AMIT Spring 2016 Magazine

B U I L D I N G I S R A E L . O N E C H I L D AT A T I M E .

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

By Debbie Moed THERE ARE MANY PRIVILEGES THAT COME ALONG with my role as AMIT President. To name a few: the satisfaction that I’ve gained way more than I’ve given supporting our remarkable 32,000 students; the knowledge that Israel’s next generation of leaders is being nurtured, educated and equipped for success in AMIT’s schools; the fact that I have a parking spot downtown near the AMIT office.

A coveted perk is an invitation to participate in the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations’ annual mission. As AMIT supporters, we can be proud that our organization plays an active role in this very important coalition.

In February, I was among a group who met with heads of state in Turkey and Egypt, prior to the Conference’s National Israel Leadership Mission. Common themes arose throughout our briefings, and I’d like to highlight how the AMIT Network is addressing many of them in real time, with our students shaping the solutions of tomorrow.

Security concerns, especially the importance of keeping an edge in cybersecurity, were discussed throughout the Mission briefings. At AMIT Gush Dan High School, students in grades 7-12 participate in the Gevahim track, one of the country’s leading cybersecurity programs, formed in collaboration with the IDF and Ministry of Education. Outstanding teachers and experts from high tech and the army train students in advanced cyberstudies to prepare them for positions in elite IDF intelligence units.

The site of one of three Hesder programs for girls in the entire country, Midreshet Be’er is located in the southern town of Yerucham. Select high school graduates from diverse locations and religious affi liations live and volunteer in Yerucham, and study daily in the Bet Midrash. They go on to active IDF service, many in Intelligence units specializing in cybersecurity.

Notably, there are only two girls’ high schools in Israel with cyber programs, one being AMIT Renanim High School in Ra’anana. Students choose from a variety of electives, including Arabic, robotics, physics, and art. All are project-based learning programs, with the objective of earning the highest-level Bagrut scores.

These programs underscore the importance of empowering Israel’s young women, another recurring theme during the Conference briefings.

I’ve heard more than one AMIT principal stress to students that the glass ceiling is meant to be shattered; that women can have successful family and religious lives while maintaining careers in the sciences, mathematics, computer science and the high tech sector.

Finally, among the many issues addressed throughout the Conference of Presidents’ Mission is the need for tolerance in Israeli society.

Two hundred fifty schools with enrollments of every ethnicity and religion make up President Reuven Rivlin’s Tikvah Yisraelit Commission, aimed at bridging deep gaps that separate the groups. Significantly 15 AMIT schools are the only Jewish religious institutions included, and that two AMIT educators work directly with the President as members of his leadership core.

It was inspiring to meet with girls in AMIT Renanim High School who work with special needs students throughout their junior year chesed project. Some chose to work with physically disabled children, and are creating an app to help special needs young adults find jobs. Others work with blind children and have gained valuable perspective into their lives. Girls on the robotics team in Yerucham’s Kamah School, while advancing in an international competition, spend every Friday morning tutoring local Bedouin children. They recounted that the language barrier is surmounted by mutual will—and lots of hand motions. What a beautiful demonstration of outreach and inclusiveness!

The unique experience of participating in the Conference of Presidents Mission has underscored my appreciation that AMIT is at the leading edge of addressing important societal issues confronting every Israeli. I’m so proud that AMIT’s outstanding students and educators represent Israel’s best and brightest. They will go on to build a just and tolerant society that gives us confidence for a positive future. 

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8

spring 2016 – aviv 5776 Vol. LXXXVIII No. 2

BUILDING ISRAEL. ONE CHILD AT A TIME.

8

JE SUIS AMIT

The integration of newly arrived French children at AMIT schools.

By Michele Chabin

12

12

AMBASSADOR DANNY DANON AMIT interviews the Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations.

Interview by Robert E. Sutton

16

AMIT RAMLE TECHNOLOGICAL HIGH SCHOOL

A school for teens who have not met academic requirements or have been expelled from their previous schools.

By Helga Abraham

22

16

HIGHLIGHTS AND SUCCESSES

Achievements, events, profiles and school news throughout the AMIT network.

By Cheryl Shaanan and Robert E. Sutton

About The Cover

B U I L D I N G I S R A E L . O N E C H I L D AT A T I M E .

A French immigrant child proudly proclaiming his Jewishness in Israel– with the help of AMIT and without fear.

JE SUIS AMIT s p r i n g 2 0 1 6 : : av i v 5 7 7 6 : : Vo l . L X X X V I I I N o. 2

AMIT COUNCIL OFFICES

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National Office 817 Broadway New York, NY 10003 1-800-989-AMIT (2648) 212-477-4720 Fax: 212-353-2312 email: info@amitchildren.org Baltimore/Boston/Washington DC 2800 Stone Cliff Drive, Unit #112 Baltimore, MD 21209 410-484-2223 410-370-9411 Call for Fax: 410-484-2223 email: robbiep@amitchildren.org Chicago 3856 B West Oakton Skokie, IL 60076 847-677-3800 847-372-8702 Fax: 847-982-0057 email: amitchicago@amitchildren.org

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Cleveland 23743 Greenlawn Avenue Beachwood, OH 44122 216-382-4441 email: amitcleveland@amitchildren.org Southeast Region 2700 North 29th Ave. Suite 203 Hollywood, FL 33020 954-922-5100 Fax: 954-922-5199 email: robini@amitchildren.org Los Angeles 1122 S. Robertson Blvd., #9 Los Angeles, CA 90035 310-859-4885 Fax: 310-859-4875 email: michalt@amitchildren.org

Philadelphia P.O. Box 342 Wynnewood, PA 19096 410-484-2223 410-370-9411 Call for Fax: 410-484-2223 email: robbiep@amitchildren.org AMIT UK Friends of AMIT Women UK 152/154 Coles Green Rd. London NW2 7HD Phone: +44-208-438-6353 email: Karen.Am@amit.org.il AMIT FRANCE c/o Mrs. Carole Hannaux 18 rue du Conseil des XV 67000 Strasbourg, France phone: +33-611-487-314 email: carol.hannaux@gmail.com

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AMIT Switzerland c/o: Jennifer Osborn Unter Altstadt 10 6301 Zug, Switzerland Phone: + 41-41-729-0808 email: Jennifer.Osborn@ballag.ch AMIT Israel – Petach Tikva 28 HaMaccabim St. Petach Tikva 49220, Israel Phone: +972-3-912-3171 Fax: +972-3-912-3166 AMIT Israel – Jerusalem 21 King George St., 1st Floor P.O. Box 71075 Jerusalem, Israel 9171001 Phone: +972-2-673-8360 Fax: 972-2-673-8359

FIND AMIT ON

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26

COLUMNS

3

:: President’s Message

6

:: Impressions

26 :: Student Spotlight 27

27

:: AMIT on a Mission

28 :: Dvar Torah

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

30 :: Girls Night Out!

30 :: AMIT Entrepreneurs

28

31

:: Mingle, Mask and Meet

31

:: Trivia with the Tribe

32

:: AMIT in DC

32

:: 50 Golden Years

33

:: Paint Your Heart Out

33

:: Israel Kick-off Campaign

34 :: LA Mother-in-Israel :: Robinson Dedication

36 :: Windy City Cooking 36 :: The Warmth of the Chills

33 35

37

:: A Trip to Ramle

37

:: LA Salon Series

Executive Vice President Andrew Goldsmith Vice President, Marketing and Communications Naomi Max Chair, Marketing and Communications Cara Kleiman

34 :: President’s Circle Dinner

35

President Debbie Moed

38 :: 53 Years of Service 39 :: Spanning AMIT World

39

Editor in Chief/Creative Director Robert Ephraim Sutton Design Game6Media Editor Emerita Micheline Ratzersdorfer Signed articles do not necessarily represent the opinion of the organization. Reproduction of any material requires permission and attribution.

To view us online visit www.amitchildren.org AMIT Magazine (ISSN 1085-2891) is published quarterly; Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer by AMIT. AMIT National Office: 817 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10003.

1-800-989-AMIT, 212-477-4720, Fax 212-353-2312 email: info@amitchildren.org Periodicals postage paid at New York, N.Y., and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to AMIT: 817 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10003.

AMIT enables Israel’s youth to realize their potential and strengthens Israeli society by educating and nurturing children from diverse backgrounds within a framework of academic excellence, religious values and Zionist ideals. Some 70 percent of AMIT students live in development towns or other “peripheral” areas of the country. AMIT approaches each child as an individual, maximizing his or her potential, and enabling our students to become vital, productive members of Israeli society. The AMIT schools promote religious tolerance, service to the state and the recognition that every child is blessed with unique talents and abilities. Founded in 1925, AMIT operates 108 schools, youth villages, surrogate family residences and other programs, constituting Israel’s only government-recognized network of religious Jewish education incorporating academic and technological studies.

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AMIT, founded in 1925, has a proud history of service to Israel and the Jewish people.

Our name, in English, stands for “AMericans for Israel and Torah.” In Hebrew, AMIT is an acronym for “Irgun Mitnadvot l’ma’an Yisrael v’Torata” (Organization of Volunteers for Israel and Her Torah).

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IMPRESSIONS

By Andrew Goldsmith, Executive Vice President OUR TRADITION TEACHES US A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT lesson about trying to comfort the mourner. When attending a shiva, it is inappropriate for a visitor to speak fi rst. It is for the mourner to begin (or not begin) a conversation. The thinking is that our presence alone offers comfort and “saying the right thing” is at best challenging and often impossible. With this stipulation in mind, there remains an obligation upon leaving a shiva home to recite the line “May the Almighty comfort you among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.” No matter the depth of the grief, something needs to be said—even if proper words of comfort and remembrance are most difficult to fi nd.

