FALL 2017 FEATURES 3 8 9
Young Alumni Summer BBQ Alumni Profile: Jessica Antiles ’15 Class Reunions New Alumni Families
10 Alumni Back on Campus 12 Inside The Internship Program 15 3 Tips To Land Your Dream Job or Internship 16 Class Notes
NEWS
When Innovation Strikes
Taking their big ideas to new heights, these alumni have figured out the key to creating successful businesses According to Albert Einstein, “Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere.” For many of our talented alumni, their innovative and imaginative ideas have helped launched new businesses and career opportunities. Some have immersed themselves in the culinary world with new products while others have created technology platforms and websites for those trying to enter the workforce. We’re proud to have such an impressive roster of alumni entrepreneurs, and we’ve highlighted a few of our alumni here who turned their big ideas into actual businesses.
JJ Fliegelman ‘07 Co-Founder and CTO of WayUp JJ Fliegelman connected with Liz Wessel (now CoFounder and CEO of WayUp) at the University of Pennsylvania through a hackathon called PennApps. The two decided to work on a small project together —a website to help students become campus reps for companies. They immediately had top companies using the platform to hire brand ambassadors. While the two spent time after college traveling and working for other companies, they knew they were on to something as the project they had built in college was getting a lot of traction. Knowing there had to be a better way for students to find parttime jobs outside of the traditional job fairs, friend referrals or Craigslist, they left their full time jobs, incorporated WayUp (then called Campus Job) in July 2014 and launched the site two months later. Since its launch, WayUp has expanded beyond the college job site JJ and Liz initially created. Named by CNN as one of the 30 most innovative companies changing the world, WayUp has become the leading platform for millions of students and recent graduates across the US to find job and internship opportunities, receive advice and connect with employers. Companies ranging from startups CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
Message From The Head of School Dear SSDS-GOA Alumni, The power of our alumni community is something I have been in awe of since I first arrived here well over a decade ago. The bonds that are formed during your years in this school truly do last a lifetime. As a school, we feel a tremendous sense of pride knowing that you are out in your respective communities representing our school so beautifully and staying connected to one another in such a dedicated manner. While visiting our Neshama students in Israel this past March, I had the great privilege of having dinner in Jerusalem with an outstanding group of young alumni who are currently living in Israel, whether they have made aliyah, are serving in the Israeli army or are completing studies there. It was wonderful to reconnect with them and hear about their experiences both from the perspective of living in Israel and staying connected to one another. The GOA bonds run deep, and they were all eager to hear what the others were up to and offer their own advice and support. In reading through the pages of this Alumni Newsletter you will see a number of pictures that highlight alumni gatherings that have happened over the past few months, yet there is one in particular that stands out for so many special reasons. When we were asked by some of our alumni for assistance in getting a Shabbat dinner together on the Upper West Side we thought it was a great idea and were hopeful to have a nice turnout. When close to 100 alumni (including some of their significant others)
gathered at the Kasbah BBQ & Grill in March to celebrate Shabbat together, trade stories and catch up with one another, it was an incredibly powerful moment for our school and community. To see our mission come to life through an activity such as this —many years after graduation for some—is simply awesome. Around the world, our alumni are living the values that they learned here in the halls of our school, and in many special cases returning to the halls of GOA as parents and sometimes teachers, too! We are thrilled to currently have five alumni as part of our faculty and administration: Lower School Principal Carrie Z. Siegel ‘92, Lower School Judaic Studies and Math teacher Paula Spack ‘84, Lower School Judaic Studies teacher Eve Baron Sorkin ‘92 and the additions this year of Mindy Fliegelman ‘12, teaching and admissions assistant, and Danielle Rockman ‘12, who is interning as part of her graduate program at the Davidson School of Jewish Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary. It is quite meaningful to know that we have these talented educators who were raised in our community and understand what it means to be a Golda Och Academy student returning to our halls to help educate the next generation of Jewish leaders. We never stop being impressed by all of our incredible SSDS-GOA alumni. Please be sure to keep us posted on the work you are doing and, most importantly, keep making us proud.
Adam Shapiro Head of School
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Young Alumni Summer BBQ
August 17, 2017 | Eric F. Ross Upper School Campus
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Message From The Alumni Chairs This is an exciting time to be a SSDS-GOA alum! In order to meet the transforming needs of our growing alumni community, we’ve established the Alumni Society Executive Committee—a dedicated group of alumni leaders whose experience and enthusiasm will take us to the next level. As the Alumni Society Co-Chairs, it is our pleasure to introduce the new members of our leadership team: Sarah Schonfeld ’06 and Becky Isaacson ‘04, Programming and Outreach Co-Chairs; Arielle Kuzdral ’08 and Arielle Herzberg ’09, Fundraising Co-Chairs. On August 30, the Executive Committee held our first meeting to plan out the 2017-2018 year—the ideas were fresh, the enthusiasm was high and the momentum is building!
