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Yeshiva Atlanta is a Modern Orthodox high school. Our mission is to offer a well-rounded Torahbased college preparatory education to young Jewish men and women.

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V O L U M E

Kislev 5773 - December 2012

School Shabba-TON of Fun!

seniors (who narrowly avoided an upset) and the 8th graders, singing, divrei Torah, a program run by the Peer Leaders, and of course, YAs trademark YAs annual Fall Shabbaton is shabbos dancing. Students always eagerly anticipated from Yeshiva University and by current students and per- Stern College were also in haps with some trepidation attendance to participate in by 8th graders who come the programming. along to check us out every year. This years Shabbaton While the YA staff and counselors were convinced was held October 19-21 (Parshat Noach), with about that there was no way to eat 100 current YA students and any more food after the luscious Shabbat meals and 31 eighth-graders. many snacks served throughIn addition to normal out the day, the students davening and lots of food, proved them wrong at the everyone enjoyed So You motzei Shabbat bonfire and Think Youre Smarter Than BBQ. So many hamburgers, A Senior between the YA so many hot dogs; and lucki-

ly, so much Shabbos dancing! Everyone slept well on Saturday night. According to faculty member Ms. Amanda Bunder, it was a special and inspiring Shabbaton, one which we believe gave our 8th grade guests a glimpse of the unique character of Yeshiva Atlanta and the bond that exists among our students. The Shabbaton was organized by the YA Student Council: Jake Belinky and Elan Miller (co -presidents), Ben Valenta (vicepresident), Jessica Nooriel (secretary) and Ethan Arbiser (treasurer). Todah rabah to them for their hard work making this years Shabbaton a howling success.

B R I EF INSIDE L OO K
Elan Miller Wins National Merit Scholarship Girls Volleyball YA Fall Pay! College, Yeshivot and Seminaries Students Join the Honor Council

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Yeshiva Atlanta Re-Accredited!

Every five years, Yeshiva Atlanta applies for re-accreditation from the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and AdvancED, the global educational organization that oversees the Southern Association. Its a process that involves a detailed report containing an analysis of the past five years of the schools progress and development, a strategic plan for the next five years of improvement, and documentation that the school meets all the standards and indicators to merit accreditation. YAs accreditation was successfully renewed this past spring. The accreditation process requires YA to meet a wide range of indicators proving that we are a functional institution: Vision & Purpose, Governance & Leadership, Teaching & Learning, Documenting & Using Results, Resources & Support Systems, Stakeholder Communication & Relationships, and Commitment to Continuous Improvement. Included is a detailed self-study describing how YA has developed since 2006. The self-study helps a school identify areas of both success and needed improvement, and when properly done, can help transform an institution. Highlights from YAs self-study included our increased SmartBoard use, RenWeb implementation, Strategic Learning Program, and upgrades to the physical plant including our improved computer lab and renovated Beit Midrash. Events like the Cause Fair, CoffeePalooza, and the establishment of the Honor Council were also part of the self-study. (continued on page 3)

Note from Our HOS 5 New Science Program at YA

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Elan Miller Named National Merit Finalist

The pressure is on for YA juniors. Every fall, all non-seniors take the Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, but for juniors, this test is the first screening of about 1.5 million high school students nationwide to determine who will land in the final 15,000 chosen as National Merit Finalists. In 2011, one YA junior, Elan Miller, made the first cut (50,000), and recently Elan was notified that he is indeed a National Merit Finalist. Its not just about the test scores, though. National Merit Semifinalists (16,000) name universities or colleges they are considering, submit their academic record, recommendations from the school, information about their in-school activities and leadership, and of course, their own personal essays. Yeshiva Atlantas curriculum and school information are part of the mix as well. Staff Writer for the Yeshiva Atlanta Palette and a member of the Environmental Club. Elan also works as an intern at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where Those who know Elan were not he assists with the VAERS Data Base surprised that he was named a -Vaccine Adverse Event Timeliness National Merit Finalist. As Dr. Reporting project. In December Paul Oberman, YAs Head of 2012, Elan and his fellow seniors are School noted: Elan has earned in the throes of their college the respect of everyone he applications, and Elan is interested in comes in contact with studying mathematics and business. students and teachers alike. He exemplifies everything the No school is guaranteed to a National school stands for and aspires Merit winner: the criteria are rigorous and national. Elan is quick to to be. acknowledge that Yeshiva Atlanta In addition to being a top stuprovided great opportunities that dent, Elan is co-president of motivated him to excel academically the Student Council and has and succeed in becoming a National been a valued member of the Merit Finalist. YA Boys Soccer Team for three years. He is a Senior

