SKAppenings
Parshat Mishpatim
26 Shevat 5769
February 20, 2008
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A Message from Mrs. Spirn
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We are excited to welcome our many 8th grade applicants as
they spend time observing classes and feeling the special energy and warmth of
SKA. We were thrilled to host over 110 girls two weeks ago for our interactive
and creative program and were amazed by the "electricity" created by our huge
crowd. We look forward to many of our guests enrolling at SKA and spending the
next four years growing together as part of the Class of 2013!
Kudos to those 11th graders who presented an exciting and
informative Election Assembly and educated us all about the various political
parties in Israel!
Hatzlacha rabba to our Choir members who will participate in
an Interschool Choir Competition this Monday evening!
The entire school is buzzing about the SKA Tisches to be held
at the Schreier (Grades 9 and 10) and Wernick (Grades 11 and 12) homes. I am
sure that the ruach, the achdut and the food will be memorable as we all
anticipate a special Shabbos experience with teachers and friends.
We have been honored to participate in the B'lev Echad 8 for 8
mitzva campaign, in memory of the kedoshim killed at Yeshivat Mercaz Harav one
year ago. Our students are focused on their personal growth as they participate
in daily activities designed to improve their midot and commitment to Torah.
Keep up the good work!
I hope to see many of you at the tisch tonight!
Let's hope it's not too cold!
Here's to an inspirational Shabbos where we
feel a strong sense of achdut and family!
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Israel Elections at SKA
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 As the Israelis went to the
polls, the Eleventh Grade members of the SKA Reut Honor Society under the guidance
of Mrs. Sheila Liebtag, educated the students at SKA about voting in Israel. "Vote Green!" "Listen to your Ima and vote
for Kadima!" "If Likud, We Would!" These were the cheers heard all around SKA during
the week prior to February ninth, when the students had the unique opportunity
to learn about what numerous Israeli parties stand for.
The Honor Society members
represented ten different parties, which they researched before the campaigning
began. Each group then prepared flyers which were "plastered" around the
building ("Israeli style") and a two-minute presentation for the entire
school's benefit. The presentations included information about the different
parties and their positions on crucial issues, such as terror and religion. Students
further learned about Israeli politics in their history and Ivrit classes.
The program, which was part
of the Irving and Toni Rosen Israel Studies & Program, was held on the day
before the actual Israeli elections. Each group introduced its party as if they
were part of a TV news broadcast.
Whether it was by dressing up and singing, preparing a skit, or creating
a slideshow, each group created an exciting and informative way to address
SKA's students.
After the presentations, the
students voted and when the votes were tallied, the winner was revealed... LIKUD!
A special thanks to Mrs. Leibtag, Mrs. Antman, Mrs. Rotenstein, and Mrs.
Bindiger for participating with the girls in this exciting program!
Written by: Penina Wein
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B'Lev Echad
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 Throughout this
past week, the girls at SKA have been participating in a program called "B'Lev
Echad" to commemorate the eight victims killed a year ago at Yeshivat Merkaz
HaRav Kook . Each day for eight days, the entire school focuses on a different
middah or mitzvah l'iluy haNeshama of one of the eight kedoshim who perished at Merkaz HaRav. The actions and learning of that
day are dedicated to the boy and what he stood for giving the students an
opportunity to learn about the victims of Merkaz HaRav and to feel accomplished
by working on a different mitzvah daily. Hakarat HaTov, Tzedaka, Self
Improvement and Kibbud Av V'Em are some of the middot that have been
presented. For K'dushat Shabbat, there
will be a Friday night tisch at the Schreier home and at the Wernick home in Woodmere. The program will conclude on
Tuesday, Rosh Chodesh Adar , the yahrzeit of these boys, when SKA will join via
satellite the hachnassa of eight sifrei Torah being dedicated to Mercaz haRav
in memory of the young men. Written by: Rebecca Konigsberg
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8th Grade Applicants Experience the
Museum of Natural Kindness
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150 eighth grade applicants came to SKA
on Thursday February 5th to enjoy the The Museum of Natural Kindness
presented by the tenth grade. The sophomores enjoyed practicing the skits,
which were a huge success at last year's Shabbaton. Tour guides, curators,
statues and actresses displayed this unique museum beautifully. The
8th graders had a meaningful and fun day, while recognizing the
importance of "Yehi Kavod Chavercha Chaviv Alaich K'Shelach." Thank you so much
to Miss Aeder for all her help!
Written by:
Deborah Watman
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Rabbi Paysach Krohn Speaks at SKA
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Rabbi Paysach Krohn joined SKA on February 18th
as part of the SKA Lecture Series. He spoke to students, alumni, parents, and
faculty about the importance of "Emes/Truth" explaining how crucial it is to
speak only the truth for one never knows who is watching and how ones words can make a lasting
impression on someone else. He told stories about how honest small acts, such
as returning extra change to the cashier, can produce a great Kiddush Hashem. He
shared personal experiences with the audience and in his usual inspiring manner, he left everyone with beautiful and important ideas to think about. Special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Eli Salig for sponsoring the shiur in memory of Eli's parents Julius and Margot Salig. Written by: Sam Selesny |
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TZEMACH
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The Freshmen enjoyed
a special Fashion Show as part of a wonderful Tzemach program, on Wednesday,
February 18th. A number of students and Dr. Meier were dressed in atypical
clothing and wore paper bags upon their heads to hide their true identities. The
models included a rebbetzin, a basketball player, a stylish mom, a " hippie"
and an elegant lady in a long gown. The girls in the audience were asked how
they judged each model's personalities and interests based on their
appearances. The models then revealed who they were and spoke about how their
outfits effected the way they acted and felt. Follow up sessions included
readings and discussions about how we dress and how it impacts others. A special thanks to Mrs. Segal for
coordinating such a meaningful and thought provoking event!
