HaGesher - American Hebrew Academy

HaGesher
the american hebrew academy
newsletter
summer
2015 / 5775 ‫קיץ‬
12, issue 1
volume
‫הגשר‬
American Hebrew Academy announces new Jewish Studies Diploma
The American Hebrew Academy is proud to announce a new
academic program with focused concentration in Jewish Studies
that will culminate in the awarding of a diploma with distinction
in Jewish Studies.
Conferring of the American Hebrew Academy Diploma with
Distinction in Jewish Studies, will take place at the conclusion
of the 2015-2016 academic year. The Jewish Studies department
will pilot the program with a small group of students selected for
their strong academic background and solid Hebrew proficiency.
“We are very excited to launch this new program, thoughtfully
planned to move our students towards the leading edge of
Jewish education in preparation for them becoming life-long
learners and leaders,” said American Hebrew Academy Dean of
Academics, Dr. Tammy K. Williams.
Requirements for earning the special distinction in Jewish Studies
by graduation include work building upon the four pillars of
Hebrew language fluency, a strong Jewish Studies foundation,
a competent set of skills appropriate for lifelong learners in
Jewish Studies, and a documented record of academic work
sufficient for recognition. The program capstone will include
the completion of a multi-disciplinary Jewish Studies Portfolio
during the senior year, which combines elements of research,
commentary, art, and policy analysis.
Program coordinator Jeff Spitzer commented, “Producing and
presenting a portfolio of complex and engaging Jewish work
will provide students with a valuable opportunity to reflect on
their Academy education and how they have used that education
to shape their Jewish identities and clarify their intellectual and
moral values. All of the Jewish Studies faculty look forward to
helping guide these students in the production and refinement of
their portfolios and increasing the rigor and depth of their Jewish
educational opportunities.”
The American Hebrew Academy, the world’s only international
Jewish college prep boarding school, known for its academic
excellence, continues to offer a diverse, innovative, and
challenging curriculum with the development of the Jewish
Studies Diploma program.
Faculty Profile on Samuel Tesfay:
Creating a “common language of learning” on campus
Some might call it destiny that Samuel
Tesfay ended up at the American Hebrew
Academy. Others might call it luck. But
no matter what you call it, the Academy
is fortunate that Samuel Tesfay found his
way to Greensboro, NC, from Mekelle,
Ethiopia.
Born and raised in Mekelle, the capital
city in the northern Tigray Region of
Ethiopia, Tesfay dreamed of opportunity.
That opportunity presented itself in the
form of the US Green Card Lottery –
in January 2013. Tesfay found out he
had won the coveted chance to move
to the United States. With a Master’s in
Analytical Chemistry from Addis Ababa
University and a Bachelor’s in Chemistry
from Mekelle University, Samuel Tesfay
was an ideal candidate.
But by the time he found he had won
the chance to come to the US, Tesfay
had fallen in love and married his wife,
Tilanesh, and she was 4 months pregnant
with their first child. He made the
decision to come to the United States
anyway, and to try to arrange for her to
join him later.
The American dream that Samuel Tesfay
was seeking was a continuation of
his work in Analytical Chemistry – to
continue studying and teaching in his
field.
He had vast classroom teaching
experience, having worked as a graduate
assistant even before beginning his
Master’s degree. He also had five years
as a lecturer and team leader once he
has earned his MS. Analytical Chemistry,
which is basically the analysis of samples,
examining both the qualitative and
quantitative aspects of matter, also
requires in-depth research, and many
Continued on page 3
summer
2015 / 5775 ‫קיץ‬
volume
12, issue 1
1
To the Victor Goes the Spoils
Dear Academy Community, Friends, and
Supporters,
American Hebrew Academy
Founder
Chico Sabbah, z’’l
1929-2006
Board of Trustees
Leeor Sabbah, Chair
New York, New York
Glenn Drew, Executive Director
Greensboro, North Carolina
Marsha Cohen
Washington, DC
Joel Fleishman
Durham, North Carolina
Douglas Greene
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Larry Heyman
New York, New York
Bonnie Lipton
Chicago, Illinois
Jehuda Reinharz, Ph.D.
Waltham, Massachusetts
Scott Shay
New York, New York
Michael Steinhardt
New York, New York
Abe D. Tawil, MBA, MA, MD, JD
New York, New York
Joseph Weilgus
New York, New York
Academic Advisory Board
Joel Fleishman, Co-Chair
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina
Lee Shulman, Co-Chair
Stanford University
Carnegie Foundation for the
Advancement of Teaching
Stanford, California
Sharon Feiman-Nemser
Brandeis University
Waltham, Massachusetts
Rabbi Daniel Gordis, Ph.D.
Shalem Foundation
Jerusalem, Israel
Christoph Guttentag
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina
Ira M. Miller
Ramaz School
New York, New York
Samuel S. Wineburg, Ph.D.
Stanford University
Stanford, California
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As we commence the fourteenth year of classes
at the Academy, I am pleased to report a fifteen
percent increase in student enrollment. It wasn’t
long ago that we were confronted by our first
parents who asked the question, “Why should we
consider sending our child to a Jewish college prep
boarding school?" Today the question is: “Why
not!”
In our relatively short history, we’ve welcomed
students from thirty-five countries, including new
students this year from Australia, Indonesia, and
Ukraine for the first time. We built an institution
that has attracted an esteemed faculty; a student
body that annually achieves a record number
of meritorious scholarships and prestigious
college admissions, and a worldwide reputation
for excellence, making the Academy the only
international Jewish college prep boarding school
in the world. But unfortunately, for the second
year in a row we are faced with growing numbers
of families who seek to provide an Academy
education for their child but cannot afford the
tuition -- notwithstanding our efforts to make
more and more financial assistance available to
those in need.
The Academy is blessed with many riches
provided by its founder and by generous
donors who support the Academy. But we are
not immune to fact that economic realities
and financial constraints under which we must
operate are no different from any other notfor-profit organization. Where we are able, we
share the wealth of what we do have with others.
We recognize our own obligation to not only
constantly work to improve our own institution,
but to serve as a role model for our students and
those with whom we interact, whether striving
to improve our local community, advancing
Jewish education around the world, or providing
opportunities for those who have little or no
access to a Jewish school.
Jewish education need not and should not be a
competitive sport despite the fact that many Jewish
schools are struggling to survive. Economic,
societal, cultural, and geographic forces are of
critical consideration for all Jewish schools. So
too, changing demographics and the demands of
parents who want what is best for their children.
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As the Academy’s
reputation has
grown, I am invited
to speak around
the world to Jewish
educators and
philanthropists
who want to
learn about
the Academy’s
founding and
success first hand; they want to learn how to
enhance their own institutions, programs, and
professional development through a better
understanding of the innovative methodologies
the Academy has created. We are glad to share,
always. In fact, to do so is a fundamental principle
set forth by the Academy’s founder, Chico Sabbah,
z”l whose dream it was to not only build the
Academy but to have it serve as a paradigm for
Jewish education and future generations. The
proverb, To the victor goes the spoils, is one that has no
place in Jewish education yet it rears its ugly head
as Jewish schools seek a competitive advantage,
one over the other. I am witness to this far too
often.
In our ongoing efforts at outreach to Jewish
communities around the world we are proud of
the examples we have established by opening our
campus gates and welcoming groups of visiting
students, faculty, and administrators from other
schools to join us for extensive programs; to
educational leaders from academic foundations
around the world; to designers, architects,
engineers, and environmentalists: to adult and
youth organizations including Hadassah, Hillel,
JNF, and BBYO; to our annual hosting of the
Special Olympics; and to our publishing of new
curriculum and whitepapers generously shared
with other Jewish schools. These are just a few
of the ways we hope those close to us and those
furthest away can benefit in some small way from
our own institution and in turn Jewish education
and the Jewish people benefit most of all.
May we be victorious in our pursuit of Jewish
education for all youth!
B’Shalom,
Glenn A. Drew
Chief Executive Officer
Faculty Profile on Samuel Tesfay, continued
Ms. Corry connected me with
my first student, and when
he made good progress and
did well on his exams, they
started recommending that
more students come to me for
tutoring.”
published articles. But getting into the
field once he arrived in the US was more
difficult than anticipated.
“I came to Greensboro because I had
family in the area,” Tesfay explained,
but although his goal was to continue
studying and teaching Chemistry, he
ended up working in the kitchen at the
American Hebrew Academy. “When I
came to Greensboro the plan was initially
to go to school, but it was not as easy as
I thought -- my wife was pregnant and I
needed to work to support my family so I
looked for any kind of job I could find.”
