Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Go Forth - Dvar Torah for Graduation 2017

Go Forth
Dvar Torah for Graduation
May 21, 2017
Rabbi Marshall Lesack

We are a people who values its past.

We study and teach our history, and our lessons learned, to our children. We respect and revere those who have come before us, and seek out their wisdom. We practice traditions and rituals that originated long before we were around, and incorporate them into our lives. We look to our past for guidance, for support and for encouragement in a world that sometimes is hard to understand.

We are a people who values its past...but we do not live in the past.

We are a people who integrates the past into our core being: ...planning...preparing...and building for the future.

We are builders, and dreamers, and visionaries...people who plant trees today so that our grandchildren can benefit from them tomorrow.

Our past influences us. But it is our future on which we train our focus.

1) Avraham left behind everything he knew to build a new future for himself and his family because of two simple words - Lech Lecha - go forth. He did not know exactly what lay ahead, what he would encounter or what challenges he would face. He knew his past. He knew from where he came and how it led him to his present. And taken together, it impacted him as he moved toward his future.

הַבֶּט־נָ֣א הַשָּׁמַ֗יְמָה וּסְפֹר֙ הַכּ֣וֹכָבִ֔ים אִם־תּוּכַ֖ל לִסְפֹּ֣ר אֹתָ֑ם...כֹּ֥ה יִהְיֶ֖ה זַרְעֶֽךָ
“Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” ... “So shall your offspring be.”

Understanding of his past, cognizant of its impact on him as an individual, he plotted a course for the future which led to the birth of the Jewish people.

2) When the Jews left Egypt, they too began a journey into the unknown. They knew of their oppression, of their struggles, of God’s miracles and of their deliverance. Heavily impacted by their past, God decided that their descendants would be the people to enter the promised land. And so, deeply connected to the experiences of the ancestors, not far removed from the moments of the Exodus, they entered the land of Israel to start a new life for the Jewish people. To this day, we honor the moment of our redemption and its influence on the future of Judaism, every time we recite kiddush and sanctify our holy days:

זכר ליציאת מצרים
In memory of the Exodus from Egypt.

3) When the 2nd Temple was destroyed, the future of Judaism was in question. But our rabbis knew that our Torah, our values, our mitzvot could not be extinguished. Rabbis escaped to Yavneh and built batei midrash - study halls - to continue the teaching of Torah. Not long after, Torah academies were established in Sura and Pumbedita, and by the time the Jews established communities in Italy, Germany and France in the early middle ages, our rabbis had already produced the Mishna, the Talmud, Midrashim, Commentaries, the beginning of Jewish law codes and more.

These rabbis, tied to our past yet fully focused on our future, provided the framework through which we practice our Judaism today.

4) Fast forward to the modern era, we remain the people of “Od lo avdah tikvateinu” - our hope...that of 2,000 years...is not yet lost. Never relinquishing our ties to the land of Israel...never forgetting the promise made to our forefathers...we have come home. Celebrating 69 years of independence and, in just 3 more days, 50 years since the reunification of Jerusalem, we have turned the memories of our past and the visions for our future into our reality:
Lihyot am chofshi be'artzeinu, Eretz Tziyon viyrushalayim
To be a free people in our land; The land of Zion and Jerusalem.

5) Less than 3 weeks ago, many of you returned from the March of the Living. You saw with your own eyes both the pain and the promise of our people, our history and our future. And you did it with holy vessels, with survivors, who could share their experiences and their deep wisdom with you.

In December, while attending a conference on holocaust education, I had the privilege of hearing Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, the former Chief Rabbi of England, speak to my group. Rabbi Sacks mentioned that in all of his years meeting survivors, teaching survivors, counseling survivors and consoling survivors, that there is one item that he learned more than any other during his time with them. To paraphrase Rabbi Sacks, it was the ability to move forward.

It was the ability to look to the future. It was the ability to be impacted by the past, not defined by it or stuck in it, but to use what you could from it to plot a path forward. If there ever were a people who had earned the right to not look to the future, it was this people. But on the whole, they did just the opposite.

They followed in the footsteps of our tradition, taking from the past - which yes, has its eras and its many moments of pain; but alongside it its eras and many moments of celebration - and they looked to the future.

We are a people that will always be built on our past. It is that past that has helped shape us into who we are and enabled us to determine who we want to become. We are forever tied to our past as we plot our course for the future.

