amit magazine winter 2013

w i n t e r 2 0 1 3 : : c h o r e f 5 7 7 3 : : V o l . L X X X V N o . 1

I N T H I S I S S U E :

A M I T F U T U R E P H Y S I C I A N S

J E W S A N D C H A R L E STO N , S .C .

A M I T S C H O O L L I ST I N G

D E V E LO PM E N T N E W S

The new Film Studies Program at AMIT

Atidim in Or Akiva

B U I L D I N G I S R A E L . O N E C H I L D A T A T I M E .

LIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSCAMERACAMERACAMERACAMERACAMERACAMERACAMERACAMERACAMERACAMERA

AMIT

WNTR13_cvr_p1_v3.indd 1 1/15/13 9:33 PM

PassoverPassover20132013

MatzaFun’s twelfth outstanding year at the New Jersey Shore. Celebrate with a pampered Passover at Ocean Place Resort & Spa

w w w . m a t z a f u n . c o m

Gourmet Glatt Kosher Cuisine, Orthodox SupervisionComplete Programing - Infants, Kids, Teens, Adults

Only 55 Minutes From NYC!

follow our blog

TM

Call Jay800-752-6050 or

215-332-2444

Culinary Cuisine By Mauzone’s Catering by Celebration with Alan Shulman and Executive Chef Martin Levin from the Culinary Institute of America, Author of Chef Marty’s Kosher KitchenGlatt Kosher

• Scholars in Residence: Rabbi Efraim Kanorfogel - Head of Jewish Studies - Stern College-Yeshiva University,Mordechy Zigelbaum- Family Therapist - Teacher of Torah Shiurim - CantorSeders conducted by Cantor Pinchus Cohen Manhattan Beach Jewish Center.

• Special appearance by the hottest new singing sensation Yoni Z

• Kashrus under Kehillas Bais Benzion - Rabbi Zushe Blech

• Only 55 Minutes From NYC

• Award Winning Hotel “Gold Key Recipient”

• European Spa “ Pamper Yourself”

• 2 Miles of Boardwalk featuring Pier Village

• Ocean View & Private Balcony With Every Room

• Sandy beach Directly in front of Resort

• FREE Transportation to Great Adventure on NCSY Day

WNTR13_matza_p2_v1.indd 1 1/17/13 10:07 AM

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

ON SATURDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 24TH, shortly after a ceasefi re with Hamas was announced following more than eight days of relentless rocket attacks, the AMIT Solidarity Mission fl ew off to Israel. More than twenty of our leaders joined me for a packed four days of visits to AMIT schools, including several located in cities that had endured severe damage and trauma. The group also

engaged in eye-opening discussions and seminars on the key issues AMIT is confronting in today’s Israel.

We began our visit with a meeting with Minister of Internal Affairs, Eli Yishai, in a day devoted to addressing the divisions in Israeli society and how AMIT is working to build a more tolerant Israel. AMIT has been asked by the government to create programs for Haredi youth-at-risk, and in the afternoon we visited classes at AMIT Kfar Blatt where young Haredi men are studying secular subjects that will allow them to complete a bagrut diploma, serve in the army and eventually earn a living and support a family. It was wonderful to speak to some of these young men and observe how AMIT is helping them to turn their lives around, while showing understanding and respect for their unique backgrounds.

The second day of our mission was devoted to observing how AMIT melds students from disparate backgrounds while providing them with premier educational opportunities. We journeyed to Netanya, a city that recently joined our network, where we visited the the Rambam Elementary School. Enrollment at AMIT Rambam is composed almost solely of Ethiopian children and our challenge is to advance this school academically. In typical AMIT fashion, we have already introduced a science enrichment program for feeder kindergartens and fi rst graders at Rambam and intend to turn the school into a high level science elementary school that eventually will attract a diverse segment of Netanya’s population.

As a woman and the mother of daughters, I am especially proud of the role AMIT is playing in

educating women for leadership in Israeli society; the theme of the third day of our mission. A panel discussion on this topic featured several dynamic women, but I was particularly impressed with our alumna Rachel Azaria, a member of the Jerusalem City Council. Councilwoman Azaria told us how she decided to enter politics as she had concluded that no one was addressing the needs of young women and their families. Later that day we journeyed south to Yerucham where we witnessed AMIT in action at the Kamah High School and Midreshet

Be’er, (one of only 3 hesder-like programs for women in Israel) two outstanding schools for girls where students receive not only an excellent education, but are trained to engage in community service and service to the state.

Our mission ended with a look at AMIT’s efforts as a high-tech educational innovator. AMIT’s pilot programs in high-tech education – our AMIT TopTech

Initiative – are changing the way children are learning by providing new and interactive ways to study and process information. Education is serious business in today’s very competitive world and AMIT is determined to imbue our students with an entrepreneurial spirit and prepare them to take their place as leaders in the global marketplace.

While our 2102 Solidarity Mission was a whirlwind of visits to wonderful schools and with wonderful people - what it demonstrated to me most was that AMIT is a family caring for the whole child in every aspect of this other life. We toured cities that had endured days of constant rocket attacks and horrible damage to homes and public buildings, and we paid a heartbreaking visit to the Amsalem family who lost their son, an AMIT graduate, in a missile attack on Kiryat Malachi. Yet the resolve and the determination of our people in Israel remains as strong as ever.

As we begin 2013 let me thank you for your continuing support of AMIT, and let us hope that peace will soon come to the land and people of Israel.

winter2013

Winter 2012 :: AMIT MAGAZINE :: 3

By Debbie Isaac

WNTR13_pres_p3_v4.indd 1 1/17/13 10:58 AM

Nearly 80% of AMIT students passed the Bagrut (matriculation exam) in 2012 vs. a nationalaverage of 48%

AMIT NATIONAL COUNCIL OFFICES

winter 2013 choref :: 5773Vol. LXXXV No. 1

32

BUILDING ISRAEL. ONE CHILD AT A TIME.

National Offi ce817 BroadwayNew York, NY 100031-800-989-AMIT (2648)212-477-4720Fax: 212-353-2312email: [email protected]

Baltimore/Washington, D.C.2800 Stone Cliff Drive, Unit #112Baltimore, MD 21209410-484-2223 410-370-9411Call for Fax: 410-484-2223email: [email protected]

Boston7 Brady Road Westborough, MA 01581 Phone & Fax: (call for Fax) 508-870-1571email: [email protected]

Chicago3856 B West OaktonSkokie, IL 60076847-677-3800847-372-8702 Fax: 847-982-0057email: [email protected]

Cleveland23743 Greenlawn AvenueBeachwood, OH 44122216-382-4441email: [email protected]

Southeast Region2700 N 29 Ave, Suite 203Hollywood, FL 33020954.922.5100Fax: 954.922.5199email: [email protected]

Los Angeles1122 S. Robertson Blvd., #9Los Angeles, CA 90035310-859-4885 Fax: 310-859-4875email: [email protected]

PhiladelphiaP.O. Box 342Wynnewood, PA 19096Phone & Fax: (call for for Fax) 410-484-2223Cell: 410-370-9411email: [email protected]

TABLE OF CONTENTSfe

atu

res 8 :: AMIT. A GUIDING LIGHT (CAMERA

AND ACTION) IN OR AKIVAThe Film Studies program at AMIT Atidim in Or AkivaMichele Chabin

12 :: CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINAFor over 350 years, Jews have lived in Charleston, South Carolina. This is a small part of their history. Alexandra Halpern

16 :: AMIT FUTURE PHYSICIANS IN TZFATThe medical studies track at AMIT Florin Taman Junior and Senior High School in TzfatHelga Abraham

25 :: MIDRESHET AMITThree Midreshet AMIT students write about Torah, Chesed and ZionismMichelle Freund, Aliza Grant, and Daniella Moffson

w i n t e r 2 0 1 3 : : c h o r e f 5 7 7 3 : : V o l . L X X X V N o . 1

I N T H I S I S S U E :

A M I T F U T U R E P H Y S I C I A N S

J E W S A N D C H A R L E STO N , S .C .

A M I T S C H O O L L I ST I N G

D E V E LO PM E N T N E W S

The new Film Studies Program at AMIT

Atidim in Or Akiva

B U I L D I N G I S R A E L . O N E C H I L D A T A T I M E .

LIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSCAMERACAMERACAMERACAMERACAMERACAMERACAMERACAMERACAMERACAMERA

AMIT

WNTR13_cvr_p1_v3.indd 1 1/15/13 9:33 PM

About The Cover AMIT Or Akiva graduate Dana Maman standing next to a poster of her fi lm “Secrets from the Past”

80% !

FIND AMIT ON

WNTR13_toc_p4_v3.indd 2 1/17/13 11:06 AM

Nearly 80% of AMIT students passed the (matriculation exam) in 2012 vs. a nationalaverage of 48% 32

26

37

DEPARTMENTS20 :: The AMIT Network

22 :: Highlights

26 :: Dvar Torah

COLUMNS3 :: President’s Message

6 :: Impressions

23 :: AMIT and Operation Pillar of Defense

DEVELOPMENT NEWS28 :: AMIT Israel Delegation Visits the United States

29 :: AMIT Israel 2012 Annual Dinner

30 :: AMIT Events in Los Angeles

31 :: A Full House

32 :: AMIT Long Island Leadership Honored

33 :: 2ND Annual AFLI Bowl

33 :: AMIT’s Young Leadership Rings in the New Year

34 :: AMIT Events in Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia

35 :: AMIT Events in Cleveland and Skokie

36 :: Dr. Maxine Miller: 94 Years Young

36 :: AMIT Members for Life

37 :: SPANNING AMITworld

38 :: President’s Circle

PresidentDebbie Isaac

Executive Vice PresidentDavid A. Moss

Vice President, Marketing and CommunicationsBenay Meisels

Director of CommunicationsBarbara Goldberg

Editor EmeritaMicheline Ratzersdorfer

Editor in Chief/Creative DirectorRobert Ephraim Sutton

Assistant EditorCaroline Lagnado

DesignGame6Media

Signed articles do not necessarily represent the opinion of the organization. Reproduction of any

material requires permission and attribution.To view us online visit

www.amitchildren.org

AMIT Magazine (ISSN 1085-2891) is published quarterly;

Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer by AMIT. AMIT National Offi ce:

817 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10003. 1-800-989-AMIT, 212-477-4720, Fax 212-353-2312

email: [email protected]

Periodicals postage paid at New York, N.Y.,and additional mailing offi ces.

POSTMASTER:Send address changes to

AMIT: 817 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10003.

AMIT, founded in 1925, has a proud history ofservice to Israel and the Jewish people.

Our name, in English, stands for “AMericans forIsrael and Torah.” In Hebrew, AMIT is an acronym for

“Irgun Mitnadvot l’ma’an Yisrael v’Torata”(Organization of Volunteers for Israel

and Her Torah).

AMIT enables Israel’s youth to realize their potential and strengthens Israeli society by educating and nurturing children from diverse backgrounds within a framework of academic excellence, religious values and Zionist ideals. Some 70 percent of AMIT students live in development towns or other “peripheral” areas of the country. AMIT approaches each child as an individual, maximizing his or her potential, and enabling our students to become vital, productive members of Israelisociety. The AMIT schools promote religious tolerance, service to the state and the recognition that every child is blessed with unique talents and abilities. Founded in 1925, AMIT operates 108 schools, youth villages, surrogate family residences and other programs, constituting Israel’s only government-recognized network of religious Jewish education incorporating academic and technological studies.

28

30

WNTR13_toc_p4_v3.indd 3 1/17/13 11:06 AM

HONOR the past

SUPPORT the future

Memorials are for the living!For more information please contact Robin Rothbort at 212-477-4725,

[email protected] or visit us online at www.amitchildren.org

PLEASE CONSIDER AMIT AS YOU DO YOUR ESTATE PLANNING

At your time of loss,AMIT will be there to provide:

• Daily Kaddish for the � rst eleven months,including memorial plaque, annual Kaddishand noti� cation of the Yahrzeit - $650

• Memorial Plaque and annual Kaddish recited,plus noti� cation of the Yahrzeit - $500

• Daily Kaddish for the � rst eleven months,annual Kaddish and yearly Yahrzeitnoti� cation - $300

FALL09_memorial_ad_p2_v1.indd 1 8/21/09 1:39:11 PM

IMPRESSIONS

ON MY LAST TRIP TO ISRAEL, AFTER THE COMPLETION of the post-Thanksgiving Solidarity mission, I visited a long-time AMIT leader and supporter at her home in Jerusalem. She made aliyah several years ago with her husband, and she told me that she was scared to death when she fi rst made aliyah.

I assumed that she was worried about terrorism, rockets from Hezbollah or Hamas. Maybe Iran. No. After more than 30 years of dedicating her life to AMIT in the US, she was afraid that the reality of AMIT, on the ground in Israel, would disappoint her – that our efforts and successes in Israel would be less than she expected. But she was not let down. She discovered, she told me, that AMIT’s work in Israel is more compelling and more impressive than she had ever dared dream.

I have seen some of what she has been experiencing with my own eyes – and I know that many of you have, too. On my recent trip we had the privilege of spending time with the leadership of our network, today over 100 schools in 29 municipalities and cities throughout the country, serving 25,000 students. AMIT has a historic commitment to the peripheral areas of Israel, to educate and nurture the many immigrants and less affl uent segments of Israeli society. Israel is faced with some daunting challenges – to its present and to its future – and AMIT is there to respond and help.