Tesfay found a position at the Academy
through his friend Menbere Hailu, who
works in the kitchen. He explained
that it had been his good fortune to be
employed at a school with opportunities
to work in his field.
“After I started in the kitchen, I emailed
Dr. Williams and asked whether there
was an available teaching position.
There wasn’t anything available, but she
suggested that I started with tutoring
students,” shared Tesfay. At that point
So far, he has had the
opportunity to work with almost
45 different students from all
over the world, tutoring them in
Chemistry, Physics, and Math.
And all those students have
found greater academic success
thanks to Tesfay.
“This experience has been quite different
for me, because I am working with kids
from different countries and different
cultures who speak different languages.
My classroom here will be different from
every other classroom I have taught in,”
explained Tesfay, “Here, I have tutored
students from Brazil, Argentina, Mexico,
the US, and Israel… but it won’t be a
challenge. There is a common language
of learning.”
He is excited to get back into the
classroom, and grateful for the
opportunities he has found on the
American Hebrew Academy campus.
“I love teaching, and I really appreciate
everything that has been done for me
here. Once Dr. Williams learned about
my credentials and was able to help me
get started tutoring, I knew that the
American Hebrew Academy was going to
be a great place for me to work. I want to
thank a few people in particular – Danny
Nurafshan, Ms. Corry, and Dr. Sankaran
-- they helped me feel at home, and
helped me get settled in my work, and
helped me accomplish my goal of getting
back into the classroom. And Aliza in the
kitchen was truly like a mother to me. ”
The next stop for Tesfay is bringing
his wife and daughter, Eldana, to
Greensboro. With the assistance of
Academy CEO Glenn Drew, Tesfay was
introduced to an attorney, and he has filed
the necessary applications for his family
to join him in the United States.
He hopes his wife and daughter will
be able to immigrate soon, and in the
meantime, is already planning to get his
teaching license, and relishing the chance
to plunge back into his research.
Tesfay feels fortunate to be here at the
American Hebrew Academy, with its
small class size, advanced technology,
and sophisticated labs. But more than
anything, he speaks highly of the warm
community on the campus.
“I really appreciate all the faculty and
staff who have helped me, and also the
parents of the students who reached out
and thanked me for all I have done for
their kids. This really means it’s a unique
community. So now I want to help the
Academy students succeed, to help them
with their research and growth, and show
them how what they can learn in a science
classroom will help them improve not
only their grades, but also maybe their
lives.”
Perhaps Tesfay feels fortunate to have
found the Academy, but the American
Hebrew Academy is certainly lucky to
have found him.
The Academy gratefully acknowledges the support of:
The Facilities
Department's
"Green Gang" of
propane-powered
John Deere
mowers.
summer
2015 / 5775 ‫קיץ‬
volume
12, issue 1
3
Where Are They Now? Hannah Cohen, Class of 2009
By Dr. Richard W. Smith
Some Academy students distinguish
themselves by their work in the
classroom, others by their extra-curricular
accomplishments. And then there is that
rare group who excel at both, getting the
maximum experience at the American
Hebrew Academy. Such a graduate was
Hannah Cohen, a lively, funny, extremely
intelligent student who has taken her
talents into the larger world.
In theater it is common to wish a
performer good luck by saying, “Break
a leg!” Not so much in athletics, and yet
that is one of Hannah’s dearest memories,
for indeed, she did break a tibia bone
while playing Eagle soccer.
“There’s nothing quite like the experience
of scoring your first soccer goal,” she
said. “And there’s nothing quite like the
experience of breaking your tibia right
after that. But why that moment when I
broke my leg is such a fond memory is
because right after it happened (as I lay
on the field in excruciating pain) Coach
Johnston came over and started an ‘on
field assessment.’ And I had just learned
about on-field assessment the week prior
in his class, so with the information
fresh in my mind, I was oddly excited
to actually see Coach Johnston do a real
one and that I was able to follow along
with what he was doing/knew why he
was asking certain questions. The first
thing he did, which I remember him
mentioning in class could be helpful, was
to make me laugh. You never forget small,
powerful gestures like that. Years later,
when I responded to my first injury as a
Wilderness First Responder, I carried that
moment with me from when I broke my
leg, and got a small chuckle out of my
canoe participant. It’s funny how a little
laughter can go such a long way.”
Taking her sense of humor and her
intellectual curiosity with her, Hannah
attended Johns Hopkins University
from 2009 until 2013 and earned a B.A.
with honors in Archaeology. As part
of that curriculum, Cohen participated
in excavations at Tel Dor in Israel,
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american hebrew academy
conducting independent research on
an Ibis Amulet from the Eton College
Myers collection, which was followed
by a presentation of her findings to the
university’s archaeological symposium.
Hannah’s studies took her around the
world, studying the history of science
and technology in Munich, Germany,
the Italian language in Catania, Italy,
biodiversity and environmental
conservation in Ecuador and the
Galapagos islands, and photography in
Ballyvaughan, Ireland.
While at Johns Hopkins, Cohen was
“hired as a white water canoe instructor
and pre-orientation leader for the
university and was certified in swift
water rescue” in addition to Wilderness
First Responder. Also, she helped
develop “the foundation for Hopkins
Hillel’s Engagement Internship program
as a member of its first engagement
intern class. As an intern I initiated
conversations with peers to identify
ways to strengthen Jewish life for JHU
students and planned Jewish enrichment
programs on the university’s campus for
the community.”
Hannah Cohen is co-founder, president,
and director emeritus of the Alliance
for Clean Water (ACWa), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the
protection of water in natural and urban
environments. It is, at present, facilitated
through the Johns Hopkins Center for
Social Concern.
From her university, Hannah received the
Jean Wirths Scott Leadership Award for
Outstanding Change Leadership.
For the first year following graduation
from college, Hannah stayed in Baltimore
and taught a preschool program at
Cedarcroft School. She then moved to
Philadephia and started “an internship at
Cube Hydro Partners LLC.” The “official
mission of Cube Hydro is to ‘acquire and
modernize hydroelectric facilities and
develop power at unpowered dams. And
by doing so, demonstrate the value of
renewable hydropower and reduce our
nation’s reliance on harmful carbon-based
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energy.”
Now, Hannah is moving ahead with plans
to pursue a master’s degree in Renewable
Energy Management and Sustainability
Systems.
Looking back to her enjoyable and
productive years at AHA, Cohen
remembers her roommate, Zalima
Barnzani, the lake, and pranking her
math classmates. She is also very fond
of her coaches, Dr. Smith in cross
country, Coach Papier and Coach Gibbs
in basketball, Coach Johnston in soccer,
Coach Fishman in volleyball, and Coach
Bober in swimming. “Each,” she says,
“allowed me to express myself in the
best way I knew how and to grow as an
individual.”
What I remember about Hannah Cohen
is her being a delightful human being
who gave to the school as much as she
took from it. We are proud to have done
our bit in the preparation of such a fine
student and wish her well as she does her
part to save the world.
In the Media
Students from American
Hebrew Academy joined more
than 100 Jewish high school
students from across North
America in Los Angeles, CA
to compete in the 2015/5775
RAVSAK Moot Beit Din.
The American Hebrew
Academy team, led by Nancy
Edid, Daniel Levitin, Jessica
Snouwaert, and Talia White
with the support of their
advisor Dr. Joshua Moss,
earned first place in the Bader
Ginsburg division.
The American Hebrew Academy
was featured in a front page spread
in the Triad Business Journal, as well
as in a podcast interview between
BizJournal reporter Katie Arcieri
and Emily McCord, News Director
at NPR affiliate station 88.5 WFDD.
"Greensboro, North Carolina is
not the first place one might think
of for such a unique and world
class-institution as the American
Hebrew Academy, but this 100-acre
campus is one of the Triad's hidden
treasures," wrote Triad Business
Journal reporter, Katie Arcieri.
$100,000 Scholarship created to support new Academy Students
The American Hebrew Academy is
pleased to announce the establishment
of a $100,000 scholarship grant to help
new students and their families afford the
prestigious academic program offered
at the world’s only international Jewish
college prep boarding school, located in
Greensboro, North Carolina.
Through the generosity of anonymous
donors, student applicants who otherwise
would not be able to attend the Academy
are being given a chance to study at the
world-renowned Jewish boarding school.
The Academy is enjoying a significant
increase in student enrollment for the
2015-16 academic year. Space is still
available for new students to apply.
Tuition for boarding students at the
elite school currently stands at $39,500,
however students who qualify for this
new scholarship opportunity may be
eligible to attend the international school
at a reduced cost, subject to minimum
requirements.
