The Bulletin from Temple Beth Sholom, Summer (June/July) 2008

temple Beth Sholom Bulletj Sandra & Stanley Mallin Early Childhood Education Center Earns National NAEYC Accreditation This is one of the first early childhood programs to earn accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) - the nation's leading organization of early childhood professionals. "We're proud to have earned the mark of quality from NAEYC, and to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards," said Jennifer Zukowski, Director. "NAEYC Accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible." To earn NAEYC Accreditation in the new system, we went t hrough an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the ten new NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and more than 400 related Accreditation Criteria. The program received NAEYC Accreditation after an on-site visit by NAEYC Assessors to ensure that the program meets each of the ten NAEYC program standards. NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation, which lasts for five years. In the 20 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. More than 11,000 programs, serving one million young children, are currently accredited by NAEYC ? approximately 8 percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs. "The new NAEYC Accreditation system raises the bar for preschools, child care centers and other early childhood programs," said Mark Ginsberg, Ph.D., executive director of NAEYC. Temple Beth Sholom's NAEYC Accreditation is a sign that they are a leader in a national effort to invest in high-quality early childhood education, and to help give all children a better start." The NAEYC Accreditation system has set voluntary professional standards for programs for young children since 1985. As Continued on page 9 Celebrating 60 Years Of Israel! Join Us In Welcoming The Kiryat Bialik Youth Violin Ensemble From Israel To Temple Beth Sholom. The Kiryat Bialik Youth Violin Ensemble is a t hriving group of young artists that is part of the Kiryat Bialik Conservatory. ITie musicians that are part of the ensemble range from 11 to 14 years old. The conservatory was founded in 1970 and since 1994 has been directed hy Mrs. Anna Asaf. The mission of the conservatory founders was to provide high level musical education to Kiryat Bialik youth as well as to enrich the cultural life of the public through concerts and public performances. The conservatory has 250 students who are instructed by 27 teachers. It sustains four choirs: a women's choir, a youth choir, a middle-age choir, and the Vlllanelle performing choir which appears at many musical events throughout the country. In May 2007, the Vlllanelle choir participated in a choir festival in I lalle, Germany. The conservatory has several orchestras: a wind ensemble, a chamber orchestra and the Youth Violin Ensemble. In May 2008 the chamber orchestra performed at the "Let's Eight a Candle" festival sponsored by the Moscow Jewish Center of Aits. The Youth Violin Ensemble began performing five years ago, and has since enjoyed great success and popularity. We are privileged to have this wonderful group of talented children in our congregation. There will Ik; two different opportunities for us to enjoy their beautiful music. First, a Grand Concert that will feature Jewish Music, Israeli Music and a Beautiful selection of Classical Music. Then join us in fulfilling the Mitzvah of Studying Torah the first night of Shavuot as we enjoy a likkun Eeil Shavuot all about Jewish Music. This will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to be exposed to some of Israel's most wonderful young musical talent. Grand Concert at I BS Sunday June 8th, 2008 at 3:00 PM Admission $20.00 likkun Leil Shavuot Sunday June 8th, 2008 at 8:15 PM In honor of Israel's 60th Anniversary. Melodies from Sinai to Jerusalem, the loving relationship between Ilie Jewish People and Music. Rabbi's Message From B'midbar to iMr. Spock A Blessing That Transcends Time and "Space''! Rabbi Felipe Goodman Anyone who watched the original Star Trek shows is familiar with the Vulcan motto: Live long and prosper ... and along with it, the hand gesture. Yes! In Mexico we also had Star Trek, and yes, I grew up watching Leonard Nimoy as: "LI Senor Espock!" By the way, You should know, Spock does not make the gesture in a true priestly fashion. It took a long time for me to realize that Star Trek didn't make up the blessing ... It is paraphrase! from the Iorah ... in fact, from this week's parshah. A "The Lord bless you and protect you. The Lord deal kindly and graciously with you.The Lord bestow His favor upon you and grant you peace." -Num. 6:24-26 Many of us are used to hearing this as a normal benediction. It didn't seem bizarre to realize that Star Trek adapted it to its' Vulcan character. In fact, it was a source of pride.... Look, our blessing, it's famous! ... AS IF it needed to be on IV for it to "be famous." . I don't know if it's appropriate to refer to ANY blessing as ordinary, but this one ... stands out from all others. In Israel, the Birkat Kohanim, the priestly blessing, is recited daily at the end of the service. In the Diaspora, we only hear it on festivals. In many shuls, this prayer is the highlight of