AMIT Winter 2017 Magazine

IN THIS ISSUE:

NAFTALI BENNETT TALKS WITH AMIT ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT ANNUAL DINNER

AMIT DVIR BEIT SHEMESH 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 .

YONI BERLIN

GAME CHANGER AT AMIT GWEN STRAUS winter 2017 : : choref 57 7 7 : : Vol L X X XIX No. 1

WINTER17_cvr_p1_v4.indd 1

1/10/17 12:29 PM

last_issue_ad_page_2_v3.indd 1

1/16/17 2:01 PM

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

winter2017

By Debbie Moed

I T OUC H E D D OW N I N I SR A E L A S W I L DF I R E S were burning around the country, impacting AMIT schools in multiple communities. Almost instantly, AMIT Network students, faculty and administrators responded to the needs. A hub was quickly established for matching offers of assistance with those residents who had to evacuate, or had lost, their homes. Moti Arbel, principal of AMIT Sderot Religious High School and head of AMIT’s fi re relief effort, fielded hundreds of offers to provide accommodations, supplies and other necessities to those affected by the fi re, proving once again that Reshet AMIT functions as a family across Israel. Students organized a clothing drive for affected residents of Zichron Yaacov and went down to local fi re stations to thank and feed the exhausted fi refighters.

A few days after the fi res were put out, I visited our students and faculty in Haifa and Acco to offer them encouragement and messages of comfort from concerned supporters back home.

At AMIT Anna Teich Ulpanat Haifa High School, many of our students were among the 75,000 families forced to evacuate. Amazingly, routine had since been restored and classes were in session, including the many enrichment classes I observed— art, photography, cooking and jewelry-making, among others.

I sat in on classes where students ranging from special needs to gifted, learn together at every grade level. Teachers embrace the challenges this presents on a daily basis, and it’s a point of tremendous pride that the Ulpana has a 100% full Bagrut pass rate—an extraordinary achievement!

A similar feeling of having weathered the crisis and emerged stronger lingered at AMIT Kennedy Junior and Senior High Schools in Acco, where many students come from Haifa and the surrounding areas.

The students spoke openly about their fears during the fires, but described how staying in school and assisting others in need helped them to cope during the crisis.

These schools capture the values of an AMIT education: they shine through not only in time of crisis, but, equally, in the smaller successes of facing and overcoming challenges on an everyday basis throughout our very diverse student body.

The week before, I had traveled around the U.S. with three supremely impressive AMIT students: graduates Miri Uziel and Aviner Kaufman, and twelfth-grader Halel Bareli. We were fortunate to meet and befriend AMIT donors across the country—seasoned and new, senior and young, all with the common goal of giving our 34,000 students the tools and life skills to become productive citizens and future leaders of Israel.

The opportunity to feature our students at events throughout the country, culminating in AMIT’s Annual Dinner in New York, showcased the great diversity of the AMIT Network and the real meaning and impact of an AMIT education. Miri, Aviner, and Halel come from vastly different backgrounds, family situations and learning abilities; their life paths couldn’t be more divergent. Yet each one has benefitted greatly and felt the impact of AMIT changing the course of their lives. They all credit AMIT for their development and success.

For our supporters, meeting students is a fantastic way to learn about AMIT’s vital contribution to Israeli life. But the ultimate way to understand the impact AMIT has made on individual students and its collective impact on the quality of education in Israel, to see the real results of our investment in Reshet AMIT, is by experiencing it fi rst-hand in Israel. I invite you to join AMIT leaders on an extraordinary Mission this May that will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Reunification of Jerusalem. From May 21-25, 2017, take part in an enormous celebration and gain unique insight into the AMIT network and its profound influence on the State of Israel.

It will be a life-transforming experience and I would love to share it with you.

See you in Jerusalem! 

Winter 2017 :: AMIT MAGAZINE :: 3

WINTER17_pres_p3_v3.indd 1

1/12/17 1:00 PM

8

winter 2017 – choref 5777 Vol. LXXXIX No. 1

BUILDING ISRAEL. ONE CHILD AT A TIME.

8

DYNAMIC NEW PRINCIPAL AT AMIT GWEN STRAUS

Principal Yoni Berlin implements innovative ahead-of-the curve teaching techniques.

By Helga Abraham

12

12

NAFTALI BENNET SITS DOWN WITH AMIT

Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett expresses admiration for the AMIT Network.

By Abigail Leichman

16

AMIT DVIR BEIT SHEMESH

A look at the school and its highly successful Alternative Learning Center - Cheder Maleh – a unique program for underachieving students.

By Judith Lash-Balint

39

16

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Interview with Sharona Passin, graduate of AMIT Wasserman Beersheva and recipient of the prestigious Ilan Ramon Award for Excellence and Leadership.

Interview by Robert E. Sutton IN THIS ISSUE:

NAFTALI BENNETT TALKS WITH AMIT ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT ANNUAL DINNER

AMIT DVIR BEIT SHEMESH

About The Cover

The principal of AMIT Gwen Straus wants to get the best out of the students academically and help them to develop as individuals and as leaders.

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 .

YONI BERLIN

GAME CHANGER AT AMIT GWEN STRAUS winter 2017 : : choref 57 7 7 : : Vol L X X XIX No. 1

AMIT COUNCIL OFFICES

WINTER17_cvr_p1_v4.indd 1

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 8401 Crawford, Suite 107 Skokie, IL 60076 847-677-3800 847-372-8702 Fax: 847-982-0057 email: amitchicago@amitchildren.org

WINTER17_toc_p4_v4.indd 2

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

1/10/17 12:29 PM

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

1/12/17 12:41 PM

22

777

COLUMNS 3

:: President’s Message

6

:: Impressions

22 :: Highlights

26

26 :: Dvar Torah

DEVELOPMENT NEWS 28 :: AMIT Annual Dinner 30 :: Philly Gala

31 :: Ambassador’s Club Event 32 :: Northeast Gala Concert 32 :: AFLI Bowl 33 :: Chicago and Midwest Events 33 :: Evening in DC 34 :: Israel Chug Ayelet 34 :: Southeast Fuse It/Use It 35 :: Long Island Gala 36 :: LA Remembers the “Raid on Entebbe” 36 :: AMIT Students tour the USA 37 :: Chicago Annual Dinner

33

Executive Vice President Andrew Goldsmith Vice President, Marketing and Communications Naomi Max

30 :: YL Summer Bash

30

President Debbie Moed

38 :: Spanning AMIT World

38

Chair, Marketing and Communications Cara Kleiman Director of Marketing & Communications Shelley Labiner 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.

35 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.

WINTER17_toc_p4_v4.indd 3

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

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).

1/12/17 12:41 PM

AMIT

TWO AMIT HIGH SCHOOLS

2 0 16

were recognized for outstanding achievement by the Ministry of Education C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S T O : AMIT Kamah High School For Girls In Yerucham AMIT Technological High School In Ramle

HIGHLIGHTS

95%>

34,000 S T U D E N T S

OVER

A M I T S E RV E S

I N 29 C I T I E S

of AMIT graduates serve in the IDF or perform National Service

IN 110 S C H O O L S

OVER 85%

OF AMIT STUDENTS obtain a Bagrut diploma, compared to 70% of all Jewish high school students in Israel

FIVE AMIT

ALUMNI 4 WHO ARE FEMALE SOLDIERS

were honored as outstanding IDF soldiers at President Rivlin’s residence

MORE THAN 1,000

ROBOTICS

PRIZE WON THE NATIONAL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL CYBER COMPETITION

Ulpanat AMIT Shirat Sderot student was chosen for the prestigious honor of

WON 1ST PLACE THE NATIONAL MATHEMATICS

TORCH ON

ISRAEL I N D E P E N D E N C E DAY

AEROSPACE & ROBOTICS

OLYMPIAD

250,000 ALUMNI

DISABILITIES

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

3X TE NRR OI PL LLM EE NDT WINTER2017_page_6_infog.indd 1

AMIT Sderot Yeshiva Track

LIGHTING A

CHILDREN WITH are mainstreamed in AMIT schools

AMIT Kamah Yeruham High School for Girls won the FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) Israel National Robotics Competition and went to the world championship held in the U.S.

AMIT GINSBERG BAR ILAN GUSH DA N S T U D E N T S

The AMIT Hammer Rehovot Pre-Army Junior College program now in its third year

1/12/17 2:53 PM

IMPRESSIONS

“After all my possessions had been burned, G-d gave me the wisdom to return to Jerusalem.”

being driven to history

- Shmuel Yosef Agnon

By Andrew Goldsmith, Executive Vice President

THE TA XI DRI V ER. ASK A N Y SEASONED BUSINESS traveler for the latest and best information anywhere— what to do, where to go, where to get it (anything), how to get there—and he’ll tell you, hail a cab. And then there are Israeli taxi drivers—in my experience, a breed apart from the rest. Their unique Jewish, blue collar and Middle Eastern backgrounds can make for fascinating interaction with those not familiar with the culture, where the passenger is regarded not as a fare, but as a charge to be carefully served, attended—and questioned.