As you prepare for your departure from high school, and from the school that has been your home and your community for so many years, you know full well that you have been shaped by this experience and your time here. While your life as a DKJA student will soon be in the past, the importance of that life will remain with you forever. Your memories, your friendships, your relationships with teachers, your victories and your defeats, the tests you passed and the papers you did poorly on, those late nights of study, the jokes among friends, the days you used your time wisely and the days you wasted, the challenges you overcame, the questions you asked, and the person that you have become during your time here……...all of this will influence you as you now look to your own future.

You come from a people that incorporates its past into its planning for tomorrow.

You are builders. You are dreamers. You are visionaries.

Lecha Lecha. Go forth.

Kadima. Onward.

The future is yours for the taking.  


Mazal tov.

Friday, May 26, 2017

You Do Your Part



You Do You’ll Part, I’ll Do Mine
Rabbi David Paskin





In Numbers 3:15-16 we read, “And HASHEM spoke unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying: ‘Number the children of Levi by their fathers’ houses, by their families; every male from a month old and upward you shall number them.’ And Moses numbered them according to the word of the HASHEM, as he was commanded.”

Rashi wonders aloud what the Torah means when it says, “according to the word of HASHEM”. Wouldn’t it have been enough to say Moses counted the children “as he was commanded”? Why the extra phrase?

In answer to his own question, Rashi imagines a conversation between Moses and God. Upon being commanded to count the children Moses argued, “How can I enter their tents to count? Isn’t that a violation of their privacy?” God responds, “okay, tell you what - you go around to each tent, stand outside and a voice from heaven will tell you how many children are in that tent.” To which Moses replies, “If you are going to tell me how many children are inside then why do I have to shlep around to stand outside of each tent?! Just tell me now and save me the trouble.” God answers, “You do your part and I’ll do mine.”

Throughout the Torah, God relies upon us to be partners in creating the world we seek. God commands Noah to build an Ark to save his family and the creatures of the earth from the impending flood; God challenges Abraham and Sarah to leave everything behind, journey to a new land and become the parents of a new nation; God calls Moses and Aaron to return to Egypt and serve as God’s voice to free that nation and guide them to God’s mountain; and God calls on Moses to do his part by going to each tent, standing outside, and listening for God’s voice.

Like Moses at the Sea of Reeds we very often beg for God’s intervention forgetting that God will do God’s part if only we would do ours. The midrash teaches this when it suggests that it was not Moses who brought about the parting of the sea, but Nachshon ben Aminadav who was brave enough to walk into the waters and risk drowning all because he understood that it is not enough to have faith in God - we must also have faith in ourselves. We must see our own capacity to part the waters of injustice, battle the forces of evil and to repair the world.

There are indeed times when it would seem easier to just wait for God to tell us how many children are in each tent. It may be more convenient to wait for God’s “justice to well up as waters, and (God’s) righteousness as a mighty stream.” (Amos 5:24) But as Father Mulcahy from M*A*S*H taught us, “A faith of convenience is a hollow faith.”


We are not a people convenience but a people of commandment. God commands us to do our part. Only when we heed this call will every person in our world be counted, respected and loved.

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Technology Blog 5-24




Technology



The school year is winding down, but our technology use in the high school is ramping up.  After two years of using Chromebooks, the school is continuing into next year with gusto!  We’re finding new and exciting ways to streamline the classroom process.

This year, room 126 piloted the Idea Paint program, which gives the students the ability to fully utilize wall space by turning it into one giant whiteboard that they can write on.  The Idea Paint was paired with an interactive projector, which along with specially designed styluses, turns the wall into a smartboard, and engages the students with the material on a more personal, tactile level.

Finally, on Monday 5/23/17, junior Robert Shinder and Spanish teacher Silvana Delbo launched the inaugural broadcast of the Donna Klein Jewish Academy morning announcements, which was filmed in the main building’s digital video studio.  Hosted by anchor Noah Rubin and his fellow 8th graders, sports analyst Levi Stein and meteorologist Dana Levine, the cross-division broadcast was livestreamed to the entire school.  The replay link is available here:  DKJA live announcements

Cory Laub
English Teacher, Technology Educator


Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Interview Preparation Program




Interview Preparation Program








Last week our junior class participated in a two-part Interview Preparation Program.  The program covered interview preparation and strategies for different types of interviews (college, internships and employment), as well as opportunities to practice interview skills. 

On Tuesday, May 16th, the students began the educational process through videos, worksheets and small group discussion, all facilitated by our wonderful community volunteers.  Additionally, two of our graduating seniors were interviewed in front of the group and participated in the subsequent feedback discussion for the benefit of the juniors.  We thank Aaron Fils and Abraham Waserstein for volunteering for this program and showing some of the skills they have learned after having multiple interviews this year.