Girls Volleyball

Fall 2012 saw another successful year for YAs Girls Volleyball team. Under the direction of Coach Kealani Kukahiko, the team of 12 varsity players, 4 practice-team players, and 2 managers finished with a record of 12-6. But for a school the size of YA, with just over 100 students, the programs success is more than just wins and losses. Coach Kukahiko says All the girls are hard workers, dedicated, team-focused and fun. I really enjoyed working with them. One of the seasons highlights was beating Tallulah Falls not just once, but twice: a huge first for a YA team. A big ingredient in this success was the hard work all the girls put into improving their serves. This concentrated effort on everyones part culminated in one practice at which 100% serving was achieved during the team pressure serving drill. That sure was a lot of funbeing perfectat least for one day, notes Rebecca Sirota, team co-captain. Serve-Receive percentage improvement throughout the season was another point of pride for the team.

New School Counselor!

Yeshiva Atlanta is delighted to welcome to its staff Pamela Mason, Ph.D., as our new school counselor. Dr. Mason was born and grew up in Monsey, New York, and graduated from Barnard College. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical and School Psychology from Hofstra University, where she studied the impact of cultural and religious factors on body image and eating behaviors among Orthodox Jewish adolescents. While working at Ardsley High School, a public school in Westchester County, NY, Dr. Mason successfully implemented a novel comprehensive skills program to help teens improve their ability to regulate their emotions and improve interpersonal skills, which was the first of its kind in a mainstream school setting. Dr. Mason and her family moved to Atlanta in 2010, and she is excited to get back to working with teens in a high school setting again after spending time at home with her two young children. She told Face2Face: "It has been a privilege joining the YA family. I truly enjoy working with the faculty and meeting with the parents, but the highlight is the students. What an amazing group of teens! It is very special to take my background, training, and experiences and integrate those into a Modern Orthodox high school environment. I look forward to continuing to plan and implement programs to benefit the students.

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Lost in Yonkers, found in Yeshiva

For a long time, dramatics at YA meant only one thing: Chagiga, the Girls Committees annual musical production. But thanks to Talya Gorsetman, the newly-appointed Chagiga Advisor, Neil Simons Pulitzer Prize-winning play was produced in October with a co-ed cast featuring Matthew Sawyer (Jay), Shimmy Blaut (Eddie), Daniel Shiff (Uncle Louie), Herschel Siegel (Arty), Eden Farber (Grandma and student director), and Shira Lubinsky (Bella). They were absolutely fearless, remarked Ms. Gorsetman of her cast and crew (which also included Shani Wienmann as stage manager, Oryah Bunder as assistant stage manager, and Daniella Sokol as head of scenery). It was a great opportunity to work with this amazing cast.

playwright for film in 1993. The addition of a fall play involving both girls and boys adds an opportunity for YA students to explore the arts and adds balance to the school calendar. Talya Gorsetman and her cast and crew deserve a big round of applause for this new and exciting event!

Lost in Yonkers chronicles growing

up as a teen in a dysfunctional extended family in the early 1940s. In addition to a long run on Broadway it was adapted by the

Colleges, Yeshivot and Seminary Acceptances in 2012

Colleges: SUNY Binghamton, Boston University, Brandeis, Emerson College, Emory University, Georgia Tech, University of Georgia, George Washington, Indiana University, University of Maryland, UMass Amherst, NYU, University of Rochester, Rutgers University, Touro

YA Re-Accredited!
(Continued from page 1)Along with the selfstudy, of course, YA was visited by an accreditation team composed of veteran educators and administrators from across the Southeast. Our visitors were impressed by YAs ability to meet or exceed expectations in all aspects of our job. We were delighted by the teams positive comments and look forward to implementing our plans for the next five years.

