GOLDA OCH ACADEMY
SOLOMON SCHECHTER DAY SCHOOL OF ESSEX AND UNION
ALUMNI SOCIETY
NEWS Lighting the Way
How the #RoadBackToGOA has been such a success
WINTER 2021
GOLDA OCH ACADEMY
SOLOMON SCHECHTER DAY SCHOOL OF ESSEX AND UNION
ALUMNI SOCIETY
NEWS ALUMNI SOCIETY NEWS is published twice a year by the offices of Institutional Advancement and Marketing and Communications.
Send your comments, questions, story ideas, photos, class notes, and baruch dayan emets to: Erin Sternthal esternthal@goldaochacademy.org INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Stephanie Bash-Soudry Director of Institutional Advancement Caryn Rosenberg Special Events Coordinator Jackie Cistaro Development Associate MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS Glenn Slavin Director of Marketing and Communications Erin Sternthal Marketing and Communications Associate James Bratek Digital Marketing Strategist ADMINISTRATION Adam Shapiro Head of School Julia Malaga Chief Financial Officer Jordan Herskowitz Interim Upper School Principal Carrie Siegel ’92 Lower School Principal Karen Spector Lower School Assistant Principal and Director of Early Childhood Education Rabbi Meirav Kallush Director of Israel Education Jamie Himmelstein Middle School Director
in this issue
winter 2021
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Lighting the Way
How the #RoadBackToGOA has been such a success
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Silver Linings
How alumni are turning lemons into lemonade
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Virtual Community Havdalukkah Celebration Managing Your Health This Winter Alumni Heroes Winter Pandemic Boredom Busters Decision 2020
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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL FROM THE DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT FROM THE PARENTS OF ALUMNI COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS
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CLASS NOTES FACULTY RETIREMENT OUR SINCERE CONDOLENCES
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Keith Biebelberg Chair, Board of Trustees GOLDA OCH ACADEMY is accredited by the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools, and is a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ. It is affiliated with the National Association of Indepedent Schools, Prizmah, and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (NJ Region).
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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL It’s difficult to imagine that it has been nearly a year since this pandemic first began. While there have been many disappointments and missed opportunities, there have also been moments of gratitude and pride in our community. So much of that pride has come from our alumni— from those of you who have been on the frontlines, those of you who have volunteered your time, and those of you who have risen to the challenge of living in a changed world. While the vaccine has provided a much-needed light at the end of the tunnel, we nevertheless want to continue to share our pride in your accomplishments and celebrate your simchas during this unprecedented time with this special winter edition of our alumni newsletter. Here at school, our greatest success throughout this pandemic has been our ability to provide in-person learning, five days a week, for all of our students since September. I am in awe of how our faculty and staff have risen to this challenge, how our students and parents have adapted and adhered to new health and safety protocols, and how our community has fully supported these efforts. In a world where many students are still learning remotely or having in-person classes a few times per month, we are truly blessed to provide our students with this opportunity. Over the last year, our school has worked hard to keep our alumni and our current school families connected. Our alumni have helped to lead our virtual Havdalah and Kabbalat Shabbat celebrations and have also taken time out of their busy lives to speak with our current students. You have all amazed me with your tenacity and your continued dedication to our school. Please continue to keep in touch with us, continue to make our school proud and above all else, please stay safe and healthy.
Adam Shapiro Head of School
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FROM THE DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT As we welcome this new year of 2021, I have been reflecting on the amazing community that is GOA/Schechter. I am filled with so much pride. During this challenging pandemic, there have been so many blessings. Here are just a few that I wanted to share: We are so proud of our incredible faculty for keeping the in-person learning going every day for our students on both of our campuses! High school students led a beautiful musical virtual tefillah service on the last day of school before winter break that provided so much joy.
Alumni healthcare heroes took time from their busy schedules in December to virtually meet with our students to discuss caring for patients during a pandemic and how our school influenced them on their journey.
So many GOA/Schechter families gathered for a virtual Havdalukkah program in December for an uplifting evening led by talented alumni and students. During the election season, alumni workers, lawyers and volunteers have been involved in efforts to bring out voters and strengthen our democracy. Members of the Class of 2020 have gathered often since graduation to support each other through outdoor gatherings, hikes, golf games or Instagram chats. We feel naches in celebrating the joyous arrivals of new babies with alumni families. Many alumni have donated meaningfully to our GOA Annual Fund in honor of teachers who impacted them at www.goldaochacademy. org/alumnigiving. Thank you! In this time of gratitude and of appreciating those blessings that we have been given, I take a moment to say todah! Thank you for the part you play in our unique and sacred community. To share good news, get involved or plan a Zoom reunion, reach out: alumni@goldaochacademy.org. Wishing all our friends good health and blessings in 2021!
Stephanie Bash-Soudry Director of Institutional Advancement ALUMNI SOCIETY NEWS WINTER 2021 3
FROM THE ALUMNI SOCIETY CO-CHAIRS We know that it has been a challenging year for many of us. Yet, one bright spot has been the many stories of support, hope, service and connection from our fellow alumni that are found on these pages. Although, we have missed our special Alumni Shabbat Dinners in NYC and Concerts for Young Families at the Wilf Lower School Campus in West Orange, we look forward to the time when we can all gather together again. In the meantime, please let us know if you need help in organizing a virtual gettogether for your class. Please stay healthy, and we look forward to seeing you back at GOA sometime soon!
