Beruchim habaim! A warm welcome to our 309 students, including our new freshman class of 84....Our SKA family has grown! We approach this new year with a sense of excitement, hakarat hatov to Hakadosh Baruch Hu for His many gifts and with a sense of awe and introspection as we experience the month of Elul.

Many things have happened these past weeks in the world around us. We have all been affected by the emotional turmoil experienced by the removal of 8,000 of our people from Gush Katif and the physical devastation and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. During lunches and free periods, our girls can be seen sorting clothes, packing boxes and writing letters to those in need of support and encouragement. Our girls continue to ask, "What can we do to help?"

What's new this year?...

We are thrilled to launch new initiatives for students, moms and graduates! In our upcoming Community-wide Lecture Series, students, mothers and alumnae will be invited to join together for an evening of Torah, hitorerut and inspiration. Lilmod Ule'lamed gives mothers an opportunity to learn Torah at SKA during school hours by attending shiurim given by their daughters' teachers and rebbeim. Open Beit Midrash is a chance for our SKA students to learn Torah lishmah together with alumnae, madrichot and faculty in an after- school setting. Our Madrichot Mentoring Program affords SKA alumnae the opportunity to work with students in an advisory capacity and infuse grade-level and school-wide programs with ruach and excitement. Under the direction of Mrs. Caroline Shenker, coordinator of new Writing Initiatives, we are introducing writing workshops, literary seminars and contest opportunities.

We are proud that so many of our graduates will be interacting with our students this year and are returning to SKA on a consistent basis....in the classroom, in the beit midrash, in sports settings, at SKA programs, at Friday morning Alumnae Shiurim, at SKA based Community Lectures and in our learning specialist's office!

New courses this year include an 11th grade Limudei Kodesh elective in Jewish Philosophy, Parsha in the 10th grade, taught by our Chabura leaders, a 12th grade Limudei Haaretz class, which will prepare our students to confront propaganda of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict and Inyanei Vayikra in 11th grade, where students will explore major themes of Sefer Vayikra. We are pleased once again, after a lapse of time, to be offering our 12th grade electives in Dance, A.P. Jewish History and A.P. Physics.

Mazal Tov to Seniors Batya Herzberg and Aviva Schiffmiller upon being selected semi- finalists in this year's National Merit Scholarship Competition. We are so proud of your accomplishments!

I look forward to welcoming our parents this Tuesday evening, September 20th, at Meet Your Teachers Night.

Here's to a wonderful new academic year! Have a restful and inspiring Shabbos!

On Thursday evening, it was standing room only at our first Open Beit Midrash program. After a delicious Dougie’s dinner, more than 100 students representing grades 9–12 came together in the library to learn on their own time. The scene was inspiring and invigorating. While some girls learned seforim of their own choosing, many pored over the extensive source book prepared by our own students on the subject of Teshuva. Our current students were joined by alumnae and faculty and the enthusiasim was contagious. The evening ended with inspiring thoughts from the famous story teller Rabbi Hanoch Teller. Many girls left the “beit midrash,” sourcebook in hand, asking “When can we do this again?!?”

We'd like to thank Chani and Shimie Klein and family for sponsoring last night's program.

During the summer, most students attend a variety of programs that take them away from home. This summer, for some who stuck around, staying home meant involvement in an amazing learning experience. SKA Seniors and graduates were privileged to be able to participate in a learning program at E-licious this past summer. Students snacked on ice cream while listening to inspiring and informative shiurim, given by , Rabbi Eisenbach, Miss Fragin, Mrs. Kaminetsky, Mrs. Kraft, and Rabbi Rothman on a weekly basis. It was wonderful to have access to and maintain a connection with teachers during break time. It truly enhanced the summer experience for all who attended. Thanks to Mrs. Kaminetsky and Miss Fragin for coordinating the program.

In 1982, during the fight for peace in the Galil, 6 Israeli soldiers disappeared and are MIA to this day. One of those men is Zachary Baumel. Mr. Yona Baumel, Zachary's father, came to SKA to share his feelings about the state of his son, who is still believed to be held by Syria and has been missing for 23 years.

Originally from New York, the Baumels made Aliyah when Zachary was only 9 years old. Like many good Israeli citizens, he enrolled in the Hesder program in the Israeli army, as did his older siblings. At the end of his army service, he was placed in an elite group of tank commanders to battle in the War for the Peace of the Galilee. Never before have there been soldiers missing from the IDF, who have been presumed alive, for this long a period of time.