College, Towson University, and Yeshiva University/Stern College Yeshivot: Derech Etz Chaim, Keren B'Yavneh, Lev HaTorah, Yeshivat Eretz HaTzvi, Yeshivat Shalavim Seminaries: Afikei Torah, Bnot Torah Institute, Darchei Binah, Garin Tzabar, Machon Ma'ayan, Midreshet HaRovah, Midreshet Moriah, Michlelet Esther, Midreshet Yeud, MMY, Shalavim for Women, Shalem, Tiferet, Tomer Devora

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Students Join the Honor Council

Like any high school, Yeshiva Atlanta occasionally experiences instances where a students behavior or academic integrity does not quite meet expectations. To address these fairly and expeditiously, the school last year established the Honor Council. This fall, the Council was restructured to include student representatives, in a move to increase students sense of responsibility for and ownership of their own words and actions. The change is consistent with YAs longheld and oft-repeated expectation that students conduct themselves as bnei Torah at all times both in school and out of school, as outlined in the Parent-Student Handbook. The Honor Council acts in cases of alleged academic dishonesty, bullying or disrespectful behavior. It was always our intent to have student representation on the Honor Council, but last year's upper class students had some reservations about this. So we decided to operate for a year with faculty only, and then revisit the issue. We hoped that once the students became more familiar and comfortable with the Honor Council they would be more willing to be a part of it, notes Dr. Paul Oberman, Yeshivas Head of School. The revamp means that instead of five faculty members, the Honor Council now includes three faculty members and three student representatives. Student response has been extremely positive, with nine students standing for election in September. Noam Gal agreed. At first I wasnt sure how Id feel about judging other students and proposing consequences for misbehavior or cheating. But having been through the process a few times, I feel like Im making Yeshiva a better school and a better place for all our students.

Honor Council faculty member Rabbi Moshe Rose observed, I have been very impressed with the students maturity, their input Joey Siegel, one of the student rep- and their perspectives. In resentatives, acknowledges that By my estimation, student giving us seats on the Honor Coun- presence on the Honor cil, the school has really given stuCouncil is a very positive dents a chance to be heard. Not thing. just those who come before the Honor Council, but those of us who are on it and who are helping to shape school policy. His colleague

Mondays are Yeshiva days at Fuego!

Starting in 2013, if you eat at Fuego Mundo on a Monday, just tell your waiter you are there for Yeshiva Atlanta and we will receive 10% from your bill (excluding tax and tip)! It can be breakfast, lunch, or dinner, just head on over to Fuego and eat for a great cause!

New Advancement Officer at YA

Yeshiva Atlanta welcomes a new advancement officer, Mrs. Avi Levinson. A Chicago native, Avi spent the summer running the first Bnei Akiva day camp in Atlanta with her husband, Ashy. By the end of the summer, they had decided to stay! They currently live in Toco Hills and are the Youth Directors at Young Israel. Avi worked last year at the National Bnei Akiva office, coordinating and planning events for all of the U.S. and Canada. At YA, she deals with fundraising, communications, and alumni outreach, and has also started coaching the girls basketball team. We welcome Avi to the YA family and are excited to have her on board!
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A note from our Head of School

It has been such a pleasure this year to be a part of our bridgebuilding program, connecting people and topics at every turn. At the beginning of the year we spent some time connecting the ninth grade to their new school. This effort continued via peer leadership, as the seniors made it a regular part of their schedule to discuss with the freshmen all of the things the seniors wish THEY had known as ninth graders. Bridge building efforts between the community and YA continued apace, as YA students spent time playing BINGO at the Jewish home, building sukkot at shuls and the homes of individuals needing some assistance, leading teen minyanim throughout the community, and assisting with childcare during the holy days. Finally, the play Lost in Yonkers allowed YA to further connect with the community via our wonderful actors! Meanwhile, bridges continued to be built within the YA community. One of our students, Levi Siegelman, took the Building Bridges theme literally, and got together 25 volunteers to help him with his Eagle Scout project and built a bridge near his home in Toco Hills to make the shortcut between streets more accessible to everyone.