Becky Lustgarten ’04 Alumni Society Co-Chair
Sarah Schonfeld ’06 Alumni Society Co-Chair
FROM THE PARENTS OF ALUMNI COMMITTEE We hope your 2021 has gotten off to a good start! It is wonderful to know many of you are still keeping in touch with your GOA/Schechter parent friends even long after your children have graduated. It is also comforting to know that our children are keeping in touch during this challenging time. Though we cannot gather together in person, it has been so special to see your faces on Zoom during the GOA community virtual programs. We loved seeing many of you at the Havdalukkah program in December, and hope you continue to join us for future events. In addition, we want you to know that we are engaged in a special effort to support our alumni, near and far, especially the Class of 2020. We recently sent them a special Hanukkah care package. Stay well and best wishes for 2021!
Amy Borg-Glickman and Shari Broder Co-Chairs, Parents of Alumni Committee 4
ALUMNI SOCIETY NEWS WINTER 2021
Caryn Rosenberg Special Events Coordinator
Virtual Community Havdalukkah Celebration December 12, 2020
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COVER STORY
Lighting the Way How the #RoadBackToGOA has been such a success Before Thanksgiving break, the Lower and Upper School campuses created a gratitude wall with messages of thanks and appreciation. In the Lower School, one student wrote, “I am grateful I can come to school and be with my friends.” This sentiment — gratitude for inperson instruction — was displayed in so many different messages from our students and faculty. In a time when many schools are fully remote or using a hybrid model of instruction, we are truly blessed that our students have the opportunity to learn, explore and discover in person on both of our campuses.
To accommodate those students who have chosen remote instruction, our school is able to maintain a hybrid model, teaching students via Zoom — with the support of online learning platforms Seesaw and Google Classroom. However, to date, 95 percent of Golda Och Academy students are learning in person on our campuses. Our students are thriving in school, seeing their friends, soaking up information daily from their teachers and thrilled to have some sense of “normalcy” during these uncertain times. So just how has Golda Och Academy been able to succeed?
According to Carole J. Everett, executive director of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS), independent schools have put paramount importance on the health and safety of students, faculty and staff. “They have provided COVID-19 testing, worked with committees of doctors, nurses, and other health officials, and been flexible with hybrid or remote instruction when needed,” she said. “This has allowed the educational excellence that is a hallmark of our schools to continue during the pandemic.”
Superhero Faculty and Staff
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First and foremost, the Golda Och Academy faculty, staff, administration and maintenance teams have led the charge in keeping students engaged, safe and healthy. Each morning, students, staff and faculty are required to complete a daily health questionnaire through the SchoolPass app. Upon arrival on campus, designated faculty members take temperature screenings before students get out of their cars and before faculty members enter the building.
Our maintenance team has been diligent about cleaning classrooms with the electrostatic sprayers, and hand sanitizing stations can be found throughout both campuses. From a teaching standpoint, never before have teachers proven how dedicated they are to our school. Teachers have been working around the clock and have used their creativity to keep students involved while adhering to the social-distancing and mask-wearing protocols that have been put in place. On any given day at the Lower School, students are laughing and playing outdoors at recess, planting in the garden and learning in their classrooms. Upper School science and STEM classes are in the labs doing experiments, students are participating in clubs during lunchtime and above all else, all students and teachers are happy to simply be together. “Our teachers and staff have always amazed me, but this pandemic has made them stand out as true superheroes,”
said Adam Shapiro, Head of School. “Our success in keeping our campuses open is due so much in part to their willingness to step up and go the extra mile, despite any and all challenges they may be facing in their own personal lives. Whether this means standing outside in all elements to monitor the carpool line or eat lunch, taking extra time to meet with students or doing additional preparation to teach students both in person and on remote instruction, I am truly in awe of our team.”
Medical Expertise and Partnerships We have been so fortunate to have tremendous medical expertise throughout the pandemic. We have relied heavily on the hard work, dedication and professionalism of our two campus nurses — Ilena Kasdan and Roberta Coopersmith — who have been advised by Dr. Jeffrey Saperstein and Dr. Alison Grann. Through a critical partnership that we established with PM Pediatrics over the
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summer, GOA has been able to secure testing each month for all students who choose to test at this facility. The relationship with PM Pediatrics has made the testing process simple and smooth for our students, faculty and staff. Monthly testing has typically been centered around holiday breaks, and during testing weeks both campuses switch to remote instruction. A designated day and time is set aside for GOA students at PM Pediatrics locations in Livingston, North Brunswick and Springfield. PM Pediatrics has also set up a remote testing location on our campus on non-teaching days for faculty, staff and their children who are students at the school. Testing results then need to be uploaded to the parent portal on our website, and only those students and faculty members with proof of a negative test result are permitted back on campus following each testing week.