One of the main reasons we have accepted the responsibility of leading the Alumni Society is because we recognize how much of an impact the school made on our lives, and we want to ensure that future generations will be given the same opportunities as we were. Did you know that over 50% of GOA families rely on financial assistance to send their children to school? Stay tuned for more information about our upcoming Alumni Challenge Day of Giving in November. It will be a meaningful opportunity to work together with other alums, give back to the SSDS-GOA community and impact the lives of future alumni. Evan Majzner ’01 Co-Chair
Danielle Rockman ’12 Co-Chair
Message From The Alumni Engagement Coordinator Thank you for welcoming me so warmly into the SSDS-GOA alumni family. I have been so impressed and inspired by the love you have for each other and the pride you have for this school. During the last five months, I have been focused on working with alumni leaders to re-imagine the Alumni Society. In an effort to generate new ideas and increase the Alumni Society’s capacity, we have installed an Executive Committee comprised of insightful and passionate alumni leaders who will oversee different aspects of the Alumni Society. On the programming front, we are off to a great start. We had an amazing Young Alumni BBQ
with delicious food and 40 attendees; the classes of 1987 and 2007 just celebrated their 30 and 10 year reunions in September and the classes of 1996 and 1997 will be holding a joint party to celebrate their 20(ish) year reunion on October 21. On the agenda for the 2017-2018 year so far, we have the Alumni Challenge Day of Giving on November 28, the Alumni Basketball Game on December 21 and our next Shabbat Dinner on January 19, 2018. I have enjoyed getting to know you, and I am looking forward to continuing to build on our relationship and help to keep you connected to school. Michelle Moallem Alumni Engagement Coordinator
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Schechter-GOA Alumni Entrepreneurs CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER
to Fortune 500s like Disney, Google, and Starbucks use WayUp’s platform, and in 2016, JJ was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for Enterprise Tech.
myself to become an expert in anything — whether it was a new set of texts I’d never seen before or literally a new language like Aramaic.”
Looking back on his time at SSDS-GOA, JJ recalls his English classes with Mrs. Freeman preparing him to write clearly, effectively and quickly as well as his Rabbinics class with Rabbi Siegel teaching him how to quickly familiarize himself with certain matters. “Being a startup founder requires you to become an expert in brand-new topics very quickly and to make decisions with little information,” said JJ. “My Rabbinics class with Rabbi Siegel was one of the hardest classes I’ve ever taken (including college!), and it was that class that taught me how to teach
Though JJ admits you have to be a bit crazy to start your own business, he also says you have to be prepared for failure and to dedicate your entire life to the job. While he has been fortunate to have found some great mentors, JJ said, “It’s important to note that many of those introductions came from cold emails. If there’s someone you want to meet, as long as you have a good reason for needing that person’s help, never be afraid to send a (polite and thoughtful) cold email; you never know what will come from it.” CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
Senior Entrepreneurship Class at GOA Now offered for the fifth consecutive year, seniors at GOA have the opportunity to take Mr. Herskowitz’s Entrepreneurship class. According to Mr. Herskowitz, GOA added the course in 2012 due to strong student interest in learning entrepreneurial skills and the increased number of high schools around the country that were starting to incorporate entrepreneurship classes and think tanks into their curriculum. The Entreprenuership class at GOA focuses on defining, assessing, and developing the skills of a leader and examines how such individuals take an innovative vision to create important businesses and organizations within society. During the first half of the course, students study accomplishments and downfalls of leaders, discover their own leadership strengths and potential and how to apply their skillset as a leader in an entrepreneurial setting. Throughout the second half of the course, students learn how to turn an idea into a for-profit business. With seed money from GOA, student teams create a business that can be realized within the school setting. To date, the most successful idea generated from the class was a t-shirt business, where students worked with clubs, sports and the theater program to handle the sales and distribution of school-sponsored t-shirts. Food businesses have also been popular, including a smoothie company during lunchtime, a coffee/donut shop on wheels, and a
kosher BBQ lunch option. Some of the most unique ideas have been a GOA Discount Card to local restaurants and vendors and a GOA-inscribed cell phone case. To gain insight into the world of entrepreneurs, Mr. Herskowitz has brought in such guest speakers as businessman and former South Orange mayor Alex Torpey as well as Adam Goldman, owner of eight Dunkin’ Donuts stores in the North New Jersey area, who spoke about his career and the journey of being a businessman. Our seniors have also been fortunate to hear from alumni, such as Naomi Gutstein ‘13 and Jacob Gutstein ‘16, who visited the class to talk about their entrepreneurial business experience at Northwestern, including their involvement in Tamid, a club that supports start-ups in Israel.