Mr. Baumel movingly pleaded with the SKA students to once again "rally to our cause and help us. " He asked us to influence American Senators to send an American Ambassador to Syria and unlock the secrets of the locations of these missing soldiers. SKA has conducted 11 Lobbying Trips on behalf of the Israeli MIA's. It is a wonder that after all he has been through, Mr. Baumel does not regret sending his son to the army. "Somebody has to defend Israel. If it's not our son, who's it going to be?"

Welcome to Lilmod Ule'lamed, SKA's new weekly Torah learning program for mothers!

Our first series was launched this past Tuesday and the response was wonderful. Thirty women from throughout the Five Towns and West Hempstead communities arrived, eager to learn Torah under the instruction of Mrs. Elisheva Kaminetsky, Director of Religious Guidance. The series will continue at SKA this Tuesday, September 20th and Tuesday, September 27th.

We hope you will have the opportunity to share the Torah learned with your daughters and other members of your families!

Please join us this Tuesday at 12:15 for Torah, camaradarie, coffee and calories! All HALB moms are invited to attend our Lilmod Ule'lamed program. This coming Tuesday's shiur is being sponsored by Dr. Debbie Genuth and family in memory of their father and grandfather, Meir ben Baruch a"h.

This week the SKA student body and faculty were inspired by the moving presentations delivered by Rabbis Welcher, Kaspi, and Ungar, who recently arrived from Yeshivat Sha’alvim in Israel. Each told of the hospitality that Yeshivat Sha’alvim showed toward the many families recently evicted from their homes in Gush Katif in Gaza. We were amazed to learn that in the middle of the night, without prior notice, Yeshivat Sha’alvim accepted 80 families, approximately 700 people, from the Atzmona settlement. Rabbi Kaspi, who was a Lieutenant Colonel in the IDF, handled the sudden arrival of the many families in an efficient, expedient and dignified manner. The SKA students watched in amazement as they saw a powerful film presentation depicting Sha’alvim students sleeping on mattresses in the classrooms, so that the displaced families could live more comfortably in the students' dormitory rooms. This amazing act of compassion exemplifies true chesed, and goes well beyond the command of "hachnosat orchim." Within three days of their arrival, the children of the Gush Katif families were smiling once again. Additionally, the Yeshiva students at Sha’alvim collected clothing, shoes, and basic items the families needed, even bringing candlesticks and flowers before Shabbat. Although no one can dispute the extraordinary difficulties these displaced families face having lost their homes, schools, shuls and neighborhoods, they were deeply moved by the acts of kindness shown them by the students at Yeshivat Sha’alvim. SKA was too! We are proud to be following up with various chesed projects!

It’s only the first week of school – a time when girls would understandably be busy with a plethora of other concerns – but we could not ignore two monumental events that occurred while we were otherwise enjoying our summer vacations.

The pictures we had seen on the news of Hurricane Katrina victims left homeless and without any belongings, begged us to do something to help. And so, in hopes of filling some of the void, the bowling alley was soon filled with bags and boxes of clothing, toys and school supplies. Soon, girls were busy sorting through the items and packing them neatly into boxes, readying them for their delivery to the displaced Jewish communities of New Orleans.

On Thursday, we had the privilege to hear from Rabbi Tzvi Kaspi, a menahel at Shaalvim who spearheaded the effort to take in 700 families who were dislocated from their homes in Gush Katif. The power point presentation he showed was very moving and made us want to help alleviate the situation in any way we could. To that end, we have asked the Shaalvim representatives what is needed, and each grade has adopted a specific project that they have already begun. Stay tuned for more details and pictures in the upcoming weeks.

On the first Tuesday of the new school year, a surprise was in store for every student in SKA. When the 6th period bell rang, the Freshmen loaded the buses waiting to take them to Grant Park for lunch. Upon arrival, the 9th graders had a great time on the swings, or relaxed a bit by taking a stroll around the beautiful pond. In order to beat the heat, they also took a few trips to the sprinklers. At the same time, the Sophomores were enjoying their lunch at the “Gotta- Gettas” and Pizza Pious. It was such a treat to eat out as a class!

Although grades 11 and 12 had to wait just a bit longer, the next bell signified the start of their share of the fun. The Juniors relished their time at Woodmere Park, where they had a chance to have fun doing many enjoyable activities. The Seniors took a trip to classmate Sima Sosnowik’s house, and cooled off by taking a dip in her pool. A great time was had by all!

Thank you so much to all the Grade Level Advisors who, under Rabbi Zak's guidance, have helped start our year off with a bang!