Each month Natan@Ramaz, a committee of Parents Council, organizes a monthly challah segulah program as a way for the Ramaz community to come together for the purpose of tefillot.

A list of names are provided in advance of each Rosh Chodesh when volunteers bake challah at home and pray for a list of people in need.

BAKE WITH US FOR:

Shevat - Parshat Va'eira, Jan 16/17

Adar - Parshat Terumah, Feb 20/21

Nissan - Parshat Vayikra, Mar 20/21

Iyar - Parshat Shemini, April 17/18

Sivan - Parshat Behar-Bechukotai, May 15/16

Tammuz - Parshat Shlach, June 12/13

Please email us at Natan@Ramaz.org to let us know if you will be baking and/or if you would like to submit names for Tefillah. Names will be circulated to our bakers along with directions for separating Challah.

Tizku L'Mitzvot

SHOP & SUPPORT RAMAZ!

Get a Fairway card and support Ramaz with your everyday grocery shopping.

Cards sold in $100 increments can be ordered ONLINE and picked up in the Development Office (Middle School, 114 East 85th Street, 3rd Floor)

For more info or to make other pickup arrangements, please contact Shana Karp

Cards benefit Ramaz Parents Council, can be used at any store location, and do not expire!

NOTE! Fairway contributes 10% of card sales to Ramaz's Parents Council, which in turn supports activities for current students.

GET INVOLVED!

Your Reunion and other Alumni Programs and Initiatives will be enhanced (and more fun!) with your involvement. To help plan an event or to serve on a host committee, please be in touch with Lauren Katz, Director of Alumni Relations, at

alumni@ramaz.org or 212.774.8054.

ALUMNI NEWS &

CLASS NOTES

Please continue to share your smachot, happy occasions, and please know, in times of need we are here for you, too.

EMAIL US to share alumni news and CLICK HERE to submit class notes.

STAY CONNECTED!

QUICK LINKS!

*Ramaz Homepage

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

It's been a great year, thank you for being a part of it!

The Ramaz Alumni community showed strength in numbers at our Alumni Events and Programs.

150 leaders on planning and host committees - thank you!
220 meals ordered for our Spring and Fall Shabbat Dinners
260 professional connections made at our Networking Events
450 graduation photo nametags printed for 4 milestone reunions for the Classes of '64, '69, '74, '79, '84, '89, '94, '99, '04 and '09
900 (almost!) likes on our Facebook page
1000 Ramaz kippot (at least!) distributed at Ramaz alumni events
2000 (or more!) chocolate chip cookies consumed
5,400 alumni welcomed 110 members from the Class of '14

We look forward to 2015 and counting you among the crowd at the Annual Dinner, our upcoming reunions, networking events, community celebrations, and more!

The Alumni Team:
Tamar Gold '09, Lauren Katz, Director, and Ely Winkler

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

ISRAEL BRIEFING EVENT

On Sunday, December 7, the Ramaz Alumni Association, along with KJ Sabbath Salon and AIPAC Young Leadership, hosted an Israel Briefing Event. There were over 120 people in attendance, including over two dozen Ramaz alumni.

Avery Katz '02, Eric Rechtschaffen '02, and Simone Salamon '01

The event provided young professionals with the opportunity to show their support for Israel and to gain a deeper understanding of the U.S.-Israel relationship. Andrew Tabler, an expert on Israel and the Middle East who works for the Washington Institute, gave a presentation on the current state of affairs in Syria and considerations for future political action. Event attendees were encouraged to get involved in AIPAC and to participate in this year's Policy Conference in March in an effort to become more involved in strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship.

Barrie & Avi Ishofsky '93

As Avi Ishofsky '93, Ramaz alumnus and AIPAC YL Chair, shared "It's intuitive for the Ramaz alumni, KJ Sabbath Salon, and AIPAC young leadership community to come together in a meaningful way. As a member of all three communities, it is empowering to be surrounded by so many in support of the safety and security of Israel."

We thank Eric Rechtschaffen '02 event chair, Michael Abramson '09, Arielle Foni '07, Sara Hiltzik '98, Avi Ishofsky '93, Gavriel Kahana '05, Avery Katz '02, Alexandra Levite '06, Simone Salmon '01, Nicole (Molofsky) Strongin '01, and Helene Weissburg '08 for serving on the host committee and for their involvement and leadership in the event.