“Strong growth in our applicant pool
from across the United States and
internationally is welcome news but we
are faced with the challenge of meeting
the needs of families that cannot afford
the full cost of Academy tuition,”
explained Chief Executive Officer, Glenn
Drew. “This new scholarship program
will allow even more students to receive
the gift of an Academy education.”
The American Hebrew Academy provides
a rich academic, Judaic, athletic, artistic,
and cultural experience to an exceptional
community of students, esteemed
educators, and a dedicated staff, who
demonstrate and prove to the world that
"high school can mean so much more."
summer
2015 / 5775 ‫קיץ‬
volume
12, issue 1
5
The American Hebrew Academy Graduates 44 Astronauts:
The Twelfth Commencement Exercises, May 31, 2015
By Dr. Richard W. Smith
the Board of Trustees.
American Hebrew Academy parents
and students understand and expect that
“high school can mean so much more,”
but what if they were to request that the
Academy take them to the moon?
Mr. Drew twice brought
the audience to its feet
with two special awards
for AHA service. The
Community Service
Award, given to those
“who humbly serve
the most noble of all
positions…volunteers
who not only support the academy but
exceed everyone’s expectation in doing
so” was awarded to Mrs. Stacey Papier.
The second standing ovation was for
the Distinguished Service Award, given
each year to a “faculty member who is
recognized for their exceptional service to
the Academy” which was bestowed upon
Dr. Scott Culclasure.
No problem.
Transforming himself, Clark Kent-like,
from his formal graduation attire, Mr.
Glenn Drew, Chief Executive Officer
of the American Hebrew Academy,
reappeared to the audience as an Apollo
astronaut to set the tone for this year’s
memorable graduation experience.
Standing before them, Astronaut Drew
“radioed” the assembled group:
“Mission control. We have negative
return. There is no turning back now. I
am pleased to report that 44 eagles have
landed safely. Today we celebrate one
small step for these outstanding graduates
and one giant step for the Jewish people.
It has been said that space is mankind’s
last great frontier. I would argue that there
is still much on planet Earth to conquer,
to change, to improve, and to discover…
and I am confident that the class of 2015
is prepared to do so. The universe is an
open book, graduates: you are the writers,
the cosmos is your vast laboratory, and
nature will permit the artist to explore
and express.”
And thus the tone was set for the
soon-to-be graduates, via Mr. Drew’s
motif, of launch, landing, and the
“commencement” of exploration for the
Class of 2015.
The graduation festivities began with a
warm welcome by Rabbi Andy Koren
of Temple Emanuel and introductory
remarks by Ms. Leeor Sabbah, Chair of
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A charming and original part of the
Academy’s graduation ceremony features
short speeches by parents of the
graduates. This year, Drs. Barry and Lori
Ripps and Mr. Marc and Mrs. Alexandra
Greenberg spoke to the graduates about
how the school had served their families
in their children’s educational experiences.
Another innovative segment of the
graduation program is the recitation of
a poem written for the occasion by the
school’s Poet Laureate. This year’s poem,
“Acknowledgements” was read by Gabe
Sklan.
Next, Sasoni Abady, Lida LeVine and
Omer Sananes, representing the Class
of 2015, presented the Faculty Mentor
Award to Mr. Danny Nurafshan for his
particular service and kinship to this year’s
senior class.
Zipporah Hruby read the “Student
Address in Hebrew” and Abril Fleitas,
Sarah Ripps, and Eden Yaacobi presented
the Senior Class Gift.
After Mr. Drew’s astronaut landing,
graduates, parents, and all well-wishers
were entertained by the lovely voice of
senior Elana Fauth, who sang “You’ve
Got a Friend.”
Rabbi Michael White, father of soon-
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to-be graduate Talia White, delivered
the Rabbinic Parent Speech, followed
by Jessica Snouwaert’s Student Address.
The D’var Torah was delivered, with
appropriate good humor, by Rabbi Yosef
Plotkin.
Following that, the AHA Cappella choir
performed renditions of “Be Human”
and “Shema B’ni” before the moment
that everyone was there to see, the
conferring of Diplomas by Ms. Leeor
Sabbah, with the names of each graduate
pronounced in English by Dr. Tammy
William, Dean of Academics, and in
Hebrew by Mr. Danny Nurafshan, Acting
Dean of Jewish Studies.
Immediately after the conferring of
diplomas, the AHA Cappella led the
audience in a rendition of the school song
“Alma Mater,” which was followed by the
B’rakha and Final Words by Rabbi Jeff
Amshalem.
The “Hatikvah” was then sung by all, led
again by the AHA Cappella, the muchawaited Tassel Ceremony, led by Dr.
Williams, and, finally the Blowing of the
Shofar, performed by Principal Emeritus
Dr. Gary Grandon.
And thus the twelfth graduating class of
the American Hebrew Academy recessed
from the Temple with “astronaut” Glenn
Drew’s words echoing in their minds:
“You are the emerging 1% who outside
traditional orthodox communities are
engaged in Jewish life, Jewish culture,
and connected to their Jewish identity.
Jewish students on college campuses
in the United States face animus unlike
ever before. Most are extraordinarily
unprepared for this. You are not.”
Parent Perspectives: Dr. Robert Strell, Parent to Coby (’17)
keeps our son on-task and focused. The
teachers are sincere in their efforts to
teach and educate our son. Whenever
an academic difficulty – however small
- has arisen, the teachers, our son’s
caring advisor, and the academic staff
respond quickly and always help our
son to successfully navigate the matter
at hand. What’s more, we have yet to
visit a college or university that rivals the
athletic facilities at the American Hebrew
Academy. The basketball and swimming
facilities are exquisite.
Our family of Strell's includes: Pamela, Asher (11), Robert, Sylvie (6), and Coby (16).
Life presents many milestones. Some at
the time may seem formidable, but it is
not a surprise that most of us successfully
pass through them. It should not be a
shock for anyone to think that their child
will, at one point, graduate from high
school. I feel fortunate that my son Coby
will take the journey to that milestone at
the American Hebrew Academy.
I had the honor and privilege of attending
and graduating from medical school.
But unlike most of my peers, I chose
to do my medical studies in Israel. In
addition to receiving a wonderful, didactic
medical education, I had four years of a
unique, life-altering time of growth and
amazement outside of the classroom.
In some respects, these experiences may
have surpassed the importance of what
I learned in the classroom. At the end of
the four years, I had become a doctor,
but the experiences I had in this special
environment filled me with a different
color and texture that I could not have
achieved had I gone to medical school
elsewhere.
It was with this experience in mind that
my life partner and I were able to support
our eldest child’s decision to leave home
for high school to attend the American
Hebrew Academy. We knew that Coby
would be graduating from high school
with the class of 2017 somewhere. Once
we learned what the American Hebrew
Academy could offer our son, it was a
very hard decision NOT to support his
choice. We have not been disappointed.
When we first pulled up to the American
Hebrew Academy for Prospective
Student Weekend and saw the impressive
entrance with Hebrew writing and the
flag of Israel, we were excited that such
an institution existed. But the deal was
sealed after listening to Glenn Drew
speak about his Uncle Chico Sabbah,
and the path that led Sabbah to fulfill his
lifelong dream to establish the American
Hebrew Academy.
We had never considered sending our son
to boarding school before setting foot
on the Academy’s campus. However, our
preconceived notions about boarding
school changed by the end of that
weekend! In fact, many of the parents
we met that weekend went on to send
their children to the Academy. Seeing
how these Jewish children from all over
the globe develop such close bonds and
friendships has been a moving experience:
one that could not have been replicated in
any other environment.
The highly structured day at the Academy
But Coby’s experience at the Academy
transcends the fantastic physical facilities.
The hours of learning in a uniquely warm
and caring environment and being able
to make lifelong friendships with Jewish
students from all over the world cannot
be found elsewhere. The rich Jewish
cultural and educational experiences have
been so fulfilling for him -- and by proxy
for my wife and me. Coby’s confidence
and maturity have grown. His heartfelt
pursuit of success in Jewish studies and
academics has even astonished us at
times.
Our son’s primary school was a secular,
diverse, and progressive urban charter
school and we were hesitant to send him
to a local Jewish day school with a more
homogeneous student population, even
though we supported the idea of a Jewish
education. At the American Hebrew
Academy, the combination of the diverse
international student population, the
caring faculty and staff, the abundance of
cultural and athletic opportunities, and the
campus infrastructure are simply not to
be found elsewhere. The school is unique
and exceptional in every way.
