the Summer 2016 CHATTER Magazine.
Transcription
the Summer 2016 CHATTER Magazine.
SUMMER 2016 CHATTER magazine Mazel Tov to Our Class of 2016 Graduate Success After TanenbaumCHAT Chatter is published by TanenbaumCHAT for alumni, students, parents and friends. tanenbaumchat.org I 1 TanenbaumCHAT Grandparent Day Hold the Date T C W Wallenberg Campus Nov 4 T C K CHATTER magazine is published through the TanenbaumCHAT Advancement Office and is distributed to more than 7,000 TanenbaumCHAT alumni, parents and friends of the school. Kimel Centre Nov 18 tanenbaumchat.org/grandparentday How to reach us Wallenberg Campus 416.636.5984 Kimel Family Education Centre 905.787.8772 Director of Advancement – Frances Bigman, CFRE – 416.636.5984 x 230 fbigman@tanenbaumchat.org Facebook/tanenbaumchat1 Facebook/tanenbaumchatalumni Instagram @tanenbaumchat Editor Elie Guttmann ‘12 Youtube.com/tanenbaumchatchannel Design/Layout The Agency Nextdoor Twitter @tanenbaumchat Printing Origo Communications Photography Matt Feinstein, Elie Guttmann ’12 Cover Photography Elie Guttmann ’12 2 I CHATTER MAGAZINE SUMMER 2016 Tanenbaumchat.org A MESSAGE FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL RABBI LEE BUCKMAN Success is about Impact Our focus in this edition of CHATTER is on our graduates’ success after TanenbaumCHAT, success measured not in terms of wealth or status but in terms of how our alumni connect to something bigger than themselves. How are our graduates using their TanenbaumCHAT education and the privileges that are theirs to better the prospects of other people? In what ways are they making an impact on someone else’s life? TanenbaumCHAT has given birth to over 7,000 alumni. Some are social entrepreneurs who have founded organizations that promote religious tolerance and peace. Others have distinguished themselves as consultants who guide people to invest in environmentally and socially responsible ways. Some are accomplished singers and songwriters who help listeners better understand their own life history. Others are dancers who have opened studios that help individuals build confidence and self-assuredness through dance. Still others are story collectors and storytellers who travel to faraway countries to give voice to children who reflect upon social issues of the day. Some have taken their own handicap or medical challenge and started clubs and organizations that educate the public about disabilities or about healthy, active living. Others have gone abroad and used the medium of sports to foster dialogue and harmony among warring factions in African countries. Some work to ensure that all 7 billion inhabitants of this earth have access to potable water. Others have a calling to eliminate poverty. Some are teachers, administrators, and guidance counselors that work in our beloved school or at other Jewish day schools and see themselves as nation builders who ensure a strong future for the Jewish people. Others teach General Studies and ignite the curiosity of the next generation of engineers, economists, and entrepreneurs. Dozens of our graduates have served or currently serve in the IDF. Some were lone soldiers who fought in Gaza in the summer of 2014. Others worked on the Iron Dome that intercepted missiles directed towards civilian populations in Israel. Some made aliyah and are using their talents to write the next chapter in the story of the modern State of Israel, the greatest collective enterprise of the Jewish people. Some have stepped up as leaders in Israel Advocacy on Canadian campuses. Others work for organizations that counter media bias towards Israel and educate the general public on the moral and political asset that Israel represents. Our hope is to send off our graduates imbued with the notion that the Jewish people and the world in general needs them as they go on and fashion their lives. Our 7,000 alumni are making an impact and make us all proud. l tanenbaumchat.org I 3 A Year in the 6ix Start Up CHAT Jonathan Levy Ph.D., TanenbaumCHAT Wallenberg Campus, Principal Ariel’s Legacy This past year saw the Wallenberg Campus engage in new endeavors while continuing to provide a challenging and stimulating environment for academic growth. With the pillars of academic excellence, stellar extra-curricular programming and a strong commitment to Israel and social justice, TCW students were certainly very busy! Staff dedication in and out of the classroom continued to contribute to our academic excellence and rigorous programming. TCW students participated in more than 25 sports teams, won 3 championships and ‘rumbled’ with their fellow students at TCK. Students were involved in dozens of clubs and committees that met regularly, a half dozen shows that were performed to joyous audiences, and trips taken to extend the learning beyond the classroom. To help the needy, students raised thousands of dollars for worthwhile local, national, and international causes and volunteered over ten thousand hours of community service. But most impressive of all are the 142 graduates who walked across the stage at graduation, ready to make their mark on the future. We are looking forward to welcoming the class of 2020 this September! l Grade 9 Orientation Robin Hood 4 I CHATTER MAGAZINE SUMMER 2016 National Pi Day O Grams Shabbat Project T C W Yom Nacho Custodian Appreciation Think Pink Battle of the Camps Terry Fox Run Beit Halochen Sukkot Eat Healthy tanenbaumchat.org I 5 WE THE NORTH Opening Carnival Renee Cohen ‘96, TanenbaumCHAT Kimel Family Education Centre, Principal Spring Concert Each and every day, from the early hours before school starts, to the late night hours after school ends, TCK is always bustling with activity. Our students and staff rise to the challenge, each and every time, to bring innovation, creativity, winning moments, and success to TanenbaumCHAT. We are extremely fortunate to have so many staff and student leaders that dedicate hundreds of hours into creating an award-winning TanenbaumCHAT Experience. In the school, or in the community at large, our staff and students give us so many reasons to be proud. Our rigorous academic program and high standards for academic excellence, is coupled at TanenbaumCHAT, with a strong drive toward the notion of contribution. It is often said that, “knowledge without contribution lacks significance” and it is for this reason that our students make significant contributions to our school community, to the Jewish community and to the