JNF Winter Connection Brunch

Yesterday, a group of 13 Rosenblatt High School students, along with DKJA 8th grade students, and students from Yeshiva High School and Katz Hillel Day School, volunteered at the JNF Winter Connection Brunch at the Polo Club.

Our students welcomed and helped guests throughout the morning while enjoying this special event to support Israel through JNF and all of its great work.

The keynote speaker was Seth Siegel, author of the recently released book, Let There Be Water: Israel’s Solution for a Water-Starved World. After the event, Mr. Siegel held a special session just with students so he could address them in a more intimate setting, answer questions, and talk more deeply about the global water crisis and how Israel both addressed this issue early on and is leading the way in offering solutions to the problem.

Thank you to all of our wonderful student volunteers, to RHS Parent and JNF Director for Palm Beach, Laura Sherry, and to the Jewish Federation and its Director of School Educational Services, Marilyn Nachman, for making it an important and positive experience for our students.

The 7th Annual IWalk4Friendship Walk

The 7th Annual IWalk4Friendship Walk benefitting the Friendship Circle is Sunday, February 28th (most likely a beautiful South Florida day!). Participating in the IWalk4Friendship Walk raises awareness and funds for the programs provided to so many families in our community. What’s most amazing about the Friendship Circle is that the organization rarely asks families to pay for the services they provide – and if they do, it’s nominal.  

The Walk & Family Fun Day will be held at Pine Trails Park in Parkland from 9:15 a.m. - 1 p.m.  Last year Noah's Nuggets was again one of the biggest and Top Teams as we had over 50 walkers and raised over $3,500.00. Many DKJA families are part of this team. It is not necessary to join Noah's Nuggets...any participation is encouraged!

To join Noah's Nuggets, click here and then click on the "Join Our Team" button.  

Thank you for all of the love and support you have shown us over the years and join us in spreading the betterment and acceptance of children with special needs. 

Rosenblatt High School Student Teaches Future Leaders

DKJA Rosenblatt High School Senior Jordan Nakdimon taught Mr. Trevino’s 7th graders about the U.S. Electoral College system. He taught four classes and engaged the students with videos and power points, as well as maps that explained how the U.S. picks its presidents. He focused on essential questions, the concept of the Electoral College, the intent of the Founding Fathers, the states that are important, and the electoral system’s critics. Well done, Jordan!

DKJA Students Win Awards in RAVSAK Artists’ Beit Midrash

Donna Klein Jewish Academy is thrilled to announce that the artwork of their student(s), Michael Gonzales and Ashley Klein, have been selected for special recognition in the RAVSAK Artists’ Beit Midrash.

Michael Gonzales has been awarded 3rd Place in the Drawing and Painting (9-12) category.

Ashley Klein has been awarded a RAVSAK Staff Pick in the Drawing and Painting (9-12) category.

More than 800 students at 35 day schools across North America used their creativity and passion for text study to create original works - in the forms of photography, sculpture, mixed media, and drawing and painting - for RAVSAK’s annual Artists’ Beit Midrash.  Now in its fifth year, the Artists’ Beit Midrash provides elementary, middle, and high school students the ability to delve into Jewish sources and create art that draws inspiration from their studies. 

This year’s theme, Ahava (Love), was based on the 2015 curriculum produced by our partner, the Global Day of Jewish Learning. With the guidance of Anita Schwartz, students studied Jewish narratives and texts about love, and explored questions about love at first sight, love and favoritism, and loving God. Through their art making process, students creatively interpreted the texts in new ways and wrote artist statements that allowed them to explore the meaning of love in their lives.   

This year the artwork was judged by nine distinguished artists: Jennifer Bayer, a lifelong artist and educator; Ezra Benus, artist and teacher of art and Hebrew; Aviva Bloom, multi-media artist; Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik, artist and graphic designer; Meraz Ezer, multidisciplinary artist, teacher, and published author; Marc Tasman, intermedia artist and past Nohl Fellow; Melissa Taub, documentary photographer; Yona Verwer, artist focusing on identity, urban culture, and Jewish values; and Shai Zurim, myriad form artist.  

Winning artwork and artist statements are published on the RAVSAK website and will be highlighted in the journal HaYidion.  