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Sophie Milrom Melamed ‘05 Founder and CEO of EatPops While studying for the Bar exam, Sophie Milrom Melamed ’05 was in search of healthy snacks. In her quest, she discovered that if she froze fresh juices, she could extend their shelf life. Shocked that a product of this nature hadn’t already existed, Sophie developed recipes in her kitchen, began researching factories and manufactured the first batch of EatPops. After slowly convincing stores to try her product, the business took off. Since launching in 2014, EatPops are now sold throughout the Northeast in such stores as Whole Foods and Wegmans. The company also has a smaller presence on the West Coast and Rocky Mountain region and is in the process of developing its next product launch. In recognition of her success, Sophie was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for Food & Drink in 2016. Her advice for anyone looking to start a business is to not give up. “With the ways technology has evolved, anyone from a teenager in high school
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to someone with a full-time job can pursue an entrepreneurial endeavor (I am actually encouraging my 10-year-old friend to write a cookbook!) It’s never too soon to start, and if you’re willing to learn and work hard, lack of experience shouldn’t stop you.” Sophie still keeps her ties to SSDS-GOA, especially since she married fellow SSDS-GOA alum Eitan Melamed ’97 in August 2016. “I’m extremely nostalgic for my time at Schechter, as it played a huge and formative role in my life,” she said. “My best friend from high school is still one of my best friends today. It is also so nice that Eitan and I can share memories of the same teachers. Mr. Laks, Grigory and Yohannes all came to our wedding celebration! And thanks to teachers like Rabbi Siegel, I was able to maintain a strong connection to Judaism in every stage of my life since graduating high school.”
Jeffrey Yoskowitz ‘03 Co-Founder and Chief Picker of The Gefilteria During his senior year at SSDS-GOA, Mrs. Friedman gave Jeffrey Yoskowitz’s Social Studies class an assignment to write a mock New York Times OpEd piece. Apparently, the exercise had more value than Mrs. Friedman knew at the time since Jeffrey had two Op-Ed pieces that were published in the New York Times on Jewish culinary traditions during Passover and Hanukkah. Yet these articles are just a taste of the success Jeffrey has achieved in the culinary world within the last decade. After graduating Brown University, Jeffrey spent three months at Adamah, a Jewish organic farm in Falls Village, CT where he trained as a pickler. He then spent a year as a research fellow in Israel and had the opportunity to meet with the SSDSGOA students on Neshama in 2008! Once he moved back to New York, Jeffrey worked in farmers markets and began freelance writing for various publications about food and culture. He launched Negev Nectars, an online retailer of organic olive oil and gourmet food from small farmers in the Negev desert. During this time, Jeffrey said there was talk of the demise of the Jewish deli and loss of Eastern European traditions. His family’s go-to-place for purchasing gefilte fish (Zayda’s in South Orange)
had closed down, which prompted Jeffrey to begin making a homemade version. “I felt challenged to do something so my family heritage wouldn’t be lost,” he said. “There were so many dishes I loved that were part of my heritage that I didn’t know how to make so I learned and reimagined Ashkenazi Jewish food culture.” Jeffrey then co-founded The Gefilteria — a culinary venture that reimagines Old World Jewish foods — (including artisanal gefilte fish) of which he is also chief pickler. His business partner and cofounder, Jackie Lilinshtein is also a SSDS-GOA alum, who brought her family’s Russian heritage to the business. In addition, Jeffrey is the co-author of the cookbook The Gefilte Manifesto: New Recipes for Old World Jewish foods, which was named a National Jewish Book Awards finalist earlier this year and listed a top cookbook of 2016 by Epicurious and USA Today. He has also written articles and essays for The New York Times and The Atlantic, among other publications. Wearing his chef hat, Jeffrey has been invited to cook at the James Beard House kitchen in 2013 and 2014, and in 2014, he was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Food and Wine.
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ALUMNI PROFILE
Jessica Antiles ’15
Representing Team USA at the 2017 Maccabiah Games, the star swimmer took home two medals As a high school swimmer for Golda Och Academy, Jessica Antiles ’15 was making headlines with her record-breaking performances at championship swim meets. With her determination and talent, it’s no surprise this junior at Columbia University is continuing to make headlines. This past summer, Jessica competed in the Maccabiah Games – an Olympic-style sporting event held every four years in Israel that draws approximately 10,000 Jewish athletes from 80 countries who compete in 47 different sports. Representing Team USA, Jessica won the silver medal in the 400 Individual Medley with a time of 4:58.27 and a bronze medal in the 200 Individual Medley to cap a 1-2-3 team USA sweep in the event. She also had fourth-place finishes in the 200 backstroke (2:20.89) and 100 breaststroke (1:13.59). This was the first time Jessica competed in the Maccabiah Games and clearly the event did not disappoint. “This was one of the most amazing experiences of my life,” she said. “It was such an honor and such a special opportunity to be able to compete in Israel among some of the greatest Jewish athletes in the world.” According to Jessica, the most meaningful part of her trip was spending the first Shabbat in Israel where USA’s team Rabbi led the group in Kabbalat Shabbat. Although Jessica said most of the athletes from USA were secular Jews with very limited Jewish backgrounds, essentially everyone in the room knew
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Jessica Antiles ’15 (left) proudly wears her silver medal from the 400 Individual Medley event.
