magazine
GIVINGBACK OUR STUDENTS, ALUMNI AND STAFF ARE WORKING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY
#FEEDTHEDEED
STUDENT SUPPORT
STARTUP TANENBAUMCHAT
tanenbaumchat.org HOW OUR ALUMNI “COME HOME”
R A Q U E L W A L M A N ’08
editor’s note
T H I S edition of the CHATTER Magazine highlights the spectacular accomplishments and philanthropy that our students, alumni, and TanenbaumCHAT family have achieved within the school, the community and the world. TanenbaumCHAT cultivates students that strive for personal and communal success, whether it be through their fundraising efforts, contributions to multiple activities, clubs, or other extra-curricular volunteerism. The relationship between TanenbaumCHAT and its students, both past and present, ensures that our family both comes back and gives back. We would like to applaud the entire TanenbaumCHAT community for all they have done and will continue to do to help make the world a brighter place. We wish everyone continued success and “bahatz lachah” in all their future endeavors.
EDITOR
H O W
Raquel Walman ’08 Lynn Stanley, Graphic Directions
Is published through the TanenbaumCHAT Advancement Office and is distributed to more than 7,000 TanenbaumCHAT alumni, parents and friends of the school.
R E A C H
U S
416.636.5984
D E S I G N / L AY O U T
magazine
T O
WA L L E N B E R G C A M P U S K I M E L FA M I LY E D U C AT I O N C E N T R E
905.787.8772
PRINTING
Origo Communications PHOTOGRAPY
Matt Feinstein, Feinstein Photography
D I R E C T O R O F A D VA N C E M E N T
Frances Bigman, CFRE 416.636.5984 x 230 fbigman@tanenbaumchat.org
Front Cover (from left to right): Seth Kadish ’15, Riley Samuel ’15, Gennifer Ram ’15, Julia Duckman ’17, Gillian Rotstein ’17 Back Cover: Ashley Azuri ’17 with faculty member Adina Ander ’08 Facebook.com/tanenbaumchat1
Facebook.com/tanenbaumchatalumni
2 | CHATTER MAGAZINE SPRING|SUMMER 2014
Twitter @TCWallenberg
youtube.com/tanenbaumchat1
“GIVING BACK” LESLIE FLUXGOLD
As someone who
Best wishes to each of you f o r a n e n j o y a b l e a n d s a f e s u m m e r.
tanenbaumchat.org | 3
W I T H 3 3 1 TA N E N B A U M C H AT S T U D E N T S G R A D U AT I N G T H I S Y E A R and going forward to remarkable futures, we hope that our students have grown to see Israel as fundamental to their Jewish identity. We hope we have equipped them with answers to defend the right of the Jewish people to a national homeland and with questions so that they can enter the complicated debates that take place in Israel about politics, power, and peoplehood.
an
Israel that Matters RABBI LEE BUCKMAN
By the time our students graduate, I want every TanenbaumCHAT student to have an answer to the most fundamental questions about Israel: Why does Israel matter in my life? How does my relationship with Israel complete me as a Jew? How can I participate in and perhaps even influence what goes on in Israel and in that way share in Israel’s destiny?
For many of our students’ parents and grandparents, Israel is viewed as a safe haven for Jews. For today’s generation that lives at a time when Jews around the world live in relative freedom and security, we need a more compelling and relevant narrative. It must be a narrative that focuses on the values that Israel embodies, the challenges Israel faces, and the aspirations that its people hold in their hearts. If we can help our students find meaning in this type of narrative, then they will not only stand up for Israel but know what Israel stands for.
O U R S T U D E N T S ’ L I V E S W I L L B E A L L T H E R I C H E R F O R I T.
4 | CHATTER MAGAZINE SPRING|SUMMER 2014
Allan Guttman celebrates with Leo Baeck South Science Fair 2014 winners
Science
at TanenbaumCHAT will never be the same.
The Guttman Family Science Wing enjoys a stellar opening year !