Session 2, held on Wednesday, May 17th, was the individual implementation of what our students had already learned the day before; primarily through a thorough one-on-one mock interview with feedback. The students 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(s).

With the help of our experienced community volunteers, we achieved our goals of providing a comprehensive skill-building experience and concrete practice opportunity to our students!  This will certainly benefit those who will interview for the most competitive colleges, and/or who plan to pursue a job or internship in the future. It was truly a life-skill experience, not just an interview preparation program.  Our volunteer facilitators included the following members of our greater community:
Mandee Heller Adler:  President, International College Counselors; University of Pennsylvania Alumni Interviewer
Lindsey Maharaj:  International College Counselors; experienced professional interviewer
Melissa Orlen:  Attorney; University of Pennsylvania Alumni Interviewer
Jackie Rockman: DKJA Director of College Counseling; former Brandeis University Admissions Officer/Interviewer
Brenda Rudman: International College Counselors; Brown University Alumni Interviewer
Julie Simons:  International College Counselors; teaches public speaking and communications skills
Bridget Varisco: Nova Southeastern University Admissions Officer; Scholarship and special program interviewer
Lesley Zafran:  Board Member (Past President); manager of personnel consulting firm


We are so excited that this wonderful program is an addition to our DKJA College Counseling Program!






Tuesday, May 16, 2017

CIJE Conference





CIJE Conference








12 young engineers (Jordan Berger, Ilan Crane, Hannah Appleton, Abigail Goodman, Zachary Klein, Samuel Kraft, Sarah Louis, Liann Rozenberg, Noah Rubin, Levi Stein, Tali Tirosh, and Yakov  Wahnich) from Donna Klein presented their projects alongside other students from Jewish schools across the country. Participants showcased their projects and though there was no formal judging, the students felt a sense of personal accomplishment at the praise and admiration bestowed on them. Pictured are the young engineers in front of their posters. Standing with them are their proud teachers Mr. DeLandsheer and Mr. Bowman as well as Justin Petersen of the Centers for Initiatives in Jewish Education. A special thanks to Mr. Petersen for all the help throughout the year, encouraging these amazing young people to reach their potential.




Monday, May 8, 2017

No Place For Hate


No Place for Hate



The Anti-Defamation League, No Place for Hate at DKJA received their 5th year banner for being a “No Place For Hate” school.  The vision for this program was started five years ago by current senior, Joseph Zeuner.

The ADL’s No Place for Hate® initiative provides schools and communities with an organizing framework for combating bias, bullying and hatred, leading to long-term solutions for creating and maintaining a positive climate. In 1913, ADL was founded on "Jewish values that inform our work and the change we seek in the world". It has always meant stopping anti-Semitism and defending the Jewish people. Today, it also means fighting threats to our very democracy, including cyber-hate, bullying, bias in schools and in the criminal justice system, terrorism, hate crimes, coercion of religious minorities, and contempt for anyone who is different.

We look forward to continuing this successful program at DKJA for years to come.


Rosenblatt High School Artist Receives Honor



Rosenblatt High School Artist
Receives Honor for her Outstanding Work

Mazal Tov to junior, Yael Pshemish, who was selected to create an original art work for the cover of “Reflections” from the Class of 2017. This Rosenblatt High School publication is a collection of essays that were written by the graduating class. The book contains memories from our seniors, who will cherish them for years to come. Yael is the latest to be honored, in what has become an RHS tradition! Here is the list of the honorees from years past:
Brenda Berez  Class of  2012
Liana Greenberg Class of  2013
Maya Greenberg Class of  2014
Rebecca Fisher Class of  2015
Cayla Horowitz  Class of  2016





Brenda Berez 2012
Liana Greenberg 2013


Maya Greenberg 2014


Rebecca Fisher 2015
Cayla Horowitz 2016





















Yael Pshemish

Friday, May 5, 2017

Yom Ha'atzmaut Activity



Yom Ha'atzmaut Celebration with JARC



This Yom Ha'atzmaut, as part of the celebrations and in collaboration with the Jewish Federation’s Marilyn Nachman, Morah Lydia and Morah Eilat embarked on a new activity including JARC residents. High school students and Hebrew Honors Society members - Olivia Galel, Rebecca Wirtschafter, Jessica Siegel, Eden Leder,and freshmen -  Rennie Alvarez, Danielle Chaham, and Shaina Goodis, along with their teachers Morah Eilat Asseo and Ms. Lauren Jordan, were privileged to join members of JARC (Jewish Association for Residential Care)  and interact with them by taking part in a variety of activities.  The students  helped the residents decorate baseball caps with the colors of the Israeli flag, as well as teach and lead them in singing the song “Am Yisrael Chai.”  It was a great experience as we all sang, danced and waved our flags in sharing our pride of Israel on her 69th birthday.  