Alexandra & Gavriel Kahane '05	Naomi & Jared Bernheim '03

Arielle Foni '07 and Ophira Platt '07

To learn more about AIPAC Young Leadership in New York, click here or contact Jason Pressberg, AIPAC Young Leadership Director. For information about Policy Conference Sunday, March 1-3, 2015, click here.

INSIDE THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY

A lot has been happening in the Upper School the past couple of months. Here are some of the highlights...

We kicked off the month of November with the Upper School Open House. Check out the video that was shown that night, which also features some of our Ramaz alumni. It was great to see so many alumni and their children at the Open House.

We were honored when Rabbi Yigal Sklarin, Director of Interdisciplinary Studies and Talmud and Jewish History teacher was awarded the prestigious 2014 Pomegranate Prize from the Covenant Foundation. Click here to view the full article.

The 10th graders are participating in an interdisciplinary course studying about the the Prophet Isaiah whose experience was greatly affected by the Assyrian Empire. Prior to visiting The Met, Professor Shalom Holtz '94, Associate Professor of Bible at Yeshiva University, came to Ramaz to deliver the opening lecture and led a guided tour of the exhibit, "Assyria to Iberia at the Dawn of the Classical Age." Later that day, Shalom met with Upper School Bible faculty to discuss ways to utilize historical knowledge of the Ancient Near East when teaching biblical studies. Prof. Holtz led a 20-minute discussion of methodology and resources and then reviewed a unit in Yirmiyahu that is enhanced by a greater understanding of its Ancient Near Eastern historical background and perspectives.

RAMAZ ANNUAL DINNER

Sunday, January 11, 2015 | 5:00 pm

Marriott Marquis, Times Square, NY

HONORING THREE RAMAZ ALUMNI: Member of Knesset Isaac Herzog '78, The Honorable Judy Harris Kluger '70, and The Honorable Michael B. Mukasey '59.

Click image for more information.

CLASS NOTES

MAZAL TOV TO...

BIRTHS

Alexis Deller Kushner & Ari Kushner '93, on the birth of their son Robert Morris

Susanna Chu & Ariel Adesnik '95, on the birth of their son Caleb

Elissa & Greg Brenner '95, on the birth of their son Theodore James (Chaim Asher), and to grandparents Ruthie (Fisher) Brenner '70 & Ray Brenner

Shira & Daniel Edelstein '95, on the birth of their son Shlomo Yehudah

Katie & Jonathan Schleifer '95, on the birth of their son Owen Patrick and to grandparents Sarah (Rosenberg) Schleifer '67 & Steven Schleifer '67

Lauren (Cohen) Doyle '98 & Noah Doyle, on the birth of their daughter Lindsay Corinne

Allison & Jeffrey Miller '98, on the birth of their son

Debra Turetsky & Adam Verstandig '99, on the birth of their son Caleb Aiden and to grandparents Viviane (Sergold) Verstandig '75 & Steven Verstandig '69

Tzivia Kramer & Shilo Kramer '00, on the birth of their fifth son Chaim Shalom

Nicole (Molofsky) Strongin '01 & Michael Strongin, on the birth of their son Samuel and to grandparents Brenda Kohn '68 & Walter Molofsky

Jessica & Andrew Zinaman '01, on the birth of their son Judah Louis

Shira & Jonathan Waldstreicher '01, on the birth of their son Eli (Eliyahu Zev) and to grandparents Sandi (Ehrlich) Waldstreicher '79 & Stuart Waldstreicher

Allyson Marvin & Yacov Malen '02, on the birth of their daughter Hadas Ziva

Sara Rudolph '02 & Mitchell Hoberman, on the birth of their second daughter Merav Leah

Rivka & Yosef Friedman '04, on the birth of his fourth child Chava Chana and to grandparents Rosie (Gluck) Friedman '68 & Mark Friedman

Eeta (Neiman) Pinewski '04 & Jason Pinewski, on the birth of their son Eli Charles

Sarah (Zweig) Becker '08 & Eitan Becker, on the birth of their daughter Rivka Chana