It can be shocking. I recall watching a Swiss sherut passenger visibly recoil from a cabbie’s inquisition, which covered the traveler’s children (how many and what they did for a living), his political views, and his yearly salary! He almost jumped out of the taxi on the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway.

I’ve gotten to know a few Israeli cabbies quite well over the years and have developed some easygoing friendships. So on a recent ride from Petach Tikva to Jerusalem, I wasn’t shocked when, after an opening salvo of about twenty questions, I learned about my driver Aryeh’s sister in Hackensack, his views on Trump and why apartments in Beersheva were a good investment. As we approached Jerusalem on Route One, I told him a little about what I do—what AMIT stands for, our mission in Israel and the kind of people who support us. I told him how we intend to bring a large contingent for the upcoming Yom Yerushalayim 50th anniversary of the liberation of the capital in what we view as a once-ina-lifetime opportunity.

Aryeh grew quiet. He stopped the car at the entrance to Jerusalem by the bus station and asked me if I had a few minutes; there was something he wanted to show me. I tried to beg off—a few minutes in the Middle East means an hour—but I eventually caved, so after a

perilous U-turn he headed fast toward French Hill, all the while silent. We pulled up at Ammunition Hill, where Aryeh parked on the sidewalk and bade me follow him.

He began to talk, quickly and in almost staccato bursts. In 1967, he said, during the Six-Day War, the post was manned by some 150 Jordanian soldiers who had taken shelter in an elaborate bunker system, but Tzahal mistakenly thought the hill was defended by a single platoon. The fighting began on June 6 at 2:30 AM, and the task of capturing the hill was given to the Israeli 3rd Company of the 66th Battalion of the 55th Paratroopers Brigade. The battle ended at 6:30 AM—thirty-six Israeli soldiers fell. Ten were decorated for bravery, several of whom did not survive.

Aryeh walked me into the memorial where the names are listed. He opened the book, pointed to a name and said, “That’s my Abba.”

Taking my stunned look for disbelief, he pulled out his driver’s license and pointed to the matching last name.

On the drive back, he told me how he was almost a year old when his father, a paratrooper, fell liberating Jerusalem. Now turning fi fty and following a health scare, Aryeh feels compelled to tell his father’s story to as many people as he can. I can only liken it to a survivor giving witness—a compulsion to give burning testimony —with every telling of the tale lessening the hurt just a tiny bit more.

This coming May, AMIT will join with thousands of supporters of Israel to celebrate a reunification thousands of years in the making. My experience with my taxi driver has taught me that there’s still commemoration to be done, heroes to be recognized and appreciation to be given to those who paid a great price for our benefit.

Aryeh and I hope to see you there. 

Winter 2017 :: AMIT MAGAZINE :: 7

WINTER17_impress_p7_v2.indd 1

1/12/17 12:54 PM

FEATURE

AMIT GWEN STRAUS WELCOMES DYNAMIC NEW PRINCIPAL YONI BERLIN

by Helga Abraham

WINTER17_Yoni_p8-11_v5.indd 8

1/12/17 1:03 PM

We are at the forefront of extraordinary changes in education and creating greater harmony between the students and teachers.�

WINTER17_Yoni_p8-11_v5.indd 9

1/12/17 1:03 PM

In the AMIT Gwen Straus beit midrash, a group of students are studying the Talmud during their lunch break. They are part of a project dedicated to the memory of IDF soldier Hadar Goldin, a Gwen Straus graduate who was killed during the 2014 Gaza war. “Each year we study a new tractate in Hadar’s memory,” explains ninth-grader Roie Seri.

“This year, when we began to study Tractate Rosh Hashana, we saw that we did not have enough books to go around and we informed the principal of this. The next day, the books arrived!”

That’s the way things are these days at Gwen Straus. Barely a few months into his job as new principal of AMIT Gwen Straus Science and Technology High School for Boys, on the Kfar Batya campus in Ra’anana, fifty-year-old Yoni Berlin is already having an impact. “The school always had a good reputation for its science and technology studies and was consistently ranked nationally among the top two schools in computer science. “However, explains Berlin, “a few years ago, after the school had to take in a large number of students from a local under-performing pubic school, the high standard of AMIT Gwen

Ulpan students

Straus was being jeopardized, and my role is to ensure we regain our high standard as well as the trust of parents and students.”

vision is ultimately to have one school, in one building, with all the students entering through the same door.”

Another major role that Berlin has set for himself is to unite the school’s two separate tracks. A unique characteristic of Gwen Straus is that it comprises two separate schools, each with its own principal and staff. Both schools come under the direction of Yoni Berlin: the Science and Technology track and the Society and Law track, which focuses on humanities, social studies and law. “I want to create more unison between these two tracks,” says Berlin. “My

Berlin studied in a hesder yeshiva, where he trained as a teacher and rav. “I knew I wanted to work in education from a young age,” he says.

After his yeshiva studies, during which he served as a commander in the IDF’s Givati Brigade and also married his childhood sweetheart Lisa, Berlin was sent on shlihut to Moscow to open a new school to train Russian Jewish girls as teachers of Judaic studies and Hebrew. “This was just a couple of years after Perestroika,” he recalls, “and we literally saw the country change before our eyes from a socialist to a capitalist state.”

Lounge and quiet study room.

WINTER17_Yoni_p8-11_v5.indd 10

After his pioneering work in Russia, Berlin taught at the Lindenbaum Seminary for Girls in Jerusalem and served for nine years as principal of a Bnei Akiva high school in Hashmonayim, before going off on shlihut again, this time to Toronto.

On his return to Israel, Berlin was appointed principal of AMIT Ginsburg Bar Ilan Gush Dan High School, where, during his nine-year tenure, he succeeded in raising the school enrollment by 20% and elevating its academic performance and religious identity.

1/12/17 1:03 PM

trying to make our school more integrated. The two tracks went to Poland together, and as a result we feel more united. Before that, there was a tendency for the science and technology students to view ourselves as the elite!”

On his arrival at Gwen Straus, Berlin appointed new heads of the schools’ two tracks: 42-year-old Sagi Rosenbaum as head of the Science and Technology track and 33-yearold Yaron Karmi as head of the Law and Society track. An inspiring figure himself, Rosenbaum says he sees his role as two-pronged: “My main challenge is to ensure that we get the best out of the students academically, but that we also help them to develop as individuals and as leaders who will one day influence society.” To achieve this, Rosenbaum set in motion a comprehensive approach that comprises regular teacher/student dialogues, school trips, leadership programs and volunteer projects.

The students see both Rosenbaum and Karmi as exceptional role models. Karmi, whom Berlin brought along from AMIT Gush Dan, was among six teachers named Teacher of the Year for 2015 by the national Israeli newspaper, Yediot Aharonot.

“Part of my success at Gush Dan,” says Karmi, “was due to the fact that Yoni trusted me. His motto is not to do everything himself but to enable his staff to implement their own ideas.” At Gwen Straus, Karmi has already made changes:

he has introduced new after-school coursessuch as dog training, art and guitar, a weekly running group and extended uplan classes to deal with a flow of immigrant students who have arrived from France, Colombia, Brazil, and the U.S. “It’s a kibbutz galuyot (gathering of exiles) here,” he says smiling.

In both buildings, the staff comment on the positive atmosphere that has accompanied Berlin’s arrival at the school. “Berlin is an educational role model. He is attentive, very involved and always around,” says math teacher Anat Rosen. Veteran computer science teacher, Esther Appelbaum, is unequivocal: “Yoni is fantastic. He supports his staff and responds immediately to every problem.”

Positive feedback regarding the school’s new principal also radiates from the students. A group of twelfth-graders from the Science and Technology track, recently back from a trip to Poland, all expressed admiration for Berlin. “When we had problems in Poland, there he was sorting things out for us in Russian!” said twelfth-grader Benjamin Baker, visibly impressed. “He places himself among us, “says fellow student Roey Wunsch, “and it is clear that he is

While unifying the two sections of the school is one of Berlin’s primary goals, he also wants to encourage a new approach to teaching, inspired

by AMIT’s flagship learning center—Gogya, which is located on the school’s grounds. A bright, sparkling building, with glass doors and panels, colorful furniture and state-of-the-art equipment, the center offers an open environment that aims to encourage a new way of teaching and learning. While the center is currently primarily used to train teachers, ninth and tenth-graders from Gwen Straus also study there. “The students learn in a circle here, whatever subject is on their curriculum, Gemara, Hebrew grammar, math,” explains Berlin, “but the approach is different. There is more teamwork and classes feel more like workshops.”

Berlin has no doubt that AMIT, and the Gogya program in particular, is setting the direction for future learning, and that all schools will ultimately look and teach differently.