The new Guttman Family Science Wing has seen a tremendous level of excitement since its opening in September. The science faculty have always inspired our students to pursue further studies and careers in the fields of science, technology and engineering. Now our new wing has expanded opportunities for our students. The space offers more technical and more hands-on experimentation, delivering a more engaging atmosphere for students who previously had limited interest in
science. Our central Kimel Square is used for group activity. No more classroom disruptions and more opportunity for participation. In the Greenberg Family Greenhouse students are growing their own samples for use in their Biology and Microscope units. Most exciting, this year saw the Gales Project room as home base for the Titanium Tigers, TanenbaumCHAT’s new Robotics Club. Physics and Mathematics teacher Neil Epstein coached these new Tigers as they made their debut at The FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) where high-school students build the most impressive robots you’ve ever seen. Built from scratch in only 6 weeks, these
5 foot tall, 140 pound robots compete in high intensity robo-sports. The students benefit from not only having a tactile hands-on experience, but the competition also allows the students the opportunity to manage a complex multidisciplinary project. Students must learn to design, prototype, build, wire, program and document in order to create a successful competition ready robot. The new wing was host for the annual TanenbaumCHAT feeder school Science Fair & Olympiad this year. Grade 8’s from community day schools got a chance to see the great facilities that will be their new home next year!
T HAN K YOU to all of our donors whose generous support made all of this possible. The newly launched DNA Wall will be another impressive feature of permanent donor recognition in the new wing. This artistic impression of DNA will be a another opportunity for our community’s philanthropic support that will ensure our students continue to enjoy innovative science programming. Interested in learning more about the DNA Wall? Please contact Frances Bigman, Director of Advancement, 416.636.5984 x 230
Above (left to right): Robotics Club; Coach Neil Epstein with Robotics Club; Science Fair Olympiad tanenbaumchat.org | 5
ON APRIL 9TH, TANENBAUMCHAT WELCOMED TORONTO’S LEADING ENTREPRENEURS, VENTURE
CAPITALISTS,
BUSINESS
INCUBATORS AND ADVISORS TO THE
INAUGURAL...
STARTUP TanenbaumCHAT
Entrepreneurship Day
Co-founded by Business Studies teacher Jordan Hoffman and Daniel Warner ’01 – Startup TanenbaumCHAT aspired to ignite the entrepreneurial spark in TanenbaumCHAT’s students and encourage them to pursue their passion.
The half-day entrepreneurship symposium consisted of eight engaging workshops and panels, a networking dinner, a Dragon’s Den student business competition and keynotes from fashion designer, Erin Kleinberg ’03 and one of Canada’s leading startup mentors, Professor Sean Wise. “It means so much to me to be able to inspire students with my story. I have learned an infinite amount in my journey in the fashion industry (which was actually born during my days at TanenbaumCHAT), and I am thrilled to share the successes and struggles I have endured...” said Erin Kleinberg ’03. Panelist, Mike Wagman ’01, lawyer turned successful tech entrepreneur stated “We need our talented and young minds to be thinking about entrepreneurial opportunities that solve problems in the world and create value. I can't think of a better place to excite
6 | CHATTER MAGAZINE SPRING|SUMMER 2014
students about these opportunities than at TanenbaumCHAT.” Startup TanenbaumCHAT’s supporting partners included Sam Ifergan’s iGan Venture Partners and Dennis Bennie’s XDL Capital, venture capitalists who have strong ties to the TanenbaumCHAT community. Daniel shared, “We have created an opportunity to energize and empower TanenbaumCHAT students to follow their passion and create their own business in the future, by sharing entrepreneurial experience and insights from Toronto’s top business minds.” Event organizers Jordan Hoffman, Heidi Meirovitz and Daniel Warner ’01 would like to give a special thank you to the TanenbaumCHAT Advancement team, Frances Bigman, Heather Gutmann, and Raquel Walman’08, and the students on the business council for bringing Startup TanenbaumCHAT to life.
I fell in love with the idea of TanenbaumCHAT University the minute I learned about it.” So enthuses Sara Dobner, one of the ‘‘ many TanenbaumCHAT parents, grandparents, alumni, staff and friends who joined together for the inaugural year of this exciting new adult education speaker series. TanenbaumCHAT University, or TCU, brings the adult TanenbaumCHAT community together to explore the fascinating topics taught in TanenbaumCHAT courses, enjoy thought-provoking presentations by our faculty, and take part in Torah lishmah – T H E J O Y O F L E A R N I N G .
