ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
What school and extra curricular activities did you participate in?
Shachar Kriaf
Interview by Robert E. Sutton SHACHAR KRIAF IS A RECENT graduate of AMIT Ginsburg Bar Ilan Gush Dan Junior and Senior High School for Boys and Chairman of the Ramat Gan student council. He received the Ilan and Asaf Ramon Prize for Excellence and Leadership for outstanding fundraising events at his school to raise
I held a number of different positions: member of the student council, counselor and guide for Shelah [National Field Society] and student representative for the Municipal council of Ramat Gan. How did you become chairman of the student council in Ramat Gan? After being on the AMIT student council, my teacher advised me to move on and become a member of the Municipal Council of Ramat Gan. After about a year of serving as council secretary, I ran for election as chairman and got elected by an overwhelming vote. Tell us about the fundraising event that you organized at AMIT. We had a fundraising event for a 13-year-old child with heart and lung cancer. He was in dire need of medication that cost 80,000 shekels a month. We raised that amount in less than ninety days.
money for children with cancer.
You recently received the prestigious Ilan and Assaf Ramon
How did you and your parents choose AMIT Bar Ilan?
Prize for Excellence and Leadership. Were you surprised? Tell
From the moment we started to look, I knew I would go to an AMIT school. I fell in love with AMIT the moment I went through the doors. What were your strengths in school and what are your favorite subjects? My favorite subjects are history and Jewish philosophy. We are nothing without our history, and we’re nothing without understanding our actions. Tell us about your teachers. The teachers at Bar Ilan Gush Dan are extraordinary. The interactions with them were not only limited to school hours, but went so much further: individualized time after school, phone conversations on any school topic, and on life. There are two experiences that I’ll never forget. The first was when my math teacher stayed with me and two other students the
us about the prize and the program. I was really surprised! Out of 300 teenagers, they chose only twelve. All of us have devoted a large part of our lives to doing good and giving to others, impacting Israeli society and showing love of country. We participated in many meetings with members of the Knesset as well as key figures in Israeli society. How has AMIT played a vital role in your educational process and imparting Jewish and Zionist ideals? The school and the network of educators instill love of the land and Torah. The history lessons are run by the best teachers who keep reminding us the importance of a Jewish state. What are your plans post high school and long-term? I’m starting a pre-army preparatory program (Mechina), and then army service. Afterwards, with G-d’s help, I plan to attend teaching college to become an educator. In the future, I hope to
night before the Bagrut (matriculation exam) studying and
be a member of the Knesset and eventually the prime minister
practicing the topics we had difficulty with.
of Israel.
My teacher Yaron Carmi was wonderful and caring. He helped
Is there anything you would like to say to the AMIT
me out of major crises, and I revealed things to him
supporters here in the United States?
that I had never told anyone before. He is a personal role model
Continue giving your support. Keep on believing that the
for me.
AMIT network is the best place for us with round-the-clock
Our Principal, Yoni Berlin is a role model for all of the students.
dedication and love of learning, and caring people. I can never
He does everything with a smile and love. I do not remember
thank all those people in the U.S. who helped me get to where I
one time I was denied a request for help.
am today. <
28 :: Fall 2016 :: AMIT MAGAZINE