SAR High School Mail - K... Shabbat Parshat Toldot - SAR Academy

Dahlia Goldbrenner
KOLEINU - Shabbat Parshat Toldot
SAR HS
To: goldbd@sarhighschool.org
Fri, Nov 16, 2012 at 10:18 AM
שבת פרשת תולדות
Parshat Toldot
Candle Lighting: 4:18
Havdalah: 5:21
ג כסלו תשע " ג
3 Kislev 5773
November 17, 2012
Issue 3
Dear Parents and Students,
Our hearts and minds - and our tefillot - are focused
on Medinat Yisrael during this challenging period.
We pray for the safety of our brothers and sisters in
חיילים Israel and for the strength and security of the
in the IDF defending the honor and the security of
the State of Israel.
In that spirit, please click here to read the attached
letter from our graduate, Ariel Lavi, now serving in
the IDF.
From the sublime to the also important mundane:
please join us for the SAR Auction tomorrow
evening Motzaei Shabbat at 8PM at Life: The Place
To Be in Ardsley, New York. This is an important
In This Issue
Only At SAR
Enrichment & Achievements
Outside the Classroom
Chesed
College Guidance
Sports
SAR-Motzaei Shabbat Live!
Important Dates

fundraising event that supports our scholarship fund
and it is also great fun. I look forward to seeing you
there.
Over recent weeks, I have been meeting with each
grade to discuss the PACT document that was
emailed to you on Chol Hamoed. Next week, having
gathered all of the feedback from students, we will
be emailing the document to parents and students
once again. At the end of the document, there will
be a space asking that you submit a response
acknowledging that you have read the document.
Please do so as soon as you have read the
document.
November 20
Parent Teacher Conferences
4:30 Dismissal
November 21
Noon Dismissal
November 22-23
Thanksgiving Break, No Sessions
December 5
10th Grade & Parents Orientation
to the College Process
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Tully Harcsztark
ONLY AT SAR
Freshmen Shabbaton Full of Ruach!
On November 9-10, Shabbat Parshat
Chayei Sarah, the Freshmen class
participated in the first Shabbaton of
their high school experience. The
weekend began with a morning of
chesed activities. Students chose
where they wanted to volunteer their
time and energy from a list 13 different
sites. Opportunities ranged from
cleaning up post hurricane damaged
areas to working with seniors, young
children and much more. (Check out
the chesed section in this Koleinu issue
for more details.)
After returning from their chesed trips,
the students were able to hang out or
join in a challah baking session, where
talents of rolling and braiding dough
were displayed. Everyone then got to
work scouting out the perfect spot to
unroll their sleeping bags or blow up
their mattress, as they excitedly
transformed school into a home for
Shabbat.
Shabbat was filled with beautiful tefillot, divrei torah, dramatic displays by the faculty and
administration, sessions and shiurim led by Senior peer leaders, Fellows and faculty
members. There was singing and dancing at tefillah and meals – the ruach was felt
throughout the building. The scene of everyone arm in arm during zemirot singing and swaying