Community Responsibility and Support “All of Israel is responsible for one another.” —Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Shavuot 39a In almost all of our #RoadBacktoGOA correspondence, this quote is included. Actions by each member of our community affect the entire school community, which is why GOA has been strict in its guidelines to keep our school open and our students safe. We are fortunate that students, faculty and parents have adhered to the new safety precautions put in place and are taking these precautions seriously. This includes a 14-day quarantine period for students who travel outside of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut or Delaware as well as a grade or class-wide quarantine based on the guidelines should a student or faculty member test positive for COVID-19. Our families have been diligent about keeping students home with any COVIDlike symptoms and can easily switch to remote instruction that day. To reopen GOA during the pandemic and meet the increased financial aid needs of families, our school has incurred significant costs. We have been fortunate to receive philanthropic support from our community and many individual donors, as well as receive funds and grants from the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest, the Gottesman Fund, the Healthcare Foundation of NJ, the Hyde and Watson Foundation and the Rogers Foundation. As a school, we have also raised our GOA Annual Fund goal this year, working hard to fill this gap. For more information or to help, visit www.goldaochacademy.org/annualfund.
INSIDE LOOK
Dana Halpern ’15 LOWER SCHOOL GENERAL STUDIES FACULTY AND SOCIAL WORK INTERN
It has been such a blessing to be back to school in person so far this year. As teachers, we all entered the teaching profession to make an impact on young children’s lives, and it is just as meaningful for us to be back in person as it is for the students. Seeing their radiant smiles and eagerness to learn makes us forget that we have masks on or need to keep extra distance from one another. The students’ smiles warm my heart. No matter the risk we may be taking each day walking into the school, seeing how grateful and happy these students are to be together makes it worth it. This community has been incredible with protecting one another and understanding that our actions impact each other. I feel so lucky to be at GOA where we all care about each other’s needs and how we can help each other reach our goals. As a current 2nd grade teacher and school social work intern, I have directly been working with students and have seen the tremendous academic and emotional growth that these children have gone through during this period. Especially this year, we have an additional emphasis on Social Emotional Learning which has helped the students to better understand and cope with the difficult feelings that they may be experiencing at this time. While I have certainly become a Zoom pro during these COVID times, I would rather see my special students’ faces in person rather than on a screen any day. Thank you to the GOA staff, administration, students, and families who have all made this in person experience safe, successful and possible.
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ALUMNI PROFILES
Silver Linings How alumni are turning lemons into lemonade In the Fall 2020 edition of Alumni News, we shared stories of some of our alumni who let us know how they have overcome some of the challenges during this pandemic and made the most out of this difficult situation. The section was so inspiring that we wanted to continue to share your stories and how you have continued to find light in times of darkness. Whether you have volunteered your time, reunited with old classmates, worked on the frontlines or celebrated a simcha, please continue to share your stories with us. We would love to profile them in the spring issue.
GRANDPARENT BONDING
Shachar Kessler ’18 On Friday, March 13, 2020 I left my dorm room at Muhlenberg College with everything I thought I would need for one month. After all, no one knew how bad this pandemic would get. As many of you know, my mom, Paula Spack ’84, and her husband followed their dreams and moved to Israel a few years ago. So on that day in March, I came to live with her parents, Barbara and Eliot Spack, for what I thought would be just a month. Here we are, almost one year later, and I have been living with my grandparents since then. While I miss being on campus a lot, this time with them has proven to be meaningful for all of us. I help them around the
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house with cooking and cleaning and love all the time we spend together — especially our movie nights, Shabbatot, and being together for various holidays. Since I’m a theatre major, they get to experience my rehearsals and performances for my classes (sorry Sabba and Savta for all of the loud singing). My grandparents have taught me so much about life, motivate me to work harder and are always there to help me or just give me a hug or two. While I am planning to go back to campus in February, I know that the time I have spent with them and all I have learned will forever be in my heart. Thanks S and S!
PANDEMIC WEDDING
Marissa Bullock ’04 Planning a wedding (I have been told) is usually stressful and never easy. Planning a wedding during the COVID-19 pandemic made it even harder and more emotional. As the world started shutting down, we were faced with the question, like so many others this year, “Should we postpone?” My question back was always, “When? When will this be over?” As one of the hardest decisions we have ever had to make, Jonathan and I ended up getting married on our original date, Nov. 15, 2020, in front of a fraction of people who we deeply wanted at the wedding. The ceremony was live streamed, everyone who came was screened before entering, required to wear a
CLASS REUNION OF 1989
Jennifer Newman Weitzner Back in 1976, when I started Solomon Schechter Day School, there were 30 students in kindergarten. Over the years, our classmates became as close as siblings! We have photos of ourselves together as young kids and from our B’nai Mitzvot. We had so many great times and were shaped by each other. Even those who were at SSDS for only a few years felt a deep bond with others from SSDS. Those days were before the internet and cell phones so keeping in touch was difficult and most of us lost touch, including those who left the school after 8th grade (which included myself). mask and given not only a bottle of hand sanitizer with our wedding date on it, but an assigned seat in the sanctuary as well as the reception to make sure everyone felt safe and socially distant. Those who did not feel comfortable sitting inside were allowed to watch the stream on a projector outside. Even though everything that day went off without a hitch, it was bittersweet. We will always remember that our wedding day was beautiful and we were so happy to be getting married, but it left a void in our hearts because so many people we wanted there would not or could not come because of the pandemic. Everyone who came was thrilled to be there, and more importantly felt safe, but we will never know if we made the right call to wait or seize the moment. Ultimately, we felt we could not postpone our lives. We can only look forward to the day when we can all celebrate safely together again.
