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Yeshivat Akiva Where the Derech of Torah Meets the Road to Success
Akiva Hebrew Day School
45th Annual Dinner
Sunday April 26, 2009
Honoring
Rabbi Yigal & Mrs. Shulamit Tsaidi
Recipients of Akiva’s Ahavat Torah Award
Rabbi Ronald Schwarzberg
Recipient of the Alumnus of the Year Award
Guest Speaker
David Victor
Cocktails 5:00 p.m. • Dinner 5:45 p.m.
$180 per person
Burton Manor
27777 Schoolcraft Road
Livonia MI 48150
Yeshivat Akiva Where the Derech of Torah Meets the Road to Success
Rabbi Yigal and
Mrs. Shulamit Tsaidi
Recipients of Akiva’s Ahavat Torah Award
Rabbi Tsaidi and Shula are now returning to Israel to build their
permanent home. While their stay here has been temporary,
their mark on Akiva is enduring. They have taught us by example
and by the example of the teachers they have chosen for our
children, that Akiva provides not only an education but it
inspires a way of life. The success is evident from the sounds
of learning emanating from our classrooms. Their lessons are
uniquely reflected in the life choices of a decade of students
and graduates who have found themselves building committed
Jewish lives here and in Israel.
For Akiva, the Tsaidi’s have been the perfect fit; their vision
matching the mission for which Akiva was founded. Their love
of learning and passion for the State of Israel and Jewish people,
have reignited the soul of our school.
Rabbi Dr. Yigal Tsaidi has been Educational Director of Akiva for
the past nine years and Shula has served as both a teacher and
Akiva’s musical director. Their spirit and passion has infused
Akiva with a renewed vitality and educational focus. Through
Rabbi Tsaidi’s leadership, our student body has increased by
more than twenty five percent. Our students and our teachers
have achieved national acclaim and international recognition
for their roles in the programs he has implemented. The doors of
our school have been opened to the community as a center for
Religious Zionism and of Torah learning with hundreds gathering
at Akiva annually for concerts and Israel celebrations.
Rabbi Tsaidi and Shula’s tenure at Akiva is the culmination of
thirty years as Jewish educators. They have served as spiritual
leaders in communities throughout North America including
Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts, Wisconsin and Montreal.
In each of these communities, they have striven not only to
educate the children but to embrace their families as well.
Yeshivat Akiva Where the Derech of Torah Meets the Road to Success
Rabbi Tsaidi’s adult education classes at Akiva, in throughout
the metropolitan area, have been renowned. Shula has touched
us with her music and fed our spirits as well as our palates with
her uniquely flavorful meals beautifully and warmly presented.
Together, they have opened their home and made us a part of
their family.
Rabbi Tsaidi grew up in Rechovot, Israel. His father,a natural
educator, motivated five out of seven siblings to pursue a career
in education. Rabbi Tsaidi served in the army as part of Yeshivat
HaDarom’s hesder program. It was during that period that he
realized that teaching would be his personal calling. During
the 1967 war, when most of the teachers in his Yeshiva were
mobilized to the front, Rabbi Tsaidi was approached by his Rosh
Yeshiva who said “tomorrow, you are a teacher” and from that
day forward Rabbi Tsaidi became one .
As for Shula, it was through teaching that she met Rabbi Tsaidi.
Shula moved to Israel from Morocco as a very young child.
She studied education and psychology in Bar Ilan with a focus
on special education, She taught in several different schools
throughout Israel including one in which Rabbi Tsaidi’s sister
taught. When he returned from Yeshiva University, a match was
made. Together they returned to the statesU to attend his sister’s
wedding, a shidduch was made. As for her music, Shula was
always a singer and accordionist, then when leading a choir in
Hillel Academy in Milwaukee she had the opportunity to make a
cd with Israeli singer, Yoel Sharabi in honor of Jerusalem’s 3000.
Shula believes strongly that too teach a child must first feel
comfortable. She found that by connecting to the whole family
she could connect to her student. She began opening her home,
inviting families means to reaching child. Cooking was a means
to expressing a creativity and also a priority in her family where
a hot freshly made meal was always wait.
Rabbi Tsaidi and Shula are now returning to Israel to build their
permanent home. While their stay here has been temporary,
their mark on Akiva is enduring. For Akiva, the Tsaidis have been
the perfect fit; their vision matching the mission for which Akiva
was founded. Their love of learning and passion for the State of
Israel and Jewish people, has reignited the soul of our school.
Rabbi Tsaidi and Shula have four children, Yaniv, Yahav, Yahel
married to Emunah, and Yagil. They are the proud grandparents
of Ateret Orah and Aharon Tzvi.
