Frisch Beit Hayeled in Jerusalem, which pairs children with difficult home situations with caring foster families. “Wherever we went, we saw caring, individualized schools,” she says.

“There wasn’t a single formula; there were many formulas.” Each school catered to the unique needs of their student population. “The students were nurtured in a particularly sensitive way by these caring professionals,” she recalls. “I was continually impressed with the people, programs, and the buildings.”

In 2016, the couple celebrated Eugene’s second Bar Mitzvah in Sderot, surrounded by family and friends. At a Hachnasat Sefer Torah ceremony organized by AMIT, the Schwalbs dedicated a Torah scroll in honor of Eugene’s 83rd birthday, which they donated to the AMIT Sderot Religious Junior and Senior High School. Eugene, who passed away in 2020, was a pediatrician who was a pioneer in the field of learning disabilities. In their charity, both Rita and Eugene were drawn to organizations that work with and help children.

Today, Rita is glad to provide AMIT with continued support for her entire lifetime and beyond. “It’s not simply an economic decision,” she says, but rather investing in the potential of the organization and the students AMIT serves. “You really get a lot out of it — look at who the products are, and what they achieve.”

I get a lot more than I invested.

I hope other people feel that way. It’s an investment in human potential – and that is priceless.”

Receive Income for Life with a Charitable Gift Annuity A charitable gift annuity is a gift made to AMIT that can provide you with a secure source of fixed payments for life. If you itemize deductions on your tax returns, savings from the federal income tax charitable deduction of the gift portion reduce the net cost of your gift. If you fund your annuity with appreciated property or securities rather than cash, you benefit even more because you are not responsible for the capital gains tax at the time of your gift.

BENEFITS OF AN AMIT CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY: • R eceive fixed payments to you or another annuitant you designate for life • R eceive a charitable income tax deduction for the charitable gift portion of the annuity • B enefit from payments that may be partially tax-free • F urther the charitable work of AMIT For more information about setting up a charitable gift annuity with AMIT, contact Genene Kaye, AMIT’s Chief Development Officer, at GeneneK@AMITChildren.org.

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AMIT Children

WELCOME & MAZEL TOV GENENE KAYE

Chief Development Off icer Congratulations to Genene Kaye on her recent promotion to Chief Development Officer at AMIT. Previously, Genene served as AMIT’s National Director of Planned Giving and its TriState Regional Director. Genene has nearly three decades of experience working as a nonprofit professional. She is passionate about the Jewish community, both here and in Israel, and has been fortunate to spend her career forging relationships within the two. Prior to joining AMIT, she held positions at American Friends of Nishmat, Yeshiva University, UJA Federation of Northern New Jersey, and the Moriah School of Englewood. Genene received her Master’s degree in Public Administration with a specialization in Jewish Communal Services from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women.

DR. RONI RAAB

Southeast Region Director Dr. Roni Raab is the new Southeast Region Director, responsible for growing AMIT’s presence in Florida and Texas. Roni comes to us from Jewish National Fund, where he was the Executive Director of South Florida for seven years. Prior to that he spent many years in the Jewish education world and in other community leadership positions. He has a doctorate degree in Leadership and Administration, and has four children, one of whom lives in Israel. His nephew is the principal of an AMIT school in Be’er Sheva. Roni is excited to merge his passions for Israel and education to increase AMIT’s name recognition and fundraising efforts in the Southeast.

MIRIAM GUTWEIN

National Director, Major Gifts Welcome to Miriam Gutwein, AMIT’s new National Director, Major Gifts. Miriam is delighted to join the AMIT family and looks forward to increasing philanthropic support for our children’s most critical needs. As a lifelong Zionist, Building Israel One Child at a Time is a mission that speaks to her. She is optimistic about sharing our vision with new friends, encouraging them to recognize AMIT’s critical role in educating and providing for the needs of Israeli children to become successful leaders and accomplished citizens.

Prior to AMIT, Miriam was Director of Development, New York Tri-State Region, for the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science. Over the past two decades, she has had the pleasure of holding various development positions at Brandeis University, the 92nd Street Y, Montefiore Medical Center, and Yeshiva University.

SHARI WEISENBERG

Chief Marketing Off icer Shari Weisenberg comes to AMIT from the Orthodox Union and NCSY. She brings 20+ years of marketing experience to AMIT, having led product launches, global campaigns, content creation, social media and PR for media and technology companies such as Microsoft, Verizon, Sundance and NBC Universal. She loves to hike, kickbox, do Bikram yoga, take culinary classes and (pre-COVID) was part of the volunteer teacher’s program at The Doe Fund in Harlem.

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Inside AMIT / Spring 2022

In Memoriam R A N A R A PPA PO RT, Z ” L

A

s AMIT’s Regional Director in New England for over a decade, Rana Gladstone Rappaport, z”l, worked hard to improve opportunities for children in Israel. Her deep knowledge and

strong organizational skills made her a natural for planning creative projects and meaningful events. We were saddened to learn of her passing in January 2021 at age 75 from cancer.

We extend our deepest sympathy to Rana’s beloved husband, Jonathan, daughters Maya and Netta, and the entire family. May her memory be a blessing.

“Rana was a joy to work with and generously shared her sense of humor a nd intuitive understanding of volunteering for a worthy cause.

She was an inspiring leader as well as a warm and caring friend.”

— Naomi Lopkin, AMIT New England Council/Ra’anana Chapter Board Member

R UTH F E D E R , Z” L

R

uth Feder was a second generation Mizrachi Woman. Her mother, Belle Grossman, was on the board of the Mizrachi Women’s Chapter in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in the 1950s.

After earning her teaching degree at Brooklyn College, Ruth began working for the New York City Board of Education. She and her husband, Lenny Feder, moved to Staten Island where they raised their family: Yanky, who lives in Ra’anana, Israel; Lainie and Yanky Kasirer of Staten Island; and Bruce and Sarah, who live in Teaneck, N.J. She was a beloved second grade teacher at the Yeshivah of Flatbush in Brooklyn, New York, for more than three decades. She instilled in her students a love of learning and kept in touch with many of them over the years.

After she retired, Ruth became involved with the Golda Meir Chapter in Staten Island. Her pet project was organizing the annual Yom Iyun Program during the Nine Days. She spent many afternoons at the AMIT office in Manhattan preparing the annual calendar for distribution.

“Ruth was an inspiration to all who knew her. All of us at AMIT will miss her very much.”

— Andy Goldsmith, AMIT Executive Vice President

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49 W. 37th Street, 5th Floor New York, NY 10018

CERTAINTY in an Uncertain World Consider an AMIT charitable gift annuity (CGA). Help secure your future and the future of AMIT’s children.

If you are like many people, you have seen the value of your investments fluctuate with the markets. You might be wondering if there is a way to find true security for you and your loved ones. The good news is that with AMIT’s charitable gift annuity’s (CGA) fixed payments, you or a loved one can find the peace of mind that you are looking for.

Help secure your future and the future of AMIT students with a charitable gift annuity. info@amitchildren.org @amit.children

www.amitlegacy.org @amitchildren

Receive fixed payments for life:

Age

Rate

60

3.9%

65

4.2%

70

4.7%

75

5.4%

80

6.5%

85

7.6%

90+

8.6%

please contact Genene Kaye, Chief Development Officer at 212.477.5465 or genenek@amitchildren.org.

NON-PROFIT US POSTAGE PAID PONTIAC, IL PERMIT NO 592

For more information and to receive your free, no obligation CGA illustration,