When Covid struck and groups started connecting via Zoom, I started to wonder what happened to everyone and if we could meet up through Zoom. Originally, I felt I shouldn’t be the organizer as I didn’t graduate from SSDS. But deciding I had nothing to lose, I brought up old yearbooks and searched Facebook and the web for my classmates. Many classmates were already my Facebook friends, but I hadn’t talked to them in many years. I notified people that on May 7, 2020 we would have a Zoom for people who had gone to the South Orange campus before 8th grade. Eight people showed up, and many others politely asked to be included. On May 17, 2020, I organized a second Zoom for anyone who had been part of our grade, from either campus, and 16 people showed up. By then, we were feeling like we were all one group again, no matter who came late to SSDS or left early. Six months later, we had another Zoom on Nov. 15, 2020. Finding a time to Zoom has been hard since some people are in California and others are in Israel. One thing that’s connected us has been Facebook. In early May, the SSDS Class of 1989 Facebook page was born. There are 19 members. Since the first day, we’ve had fun reminiscing about the past and connecting about our modern lives. We’ve shared old photos, chatted about our teachers, shared upcoming events such as piano shows by class musician Yoel Hyman, a business launch by Sarah Asekoff Schapiro, reminisced when a favorite teacher died in November and shared Chanukah greetings. Staying home due to Covid is just awful, but reconnecting with friends from our childhood has been a blessing. ALUMNI SOCIETY NEWS WINTER 2021 11
Managing Your Health This Winter Alumni physicians weigh in on how to keep safe — and sane — this season
For those of you bracing the cold weather this winter, there’s no doubt this season will prove to be a challenging one during the COVID-19 pandemic when it is more difficult to gather outdoors. We asked some of our alumni physicians for advice on how to navigate this time of year with tips on how to maintain your mental, physical and emotional well-being.
Dr. Adam Butensky ’08
PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY FELLOW MORGAN STANLEY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF NEW YORK The global pandemic caused by COVID-19 has been difficult for all of us, in different ways, and to varying degrees. As universal masking and social distancing have entered into the public lexicon, here are some tips for staying sane, especially during the winter months when outdoor gettogethers are a little less appealing. 1. Embrace hobbies. Whether you pick up something new, or reacquaint yourself with something old, consider filling some of the time that would have gone to socializing to this time. 2. Make time to socialize, virtually. We all crave social interactions, most of which are unfortunately not possible from this pandemic. And while nothing can adequately replace a good hug, making time to video chat with friends and family is incredibly important. Consider this also an opportunity to reach out to people you may have lost touch with.
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3. Be kind to yourself. It’s okay to admit that things aren’t going well and to vent to those around you. But... 4. Be positive. Studies have shown that small changes in behavior can make a difference on our general outlook. Before going to bed, write down three positive or unique things about the past day. Doing this, over time, will help your mind to focus more on those positive and unique moments, rather than the negative. 5. Practice mindfulness. This is true even if it wasn’t a pandemic, but in the course of hectic lives where distractions are just about everywhere, trying to focus on being in the moment is difficult, but important. There are many ways to do this, including more formal meditation (there are a number of apps for this), or even just taking a three deep breaths now and again. As a wise man named Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
As safe and effective vaccines become widely distributed, we can finally start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But in the meantime, stay safe, stay sane, take appropriate precautions, and get vaccinated if/ when you can!
Dr. Nadine J. Cohen ’93
INTERNAL MEDICINE AND PEDIATRICS CAREMOUNT MEDICAL GROUP, WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY ASSISTANT CLINICAL PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AND PEDIATRICS NEW YORK COLLEGE OF MEDICINE Early on, in March 2020, I recall talking with a friend and colleague. We talked about how this is a marathon, not a sprint. This would test us in ways we never fully realized at that time. Over the course of this pandemic, there have been strategies and themes that have helped me, and will continue to help me, especially over these challenging winter months. 1. Connection. Stay connected and reconnected to friends, family and your community (synagogue, school or local neighborhood). There are safe ways to meet up outdoors and take advantage of the natural spaces in your area with a few individuals outside your household — socially distant with masks. You can also Zoom with your local synagogue (mine is in Riverdale). I was able to virtually join another GOA-Schechter alum’s synagogue in Georgia last Pesach. (Thank you, Rabbi Josh Heller ‘90!) You can also volunteer to help a local community organization or individual. There are many examples of volunteer activities that are safe to do during the pandemic whether related to a local food pantry, synagogue, or even checking in on an elderly neighbor. 2. Self-care. Take time for yourself. Recognize the pressures of family, home, career, current events, pandemic fears. Any one alone would be a lot; all together, it can be easily overwhelming. Though it was true before the pandemic, there is value in investing in exercise, nutrition, sleep and relaxation, which are all key for self-care and selfpreservation. Balance your time as a parent and family member with your own personal reflection and needs. Press pause and take time for yourself. And ask for help and support when you need it. 3. Flexibility (“Pandemic Pivot”). Be open to change and adjust plans impacted by the realities of the pandemic. This is of course easier said than done, but for my family it became a reality when we “pivoted “ for our daughter’s Bat Mitzvah last spring. We changed from a traditional Shabbat Bat Mitzvah to a Zoom weekday Bat Mitzvah. We were at home with so many friends, family, and community members joining us virtually. By thinking creatively and being flexible, this milestone ended up being an immensely joyous, meaningful and memorable Bat Mitzvah. It was the “medicine” we all needed — and was the highlight of 2020. Now my daughter helps to be part a minyan at our local shul with our socially-distanced and modified services.