TANENBAUMCHAT
University For further information, go to tanenbaumchat.org/tcu or email jshapero@tanenbaumchat.org, or call Judith Shapero ’90, Vice-Principal of Jewish Studies TCK at 905.787.8772 ext. 2201 We look forward to having you join us! We a re e x c i t e d t o b r i n g T C U t o t h e Wa l l e n b e rg C a m p u s i n t h e 2 0 1 4 - 1 5 s c h o o l y e a r, a n d l o o k f o r w a rd t o s e e i n g y o u a l l t h e re !
tanenbaumchat.org | 7
RabbiLeeBuckman “
An inspiring leader who teaches an integral lesson: to savour the marathon of life.
8 | CHATTER MAGAZINE SPRING|SUMMER 2014
”
5 Full Marathons inFiveYears 18 HALF MARATHONS
20 Other Races
R A B B I • T E A C H E R • FAT H E R • R U N N E R • F O U N D E R O F A N E W S C H O O L I N S U B U R B A N DETROIT • RESUSCITATOR OF A FAILING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN ATLANTA These are just some of the many accomplishments of the new Head of School at TanenbaumCHAT, Rabbi Lee Buckman.
tanenbaumchat.org | 9
“Overwhelmed?
GET TIPS ON MANAGING STRESS THURSDAY AT LUNCH IN ROOM 110
PEER COACHES MEETING TUESDAY IN GUIDANCE
Not sure how to start that bibliography?INFORMATION
SESSION IN THE LIBRARY DURING PROJECT SUPPORT
”
10 | C H A T T E R M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G | S U M M E R 2 0 1 4
STUDENT SUPPORT
AT A TIME WHEN STUDENTS ARE JUGGLING SCHOOL WORK, SPORTS TEAMS, LEADERSHIP CLUBS, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND ACTIVE SOCIAL CALENDARS, SUPPORT TO NOT ONLY SURVIVE BUT THRIVE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER – AND THE TCK COMMUNITY IS RISING TO THE CHALLENGE.
KATE KNIGHT | TCK DEPARTMENT HEAD, KOSTMAN CENTRE FOR DIFFERENTIATED LEARNING
• PA R A L L E L P R O G R A M M I N G A N D S U P P O R T I S AVA I L A B L E T O O U R T C W S T U D E N T B O D Y •
tanenbaumchat.org | 11
The best thing about memories, is making them!
YOUR GRANDCHILD AND TANENBAUMCHAT INVITE YOU TO JOIN US FOR GRANDPARENT DAY 2014
BREAKFAST • A CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE • LUNCH WITH YOUR GRANDCHILD • STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT
GRANDPARENTDAY MA RK YOUR CA LE NDA RS!
KIMEL FAMILY EDUCATION CENTRE: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22 ND WALLENBERG CAMPUS: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29 TH
For further information, call Heather Gutmann, Alumni & Campaigns Associate, TCW 416.636.5984 ext. 333 or email hgutmann@tanenbaumchat.org OR Laurie Wasser, Director of Development, TCK 905.292.4381 or email lwasser@tanenbaumchat.org We we l c o me v o l unte er s o f al l a g es t o j o i n o ur pl a nni ng commit te e! 12 | C H A T T E R M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G | S U M M E R 2 0 1 4
UPDATE
FROM THE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT, FRANCES BIGMAN
The TanenbaumCHAT Advancement Office is the home of T H R E E non-curricular areas of the school – Admissions, Communication and Development. This department is a hub of year long activity
The A D M I S S I O N S D E PA R T M E N T, skillfully led by Rosemary Tile was expanded with the appointment of Jessica Lewis. Jessica started at TanenbaumCHAT at the Kimel Centre in the Guidance Department in 2011. Jessica was instrumental in bringing Keshet (Gay/Straight Alliance) and Mental Health Awareness Week to that campus. In April she joined the Advancement Department as a Recruitment Officer. Her focus will be growing the distinctive New Stream Program, well known for offering students who have never attended Jewish day school or have been out of the system for some time, the opportunity to be a part of the TanenbaumCHAT Experience. With word of mouth still our best marketing tool, please share this bit of news with someone you know.