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The students connected with each other and prospective students at the amazing Shabbaton at Camp Blue Ridge. Students connect their Judaic subjects to their general studies subjects, and connect with their peers and teachers. Finally, I had a special opportunity to connect with my past and with Young Israel of Toco Hill, as I read my bar mitzvah Haftorah in early November in front of a wonderfully supportive community that also included my parents. I look forward to further connections and bridge building as we celebrate Chanukah. Check out our Building Bridges school video! Click here to watch!

YA Launches Committee for Science Improvements

lab, implementing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) curricugy, engineering, and mathematics in contexts that make connections between school, community, work, and the global enterprise. Integrating STEM with improved lab facilities and courses into the YA curriculum should yield stronger graduates better positioned for college and future careers. In turn, these students will become the Jewish leaders and innovators of the next generation. YA-CSI is delighted to be working on this project with the Hebrew Order of David and its president, Jeff Kalwerisky. If you wish to get involved, call YA!

Studies have shown that fewer and fewer American and Israeli Jewish graduates are pursuing sciencebased graduate programs or career paths (YouTube videos from the Technion notwithstanding). Not only does this suggest a decline in Jewish innovation, discovery and leadership, but the US has slid in the international rankings to #20 in math and #25 in science. In an effort to buck this trend, Yeshiva Atlanta has formed CSI Committee for Science Improve- lum and standards, and cultivating science-based career pathways and inments. volvement. YA-CSI has been named the YA-CSI aims to prepare students recipient of HODs annual fundraising efforts, with a spring event expected. In to graduate equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary for conjunction with HOD, the committee success in post-secondary educa- is also pursuing several other grant option and the 21st global economy. portunities. The committee recently partnered with the Hebrew Order of David The new STEM curriculum is an interdisciplinary approach to learning where (HOD) to fund a three-pronged science initiative that will include rigorous academic concepts are coubuilding a state-of-the-art science pled with a real-world approach in which students apply science, technolo-

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Peer Leadership
Gabi Hoberman and Becca Sirota

Come cheer on the YA Lions and Lady Lions! Click here for the schedule

Peer Leadership was established at YA this year as a way for the incoming freshmen to create bonds with their seniors and learn the ropes of high school. During bi-monthly meetings, the senior leaders would pair up with their freshmen groups and discuss relevant high school issuessuch as bullying, peer pressure, and stereotypingin the form of ice-breaker games and discussions. Faculty would take a back-seat to encourage a closer interaction between the students and to encourage lasting relationships based on mutual respect and trust.

on things our seniors wish they had known when they were freshmen.

December 24-January 2nd: Winter break January 11th Student Visitation day January 13th YA open house January 20-22 Senior service trip February 1-2: In-school Shabbaton

Peer Leadership has been a success in both expected and unexpected ways. Relationships between seniors and freshmen in most schools are weak if even existent, but through Peer Leadership, YAs current freshmen and seniors have created strong, positive relationships that continue even outside the group. Because the transition from middle One Peer Leader noted I think school to high school involves unfamiliar socially, we have definitely situations, Peer Leaders discuss their helped them, says Ben Huisman. own high school experiences with the I can talk to them about things incoming students, and provide advice on they should work on, and they how to handle these events. Other top- improve. They seem to feel ics discussed include personal managemore comfortable in YA. ment, teamwork, and respect, focusing

...Lauren and Gavin (94) Westerman of NY on the birth of a son. ...Dawn Brenner (84), daughter of Shelley and Allen Shaw, on her engagement to Joel Newman, son of Dora and Jerry Newman of Portland, OR. Dr. Stacy Westerman (99) on her recent marriage to Paul Fisher. ...Gavin (97) and Jennifer Salmenson on the birth of a daughter, Emily. ...Arthur Kurtz (Past President) on becoming a Grandfather.
If you have any updates or news you would like to share with us, please email

Help us reach our Annual Fund goal!

...Micah (96) and Eliana Katz on the birth of a daughter in LA.

We will receive a match if your donation this year is a 10% increase from your last.
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...David (01) and Emily Katz-Doft on the Birth of a daughter in AtlanAlevinson@yeshivaatlanta.org ta.
we would LOVE to hear from you!