Toronto and Global communities, in order to help make a difference in the world in which we live. Sports Day The photographs that surround this piece are only a very small sample of the many magical moments that take place at TCK. It is a privilege to be part of such a vibrant, thriving and close-knit community at TCK. May we go from strength to strength, לִיָח לֶא לִיַחֵמ ּוכְלֵי,and may we continue to celebrate our school’s many successes and accomplishments as a united and strong ( הליהקcommunity)! l 6 I CHATTER MAGAZINE SUMMER 2016 Opening Carnival T C K REEL Film Festival Project Israel Shabbatons Terry Fox Run Tu B’Shvat Art Trip Robotics Club Tu B’Shvat Opening Carnival Grandparent Day Shabbatons tanenbaumchat.org I 7 alumni pursuits at the TOP Of their game Lindsay Bloom ’15 Jacob Charendoff ‘16 I hadn’t thought about my success at OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations) being closely related to my high-school career. Skiing has always been a part of my life, at the age of three years old I put on my first skis, and shortly after at the age of six I was racing. The older I got the more competitive the competitions became although once I began my years at TanenbaumCHAT there was a strong sense of support from my teachers. They encouraged my growth in the sport I loved and were always available to help me succeed in my academics. With the intensive pressures of missing class off my back it allowed for my skiing skills to excel. It hadn’t dawned on me that I could win the Slalom or come third in the Giant Slalom at OFSAA. I had switched from competitions to coaching the past two years, allowing for more time to focus on my academics. In hindsight, that time spent coaching taught me to critique my own skills and find even the most minuscule room for improvement. It was my coaching perspective that gave me the adjustments I needed and ultimately put me in a position to succeed. My success at OFSAA was an incredible way to complete both my high school and skiing career as neither will be forgotten and both played a huge part of my young adult life. l After four years at TanenbaumCHAT, I was looking forward to the break that college would provide. Turned out I was wrong. My typical day in Medford, Massachusetts at Tufts University started with breakfast followed by two lectures. After lunch, I’d either hit the books, study, or head straight to the gym. My team had to arrive 45 minutes before practice or earlier if you needed athletic therapy. If we had a team weightlifting session, that would add an extra 45 minutes. After our two-hour practice, we would occasionally take an ice bath and then to a team dinner. Most nights, I would not get back until 10:00 pm, where I would continue the homework that I had started earlier. Occasionally I would be required to miss a Friday class, or in the case of the national championship game many days worth of classes. Many ask me how I am able to balance academics, athletics, and my social life. My response is that it is all about how we use the time that we have. We can choose to cut down on the time we spend online, on our phones and generally procrastinating. I’ve made some of my best friends at Tufts and had plenty of time to spend with them. Many of them are athletes who share a similar lifestyle and understand the level of commitment required to be on a varsity team. Basketball gives me structure and an incentive to work hard and be efficient. TanenbaumCHAT taught me the time management skills that I needed to succeed at Tufts University. I saw many athletes struggle to balance their lives, and I felt I had an advantage because of my high school experience at TanenbaumCHAT. l Rachel Hennick ‘16 It never dawned on me that lacing up my first pair of ice skates in 2004 would be a pivotal moment as I began my first skating lessons, after all I was only six years old. Since then I haven’t been able to stay off the ice as Synchronized Skating has become a large part of my life. The intensive precision of 16 choreographed teammates figure skating at once in perfect synchronization doesn’t come easy. Our regular practices added up to the equivalent of a thirty-hour work week, for a competition season that stretched from November through February. With the demanding work load of a dual curriculum at TanenbaumCHAT and skating, I learned to utilize efficient time management skills especially if I wanted a social life. It all paid off as our team became contenders for the Winter Olympics, and we were given the opportunity to represent Canada as the National Team. TanenbaumCHAT has taught me how to balance my intensive academics with national competitions. I know I’m about to enter a new chapter of my life with my best skate forward. l 8 I CHATTER MAGAZINE SUMMER 2016 alumni pursuits in the arts Brian Lee ‘09 Brian Lee created the highly successful non-profit theatre company Steppin’ Out Theatrical Productions while he was in Grade 11 at TCK. This is the first musical theatre company to hold residence at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. He received his undergraduate degree from Berklee College of Music in Boston and currently resides in New York City, while working as a theatre director in both New York and London. Recently, Brian was on the directorial team for projects starring: Seth MacFarlane, Christina Aguilera, Sting, Bernadette Peters and most recently, Glenn Close. Brian believes that TanenbaumCHAT provided him with the necessary tools to identify his passion and strive for success. Brian was inspired by his teachers Ms. Shapiro, Ms. Citron and Ms. Socken, all of whom emphasized the importance of sticking to your beliefs and the power of communication. It was a true honour for him to sit and listen to these amazing educators display their unabashed passion and instill the importance of history and storytelling into the next generation. Their enthusiasm and skill contributed to Brian’s journey to becoming a professional storyteller. To students with an interest in pursing a career in the arts, Brian has some advice: “The true mark of success is being able to constantly learn and consistently grow. If an opportunity does not present itself, find a way to create your own work. Surround yourself with people who you can learn from and who inspire you. Self-advocate and continue to push yourself to achieve new things. You will always be amazed by what can be achieved with perseverance and hard work.” l