COMMUNITY
THE BOILING POINT
OCTOBER 2013
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New $100,000 grant endows Poland-Israel trip
Shalhevet sponsoring first-ever Jewish high school journalism conference later this month By Alexa Fishman, Community Editor Students from across the U.S. will study topics ranging from ethics of journalism to journalism conference for students at Jewish high schools Oct. 24-27, sponsored by Shalhevet and the American Jewish Press Association. The new organization, called the Jewish Scholastic Press Association, or JSPA, was spearheaded by Mrs. Joelle Keene to help students learn how to report about Jewish issues as well as the widest possible range of teen-related topics. The conference will also cover journalism basics like layout, interview technique and privacy laws. “As a Jewish high school, we cover news that other people don’t,” said Mrs. Keene, who is faculty advisor to The Boiling Point. “I wasn’t so much thinking of the contion – JSPA -- where all the schools who are trying to do Jewish reporting could compare notes, encourage one another, and learn to handle the full spectrum of Jewish concerns.” Attendees will have a choice of journalism workshops and lectures, most presented at Bnai David-Judea Congregation on Pico Boulevard, along with meals and special programs on Shabbat. Among the speakers will be Gary Rosenblatt, Editor in Chief of the New York Jewish Week, who will give a keynote address on Jewish journalism ethics; Jennifer Medina, a national correspondent for The New York Times, who will speak about life as a Modern Orthodox news reporter; Dana Erlich, Director of Public Diplomacy for the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles; and Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky, who will give a wanting to avoid lashon harah (gossip) and using information to protect others from harm. Mrs. Keene said she got the idea from attending conferences of the NSPA and CSPA, the National and Columbia Scholastic Press Associations, respectively, and had been thinking about it for several
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not ideal. “This is the best of all worlds and will allow our students to be incredible journalists and fully committed Jews.” So far, SAR High School in Riverdale, New York, and Jewish Community High School of the Bay, in San Francisco, have registered, while Maimonides of Boston and Marvin Berman Academy of Maryland are among others who have expressed interest. Local schools have been invited as well. Over Shabbat, students will eat and daven at Bnai David, hopefully meeting each other and learning from one another’s prior experiences in high school journalism. Other planned speakers David Nimmer, a national authority on copyright law
The Poland-Israel trip is one of the best things we do in the school, so we are very lucky and thankful that every student should be able to go.
Suissa, columnist, publisher of the Jewish Journal and father of freshman Noah Suissa; and Kathy Neumeyer, advisor to the Harvard-Westlake Chronicle..
October
Tuesday
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cipal Reb Noam Weissman. “I was super excited when I heard.” According to Mrs. Lewis, since the grant is an endowment, Shalhevet plans to only use the money earned from the interest the endowment makes, not the principle, to fund scholarships. With that strategy, depending on the economy, the fund would hopefully last forever. This year, since there is not enough
An anonymous donor has created a new $100,000 endowment to support Shalhevet’s annual senior Poland-Israel trip, hoping to make sure every senior has the ability to attend the once-in-alifetime experience. Head of School Rabbi Ari Segal called it an “important step.” “Thrilled to hear that donors are starting to recognize the importance of endowments,” Rabbi Segal said, “as well as the profound impact that our PolandIsrael trip has on our students.” Interest earned on the endowment will provide scholarships for the Israel portion of the trip for three or four students per year, depending on BP PHO T O B Y EMILIE B ENYO WITZ factors such as inter- EXPERIENCE: Students stand outside a concentration est rates, additional camp wrapped in an Israeli flag in 2013 on their senior gifts, and students’ Poland-Israel trip. needs, according to Executive Director Mrs. Robyn Lewis. Last year, several seniors did not make the trip, which cost about $5,200 per student. This year, she said, the price may be even higher, be–Principal Reb Noam Weissman cause this year’s senior class is smaller and certain costs time to wait for the endowment to reThe journey begins in Poland, where ceive interest, Shalhevet will take monstudents visit concentration camps and ey from the principle and replace that massacre sites as well as cities where money taken later on, she said. “I am incredibly thankful and apJewish life thrived before the Holocaust. They also meet with the tiny preciative for the thoughtful, kind, and Jewish communities that remain there. generous gift,” Ms. Lewis said. Senior Yan Kligerman is hoping to chance to see what the State of Israel time. means in a new light. “Since I’ve never been outside of the “The Poland-Israel trip is one of the best things we do in the school, so we country, this is an exciting trip for me,” are very lucky and thankful that every said Yan. “The grant is extremely generous.” student should be able to go,” said Prin-
years. Last June, she attended the annual conference of the American Jewish Press Association, where she met Marshall Weiss, the group’s president. He shared her interest in the subject. “Mrs. Keene and I discussed the importance of cultivating the next generation of Jewish journalists,” said Mr. Weiss in an interview. “I thought we would go back and gradually put something together, but to my pleasant surprise, Joelle contacted me in the mid-summer and said that she was ready to get the ball rolling.” With the support of Head of School Rabi Ari Segal – who not only agreed to co-sponsor the group but also personally invited Jewish high schools through their heads of school – Mrs. Keene started with 10 schools, all with active journalism programs. “For years Jewish schools and students have had to choose between full participation in conferences and full Shabbat observance,” Rabbi Segal said. “And while I’m thankful to conference organizers who
WELCOME: New ninth graders and their parents met on the Sport Court at the Freshman Barbecue Aug. 26.
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By Eric Bazak, Staff Writer
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BP P HO T O B Y G OLDIE F IELDS
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5/6 Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan
Candlelighting: 6:17
Fire Week
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Back to School Night 7 PM
Senior Retreat
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14 Columbus Day
Candlelighting: 6:07
15 Picture Makeup Day
Fire Week
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PSAT
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Freshman Retreat 23
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Candlelighting: 5:58
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Fire Week
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Havdalah: 7:10
12/13 Parshat Lech-Lecha Havdalah: 7:01
19/20 Havdalah: 6:53
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JSPA Convention Candlelighting: 5:50
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Parshat Noach
Parshat Vayeira
Hawk Week
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Schoolwide Oneg Shabbat
Hawk Week
Weekend
Parshat Chayei Sarah
Havdalah: 6:45
Faculty In Service Day
2/3 Parshat Toldot SUN: Open House
Candlelighting: 5:43
Havdalah: 6:39
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