“We need to project ahead and envisage how teaching will look in 20-25 years,” he says determinedly.

In addition to introducing new ways of learning and creating greater harmony between the students, Berlin also must oversee a major physical transition for the school.

Plans have already been drawn up for an entirely new building to be built on adjacent land; and in the next couple of years, he expects the school population to increase by a third.

With all this under his belt and on his plate, the new principal remains attentive to his main goal—ensuring that every student feels he has a place at the school. 

Winter 2017 :: AMIT MAGAZINE :: 11

WINTER17_Yoni_p8-11_v5.indd 11

1/12/17 1:03 PM

FEATURE

EDUCATION MINISTER NAFTALI BENNETT SITS DOWN TO TALK WITH AMIT In an exclusive interview with AMIT Magazine, Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett expressed admiration for our schools and their proven approach to preparing children for success in both the material and spiritual aspects of their lives as productive citizens of Israel.

WINTER17_Bennett_p12-14_v5.indd 2

1/12/17 12:45 PM

By Abigail Klein Leichman “AMIT IS A WONDERFUL NETWORK, BRINGING QUALITY EDUCATION TO thousands of children all across Israel,” said Minister of Education Naftali Bennett, who has headed the Jewish Home (Bayit Yehudi) political party since 2012 and also serves as Minister of Diaspora Affairs.

“The principals and teachers I’ve met at AMIT are dedicated to giving their pupils the best tools to succeed in a modern world while deepening their roots and strengthening our ties to Judaism and Israel,” he stated.

Just before taking over the reins of the Education Ministry in May 2015, Minister Bennett was the guest of honor at AMIT’s 90th anniversary celebration in Jerusalem. Since then, he has often visited our schools and spent time with students, teachers and administrators, including Dr. Amnon Eldar, Director General of AMIT. In April 2016, he presented the ministry’s religious education award to AMIT Kamah High School for Girls in Yerucham and to AMIT Technological High School in Ramle.

Minister Bennett began the 2016-2017 school year with a stop at AMIT Karmiel to meet with incoming seniors, and in November he posted a photo on his Facebook page showing him surrounded by students of AMIT Shachar Beit Shemesh High School for Girls during their educational tour of Carasso Science Park in Beersheva.

As a product of Modern Orthodox schools and the Bnei Akiva Zionist youth movement—and as the father of four young children being raised in the same path—Minister Bennett appreciates on a personal level the AMIT educational system’s synthesis of Torah and practical skills for academia and the workplace.

“The AMIT schools are an example of how to teach computers alongside Tanach; how to study modern engineering and physics after or before opening the classic Jewish texts like the Talmud,” he said.

Incorporating Jewish and Zionist values and ideals into Israeli classrooms is an ongoing hot-button issue on which the Minister has a clear ideology.

“Every child needs to know his or her heritage, and this means Jewish children should learn about our common history, culture and traditions,” he said.

“On Chanukah, for example, I want the children to know the historic events that led to them being on vacation. This is true in many things: Children should know what Kiddush is, what tefillin look like and who our forefathers and foremothers were. I believe these traditions are the base of our common Jewish identity, and the reason our parents and grandparents left Iraq, Russia, Libya and Germany for the Land of Israel. Israeli children need to learn about the Zionist history and how we returned home after 2,000 years of forced exile,” said the Minister.

“At the same time, we need to respect other identities—which is why the Christian or Muslim schools in Israel need to teach their students their heritage. In addition to building strong individual identities, we have to build a united Israeli society with a common language and base. Students also need to learn civics and the Israeli democratic system, and how to get along with all parts of Israeli society, especially those with a different opinion.”

He also said that he believes schools should strive to focus on values more than on grades and standardized tests.

continued on page 14

WINTER17_Bennett_p12-14_v5.indd 3

1/12/17 12:45 PM

continued from page 13 “Tests have two jobs—to let the students know where they stand and, just as importantly, to let the teacher know how they are doing.

But tests are not the most important part of Israel’s education system.

Making sure children turn into good people who care about their families, communities and country; who know and appreciate their unique cultural heritage; and who want to help build and improve the State of Israel is as much a part of school as knowing mathematics or English.”

Minister Bennett further stated that, while the Education Ministry does its best to provide the best conditions possible in terms of updated facilities such as computer labs, infrastructure is secondary to people. He is an advocate of smaller classes and a more personal approach.

Although he was born and raised in Haifa, Minister Bennett is the son of immigrants from San Francisco and it seems that he picked up on the Silicon Valley entrepreneurial vibe.

After achieving the rank of major in the Israel Defense Forces and earning a law degree at Hebrew University, he relocated temporarily to the United States in 1999 and co-founded Cyota,

Naftali Bennett with student of AMIT Florin High School for Girls in Tzfat an anti-fraud software company that was sold in 2005 to RSA Security.

He has also served as the CEO of the technology company Soluto.

His background in high-tech and his current position as the chief Israeli education official led him to host the OECD Global Education Industry Summit for the first time in Israel, held last September in Jerusalem for about 300 participants. The theme was “Educating for Innovation and Innovation in Education.”

“I brought the summit to Israel because it was an opportunity to show why Israelis are leading

the world in innovation and entrepreneurship,” he explained.

Delegations from more than 40 countries, including ministers from China, New Zealand, Switzerland, Germany and Argentina, heard about Israel’s education system and other programs, such as youth movements and the 2,000-year-old yeshiva-style ‘hevruta’ studies,” he said, referring to learning in pairs.

“Israel is an amazing country, and the summit was a chance to share our strengths with the world. Despite our small size and population, we have turned into the Startup Nation and are exporting lifesaving knowledge and technologies regarding water, medicine, agriculture and a host of others.”

Asked what message he would he like to convey to AMIT’s supporters around the world concerning the future of Israeli primary and high school education, Minister Bennett responded, “Israel is the greatest Jewish project of our lifetime, and AMIT is doing an amazing job strengthening our country, society and economy for the next generations.” <

The minister of education (fourth from right) along with the Cyber Champions of AMIT Givat Shmuel

WINTER17_Bennett_p12-14_v5.indd 4

Abigail Klein Leichman is a journalist living in Israel since 2007. She is associate editor of the Israel innovation website ISRAEL21c and is a proud life member of AMIT.

1/12/17 12:45 PM

AMIT

B A R / B AT M I T Z VA H PROGRAM

CELEBRATE YOUR CHILD’S BAR/BAT MITZVAH WITH A GIFT TO THE CHILDREN OF AMIT BEIT HAYELED Your child can celebrate this milestone and help the children of AMIT Frisch Beit Hayeled*. By undertaking a Mitzvah Project or by donating their B’nai Mitzvah money, your child can be actively involved in providing enrichment clubs for the children of Beit Hayeled. These clubs are essential in helping to build up their confidence, restore their independence, and help them to develop the strength to overcome past traumas.

M I T Z VA H P R O J E C T S C A N P R O V I D E : • Art Therapy Club • Soccer Club • Horseback Riding Therapy • Dance Therapy • Swimming

M I T Z VA H P R O J E C T I D E A S : • Run a charity car wash at your synagogue/school/home • Sponsor a run, bike, or hike • Hold a charity concert • Run a bake sale • Organize a sports tournament

WINTER2017_page_15_mitzvah.indd 1

*Beit Hayeled is AMIT’s landmark child haven for children who cannot remain in their homes due to a variety of problems. Children are paired with surrogate parents and live in a warm and comfortable family setting (mishpachtonim). Our children are given all the love and support they need to help overcome their traumas with the nurturing needed to succeed in life. Your child can help us to provide these special opportunities needed to help them experience a happy life.

AMIT

Building Israel. One Child at a Time.

For more information, please contact Sara Cherny: tel: 212.792.5690 email: SaraC@amitchildren.org

1/12/17 12:24 PM

FEATURE

CHEDER MALEH

AMITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S UNIQUE PROGRAM TO CHANGE LIVES AND INFLUENCE ISRAELI SOCIETY WINTER17_DVIR_p16-19_v5.indd 16

1/16/17 1:51 PM

Dr. Tzachi Levran (third from left) and Tair Saidoff (far right)

By Judy Lash Balint BEIT SHEMESH, LOCATED ABOUT 20 MILES WEST of Jerusalem, still reflects its roots as a development town founded in the early 1950s to accommodate the thousands of Jews who flooded into the newborn state of Israel from Romania, Bulgaria, North Africa, Iran and various Arab lands.

WINTER17_DVIR_p16-19_v5.indd 17

1/16/17 1:51 PM

continued from page 16 Since the 1990s, the population in Beit Shemesh, which now tops 105,000, also includes Russianspeaking Jews and a high proportion of Jews with roots in Ethiopia.

