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September 14, 2012 Parshat Nitzavim
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All my friends want to know, "What's Houston like?" After explaining that I haven't seen a single person wearing a ten gallon hat, boots and brandishing a revolver, I of course explain that "Everything is Bigger in Texas" (how many 10 lane highways can one city have?). Then I focus on what has truly moved me about this state.
State flags, Lone Stars and maps of Texas are everywhere. Most New Jerseyans or Floridians couldn't pick their flag out of a line up, and car dealerships don't fly mammoth state banners. Outside of Texas, people don't have the state symbol painted on their curb in front of their house or hung proudly above their garage.
Being proud about who you are and showing it publicly is a deeply Jewish value. It's not just about externals like head coverings, tzitzit and Jewish names, it's about a worldview. "Asher bachar banu mikol am"- G-d has chosen us to spread monotheism, ethics and values.
The Republican and Democratic Conventions were replete with patriotism. Many of the speeches were uplifting because they expressed a belief in our unique country and the leadership role our "medinat chesed" (a beneficent country, as Rav Moshe Feinstein called it) plays in the world. It is inspiring to feel that we are part of something greater than ourselves.
Because our education teaches us to be critical thinkers, we often focus on shortcomings and not on strengths. This week's 9/11 anniversary elicited memories of a period when Americans focused on our nation's strengths. We were "Proud to Be an American." Having an American flag flying from your car window in 2001 didn't seem corny- it felt good.
We should be just as proud about our school! RMBA is a great school. RMBA made Jews worldwide walk a little taller this year as we stood up for Shabbat. RMBA provides a great and varied academic program, has a peerless Hebrew language department, engenders a true love of Israel, and brings together a diverse parent body united in their desire for a traditional Jewish education for their children. RMBA is a place where teachers truly care for students.
This year, let us resolve to focus on the good. We are truly privileged to be Jews, Americans, Texans, and members of the RMBA family. We, our families and our community will be happier in the New Year if we regularly remind ourselves and our friends how privileged we are. 
The Beren Buzz will appear next on Erev Yom Kippur.
Shabbat Shalom & Ktiva V'Chatima Tova,
Rabbi Perry Tirschwell
Executive Director
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The Robert M. Beren Academy family wishes you and yours a happy and healthy New Year. We look forward to a meaningful year watching the wonderful students at RMBA grow and flourish.
Shana Tova U'Metukah
RMBA Will Be Closed
Monday, September 17
Tuesday, September 18
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Candlelighting Times
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Shabbat
Friday 7:11 p.m.
Havdalah: 8:12 p.m.
Rosh Hashana
Sunday Night 7:08 p.m.
Havdalah Tuesday 8:06 p.m.
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Support RMBA
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RMBA Target Code: 16389
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Middle School Retreat
video by Rabbi Aaron Levitt
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 | | RMBA Middle School Retreat Fall 2012 |
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Middle School Retreat by 8th grader Zack Pokroy
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 | | Zack Pokroy |
Hello!
Zack Pokroy here, we just got back from a great Middle School retreat at camp Cho-Yeh. The retreat consisted of all 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.
This retreat had tons of sports activities! We played basketball, dodgeball, football, ultimate frisbee, table tennis, and even water polo! It was great getting to know all the kids and how well they can play these sports. One activity we had was to wash a car, one for the boys and one for the girls. We all made funny beards from the soap.
The food was unbelievable! I think that it was like restaurant food. Mealtime is always a good bonding time. During lunch, I stood up and told a Dvar Torah on what  | Camp Cho-Yeh
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we were learning in Mr. Borenstein's class and it was fun getting everyone involved.
The bonding during our retreat was a good way to kick off the year. I think the 6th graders got a really fun introduction into middle school. We all had inside jokes, played sports, talked, and chatted at night. One inside joke we had was a game called "sheep". Basically, whoever is playing will sit in a circle and then pucker their lips and say sheep. If you laugh or show your teeth you are out.
This being the last time we 8th graders will be on a middle school retreat, I hope we made it as fun as possible for the 6th and 7th graders and were good role models for them. (No need to worry anymore, parents of 6th and 7th graders!)
Thanks for listening, hope to write again soon,
Zack Pokroy
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RMBA Alumnus
Runs For Knesset
Ari Abramowitz Makes Front Page News!
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Click on the article above to read the whole story in the Jewish Herald Voice
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Beren Students Speak Up
by Arielle Wadler
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We surveyed Beren's high school students about two things close to their hearts- Rosh Hashanah and pop music!
What's On Your Playlist
Teenage pop music is sweeping the nation!