in the lobby in the last hour before Shabbat ended was truly amazing.
On Motzaei Shabbat the grade continued its bonding together at Murray’s Ice Rink as they
skated or just hung out together. Everyone had a fabulous time skating (and falling), dancing
on the bleachers, laughing and just schmoozing with friends.
All in all, new friendships were formed, interesting conversations were had, experiences were
shared and the Freshmen class was able to get to know each other in ways that only a
Shabbat together could accomplish. They are all looking forward to the next opportunity to
share such a meaningful experience together.
Mishmar/Debate & Return for the Returns
Election Night at SAR HS
Election night at SAR HS featured two outstanding
programs that engaged our students in the events of the
day. The night began right after school with a special
Mishmar examining “Jewish Values and Voting: On
Selecting a Political Candidate.” Over a Carlos and
Gabby’s catered dinner, approximately 120 students
explored the obligation to vote and different perspectives
on how Jewish values intersect with democratic choices.
The study sessions were led by SAR Beit Midrash
Fellows and Yeshiva University undergraduate students
(including SAR HS alumni Josh Botwinick and Kira Joel) in conjunction with YU’s Torah
Leadership Network.
After examining Jewish sources, the Mishmar program concluded with a substantive, and
sometimes combative, debate featuring Rabbi Ruben Gober and Dr. Rivka Schwartz. The
debated, moderated by Rabbi Hain, focused on a range of issues including the economy,
Israel, social values, and climate change. Students left the one hour debate much more
informed about the issues and the values that inform political platforms.
After a one hour break, many students (and some parents too) returned for the returns. As the
electoral vote was being tallied, students heard analysis from the network pundits and from
Dr. Schwartz and Mr. Lannik. The red and blue snacks added to the atmosphere as students
spent several hours with their electoral maps. By the end of the evening at 11:00 PM,
students were fairly certain about the outcome. More importantly, the students had become
active participants in the democratic process.
SAR students also voted in a mock election for president and also cast votes for ballot
initiatives which appeared in several states. Turnout in the 4th floor technology learning center
was high, with almost 75% of the student body voting. Students chose Mitt Romney for
president (65% - 35%) over Barack Obama. This was a much stronger result for the
Republican Party than in 2008, when students narrowly chose John McCain over Obama
(51%-49%). On the ballot initiatives, students rejected a proposal to repeal the death penalty
(53%-46%) but favored legalizing same sex marriage by an overwhelming margin (85%-15%).
Students also narrowly approved a soda tax to (50%-49%) designed to curb obesity and fund
public health programs.
Veteran's Day Ceremony
On Monday, November 12, SAR High School held its first Veterans Day ceremony. The
student body and faculty came together to honor and pay tribute to the veterans of the United
States Armed Forces who bravely and selflessly serve for our freedom. Conceived of and

organized by students, Josh Katz and Aaron
Liberman (Class of ‘14), the program raised
awareness and gratitude for our veterans and
current troops. We were honored that a United
States Marine Corp Color Guard opened the
ceremony, followed by two distinguished guest
speakers. The first, Captain Jonathan Luttwak,
graduated from the United States Military
Academy at West Point and served his country
in Kuwait and Iraq. A proud Jew, his story and his commitment to the United States are
inspiring. The second speaker, a former Navy SEAL, Officer Mike Zapata, has been deployed
seven times, and served his country across the globe. The program was a huge success,
and the school is very grateful to both Josh and Aaron for their vision and leadership to
encourage us all to pay homage to our veterans.
ISRAEL NIGHT
On Monday night, November 12th, we hosted our seventh
annual Israel Night program. With a lot of positive energy
and buzz surrounding the Israeli flags hung up around the
building, SAR High School greeted representatives from
over thirty Yeshivot and gap year programs. After a brief
orientation in a packed Beit Midrash, parents and
students had the opportunity to hear from the
representatives of the programs they were interested in
learning more about. As they moved from session to
session we could sense the great energy and interest in the hallway, reflecting on the many
choices. Israel Guidance counselors will follow up with individual meetings with each senior to
help in the application process and interview preparation. The evening generated much
excitement for the year in Israel among parents, students, and staff. It was a wonderful
opportunity to think about the exciting possibilities for next year.
Chag Hasigd
On Wednesday חשון ‏,כ"ט the student body
celebrated Chag Hasigd, and Ethiopian Jewish
holiday. In Ethiopia, the holiday was an
opportunity for smaller Jewish villages to come
together and declare their hope for return to
Israel. Now, in Israel the holiday has become a
celebration of the Ethiopian Jewish experience.
Our fellow, Sara Yaloo, was born in Ethiopia. As
an infant her family traveled by foot through
Ethiopia and Sudan, eventually leading to Israel. Sara described the history of Ethiopian
Jewry in a presentation to each grade. Students listened with great interest as Sara
presented her family's experience through story, and video. A highlight of the presentation
was the videotaped message that Sara's father delivered from Israel to the students of SAR.
Sara's father is a kes, a leader of the Jewish community. Thank you to Sara for sharing her