festival worship. It's one of tliose things that at first glance is an ancient relic of the past. I'll even admit - it IS an ancient relic of the past. That doesn't mean it's irrelevant... nor does it mean it's lost a speck of holiness and promise... Let's come back to the hands. Rabbinic literature has two ways of referring to the priesdy blessing - as birkat kohanim, which literally means priestly blessing - and nesiyat kapayirn - lifting of the hands. Think about your hands and how we use them. Many of us can't even speak without making hand gestures. On a personal level, I think differently when I'm writing. Our hands connect us to each other ... we're reassured by a friendly pat of the hands ... or when we're frightened and someone offers a hand to hold, even squeeze. Even when you see a person you already know - a simple wave of the hand conveys a friendly message. We use our hands to convey ideas... energies ... feelings ... to others. Our hands aren't just part of our own bodies ... we use them in relation to the world ... we use them to connect with others. This brings us to ... nesiyat kapayirn ... the priestly lifting of the hands. Mr. Spock simply lifted his hands and held his palms out wan I. The priestly method is meticulous and dramatic. We learn the procedure from the Shulchan Aruch: Tlic kohanim first stand on the birnah with their backs towards the people and their fingers bent over into their palms. When tlie prayer leader reaches a certain point in the service, he calls the priests, and they turn and face the people. The kohanim lift their hands until they are at least as high as their shoulders, with the right hand a little higher than the left. At this point, they stretch out their hands and divide their fingers, positioning them so as to form five spaces. Their thumbs touch each other, forming the letter shin - representing one of God's names ... Shaddai. The kohanim then spread out their palms so that the palms are tilted toward the ground and the backs of their hands face heaven. Not only do the kohanim form God's name, they hold their hands in a way that "puts" I lis name on the people - as the Torah said, the priests should pronounce the blessings and : "Thus I shall link My name with the people of Israel, and I will bless them." -Num. 6:27 Ironically, the kohanim use tallitot to cover their hands ... and still, the congregation is not supposed to look directly at them. The kohanim hold their hands tliis way to make it clear that the blessing does not come from them ... I lashem is transmitting through them ... this is not to be taken lightly. We consider the Shechinah ... God's presence ... to be shining through their hands. The kohanim begin with a brachah: Blessed are You, I lashem our God, who has added holiness to our lives with the holiness of Aaron, giving us the commandment to bless I lis people Israel in love. As noted earlier, hands are how we connect to others... to the world. This is meant to depict the love I Ml ween I lashem, the kohanim, and the people. During the Birkat Kohanim, they all form a unit... The Zohar says that if the people do not love the priest, or the priest does not love the people ... that priest should not participate in the blessing. Therefore, before the kohanim pronounce the blessing, all are reminded that this is an act of love. Even priests who don't like each other should set their ill feelings aside to join together in God's service. The priestly hands are a graphic reminder. Now - let's come back to the "real" world - or rather, the world we're more used to. Does any of this really apply Unlay? I hope so. We should be able to forge a holy space in which we connect to those who went before ... to those who will come after ... to God. We should create a space in which we can set aside worldly cares and arguments and remember that we are one people ... with one God. Maybe we can't maintain that lofty ideal for long ... but we have to start somewhere! 2 Cantor's Message A side-note about the use of the priestly blessing: We do see it as part of other blessings - as in the parental blessing over children. It is just not pronounced in its own light, but pronounced in conjunction with another prayer (May God make you like Ephraim and Menasseh", etc). Why not? We don't want to diminish its power ... its mystical hold over us. The Birkat Kohanim reminds us of our past, our future ... and our Eternal bond with the Kadosh Baruch Hu. May it always help us forge a path of harmony with each other ... and with Cod. Welcome! Rabbi Adam Watstein It is both an honor and a privilege to be able to welcome Rabbi Adam Watstein to Temple Beth Sholorn. Rabbi Watstein will be serving our congregation as Assistant Rabbi. This is a tremendously exciting moment for all of us. The addition of Rabbi Watstein to our professional staff is a direct consequence of the growth, vibrancy and innovative nature of our Synagogue. Rabbi Watstein's area of concentration will be our newly revised Religious School Program where he will be The Rabbi in Residence. Through Rabbi Watstein's continuous presence in The Judy and Ronald Mack School of Religious Studies we will ensure a spiritual presence that will be both energetic and dynamic. I have absolutely no doubt that Rabbi Watstein's