News from the Society for Advancement of Education,Jerusalem (Kidum)
JANUARY 2019
Top 10 Highlights of 2018
SAE Opens Shoshanim -- Israel's
First Science & Arts High School for Haredi Girls
One of the most exciting events of the 2018 was the Society for Advancement of Education's launch of Shoshanim -- Israel’s first science and arts high school for Haredi girls.

Shoshanim combines religious values with the education required for a quality matriculation certificate, while focusing on the sciences and arts.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat participated in the opening ceremonies. Read more.
The 25 students in the first class at new Shoshanim Science and Arts High School for Haredi Girls in Jerusalem on opening day.
Sindiana - The Arab Youth Village for Leadership
Doubles in Size to 400 Students in Year 2
With excitement and with pride Sindiana, the first Arab Youth Village for Leadership, opened its doors for its second year with nearly 400 students (seen above on opening day) up from 200 last year. In the boarding school the number of students increased from 25 to 60 this year. Sindiana emphasizes three elements: leadership, identity and culture, and social and academic excellence. Find out more.
Boyar High School Students Create Two Projects in Memory of Classmate Maayan Barhum
The students at Boyar High School in Jerusalem are well along on two projects they planned and constructed to commemorate their late classmate and friend Maayan Barhum. Maayan perished along with nine others last April when a flash flood in the Tsafit Stream in the Negev overwhelmed 25 members of the Bnei Tzion pre-army academy during a training hike.
1. The first project (upper left) is the establishment of a sitting area in the schoolyard made entirely of recycled and consumable materials and in the form of a sun (like a tattoo that was a spring on her hand).
2. The second project (upper right) is the preparation of a path that descends from Maayan's neighborhood, Givat Masua, to the Ein-Laban spring.
Second Class Graduates from Hachmey Lev Yeshiva High School in Jerusalem
Members of the first graduating class from Hachmey Lev Yeshiva High School joined together with the eleven 2018 graduates in the second cohort, school administrators and Society for Advancement of Education leadership at an emotional graduation celebration on June 28th in Jerusalem.   Read more
Emotions Run High at 50th Graduation
at Steinberg Residence in Kfar Saba
For some students the Steinberg Interdisciplinary Residential Educational Campus for Excellence in Kfar Saba has been their home for six years.
Since its founding in 1967, Steinberg has generated warm feelings from many of its 3,000 graduates. So its understandable that emotions among this year's 24 graduates ran from wistful to joyous. More than 90% of Steinberg graduates earned their Israeli Matriculation Certificate (Bagrut) and 20 of the graduates are going directly into the IDF. Read about the Steinberg 50th Reunion here.
Reut High School Thriving In SAE Family
After five years as part of the Society for the Advancement of Education, Reut High School, a pluralistic co-ed high school in Jerusalem with a focus on community service, is thriving. Under the direction of principal Erez Amber, the school has improved in all key areas, and enrollment this year is up to nearly 400, 65% higher than 2014. Hundreds of students and families gathered for opening day ceremonies in September (above). More about Reut.
45 Graduate from Pluralistic Religious Dror High School
Dror High School principal Roni Hazon Weiss, second from right, joined the 45 graduates of the pluralistic national religious junior-senior high school on a school year end ATV trip. 60% of the graduates directly entered the IDF while the others first participate in Mechinot or Shnat Sherut community service. More about Dror .
UN Awards Grants to SAE's Children's Learning Centers
SAE's Learning Centers for Children of Asylum Seekers and Economic Migrants received a grant in 2018 from The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

There are more that 38,000 African migrants in Israel. The goal of the SAE Learning Centers, located in both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, is to provide the children of these refugees with a positive environment that is secure and protected after school hours.

Staff at the Centers support student learning, assist in closing any gaps, and assess learning and emotional difficulties as needed.  Learn more.
Gary Bretton-Granatoor Joins AFK as Exec Director
Gary Bretton-Granatoor was named the first Executive Director of the American Friends of Kidum early in 2018. Gary, seen above with students at Ruet High School in Jerusalem, has expanded the AFK board and broaden the base of donors and supporters.

An experienced Jewish community fund-raiser and an ordained rabbi, Gary brings 30 years of experience and passion for Israel to AFK. "There can be nothing more important," he believes, "than creating a more pluralistic and prosperous Israel by giving talented teens a chance to realize their full academic potential.” Learn more about Gary.
AFK Honors Ambassador Ido Aharoni at NY Gala
More than 75 SAE supporters and friends of SAE were on hand at AFK's 2018 New York Gala at The Jewish Museum in Manhattan in October.

Ambassador Ido Aharoni (second from left), former Consul General of Israel in New York, received the AFK Leadership Award and there was a special tribute to SAE Executive Director Eitan Moran (left) to celebrate his 10 years of outstanding leadership of SAE. Rina Shkolnik (second from right) Co-Chaired the Gala and Roni Rubenstein ably served as the Master of Ceremonies.
AFK Hosts Reception for Boyar Basketball Teams
26 members of the boys and girls basketball team of Boyar High School in Jerusalem were in the U.S. in early December to play a series of games, including participation in the Weiner Basketball Tournament in Baltimore.

During a two-day visit to New York City the teams were hosted at a reception by the AFK at Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan (photo above) with Boyar alumni and other friends of SAE. Boyar principal Dafna Menashe Baruch and Assistance Principal and trip organizer Haggai Lavie also attended the event. More about Boyar.
MEET SAE STUDENTS
New Video Spotlights Students from Sindiana, Hachmey Lev, Reut & Boyar
Hear directly from students how Society for Advancement of Education high schools are broadening the educational horizons and enriching the lives of gifted students from in Israel, instilling a love of learning and and a desire to giveback to their communities. View Video
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American Friends of Kidum (AFK ) is dedicated to increasing awareness and financial support
for the educational initiatives of the Society for Advancement of Education, Jerusalem (Kidum).
SAE runs 15 highly acclaimed high schools and residences for talented students from disadvantaged communities in Israel’s economic and geographic periphery, providing them with the academic skills and social confidence they need to fully participate in and contribute to Israeli society.
AFK cultivates relationships and serves as a vital connection between SAE and its friends,
supporters, partners and alumni in the U.S.
American Friends of Kidum | 914-860-4945 | info@kidum-us.org | www.kidum-us.org