Alumni Heroes During Hanukkah, our Lower School and Upper School campuses incorporated the theme of heroes into special programming for the holiday. Who better than to feature some of our homegrown heroes working on the frontlines during this pandemic! We also had some of our local heroes here at school speak to students, including Upper School Nurse Ilena Kasdan who has helped guide our school through the pandemic as part of the medical team; Upper School Judaic Studies faculty member Rabbi Richard Mayer who donated a kidney this past summer; and Director of Facilities and Operations Matthew Chase who is a volunteer firefighter. We cannot thank our alumni enough for taking time out of their incredibly demanding schedules to provide some insight into the world of medicine via our Zoom programs. Special thanks to Ariel Arzt ‘14, Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital; Dr. Mindy Brittner ‘03, Mount Sinai Hospital; Dr. Emily Gutowski ‘11, Mount Sinai; Dr. Joseph Gutowski ‘09, Columbia University Medical Center; and Gila Akselrad ‘10, NewYork-Presbyterian, who not only spoke about their work on the frontlines, but also how their GOA education prepared them for a career in medicine. It was also quite exciting for the 2nd grade students who met with Ariel Arzt ‘14 to see her yearbook photo from 2nd grade which Morah Miriam proudly showed to the class!
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Dr. Ben Herzberg ’06 MEDICAL ONCOLOGY FELLOW MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING
COVID-19 has upended all sorts of things about life, but there are clearly some things in your direct control that you can do to keep you and your family safe this winter. While this isn’t medical advice, I’ve compiled some thoughts on where we are and how to stay safe in the coming months. The biggest change in the last month, of course, has been the approval of highly-effective vaccines against the virus that causes COVID-19. I want to emphasize how amazing
GOA-Schechter Alumni Getting COVID-19 Vaccinations 14 ALUMNI SOCIETY NEWS WINTER 2021
these vaccines are. They were developed incredibly rapidly, incredibly smoothly, and with as much data as I have ever seen developed for any vaccine. The two currently approved (with more hopefully on the way) are 95% effective at preventing any symptomatic COVID-19 and essentially 100% protective against severe COVID-19 — in all age groups. They were tested robustly, and I don’t know of any cases in which any vaccinations had late (years later) unanticipated effects. (Unlike drugs, which you have to take constantly to have them work, vaccines just rev your body up to do what it’s already programmed to do!) My strongest piece of advice is: get a vaccine as soon as it’s offered to you! Ten days after your second dose, you are good to go. This may save your life, or someone in your family’s, or someone you don’t even know. From the perspective of Torah, I cannot think of a higher obligation. As a frontline worker, I received mine a couple of weeks ago. A little arm soreness, and a little flu-like after the second dose (took some Tylenol), but nothing that even prevented me from working. The second change in the last month or two has been how resurgent the pandemic has been. This means it is all the more important to (1) stay safe and (2) be safe. First, continue to socially distance, wash hands, and wear a mask. Second, pay attention to the test positivity rate in your area when considering both medical and non-medical
activities. If the test positivity rate is about 1%, like it was most of the summer, eating outside, or socially-distanced gathering with precautions, is fairly safe. If it is about 3%, I’d consider avoiding high-risk, low-reward activities (eating out, going to non-essential indoor busy places like stores or public gyms). If it gets above 5%, I’d strongly avoid seeing anyone high risk (a grandparent) unless absolutely necessary and with a lot of precaution. When it gets above 10%, I’d consider postponing even low-risk activities that you can, like seeing your dentist. Third, don’t be afraid to get necessary medical care, like important doctor’s visits, or even hospital visits if you’re feeling ill. So far, the evidence suggests there is really a low rate of in-hospital COVID transmission. At my hospital, the test positivity rate for medical workers (doctors, nurses, even office staff) has been much lower than that of the general population, which means even though we’re being exposed on a daily basis, our caution has made us less likely to get the disease than folks just walking around outside. Similarly, if you are worried you have COVID, the earlier you know, the better. We now have effective therapies which reduce the risk of severe disease and hasten recovery, but can only be given in the hospital. In the spring, there was nothing we could do except give you oxygen and pray. That’s not totally true anymore. Get tested! Fourth, take advantage when you can and do things that keep you healthy and happy. Run outside. Bundle up, walk and play outside. Fifth, consider routine (asymptomatic) testing. If you get a test before seeing high-risk family members, while it doesn’t reduce your risk of asymptomatic transmission to zero, it reduces your risk a lot. (You can still be in a narrow incubation period before you test positive.) So continue to wear masks and wash hands, but feel more confident when seeing high-risk people you love. Finally, find reliable sources of information and trust them. There are many good ones, but just as many bad ones. The CDC website has good routine guidance. Tony Fauci regularly gives interviews which are practical and thoughtful and often draws on his own life (“What are you doing this year for the holidays?”) Aaron Carroll, at The New York Times, writes excellent opinion pieces about balancing risk and thinking about interventions. If you’re interested in details about treatments and vaccines in development, Derek Lowe writes a fantastic blog called “In the Pipeline.” (It’s wonky, but really smart.)