...Eitan Ovadia (98) on his upcoming marriage to Cara Stern of West Palm Beach, FL on December 31, 2012.

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YA Stands with Israel

YA shows support for Israel by wearing blue and white, and adding extra Tehilim during Mincha while the battle between Israel and Gaza was at its worst.

New Senior Seminar

by: Rabbi Yablok

Yeshiva Atlanta students continue to amaze us with their wide ranging successes and accomplishments. YA has graduates operating at the highest levels throughout a broad spectrum of universities, professions and walks of life. We are proud of their accomplishments and continue to evaluate how best to prepare them for the paths that they choose.

Senior Seminar will present our students with an extensive and practical guide to life beyond YA.

Topics in this semester-long course will include Shabbat observance, interdenominational and non-Jewish relations, Israel advocacy, and prayer. Students will engage with key primary sources, hear from alumni, and start to create a vision of how they can smoothly transition from YA to the This year we are happy to introduce next step, whatever it may be. The lessons a new course of study for the seniors will be driven by practical scenarios and in anticipation of the exciting steps situations which we are certain will engage they will each be taking as Yeshiva our students in lively and meaningful disHigh school graduates. While privy to cussions surrounding their chosen paths. a rich and broad education here at Yeshiva, there is no question that the We look forward to this exciting new ofenvironment here is far different fering as it brings yet another dimension to from that which they will experience the excellent education available to YA beyond our walls. As such, our new students.

Sponsor a Day of Learning!

Have a friends birthday coming up? Someone just had a baby? Honoring someones Yartzheit? With a $180 contribution to Yeshiva Atlanta, you can sponsor a Day of Learning and honor that special someone or something. Email Alevinson@yeshivaAtlanta.org for more information.

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Our Annual Fund donors

Jim and Sally Crawford Rabbi Mordechai and Ilana Danneman Dr. Robert and Martha David Michael and Kristin Davis Barry and Barbara Dolin Terry Eden George and Elana Ellman Abe and Faye Esral Rabbi Daniel and Bluma Estreicher Ann Faber Dr. Henry and Roslyn Falk Bahman and Mahnaz Farazmand Janie Feldman Dr. Deborah Fernhoff Lauren Fields Dr. Mark and Barbara Fisher Nathan Flood Benjie Flusberg and Keren Fisher Sarah Foye David and Leah Franco Melvin and Moira Frank Danny and Connie Frankel Ethne Freedberg Rabbi Yechezkel and Rifki Freundlich David and Cheryl Friedlander Raanon and Erica Gal Jacqueline Gindler Michael and Nancy Glaser Randy and Caroline Gold Charles and Sally Goldgeier Ronald and Melissa Goodman Drs. Brian and Lynn Gordon Adrian and Ilene Grant Sammy and Tracey Grant Marc Greenberg and Susan Glatt Jack and Lala Greene Norman and Gladys Grey Jimmy and Karen Grinzaid Jack and Lynne Halpern Dr. Sanford and Deborah Hartman Drs. Raphael Harpaz and Elizabeth Herman Benjamin and Jacqueline Hirsch Dr. Adina Hirsch Etta Raye Hirsch Gladys Hirsch Joey and Carla Hotz Loles Jones Jeff and Debbie Kalwerisky Charles and Sandra Kaplan Martin and Marcia Karon Dr. Herbert and Hazel Karp Richard Katz Family Foundation Justin and Yael Katz Monica Katz Josh Katzin and Malka Rabinowitz Mitchell and Amy Kaye Ezatollah and Shahla Khandadash Dr. Shokrollah and Fahimeh Kerendian Sidney and Mary Kirschner Dr. Harvey Klehr and Marcia Steinberg Dr. Jared and Rusty Klein Ed and Lynn Koffsky Marc Komisarow and Brenda Mooney Richard and Susan Krohn Yehuda Krohn and Yosefa Fisher Arthur Kurtz Davi and Renee Kutner Dr. Brent and Liat Lasker Errol and Natasha Lebowitz Ira and Sandy Leff Ashy and Avi Levinson