ENGAGEMENTS

Sarah Nanasi '02, on her engagement to Peter

David Kaufman '04, on his engagement to Annie Zaks

Maury Slevin '04 and Joanna Joels '07, on their engagement

Rebecca Schrag '06, on her engagement to Benjy

Justin Muschel '07, on his engagement to Lea Wohlfarth

Nathan Schwartzberg '08, on his engagement to Sandy Schlesinger

Michelle Sinnreich '08, on her engagement to Avi Snyder

Jacki Bryk '09, on her engagement to Jeff Karsh

Eliana Holm '09, on her engagement to Sam Yamshon

Dara Marans '09, on her engagement to Eric Shapiro

Alexander Izso '10, on his engagement to Ilana Weitzner

Chloe Fein '12, on her engagement to Jonathan Michaelson

WEDDINGS

Debbie (Lookstein) Senders '80 & Shelly Senders, on the marriage of her daughter Tammie Senders to Adam Neuman, and to grandparents Audrey & Rabbi Haskel Lookstein '49

Jennifer Guttman '04, on her marriage to to Ran Ben Shimol, and to grandmother Gilda (Waldman) Guttman '66

Brina Tretin '07, on her marriage to Teddy Stalbow, and to parents Judy (Berkowitz) Tretin '75 & Jeffrey Tretin

KUDOS

Marilynne Kirshbaum '78, on being appointed Professor of Nursing and Head of Nursing, School of Health, Charles Darwin University, Australia

Sonia Taitz '71, on the publication of her recent novel Down Under. For more information, go to www.soniataitz.com

CONDOLENCES TO...

Anna Aschendorf '12 and Rachel Aschendorf '12, on the passing of their grandmother Gladys Aschendorf

Marc Aspis '01 and Jessica Aspis '04, on the passing of their grandmother Lily Friedrich

Atara Berliner (Ramaz MS Faculty), on the passing of her mother Marylin Berliner

Rafi Blumenthal (Ramaz US Faculty), on the passing of his brother Jeremy Blumenthal

Jack Cahn '14 and David Cahn '14, on the passing of their grandfather Max Cahn

Nina Dachs '07, Joshua Dachs '09, and Julia Dachs '12, on the passing of their grandfather Norman Dachs

Perah (Nasser) Dwek '92, on the passing of her mother-in-law Naomi Dwek

Jacob Eisenstein '14, on the passing of his grandmother Lila Silfen

Debbie (Eichler) Ezrapour '75, on the passing of her father Elliot Eichler and to grandchildren Adam Ezrapour '10, Lili Ezrapour '10, and Eliza Ezrapour '13

Feffer Family, on the passing of Amnon Feffer '49

Victoria Ginsberg(MS Faculty), on the passing of her mother Pauline Ginsberg

Emma Handlin '13, on the passing of her grandfather Nathan Handlin

Rachel Huebner '13 and Leora Huebner '14, on the passing of their grandfather Kurt Huebner

Michael Katz '85, on the passing of his father Seymour Katz

Jessica Lerman '08, Rachel Lerman '12 and Jennifer Lerman '12, on the passing of their grandfather Philip Lerman

Michal Lebowitz '00, on the passing of her grandfather Irving Green

Murray Maleh '14, on the passing of his uncle Ezra Shabot

Batsheva (Twersky) Mehl '80, on the passing of her mother Pearl Twersky, and to grandchildren Andrew Mehl '07 and Caroline Mehl '08

Gabriela Tilevitz '09 and Sabina Tilevitz '13, on the passing of their grandmother Irene Moshief

Jordana Pomeranc '03 and Gabriel Pomeranc '11, on the passing of their grandmother Sarah Wax

Carolyn (Silver) Rubin '77, on the passing of her father Alvin Silver and to grandchildren Taire (Rubin) Shraga, Shira (Rubin) Melamed '02, Allison (Libeman) '05 & Yitzy Rubin '05, Michal Rubin Einalhori '07, and

Daniel Rubin '10

Noah Scheinfeld '81, Moses Scheinfeld '83, and Joshua Scheinfeld '86, on the passing of their mother Ellen Scheinfeld

Dana (Scwerdt) Rubinstein '96, Deborah Schwerdt '00 and David Schwerdt '13, on the passing of their grandfather Eliezer Y. Kahan

Abbe Serphos '86, on the passing of her mother-in-law Susan Serphos

Sharone (Hoffer) Snyder '79, Ilana Hoffer Skoff '84, and Liora (Hoffer) Evar '85, on the passing of their father Alexander Hoffer

THE POWER OF COMMUNITY

This month, we are recognizing those alumni who represent this year's theme of the Power of the Ramaz Community. We are proud to share the following list of alumni who have received their rabbinic ordination and are serving their communities in various capacities. They represent the Power of Community.