So with that caveat, please excuse these words—I deeply feel that something needs to be said, even if the skill of the writer cannot begin to convey our communal thoughts.

This past January 13, we all learned the terrible news: Daniella Moffson, z”l, a treasured alumna of Midreshet AMIT, was tragically killed in a bus accident in Honduras. At fi rst we simply didn’t believe the spotty reports. Information was scattered, we hoped the media may be wrong, there was a rumor she had changed seats on the bus. But it wasn’t to be.

that “Torah and mitzvot drove Daniella constantly.

Like a catalyst boosting her into action, Torah drove her soul. She loved to participate in all chesed opportunities, but what was so significant about her was that she was so passionate about the little things.

Praying three times a day, singing Kabbalat Shabbat, baking challah…the list goes on and on. The best part was that she did it all quietly and humbly.”

The young children of Beit Hayeled, those special charges that Daniella cradled in her lap, whose hair she stroked at bedtime and whom she cared for and loved (and was loved back), sent letters trying to express their deep affection for her—this almost three years after Daniella’s experience there ended. The staff reports that Daniella’s impact on many of the children was transformative.

In the winter 2013 issue of AMIT magazine, Daniella penned these words under the title: “Live Chesed.”

“Chesed opportunities are literally right in front of us, but like Avraham, we are learning to not only take advantage of the opportunities presented to us, but to push Daniella Moffson, z”l ourselves to seek out ways to enhance our chesed experience even more. Chesed is all around us here in AMIT, and the all-encompassing experience is We were all grief-stricken. Ilana Gottlieb, the director helping us develop into the young Jewish women we of the Midreshet AMIT pre-college program, traveled to aspire to be.”

New York in anguish. Like so many others at Frisch Beit Hayeled, including fellow alumnae, staff and current Inculcated with values from her parents and students who knew her, Ilana loved Daniella deeply. siblings, this remarkable young woman intuitively Grief counselors were brought in to our offices to help and intellectually understood the power of chesed Daniella’s many gathered friends process the tragedy, to to be transformative. Not just for herself, her broad hold each other very close, cry and cry and try to make circle of friends or even the people of Israel, but for the sense of the incomprehensible. world—which makes this loss all the more painful and costly. This loving heart, this bold spirit thirsty A common denominator quickly emerged from for knowledge and with absolute faith of the power of many of the shared memories: Over and over again, chesed—all these qualities of Daniella are now ours Daniella’s friends expressed the very same thought— that she represented the very best of us. Daniella’s trip to adopt and cherish. If we can honor these qualities, we create a tribute to Daniella more significant and to Honduras wasn’t a mid-winter vacation. In order to perhaps more beautiful than any other. bring her tachlis vision of tikun olam to fruition, she was part of a Columbia University Medical brigade program providing health and economic assistance to under resourced areas. Jordana Mostel and Marcelle Breibart, her fellow students at Midreshet AMIT, wrote

Baruch Dayan Emet.  Reach Andrew Goldsmith at andrewg@amitchildren.org.

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FEATURE

JE SUIS AMIT 8 :: Fall 2014 :: AMIT MAGAZINE

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By Michele Chabin

Ra’anana, Israel – When Joseline Rotstein, a new immigrant from France, was contemplating her family’s move to Israel, her top priority was finding a community where her teens would flourish.

“We decided to move to Ra’anana because of the good schools,” Rotstein said, referring to the quiet suburb of Tel Aviv her family has called home for almost a year. “Everyone said AMIT Renanim Junior and Senior Science and Technology High School for Girls was the place for new immigrants, so that’s where I enrolled my daughter Yona.”

AMIT Renanim is one of three AMIT network middle/high schools that offer a comprehensive program geared specifically toward olim chadashim and the unique challenges facing them. continued on page 10

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intensive academic support to immi-

continued from page 9 The programs are a lifeline for uprooted teens, most of whom know little or no Hebrew when they arrive in Israel. About 26,500 people, including 7,000 Jews from France, immigrated to Israel in 2014—a 10-year-high. More than 30,000 Jews made aliyah in 2015, including nearly 8,000 French immigrants.

Dr. Amnon Eldar, director general of the AMIT network, noted that these French olim, who represent a growing pool of new immigrants due not only to the threat of anti-Semitism but strong Zionist values, tend to settle in Netanya, Ashdod and Ra’anana.

“From its establishment, AMIT’s values have always driven us to help immigrants. It’s part of our tradition,” Eldar said. “While scholastic achievement is important in its own right, the more successful children are in their social integration, the more it benefits the entire family. Successful aliyah also strengthens the state. Our attitude is to give each child what he or she needs, and that’s why our schools individualize programs to each child.”

AMIT Renanim’s program provides

grants from a variety of countries, with a large number from France. Of the

635 girls who attend AMIT Renanim,

twenty percent are recent immigrants.

Programs offered by AMIT Yud Ash-

dod High School and AMIT Bar Ilan in

Netanya are also geared toward those with French-speaking backgrounds.

“Our goal is integration, but first the

students need to learn Hebrew,” Ofra Pe’er, Renanim’s principal, said. “We

work to strengthen their Israeli identity, but not at the expense of their existing identity.”

Newcomers fresh off the plane study

in a special ulpan class that offers in-

tensive Hebrew instruction as well as

subject courses in easy Hebrew. When the students join regular classes, they still receive several hours a week of remedial instruction.

“Our program is very individual-

ized,” Tzila Amosi, who heads AMIT

Renanim’s immigrant program, said.

“In addition to assessing the needs of

every girl and providing the necessary

support, we offer them social activities and programs.”

The school also organizes mother-

daughter day trips for new olim, an ex-

perience that reinforces the awareness, for both the girls and their parents, that they are part of a community.

Sharon Tebul, 16, who made aliyah

five years ago, said having the op-

portunity to study in the immigrant’s class has been a blessing.

“We more or less learn the same les-

sons as the regular classes but in easier Hebrew. It’s the difference between

struggling, even possibly failing tests, and doing well and feeling good about myself. “

Joseline Rotstein said her daughter

Yona, who is studying in the Renanim ulpan program, is blossoming. “Aliyah

can’t succeed if your kids aren’t happy.

She’s doing well in school, is very

happy and she is making friends.”

Ashdod, Israel Almost one-quarter of

the 724 students who attend the AMIT Yud Ashdod Junior and Senior High

School in the southern coastal city of

Ashdod are olim, 155 of them from France.

The school’s immigrant program

is taught solely by veteran French or French-speaking Canadian im-

migrants “who know the challenges

of making aliyah first hand,” said Ido Aharonovich, the school’s principal.

Aharonovich noted that Jewish schools in France tend to focus on Judaic stud-

ies but teach almost no modern Hebrew.

“The level of Hebrew of French

newcomers is very low, the principal

said. “There are also gaps between the French and Israeli curricula, we work with them to bridge the gaps.”

The French immigrants’ Jewish iden-

tity is very strong, Aharonovich said.

“It’s their Israeli identity we need to work on.”

Newly arrived middle-school stu-

dents spend their first year in an intenFrench immigrant students - AMIT Bar Ilan in Netanya

sive 20 hour-per-week ulpan program

but are mainstreamed in regular after10 :: Spring 2016 :: AMIT MAGAZINE

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noon classes in the afternoon. Three

French immigrant students - AMIT Renanim in Yud Ashdod Ra’anana

times a week they receive remedial

help to stay at grade level in math, English and other subjects.

Thanks to a grant from AMIT, the

school treats the olim to three-day-long field trips related to Israeli and Zionist history. Trips have included visits to

Har Hertzl, Israel’s national cemetery, and the Latrun tank museum.

While the Ministry of Education and

Ashdod municipality provide most of the funding, the AMIT network pays for the trip and many hours of additional learning, Aharonovich said.

In high school the olim are integrat-

ed into regular classes but study in an immigrants’ class when prepping for the many matriculation exams they are required to take. A whopping 98

percent of olim pass their exams, according to the school.

Realizing that successful immigra-

tion absorption is a struggle for the

entire family, AMIT Ashdod also offers

weekly hadracha—guidance sessions— to the new immigrants’ parents.

“Parents feel a big culture gap be-

tween what they had back home in France and what they encounter in Israel,” the principal said. In France

there is much less independence and

freedom due to societal norms and security concerns.”

Celine Chaya Abisdid, who heads

AMIT Ashdod’s immigrant program, said the school offers help in four

areas: educational, social, cultural and emotional.

“When a child feels like she is equal to

others in her classroom, in the school, in the country, she will be more motivated and less marginalized. It’s vital that

olim integrate, but they should not lose their culture in the process.”

Abisdid, 36, knows what it’s like to

be a teenage olah chadasha. She emi-

grated from France when she was 18.

Perhaps this is why students flock to

her comfortable office so often and ask for her support and advice.

Given Ashdod’s proximity to Gaza,

all new students, olim included, must learn where the bomb shelters are.

Abisdid sends French-speaking par-

ents updates and reassurances via the schools’ immigrant Whatsapp group.

“We’re on the front lines and we

do rocket drills all the time,” Abisdid

acknowledged. Eitan Srouchi, 16, from Marseilles, made aliyah nearly five

years ago. “Before attending AMIT Yud

Ashdod, I was in another school and received no extra help, even though the

Ministry of Education requires a school to provide it to new olim. I was failing

my tests. Here at AMIT I pass my tests, and I’m making friends.”

Srouchi said he is happy to be living

in Israel, despite the challenges.

“In France I was afraid to wear a

pah and tzizit,” said Abbou, who made aliyah in September.

The school, which has 400 students, one-quarter of them from France, offers an ulpan program for middleschool boys from 8:00 am till 3:00 pm.

As part of the ulpan, students study math, English, religious subjects and sports partly in Hebrew, partly in French.

