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Hebrew Academy

 Alumni Association Newsletter

Issue: # 2December 2011
In This Issue
Tamara Fox-Meyerson - Alumni Spotlight Award
Brett Ratner, Special Guest Speaker
From the Desk of Rabbi Wechsler

 

Hebrew Academy

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Tamara Fox-Meyerson 
Alumni Spotlight Award
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Dear Hebrew Academy Alumni,

 

This week, we wish you the brightest of Chanukahs!

 

With hopes that your days and years ahead be filled with everlasting
light - the light of future generations of Hebrew Academy children!

  

Chag Sameach!

Your Hebrew Academy Family

 

 

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Hebrew Academy Highlights and Events

 

Tamara Fox-Meyerson, Class of '88
Being Honored with the Alumni Spotlight Award!
 
The Rabbi Alexander S. Gross Hebrew Academy Tammy Meyersonis excited to announce that Tamara Fox-Meyerson will be receiving the Alumni Spotlight Award at this year's Annual Event, to be held on January 8, 2012.
 
Tamara is President and Chief Executive Officer of Preferred Medical Plan, Inc. ("PMP") of Coral Gables, FL. Established in 1972, PMP is Florida's oldest, independently owned, health maintenance organization. PMP is an industry leader in providing cost-effective and affordable health coverage options for the uninsured and lower-income individuals in South Florida. Since 2005, PMP consistently has been recognized by the South Florida Business Journal as one of the largest health maintenance organizations, one of the 100 largest private companies in South Florida, and one of the largest women-owned businesses in South Florida. During Tamara's tenure as President and CEO, PMP's revenue has grown from $13 million in 1995 to $114 million in 2010. PMP has earned the distinction of being recognized by the prestigious Consumer Report as "topping" the local list of "Best Individual Policy."   Read more... 

 

Our Annual Event Ad Journal is here!

We are excited once again to be placing our ad journal into the Jewish Journal publication as a supplement.

 

For an electronic version, click here...    

 

Mark Your Calendars!

 

Hebrew Academy's 64th Annual Event  

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Join us at our 64th Annual Event! 

 

Annual Tennis Tournament

Monday, February 27, 2012

Contact Robyn Malek at [email protected] for more information!

 

Annual Tennis Tournament

 

 

Save the Dates - 2011-2012

Mark Your Calendars for these exciting events! 

 

 

 

Alumni News 

 

Brett Ratner, Hebrew Academy Alumnus
Alumni in the Spotlight!

Hebrew Academy is known for producingBrett Ratner Pic successful graduates across many professions such as medicine, business, education and even entertainment; therefore, it should come as no surprise that a Hebrew Academy Alum has hit it big in Hollywood (California that is). As a television and film director and producer, Brett Ratner is known for directing the Rush Hour film series, The Family Man, Red Dragon, X-Men: The Last Stand, and Tower Heist and for his role as producer on the Fox drama series, Prison Break.

 

Recently, Mr. Ratner visited his alma mater to speak to Hebrew Academy middle school and high school students. In an inspiring assembly, Mr. Ratner encouraged students to dream big and reach for the stars. He wanted students to know that with a good education and effort anything is possible. Mr. Ratner took questions from students and asked students what they wanted to do later in life. During this question and answer session, Mr. Ratner offered a sixth grader, Yosef Nahon, a job after Yosef shared that he wanted to become an inventor in the field of technology. Yosef kindly replied, "I would need to think about that after I get all of the facts first." Yosef shared, "Mr. Ratner was very inspiring, he told us about how his life went and what he is able to do now. He let us know anything is possible if you just believe."    

 

From the Rabbi...

 

From the Desk of Rabbi Dovid Wechsler
Mashgiach Ruchani - Spiritual Advisor
Talmud Department Chair; Judaics Teacher 2001 - present
 

Shalom Aleichem,

 

            As I sit to write this Dvar Torah I have mixed emotions. I am excited about the opportunity to reconnect with my students from Rabbi Wechsler Picthe past decade, yet apprehensive as I reach out to alumni who might be old enough to be my parents. Please allow me to humbly introduce myself. My name is Dovid Wechsler and I have been teaching at the Academy since 2001 and most recently became the Mashgiach Ruchani- Spiritual Advisor and Talmud Department Chair in the High School. I look forward to this newsletter as a conduit to keep in touch with alumni and as a tool to create an even stronger sense of closeness within the Hebrew Academy family.

 

            The Rambam in the Laws of Chanuka states, "The Mitzva of Chanuka candles is a very much beloved commandment." This is a very unique and rare introduction and it behooves us to explain why the Mitzva of Chanuka is the only such commandment to merit such distinction. Obviously Chanuka is special, however, there are seemingly many more Mitzvot that would appear to be more fundamental to our beliefs and should also be beloved; so why is this introduction made especially by Chanuka?

 

            Before we answer the question, think of the following scenario. An individual has the opportunity to go to a store and purchase a beautiful painting or, through arduous effort, be able to paint the same painting. Which will have more meaning to the person? Unquestionably the painting that he worked on by himself will be more valuable and precious. Similarly we can understand the uniqueness of Chanuka in the same vein. Chanuka was a time that the Jewish people decided to fight for their Judaism and their ability to study Torah and perform Mitzvot. Therefore the miracle and victory of Chanuka and subsequently, the Mitzva of Menorah, was not "only" a commandment from G-d, nor was it "just" a miracle initiated by G-d, rather it was like the difficult painting that the Jews worked on through tremendous effort, thereby making it their own. Perforce, specifically this Mitzva is considered extremely beloved.

 

            I believe this concept is a fundamental lesson to internalize. If you want something to be beloved, it needs to be worked on. Whether it is the importance of family or a good grade in school, the more effort put forth in the endeavor the greater the sense of accomplishment.  In simple terms, great investments yield great dividends. My bracha to everyone this Chanuka is to truly work on our relationship with G-d through Torah and Mitzvot and in this merit may we truly become beloved in His eyes.

 

            Looking forward to hearing from you and sharing good news!

 

Have a happy Chanuka.

 

Rabbi Dovid Wechsler

Mashgiach Ruchani

RASG Hebrew Academy

.

 

 

Simchas This Month 

 

 Mazel Tov!

 

 

Mazel Tov to Alumni
Ariel Grobman
(Class of '04)
on his engagement to
Cynthia Haftel!
 

 

 
 Mazel Tov!

 

 

Mazel Tov to Alumni
Adam Tuchinsky
(Class of '08)
on his engagement to
Penina Messing!
 

 

 
 Mazel Tov!

 

 

Mazel Tov to Alumni
Mollie Sussman
(Class of '08)
on her engagement to
Yossi Davis!
 

 

 
 Mazel Tov!

 

 

Mazel Tov to Alumni
Jonah Zisquit
(Class of '04)
on his engagement to
Reena Levine!
 

 

 
 Mazel Tov!

 

 

Mazel Tov to Alumni
Jordana Friedman
(Class of '08)
on her engagement to
Sam Klein!
 

 

 

Ways to Get Involved 

 

 

Sponsor a Day of Learning

Dedicate a Day of Learning at the Academy, in honor of, or in memory of, a loved one, a friend, a family member, or a member of the Hebrew Acadmey Staff.  Click link above to learn more.

  

Gymnasium Sponsorship Opportunities

The children of Hebrew Academy have dreamt for over 60 years of a home gymnasium. This is our year, our opportunity to make this dream a reality. With your help, these goals will be within our reach: the pride of having our children playing and winning on our own campus, physical education regardless of inclement weather, tournaments, and our alumni coming home. Click link above for gymnasium sponsorship opportunities!

 

 

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