 “The RAVSAK Judaic Art Contest not only helps students develop their artistic expression, but reinforces the links between creativity and Jewish tradition. By interpreting texts and creating visually stunning works that relate the words and narratives to their own experience and understanding, participants gain a meaningful appreciation for Judaism and develop a deeper sense of Jewish literacy,” said Dr. Marc N. Kramer, Executive Director of RAVSAK. 

About RAVSAK: RAVSAK strengthens and sustains the Jewish life, leadership, and learning of community day schools. With 135 member schools, each bringing a unique set of professionals and board members, our network harnesses the collective wisdom of our peers to offer tremendous opportunities for collective learning and action. We provide each school with much-needed material and intellectual resources, dynamic programs for students and administrators alike, and learning opportunities.

Mock Trial Competition 2016

Donna Klein Jewish Academy participated with five other local schools in the Palm Beach County Mock Trial Competition which was hosted by the Main Palm Beach County Courthouse on February 17, 2016. This was a wonderful opportunity for the students to learn about justice, the court system and its process. 

The students reviewed and analyzed a case study provided by Florida Law Related Education Association, which is partially funded by the Florida Bar Association (see http://www.flrea.org). A new case study is provided yearly by FLREA for the Florida High School Mock Trial Competition. The students participated in this academic competition in which a team of eight students role play attorneys and witnesses in a fictional trial. Students had an opportunity to compete against other school teams in the 15th Judicial Circuit, Palm Beach County. The students learned about criminal law and procedure along with the applicable rules of evidence. This case focused on the latest hot topics in law cyberstalking and cyberharassment.

This experience allowed the students to explore their interests in the field of law, try on the legal profession, and forge the future leaders of our community. In addition, the students developed their analytical skills, communication tools, and complex decision making, which is valuable in any career path of their choosing. 

The students also had an opportunity to tour the courthouse and meet with court personnel. Chief Judge Jeffrey Colbath and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator Walter Colbath of Palm Beach County privately met and spoke with the students regarding their responsibilities and the role they play in our legal system. It was a very memorable experience, which was much appreciated. The experience had an incredible impact on amazing students. 

I am very proud of the Donna Klein Jewish Academy Mock Trial Team. They did a wonderful job representing our school. 

Caryn Siperstein Klein, Esq.

Director of the Legal Studies Program

D'var Torah

In loving memory to my teacher Rabbi Zvi Yehuda:  

Kedushah (holiness) means 'distinction'. The Torah states: "Be holy, for I, Hashem your God, am holy!"(Leviticus 19:2). We are commanded to live and act distinctively, in a way which reflects dignity and uniqueness. The reason for this is that we are to be like God as He is also holy. But one can ask, how are we humans to be like the Divine? How can finite beings be like the infinite being? Perhaps the Torah is teaching us that just as Hashem is 'Holy' in His divinity, so are we to be holy in our humanity. Our human 'holiness' is expressed in the way we live, love, eat, work, enjoy life and relate to others. This is no less important than how we are 'holy' in prayer and in our relationship with G-D. To live life with human dignity, means to reflect the divine image and to experience 'Kedushah' sanctity in every aspect of our lives.   

Shabbat Shalom, 

Rabbi Baruch Plotkin 

Cyber Safety Workshop for Middle and High School Students

In two separate workshops for both Middle School and Claire and Emanuel G. Rosenblatt High School students today, audiences were privileged to have Gregory Schiller, an Assistant State Attorney in the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office, provide some very helpful information about online safety.

Through firsthand accounts of cases he has prosecuted, Mr. Schiller was able to help the students understand that safe behavior online is critical.  Mr. Schiller shared information about the CyberTipline, an important resource for parents and their children. His strong take away to the students is that if they receive any photos or videos containing obscene content, be asked to meet in person from someone online, or be spoken to online by someone in a sexual manner, they should call 1-800-843-5678 or send an e-mail to CyberTipline.com. All calls are anonymous.

As Mr. Schiller reminded attendees, smartphones are “computers that happen to make phone calls.” When looking at it in this way, it is imperative for students to understand both the benefits and dangers of online behavior. Children and young adults often do not understand the long-term impact of their digital footprint on their future. Mr. Schiller talked openly about the potential legal ramifications, as well as the potential harm to their reputation as key factors to remember regarding their Internet use.