We have more than 1,000 Ethiopian students in our schools. The Rambam Elementary School in Netanya, a school that AMIT added to its network just this year, had virtually no non-Ethiopians and the Mayor of Netanya and the Minister of Education appealed to AMIT for help -- to transform the school into a strong educational center that would serve all families and communities of Netanya. The Ethiopian population in Israel, despite a miraculous survival and rescue, is a very

vulnerable population. AMIT is committed to providing our Ethiopian students – and all the students we serve – with the opportunities they need and deserve to become successful members of Israeli society.

We also visited AMIT schools in Kiryat Malachi and Yerucham in southern Israel. The difference that AMIT

is making in these communities should make us all proud. Our schools, in some of the poorest municipalities in the State, are providing students with the skills – and with the motivation – that they need in order to succeed. We heard repeatedly from students and from alumni: “Our teachers, our principals never gave up on me. They pushed, they coaxed, they cajoled. If we didn’t show up for school, they came to our house to fi nd out why.” This very personal approach, this

concern for every student, was in ample demonstration during the recent barrage of rocket attacks on the south. Our teachers and principals called their students and went to their homes to check on them and their families. I met the principal of one of our elementary schools in Kiryat Malachi and he told me that one night, at 11:30 pm, he and his family were in a bomb shelter when his cell phone rang. It was a little seven-year-old boy, a student at his school, calling to make sure that he and his family were OK.

Our students, even in the most diffi cult communities, are substantially outperforming their peers on the Bagrut exams. And our students are serving in the IDF and doing Sherut Leumi (National Service) in record numbers. Our emphasis on Torah and Jewish values, on service to the country, on personal attention to each and every student, are paying dividends.

Like our long-time leader who was so fi lled with pride when she experienced, fi rst-hand, the work AMIT is doing in Israel, I have had the same reaction. And when you go to Israel, I guarantee, you will, too.

expectations fulfi lledBy David Moss, Executive Vice President


WNTR13_impress_p7_v3.indd 1 1/17/13 10:05 AM

FEATURE

The historic opening of the Bar-Ilan University Facultyof Medicine in the Galil — located in the cityof Tzfat — marks the beginning of a new era

in healthcare services in Northern Israel.

Faced by a nationwide shortage of physicians and the need to upgrade medical services and infrastructure in the north,

the Israeli government designated the establishment of a new medical school as a national priority initiative. Bar-Ilan

University was chosen by the government to open the nation’s fi fth medical school – and the fi rst in the Galil.

AMIT FUTURE PHYSICIANSAMIT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTSATTEND MEDICAL SCHOOLAMIT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTSAMIT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTSATTEND ATTEND MEDICAL SCHOOL

WNTR13_Tzfat_Bar_p8_v3.indd 2 1/17/13 11:01 AM

By Helga Abraham

Every week 10th and 11th grade students from AMIT’s two high schools in Tzfat make their way to the

city’s new Bar-Ilan University Faculty of Medicine in the Galil. There they hear lectures on anatomy,

cardiology, physiology and nutrition, learn modern techniques of examining the human body and

even observe operations. They are part of an innovative three-year youth medical program entitled Pirhei

Tzfat LeRefouah – literally “Tzfat Buds of Medicine.” The program was launched in 2011 in conjunction with

the much-awaited opening of Israel’s newest medical school.

Currently based in temporary headquarters in the center of the city, and functioning on a relatively small

scale, Tzfat’s new Faculty of Medicine, under the aegis of Bar-Ilan University, will eventually enjoy a sprawling

permanent campus on the outskirts of the city, with a capacity for 1,000 medical students, state of the art

laboratories, and student residences. But even before that, the faculty has already injected new life and a

vibrant spirit into the city. “Now that we have a medical school, Tzfat no longer suffers from the stigma of

AMIT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTSMEDICAL SCHOOL

continued on page 10

MEDICAL SCHOOL


10 :: Winter 2013 :: AMIT MAGAZINE

being a peripheral city and we seemany more young people around,” says Orel Doron, an 11th grade AMIT student, who is participating in the youth medical program.

The program was the brainchild of Tzfat Mayor Ilan Shohat as part of his vision to promote education in the city and it fused perfectly with Bar-Ilan University’s own aspiration to integrate its new medical students into the city’s urban life through collaborative projects with schools, hospitals and community

centers. The teachers in the youth medical program are all medical students while the “young medical students” come from AMIT Florin Taman Junior and Senior High School for Boys and Girls. In addition to taking courses at the medical school, the AMIT students visit hospitals and clinics around the country, take part in summer workshops and devote extra hours at school to science, mathematics

and English – studying nine hours more a week than their fellow students. AMIT selects the most eligible students for the program but, as at all universities, the students have to meet the requirements set bythe Medical School in order tobe accepted.

“The faculty sets high standards and not all students who want to take part in the program are accepted,” explains Meir Yoshai, principal of AMIT High School for Boys. He cites the case of one AMIT student, Neria Zelinger. Neria was initially rejected by the medical school because of his low mathematics grade. “Neria, however, was very determined, and in the end, as a result of his persistence and dedicated volunteer work with Magen David

Adom, was accepted and proved his worth,” recounts Yoshai. At the end of the first year, Neria was selected as one of the four outstanding students in the program who met with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Prof. Moshe Kaveh, President of Bar Ilan University.

Although a serious medical program in every aspect, the aim, says Yoshai, is not to train future doctors. “We know that few of our students will go on to become doctors,” he says. “But this is unimportant. The aim of the program is to expose the students to academia, give them an opportunity to discover the medical world and develop their abilities, both personally and academically.” Few of the students in the program, in fact, aspire to be doctors, but all find the program stimulating and worth the extrahours involved.

AMIT students, Michael Dadush and Tahel Azrad, were not interested in joining the program at all. In Michael’s case, his parents pressured him and he now agrees that they were right. “I don’t want to be a doctor, I want to be a farmer like my father,” he says, “but I am enjoying learning about the human body.” In Tahel’s case, her teachers persuaded her to join and she has no regrets. “I am really happy to be in the program,” she says. “Even though I don’t want to be a doctor, it’s a privilege to enter the medical world and broaden my knowledge.”

continued from page 9

AMIT Tzfat students discussing lab results

AMIT Tzfat students in anatomy class

AMIT Tzfat student performing

a dissection

AMIT Tzfat students discussing lab results


Like Neria Zelinger, several students at AMIT Tzfat for girls were also initially rejected from the program but succeeded in entering in the second year, through sheer perseverance. “I kept pressuring my teachers,” says 11th grader Shira Levy, who aspires to be a psychologist, “and I was thrilled when, finally, I was able to get into the program. I find all the subjects very interesting and mind-broadening.”

Oddly enough, there are many more girls in the program than boys. “Girls think about the future while boys live for the present,” stated Eden Nahari, who says she wants to be a doctor. Rav Yehuda Peles, head of the program at the AMIT Florin Taman Junior and Senior High School for Girls, concurs. “The girls are very ambitious and motivated,” he says. “They are not all Einstein’s, but they are very determined in their studies.” No AMIT student has left the program despite its stringent demands.

Eleventh grader Yaakov, who also wants to be a doctor, recounts excitedly how he carried out a virtual heart catheterization. In the course of the program the students also learn how to perform an EKG, operate ultra-sound devices, take a pulse, and learn about social work.

At the lecture on sports medicine which I attended with the AMIT students, Shani Kochavi, a medical student at Bar-Ilan, was explaining to the group the role of each of our muscles: biceps, triceps, quadriceps, pectorals major and minor, trapezium, etc. It all sounded very complicated and I wondered whether the heavy Latin terms did not intimidate the young students. “No,” she answered. “They are not scared of such terms. In fact, I have found that professional language actually motivates them.” Kochavi went on to lecture on the role of sports medicine and the proper way of training and avoiding injury. The class ended with a discussion on the controversial use of drugs in sports. Making the subject relevant to the students by comparing

the use of drugs to cheating in examinations, Kochavi explained the particular health dangers of drug use and its domino effect in encouraging peers to do the same. While the program is not formally credited toward a high school certificate, it has raised the overall standard achieved by the students. “Since the conditions of acceptance are high,” explains Yaffa Farjun, principal of the girls’ school, “this stimulates the girls to work much harder and achieve higher grades in math, English and the sciences.” At the end of the first year of the program, AMIT witnessed a dramatic rise in

class grades and standardized testing. The program is also impacting on the general atmosphere in the school. “The fact that we have such a prestigious program has had a ripple effect,” says Farjun. “It makes all the other students aspire to excellence.”


AMIT “pre-med” students with Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu and Prof. Moshe Kaveh, President

of Bar Ilan University.

• Poolside fitness center with sauna & steam room• Children’s dining room• Superb day camp program• Private seder rooms available• Glatt kosher, NK supervision • Gourmet cuisine with

renowned Chef Andy Serano• Cantor led or private seders• Sumptuous “Tea Room”• Shabbos elevators• Oversized rooms many w/ terraces• Top name entertainment• Trips to major attractions• Golf, tennis, watersports nearby• Olympic-size pool + kids pool• 2 min. to upscale Aventura Mall• Daily services, shiurim, lectures• Scholar-in-Residence Program

AMIT Magazine - third page4.625" x 4.625"

The Schechter Family Presents... FIRST

CHILD FREE!

19201 COLLINS AVE, MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDAwww.MarcoPoloBeachResort.com

FOR RESERVATIONS CALL CARIBBEAN KOSHER TOURS:

1-800-327-8165 [email protected]________________________

CALL JOY OF AMIT CHILDREN SOUTHEAST REGION:

954-922-5100

www.MarcoPoloBeachResort.com

Directly

on the Beach!


FEATURE

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA:AMERICA’S LAND OF MILK AND HONEYAMERICA’S LAND OF MILK AMERICA’S LAND OF MILK AMERICA’S LAND OF MILK AMERICA’S LAND OF MILK AND HONEYAND HONEYAND HONEYAND HONEY

Mural by William Melton Halsey honoring the

Jewish American soldier. Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim,

Charleston, South Carolina.

PH

OTO

OF

MU

RA

L B

Y W

AR

RE

N L

IEB

WNTR13_Charleston_p12-15_v3.indd 2 1/17/13 10:08 AM

By Alexandra Halpern

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA:AMERICA’S LAND OF MILK AND HONEY

When Abraham Moise was a young man, he sailed from France to the West Indies,

where he became a trader and a merchant. There, he met a beautiful woman 26 years his junior, a native who lived in an affluent Jewish community. They married and established themselves on a small plantation in San Domingo in what is now Haiti. Soon, the slaves in San Domingo began to revolt, and violence broke out against the French aristocrats. The colony began to collapse, and the Moise family was forced to leave their possessions and sail to America. Abraham and Sarah Moise arrived in Charleston in 1791 - one of the oldest Jewish communities in America.Charleston was a natural port, and its location attracted merchants and traders from all over the world. At the time, there were 53 families in the congregation at Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, and the sizable Jewish community convinced Moise to stay. The family lived in a house on Queen Street, in the heart of the peninsular city, and sold cloth and tea from their home.

Two and a half centuries later, Anita Moise Rosenberg is a member of the same congregation her ancestors joined when they first arrived in the city. Mrs. Rosenberg is the ninth generation to attend services at Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, the oldest synagogue in continuous use in the United States. She can trace her Moise family history all the way back to Luis DeTorres, who sailed on the Santa Maria with Columbus and was the first Jew to set foot on American soil.

Carolina Colony’s charter, written by John Locke in 1669, granted freedom of religion explicitly for “Jews, Heathens and other Dissenters from the purity of the Christian religion.” According to Mrs. Rosenberg, who serves as vice president of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, this notion of religious freedom wasn’t typical for conservative England at the time, but the proprietors of the Carolina Colony “wanted people to prosper, so they did everything they could to ensure peace



AMERICA’S LAND OF MILK AMERICA’S LAND OF MILK AMERICA’S LAND OF MILK AMERICA’S LAND OF MILK

When Abraham Moise was a young man, he sailed from France to the West Indies,

where he became a trader and a merchant. There, he met a beautiful woman 26 years his junior, a native who lived in an affluent Jewish community. They married and established themselves on a small plantation in San Domingo in what is now Haiti. Soon, the slaves in San Domingo began to revolt, and violence broke out against the French aristocrats. The colony began to collapse, and the Moise family was forced to leave their possessions and sail to America. Abraham and Sarah Moise arrived in Charleston in 1791 - one of the oldest Jewish communities in America.Charleston was a natural port, and its location attracted merchants and traders from all over the world. At the time, there were 53 families in the congregation at Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, and the sizable Jewish community convinced Moise to stay. The family lived in a house on Queen Street, in the heart of the peninsular city, and sold cloth and tea from their home.

Two and a half centuries later, Anita Moise Rosenberg is a member of the same congregation her ancestors joined when they first arrived in the city. Mrs. Rosenberg is the ninth generation to attend services at Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, the oldest synagogue in continuous use in the United States. She can trace her Moise family history all the way back to Luis DeTorres, who sailed on the Santa Maria with Columbus and was the first Jew to set foot on American soil.

Carolina Colony’s charter, written by John Locke in 1669, granted freedom of religion explicitly for “Jews, Heathens and other Dissenters from the purity of the Christian religion.” According to Mrs. Rosenberg, who serves as vice president of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, this notion of religious freedom wasn’t typical for conservative England at the time, but the proprietors of the Carolina Colony “wanted people to prosper, so they did everything they could to ensure peace



and harmony among the people who were brave enough to settle.” Dale Rosengarten, in her comprehensive book, A Portion of the People, about Charleston’s Jewish history writes, “It was a business decision…they were looking for settlers who would be strong economic contributors.” In 1697, Simon Valentine became the first documented Jewish landowner, and therefore the first to have the right to vote. “This was the first place in the world Jews could own land and pay taxes and settle peacefully with non-

Jewish neighbors,” says Anita Rosenberg.

