ארץ ישראל

אוי כמה אני אוהב אותך

ISRAEL, HOW MUCH DO I LOVE YOU

I am sitting on the bus in the middle of our first full day in Israel.  We  have spent the day with our Ironi Gimmel friends, the students from our sister school in Haifa.  Each year, connections are made that are deep and lasting.  This year, because of Facebook, Skype, and other technology, the students were already ‘friends’ before we arrived.  Even with that, I want to write about something that we just witnessed on the bus. 

Behind me, sat two girls, one from our school and one from Ironi Gimmel.  They began to talk, to sing, to take videos together, when they simultaneously turned toward each other, gave each other a hug, and said,” I love you”   They were in awe of how much they had in common as they struggled with their language differences.  The adults around them were smiling, delighted with the unfolding friendship and the purity of the  feelings the girls already have for each other. Sometimes, we think of the Boston-Haifa connection in terms of big ideas and big plans.  But sometimes, the Boston Haifa connection is about two girls becoming friends sitting on a bus. 

Coming to Israel is about so many experiences making up two weeks-  the land, the people, the spirit, the bonding-   but it is also about understanding that we are a part of the Jewish people and we are a part of the Jewish future and we are joined together with our brothers and sisters in Israel.  It is meant to be a trip that lasts two weeks and carries into a lifetime. 

A new friendship unfolding, a relationship with Israel unfolding… I am sure I will have more to share as the trip continues, but this poignant moment begged to be written down…

Jane Taubenfeld Cohen

Head of School

Today is Purim and tomorrow we leave for Israel.  It is a day of anticipation for our kids and for those of us blessed to be going with them on the trip.   For me, I start to imagine how it will be when they meet their Israeli friends in Haifa, when they climb Massada, and when the enter Yerushalayim.  I start to hear their voices davening on the bus, and begin to imagine what our daily debriefs will be like.   I know they will take pictures of things I have never noticed before, will be moved by sites that I never paid attention to before, and that for each of them, the experience will be different than any they have had before.  

This is my fourth time going to Israel with 8^th graders and each time is like the first time. It does not matter how many times the students have been to Israel before.   It does not matter how many times the chaperones have been to Israel before.  Sharing this experience together elevates our trip to a level of holiness that is indescribable.  

So, today, there are a lot of families packing their children up, with a bit of nervousness, a lot of excitement, and dreams of what will be.   And no matter how beautiful that dream, the trip will probably surpass it.  All that they have been learning over the years, and all that they have shared (even for those who just entered the school this year) will be with us in Israel.   And if previous groups are any indication, all that happens over the next two weeks will be with them forever  

Looking forward to blogging from Midinat Yisrael.

Jane Taubenfeld Cohen

Head of School

There are many important messages to the story of Purim.  One that resonates with me is wondering how Queen Esther must have felt when she revealed her true identity to King Ahashverosh—how liberating it must have been for her!

As adults, many of us remember (or are still in the midst of it!) a struggle with our identities—who am I?  What do I represent?  Am I happy with who I am?  There are no black and white answers to these questions.  For our children, whose identities are continuing to grow and change on a daily basis, these questions loom large.  And, the answers can change on a dime, with different responses in each situation.

Perhaps no other time in the Jewish calendar do I struggle as much as I do as Purim approaches—why does this holiday of fun, frivolity, sharing gifts of food with friends and giving money to charity evoke such a struggle for me?   It’s the costume.  It all starts with deciding what I will wear to school.  Choosing a costume should be easy and fun, right?  I wish it was.  For me, the costume creates a distraction from my true self and forces me to hide who I really am.  Sure I could choose a costume that accentuates certain aspects of my personality, but as a shy person, that is something I could never do.  Yet, with all of this, I always do choose to dress up as it is important for me to be a part of the identity changing experience.