Irwin Cotler '43

Haskel Lookstein '49

Raphael Arzt '50

Hillel Friedman '50

Manfred Rechtschaffen '50

Daniel Jezer '56

Menachem Feinsod '57

Harris Guedalia '57

Hillel Cohen '59

Leonard Lifshen '59

Henry Sobel '61

Lawrence Grossman '62

Michael Ehrlich '63

Dovid Miller '64

Stephen Steindel '65

Judah Kogen '66

Lavey Derby '68

Samuel Friedman '71

Rena (Halpern) Kieval '71

Lilly Kaufman '72

Allan Friedman '75

Molly Karp '75

Joseph Klausner '75

Benjamin Schafler '76

Jeremy Steinberg '77

Alan Berkowitz '79

David Arfa '79

Alan Stadtmauer '80

Jonathan Lubliner '81

Joshua Berman '82

Adam Ferziger '82

Eli Kavon '82

Paul Shrell-Fox '82

Brian Thau '82

David Rabhan '83

Hayyim Angel '87

Haviva (Krasner) Ner-David '87

Deborah Wechsler '87

Yehuda Hartheimer '87

David Ingber '87

Jeffrey Kobrin '87

Joshua Haft '88

Joshua Lookstein '88

Jonathan Blum '89

David Flatto '89

Shai Held '89

David Lerner '89

Zvi Romm '91

Danielle Upbin-Weizman '92

Martin Hochheimer '92

Jonathan Garfunkel '93

Ethan Tucker '93

Aaron Bayer '94

Gavriel Bellino '94

Eli Ciner '94

Ezra (Friedland-Wechsler) Amichai '94

Yosef Goldman '96

Seth Grauer '96

Aryeh Leifert '96

Daniel Lauchheimer '03

Michael Stein '03

Robert Charnoff '04

Bradley Hercman '04

Please note the list above includes those who have self-identified or have made us are aware of their position as a rabbi. Please help us keep our records accurate. EMAIL US to nominate yourself or someone else to the Campus Leaders list.

RAMAZ: A FOUNDATION FOR LIFE

This school year, Ramaz provided over $6.2M in financial aid, which is 17% over last year. Approximately 26% of the school is receiving some sort of financial assistance. In addition to the financial aid need, Ramaz relies on the generous support of its annual donors to enhance key programs and initiatives that have become core to the Ramaz experience.

Ramaz is fortunate to have over 5,500 alumni who have benefited from their Ramaz experience. The Fall Alumni Appeal is an opportunity for graduates to make a gift to support the next generation of Ramaz alumni.

If each of our 5,500 graduates made a $36 gift, that would result in $198,000 to provide co-curricular and leadership programming in the Upper School.
If each our 5,500 graduates made a $50 gift, that would result in $275,000 to enhance Fine Arts, including Celebration of the Arts and the fall musical.
If each of our 5,500 graduates made a $100 gift, that would result in $550,000 to provide a wide range of athletic opportunities and competitive sports.
If each of our 5,500 graduates made their best and most generous gift...the possibilities are endless.

We hope that before year-end, our alumni will partner with us on fulfilling our mission. Make your gift today.

UPCOMING EVENTS

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS SOCIETY

FASHION NETWORKING EVENT

with Leandra Medine '07

Wednesday, January 28 | 6:30 pm

Program: Presentation and Q&A with Leandra Medine

Event targeted to alumni in the Fashion Industry and related fields.

RSVP by January 22nd by clicking HERE. Space is limited.

HOST COMMITTEE:

CO-CHAIRS: Claire Distenfeld '04 & Sara (Meltzer) Shemia '92;

Rachel (Benishai) Garson '99, Ariel Grun '05, Leora (Platt) Mishaan '96, Caroline Hedaya Rahmey '01, Ariane Mandel '93, and Lisa Safdieh '98

GET INVOLVED IN UPCOMING EVENTS

EMAIL US if you'd like to get involved in planning any of the following events:

NETWORKING EVENTS

REAL ESTATE
LAW
MARKETING/PR/ADVERTISING
MEDICINE

SPRINGTIME SOCIAL

MILESTONE REUNIONS

10, 15, 20 YEAR REUNION | CLASSES OF '05, '00, '95

Saturday Evening, February 7, 2015 | 8:00 pm

Ramaz Upper School

Cocktails, Hors D'Oeuvres, and Dessert

Guests Welcome

$36.00 Suggested Gift

RSVP by January 29: www.ramaz.org/reunion2015

Reunion Journal due January 19: www.bit.ly/febreunion

'05 HOSTS: Harry Baumgarten, Stephanie (Franco) Biselman, Aliza (Berkowitz) Black, Jordana Fruchter, Sam Goldberg, Ariel Grun, Margot (Schacter) Marans, Moshe Neiman, Alison (Liebman) & Yitzy Rubin