1 2
Our C O M M U N I C AT I O N S D E PA R T M E N T has been very busy this year keeping students, parents, grandparents and the community up to date on happenings at both the Kimel and Wallenberg campuses. The Official TanenbaumCHAT Facebook pages for both current families and alumni have over 2000 fans following the daily updates of our student activities and alumni news. The school website, collateral materials, e-blasts and this very CHATTER publication are generated by our talented alumnae Raquel Walman ’08.
As always our D E V E L O P M E N T T E A M was hard at work in its continuing efforts to secure vital philanthropic dollars. This year’s Annual Fund theme THE POWER OF WE illustrated that No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. Coming off of a highly successful capital campaign delivering the Guttman Family Science Wing on time and on budget, we are thrilled to see that more and more of our community is seeing TanenbaumCHAT as the destination for their philanthropic dollars. The Annual Fund at TCK, led by Director of Development Laurie Wasser is poised to hit its largest target ever, and at TCW new gift agreements recently signed will see summer 2014 construction projects for at least 2 more significant campus improvements. The focus for fundraising continues to be ensuring funding for Signature Programming, Israel Engagement and Professional Development along with completing final funding obligations for the science wing.
To view our 2 01 4 ANNUAL FUND video visit Youtube and search TanenbaumCHAT Annual Fund – P O W E R O F W E .
tanenbaumchat.org | 13
tcw H
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WA L L E N B E R G CAMPUS
L I ON KING
G RADE 9 ORIENTATION DAY
SUKKOT
PURIM
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VA RSIT Y G IRL S BASKETBALL
DANCE FA SHION SH OW
w c t VENT UR E W EEK
TALENT SH OW
TA LENT SHOW
COFFEE HOUS E
G RADE 9 SH ABBAT ON
THINK PINK
tanenbaumchat.org | 15
tck
H
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K I M E L FA M I LY E D U C AT I O N CENTRE
GRADE 9 JEW IS H HIS TORY T R IP
SPR ING MUSIC CONCERT
G R A DE 9 CA MP R OBIN H OOD
R OCK Y OUR CAUSE
MUFFIN AWA RDS
16 | C H A T T E R M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G | S U M M E R 2 0 1 4
INHERIT T H E W IND PL AY
k c t TA LENT SHOW
WELCOME CA R NIVA L
PURIM
R EEL FIL M FEST IVAL
CL UBS & COMMITT EES
ROSH HA SHANA H
tanenbaumchat.org | 17
When TanenbaumCHAT began to offer the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Program in 2009, only a handful of students participated. Now 5 years later, it has grown to over 60 students! Sabrina Craig, TCW ’14 and Josh Morris, TCK ’14 are two students that successfully reached the Gold level this year. They
Duke of Edinburgh’s
Award L
E
V
E
“
I decided to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh program because it has the ability to boost me to the next level and distinguish my resume from others. I loved challenging myself to get involved in a balanced amount of extracurricular activities as well as trying new things. I would advise any student from TCW or TCK to participate in the program. Though it seems like a large commitment I found I was surprised how much of the requirements I already participated in and how simple it was. The experience was nothing but gratifying.” – SABRINA CRAIG
L
THE MOST RECOGNIZED AND PROMINENT INT ERNAT I ONA L YOUT H AWA RD
The program encourages personal development and community involvement for young adults between 14
“
At the age of 14, I enrolled in The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award program in order to get involved in my community as a young leader. This award was an extremely rewarding experience as I explored new activities and pursued current interests while giving back to my community. Highlights of my journey to completing the gold level award include a four-day hike in Algonquin Park and playing competitive hockey and tennis. This experience has allowed me to become a well-rounded individual with an expanded set of skills and interests. This award is an excellent way to get involved outside of the classroom and contribute to your community.” – JOSH MORRIS
and 25. Participants move through three levels – Bronze, Silver and Gold – where they are recognized
We congratulate and commend all TanenbaumCHAT
for their accomplishments in community service, skill
students who are participating in or have completed
development, physical recreation, and adventurous
this program!
journey.