Yeshivat Akiva Where the Derech of Torah Meets the Road to Success
Rabbi Ronald Schwarzberg
Recipient of the Alumnus of the Year Award
Rabbi
Schwarzberg
received
ordination from the Rabbi Isaac
Elchanan Theological Seminary
of Yeshiva University and and a
degree from the Ferkauf School
of Psychology. His rabbinic career
began at the Hebrew Institute of
Riverdale where he served first as
its Educational Director and later
as Associate Rabbi. He then spent
more than nineteen years as senior
Rabbi of Congregation Ahavas
Achim in Highland Park, New Jersey
transforming a declining congregation into a vibrant community
of more than two hundred and fifty families. Currently, Rabbi
Schwarzberg is Director of the Morris and Gertrude Bienenfeld
Department of Jewish Career Development and Placement at
Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jewish Future, and is responsible
for the placement and ongoing mentorship of rabbis and Jewish
educators throughout North America.
Rabbi Schwarzberg has always made it a priority to help Jewish people
beyond the boundaries of his own community. He was among the
first rabbis to lead humanitarian and religious relief missions to the
Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and Cuba. He has always been a strong
advocate for the State of Israel, leading congregational missions
there even during the darkest days of the intifada. He is also proud
to have served as Chairman of the United Jewish Communities
working together with rabbis of all denominations and partnering
with Jewish Federations across North America to support Israel and
promote the welfare of the Jewish people.
Rabbi Schwarzberg’s Akiva education motivated him to pursue a
career in Jewish communal service and helped instill within him the
leadership skills necessary to pursue his goals. . He vividly recalls
the days of the Six Day War when he, his teachers and classmates
huddled around transistor radios at Akiva, listening intently as the
miraculous events unfolded. To many, this was a transformative
time of spiritual reawakening and renewed connection to the State
of Israel. To Rabbi Schwarzberg, this historic event it was simply
Yeshivat Akiva Where the Derech of Torah Meets the Road to Success
a reaffirmation of the core values which permeated Akiva and
represented the essence of his Akiva education.
Rabbi Schwarzberg is grateful to Akiva for the vital role it played in
defining who he is today. We, in turn, are inspired by Rabbi Ronald
Schwarzberg’s accomplishments as a Jewish communal leader as
well as by the dedication and passion with which he continues to
advocate for the welfare of our people.
Rabbi Schwarzberg is married to Judy and father of Ari (married
to Naomi), Elana, Aviva and Shayna. He is proud that Ari, currently
studying for Smicha, and Elana, a Judaic studies teacher are in the
“family business.” He believes strongly that there is no more critical
place in which to invest our talents and our resources than in
our Jewish day schools. Rabbi Schwarzberg still maintains strong
connections to our Akiva family. He is the uncle of Daniel (’01), Rachel
(’05), Adam and Noam (’08), children of his brother-in-law and sister
Michael (’74) and Marla Greenbaum, all of whom attended Akiva.
David Victor
Guest Speaker
David Victor is President of
the American Israel Public Affairs (AIPAC), an organization
described by The New York
Times as “the most important organization affecting
America’s relationship with
Israel.”
With the support of its more than 100,000 members nationwide,
AIPAC has worked with Congress and the Executive Branch on numerous critical initiatives -- from securing vital foreign aid for Israel to
stopping Iran’s illicit nuclear program. In these times of turbulence
and change, AIPAC’s voice and bi-partisan efforts are critical to ensuring that American support for Israel remains strong.
David Victor has served on AIPAC’s National Board of Directors since
2002. He is a Past President of Detroit Jewish Federation’s Young Adult
Division and a former member of the Federation’s executive committee. He is also a former member of the United Jewish Appeal’s
Young Leadership Cabinet. In addition he has served on the boards or
executive committees of JARC, JVS, MOPAC, Kadima and the Jewish
Community Council.
David and his wife Kelly (’84) have four children, George, Robert, Adin
and Jack .