Dr. Philip Levy ’97
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PEDIATRICS HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL DIVISION OF NEWBORN MEDICINE BOSTON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its first winter season, we will be spending even more time inside with our families. Taking care of ourselves and our families’ physical, mental and emotional health through these unprecedented times will be even more important as we count down the days to spring, warmer weather and the availability of a vaccine. Exercising and eating healthy are the cornerstones of a well-balanced diet. Venturing outside during daylight hours with your families for appropriate socially-distanced activities will promote positive physical energy. Dining together every night as a family, and especially on Shabbat, will reinforce these initiatives. Establishing daily routines while at home with appropriate use of technology to maintain social connections, while also considering regular breaks, will ensure a healthy mental approach. Virtual visits with loved ones will help maintain the sense of family and may include Zooming with grandparents and other relatives before Shabbat or having grandparents virtually read to your children. Maintaining a connection with your local synagogue and spiritual leader will allow your family to focus on personal beliefs and faith and explore opportunities to help your community through the winter (i.e. donating time, supplies, writing cards to elderly members).
We’ll get through this. There’s light at the end of the tunnel, and that’s exactly why it will be the highest reward for being careful for the next few months. ALUMNI SOCIETY NEWS WINTER 2021 15
FACULTY/STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS
Winter Pandemic Boredom Busters
What some of our faculty and staff have been reading, watching, and eating for pleasure during the pandemic
Janette Antiles
Hope Aronoff
MATHEMATICS FACULTY UPPER SCHOOL
Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill
Shtisel on Netflix
My Cousin Vinny
GENERAL STUDIES FACULTY LOWER SCHOOL
Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Schitt’s Creek on Netflix
Ferrero Rocher and anything chocolate!
Linda Glasofer
The Way We Were
Ice cream!
GENERAL STUDIES FACULTY LOWER SCHOOL
Jonathan Hefetz
LANGUAGE ARTS DEPARTMENT CHAIR UPPER SCHOOL
A Chief Inspector Gamache Mystery 17 book series by Louise Penny
The West Wing
The Queen’s Gambit The Crown on Netflix Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs I Wear The Black Hat by Chuck Klosterman
The Life Ahead The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind on Netflix
Home-made soups and baking
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Watchmen on HBO
Fauda on Netflix
Scarface 1983
Lindor Truffles Their website has all kinds of flavors I never knew existed: Cappucino! Pistachio!
Crystal Hopkins MANAGER OF OPERATIONS UPPER SCHOOL
The League: How Five Rivals Created The NFL And Launched A Sports Empire by John Eisenberg
Planet Earth on Netflix
Family Reunion on Netflix
Planet Earth Next In Fashion on Netflix on Netflix
Crooklyn
Selena
Glow Up on Netflix
Say I Do on Netflix
The Jacksons An American Dream
Coco
Carrie Siegel ’92
Sandy Pyonin
LOWER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION FACULTY UPPER SCHOOL
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Kosher Chinese every Sunday
Money Heist on Netflix
James Bond
Grilled Bluefish During the pandemic, I have cooked everything and my go-to for recipes is Pinterest!
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Palmer’s in Maplewood every Sunday!
Grey’s Anatomy on Netflix
Hamilton on Disney+
Les Miserables
Fiddler On The Roof
Bye Bye Birdie
Yentl
ALUMNI SOCIETY NEWS WINTER 2021 17
Adam Shapiro
Michael Stern
HEAD OF SCHOOL
A Promised Land by Barack Obama
The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix
Hoosiers
SOCIAL STUDIES FACULTY UPPER SCHOOL
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Just about anything made on the BBQ!
Big Mouth on Netflix
The Mighty Ducks
Shepherd’s Pie
Karen Ulric LIBRARIAN UPPER SCHOOL
Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
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The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix
Labyrinth 1986
Homebrew Kombucha I started brewing my own kombucha shortly before the pandemic, and I’m having fun experimenting with different flavors such as raspberry/ginger and apple pie.