dedication will bear results that will make us proud for years to come. There are not many Religious Schools throughout North America that can boast the presence of a Rabbi in Residence as part of their program. For all of us at Temple Beth Sholom education is one of our most important priorities and at this point in time our growth requires an additional Rabbinic presence to make sure that all the needs of our congregation are successfully met. In addition Rabbi Watstein will also be assisting me with The Pulpit and will be a presence in our religious services as well as many programs and activities. Rabbi Adam Watstein was oidained by The Jewish Theological Seminary on May 22, 2008, that same day he also received his MA in Jewish Education from The Davidson School at JTS. Prior to his Rabbinical ordination he got a BA in Middle eastern Studies from Emory University in May, 2(XX). Rabbi Watstein served as Rabbinic Intern ofThe Shelter Rock Jewish Center in Roslyn, New York for the past two years; it was there where he became veiy successful in introducing innovative Shabbat Morning Family services and a highly acclaimed Hebrew High School program. Previously he served as Student Rabbi in a small congregation in Fitzgerald, Ceorgia and as Rabbinic Intern of Temple Israel in Sharon, Massachusetts which is his home town. Some of his other projects have included working at The Office of Institutional Advancement at Hie Jewish Theological Seminaiy, teaching in The Solomon Schechter I ligh School in Long Island and at I laboriirn Congregation in New York City. He also served as Athletic director of Camp Rarnah in The Poconos for two years and has spent considerable time in Israel. For the past ten years I have seen our congregation grow and become stronger in spirit. Welcoming Rabbi Watstein is also a milestone in my own Rabbinate. Having the opportunity to work closely with a young colleague will no doubt result in renewed energy, ideas and vision. Rabbi Watstein will become Temple Beth Sholorn's first ever Assistant Rabbi in our sixty-four year history. Please join me in welcoming him! And may we always go from strength to strength. Sincerely, Rabbi Felipe Coodman Cantor's Message 'Hie dog days of the summer will soon be upon us and I would suggest, a little Jewish levity along your travels. When and if you get out of town take some jewish music with you to fill the time. Just because it is Summer time and the living could be easy for you and your children; no Religious School, no secular school, does not mean that you should put aside all the wonderful Jewish "things" you did all year long. Bring some music on your trip or put some CDs into your multi-disk players in your car. Load some Jewish songs onto your i[x>d. Might I suggest "The Songs We Sing" by Cantor Daniel Friedman or perhaps "Shabbat Shalom" with Cantor Daniel Friedman, Rabbi Felipe Goodman and D.J. Sinai. These CDs are not only entertaining but a wonderful way to keep you and your children engaged toward what we are musically doing here at TBS. These CDs are designed to compliment our youth music curriculum and our Kabbalat Shabbat service. By listening to these CDs you can then, hopefully, be more comfortable in the synagogue environment and feel more at ease to sing along with us, to pray with us. Craig Taubman, Debbie Friedman and Danny Maseng have created terrific CDs to enhace your listening pleasure. I hope you enjoy your summer and happy listening. As always, I look forward to seeing you at Temple. 3 Temple News Bereavement Group By Rita Tell This is a reminder that TBS continues to host a bereavement group every Tuesday of the month at 10:00 am till 11:30 am in the social hall. Anyone who has experienced a loss, whether recently or in the past, is most welcome to attend the group. There are refreshments provided by I BS. Rita Fell is facilitating the group and has for the past four years. It consists mostly of adults who have lost their spouses and with deep understanding and warmth help each other. For information or directions call the Temple at 804-1333 or Rita Tell at 255-0043. Men's Club News By Harvey Gitel Ilie Men's Club ended this fabulous year with our own Arnold Schneider speaking about fraud, scams and identity theft. Meanwhile, our I BS sponsored softball team is in first place with a record of 6 wins and 2 losses. We look forward to a trophy. I am pleased to announce the Men's Club following slate of officers for the two year fiscal period beginning July 1, 2008: President-Jerry Springberg Vice President-Gary Friedman Treasurer-Sam Showel Secretary-Bruce Gale Financial Secretary-Steve Cohen I am happy that we were able to accomplish many of the goals set out at the beginning of the year. We have been able to accomplish a new direction, which has the Men's Club truly partnering with the Synagogue. This years programs were dedicated to the culture, values and traditions of Judaism. The two key initiatives with our youth and Synagogue programs have actualized these programs. 