Samantha Cooper ‘12 In Fall 2016, Samantha Cooper will begin a fully funded, direct entry PhD program in Historical Musicology at New York University. She is one of only two students accepted into this program. At NYU, Samantha plans to examine the creation of Jewish characters within 19th to 20th century opera, and the development of the role of the Cantor in Jewish synagogue leadership, among other topics. She is currently graduating with a Bachelor of Music from Wilfrid Laurier University. “I believe that the melding of my passions for Jewish and Music History began while I was studying at TanenbaumCHAT. The many opportunities to participate in student events, like Arts Café and Talent Show, and Jewish holiday ceremonies, like Yom HaShoah and Yom Ha’Atzmaut, were stimulating supplements to my musical education. Most importantly, my studies at TanenbaumCHAT inspired a passion for lifelong education.” To students with an interest in pursuing eccentric, artistic, or otherwise unconventional topics of study, Samantha has some advice: “Success is more based on motivation and perseverance than it is on intelligence. Self-advocate and strive towards your goals with unwavering commitment and you will succeed beyond your wildest expectations.” l Orlee-Rose Strauss ‘05 I learned pretty quick that wanting to be a “filmmaker” was not something you should tell people... unless you enjoyed getting “that look.”You know, the look a parent would have when their kid asks if the Tooth Fairy is real, i.e. Oh you want to be a filmmaker? That’s... nice. A quick perusal of my TanenbaumCHAT years and it’s obvious — I was going for it anyway. I dropped Sciences by Grade 11, Maths by Grade 12 (sorry, Dad) and loaded up my schedule with the Arts: Drama, Media, the works. I even somehow managed to submit short films in place of English papers - a very crude production of Oedipus Rex comes to mind. Flash forward a few years: an undergrad degree in Film from Ryerson, a Masters from the University of Southern California, a million+ internships later (including one at Apatow Productions, a long time dream), and now... I am a filmmaker. To be more precise, I am a producer at Supermarché, a film and TV company in New York City. I work with a directing-duo, Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost, making everything from big budget features (our latest, Nerve, hits theaters July 27!) to indies (we debuted our feature film White Girl at Sundance this year), shorts (check out Australian Psycho, for Vogue), TV ads, even virtual reality. Every day is an adventure. For those with similar aspirations - don’t tuck the dream away, it’s closer than it seems. Especially for those willing to work obsessively to achieve it, as most TanenbaumCHAT students are. Oh you want to be a filmmaker? That’s nice. Go do it. l tanenbaumchat.org I 9 Living and Loving the Jewish Experience 10 I CHATTER MAGAZINE SUMMER 2016 Students at TanenbaumCHAT participate in and lead stellar programming that engages them in the hands-on relevance to their lives of Judaism, Israel, and the Jewish community. Through these experiences, the students grow to be confident about who they are and about their contributions to the world at large. Highlights from our past year included: Israel Engagement Week – Students were greeted at a mock “Ben Gurion Airport” and spent the week in an array of Israel programming including being trained in Israel Advocacy and preparing to counter BDS movements on campus, Yom Tzahal (IDF day), Mahane Yehudah, and “Israel Limmud,” where students chose a workshop on the Israel topic taught by a TanenbaumCHAT faculty member. Topics included Israelis in Hollywood Films, Israeli Society through Israeli TV, Israeli Folk Dancing, Arab-Israeli Conflict, Virtual Trip in the Israeli National Trail and more. Chesed / Community Service Projects – The whole school participated in Chesed Week, and specific chesed days, which made a meaningful impact on both the recipients of the chesed as well as on our students. Programs included making and delivering Mishloach Manot packages for the clients of the REENA Residence on the Lebovic Campus, creating food packages for the underprivileged in the GTA, volunteering in a soup kitchen, helping young students, and partnering with other community institutions. Project Israel – On Yom Ha ‘Atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, we held our second annual Project Israel live competition, where 6 finalists competed to be crowned the winner of Project Israel 2016: Project Israel is a contest that is all about learning and creativity related to Israel (history, Zionism, personalities, topography, achievements and more). Students took part in a series of knowledge tests, video and creative art stages. Yom Hoshaoh י שה םו/ Holocaust Remembrance Day, TanenbaumCHAT commemorated Yom Hashoah through several powerful programs. We held an assembly at which students portrayed the true narrative of several Holocaust survivors, some of whom joined us for the event. We also launched a new, intimate program called “Zikaron BaSalon לסב ןורכז,” or “Memory in the Living Room.” Hosted by TanenbaumCHAT families in their homes, small groups of students heard directly from survivors in an intimate environment and engaged in moving discussions. Together these programs made us all feel that we remember, these are our stories, we are one, in every generation ָו רֹוּד לָכְּב. Global Hatikvah – On the first day of Hanukkah, TanenbaumCHAT organized and led a worldwide singing of Hatikvah in solidarity with Israel. At exactly 12:30 p.m., all the students of TCK and TCW gathered in their respective gyms in order to sing an empowering Hatikvah, joined live by over 40 schools around the world, including Brazil, Columbia, Australia, Italy, the United States, two army units in the IDF, as well as many Jewish schools in Toronto. As two student leaders wrote, “This Global Hatikvah was one way to show Israel as well as the rest of the world that we, as a Jewish unified community, stand with Israel. We are filled with joy and pride.” Other programs included Jewish holiday celebrations, Journeys to Conversion panel, Yom Hazikaron workshops, current events, shabbatonim and much more. These experiences deepen students’ connection to their Jewish roots, showing them how Judaism is timeless, meaningful, and relevant to their lives. We help students develop a sense of responsibility to the State of Israel with all its