some basic prayers and songs. “It was so beautiful to see Jews from all different backgrounds coming together to celebrate Shabbat.” Another highlight of the entire experience for Jessica was having her GOA alumni friends at the games to cheer her on, including fellow 2015 graduates Sion Aronoff, Abby Bilmes, Eden Posner, Hannah Cohen and Jordan Schenker as well as former student Ari Schlesinger. “These are some of my best friends who have supported me all throughout my swimming career, and I am so blessed to have them as friends,” said Jessica. “It meant so much to me to look out into the stands and see them next to my mom and Grandma cheering for me.” Jessica credits her mother (who is GOA Upper School math teacher Janette Antiles) for encouraging her to compete in the Maccabiah Games. Jessica’s mother had competed in the games in tennis where she played for Venezuela. “This was truly one of the best experiences of my life,” added Jessica, “and I am so lucky and grateful that I was able to participate in the games.”
Class Reunions
The Class of 2007 celebrated their 10-Year Reunion on September 9, 2017.
The Class of 1987 celebrated their 30-Year Reunion on September 10, 2017.
GOA Welcomes New Alumni Families, 2017-2018
Lawrence Elbaum ’98 and wife Melissa enrolled their daughter Abby in Kindergarten this fall.
Merisa (Vinick) Fink ‘00 and husband Asher enrolled their daughter Clara in Kindergarten this fall.
Robert Stevens ’96 and wife Dara enrolled their twin sons, Noah and Jacob, in first grade. ALUMNI NEWS FALL 2017
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Schechter-GOA Alumni Back On Campus ...
Eric Knapp ’02 with Mrs. Herman and Coach Sandy.
Josh Drill ’14 returned to GOA to speak with the junior class about his decision to make aliyah and about serving in the IDF.
Cousins Marc Pantirer ’01 and Nicole Pines Lieberman ’03 stopped by the Lower School and visited their former teachers Ms. Paula Spack ’84 (above) and Mrs. Linda Glasofer (below).
Grateful to have a growing number of alumni as part of our Lower School administration and faculty this year: (L to R) Mindy Fliegelman ’12, Teaching & Admissions Assistant; Danielle Rockman ’12, Intern; Paula Spack ’84, Judaic Studies and Mathematics teacher; Carrie Z. Siegel ’92, Lower School Principal; and Eve Baron Sorkin ’92, Judaic Studies teacher. Jesse Nagelberg ’12, who was spending the year in Israel, visited the Israel Club this past spring. 10 ALUMNI NEWS FALL 2017
... And In Israel While visiting Neshama 25, Head of School Adam Shapiro and Rabbi Meirav Kallush, Director of Israel Education, had a fantastic reunion dinner with GOA alumni in Israel.