4 We have emphasized working with our youth by: ?Starting a Schechter student award program ?Supporting B'nai Mitzvah projects (members and the Club contributed close to $1,000 to B'nai Mitzvah's that presented at meetings) ?Providing speakers to the Schechter School ?Involving our youth in the world wide wrap ?Providing $2,500 to the Audrey Merkin Scholarship Fund used to send students on this year's March of the living. We have more actively participated in synagogue programs and activities including: ?Presenting an adult education program ?Presenting a skit at the Purim Palooza ?Sponsoring a booth at the Purim carnival and Schechter WingFest ?Sponsoring new torah mantles and minyan Tefilin ?Serving as ushers ?Continuing our support of the morning minyan and Chevra Kadisha ?Providing sponsorship of the Yom I lashoah program I would like to t hank all of you who participated and provided support this past year as we renewed the close relationship needed with our growing congregation and its youth. I encourage you to share your thoughts for the future year with the new board. More importantly, become an active participant so that a larger and stronger Men's Club can play an ever-increasing role with our youth and Synagogue. I am excited about what our future holds. Men's Club Softball By Jerry Springberg On May 4th, our I BS Men's Club played the second place Tigers for First Place. With Toby Goldman pitching and the Team making very few errors, they won the game!!!! It was tied 4-4 in the third inning when PBS went ahead in the forth 6-4. They broke the game open in the sixth inning with three more runs and ended the game 9 to 4. Each team member, including Captain Bruce Gale was included in bringing in the runs. LETS GET BEl IIND OUR TEAM AND CHEER THEM ON! L'Dor V'Dor -Making a Difference for Seniors By Sliel Kolner Our next event is planned for June 4, 2008 to celebrate Shavuot. Iliis will be an exciting event eulminating our 6th year. Again we will have well over 200 guests. They will be treated to extraordinary entertainment. The youth violin ensemble and an award-winning student pianist from the Qiryat Bialik Conservatory in Israel will make only three stops on their tour to the western hemisphere. The group's last stop will be here in Las Vegas, where we at Temple Beth Sholom have the privilege of showcasing them for the final event of this year's L'Dor V'Dor program. Our guests and volunteers are in for a rare treat! After the entertainment the group will move from the sanctuary into the large social hall to enjoy a lunch catered by Custav Mauler. Again, our guests will have enjoyed three wonderful hours away from their normal living arrangements. If you know of any senior who is Temple News homebound and could benefit from this opportunity to socialize with other people, please call the L'Dor VDor coordinates, Shel Kolner (228-4744 or 334-8914), or the Temple office (804- 1333 ext 100). We'll make sure they receive invitations to the upcoming events. Volunteers are the 'back-bone' of any organization and we are no exception. If you can spare a few minutes every other month, your help would be great ly appreciated. This is especially true in the transportation area. Many of our guests live in their own homes but only get out when someone is able to take them. It takes about three hours of yonr day ? not a major amount of time. If yon (-an afford this small amount of time on the day of the event, we would love to talk to you about it. Call Lillian Radomsky at 942-3251 or 757-581- 6544 (cell) or call Shel at 228-4744 or 334-8914 (cell) for more details. During this past month, the L'Dor V'Dor volunteers were invited to enjoy a luncheon in their honor at Spiedini Ristorante. This was sponsored by the L'Dor V'Dor organization to show our appreciation of their fine efforts. Caryl Berg put the luncheon together. Rabbi Goodman spoke regarding the importance of this major outreach program and Cantor Friedman entertained the group of 60 people. We invite you to join the camaraderie and see how gtxxJ it feels to make a difference in the life of a homebound senior by being part of the L'Dor V'Dor Volunteer program. Women's League News By Kim Memar Here it is, my last opportunity to share my thoughts with you as Women's League President. These past two years have been very rewarding and productive for me, as well as onr Women's League. I have been blessed to have been able to work with a phenomenal group of dedicated, committed, supportive, and devoted women who have been there for me every step of the way. We have worked very hard this past year, especially through our catering efforts, which enabled us to donate funds to some very worthwhile projects. We helped out with project Chicken Soup, helped restore a Temple in Massachusetts, and helped victims of the wildfires in California. We gave support to Sderot and to our Masorti Sisterhood in Israel. We made a difference in the lives of many in onr community. We were able to help little Brooke Alexander, a child with an inoperable brain tumor, and raise awareness for her cause. We helped to send three young ladies on the March of the Living through the Audrey Merkin Scholarship Fund. We gave toiletries to JFSA and adopted a family and helped them wit h school supplies and clothing. We donated a tzedakah box to JFSA for their event honoring our own Temple member Allen Brewster. We donated a silent auction basket to the Schechter School and placed an ad for their gala honoring the memory of long time