complexities and the global Jewish people in all its diversity, and we teach that life becomes more meaningful when we reach beyond ourselves. l tanenbaumchat.org I 11 The Launch of the Advanced Placement Program (AP) TanenbaumCHAT has launched an intensive five-point strategic plan, designed to ensure the long-term health and strength of both of our campuses. One of these, innovation in our educational programming, has led to the launch of Advanced Placement courses starting this September 2016 at both the Wallenberg and Kimel campuses. The AP Program allows motivated students to experience university level courses while still at TanenbaumCHAT. Teachers offer the AP program, while simultaneously delivering the Ontario curriculum, and thereby afford students the opportunity to earn university credits and/or placement. As Rabbi Buckman stated when he introduced the AP program to the faculty a year ago, “this initiative increases our competitive edge compared to other elite private schools by providing enrichment to advanced students.” AP courses, as described on the College Board website, give students an advantage in a vast array of areas including: standing out in university 12 I CHATTER MAGAZINE SUMMER 2016 admissions, earning university credits, skipping introductory classes and building university skills. Although AP originated in the U.S., every Canadian university offers some degree of AP credit or course exemption for students who do well on the College Board standardized subject area AP exam. Courses will be taught by TanenbaumCHAT teachers who become trained AP subject-matter experts. Within two years, we anticipate five teachers will be certified to teach these university-level courses. This fall pre-AP classes will begin in Grade 11 to prepare students for AP Chemistry and Calculus which will be offered to Grade 12 students during the 2017-2018 school year. We pride ourselves on offering the highest quality academic program and believe that our students are ready for this level of challenge. We are confident that all AP eligible students who enroll will thrive. l Success Breeds Success Isabel Hazan ‘16 Wins Schulich Scholarship An email from Queen’s University notified Isabel Hazan that she was being offered an $80,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship for an undergraduate degree in Engineering. She sat in silence, in shock and disbelief. Cautiously, she crafted a text message to her immediate family with the news. Shortly after, she sent another message to her guidance counsellor. Within seconds, a call back: ‘Do you know what this means?’ Hundreds of congratulatory calls, emails and social media posts continue to pour in, and this Grade 12 TanenbaumCHAT student now understands the true meaning of this opportunity; the ability to pursue her dream of demonstrating that girls can equally have power and influence in science, technology and in society overall. “Inspiring women to pursue careers and make significant contributions in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is a major motivator for me. I am a strong believer in the power of women and their untapped potential in these fields. I want young women to feel they can do anything they want and reach their goals regardless of their gender.” Her secret? Time management and balance. “It can’t just be about school. Hard work and academics are definitely important, but getting too caught up in the stresses of school can cause you to miss out on experiences with family and friends that can lead to new passions and exposure to new opportunities. It is important to make time for these aspects of your life too,” said Hazan. Hazan was a competitive gymnast up until Grade 11, training for 20 hours per week in addition to coaching. When she stopped gymnastics, she found a job. The need to balance school with extracurricular activities forced her to develop work habits that have served her well. “When you really think about how you spend your time, it is easy to realize how much is wasted. However, when you start using your time for what you are genuinely passionate about, you can make a difference, and really gain a better understanding for how much time you have. We all have the same number of hours in a day, and I believe that a major determinant of success is how efficiently these hours are used. Time is valuable –make it count,” said Hazan. In addition to volunteering with Women of Influence and being a peer tutor at school, she started a school club two years ago called Girls for Girls, bringing female students together to look at issues of equality and gender stereotypes. The club focuses on outreach, making students feel comfortable and empowering them to reach and achieve their goals. Hazan has already started building the path that will lead to her science and technology goals. Last summer, she spent four weeks at Technion – Israel Institute of Technology along with a group of international students working on stem cell research. The experience helped solidify her decision to pursue an engineering degree seeing its wide application, whether she decides to pursue a career in the medical field or take part in discovering better systems for society. “ “I want young women to feel they can do anything they want and reach their goals regardless of their gender.” She is hoping that earning this scholarship will influence more female students to pursue careers in these fields, and prove that any goal is attainable with a little discipline and determination. She also is excited for the new TanenbaumCHAT students participating in the Anita and Daniel Chai Engineering Academy. The four-year certificate program, launching this fall, is a hands-on educational approach that trains a select group of TanenbaumCHAT students, through Ontario Ministry of Educationapproved courses, to understand the fundamentals of engineering, robotics and design. “It will definitely provide more exposure to what engineering is about. Even for people who have different career aspirations, problem-solving skills are valued and respected in nearly all academic programs and careers paths,” said Hazan. “Engineers know how to think a certain way, and having that early exposure is an incredible opportunity.” l tanenbaumchat.org I 13 alumni impact IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY Bonnie (Abramsky) Oppenheimer ‘07 The House, Toronto After spending eight years away from Toronto, four of them in the United States, I