A View from the History Department

Throughout the last few weeks in history, we have covered a variety of topics ranging from the Renaissance and the Reformation to the Civil War and Reconstruction. Throughout these topics, students have been able to explore "change" in history. Through the Renaissance and Reformation, the world began to focus on human achievement and potential, weakening the power of the Catholic Church in Europe and allowing people to think for themselves, without the impact of the church. In the Civil War, students learn about what caused the country to fracture into two separate entities. After the war, the country adopted a wide spread abolition policy, shaking the foundation of the country to its core. Leaders like Lincoln, Johnson, and Grant, needed to figure out ways to implement changes that would allow the country to rebuild and move forward. Both of these periods of time drastically shaped the course of history and put the world on a much needed path of acceptance and tolerance for all. 

Senior Interview Program

On Sunday, November 20^th, a number of seniors participated in the Interview Preparation Program, designed specifically to prepare seniors for competitive college interviews, as well as employment and internship interviews.

Participants gained beneficial skills and experience; they learned how to effectively talk about themselves, how to prepare for some of the most common interview questions, and what questions to ask the interviewer. These seniors took part in an introductory program earlier in the week to learn about the different types of interviews before moving ahead with Sunday’s session, which focused on interview preparation and strategies for the different types of interviews (college, internships and employment), as well as opportunities to practice the interview skills. 

I facilitated the program along with highly experienced community volunteers; together we have conducted hundreds (if not thousands) of interviews from the perspective of employer, university alumni interviewer as well as admission officer interviewer. After a seminar-style discussion of interview questions and answers (with the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’), the seniors worked in teams, interviewing each other and providing feedback while under observation by a facilitator who also provided feedback.  Each student then experienced a ‘one on one’ mock interview from A to Z, with specific feedback.  

Student response was incredibly positive and one participant even went on to ace his competitive college interview on Sunday afternoon!  The next Interview Preparation Workshop will be held on Sunday, December 4^th for the remaining seniors who are interested in gaining (or polishing) their interview skills. Seniors who did not yet register for the program, they can still do so at https://goo.gl/forms/Xul0QF5GvZ8MBQbE3.

For any questions about this or other college counseling programs, please feel free to contact Jackie Rockman at rockmanj@dkja.net.

  This fall has been the best showing for the Claire and Emanuel G. Rosenblatt High School athletic program in school history!

    The Lady Eagles Varsity Volleyball Team started practice August 15th and each and every day one could see this team come together. Their only regular season losses were to schools from the larger schools in 5A and 3A districts, both in 5 long games. The team finished undefeated in the district winning all 6 matches and then winning both playoff matches for the schools first ever district championship in any sport.  The Lady Eagles then went on to win a Regional Semi Final game against Miami Christian School and then defeat Grandview Prep to win the South Region Championship and be the first team in school history to go to the FHSAA State Semi Finals.  The home crowds and school spirit got bigger and bigger as the team kept winning.  The Lady Eagles showcased their talents in the state semi finals, losing a four set match to The Geneva School of Winter Park finishing their season at 14 - 3.  

      The Flag Football Team took to the field this fall and dominated from the start.  The second year program had a bunch of returning players that were determined to win a title.  The Eagles had a west coast style offense and a different unit for defense that allowed the Eagles to stay fresh and win the close games.  The Eagles ran the table and were undefeated in the regular season at 6 - 0.  In the semi finals they dominated FAU High School.  In the championship game under the lights here on campus, the Eagles went toe to toe with Hebrew Academy (RASG) of North Miami Beach winning the championship on a last second interception in the end zone to take home the trophy.

     The boys and girl golf team finished the season at 3 - 4 and sent five players to the district playoffs while having two of them qualify for the Regional tournaments at Osprey Point and The Bear Club in West Palm Beach.

  

     The boys and girls cross country teams worked hard throughout the heat of the fall and it showed in the meets.  Eight Boys and Six girls qualified for the district races at Quiet Waters Park in late October.  Two runners just missed the qualifying times to make it to Regionals.

