THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010 28 TEVET, 5770 SHABBAT: FRI 5:21 – SAT 6:21 CINCINNATI, OHIO VOL. 156 • NO. 25 SINGLE ISSUE PRICE $2.00
ISRAEL How Israel is implementing the settlement freeze Page 9
CINCINNATI JEWISH LIFE AJC's 2009 Community Service Award Page 11
Rockwern Academy will not offer 7th and 8th grades for the 2010 – 2011 school year by Avi Milgrom Assistant Editor On Jan. 6, 2010, the Rockwern Academy Board of Trustees voted unanimously to not offer 7th and 8th grades for the 2010 – 2011 school year. The families in those grades, as well as the faculty, were informed immediately. Describing the decision as one that was “proactive” and “business minded,” Head of School Peter Cline explained that the 57 year old institution had made this same decision twice before. Explained board president, Barry Finestone, in a letter to Rockwern parents:” The sacrifices in quality that would have been necessary in order to make grades 7 and 8 financially viable were simply not acceptable to the school’s leadership. The numbers for 7th grade in 2011 – 2012 look
Izzy’s new store is one-of-akind, and one of nine
strong, and it is our intention at this time to offer 7th grade during that school year.” The decision was consistent with basic principles established three years ago by a community task force convened by the school. Continued Finestone, “ Among the requirements of that plan was the hiring of a head of school, creating a marketing plan, upgrading admissions standards and practices, re-branding the school, and the creation of a long-range business plan grounded in best practices — all of these guided by a commitment to
offer only excellence in all areas to our young people. “While we have met these goals and others, we are in the final phase of solidifying the business plan.” The decision, according to Cline, will improve the overall position of the school, consistent with the plan. Those in the community familiar with the school have seen changes arising from the plan, including an increase in tuition for pre-school through 6th grade, the restructuring of offerings in the
Cincinnati’s YU student, Josh Zimmerman, helps JNF aid Gaza evacuees by Avi Milgrom Assistant Editor
DINING OUT
Perhaps most affected by this decision are the families of students heading for middle school.
preschool division as well as the new flexible, multi-year tuition plan aimed at the middle class and designed to complement and supplement Rockwern’s traditional financial aid program — being readied for implementation. Visible benefits of the effort include lower attrition, greater enrollment and the creation of new programs. Perhaps most affected by this decision are the families of students heading for middle school. Promised Finestone, “We recognize that as difficult as this has been for the school’s leadership, it will be more difficult still for many of our families and students. Not only do we recognize this, we respect it. The school’s resources will be offered to the families who need them as they work through this unexpected transition in our lives.”
In the summer of 2005, under the Sharon-Olmert government, Israel pulled out all of its settlers and soldiers from the Gaza strip, ostensibly to improve Israeli security. Most of the 8,000 settlers came from some 20 settlements in the southwest edge of the Gaza strip along the Mediterranean Sea,
an area referred to as Gush Katif. The settlers included Orthodox and secular Jews as well as several hundred Muslim Bedouins.Jews have lived in the area for over 1600 years. For this reason, the area is considered by many settlers part of the “Land of Israel” and thus “deeded” Jewish land. According to one report the settlers, who had been in Gaza for over 30 years, contributed some
$200 million annually to Israel’s exports - roughly 15 percent of Israel’s agricultural exports. Among the industries developed by the settlers was a substantial greenhouse operation facilitated by original technology developed to grow organic lettuce, greens, tomatoes and vegetables as well as geraniums. In addition to the greenhouses, the area had the largest plant nurs-
ery in Israel and the second largest dairy in the country. Other settlers worked in telephone sales and in printing. After the settlers were removed, a foundation funded by the European Union agreed to purchase the greenhouses for $14 million and transfer them to the Palestinian Authority in order that ZIMMERMAN on page 19
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Should Israel be a model for U.S. airport security? by Gil Shefler Jewish Telegraphic Agency
TRAVEL 2009: The year in retrospect Page 20
NEW YORK (JTA) — As U.S. officials try to figure out how to improve airport security in the aftermath of the failed Christmas Day bombing attempt of a Northwest Airlines flight to Detroit, many North Americans are looking to Israel as a model. The New York Times opened a forum for readers to discuss the pros and cons of Israeli airport security. The Toronto Star interviewed an Israeli airport security
expert who said the best way to nab a terrorist is to “look them in the eye.” David Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee, wrote a piece for The Huffington Post about the lessons U.S. airport security officials can learn from their counterparts in Israel. “From the perspective of security, one is in a class by itself: Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport,” Harris wrote. “In the wake of the thwarted terrorist attempt on Northwest Flight 253, it’s time to revisit the Israeli
model, as other countries ask what more can be done to prevent such near-catastrophes.” El Al, Israel’s national airline, has been the target of more attacks and specific threats than any other airline in the world. After a number of shootings and hijackings by terrorists during the late 1960s and early 1970s, the governmentowned company introduced a set of stringent security measures aimed at thwarting future terrorist attacks. The enhanced security extended to Ben Gurion International Airport, which also had been the
site of terrorist attacks. Security there is comprised of a number of rings, only some of which are visible. Passenger profiling has been a major component of the security success. Security officials question passengers before sending their luggage and screen them based on their answers and backgrounds. Passengers considered a potential risk are taken aside for further questioning and thoroughly searched. SECURITY on page 22