'00 HOSTS: David Fridman, David Greenbaum, Aaron Krawitz, Daniella (Kahane) Levy, Emily (Scharfman) Menchel, Elizabeth (Goldman) Schilowitz, Abigail (Zausmer) Weiss

'95 HOSTS: Jennifer (Schleider) Cubell, Adam Dayan, Evan Farber, David Kaufthal, Emil Kleinhaus, Jessica Kobrin-Bernstein, Benjamin Lebwohl, Tova (Shudofsky) Levine, Stephanie Minkove, Lisa Sopher-Deutsch, Davida (Friedman) Yehaskel

30 and 40 YEAR REUNION | CLASSES OF '85 and '75

Saturday evening, March 7, 2015 | 8:30 pm - DATE CHANGE!

Ramaz Middle School

'85 HOSTS: Victoria (Lindenbaum) Feder, Toby Lazarus, Jared Markowitz, and Robin (Askowitz) Rochlin

'75 HOSTS: Ethan Heisler, Steven Kessler, Dina Markson, Lu Steinberg, Judy (Berkowitz) Tretin, and Phil Wilner

EMAIL US to join your milestone reunion Host Committee.

50 and 60 YEAR REUNION | CLASSES OF '65 and '54 & '55

Sunday, May 3, 2015 | 11:30 am - DATE CHANGE!

EMAIL US to join your milestone reunion Host Committee.

5 YEAR REUNION | CLASS OF '10

Thursday, June 11, 2015 | 7:00 pm

The Terrace | Ramaz Upper School

HOSTS: Charlene Lerner, Rachel Marcus, Raquel Moffson,

Talya Presser, Daniel Robbins, Ethan Stein

EMAIL US to join your milestone reunion Host Committee.

25 YEAR REUNION | CLASS OF '90

Saturday, November 14, 2015

HOSTS: Seth Ader, Dahlia (Krukofsky) Bellows, Nicole (Boyarsky) Fisher, Dana (Chipkin) & Matthew Hiltzik, Roni Kahanowicz, Ilana (Klein) Kahn, David Kaplan, Caroline (Arfa) Massel, Norah Mazar, Dov Nelkin,

Adam Scheer, PJ (Tanz) Slomovitz, Rachel Stone, Sara (Messeloff) Tanz, and Talya Toledano

EMAIL US pictures to include in a memories slideshow.

NEW YORK AREA

FAMILY FUN DAY

May 17, 2015 | TBD

CELEBRATE ISRAEL PARADE | AFTER PARTY

May 31, 2015 | TBD

HEAD OF SCHOOL UPDATE

Tuesday, December 23, 2014 | 1 Tevet 5775

As we head into the school's winter break, we want to provide you with an update on our activities and progress relating to the Head of School search.

Since we last communicated with you, our consultants at the YU School Partnership (YUSP) have spent countless hours meeting with key Ramaz stakeholders, including Faculty Council, Parents Council, senior administrators, Charter Trustees, and the Board, to gain a broad and robust understanding of the school's needs. The Trustees and Search Committee have used the data collected to develop interview protocols and create the Ramaz Head of School Opportunity Statement, which has been made available on our website, in print and online employment advertisements, and during one-on-one meetings with potential candidates.

This search has been multi-pronged, using a mix of traditional recruitment practices, as well as creative marketing strategies, to ensure we are meeting with the top candidates around the country. To date, we have made a lot of progress in identifying and meeting with excellent people.

As we continue the initial round of meetings, our next phase will involve more in-depth evaluations of our most promising candidates. We expect the next rounds of meetings to be even more inclusive of key school constituents. At this point, we hope you can appreciate our need to respect the privacy of our candidates and limit sharing their personal details.

We are deeply appreciative of all the important insight and guidance the community has offered us, and we look forward to updating you again soon.

On behalf of the search committee,

Jacob W. Doft '87

Chairman of the Board

The Ramaz School Alumni Association | 212.774.8054 | alumni@ramaz.org | www.ramaz.org/alumni

114 East 85th Street | New York, NY 10028