Coach Trell

     

Justin Goodis

The AIPAC Schusterman Advocacy Institute High School Summit, is an annual event hosted in Washington D.C.. Each year, AIPAC brings around 500 high school student leaders to Washington, D.C. from across the country for high-level Israel advocacy and political activism training. Students come from all over the country, whether it be from schools, synagogues, youth groups, or teen leadership organizations. This year, Ben Grabelsky, Justin Goodis, Andrew Behmoiras, and Josh Hodes were selected from Donna Klein Jewish academy to attend the conference along with chaperone, Rabbi Plotkin.

AIPAC is an organization that works to promote the ideal that cooperation between the US and Israel is advantageous for both nations. As America's bipartisan pro-Israel lobby, AIPAC tries to ensure that all members of Congress will be supporting Israel through foreign aid, government partnerships, joint anti-terrorism efforts and the promotion of a negotiated two-state solution, to maintain the Jewish state of Israel, and to demilitarize the Palestinian state.

At the high school summit, we were educated on how we can contribute to helping and advocating for Israel at home. We were provided with the knowledge on combating anti-Israel organizations such as BDS (Boycott Divest and Sanctions). We were also taught how to lobby with congressman and discuss with them the different acts and sanctions that need to be put in place in order to protect the US - Israel relationship. It was definitely a great and educative experience and I encourage future Juniors to join the I-team fellowship and sign up for summit next year!

Medical Program

Rabin's Song for Peace

On November 4, 1995, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin (z”l) was assassinated, and in that moment, Israeli society was forever changed. As music is a window into society, the way in which music swirled around the life and untimely death of Yitzhak Rabin – one of Israel’s first sabra (צבר, native born) leaders – provides interesting portals into Israeli society.

The song Shir LaShalom – words by Yaakov Rotblit and composed by Yair Rosenblum, written in 1969 – became the song of a generation. The song urges to “bring the day” that peace will come. Some feel that the song echoes Rabin’s famous speech at Hebrew University on June 28, 1967, in which he praises the sacrifice of the soldiers of the IDF and starkly reminds the country of the harsh casualty of war.

Originally performed by the Infantry Ensemble (Lehakat Hanachal) of the Israeli Defense Forces, its reception among the military leadership – of which Rabin had been a part – was controversial. Army officials such as Rehavam Ze’vi ("Gandhi") and Ariel Sharon forbade it from being performed in their areas of command, and as such, the song became representative of left-wing peace-oriented politics. Ultimately, it became an official campaign song for the left-wing Meretz party in the 1996 election.

It was with that association that Rabin – former Chief of Staff of the IDF and Commander during the Six Day War – took out a lyric sheet and the words of Shir LaSalom, alongside Shimon Peres, rock star Aviv Gefen, and tens of thousands attending a the peace rally in "Kings of Israel Square" (now "Rabin Square") in Tel Aviv.

Shir LaShalom (שיר לשלום, Song for Peace)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-oxRVJc3Sg

Aviv Geffen, son of Israeli poet and songwriter Yonatan Geffen, was just emerging on the music scene when Rabin became Prime Minister for the second time in 1992. By the time of the peace rally on that fateful night in 1995, Geffen was the rock star and symbol of young Israelis, and he and Rabin were close acquaintances.

Prior to the assassination, Aviv Geffen had written Livkot Lechah (To Cry For You) in memory of a friend who had been killed in a car crash. After the tragedy of Rabin's assassination, this song – performed at the memorial in Rabin Square just one week after Rabin's death – took on a new national meaning.

Livkot Lechah became a song of the “candle generation,” the mostly young mourners who came to light a memorial candle for their fallen leader. The square was covered with candles and melted wax.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja6Ud_c_xrU

Discussion Questions

• What songs in your memory transport you to a specific time and place?
• What songs or lyrics connect you with Israel?