Next Year I Want To...
These are our student's resolutions for this new year!
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A Message about Strep Throat
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There have been a number of RMBA students who have recently been diagnosed with strep throat.
Please be aware of the following symptoms:
Fever Red throat, sometimes with white patches Sore throat
Headache Stomach pain or Nausea Chills
Loss of appetite Swollen lymph nodes in the neck Difficulty swallowing
If your child has any of these symptoms, please take him/her to the doctor to be examined. We do not have the ability to diagnose strep throat in the RMBA clinic.
Please do not send children to school who are experiencing the above symptoms. We are trying very hard to stop the spread of this bacteria in our school community.
If your child has been diagnosed with strep throat and is being treated with antibiotics, please wait until they have been taking the antibiotics for 24 hours before sending them back to school. They remain contagious until that 24 hour mark has passed.  Remember - hand washing is always the best way to reduce the spread of germs and infection!
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy New Year,
Aliza Stern RMBA Nurse
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Students Commemorate 9/11
article by sophomore Lilly Gelman
picture by senior Cassie Gonzales
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This week, the high school had a program to remember the tragic events of September 11th, 2001. While most RMBA students are too young to remember it, these programs always make the day meaningful. September 11th is a day to elicit the grief and relive a part of the pain that was caused by this tragedy. The school always makes sure that we really feel the emotions of this day.
This year we did not just remember the lost lives and great sacrifices that many people made on that day, but we also focused on the bigger picture. We discussed the everlasting effect that this day had on our nation. We talked about the fear that was brought about by this day. The fear of people that are different than us, and the fear of another attack. We considered the new rules and laws that were put in place to prevent a calamity like this from ever happening again.
Instead of just focusing on the sorrow, we also focused on the light at the end of the tunnel. September 11th was a monumental day in out nation's history. It is a day that we, as a people, will never forget. In lieu of wallowing in the sadness, we picked ourselves up off the ground and showed the world that America was not a nation to be forgotten. We are still just as strong, and if not, even stronger.
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Sho-far, So Good by senior Yoni Lipski
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Beren Academy students had many run-ins with shofars this week!
 | Sheldon Bootin, experienced tokeia, gave the upperclassman boys
a lesson on how to pick the right shofar and use it correctly! |
 | | Arie Berti (5th Grade) blowing the shofar! |
 | High School boys try their hands (and mouths) at blowing the shofar!
From left to right: Albert Katz (12th), Drayton Ratcliff (11th), Josh Hakakian (12th),
Yossi Hoffman (12th), Eliad Binjamin (11th), Yoni Schiff (11th), Rabbi Asher Block |
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Chess Club Grades 1 - 5
RMBA Chess Club Begins in a Week & a Half
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Benefits of Playing Chess
1. It raises your IQ
2. It helps prevent Alzheimer's
3. It exercises both sides of the brain
4. It increases your creativity
5. It improves your memory
6. It increases problem-solving skills
7. It improves reading skills
8. It improves concentration
9. It grows dendrites - the tree-like branches that conduct signals from other neural cells into the neurons to which they are attached
10. It teaches planning and foresight
Begins Monday, September 24
Registration Deadline Thursday, September 20
Click HERE for more information and to download the registration form
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Sign Up For After School Sports!
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Separate Elementary and Middle School classes
 Wednesdays 4:00-5:15 PM September 12 at RMBA
Click HERE for more information
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Great New Year, Great New Upper School Teachers
by junior Rebecca Kerzner
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Mrs. Rebecca Spears
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Mrs. Rebecca Spears
Contrary to popular opinion, Mrs. Spears is not related to the oh-so- famous Britney. She actually hates being compared to Britney and ONLY listens to her "music" when it happens to be on the radio.
Her favorite book right now is a book of poetry called Radial Symmetry by Katherine Larson and she recommends it to everyone
She loves Beren so far and this is her first job at a private academy!
Mrs. Geula Gross
Favorite thing about geometry: looking at shapes and figuring out surface areas and then comparing that knowledge to all the beautiful architecture in the world.
She likes to listen to Israeli music and jazz.
She loves to garden!
Mr. John Quinn
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Mr. John Quinn
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When he was at college, he got to meet Willy Martin, a famous author at that time, and helped him edit an application for Oxford College!
His middle name is Patrick.
He listens to all different types of music depending on what mood he's in.
Mr. Matt Loftis
He says Beren is much nicer than the high school he went to. Point for Beren!
He has a ponytail which his wife trims for him every couple of weeks. (Cool ponytail- point for Mr. Loftis)
Loves how statistics relate to every kind of science out there.