This equality is exemplified through Moses Lindo, who brought the indigo trade to Charleston. He was a lucrative businessman and one of the few Jews to own a ship that brought Africans to America. Like many Jews, Lindo was a slave owner. According to A Portion of the People, “Carolina was the first political

entity to treat Jews as equals, but it was also the only colony on the American mainland whose charter sanctioned racial slavery…Jews indeed were equal – to other white people.”

Mostly a Sephardic community, many families, like the Moises, came from the Caribbean, Amsterdam or London – their ancestors having been cast out of Spain during the Inquisition. By the 17th century, there were enough families to create a minyan, which they held in various homes each week. In 1749, the first congregation was established, and

still remains today in its exact location on Hasell Street in the heart of downtown Charleston.

Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim began as a Sephardic Orthodox community, whose congregants fought in every American war. Francis Salvador, the first Jew to die in the American Revolution, was also the first Jew in the western world to be elected to public office as a member of the South Carolina General Assembly and the first and second Provincial Congresses. Judah P. Benjamin, a Jewish American politician and lawyer, as well as plantation and slave-owner from

Charleston, was Confederate President Jefferson Davis’ secretary of state, and right-hand man.

The story of this incredibly pivotal community in America’s Jewish history can be traced through its Jewish cemetery. The Coming Street Cemetery is the oldest and largest Colonial Jewish cemetery in America. It is surrounded by a pre-revolutionary brick wall, and though the structure needs wooden support beams in several places, the wall continues to separate the graveyard from what is now the residential area around it. The cemetery was sold to Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim in 1764. The oldest known grave in the lot is that of Moses Cohen, who died in 1762. Cohen was the first religious leader of Beth Elohim, and he is joined by six rabbis and eighteen past presidents of the congregation. The cemetery is hidden from view from the street, and is eerily quiet for its location on busy Coming Street, surrounded by homes rented to mostly college students.

Ghosts supposedly haunt Charleston and its old buildings downtown, but whether you believe in ghosts or not, the cemetery is packed with the graves of veterans of every American war and almost three centuries of American Jewish history. Among the buried is Dr. Columbus Devega, who designed and served as surgeon on his famous floating hospital. During the Civil War, while stationed on the boat in Charleston Harbor, he was known for treating both Union and Confederate soldiers. Nearby is the grave of Joshua Lazarus, president of Charleston’s Gas Light Company from 1840 to 1856, who is credited with bringing gas light to Charleston. Penina Moise, daughter of Abraham and Sarah Moise, lays not far away. She was America’s first female Jewish published poet and hymnist. As the superintendent of the nation’s second religious school, her book of hymns was used by the congregation for years.

As you weave in and out between the many gravestones, you can see twelve veterans of the American


Abraham Moise

Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim


Revolution, twenty-three Civil War veterans (eight of whom died for the Confederate cause), six soldiers of the War of 1812 and two who fought in the Seminole Wars in Florida.

The long list of important players in Charleston’s history buried in this cemetery is no accident; because of the religious freedom awarded in the charter of the Carolina Colony, the Jewish community “worked very hard to make a success of their lives and be a part of the community. They were important players in the growth of the colony and economy, and influenced the people,” said Anita Rosenberg. Since the colony had given them religious freedom, they wanted to give something back.

This desire to give back to the community was made apparent by the philanthropic societies that the Jewish community oversaw. Established in 1784, The Hebrew Benevolent Society was the first of its kind in the country. The society’s preamble states that, “The object of this society is Benevolence. In that one emphatic, grateful word are comprehended all the tender offices of Charity.” According to Anita Rosenberg, the society was “a group of people who settled, and wanted to pay back the community for welcoming them.” This society is still in operation today, and it’s not the only one. The Hebrew Orphan Society of Charleston,

established in 1801, had the mission to educate, clothe and support poor Jewish children and orphans. What is today’s Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Sisterhood began in 1838 as the Society for the Instruction of Hebrew Doctrine, organized to teach the congregants’ children about Judaism and Jewish heritage. In 1844, this group expanded to help women contribute to the community, and was called the Hebrew Ladies Sewing Circle-the first organized Sisterhood in America.

Charleston, whose modern Jewish population is dwarfed by metropolitan areas like New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles, had the largest and wealthiest Jewish community during colonial times. Aside from building and maintaining the oldest synagogue still in use today, Charleston’s Jewish community was the first to introduce Reform Judaism to America. This may come as a surprise to those who know Charleston for its steeple-covered skyline or South Carolina for its reputation in the Bible Belt. “Our kinfolk blinked in disbelief when I told them that two hundred years ago Charleston was the cultural capital of Jewish America,” writes Dale Rosengarten. While it’s not the bustling Jewish capital that it once was, the current community is thriving on more than just its historical significance. Today, there are four congregations (conservative, two orthodox and reform), and a population of about 12,000 Jews. Jewish students have the option to attend Addlestone Hebrew Academy, a day school that begins at 18 months and ends at 8th grade. Students at the College of Charleston

can major in Jewish Studies, and their Jewish Studies Center features a comprehensive Jewish Heritage Collection. There is an active JCC, Federation and lots of programming to keep the community happy. All that, and an influx of people who fall in love with Charleston and opt to move and call the city home. According to Randi Serrins, a docent at Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, about half of the current congregation are from off, a term used to describe Jews who were not bornin Charleston.

In 1806, Myer Moses, a member of the legislature and one of the first commissioners of education, gave a speech to the Hebrew Orphan Society of Charleston in which he stated, “Collect together thy long scattered people, and let their gathering place be in this land of milk and honey.” And so it was – the land of milk and honey was found in Charleston, South Carolina.

Alexandra Halpern is a native of Charleston, South Carolina. Her essays about travel have been published in various outlets, including National Geographic and Abroad View. She works as both a freelance writer and in international education. She has traveled extensively around the world, working odd jobs such as a farmer in the Pacific Islands, a librarian in Indonesia, and a microfinance advocate in Kenya, among others. She currently proudly calls Charleston home.


Official seal of the Hebrew

Benevolent Society of Charleston,

South Carolina.


FEATURE


AMIT A GUIDING LIGHT (CAMERA AND ACTION) IN… OR AKIVA

ETTI LAREDO, THE PRINCIPAL OF AMIT ATIDIM JUNIOR and Senior High School in Or Akiva, was wearing aproud grin. In her office was Dana Maman, a student

who only three years earlier rarely attended school. “I would sleep all day and I just didn’t care about school. When I did come, the kids would give me a standing ovation,” Dana said, biting her lip in embarrassment. Dana, now 18, is about to join the army. A film she co-produced with two other students while enrolled in the exceptional film studies program at AMIT Atidim, was chosen to compete in the International Film Festival in Hollywood.

While Dana Maman might have snoozed her way through another high school, the educators at Atidim – which AMIT took under its educational wing in September 2011 – had other plans. “The teachers didn’t give up on her,” said Etti Laredo, whose door is always open to students and faculty. “The teaching staff realizes that every kid needs to feel noticed.” That’s especially true in Or Akiva, Laredo said, where 40 percent of residents “are known to social services.” Nearly 70% of the AMIT Atidim students “come from difficult backgrounds,” noted Laredo.


WNTR13_film_p16_v4.indd 2 1/17/13 11:29 AM


By Michele Chabin

AMIT Or Akiva graduate Dana Maman standing next to a

poster of her film “Secrets from the Past”

AMIT A GUIDING LIGHT (CAMERA AND ACTION) IN… OR AKIVA

WNTR13_film_p16_v4.indd 3 1/18/13 7:36 PM

Or Akiva is a working class town 30 miles south of Haifa. It is part of the Haifa District of Israel, located just inland from the ancient port city of Caesarea and the Mediterranean Sea, and to the north of the city of Hadera.

Dr. Amnon Eldar, director general of the AMIT Network, said the Or Akiva municipality asked AMIT to take on the school, which was struggling financially.

“When we accept a secular school that asks to be part of our network we try to have not only a regular core curriculum but an emphasis on Jewish heritage. Because of Etti Laredo’s true commitment, we agreed to help them,” Eldar said.

The way AMIT imparts Jewish values is through study and by example. “We’re talking about a house of learning. That means dialogue between students and teachers. That means a good atmosphere at school. That means respect for each other and giving equal opportunities to everybody.”

Laredo said her secular school’s transition into the AMIT Network has been seamless because “our philosophies match, we believe in Zionism and the importance of Jewish values.”

Prior to Etti Laredo joining the school, nearly 170 students dropped out of school

every year. Last year, the number was 30. Today, every AMIT Atidim student takes the Bagrut - matriculation exams – and 91% of AMIT Atidim students pass!

THE AMIT FILM TRACKOne of the turning points for Dana Maman, who said she is excited about going into the IDF, was enrolling in the school’s film track, whose final project is a short feature film.

She is also thrilled about having her film – Secrets from the Past - shown at one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals. Last year, a film produced by a group of the school’s seniors won a first prize at the festival. Other films produced at AMIT Atidim have won prizes at the Haifa Film Festival.

Roughly 450 of the school’s 10th, 11th and 12th graders participate in the film track, which has grown in parallel with Israel’s thriving film industry.

Film track students said they’re inspired by these successes. From 2007 to 2012, four Israeli films competed for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

The film track which is now part of AMIT’s popular multi-school communications track, takes place in a series of studios packed with state-of-the-art equipment. The hallways are lined with posters from popular Israeli films and on one special wall hangs the posters of films produced by students at

AMIT Atidim. Erez Maouda, the energetic

filmmaker and teacher who co-runs the program, said students study various aspects of filmmaking three hours a week (seniors, six hours), and that doesn’t include the time they spend writing, filming, casting and editing.

“They learn how to write a story that incorporates action and how to bring out the drama; they learn how to craft characters and cast actors, about composition, lighting and other technical aspects of production. They take the film, edit it and add music,” he said.

The actors include students from AMIT Atidim’s theater track as well as teachers, members of the students’ families and people in the community.

The plots of most of the films focus on the lives of teenagers, family conflicts and life in a place like Or Akiva, a non-descript town with a host of socio-economic problems. Two-thirds of the school’s students come from

AMIT Atidim students filming a scene.


Etti Laredo



immigrant homes (the Caucasus, Russia and Morocco), and their traditions are sometimes reflected in their filmmaking.

AMIT Atidim students Lev Segal and Amy Ifrach were sitting in the control room, busily working on a film about a gritty murder investigation. Working on the film “is giving me practical experience,” said Ifrach, who would like to join the IDF Communications Corps and eventually become a journalist. “You start with the script and then you find the right actors. You shoot the scenes and edit them. It’s a process.” The process, Ifrach said, isn’t easy, “but it’s taught me how to stare down challenges. I feel a lot more confident now.”

THE FILM THAT MADE A DIFFERENCEDana Maman’s film - Secrets from the Past - is a drama about a teenage boy named Tomi who searches for the truth about his brother’s death. During a chance meeting with a neighbor the day of the funeral, Tomi learns that his brother might not have died in a car accident, as his parents had told him. Desperate to learn the truth, Tomi discovers that his brother died under very mysterious circumstances.

The experience of making the film was challenging, she said. “We had to

learn how to work together and there were some arguments. We learned to be flexible with each other and the material. Every moment, we changed things around.” Her face lit up and she continued, “ I couldn’t believe that we had produced a film of such quality that it is being shown at the International Film Festival.”

Dana Maman readily admits that her transformation from loafer to motivated student didn’t come overnight. “It was a process. I came to school because I saw that my teachers, and not just the ones in the film track, really cared about me. If I didn’t come to school they wanted to know why. To this day we still keep in touch.”

Film Teacher Erez Maouda said his job is both “fun” and “fulfilling.”

“It’s fun to see them in the field, lighting their sets with flashlights or whatever they can jury-rig. They’re very creative.” Observing the kids as they work outside the classroom enables the teachers to see them in a different light, Maouda noted.

“We get to know them better. We get to learn about their families. By the end of the program you see their sense of accomplishment.”

Once they graduate from AMIT Atidim, the students can study film for an additional year at colleges in Givatayim or Karmiel before being tapped for the Communications Corps of the IDF. Some are choosing film as a career path.

“We open a door to a new world but they bring themselves, their culture, and their experiences to the film. They develop maturity, responsibility, discipline and a passion – just take a look at Dana,” Mouda said with pride.

Michele Chabin began her career editing

women’s magazines in New York. In

1987 she moved to Israel, and has been a

reporter there ever since. An award-winning

journalist, Michele frequently contributes

to the New York Jewish Week, Religion

News Service, USA Today and many other

publications.

AMIT ATIDIM students in the film editing room.

Roughly 450 of the

school’s 10th, 11th and 12th

graders participate in the

fi lm track, which has grown

in parallel with Israel’s

thriving fi lm industry.