Cheering on Jessica Antiles ’15 at the Maccabiah Games were (L-to-R): Jessica’s mother and GOA math teacher Janette Antiles, Abby Bilmes ’15, Jordan Schenker ’15, Eden Posner ’15, Ari Schlessinger, Hannah Cohen ’15, and Sion Aronoff ’15. Rafael Jones ‘16, who made aliyah and is currently serving in the IDF, spent a day with students on Neshama 25. ALUMNI NEWS FALL 2017 11
Inside The Internship Program
GOA’s program for seniors offers valuable, real-life work experience By Genna Karp ’14 During the second semester of senior year, students at GOA have the opportunity to receive experience in the professional world by interning at an organization of their choice. This past spring, five members from the Class of 2017 participated in the Senior Internship program and worked for a variety of different organizations, ranging from the New Jersey Shakespeare Theater Company to the Friendship Circle. At the end of their three-month program, the students returned to school to present and reflect on their experiences. Throughout the course of the program, the seniors received valuable training and gained insight into the working world at their respective internships. In addition, they had regular meetings with faculty advisors and fellow students to discuss their experiences, and they attended various field trips. Students were responsible for applying and securing their own internship and received the support and guidance of a teacher mentor as needed. When asked about their experiences with the program, the students all talked about the amazing opportunities they were given at their respective placements. Kimberly Robins ’17, who interned with the West Orange Police Department, said she had been “most impressed not by the cases on which I worked on, but by the mentality of the personnel and the principles behind the police force’s operation.” Matthew Leeds ’17, who worked in the IT department at Crum and Forster Insurance, felt his experience and independence gave him the opportunity to enhance his own skills in a way that would be invaluable both in college and beyond. In addition to learning about their respective industries, the Senior Internship program also enabled participants to pursue their passions. According to Aviva Kamens ’17, who worked with the New Jersey Shakespeare Theater Company, the internship allowed her to further explore her passion for theater and learn about various new aspects. Likewise, Jake Helfand ’17 combined his interests in business and health working at Windmill Health Products where he helped market new products. Jake said this opportunity gave him hands-on experience and was an incredible way to learn more about a topic he was already passionate about. Maddy Lefkowitz ’17 12 ALUMNI NEWS FALL 2017
also built upon her past experiences working with the Friendship Circle, learning about the different aspects of the organization. Maddy felt she was able to really see and understand how small acts of kindness - even by one individual - can have such a large impact in the community. While each of these students pursued different internships, they each came away with a unique understanding of both the industry and themselves. They were able to cap their high school careers with an invaluable experience that helped prepare them for college as well as future endeavors.
Returning To GOA
Interning at GOA gave me a new appreciation for the school By Genna Karp ’14 As a SSDS-GOA alumna I am no stranger to the school and what it’s like to be a student. However, my 14 years of experience as a student never showed me the “behind-the-scenes” work necessary to keep everything going. When I was first presented with the task of finding an internship at a Jewish non-profit organization I had no idea where to look, but I soon realized that I could use this opportunity to give back to the community that raised me and learn about how the school really runs. I began my internship in the Development and Alumni Office in May with the idea that I would be working solely on contacting fellow alumni and trying to get them involved. However, I soon discovered that would be only a small portion of how I spent my time during the following eight weeks. During my internship, I worked on a variety of projects in both the Upper and Lower School campuses. This included updating contact information for young alumni, helping with Lower School programs (including the Art Festival and Beach Day), organizing photographs for the Murray Pantirer z”l Holocaust Learning Center, and brainstorming how the Alumni Society can best help each alum. This internship gave me a new appreciation for all the work that goes on in order for each student to learn and grow during their time at GOA. Additionally, spending time at school and getting the opportunity to see the current students and their accomplishments, such as the 5th Grade Moving Up, allowed me to reflect and look back on my time
as a student at SSDSGOA. As I watched the Moving Up play, I found myself looking back on my own Moving Up from the Cranford Campus 10 years ago. It is easy to walk around and see everything that is different since my own time as a student both in the Lower and Upper Schools, but it can be harder to look beyond that to see what has not changed. The Cranford Campus may no longer be open, the school may have changed names, and teachers may be different, but the essence of the Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union where I began my education remained the same as it became the Golda Och Academy from which I graduated in 2014. Those eight weeks gave me a newfound appreciation for everything GOA has given me and still has to offer. I have learned that the Alumni Society is always ready to help, and the school community is waiting with open arms for all of their alumni to return in some way. After working in all different aspects of the school I now have a better understanding of how a Jewish day school runs and the importance of all it has to offer. I am grateful that I have had this opportunity to give back, if only just a little bit, to the community that gave me so much over the years.
Genna Karp ’14 (far left) and Larissa Rosenberg ’14 (far right) at Lower School Beach Day. ALUMNI NEWS FALL 2017 13
Interning In Israel
How the Yerushalmit Movement exposed me to Jerusalem’s cultural diversity By Rebecca Hersch ’15 One of my favorite parts of being a student at Golda Och Academy was knowing exactly when I would return to Israel. I looked forward to the ninth grade Na’ale trip and then eagerly awaited Neshama my senior year. While I was certain that I wanted to return to Israel after Neshama and graduation, I no longer had a planned Israel trip on my calendar. Thanks to the Onward Israel program, this past summer, I had the opportunity to return to Israel and intern with the Yerushalmit Movement, a nonprofit organization that nurtures cooperation between diverse sectors of Jerusalem’s civil society through empowerment of hands-on, cross-sectoral activism to reduce conflict and build a shared society. I also traveled around the country and reconnected with high school friends, many of whom were also Onward Israel participants. As a Sociology and Near Eastern and Judaic Studies major at Brandeis University, working with the Yerushalmit Movement helped breathe new life into my studies. In my Sociology classes, empathy and understanding “the other” have been central themes. The organization uses community organizing and dialogue to understand “the other” and create a shared society of understanding. I was fortunate to attend a few events in Kiryat Menachem that were part of the New Civil Society Force initiative. Through community organizing, the Yerushalmit Movement assisted the residents in creating a public arts and culture event in their neighborhood. In diverse and often neglected peripheral
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Running into GOA classmates at Machane Yehuda. Pictured (L to R): Abby Bilmes ’15, Rebecca Hersch ’15, Jordan Schenker ’15, Julian Biller ’15.