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Mr. Todd Guthrie
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Mr. Todd Guthrie
His favorite science is astronomy.
He is a HUGE Star Wars fan and still has all the toys and action figures.
He loves Beren's small class-sizes and the personal attention he gets to give to students.
Mrs. Elisheva Levitt
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Mrs. Elisheva Levitt
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She is flattered that students have been comparing her to Mrs. Segal. She says, "she is awesome and I am very honored to be compared to her. I just hope I can live up to her!"
Favorite food: Shepherds pie, a very good English dish.
She is loving her girls' Halacha class and can't wait to see how it turns out :)
Wow, our teachers some fun and interesting people. Stop by to say hi and welcome them to our school!
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PTO Corner
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Please fill out a PTO payment form before putting your money in the PTO box. The forms are conveniently located right by the box!
Hot pitas and challahs are delivered to our school every Friday. Orders are taken before Wednesday at noon. Click HERE for order form. PTO would like to thank all the families that have participated in the Entertainment Book Sales this year! The sale has ended and all sample books bust either be paid for or returned to the office in new condition. Any damaged books cannot be returned and must be paid for. The cost of the book is $30.00: please make checks payable to RMBA PTO.
Thank you to our newest members:  Bublil Family Chorn Family Levitt family Morgenstern Family Gross Family Lemeshev Family Schneider Family Carol Alterman
We wish the entire RMBA family a happy and healthy New Year.
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RMBA Featured in B'Nai B'Rith Magazine
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Click HERE to read about RMBA and Houston in the Fall 2012 B'nai B'rith Magazine.
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Good & Welfare
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Mazel Tov to Ilana Pollack ('05) and Levi Grosser on their engagement! Mazal Tov to Ilana's parents Morah Judy, our beloved lower school Judaic teacher, and Gedalyah Pollack on this wonderful simcha.  Mazal Tov to Jordana and Ian White on the birth of a baby boy this past week. Mazal Tov as well to big brother, Brayden (EC3). We wish the White family a lifetime of nachat from their children.
Your news is our news!
Please send your announcements to buzz@berenacademy.org so that we may include them!
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Buy Challah & Support the Seniors
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ROSH HASHANA IS IN 2 DAYS!
WE'RE STILL BAKING FRESH CHALLOT!
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLACE AN ORDER,
Call 832-859-0186
(we can take orders as late as midnight Saturday)
ALL PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT THE SENIOR CLASS TRIP TO ISRAEL
WE HAVE REGULAR, CHOCOLATE CHIP, AND APPLE CHALLOT. THE PRICE IS $7/each OR 4 FOR $25. |
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Lower School Rosh Hashana
by sophomores Hersh Bootin and Tai Miller
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 | | Ben Luchins (EC18) |
I don't know what you parents are doing to prepare for Rosh Hashanah this year, but I can assure your kids in lowe  | | Avi Moses (5th) |
r school will be fully prepared for the New Year. All this preparation has gotten them really psyched for the Chag.
From EC18 to fifth grade, all the classes are do ing hands-on learning about the holiday. This includes in-class art pro
jects, plays, and other fun activities. Avi Moses (5th), said "we are writing to our parents, wishing them a good year and thanking them for everything they do for us." The fourth grade is performing a play about the various foods we eat on Rosh Hashanah. "We even got to make our own costumes for the play!" said Natanya and Ariella Rubin.
 | | Liel Vaknin (K) |
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Elana Yanowitz (EC2)
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After interviewing many of the lower school students, it is clear to me that, as the holidays approach, their excitement only inflates. They are most excited to dip the apples in the honey. However, exclaimed Ezra Miller, "I am excited to use all of the projects I made in class," obviously trying to help enhance his and his family's holiday experience. I hope all of your kid's, brother's, and sister's excitement rubs off on you and I wish you all a Chag Sameach! |
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The Paradox by senior Daniella Saghian
|  Rosh Hashanah is a paradox. From one point of view, it is a day of celebration. We wish each other a sweet new year, eat apples dipped in honey, and enjoy festive clothes and special foods. On the other hand, it is the Day of Judgment, a fearful day in which our fate is written in either the book of life or the book of death.
Even more puzzling, the holiday is one of the Ten Days of Repentance -- and yet, the prayers of Rosh Hashanah mention nothing about repentance. So, is Rosh Hashanah a day of repentance, or not?
On Rosh Hashanah, we are being judged for our behavior this past year, so why is there a lack of repentance days coming before the Day of Judgment? And why are we judged on the first day of the new year? Wouldn't a judgment day at the end of the previous year be more appropriate? Why are we celebrating the new year with a trial?