ACCOAMIT Rambam Religious Elementary SchoolAMIT Kennedy Junior and Senior High School

AFULA AMIT Yehuda Junior and Senior High School and YeshivaAMIT Yeshivat Hesder

ASHDODYeshivat AMIT AshdodAMIT Mekif Bet AshdodAMIT Mekif Yud Ashdod

ASHKELONAMIT Fred Kahane Technological High School

BEERSHEVA AMIT Rambam Elementary SchoolAMIT Torani Madai Netivei Am Elementary SchoolAMIT Afikim B’Negev Elementary SchoolAMIT Hazon Ovadiah Elementary SchoolAMIT Or Hammer Elementary SchoolNeot Avraham Elementary SchoolAMIT Junior and Senior High SchoolAMIT Daisy Berman Yeshiva Dina and Moses Dyckman Ulpanat AMITAMIT Elaine Silver Technological High School

BEIT SHEMESHAMIT Shachar Junior and Senior High School for GirlsAMIT Dvir Junior and Senior High School for BoysAMIT Beit Shemesh Yeshiva High SchoolAMIT Beit Shemesh Ulpana High SchoolAMIT Bellows Ulpanat Noga

GIVAT SHMUELUlpanat AMIT Givat Shmuel

HAIFAAMIT Anna Teich Ulpanat Haifa

HATZOR HAGLILITAMIT Honi HaMe’agel Elementary School for GirlsAMIT Shevet Sofer Elementary School for BoysAMIT Hatzor Haglilit Junior and Senior High SchoolAMIT Hatzor Haglilit Ulpana TrackAMIT Hatzor Haglilit Yeshiva Track

JERUSALEMAMIT Frisch Beit HayeledReishit Yerushalayim Elementary SchoolAMIT Nordlicht Religious Technological High SchoolAMIT State Technological High SchoolMidreshet AMIT

WNTR13_schools_p20_v3.indd 2 1/17/13 10:59 AM

THE AMIT NETWORK25,000 students in 108 schools and programs in 29 cities and towns


AMIT Yehuda Junior and Senior High School and YeshivaAMIT Yeshivat Hesder

AMIT Shachar Junior and Senior High School for GirlsAMIT Dvir Junior and Senior High School for BoysAMIT Beit Shemesh Yeshiva High SchoolAMIT Beit Shemesh Ulpana High SchoolAMIT Bellows Ulpanat Noga

KARMIELAMIT Karmiel Junior and Senior High School

KIRYAT MALACHI AMIT Etzion Elementary SchoolAMIT Harel Elementary SchoolAMIT Netzach Israel Elementary SchoolAMIT Kiryat Malachi Junior and Senior High SchoolAMIT Kiryat Malachi Ulpana TrackAMIT Kiryat Malachi Yeshiva Track

MA’ALE ADUMIM AMIT Tzemach HaSadeh Elementary SchoolAMIT Sde Hemed Elementary SchoolAMIT Yaffe Nof Elementary SchoolAMIT Wasserman Torah, Arts and Sciences Junior and Senior High School for GirlsAMIT Junior and Senior High School for Boys

MATEH YEHUDA AMIT Lavi Elementary SchoolAMIT HaElah Elementary SchoolAMIT Matityahu Elementary SchoolAMIT Even HaEzer Elementary SchoolYeshivat AMIT Nachshon Junior and Senior High School

MEITARAMIT Chemdat Elementary School

MODI’INAMIT Modi’in Arts and Sciences Junior and Senior High School

NETANYAAMIT Rambam Religious Elementary SchoolAMIT Bar Ilan High School for Boys

OR AKIVAAMIT Rabbi Akiva Religious Elementary SchoolAMIT Etzion Religious Elementary SchoolAMIT Hannah Senesh State Elementary SchoolAMIT Rothschild State Elementary SchoolAMIT Nechemia Tamari State Elementary SchoolAMIT Atidim Junior and Senior High SchoolAMIT Ofek Technological High School

PETACH TIKVA AMIT Kfar Blatt Youth Village AMIT Wurzweiler Agricultural and Technological High SchoolYeshivat AMIT Eliraz High SchoolYeshivat AMIT Kfar GanimYeshivat HaHesder Orot Shaul Petach TikvaAMIT Junior CollegeAMIT Menorat HaMaor Haredi Track

RA’ANANA AMIT Kfar Batya Youth VillageAMIT Noam Elementary School AMIT Schiff Junior High SchoolAMIT Gwen Straus Junior and Senior Science High School for Boys and Yeshiva AMIT Gruss Agricultural and Technological High SchoolAMIT Bienenfeld Hevruta Yeshiva and KollelAMIT Renanim Junior and Senior Science and Technology High School for GirlsAMIT School of Society and Law

RAMAT GANAMIT Ginsburg Bar Ilan Gush Dan Junior and Senior High School for Boys

RAMLEAMIT Ramle Technological High School REHOVOT AMIT Gould Junior and Senior High School for Girls AMIT Hammer Junior and Senior High School for BoysYeshivat AMIT Amichai

ROSH PINA AMIT Pre-Army Religious Studies Program

SDEROT AMIT Haroeh Elementary SchoolAMIT Torani Mada’i Elementary SchoolAMIT Torani Chadash Elementary SchoolAMIT Sderot Religious Junior and Senior High SchoolAMIT Sderot Yeshiva Junior and Senior High SchoolAMIT Sderot Ulpana Junior and Senior High SchoolAMIT Sderot Gutwirth Junior and Senior High School Ulpanat AMIT ShiratYeshivat Hesder of Sderot, AMIT Track

SHOHAMAMIT Beatrice and Irving Stone Meysharim School

TEL AVIVAMIT Eisenberg Junior and Senior High School for Girls

TZFAT AMIT Florin Taman Junior and Senior High School for GirlsAMIT Florin Taman Junior and Senior High School for BoysAMIT Tzfat Yeshiva Junior and Senior High SchoolAMIT Tzfat Evelyn Schreiber Ulpana Junior and Senior High School

YERUCHAMAMIT Kol Yaacov Elementary SchoolAMIT Kamah Junior and Senior High SchoolMidreshet Be’erYeshivat AMIT B’levav Shalem Junior and Senior High School

WNTR13_schools_p20_v3.indd 3 1/17/13 10:59 AM

HIG

HLIG

HTS

AN

D SU

CCES

SES

AMIT

Because of your generous support, more than 25,000 students at 108 AMIT schools and programs are being educated and nurtured within a framework of academic excellence, traditional Jewish values and Zionist ideals. Here are a few ways your generous gifts made a difference. Please use the attached envelope to send in your donation.FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.AMITCHILDREN.ORG OR CALL 212-477-4720.

Congratulations to AMIT BeershevaHigh School StudentsFive AMIT Beersheva Students developed tablets that dissolve in water to give it a sweet, fruit flavored taste. These tablets can compete with a very popular product in Israel: bottled flavored water. The product won a prize in the National Young Entrepreneurs Competition about two months ago, and it is now in its final stages of development for the market with the help of a leading water company in Israel.

The five students, Arik Feldman, Sofie Danilov, Yuval Feldman, Gabriel Wexlander, and Shaun Abrotin, were mentored by teachers, business people and Ben-Gurion University students. The students have established a company called HaTapuah HaYisraeli (The Israeli Apple) to market their product.

AMIT Students Recite Special Prayers for U.S.Storm VictimsThis past October, AMIT Network students recited Tehillim for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

“We have 25,000 students,” said Dr. Amnon Eldar, director general of the AMIT Network, “many of them in Sderot, Ashkelon and Beersheva, and when they are faced with the danger of missiles, American Jews pray for them, support them and come to visit. Many Americans are great friends of Israel, and when they are in trouble we feel a real need to pray for them. Each and every one of our 25,000 AMIT Network students is thankful to the AMIT organization in the United States, which established our Network and continues to provide the support that enables the Network to invest in its students throughout the country and promote excellence.”

Rabbi Shimon Shushan, Rosh Yeshiva at AMIT Eliraz in Petach Tikva, said that students who follow events in the United States felt that prayer was the right thing. “We explained to our students that we have a moral responsibility to help friends in their hour of need, and we believe that it is our duty to do our small part and pray for the safety of our brothers and sisters in the United States at this difficult time.”

100% Enlistment at AMIT Karmiel Junior and Senior High SchoolIsrael Defense Forces statistics released recently show that high school students in Israel’s geographic and socio-economic periphery lead enlistment rates. Many yeshiva high school students as well demonstrate their willingness to serve the country by enlisting in record numbers. AMIT Karmiel Junior and Senior High School was expressly noted in a recent newspaper article for its 100% IDF enlistment. 86% of these students come from families who face economic hardship - which in the past hampered enlistment rates – yet, AMIT Karmiel students enlisted in record numbers in some of the most prestigious combat and support units.

Weddings at AMIT Afula Hesder YeshivaThe AMIT Afula Hesder Yeshiva has taken community involvement to a new level. In a joint venture with the rabbi of the City of Afula, Rabbi Shmuel David, and the rabbi who heads the conversion center in Afula, Rabbi Pinchas Malka, the AMIT Afula Hesder Yeshiva has begun hosting weddings in the yeshiva’s courtyard.

Large weddings with hundreds of invited guests - and a large cash outlay on the part of the bride and groom – are common in Israel, but there are some couples who for various reasons decide to have their wedding at the offices at the Religious Council. These weddings, however, usually have very few guests and lack the joy and dancing, the simcha, of larger weddings.

“We thought, why not invite the bride and groom to celebrate their wedding with AMIT Afula yeshiva students and the yeshiva community’s families rather than having the chupah at the Religious Council?” said Rabbi David. “There is a double gain here, students and families are doing a mitzvah, and the newly wedded couple have a truly traditional Jewish wedding experience.”

Rabbi Yitzhak Ben Pazi, Rosh Yeshiva of AMIT Afula Hesder Yeshiva, enthusiastically agreed to this proposal. “The yeshiva is at the very center of religious life in Afula and is a spiritual and social beacon for residents. It fills our hearts to see our students and families in the community bringing immense joy to the newlyweds.”

By Cheryl Shaanan and Robert E. Sutton

WNTR13_highlights_p22_v5.indd 2 1/17/13 10:04 AM

AS APPEARED ON DECEMBER 5, 2012 ISSUE

SAVE THE DATE!The Story of Ethiopian Jewry Exclusive screening of “Live and Become”Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.Temple Emanuel, 8844 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, CA 90211For more information please contact Michal Taviv-Margolese at 310-859-4885 or [email protected]

Seven Banot Annual Yom Iyun Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 12:00 p.mThe Sephardic Community of Greater Boston 74 Corey Road, Brookline, MAFor more information contact Sarah Aghion at 617- 964-4914 or [email protected]

A Night of Israel Cinema with AMITSaturday, March 9, 2013 at 8:30 p.m.Tribeca Cinemas, 54 Varick Street, New York, NYFor more information contact Robin Rothbort at 212-477-4725 or [email protected] or Amy Oppenheim at 212-477-1207 or [email protected]

The Survivor’s Cookbook Monday, March 11, 2013 at 8:00 p.m Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward St., Newton, MAFor more information contact Rana Rappaport at 508- 870-1571 or [email protected]

Young Leadership March MadnessMarch 21, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.Village Pourhouse Uptown, 982 Amsterdam Ave. (bet. 108th and 109th) New York, NYFor more information contact Amy Oppenheim at 212-477-1207 or [email protected]

Film Gala featuring “Hava Nagila” Sunday, May 5, 2013 at 7:00 p.mHebrew College 160 Herrick Road, Newton Centre, MA For more information contact Rana Rappaport at 508- 870-1571 or [email protected]

Annual Mother-in-Israel EventHindy Weinstock/Geula Chapter of Greater TeaneckSunday, May 19, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.For more information contact William H. Rothchild at 212-477-5465 or [email protected]

AMIT in the forefrontGreer Fay Cashman

R eligious organizations, primarily from the United States, were in the forefront of solidarity missions during Operation Defensive Shield. Some also came in the immediate aftermath to

see where their help was needed. Among them was a large contingent of men and women from AMIT U.S.A. who came to Israel to identify with the country and with the citizens living under constant fear of rocket attacks.

Last week the AMIT delegation paid a condolence call on the Amsalem family, whose son, Itsik, a graduate of AMIT, was killed when a missile fired from Gaza struck their home in Kiryat Malachi. AMIT President Debbie Isaac told the family that the group represented thousands of AMIT members in the U.S.A. who both sympathized and empathized with their loss and who wanted them to know that, “When we heard that an AMIT graduate had been killed, we couldn’t stay away- we felt we had to be here. AMIT is family and we felt we lost a son.” Isaac said that AMIT will grant Itsik’s brother, Shimon, a scholarship and will continue to aid him and his family after he graduates.

Itsik’s father, Chaim Amsalem, told the group about the hardships the family had endured after the initial trauma. “Apart from the shock over the terrible tragedy of Itsik’s death, our apartment is ruined. It’ll take a long time to rebuild it, but we are trying to go on nonetheless.” The family is currently staying at a hotel in Ashkelon and is finding it difficult to get back to normal life. Itsik’s mother is haunted by the fact that she was unable to pull Itsik to safety when the missile landed in their living room. Itsik was a graduate of the AMIT Kiryat Malachi Junior and Senior High School, where the delegation visited earlier in the day, met with students and heard from them about their experiences during Operation Defensive Shield. <

HOW AMIT WAS THERE DURING OPERATION DEFENSIVE SHIELDAMIT continues to support its schools, students and staff in numerous ways:

• Gift baskets and a message of support were sent to the families of AMIT personnel who were called up to the army reserves.

• Students at AMIT Gould Rehovot Junior and Senior High School for Girls and AMIT Bienenfeld Hevruta Yeshiva and Kollel, Kfar Batya, donated, packed up and decorated care packages for IDF soldiers.

• AMIT Noam Elementary School, Kfar Batya, hosted children from Ashdod and organized special activities for them. Ashdod children were able to play freely outside, enjoy special activities organized by their Ra’anana friends, and feel safe.

• Teachers were in touch with students via the internet, email and social media. The AMIT administration continues to be in close contact with all of its southern principals.

