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Fri. May 14
Tues. May 18
Erev Shavuot
Early Dismissal
1:30pm
Wed. May 10 - Thurs May 20 -
Shavuot
No Sessions
Mon. May 31st
Memorial Day
No Sessions
Fri. June 4
Last Day of Regular Classes
Mon. June 7
Finals Begin
Mon. June 14
Graduation |
SAR Auction Committee Members Needed
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We are looking for parents to get involved in planning one of our key fundraising events of the coming year, the SAR Auction!
Parents and community members raved about our online auction last year, and with your help, we will build on our past successes. Be part of this exciting event where you will get to know many SAR parents while raising much needed funds for SAR.
Please reply to sarauction@gmail.com if you want to volunteer
We can't wait to hear from you!
Deena Berger, Elana Minkove, Dana Teplitsky
2010 Auction Chairs
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1 Sivan 5770 * May 14
Candlelighting Fri 7:47 PM
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Bamidbar
Havdalah 8:50 PM |
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Dear Parents and Students,
This week, we were privileged to celebrate Yom Yerushalyim in school. I want to take note of Alli Kahn and Ms. Goldscheider's Tanakh class and the beautiful siyum that they made on נביאים ראשונים. Having our grandparents in the building and hearing the remarkable experiences of our guest speakers was truly inspiring. We are looking forward to greeting them again next year.
Students, please remember to learn your perakim in Tanakh and your Mishnayot for the siyum next Friday. Chag sameach to all as we celebrate Kabbalat Hatorah next week on Shavuot.
Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Tully Harcsztark |
| Kol Hakavod! | SAR Takes Top Award at the Metropolitan New York JUMP Challenge Leadership Competition
 Congratulations to Coby Greif, Shiri Wasserman and Ati Levin for representing SAR High School and winning this year's Metropolitan New York JUMP Challenge Leadership Competition. JUMP - the Jewish Unity Mentoring Program - was established in the fall of 2006 by Long Island NCSY to provide meaningful and creative chessed and leadership programs for Yeshiva/day schools on Long Island. With the merger of New York, Long Island and Westchester NCSY into one unit, the competition was extended beyond Long Island, as reflected by this year's participating schools. Over the course of the year, a group of SAR students have been meeting with Mr. Josh Gottesman during activity periods as they planned their JUMP project. The SAR team devised a project entitled Help Someone Else and Celebrate Life, whose purpose is to make it as easy as possible for high school students to take action in helping others. The SAR team devised a business model and strategic plan for coordinating visits to hospitals and for engaging sick children in meaningful activities. The team presented their proposal to a team of judges and were awarded first place along with the team from SKA. In recognition of their efforts, Donald Trump presented the SAR team with a check for $2500 to fund the program that they had planned.
Senior Debby Greenstein Wins Multiple Awards at the New York City Science and Engineering Fair!
Senior Debby Greenstein won First Award at the New York City Science and Engineering Fair, granted to outstanding projects based on overall performance in the category Engineering, for her research project entitled, "Flame Retardant Materials for Application in Long Distance Cables".
On top of that , Debby received 4 additional awards for her work, including the:
- Environmental Quest - Sarah and Morris Wiesenthal Award, awarded to projects that promote the objectives and mission of Environmental Quest
- Frank W. and Jan J. Stahl Memorial Award for Technical Excellence, awarded to outstanding engineering projects demonstrating technical excellence
- National Society of Professional Engineers Award, awarded to outstanding engineering projects that demonstrate technical competence, and superior verbal and written presentation skills
- US Navy and Marine Corps Award, awarded to outstanding projects in engineering.
Approximately 800 students from New York City submitted applications to the 2010 NYCSEF for a chance to compete. Debby was one of the students selected in the Preliminary round on March 7 to present her research in the Finals Round on March 23, 2010 at the American Museum of Natural History.
The excellence of Debby's research, the research paper she wrote, and her interview by five separate judges about her work, resulted in the awards that Debby received.
