1 Sivan, 5777
This Week at Rochelle Zell Senior Siyum Gradua on Athle c Awards Night Baseball News Shakespeare Party Exam Schedule Mazal Tov Baruch Dayan Emet Alumni Trivia Gradua on Dvar Torah Community News
May 26, 2017
Senior Siyum Commencement 2017
Class Schedule Monday, May 29 No School Tuesday, May 30 9:30 Hebrew Exam 12:30 Math Exam
Rabbi Belgrad's guitar was a'strumming as the Class of 2017 gathered for one last great Halleluyah sing-along at morning tefillot on Wednesday. With no classes in session for the morning of the senior Siyum, Felix Rosen's Az Yashir and Sara Behn's Oseh Shalom took precedence over clock-watching; horas circled and lo y seniors perched on top of equally lo y seniors in a jam-packed Beit Knesset full of heart. Rabbi Silver addressed the graduates on the topic of Abraham and the palace doleket, a Hebrew word which roughly translated means “ablaze,” whether with fire or with light. Rabbi Silver embraced both meanings of the word in praising the class both for its fiery spirit and its warm and glowing spirituality. (Read more in this week's A Taste of Torah, below.) A er prayers and a sumptuous breakfast, faculty members addressed the gradua ng seniors. Akiva Stein delivered the Siyum dvar Torah, "Hadran Alach Masechet RZJHS," describing how he and his classmates do not merely learn the texts in front of them, but learn from them, developing rela onships with each other and with God as they delve into each different discipline.
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Adam I and Adam II graced our presence in both the dvar Torah and the subsequent Siyum speeches, comparing and contras ng the concrete and abstract modes of living exemplified in Soloveitchik's The Lonely Man of Faith. Dr. Schorsch gave a beau ful rendi on of
Tallulah Bark-Huss' name, which means an everflowing spring of hope, and Lynn Friedman translated the nigh ngale and the lark into Russian in honor of her heroic English student now turned engineer Viktor Cin. Mr. Baumstark surprised everyone with his lyrical metaphor of every step in the ballet, starring Natalie Ecanow as herself. Ms. Nancy Steinberg earned a few gasps by boldly remarking that she thought Itamar Broekman was the nicest human being walking the face of the earth--at least un l Danny Gabel transferred into the class. Save The Date August 21 New Student Orienta on August 22 First Day of Class
The presenta ons this year were as varied and colorful as the class of 2017 itself! Rabbi Greenberg offered a lovely poem about the smiling grace of Izzy Brekher, Mrs. Eliaser used Psalmic quotes to praise the engineering skills of Yoni Maltsman, Ms. Ellen Singer personified the talented Emma Siegel as an en re chorus, and Mr. Bob Taylor sneaked back into the lineup with underhanded comedy for one last hug and jab for the phoenix of the life sciences Erin Miller. Staff members and guests were heard to remark in the a ermath of the morning's ceremonies, "It's wonderful how you learn as much about the teacher giving the speech as you do about the student about whom they are speaking!"
Commencement Exercises Gradua on Night 2017 The Class of 2017 marched into the gymnasium for gradua on to the jazz band's familiar strains of "Pomp and Circumstance," led by their class marshals, Adam Gilman and Dafna Stofenmacher. Akiva Stein blew the shofar to open the proceedings on a strong note; Sammy Hoffman delivered a powerful invoca on, reflec ng on his me in a school that taught how to think rather than what to think. Arielle Small reflected on the difference between knowledge and wisdom, both acquired in different ways and in different contexts under our roof. Natalie Ecanow cited Rabbi Dov Linzer's work on
Genesis as inspira on during uncertain mes when one cannot turn back the clock. Bobbi Hochberg presented the class gi , and Tallulah Bark-Huss encouraged her class to measure their success in life not by the number of mes they achieve perfec on--not only an impossible feat but a rigidly uninteres ng one!--but by the number of mes they get right back up again a er having stumbled and fallen. The world seems a very dierent place from what it appeared even one year ago: armed with intelligence, reasoning, communal bonds, and powerful sense of self-worth, the Class of 2017 is prepared to step out into the unknown. We know they will make this world a be er place, as thinkers, as leaders, as commi ed Jews of all stripes, and as ci zens of the world. Congratula ons to all our graduates from head of school Tony Frank, president of the board Lynn Schrayer, and the en re Rochelle Zell family!