WNTR13_Pillar_p23_v4.indd 2 1/17/13 10:55 AM

$3600+Anonymous, ILAnonymous, MAPhyllis and Edward Berkowitz, NYElissa and Seymour Chesir, NYMichael Cleeman, NYSelma and Sydney Daye, CAThe Families of Rabbi Judah Feinerman, z”lShira and Gadi Goldress, NYBatya and Ezra Levin, NYFradelle and Jeffrey Milrad, FLMindy and Ira Mitzner, TXJerald Ptashkin, CA Jennie and Avi Rothner, ILElaine and Saul Schreiber, IsraelTwinco, TXShirley Weinstein, IsraelBaila and Stanley Weiss, NYLinda and Stanley Weissbrot, ILMarguerite and Ronald Werrin, PA

$2,500 - $3,599Anonymous, IsraelMyrna and Charles Alpert, NYRoslyn Besdine, NYAdrianne and Leon Brum, FLCapstone Equities, NYCarol Clapsaddle, IsraelHedy and Morris Cohen, PAEsther and Harvey Felsen, NYEstelle Fink, IsraelLinda and Norman Garfield, PADarryle and Michael Gillman, ILEudice Greenfield, ILGrunberger/Cohen Family, MDCarole and Didier Hannaux, FranceBarbara and George Hanus, ILEllen and John Hellman, IsraelDonna and Robert Hoenig, NJRobin and Mark Hoenig, NJKaren Kaplan, ILNancy and Lloyd Karp, NYRiki and Mordecai Koenigsberg, NYDebbi and Lee Krantzow, NJ Shelly and Stanley Kroll, ILMalka Lozowick, IsraelElsa Macks, ILEsther Miller, FLJudy and Albert Milstein, ILGalina and Mark Moerdler, NJVera and Robert Moreen, PAMiriam and Bernard Neuman, ILBobbie and Jerry Nussbaum, IL Hedy and Paul Peyser, MDHuti and Jay Pomrenze, IsraelCarina and Henry Rascoff, CTSandra and Evan Roklen, CASharon and Bill Rothchild, NYGale and Eric Rothner, ILMarcia Ruderman, MADoris Russo, NYRoz and Marvin Samuels, NYSharon and Scott Seligsohn, PAMarion Talansky, Israel

Lillian and Sherwyn Weiss, FLRachael and Jonathan Wernick, CALibby and Moshe Werthan, Israel

$1,800 - $2,499Anonymous, IsraelAnonymous, IsraelAnonymous, NYAnonymous, PASarah and Maurice Aghion, MABeth and Brad Alter, ILRoberta and Alan Aronoff, NYYaela and Neil Baine, PAJoan and Joel Betesh, PALois and Avi, z”l, Blumenfeld, NJMozes Borger, IsraelRivkah and Shmuel Brandman, ILYardena and David Brickman, NYJill and Jonathan Brickman, NYElaine and Seymour Brief, FLDr. Leila and Rabbi Joseph Bronner, CASharon and David Butler, MDEsther Cardash, ILChava and Ephraim Casper, NJMarc Cerf, FranceRobyn and Jeremy Charlton, MDGlicka and Bernard Creeger, MDSeema and Sol Davis, TXSonia Diamond, MDRenee and Harvey Douglen, IsraelDebra and Marc Dubroff, NJJean Ehrenberg, NYVera and Bernard Ehrlich, MDLaura and David Eisenberg, MAGail and Martin Elsant, NYDiana and Michael David Epstein Family Foundation, MDShana and Steve Erenberg, ILAmy and Daniel Erlbaum, PACara and Andrew Ernstein, KSMolly and Joel Felderman, NYJeanne and Alfred Finkelstein, FLFrieda and Sam Fogel, NYGertrude and Gershon Fox, CAShani C. and Rabbi Samuel Frank, NYAdina and Dovid Frankel, NYSally and David Frenkel, NYReva and Mark Friedman, IsraelSandy and Myron Friedman, TXSharon and Jeffrey Frieling, NYDebby and Steven Gage, NYSusan Galiounghi, FranceMalki and Gary Gartenberg, NYBarbara and Steve Geller, ILDebbi and Marc Geller, ILRita and Howard Geller, ILSharon and Seymour Gertz, ILRuth and Isidore, z”l, Gibber, FLShulamit and Abraham Gittelson, FLMichelle and Justin Goldberg, NY Naomi and Stanley Goldis, PALaura and Joseph Goldman, MDConnie and Michael Goldstein, FLShulamith and Allen Goldstein, NY

Susan and Steven Goldstein, NYAviva and Justin Gordon, ILBeth and Michael Gottesman, ILSonia and Joshua Greenspon, MDJudith and Martin Grumet, NYLillian and Elliot Hahn, FLDeborah and Jonathan Hamburger, MDLaurie and Bernard Hasten, ILEllin and Samuel Heilman, NYAyala and Joseph Helft, NYJanet and Ken Hoffman, NJShulamit and Joakim Isaacs, IsraelRobin Isaacson, FLEdith and Herman Itzkowitz, PAElaine and Mervin Jacobs, FLDebra Jakubovitz, CASusan Julius, CATirza and Sam Kahan, ILLivia Kahn-Tandler, SwitzerlandMarilyn and Edward Kaplan, FLFrancine and Aaron Katz, FLOlivier and Laurence Katz, FranceRuth Kellerman, CAGloria and Sanford Kestenbaum, IsraelSue and Jordan Klein, ILShirley Knox, FLHeidi and Isaac Kohane, MAMonica Rasch and Menashe Kohn, PARachel and Bryan Koplow, MAPhyllis and Ted Kosloff, PAJoyce and Bernard Kosowsky, MASusan and Saul Koss, MDSuri and David Kufeld, NYEdy and Jacob Kupietzky, ILRachel and Shawn Langer, NJCheryl and Lee Lasher, NJVivian and Oscar Lasko, PAEmma Leaf, NYBarbara and Elliot Lebowitz, MAHelen Leiderman, NYGertrude Levine, z”l, NYSimcha and Michael Levine, NYBarbara and Tobias Levkovich, NYLori Levmore, IsraelSusan and Barnet Liberman, IsraelAviva and Nathan Lichtenstein, ILRoslyn and Joel Linderman, CAKC and Leslie Littner, IsraelRita Lowi, CAMelvin Lubin, NJAnnette and Marc Lumbroso, FranceFegi Mauer, ILNaomi and Shlomo Mayer, NYSema Menora, ILJenny Michael, NYMaxine Miller, IsraelElana and Shami Minkove, NYRhonda and Michael Mont, MDDenise, Steve, and Michael Moore, TXMiriam Muskin, OHCaroline and Eric Namrow, MDBarbara and Bob Neustadter, NYMichelle and Chaim Nordlicht, NYRochelle and Erwin Nosenchuk, PA

Bernice and Oscar Novick, ILMyrna and Monte Nussbaum, NYSarah and Paul, z”l Okon, MAElissa Shay Ordan and Daniel Ordan, NYBrenda and Ed Parver, NYRobbie Pearlstein, MDDana and Michael Petrover, FLPia and Stuart Pollack, PADaniel B. Post, FLKaren Presser, MDNomi and Elliot Press, NJDaphna and Daniel Raskas, MDSusan and Fred Raven, NYShlomo Reutlinger, IsraelRonni and Elliott Robinson, ILShulamit and Avi Rockoff, MAJudith and Rabbi Marvin Rosen, NJRachelle and Eyal Rosenthal, NYMarilyn and Larry Rubin, IsraelBetty Atlas-Rumelt and Owen Rumelt, NY Michelle and Mark Saks, NYNechama and Daniel Saks, NJShirley and Leo Schachter, IsraelShirley and Matthew Schein, IsraelRachel and Ian Scheinmann, PABarbara and Irving Schnipper, MIJulie and Jacob Schorr, MD Keryn and David Schreiber, ILMichelle and Dov Schwartz, NJJudith Schwed-Lion and Philippe Schwed, IsraelMarion and Andre Seligman, Luxembourg Sarah P. Shane, IsraelSara and Mitchell Shapiro, NYYaffi and Joseph Shmidman, IsraelDonna and Robert Simons, OHEllen and Saul Singer, MDMarilyn and Jamie Sohacheski, CAMarilyn and Moish Stadtmauer, NYNaomi and Gary Stein, NY Milton Steinberg, NYHelen Stoll, NYChaya Bressler Subar, IsraelNaomi and Ira Sved, PAGil Taieb, FranceHope and David Taragin, MDSandra and Israel Teitelbaum, MDArielle and Aton Teitelbaum, MDDeena and Jonathan Thurm, NJOrlee and Joey Turitz, MDJudy and Mark Tykocinski, PARachel and David Vorchheimer, NYJenny and Max Weil, IsraelAudrey Whitman and Paul Newman, PASharon and Joseph Wiesel, NYLucy and Leon Winchel, NYCarrie Zlotnick Woldenberg and Roberto Woldenberg, NYMarilyn and Noah Wolff, ILMona and Marc Yudkoff, PAElizabeth Zeltser, NYSteve Zuller – Franklin Printing, NY

chai society members

*As o

f Dec

embe

r 31,

2012

WNTR13_chai_p24_v4.indd 1 1/17/13 9:57 AM

FEATURE

LIVE TORAH

Michelle Freund, Miami Beach, Florida

The learning at Midreshet AMIT is amazing and I’m so happy that I made the decision to come here. At first I was so nervous about the classes; deciding which ones to register for seemed so overwhelming. But the teachers here helped me choose, and were very reassuring that if I wouldn’t feel like I was in the right ones for myself, I could switch. I’ve challenged myself in some areas such as Gemara, but I don’t feel stressed about my classes because I’m able to go at my own pace. If I don’t understand something, my teachers are always happy to clarify and explain it to me. I can even come to them after class, or set up one-on-one chavrutas with them. Classes range from “Zionism” to “Women in Tanach” to “Hilchot Shabbat” to “Power of Tefillah” so everyone can find courses that interest and challenge them. Some classes are discussion based and some are more textual, but we have the option of selecting the right ones for ourselves, and that makes all the difference. Midreshet AMIT is truly an amazing school. We have incredible staff, chesed, trips, classes, and friends. I could not be happier, and every day I love the learning here more and more.

LIVE CHESED

Daniella Moffson, New York, New York

At Midreshet AMIT we live and breathe chesed. Not only do we have monthly chesed trips, such as harvesting sweet potatoes to feed the hungry through Project Leket and helping out at a soup kitchen, but we live in Beit Hayeled, which is also home to Israeli children who have had to be removed from their homes. We work with these children every day and become a real part of each others’ lives. Beit Hayeled welcomes us into their “Mishpachtons” (family units) which include approximately twelve Israeli children, two Sheirut Leumi girls (Israeli post-high school girls doing a year of National Service), a young couple, and approximately five of us Midreshet AMIT girls. The young couples

torah – chesed – israelobservations by three current students @ midreshet AMIT


are truly inspirational people. They dedicate their lives to becoming parental figures to these children. Not only do we build meaningful relationships with the children we are helping to care for, but also with the Sheirut Leumi girls and these couples.

The children come from abusive homes, and working with them is a truly humbling experience. Before the year started, we all wondered what kind of impact we would leave on the children, but ultimately it is the children who leave an impact on us. Whether we are helping them with homework or running around playing soccer, we can’t help but have a smile on our faces. Every Monday we each run a different after-school club for them, from art to zumba to baking to soccer. This allows the children to express themselves and thrive as individuals.The language barrier is a challenge, but we’re picking up certain words and it’s becoming less of a struggle as our connection with the children grows stronger. We are helping these kids by giving them the attention they need, and that transcends all languages.

In Sefer Bereshit, we learn about how Avraham, even while recovering from his brit milah, sat at the edge of his tent awaiting guests. Avraham not only loved chesed, but went out of his way to find chesed opportunities. At Midreshet AMIT, the chesed possibilities are literally right in front of us, but like Avraham, we are learning to not only take advantage of the opportunities presented to us, but to push ourselves to seek out ways to enhance our chesed experience even more. Chesed is all around us here in AMIT, and the all-encompassing experience is helping us develop into the young Jewish women we aspire to be.

LIVE ISRAEL

Aliza Grant, Chicago, Illinois

I have been to Israel before and completed my checklist of all things tourist. I have climbed Masada, hiked Ein Gedi, and visited Yad Vashem. Living in Israel this year has begun to add a whole new element to my understanding and appreciation of this country that we call our homeland. My Israel is no longer only comprised of visiting all of the historical landmarks and meaningful sites. My Israel has become working with children and having to rely on my day school Hebrew education in order to communicate with them. It has become spending shabbatot in all different types of places with all different types of families and communities. Living in Israel has become studying the history of my forefathers in the place where they lived. It has become walking down the grocery aisles and realizing I am completely surrounded by other Jews. It is in these experiences where we as Jews find our sense of “homeland.”

As my life in Israel progresses, I am learning to find my sense of homeland here. Whether fighting for a spot on the bus, finding the right words to help a little boy with his homework, or davening at the gravesite of Avraham Avinu, I am able to look around and begin to appreciate the beauty of living in a country where I am surrounded by chesed, history, and family.

WNTR13_midreshet_p25_v3.indd 2 1/17/13 10:55 AM

DVAR TORAH


A TREE GROWS IN A JEWISH SOULThis year, on Shabbat Parshat

Beshalach, we celebrated Tu b’Shvat, which the first Mishnah in Masechet Rosh Hashana calls the “New Year for Trees.” While the holiday of Tu b’Shvat might be agricultural in nature, our Rabbis have always connected trees to spiritual growth. One such example is found in Parshat Beshalach where we find a tree playing a critical role.