The Genesis Bridge Project

This screen was painted by the 10th grade Design class. It illustrates the seven days of creation and announces the name of our newest installation "Gesher B'reshit" - Genesis Bridge. 

This ceramics exhibit will showcase the work of students from K-12. As visitors walk into our school from the boardwalk they will see a contemporary interpretation of the seven days of creation and the story of Adam and Eve. The Mask exhibit of man and beast represents the sixth day of creation. Metal signs along the handrails will contain an explanation of each exhibit and a QR code will lead to Youtube videos of our students telling about each day of creation and how each day is linked to the seven habits of leadership.The installation will be completed by the end of March.

Sincerely,

Anita Schwartz, M.A.T.

H.S.Dept. Chair of the Arts

L.S. & H.S. Art Curriculum Coordinator

Rosenblatt High School Students Gain Insight from NOPE and Doris Saves Lives

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, safe driving, relationships, stress management, and self-image. A range of speakers are welcome at Rosenblatt High School from a variety of organizations to support this program.

We recently had NOPE (Narcotics Overdose Prevention and Education) present to our students as well as Doris Saves Lives (safe driving).

Orly Noiman, High School Guidance Counselor 

Torah Belongs to Every Jew

We recently read in Parshat Yitro about our experience at Sinai and the giving of the Torah. Our tradition teaches that all of us were there for this historic event. Yes, that means all of us, the Hebrews who left Egypt, our ancestors, us, and our descendants. Not only do we view Sinai as an event that all of us attended, but it is a moment in time that every single one of us also experienced on a personal level. This idea is expressed in a midrash (Tanhuma, Yitro 17) which states:  

Rabbi Levi said: The Holy One, Blessed be He, appeared to them as an image with faces in every direction. One thousand people looked at it, and it looked at all of them. So it was the case with The Holy One, Blessed be He, when He spoke. Every individual Israelite said, “With me, he spoke.”

The idea expressed in the midrash is that even at a mass community event, God spoke with each individual personally, in essence directly giving the Torah to each person. One takeaway of this message is that each and every Jew owns a part of the Torah and has their own relationship with it.

In Parshat Teruma, we find a similar idea surrounding the building of the mishkan, the portable sanctuary which the Jews built in the desert and which traveled with them as they made their way to the Land of Israel. Throughout this parsha, the main language of instruction for bringing or building items is “ועשית” -  meaning “and you shall make,” in the singular form. Yet, when we reach the directive to build the ark for the Torah (Shemot 25:10), the language changes to “ועשו” - “and you shall make,” in the plural form. The Alsheich (16th century commentator) offers a beautiful idea on this verse and the change of language. He writes that with respect to the construction of all the ark which would house the commandments, that the crown of Torah is different from all other crowns which only a select few might inherit. The crown of Torah is something which all of Israel inherits. And therefore, the verse must speak of the construction of this object in the plural form.

It is a simple yet important and powerful message which is shared by the change in language from  “ועשית” to “ועשו” and the Alsheich’s understanding of this change: Torah belongs to every single Jew.

May all of us be inspired to find our connection with our holiest of texts and with it, to forge a deep, lifelong and meaningful relationship.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Lesack

DKJA Invites You...

Donna Klein Jewish Academy is proud to announce that Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, will be speaking to Claire and Emanuel G. Rosenblatt High School students on March 1, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. on our campus.

Rabbi Cooper is the Associate Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a leading Jewish human rights organization with over 400,000 members. Rabbi Cooper is founding member of Israel's Global Forum on anti-Semitism and Newsweek/Daily Beast lists Rabbi Cooper as #8 among the "50 Most Influential Rabbis in the United States."

Rabbi Cooper will be talking to Rosenblatt High School students about the state of global anti-Semitism, and what they can do as they prepare to embark on their college careers to help stem the tide of anti-Israel biases on campuses.

Members of the DKJA community are welcome to attend, but registration is required. RSVP to hsoffice@dkja.net.