By the end of the school year, all ulpan students will be in regular classrooms but will continue to receive several hours of additional help every week. The olim also receive emotional, social and cultural support throughout the years.

Rabbi Yuval Elimelech, the school’s principal, acknowledged that olim absorption has required a learning curve.

“Last year we were less successful.

I thought that our main goal was to turn them into Israelis, and that was a mistake. We must honor them as they

kippa. Here I can be who I am.”

are and protect their culture.”

Netanya, Israel Amram Abbou, a

migrant from France, said he is “very,

at AMIT Bar Ilan in Netanya, south of

studying at AMIT Bar Ilan Netanya.

13-year-old new immigrant studying Haifa, shares Eitan’s feelings.

“There are many terrorists in France

and we were afraid. I’m happy to live in Israel now, where I can wear a kip-

Benjamin Nabeth, 14, a new imvery happy” to be living in Israel and “Classes are taught on a high level and the ulpan has been great. Being here in Israel was my family’s dream.

Now it’s a reality.”  Spring 2016 :: AMIT MAGAZINE :: 11

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PHOTO: KIM HAUGHTON

FEATURE

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“

It’s so important that organizations like AMIT partner with Israel in giving our next generation every possible

”

advantage.

U.N. AMBASSADOR

DANNY DANON SPEAKS TO AMIT Interview by Robert E. Sutton Danny Danon was a Member of the Knesset from February 2009 until August 2015. He served as Deputy Speaker of the 18th Knesset, as Chair of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality, and numerous other committees.

Danon served as Deputy Minister of Defense from - March 2013 until July 2014.

In May 2015 he was appointed Minister of Science, Technology, and Space, serving until his appointment in August 2015 as Israel Ambassador to the United Nations.

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You’ve been the Ambassador to the

about the UN is that there is a “public

don’t hesitate to speak out forcefully

Being on site and mixing with other

the countries who automatically, and

UN officials or member states not dis-

United Nations for eight months.

delegates, what are you impressions?

It is a great honor to serve as Israel’s

permanent representative to the UN, but the challenges we face here are well known. It’s no secret that if a

country proposed a resolution saying

UN” and a “private UN.” So many of

unfairly, condemn us in every possible forum – approach me privately saying

how much they love Israel and proposing ways we can work together.

At the same time, too many publicly

that the world is flat, and tacked on a

self-proclaimed allies of Israel abstain,

pass in the General Assembly with a

stand by our side in key votes. I come

condemnation of Israel – then it would large majority. To me that just shows how far this institution has veered

from the intentions of its founders.

Nevertheless, despite all the chal-

or just disappear, when it’s time to

from the Cabinet and the Knesset so

I’m used to political maneuvering, but the UN takes it to a whole new level.

I view it as my job to merge these

lenges, Israel has so much to offer

two UNs – to bring those who quietly

chance we can share our innovations

to expose those who claim to support

the world, and when we’re given the in agriculture, water, biomedical

solutions, and, of course, anti-terror

support Israel out into the open, and

us but then disappear at critical times.

tactics. We’ve had amazing successes

What are your strategies and goals at

cated diplomats, we’re doing more and

When I started my new post, I gath-

in all these areas. Thanks to our dedimore of this every day at the UN, and it makes me extremely proud.

What surprised you about the UN? I think what strikes me the most

when needed and demand that either tort the truth when it comes to Israel.

We recently spoke out very strongly

when certain UN officials seemed to justify terrorism against innocent Israelis, and we regularly demand

retractions and edits when Israel is treated in a hypocritical manner – and we are often successful.

Secondly, we push forward with

positive initiatives in every possible

forum. This means everything from increasing Israeli presence in peacekeeping to having Yom Kippur de-

clared an official UN holiday. We are able to both show the true positive

face of Israel, and also make positive change in the world. Both make me very proud.

the UN?

How will you help combat the BDS

ered my staff and explained that we

been invited to universities to speak,

are no longer playing defense, we’re

shifting to offense. This means two things. First of all, no lie or slander

against Israel goes unanswered. We

movement at the UN and, have you specifically about refuting the BDS movement?

I have had the opportunity to speak

at a number of campuses, and I have seen what students and professors

PHOTO: SHAHAR AZRAN

who support Israel – or just those who refuse to tow the radical anti-Israeli line – have to deal with.

I know that there are those who

advise to ignore these BDS activists.

Some make the claim that the numbers of these activists are small and insignificant, and that by speaking

out against them we are giving them the very attention that they desire.

Our history has taught us, how-

Ambassador Danon with AMIT student Dorin Cohen.

ever, that we can never ignore those who seek to exclude the Jewish people from the family of nations. We

can’t take it lightly when we are sub14 :: Spring 2016 :: AMIT MAGAZINE

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This is also why it’s so important that

organizations like AMIT partner with Israel in giving our next generation

every possible advantage, both so that they can succeed on an individual lev-

el, and so that Israel continues to grow as a technological powerhouse.

Two weeks ago, you attended the

Women Engineers of Tomorrow Conference. One of the presentations

was from an AMIT student, Dorin

Cohen from Haifa. What were your impressions of the conference?

It was a real pleasure to host those PHOTO: AVI DODI

young women at the UN. Not just

because they were such bright and

charming young women, but also be-

cause it tied together so nicely some of

(l-r) Daniel Cohen, U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Samantha Power, U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Ambassador Danon jected to fines and sanctions merely

As you know, AMIT is an educational

and convictions.

of 110 schools with over 32,000 stu-

for living according to our heritage

At the UN we see a different, but fa-

miliar, type of BDS. They do this even when they are set to gain from the policy or change we are initiating.

And they do all of this simply be-

network throughout Israel composed dents. One of our newest initiatives

is to advance education in the fields of science and technology – specifi-

cally educating AMIT students from

the periphery in the subjects needed that will place them in positions as

cybersecurity analysts and technolo-

cause we are the Jewish state.

gists. Your thoughts and comments?

When you were young, you joined

that prepared me most for my post at

Betar, how did you come to join Betar? What spurred you?

Like many Israelis, I learned a lot from my youth movement. For me it was a place to educate myself and immerse

in the ideological values that I already had started to develop as a young

man. I also appreciated the global

reach of Betar. I was really proud to be associated with an organization that

looked out for all Jews, wherever they may be in the world.

I often say that one of the positions

the UN was when I served in the Cabinet as Minister of Science, Technol-

ogy and Space. We are all aware that

Israel is one of the foremost “start-upnations,” but during my time in the ministry it became apparent to me that we can’t take this for granted.

This is why I focused much of my

efforts on ensuring that high-level

education in the sciences and technol-

ogy was available to all Israelis, and to communities throughout the country.

the things I mentioned earlier.

Seeing the work that Dorin and her

friends are doing validates my sense of hopefulness about the future. I

know that through their hard work

and tenacity Israel will not only retain its prominence as a start-up nation, but will reach new heights.

At the same time, hosting that

group at the UN did a great service to the State of Israel. It gave the chance for diplomats from around the world to see the amazing things coming

out of our country. I believe it shows

them how much more we can contribute for the betterment of all mankind if we focus on these types of positive initiatives instead of wasting time and energy on condemning Israel unfairly.

What are your political aspirations?

My aspiration is to succeed at my position as Ambassador to the UN. I hope to stand up for the truth, and to be a

successful emissary on behalf of my country and my people. <

Spring 2016 :: AMIT MAGAZINE :: 15

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FEATURE

By Helga Abraham

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4/5/16 4:47 PM

AMIT RAMLE: DREAM BIG JOY AND HAPPINESS COOKING WITH LOVE ENJOY EVERY MOMENT

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4/5/16 4:47 PM

It is hard not to come away from

a visit to AMIT Ramle Technologi-

cal High School without a sense of

tremendous admiration for the edu-

cational work being carried out there.

Reflecting the city’s mixed ethnic and low socioeconomic background, the

student population consists entirely

of young people with multiple needs – emotional, psychological, financial

and physical. “We do not accept good students,” affirms principal Yizhar

Afgan, “we only accept students with special needs or difficulties.”

For its caring, innovative approach

the school was named co-recipient of

with the conventional educational

and tools to succeed in the world. We

is a family environment, a 1:5 teacher-

faith and Jewish values.”

system. What they find at AMIT Ramle student ratio, personal attention, psychological, emotional, financial sup-

administration and electrical systems

the individual abilities of each student.

courses into the vocational curriculum:

an educational framework tailored to

“If a student has difficulty with math, he does not have to study math,” says pedagogic coordinator Rivka Shmuel.

“And if a student, for personal or fam-

ily reasons, can only study two or three days a week, we allow it and we build a special program for this student.”

When Afgan took up the reins as

principal in 2012, the school had 85

Yizhar Afgan, “is an honor for the

ment of 225 and a waiting list of young

school, for AMIT and for the city of Ramle.”

Afgan’s students may have been ex-

pelled from their previous schools, or

may simply not have been able to cope

In addition to the existing business

port, a range of vocational tracks and

this year’s National Religious Educa-

tion Prize. “The award”, says principal

prepare our students for life with love,

students; today it boasts an enroll-

people eager to be accepted. Much of the success is due to the reforms in-

troduced by Afgan and to his warm,

humanistic approach to education. “My primary goal is to enable each student to fulfill himself, acquire a profession

tracks, Afgan introduced two new

a culinary arts track and a hairstylingcosmetology track. He also expanded the electrical systems track by amalgamating it with a military cadet

program, which prepares boys to enter the IDF’s logistics corps. “The program

begins in the tenth grade and students have three years to learn all about the

army,” says Afgan, who is proud of the fact that AMIT Ramle was the first

religious high school in Israel to adopt the military cadet program. During

the three-year program, the boys work closely with the army, participate in

army activities and wear an IDF uni-

form at school. As a result, enlistment

by the students in the IDF has risen to a perfect 100%.