Athletic Awards Night Sports Banquet and Awards The Athle cs Recogni on night capped o an amazing sports year. Student-athletes and parents heard from coaches and captains of their teams. This year we celebrated three Chicago Prep conference championships in cross country, basketball, and volleyball, sportsmanship awards for girls volleyball and boys basketball, and every single one of our sports teams earning the IHSA Team Academic Achievement Award! 2017
boasted nine incredible award-winning athletes, excelling in mul ple sports over several years, including: Miriam Leadership Award Ariel Saxton (cross country, basketball, and soccer) Sammy Homan (golf, basketball, and volleyball) Zev Mishell (cross country and tennis) Rabbi Akiva Diligence Award Erin Miller (volleyball) Yoni Maltsman (cross country and basketball) Dave Vayngart (basketball and volleyball) Ben Zoma Best A tude Award Danny Gabel (soccer and volleyball) Bobbi Hochberg (soccer) Lexi Levin (tennis) Most Valuable Player Ariel Saxton (soccer, basketball, and cross country) Felix Rosen (cross country and basketball) Jon Silvers (baseball) Congratula ons to all our incredible players on a great year!
Spring Sports Conclude Baseball Season Wraps Up
The baseball team finished their season on a very high note, winning four of their final five games, including an IHSA playoff comeback victory against a strong Chicago Waldorf team! Jon Silvers got the start for the Tigers against Waldorf, and pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings. For pitch-count purposes, Silvers gave way to reliever Ari Rosen, who kept the game close un l the Thunder broke through in the fi h inning. Chasing a 7-3 deficit going into the bo om of the last inning, the Tiger bats finally came alive. Key hits from Max Pivo, Rosen, Silvers, Owen Stern, and David Weisskopf helped the squad claw back, sending the game into extra innings at 7-7. Ben Saxton came in to pitch the top of the first extra frame, and although he threw well, the Thunder was able to put up a couple of runs. Down 9-7 with the season on the line, the Tigers refused to lie down. The team put together a combina on of hits and coaxed walks to e it up again at 9-9, and then won the game as Weisskopf crossed the plate on a walk-off base-on-balls. In a conference make-up game versus Cristo Rey sandwiched in between two playoff contests, Tigers flexed their muscles in a 17-7 blowout win. Max Pivo, Viktor Cin, Owen Stern, and Ben Saxton combined to hold Cristo Rey to only three earned runs, while big offensive days from Ben Saxton, Ari Rosen, Jon Silvers, and Max Pivo carried the team. Of par cular note was Max Pivo's 400 . grand slam to walk the team off the field by slaughter-rule! The season ended with a disappoin ng loss to explosive #1 seed Harvest Chris an, but the team will not let that loss define their great season. The team finished with an overall winning record, went further in the playoffs than in any past season, and grew both on the field and off!
Key individual performances of the 2017 season include: Jon Silvers (pitcher, first baseman, and team pioneer): Led team in starts, innings pitched, strikeouts, and wins. Hit .368 on the year. School MVP, and first-team all-conference selec on. Max Pivo (catcher, pitcher): Led team with .455 ba ng average, .773 slugging %, most doubles, and ed for most home runs. Second-team all-conference selec on. Ben Saxton (shortstop, pitcher): .333 ba ng average, .619 slugging %, and ed for most home-runs.
Ari Rosen (pitcher, first baseman, ou ielder): Second on team in starts, innings pitched, strikeouts, and wins. Hit .375 on the year as a freshman. Adam Gilman (ou ielder, team pioneer): Hit .375 on the season. Led all OFs in fielding %. Solid contribu ons from returning players Owen Stern, David Weisskopf, Jonah Karoll, Viktor Cin, Henry Hoffman, Joshua Weisskopf, and Eli Wein. Freshman contribu ons from Jonah Hammel, Coby Maeir, Josh Winick, Noah Willis, Jake Silvers, and Preston Schiller.
Alumni Trivia Cue the orchestra and iron the red sa n sash! Who just graduated as the 2017 Grinnell College Presiden al medalist?
Shakespeare in Love Yon Freshmen Keep the Time-Honoured Feast The Greatest Love Story Ever Told? Late last Saturday night, the en re freshman class gathered at the home of Sophie Wolle to watch the Bard write Romeo and Juliet and help him with the lines. Rapture! Heartache! And a bit with the dog! Thanks to Ms. Friedman for organizing the annual event and to the Wolles for their hospitality.
