Visiting IDF Soldiers Make it Real

November 3, 2017 | 14 Cheshvan 5778

Candle Lighting | 6:04 p.m.

Vol. XVII

No. 08

In The Sof

FJA Calendar

SafeTALK

Shul and Community Service

Poetry Slam

Documentary | "S Word"

Hebrew News

Bible News

Performing Arts

Tues., Nov. 7

Knowledge @ Noon

12 p.m.

Tues., Nov. 14

Knowledge @ Noon

12 p.m.

Tues., Nov. 14

Fall Open House

@ 6:30 p.m.

Flik November menu.

ADVANCEMENT

NEXT TUES., NOV. 7, FJA hosts its Knowledge @ Noon lunch and learn series "On Your Doorpost," led by Rabbi Avi Spodek. Learn about the mezuzah and why it's one of Judaism's most enduring symbols. Click on the image to register.

Public Service

SafeTALK for Parents Helps in Suicide Awareness

AS A FOLLOW-up to next week's UMATTER programming, The Friendship Circle is offering a three-hour training session for parents on Nov. 19 to become "suicide-alert helpers."

Called "SafeTALK," the program will be led by Rabbi Yarden Blumstein and gives parents the knowledge and power to address mental health challenges in our community.

To RSVP, please click HERE. For more information on SafeTALK, click on the image above.

Student Life

Log Your Shul

and Community Service Hours

ATTENTION STUDENTS: EVERY year you are required to participate in at least 15 hours of community service and attend a minimum of 10 religious services. Please use the links below to record your community service and religious service attendance.

SHUL ATTENDANCE

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Writer's Craft Honors

Find Your Voice at FJA's Poetry Slam

Documentary

Special Invite for FJA Parents and Teens to screen "The "S Word"

IN COOPERATION WITH Jewish Family Service, FJA invites you to a special screening of the documentary film "The S Word: Opening The Conversation About Suicide," which will show at 6:30 p.m. on Wed., Nov. 8 at the Maple Theater in Bloomfield Twp. For more information, click HERE.

The Week That Was

Gearing up for UMatter Week in Town Hall


	The Class of 2017 gathered for a class photo during last year's Matter Day assembly.

THE FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE, Friendship House and the Andrew Kukes Foundation have partnered together in order to focus on a big issue in our community: Teen mental health. We believe one way to accomplish this goal is to have a community-wide week in schools focusing on mental health, helping building a strong supportive community and celebrating life.

This year, we are excited to have an entire week devoted to "UMatter," the grassroots movement that celebrates everyone as special. Following on the heels of last year's "UMatter Day," next week will include daily events focusing attention on mental health.

Beginning on Monday, Nov. 6, the week's programming will feature faculty-led TED-style talks, an essay contest and hallway decorations. We are also kicking off "Secret Classmate" for students. Members of the FJA community will be partnered with their peers for the week, giving each other nice notes, sweet treats and more.

Please see this week's sidebar for follow-up programming from The Friendship Circle for parents on suicide prevention awareness training, called "SafeTALK."

-- Rachel Ellentuck, JFS Social Worker

IDF Soldiers Bring Real Life to FJA

Some of our students had the rare opportunity to hear the stories of three amazing Israeli soldiers who visited Frankel in advance of their appearance at Wednesday evening's Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces dinner at Congregation Shaarey Zedek.

Captain Noy Ilan, head officer of a cyber-system team, shared her emotional story of when, during the second Intifada in 2002, her family was together celebrating her cousin's bar mitzvah in Jerusalem when a terrorist blew himself up in the hotel where the party took place.

   Eight people from her family were killed, including her older brother, Lidor, 11, and her 1-year-old baby sister, Oria. From that moment, Noy, who was 8 years old at the time, said she knew when she grew up she wanted to become "...a great soldier and help Israel defend itself from her enemies."

   Sargent Maor Cohen, a former officer with the elite special operation force Duvdevan, shared with us memories from his intense experiences as an undercover operative. The Duvdevan unit performs many high-risk and complicated operations.

   Lastly, Yotam Ivry, the captain of a submarine warship, shared with us many wonderful and touching stories about his service and what inspires him to be the best he can be.

   This was an excellent opportunity to hear from our brothers and sisters in Israel about what life is really like in such a difficult part of the world. Their stories enhance the lessons we teach our students about what it means to be a Jew and the responsibility required to protect our ancestral homeland.

-- Bosmat Dovas, Hebrew Instructor

Students Learn Art of the Deal in D.C.

FOUR FRANKEL JUNIORS traveled to Washington D.C. to join 400 other student leaders at AIPAC's Schusterman Advocacy Institute's annual High School Summit, including Sam Arnold, Aviva Levi, Sami Lofman and Paul Siegel Nadiv.

   Participants learned how to effectively strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship through direct involvement in the political process. The conference covered topics including Iran's regional aggression, Hezbollah, the Anti-Boycott Act (bills S.720 and H.R. 1697), and the pursuit of peace.

   The conference culminates with students taking meeting with their congressional representatives. Our students, along with their peers from Farber Hebrew Day School, met at the Capitol Hill office of Rep. Brenda Lawrence, who represents Michigan's 14th District.

   Every member of our delegation spoke and made specific requests related to pertinent legislation. It was a proud moment for our school and myself, as a FJA's faculty advisor.

-- Sharon Eretz, Jewish Studies Instructor

From left, Sam Arnold, Sami Lofman, Aviva Levi, faculty advisor Sharon Eretz and Paul Siegel Nadiv outside the congressional office of Rep. Brenda Lawrence.

That is the week that was. Shabbat Shalom.

Department News: Hebrew

Tishrei to Cheshvan: A Shift in Focus

By Dr. Malli Holoshitz

Chair, Hebrew Dept.

DURING TISHREI, OUR faculty taught units related to the Jewish holidays, with a focus on Israeli culture. However, as we enter November, that focus will shift in certain classes to two significant dates in modern Jewish history.

The discussions, conducted in Hebrew, will examine Feb. 11, which marks the date of The Balfour Declaration, and Nov. 29 - the date when the United Nations made its decision regarding the partition of Eretz Israel.

Classes will read authentic articles from the website of Hadshon -- an online newspaper from the Israeli Ministry of Education. In addition we are now starting our regular units and grammatical structures.
In one class, students practiced the future tense while playing "Fortune Teller." We believe that engaging students in games will help them enhance their Hebrew skills.

Department News: Bible

Iron Artists Take to Genesis Lab
for Competition

INSPIRED BY THE Food Network's flagship show "Iron Chef," Rabbi Peter Stein hosted two "Iron Artist" competitions with his Jewish Text and Art classes in the Genesis Lab on Wednesday, Nov. 1.

Teams of students in his two sections competed against each other to make an original piece of art on a Jewish theme using a mystery box of art supplies. With just an hour on the clock, the teams used clay, wood, felt, paint and other craft materials to interpret the themes of redemption and wisdom.

Performing Arts

Cast Hits Their Marks for "Pippin" Dec. Opening

THE CAST AND crew have been working hard over the course of the last several weeks in anticipation of next month's opening of FJA's performance of "Pippin."

The ensemble musical, originally directed by Bob Fosse when it opened on Broadway in 1972, tells the story of Pippin , a young prince longing to find passion and adventure in his life.

Tickets for the show's two-day run at The Berman Center for the Performing Arts on Dec. 2-3, 2017, are available online (click HERE), by calling the venue's box office at (248) 661-1900 or strolling down during lunch and picking them up.

Support the arts and support your school. Take in one of the two shows and enjoy the talent that exists among your peers.