Israeli society is well-known for its successful absorption of immigrants, and the AMIT Network of 110 schools has played a significant role in that effort for decades. But teenagers from immigrant families, as well as first-generation teens, can face demanding educational and social challenges.

Over the past few years, the AMIT Dvir Junior and Senior High School for Boys in Beit Shemesh, home to a diverse student body of 350 students, has developed a unique way of helping boys who are in danger of dropping out, many of them from Ethiopian families, and putting them on a path to self-assurance and success.

Dr. Levran turned to a young staff member, Tzipi Cohen, who was then in her first year of teaching after graduating from Jerusalem’s David Yellin College of Education. Levran credits Cohen with coming up with the innovative and creative concept that ultimately turned into Cheder Maleh, which now serves 35 boys, two-thirds of them from Ethiopian families. “All I told her was that if we didn’t take 25 of the most at-risk kids and offer them something, that they would for sure drop out. Just make sure they don’t leave, I said!”

In the seven years since that conversation, Cohen has developed and coordinated a program that has influenced hundreds of students, and she has come to a deep understanding of what works to guide the lives of boys struggling to find a place for themselves.

“They’re my kids,” explains the bubbly Cohen, who exudes warmth and acceptance through her wide smile. Cohen no longer teaches in a classroom, but devotes all her time and energy to the Alternative Learning Center boys. The unique program she established takes students out of the regular formal classroom for several hours a day and establishes, with the student and teacher, an individualized goaloriented plan for each participant.

Using one-on-one tutoring, a range of extracurricular activities outside school hours, field trips, evening homework sessions, structured interaction with stronger students and providing access to an informal and exclusive gathering place on school grounds, Cohen says she can “prepare the boys for service in the Israel Defense Forces, to take their place in society, to pay taxes and build healthy families.”

Dvir Principal Dr. Tzachi Levran explains that the objective of the Cheder Maleh (full room)–Alternative Learning Center (ALC) is to develop students’ self-confidence and feelings of belonging, which, it is hoped, will lead to social integration and breaking the cycle of poverty.

Levran explains how the project was born several years after he took over as principal. The school was in danger of being closed, he notes, referring to many instances of violence in the school and a reputation of being a place for students who couldn’t be accepted anywhere else. “No one wanted to be here,” he acknowledges.

Dr. Levran and his staff noticed that there were groups of 14- and 15-yearolds who were dropping out because they felt they couldn’t fit into any existing educational framework. “We decided we had to improve our efforts toward these students and give them stability and a reason to stay off the streets.”

Learning to Lift Barriers. Painted by a Cheder Maleh student.

18 :: Winter 2017 :: AMIT MAGAZINE

WINTER17_DVIR_p16-19_v4.indd 18

1/12/17 12:53 PM

in the prestigious Givati Brigade and thought of making a career in the army. By age 24, he had become a teacher and by age 34 he was a school principal, responsible for the education of 350 students. Dr. Levran speaks with passion about his plans for the future. “We are trying to apply the principles of Cheder Maleh to the whole school. It’s hard but it’s possible.”

Back in the Alternative Learning Center, Tair Saidoff leans behind the backs of a group of teenage boys who are preparing coffee and notes, “I can measure our success by the light in their eyes.” 

Learning confidence through art.

The after-hours informal activities are a key component of the ALC approach, Cohen explains. Often, the students cook dinner together at her home— an activity that demands planning, teamwork and provides a sense of achievement and unity. “It’s all done with no teachers, no pressure and no school uniform,” she emphasizes. For the boys, many of whom may have difficult relationships with parents, it’s also an opportunity to interact positively with adults and feel part of a family-like unit.

Tair Saidoff, who has been on the ALC staff for five years, points out that the most important thing for those working with high-risk students is “to love them. To let them know we care about them and to find a common language with them.” Today, notes Cohen, “the big achievement is that the program is in demand—kids vie to be part of Cheder Maleh,” ’ For kids like Moshe Mekonen, 16, a shy teenager who arrived in Beit Shemesh with his parents and four siblings from Ethiopia in 2002, Cheder Maleh “helps me to advance.” Moshe cites the close connection with the counselors and the informal evening programs, as well as the lessons that are “presented in a more fun way than

in the regular classroom,” as the keys to his desire to succeed.

It’s also important for integration and understanding between the majority student body and those from Ethiopian backgrounds. “Youngsters who don’t encounter Ethiopian kids at school and only know about the community from what they hear in the media believe they are all violent and look down at them. In our student body, where the kids are doing activities together and getting to know one another, that doesn’t happen,” Dr. Levran explains.

Dr. Levran is at a loss to explain why the ALC-Cheder Maleh program at AMIT Dvir remains the only one of its kind in the country, even after its proven success. How does he measure success? “The boys are staying in school; they’re attending school every day; they have very high motivation to serve in the IDF and they’re achieving good results in the Bagrut exams,” he says.

Dr. Levran’s commitment to his students and to Israeli society is obvious to anyone who spends time with him walking around the large Dvir School campus. The boyish-looking father of four with a doctorate in Tanach was an officer

INSPIRATIONAL EXPRESSION One of the methods teachers and counselors use to raise the self confidence of boys assigned to Cheder Maleh, is through the arts. Every Cheder Maleh student in the 9th and 10th grades takes part in art classes, which have produced some extraordinarily creative and expressive works. “It allows kids who may have difficulty showing talent in academic studies to shine through their creativity,” says Tzippi Cohen of the multi-faceted work produced by the students.

Winter 2017 :: AMIT MAGAZINE :: 19

WINTER17_DVIR_p16-19_v4.indd 19

1/12/17 12:53 PM

THE AMIT NETWORK ACCO

HAIFA

AMIT Kennedy Jr. and Sr. High School AMIT Rambam Religious Elementary School

AMIT Anna Teich Ulpanat Haifa

AFULA AMIT Yehuda Jr. and Sr. High School AMIT Yeshivat Hesder

AMIT Hatzor HaGlilit Jr. and Sr. High School AMIT Honi HaMe’agel Elementary School for Girls AMIT Shevet Sofer Elementary School for Boys

ASHDOD

JERUSALEM

Yeshivat AMIT Ashdod AMIT Bet Ashdod Jr. and Sr. High School (used to be AMIT Mekif Bet Ashdod) AMIT Yud Ashdod Jr. and Sr. High School (used to be AMIT Mekif Yud Ashdod) AMIT Ashdod Religious High School for Girls Midreshet AMIT Be’er Ashdod

AMIT Frisch Beit Hayeled Midreshet AMIT at Beit Hayeled AMIT Nordlicht Religious Technological High School and Junior College Program AMIT State Technological High School AMIT Hedvat HaTorah Haredi Yeshiva Reishit Yerushalyim Elementary School

ASHKELON

KARMIEL

AMIT Fred Kahane Technological High School Ashkelon AMIT Bet Ashkelon Jr. and Sr. High School

AMIT Karmiel Jr. and Sr. High School

BEERSHEVA

Ulpanat AMIT Kedumim Jr. and Sr. High School

AMIT Wasserman Jr. and Sr. High School Dina and Moses Dyckman Ulpanat AMIT Beersheva AMIT Daisy Berman Yeshiva Beersheva AMIT Elaine Silver Technological High School AMIT Rambam Elementary School AMIT Gwen and Joseph Straus Afikim B’Negev Elementary School AMIT Torani Madai Netivei Am Elementary School AMIT Hazon Ovadiah Elementary School AMIT Or Hammer Elementary School Neot Avraham Elementary School

BEIT SHEMESH AMIT Shachar Jr. and Sr. High School for Girls AMIT Dvir Jr. and Sr. High School for Boys AMIT Bellows Ulpanat Noga

GIVAT SHMUEL Ulpanat AMIT Givat Shmuel

WINTER17_schools_p20-21_v3.indd 2

HATZOR HAGLILIT

KEDUMIM KIRYAT MALACHI AMIT Kiryat Malachi Jr. and Sr. High School AMIT Etzion Elementary School AMIT Harel Elementary School AMIT Netzach Israel Elementary School

MA’ALE ADUMIM AMIT Ma’ale Adumim Jr. and Sr. High School for Boys AMIT Wasserman Torah, Arts and Sciences Jr. and Sr. High School for Girls AMIT Tzemach HaSade Elementary School AMIT Sde Hemed Elementary School AMIT Yaffe Nof Elementary School

MATEH YEHUDA Yeshivat AMIT Nachshon AMIT Even HaEzer Elementary School AMIT HaElah Elementary School AMIT Lavi Elementary School, Tzur Hadassah AMIT Matityahu Elementary School AMIT Karov Elementary School

1/12/17 12:59 PM

MORE THAN 34,000 STUDENTS IN 110 SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS IN 29 CITIES AND TOWNS MEITAR

RAMAT GAN

AMIT Hemdat Elementary School

AMIT Ginsburg Bar Ilan Gush Dan Jr. and Sr. High School for Boys

MODI’IN

RAMLE

The Mr. and Mrs. Lester Sutker AMIT Modi’in School for Boys AMIT Modi’in High School for Girls