Future hairdressers

18 :: Spring 2016 :: AMIT MAGAZINE

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with a full Bagrut. Nava was born in Ethiopia and comes from a family of

eight children with a difficult socioeconomic background. Her father is

handicapped, and her mother, a kindergarten teacher, is the sole breadwinner. “I chose to study at AMIT

Ramle because I wanted to learn a

profession in addition to acquiring a good high school certificate. Every-

one here is very helpful. It is like a garden of Eden.”

Cake in honor of AMIT Ramle winning the Religious Education Prize - baked by the students

In the school’s pastoral grounds, we

find twelfth grader Elior Amsalem, on

his lunch-break, dressed in uniform. “I love this program,” he says. “We have an IDF commander with us all the

time, we visit military bases and we

learn a lot about the army.” A fellow-

student in the same track, 18-year-old Osher Katan, recounts that he always had difficulty learning in his previ-

Future bakers

ous schools. “All my teachers gave up on me,” he says with a smile, “but at AMIT Ramle, the staff try to understand me, and my IDF commander

calls me every day to make sure I get up and go to school. This is why I am

now able to study and plan to become an electrical engineer.”

The track’s IDF commander, Nir

Kashri, corroborates Osher’s comments.

“Osher arrived here with many problems, but he has changed a lot. After

he graduates, the IDF will send him to study for another two years. We give him 24/7 support.”

Afgan takes us next to visit the

culinary arts track. As we enter the kitchen, he immediately orders the

aspiring cooks to put on their chefs’

toques. Having prepared a sumptu-

ous array of pastries, the group is now learning how to decorate a birthday cake. For their final exam, the stu-

dents will have to prepare ten dishes

around one ingredient. Twelfth grader Aviel Sharvit chose lemon as his

primary component. He has already

made a difficult lemon tart based on

French chef Jacques Genin’s recipe and will go on to prepare an English lemon cake, bread with lemon and poppy

seeds, millefeuille with lemon cream,

lemon macaroons…and more. “I love to cook,“ he says smiling, “and I want to become a chef.”

We next meet Nava Alemneh, who

is studying in the business adminis-

Wheelchair-bound Nadir Hovav,

also in the business administration

track, exudes enthusiasm about the

school. “I chose to study here because this is not just the best school in the city; it is a school which gives every

student enormous attention and care.

Here, for the first time in my life, I was able to go on a school trip [to the Dead

Sea] because the staff took the time to organize everything I would need on the trip.”

“If there is a school that gives its

soul, visits students’ homes, sees empty fridges and does something about it, it is AMIT Ramle,” says veteran teacher Pnina Cohen. <

tration track and plans to graduate

Spring 2016 :: AMIT MAGAZINE :: 19

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$1,000,000 +

Ellen, z”l, and Meyer Koplow, NY Ethel and Lester Sutker, IL Ellen and Stanley Wasserman, NY

$250,000 - $999,999 Shari and Jacob M. Safra, NY The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc.

$100,000 - $249,999

Barbara and Jules Nordlicht, NY Dahlia Kalter Nordlicht and Mark Nordlicht, NY Joyce and Daniel Straus, NJ The Maurice and Viviene Wohl Philanthropic Foundation, NY

$75,000 - $99,999

ING

A TIME • AT

M I T • B UI LD

A

Laurie and Eli Bryk Ellen and Emanuel Kronitz, Israel

ISRA E

L

NE CHI LD •O

An Invitation To Join Me In

President’s Circle As a parent and a long time devoted AMIT donor, I know how important a good education is to the development of children.

Many of the 32,000 students at AMIT in Israel do not have the advantages that our own children enjoy and which we may easily take for granted.

President’s Circle gifts provide the foundation upon which our network of schools is built. These annual gifts are sustaining funds that we rely on to support our excellent programs. In order to guarantee the continuation of programs which nurture AMIT’s children and instill within them strong values and academic excellence, we rely on our members whose annual donation ensure Israel’s future by providing these opportunities.

All successful endeavors require a strong foundation. Please join me. The circle will not be complete without you.

President - Debbie Moed Chair - Joyce Straus Honorary Chairs - Audrey and Rabbi Haskel Lookstein For further information regarding President’s Circle, please contact Susan Meyers, Director of Development, at 212-477-4730, 1-800-989-AMIT or susanm@amitchildren.org.

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$50,000 - $74,999 Hadassah and Marvin Bienenfeld, NY Suzanne and Jacob Doft, NY Leon and Gloria, Edward, Sari, and Howard Miller, NY Debbie and Samuel Moed, NJ Harriet and Heshe Seif, NJ Robyn Price Stonehill and David Stonehill, NY Adina Straus, NY

$36,000 - $49,999 Anonymous, Israel Ike, Molly and Steven Elias Foundation, NY Amy and Jimmy Haber, NY Brenda and Albert Kalter, NY Ria and Tim Levart, NJ Naomi Foundation, NY

$25,000 - $35,999 Rosalyn and Ira Friedman, NJ Joseph and Rae Gann Foundation, MA Leelah and Joseph Gitler, Israel Mitzi Golden, NY Goldhirsh-Yellin Foundation, CA Laura and Jonathan Heller, NY Norma and Emanuel, z”l, Holzer, NY Debbie and David Isaac, NY Michele and Ben Jacobs, NY Kirkland & Ellis LLP, NY Micheline and Marc Ratzersdorfer, Israel Sandra and Evan Roklen, CA The Moise Y. Safra Foundation, NY Trudy and Stanley Stern, NY Zahava and Moshael Straus, NJ Shirley and Morris Trachten, z”l, Family Foundation, Israel

4/5/16 4:45 PM

Blackman Foundation, CA Adena and Ezra Dyckman, NY Jewel and Ted Edelman, NY Pnina and Jacob Graff, CA Mildred and Alvin Hellerstein, NY Russell Jay Hendel, MD Sarah Liron and Sheldon Kahn, CA Amy and Todd Kesselman, NY Gitta and Richard Koppel, Israel Sharon and Solomon Merkin, NJ

$10,000 - $17,999

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$5,000 - $9,999 Anonymous, FL Anonymous, France Anonymous, Israel Anonymous, Israel Anonymous, NY Anonymous, Switzerland Lisa Bellows Ablin and Jason Ablin, CA Leah and Jonathan Adler, NJ Sarah and Maurice Aghion, MA Randi Schatz Allerhand and Joseph S. Allerhand, NY Ann and Hy Arbesfeld, NY Lolly and Harris Bak, NY Rachel and Martin Balsam, NY Yael Balsam, NY Eli Baron, CA Joan and Shael Bellows, IL Lee and Louis Benjamin, NY Tamar and Ethan Benovitz, Israel Bea Berger, NJ Phyllis and Edward Berkowitz, NY Lisa and Joseph Bernstein, NY Vivian and Stanley Bernstein, NY Evelyn and Isaac Blachor, NY Devorah and Melvyn Bleiberg, NY Beth and Reuben Blumenthal, NY Deborah Stern Blumenthal and Michael Blumenthal, NJ Sari and Stuart Braunstein, NY Tamar and Hillel Bryk, NY Carol and Arnold Caviar, KS Margaret and Chaim Charytan, NY Michael Cleeman, NY Trina and Paul Cleeman, NY Rosa and Isaac Cohanzad, CA Florence Cohen, z’l, NY Sherry and Neil Cohen, NY Shevi and Milton Cohen, NY Diane and Howard Cole, NY Melvin S. Cutler Foundation, MA Emily and Paul Dauber, NJ Selma Daye, CA Sonia Diamond Family Foundation, MD Elaine and Lewis Dubroff, NY Hattie and Arthur Dubroff, NJ Susan Ederson, NY Linda and Barry Eichler, PA & NY Sherry and Aaron Eidelman, NY Laurie Bilger and Eli Epstein, NY Vivian and Bernard Falk, NY Esther and Steven Feder, CA Iris and Stephen Feldman, NY Sheila and Kenneth Fields, NJ Gabriella and David Fridman, NY Rena and Michael Friedman, IL Marisa and Andrew Gadlin, NY Shifra and Perry Garber, NY

Linda and Norman Garfield, PA Rita Geller, IL Randi and Alan Gelman, Israel Debbie and Elliot Gibber, NY Abigail and Ari Glass, NY Miriam and Felix Glaubach, NY Ilana and Stuart Goldberg, NJ Paulette and Max Goldberg, NY Esther and Jack Goldman, NY Zelda and Sheldon Goldsmith, NY Anne and Sheldon Golombeck, NY Sandra E. Goodstein and Arthur Rosenblatt, PA Sara and Ronald Gottlieb, FL Layla and Evan Green, CA Paula Yudenfriend and Arlin Green, PA Sharon and Melvin Gross, NY Phyllis Hammer, MA Debbie and Robert Hartman, IL Debbie and Eddie Herbst, CA Aviva and Fred, z”l, Hoschander, NY Peggy and Robert Insel, NY Sonia Bodenstein-Izenstark and Ira Izenstark, CA Elaine and Robert Jacobs, NY Talya and Rafi Jacobs, NY Barbara and Manfred Joseph, NY Connie and Alan Kadish, NJ Robin and Simon Kahn, Israel Danna and Gilad Kalter, NY Ruth and Jerome Kamerman, NY Stacey and David Kanbar, NY Miriam and Shopsy Kanarek, NY Ruth and William, z”l, Kantrowitz, NY Harriet and Joel Kaplan, NY Elissa and Michael Katz, NJ Rona and Ira Kellman, NY Diane and Barry Kirschenbaum, FL Susan Alter Klaperman and Gilbert Klaperman, NY Chani and Shimi Klein, NY The Klibanoff Family, NJ Jane Klitsner, Israel Laurie and Robert Koppel, NY Madeline and Ethan Kra, NJ Evelyn and Lawrence Kraut, NJ Ruth M. Finglass and Kevin A. Kubach, MD Donna and Jeffrey Lawrence, MD Diane and David Lent, NY Kari and Joshua Levine, NY Rose and Jacob Levine, z”l, CA Sylvia and Norman Levine, FL Dorothy and Robert Lewis, NY Ruth and Robert Lewis, NY Mindy and Seymour Liebman, NY Audrey and Haskel Lookstein, NY Naomi and Carl Lopkin, MA Rita Lourie-Galena, PA & NY Malka Lozowick, Israel Meira and Solomon Max, NY Manette and Louis Mayberg, MD Benay and Ira Meisels, NY Susan and Jeffrey Meyers, NY Esther Miller, FL Judy and Albert Milstein, IL