18 | C H A T T E R M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G | S U M M E R 2 0 1 4
SABRINA CRAIG, TCW ’14
T H E
JOSH MORIIS, TCK ’14
Gold
describe their experience participating in this prestigious program:
THE FOLLOWING TANENBAUMCHAT ALUMNI ARE CELEBRATING THE GRADUATION OF THEIR OWN CHILDREN IN THE CLASS OF 2014
CLASS OF ’72 MARTIN TOGMAN CLASS OF ’75 LEORA MARCOVITZ ROBERT MARKOVITS SAM ROSENWALD CLASS OF ’77 MARSHA (SPRINGER) KLERER CLASS OF ’78 NAOMI KESTENBAUM CLASS OF ’79 ESTHER FRIEDBERG KARP IAN MUCHER CLASS OF ’80 NEIL SMILEY CLASS OF ’81 MICHAEL BUCKSTEIN
CLASS OF ’82 HARVEY HAZAN SARI (CHAIKOF) SPRINGER CLASS OF ’83 RENA (ZARETSKY) BUCKSTEIN DEBBIE (LITWIN) MALEK MELISSA MUSKAT JEFF SPRINGER CLASS OF ’84 MARK EKLOVE RISA (GREEN) ELMALEM ALEX IGELMAN NISSO KESLASSY CAROL SILVERSTEIN RACHAEL ZBAR CLASS OF ’85 DEBBIE (COHEN) BENUDIZ JENNIFER JOSEPH ROBIN (CONN) KESLASSY LESLIE LERER
WE WISH TO THANK OUR ALUMNI FOR THEIR ONGOING COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION TO TANENBAUMCHAT
CLASS OF ’86 ANNIE (COHEN) BENLEZRAH SALOMON BENUDIZ ESTHER (HADIDA) LITHWICK ORLY (KADURI) NEGRIN JONATHAN ROSENSTEIN CLASS OF ’87 SHARON (MAMMON) BELMONT ADRIENNE (WEINGARTEN) FLETCHER DENISE (SCHAUMER) ROBBINS JOSEPH SCHNEEWEISS RONIT (BENYOVITS) WHITE CLASS OF ’88 YVETTE ROSENBERG BELINDA (STEINER) SCHNEEWEISS TED SHOUB CLASS OF ’89 JENNIFER (EKLOVE) NIEDZVIECKI JEFFREY RAPHAEL
For further information please call:
WALLEN BERG CA MPUS
KIMEL FAMILY EDU CATION CENTRE
Heather Gutmann Alumni & Campaigns Associate hgutmann@tanenbaumchat.org OR 416.636.5984 x 333
Laurie Wasser Director of Development, TCK lwasser@tanenbaumchat.org OR 905.292.4381
tanenbaumchat.org | 19
38-Year
AlLifetime umni FOR A
YEAR AFTER YEAR, OUR ALUMNI CONTINUE TO COME BACK INTO OUR SCHOOL AND DEMONSTRATE THEIR COMMITMENT TO OUR MISSION, OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR STUDENTS. From participating in events and programs like Career Day, the Mentorship Network, Mental Health Awareness Week, and Reunions, to becoming a staff member, to continuing the legacy by enrolling their own children in our school, our Alumni show that the TA N E N B A U M C H AT E X P E R I E N C E continues long after graduation.
LOVE AFFAIR WIT H TANENBAUMCHAT
After graduating junior high school at Dufferin Heights along Wilmington (now Charles H. Best, East) in 1976, I decided to go to CHAT for high school. Little did I know then that this would be the beginning of a 38-year “love affair” with the school. I returned to start teaching in 1986 before moving into my present position in the guidance department in 2002. I look forward to coming to work every day because every day is different and exciting, the staff and students are congenial and engaging, and the school is always bubbling with some type of activity, program, fundraiser or other special event. In my opinion, TanenbaumCHAT is one of the finest Jewish high schools around, combining a challenging and well-rounded Judaic Studies curriculum with a highly academic General Studies program. My wife, Leora, taught Economics and Entrepreneurial Studies here and two of my children have also followed me to the Kimel Centre (Uri ’15and Yoni ’14), truly making TanenbaumCHAT a “family affair” in the Stoll household.”
• RICHARD STOLL ’80 •
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK Alumni participate in Mental Health Awareness Week by openly sharing their experiences living with a mental illness. Their stories educate our students and staff by bringing forward a better understanding and appreciation of mental health.
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CAREER DAY AND LIFE AFTER TANENBAUMCHAT Alumni share their career journey experiences with our grade 10 students through Career Day and our Grade 12 students through Life after TanenbaumCHAT. They demonstrate to our students that there can be different paths to reaching a destination.