Dr. Joel and Toni Adler Stuart and Karen Adler Ariella Allen Aaron and Jeannine Altman Sam and Pola Arbiser Harold and Dolores Arnovitz Abe and Farimah Asher Mr. Sason Azani Peter and Elizabeth Bein Stan and Judith Beiner Dr. Alan Belinky Lisa Belinky Joseph Benkiel Carol Berger Dr. Sherwin and Deborah Berger Rabbi Michael and Elisheva Berger Dr. Frank and Zahava Berkowitz Michael and Melissa Bernstein Rabbi Mordechai and Nancy Birnbaum Jeffrey and Diane Bland Larry and Eleanor Bogart Matthew Bronfman and Ronit Walker Mark Brooks Rabbi Lee and Rachel Buckman Noam and Amanda Bunder Ron and Dana Burchfield David Byron Patricia Cain Dr. Howard and Jennifer Caplan Fredric and Dr. Rita Chaiken Susan Christy Jodie Cohen Rabbi Mordechai and Naomi Cohen Stephen Cole and Miriam Seidband Dr. Shlomo and Yehudit Cooper

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Dr. Richard and Meryl Levitt Rabbi Eric and Leah Levy Alan and Brenda Lewis Allan and Janet Livingstain Marc and Rita Lor Johannes and Sue Loubser Natanel and Rachel Lovett Marilyn Lowenstein Allen and Iris Lubel David and Robin Lubin Dr. Doron and Jennifer Lubinsky Enrico and Sara Marcellino Bob Marcovitch and Elise Eplan Joseph and Charlotte Marcus Joel and Charlotte Marks Drs. Barry and Pam Mason Andrew Brodie and Rhondda May Michael McElreath Dr. Paul and Judy Merlis Chuck Azer and Elaine Miller Helayna Minsk Malcom and Betty Minsk Dr. Tal Moskowitz Eli and Nira Nafisi Drs. Paul and Rebecca Oberman Louis and Anne Olin Stanley and Sandra Olstein Yossi and Jill Ovadia Steven and Hollee Parker Joshua Pepper Melvin and Marilyn Perling Donald Platzer and Diana Bloom David and Eileen Price Gail Raab Hal and Lisa Rabinowitz Irvin and Linda Rabinowitz Ariel and Mariya Rackman

Neal Reeves Elliott and Charlotte Rich Dr. Colin and Maureen Richman Jack and Jean Robbins Joel and Audra Rojek Rabbi Moshe and Pam Rose David and Marcie Rosenberg Beruriah Sawyer Allan and Roberta Scher Dr. Arnold and Marcy Schneider Schwarz Foundation Eric and Beth Shapiro Dr. Allen and Shelley Shaw Naftali and Dina Shmuel Michael and Lisa Siegel Murray Siegel Jan and Rachael Siegelman Dr. Brett Silverman Mikhael and Marina Sirota Rav and Harriet Soloff Alan and Wendy Solon Dr. Daniel and Jacalyn Sosin Jan and Marsha Spector Drs. Scott Steinberg and Chanie Wilson Stanley and Marilyn Steinberg Zvia Talor Louis and Bunnie Taratoot Debra Tenenbaum Fay Tenenbaum Terry and Jan Tenenbaum Toco Instant Printing Dr. Manuela Trani Matt Trapp Rabbi Travis and Laura Kahn Aaron and Beth Valenta David and Tracy Warren Mark and Anne Wasserman

Jeffrey and Barbara Weener Jerry and April Weiner Ben and Hilda Weissmann David and Nancy Weissmann Dr. Jack and Pam Williams Burt and Doreen Wittenberg Allen and Mona Wolmer Rabbi Asher and Shira Yablok Dr. Barry and Vivian Zisholtz Barbara Zucker

Help us reach our goal by donating here!

We will receive a match on every donation that is 10% higher than your last donation.

A Special Thank you to our Sustainers!

Dr. Perry and Shirley Brickman Marshall and Sheila Cohen Scott Italiaander Harold and Dolores Arnovitz Our Sustainers have made substantial 5-year commitments to support Yeshiva Atlantas mission and enable us to continue to provide excellence in education.