Leonard E. Minsky, ME Myra Mitzner, NY Gloria and Burton Nusbacher, NY Lynn and Samuel Pepper, NJ Bea and Irwin, z”l, Peyser, NY Hedy and Paul Peyser, MD Suzy and Paul Peyser, NY Vicki and Jerry Platt, NY Esther and Donald Press, NY Tzippi and Ira Press, NJ Judy and Jerry Pressner, NY Evelyn Reichenthal, TX Shelley Rindner, NY Fritzie and Sheldon, z”l, Robinson, IL Kristina and Len Rosen, Israel Vivian and Solomon Rosen, FL Miriam and Howard Rosenblum, NJ Gale and Eric Rothner, IL Jennie and Avi Rothner, IL Elizabeth and Gidon Rothstein, NY Leah and Arnold Rotter, CA Hedda Rudoff, NY Marielle and Edmund Safra, NY Tammy and Kenny Schaum, NY Jan and Sheldon Schechter, NY Esther and William Schulder, NJ Michelle and Dov Schwartz, NJ Esther, z”l, and Jacques Semmelman, NJ Sema and Bennet Shaffer, MA Deanne and Leonard Shapiro, Israel Sharon and Rony Shapiro, MA Chana and Daniel Shields, NJ Mollie Siegel, NJ Sharon and Morris Silver, CA Lorraine and Mordy Sohn, NY Sara and Gabriel Solomon, MD Mahla and Hilton Soniker, NY Nancy and Benjamin Sporn, NY Francine and Aaron Stein, NJ Claire and David Subar, Israel Nechama and Howard Taber, NY Lilly Tempelsman, NY Deena and Jonathan Thurm, NJ Sandra and Max Thurm, NY Bertie and Fred Tryfus, NY Vicky and Michael Turek, NY Amy and Jeffrey Verschleiser, NY Audrey and Max Wagner, NY 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 Joyce and Jeremy Wertheimer, MA Booky and Jerome Wildes, NY Phyllis Wind, NY Florence Wolf, NY Stella and Samy Ymar, MD Hilde and Benjamin, z”l, Zauderer, NY Esther and Dov Zeidman, NY Gloria Zeisel, IL Tamar and Benjamin Zeltser, NY

*As of March 30, 2016

Anonymous, Israel Anonymous, MA Anonymous, NY Trudy and Ted, z”l, Abramson, FL Nicole Schreiber Agus and Raanan Agus, NY Max & Anna Baran, Ben & Sarah Baran and Milton Baran, z”l Zelda and Solomon Berger, NY Daisy Berman, NY Anne Bernstein, CA Barbara Bloom, MD Ethlynne and Stephen Brickman, MA Lotte and Ludwig Bravmann, NY Marion Crespi, NY Jone and Allen Dalezman, MA Selma and Jacob Dyckman, NY Gail and Martin Elsant, NY Trudy and Sol Englander, NY Ruth and Gene Fax, MA Lisa Rosenbaum and Ronald Fisher, MA Lilly and Alfred Friedman, NY Harwit Charitable Trust, CA Suzanne and Norman Javitt, NY Ilana and Mitchell Kahn, NY Ruth and Hillel Kellerman, CA The Kolatch Family Foundation, NJ Ruth and Daniel Krasner, NY Rochelle and Seymour, z”l, Kraut, NJ Aliza and Steven Major, NY Zipporah and Arnold Marans, NY Etella and Haim Marcovici, NY Joan, z”l, and Leon Meyers, NY The Dorothy Phillips Michaud Charitable Trust, CA Elana and Shami Minkove, NY Marilyn and Leon Moed, NY Nataly and Steve Neuwirth, NY Regina Peterseil, NY Lauren and Mitchell Presser, NY Jerald Ptashkin, CA Barbara and Joel, z”l, Rascoff, NY Shirley and Milton Sabin, FL Rita and Eugene Schwalb, FL Debbie and Daniel Schwartz, NY Judy and Isaac Sherman, NY Deena and Adam Shiff, NY Ronnie and William Slochowsky, NY Marilyn and Herbert, z”l, Smilowitz, NJ Sondra and Myron Sokal, NY Audrey and Chaim Trachtman, NY Ina and David Tropper, NY

Judy and Morry Weiss Sapirstein-Stone-Weiss Foundation, OH Robert Zeldin, France Helene and Gerald Zisholtz, NY

president’s circle of honor

$18,000 - $24,999

4/5/16 4:45 PM

By Cheryl Shaanan and Robert E. Sutton

AMIT HIGHLIGHTS AND SUCCESSES Because of your generous donations, more than 32,000 students are being educated and nurtured within a framework of academic excellence, traditional Jewish values and Zionist ideals. Here are a few ways your gifts made a difference.

The girls with their donated braids

ULPANAT SHIRAT SDEROT STUDENTS GIVE OF THEMSELVES Thirty-two students at the Ulpanat Shirat track at AMIT Sderot Religious High School have donated their hair for cancer patients. Renana Cohen, a student who lost her younger sister to cancer five years ago, initiated the group donation as a way of marking her sister’s yahrzeit. The girls were willing to trade their long braids for a short and stylish haircut to express their solidarity with Renana and help current cancer patients.

Rabbi David Piamenta, Head of Ulpanat Shirat, was very moved by the generosity of his students: “It is obvious that hair grows back, but hair is also a significant part of self-image of girls this age. I am thrilled by the magnanimity shown by our students who were willing to give of themselves to make other people happy,” said Rabbi Piamenta. 

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AMIT WASSERMAN MA’ALE ADUMIM STUDENT HONORED Shelly Omer, a student at AMIT Wasserman Ma’ale Adumim High School for Girls, was recognized nationally for her leadership and community involvement. The annual Ministry of Education prize is in memory of 16-year-old Elad Riven, a volunteer firefighter, who lost his life helping to fight the Carmel Hills fire in December 2010.

Minister of Education Naftali Bennett presided over the ceremony that took place in Haifa.

Shelly Omer won the prize for her involvement in local, regional and national Student Council initiatives. She serves as chairperson of the Student Council at her school and vice-chair of the District Council and is active in the National Student Council. In addition, Shelly co-leads a program that trains young leaders in communities throughout Israel. 

Shelly Omer

AMIT KAMAH ROBOTICS TEAM TO REPRESENT IN ISRAEL IN THE U.S. The AMIT Kamah robotics team has won the national FIRST Tech Challenge robotics competition and will go on to represent Israel in the international round of the The AMIT Kamah Robotics team competition in St. Louis, Missouri.

The International FIRST School Robotics Competition is open to eighth-to-tenth-grade students. The AMIT Kamah girls’ school battled it out with teams from high schools all over Israel at the national heats this week in Ra’anana. 

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4/5/16 4:37 PM

AMIT HAMMER REHOVOT PRINCIPAL RECOGNIZED AS OUTSTANDING SCHOOL LEADER Rabbi Rafi Maimon, principal of AMIT Hammer Rehovot High School for Boys, was recently recognized by the City of Rehovot as the Outstanding Principal of the Year.

Rabbi Maimon won the award for his educational leadership and the innovation he has advanced at the school, as well as the emphasis he places on community involvement, empowerment of students, Jewish values and academic success. Under Rabbi Maimon’s leadership, the school has gone from 45% to 90% Bagrut success.  (far right) Rabbi Rafi Maimon

YESHIVAT AMIT NACHSHON STUDENT CHOSEN AS OUTSTANDING DELEGATE AT MODEL UN Yeshivat AMIT Nachshon Mateh Yehuda student, Natti Ibrokski, was named the Outstanding Delegate at the Model United Nations national competition. Model United Nations, or Model UN, is a competition in which students learn about diplomacy, international relations, public speaking and debating, teamwork and leadership.

In addition to working together to try to solve global issues, student delegates heard lectures by international leaders, among them Samantha Power, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations.

Rabbi Noam Krigman, principal of Yeshivat AMIT Nachshon, praised his students on their participation in such a unique project. “We aim to educate our students to be people who are aware of what is happening around them and willing to lend a hand to improve the community, the country and the world.” 

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Natti Ibrokski with Outstanding Delegate award

4/5/16 4:37 PM

MATHEMATICS EXCELLENCE AT AMIT GOULD REHOVOT The Mathematics Excellence project at AMIT Gould Rehovot Junior and Senior High School for Girls provides girls with mathematics enrichment—and so AMIT Gould Rehovot students much more! The prime component of the project is more time for math. This advanced instruction picks up where a regular math class leaves off and encourages students to use the work they are learning to solve puzzles, think outside the box and engage in challenging and experiential math activities. 

AMIT ATIDIM TEACHER WINS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD Congratulations to Michal Walter, a physics teacher at AMIT Atidim High School in Or Akiva, who has received the Trump Foundation’s Master Teacher Award and a prize of 10,000 shekels. She received the prize for unique teaching methods and practices she developed for her classes. The award is given by the Trump Foundation in order to recognize and encourage excellent teaching in mathematics and the sciences in Israel.