Sense
World
WHERE EVERYTHING
OF FAMILY
IS POSSIBLE
AND COMMUNITY
Returning to TanenbaumCHAT reminds me of a world where everything was possible. Where questioning what it is to be ethical, or facing off with your teachers in trivia, and dressing up for charity occurances were all everyday occurances. As an alumni speaking at Career Day or in a classroom, I always think to myself: “what would be the advice I would give myself at that age?” Often, it’s just to comfort them that they don’t need their whole lives planned out by 16. Whether volunteering on the West Virginia Community Service Trips or speaking about social justice in classrooms, it’s amazing to see a new generation of students who see Tikkun Olam as core to their responsibility as Jews and Global Citizens. Coming back is important, because while the building and hallways may change for the better, the core strength of TanenbaumCHAT remains the same – preparing strong networks of Jewish leaders to tackle the urgent challenges of our time.”
Having recently celebrated the class of 1984’s 30th anniversary, together with 35 fellow alumni, we were able to reconnect friendships that were made a lifetime ago and to reminisce about the good times we shared together. I have been privileged to be part of all 4 of our past reunions. The years together at CHAT gave me a sense of family and community and it was these feelings that I wanted my own three children to experience. CHAT provided me with a platform that solidified my commitment to Judaism, the Jewish community and Eretz Yisrael. The friendships that were created at CHAT are still dear to me today. It was these attributes that reaffirmed my commitment to providing my children with the same opportunities that CHAT afforded me.”
• DANNY RICHMOND ’03 •
• RISA GREEN ELMALEM ’84 •
TCW Class of 2003 10 Year Reunion
MENTORSHIP NETWORK This Alum-to-Alum program matches up mentors and mentees with common work interests. Mentees have the opportunity to expand their professional networks while gaining insight into their chosen field from their mentors who work and live those roles on a daily basis. To join the Mentorship Network please contact Heather Gutmann, Alumni & Campaigns Associate, 416.636.5984 ext. 333, OR hgutmann@tanenbaumchat.org
REUNIONS Reunions provide the opportunity for Alumni to reconnect with old classmates and teachers and reminisce about their years shared at TanenbaumCHAT.
SAVE THE DATE!
2 0 1 4
A L U M N I
R E U N I O N S
2004 – 10 Year Alumni Reunion | THURS. NOVEMBER 6 – 7:30 - 9:30 PM (TCW) 2004 – Richmond Hill 10 Year Alumni Reunion | THURS. NOVEMBER 13 – 7:30 - 10:30 PM (TCK) 1989 – 25 Year Alumni Reunion | THURS. NOVEMBER 20 – 7:30 - 9:30 PM (TCW)
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Ittakesonlyone minute, one small gesture,
toturnsomeone’sday THIS WAS THE IDEA BEHIND TANENBAUMCHAT ALUMNI JOSH STERN’S ’08 INITIATIVE #FEEDTHEDEED
“ “
around.
Inspired by a harmful social media trend called Neknomiations, Josh saw the potential to turn the idea of challenging a friend to one-up your own actions, into a meaningful social media initiative. This new initiative helped to inspire and promote performing acts of kindness to both friends and strangers, before passing the torch to a friend. The initiative joined forces with KINDNESS COUNTS , another social media program led by alumni RUSSELL CITRON ’09 , which uses creative and unconventional approaches to spread and inspire kindness across the community. Their efforts have seen tremendous response from peers, parents, and community members from all over the world. One participant got involved by handing out Applebee’s gift cards to strangers in Michigan, while another delivered flowers to his favorite sushi waitresses. Countless books have been donated to libraries and hospitals, subway tokens have been handed out, and notes of appreciation have been left on cars and desks. Our own TanenbaumCHAT students have been busy around the school and community doing their own acts of kindness. These past few weeks have been truly amazing. It really goes to show how one small act can make such a difference in the world. Sometimes we need that reminder and extra little motivation to go out and do good deeds – and through the power of social media, we have successfully achieved that. Not only have Neknominations been defeated, but thousands of dollars have been donated to charities, those less fortunate are receiving food and clothes, and people are even facing their fears to donate blood for the first time. #FeedtheDeed is really ‘Tikkun Olam’ gone viral!” JOSH STERN ’0 8 , FOUNDER OF #F EEDTHEDE ED
Seeing the happiness on people’s faces when they’re receiving an act of kindness are really moving. And what that smile tells, and what I keep coming back to when I think about the Feed the Deed initiative, is that if the entire campaign just inspired one video, one act of kindness, one conversation about kindness at a dinner table, it would all be worth it. Thinking about how many people took time out of their days to be kind to others – how many minutes have been spent on kindness – is incredibly inspiring, and reminds us that we can use creativity and the power of today’s world to spread ‘active kindness’. A n d i n s h o r t , t h a t ’s w h a t Ki nd ne ss C o unts is al l a bo ut .” RUSSELL CI TRON ’0 9, FOUNDER OF KINDNESS COUNT S
We would like to nominate all of our readers to do a good deed and pass it forward to your friends and family.