neighborhoods like Kiryat Menachem, creating opportunities for cross-sectoral interactions is key to community building. I also attended several Meeting Place events in Zion Square where dialogue circles were used to transform public spaces into places for dialogue and interactions. While it’s challenging to engage with individuals whose beliefs differ from your own, it is crucial for building a shared society. I am thankful to the Yerushalmit Movement for exposing me to new communities, opinions and cultures and for giving me a better picture of Jerusalem’s cultural diversity. In order to feel more connected to Israel, it is important to better understand the people of the land, and the Yerushalmit Movement provided me with opportunities for engagement and interaction. In addition to hearing new opinions that broadened my understanding of the complexities of Israeli society, I also learned effective and creative tools for working to solve such conflicts. Additionally, working with the Yersuhalmit Movement has taught me about the importance of having different opinions. Dialogue should be used as a tool to expand one’s understanding of a topic or issue instead of as a weapon to prove that one opinion is better than another. I encourage anyone visiting Israel to attend one of the movement’s events, engage in dialogue with “the other,” and observe the power of community organizing to build a shared society.
Meeting Place event with the Yerushalmit Movement in Zion Square.
CAREER COLUMN
3 Tips To Land Your Dream Job Or Internship By JJ Fliegelman ’07, Co-Founder and CTO of WayUp Whether you are applying for your first-ever internship or your first full-time job after college, it’s important to remember that no two career paths are the same. At WayUp, we’re working hard to create a personalized, easy, and efficient way to launch your career - whether you want to be a content marketer, a software engineer, or anything in between. If you are a current college student looking for an internship, read the tips below (and of course, head over to WayUp!) to get a leg up landing your next opportunity.
1. Choose quality over quantity when it comes to your network. Most students think that the only way to network is by going to a career fair and speaking with as many prospective employers as possible. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. The best way to network is by making meaningful connections with others. This can be done through meeting people in clubs on campus, talking to your professors about who they might know, reaching out to upperclassmen in your classes, and more. Networking doesn’t have to be so formal nor should it be scary! You likely do it all the time already, but don’t even think of it as “networking.” Your college campus is one of the best places to network so make sure to take advantage of it while you are an undergrad.
2. Be resourceful. If you don’t know it, learn it! I hear all the time from students that they “don’t know HTML” or that they have never “been published in a news outlet before.” Those two things were true of me as well before we started WayUp. If you want to learn to code, check out all of the incredible resources online like Codecademy and Coursera, and I’d recommend reading Hacker News every day, which has been one of the best sources of learning for me—both in my early days as an engineer and still today. If you want to be a journalist, but haven’t had anything published, start by creating a free blog on a site like Wordpress or Wix.
Today, industries are changing faster than ever because of new technologies, so it’s important to be a self-motivated learner in order to keep up with the trends and remain a desirable hire. You’ll have a leg up on the competition if you make sure to continuously buff up your skills and are a self-motivated learner!
3. Don’t give up easily. You might not land your dream job overnight. I think one of the downfalls of being a digital native is that we expect everything instantly—an Uber to a friend’s house, your dinner order on Seamless, or the newest Netflix show. The same mentality can’t (and shouldn’t) be applied to the job search. HR teams take time to make their decision on candidates, and often, it can be weeks before you hear back. Don’t give up easily if you’re on the hunt for a new opportunity. Remember that far more goes into every job application decision than what you see. Though the company may not be able to tell you this, it’s always possible that they passed on your application simply because they already filled the role or realized they wanted a different profile. Don’t take rejections personally! Submit quality applications, follow up appropriately, and hang tight and wait! Patience is key.
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Class Notes 2000
Yael Coppleson Greenberg and Richard Greenberg were married on November 5, 2016.
2001
Marc Pantirer and his wife Shana welcomed the birth of their daughter, Vivian Max, on March 24, 2017.
2002
Jessica (Meier) Werner and her husband Jason welcomed the birth of their daughter, Blake Hayden Werner, on April 1, 2017. Blake joins big sister Mia Rose.
Rabbi Jesse Olitzky and his wife and Andrea welcomed the birth of daughter, Hannah Faye, on March 14, 2017. Hanna joins big sister Cayla and big brother Noah.
Mazal tov to Rafi Kohan on the release of his book, The Arena: Inside the Tailgating, Ticket-Scalping, Mascot-Racing, Dubiously Funded and Possibly Haunted Momuments of American Sport.