Ms. Walter devised a system that provides her information about students’ levels of understanding and knowledge before they come to class, so that she has time to prepare lessons that specifically target students’ learning needs. This system involves Physics teacher, Michal Walter giving her students short physics experiments to do at home. These assignments are not graded, making students more comfortable about experimenting and daring to make mistakes. An added bonus is that the experiments pique students’ curiosity and they come to class primed to learn and discover! 

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4/5/16 4:37 PM

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Student Spotlight showcases AMIT success stories in academics, arts, sciences, religious studies, sports and more.

Spotlight also profiles the AMIT students who perform chesed and best reflect the Zionist spirit.

Interview by Robert E. Sutton

DORIN COHEN

AMIT Anna Teich Ulpanat High School

T

his March, the World Jewish Congress and the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations hosted a special event in cooperation with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), honoring young women aspiring to professions in engineering and technology – “Women Engineers of Tomorrow.” Three students from Israel presented their engineering projects at the UN. One of those young women was Dorin Cohen, an eleventh-grader at AMIT Anna Teich Ulpanat High School in Haifa.

the sciences. Two of those programs are “Women Engineers of Tomorrow” at the IAI and “The Program for Gifted Math Students” at Bar-Ilan University. Those courses allowed me to complete my five units of math two years ahead of graduating high school.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your upbringing.

I live in Tirat Hacarmel, and I’ve been attending the AMIT Anna Teich Ulpana High School in Haifa since the seventh grade. I come from a religious-Zionist family, and part of our beliefs include the motto Torah V’avodah (Torah and Work).

For myself, it’s finding the best balance between the study of Torah and the study of the sciences. One of the things I like most about AMIT is that they keep emphasizing excellence in all areas – religious and secular.

What was that project?

We came up with a solution to the ”Forgotten Child Syndrome” - accidently leaving a young child in a locked car or school bus. Our system uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). Children in a car or boarding a school bus carry an RFID sensor which identifies them and adds their name to a database. The moment a child is left alone in the car or the bus a central database ID’s them and activates a warning system that sends an alarm to the driver of the vehicle and the police. We named our project Take Care.*

What got you interested in the sciences?

I always had a special attraction to mathematics and the sciences. I love the critical thinking and the out-of-the-box creativity that’s needed to solve a complex problem. AMIT gave me the best possible platform for those skills and how to optimize my potential. My school’s principal, Rabbi Yaron Ben Haim, and my teachers always supported and encouraged me.

That critical attention gave me the self-confidence and spirit to pursue higher and higher goals.

What special programs have been offered at AMIT? I have been part of a number of special programs that allowed me to experience the many layers of the world of

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How did you find out about Women Engineers of Tomorrow?

I found out about the program after my father read an article about it in the newspaper. I applied, received a great recommendation from my Principal, Rabbi Ben Haim, I wrote my biography and had many interviews. Finally, a hundred students were selected from around the country, and I was fortunate to be among them. This past December we began going to seminars at the Israeli Aerospace Industry. We were mentored by senior personnel from the industry and were given a specific project to work on from concept to development.

What are your plans for the future?

After I graduate I will enter the IDF. Upon completion of military service I hope to attend the Technion in Haifa. AMIT and the “Women Engineers of Tomorrow” showed me how much Israel needs more engineers, both male and female.

Becoming an engineer is a wonderful expression of my Zionism and the connection I feel to my country.  * The CEO of Egged Transport, a subsidiary of the Egged Bus Company was so impressed with their idea that Egged is now a partner in promoting the project, and even offered to implement a pilot project in five of the company’s buses.

4/5/16 4:51 PM

Conference of Presidents Delegation with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.

AMIT ON A MISSION

By Debbie Moed

U

nder the leadership of Malcolm Hoenlein and Stephen Greenberg, I was among 35

representatives of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations to meet with dignitaries and heads of state in Turkey and Egypt.

TURKEY Leaders of Istanbul’s Jewish community, accompanied us to their state-of-the-art day school and to ancient synagogues. We joined with community members in Istanbul’s main synagogue, where security measures reminded us that Turkey’s 18,000 Jews, live under tenuous conditions.

In Ankara, we were guests of US Ambassador John Bass.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoˇgan then received our delegation, the first Jewish group he’s met in seven years. In the presence of senior cabinet members, Erdogan went to great lengths to position himself as a committed friend of Turkey’s Jews, someone who, despite past differences with Israel, is interested in improved relations. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoˇglu echoed those sentiments to our group as well.

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(l-r) Malcolm Hoenlein, Debbie Moed, Stephen Greenberg, and Israel’s Minister of Education Naftali Bennett (l-r) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Malcolm Hoenlein, Debbie Moed

EGYPT Our visit to Cairo was marked by open dialogue and the warm reception of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Intelligence Director, Khaled Fawzy.

The strategic importance of Egypt-Israel relations and close military and intelligence cooperation were evident throughout every exchange.

ISRAEL In Israel, the Conference Mission expanded. Israeli society’s widespectrum of social and political positions were presented. Over the course of four and a half days, 73 briefings by leading experts, field trips, and visits with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Rivlin, provided valuable insight into Israel’s challenges and triumphs amidst the Middle East’s turbulent backdrop. 

4/5/16 4:41 PM

DVAR TORAH

A

bout a year ago, I observed the model lesson of a prospective middle school Gemara teacher at the school I lead, Westchester Day School. Being the week before Pesach, the teacher naturally focused the lesson on the chag. He began with the quote from Parshat Bo (13:14) that is the basis for the simple son’s question at the Seder: “Vihaya ki yishalcha bincha machar leimor ma zot…(And when your son asks you tomorrow what is this all about...)..” The context in the Torah of the simple son’s question is the mitzvah of Pidion Bechorim (redeeming the firstborn). His question, basically, seeks the reason for this mitzvah, and the answer given is that it is because the firstborn Jewish males were spared in the plague of Makat Bechorim (Ibn Ezra, among others).

In the model lesson, the teacher asked the students to translate the second word in the passuk, “ki.” One student raised her hand and, channeling a translation of “ki” offered by Resh Lakish in masechet Rosh Hashana (3a), said, “It means ‘if.’” That translation would have the sentence mean, “If your child asks you tomorrow what is this all about….” It wasn’t the answer the teacher was looking for. He was looking for “When;” thus, the sentence reads, “When your child asks you tomorrow what this holiday is all about….”

But as is often the case, there is so much to learn from the hava amina, the rejected answer. It actually makes more sense than the “right” one. After all, how do we know that the child will ask the question tomorrow? How can you say, “When the child asks?” What if the child doesn’t ask? “If the child asks” makes so much more sense.

The obvious answer—and one of the main educational aims of the Haggadah—is that it is our job to make sure that the question is asked. It is our job to inculcate a sense of wonder and provide an environment where it is safe to take risks, to be so educationally systematic that the questions will be inevitable, a matter of “when,” not “if.”

What is the significance of the word “Seder?” The Seder is, by definition, a system. It is a carefully planned evening that leaves very little to chance. It is a script. There is a beginning (Kadesh) and an end (Nirtza) and steps along the way to get us from “kuf” to “nun.” One may certainly ad lib and expound but not deviate. The seder plate itself leaves nothing to chance. Most new seder plates aren’t even just plates. They are sectioned off somehow, with bowls or dividers and words designating each area. It has become a piece of art in people’s homes, but its inspiration is more science.

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and started saying the brachah, and my father stopped her and she looked up at my father with a horrified look of, “Why no bracha?!”

The Haggadah is the blueprint for designing a milieu that fosters questions: Model a questioning mindset by phrasing information as answers to questions, probe for deeper understanding and alter the status quo to create awareness of things we take for granted.

What is the significance of asking questions? Questioning is both the basis of learning and a key element in our relationship with God. Socrates famously said, “Wonder is the beginning of wisdom;” learning is difficult when a person isn’t curious about the world around him. We are all born with a sense of wonder and curiosity, but, for many, that sense wanes as they get older. Maintaining that attitude is what fosters a growth mentality no matter the age.

By Rabbi Joshua Lookstein

And how do we spend the time at the Seder? We manufacture questions. The Haggadah is a mix of deliberate questions, inferred questions and oddities that almost demand to be questioned. The deliberate ones, those not needed in order to transmit information, abound.

We could have had Avadim Hayinu without Ma Nishtana.

We could have had Pesach, matzah and maror without Al shum ma. We could have learned Lavan’s plans without “Ma bikesh Lavan Ha’arami la’asot….” We could have done “the math,” as my father likes to refer to the calculations of the number of plagues, without Minayin ata omer shelaku hamitzrim. Hallel itself has several sentences that are formed as questions. And, of course, Echad mi yodea.

And then there are the inferred questions: Yachol mei’rosh chodesh (you might be wondering why), and Dayenu, where we are asking if it really would have been enough. These are questions of depth rather than breadth, making someone consider a deeper meaning, or another way to think about things.

The oddities that beg questions are everywhere. Having three matzot, breaking one of them, a specific one at that, begs the question “why.” And every Seder, for instance, right before urchatz, my father tells the story of my eldest sister who, when she could barely talk, washed her hands

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In a similar statement, David Hamelech says, “Reishit chochma yirat Hashem” (Tehilim 111:10) or “Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.” Wonder and fear of God are related. Being awed by the world is to acknowledge that there is a higher power. When God tells Avraham to look up and try to count the stars, Avraham is presented with the opportunity to behold the wonder of the universe and to recognize both his place in it and God’s dominion.