experience. The entire student body really appreciated the presentation and now has a better
understanding of the wide range of our Jewish community.
@SAREdTech - Update
During Hurricane Sandy, and in its aftermath, SAR High
School implemented many creative solutions to provide
learning opportunities for the entire community. During the
hurricane, Rabbi Kroll, Dr. Schwartz, and Rabbi Hain all offered
online, live classes that were open to all. Many students,
parents, alumni, and others, joined these classes and the
concurrent live conversation that was happening on twitter. The
mobile feed even allowed those without power to take part in
these learning initiatives on their mobile devices.
Once school resumed, not all teachers were able to make it
back to the building, but of course, learning went on. In one
instance, a foreign language class used video conferencing
technology to create a “virtual classroom” and continue
learning.
Technology has the power to change the way we learn and to create learning opportunities in
situations where learning would otherwise be impossible. We are looking forward to continuing
to roll out many new initiatives in the coming weeks, that will hopefully serve to enhance the
learning experience for our entire community.
As always, please stay in touch with us and follow us on twitter
@SAREdTech
avi.bloom@sarhighschool.org
ENRICHMENT AND ACHIEVEMENTS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
Building Bridges -Sebastian Junger
On Tuesday, November 6, ten SAR participants
in Building Bridges visited Fieldston High School
and had the opportunity to hear from Sebastian
Junger, author of War and director of Restrepo.
Fieldston had chosen War as their summer
reading book and November 6th was dedicated
to a school-wide discussion about the book and
the experience of war. Junger, a journalist,
spend 15 month embedded in a US Army
combat unit in Afghanistan in 2007-2008. In his
book, he set out to convey what a soldier’s
experience at war actually feels like. In his talk
he highlighted the feeling of brotherhood that
soldiers feel and how, ironically, it is in war that soldiers feel a sense of emotional security.
His frightening and near-death experiences in Afghanistan exposed him to the physical and
psychological demands that combat troops face. Following his presentation, he took

questions from the audience and addressed issues such as withdrawal from Afghanistan, US
foreign policy, and women in combat roles. Smaller workshops were scheduled throughout
the day and SAR students attended one in which three veterans reflected on their experience
in war. It was eye opening to hear about the reasons young people enlisted, what it was like
to be the only female in your unit, and how difficult it was to return home and lead a civilian
life.
The SAR students felt privileged to be part of this conversation and look forward to their next
Building Bridges event.
SAR Students Attend On the Brink Conversation between Nobel laureates, Erik
Kandel and Elie Wiesel, On Memory
On Sunday evening November 4, ten SAR
students accompanied by Ms. Brandriss, Mr.
Goodman, and Ms. Krieger, “packed their
drawstring bags and, heedless of rising panic
over growing gas shortages, swept off to
Manhattan to have a slice of pizza and listen to
the deeply profound thoughts of two seasoned
veterans” in the words of 9th grader, Ben
Kepecs.
Erik Kandel, who won the Nobel Prize in 2000
for his research on the physiological basis of memory storage in neurons, and Elie Wiesel,
also a Nobel laureate, who has written extensively on his memories of the Holocaust,
engaged in an insightful, largely spontaneous conversation examining memory from a
biological, psychological, emotional and philosophical lens. Each approached memory from
his own perspective, and yet there was much they shared. Both had survived the Holocaust,
which was an intensely formative driving force in their lives and in their intellectual pursuits.
Kandel discussed the method by which both explicit and implicit memories remain in the
brain, and the particular meaning that memory has to the Jewish people. Wiesel discussed
the value of memory in one’s life, and told the moderator, who asked if some memories aren’t
so painful that one wants to forget, “I don’t mind painthe worst thing is to forget.” He
recounted, that when he was asked by the Dali Lama, ‘What is the key to the survival of the
Jewish people’ he answered without hesitation, 'memory'.
As Adina Goldman, 12th grader, writes: “Wiesel discussed the emotional importance of
memory. Beginning with the biological principles of memory and the men’s formative early-life
experiences, the conversation ranged to such topics as maintenance of memory in old age
and the future possibility of a ‘forgetting pill’. When the discussion turned to Alzheimer’s
disease, Kandel explained that by the time the symptoms start appearing the disease has
already been present for ten years. Wiesel, whose book The Forgotten tackles Alzheimer’s,
said of forgetting, ‘It isn’t a disease. It’s a curse.’"
Ben Kepecs, adds: “Eric Kandel . provided fascinating explanations of the biology behind
how our brains rememberand how the cells interact with one another to store what we call
memory. Elie Wiesel’s input took on more of a philosophical edge, as he gave meaningful and
thought provoking accounts of how he managed his own memories from the Holocaust, and
the devotion to Talmudic study that retained his health of mind. Over the course of the
discussion they broadened their exploration, passing over issues such as Holocaust denial
and Alzheimer’s disease. However, the serious subjects of their discussion did not dampen
the light banter and the joking between these two great people. This discussion was warm,
fascinating, and inspiring, a huge success among those who were blessed to be able to see
it.”