However, even with all of the struggle and angst I have about choosing a costume, I really do love the holiday.  I love seeing our kids dressed up in various and sundry costumes, embracing the spirit of the day both in religious practice and plain old fun.  I enjoy laughing about life’s daily events, from the mundane to the absurd, and then taking a moment to step away from reality and let my inner child out to play.

The holiday of Purim gives us the chance to engage with our children in meaningful conversation about who we are and who our children are—a chance to relate to one another through dressing up in costume, sharing a gift of food or a festive meal and creating opportunities to celebrate that which makes us proud and to laugh at some of those things we wish could be different.   How do you relate to these ideas with your families? 

I wish you all a Hag Purim Sameah—a happy and joyous Purim!

Marc Medwed, Associate Head of School

It is school vacation and I just was reading our blog entries over again.  When we first decided to do this, I was a little nervous.  Would I have anything to say?  Would it work that Marc and I are switching off articles?  Would people respond to us?  Is a blog a proper forum for discussion in a Jewish day school? 

Reading over what we have written, I am excited.  I think that we have begun a process of conversation.  Interestingly, I hear from people around the country about our blog.  Despite my pleas that they write an opinion or ‘have their say’, people are reluctant.  We hear from people,  they have opinions on what we write.  That is a start. 

One of the things that is unusual about our blog is that Marc and I write differently and about different things.  I like that.  A school is filled with different ideas and passions and our readers are exposed to those in our posts. 

I am not so computer savvy or social media advanced.   I just dove in with my heart in the right place.   I want our parents, our community, and the greater day school community to understand our school more.  I am hoping that by writing, we can help that happen. 

And my fear about having anything to say?  I committed to an article every other week…I write much more often than that.

So, what are your thoughts about the use of a blog as one way we communicate?   How about the fact that people still respond by email?  I would love to hear your responses to some of the questions I asked in the first paragraph?

 Jane Taubenfeld Cohen

Head of School

As much of the area was at home awaiting the storm, our fourth graders, their families, and their teachers gathered to celebrate a fabulous milestone event.

Beginning with a spirited tefilah, our fourth graders were shining stars.  They demonstrated their fluency with the tefilot and their ability to speak in front of a large group.  Then, in the smaller groups of the individual classes, each student made a presentation about what they had learned in class and through their mitzvah projects of feeding the hungry and honoring the elderly.  The program concluded with a hands-on activity for each class, bring the projects full circle and creating an opportunity for kids and parents to learn and do together.

Kol hakavod to our teachers for their dedication to our students and our school and a special thank you to our parents who support our school and our community.  Great job, fourth graders—we all thought you shined brilliantly today!

Marc Medwed, Associate Head of School

In just a few weeks, we will travel to Israel with most of our 8th graders. As I anticipate our trip (and we work to contain their excitement), I have flashbacks to some of the most extraordinary memories of previous trips. There is something indescribable about being in Israel with 8th graders. They are mature yet still children. They want ‘freedom’ but stay very close. And, they express their awe, their connection, their love, their Jewishness, each in his or her own way. Because Rabbi David comes with us, and we have chances to daven (pray) overlooking Jerusalem, in the lobby of a hotel, and on the bus, and the students do so in a way that is different than here in school, I am sometimes moved to tears. I love to hear the reflections of the students at night of what they saw, what they felt, what they shared and I am always wondering about life long memories.

The trip also has other features that are hard to describe. The triumphs that these 8th graders experience far from home- whether it is sleeping away for the first time, hiking a mountain, pouring out their hearts in a note they leave in the kotel, speaking Hebrew to a storekeeper, or helping a friend are all part of the experience. Each triumph is one that builds their character and their connection to Israel and to each other. Even though about half the class has been to Israel before, students in the past have said that there is nothing like this trip. I am going to ask this group more about that this year.

Our 8th Grade trip would not be possible without Dr. Nitzan Resnick. The whole Science component that brings scientists from all over Israel flocking to see us is unique and outstanding. What many do not realize is that we are one of the few schools that plans our trip ourselves, without using a company, because of Nitzan’s hard work. That saves each family hundreds and hundreds of dollars but also means that our trip is designed with our students in mind. In other words, our Israel trip matches our school- keeping the kids’ needs in mind.