was excited to come back and pursue a career in education. I never thought that after graduating from TanenbaumCHAT, almost 10 years ago, that I would stay in the Jewish world and make it my profession. When I was 17, I spent the majority of my grade 12 year in the Student Activities office with Mr. Sable and Mrs. Rebick, planning Shabbatons and coming up with school wide assembly ideas. Most of my close friends joked with me that I would end up back at A107 professionally one day; and in a twisted way, they were right. After spending eight years away I have come home and I am now the Director of Experiential Jewish Education and Engagement at The House, an organization that is centered on dynamic, relatable programming for Jewish young professionals. It was started by former TanenbaumCHAT teacher Rabbi Rafi Lipner, who saw the need for informal Jewish education for the most important stage in life, after university. What I love about working at The House is that I am always growing not just professionally, but personally. Each relationship I make with a volunteer, each presentation I help build content on, I grow as a Jew. I love topics that are taboo and putting a Jewish lens to it. Infertility, heartbreak, mental health, being single, dating, raising a family; this all happens between 22-35 years old, yet no one talks about it. It’s our job to bring people together, educate and build community around it through our own Jewish values. l 14 I CHATTER MAGAZINE SUMMER 2016 rabbi joel wardinger ‘97 Jewish Urban Meeting Place (JUMP) Attending CHAT was the most powerful force to make me think about what it means to be Jewish and challenged me intellectually, spiritually and socially to take responsibility for my own Jewish identity while propelling me to give back to our great community. After CHAT, while studying at McGill University, I became very involved in Jewish life on campus having taken leadership roles at AEPi, Hillel and the Ghetto Shul. Those experiences led me to law school in an effort to further sharpen my advocacy and communitybuilding tools. Afterwards it lead me to a long stint in a few Yeshivot in Israel, culminating in Smicha. With all of this education in hand, the time came to return to Toronto with my growing family to try and make some impact in the community and to share some of my passion and knowledge here. I landed at an amazing organization called JUMP (Jewish Urban Meeting Place) as the Education Director, and over the past couple years have taken on the role of Director. JUMP has moved around some and has now settled in Yorkville in an effort to connect with the university population and growing young professional community living around midtown and downtown. We are a community and education centre focusing primarily on young professionals. Our centre features a wide range of social, cultural, religious and networking programs week in and week out. We have a daily minyan and learning program, as well as frequent Shabbat dinners and Shabbatonim. We have just hired a resident Rabbi, who will be moving from Israel this summer to further develop this nascent community. Our vibrant centre serves as a hub for Jewish life in urban Toronto and for millennials - providing a Jewish outlet during the ever-critical years after university and before settling down. l Leadership Engagement Education elysa (kumer) wieskopf ‘04 naomi rosenfeld ‘09 Hillel, Montreal Atlantic Jewish council, halifax In high school I never imagined working in the Jewish communal field. It was only while attended university that I realized just how much I missed my Jewish ties. It was Hillel that provided me with the sense of community I was searching for, and ignited my passion for Jewish nonprofit work. After completing my MSW, I took on the position as Senior Engagement Associate at Hillel Montreal. Here I have the exciting role of supporting student initiatives, building pluralistic communities, and creating dynamic opportunities for students to embrace their Judaism. Whether it’s providing resources to host Shabbat in their home, pairing students with professionals as part of our Connections Mentorship Program, establishing partnerships with university faculty to bring kosher food to campus wide events, or working with our leadership to plan a day of service at a local low income school, I am grateful to serve our students and work towards creating a welcoming, vibrant, and enriching environment on campus. Reflecting back as an alumna of the CHAT New Stream program, I will always be thankful for my teachers and faculty both of whom modelled true relationship building and continue to inspire the way I relate to students every day. l This summer, I will be moving to beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia to take on the position of Executive Director for the Atlantic Jewish Council. With its many activities throughout the region, the Atlantic Jewish Council ensures the continuity, and enhances the quality of Jewish life in Atlantic Canada. This includes supporting and developing institutional and community relationships, organizing educational programs, and supporting Israel. As Executive Director, I will be managing the organization’s daily operations, as well as providing leadership to the organization’s strategic direction alongside its Board of Directors. In so doing, my role will include working with the organization’s staff and committed volunteers in building and maintaining trusted relationships with members of the Jewish community and the community-at-large, marketing and representing the community both on a local and national stage, developing the organization’s financial resources, and cultivating leadership in Atlantic Canada’s Jewish community. I am excited to use what I learned in my many Jewish educational experiences, including my time at TanenbaumCHAT, in this new and exciting position! l tanenbaumchat.org I 15 alumni impact IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY lindsay cohen ‘11 simon wolle ‘90 camp kadimah camp northland b’nai birth Growing up, I was constantly exposed to some form of community involvement. My mom was a professional fundraiser and my dad was heavily involved with B’nai Brith. My family continually instilled community values in me by maintaining certain traditions; during Hanukkah we sang to seniors and when Passover rolled around we’d always deliver baskets. In addition, we would often go bowling with adults with