Growing up happens. There are so many
different paths people can choose on their
journey. Although the initial decision of
going to boarding school at the American
Hebrew Academy was not a conventional
choice, it was the right choice for our
child. He loves high school, treasures
his friendships, receives an excellent
education, and has really become a
mensch!
summer
2015 / 5775 ‫קיץ‬
volume
12, issue 1
7
Shana Tova Greetings
‫שנה טובה‬
Sending Shana Tova greetings are a very thoughtful way to add an extra special dash of sweetness in the
lives of your family, friends, neighbors, and business associates for the coming Jewish New Year. The
American Hebrew Academy is offering two options for you to acknowledge these special people in
celebration of Rosh Hashanah, while supporting the Academy’s General Scholarship Fund.
Option 1: A greeting card will be sent through the mail to anyone you wish to honor for a donation of $18.00
per card, 6 cards for $90 (includes 1 free card), or 12 cards for $180 (includes 2 free cards). Select your
greeting(s) from the three cards offered below; mixing & matching is encouraged. These beautiful
photographs of Israel were taken by a few of our rising seniors, while attending the Alexander Muss High
School in Israel during their junior year. Greeting A: Sari Lerner, Greeting B: Alison Naude, and
Greeting C: Gilly Blais. Each card will include your own personal message or you may choose from the
messages shown under each photograph. (See the order form to purchase your greeting cards.)
DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 1, 2015.
Greeting A
Greeting B
‫שנה טובה‬
Best Wishes for a New Year Filled
with Health, Happiness, and Peace
Greeting C
‫שנה טובה‬
Wishing You a Year of Sweet Blessings
Filled with Abundant Joy and Peace
‫שנה טובה‬
Wishing You a Sweet New Year!
Option 2: For thousands of years, the onset of fall has brought greetings of “Shana Tova – To a Good Year”
in Jewish communities everywhere. A fast and easy way to send Jewish New Year greetings to people near
and dear to you is in our special holiday edition of HaGesher filled with Jewish New Year greetings and
mouth-watering holiday recipes. Samples of the types of greetings are shown below. CLICK HERE to
view the 5775 special edition Rosh Hashanah HaGesher. (See the order form to purchase an advertisement.)
DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 1, 2015
1. Select Greeting Size
□ $18 (1/16 page)
□ $36 (1/8 page)
□ $54 (1/4 page)
□ $72 (1/2 page)
Wishing family and friends
a very Happy New Year
A Happy and Healthy New Year
to everyone at the
American Hebrew Academy
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american hebrew academy
The Rosenberg Family
- the international jewish college prep boarding school
□ $108 (full page)
Shana Tova, Uncle Mordi,
May you have a sweet
and joyous New Year!
With Love,
The Weinstein Family
Shana Tova Greetings Order Form
Deadline: SEPTEMBER 1, 2015
OPTION 1: Purchase Academy Jewish New Year Greeting Cards to support the Academy’s
General Scholarship Fund - $18.00 per card, 6 cards for $90 (includes 1 free card), or 12 cards for
$180 (includes 2 free cards).
Include your contact information, along with the names and complete mailing addresses for the families,
friends, neighbors, and business associates you would like to honor with a Jewish New Year greeting
card, as well as the greeting option letter (A, B, or C) and return to:
Email: [email protected]
OR
Fax: 336.217.7011
OPTION 2: To purchase a Jewish New Year advertisement in the special Rosh Hashanah
HaGesher, please complete the form below.
1. Select Greeting Size
□ $18 (1/16 page) □ $36 (1/8 page)
□ $54 (1/4 page)
□ $72 (1/2 page) □ $108 (full page)
2. Select Greeting
□ A Happy And Healthy New Year to Everyone
□ Wishing Family And Friends a Very Happy New Year
□ May You Have a Sweet And Joyous New Year
□ Design your own greeting ____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Print name(s) as you would like it to appear in the greeting
__________________________________________________________________________
4. Provide your contact information below.
Name: ___________________________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________________
City: __________________________________ State: ________ Zip: _________________
Phone: ________________________________ Email: ____________________________
5. If you’d like to send a greeting to someone who is not currently on our email list, please
provide the address and we will be happy to send them a copy of the special Rosh Hashanah
HaGesher acknowledging your gift to the Academy in their honor.
Recipient’s Email Address: ________________________________________________
Complete and return this form by: SEPTEMBER 1, 2015
Email: [email protected]
OR
Fax: 336.217.7011
We will send you an invoice for the number of cards or advertisements ordered. Once payment has been
received, a letter of confirmation will be sent acknowledging your tax deductible gift to the
Academy’s General Scholarship Fund. If you prefer to mail in payment, please return everything to:
American Hebrew Academy
4334 Hobbs Road
Greensboro, NC 27410
Attn: Ellen Green
To make a payment online, please CLICK HERE
For additional information, please contact: Ellen Green, Assistant Director of Institutional Advancement – 336.217.7056
summer
2015 / 5775 ‫קיץ‬
volume
12, issue 1
9
American Hebrew Academy welcomes
new faculty and staff for 2015-16 school year
The Academy’s global reputation for
excellence continues to provide us with
the privilege of employing a highly
esteemed faculty and staff. This year, in
addition to announcing promotions and
job changes, we welcome the following
new faculty and staff members for the
2015-2016 academic year. Together, they
join an outstanding group of people
dedicated to the Academy’s mission, its
students, and their families.
• Glenn Drew will assume the role of
Chief Executive Officer & General
Counsel, stepping down as Executive
Director so that he may focus exclusively
on strategic affairs, student recruitment,
financial affairs, communications, and
facilities.
• Dr. Gary Grandon, former Academy
Principal Emeritus, has been named
Headmaster and will assume leadership
of all day to day Academy operations.
Dr. Grandon’s distinguished academic
career spans 35+ years. He is a founding
member of the Academy faculty. Over
the course of the next year, the Board
of Trustees will also be conducting
an international search to name the
Academy’s next Headmaster for the 20162017 academic year.
• Detective, Master Police Officer
Darrell McDonald has been promoted to
Director of Security and Sergeant Steve
Hussey, who has served AHA for many
years as a member of the Greensboro
Police department, has been named
Chief of Security Operations. Safety and
security are of foremost importance at
the Academy and while we are not aware
of any known threats, next year we have
asked the Greensboro Police department
to increase their presence on campus in
addition to our own security personnel,
particularly in the late evening hours.
• Mark Spielman, formerly Director
of Marketing and Recruitment has
been named Director of New Student
Outreach and will assume leadership of
all Admissions Department operations.
• Congratulations to Mrs. Rachael
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american hebrew academy
Smith Vaughan who has been promoted
to Director of College & Career
Counseling. Our College Counseling
Office will be introducing a number of
virtual online meetings for parents of all
grades to better inform them about the
college prep, selection, admission, and
scholarship application process.
• Rabbi Eliezer Sneiderman has been
named Dean of Jewish Studies. Rabbi
Sneiderman attended Milton Academy
and Indian Mountain School (boarding
schools) from 8th-12th grade and went
on to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree
from the University of Pennsylvania, a
Master’s degree from Yeshiva University,
ordination from Central Lubavitch
Yeshiva in Brooklyn, and is presently
completing his Ph.D. at Gratz College.
Rabbi Sneiderman was a highly successful
Wall Street trader before becoming a
rabbi and professor at the University of
Delaware. Rabbi Sneiderman is fluent in
English, French, Portuguese, Yiddish,
Aramaic, and Hebrew.
• Leon Covitz will serve as Dean of
Jewish Life. Mr. Covitz was born and
raised in Scotland, immigrated to Israel
to become at dairy farm manager at
Kibbutz Ma’alei Gilboa, and served in the
Israeli Defense Forces. He has over thirty
years experience as a Jewish educator in
London, Israel, and America. He holds
high honors from the Glasgow Board
of Jewish Education; a Bachelor of Arts
Degree with Honors in Jewish Studies
from Jews College in London; a Master’s
Degree from Siegal College in Cleveland
and is working toward his doctorate in
Educational Leadership at Georgia State
University.
• Rabbi Michael Schwartz joins our
Jewish Studies faculty and will lead the
reform minyan. Born in Greensboro, he
has held rabbinic leadership positions in
Brussels and Hong Kong before making
Aliyah in 1994. In Israel, he has been
an educator and executive director of
several Jewish organizations. He earned
his Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious
- the international jewish college prep boarding school
Studies at the University of Virginia, a
Master’s Degree from Hebrew Union
College and Rabbinical ordination from
the Schechter Institute of Judaic Studies.