AMIT Ramle Technological High School

NETANYA AMIT Bar Ilan High School AMIT Amital (formerly Rambam) Religious Elementary School AMIT Orgad Religious Elementary School

AMIT Gould Jr. and Sr. High School for Girls AMIT Hammer Jr. and Sr. High School for Boys Junior College at AMIT Hammer Yeshivat AMIT Amichai

OR AKIVA

SDEROT

AMIT Atidim Jr. and Sr. High School AMIT HaOfek Technological High School Ulpanat AMIT Or Akiva AMIT Netivot Dror Yeshiva High School AMIT Rothschild Elementary School AMIT Etzion Religious Elementary School AMIT Rabbi Akiva Religious Elementary School AMIT Nechemia Tamari Elementary School AMIT Hannah Senesh Elementary School

AMIT Sderot Religious Jr. and Sr. High School AMIT Sderot Gutwirth Jr. and Sr. High School AMIT HaRoeh Elementary School AMIT Torani Mada’i Elementary School AMIT Torani Chadash Elementary School AMIT Gil Rabin Elementary School AMIT Shikmim Maoz Arts Elementary School AMIT Alon Science Elementary School

PETACH TIKVA

The AMIT Beatrice and Irving Stone Meysharim School

AMIT Blatt Youth Village AMIT Wurzweiler Agricultural and Technological H.S. Yeshivat AMIT Eliraz High School Yeshivat AMIT Kfar Ganim AMIT Junior College AMIT Menorat HaMaor Haredi Track

RA’ANANA AMIT Renanim Jr. and Sr. Science and Technology H.S. for Girls AMIT Kfar Batya Youth Village AMIT Bienenfeld Hevruta Yeshiva, Kfar Batya AMIT Gwen Straus Jr. and Sr. Science High School for Boys, Kfar Batya AMIT School of Society and Law at AMIT Gwen Straus AMIT Noam, Kfar Batya AMIT Orot Shaul Hesder Yeshiva

WINTER17_schools_p20-21_v3.indd 3

REHOVOT

SHOHAM TEL AVIV AMIT Reishit Tel Aviv High School for Girls

TZFAT AMIT Florin Taman Jr. and Sr. High School for Boys AMIT Florin Taman Jr. and Sr. High School for Girls AMIT Tzfat Jr. and Sr. Yeshiva Track AMIT Tzfat Evelyn Schreiber Jr. and Sr. Ulpana High School Track

YERUCHAM Kamah School Midreshet AMIT Be’er Yeshivat AMIT B’levav Shalem AMIT Kol Yacov Elementary School

1/12/17 12:59 PM

By Cheryl Shaanan and Robert E. Sutton

AMIT HIGHLIGHTS AND SUCCESSES Because of your generous donations, 34 ,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 make a difference.

AMIT NACHSHON STUDENTS TREK FROM GUSH ETZION TO JERUSALEM Yeshivat AMIT Nachshon Mateh Yehuda students started their school year off on the right foot, hiking from Gush Etzion to the Western Wall. The three hundred 7th – 12th graders learned about Gush Etzion and camped out in the forest. On the way to Jerusalem’s Zion Gate, they learned the history of their people and spiritual connection to Israel’s capital.

The students’ families met them at the Zion Gate, and together they sang and danced their way to the Western Wall. To conclude this trek, students and parents met with Natan Sharansky, Jewish Agency Chairman and former government minister. 

WINTER17_highlights_p22-25_v5.indd 2

1/12/17 12:42 PM

ART EXHIBITION AT AMIT NOGA BELLOWS AMIT Bellows Ulpanat Noga, Beit Shemesh, celebrated a unique art exhibition opening called Beit Midrash Yozter v’Hai. The exhibition presented work produced by students under the guidance of art teacher Daphna Wexler.

The young artists studied biblical women and created works of art that showcased their learning process and personal connection to the women studied.

Shaked Zechariah and her artwork

AMIT Noga student Shaked Zechariah chose to depict her relationship with her sisters in light of sibling relationships in the Tanach. “My relationship with my sisters gives me strength and constant support, and I linked this to sibling relationships in the Bible, such as Dina and her brothers, and others.” 

BLOOD DRIVE AT AMIT BAR ILAN NETANYA The seniors at AMIT Bar Ilan Netanya High School decided to mark their return to school after the holidays with a good deed and organized a blood drive at school. Ohad Abutbul, a student who has been a Magen David Adom volunteer for three years, led the project. Ohad initiated the drive when he heard that there was a lack of blood units in Israel’s blood bank.

Ohad and his friends got word out to fellow students and teachers, made plans for the bloodmobile to come to school, and even helped paramedics with the donations. Dozens of students and teachers rolled up their sleeves, literally, and donated blood. 

KOREAN PRINCIPALS VISIT AMIT SCHOOL A delegation of 25 principals from South Korea visited AMIT Sde Hemed Elementary School in Ma’aleh Adumim. The delegation, accompanied by David Sharett, Director of the Ma’ale Adumim Municipality’s Department of Education, observed teaching and learning methods at the school and met with school faculty and students. The delegation even joined sixth grade students for an interactive Talmud lesson on the mitzvot of Chanukah. 

WINTER17_highlights_p22-25_v5.indd 3

School principals from South Korea with Yiscah Ben Simon, principal of AMIT Sde Hemed (4th from right), and David Sharett (far right)

1/12/17 12:42 PM

WINNER OF AGNON WRITING COMPETITION Baina Bitva, a senior at AMIT Lehava Ulpana High School in Kedumim who immigrated with her family from Ethiopia six years ago, is the winner of the Agnon House writing competition.

Baina was invited to a special meeting of Baina reading her story to the Knesset Education Committee the Knesset Education Committee, which was held in honor of Shmuel Yosef Agnon and the 50th anniversary of his receiving Nobel Prize. With the guidance from her AMIT Lehava literature teachers, Baina wrote the story “A Tale of Might” about her journey to Israel from Ethiopia.

Before reading her story at the Knesset, Baina excitedly told the distinguished committee about her positive experience at school. “One month after we came to Israel, I started school at Ulpanat AMIT Lehava. I did not believe I could learn Hebrew and certainly never dreamed of earning a matriculation (Bagrut) certificate.

This year I am finishing high school, and thanks to the love and support of Ulpana AMIT I will be earning my diploma – and am even able to stand before you and tell my story,” said Baina. 

NEW CADET PROGRAM AT AMIT AFULA An induction ceremony for the first class of cadets was held at AMIT Yehuda High School, Afula. Parents, teachers and students, as well as the Rabbi of Afula, an Afula municipality official and the Israel Air Force commander in charge of the IAF’s cadet program, attended the festive event.

The cadet program was launched this year as part of the yeshiva track at AMIT Yehuda in collaboration with the Israel Air Force. Students in the program will engage in high-level electrical engineering studies in order to prepare them to do their military service in the technology division of the IAF. The direct commander of the AMIT cadet squad, Sergeant Major Hanan Azoulay, is himself a graduate of AMIT Yehuda. 

WINTER17_highlights_p22-25_v5.indd 4

1/12/17 12:42 PM

AMIT NACHSON’S YOUNG MEDIATORS Students of the Yeshivat AMIT Nachshon, Mateh Yehuda Mediation Program, were the representatives of religious education at the National Mediation Conference held at Tel Aviv University. The annual conference, involving dozens of high AMIT Nachshon Yeshiva student Yonatan Hamburger speaking at school students and mediators from the National Mediation Conference across the country, was attended by retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Israel Dalia Dorner, public officials from the Jewish and Arab sectors, and members of the media. Ten students from AMIT Nachshon took part in the conference, meeting with other teen mediators from schools around the country. Discussions centered around how to raise public awareness about the importance of mediation. 

EXCELLENCE AT AMIT MA’ALE ADUMIM Advanced studies at AMIT Ma ‘ale Adumim High School for Boys are gaining momentum, and more students are enrolled than ever before. “To maximize the academic achievements of our students, we expose them to various fields taught at the university level, in the belief that this will pave the way to future post-secondary studies,” said Principal Daniel Be’eri.

As part of the advance studies program, ninthgraders take part in a series of workshops at Hebrew University laboratories. Students were taught about research in biology, chemistry and physics by university faculty members. 

WINTER17_highlights_p22-25_v5.indd 5

1/12/17 12:43 PM

DVAR TORAH

The Missing “Ki Tov ” and the Creation of Man 2.0 T

he phrase “va-yar ki tov”—“and He saw it was good”—is the familiar refrain from the story of creation. It is repeated after each distinct element is brought into the world, and serves as an affirmation of its suitability. Yet, in the telling of the creation of mankind, the phrase is conspicuously absent. What happened to the affirmation “ki tov” that we might expect to find at the high point of creation?