Exam Schedule Tuesday Finals 9:30 a.m. -
11:00 a.m. Hebrew Exam
12:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. Math Exam
Gvt. Cohen: Dining Hall Gvt. Wasserman: 244 Gvt. Shahaf: 311 Dr. Berman: 216 Mr. Baumstark: 311 Ms. Musleh: Dining Hall Ms. Charous: 213 Ms. Gitlin: 242 Ms. Galante: 244
Mazal Tov Congratula ons to Aaron Miller (CJHS '12) and Haddar Freund who celebrated their wedding this past weekend! The groom works as a business developer for Gpshoppershe, and the bride handles
finances for IF Op cal. The couple resides in New York.
Baruch Dayan Emet It is It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Allen Shiner, grandfather of freshman Ari Rosen ('20). Shiva will recommence on Sunday at the Weiner home, 1685 Berkeley Court, Deerfield, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00-9:00 p.m., with minyan at 8:00 p.m. May God's presence comfort the extended Shiner family among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Alumni Trivia Rachel Aaronson (CJHS '12) graduated from Grinnell last weekend with honors in psychology and a minor in policy studies--and with the silver Presidents Medal around her neck! Rachel reports, "In addi on to regular college life, this past year I spent a majority of my me serving as student government's vice president for academic affairs, where I was able to learn about the innerworkings of higher educa on administra on and serve as a liaison between students and administrators! And beginning this fall, I'm moving to NYC to work for Blue Engine as a high school algebra teacher while I prepare to apply for masters programs in K-12 educa on policy." Good for you, Rachel! The President's Medal is awarded annually to the senior who exemplifies the ideal Grinnell student. To be considered for the award, a student must "reach and maintain superior scholarship, demonstrate leadership in ac vi es that credit the student and add to the College's stature, conduct ma ers with poise and maturity, be fair and willing to accept responsibility, and think before ac ng and understand before judging." Well, that sure sounds like Rachel to us!
A Taste of Torah: Graduation Day
During junior year, our graduates read a midrash about Abraham that they deeply connected to. Commen ng on the first verse of Genesis, chapter 12, "Vayomer Hashem el Avram," R. Isaac said: To what may this be compared? To a man who was traveling from place to place when he saw a palace that was doleket (for now I will leave this untranslated). He wondered, "Is it possible that this palace has no one who looks a er it?" The owner of the building looked out at him and said, "I am the owner of the palace." Similarly, because Abraham our father wondered, "Is it possible that that this world has no one who looks a er it?" the Blessed Holy One looked at him and said, "I am the owner of the world" (Breishit Rabbah 39:1). Doleket has been translated differently across the genera ons, both features of the power of fire. Abraham Joshua Heschel suggests that this palace was aglow, burs ng with light. Avram saw a palace full of light and gazed in astonishment at the wonder in front of him. He bore witness to what Heschel dubs radical amazement. And yet, as Rabbi Shai Held points out beau fully, the word doleket also means aflame. With this understanding, Avram experiences God’s presence precisely in the chaos of the world. He illustrates profound faith even in the midst of registering protest against the owner of the palace, of God. Perhaps he finds got precisely because he was protes ng God. Held con nues and explains that Avram’s honesty leads God to accept Avram as a convenantal partner. As he states, “It is Abram's achievement to have stormed the castle and made it home. In responding to the world in both wonder and indigna on, he became Abraham—party to the covenant, father of a na on, and paragon of mature faith.” This midrash, par cularly the subtlety of it, represents so much of the learning that we do here at Rochelle Zell. One word transforms the meaning of the parable, and more broadly the theology of how we understand God’s place in the world. We simultaneously can hold these opposite truths together as one. Of all mes in history, we must embrace this complexity and elevate it. We can and do find God as we witness wonder. We can and do experience God’s presence as we protest and fight to protect God’s world from the flames we so o en see. Modern scholars of Midrash note that in most midrashim, one part of the parable is not fully expressed. This seeming hole is where the core message arises. In our midrash we have two clear
metaphors: The palace represents the world. The owner of the palace is God. But what is the fire that is doleket? In our own school, so many people enter our building, and see our school doleket. They see radiant glow coming from the ruach burs ng out of the Beit Knesset, they hear the existen al discussions that our students have about the place of faith in the modern world. They see our light when they meet our students at the Rohingya Cultural Center in Chicago, in the halls of the United Na ons, on the courts and fields across Chicagoland. This class, of all classes, is one that glows. You, the class of 2017, are doleket. As we just saw in tefillot, you see them from afar. And even before you see them, you hear them. You are a kitah doleket, a shining class, par cularly around Jewish ac vi es. To the class of 2017, your legacy will live on in our school for many years. I bless you that you bring this doleket a tude into every community that you enter. Shine forth for those around you. Shine forth for yourselves. Rav Beit Sefer Zachary Silver
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