SPECIAL INVITATION

Please note that DKJA parent, Board member, and Law elective teacher

Caryn Siperstein Klein, Esq., will be hosting a private pre-party on Monday evening, February 29th, to thank Rabbi Cooper for speaking at DKJA. Parents will have the opportunity to ask questions, learn more about how to effectively help combat anti-Semitism, and how to get involved in helping the Center accomplish its mission. If you are interested in joining, please email your RSVP to info@sipklein.com 

Hebrew Rocks Coffeehouse

At Rosenblatt High School’s annual Coffeehouse show, our Hebrew classes took the stage. Featured on the big screen was our very own 10th grade honors Hebrew class’ acclaimed production of Kipah Adumah (Little Red Riding Hood)! The film was made completely by the students themselves and entirely spoken in Hebrew. As it captured the Coffeehouse audience with Israeli comical lines and its dramatic twist on a classical childhood tale, Kipah Adumah was entertaining and educational for all! Hebrew is definitely thriving at Donna Klein thanks to an amazing department!

Hannah Wolf, 11th grade

Coffeehouse Recap

Last night at the 12th Annual Coffee House, we drank a little coffee, we did a little dancing, and we did whole lot a laughing. If you weren’t there here’s a little bit of what you missed: Ben Reise got arrested but was saved by Super Nanny/Immigrant Counselor Mrs. Noiman, Jamie Korsunsky was Justin Bieber, someone has been going around stealing Jackie’s lollipops licking them and putting them back, everyone met Merv, we got a glimpse into Nola Schwalb’s camp years, and the faculty put on an unforgettable performance that we will never ever let them live down. Mr. Belotto and I want to thank everyone who came out, we had an awesome time and we can’t wait for next year. We hope you enjoyed the night and had some laughs because that’s what it’s all about. 

Dana Lipson (aka Hot Pocket)

High School Artists Earn 22 Awards in Scholastic Competition, Proceed to National Level

Mazel Tov to Rosenblatt High School students Eva Demsky, Cayla Horowitz, Sydney Moed and Lena Stein who earned a collective total of 22 awards at the 2016 Scholastic Art competition, placing at the Regional level. The awards were categorized as 12 Gold Keys, six Silver Keys and four Honorable Mentions. The 12 Gold Key awarded pieces will proceed to be judged at the national level in New York. The artists’ work will be on exhibition at the Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach from March 5 to March 16, 2016. “I am so proud of our art students,” said their teacher Anita Schwartz. “It will be a wonderful exhibit. Put it on your calendar!”

DKJA's Legal Studies Program

This semester “Criminal Law and Procedure” is being taught as part of DKJA's Legal Studies Program. We are examining the 4th, 5th and 6th Amendments and analyzing famous cases in American History, as well as important laws derived from them such as the Miranda warnings. The class has already learned about crimes against people and property as well as the defenses to the same. The class is looking forward to attending the Mock Trial Competition in Palm Beach County Courthouse on February 18, 2016 and supporting the DKJA team.

Caryn Siperstein Klein

Director of Legal Studies

Journey Into the Unknown: Parshat Lech Lecha and Mars One

What makes someone journey into the unknown? What makes someone worthy of being chosen to lead a first-time initiative?

A group of  entrepreneurs are leading a commercial  initiative to create permanent human settlement on planet Mars. It looks like a great adventure with one caveat: You only receive a one-way ticket.

Is settling Mars the next big thing for humanity or a kind of foolish escapism from dealing with the problems on planet Earth?

The 9th grade Jewish Studies class is studying Parshat Lech Lecha and the journey that Avram and Sarai took by leaving their land and birth place and going into the unknown to the place which God would show them. What made them go? Who or what did they place their trust in? Is there something we can learn from them if we are to consider the Mars Initiative?

As we consider these questions, we are also looking at midrashim (rabbinic commentaries) about Avram and why God chose him for a special mission, specifically, what prepared Avram to introduce monotheism to the world?

A similar question is asked about the candidates who volunteered to staff the Mars mission. The website allows people to apply for the journey and for others to asses their worthiness for this endeavor. What type of individual is appropriate for such a mission? What can we learn from the Torah, and specifically the choice of Avram as the perfect candidate for the mission of Lech Lecha, to think about modern day journeys into the uncharted territory of the future?