Every holiday in the Jewish year has a certain spiritual energy and potential which are responsible for creating the holiday. In essence, every year we travel through the cycle of holidays and come again to that same point in time, and to that same event which happened on this date. On Rosh Hashanah, we enter into the primal event of pre-creation once again, that time before all time began. There is a planning anew of the world. We don't exist in the past at all because there is no past on this day; the world has not been created yet!
This idea is intensified by our previous questions. Why is there no repentance on this day? No regret, no mention of sins?
It's because there is no past to regret and repent for! Today we are created from scratch with an empty slate. The focus on Rosh Hashanah is on God's reign, on God's renewal of His kingdom for another year. God judges His world and the creatures within it on this day, determining their worthiness of existence and their status and circumstances for the new year.
Since this judgment is not based on our past, what then is it based on? How does God decide whether we are signed in the Book of Life?
On Rosh Hashanah we are expected to have an ambitious plan illustrating our desire to take an active part in the Hashem's supreme kingdom in the coming year. And this is what the judgment is based on.
Removing ourselves from our past limitations, we reach for the stars and visualize ourselves as new beings involved in a new and ambitious plan for reaching our ultimate destiny. Thus, on Rosh Hashanah we have the ability to sign ourselves into the Book of Life for the coming year.
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Beauty, the Beast & Beren
by sophomores Roni Buchine and Lilly Gelman
|  This year's drama society has started off with a bang! Laura (Mitzner) Paletz ('08) and Mrs. Bryant, co directors of this year's play, Beauty and the Beast, have created a new drama "society" to emphasize the importance of all the crew members. This year, positions like "Prop Manager" and "Producer" are now available. This idea attracted many new freshmen to audition for the play, not just for the cast, but for the new and improved crew positions. There has already been a gargantuan amount of auditions for the play. Also new this year is the musical component of drama. Not only is Beauty and the Beast a great love story, but it also has many great musical numbers to go with it, so our daring Beren students will sing for the captivated audience. Callbacks have taken place as well and our new cast and crew are hopefully up for the challenge this year's play has to offer.
The complete list of cast and crew members is the following:
Belle - Lilly Gelman. Amelie/Cherie - Sara Shkedy. Bridgette/Tasse - Gabrielle Ronn. Claire/Glacie - Sharon Ben-Hamo. Beast - Josh Hakakian. Gaston - Roni Buchine (me!) LeFou - Neal Taibel. Lumiere - Elisheva Teigman. Phillipe/Portmanteau - Michael Rosen. Cogsworth - Chana Gitel (Nonnie Sinoff). Mrs. Potts - Rebecca Kerzner. Chip - Rebecca Stock. Enchantress/Monsieur D'Arque - Samantha Aikens. Burnadette the bookseller/Fourchette - Ariel Wadler. Monsieur Stove/Baker - Eliad Benjamin. Wardrobe - Lauren Mueller. Featherduster - Gabi Elfezouaty. Maurice - Yoni Lipski. Marie/Cuillere - Ilana Lashak. Elise (Bimbette) - Daniella Saghian. Elodie (Bimbette) - Eliana Sinoff. Emilie (Bimbette) - Shirley Lipski. Couteau - Anabella Berti. Assiette - Melissa Stock. Cuvette - Raizy Adler
Yearbook Liason - Cassie Gonzales. Stage Managers - Shayna Guttman and Tehilla Teigman. Student Producers - Ilana Lashak, Lauren Mueller, Sharon Ben-Hamo, Chana-Gitel Sinoff, Mecah Levy and Sarah Grzebinski. Prop Masters - Rebecca Stock and Gabrielle Ronn. Set design Managers - Zevy Yanowitz, Gabi Elfezouaty and Ilana Lashak. Backstage Lead Tech Guy - Mecah Levy. Makeup Artists - Anabella Berti, Melissa Stock and Raizy Adler
Congratulations to Cast and Crew!
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The Beren Buzz Staff
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Yoni Lipski Student Editor
 | | Yoni Lipski |
Contributors: Cassie Gonzales, Yoni Schiff, Sam Gelman, Yossi Hoffman, Zach Yoshor, David Hadar, Josh Hakakian, Ariel Wadler, David Palla, Daniella Saghian, Eliana Sinoff, Rebecca Kerzner
Samantha Steinberg Staff Editor
Rabbi Perry Tirschwell Executive Director
Questions? Suggestions? Reach us at buzz@berenacademy.org
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