Debby's project involved creating a new polymer blend material for use as long distance electric cable wire insulation that is flame retardant and yet is not toxic to the environment when it combusts. Debby did her research this past summer at the Garcia Center Summer Scholar Program at The State University of New York at Stony Brook.
We are proud of her accomplishments.
Tobie Brandriss, Bob Goodman and the entire Science Department |
| Only at SAR |
Students Attend Presentation by E.O. Wilson, Harvard Professor and Author of Sociobiology, as Part of the On the Brink Science Series  On Tuesday evening, April 22, a group of SAR students accompanied by Ms. Brandriss and Mr. Goodman attended a thought provoking interview of E.O.Wilson. Professor Wilson, who is probably THE world expert on ants, has been a Harvard professor for nearly five decades and a winner of two Pulitzer Prizes. His controversial book, Sociobiology, which claims that human social behavior has a biological foundation, is being re-released this year by the Harvard University Press. He has just published his first novel, Anthill.
At this On the Brink event, Professor Wilson was interviewed by award winning journalist, Adam Gopnick. It was fascinating to hear Wilson speak on topics ranging from the autobiographical aspects of his new novel, his radical new view of the evolution of altruism as expressed in insect societies with application to humans, and his views about the importance of maintaining biodiversity on our planet. Professor Wilson was instrumental in designing and consulting with the American Museum of Natural History on the Hall of Biodiversity.
In the words of one student, "I learned how a famous biologist started off by just having an interest in ants, which is very inspiring. I learned that there is a new theory about how altruism evolved, that scientists can become novelists and authors, and that scientists often start out with a eureka moment." In the words of another, "I learned about how something small which can appear to be insignificant, can actually be worthy of scientific study."
It truly was inspiring to hear Professor Wilson speak, to hear how he has fielded attacks of his views, convinced others of the importance of caring for the planet, and how he continues to explore the study of behavior in insect societies and to question accepted views.
Tobie Brandriss
Bob Goodman
SAR Celebrates Yom Yerushalayim With Grandparents
Yom Yerushalayim was a phenomenal day in SAR. On Wednesday, May 12, we invited grandparents to join us for a morning of celebration and commemoration. The response was tremendous with many grandparents joining us for the morning. We began the day with Shacharit for the entire school together in the gym, led by Rabbi Freedman who will be making aliyah this summer and living in Yerushalayim. To help put us all in the proper frame of mind, Ms. Taubes delivered a stirring message preceding Hallel as she emphasized the centrality and importance of Jerusalem to the religious experience.
Following breakfast, we were treated to what several students and staff have described as the "best program of the year." With everyone assembled in the auditorium we invited three grandparents to address the entire student body and share their perspectives on the events of the Six Day War. Eliav Grossman introduced his grandfather, Rabbi Rafael Grossman. Noam Lubofksy introduced his grandfather, Rabbi Benjamin Blech, and Elliot and Joseph David introduced their grandmother, Ms. Blu Greenberg. Each grandparent, a leader of the Jewish community, shared their unique and fascinating perspective of Yom Yerushalayim. What a pleasure it was to see the packed auditorium hanging with suspense on the words of their grandparents. Rabbi Grossman who early in his career had been a rabbi in Texas, spoke of his relationship with Lyndon Baines Johnson and their interaction during the Six Day War.
Rabbi Blech spoke about the song response of American Jewry surrounding the miraculous Six Day War, and emphasized how through the misinformation of the Arab states the Jewish community was led to believe that the State of Israel was on the verge of suffering a fate similar to that of European Jewry a mere two decades earlier. Ms. Greenberg spoke about the ecumenical dialog that had been taking place in the aftermath of the Shoah, and she shared her experience of disappointment that the broader religious community was not vocally supportive of Israel in the face of the threat of the Six Day War. The presentations of each grandparent were dynamic, exciting and enthralling. We look forward to engaging more grandparents for a similar event next year. Following the program in the auditorium, the entire school proceeded to the gym where we celebrated our final chagigah of the year. It was especially festive with grandparents joining in the dancing.
