January 18, 2015
27 Tevet 5775
Candle Lighting: 4:45 pm
Torah Reading: Bo
GBDS Happenings

The Green New Year activities continue!

By: Sheila Barbach

 

On Friday December 12th, the 6th graders distributed recycling and garbage bins to all of our classrooms and offices. They also explained how to use the containers correctly. All classrooms and offices now have three bins: one for paper, one for plastic and food packaging, and one for garbage. With practice, sorting materials into the correct bin will become second nature to all of us. Remember that as teachers, staff, and parents we are role models of good recycling habits!

 

The next milestone for the Green New Year involves quantifying the amount of garbage and recyclable materials that we produce every day.

 

Thank you all for your support of the Green New Year project!

 

The Spy who Found a Buried Treasure Visited the Academies at GBDS
 By Amy Silna Shafron

  

 

On Thursday morning, December 11th, Yaron Svaroy shared his tremendous story with our middle school students. Yaron was young journalist, living in America,  when a WWII veteran named Sam shared with him a tale of buried diamonds. The young soldier, fearing for his life, claimed he had buried 40 uncut diamonds in a foxhole before a long-forgotten battle on the border of France and Germany. He was critically injured the following day and it was 20 years before he was able to return for the buried diamonds. Sam's wife believed that the diamonds were cursed, that Sam should leave them there, and perhaps that was the case, because as he climbed the hill to find the diamonds, Sam suffered a massive heart attack, which he barely survived.


Enter Yaron Svaroy: Sam was impressed with Yaron's tenacity and shared with him all of the information to find the diamonds for himself.

Yaron traveled to the site and, in a strange twist of fate, ended up meeting the town "historian"- an older man proud of his SS past. This Nazi took Yaron under his wing and in this way Yaron infiltrated the neo Nazi movement in Germany. Yaron's work led to the capture and arrest of 27 men. The book he wrote about this experience became the movie "The Infiltrator" starring Oliver Platt.

 

But what about the diamonds?

Yaron went back to the site of the Sam's last WWII battle many times, and was prepared to give up on the search. However, after achieving fame through "The Infiltrator," an HBO director convinced Yaron to returning to the infamous hill full of foxholes. Yaron made the director of the documentary promise that if they found the diamonds, they would be donated to Holocaust survivors.

 

And of course you can guess what happens next. But you don't have to! Watch the HBO documentary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJtl8CRUksc&list=PLc8FN2kXHbRDkpP2E0OgN3K6WZ3-685nX#t=27 

 

For more information, explore Yaron's website:  yaronsvoray.com.

 

Third Grade Kabbalat Shabbat
By Etty Vaknin

  

"Third grade students have been learning how to receive Shabbat from the beginning of the year.  We combined singing and dancing to celebrate Kabbalat Shabbat .  The students were able to lead Kabbalat Shabbat in the presence of their families.  Each student was also able to share what they like about Shabbat in a video recording that was presented at the ceremony.  Kabbalat Shabbat concluded with everyone standing as Rabbi Mark shared a blessing which the parents recited over their children.  The students enjoyed being able to share this experience with those they love."

 

Click here for more pictures

Bring on the Talent
By Rachel Greenwald

 

 The 10th Annual GBDS Chanukah Talent Show took place on the second night of Chanukah and was a resounding success! Students from Nursery to 8th grade performed a variety of acts including ballet, magic, singing, dancing and playing the piano. Pictured is Solar Sound Band, who entertained the crowd with Blue Suede Shoes. To witness more GBDS talent, come and see our school show, 'Seven Students in Search of a (real) Show' at the Wayne Y on Tuesday, March 24.

 

Click here for more photos!

 

Hanukkah Celebration
By Robert Smolen

 

On December 24, The Bossy Frog Band was featured in a two hour music and arts and craft event for young children.

 

Children in the early childhood classes made a craft and sang songs with music teacher Morah Dassi and ate a nutritious snack. All students gathered in the multi-purpose room for an hour of fun and songs with Jeff Friedburg and the Bossy Frog himself. They played songs and children joined with their voices, as they danced, jumped and shook to the beat.

 

The music included Hanukkah songs as well as a variety of early childhood favorites and a few Frog specials as well. A great time was had by everyone. We can't wait until the Bossy Frog comes back again.

 

Click here for more photos!

 

Did you Rally?
By Amy Silna Shafron

  

Fifty adults and 40 students enjoyed our 2nd Annual Rally for the Academies on Monday evening, January the 12th. The Rally is a family night, dedicated to academic excellence. Each year we bring in two speakers (and this may grow even larger in future years!) who take turns addressing parents and students in separate forums.

 

At 6:55 p.m. Head of School, Robert Smolen welcomed guests, and briefly shared his vision for the Academies at GBDS. Former Board of Trustees President Barry Blecherman took the podium to formally announce the induction of the new co-Presidents of the Board of Trustees, Daniel Silna and Leeor Wieselberg.  Barry shared their resumes and offered congratulations. He then introduced Academies coordinator Sheila Barbach, who took the podium to describe curricula and summarize our students' many academic accomplishments.

 

Middle school students and parents then enjoyed two robust conversations: "Combating Anti-Semitism" with Deputy Consul General of Israel in New York, Amir Sagie, and "Media and the Middle East: Biased or Balanced?" with former CNN correspondent in Jerusalem, Linda Scherzer.

 

Mr. Amir Sagie spoke with middle school students about current world affairs topics. He opened his discussion with the recent events in Paris and also discussed Radical Islam. Mr. Sagie noted that a Jewish Day School education provides students with a choice to respond to Anit-Semitism.