• Rabbi Rachel Brown will be leading the
conservative minyan, serve as a member
of the Jewish Studies faculty, and initiate
a new program in pastoral counseling.
She joins us from Pennsylvania where
she was the senior rabbi and educator
at Congregation B’nai Jacobs for ten
years. Rabbi Brown earned her degree in
architecture from City College of New
York and her rabbinic ordination from
the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at
the University of Judaism.
• Itamar Shahar comes to the Academy
from Jerusalem and will be joining
the Jewish Studies department. After
completing his service in the IDF, Mr.
Shahar has been a Jewish educator
in Israel for the past seven years. He
earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in
Jewish Studies and Bible from Hebrew
University and just completed his Master’s
Degree in Jewish Studies, Holocaust
Studies, and Modern Jewish History at
Hebrew University.
• Dr. Cody Perkins is the newest member
of the Social Studies department faculty
hailing from Memphis, Tennessee. He
holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from
Michigan State University and a Master’s
Degree and Ph.D. from the University of
Virginia where he has served as a graduate
teaching assistant for three years.
• Samuel Zerabruk Tesfay is well known
to the Academy as a science and math
tutor and member of our Dining Services
team. This year, Mr. Tesfay formally joins
our faculty and will teach Chemistry. He
was born and raised in Ethiopia where he
earned his Bachelor of Education degree
in Chemistry at Mekelle University and a
Master’s Degree in Analytical Chemistry
from Addis Ababa University. Prior to
coming to America, Mr. Tesfay was a
university lecturer and researcher, and a
scientific reviewer for the Jordanian Journal
Continued on next page
Academy welcomes new faculty and staff continued
of Biological Sciences and the International
Journal of Water Resources and Environmental
Technologies.
and Andrew Shaw who has been
promoted to Jewish Life Department
Coordinator.
valuable international experience. Dahlia
is also a graduate of Bnai Shalom Day
School in Greensboro.
• Dr. Jane Ann Brandsma is a national
board certified teacher in Adolescent
and Young Adult Mathematics. She
holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Mathematics Education and a Master’s
Degree in Mathematics from the
University of New Orleans and a Ph.D.
from North Carolina State University. Dr.
Brandsma comes to the Academy with
twenty-five years experience as a math
teacher at the university and high school
levels.
• Kym Kaplan has been named Director
of Student Programming. She joins the
Academy from Coral Springs, Florida. She
earned her Bachelor of Arts degree with
honors in Theatre and Drama from the
University of Florida and has ten years
experience in education.
• Academy alumni Rose Stein, who
recently graduated from Indiana
University, and Dayna Slotkis, who
graduated from the University of Central
Florida, join the Academy as new
Admissions Department Associates.
• Mazel Tov to Dana Robinson who
has been promoted to Houseparent and
Senior Student Programming Coordinator
• Dahlia Crater will serve as the
Academy’s new Director of Admissions.
A native of Greensboro, she took
her Bachelor of Arts degree from the
University of North Carolina. She joins
the Academy following a seven year
career as a senior manager in customer
service at Ralph Lauren where she gained
• Patrick McMillan, husband of Arts
Department Chair Kathryn McMillan,
will be managing the boathouse.
• The Academy’s Fellowship Program
for recent college graduates welcomes 8
new Fellows to campus for the 2015-2016
academic year. You can read about them
in more detail on page 14 and 15.
Academy students keep busy all summer
For some, summer means a chance to relax by the pool or the
ocean and enjoy the slower pace of life. For others, summer is
a time for new experiences, for internships and jobs, for travel,
for summer enrichment programs, and Tikkun ‘Olam.
Some of our rising seniors shared what they did this summer:
• Chloe Greenfield (‘16) spent part of her summer shadowing
at both a physical therapy clinic and a speech therapy clinic.
Chloe hopes to study athletic training after graduation from the
Academy, and learning about physical therapy is important to
understanding the process of recovery from injury.
• Sean Lerner
(‘16), worked
as a full time
counselor for
kindergartners
at Camp Mindy,
the day camp
at the JCC in
Charlotte. Also working at Camp Mindy was former Fellow
Amy Fine, Abigail Rose Smallman (‘15) and Miriam Roochvarg
(‘14) – a veritable American Hebrew Academy reunion!
• Sophie Goldstein (‘16) not only attended a science and
engineering program at Smith College over the summer, but
she also spent time volunteering at the Manhattan Children’s
Center, a school for children with autism. At Smith, she took
two courses: neuroscience and exercise science. Sophie wrote:
“This experience has not only helped me learn about interesting
topics, helped me concentrate in what I'm interested in, and
meet new friends, I've learned what it's like to live on a college
campus and have a taste of the college experience.”
• Elana Loftpring (‘16) participated in a leadership fellowship
program at Camp Szarvas in Hungary from June 24th until
July 10th. Along with nine other rising seniors from the US,
and campers from Hungary, Russia, Ukraine, India, Turkey,
Romania, Bulgaria, Belarus, and Israel. Elana and her peers
discussed Judaism and their own beliefs. The goal of the
Szarvas Fellowships is to encourage meaningful interactions and
mutual understanding between youth from around the world.
• Harel Pshitizky (‘16) spent
his summer engaged in a
Tikkun ‘Olam project in
Israel, tutoring a group of
Ethiopian children who had
recently made Aliyah, and were
having trouble assimilating
into the Israeli educational
system and culture. He tutored
math, Hebrew, and English,
and helped the kids overcome their language difficulties, while
forming meaningful connections with them.
summer
2015 / 5775 ‫קיץ‬
volume
12, issue 1
11
We Get Mail
Dear Glenn:
Our son is now back home and we´re enjoying his company. We
see how much he has matured and grown. Attending AHA has
enabled him to learn that he can set high goals for himself and
achieve them through hard work and commitment. We see how
much he has achieved on the academic level as well as on the
social and personal ones and it makes us really proud.
We´d like to thank you and all the members of the Academy
for your hard work and commitment, but most of all for setting
such good examples for our son. You are the kind of role models
parents pray for their kids to find. Knowing that our son looks
up to people who are as caring and trustworthy, hardworking, and
giving is truly heartwarming. We know this lessons will be with
him for the rest of his life.
May G´bless your work and AHA so that many more students
and their families can benefit as we have.
Thank you for giving our son a chance to have a wonderful
year at AHA, and for allowing us to experience the pleasure
of watching our son rise to the challenge. We look forward to
sharing many "nachas" with you!
Have a wonderful summer.
Whether you were my student or my colleague, someone I saw
and lived with every single day, or someone I only got to interact
with rarely, know that I appreciate each and every one of you and
will miss you more than you know. I’ll always have a special place
in my heart for this place, and will always be available if anyone
ever needs any help, advice, encouragement, an ear to listen, or a
place to stay in Boston or Canada or anywhere I may be.
This is a special, special place, and I know that with the hard work
and dedication of everyone here, it will only become more and
more amazing and soon the rest of the world will really know
what an incredible place AHA is and what this place can mean.
----
Please stay in touch by any means you’d like- I’ll miss everyone so
much.
Dear Zmira and Leeor,
All my love,
Whenever I receive information from the AHA I fondly think
of Zmira and Chico. I haven't any inside information about what
goes on after someone leaves this world. I hope that whatever
is in store in the hereafter Chico has a seat up front and is able
to observe events in Greensboro. I have thought about it many
times but this is the first time that I have put my thoughts and
wishes into the written word. Nevertheless I kvell every time that
I see the Sabbah dream realized.
Josh Satok
Best wishes.
---AHA,
Before I leave here tomorrow morning, I just wanted to take
the opportunity to thank everybody who makes up this special
community for everything that you do for this place, and
everything that you’ve done for me this year.
If you would have told me I’d end up spending a year of my
life after I was long done high school and finished college not
just working but living at a high school in the middle of North
Carolina, I would have told you that you were certifiably insane
(and trust me, many people told me that). But through all the
challenges this year brought and everything that can be crazy
about life inside the green gates, the biggest thing that I will be
leaving here with, besides enough stories and memories to spend
the rest of my life telling, is how much almost every single person
here has meant to me.
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american hebrew academy
---Hi all,
I want to tell you that I will be leaving AHA on Monday morning.
I am filling in a position at Ramah Darom and will spend a
month there before moving to Atlanta. Thank you all for the
past two years of being a Fellow. I did not realize when I initially
accepted this position as an almost college graduate how much
of an impact this community would have on me. I have learned
a lot about myself through many memorable and challenging
experiences. I truly believe that I am a better person because
of my two years here. I am thankful for each moment and
interaction I had here and do not know if I will successfully be
able to find a community that replicates this one.