This program was sponsored in honor of Mr. Ludwig Bravmann's special birthday.
Spending Time Together
A unique feature of SAR High School is the close relationships that students and teachers have. Recently these relationships have continued to develop outside the classroom in a number of different ways. Dr. Schwartz invited her European History class to spend Shabbat with her in Washington Heights. The group hung out with the Schwartz children, enjoyed delicious home cooked food and simply enjoyed each other's company. Ms. Tesler's 12th grade classes came together at her house for a "cooking and chilling hangout."
"Simply enjoying being together" is how many students classified their time. Rabbi Freedman's and Ms. Chanales' 9th grade class (the same students) spent Shabbat in Riverdale together. They ate dinner at the Freedman's and lunch at the Chanales-Moskovits' home. They shared Divrei Torah, played games and had a great time. On Shabbat afternoon, all 9th graders who were in Riverdale joined the Shabbaton for singing and food at Ms. Chanales' for Seudah Shlishit. Ms. Chanales' other 9th grade class looks forward to their Shabbaton in a few weeks!
The following Shabbat Ms. Goldscheider's 9th grade Tanakh class boarded a bus to Mount Kisco to share Shabbat with the Goldscheider family and the Mount Kisco community. The students had an opportunity to see a community which is different than what they are familiar with and brought a lot of ruach. Games, zemirot and serious and thoughtful conversations as well as a lot of fun and relaxation were shared.
As this Shabbat is about to begin, students are excited about the many more events are about to take place. Ms. Taubes' 12th grade Tanakh class will be joining her in Washington Heights for a class Shabbaton. Ms. Goldscheider's 12th grade Tanakh class will have the opportunity to spend this Shabbat in Mount Kisco and hear from Rabbi Chaim Brovender of Yerushalayim, who is serving as a scholar-in-residence this Shabbat. Ms. Schlaff's 11th grade Gemara class eagerly awaits a BBQ at her house this Sunday. In the next few weeks Rabbi Birnbaum's advisory looks forward to their BBQ and Dr. Humi's psychology class awaits a scrumptious dinner at her home.
As the summer draws near and more events are being planned, students are teachers are enjoying these special times together.
Sophomore BBQ
On Thursday, May 6th, the Sophomores headed to SAR Academy after school where they enjoyed an evening filled with sports, food and relaxation. With the help of our grill team - seniors Reuvi Piņon and Tuvia Lerea along with Ms. Weinstock - everyone was able to enjoy a deluxe BBQ and take advantage of the beautiful weather. Students reminisced about their elementary school days, spent time talking to teachers and their families, and appreciated the time with one another. A wonderful evening was had by all!
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| Programs that Enrich Classroom Learning |
Rabbi Yonah Reiss Addresses 10th Grade on the Agunah Crisis
 On Tuesday May 4th, the 10th grade participated in a special program about the agunah crisis - Jewish women who are chained to undesirable marriages because their husbands refuse to grant them a Jewish divorce. The program was an offshoot of the 10th grade Gemara curriculum which covers Masechet Kiddushin - the laws of marriage - including the circumstances under which marriages can be invalidated. The goals of the program were to raise student awareness of this important issue facing our community and present students with a range of solutions to the problem.
Rabbi Yonah Reiss, dean of RIETS (YU Rabbinical School) and former head of the RCA Beit Din discussed the importance of signing a prenuptial agreement in preventing situations of iggun. He provided students with many examples of couples he has dealt with in which the husband was forced to sign a get because he had previously signed a prenuptial agreement, thus freeing his estranged wife and allowing her to move on with her life and remarry. Jeremy Stern, the director of ORA - the Organization for the Resolution of Agunot - spoke about the role of community activism in resolving individual situations of iggun. Through anecdotes he made students aware of the ways that granting of a get (Jewish bill of divorce) has been used as a bargaining chip on the part of the husband to extort money or custody from the wife. He spoke of the role of ORA in organizing community rallies and applying other forms of communal pressure to push recalcitrant men to divorce their wives. The students were very engaged in the discussion and asked thoughtful questions. We hope and pray that every agunah will be freed from bondage, and that by raising student awareness of this issue and encouraging students to sign prenuptial agreements upon marriage we will prevent further incidents of iggun in our community.