Shabbat Shalom,

Nachshon Carmi

Relevant Lessons for Today from the Hebrew Slave

We live in a time when nations and individuals continue to exploit others and certain segments of our society continue to suffer. We look at the water crisis in Detroit, ISIS in Syria, the problem with modern slavery, or the problems being protested with the ‘Black Lives Matter’ campaign, there are those that continue to be and feel oppressed in the world.  
More than any other idea, the Torah impels us to be mindful of the widow, the orphan and the stranger amongst you, ‘for you were a stranger in the Land of Egypt.’ We are empowered to take responsibility to make ‘just’ the injustices of the world and look after those that are most vulnerable.  

Rabbi Abraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, z’l, the first Chief Rabbi of Palestine, said, "The pure righteous do not complain of the dark, but increase the light; they do not complain of evil but increase justice, they do not complain of heresy, but increase faith; they do not complain of ignorance but increase wisdom."

Parshat Mishpatim (lit. Statutes) illuminates many of the civil laws and contains 53 mitzvot; 23 positive and 30 prohibitions. It details the ‘mitzvot’ between man and man. This week’s Parsha begins immediately after the great ‘Revelation’ at Sinai of the ten utterances, (Ten Commandments.) at the end of last week’s parsha (Yitro). 

At the heels of the ‘Revelation’ you would think that the Torah would focus on religious things, i.e. Shabbat, the holidays, keeping Kosher, etc, but it doesn’t. What is even more perplexing is that after 210 years of Egyptian servitude, and after leaving Egypt with the 10 plagues and amongst wonders, like the parting of the Sea, the very first mitzvah of all the civil laws is the law of the עבד עברי the Hebrew slave. You might have thought that the first Mitzvah after more than 200 years of slavery would be a prohibition against slavery. Why begin with the law of the Hebrew slave?  

The Torah commands; “When you will acquire a Hebrew slave, six years he will work for you and in the 7th year he will go free.”  בכִּ֤י תִקְנֶה֙ עֶ֣בֶד עִבְרִ֔י שֵׁ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים יַֽעֲבֹ֑ד וּבַ֨שְּׁבִעִ֔ת יֵצֵ֥א לַֽחָפְשִׁ֖י חִנָּֽם This command is a reinterpretation of what it means to be a slave. Instead of being a victim of the servitude this new definition is more of an indentured servant. 

The Rabbis of the Talmud seek to redefine slavery so much that an adage was struck: "Whosoever acquires a Jewish slave has acquired himself a master." (Talmud Kiddushin, 20a). The laws of Hebrew slavery are elaborated in Leviticus 25:39 ff.: "If your brother is destitute and is sold to you, you shall not treat him as a slave." Although we call it a ‘Hebrew slave’ it is actually the opposite. We are told, that a ‘Master’ must provide for his servant even before himself. If the ‘Master’ has two pillows, his servant should have one first and only then should the ‘Master’ take for himself. If however, the ‘Master’ has only one pillow it will go only to his servant.  

Perhaps this can give us an insight into why this is the first law chosen before enumerating 53 mitzvot dealing with civil law. Before we can begin the process of creating a ‘civil’ society we have to put ourselves in the position of those that are most vulnerable. How does it feel to be sleeping without a pillow? How does it feel not to have a job? Only after putting ourselves in others shoes, can we begin to truly act civil to one another. 

The Yale University Law Professor, Stephen Carter says it best, “Civility...is the set of sacrifices we make for the sake of our common journey with others, and out of love and respect for the very idea that there are others.” Perhaps that is the reason ‘civility’ starts with the Hebrew slave. Because it knows that in order to create a ‘civil’ society, we must first begin to put ourselves in the position of those that are most vulnerable in our society. 


Shabbat Shalom, 

Rabbi Plotkin

Student Government Update

Student government had a great first semester, and we are very excited for the next couple of months. We had a great spirit week full of fun themes. For the first time ever, we had an ice skating nighttime event and over 100 students attended. We are excited for the semester ahead. Next Wednesday night, February 10 at 7pm, is Coffeehouse. Everyone should come and watch some great acts presented by our talented high school students. Give a Friend a Flower Day will be coming up in a few weeks along with other exciting things planned. 

Illana Joseph,
Assistant Principal