Yeshivat Akiva Where the Derech of Torah Meets the Road to Success
Crowns of Torah
Mrs. Alice Berlin
Mrs. Dolores Brown & Family
Dr. & Mrs. Martin Kornblum
Mr. & Mrs. Eugene Sherizen
Mr. & Mrs. Jerome Schostak
Mrs. Lois Shiffman & Family
Torah Builders
Mr. & Mrs. Max Berlin
Mr. & Mrs. Harold Blumenstein
The Cohn Family Foundation
Comprehensive Urology
Mr. & Mrs. James Grosfeld
The Karbal Family Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. Edward Meer
The Irving & Ethel Palman Foundation
The Rohlik Foundation
Dr. & Mrs. Michael Zuroff
Yeshivat Akiva Where the Derech of Torah Meets the Road to Success
Torah Benefactors
Dr. & Mrs. Howard Korman
Mr. & Mrs. Irving Nusbaum
Mr. & Mrs. Sam Rozenberg
Dr. & Mrs. Jack Schwarcz
Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Weil
Torah Guardians
Mr. & Mrs. William Berlin
Dr. & Mrs. Henry Brystowski
Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Cook
Dr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Goldenberg
Dr. & Mrs. Kenneth Kohn
Mrs. Myrthe Naparstek
Dr. & Mrs. Bert Schreiber
Dr. Stuart Teger and Dr. Janelle Konstam
Mr. & Mrs. Hershel Wrostlavsky
Yeshivat Akiva Where the Derech of Torah Meets the Road to Success
Chai Patrons
Dr. & Mrs. David Beneson
Mr. & Mrs. Mandell Berman
Mr. Paul Fischer and Dr. Karoline Puder
Florida Panthers Foundation
Dr. & Mrs. Yoni Frogel
Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Greenbaum
Mr. & Mrs. Seymour Greenstein
Dr. & Mrs. Seth Korelitz
Dr. & Mrs. Michael Lehmann
Dr. & Mrs. Noah Levi
Mr. & Mrs. Morris Prostak
Mr. & Mrs. Gary Torgow
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Weiss
Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Wolf
Dr. & Mrs. Benjamin Wolkinson
Mr. & Mrs. Alan Zekelman
Dr. & Mrs. Fred Zwas
Mr. & Mrs. Jack Zwick
Yeshivat Akiva Where the Derech of Torah Meets the Road to Success
Patrons
Abraham & Bessie Hahn Charitable Foundation
Alex Saltzman Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Borsand
Mr. & Mrs. Martin Brin
Drs. Larry and Helen Brown
Mr. & Mrs. George Chessler
Mrs. Herman K. Cohen
Mr. & Mrs. Steven Z. Cohen
Mr. David Dombey
Mr. & Mrs. Ari Fischman
Mr. & Mrs. Ethan Gilan
Mrs. Doreen Hermelin
Mr. & Mrs. Brian Herschfus
Mr. & Mrs. Jim Hiller
Mr. Sidney & Dr. Shoshana Katz
Dr. & Mrs. Robert Kelman
Dr. Gerald Kirzner and Mrs. Leah Ann Kleinfeldt
Mr. Eddie and Dr. Susan Kresch
Dr. & Mrs. Lawrence Loewenthal
Drs. Benjamin & Tammy Movsas
Mr. & Mrs. Mark Nadel
Dr. & Mrs. Jay Novetsky
Dr. & Mrs. William Schreiber
Mr. & Mrs. David Tanzman
Rabbi & Mrs. Yigal Tsaidi
Mr. & Mrs. Bill Weil
Mr. & Mrs. Jerold Zwas
Mr. & Mrs. Micha Zwick
Yeshivat Akiva Where the Derech of Torah Meets the Road to Success
A Message from the Director of Education
Rabbi Yigal Tsaidi
Note: As I write this message, the holiday of Pesach, “The
Time of our Liberation,” is upon us. As you read it, we
are about to celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut. Each of these
days commemorates the freedom of our people; both are
occasions for joy and praise to HaShem.
Akiva’s motto is, “Changing the world, one child at a time,”
and this is indeed an appropriate goal for our school.
However, it seems to me that an even better slogan might
be ’‫”והגדת לבנך‬, “And you shall tell your child,” the phrase
that serves as the source for the all-important mitzvah of the
Seder: repeating the story of Yetziat Mitzrayim, the Exodus
from Egypt and conveying its timeless messages to our
children.
Maimonides points out that the mitzvah of discussing Yetziat
Mitzrayim is not confined to the night of the Seder. One is
also obligated ‫לספר‬, to recount the story on a daily basis, for
the Torah directs us, “Remember this day, the day that you
left Egypt” (Exodus, 13), in the same way as it directs us to
“Remember the day of Shabbat.” However, it is a second
halakha, alluded to in the passuk that begins, ’‫”והגדת לבנך‬
‫ביום ההוא‬...”, “And you shall tell your child on that day…” that
applies during the Maggid portion of the Pesach Seder.
Maimonides writes, regarding the second halakha: It is a
mitzvah to inform ( ‫ )להודיע‬one’s children, even if they do not
ask questions, as it says, “And you will tell your children.”