I will be driving to Georgia Monday morning, so please say
'goodbye' sometime in the next few days. I would love to hear
from you at any point and will be very happy to see from you a
text, email, call, letter, message, or carrier pigeon, and make sure
to let me know if you are ever in Atlanta.
In the words of a good friend- I will miss you all and see you
later.
Best,
Nathan Brodsky
----
- the international jewish college prep boarding school
We Get Mail
Hi Hillary,
Shalom friends,
Thank YOU for an amazing tour. I am so appreciative for the
opportunity to see AHA and learn about the incredible work you
all are doing. I'm glad I am now able to talk about the school with
my classmates and future congregants. I am looking forward to
continuing to be in touch and to be helpful in your recruitment
efforts if I can. Thank you so much for taking the time to meet
with me and show me around.
We’ve had a lot to say to you over the last six years: there’s a
Tikkun ‘Olam trip to… here’s what’s going on this Shabbat…
sign up for in-house dinner… join us at Shabbat Club for…
ma’amad gimmel remember to… Mitzvah Day sign ups…
counting of the ‘Omer night 22… sell your hametz to… come
to the party for… counting of the ‘Omer night 37… counting of
the ‘Omer night 44…
I hope you have a terrific summer. I have already told my
successor at B'nai Israel that he needs to go out to AHA much
earlier in his year in High Point.
It’s time to say the last thing: Goodbye. Goodbye, and thanks.
For every one of those e-mails, there have been students we
have cared about, students we have learned from, students
whose journeys we have come to appreciate. Students who have
encouraged us professionally and challenged us personally, and
the other way around, too.
Thanks again.
---Dear AHA Family and Home,
Had someone told me some 13 years ago, when I first learned
about AHA, that one day, I will have moved to Greensboro
North Carolina, work for a Jewish boarding school, and live
with some 20 kids in the same house – I would have most likely
dismissed it as a pure fantasy. The Jewish tradition holds that,
if something completely unexpected or unplanned happens in
one’s life, it must be a HaShgacha (a Divine Providence) doing,
which sends a person to a place, where he/she is most needed.
I came to AHA in summer 2003, as a complete stranger, and
depart as a true friend. I regard myself really privileged to have
witnessed AHA building- up as an institution, taking shape and
changing, along with natural and understandable growing pains.
I shall always remember my initial AHA experiences of teaching,
Minyan leading, and the vivaciousness of the residential life. The
years that I spent at AHA, taught me so much about the living in
the US, different streams in Judaism – challenges and dilemmas,
of which I was completely unaware. I certainly could not ask for
a better setting as far as my personal and professional growth is
concerned.
I wish to thank everyone on this campus, who touch my heart,
walked into my life, enriched and challenged it. I learned not to
take happy moments for granted and see in each crisis, a blessing
in disguise, from which I could learn and aspire to make things
only better.
Please keep in touch.
HaShem ‘Imachem (May G-d be with you all),
Much love,
Danny Nurafshan
----
But there’s more: it has been our great privilege to work with the
most exceptional staff – other teachers, minyan leaders, Fellows,
administrators, IT, health center, facilities, dining, housekeeping,
groundskeeping, security – everyone it takes to make AHA work,
from the dish room to minyan space to the board room. Thank
you.
And a final word for everyone – everyone – who has shared their
love with our Boy. There’s this thing as a parent: you love your
kid, literally more than you could imagine (even when he drives
you nuts.) And you have a special place in your heart – will always
have a place in your heart – for those who love your kid, too. All
of you who have helped Nadiv grow up, all of you who have
made this really the best place in the world for a child to grow
up – we are forever in your debt. He’s creating a brick for the
Gardens of Israel, but we leave something much more precious
here, and I don’t know how we will ever replace it.
If you would like to reach us – and really, please do – you can
find us in Portland, Oregon. Adinah will be the Program Director
for a really exciting gap year program at Tivnu: Building Justice.
If you have enjoyed Tikkun ‘Olam programs here, imagine a year
living in Portland building houses, working with social service
groups, and learning about Judaism and justice. David will be
making pretty fliers for imaginary events (there are a couple of
things I’m working on…) And we’ll be back. Ostensibly for
recruiting trips, but really, it’s to see all of you.
These words are Naomi Shemer’s: Please don’t uproot what was
planted; don’t forget the hope. Bring me back, and I will return to
the good land. I think we can all say:
May your paths lead toward peace. May your footsteps be guided
toward peace. And may you reach your destination – for life, for
gladness, and for peace.
With the greatest caring and love,
David Feder, Adinah Miller, and Nadiv
summer
2015 / 5775 ‫קיץ‬
volume
12, issue 1
13
Welcome to our New Academy Fellows
An Academy Fellow is a recent college graduate, who lives on campus, and serves as a member of a House Team. They act as a role
model and mentor for our students. Fellows can wear many hats, including but not limited to, planning fun community building
programs, helping to instill Jewish values throughout all aspects of campus, teaching in a classroom, being a surrogate older sibling,
giving unsolicited guidance and advice when necessary, chauffeuring, providing a shoulder, giving hugs, demonstrating life skills such
as doing laundry and ironing. And, most importantly, constantly seeking new ways to enhance Academy life and support students.
We welcome this year’s new Fellows to our campus community for the 2015-2016 academic year.
Nathan Blocker
Jake Gillis
Hometown: Greensboro, North
Carolina
Hometown: Jake was born and raised
in Pittsburgh, PA (Go Steelers!).
College: University of North Carolina
at Wilmington, B.A in Political Science,
B.A in International (Globalization
Concentration), Minor in Middle
Eastern Islamic Studies
College: He attended the University
of Pittsburgh and graduated with a
degree in Psychology and a certificate
in Jewish Studies.
Interesting Facts: Nathan loves to
snowboard and play basketball. He spent 7 months living in
Australia for study abroad. While on study abroad he traveled all
over Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. He also
did everything from white water rafting to climbing the Sydney
Harbor Bridge and bungee jumping off the Auckland Harbor
Bridge while on study abroad. He is a huge Manchester United
fan.
Interesting Facts: After graduation, he
worked as a Madrich on Ramah's high
school semester program in Israel, TRY. He just returned from
a month of backpacking through Europe. Jake loves a cappella,
football, Israeli music, Ultimate Frisbee, and mindfulness
exercises.
Debra Linfield
College: Stanford University, B.S.
Biology, Minor in Math
Shaina Kass
Hometown: Solon, Ohio
College: Ohio University, 2013,
B.A. (magna cum laude) Visual
Communication – Commercial
Photography & B.A. Communication
– Organizational Communication,
Studied Abroad at Hebrew University,
2011
Interesting Facts: Peer Network Engagement Intern, Hillel at
Ohio University Learning Communities Peer Mentor, Ohio
University, 2011-2013, Social Media Team, Division of Student
Affairs, Ohio University, 2012-2013, Photographer & Designer
Interesting Facts: While at Stanford,
Debra was a resident assistant in a fourclass dorm, the Vice President of the
Jewish Student Association, director
of Stanford Minyan, and a research
assistant at the School of Medicine,
conducting research on neonatal
jaundice. She enjoys spending time with her friends and six
siblings, exercising, and watching Grey’s Anatomy.
Ian Solow-Niederman
Hometown: Englewood, Colorado
Mia Perlman
College: University of Colorado at
Boulder, 2014, B.A. Communications
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
College: Washington University in
St. Louis, 2015, B.A. Psychology &
Hebrew
Interesting Facts: Mia loves to cook
(and eat), crochet, and read. She is
attempting to learn the ukulele. While
working at Camp Ramah Outdoor
Adventure in Colorado last summer, she trained as a Wilderness
First Responder and developed a healthy fear of lighting.
14
american hebrew academy
Interesting Facts: Director of Alumni
Engagement, Alpha Pi Fraternity,
2014-2015. Colorado Community
Supported Agriculture Intern, Hazon,
2014. Marketing & Development
Intern, Boulder JCC, 2012-2013. President, Hillel of Colorado,
2012-2013.
- the international jewish college prep boarding school
Continued on next page
Academy boasts new academic offerings on campus
Every year, the Academic faculty develops new course offerings
designed to enrich the American Hebrew Academy’s challenging
college preparatory curriculum, and to provide new avenues for
students to excel.
In the 2015-16 academic year, the Academy is proud to introduce
a new nanotechnology course in partnership with the North
Carolina graduate school of Nanoscience & Nanotechnology.
This is our third program offered in cooperation with local
universities and will allow our students access to university
professors, graduate student researchers, and the sixty-five
million dollar North Carolina nanotech research facility in
Greensboro.