Hannah (Kaplan) Meyer and her husband Jared welcomed the birth of their son Nathan Sam Meyer on September 1, 2017.
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Stay Connected!
2003
2005
Samuel Kallus and Kaitlin Quinn were married on July 2, 2017.
2004 Shira Lee Segal married Dan Silver on June 26, 2017.
Heather Bier and her husband Zachary welcomed the birth of their son, Charlie Joseph, on September 2, 2017.
2006 Penina (Mark) Wainer and her husband Zack welcomed the birth of their daughter, Yael Anat, on February 7, 2017.
Mazel Tov to Navah Kogen on her new position as Director of Student Life at Columbia/Barnard Hillel.
2005
2007 Haley (Vinick) Vogel and her husband Max welcomed the birth of their son, Judah Marshall, on December 6, 2016. Judah joins big sister Etta.
2007 Alison (Punia) Kramer married Steven Kramer on March 18, 2017 at the Pierre Hotel in NY. Alison is manager of product development at the Gap Inc., and her husband is the managing principle for Gladiator Equities LLC. in NY.
Aviva Bortniker married Elliot Feldman on July 3, 2017.
Arielle Schweitzer and Elliot Coburn are engaged to be married. Arielle is a Nurse Practitioner at Weill Cornell Medical Center, and Elliot is currently a physician at NYU Langone Medical Center. ALUMNI NEWS FALL 2017 17
Stay Connected!
Class Notes 2007
Sam Stein married Marisa Morrison on August 27, 2017. Members of the Class of 2007 in attendance included Sam’s groomsmen Eric Leipzig, Oren Erlich, and Elliot Pines, as well as Alex Brien, Randi Rosenthal, and Hayley Eichen.
Noah Drill married Dr. Rochelle Schatz on September 3, 2017 at Temple B’nai Israel in Rockville, Maryland. They were surrounded by Noah’s siblings, Sarah ‘08 (and her husband Sagi Fainshtain), Ben ‘11, and Josh ‘14 as well as many classmates from GOA.
2010 Naomi Kramer and Dr. Gregory Mullen are engaged to be married. Greg is completing his residency at Mount Sinai Hospital, and Naomi works as a Controller at Mary Boone Gallery. The couple lives on the Upper East Side and are planning a November 2018 wedding in New York City.
Former Students
Danielle (Schwartz) Auerbach and husband Jon welcomed the birth of their daughter, Claire Ellie, on April 10, 2017. Claire joins big brother Robby and big sister Allison.
2009 Aaron Czinn and Elianna Kaplowitz are engaged to be married in November 2017. Stacey Cohenson is engaged to Ben Zettler, who proposed after the couple ran the New Jersey Half Marathon. Ben is currently the Director of Social Media for Steiner Sports and a digital marketing consultant, and Stacey works in special education as a School Psychologist for the Belleville Public School district. A May 2018 wedding is being planned. 18 ALUMNI NEWS FALL 2017
Joel Davis ’08 and Madison (Cargan) Davis ’10 were married on July 9, 2017. Joel works in property management on the Upper West Side and Madison works in personal styling/ PR for Nordstrom. The couple’s connection to the Schechter/ GOA community was reflected in the wedding party made up of mostly alumni. Pictured: Groomsmen: Jordan Marcus ’08, Zachary Nussbaum ’08, Brandon Davis ’08, Jared Davis ‘04; Bridesmaids: Rebecca Cargan ’12, Mira Davis ‘14, Samantha Goldberg ’10, Farrah Arenson ’10, Alison Levine ’10, Jessica Bramnick ’10, Emily Gallin ’10.
Our Sincere Condolences Dr. Stanley M. Ball z”l, beloved father of Assistant Lower School Principal Karen Spector, father-in-law of Rabbi Geoffrey Spector, grandfather of Joshua ‘11 and former student Jordan. Yosef Benisty z”l, beloved brother-inlaw of Lower School faculty member Natasha Cooper-Benisty, brother of Mordechai Benisty, uncle of Manon ‘12 and Adiel (Grade 9). Leatrice Bernstein z”l, beloved mother of JoAnn Cohen; grandmother of Jason Cohen, Scott Cohen ‘06 and Britty Cohen ‘09. Barry Bier z”l beloved husband of Davida Bier; father of Scott Bier ‘92 (Sarah), former student Francie and Randy; grandfather of Eliza and Brady. Zahava Suissa Boudrahem z”l, beloved mother of Ilana Vichness (Skip Vichness), grandmother of Shai Vichness ‘00 and former student Ittamar Arnold. Bertram (Bert) Brodsky z”l, beloved father of Adam Brodsky (Mathi Fuchs), grandfather of Warren ‘11, Harry ‘14 and Alex ‘17. Myriam Duchin z”l, beloved mother of Karin Haber, grandmother of Joshua Haber ‘99 and Danielle Haber Cohen ’03. Rina Eisenbach z”l, beloved mother of Raphael Paisner (Marcia); grandmother of Allen Paisner ‘07, Rachel Paisner ‘13 and former student Joel Paisner.