Written by: Ariella Bortz and Rikki Lewis
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Rachel Factor Performs at SKA
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A dancer from
Sha'arei Chesed, in Yerushalayim? Who
was born in Hawaii?
On Friday February 6th, the SKA
auditorium was jam-packed with excitement as Rachel Factor, a former rockette
who grew up in Honolulu
as a gentile and became a giyoret, visited SKA.
Always feeling out of place in the world,
Mrs. Factor eventually crossed paths with Judaism and was instantly drawn to
it. Through exploring Judaism further, she discovered that she could follow her
dreams of dancing while remaining a devout Jew. Mrs. Factor, who lives in Eretz
Yisrael with her family and teaches
dance and song to women and young girls, told her truly inspiring story and left the SKA girls in an elevated mood on Erev Shabbos!
On Monday, February 9th, the
girls in the dance troupe of SKA's Production met privately with Mrs. Factor who
spoke to the dancers about her journey to Judaism and how dance impacted her
journey. She taught them her favorite hip-hop combination and told the girls how she feels when free-styling
to lyrical music. As the girls danced to
her instructions, she explained to them the importance of going after one's
dreams, and being able to do so while remaining dedicated to a Torah life.
Written by
Rachel Eskowitz, Rivka Holzer and Amanda Cooperberg
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Moreshet Aviva
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Last Motzei Shabbos, the twelfth grade
girls met up in West Hempstead to begin the
Moreshet Aviva program of the night. There was a surprise trip to Wal- Mart for
a scavenger hunt. Since the theme of the month was "Zrizut", each group had to find certain items in the
shortest amount of time that related to a specific pasuk. The girls had a great
time spending Motzei Shabbos together while understand the concept of "zrizut."
Written by: Liron Eiger and Jordana Wernick
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Soup Kitchen Visit
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Twenty five
girls from the ninth, eleventh, and twelfth grades went to Manhattan on Wednesday, February 11th
to volunteer at a soup kitchen. The students brought in a variety of canned foods
which they cooked and served to the hungry residents. The students socialized
with the members and left smiles on all
their faces. The girls felt accomplished after having done such a beautiful
chessed! It was truly a great day!
Written by: Shayna Frankel
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Mock Trial
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Over the past
few months the SKA Mock Trial Team has been hard
at work. The girls have attended after school and Sunday
morning practices for months preparing for the highly anticipated trials
that took place over the past few weeks. They played against Rambam and Holy Trinity.
Although they were well prepared, the SKA Team
unfortunately lost.
We thank you all
for your team spirit and your tremendous effort and we are very proud of your
accomplishments. Thank you to Mr. Zucker and Ms. Statman for coaching the team.
Written by: Rachel Nussbaum and Ariella Beitler
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A Visit to the YU Seforim Sale
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Once again, many SKA students took advantage of the annual YU "Sefarim Sale." The girls enjoyed dinner at SKA and then made
the trip up to Washington Heights to peruse the sefarim and make
purchases to build their personal libraries. We know that all of the girls' purchases will
be put to good use in the near future! Thank you to Ms. Adina Borg for
accompanying the girls.
Written by: Erica Leibman
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Torah U'Madda Week at Stern College
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Mrs. Gross and a number of her AP
Biology students went to Stern College on Thursday, February 12th
to hear Rav Yaakov Kleiman lecture on
"The DNA Connection: Modern Jews and Ancient Hebrews. " Rav Kleiman is the
Director of the Center for Kohanim in Jerusalem and Cohen-Levi.org. The lecture was
one of a series of presentations given at Stern College during Torah U'Madda Week. The
girls, who had just covered topics on DNA in class, learned about the
transmission of the "Jewish gene" and how our forefathers' voyages impacted
this. Mrs. Gross and her students were also fortunate to drive Rav Kleiman home,
thereby getting an extra dose of his brilliance and insights on biology and
Torah.
Written by: Erica Leibman
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Lilmod Ulelamed
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Our Lilmod Ule'lamed shiurim will continue this Tuesday, February 24th. Mrs. Avigail Shmulewitz will begin her series on "Themes in Megillat Esther" in Room 109. Her shiur will begin at 12:00 PM and will last for about 50-60 minutes.
Rabbi Danny Eisenbach, SKA Mashgiach Ruchani, will continue teaching his shiurim on Chovot Halevavot (Duties of the Heart), a classic mussar sefer written by R. Bachya ben Joseph ibn Paquda. His classes will precede the Lilmod Ule'lamed shiurim and will start at 11:10 AM on Tuesday. R. Eisenbach's shiur will conclude in time for those who would also like to attend Mrs. Shmulewitz's class. For those who will attend both shiurim, there will be a coffee break in between.
This 3 week series (2/24, 3/3, 3/17) is being sponsored by Mrs. Debbie Benedict in memory of her beloved father, Nash Kestenbaum, a"h. whose yahrzeit is on Gimmel Adar. May his neshama have an alyiah!
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HALB's 54th Annual Dinner |
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Ms. Chambre on her engagement
to Oren Wachstock
Aviva Schiffmiller '06 on
her engagement to Yoni Weinberg
Chani Schonbrun '04 on her
marriage to Menachem Yondorf
Batsheva Waltuch '05 on her
marriage to Reuven Gross
Pamela Young Zelcer '06 on the birth of a baby boy
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SKAppenings Staff
Writing Editors:
Liron Eiger
Rachel Klein
Erica Liebman
Shayna Nordlicht
Alex Spitz
Jordana Wernick
Technology Editors:
Mrs. Estie Bryk
Rachel Herzberg
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