Algebra II Students Run the Annual Probability Carnival
 On Tuesday, April 27, the Algebra II students in 10th grade joined together to create the annual probability carnival. There, the students worked in groups of two to conceive and design games of chance that offered fun ways for contestants to test their mathematical prowess as they tried to beat the laws of chance.
 As in years past, the fair showcased a marvelous collection of booths that highlighted the creativity and ingenuity of the students. Leelee Lavin and Matthew Parker, for example, organized a game whereas students had to pick 4 parts of a face at random from a group of 10 facial parts in a container. If those 4 parts made a face -- two eyes, a nose and a mouth -- they won a winning ticket. If they happened to have chosen the one combination that created Elvis' face, they earned 10 winning tickets. Other games used props such as rubber duckies, mini baseball stadiums, maps of the Earth, pirate ships, and of course, lots of dice and cards.
The carnival was great fun for all students of Mr. Krausz and Mr. Gotel, as well as all guests and was a wonderful way for them to explore the marvelous world of probability in a fun and engaging way. As one student eloquently articulated, "It was awesome!"
MOMA
Ms Meier's A.P. Art History class set out for the M.O.M.A. (The Museum of Modern Art ) last month. Having conquered the Greek, Roman, Renaisance , Mannerist and Fauvist periods, the class was ready to look at Picasso, who marked the beginning of the 20th century vision of art. We also saw Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present. Marina Abramovic is doing a performance piece in the lobby of MOMA, where she sits silently at a table wearing a long red dress for all of the hours the museum is open. She has been doing this for several months and will continue to do so until the end of this month. Members of the public are invited to sit across from her, and commune silently. When the students first heard about this, they said, "Sounds crazy. Sounds boring. That's not art." However, the performance is strangely mesmerizing. We had a lively discussion about the nature of art on the way home. Is Picasso the beginning of the modern period and is Abormovich the end? The visit was thought provoking and everyone is looking forward to returning to the museum.
The group received free passes to return with a friend (18 or under, sorry parents!) which are good from now until September 1.
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| Post-High School: College and Israel Planning |
Inside the College Admissions Program 
This past Wednesday evening, May 12th, SAR was alive with over twenty-five college admissions representatives eager to share their insights with our juniors and parents when SAR hosted its fifth annual Inside the College Admissions program. Juniors and their parents learned about the many options for Jewish day school students to further their education. Present were universities from public to private institutions, predominantly in the northeast region, each with abundant options for Jewish students. The evening began with a full panel, as each admissions representative gave a brief overview of what makes their institution unique. Then, students and parents attended two workshops where they learned more detailed information about specific colleges. Finally, the admissions representatives had tables set up across the gym so that juniors and their parents could have one-on-one time with our university guests. The juniors are now well aware that the college admissions process is in full swing and they will have to begin completing applications in just a few short months.