Wonder, and the resulting questions, are elements of the humility needed to experience a relationship with God. Rav Soloveitchik, in a speech given in 1975, as summarized

by Rabbi Steven Weil, Executive Vice President of the OU, said in the April 2013 edition of Jewish Action that Torah study is an “ecstatic, metaphysical performance”; it is a personal revelation. We therefore must approach learning Torah the way our ancestors approached the receipt of the Torah at Mount Sinai—with fear, awe, tremor and trembling (see Berachot 22a). Torah study must include deep humility, a recognition that one is standing before the Almighty, which itself leads to surrender to the Torah’s, meaning God’s, demands. If a Jew is incapable of experiencing the presence of the Almighty, he is forbidden to study Torah, because he lacks this crucial attitude.

Our questions are not confined to the Seder. Far from it.

The Seder should be the springboard for a life of questions, wonder, wisdom, humility and Torah learning. It is our responsibility to ensure that our questions and those of our children are not left to chance, but are rather a matter of when, not if. < Rabbi Lookstein is the Head of School of Westchester Day School, a co-ed, Modern Orthodox Toddler-8th Grade day school in Mamaroneck, NY. He is the proud son of Audrey (and Rabbi Haskel) Lookstein, a former National Vice President of AMIT.

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girls night out!

DEVELOPMENT NEWS Event Hosts: (l-r) Raquela Suchinsky, Amanda Benishai, Elana Grauer

AMIT Young Leadership hosted an intimate wine and cheese pairing party for both current and new supporters. Brent the Cheese Guy led the group through a fun tasting of delicious cheeses, jams, chutneys and crackers along with a selection of wines. It was a wonderful and tasty evening in support of AMIT! 

Michelle Berman and Shira Baratz

Rachel Daniels and Rachel Nulman

Irene Shulman and Cara Kleiman

Mimi Vago and Leah Fruchter

amit entrepreneurs

Last February, WeWork Gramercy, the shared workspace company, hosted AFLI’s Third Annual Entrepreneurial Event. An impressive panel, skillfully moderated by Birch Coffee co-founder Jeremy Lyman, inspired and entertained attendees.

The panelists included Rebecca Fries – Owner, Olive and Tuesday Boutique; Daniel Hazan – Founder, Hazan Sports Management; Claudia Oshry – Founder/Creator of Girl With No Job; and David Yarus – Founder, JSwipe and mllnnl.

Everyone left with fresh knowledge, advice and inspiration. 

David Moed welcomes everyone (l-r) Jeremy Lyman, Daniel Hazan, Rebecca Fries, David Yarus, Claudia Oshry

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mingle, mask and meet amit In February, Baltimore AMIT gathered for a Melave Malka at the home of Tara and Simon Cornberg in Pikesville, Maryland. The well-attended event was warm, entertaining, delicious and informative.

Everyone enjoyed sushi, wine and salad, lovely music, crafty masking and spending time with each other.

(l-r) Elisheva Francoise Engel, Denise Gilbert, Barbara Bloom, Anne Solomon

Robbie Pearlstein updated the guests about the reshet, Gail Gerstman spoke passionately about her longtime involvement with AMIT and her most recent trip to Israel. Simon Cornberg spoke about his experience when he was an AMIT student at our Kfar Batya campus in Ra’anana.

The evening ended with a showing of the film AMIT Saves the Children. 

Tara and Simon Cornberg

(l-r) Helena Cohen, Drew Kristol, Rachel Merlin, Maelyn Young

(l-r) Ian Barnett, Michal Meiler, Freddy Funes, Adam Jacob, Adam Handelsman

trivia with the tribe!

On Thursday, February 25, forty young professionals attended an evening hosted by the AMIT Southeast Region and The Tribe (a group that engages Jewish young professionals from South Florida). Guests were treated to a funfilled night of drinks, nibbles, networking, AMIT education and trivia in Brickell. The Think and Drink Trivia Company provided friendly competition, and the winning team members took home extra confidence and great prizes. Good times were had by all!

(l-r) Elana Block, Javier Krysztal, Haley Sklut

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Sarah Osborne and Andrea Wolf

Carole and Barry Silvermetz

(l-r) Sarah Stern, Elana Stein, Alana Isenberg, Wendy Penn, Miriam Friedman, Hope Taragin, Felice Grunberger

mix, mask & meet AMIT in D.C.!

AMIT Birah Chapter of Greater Washington, D.C. thoroughly enjoyed the Mix, Mask & Meet AMIT event at the lovely home of Sarah and Buddy Stern in Silver Spring, Maryland. Delicacies prepared by the talented event committee were enjoyed by all, and many new people were welcomed. Miriam Friedman presented an interesting D’var Torah, and Elana Stein gave an interesting update on our students’ accomplishments throughout the AMIT reshet. 

(l-r) Rebecca Simkovich, Allison Lazar, Sarah Sicherman, Elana Stein, Shana Siesser

Daphna Raskas and Sarah Stern

(l-r) Melvyn Ciment, Barbara Ciment, Alana Isenberg

50 golden years For some couples, celebrating 50 years of wedded bliss comes in the form of taking an exotic vacation together or buying their spouse that “must have” item. For Myron Sokal, there was only one way for him to show his wife Sondra how much he loved her as they celebrated their fifty years of marriage. Myron wanted to do something that would have significance and surprised Sondra by dedicating a mezuzah at AMIT’s new Gogya Teaching Institute in Ra’anana this past October.

Myron and Sondra Sokal

Sondra, AMIT’s past national president, has always championed AMIT’s ability to meet both the immediate and future needs of the children of Israel. She also believes in AMIT’s ability to continue to challenge itself and set new standards for the educational landscape in Israel.

According to Sondra, “There was no greater gift that Myron could have given to me. Investing in the future of education in Israel through Gogya is the most meaningful way we could celebrate our life together. I am proud to be a part of this newest aspect of AMIT and I look forward to seeing how Gogya will revolutionize education for the AMIT students and for all of Israel.”  32 :: Spring 2016 :: AMIT MAGAZINE

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(l-r) Myron and Sondra Sokal, Dr. Amnon Eldar, Dr. Tzvi Yarblum, Yossi Dayan

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(l-r) Florence Kaweblum, Rebecca Kinzbrunner, Lauren Stamm

Aliza Aronin and Rebecca Kinzbrunner

israel kick-off campaign Israel’s kick-off campaign event was held on Saturday night, February 20, at the beautiful home of Paula and Marcel Weber in Jerusalem. Over 65 people were in attendance to lend their support to the AMIT Annual Campaign. The evening featured the talented Kfar Blatt choir, made up of students who study and live at Kfar Blatt. In addition to singing a variety of songs, some composed by members of the choir, the students spoke about their personal stories. A video detailing their lives was shown, and the students served on a panel moderated by Yosef Shmidman to discuss how AMIT plays a significant role in helping them advance their lives. 

Estelle Fink, Debbie and Sam Moed

Aliza Aronin and Rebecca Kinzbrunner, the new Co-Presidents of AMIT Southeast’s Ima Chapter welcomed new and familiar faces to their “Paint Your Heart Out Event”. The attendees were encouraged to ‘Free Their Inner Artist’ and create a personal masterpiece to bring home. At Muzart Creative Arts Studio, the ladies had a hands-on paint lesson, where each of them created her own interpretation on canvas.

Participants included not only our new co-presidents, but several groups of mothers and daughters and many new friends who enjoyed an evening of wine, food, laughter and creativity.

(l-r) Bibsi Zuckerbrot, Debbie Moed, Dr. Amnon Eldar, Yaffi Shmidman

Ellen and Jon Hellman

(l-r) Gitta Koppel, Paula Weber, Bibsi Zuckerbrot

Yoseph and Yaffi Shmidman, Dr. Amnon and Michal Eldar

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paint your heart out with southeast IMA chapter

Sam and Debbie Moed, Yaffi and Yoseph Shmidman, and Chavi Becker with the Kfar Blatt Choir

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a night with ambassador danny danon

Esther Goldman and Norma Holzer (l-r) Andrew Goldsmith, Helene Zisholtz, Brenda Kalter, Susan Alter Klaperman

On March 28, AMIT hosted a President’s Circle Dinner Reception at the 3 West Club in Midtown Manhattan. The special guest speaker was Ambassador Danny Danon, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations.

Ambassador Danon spoke about his last six months at the UN, his views about the organization and what he hopes to accomplish during his tenure. He noted that AMIT student, Dorin Cohen, an 11th grader at AMIT Anna Teich Ulpanat Haifa, was one of only three Israeli students that represented the “Future Female Engineers” project at the United Nations.

Mr. Danon thanked AMIT’s President’s Circle members for their critical support of Israel’s children. He acknowledged the close partnership AMIT has with the State of Israel and how important those present are to that relationship. 

Top (l-r) Sharon Merkin, Debbie Moed and Jacob M. Safra Bottom (l-r) Daniel Straus, Joyce Straus, Suzanne Doft, Deena Shift and Shari Safra

Joyce Straus and Suzanne Doft Debbie Moed and Ambassador Danny Danon

Ria Levart and Debbie Isaac

L.A. mother-in-israel cooking event Susie Porgess and Joy Volk

Mother in Israel 2015- AMIT supporters excited for a cooking demo and tasting

Fifty women came together on September 2 for AMIT’s annual Mother-in-Israel event, which featured self-taught cook and LA native Shulamit Chochron leading our Kosher/Healthy Cooking Demonstration. Shula grew up in the kitchen with her Mexican “nana.” Add to that her grandmother’s Romanian cooking, later residences in France and Italy, a diagnosis of diabetes at 16, and marriage to a Moroccan, and you have the components of her healthy and uncompromisingly tasty cuisine. Thank you to all who attended and sampled the delicious food. And thanks to all the committee members and to hosts Shawni and Jeff Astrof, who opened their home to AMIT. Committee Members: Shawni Astrof, Shalmit Chocron, Robyn Lewis, Tanya Surpin and Joy Volk 

(l-r) Ellen Hausman, Debra Fletcher, Marla Schechter

Shulamit Chocron leading the cooking demonstration

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dedication of the Rav Moshe v’Leah Horovitz beit midrash at midreshet amit

Gail Levitt

On October 8, the Robinson family gathered at AMIT Frisch Beit Hayeled to dedicate the newly constructed Beit Midrash in memory of Rav Moshe and Leah Horovitz, z”l, a close relative of the family.