Surprisingly enough, trouble began just moments after Bnei Yisrael crossed through the Red Sea. They traveled three days and were unable to find water. They arrived at the city of Marah and when they encountered bitter water (hence the name Marah, which means bitter), they immediately began to complain to Moshe. Hashem responded by showing Moshe a tree, which Moshe threw into the water and miraculously, it sweetened the water thereby enabling Bnei Yisrael to drink. The Medrash explains, “Teach them lessons of the Torah which are compared to a tree.” In other words, throwing the tree into the water was not just a magic trick but rather a process to begin to teach Torah and mitzvot to the

people of Israel. As the next pesukim describe, Moshe used this as an opportunity to inspire the people.

This is just one example of many throughout Tanach where we find trees used as a symbol of Torah and spirituality. Every Friday night, in reciting Kaballat Shabbat, we find one specific pasuk from Tehillim which provides an important lesson for us to think about. “The righteous (tzaddik) will flourish like a palm tree and will grow tall like a cedar in Lebanon.” In this pasuk, a righteous person is compared to two types of trees, the palm tree and the cedar tree. What’s the difference between the two? Why in one scenario are we taught that the tzaddik will flourish like a palm tree while in the other scenario the tzaddik will grow tall like a cedar in Lebanon?

The Maggid Mezritcher, Rabbi Dov Ber of Mezritch, explains that the two trees are two different types of tzaddikim. The cedar tree bears no fruit and grows tall and therefore represents a person who is interested in his own religious growth but not those around him. This tzaddik still has merit,

which is reflected by the term yisgeh, meaning to grow tall. The second type of righteous person is compared to the date of a palm tree. This tree does produce fruit, therefore this tzaddik not only attains spiritual heights for himself, but inspires growth in those around him. He has filled the world not only with his personal mitzvot but by the “fruits of his labor.”

This expresses an important Torah value and hits close to home. We must sacrifice to help those around us. It is part of the religious experience to both focus on ourselves and devote our time, resources, and energy to our friends, neighbors and fellow Jews. Over the last few months, in the aftermath of the recent attacks in Israel and Hurricane Sandy, we saw our community take this message to heart.

However, there is another way of understanding the pasuk. Amos Chacham (Tehillim, Mosad HaRav Kook) suggests we aren’t talking about two different types of tzaddikim but rather that both trees refer to a single righteous

This year, on Shabbat Parshat Beshalach, we celebrated Tu

b’Shvat, which the first Mishnah in Masechet Rosh Hashana calls the “New Year for Trees.” While the holiday of Tu b’Shvat might be agricultural in nature, our Rabbis have always connected trees to spiritual growth. One such example is found in Parshat Beshalach where we find a tree playing a critical role.

Surprisingly enough, trouble began just moments after Bnei Yisrael crossed through the Red Sea. They traveled three days and were unable to find water. They arrived at the city of Marah and when they encountered bitter water (hence the name Marah, which means bitter), they immediately began to complain to Moshe. Hashem responded by showing Moshe a tree, which Moshe threw into the water and miraculously, it sweetened the water thereby enabling Bnei Yisrael to drink. The Medrash explains, “Teach them lessons of the Torah which are compared to a tree.” In other words, throwing the tree into the water was not just a magic trick but rather a process to begin to teach Torah and mitzvot to the

people of Israel. As the next pesukim describe, Moshe used this as an opportunity to inspire the people.

This is just one example of many throughout Tanach where we find trees used as a symbol of Torah and spirituality. Every Friday night, in reciting Kaballat Shabbat, we find one specific pasuk from Tehillim which provides an important lesson for us to think about. “The righteous (tzaddik) will flourish like a palm tree and will grow tall like a cedar in Lebanon.” In this pasuk, a righteous person is compared to two types of trees, the palm tree and the cedar tree. What’s the difference between the two? Why in one scenario are we taught that the tzaddik will flourish like a palm tree while in the other scenario the tzaddik will grow tall like a cedar in Lebanon?

The Maggid Mezritcher, Rabbi Dov Ber of Mezritch, explains that the two trees are two different types of tzaddikim. The cedar tree bears no fruit and grows tall and therefore represents a person who is interested in his own religious growth but not those around him. This tzaddik still has merit,

which is reflected by the term yisgeh, meaning to grow tall. The second type of righteous person is compared to the date of a palm tree. This tree does produce fruit, therefore this tzaddik not only attains spiritual heights for himself, but inspires growth in those around him. He has filled the world not only with his personal mitzvot but by the “fruits of his labor.”

This expresses an important Torah value and hits close to home. We must sacrifice to help those around us. It is part of the religious experience to both focus on ourselves and devote our time, resources, and energy to our friends, neighbors and fellow Jews. Over the last few months, in the aftermath of the recent attacks in Israel and Hurricane Sandy, we saw our community take this message to heart.

However, there is another way of understanding the pasuk. Amos Chacham (Tehillim, Mosad HaRav Kook) suggests we aren’t talking about two different types of tzaddikim but rather that both trees refer to a single righteous

WNTR13_dvar_torah_p26_v3.indd 2 1/17/13 10:52 AM


A TREE GROWS IN A JEWISH SOUL By Rabbi Jay Weinstein

Rabbi Jay Weinstein, a native of Miami Beach, Florida, serves as the Rabbi of Young Israel of East Brunswick, New Jersey. He received Semikhah from YU’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, holds a B.A. in accounting from Sy Syms School of Business and a Master’s Degree in special education from Columbia University. He lives in East Brunswick together with his wife Sharon and their three children, Ora, Ayal and Eitan

person. The pasuk is teaching us that a tzaddik has qualities similar to BOTH a palm tree and a cedar tree. A palm tree has praiseworthy fruits, while the cedar tree has strong roots. Connecting to the theme developed by the Maggid Mezritcher, if the fruit of the palm tree represents our responsibility to inspire others, then strong roots of the cedar tree represent our

responsibility to inspire ourselves and to develop our own religious ambitions. Having strong roots in Torah values is what allows us to produce fruit that influence others.

Let us make sure that we take the message of the trees and apply it in our lives.

person. The pasuk is teaching us that a tzaddik has qualities similar to BOTH a palm tree and a cedar tree. A palm tree has praiseworthy fruits, while the cedar tree has strong roots. Connecting to the theme developed by the Maggid Mezritcher, if the fruit of the palm tree represents our responsibility to inspire others, then strong roots of the cedar tree represent our

responsibility to inspire ourselves and to develop our own religious ambitions. Having strong roots in Torah values is what allows us to produce fruit that influence others.

Let us make sure that we take the message of the trees and apply it in our lives.

WNTR13_dvar_torah_p26_v3.indd 3 1/17/13 10:52 AM


Dr. Amnon Eldar, Mor Deshen, Alon Naftali, Lior Omesi and Judith Schwed-Lion recently visited the United States to observe a number of

cutting-edge schools and attend a series of AMIT events around the country.

The group began their trip in Boston where they toured the Gann Academy in Waltham, Massachusetts, and Dr. Eldar spoke about the AMIT TopTech

Initiative at the home of Sharon Ruderman and Rony Shapiro inBrookline. TopTech is an initiative that is being piloted in six AMIT schools to bring educational innovation to our students.

The next stop for the Israeli delegation was New York, where they gave AMIT staff updates and visited the Avenues School in Chelsea.

Dr. Eldar traveled to Chicago where he met with Midwest Council members at breakfast and presented the latest AMIT updates. He then attended the Midwest Council Annual Dinner at the Evanston Golf Club in Skokie.

The delegation ended their American tour in Los Angeles. They made visits to Shalhevet, Hillel, Stanford University, Summit Preparatory School, Buck Institute for Education and The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Dr. Eldar made presentations to Jewish

school principals and administrators at the Bureau of Jewish Education, The Young Israel of North Beverly Hills and in the home of Susie and Fred Toczek. Dr. Eldar was also the featured speaker at two AMIT events: a

reception at the home of Susie and Sam Porgess in Beverlywood and a Sunday brunch at Milk n’ Honey restaurant, in

Los Angeles.

AMIT israel delegation visits the united states

cutting-edge schools and attend a series of AMIT events around the country.

Young Israel of North Beverly Hills and in the home of Susie school principals and administrators at the Bureau of Jewish Education, The

Initiative at the home of Sharon Ruderman and Rony Shapiro inBrookline. TopTech is an initiative that is being piloted in six AMIT schools

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

school principals and administrators at the Bureau of Jewish Education, The

Boston (l-r) David Moss,Shirley Saunders, Beverly Bavly, Bunny Shapero

Boston (l-r) Mor Deshen, Judith Schwed-Lion, Dr. Amnon Eldar, Alon Naftali, Sharon and Rony Shapiro, David Moss

NY (l-r) Lior Omesi,Mor Deshen,Judith Schwed-Lion,Dr. Amnon Eldar, David Moss, Alon Naftali at the AMIT National Offi ce

NY (l-r)Lior Omesi, Ben Newton of Avenues,Alon Naftali, Ina Tropper, Mor Deshen

Chicago (l-r)Fraydie Matkowsky, Miriam Neuman, Eudice Greenfi eld,Dr. Amnon Eldar

Chicago: Offi cers of the Midwest Council

LA (l-r) Cathy Marshall,Vana Margolese, Mor Deshen

WNTR13_devnews_p28-37_v5.indd 2 1/17/13 9:59 AM

(l-r) Nitzchia Eldar,Motti and Rini Asraf

(l-r) Yaffi and JosephSchmidman

(l-r) Dr. Maxine Miller,Sarah Liron

(l-r) Robin and Simon Kahn, Sondra andMyra Sokal, John and Ellen Hellman

AMIT Israel’s Annual Dinner was held in October at the Ramada Hotel in Jerusalem. It was a night to remember. From the lavish and delectable

smorgasbord to the decadent chocolate molten cake dessert, the dinner was perfection. But the food paled in comparison to the warm atmosphere generated by 250 generous donors who gathered to pay tribute to the honorees—AMIT Visionaries—Dr. Maxine Miller, Aharon and Nitzchia Eldar, and Dr. Amnon and Michal Eldar. The honorees represented both the volunteer and the professional communities that work together on behalf of AMIT in Israel.

The highlight of the evening were three short videos, produced by the Director of Development for Israel and Europe, Judith Schwed-Lion, the Jerusalem office manager Chava Ashkenazi, and volunteer extraordinaire, Arleen Eidelman. Yaffi Shmidman chaired the event with the help of an experienced team of devoted volunteers, most notably her husband, Master of Ceremonies, Joseph Shmidman.

The Annual Dinner represents the culmination of the AMIT Israel Annual Campaign, which is a volunteer-driven effort that raises funds each year in support of AMIT.

AMIT israel 2012 annual dinner by ellen hellman

(l-r) Yaffi and JosephSchmidman

(l-r) Dr. Maxine Miller,Sarah Liron

(l-r) Sarah Shane, Jan Schechter, Dr. Maxine Miller, Nitzchia Eldar, Evelyn Blachor, Debbie Isaac,Dr. Amnon Eldar, Sondra Sokal

The Eldar Family

Judith Schwed-Lion, AMIT graduatesZiona Desta andBarak Avraham

(l-r) Dr. Maxine Miller, Sarah Shane,Blanche Katz Renov,Diana Schiowitz Schwartz, Shoshannah Rick (l-r) Robin and Simon Kahn, Sondra and

(l-r) Judith Schwed-Lion, Rahel Rogers, Aharonand Nitzchia Eldar, Debbie Isaac, Dr. Maxine Miller,

Dr. Amnon and Michal Eldar


los angeles goings onHoedown & BBQ

AMIT hosted an All-American Hoedown & BBQ to raise funds for AMIT’s Negev Initiative. The event included a line dance caller and many guests came dressed in authentic cowboy attire.

Hoedown & BBQ

AMIT hosted an All-American Hoedown & BBQ to raise funds for AMIT’s Negev Initiative. The event included a line

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Wine & Cheese Reception with President Debbie Isaac

AMIT hosted 75 young professionals to meet and greet President Debbie Isaac in Los Angeles. Debbie shared stories of the accomplishments of the

AMIT Network in Israel.

“Herzl” Screening

Over 200 people joined AMIT in Beverly Hills for an exclusive premiere of the ground-breaking documentary: It Is No Dream- The Life of Theodor Herzl. A Q&A was held with Academy Award-Winning Director and Producer Richard Trank.

“Herzl” Screening

Over 200 people joined AMIT in Beverly Hills for an exclusive premiere of the ground-breaking documentary: Herzl

PH

OTO

S B

Y B

EN

ZIO

N L

EV

INP

HO

TOS

BY

JO

SE

PH

OB

ER

(l-r) Yosi and Wendy Finn The Volk Family

(l-r) Casting Director

Jane Sobo and friend

(l-r) Debbie Isaac, Janice andPhilip Kaufl er

(l-r)Tabby Davoodi,Hadas Laureano

(l-r) Ami Kozak and Roz Spier Kozak

(l-r) Adam Gleicher,Torie Kravis

Share your Shabbat!Brighten up an AMIT Mishpachton’s Shabbat table and include your Shabbat hosts in the Mitzvah by gifting them with one of these beautiful certificates. Your support in your hosts’ honor will sponsor the Shabbat needs of an AMIT Mishpachton.

Order online at www.amitchildren.org/gifts or call Amy Oppenheim at 212-477-1207.



AMIT’s Fifth Annual Guys Night Out took place at the Bowery Hotel in Manhattan.