This was an incredibly touching experience felt by all the participants.  10th grader Olivia Galel describes her visit as, “an incredibly meaningful experience to engage with the members of JARC, knowing that we all share Israeli pride. It was a day that I will never forget and will always cherish.”




Mourning and Celebrating with Israel


Mourning and Celebrating with Israel



This week we marked Yom Hazikaron- Israel's Memorial day and Yom Ha'atzmaut Israel's independence day. The juxtaposition of these two days was very poignant as always. We had a very moving assembly for the memorial day attended by several parents who lost relatives in the struggle for Israel. On Yom Ha'atzmaut we enjoyed the many celebrations put together by the middle school. Check out the school social media for amazing picture from the various events. (Sun Sentinel Article)

-- Nachshon Carmi









Tuesday, May 2, 2017

March of the Living Reflections




March of the Living Reflections



At the beginning of our tour in Israel we visited a stone monument that was created by Israeli national artist Natan Rapaport.  It is perhaps his life’s masterpiece.  Connecting the world of the Shoah with the birth of Israel, the “Scrolls of Fire” are inscribed on the inside of the stone monument with the haunting words of the Prophet Ezekial (37:17) “I will put My spirit in you, and you will live, and I will place you in your own land and you will know that I am Hashem, I spoke and I did, thus says Hashem.” A chilling prophecy that describes the dry bones coming back to life and returning to the Land of Israel, clarity for many that the miracle of Israel is part of a greater redemptive process that began with the Shoah. 
For me, the symbol of this March of the Living has been stones.  The stones that we have placed on the gravestones of our ancestors, the monuments made of stone, and the stones of Jerusalem and the Western Wall.  The Hebrew word for stone is “aven” – (אבן)  a conjunction of av (father) and ben (son). (אבן = אב + בן) .  It is an expression of the enduring strength of the relationship of children and parents from generation to generation. 
The relationship between a father and son, mother and daughter, parent to child, is truly the foundation ‘stones’ of our people.  The Kotel, the Western Wall, stands as a symbol of that relationship.  From generation to generation the Jewish people, have prayed facing Jerusalem, longed to return to Jerusalem and hoped for its rebuilding, declaring with their children at the Passover seder table, “next year in Jerusalem.”
Our experience these past weeks has given all of us clarity that we are bearing witness to the miraculous fulfillment of the prophecy of our Jewish bible and the faithful hope of Jewish mothers and fathers throughout the ages, for a return to our eternal homeland, the Land of Israel. 

We began our trip at the Radagast Station train platform, where families were torn apart from each other before they were sent in cattle cars to Aushwitz, Belzec and Treblinka.  Juxtaposed to this, we are finishing our trip celebrating Shabbat and Yom Haatzmaot, clinging to our children, dancing and singing with families from around the world.
Last night, we had the privilege to commemorate Yom Hazikaron at an orphanage called Bet Elizarki, in Netanya.  The children living in the home are without “mom and dad” but they are parented in a loving and nurturing home throughout their lives.  We learned the difference between being a mother or father and being a parent.  The Rabbi that cares for the children explained that being a parent is about nurturing and caring for the child financially, emotionally through all of life’s milestones.  Some mothers and fathers are unable to parent their children and therefore this home was created to give those children everything needed to end the cycle of abandonment.  Anyone can be a mother or father, but being a parent is someone that continually cares and nurtures, creating an enduring relationship that helps the child be the best of themselves.   

This March of the Living has given birth to a new pride in Israel and in our Jewish identity.  The students are so proud to be in our homeland, grateful for this incredible experience and have learned so many lessons about our people, and our core Jewish values.  We will all return with greater enthusiasm but for how long will it last?  This is an experience that needs to be nurtured, cared for, and encouraged to continue to grow.    This journey which we have embarked on is really just the beginning of a new found appreciation for who we are and where we come from, giving us greater clarity on where we should be going. 





Monday, May 1, 2017

Thermodynamics and Energy Change






Thermodynamics and Energy Change



This week in Mr. De Landsheer's Honors Chemistry class, students are exploring the concepts of thermodynamics and energy change as it relates to molecular systems, as well as the world at large (i.e. industry, nuclear power, biological systems, etc.). Students pursue scientific inquiry in order to make tangible connections, such as the role of energy use as it pertains to global warming. With a growing scientific foundation, Mr. De Landsheer hopes his students will take a proactive role in helping to mitigate the human impact on the planet as well as spread awareness as to the innate value of scientific exploration.