Thomas Friedmann z”l, beloved husband of Chaya Friedmann, father of Ilana Friedmann Zalika ‘92 and David Friedmann ‘98. Rabbi Michael Goldstein z”l, beloved husband of Annette Goldstein; father of Michal ‘09, Gila and Ari Goldstein. Ralph Hessdorf z”l, beloved father of Michael Hessdorf (Harriett), grandfather of Noah ’14 and Sara ’16. Faye Julie z”l beloved husband of Leon Julie; mother of Dr. Ed Julie (Beth); grandmother of Ben ‘08, Cory ‘03 (Miriam), and Jackie ‘04. Lois Karlin z”l, beloved mother of Rabbi Gary Karlin (Carol), grandmother of Michal ‘15 and Moshe (Grade 12). Alfred Katz z”l, beloved husband of Marilyn Katz, father of Lori Katz, grandfather of Joshua Katz ’17. Phyllis Lipsett z”l, beloved wife of Norman Lipsett, mother of Julie Lipsett-Singer (David Singer), and grandmother of Jamie Singer ’17 and former GOA students Noah and Danielle. Harriet Malisoff z”l, beloved mother of Carol Malisoff Silverstein ‘85.
Marilyn Meltzer z”l, beloved mother of Noel Meltzer (Milinda Carson), grandmother of former student Reuben, Bernard ‘07, Elan ‘13 and Uri (Grade 11). Anny Privett z”l, beloved mother of Upper School math teacher Deborah Zisa. Max Rosenbach z”l, beloved father of Rabbi Simon Rosenbach (Gayle); grandfather of Ari Rosenbach ‘96, Amy Watenmaker ‘99 and Benjamin Rosenbach ‘09. Bert Rosenheck z”l, beloved husband of Rachel Geller Rosenheck, father of Danielle Rosenheck (Jesse) Spiro ‘99 and Stephanie Rosenheck (Gary) Puglia ‘02. Leonard J. Schlesinger z”l, beloved grandfather of Joshua Sherman (Andrea ‘95); great-grandfather of Joseph (Grade 1), Emma (Gan), and Jack. Joyce Schulman z”l, beloved mother of Jill Lavitsky (Eric), grandmother of Jonathan ‘16 and Aaron (Grade 11). Milton Davis Shulman z”l, beloved father of Leah Shulman (Misha Tsirulik), grandfather of former students Ethan Tsirulik and Shelly Tsirulik. Goldie Tukel Weinstein z”l, beloved mother of Carol Weinstein Karlin, grandmother of Michal Karlin ‘15 and Moshe Karlin (Grade 12).
Submit your condolences at www.goldaochacademy.org/baruchdayanemet
ALUMNI NEWS FALL 2017 19
Golda Och Academy is accredited by the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools, is a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of the Greater MetroWest, and is affiliated with Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools, and United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, NJ Region.
Stephanie Bash-Soudry Director of Development and Alumni Relations Michelle Moallem Alumni Engagement Coordinator Glenn Slavin Director of Marketing and Communications Erin Sternthal Marketing and Communications Associate James Bratek Digital Marketing Strategist
Atara Jacobson ’87 Chair, Board of Trustees Adam Shapiro Head of School Julia Malaga Chief Financial Officer Christine Stodolski Upper School Principal Carrie Siegel ’92 Lower School Principal
Send your comments, questions, story ideas, photos, class notes, and baruch dayan emets to: Erin Sternthal esternthal@goldaochacademy.org
Upcoming Events Alumni Challenge Giving Day
Tuesday, November 28, 2017 An opportunity to impact the lives of future SSDS/GOA alumni
Alumni Basketball Game and Lunch
Thursday, December 21, 2017 Don’t miss the game of the year: Young Alumni vs. Boys’ Varsity Basketball Team
Alumni Shabbat Dinner
Friday, January 19, 2018 Share the magic of Shabbat with other SSDS/GOA alumni at the Kasbah BBQ and Grill in NYC! Guests welcome.
ERIC F. ROSS UPPER SCHOOL CAMPUS 1418 Pleasant Valley Way West Orange, New Jersey 07052
Alumni Intern Wanted 3 days/week during Summer 2018 Help GOA with alumni outreach, social media engagement, and newsletter writing Gain valuable non-profit, marketing, and Jewish community outreach experience Email: alumni@goldaochacademy.org for more details and to apply