This Texas Hold-Em’ Poker Tournament was, once again, co-chaired by David Stonehill and Daniel Ottensosser. Before gathering for poker, guests were able to smoke hand-rolled Cuban-style cigars as well as enjoy an open bar and various meat-centric buffet stations on the hotel’s patio overlooking The Bowery.

a full house

The Volk Family

Tabby Davoodi,Hadas Laureano

(l-r) Steven Hoffman, Jim Rodney

(l-r) Barry Kirschenbaum, David Stonehill, James Haber

(l-r) Daniel Aharon, Adam Modlin

(l-r) James Haber, Jake Doft, David Moss

(l-r) David Shapira, Brian Nave

(l-r) Greg Adler, Marc Sholes

(l-r) Joshua Korff, David Stonehill

(l-r) David Stonehill,

Adam Shiff,Avi Shapira

(l-r) Benjy Berger, David Isaac, Richard Wolff


The 2012 AMIT Greater Long Island Gala took place in October at the Sephardic Temple in Cedarhurst, NY.

The theme of the event was “New Horizons for Children” and honored six women who have provided leadership in their respective communities and AMIT chapters.

Barbara Nordlicht of the Daroma Chapter of Long Beach was the recipient of the Keter Shem Tov Award.

The regional honorees were:

Nancy Karp-Massada Chapter of the Five Towns

Hope Berger Nathan-Sabra Chapter of the Five Towns

Sheri Feldman-Shoshana Chapter of West Hempstead

Eva Torczyner-Aliza Chapter of Oceanside

Faye Krawitz-Batya Chapter of Plainview

Special recognition was given to the young women from Long Island who were members of the fi fth graduating class of Midreshet AMIT. Elizabeth Luxenberg of Great Neck, and a member of the class, delivered an inspiring D’var Torah.

Shlomit Ebbin of Merrick spoke about her experience as a participant in AMIT’s Mitzvah Program in which she shared her Bat Mitzvah with a young woman who is a resident at AMIT’s Beit Hayeled. AMIT’s new video on the Mitzvah Program had its debut at the Gala.

The Long Island Gala was co-chaired by Debby Gage, Risë and Harvey Kaufmann, Zipporah and Rabbi Arnold Marans, Esther and Donald Press, Betty Atlas Rumelt and Owen Rumelt and Sami Schindelheim.

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

long Island’s outstanding leaders honored

Back row (l-r) Barbara Nordlicht, Hope Berger Nathan, Nancy KarpFront row (l-r) Faye Krawitz, Sheri

Feldman, Elisheva Stein, daughter of Eva Torczyner

(l-r) Chevi,Shlomit and

Rabbi Ira Ebbin

(l-r) Aviva Mansbach, Elizabeth Luxenberg,

Leora Weisenberg

Hope Bergerand grandson,

Ariel Berger

(l-r) Lloyd and Nancy Karp

(l-r) Richard, Sheri, Gabriella, Sarah and Tamara Feldman

(l-r) Steve, Faye, Jason, Tali and Jennie Krawitz

(l-r) Barbara Nordlichtand Brenda Kalter


This past October the AMIT Future Leaders Initiative held the Second Annual AFLI Bowl.

AFLI’s hard work, together with generous donations of food and drinks from The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and t-shirts from Successories, helped us surpass last year’s fundraising by more than 30%. The winning team, the Flying Pizzas, walked away with bragging rights and gold medals, but everyone left with great memories!

2nd annual AFLI bowl

On an evening in September, 100 young professionals celebrated the Jewish New Year at the Dickinson Gallery on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Many

attendees were new to AMIT and it was wonderful to welcome them into AMIT Young Leadership. Gabriella and David Fridman and Lizzy and Daniel Strauss chaired the event.

The crowd enjoyed Israeli wines, a light dinner, Rosh Hashana related desserts and modern Israeli music, while mingling with friends and looking at beautiful art.

AMIT young leadership rings inthe new year!by gabriella fridman

The fi nal two teams! The Flying Pizzas and EMCO

(l-r) Rebecca Basloe, Alexandra Thurm, Sivan Shahar, Sarah Marlowe, Kyra Mae Garber

Elizabeth Rubinfeld

(l-r) Michael Abramson, Talia Thurm, Ari Berg

(l-r) Jill Ellman, David and

Gabriella Fridman, Michal and

Andrew Gindea

(l-r) Elizabeth and Daniel Strauss, Diana

and Joseph Straus

(l-r) Simone Goller and Jason Rebhun

(l-r) Kira Batist, Rachel Saks, Sam Bloch, Chevy Rubenstein,

Chavie Berman

(l-r) Jane Lieberman, Miriam Lieberman,

Elana and Mati Grauer


DEVELOPMENT NEWS

baltimore luncheon

The Sarah Ribakow/Tikvah Chapter of Baltimore held its Annual Donor

Luncheon at the Royal Kosher Restaurant in Pikesville this past November. This special event honored the dedication of long-time member Beatrice Shapiro.

(l-r) Melanie,Herman and

Beatrice Shapiro

Herman and Beatrice Shapiro (center) surrounded by

family members.

birah learns table tricks

This past November, the AMIT Birah Chapter of Greater Washington, DC, held

a mouth-watering membership event, “It’s All in the Presentation! Tricks for the Table.” Alana Isenberg demonstrated exciting ways to arrange food and fl owers. A presentation of certifi cates to our devoted 40+ year members topped off the evening.

Alana Isenberg

(l-r) Norma Burdett,Rosalyn Bramson

(l-r) Elana Stein, Hope Taragin, Miriam Friedman (Event Chair), Donna Lawrence, Norma Burdett, Rosalyn Bramson, Alana Isenberg

birah views words like sapphires

This past October, major supporters of the AMIT

Birah Chapter of Greater Washington, DC, enjoyed an elegant evening at The Library of Congress. The reception was for the exhibit, “Words Like Sapphires: 100 Years of Hebraica at the Library of Congress 1912-2012.” Dr. Michael W. Grunberger, director of collections, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, was the keynote speaker.

birah views words

(l-r) Samy and Stella Ymar, andRosalyn Bramson

(l-r) Hope Taragin, Sara Solomon and Donna Lawrence

(l-r) Sara, Michael, Felice, Robin and Rebecca Grunberger

it’s all about accessoriesAMIT Philadelphia Council/Shira

Chapter held “A Night of Beauty, Bags and Belts” at Saks Fifth Avenue in Bala Cynwyd, PA. Saks Fifth Avenue graciously donated 10% of all purchases to our children in Israel.

(l-r) Sara Bleier, Rachel Scheinmannand Ariella Chasky

(l-r) Debbie Mittman, Shelly Melman,Cyndilee Koslov, Rachel Scheinmann, Sara Bleier


Herman and Beatrice Shapiro


table tricksOver 30 women from the Cleveland Jewish

community gathered at the Anthony Vince Salon in Beachwood, OH to spend a Saturday evening in November getting manicures and pedicures, drinking sangria and hot chocolate, eating yummy snacks and catching up with friends. This is the continuation of efforts to further involve the Cleveland Jewish community’s young generation in helping kids in Israel through AMIT. Plans are already in the works for additional events to take place early next year.

getting pampered for a good cause

The Midwest Council Annual dinner honoring Eudice Greenfield was held this past November at the Evanston Golf Club in Skokie.

Miriam and Bernard Neuman and Fraydie and Bernard Matkowsky chaired the successful dinner at which Dr. Amnon Elder spoke.

midwest annual dinner

(l-r) Rachel Klein, Shira Wiesen, Chagit Ruskin

(l-r) Alissa Burt, Tamara Klein, Rachael Rovner

(l-r) Aliza Joel, Tamara Shafran

(l-r) Deborah Hartman,Eudice Greenfi eld,Shiela Guyer

(l-r) Beth Alter, Sandra Berg, Bernard and Fraydie Matkowsky, Eudice Greenfi eld, Aviva Lichtenstein,

Miriam and Bernard Neuman, Dr. Amnon Eldar

(l-r) Bobbie Nussbaum, Malkie Goldberg

(l-r) Naftali Greenfi eld, Jonathan Greenfi eld, Abbi and Karen Neuman, Devorah Greenfi eld

(l-r) Rita Geller, Eudice Greenfi eld, Howard Geller

(l-r) Naftali and Eudice Greenfi eld,

Chaviva Kaplan


DEVELOPMENT NEWS


dr. maxine miller: 94 years young

This year, Dr. Maxine Miller was one of the honorees at the AMIT Israel Dinner. In honor of this occasion and also as a 94th birthday present, Maxine’s

daughter and son-in-law, Sarah Liron and Sheldon Kahn, from the San Francisco Bay Area, dedicated scholarships toward the AMIT Top Tech Initiative (ATTI) at AMIT Ulpana Givat Shmuel. Maxine stated that out of all her 94 birthdays, this was the best gift she ever received. This gift was very fi tting, as Maxine (who was chairperson of the AMIT Israel Executive Committee from 1975-1986) was the fi rst to push forward the idea that AMIT should accept high-level academic schools into its network.

(l-r) Dr. Hedva Heisler (Director of the Ministry of Education of Givat Shmuel), Judith Schwed-Lion, Dr. Maxine Miller, Sarah Liron, Sarah P. Shane, Rabbi Lior Halperin (principal of the AMIT Ulpana Givat Shmuel)

Front row (l-r) : Shira Baruch, Georgie Lookstein,Audrey Lookstein, Mindy Cinnamon, Debbie Senders Back row (l-r) : Susie Senders, Erica Baruch, Rebecca (Cinnamon) Green, Marissa Cinnamon, Amanda Cinnamon

(l-r) Sarah Liron,Dr. Maxine Miller,

Judith Schwed-Lion

annual lookstein chanukah partyby dawn sherryOn December 8, Rabbi and Mrs. Haskel Lookstein hosted their annual family Chanukah party at their home in New York City. Twenty-three family members joined together to enjoy the festivities. For the more than 35 years, Audrey Lookstein has demonstrated her support for AMIT on various levels and her devotion continued during this annual family event. Audrey, a member of the AMIT Board of Directors, of President’s Circle, and of the Gayl Shechter Chapter (which she founded with several other young women in the winter of 1960-61), made 12 members of her family Life Members of AMIT that evening. The recipients were: 3 daughters, a daughter-in-law, a future granddaughter-in law, and 7 granddaughters. “I have run out of new gift ideas, so when the incentive came in the mail, I took advantage of this opportunity,” Audrey disclosed. (New Life Members not pictured: Ruthie Senders, Tammie Senders, and Julia Straus.)

To join with Audrey and honor a member of your family with an AMIT Life membership for only $118, please see the ad below.

A Special OfferFor a limited time, you may make a child, a grandchild or any loved one a Life Member of AMIT for only $118 (the regular cost of Life Membership is $225). By popular demand this special offer has been extended to January 31, 2013!

Take advantage of this exclusive opportunity to give someone you love a gift that will benefit our more than 25,000 AMIT children in Israel.

For more information, please contact Dawn Sherry at 212-477-4461 or email [email protected].


spanning AMIT world

AMIT supporters of all ages gathered at Ramaz Middle School for a pre-Rosh Hashanah lecture by renowned scholar and author Dr. Erica Brown. The lecture, chaired by AFLI co-president Julia Straus, was entitled “The Big Sorry: The Components of an Authentic Apology” and came on the tails of the release of Dr. Brown’s new book, Return: Daily Meditations on Teshuva for the Daysof Awe.

(l-r) Julia Straus, Dr. Erica Brown

The Kfar Boca chapter in Florida held a joint program with the Hattie Thum Tehillim group of Congregation Torah Ohr, Boca Raton, Florida. The event was held in memory of the 10th yarzheit of Hattie Thum, z”l, founder of AMIT Kfar Boca Chapter.

(l-r) Sara Maryles, Sheryle Spar (Daughter), guest speaker Ora Lee Kanner, Ilona and Anna Frieda Grynsztein, (granddaughter and great-granddaughter) Rebbitzin Barbara Yasgur

AMIT co-sponsored a book launch for Into the Light The Healing Art of Kalman Aron. Kalman’s art is an exploration of the nature of mankind, his own humanity and the mystery of life- allon canvas.

(l-r) Estie Feinblum, Marcia Josephy, Temi Monderer

The AMIT Daroma Chapter held a Mother-In-Israel Brunch at the home of Ariela and Ethan Weisenberg in Long Beach, NY. The guest speakers were Perrie Nordlicht who discussed “Condensed Soup: A Defi nition of Poetry” and Leora Weisenberg, 2012 graduate of Midreshet AMIT.

Photo on left: (l-r) Barbara Nordlicht, Perrie Nordlicht, Sami Schindelheim, Esther PressPhoto on right: (l-r) Ariela and Leora Weisenberg

AMIT France, which was founded in April 2010, held its Annual General Assembly this past October. This small but infl uential committee is moving forward and invites anyone who is interested in helping AMIT raise funds in the French market to join in their efforts. Plans are in the works to also establish AMIT as a registered non-profi t organization in Switzerland.

(l-r) Debbie Moed, Susan Galiounghi- AMIT France President, Carole Hannaux- AMIT France Treasurer, Anne-Carole Ohayon- AMIT France Secretary


As a parent and a long time devoted AMIT donor, I know how important a good education is to the development of children. Many of the 25,000 students at AMIT in Israel do not have the advantages that our own children enjoy and which we may easily take for granted.

President’s Circle gifts provide the foundation upon which our net-work of schools is built. These annual gifts are sustaining funds that we rely on to support our excellent programs. In order to guarantee the continuation of programs which nurture Israel’s children and instill within them strong values and academic excellence, we rely on our members whose annual donation ensure Israel’s future by providing these opportunities. All successful endeavors require a strong foundation. Please join me. The circle will not be complete without you.