Temple member Sidney Chaplin. We also placed an ad for the Temple gala honoring Flora and Stuart Mason. We helped sponsor the Religions School's Purim Carnival and contributed to the I lanukkah gifts given to the Temple congregants. We gave Bar and Bat Mitzvah students a travel size Etz I layim. We helped by ushering for High Holiday services and providing the Break-fast after Yom Kip pur. We have bought new coffee urns, dispensers, and chafing dishes, and several elect rical appliances for the Temple kitchen. Of course, we cater the Oneg and Kiddush every Friday night and Saturday morning, unless an outside caterer is doing it. We also cater many of the special Onegs and Kiddushim that are sponsored by our congregants. We catered many of the Temple events, such as, the Art Show, the World Wide Wrap, I lolocaust Remembrance Day, the Rabbi's Tisch's, and the annual meeting. We are always there to help with the necessities required for shiva houses. On a national level, we raised funds for Torah Fund. On a regional level, Sheryl Honig and I represented I BS at our Pacific Southwest Conference, where we were able to strengthen the connection with the women within our region. We also donated a basket from our Judaica shop for their raffle. While there, I was installed as Area Director for the tri-state region of Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona. 1 am pleased to announce that our year-end donations to the Temple included our annual donation of $10,000, an earmarked donation of another $10,000, and a $5000 donation to the Solomon Schecter School. It is only through the efforts of our wonderful Temple family that these things have been made possible. Your support of our fundraisers, shopping for your Judaic needs in our gift shop, and having us cater your events makes this happen. Please remember that it means not only supporting your Women's League, but supporting our Temple, our community, and our beloved state of Israel as well. It has been a very fulfilling year indeed. I esjDecially value the many friendships that have developed and grown during this time. I cannot begin to thank you all enough for having the faith and confidence to allow me the privilege to serve as Women's League President and on the Temple Board for these past two years. It has l>een an experience beyond my wildest dreams and one I will never forget. 5 Education Ion Mitzmacher Director of Kducation End of Year Reflections in Their Own Words By Jon Mitzmacher "I can hardly believe that it is already time for my last message of the year! What happened to the time? I know that each year I feel the same, but this year I feel it even more intensely?so much has happened, so quickly and our fourth year is approaching its end. As of this writing, I am engaged in the most exciting of tasks: interviewing and hiring the amazing new teachers who will join our already fantastic faculty for next year. Our increased growth has led to increased openings and each year our process for adding staff grows more and more polished and thorough. So, although I cannot at this time announce the new teachers and their positions, I can assure parents that we will be adding teachers who have the passion, experience, skills, love and dedication necessary to teach in our unique school. I am thrilled with the high level of interviews I have had so far and expect this process to wrap up soon. It makes rne that much more excited for next year to begin! I lowever, with the space I have left, I would like to take the opportunity to thank our extraordinary teachers and staff for all that they have done to make this year the most successful year in Schechter's brief history to date. Behind the scenes, I have had the opportunity to witness the hard work, sweat, tears and love that went into making your children's classroom experiences all that they were. Schechter's teachers are at the heart of our school. Beyond the nosh and knickknacks they received during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5-9), it is our thanks and praise they deserve most. If the teachers are the heart of the school, then you, our parents, are the soul. We will never grow so big that we take for granted any student and family in our school. We may struggle to maintain the intimacy of a small school as we grow bigger, but we will always strive to remember that without the trust and support of our parents, we will have no students, and thus, no school. That is a trust we know we have to earn each and every day and a responsibility we consider to be sacred. As for me, I am humbled and grateful to work with this talented group of teachers, to be entrusted with these delicious children, to have gotten to know you and your families?to lead this exceptional school of ours that you have helped create. See you next year!" From Second Grade General Studies uWhat a wonderful year this has been! Our second graders have worked so hard in all subject areas and have grown so much! I have watched the students read, write, and sing in Jewish Studies class with Morah Sara. I have also seen them cook, dance, and celebrate the special holidays. One unique skill that these young kids have practiced all year is public speaking and performing. I tell people that I never had the experiences