The parent will teach in a manner that is consistent with the
child’s level of comprehension. Thus, if the child is young
or not capable of understanding, the parent might say, “My
child, we were all once slaves…and on this night HaShem
redeemed us and set us free,” and, if the child is older
and more learned, the parent can tell him/her about the
events that transpired in Egypt and the miracles that were
performed on our behalf through Moshe, our teacher. All of
this is to be transmitted in a manner that is consistent with
the child’s ability to comprehend. (Yad HaHazaka, Chapter
7: Halakha 2)
Note that the mitzvah ‫להודיע‬/to inform, is based on the same
verse that the Haggadah brings in relationship to the child
who “does not know how to ask.” It is through this verse,
and for the sake of this child, that one is commanded to
fulfill this all-encompassing mitzvah of Haggadah. Now,
let us understand why, when elaborating on this verse,
Maimonides chooses the verb ‫להודיע‬/to inform.
Close perusal of the text reveals that the term sippur/
recounting, connotes the description of days gone by, while
the term l’hodiya/to inform applies to events in which the
narrator was personally involved. Thus, the Torah exhorts
us ‫להודיע‬, to relate the events that surrounded Yetziat
Yeshivat Akiva Where the Derech of Torah Meets the Road to Success
Mitrayim not as empty tales, but as experiences that we
have witnessed firsthand. As the Seder begins, we and
our children are meant to find ourselves in ancient Egypt,
our bodies afflicted by taskmasters; together we relive
the bitterness of bondage and together we exult in the
redemption that liberates us.
All of this requires imagination, understanding, and an
abiding love – both for our heritage and for our future. The
verb ‫להודיע‬, to inform, connotes much more than the simple
communication of data from one individual to the next. This
word shares a root with the Hebrew word da’at, a word that
implies not only knowledge, but the loving conjoining of
minds and hearts. The Pesach Seder presents a unique
opportunity for parents to bond with their children, to teach
their sons and daughters “in a manner that is consistent
with the child’s level of understanding.” Such, according to
Maimonides, is the lesson of the verse that begins, ‫והגדת‬
‫לבנך‬.
Let us now turn to the word Haggadah, a word that recurs
– in one form or another – throughout the entire evening.
At the root of this word is gad, as in Maggid, the narrative
portion of the Seder. In fact, the famous Arbaa Banim, the
“Four Sons” of the Haggadah, are introduced with the word
“‫כנגד‬/Kinegged.” The root form gad lies also within a phrase
that is often repeated in the Talmud, “Gud Assik,” which
means to draw forth and to elevate. Finally, the Hebrew
word for tendon is gid. As we know, our muscles could
not function without the 365 tendons that connect them
to our bones. Through the gid/tendon, i.e., the mitzvah
of Haggadah, the parent – who may be compared to a
muscle – can connect with the child – who, for the sake of
our analogy, may be compared to a bone. And how is this
accomplished? By offering instruction, “in a manner that is
consistent with the child’s level of understanding.” In this
way, parents draw their children close and, at the same
time, elevate them children so that the children will also
form a deep bond with �’, who is father to us all. Thus, the
Haggadah tells us that the Torah speaks ‫כנגד‬, opposite, four
sons; at the Seder, these sons must be joined to their father.
He must “know” them, must examine their hearts and souls,
and just as he rids his home of any particle of Hametz, the
father must likewise rid his offspring of any vestige of the
slave experience. Only then can the two generations bond
with one another.
This vision of education as the conjoining of hearts and
minds, the purification of body and soul, has guided me
throughout my nine years at Yeshivat Akiva. It is one that
our teachers exemplify. ‫ והגדת לבנך‬is not the exclusive
province of the Seder; it is truly the motto of our school. May
this precept continue to govern our relationships with our
children – both as parents and as educators.
Rabbi Dr. Yigal Tsaidi
Yeshivat Akiva Where the Derech of Torah Meets the Road to Success
A Message from the President
Dr. Howard Korman
Dear Parents, Alumni, Students, Teachers, Administrators
and Friends,
It has been my honor and privilege to serve as Akiva
President for the past year. It was with great pause that I
accepted the position as I was well aware of the daunting
challenges that face day schools in general and Akiva
specifically.
After an extensive analysis of our current situation and
numerous hours spent interviewing administrators,
teachers, board members, parents, students, and
important community members, it became clear that our
future depends on many facets: improved infrastructure,
improved relationships with the Jewish community
across all denominations, improved marketing and
communication of our strengths and mission, and
improved fiscal responsibility.