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THIS
Read IS AS
GOOD AS
GOLD
...OUR VERY OWN JENNIFER GOLD ’97 HAS WRITTEN HER FIRST NOVEL
•SOLDIER DOLL•
We caught up with JENNIFER, and asked how her CHAT experiences helped her with her writing.
“
Two chapters in my book address issues related to WWII and the Holocaust. For these chapters I obviously drew extensively on my Jewish education at CHAT. I don’t have any survivors in my family, so I went back and re-examined a lot of the sources we used in our history and Jewish history classes. As well, many of the Yom Ha’Shoah and other programs came to mind when writing – I can vividly recall one survivor telling her story during a school assembly. I have always been an avid history buff, and look back on classes in history and Jewish history with great fondness, especially with teachers Sam Kapustin, Alex Gropper and Diane Pasian.” SOLDIER DOLL was a two year project, that was reviewed as “a memorable debut, both timely and universal in its themes”. It is a novel full of histor y and insights. We wish Jennifer a heartfelt M A Z E L T O V and wish her all the best on her future endeavors.
Jennifer’s advice to any aspiring writers would be “write as often as you can, and read even more than that . . . don’t be afraid to take risks. It’s fiction – the sky is the limit in terms of what you can do”
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Alumni Association
NEWS&NOTES
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Michaela Hirsh ’06 on being chosen as Valedictorian for the Desautels Faculty of Management. Nicole Marcus ’06 on her full time employment as an Associate in the Litigation group at the Toronto office of global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright. MA ZE L TOV to Joanne (Lass) Perlmutter ’77 and Jeffrey Perlmutter on their son Hartley Perlmutter ’06 receiving Smicha from Yeshiva University. Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University salutes the alumni of TanenbaumCHAT celebrating their rabbinic ordination – Rabbi Aaron Abramson ’05, Rabbi Eytan Cowen ’90, Rabbi Michael Kurin ’04, Rabbi Joel Markin ’06, Rabbi Hartley Perlmutter ’06.
Do you have a special occasion or some good news to share? Please keep sending us your announcements and photos! Contact Heather Gutmann at 416.636.5984 ext: 333 or hgutmann@tanenbaumchat.org
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Alumni Association
NEWS&NOTES
26 | C H A T T E R M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G | S U M M E R 2 0 1 4
Sebastian Oliver
Alexandra Rose
Talia Michal
Sophie Miriam
Send us your
NEWS& NOTES!!
Contact Heather Gutmann at 416.636.5984 ext: 333 or hgutmann@tanenbaumchat.org
Henry Leo tanenbaumchat.org | 27
e v i L
MORNING & EVENING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
Wallenberg Campus (for families living SOUTH of Steeles Avenue)
Wednesday, October 22, 2014 • 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM – OR Thursday, October 23, 2014 • 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Kimel Family Education Centre (for families living NORTH of Steeles Avenue)
Monday, October 27, 2014 • 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM – OR Tuesday, October 28, 2014 • 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM For students with no or limited Jewish Education, learn about our New Stream Program Morning Information Session 10:30 to 11:15 AM • Evening Information Session 7:15 to 8:00 PM
RSV P REQUI RED – Rosemary Tile, Director of Admissions • rtile@tanenbaumchat.org • 416.636.5984 x 377 We’ll answer all your questions!
JOIN US!
FOR GRADE 8 PARENTS
OPENHOUSE
T HE
TanenbaumCHAT Experience!