or confidence that our students have at such an early age! Even though this was my third year at Solomon Schechter, I am still so impressed with this well-rounded and cultural education! We are bringing to a close our units of study in Math, Spelling, Phonics, and Reading. In Social Studies, we are ending the year by learning about people, places, citizenship, and communities. In Science, we are concluding an exciting unit on I Icalth and the Human Body. We have studied the basic systems of the body, nutrition, and healthy choices. We've also done some hands-on activities and sung some fun songs. Feel free to come and see our colorful bulletin boards and student work samples. I am so proud of each student's effort and achievement this year. I lave a wonderful summer!" From Jewish Studies "Recently, we prepared for our Model Seder programs. We learned to read and sing from the I laggadah with the hope that the students would take what they learned and use them in their families' seders. This year, on the second night of Passover, I was at a seder with two of my students. ITiey brought with them their Haggadot from our Hebrew program. They led and sang most of the seder 6 Yonina Sclinee ?. 0 Assistant Director of Li ^-J ^ ^ ^r^ Religious School & Adult U ^ L l L c l L l U I l Education beautifully! The guests and families were amazed at how much they knew at their young ages! I was so proud; it was a wonderful reward for all my work. On behalf of the Jewish Studies Faculty, we would like to thank you for the opportunity that we had to teach your children. They loved to learn Torah stories, to ask deep questions about the stories, and to become the "Rabbis" that try to answer them. They loved to study about Jewish Holidays, the Mitzvot, customs, to make connections to the Torah and to celebrate in school. Most of all they love the feeling of being part of a Jewish community. See you next year!" Schechter is pleased to announce its planned expansion into Fifth Grade as it kicks off enrollment for 2008-2009. Enrollment materials for 2008-2009 are available now. The Judy and Ronald Mack School of Religious Studies Registration for the 2008-2009 school year is well underway and we are busily processing all of the forms. ITie excitement about the new format is tangible, and we can see that the registration numbers are climbing quickly. I lurry with your forms in order to ensure your first choice of time slots. We are doing our best to accommodate everyone, but we will l>e keeping Hebrew study groups to five maximum. Mitzvah Projects In addition to some wonderful Mitzvah projects done by our Kitah Zayin students for their B'nai Mitzvah, I have also l>een approached by some of our younger students who were interested in helping out in their community. I want to share two of those projects with you, because I think they deserve recognition for their initiative, awareness, and commitment to helping others. Alexa Weidenfeld and Becca Selznick collected books (used or new) to donate to Summerlin Hospital so that patients (especially the children) will have a variety of books to read while they are undergoing treatment. The fifth grade girls created and printed flyers, spoke to the Religious School students, and decorated a collection box, and were successful in collecting a large box of books for the hospital patients. Avivaand I lannah Lessnick, fourth graders at Allen Dean elementary, have a friend named Thomas who is suffering from acute lymphatic leukemia, and is undergoing intense treatment while waiting to find a bone marrow match. The twins created and printed a flyer to educate ot hers about leukemia and to give them ideas of ways they can also help. They are encouraging everyone to register for the bone marrow registry as well as donate toys, books and money to help their friend Thomas through his treatment. Holocaust Survivor Students in grades 3-7 were privileged to hear a special speaker last month. In honor of Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) Mary Temple, a survivor of the I lolocaust came to tell the story of her life as young girl at the time of the Nazi uprising. She and her family escaped Vienna to take refuge in Shanghai, and she spoke about the challenges of being a foreign refugee, and her experiences as a Jewish child in Vienna at the beginning of the Nazi occupation. Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut On Sunday, May 4th, we learned alwut the observance of Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) in Israel, and how different it is from the picnic and shopping atmosphere that we experience here in the United States. The students were asked to stay silent for a full minute just as is done several times a day in Israel for Yom I laZikaron, to remember the Israeli soldiers who have given their lives while defending our I loly I -and. After our brief memorial assembly, students then celebrated Israel's 60th anniversary of independence with crafts, music and Israeli dance. The morning culminated in a mock Jewish wedding, which was prepared by Kitah Vav (6th grade). They performed a brief ceremony with a narration of the customs and symbols of the Jewish wedding. After the smashing of the glass and a rousing chorus of "Siman Tov", students return