College Counseling Team
DATES TO REMEMBER:
June 6 - SAT and SAT Subject Tests - Registration deadline April 29; Late Registration May 13
June 13 - ACT - Registration deadline May 7; Late Registration May 8-21
Senior Exploration
Over the past couple of weeks many seniors have been absent from afternoon classes as they engaged in their Senior Exploration projects. With more of a focus on fieldwork experiences this year, SAR students can be found all over the region, getting exposure to all kinds of industries. Some of the fieldwork placements including the NBA Players Association, a Midtown Manhattan hotel, an architecture firm, a physician's office, a catering company, a marketing organization, and a chemistry lab. Other students are pursuing their passions, with one senior in the midst of intensive flying lessons, others pursuing coaching experiences, and several more working on their EMT certifications. The Senior Exploration period allows for SAR students to achieve 40+ hours worth of their time in a real-world setting. During the weeks of May 24th and June 1st, each senior will present his/her project to a faculty panel, student peers, and any family members interested in attending. We look forward to the successful completion of Senior Exploration by the class of 2010. |
| Chessed and Tzedakah Programs |
SAR Band Burnt Ice Performs at Van Cortlandt Senior Center
On Friday May 7th, members of the band Burnt Ice traveled to the Van Cortlandt Senior Center in the Bronx to perform for the senior citizens of the community. Sophomores, Zach Dicker, Ben Eidman, Judah Levy, and Matt Parker and Senior David Henslovitz spent time eating lunch and visiting with the seniors before performing a 40 minute rock set including classic songs like, Takin' Care of Business and Miami 2017. The band also played an original composition by pianist Zach Dicker. Although there might have been some initial concern that the group wouldn't appreciate the rock music, the dancing and clapping that accompanied the songs allayed all concerns.
Breakfast Run for the Homeless
During the early morning hours of Sunday April 25, 15 SAR High School students and staff, braved the rain and traveled into midtown. With the help of the organization Breakfast Run, we had the privilege of interacting with the often ignored population of homeless people. In preparation for the event, students dedicated much time and effort into raising money, finding sponsors, and buying and arranging for the appropriate clothing and food to be given out.
After arriving and setting up, a line of people waiting to be served quickly formed. Before the first portion was served one of the gentleman waiting for food hushed the crowd and said, "Dear God, Thank you for sending these people in your name and thank you for the food we are about to receive" There was a wonderful sense of camaraderie as students served, interacted, and spoke with the homeless. More significant than the exchange of items and food was the exchange of understanding and good words between all who participated. |
| SAR Athletics |
Sports Recap 
Girls Varsity Soccer beat Kushner 3-2 when Ally Kahn scored the winning goal. The team's record is 6-2 and they are now getting ready for the playoffs.
Girls JV Soccer team completed their regular season undefeated with an 8-0 record. Congratulations on being division champions.
Congratulations to the Boys Varsity Soccer team, they are also division champions with an 8-0 record, and are looking forward to a successful playoff run.
Boys JV Soccer Team crushed TABC 12-3 on Sunday May 9th. They will start their playoff run very soon. Girls Hockey team defeated Westchester 2-0 on Monday May 9th. They are undefeated with a 7-0 record and await the playoffs.
The Boys Volleyball team has worked hard this season for their 5-2 record. They are tied for first, with one game remaining before they enter the playoffs. The SAR JV boy Softball Team has begun their season with a bang, leading the league with a 3-0 record, after scoring 15, 7 and 14 runs in their first three games. Josh Gurin has earned the victory in each of the games as the staring pitcher. Zach Mandel leads the team with a .667 batting average, and Eli Greenberg has 6 RBIs including a grand slam homerun in a recent victory over TABC. Leadoff hitter Eli Lerea leads the team with a .700 on base percentage. The team next plays at Hillel on Thursday the 13th and closes the regular season with a home double header against MTA on Friday the 14th.
The Boys Varsity Softball team won its first game against JEC on May 2nd, 12-2. The game was highlighted by Ephraim Botwinick's bases loaded triple; he batted three for three in the four-inning mercy-ruled game. Then on May 4th after trailing 7-0 to TABC, they fought back, with an 8-7 defeat. Ezra Freidman drove in the game winning run, and Simeon Ratner delivered two key hits off the bench.
The Girls Softball team beat Ramaz 19-17 on Monday, May 10th. Ariel Gurin had four hits. They are presently undefeated with a 7-0 record, with one game remaining.
The SAR Track Team had a meet at Frisch this past Sunday. They competed against Kushner, Maayanot and Ramaz. Both the girls and the boys took first place. Bradley Goldstein, Ephraim Botwinick, and AJ Varon led the boys; and Ariela Weinberger led the girls. Congratulations. |
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