Additional new course offerings include: U.S. History
Foundations, U.S. History Special Topics, A.P. Macroeconomics,
A.P. Studio Art 3D, Jewish Food Values, Drama of Rabbinic
Mythology, Jews by Choice, The World Through A Jewish Lens,
Making Meaning With Midrash, and Exploring Mythology.
American Hebrew Academy helps local non-profit arcBarks expand
The American Hebrew Academy is
pleased to announce that the school is
donating warehouse space to facilitate
the expansion of the Greensboro-based
arcBARKS Dog Treat Company, which
sells all-natural dog treats made by chefs
with special needs.
arcBARKS Dog Treat Company was
created by non-profit organization The
Arc of Greensboro in response to an
increasing need for post-high school
options for people with intellectual and
developmental disabilities. arcBARKS was
envisioned as a self-funding program that
would provide vocational training in the
real world setting of a functioning dog
treat bakery.
The American Hebrew Academy, with
its 100-acre campus and extensive
warehouse space, was delighted to aid in
the expansion of the organization, which
business that supports it, have been
steadily growing over the past 2 years.
The bakery has been working with the
Fresh Market chain of specialty grocery
stores since 2013, but logistical concerns
have hindered sales in supermarkets
outside the local area.
is expanding into Fresh Market stores all
over the region.
The Academy will provide the location
from which pallets of dog treats can be
loaded onto a tractor trailer and shipped
off to Atlanta, GA. Thus, arcBARKS
can provide employment and training for
additional citizens with intellectual and
developmental disabilities, and expand
their production.
According to Kathy Kraus, a longtime
supporter of both arcBARKS and the
Academy, the program, and the baking
As Kraus said in an email to Academy
Chief Executive Officer Glenn Drew:
“I just wanted to let you know that we
have finalized the details of the first
Fresh Market bound pallet of 51 cases of
arcBARKs on Wed, May 20. I, and two
other volunteers, will be coming on the
19th to build the pallet. John Furlough is
in on all of the details. The use of your
loading dock was the final detail that
brought a month of negotiations with
the Fresh Market people to a successful
conclusion. I cannot thank you enough
for your help with this.”
Welcome to our New Academy Fellows continued
Joelle Swatez
David White
Hometown: Bloomington, Indiana
Hometown: Roslyn Heights, New York
College: Indiana University, 2015, B.A.
Judaic Studies
College: Muhlenberg College, 2015,
B.A. Psychology & Jewish Studies
Interesting Facts: Studied abroad at
Hebrew University, 2013-2014. Unit
Head & Counselor, Camp Young
Judaea, Midwest. Administrative
Assistant, Borns Jewish Studies
Program at Indiana University, 2012-2013, Intern, Young Judaea
Year Course, 2013-2014. Intern, Jewish United Fund/Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, 2013. Senior Advisor,
Young Judaea Midwest Year Round, 2012-2013.
Interesting Facts: Studied Abroad at
Tel Aviv University, 2013. Shabbat
Song Leader, Muhlenberg College
Hillel. Member, Delta Tau Delta
Fraternity, 2013-2015. Residential
Advisor, URJ Kutz Camp, 2012. Education Specialist, URJ
Henry S. Jacobs Camp, 2015. 5th Grade Religious School
Teacher, Congregation Keneseth Israel, 2014-2015. Intern, URJ
Youth Summit Convention, 2015.
summer
2015 / 5775 ‫קיץ‬
volume
12, issue 1
15
Professional Development: Our faculty are lifelong learners
At the American Hebrew Academy,
even when school is not in session, our
esteemed faculty don’t stop working.
Each summer, Academy faculty members
take it upon themselves to return to
the classroom and become students
themselves.
The Academy’s mission for academic
excellence is not only learned by students
but modeled by our faculty and staff,
who not only participated in conferences
and seminars over the summer, but also
presented their own academic work
to their colleagues. Here is a sampling
of the professional development work
undertaken this summer.
• Dr. Joshua Moss of the Jewish Studies
department, presented a paper at the
British Association for Jewish Studies
annual meeting, July 5-7 at the University
of Manchester (UK). The theme of the
conference was "Atheism, Skepticism, and
Challenges to Monotheism" impacting
on Jewish culture throughout all periods,
and participants came from the UK,
Europe, Israel, and the US. Dr. Moss'
paper focused on emerging Monotheism
in the Bible and how a sort of Skepticism
was a corollary of the rejection of idols.
The conference drew scholars from the
UK, USA, Israel, France, Germany, and
Poland. Dr. Moss was the only delegate
presenter from a high school. The
collection of papers will appear in book
form next year.
• After returning from his “official”
honeymoon, Dean of Students Dave
Press traveled to Boston to participate
in the Residential Life Academy, a
professional development conference
hosted by the Association of Boarding
Schools. The Residential Life Academy,
hosted by the Association of Boarding
Schools, addresses topics chosen for their
relevance to the mission of guiding and
shaping young lives. The program is
designed for all residential staff interested
in learning, sharing, and refining their
skills and strategies.
Dean Press shared: “We discussed
everything from embracing cultural
diversity to enhancing student leadership
programs, and from supporting LGBTQ
students and faculty to addressing the
excessive online gaming culture. This was
an absolutely worthwhile professional
development experience that provided
me with some tools that will help me to
further strengthen the incredible work
that our residential staff already do at
AHA.”
• Director of Health Services Ruth
Hoffman and Nurse Anita Masterson
attended the "School Nurse Symposium"
sponsored by Southeast Area Health
Education Center. It was a one day
conference in Wilmington and included
updates and information on the following
topics: Infection control, STD and
Measles, Abdominal pain in children,
Depression Screening, Obesity issues in
the school, current illegal drugs of choice
by teens along with current treatments for
these drugs and a legislative update.
• Dr. Karen Dresser, of the Fine
Arts Department, spent the summer
mentoring a Wake Forest University
School of Divinity student, Christine
Hargraves. Ms. Hargraves did a summer
internship at Elsewhere in Greensboro,
and met weekly with Dr. Dresser to
discuss theological ideas, spiritual
questions, the place of spirituality in art,
and other topics. In addition, Dr. Dresser
converted her garage into a home art
studio (which will allow her many more
art-making hours at home) and continued
to tutor B’nai Mitzvah students in
chanting their Torah and Haftarah texts.
• Associate Dean of Academics Abby
Karp, history teacher Scott Culclasure,
and new science teacher, Samuel Tesfay
attended the Advanced Placement
Summer Institute at Wake Forest
University from June 15-19. The training
covers course content, strategies for
teaching and assessment, and information
on how to help students prepare for the
AP exam.
• Elizabeth Ramsey attended Advanced
Placement Summer Institute at the
Savannah College of Art and Design
(SCAD) in Atlanta from July 12-17,
where she learned about the AP 3D Art
Class she will be teaching in the coming
academic year. She also got the chance
to meet colleagues in the field, tour the
SCAD facilities, and is looking forward to
bringing back new ideas and inspiration to
students at the Academy.
Academy grad wins prestigious World Association
for Cooperative Education (WACE) scholarship
The American Hebrew Academy is proud to announce that Rachel Sharkey
(‘15) has been awarded the World Association for Cooperative Education’s
(WACE) Thirteenth Annual National Co-op Scholarship to attend Drexel
University, where she will be the first female Division 1 collegiate soccer
player to graduate from the Academy.
WACE is the largest independently sponsored merit co-op scholarship program in the United States,
awarded to high school seniors and transfer students who plan to participate in college cooperative
education at one of the participating colleges and universities.
Continued on next page
16
american hebrew academy
- the international jewish college prep boarding school
Academy student receives scholarship to study petroleum engineering
“It was my dream to study in the United States since I was nine
years old,” said 2015 American Hebrew Academy graduate Erika
Ergart. After four years at the Academy, Erika is heading off to
study Petroleum Engineering, her chosen field of study, at the
McDougall School of Petroleum Engineering at the University
of Tulsa, which is internationally recognized as one of the top 5
petroleum engineering schools in the world
Erika, an ambitious and creative student from Moscow, Russia,
came to the American Hebrew Academy in 2011 as part of a
growing cohort of international students who find success on
the Academy’s campus, and are given the chance expand their
horizons as global citizens at a young age.
Over the past five years, the American Hebrew Academy has
enjoyed a 25% increase in international enrollment, which
has included numerous students from Russia and many other
Russian speaking countries.
These students have gone on to great academic and professional
success in the United States as a result of the education they
received and the experiences they had while studying at the
American Hebrew Academy.