developmental disabilities and bring donuts and coffee to the R.I.D.E. police officers. When I entered TanenbaumCHAT, I was at an age where I could involve myself in the community more independently. As a result, I participated in many volunteer activities such as friendship circle and helping at a supplementary Hebrew school. After my graduation from TanenbaumCHAT, I attended the University of Guelph to study accounting, and continued my involvement in the Jewish community. When looking into my career options, I realized the impact that all of these experiences have had on my life and decided to continue to dedicate my time to the community. I am now working in the field of informal Jewish and Israel education. I would not be where I am today without all of the experiences I had growing up; I have truly felt the impact that community involvement can have. l 16 I CHATTER MAGAZINE SUMMER 2016 In 1986, I came to CHAT in grade 9. I was anxious, excited and uncertain about the four-year high school journey ahead. Slowly, I started to discover things about myself through the opportunities that CHAT placed in front of me. There was the athletic council, and fashion show, and new friendships; there was a talent show, and pajama day, a run for charity, etc. Slowly, leadership opportunities emerged and I grabbed everything I could, eventually becoming the President of Student Council in grade 12. These experiences laid a strong and stable foundation to build upon. The journey I began in 1986 was not a 4-year trip. In fact, I am still enjoying the journey today. As the Camp Director at Camp Northland B’nai-Brith (the first camp I went to myself), I get to apply the leadership, care, compassion, and guidance that I gained as a student at CHAT so many years ago. I currently manage over 150 staff members, and have critical Jewish and experiential touch-points with over 600 young Jewish campers and future leaders each summer and throughout the year. I value family and appreciate the incredible gift in my life to have my wife, Stacia, and our three beautiful kids who attend Heschel and continue on the path of Jewish education. It is sometimes hard to appreciate or anticipate the harvest as you work so hard planting the seeds in an empty field. Thank you for taking the time to plant so many years ago so I can enjoy the harvest today and in the future. Today, I now patiently and methodically plant those same seeds with our Jewish children and I look forward to what the future will bring for all of us. l Leadership Engagement Education elise loterman ‘04 sari klazcowski ‘12 king david school, australia chabad house at western university My “last will and testament” in my graduating yearbook at CHAT was that I was “Most Likely to plan Yom Ha’Atzmaut.” This was because I was the head of the school’s Yom Ha’Atzmaut assembly and many of my interactions with my peers centered around planning for that day. Since graduation, I received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Masters in Religion, and a certification in Experiential Jewish Education. I spent the first five years of my professional career working for Hillel Ontario. Catching the “travel bug” and wanting to live abroad lead me to pursue my current role as an Experiential Jewish Educator at the King David School in Melbourne, Australia. My responsibilities there include creating Jewish content for schools, camps and Shabbatonim, running the student leadership initiatives, and organizing and executing meaningful and exciting programming for the chagim. Recently, I planned an Israel themed student conference for Yom Ha’Atzmaut. While I would not have pictured myself living in Australia as I crossed the stage at my CHAT graduation, I am very grateful for the skills, experience, and knowledge I gained which have been essential building blocks to my work in the Jewish community. l Entering Western University, I didn’t think I would be able to manage my involvement in extra curriculars while remaining committed to my education. It was only in the second year of my undergraduate when my involvement with Chabad reached new heights. The past two years I’ve had the privilege and pleasure of serving as Chabad Westerns Co-President with TanenbaumCHAT alumni Daniel Brener ‘12 and Corey Kamen ‘12. Through this amazing experience we have been fortunate to meet countless Jewish students that had a significant impact on our university experience. Rabbi Mordechai Silverberg, his wife Nechamie and all of their seven amazing children have created an incredible environment for students. Shabbat dinners every Friday night and helping Nechamie cook for the 250+ students a week has become routine for myself and so many others. When we attended TanenbaumCHAT we were surrounded by a sea of Jewish programming that inspired us to contribute when the opportunity arose. The leadership roles we’ve taken on at Chabad have helped maintain and grow the Jewish foundation built at TanenbaumCHAT. For many students, Chabad has become a social, cultural and religious hub for students to maintain and continue practicing their Jewish traditions while simultaneously building a strong and incredibly special Jewish community. l tanenbaumchat.org I 17 142 PROUD MOMENTS “excerpt from the valedictory Address delivered by jordan harrison allen ‘16” One of the best parts about being a student here is that the desire to be exceptional is applauded rather than ridiculed. It is an unfortunate fact of life that often times people are afraid to succeed because it is deemed “uncool” to try or to attempt to be different. In the words of the Latin-American poet Timo Cruz, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.” Luckily, this fear not does not manifest itself at TCW as students and faculty members alike do not merely respect people that are different, but rather encourage said difference. It is because of this culture that I was able to become the person that I am today. When we look back at TanenbaumCHAT I recognize that we will likely forget how to find an oblique asymptote or what the difference is between Talmud HaBaveli and Talmud Yerushalmi. However, we will not forget the feeling that no matter where we went, and what we did, we received full support from everyone around us. There were countless moments where we came home thinking about how lucky we are to have gone here. l 18 I CHATTER MAGAZINE SUMMER 2016 T C W tanenbaumchat.org I 19 TANENBAUMCHAT WALLENBERG CAMPUS