Hearing two Nobel laureates exchange terms such as l’havdil, davening, zachor, chumash,
and sharing a deep attachment to their Jewish heritagewas in itself an extraordinary
experience for us!
We were most privileged to attend this event as participants in the On the Brink science mini
series sponsored by the 92nd Street Y.
Tobie Brandriss
Bob Goodman
CHESED
Freshmen Students Make an Impact:
9th Grade Chesed Day 2012
On the morning of Friday November 9th, students in the
freshmen class volunteered at thirteen different sites
throughout New York City, as part of the Freshmen
Chesed Day that leads up to the grade shabbaton.
Between discussing S.Y. Agnon’s “Fable of the Goat”
with seniors at the Kittay House to helping facilitate
Halloween-related festivities in YAI (a special needs preschool)
and providing literacy help to low-income children
at The Educational Alliance and PS75, our ninth grade
students certainly extended their SAR education beyond
the walls of the high school.
Many students also engaged in hurricane relief efforts,
such as cleaning up and pumping water out of homes
and buildings in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Students also
helped to sort and organize medical supplies through
AFYA, cleaned the Silver Lake Hebrew Cemetery,
provided storm clean up at Van Cortlandt Park,
volunteered in the art studio at the Hebrew Home and
Atria, and delivered challah to home-bound seniors
through the Bronx Jewish Community Council (BJCC).
Rabbi Zvi Friedman, a freshman advisor, reflected on his
experience volunteering with the BJCC:
“Students had an enjoyable time, the elderly appreciated
our company, and I think freshmen grew from the
experience. I, for one, had an amazing time meeting one
particular elder woman. I learned all about first-hand life
as part of a Chassidishe family in Lodz, Poland. My history classes essentially came to life!”
Post Hurricane Sandy...
SAR Fall Blood Drive Becomes a Community Drive
SAR High School has been running blood drives for the New York Blood Center since 2006.
During the past six years, we have won awards for successful drives and inspired our
students to save lives through donating blood. For the first time since beginning our

partnership, the New York Blood Center requested that SAR extend the hours of our Fall
Blood Drive on November 1st and open the blood drive to donors outside the SAR community.
Due to Hurricane Sandy, the Blood Center lost over 6000 donations because of canceled
drives.
Though the Blood Center itself was short-staffed, they were able to collect a record 92 pints of
blood! The SAR Hockey Rink was booming with faculty,
student and parent donors, along with local residents of
Riverdale who had heard about the drive through the
Blood Center. There was certainly an interesting
exchange of conversation at the snack table!
Jenna Laboy, Account Manager of the New York Blood
Center, commented about the drive:
“Running a blood drive after a natural disaster is so
important and can be a very difficult task. SAR High
School rose to the occasion as they dealt with their own
space issues and were still so accommodating!”
POST HIGH SCHOOL: COLLEGE PLANNING
College Corner
On Thursday November 8th, seniors joined
together with their computers for Pizza Pie and
Apply, our annual program designed to propel
students into their application process for
schools with deadlines after November 1st.
Participating students enjoyed having pizza and
bonding while logging on and completing
applications together. In the SAR tradition,
collaboration and community enhance performance and all left the evening reenergized and
prepared for the final phase of their college application process.
Challenged by the weather, the Junior College Night program was postponed until Monday,
November 26th when Evan Cudworth of the University of Chicago, Jeff Davis, father of Josh,
and Jackie Cohen, Class of 2010, will join the College Counseling Team for an informative
program on the college search, selection and application processes. We are look forward to
welcoming our juniors and their parents on that evening, as it is truly the initiation of the
college process for the Class of 2014. The following week, Richard Alveraz, Vice President
and Director of Admissions for The City University of New York, the largest public university
system in the country, will speak to our sophomores and their parents about early
considerations in the college admissions process, including the engagement in academic and
co-curricular activities that challenge students to grow and prepare them for the next steps in
their journeys. The College Counseling Team will also address the Class of 2015, providing
guidance on key factors for a successful high school experience which, in turn, results in
increased options for students upon graduation.
Continuing our outreach to universities of interest to our students, Lisa Birnbaum and Marjorie