I have been to Israel many times. Each trip is like coming home and, at the same time, each trip is like beginning again. It is an honor to take our class to Israel. I am looking forward to seeing their faces as we ride through Israel, as we walk through Israel, as we experience Israel together.

Jane Taubenfeld Cohen

Head of School

The milestone events in our school represent the convergence of home and school, as families join together with our teachers to celebrate the students’ learning.  Last night, I had the privilege of attending the second grade milestone event—a family havdalah celebration.  What a beautiful evening it was and how great it was to see our students participating in this event.

As part of the program, the students acted out the story of “The Shabbat Spice.”  I was so impressed with the way they memorized their lines and the way in which they were able to guide the flow of the story and knew when to say their lines and who came before and after—not an easy feat!  Then, as the lights dimmed, each family lit their havdalah candle and joined together in the blessings as we made the transition to a new week.

Kol HaKavod to the teachers and to our families for bringing our students to this point and for helping them each to shine on the stage and in our school.  What a pleasure it is to celebrate together and to honor our 2nd graders.  Way to go!

Marc Medwed, Associate Head of School

I was in the Izzy Arbeiter Gallery of Understanding and I was talking with two sixth grade boys. We were having a meaningful conversation when one said, with all good intentions, “I think that God made the earthquake in Haiti so that Haiti would be rebuilt and it would be better for the people.” I needed to keep my reaction calm and steady as this 11 year old felt safe sharing his thoughts. I calmly answered, “You know, it is really ok to be angry with God for causing so many people to die. Even if Haiti gets rebuilt and gets help from lots and lots of countries, we can still be angry and wonder why God would let this happen to innocent people.”

I took a risk but I could not allow this young man to think that we, as Jews, need to say that there is an understandable reason for everything instead of that we, as Jews, have to acknowledge that we don’t know what reason there could be for such things as earthquakes and other natural disasters. (We do understand the scientific reasoning but this blog post is about the religious reasoning) When a child is in a Jewish Day School, that child has to feel that it is ok to question, it is ok to be angry at God, and it is ok to have all those feelings and still pray and still be a part of the community. The theology of an eleven year old is relatively concrete. It is our job to allow the children to think deeper and openly and safely. His reaction to me was one of a little surprise and a little relief. He had worked so hard to find an explanation but it still (probably) did not feel right to him.

It was interesting because a number of teachers were in the Gallery during our discussion. A few of them commented afterwards on what my response had been. They were wondering what I would answer but probably don’t wonder any more. In some ways, I answered both for the student and to give teachers the sense that it is ok to answer in the way that I did. To me this was a very Jewish response.

I wish that the world did not face such catastrophes as what happened in Haiti. But, that is real life. The kinds of answers we give our children and the sincerity with which we give those answers are important. That does not mean that you and I would always have the same answer. That is ok. But authentic answers are important to our children because, whether or not they articulate it, they are often wondering.

Jane Taubenfeld Cohen

Head of School

I asked my middle child, 27 year-old Adam, a self-taught guitarist, if he might be interested in attending a concert by Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary on March 21 at the South Area Solomon Schechter School in Norwood. The name was familiar.

Adam said, “Not as impressive as having one of the Beatles… the Beatles are a little bigger, just a little.” Then he quipped, “Unless, of course, he plays ‘Puff, the Magic Dragon’ repeatedly one time after another. That song is a fun one for all ages.”

I saw Peter, Paul & Mary perform at a benefit concert at Boston’s Symphony Hall in 1985. At the reception that followed, I was at the hors d’oeuvres table with Mary where we spoke a bit. I have a nice photo with her.

