News from King David

March 15, 2024 / Adar II 5, 5784

Shabbat Begins 7:01 p.m. Shabbat Ends: 8:07 p.m.

A WEEK OF CHESED

What an incredible week it has been! The Grade 12 students, along with staff and fellow students, dedicated months of preparation to engage in a variety of activities across the Lower Mainland. Their goal was to give back to the community, raise awareness and funds for Youth Mental Health, and spread positivity.

The theme for this year's RAC Week was "Chesed Strikes Back," transforming our school into the King David Galaxy. Students were motivated to bring acts of kindness (chesed) back to Vancouver. They enthusiastically painted posters, created Star Wars-themed chesed videos, and engaged in numerous other initiatives to infuse our school with meaningful activities.

Throughout the week, each grade volunteered at different organizations, including Senior Residences, Jewish Family Services, elementary schools, food banks, and shelters. This collective effort showcased the dedication and compassion of our students as they made a positive impact on various communities.

We ended the week with a delicious lunch, provided by PAC and lovingly served by parents, followed by an energetic Staff vs. Grade 12 basketball game (complete with snacks), Karaoke in the Atrium, a closing video summarizing the week's events, and concluded an amazing week of giving back with a student-led Kabbalat Shabbat.

Thank you to Orly Naim and her Grade 12 students for creating a busy and meaningful week! Thank you too to all the parents who helped with driving to the different venues, to the teachers for chaperoning the visits and a special thank you to our PAC Co-chairs and parents for the delicious lunch!

WHAT A CONCERT!

On Thursday evening, a heartwarming gathering of staff, students, family members, friends, and alumni filled our Atrium with joy and anticipation. The vibrant and talented King David musicians from Grades 10-12 graced the stage for our annual RAC Benefit Concert. This year's concert was extra special as it featured a staff band performing the uplifting tune "Walking on Sunshine" for the first time, adding a new dimension to the evening.

The evening was a magical blend of music spanning many decades, offering a diverse and captivating experience for all in attendance. In a touching tribute to alumna Gabrielle Isserow z"l, whose legacy inspired RAC week, our dedicated RAC organizers selected Har Vagai, our sister school in Israel, as the beneficiary of the concert proceeds. The aim is to support their community with wellness programming to help them navigate the challenges of ongoing trauma as they have all been evacuated from their homes in the north of Israel these past 5 months.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to our exceptional music teacher, Johnny Seguin, whose unwavering passion and dedication shone through as he tirelessly rehearsed with students and staff, contributing significantly to the success of this memorable evening.

In the words of Russ Klein, "Last night the RAC Benefit Concert was beyond awesome! It was an energetic and exciting time and the audience loved it - incredible student performances and support and such a treat to have the Staff Band - so fun for everyone - and the wonderful finale with the reflection on October 7 with Habaita - beautiful."

DR. HENRY ABRAMSON

Dr. Henry Abramson is a specialist in Jewish History and Thought, serving as a Dean of Touro University in Brooklyn, New York. A native of northern Ontario, Canada, he earned his PhD in History from the University of Toronto with a dissertation on the Jews of Ukraine, published by Harvard University in 1999. He has held post-doctoral fellowships and visiting professorships at Cornell, Harvard, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

He talked about the history of Israel, with a focus on modern history and recent events and their meaning. The students listened with great interest and asked hard questions.

Thank you to Rabbi Infeld and Congregation Beth Israel for providing us with the opportunity to hear from Dr. Abramason.

PI DAY!

Students celebrated Pi Day (March 14) and Math, and had some fun by participating in a challenge! Ms. Lane rewarded them with pies and cream!

Can you solve the challenge? Our students did!

A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR GOLF!

Our Golf team is back on the course again this year. The first group had a lesson this week and is looking forward to more! A special thank you to the Richmond Country Club for hosting us.

CREATING CONNECTIONS

One fun activity you can do at King David is join the Knitting and Crochet Club! The club meets every Thursday during lunch. Students discuss patterns, knit scarves or other items, and master new crochet techniques while relaxing over chats and laughter!

Mazal Tov to Lianna Philipp (Class of 2008) and Darryl Lagerquist on the birth of their son, Jacob Arnold

UPCOMING KING DAVID EVENTS

THEATRE PRODUCTION: CLUE

We are thrilled to welcome audiences to the Norman Rothstein Theatre on

Wednesday, March 20 (1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.) and Thursday, March 21 (7:00 p.m.)

for this year's King David theatre production, CLUE!

Come out and support our talented actors, backstage crew and staff who have been working hard since the fall to bring this iconic production to life!

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

BUY TICKETS

10 MORE DAYS UNTIL TICKETS GO ON SALE!

PURIM FEST

Step right up and join us for an unforgettable young adult Purim celebration at Purimfest! Hosted by Jewish Federation, Schara Tzedeck Young Professionals, Beth Israel Young Professionals, and Temple Sholom Next Gen, and proudly co-sponsored by King David High School. Enjoy a night of festive fun, costumes, music, dancing, and Purim treats!

19+

Date: March 23rd

Time: 9:30 PM for Megillah Reading, 10:00 PM Party

Location: King David High School

Early Bird Ticket: $15 (Until March 7th)

Regular Ticket: $20

Door Ticket: $25

*All tickets must be purchased through online form, cash won’t be accepted at the door.

Purchase your tickets here: https://www.jewishvancouver.com/purimfest