GRADUATION AWARDS class of 2016 68% of the Class are Scholastic Award Winners Based on an average achievement of 90% or above in the 6 highest Grade Twelve credits taken at TanenbaumCHAT RECOGNITION OF EXCELLENCE & AWARDS Valedictorian Jordan Harrison Allen The Governor General’s Award In recognition of achieving the highest average in all credits in Grades 11 & 12 taken at TanenbaumCHAT Shawn Adam Zahavi Jerusalem Award In recognition of achieving the highest average in Judaic Studies in Grade 12 Aaron Lewis Good Shawn Adam Zahavi The Lieutenant Governor’s Award For Excellence in Community Service Gabriel Izak Helfant Staff Award In recognition of involvement in activities and contribution to school spirit and culture Judah Rubin Hoffman Student Leadership Award In recognition of ongoing leadership in Student Activities exemplifying TanenbaumCHAT values Jessica Rachel Katzman DEPARTMENTAL & SUBJECT AWARDS general STUDIES Art Award In memory of Lisa Shore Ayelet Chen Lustgarten Biology Award Henry Korenblum Memorial Endowment Fund Shawn Adam Zahavi Business Studies Award In memory of David E. Buck Chase David Glasberg Chemistry Award Jonathan Isaac Sharir-Smith Computer Science Award Avrum Jeffrey Duke Memorial Endowment Fund Shimon Moshe Smith Dramatic Arts Award Joshua Philip Granovsky English Award In memory of Ian Cohen ‘70 Laura Rose Goldfarb History Award Esther Haberman Memorial Endowment Fund Robert Jacob Kohut Dryer 20 I CHATTER MAGAZINE SUMMER 2016 Interdisciplinary Studies Award Talia Nechama Rochwerg Kinesiology Award Barbara Manilla Memorial Endowment Fund Aaron Lewis Good Mathematics Award In memory of Sara & Joseph Rahmani Jacob Solomon Beallor Jonathan Tzvi Zaionz Modern Languages Award Arieh Max Sacke Music Award Lisa-Ann Lauren Posluns Memorial Endowment Fund Arieh Max Sacke Physics Award Arthur Lerman Memorial Endowment Fund Lewis David Ashley Science Award In memory of Joseph & Miriam Getman Abby Jordyn Lindzon Social Science Award In memory of Jonathan David Deitcher ’87 Dana Marley Davis 22% of the Class are Academic Award Winners Based on an average achievement of 80% or above in the 8 highest Grade Twelve courses taken at TanenbaumCHAT 94% of the Class are Ontario Scholars T C W TanenbaumCHAT graduates were designated by the Province as Ontario Scholars, having achieved an 80% average or more in their best 6 Grade Twelve Credits DEPARTMENTAL & SUBJECT AWARDS JUDAIC STUDIES SCHOLARSHIPS & SPECIAL AWARDS Hebrew Language & Literature Award Alumni Association Award In honour of the Helen & Harry Cohen Family Courtney Esther Viner For outstanding determination in pursuing studies at TanenbaumCHAT Loren Rae Cohen Israel Studies Award Joan Blidner Award In honour of Icek z”l and Manya Segal Natalie Elyse Urbach For outstanding improvement while at TanenbaumCHAT Batya Adi Feder Jewish Ethics Award Isaac & Basia Jesin Award In memory of Yona Rabinowicz For excellence in Judaic Studies over four years Rachel Cara Goldfarb Jewish History Award - Holocaust Studies Hannah Sara Rosenberg In memory of Rubin Tencer, a survivor of Auschwitz Eric and Marsha Slavens Award Jewish History Award Jonathan Isaac Sharir-Smith Judith Hannah Walters Jillian Blair Weisleder In memory of Israel Appel For combining sporting & academic achievement Anna-Rae Alaton Philip & Helen Zucker Scholarship Jewish Philosophy Award Sofia Yisraela Freudenstein Judah Rubin Hoffman New Stream Award For continuing education in Jewish studies CONTINUING STUDIES IN ISRAEL Anshel & Devorah Zylberman Prize Ofir Rabinoviz Jonathan David Deitcher Memorial Scholarship Rabbinics Award For continuing Jewish studies in Israel Hannah Sara Rosenberg Jonah Isaac Levitt In memory of Sam Faivish Hayley Maya Wagman Rabbi Marvin B. Pachino Award Talmud Award In memory of Rabbi Avraham Zalman Berger Judah Rubin Hoffman For excellence in Judaic Studies and continuing Jewish Education in Israel Sofia Yisraela Freudenstein David Rosenzweig Memorial Scholarship Talmud Award In memory of David Rosenzweig ‘72 In memory of Samuel Haberman Menachem Mendle Meir Berger Sofia Yisraela Freudenstein Gertrude & David Sher Foundation Scholarship Tanach award In memory of Jonathan David Deitcher ’87 Samuel Jacob Perrier Brooks For continuing Jewish studies in Israel Batya Adi Feder Board of Directors Awards For continuing studies in Israel Stephanie Hannah Leboff Yonah Ari Morrison Judah Rubin Hoffman Natalie Elyse Urbach Tamara Weiss Maxwell Jonathan Eisen Talia Nechama Rochwerg Jonathan Tzvi Zaionz Sofia Yisraela Freudenstein Ezra Nicholas Tzvi Kestenbaum Markovits Eytan Re’ah Weinstein Hannah Sara Rosenberg Jonah Isaac Levitt Batya Adi Feder Menachem Mendle Meir Berger Leeran Jeanette Hayek Adam Seth Rosenblum tanenbaumchat.org I 21 134 PROUD MOMENTS “Excerpt from the valedictory Address delivered by gina lee desatnik ‘16” Today is our day of reflection. A day to celebrate all the hard work that got us to this point and a day to acknowledge all the hard work and effort put in by our parents, teachers and mentors to help us reach this milestone. We are mere moments away from graduating and beginning the next stage of our journeys towards achieving our goals. In no time, we’ll be placing our mark on the world, making the changes we feel are necessary. We all face adversity at some time or another. We are all trying to figure it out, define who we are and what we would like to be and do with our lives. Some of us strive for perfection but I now realize that there is no such thing. In fact, I believe that perfection lies in imperfection. Our growth is embedded in all the challenges we face. What we did yesterday or today does not define our tomorrow. That gift though, depends on our attitude. With the right attitude we can work at ourselves, grow, change and work to be better versions of ourselves all the time. l 22 I CHATTER MAGAZINE SUMMER 2016 T C K tanenbaumchat.org I 23 TANENBAUMCHAT Kimel Family education centre GRADUATION AWARDS class of 2016 78% of the Class are Scholastic Award Winners Based on an average achievement of 90% or above in the 6 highest Grade Twelve credits taken at TanenbaumCHAT RECOGNITION OF EXCELLENCE & AWARDS Valedictorian Gina Lee Desatnik The Governor General’s Award In recognition of achieving the highest average in all credits in Grades 11 & 12 taken at TanenbaumCHAT Kyle Ross Maresky Jerusalem Award In recognition of achieving the highest average in Judaic Studies in Grade 12 Benjamin Rodkin The Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Community Service Jennifer Fayth Korman Staff Award In recognition of involvement in activities and contribution to school spirit and culture Edan Avichai Cohen Student Leadership Award In recognition of ongoing leadership in Student Activities exemplifying TanenbaumCHAT values Benjamin Rodkin DEPARTMENTAL & SUBJECT AWARDS general STUDIES Art Award In memory of Lisa Shore Film & Media Production Award Ori Jonathan Mezuman Biology Award History Award Jonathan Adam Zrihen Jonah Daniel Rosenthal Solomon Hershenfeld Weltman Family Endowment Fund Shaindel Shirelle Belmont Business Studies Award Brian Joshua Friedman Chemistry Award Mathematics Award Dylan Mathew Raubvogel Music Award Orly Kitriya Leah Lewis In memory of David J. Levy Kyle Ross Maresky Physics Award Kyle Ross Maresky Computer Science Award Noah Shechtman Social Science Award Joshua Samuel Maker Dramatic Arts Award Ori Jonathan Mezuman English Award Lisa Coristine Memorial Endowment Fund Orly Kitriya Leah Lewis English as a Second Language Award Shimon & Clara Berglas Memorial Endowment Fund Galit Shneiderman-Gorwitz 24 I CHATTER MAGAZINE SUMMER 2016 37% of the Class are Academic Award Winners Based on an average achievement of 80% or above in the 8 highest Grade Twelve courses taken at TanenbaumCHAT 97% of the Class are Ontario Scholars T C K TanenbaumCHAT graduates were designated by the Province as Ontario Scholars, having achieved an 80% average or more in their best 6 Grade Twelve Credits DEPARTMENTAL & SUBJECT AWARDS JUDAIC STUDIES Hebrew Language & Literature Award In memory of Elliott M. Wilson Benjamin Rodkin Jewish Ethics Award David & Bluma Schachter Memorial Endowment Fund Zahava Rebecca Eklove Jewish History Award - Holocaust Studies In memory of Rubin Tencer, a survivor of Auschwitz Stefanie Isabel Stockhamer Jewish History Award Carol Rosenfeld Memorial Endowment Fund Brian Joshua Friedman Jewish Philosophy Award Edan Avichai Cohen New Stream Award Erica Schiller Mammon Memorial Endowment Fund Matthew Ryan Howard Rabbinics Award In memory of Sam Faivish Summer Eden Hart Talmud Award Shaindel Shirelle Belmont Tanach award Samantha Marleen Steiner SCHOLARSHIPS & SPECIAL AWARDS Morris & Rose Alspector Award David Rosenzweig Memorial Scholarship For achieving the highest average in Judaic Studies over four years In memory of David Rosenzweig ‘72 Alumni Association Scholarship Gertrude & David Sher Foundation Scholarship For outstanding determination in pursuing studies at TanenbaumCHAT For continuing Jewish studies in Israel Joan Blidner Award For outstanding improvement while at TanenbaumCHAT Sydney Rachel Factor Daniel Sherman Memorial Scholarships Yonatan Jacob Fortinsky Galit Shneiderman-Gorwitz Judy Shaviv Memorial Fund “Keren Yad Yehudit” Board of Directors Awards Assisting graduates to serve in the IDF, study or volunteer in Israel For continuing studies or volunteering in Israel Benjamin Rodkin Shai Barak Moshe Elmaleh Eric and Marsha Slavens Award For combining sporting & academic achievement Deborah Pekar Aaron Michael Subel Jonathan David Deitcher Memorial Scholarship Samuel Trevor Glowinsky Rabbi Marvin B. Pachino Award Shalva Masha Sutton Ilan Yaakov Kalman Eklove Edan Avichai Cohen Ilan Yaakov Kalman Eklove Moshe Elmaleh Yonatan Jacob Fortinsky Samuel Trevor Glowinsky Menachem Mendel Guttmann Galit Shneiderman-Gorwitz Shalva Masha Sutton Michael Mayer Tobianah For excellence in Judaic Studies and continuing Jewish Education in Israel Edan Avichai Cohen tanenbaumchat.org I 25 news & notes Weddings Cohen Orlan Rotman Zahavi I Sookman births Waldman Reingold I Greenwald Klerer Lindzon Katz • Addison Rose Waldman to Orly Kahn Waldman ’05 and Adam Waldman • Sloan Sarah to Matt Reingold ‘03 and Chani Greenwald ’04 • Hudson Cooper to Marc Klerer ‘01 and Ali Klerer • Dillon Pierce to Matthew Lindzon ’03 and Danielle Rudolph • Gidon Shamai to Rebecca (Chad) Katz ‘10 and Leo Katz ‘10 • Ella Macie and Samuel Aiden to Jessica Scheinmen ’01 and Jesse Waltman • Eitan Dov to Jeremy Ansel ‘11 and Ruet Ansel Scheinmen Scheinmen 26 I CHATTER MAGAZINE SUMMER 2016 Ansel news & notes Mazel Tov • Matt Guttman ’07 on receiving his B.Eng from McGill 2012, receiving his MD from Schulich School of Medicine at Western May 2016 and to begin surgical residency this year at U of T • Brian Cohen ’06 to Miriam Dick • Jodi Rotman ’06 to Ryan Tkatch • Chloe Orlan ’08 to Daniel Gross • Ron Zahavi ’04 to Samantha Sookman ’08 Alumni Association • Josh Freedman ‘08 for completing University of Toronto’s JD/MA (Criminology) program, and being hired to article for the Court of Appeals for Ontario. SEND US YOUR NEWS AND NOTES! • Eli Freedman ‘09 on his acceptance to Yeshivat Chovevei Torah’s rabbinical training program. Contact Arielle Kadish ‘09 at 416.636.5984 ext: 333 or akadish@tanenbaumchat.org • Elianne Neuman ‘11, who was this year’s Valedictorian for both the Jewish Studies and General Studies programs at Stern College for Women, and who presented the Valedictory address at Yeshiva University’s May 2016 Commencement Ceremony ENGAGEMENTS Klerer Cherniak Lazarev Korolnek • Rebecca Cherniak ’06 to Noah Kochman • Daniel Klerer ’07 to Laura Katz • Rayna Korolnek ’11 to Elliott Glotsman • Daniel Lazarev ’12 to Jessica Shrayber • Danny Zarek ’10 to Tali Rutta • Oriyah Barzilay ’10 to Avi Weiss • Justine Katz ’06 to Shlomi Silberstein Zarek Barzilay Katz tanenbaumchat.org I 27 CONTRIBUTION ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IS THE FOUNDATION. COMMUNITY CONNECTION Wallenberg Campus (for families living south of Steeles) Tuesday, November 1, 2016 - 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM Wednesday, November 2, 2016 - 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM Kimel Family Education Centre (for families north of Steeles) Wednesday, November 9, 2016 - 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM Thursday, November 10, 2016 - 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM Learn about our New Stream Program for students with little or no Jewish day school education. Morning & Evening Sessions Available To Register: www.tanenbaumchat.org/open-house For further information: admissions@tanenbaumchat.org | 416.636.5984 ext. 291 Advancement Office | 200 Wilmington Avenue, Toronto, ON | M3H 5J8 28 I CHATTER MAGAZINE SUMMER 2016 CHARACTER FOR GRADE 8 PARENTS CURIOSITY OPEN HOUSE THE BREADTH OF CURRICULUM AND SELF-DISCIPLINE SET OUR STUDENTS APART.