Decision 2020 Lessons learned from working on the Biden-Harris campaign By Noa Barash ’16
On May 29, 2020, I graduated from the University of Delaware with degrees in public policy and women and gender studies. On June 1, I began a journey of over half a year, working to elect Joe Biden as the next president of the United States. I had known since the 2016 election that when I graduated in 2020, I wanted to work on the presidential election. I knew I had to live out my values of tikkun olam and work to restore decency to the White House. From June through the end of November, I worked as a field organizer for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. I moved to Central Pennsylvania shortly after being onboarded, living in Lancaster. I worked from home for the majority of the campaign, training volunteers from all over the country to make calls for Joe Biden and Democrats up and down the ballot, including Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro
(Mr. Shapiro’s brother). By the time October rolled around, the campaign had shifted to in-person work. I was launching canvassers nearly every day, as well as sitting outside the county Board of Elections office educating early voters on how to fill out their ballot. On election night, around 9 pm, I was standing outside a polling place encouraging voters who had been waiting in line for over two hours to stay there just a bit longer. The days that followed were a blur as we waited for the election results to come in. When the networks finally called the election for Joe Biden, it was Pennsylvania that led the call. At that point, we had been working 68 hours a week, seven days a week, for over two months. And in that moment, and those that have followed, it was all worth it. The biggest lesson I learned while working on the campaign is the power of organizing, specifically in your own communities. Coming into college from Golda Och Academy, I was used to being connected to a Jewish community. That feeling was something I tried to replicate during all four years of college, with varying levels of success. When I was first placed in Central Pennsylvania, I was skeptical of whether I could find that sense of community in the middle of the state. And while the Central PA Jewish community is small, it welcomed me in with open arms. When the campaign was getting difficult, a volunteer of mine dropped homemade challah at my home. When the chagim rolled around, another volunteer invited me to his synagogue’s virtual services. The only thing more important than organizing, is ensuring that organizers truly represent the communities they are working in. As an organizer, I learned more than any nineto-five office job could have taught me. I know that having organized, and flipped a state in a pandemic, I can do virtually anything. Noa spent the month of December and the beginning of January 2021 in Dekalb County, GA working for the Georgia Democrats in the run-off election and has since relocated to Washington, DC. ALUMNI SOCIETY NEWS WINTER 2021 19
Class Notes 1986
Anna Mohl has been named Head of Global Business Operations for Nestle’s Health Science. Anna and her family will be moving to Switzerland.
1993
2000 Yael Coppleson Greenberg and her husband Richard welcomed the birth of their son, Charlie Victor, on June 14, 2020. Charlie joins big brother Henry who is excited to have a new friend!
2001 Blair Kaminsky and her husband Daniel Klingenstein welcomed the birth of their son, Asher Michael Klingenstein, on May 28, 2020. Asher joins big brother David.
2004 Dr. Nadine Cohen and her husband Dr. Steven Dickstein celebrated their daughter Maddie’s Bat Mitzvah on May 7, 2020. Maddie had a Zoom Bat Mitzvah from home in conjunction with the Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel in Riverdale, NY.
1999
Evan Rosenthal and his wife Kim welcomed the birth of their daughter, Rebecca, born on July 26, 2020.
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Marissa Bullock and Jonathan Chattler were married on November 15, 2020. The couple was able to livestream their wedding to family, friends, colleagues, and even Marissa’s students!
Stay connected with your Schechter-GOA family! SCHECHTER-GOLDA OCH ACADEMY ALUMNI SOCIETY
2004
2009
Jonah Kaplan and his wife Grace welcomed the newest addition to his family—his new daughter Romi Faye. Romi joins big sister Rena.
Ilana Herzberg and Neal Yaffe were engaged in August 2020. The couple is planning a summer 2022 wedding.
2007
Michael Gorshein is engaged to Ma’ayan Spinco from Rishon L’tziyon, Israel. At press time, the wedding was planned for February 2, 2021 in Jerusalem. Elliot Pines and his wife Michelle welcomed the birth of their daughter, Sylvie Erin, on December 29, 2019.
Benjamin Yavelberg and his wife Sarah welcomed the birth of their daughter, Jordana Musleah Yavelberg, on November 23, 2020, weighing 7 lbs., 1 oz. Mazel tov as well to Jordana’s grandmother, GOA Upper School Dean of Faculty Flora Musleah.
Jason and Alanna (Skydell) Steinberg welcomed the birth of their son, Rami, on December 22, 2019. Joelle Zegas and Andrew Bryk were married on September 13, 2020. Several members of the Class of 2009 were present via Zoom! ALUMNI SOCIETY NEWS WINTER 2021 21
Class Notes
Mazel tov to Zach Stern ’08 and Dani Wolberger ’11 who were legally married on November 24, 2020 in front of immediate family in an intimate reception in New York City. The couple is looking forward to tying the knot Jewishly with a big celebration full of friends and family in New York City this coming September 2021.
Mazel tov to Madison (Cargan) ’10 and Joel Davis ’08 on the birth of their daughter, Parker Elizabeth, on November 1, 2020 weighing 7 lbs., 6 oz. and 20 inches long.
Send us your screenshots from a recent Zoom class reunion! alumni@goldaochacademy.org
We can help organize a Zoom class reunion, too!