 

Mrs. Linda Scherzer described her experiences working in the Jerusalem office of CNN during the 1991 Gulf War, and her position as an on air TV reporter for the Hebrew Edition of the Israeli News. Students asked many questions during both talks. 

 

Meanwhile Pre-K through 4th grade students were upstairs in the 1st grade classroom, digging for dinosaur bones which they then used to construct full skeletons.

 

Everyone enjoyed the night of learning and the delicious refreshments provided by PTO. 

 

Click here for more photos!

 

Pancake Breakfast and Frozen Come Together
Sunday, January 11th
By Robert Smolen  

 

What has pancakes and is not Frozen? The Grade 8 Israel trip Pancake Breakfast where the Frozen theme song was sung while eating flapjacks. A wonderful enthusiastic group of children led by the 8th grade served fresh pancakes with a variety of toppings.  Students swarmed the karaoke machine and sang their hearts out to the tunes that they all knew from the movie. As part of the morning activities the Oakland Police Department sent a police man in his patrol car to share the many devices a police car uses to keep the public safe. Children were encouraged to come out of the building and sit in the police car to see the lights and hear the siren and see all the equipment that prepares a police man to deal with all types of emergencies. 

Every child got a souvenir cup from the movie Frozen, and enjoyed a nutritious breakfast.

Congratulations to the 8th grade parents and students for a successful fundraiser event. 

 

 

Click here for more photos!

 

The Toast
By Hana Cohen

  

On Monday, January 12th, 1st graders celebrated reaching the end of their 2nd Ariot book (Hebrew reading & writing book). They invited the Kindergarten students to their class and read them the story of "Ha Tost" (The Toast).  After the children read the story Morah Hana went over some related Hebrew vocabulary. She put the "Lechem" (bread) in the toaster ( just like in the story) and spread "Dvash" (honey), "chemah" (butter) or "Riba" (jelly) on the "Lechem".  The 1st graders and kindergarten ate up their lesson and had a yummy Hebrew time together. 

 

Click here for more photos!

 

Up-Coming Events
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Noon dismissal
January 19th
 
Step-Up Day
January 21st
 

Havdalah Service for Early Childhood Parents at Temple Israel
January 24th

 

Click here for more information


Board Meeting
January 26th
PTO Parents' Night Out
January 30th

 

Click here for more information 


Groundhog Day
February 2nd
How to buy a Tribute Card

Donations can be made through a variety of programs. Each will be acknowledged in writing.

Contact Lee Ann Beck at 973-628-1388, beck30@optoline.net or online.

 

Golden Book: $5.00 *

 

Art Card: $10.00 *

 

Henrietta and Nathan S. Friedman Scholarship Fund: no minimum

 

Krieger Scholarship Fund in memory of George and Irma Krieger: no minimum

 

Fund for Professional Development: $18 minimum

 

Library Fund: $18 minimum

 

Gerrard Berman Memorial Fund for B'nai Mitzvah Programming: $18 minimum

 

Thank You!

In This Issue
Good and Welfare
Toddah Rabbah
Thank You!

 

to Andy Simon, Sarit Hand, and their children for installing the new shelves in the PTO closet. 

Mazel Tov

 

to Sharon Jaffe (EC Teacher) on the birth of her grandson, Hunter.  

Get Well Soon

 

to Michael Epstein, father of Jordan Epstein (Kindergarten) 

Condolences

 

to Eve Levi (kindergarten teacher) and her family on the passing of her grandmother Blanca Hall.

 

To Shelley Jaffe (Art Teacher) and her family on the passing of her father Ernest Bolson. 

Scrip

Purchase Scrip (gift cards) with Shopwithscrip.com!

 

Next order will be placed on January 30th.

 

Remember current families have a requirement to meet.

 

Any questions? Contact Jsadow@ssnj.org

Bar & Bat Mitzvahs
In an effort to avoid duplication of dates, and so that all of our students can be at each other's celebrations, please consult this Bar/Bat Mitzvah date list before you schedule your child's date. Please let the office know when you have scheduled your date so that we may include it in the Keshet.
 
Kayla Blecherman
10/10/2015
 
Elijah Greenberg
5/30/2016
 
Danielle Weiselberg
6/4/2016
 
Ezra Shafron
11/12/16
 
Rayna & Zev Schlossberg
1/16/2017
 
Noah Holand
6/9/2017
 
Jack Simon
9/4/2017

�lan Wasserman
10/21/2017
 

Joshua Krakovsky

10/7/17 Pre-Bar Mitzvah service and kiddush

11/11/17 Bar mitzvah/havdalah service and party


Alumni Corner
Please email keshetgbds@ssnj.org and let us know how you are doing.  We love to hear from our Alumni!
Annual Fund

WE THANK YOU

THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS
 
FOR CONTRIBUTING TO
 
THE ACADEMIES at GBDS' 2014-2015 ANNUAL CAMPAIGN

 

 Click here to view our list of donors

 

Tribute Cards
Thank you to everyone who has purchased Tribute Cards
 
 
Community News
Interfaith Brotherhood/Sisterhood Breakfast
  
Monday, February 16
10:00 AM 
  
Hasbrouck Heights Hilton.
  
Contact Keshet

If you have information, pictures, or notices that you would like to have placed in Keshet, please forward them to the editor at:

 

Keshetgbds@gmail.com

Send us:

Classroom and out-of-school class events

Mitzvah projects

School and community fund-raising information

Good and welfare - mazel tovs, well-wishes, thanks, losses, etc.

 

Teachers, parents, community members, your contributions are welcome!

 


Academies at Gerrard Berman Day School | 201-337-1111 |
gbds@ssnj.org | http://www.ssnj.org
45 Spruce Street
Oakland, NJ 07436
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