Erika is part of a group of international students who are
receiving a first-rate high school education at the American
Hebrew Academy, and then finding success in the American
college and university system.
“The Academy is committed to educating students for the 21st
century and preparing its graduates to become global Jewish
leaders in communities around the world,” explained American
Hebrew Academy Chief Executive Officer Glenn Drew. “Our
international students, like Erika, enjoy the opportunity of a
lifetime at our school.”
New international student enrollment at the Academy reached
a record high of 45% in the 2014-15 academic year, expanding
the cultural diversity of the student body, furthering our mission
to mentor future Jewish global leaders, and strengthening our
unique position in the world as the only international Jewish
college prep boarding school.
It is not always easy to study far from home, but as Erika
explains, the education she received at the Academy was well
worth it: “In the beginning,
I was extremely homesick
because I had to come so
far away from my mom
(we have a very close
connection). Also, the
linguistic and the cultural
barriers did not make my
life easy. However, despite
this, I always wanted to
learn at the Academy. Once,
my mom suggested that
maybe I should come back
home. I said, ‘Mom, no. If I leave now, that will mean that I
don’t have any willpower. I should stay.’ And I am happy I did.”
A boarding school is a home away from home, and the strength
and warmth of the community is key to helping students
succeed.
“People at this school always want to help you no matter what.
It is an amazing community,” said Erika. “For example, when
I arrived at AHA, I did not understand anything people would
say to me in English. Now I am doing great, in understanding,
reading, and writing!
Erika did do well, in fact, that she was awarded the highest
amount of scholarship funding available to international
students to attend the McDougall School of Petroleum
Engineering, and is receiving further assistance from an
educational foundation to support her studies.
Her dream was always to study petroleum engineering in the
United States, and to eventually start her own business in
the field. Admission to the McDougall School of Petroleum
Engineering at the University of Tulsa was the fulfillment of
that dream, which took root during the course of her studies at
the American Hebrew Academy.
Erika shared: “I would definitely recommend AHA to other
Russian students because it is a unique and breathtaking
experience. I am having experiences here that I would otherwise
never had the opportunity to experience.”
Academy grad wins prestigious scholarship continued
The organization’s vision is to be the premier international
organization linking the world’s leading higher education
institutions, employers, and public authorities, in order to prepare
the next generation for a lifetime of professional success.
Sharkey ('15) plans to take advantage of this opportunity to
integrate education and work experience at Drexel University in
Philadelphia, Pa, where she will play soccer for the Drexel Dragons.
summer
2015 / 5775 ‫קיץ‬
volume
12, issue 1
17
‫דרך לעתיד‬
Derekh L’Atid
Pathway To The Future
Be Part of the American Hebrew Academy History
Derekh L’Atid, Pathway to the Future, the American Hebrew Academy Brick Campaign
has been hugely successful. The walkway into the campus’s beautiful and picturesque
Gardens of Israel grows with attractively engraved bricks commemorating, celebrating,
memorializing, and honoring friends and family worldwide.
What a beautiful way to acknowledge a very special birthday or anniversary, pay
tribute to a friend and a loved-one, or remember someone who left an indelible mark
on your life.
Orders may be placed at any time. Below is a picture of a portion of the bricks
currently on the pathway. Detailed information as to how you may place your order
for a brick is outlined on the next page.
18
american hebrew academy
- the international jewish college prep boarding school
summer
2015 / 5775 ‫קיץ‬
volume
12, issue 1
19
Why keep kosher – What's the point?*
By Rabbi Moshe ben Asher, Ph.D. & Magidah Khulda bat Sarah
We know that rabbinic law sets stringent standards for the
slaughtering of animals and the kashrut (ritual fitness) of
cooking utensils.
There is a rather surreal quality to these commandments and
rabbinic ordinances, since probably more than 80 percent of
American Jews ignore them. “Why keep kosher – what’s the
point?”
The overwhelming majority of Jews who don’t keep kosher
misunderstand the point of kashrut – the regimen of dietary
laws specifying what is fit for Jews to eat.
The most common misunderstanding is that the purpose of
kashrut is to foster health and hygiene, so of course keeping
kosher is no longer necessary.
Apart from misunderstandings about kashrut that explain its
disfavor among modern Jews, we also need to acknowledge that
it’s inherently problematic as a ritual commandment.
Rules may be understood as communal investments through
which we symbolically communicate with ourselves about what
we value, and how as a community we are to practice and protect
those things. As such, ritual plays a central role in nurturing
and sustaining spirituality. It’s interesting to note that “ritual” is
literally at the center of “spirituality.”
mission of the Jewish people to be doers of righteousness and
justice, keepers of sacred time and space, propagators of the
Torah’s vision and path – and thereby a light to the other nations
and to ourselves. Contrary to popular misconceptions, then, the
laws of kashrut have nothing to do with physical bodily health,
but are aimed to energize our free-willed moral spiritual powers,
raising us up as humankind from the morally un-free animal
world.
When we take care to eat kosher meat, we confront the reality of
killing animals, and we reaffirm by our actions the need to put
the animal to death as painlessly as possible.
We remind ourselves to show consideration and kindness to all
living creatures.
In the words of Rabbi Samuel Dresner, “Kashrut is a systematic
means of educating and refining the conscience . . .”
So the goal of kashrut is to teach us unceasing reverence for life
by raising us up from the animal nature within us to our greatest
capacity for free-willed moral spirituality – and thus through
dietary ritual to fulfill us by bringing us closer to God’s Divine
Providence for humankind with every mouthful of food we
consume.
* Excerpted from the original, much lengthier article published in the Post
& Opinion (March 24, 2010).
Most of us, with regard to the religious tradition of the
Jewish people, want to have a “spiritual dimension” in our
lives, a palpable connection to the ineffable. However, many
contemporary Jews attempt to satisfy that desire by shifting their
spiritual pathway from the communal life of the synagogue to
their individual, privatized inner life. When we make that shift
en masse, our notion of religious empowerment is no longer
to practice our faith as a people, but to regularly reinvent it
according to our individual inclinations. It has the advantage
of allowing us to satisfy our personal predilection, but it also
prevents us from imagining and fulfilling much loftier aspirations
as a people, accomplishing much more than we ever could by
ourselves.
The root meaning of kosher is “to prepare,” “to connect
properly.” Almost nothing is more ordinary, yet more essential,
than eating. By choosing to eat only kosher food, by limiting
the source of our energy, we prepare and ritualize the aspiration
of using that source of energy to connect to God. Every day
we make a direct connection between our energy and its source,
between the food we consume and using our energy to serve
God. In effect, the purpose of keeping kosher is that together
we prepare our physical bodies through a spiritual discipline. By
keeping kosher we separate ourselves out from the other nations
and into the purposes of the Jewish people.
We thus remind ourselves every day that by keeping kosher
we choose holiness not as individuals, but to join the historic
20
american hebrew academy
- the international jewish college prep boarding school
The American Hebrew Academy Thanks You for Your Generous Support
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summer
2015 / 5775 ‫קיץ‬
volume
12, issue 1
21
NONPROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE PAID
GREENSBORO, NC
PERMIT NO 669
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HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE
New Jewish Studies
Diploma Announced
Page 1
Academy helps
arcBarks expand
Page 15
The Academy's Twelfth
Commencement
Exercises
Page 6
Parent Perspectives
Page 7
the american hebrew academy newsletter
summer
volume
2015 / 5775 ‫קיץ‬
12, issue 1
Editorial Staff
Mr. Glenn Drew
Ms. Hillary Zaken
Dr. Richard Smith
Ms. Ellen Green
Mr. Phillip Cathcart
Photographs courtesy of
Andrew Bowen
Glenn Drew
Robert Strell
Hannah Cohen
Hillary Zaken
Submissions/Feedback
HaGesher Newsletter
4334 Hobbs Road
Greensboro, NC 27410
[email protected]
(336) 217-7100
PUT YOUR NAME
IN LIGHTS
AT THE
AMERICAN
HEBREW
ACADEMY
The Academy’s sports facilities, including Soccer Stadium and track, three
lighted multi purpose sports fields, and one lighted baseball field, form one
of the premier high school sports complexes in the Southeast, playing host
to regional and local sporting events.
Now is the time for your business to consider sponsoring a scoreboard at
the American Hebrew Academy. Full and partial sponsor panels are
available on single scoreboards or multiple locations for:
• Basketball
• Soccer/Track and Field
• Baseball
Put your company's name in lights and show your support for the
American Hebrew Academy Eagles and youth athletics.
For more information, please contact Ellen Green at (336) 217-7056 or at
[email protected].