This past Thursday, Rosenblatt High School, A World of Difference Club members participated in the Anti Defamation League CyberALLY Workshop. The workshop provides practical information and opportunities for skill-building that will support students in developing personal strategies for protecting themselves against cyber bullying. As well as acting as cyberallies—preventing and taking action against cyber bullying and social cruelty in online forums. The peer trainers will be going into DKJA classrooms next semester to promote respect and inclusion online through teaching the strategies and lessons they learned.  

Senior Lielle Elisha reflected on her experience; ”Between "regular" bullying and cyber bullying, many people tend to think the latter is not as hurtful or less of a big deal. After today's peer training program it was made clear to me that cyber bullying is not only just as bad, but can be worse than its counterpart. Most importantly, I learned the best strategies to employ when I want to "be an ally" and defend a target, online.”

If you are interested in learning more about the A World of Difference program at DKJA please contact Ms. Pam Howard, K-8 Guidance Counselor & A World of Difference Club Advisor at howardp@dkja.net 

Maddy Ball Named Athlete of the Week on CBS12

Congratulations to Maddy Ball and to the Lady Eagles for an incredible season.

http://cbs12.com/sports/athlete-of-the-week/athlete-of-the-week-donna-kleins-maddy-ball

Rabin's Song for Peace

Rabin's Song for Peace

On November 4, 1995, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin (z”l) was assassinated, and in that moment, Israeli society was forever changed. As music is a window into society, the way in which music swirled around the life and untimely death of Yitzhak Rabin – one of Israel’s first sabra (צבר, native born) leaders – provides interesting portals into Israeli society.

The song Shir LaShalom – words by Yaakov Rotblit and composed by Yair Rosenblum, written in 1969 – became the song of a generation. The song urges to “bring the day” that peace will come. Some feel that the song echoes Rabin’s famous speech at Hebrew University on June 28, 1967, in which he praises the sacrifice of the soldiers of the IDF and starkly reminds the country of the harsh casualty of war.

Originally performed by the Infantry Ensemble (Lehakat Hanachal) of the Israeli Defense Forces, its reception among the military leadership – of which Rabin had been a part – was controversial. Army officials such as Rehavam Ze’vi ("Gandhi") and Ariel Sharon forbade it from being performed in their areas of command, and as such, the song became representative of left-wing peace-oriented politics. Ultimately, it became an official campaign song for the left-wing Meretz party in the 1996 election.

It was with that association that Rabin – former Chief of Staff of the IDF and Commander during the Six Day War – took out a lyric sheet and the words of Shir LaSalom, alongside Shimon Peres, rock star Aviv Gefen, and tens of thousands attending a the peace rally in "Kings of Israel Square" (now "Rabin Square") in Tel Aviv.

Shir LaShalom (שיר לשלום, Song for Peace)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-oxRVJc3Sg

Aviv Geffen, son of Israeli poet and songwriter Yonatan Geffen, was just emerging on the music scene when Rabin became Prime Minister for the second time in 1992. By the time of the peace rally on that fateful night in 1995, Geffen was the rock star and symbol of young Israelis, and he and Rabin were close acquaintances.

Prior to the assassination, Aviv Geffen had written Livkot Lechah (To Cry For You) in memory of a friend who had been killed in a car crash. After the tragedy of Rabin's assassination, this song – performed at the memorial in Rabin Square just one week after Rabin's death – took on a new national meaning.

Livkot Lechah became a song of the “candle generation,” the mostly young mourners who came to light a memorial candle for their fallen leader. The square was covered with candles and melted wax.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja6Ud_c_xrU

Discussion Questions

• What songs in your memory transport you to a specific time and place?
• What songs or lyrics connect you with Israel?

Morah Sammy Lontok

High School Garden Club helps to revitalize the school’s organic garden, Shomrei Ha’adamah .

The group has planted Kale, Fennel, Dill, Basil, and other assorted herbs, “fruits,” and vegetables. Keep a lookout for herbs to cook with!