Ilana Gottlieb, Director of Midreshet AMIT, thanked the Robinson family for their outstanding generosity, saying that the Beit Midrash would create an enriched opportunity for learning at the highest level.

(l-r) Tova Naiman, Uri Horovitz, David Horovitz

Amnon Eldar spoke of the importance of chesed and Torah learning at Midreshet AMIT. Rabbi Shai Piron, former Minister of Education, stressed the importance of each person strengthening their connection with one another and with God, and that Midreshet AMIT was key in this effort. Piron then introduced Batsheva Sadan, daughter of Rav Eli and Dena Horovitz, z”l, who were tragically killed in a terrorist attack years ago.

Batsheva spoke lovingly of her parents and grandparents and how proud they would be to be associated with the Beit Midrash. She recounted how her mother, Dena, had come to Israel at the age of 18, and had done her Sherut Leumi at AMIT Beit Hayeled. Dena had understood the importance of actualizing the potential of each day, said Batsheva, who conveyed this vital message to the Midreshet AMIT women. “Use your talents to the fullest”, she urged.

Elliott Robinson concluded the program by thanking his mother, Fritzie, for her very special help in making the new Beit Midresh possible. The family then unveiled the plaque and celebrated the historic day. 

(l-r) Ilana Gottlieb, Ronni Robinson, Ariela Robinson, Karen Goldsmith

Fritzie Robinson

(l-r) Gail Levitt, Fritzie Robinson, Dr. Amnon Eldar and Elliot Robinson (behind Amnon)

(l-r) Elliott Robinson, Gail Levitt, Ronni Robinson, Fritzie Robinson, Dr. Amnon Eldar, Rav Shai Piron

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windy city cooking On January 12, 2016 , over fifty AMIT Chicago donors enjoyed a cooking demonstration led

by Elizabeth Kurtz of Gourmet Kosher Cooking.

After watching the chef cook, the guests sampled the fare, including sesame chicken hand rolls and soy milk pots de crème. Special thanks to event chairs Edy Kupietzky and Jennie Rothner, as well as to Jessica Robinson, who hosted the event in her home.

(l-r) Devora Linzer, Keryn Schreiber, Jennie Rothner, Jessica Robinson, Mazel Levin, Elizabeth Kurtz, Edy Kupietzky, Jen Koplow, Kira Rich, Rebecca Gorenstein

Elizabeth Kurtz author of Celebrate

(l-r) Chaili Glickman, Betsy Shapiro, Jen Koplow, Sharon Levine, Adina Shyovitz, Sandy Kanter

celebrating the warmth of the chills On January 25, a special Tu B’shvat was celebrated at AMIT Yeshivat Torat Emet in Kiryat Malachi with a Hachnasat Sefer Torah sponsored

by Daniel and Vivian Chill of New York.

Vivian and Daniel Chill

Inscription on Sefer Torah

Celebrating

The day included the completion of the writing of the Sefer Torah, a parade around the Yeshiva campus, a delicious brunch, and a Tu b’shvat seder. Friends and members of the Chill family, as well as AMIT staff, were present to honor five generations of Daniel’s and Vivian’s families, who persevere in their loyalty to Torah, Judaism and a deep love of Israel.

AMIT was thrilled to be able to share in this festive occasion with the Chill family. 

(l-r) Daniel Chill his grandson Jonah Chill holding Torah and Yitzchak Shmidman

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a trip to ramle

On March 1, Chug Ayelet went on a trip to the city of Ramle and toured all the major landmarks there. Chaired by Sarah and David Maslow, the highlight of the trip was a visit to the AMIT Ramle vocational school. There, the group learned about this unique school which accepts students who cannot make it in a regular academic school, providing them with renewed self-confidence and a trade.

Participants experienced the various majors hands-on as they got their hair and nails done in the hairstyling track, cooked with the culinary track, and learned with the army cadets. It was a great day and the group left with a better understanding of the wonderful work AMIT does. 

(l-r) Jason, Noa and Lisa Ablin

AMIT salon series - the emerging role of women in modern orthodoxy On Sunday March 13th, 30 people joined AMIT LA at the launch of the AMIT Salon Series. The event was hosted at the home of Esther and Walter Feinblum in Hancock Park. The topic was “The Role of Women in the Modern Orthodox World” and our guest speaker for the evening was Morateinu Alissa Thomas-Newborn of Bnai David.

The event was dedicated by Lisa and Jason Ablin in memory of Lisa’s grandmother, Nina Bellows. All event proceeds went to benefit the AMIT Bellows Ulpanat Noga in Beit Shemesh, Israel. It was a very special evening - a wide variety of delicious desserts were enjoyed by all and everyone left inspired and energized. We’d like to extend a warm and special welcome to Lisa and Jason Ablin who joined AMIT’s President’s Circle. 

(l-r) Esther Feinblum Fran Wintner, Joy Volk, Temi Monderer (l-r) Julie Fax, Taaly Silberstein and Lisa Abli

(l-r) Kathi Barnard, Eva Kowalski , Morateinu Alissa Thomas-Newborn

(l-r) Elizabeth Kaiser, Batya Marsh, Dr. Aryeh Hoenig

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celebrating francine katz – 53 years of service

(l-r) Sara Gottlieb, Robin Isaacson, Mati Deutsch

The Geula-Shalvah Chapter of AMIT held its Florida Annual Winter Luncheon on February 7 in Miami Beach. Francine Katz was honored for 53 years of service for (Mizrachi) AMIT, and Malkah Tokayer was recognized for her dedication and devotion as Treasurer for 47 years. Chairperson Mati Deutsch introduced Rivka Kahana, who delivered an inspiring D’var Torah.

Harold Tokayer, husband of Malkah, spoke lovingly about her devotion and dedication to AMIT. The Aishet Chayil award was then presented to Malkah.

Jeffrey Katz, son of Francine, spoke about his energetic and hard-working mother, who raised thousands of dollars through various events and projects.

Jeffrey also noted that Francine was instrumental in starting the AMIT New Generation So-Be group.

Francine was presented with a beautiful Shabbat candle-lighting Plaque. She thanked everyone for all their hard work, and spoke about the importance of supporting this wonderful organization.

Elyse Dermer then proudly announced that the yearly Mother-in-Israel event will now be called the Francine Katz Mother-in-Israel Event.

Thanks to Dahlia Oppenheimer and Helen Ciment for producing an outstanding journal, and to Joy Williams, the hard-working office manager.

Kudos to Linda Bogen for her invaluable contributions to the event.

Live music and delicious food and desserts, made the filled-to-capacity luncheon a very happy, exciting and uplifting experience. 

Rivka Kahana

Honorees Malkah Tokayer and Francine Katz

Elyse Dermer

Jeffrey Katz

Harold Tokayer

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(l-r) Dr. Aaron Katz, Francine Katz, Robin Isaacson, Joy Williams

(l-r) Dahlia Oppenheimer, Mati Deutsch, Rose Garfinkle, Helen Ciment

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spanning AMIT world New England - On a cold Monday evening in January, a group of young women came out to meet AMIT Director of Development Susie Meyers who spoke passionately about AMIT and had the opportunity to connect with AMIT women in the New England Council/Ra’anana Chapter. Stephanie Mishkin & Debby Shure presented make-up tips using their line of LASH cosmetics. 

New England - On a lovely Sunday evening in February 2016, New England Council/Ra’anana Chapter gathered at the home of Michal and Barry Bessler to hear Steve Spear speak about his award-winning and critically acclaimed book, The High Velocity Edge. A delicious dessert reception prepared by Michal Bessler accompanied the presentation. 

Israel - On October 15, AMIT Kfar Blatt Youth Village celebrated the dedication of the Dr. Maurice and Clara Friedman Recreation Center. The Friedmans, longtime AMIT members and supporters, had wanted to leave a bequest for AMIT, and Tova Well, close friend and executor of the Friedman’ estate, effectuated their wishes. The Recreation Center is a wonderful place for students to relax, play video games and pool, and meet friends. At the dedication, Mrs. Well gave a moving speech in which she explained that the Friedman’s were not able to have their own children, but that they were very generous and had always wanted to give back to help the children of AMIT. 

Southeast - Last year, AMIT magazine overlooked the Geula Shalvah Chapter Mother-in-Israel Luncheon that took place in Miami Beach. At the affair the Aishet Chayil Awards were presented by Francine Katz, President of Geula Shalva, to two deserving women, Elizabeth Grossman and Miriam Levy. 

Spring 2016 :: AMIT MAGAZINE :: 39

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My mission is to better the world through acts of goodness.

Chana Lazar, Touro MSW, ’12 Director of Clinical Training Initiatives, Child & Family Clinician at Pesach Tikvah Boro Park Outpatient Center

“Being a social worker lets Chana fulfill her mission every day, by utilizing the professional training she received at Touro’s Graduate School of Social Work. If you want to make a difference in your own life and the lives of others, our school is the right choice to advance your career.”

Dean Steven Huberman, Ph.D.

For information and to apply contact Miriam Turk, LCSW, at 646.630.1471 or miriam.turk@touro.edu TOURO COLLEGE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK Where Knowledge and Values Meet Touro is an equal opportunity institution. For Touro’s complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please visit www.touro.edu

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