The Seniors had their first Moreshet Aviva program on Motzei Shabbos, in memory of our beloved graduate, Aviva bat Emanuel V'Rachel a"h. They enjoyed a preslichos get together at the home of Mrs. Ralbag. Mrs. Kobre, Mrs. Ralbag, and a few of our fellow classmates delivered moving words of Torah in reference to the powers of Tefillah. The Divrei Torah inspired everyone to have a more meaningful davening, especially during this most important time of year. Of course, there was pizza and ice cream too! We all enjoyed this meaningful experience and look forward to working on the next "middah of the month!" 

This past Thursday, September 25th, we welcomed renowned lecturer, Ms. Chevie Garfinkel to SKA. Ms. Garfinkel infused great energy into our school, preparing us spiritually for the upcoming holidays. She helped move us forward in pursuing and attaining real teshuva. With her amazing outlook on life, she motivated both students and teachers to examine the previous year and make their upcoming year even better. She taught us what it means to forgive and be forgiven. With her meaningful words, we will hopefully be zoche to a sweet new year. Thanks so much Ms. Garfinkel for the amazing and uplifting shuir!

On Wednesday night before Rosh Hashanah, close to four hundred parents, students, and alumnae gathered at SKA to hear inspiring words of Torah from Mrs. Aviva Feiner. Mrs. Feiner did not have children for over eleven years, and just last year, she was zoche to give birth to her first child. However, her son was born terribly ill and had problems that even the best doctors couldn't name. However, it was her emunah in Hashem that her son would be healed that brought her to where she is now, speaking in public, inspiring thousands of people around the globe.

Rebbetzin Feiner's drasha really helped put everyone into the right mindset for Rosh Hashanah. She started off by stating that at the end of every year, Hashem compiles a list, summarizing all of the events from the previous year. She said that if we had the ability to have that list on Rosh Hashanah before everything happened, we would daven much harder and with more kavana. She then continued to speak about Malchiyot and how Hashem controls everyone and everything. Hashem is our creator and has the ability to do whatever He wants with every one of us at any moment. However, we should not be scared because as our creator, Hashem knows each of us better than we know ourselves. Another beautiful thing she discussed was an idea in Shema by "Bechol Nafshecha." Rebbetzin Feiner explained that this phrase doesn't necessarily mean that we have to be in danger to truly bless Hashem. Rather, that the belief that Hashem gave us a Neshama and that He can do anything with it is our everyday Mesirat Nefesh. The inspiring words of Torah she told over, interwoven with her personal story, provided us with an inspiring and uplifting experience.

 

The Rebbetzin's shiur was definitely a great start to our Yamim Noraim preparations and we wish Rebbetzin Aviva's son, Avraham Yeshaya ben Aviva, a continued refuah shlema! 

Mrs. Kobre?... Didn't we have a teacher named Miss Kobre in the school?
Yes, but...
 
Mrs. Deena Kobre, who joined the SKA faculty this September (her husband is the former Miss Kobre's cousin), is the other half of the twelfth grade GLA advisory team with Mrs. Ralbag.   With a full time schedule in school, Mrs. Kobre also teaches Jewish History and  AP Psych (a class her students call "organized and thorough").   How does SKA compare to the other schools she's taught in?  "There's a buzz here!  I feel such enthusiastic vibes.  This is really a happy place to be. "
 
Born in South Africa, Mrs. Kobre grew up in California and now lives in Queens with her husband and two sons (and soon, b'shaah tova, another child).  With a background including Michlalah, Stern, Queens College and Touro, Mrs. Kobre brings much experience to her position and her warm and caring personality makes her easily approachable to her students.  It is certainly understandable why she has focused on "Mental Health Counseling" for her degree, since her "sense of humor, charisma, and energy" (quotes from her students) have endeared her already to both girls and fellow faculty members!
 
We wish Mrs. Kobre much hatzlacha in the coming year!