Becca Stein and Gabi Hoberman on their experience with BYFI

Each year, the Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel selects a diverse group of 26 North American juniors to attend an allexpenses paid, 5-week Fellowship to Israel. Fellows engage in thought provoking study and conversation, make life-long friends, and explore their own relationships with Israel, Judaism, and the Jewish people. During the past few years, two Yeshiva Atlanta students have been accepted to the program: Rebecca/Becca Stein, YA 10 in 2009 and Gabriela/ Gabi Hoberman, YA 13 in 2012. The two agreed to answer a few questions... How did your experience at YA position you to participate in Bronfman? Gabi: Throughout my first two years at YA, the Judaic teachers and courses inspired me to delve deeper into my own Jewish identity; yet by junior year, I realized that I wanted to know more about every different kind of Jewish belief and

Save the Date

The Dinner of Honor June 2, 2013 Honoring
Ian and Carol Ratner Sue Loubser Scott Forbus

And recognizing retiring faculty

Al Wolmer Dr. Fred Coolik
What activities from the program are ties I have found at Penn. When thinking about some of the issues that face the Jewish community at Penn, Im often brought back to discussions we had on Bronfman. A good example Im reminded of is our discussions of Mechitzot; it was interesting to hear different perspectives about this issue on Bronfman, and these different opinions have certainly been useful

denomination. In Bronfman, I found the perfect way to further most useful to you at YA? in college? I explore part of myself that YA had helped create while still experiencing more diverse, pluralistic aspects of Judaism. Becca: Part of why I wanted to do Bronfman is that I felt I was lacking a real pluralistic Jewish experience at YA. I thought that experiencing pluralism would be a good way to m really having trouble answering this question--Bronfman impacted me most through its pluralism, and YA isnt pluralistic... Gabi: I am constantly remembering

complement the Modern Orthodox education I was getting at different activities and experiences from to have in mind when we have similar discussions YA. How does the small, integrated YA community compare to the bronfman fellows group? Did you feel awkward for being 'too' Orthodox in this group? Gabi: Bronfman is an open program--no one is too Jewish. What may be surprising is that often, the less Orthodox kids had in many ways more developed opinions on G-d and Judaism, maybe even deeper relationships to our religion my summer at school--when Rabbi Yablok refers to Heschel in a dvar Toabout Penns Jewish community. What happens next? is this an ongoing commitment/

rah, i think back to our conversations on relationship?

The Sabbath; when I talk with other

members of the Israel Advocacy Club, I worry about the friends I made in the Israeli branch of the program; when in class we talk about feminism in Modern

Gabi: Senior year, Bronfman Fellows create a project for their community, based on the things they learned during the summer. Though I have not yet confirmed the specifics of my project, I hope to do something in YA that will aim at exploring different ideas about and

than the Orthodox kids. Despite our separate denominations, Orthodoxy, my mind flashes back to the developing our own relationships with G-d. Additionalmany times I found that I had the same beleifs as kids who belonged to a completely opposite type of Judaism; we differed only in the practice of those beliefs. Because of Bronfmans pluralistic goals, other Fellows were generally midnight discussions we had about exactly the same subject. Bronfman widened my perspective and chally, this year I will attend two Shabbatonim with my Fellowship year, as well as formally meet up with them in bi-monthly phone/Skype conversations.

lenged my beliefs, and, coming home to Becca: One of the things I most appreciate Bronfman for is the great alumni experience that they provide. Bronfman really emphasizes the importance of an alumni network, and I have found the network to be really helpful. Ive met a lot of Bronfman people in college, and its nice to have that connection with people when transitioning into a new environment. Also, during my year in Israel we had a lot of Bronfman activities for alumni who were also there.

very respectful, willing to understand and even experience for YA, I find that these new lessons only themselves different aspects of Orthodoxy. Becca:I think that because the point of Bronfman is to emhelp me reach the deeper truth in all of my classes.

brace pluralism, people on the trip appreciated having Ortho- Becca: Its really interesting to apply dox Jews in the group. It did get tense at points. There are definitely issues that are sensitive, and I was frustrated at times when I thought orthodoxy was misrepresented, but I thought that group was generally respectful. some of the conversations we had on Bronfman in the context of college. I feel that my encounter with Jewish diversity on Bronfman really prepared me for the different diverse communi-