Yet there’s a wrinkle to be ironed out. To call Moshe’s birth the completion of the creation of mankind, it must follow that Moshe was a qualitatively different type of person—something that until that time had not existed. If he were only the greatest person of all who preceded him—the greatest in a quantitative sense, if you will—we could not say that humankind was not complete prior to his arrival.

Well, if you look closely for it, the missing phrase does indeed turn up—laying harmlessly in the cradle of little Moshe. In telling of Moshe’s birth, the Torah says, “The woman conceived and bore a son, and [when] she saw him—ki tov hu—he was good” (Shemot 2:2). The Torah seems to have withheld the affirmation of “ki tov”; with Moshe’s entry into the world, ki tov is finally attached to the creation of mankind. The reoccurrence of the missing phrase teaches us that only with the arrival of Moshe was the creation of humankind complete.

For example, while Shakespeare may have been the greatest poet of all time, no one would say “poetry” was not created until Shakespeare. We would all concede that “poetry” existed, but Shakespeare was the best at it. Moshe may have been the “best” human, but can we claim that before his birth, humankind was not complete?

The Torah provides direction: “She named him Moses, and she said, “For I drew him from the water” (Shemot 2:10). This verse, which explains the origins

26 :: Winter 2017 :: AMIT MAGAZINE

WINTER17_dvar_torah_26-27_v2.indd 2

1/12/17 12:51 PM

By Rabbi Daniel Goldstein

The Netziv explains that our world is based on the balance of two forces—mashpiah and mushpah, or the influencing power and the influenced. Our world moves forward through the negotiation of these entities.

In every interaction, there is a giver and receiver, an influence and the recipient of the influence. Moreover, the representation of these forces in the world we experience is water and earth. Water is the basis of life.

Its foundational power is lapped up, or “received,” by the earth, and in the balance, the cycle of life commences.

With this explanation in mind, we understand why Moshe—man of water—effected the completion of humankind. Man’s first incarnation, man of earth, is a receiver. He is the beneficiary of Hashem’s blessings, kindness, and protection. However, throughout the first chapters of his history, man never succeeds in acting as the ultimate mashpiah, the source of influence.

His very character is incomplete. When Moshe was born, mankind moved to its second stage. Man the giver is born.

of Moshe’s name, provides a point of contrast. As we know from the creation story, Man is linked to the earth. The name of Man—Adam—is connected to the word adama, which means earth. The Torah highlights the connection: “With the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, until you return to the ground, for you were taken therefrom, for dust you are, and to dust you will return” (Bereishit 3:19). Man and earth are intertwined.

By contrast, Moshe’s name (and thereby his essence) comes from the water. Moshe is the man of water—he was drawn from the water, he ruled over the water, he brought forth water, and eventually was undone by water. Man 1.0, as it were, created in the beginning, is the man of earth. Man 2.0—Moshe Rabbeinu—is a man of water.

But what is the meaning of this distinction? A comment of the Netziv may illuminate our path.

Indeed, Moshe was different from the people who preceded him in terms of basic human needs and wants. Of man, the Torah says: “It is not good that man is alone” (Bereishit 2:18). Yet Moshe separated from his spouse and was, in fact, alone. Man is a speaking being, and the power of speech is what connects us to other people. Yet we are told that Moshe was not “a man of words” (Shemot 4:10). And Moshe was able to subsist on the mountain without need of food or drink.

We are not like Moshe, but we are the beneficiaries of his essential characteristic. Torah is compared to water. Like water, Torah is the source of life in our world.

Moshe, the boy who was “drawn from the water,” put the power of Torah in our hands. Thus, Moshe can be seen as a qualitatively new creation: Man 2.0. Through him, not only was the creation of mankind completed, but the ability of man to take hold of the Torah and use its force for the betterment of our world made possible.

A world of which—if we use our influence wisely—it may be said, “ki tov”—it is good. < Rabbi Daniel Goldstein serves as Rav HaMidrasha at Midreshet AMIT in Jerusalem. He lives in Neve Daniel with his wife and children. He is the proud great-nephew of Bessie Gottsfeld, founder of Mizrachi Women, today’s AMIT.

Winter 2017 :: AMIT MAGAZINE :: 27

WINTER17_dvar_torah_26-27_v2.indd 3

1/12/17 12:51 PM

DEVELOPMENT NEWS AMIT 2016 annual dinner

(l-r) Hallel Barelli, Miri Uziel, Aviner Kaufman

Over 400 people gathered together on Sunday, November 20th to celebrate and honor outstanding leaders who have raised funds and awareness for AMIT, while inspiring a whole new generation of supporters.

Amanda and Isaac Benishai received the Young Visionary Award and were recognized for their work on behalf of AFLI and Young Leadership. Deena and Adam Shiff were honored for their

longstanding connection to AMIT which goes back to the early days of Mizrachi Women when Adam’s grandmother, Annette Renick, z’’l, was involved, through their own leadership roles

Anne and Mark Wasserman

Isaac and Amanda Benishai

today. The Miller Family, Leon and Gloria, Edward, Sari and

Howard were awarded the L’Dor V’Dor Award for the family’s

legacy with AMIT and their numerous meaningful dedications

(l-r) Marion Weiss, Suzanne Doft, William Weiss

to Beit Hayeled an Kfar Batya.

Alan Kalter, legendary announcer for Late Night with David Letterman, served as Master of Ceremonies. The inspiring program included a surprise appearance by Matisyahu,

who joined AMIT alumnus Aviner Kaufman onstage, and also

featured Tamar Giladi, Naomi Shemer’s daughter in law, singing her iconic song “Yerushalayim Shel Zahav”, with AMIT alumnae Miri Uziel and student Halel Bareli. <

(l-r) Amy Verschleiser, Debbie Moed, Deena Shiff, Trudy Stern, Carrie Hirschfeld (l-r) Suzanne Doft, Adam and Deena Shiff, Andrew Goldsmith

Aviner Kaufman and Matisyahu

28 :: Winter 2017 :: AMIT MAGAZINE

WINTER17_devnews_p28-38_v4.indd 28

(l-r) Debbie Blumenthal, Sharon Merkin, Debbie Moed, Mindy Kolatch

1/12/17 12:48 PM

(l-r) David and Gaby Fridman, Sammy Shiff, Gabriella Safdieh, Sara and Simon Shemia

Standing (l-r) Elana Grauer, Janie and Jamie Rogozinsky (Seated) Allie Luxenberg, Miriam and Ben Vago

(l-r) Alumnus David Stonehill, Robyn Price Stonehill, Deena and Adam Shiff

(l-r) Marvin and Dassie Bienenfeld and AMIT alumnus, Aviner Kaufman

Marilyn and Leon Moed, Alvin Hellerstein

(l-r) Francine Stein, Harriet Seif, Ina Tropper, Linda and Barry Eichler, Ira Kellman

Standing (l-r) Ed Miller, Isaac Steinberg, Sari Miller, Abigail Steinberg, Howard Miller Seated Leon and Gloria Miller

Naomi Max and Cara Kleiman

Winter 2017 :: AMIT MAGAZINE :: 29

WINTER17_devnews_p28-38_v4.indd 29

1/12/17 12:48 PM

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Pia Pollack

AMIT Philadelphia Council/ Shira Chapter Gala It was “An Evening of Celebration” at the Philly

Dina and Lawrence Caroline

Gala honoring Dina and Lawrence Caroline and

Sarah and Jeffrey Rosner. This was a spectacular

affair in every way - speeches and video taped

performances were moving; the food delicious;

the decor and ambiance perfect, and the room

exuded warmth and enthusiasm. Many thanks

to Pia Pollack our MC and Steve Goldman the

keynote speaker. Most importantly, the crowd felt great pride in the accomplishments of our

AMIT students and our deserving honoree. <

The Caroline and Niknam Family

(l-r) Peyton Katz, Leya Kaufman, Sam Francis, Cara Kleiman and Lily Grobman

The Rosner family - Yossi, Sarah, Rina, Jeff, and Yesroel

Amanda and Isaac Benishai

End of Summer Bash On Thursday evening, September 15,

young professionals from the New York area came together at the Boat Basin

Café on the Hudson River to enjoy good

friends, amazing BBQ, fried Oreos, drinks, and flower crowns at the AMIT Young

Cara Kleiman and Cal Major

Leadership’s “End of Summer Bash.”