Jacobs accompanied thirty-three New York areas counselors on the New York Counselor Fly-
In Program hosted by the University of Chicago. From conversations with the Dean of
Admissions, UC students and faculty to a presentation by University of Chicago President,
Robert Zimmer, the program was amazing. At breakfast SAR graduates Haviva Korenblit and
Doni Bloomfield shared their enthusiasm about their UC experiences, having just returned
from a morning minyan at the campus Hillel. Rebecca Abrams and Ben Shenwick, our other
two SAR alumni attending UC, were unable to join us, but sent enthusiastic messages
regarding their experiences. It was truly exciting to see that kosher food courts are present in
two of the three major dining halls of the University, and that both Chabad and Hillel offer
services on weekdays and Shabbat with meals to accompany Sabbath observance. The
University of Chicago is excited about its growing Orthodox student group and is enthusiastic
about SAR applicants for whom the University is an intellectual and personal fit.
Life at SAR is always a grand adventure and the College Counseling Team is happy to join in
the conversation, adding our voices to the myriad opportunities available for our students to
grow each year and to expand their vision of the future.
Marjorie Jacobs, Director of College Counseling
SAR ATHLETICS
Varsity Boys Volleyball Team
The fall season is underway with many games already played. The
records of the sport teams are as follows:
The Girls JV Volleyball opened their season Wednesday night.
The Girls Varsity Volleyball team won their season opening and are 1-
0.
The Girls JV Basketball team is off to a good start 2-0 after beating
Kushner twice.
The Girls Varsity Basketball is 0-1.
The Boys JV Hockey team is 1-1.
The Boys Varsity Hockey team has gotten off to a shaky star with an 0-3 record.
The Boys JV Basketball team will have their first game of the season at Derech Hatorah on
the 15th.
The Boys Varsity Basketball team won their first game and is 1-0.
Upcoming Games:
Sunday November 18th Boys JV Basketball vs. MTA at SAR 6:30pm
Sunday November 18th Boys Varsity Basketball vs. MTA at SAR 8pm
Sunday November 18th Girls JV Volleyball at Maayanot 1pm
Sunday November 18th Girls Varsity Volleyball at Maayanot 2:15pm
Monday November 26th Girls JV Volleyball vs. Buriah at SAR 7:30pm
Monday November 26th Girls Varsity Volleyball vs. Buriah at SAR 8:30pm
Monday November 26th Girls JV Basketball at Ramaz 7:30pm
Wednesday November 28th Boys Varsity Basketball at Frisch 7pm
Thursday November 29th Girls Varsity Volleyball at Buriah 6:45pm (bus 5pm)
Thursday November 29th Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Kushner at SAR 7pm
SAR AUCTION

Join us!! This Saturday night at 8PM at LIFE, the
Place To Be, Ardsley, NY Click here to preview the
complete auction catalog. SAR High School specials
include: 12th grade graduation Front Row
tickets; Principal for the Day; Private Concert in your
home with Anat Barak & Yoed Nir (currently on tour with
Regina Spektor), SAR High School Party Venue, Front
Row seats at Sting Home Games, Essay/SAT/ACT
tutoring, use of the Hockey Rink, and MUCH MORE!!
שבת שלום
SAR ACADEMY
Jesselson Campus
655 West 254th Street
Riverdale, NY 10471
718.548.1717
www.saracademy.org
SAR HIGH SCHOOL
Dedicated to the Memory of JJ
Greenberg
503 West 259th Street
Riverdale, NY 10471
718.548.2727
www.sarhighschool.org
Unsubscribe from this eNotice.