 Part two of our "Teshuvathon" was held on October 6th, as each class conducted its own Teshuva Workshop. To kick start the program, each group watched the video clip of Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture." Randy Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer several years ago but was told this year it had relapsed and he had only months to live. Instead of reacting with depression and negativity, Pausch grew determined to live his last few months in a positive way, by having fun, remaining joyous and focusing on family. He delivered his "Last Lecture" to his college students several months ago and he instantly became very well known and admirable for his work. After reflecting upon his life, Pausch compiled numerous values, which he found to be the fundamentals and guidelines for a successful, meaningful, and happy life. After the video, the students were given "progress reports" and were instructed to write down specific values, which they hope to work on and improve over the course of the year. The workshop was extremely beneficial and a very practical way for all of the students to work on themselves and their teshuva process.

In preparation for Rosh Hashana, we had our first Open Beit Medrash of the year. The theme was "Understanding the Significance of the Shofar." The guest speaker was Rabbi Yehuda Zakutinsky (Rabbi Zak's older brother) who spoke about the perspective of the ba'al tokaia. He discussed some of the practical halachot for blowing the shofar as well as the deeper hashkafic significances. After his shiur, the students learned bichavruta. Special thanks to the Madrichot who came to learn bichavruta with the girls and to Ms. Borg who coordinated the program.

  
On Monday, September 22nd, the Freshmen and the Seniors came together for the annual start of the "Big Sister, Little Sister" program. Each Senior was carefully paired up with a Freshman to act as her friend, role model, and shoulder to lean on. The goal of the program was to create bonds and special connections between the upper and lower classmen. For two periods, the newly paired "sisters" played ice breaker games and socialized with one another. Afterwards, the girls enjoyed making ice cream sundaes, a tasteful treat to end the exciting program! We hope that throughout the year the "sisters" will build strong relationships with each other inside and out of school. A special thanks to Esther Sosnowik and Kayla Mansbach who helped run the program under the guidance of Mrs. Storch and Rabbi Zak.

 On Monday, September 22, the Seniors went to a rally in NYC to demonstrate against Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was speaking at the UN. Most of the Yeshivas from the metropolitan area attended and everyone stood together to demonstrate solidarity with regards to this issue, a threat to our people and our homeland. The girls showed their support with their presence and made a difference by contributing to the great turnout. After the rally, the girls enjoyed lunch in Queens before heading back to school. All in all, the seniors felt privileged to take part in this meaningful event.

On October 7th, we were so fortunate to hear from Rabbi Jacobson, who spoke about the power of tefilla. This commenced our "Teshuvathon" series, which included lectures and workshops on teshuva, tefilla, and tzeddaka. Rabbi Jacobson, a true Chassid, delivered a powerful shiur which included many Chassidic tales and hysterical jokes. He explained that tefilla is a gift and we must utilize this gift to form a close relationship with HaKadosh Baruch Hu. Yom Kippur is such an opportune time to take advantage of tefilla for the gates of shamayim are open and Hashem is yearning for our tefillot. "We can form relationships in every moment of our lives," Rabbi Jacobson concluded. Hashem is always eager for our tefillot and our teshuva, especially at this crucial time. A special thanks to Rabbi Jacobson for delivering his shiur to us right before Yom Kippur!

 

 

The next series will be taught by Rabbi Danny Eisenbach, Mashigiach Ruchani and beloved Rebbe at SKA, on Tuesday, October 28th, November 11th and November 18th.  Please note that there will be no shiur on Tuesday, November 4th, HALB Open School Day. If you are interested in sponsoring this series or one lecture in the series in memory of or in honor a loved one, please email Mrs. Spirn at hspirn@skahalb.org . 

We are proud that SKA has been featured in Media for its recent acts of chesed. Click on the links below to read the articles describing the 11th grade Chesed Shel Emet trip to the Silver Lake Cemetery and the Aseret Yomei Teshuva Tzedaka campaign which raised over $10,000 for Yad Eliezer.