For Baby Boomers, the music of Peter, Paul & Mary was always there, whether just background music, or a performance in support of another human rights cause. Peter Yarrow produced events as a part of the anti-Vietnam War movement, in conjunction with Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Paul Simon, Miles Davis, Tom Paxton, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Steppenwolf. In 2005, he performed in Ho Chi Minh City at a concert to benefit the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange. His leadership in the campaign to free Soviet Jewry inspired a generation with his song Don’t Let the Light Go Out.

In my preparation to do publicity for the March 21 program, I read that the trio made their TV debut around 1961 on a talk show hosted by Mike Wallace. By 1963, they had recorded three albums, all of which were in the Top Ten the week of President Kennedy’s assassination. That year they released ‘Puff, the Magic Dragon’ with music by Peter and words by a fellow Cornell student. (Not about drugs, but about the lost innocence of childhood.)  In 1964 they performed Bob Dylan’s ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ on The Jack Benny Show.

Also in 1963 they performed ‘If I Had a Hammer’ at the  March on Washington, where  Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. In 1969 ‘Leaving On A Jet Plane’ became their only #1 hit. It was written by their friend John Denver and was their only million-selling Gold single.

Although Mary Travers died from leukemia last September, Peter, Paul & Mary’s influence endures. They’re an integral part of popular culture.  For example, the trio is referred to in Britney Spears‘ 2009 single “3.” In Seinfeld episode 9, ‘The Phone Message,’ Jerry sings Peter, Paul & Mary’s hit ‘Lemon Tree’ to warn George that the woman he’s dating is coming into the room. In ‘Meet the Parents,’ Greg and Jack listen to ‘Puff, the Magic Dragon’ while driving to the store.

 How many know that Peter Yarrow’s parents emigrated from Ukraine; settled in Providence, and changed the family name from Yaroshevitz? How many know that he  cites Judaism as one of the roots of his liberal views?

I’m excited about this program – to see a legend in concert on behalf of SASSDS and in support of the school’s scholarship program. I look forward to seeing you at the school on March 21. And if you can’t be there, support the school and be a sponsor.

-        Stanley Hurwitz, Director of PR

אם אין קמח אין תורה

WITHOUT SUSTENANCE, THERE IS NO TORAH

Our school is always looking to be the best we can be, to constantly improve quality, and to still worry about affordability for our families. We spend countless hours looking at our curriculum, and endless hours figuring out how to raise money with an understanding of the already huge burden of tuition on our families. It is, in some ways, a tremendously difficult task and one for which we are always attempting to search for new solutions.

A school is only as good as the teachers in the school. Teachers are generally underpaid in our society but our teachers did even more than that by taking a pay cut this year to reflect the economic strain on our families. In many schools in which teachers did not receive a raise, teachers were upset and resentful. In our school, our teachers took a significant cut in pay and still have worked around the clock to be the best they can be for our students. They attend meetings that go beyond contracted hours, they are available by email, and they plan at all hours of the day and night. We have a remarkable staff and faculty with devotion to our school and to our students. I write this with the deepest admiration and gratitude and I hope that parents feel the same.

As we move forward, we have to find ways to raise money in the school so that the burden of affordability does not fall on tuition. While we depend on parental support, we have to find donors from outside our school community who recognize the work we are doing, the role we play in the Greater Boston Jewish community and the national day school scene, and see that we are deserving and worthy of their support. I wish I knew how to make that happen. I feel like we have been trying for 20 years but have not yet found the magical (or logical) way to accomplish this goal. We have an excellent new committee this year called the “Strategic Development Committee” which is really thinking out of the box and working hard to find strategies and actions that will help us. But, we really need each and every one of us to take this seriously.

I am reaching out for ideas- How can you help us secure our future as a school? How can you help us find funding sources that will take the burden off of the tuition and allow us to offer more to our teachers and to our program? Let’s brainstorm ideas. Let’s open the conversation. You probably have thoughts that have not even occurred to us and here is the chance for us to brainstorm together. I welcome your input tremendously.

Jane Taubenfeld Cohen

Head of School