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Stay connected with your Schechter-GOA family! SCHECHTER-GOLDA OCH ACADEMY ALUMNI SOCIETY
2010
2011 Justin Weissbrod married Susanna Lustbader on May 29, 2020.
2012 Dr. Adam Karp and Shayna Lupu were married on November 21, 2020. Mazel tov to the newlyweds and to Adam’s mother, Donna Karp, Lower School Guidance Counselor. Jolie (Bruch) Marx and Zachary Marx were married on November 1, 2020. The couple had an intimate, COVIDsafe ceremony in the backyard of Jolie’s childhood home in West Caldwell, NJ. Jolie and Zach live in Brooklyn, NY with their new puppy, Milo.
Naomi Kramer Mullen and her husband Dr. Greg Mullen welcomed the birth of their daughter, Emilia Brett, on December 31, 2020.
Danielle Rockman Greene and her husband Sam Greene welcomed the birth their son, Gavriel (Gavi) Yair, on October 26, 2020.
2013 Mazel tov to Rachel (Schwartzman) Cardin on her marriage to Max Cardin. After postponing their religious ceremony and reception because of COVID, the couple was married on December 12, 2020 in Chicago. Rachel and Max are looking forward to celebrating again with friends and family in person on March 5, 2022.
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Class Notes 2016
2018
Arielle Matuszewicz is enrolled in pharmacy school and works at a CVS as a pharmacist intern. She has been administering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to healthcare workers and patients in long-term care facilities. Veronica Slater coauthored The Memory Catcher Journal, which was recently published and is available online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Walmart. The journal helps you capture memories from the past that have shaped you into the person you are today and helps you tell your life story as well as those of family and close friends.
Mazel tov to Elijah Taitel, current UConn student, who developed an innovative baseball and softball training tool that continues to make headlines in the sports world!
2020 Mazel tov to Noam Goldwasser who successfully passed his Eagle Scout Board of Review.
FACULTY RETIREMENT After 25 years of service to Golda Och Academy in the Language Arts Department, Wilma Steinberg retired in June 2020. Over the years, Wilma has taught hundreds of Middle School and High School students, engaging them in the study of American, British, World and Dystopian Literature. She created excitement and enthusiasm in her students and brought learning to life through the study of Shakespeare. 24 ALUMNI SOCIETY NEWS WINTER 2021
Additionally, she encouraged students to delve deeper in the area of film appreciation and devoted her time outside of class to support students’ needs and to enrich their learning experiences. Wilma has been universally respected by students and colleagues for her knowledge, dedication, and selflessness. We wish her the best of luck in her next chapter!
IN MEMORIAM
Sol Novick z”l Beloved teacher, colleague and friend Sol Novick, z”l dedicated his entire professional career to our institution beginning in September 1972 and culminating over 40 years later upon his retirement in June 2014. Throughout his tenure he taught, inspired and motivated his students in countless ways. Mr. Novick taught his students how to think and enabled them — through his engaging lessons — to make the study of Jewish history and sacred texts relevant to their lives. In 2013, Mr. Novick was recognized by the Jewish Educators Assembly with their highest granted honor and given the title of Conservative Jewish Educator. He was one of the first teachers to ever receive this very well-deserved honor. Additionally, his thirst for knowledge and desire to make his teaching relevant for students led him to study in one of Microsoft’s mentorship programs. Over the course of four decades, Mr. Novick touched the lives of innumerable students and his legacy will live on in every one of them.
Our Sincere Condolences Sheldon Aronwitz z”l, beloved father of Michael Aronowitz ’99. Madeline Friedman z”l, beloved mother of Craig Friedman, mother-in-law of Lower School faculty member Linda Friedman, grandmother of Danielle ‘02 and Stephanie Schultz ‘05. Etty Kaplan z”l, beloved mother of Lance Kaplan (Ilana); and grandmother of Jared ’12, Megan ’16 and former student Jamie. Lita Kowalsky Karp z”l, beloved mother of Upper School faculty member Rabbi Molly Karp.
Esther Yochai Kierkut z”l, beloved mother of Galit Kierkut (Ira Casel) and grandmother of Jacob ’15 and former student Rebecca.
Alan Rosenthal z”l, beloved husband of Renée and father of Evan ’99, Elizabeth ’01 and Jonathan ’04.
Leonard Klein z”l, beloved father of Ronni Lederman (Mark) and grandfather of Hillary Lederman Weller ’07, Jodi Lederman Levin ’09 and Eric Lederman ’14.
Rosalie Rosenblatt Spierer z”l, beloved wife of Solomon Spierer, mother of Alan Spierer (Abi) and grandmother of Jessica ’14 and Mikayla ’18.
Maria Kozar z”l, beloved wife of Dusan Kozar and mother of Director of Athletics Dennis Kozar and Christopher Kozar.
Miriam Talmud z”l, beloved mother of Steve Talmud and grandmother of Adam Talmud ’08, Jesse Talmud ’11 and Mikayla Talmud ’17.
Submit your condolences at www.goldaochacademy.org/baruchdayanemet ALUMNI SOCIETY NEWS WINTER 2021 25
ERIC F. ROSS UPPER SCHOOL CAMPUS 1418 Pleasant Valley Way West Orange, New Jersey 07052
TO THE PARENTS OF ALUMNI: If this issue is addressed to your daughter/son who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Office of Institutional Advancement with the correct mailing address. Call 973-602-3612 or email alumni@goldaochacademy.org.
ACCREDITED BY MEMBER
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