Co-Chairs: Brenda Kalter and Deena Shiff

For further information regardingPresident’s Circle, please contact Robin Rothbort

at 212-477-4725, 1-800-989-AMIT (2647), oremail [email protected].

$100,000+ Mollie Baller, z”l, FL

Debbie and David Isaac, NYEllen and Meyer Koplow, NY

Matanel Foundation, LuxembourgBarbara and Jules Nordlicht, NY

Dahlia Kalter Nordlicht and Mark Nordlicht, NYRobyn Price Stonehill and David Stonehill, NY

Ellen and Stanley Wasserman, NY

$75,000 - $99,999Laurie and Eli Bryk, NY

$50,000 - $74,999Joan and Shael Bellows, IL

Hadassah and Marvin Bienenfeld, NYSuzanne and Jacob Doft, NY

Eric Herschmann, NJLeon and Gloria, Edward, Sari and

Howard Miller, NYIngeborg Petranker, z”l, CAHarriet and Heshe Seif, NJ

Adina Straus, NY Joyce and Daniel Straus, NJ

Zahava and Moshael Straus, NJBethia Straus-Quintas and Paul Quintas, IL

$36,000 - $49,999Anonymous, Israel

Michele and Ben Jacobs, NY

$25,000 - $35,999 Anonymous, NY

Anonymous, IsraelThelma, z”l, and Harvey Berger, MA

Sherry and Neil Cohen, NYIke, Molly and Steven Elias Foundation, NY

Michael Foley, NYMitzi Golden, NY

Mildred and Alvin Hellerstein, NY Brenda and Albert Kalter, NYStacey and David Kanbar, NY

Gitta and Richard Koppel, Israel Millie and Lawrence Magid, NYDebbie and Samuel Moed, NJ

Micheline and Marc Ratzersdorfer, IsraelShirley and Morris Trachten, FL

$18,000 - $24,999Nicole Schreiber Agus and Raanan Agus, NY

Sara Beren, z”l OHJewel and Ted Edelman, NYPnina and Jacob Graff, CA

Amy and Jimmy Haber, NYRussell Jay Hendel, MD

Sarah Liron and Sheldon Kahn, CA Amy and Todd Kesselman, NY

Sharon and Solomon Merkin, NJAdrianne and Avi Shapira, NY

Marilyn and Herbert Smilowitz, NJCarrie and Ilan Stern, NY

Trudy and Stanley Stern, NY

An Invitation To Join Me In

President’s Circle

AMIT • BUILDIN

G IS

RA

E

L • ONE CHILD

AT

A T

IME

•

Anonymous, NY Randi Schatz Allerhand and Joseph S. Allerhand, NY

Joseph Anmuth, CAJonathan Art, NY

Lolly and Harris Bak, NY Zelda and Solomon Berger, NY

Daisy Berman, NYAnne Bernstein, CA

Evelyn and Isaac Blachor, NYBeth and Reuben Blumenthal, NY

Ethlynne and Stephen Brickman, MAMarion Crespi, NY

Jone and Allen Dalezman, MA

WNTR13_pres_circle_p38-39_v2.indd 2 1/17/13 10:57 AM

Anonymous, IsraelAnonymous, Israel

Anonymous, NYAnonymous, NY

Anonymous, SwitzerlandTrudy and Ted, z”l, Abramson, FL

Leah and Jonathan Adler, NJAnn and Hy Arbesfeld, NY

Myra Balinson, CARachel and Martin Balsam, NY

Yael Balsam, NYLee and Louis Benjamin, NY

Bea Berger, NJVivian and Stanley Bernstein, NY

Dahlia and Arthur Bilger, CALaurie Bilger and Eli Epstein, NYSandra and Howard Blank, NJ

Devorah and Melvyn Bleiberg, NYSari and Stuart Braunstein, NY

Adele and Jules Brody, NYTamar and Hillel Bryk, NY

Carol and Arnold Caviar, KSMargaret and Chaim Charytan, NY

Beth Chiger, NYThe Philip Citron Charitable Trust, MA

Trina and Paul Cleeman, NYSara Clemons, TN

Florence Cohen, z”l, NYShevi and Milton Cohen, NYDiane and Howard Cole, NY

Peggy and Philip Danishefsky, NJElaine and Lewis Dubroff, NYHattie and Arthur Dubroff, NJ

Susan Ederson, NYLinda and Barry Eichler, PA & NYSherry and Aaron Eidelman, NY

Judith and Allen Fagin, NYVivian and Bernard Falk, NY

Ruth and Gene Fax, MAIris and Stephen Feldman, NYSheila and Kenneth Fields, NJ

Saradee and Stanley Fortgang, NYGwen Buttnick Francis, NJ

Gabriella and David Fridman, NYSura and Burt Fried, NY

Rena and Michael Friedman, ILMarisa and Andrew Gadlin, NYRandi and Alan Gelman, Israel

Shifra and Perry Garber, NYEsther and Arnold Gerson, NY

Leelah and Joseph Gitler, Israel Abigail and Ari Glass, NY

Ilana and Stuart Goldberg, NJPaulette and Max Goldberg, NY

Esther and Jack Goldman, NYJudith and Matthew Goldsmith, NJZelda and Sheldon Goldsmith, NYAnne and Sheldon Golombeck, NY

Louis Gordon, TXJudith and Gabriel Gross, France

Sharon and Melvin Gross, NYPhyllis Hammer, MA

Nicole and Jacques Hanau, FranceFelicia Hanfling, NY

Debbie and Robert Hartman, ILLaura and Jonathan Heller, NYDebbie and Eddie Herbst, CA

David and Barbara B. Hirschhorn Foundation, MD Gail and Larry Horowitz, NY

Aviva and Fred Hoschander, NYPeggy and Robert Insel, NY

Elaine and Robert Jacobs, NYMalky and Bezalel Jacobs, NY

Barbara and Manfred Joseph, NYConnie and Alan Kadish, NJ

Chavie Kahn and Heshy Kofman, NYIlana and Mitchell Kahn, NY

Robin and Simon Kahn, IsraelDanna and Gilad Kalter, NY

Ruth and Jerome Kamerman, NYMiriam and Shopsy Kanarek, NYRuth and William Kantrowitz, NY

Harriet and Joel Kaplan, NYMarisa and Daniel Katz, NY

Gloria and Harvey Kaylie, NYRona and Ira Kellman, NY

Rochelle Stern Kevelson, NYDiane and Barry Kirschenbaum, FL

Susan Alter Klaperman, NYThe Klibanoff Family, NJ

Jane Klitsner, IsraelLaurie and Robert Koppel, NY

Evelyn and Lawrence Kraut, NJRochelle and Seymour, z”l, Kraut, MA

Dorothy Kreiselman, NYBertha, z”l, and Henry Kressel, NY

Seryl and Charles Kushner Family Foundation, NJDebra and Dov Lando, NJ

Esther and Stanley Landsman, NYLinda and Murray Laulicht, FL & NJ

Donna and Jeffrey Lawrence, MDSara and Moishe Leifer, NYDiane and David Lent, NYEllyn and Alan Lerner, NJ

Kari and Joshua Levine, NYSylvia and Norman Levine, FLDorothy and Robert Lewis, NY

Ruth and Robert Lewis, NYSharona and Michael Loeffler, FLAudrey and Haskel Lookstein, NY

Naomi and Carl Lopkin, MARita Lourie-Galena, PA & NY

Marie-Nicole and Georges Lumbroso, FranceRandie and Arthur Luxenberg, NYRhonda and Jeffrey Luxenberg, NY

Meira and Solomon Max, NYManette and Louis Mayberg, MD

Benay and Ira Meisels, NYCaroline and Marcelo Messer, NY

Joan, z”l, and Leon Meyers, NYLois and Jonathan Mills, IL

Myra Mitzner, NYGalina and Mark Moerdler and Family, NY

Chani and David Moss, NJJessica and Jason Muss, NY

Miriam and Bernard Neuman, ILGloria and Burton Nusbacher, NY

Reva and Martin Oliner, NYBea and Irwin Peyser, NYSuzy and Paul Peyser, NY

Esther and Donald Press, NYTzippi and Ira Press, NJ

Judy and Jerry Pressner, NYEvelyn Reichenthal, TX

Sheila and Sidney Rimmer, NYShelley Rindner, NY

Fritzie and Sheldon Robinson, ILKristina and Len Rosen, IsraelVivian and Solomon Rosen, FL

Miriam and Howard Rosenblum, NJElizabeth Rosenkrantz and Steven Lancman, NJ

Maks Rothstein, NYMichele and Barry Rubin, NY

Herbert Rudnick, NYEllen Scheinfeld, NY

Iris Schneider, NYEsther and William Schulder, NJ

Miriam Seltzer, NYEsther, z”l, and Jacques Semmelman, NJ

Renee and Elliot Schreiber, NY

Sharon and Rony Shapiro, MAChana and Daniel Shields, NJ

Deena and Adam Shiff, NYNechi Shudofsky, NY

Mollie Siegel, NJSharon and Morris Silver, CA

Karen and Roy Simon, NYRuth Simon, NY

Lorraine and Mordy Sohn, NYSara and Gabriel Solomon, MDMahla and Hilton Soniker, NY

Melanie and Matthew Sosland, NJSheryle and Theodore Spar, FL

Sydelle Spero, IsraelKaaren Staschower, CA

Shirley and Bruce Stein, TXDeborah Stern-Blumenthal and Michael Blumenthal, NJ

Richard Stone, NYEdith Sussman, MD

Ethel and Lester Sutker, ILLilly Tempelsman, NY

Sandra and Max Thurm, NYEva and Evan Torczyner, NYBertie and Fred Tryfus, NY

Judith and Morris Tuchman, NYAudrey and Max Wagner, NY

Joseph Walder, ILStephen Waldner, NY

Paula and Leslie Walter, NYAnne and Mark Wasserman, NYSuzanne and Stuart Weilgus, NY

Tova and Howard Weiser, NJJudy and Morry Weiss/

Sapirstein-Stone-Weiss Foundation, OHMarion and William Weiss, NJ

Linda and Steven Weissman, NYRoselyn and Walter Weitzner, NY Diane and Michael Werner, NY

Joyce and Jeremy Wertheimer, MA Booky and Jerome Wildes, NY

Phyllis Wind, NYFlorence Wolf, NY

Mireet and Joseph Wolf, IsraelStella and Samy Ymar, MD

Hilde and Benjamin, z”l, Zauderer, NYEsther and Dov Zeidman, NY

Tamar and Benjamin Zeltser, NYHelene and Gerald Zisholtz, NY

Corinne and Neil Zola, NY

$10,000 - $17,999Anonymous, NY

Randi Schatz Allerhand and Joseph S. Allerhand, NYJoseph Anmuth, CA

Jonathan Art, NYLolly and Harris Bak, NY

Zelda and Solomon Berger, NY Daisy Berman, NY

Anne Bernstein, CA Evelyn and Isaac Blachor, NY

Beth and Reuben Blumenthal, NYEthlynne and Stephen Brickman, MA

Marion Crespi, NYJone and Allen Dalezman, MA

Selma and Jacob Dyckman, NYChaiki and Ziel Feldman, NJ

Lilly and Alfred Friedman, NY Joseph and Rae Gann Charitable Trust, MA

Miriam and Felix Glaubach, NYHarwit Charitable Trust, CA

Norma and Emanuel Holzer, NYSuzanne and Norman Javitt, NY

Kirkland & Ellis LLP, NYNancy and Joshua Korff, NY

Sylvia and Leon Korngold, NYRuth and Daniel Krasner, NYEsther and Motti Kremer, NY

Mindy and Seymour Liebman, NYAliza and Steven Major, NY

Zipporah and Arnold Marans, NY Etella and Haim Marcovici, NY

Marilyn and Leon Moed, NYNataly and Steve Neuwirth, NY

Judith and Daniel Ottensoser, NYRegina Peterseil, NY

Lauren and Mitchell Presser, NYBarbara and Joel Rascoff, NYJoyce and Stanley Raskas, NYShari and Jacob M. Safra, NY

Jan and Sheldon Schechter, NY

Charlotte Schneierson, NYRita and Eugene Schwalb, NJErica and Rob Schwartz, NY

Deanne and Leonard Shapiro, NYJudy and Isaac Sherman, NY

Ronnie and William Slochowsky, NY Sondra and Myron Sokal, NYFrancine and Aaron Stein, NJ

Jody and Ari Storch, NYAudrey and Chaim Trachtman, NY

Ina and David Tropper, NYPaula Yudenfriend and Arlin Green, PA

$5,000 - $9,999

president’s circle of honor*As of Decem

ber 31, 2012

WNTR13_pres_circle_p38-39_v2.indd 3 1/17/13 10:57 AM

SPREAD THE HAPPINESS OF PURIM WHILE YOU SUPPORT AMIT!

Purim is a time of happiness! Share Purim joy by sending your family and friends our delightful cards while brightening the lives of AMIT’s children in Israel.

AMIT’s specially designed Purim card features a shimmering Purim mask on a green background. Each card costs $3 or you may purchase 10 cards for $25. All proceeds will benefit our more than 25,000 students in Israel.

5773 • 2013AMIT PURIM

CARDS

To order please visit AMIT Gifts at www.amitchildren.org/gifts

or call 212-792-5399 or 1-800-989-AMIT.

WNTR13_purim_p40_v1.indd 1 1/17/13 10:06 AM

amit magazine winter 2013

Documents