Everyone had a blast, and the proceeds

from the event went to support AMIT’s Sema and Moshe Menora, z”l, Back-toSchool Campaign. <

(l-r) Alexandra and Adam Goldblatt, Elana and Matthew Grauer

30 :: Winter 2017 :: AMIT MAGAZINE

WINTER17_devnews_p28-38_v4.indd 30

(l-r) Jordana and Noah Gorsky, Barry Ickow, Davida Graber

1/12/17 12:48 PM

Ayelet Shaked Honored by AMIT Ambassador’s Club

David Isaac and Andrew Goldsmith

AMIT Ambassador’s Club members enjoyed an exclusive

reception with the Israeli Minister of Justice, Ayelet Shaked, at the home of Jacob M. and Shari Safra. Minister Shaked

discussed her continued fight to bring terrorists to justice and how she was using legal avenues to discredit the BDS

movement worldwide. Minister Shaked also stated that she knows that every mayor in Israel wants an AMIT school in his or her city and commented that AMIT schools have an excellent education. (l-r) Lisa Meyers, Barbara Rascoff, Joyce Straus, Sharon Merkin

The Ambassador’s Club is AMIT’s elite giving society for supporters who give at the $50,000 level and above.

To learn more about the benefits of joining the

Ambassador’s Club, please contact Liz Klibanoff at lizk@amitchildren.org or call 212.477.4737. <

(l-r) Joyce Straus, Yifat Naftali, Debbie Moed, Ellen Wasserman

(l-r) Shari Safra, Ayelet Shaked, Jacob M. Safra

(l-r) Barbara Rascoff, Ayelet Shaked, Lisa Meyers

(l-r) Debbie Moed, Ayelet Shaked, Shari Safra

(l-r) Deena Shiff, Ayelet Shaked, Suzanne Doft

(l-r) Sol Merkin, Jonathan and Mindy Kolatch

Ellen Wasserman and Ayelet Shaked

Winter 2017 :: AMIT MAGAZINE :: 31

WINTER17_devnews_p28-38_v4.indd 31

1/12/17 12:48 PM

(Back row l-r) Edward Medros, Ruth Medros, George Flesh and far right Richard Cohn (Front row l-r) Holly Flesh, Jone Dalezman, Renee Bellin, Orna Teitelbaum

DEVELOPMENT NEWS New England Gala Concert

AMIT New England Council/Ra’anana

Chapter hosted an extravaganza on Sunday,

Klezmer Conservatory Band

November 13, at Temple Emanuel in Newton, Mass. Over 300 people turned out for a

performance by Hankus Netsky and the Klezmer Conservatory Band, featuring

Cantor Elias Rosemberg of Temple Emanuel.

A special thanks to Beverly Bavly, AMIT New England Council/ Ra’anana Chapter board

Aviner Kaufman

member, whose inspiration, vision and hard work helped make this gala great!<

Beverly Bavly, Cantor Elías Rosemberg

(Back row l-r) Charlotte Troubh, Ethlynne Brickman, Shuli Rockoff (Front row l-r) Larry Sheftel, Ruth Fax, Gene Fax, Sarah Aghion Ethlynne Brickman

Sixth Annual AFLI Bowl Nearly 150 college students gathered on

a sunny Sunday morning at Chelsea Park

for the popular flag football tournament.

AFLI members’ hard work, together with

event sponsorships from MRL Promotions

and ParaDocs, guaranteed another fun and Soggy Bottom Boys vs. Beat the Ofmans

successful tournament. <

The Winning Team: Soggy Bottom Boys

The Blindfolders vs. Shuey Ofman’s Team

Team Arlee

32 :: Winter 2017 :: AMIT MAGAZINE

WINTER17_devnews_p28-38_v4.indd 32

1/12/17 12:48 PM

Chicago Jewelry Event

Standing (l-r) Jodi Morady, Roni Yeger , Leslie Rosen Stern, Kayla Arons

A new group in Lakeview, Illinois, came out

Seated (l-r) Anna Ermel and Jill Feldman

to support AMIT NewGen at a Jewelry event at the home of Rena Geller Grosser. Special thanks to Robin Nathan of Palette Earth Designs for supporting AMIT. <

Midwest Paint Party

The NewGEN Midwest region got together for an AMIT Paint Night at Bottle and

Bottega in Evanston, IL. Special thanks to

Rachael Mauer and Roni Yeger for hosting Chaili Glickman, Jen Koplow, Rachael Mauer

(l-r) Rena Geller Grosser, Debbie Geller and cutie Wes Geller

this fun event. <

(l-r) Raphaela Stern, Debbie Geller, Lori Miller

Miriam Friedman

A Spiritual Evening in DC On September 25 the AMIT Birah Chapter of

Greater Washington, D.C. turned out in force to hear Rabbi Brahm Weinberg of Kemp Mill

Synagogue share an inspiring talk on teshuva.

Alana Isenberg and Linda Klonsky

The annual membership meeting attracted

a large crowd who enjoyed a delicious dinner

provided by the lay leadership. We want to thank

our gracious hosts Alana and Seth Isenberg of

Silver Spring, Maryland. <

Rabbi Brahm Weinberg addressing AMIT members

Donna Lawrence and Elana Stein

Winter 2017 :: AMIT MAGAZINE :: 33

WINTER17_devnews_p28-38_v4.indd 33

1/12/17 12:48 PM

DEVELOPMENT NEWS Fall Chug Ayelet Events Chug Ayelet, Jerusalem, has enjoyed a

crowded and comprehensive calendar this

year. September got off to a strong start with guest speaker Rabbi Benny Lau inaugurating

the monthly Lunch & Learn. An exciting new Cinema Series premiered with the movie

AMIT members at Harvest Lunch

“Deli Man”, followed by a catered supper. And

the month rounded out with a membership

event that included a fascinating private tour

Rabbi Benny Lau

of the Picasso exhibit at the Israel Museum.

We continued with a Book Review, and an

overflowing crowd was fascinated listening to

Judy Clark. As the season turned from summer

to fall, Chug Ayelet held their successful annual

Harvest Luncheon honoring devoted veteran

volunteers Gala Greenspan and Miriam Litke. <

Judy Clark (l-r) Marion Talansky, Betty Neustadter, Anete Jotkowitz

Abbie Statsky-Frank and Debbie Firestone (l-r) Sarah Cohen, Anna Cohen, Hyla Levine

Fuse It and Use It

In Boynton Beach, AMIT’s creative and enthusiastic budding artists gathered to learn the art of glass fusing.

Participants worked with flat glass and colorful glass pieces to create their

own designs and execute a unique and usable dish or wall-hanging, with the results now decorating their coffee tables at home. <

Hena Aloof and Elaine Mendelow (l-r) Dana Schechter, Cheryl Mirsky, Melanie Jaffe

34 :: Winter 2017 :: AMIT MAGAZINE

WINTER17_devnews_p28-38_v4.indd 34

1/12/17 12:48 PM

2016 Greater Long Island Gala

AMITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual Greater Long Island Gala brought together more than 300 friends and supporters at The Sephardic

Temple in Cedarhurst to recognize and honor outstanding members of AMIT.

Event co-chair Esther Press emceed the evening, which

recognized Chayala Liebman, Liza Rosenthal, Elaine Gross, Sari

Honorees Sari and Marisa Braunstein and Family

Braunstein, Marisa Braunstein and Sami Schindelheim. Marisa Braunstein, a graduate of Midreshet AMIT, presented the Dvar

Torah. She spoke about the profound impact her experience at Midreshet AMIT has made in her life.

The evening also paid tribute to Sharon and Bill Rothchild,

residents of Cedarhurst and members of the AMIT Massada chapter, who were recognized with the Marvin Leff zâ&#x20AC;?l

Leadership Award. Bill Rothchild served as Assistant Director of Development of AMIT from 2008 to 2014.

Honoree Marisa Braunstein and Friends

The Gala co-chairs included Debby Gage, Rise and Harvey Kaufmann, Faye and Steven Krawitz, Zipporah and Rabbi

Arnold Marans, Barbara and Jules Nordlicht, Esther and Donald Press, Betty Atlas and Own Rumelt, and Sami Schindelheim. <

Honorees Sharon and Bill Rothchild and Family

(Standing l-r) Judy Hartstein, Sharon Rothchild, Hattie Dubroff, Debbie Moed, Anne Golombeck (Seated l-r) Harriette Garber, Brenda Kalter, Zipporah Marans, Rochelle Stern Kevelson

Honoree Elaine Gross and Family

WINTER17_devnews_p28-38_v4.indd 35

Honoree Sami Schindelheim and Family

Liza Rosenthal and family

(l-r) Honorees Sari Braunstein, Maris Braunstein, Liza Rosenthal, Chayala Liebman, Elaine Gross, Sami Schindelheim

Honoree Chayala Liebman and Family

Winter 2017 :: AMIT MAGAZINE :: 35

1/12/17 12:48 PM

DEVELOPMENT NEWS Aviner performing at the home of Shari and Jacob M. Safra

The Whirlwind Tour

This past November two AMIT graduates and a current student toured AMITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Southeast, MidAtlantic and New York regions.

(l-r) Gary and Carol Moss, Halel, Miri, Debbie Moed

AMIT alumna Miri Uziel grew up in Bet Hayeled

and Kfar Blatt from the age of seven. Since 2010 Miri has been a drama therapy teacher at Kfar Blatt working with at-risk youth.