Pictured are Garden Club Members

Pep Rally for Girls Volleyball

Our school came together along with the 8th grade to cheer on the Lady Eagles as they prepare for the State Semifinal match this Saturday evening.

As a warm-up, they demolished the team seen in the picture below.

RHS Open House and FCIS Conference Highlights

This past week, we had the opportunity to share our school with prospective 9th graders and families at our Open House program. We were so proud of our student tour guides, as well as both of our students, Dylan Joseph and Abraham Waserstein, who spoke about our school and their experiences. We look forward to upcoming day visits from 8th grade students and meetings with families.

On Thursday, I traveled to Miami with other school leaders to attend the FCIS (Florida Council of Independent Schools) Conference. I attended sessions on the “Changing Landscape of College Admission,” “Building Resiliency in Students” and “What Education Will Look Like in 2025.” Additionally, I enjoyed keynote lectures on methods to help children succeed and on the power of mindfulness practices on the brain, the body and the individual as a whole.

Some of the ideas shared in these sessions included:

• New application procedures, fee waivers, marketing and revenue structures have increased the application pools to universities - both public and private - tremendously
• Schools across the country are looking to increase diversity in their student population
• Many schools are looking more at the whole individual - not just test scores and GPA - as they want to know how YOU will add to their campus
• Schools pay attention, even at a public university, if you have shown interest in their school prior to applying: did you visit, go on a tour, answer an email from them, etc.
• Our cultures highlight resume virtues when we really should be highlighting character virtues
• Grit and perseverance are better predictors for success than pure intellect
• In the world of the future,can we move from competition built on defeating to competition for development of collaboration, resilience, challenge; Can we see a loss or failure as a chance for growth?
• Cursive writing will be obsolete in 5 years and keyboards will be soon after; everything will move to audio and dictation
• Teaching is not the wave of the future; the teacher as facilitator, mentor and guide is the wave as all of the information is readily accessible
• Core academic (classroom) success will not be the core of the educational experience; creativity, compassion and critical thinking skills will be near the top as those are the items, coupled with intellect, that colleges and employers are seeking

Rabbi Lesack

 High School Creative Writing Elective Welcomes 8^th Graders

For the first time, Mr. Davis’s Creative Writing Elective is honored to have two writers from the middle school attending alongside high school students.  Sienna Tohar and Isabella Furst (Bella), both 8^th graders at DKJA Middle School, are enjoying a taste of high school rigor and creativity, while pursuing their passion for inventing stories. Both are serious creative writers, according to their instructor.  Bella has already published fiction on the internet, and Sienna is in the process of submitting a poem, to online publishers.  They are joined by sophomore Kaleigh Sislen, described by Mr. Davis as “a sophisticated, accomplished writer”.  Over the course of the semester-long elective, students produce a requisite number of pages of fiction and /or poetry, intended for publication.  Mr. Davis, a novelist and poet, uses a workshop approach to inspire and guide aspirants.  Writing exercises and prompts help stimulate their creativity, as do models from the pens of celebrated writers, such as Hemingway and Steven King.  “Happily,” states Davis, “the participating middle schoolers are a delight. Their dedication and talent makes them fit right in.”

By Mrs. Orly Noiman, Rosenblatt High School Guidance Counselor

Rosenblatt High School has created an incredibly diverse program, The Rosenblatt Teen Prevention Series. This program incorporates the education and awareness of the following topics: academic support, drug and alcohol awareness and prevention, relationships, stress management and self image. To this end a range of speakers are welcomed at Rosenblatt High School from a variety of organizations to support this program.

As our first presenter this year, we welcomed  the Living Skills in the Schools (LSIS) . The mission of this organization is to bring to schools the substance abuse prevention and education program in which age-appropriate presenters share their personal experiences with substance abuse and the importance of maintaining an addiction-free lifestyle.

ON

Orly Noiman, MSW

High School Guidance Counselor

Claire & Emanuel G. Rosenblatt 

Donna Klein Jewish Academy