Toward that end, we have worked diligently and have had
much early success. We have defined a chain of command
to let everyone understand how to access the system
and to define accountability among our staff. Through a
monumental group effort, we succeeded in amending our
constitution for the first time in school history, allowing
it to reflect our current mode of operation and facilitate
the administrative agility we will need to navigate the
troubled waters ahead. We have formed many important
committees including a Headmaster Search and Evaluation
committee, a Teacher Search committee, a Financial
Oversight committee, Give or Get committee, Alumni
Yeshivat Akiva Where the Derech of Torah Meets the Road to Success
Relations committee, Constitution Committee, a Website
committee, a Fundraising committee to name a few. The
number of talented volunteers working day and night on
behalf of the school has never been higher and the Board,
PTA, and other participants feel the empowerment that
they have to make Akiva the best that it can be.
We have actively reached out to donors, past and future
Akiva supporters, as well as Akiva doubters and have been
successful in getting the message out that Akiva has a plan
to deal with the future and will remain a recognizable force
in the Jewish community. We have had, or are scheduling,
Board Meetings at various sites including the Federation
Building, the Holocaust Memorial Center, Yad Ezra, JARC,
Jewish Family Services and the like to strengthen Akiva’s
kesher to the community and to incorporate these
important Jewish organizations into Akiva’s fabric. We have
developed great relationships and friendships through
the process. All should know that we are here to help each
other. As a byproduct of our determination to reach out,
Akiva’s public perception is growing daily.
I urge everyone to jump on the Akiva bandwagon and help
drive it forward. We should acknowledge all our wonderful
positives and deal honestly with our drawbacks, working
as a team to improve our weaknesses. We should proceed
with the confidence in the importance of Akiva and our
critical role as modern Orthodox Jewish leaders. Most
importantly, we should celebrate the glory of Hashem that
we share with the greater Jewish community through our
most cherished asset: our children. Thank you to everyone
here. Together, we are Akiva!
Howard Korman, MD, FACS
Yeshivat Akiva Where the Derech of Torah Meets the Road to Success
A Message from the Principal
Teri Giannetti
Students as Partners……
As a school begins to regard the student as a “partner
in the learning” the respect, communication and
involvement of the students will increase. During the
2008-09 school year, we have increased the level of
student involvement in school wide decisions. We have
responded not only to the members of our Student
Council, but also to individual students who have
approached administration with ideas. Members of the
student body have sat on committees for school-wide
decisions, including the interviewing of staff. Some
students have begun some “grass roots” movements
for change.
Why is this so important?
All individuals sense a
need for independence. This independence cannot
be obtained unless one is able to control at least the
most important aspects of his or her life. Students
tend to feel they do not have a voice/control in most
schools. This can be especially frustrating as they take
their first important steps on the road to adulthood. It
would behoove the authority figures in their lives to be
conscious of and responsive to the students’ need for
a level of empowerment. I am not suggesting “turning
over the schools to students.” Rather, I am supporting
the concept of continually listening to all stakeholders
Yeshivat Akiva Where the Derech of Torah Meets the Road to Success
in our system—to staff, to parents AND to the most
important stakeholders of all – our students.
We must, of course consider the age and maturity of
the student, establishing clear parameters as to the
type of decisions that are appropriate at various stages
of development. At a bottom line, however, students
must believe they are important enough to be heard and
respected. Once they are convinced that this is the case,
they in turn will respect the adults who are listening to
them. The building of mutual respect is a process that
takes time, but this time is well worth taking. We intend
to continue to listen and increase the involvement of
students at Akiva during the upcoming years, modeling
courtesy and open-mindedness while expecting the
same from them.
In closing, this piece of writing was inspired by my mentor,
friend, and educational partner, Rabbi Dr. Yigal Tsaidi.
He has taught me much during our years together—
including wisdom that is rooted in the Jewish faith. One
lesson that is reflected in the above article is never to
make a decision “on one foot.” That is why I wrote about
“involvement taking time.” The best decisions and
relationships take time and they are never accomplished
while standing “on one foot,” right, Rabbi????? Thank
you for “grounding” me. I will truly miss you!!!!!!
Fondly
Mrs. Teri Giannetti
Yeshivat Akiva Where the Derech of Torah Meets the Road to Success
Honorary Dinner Chairs
Dolores Brown
Meir & Gail Hennes
Jim & Marge Hiller
Ed & Gloria Meer
Irving & Beverly Nusbaum
Jerome L. & Elise Schostak
Eugene & Julie Sherizen
Gary & Lisa Shiffman
Lois Shiffman
Dinner Chairs
Rosa Chessler
Sheryl Korelitz
Journal Chairs
Pearlena Bodzin
Shaindle Braunstein Cohen
Patron Chairs
Joseph Greenbaum
Stuart Teger
Andy Weil