Aviner Kaufman, a recent graduate of AMIT

Bienenfeld Hevrutah Yeshiva, discovered his

musical talent at the high school; he hopes to

(l-r) Leon and Adrianne Brum, Miri, Halel and Debbie Moed

join the IDF band and continue recording and composing.

In recognition of her contributions as the youth council representative for the city of Sderot,

12th grader Halel Bareli received the great honor of lighting the national Yom Haâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;atzmaut torch at Har Herzl. <

Miri and Halel at Chicago breakfast (l-r) Barbara Bloom, Aviner, Brenda Mandel

LA Remembers the Raid on Entebbe To commemorate the 40-year anniversary of

(l-r) Rachael and JJ Wernick, Jeff and Shari Fishman, Nate Frankel

Operation Thunderbolt, AMIT LA, in conjunction with LAvate, hosted an evening with IDF

commando Sassy Reuven. Reuven served in the special task force that flew thousands of miles

over enemy territory to rescue over one hundred Jewish hostages being held by terrorists in

Uganda. Sassy gave a mesmerizing step-by-step account of the operation. <

Dan Altshuler and Alan Greenstone

WINTER17_devnews_p28-38_v4.indd 36

Eli and Chanie Baron

Gregg and Naomi Gittler, Rebecca Gittler

1/12/17 12:48 PM

Chicago Annual Dinner

The Crystal Ballroom in Evanston, IL was the

scene of AMIT Chicago’s elegant Annual Gala.

Following remarks by AMIT President Debbie Moed, attendees were deeply moved by the

by the accounts of Miri Uziel, Aviner Kaufman and Halel Bareli. We were proud to have as

our honorees Jen Koplow, co-founder and co-

Tova Koplow, Melissa Rothwax, Jen Koplow, Jon Koplow, Meyer Koplow, Ellen Rothwax Josh and Alley Koplow

president of the Carmel Chapter, who received

Ally Koplow

the NewGen award and Karen Kaplan, devoted and dedicated AMIT volunteer, recipient of the Bessie Gotsfeld award. The event was chaired

by Chaili and Adam Glickman, Shelly and Stanley Kroll and Eudice Greenfield. <

Eudice Greenfield and Karen Kaplan

Jen Koplow being presented the New Gen award by a partially hidden Eudice Greenfield

Jen Koplow. Aviner, Miri, Hallel, Karen Kaplan (l-r) Eudice Greenfield, Sandra Berg, Pres; Karen Kaplan, Jen Koplow, Hallel Bareli, Chaili Glickman, Tami Drapkin, incoming Beth Alter, Shelly Kroll President Debbie Moed

Winter 2017 :: AMIT MAGAZINE :: 37

WINTER17_devnews_p28-38_v4.indd 37

1/12/17 12:48 PM

[spanning AMIT world]

Chicago - Immediately after the yom tovim, AMIT Chicago visited the beautiful Chicago Botanic Garden. Twenty women enjoyed the balmy fall weather and the beautiful grounds. Our own Sharyn Cohen gave us a magnificent tour and everyone enjoyed the gorgeous change of colors and natural beauty. < (l-r) Sandy Miretzky, Linda Simons, Mara Shanes, Shelly Kroll, Bobbie Nussbaum and standing in center is our personal guide, Sharyn Cohn

Long Island - The children of Mitzi Golden honored their mother by celebrating her milestone 90th birthday with a luncheon.

Mitzi’s children, grandchildren and extended family and friends had the opportunity to personally thank Mitzi for her love and friendship with their generous donations to AMIT. Both Mitzi and her children are members of the AMIT President’s Circle. <

Miami Beach - The Francine Katz Motherin-Israel event gathered a dynamic group in Miami Beach for a delicious dessert reception. Dr. Leslie Baumann, Cosmetic Dermatologist presented the “Top 5 Things You Must Do to Keep Your Skin Healthy and Beautiful.” All participants enjoyed the opportunity to learn new health tips. <

(l-r) Marla Golden, Robert and Donna Golden, Mitzi Golden, Bruce Golden, Sharon and Mitch Quain

(l-r) Michelle Green, Gilda Burstein, Betty Behar

Miami - AMIT Young Professionals kicked off their first event with a Sunday Funday at the Ninja Lounge of Miami. Participants grappled with the challenges of the Ninja Warrior obstacle course, experienced the exhilaration of dodgeball on trampolines, and finished the day with a cold brew and Dolphins football in the Ninja bar. Yeah! < AMIT Ninja Warriors

Aventura - AMIT Southeast Young Professionals joined forces with the Aventura Moishe House to throw an amazing Sukkah party! Young Professionals came from far and wide to enjoy sushi under the stars and learn about AMIT. < (l-r) Andrew Hagen, Maya Tzur, Suzanne Lepselter

38 :: Winter 2017 :: AMIT MAGAZINE

WINTER17_devnews_p28-38_v4.indd 38

1/12/17 12:48 PM

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Alumni Spotlight showcases success stories of AMIT graduates who succeed in all walks of life, perform chesed and reflect the best of AMIT and the Zionist spirit.

SHARONA PESIN

Sharona is a graduate of AMIT Wasserman High School in Beersheva and a recipient of the prestigious Ilan Ramon Award for Excellence and Leadership Tell us about yourself.

I’m 18 years old and from Beersheva. I am the youngest in the family. I have an older brother named Michael and a beautiful dog Chucky.

What made you/your parents select AMIT Wasserman Beersheva?

AMIT Wasserman Beersheva is a school known for its high academic level and its emphasis on the sciences. In addition, I liked the idea that the school is a state religious school and reflects the diversity of Judaism.

What has AMIT offered you?

I always felt that the school gave me lots of space to develop in my own way. I was always encouraged to try new things and test myself in as many ways as possible.

I very much enjoyed learning subjects that challenged me and developed my mind. AMIT taught me not to give up and to persevere in order to succeed and to believe in myself and never stop challenging myself with opportunities that knock on the door. I was always taught to look around and learn to accommodate all different kinds of people with love and patience. My education has become a part of me and my character. In moments of difficulty or challenge, I can always remember the advice and world view given to me by AMIT to succeed and progress.

Which teachers did you connect with in high school?

My homeroom teacher was one of the most significant figures for me in high school. She was always there to enhance my strengths and guide me in difficult and confusing moments. She was like a second mother to me, and I could tell her anything and trust that she would always be honest and know the right thing to say.

What was one of the highlights of your high school experience?

My trip to Poland. A considerable number of students went, and we were all together – a shared memorial journey to the concentration camps and all the main sites in Poland. I could not believe that as teens we could have such a powerful experience. I had the privilege of seeing this in order to teach others and be a link in the chain of generations, filled with a lot of hope and motivation.

You were recently presented with the Prestigious Ilan Ramon Award for Excellence and Leadership. Were you surprised?

I was very surprised to receive the Ilan Ramon Award. I did not know I was nominated for this program until I was invited to the last stages of the selection process. This is a prestigious program for youth who excel academically and contribute to the community.

What are your plans after graduation?

I am now attending a pre-military academy named HaEmek. It is a co-educational program for religious and secular people. I will then enlist in the army as a programmer. In the future, I dream of opening a private speech therapy business and of establishing a framework for people with special needs once they leave the educational system.

What would you like to say to the AMIT supporters in the United States?

I think the connection with the American Jewish community in general and the supporters of the AMIT Network in particular are important and powerful in the development of Israel’s youth and their Jewish and Zionist identities. 

What school activities were you involved with?

I was on the student council and mediated between teachers and students and represented AMIT at the National Young Orators competition.

WINTER17_spotlight_p39_v4.indd 1

1/12/17 12:44 PM

Come Home to

Yerushalayim

JOIN THE AMIT FAMILY & THOUSANDS OF OT H ERS A S W E C ELEBRAT E THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF

The Reunification of

Our Eternal Capital YO M Y E RU S H A L AY I M M I S S I O N H I GH L I GH T S : Exclusive AMIT celebration followed by the Mizrachi World Movement Opening Gala and Musical Extravaganza President Reuven Rivlin, Minister of Education Naftali Bennett and world-renowned Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, guest speakers Explore the changing role of modern day Zionism happening at AMIT schools through innovative experiential learning Relive the miracle of this day and celebrate Yom Yerushalayim in the Old City Walk in the footsteps of the ’67 paratroopers, following the route of the battle that liberated Jerusalem Lead the Yerushalayim Flag March - Rikudgalim - with hundreds of thousands to the Old City Celebrate a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with Israel’s decision makers and political leadership

May 21 - May 25, 2017 For more information contact Sara Cherny at 212.792.5690 or sarac@amitchildren.org

WINTER2017_page_40_Yom.indd 1

1/12/17 12:20 PM