GOA Magazine - Spring 2023

Learning to Lead

GOA students develop leadership skills to prepare for their future success

THE MAGAZINE OF GOLDA OCH ACADEMY

THE

OF GOLDA OCH ACADEMY

GOA is published 2-3 times per 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: alumni@goldaochacademy.org.

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Stephanie Bash-Soudry Director of Institutional Advancement

Michael Bressman Director of Development

Dana Halpern ’15

Alumni Engagement Coordinator

Meegan Gliner

Special Events Coordinator

Jackie Cistaro

Development Database Manager

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Glenn Slavin

Director of Marketing and Communications

James Bratek

Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications

Erin Sternthal

Associate Director of Marketing and Communications

ADMINISTRATION

Rabbi Daniel Nevins

Head of School

Jennifer Carlin

Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer

Sari Allen

Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management

Dr. Eytan Apter

Principal, Upper School

Carrie Siegel ’92

Principal, Lower School

Heather Brown

Assistant Principal, Lower School

Rabbi Meirav Kallush

Director of Israel Education

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Steven Klinghoffer

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).

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

On May 24, we held our our graduation ceremony, celebrating the accomplishments of our 30 seniors amidst the entire constellation of proud family, faculty and friends who have helped them reach this day. These students have grown immensely in knowledge, skill and creativity, exhibiting leadership in the school and far beyond. We cannot know what challenges they will face in the coming decades, but we are confident that they will continue to make us proud.

This year graduation was followed immediately by another climactic moment, as the Jewish community celebrated Shavuot, the anniversary of our ancestors receiving the Torah in the wilderness. The Torah relates that the entire people of Israel stood together at the foot of Mt. Sinai, which was mysteriously covered by smoke and fire. Before the revelation even began, they proclaimed, “All that the Lord says we do!” Nothing about their future was certain, yet they were united and resolute to meet their challenges together.

The image of cloud-covered Sinai reminds me of the time I visited Nepal and journeyed a great distance for a view of Mt. Everest. That day the famous mountain was obscured in the clouds, yet somehow I could still sense its massive presence. I think of this as a metaphor for our journeys forward in life. Something major is always about to happen; if only we knew what it would be!

While we cannot predict the future, we can shape it through our actions. This requires studying our environment, noticing new patterns, assessing what opportunities and challenges can be anticipated, and implementing strategies to flourish in the changed circumstances. This cluster of activities is what some scholars call “adaptive leadership.” We must not assume that yesterday’s strategies will solve tomorrow’s challenges. Adaptive leadership requires resources—a mind trained in critical thinking, a community that works effectively together, and a sense of resilience to face challenges with hope.

Here at Golda Och Academy, we train students in adaptive leadership. They may not realize that this is their task, but ultimately our goal is to prepare them to face an uncertain future—like a massive mountain obscured in the clouds—with confidence and skill. I celebrate our students, and the teachers and parents who have prepared them for an exciting future.

Rabbi Daniel Nevins Head of School

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

The theme of this issue of our GOA Magazine is leadership. We couldn’t be prouder of our student leaders and all the hard work and dedication that they put into their academics and extracurriculars, with the support and guidance of our exceptional faculty. Our school’s mission statement states that “we nurture the unique potential of each student through an exceptional Jewish and general studies education.” When students graduate from GOA, they are well prepared with a strong Jewish foundation and an excellent academic preparation, ready to take on challenges in whatever direction life takes them and in whatever career paths they pursue. Our alumni are extraordinary, and I love when they keep us posted on the amazing things they are doing post-graduation.

Making this exceptional education possible requires tremendous hard work and commitment by so many people. First, we need parents who make the important and life-changing decision to choose a Jewish day school education for their students. We need the finest faculty who are committed to nurturing, inspiring and challenging our students. We need volunteer leaders who help us to create our special GOA community and help us to reach out for support. We need dedicated and talented administrators who work tirelessly to lead our school every day. Finally, we need our community—parents, alumni, grandparents, and friends—to all come together as ambassadors and supporters. These are all the ingredients we need for success.

There is no greater moment in our year than High School graduation where all of our success is on display as each of our magnificent, accomplished student leaders steps across the stage and receive their diplomas. As this school year of 2022-23 comes to a close, we thank our entire Golda Och Academy family for helping us to nurture Jewish leaders and proud accomplished adults and mensches at our school.

With gratitude,

Stephanie Bash-Soudry Director of Institutional Advancement

Learning to Lead

Students in every grade build leadership skills

If you pass by the classrooms of the Wilf Lower School Campus on any given day, you will see students in the role of chazanim during tefillah, hear our 5th graders lead Birkat Hamazon after lunch, and see our youngest students proudly fulfilling their classroom jobs of line leader or morning greeter. You can see 1st grade students reading their Writer’s Workshop pieces to Gan students and see our 5th grade students giving presentations to younger grades about their tikkun olam service projects.

These programs and projects for our elementary school students are the building blocks that help prepare them for their journey into Middle School and High School. With club presidents and leadership positions, athletic team captains and admissions ambassadors who welcome prospective students to our school, our Upper School is cultivating the next generation of Jewish leaders. Head of School Rabbi Danny Nevins recalls that, “One of the greatest accomplishments of Moses at the end of the Torah was the elevation of Joshua to

succeed him. Training leaders and then celebrating their unique gifts has been the secret of Jewish continuity ever since.”

One of the many outlets for students to foster their leadership skills is through the Middle and High School club program. Community Service Club, Breast Cancer Awareness Club, National Honor Society, Racial Action Justice Club and Friendship Circle are just a handful of the ways our students are organizing and executing projects to help the community. “One of the most incredible parts of our Upper School club program is that while students are pursuing their passions, they are also developing real-life leadership skills — skills they will go on to use in college and beyond,” said Eric Fox, Senior Class Advisor and Upper School Coordinator of Student Experiences.

Though each club has a faculty advisor, they are completely student led. Junior Josh L., co-editor-in-chief of the school newspaper The Flame, said this role has been a learning process for him. Trying different

tactics, he learned how to become a more effective leader. “By winter break, seeing that the paper wasn’t doing as well as I wanted it to, I shifted my approach, and instead began rewarding editors and writers for jobs well done,” said Josh. “I started giving shout-outs to people I felt went above and beyond in their editing and writing, became more active on our group chat with reminders and editing tips, and saw a growth in effort and especially quality as a result.”

Upper School students are also given the opportunity to pitch ideas for new clubs, teaching them how to advocate for causes as well as learn fundamental skills to establish a club. This year, sophomore Abby H. launched the One Love Club with fellow classmate Rose B. to educate teens on identifying unhealthy signs in a relationship. “At GOA, individuals have access to important resources that enable them to take on leadership roles and create clubs catered to their specific interests,” said Abby. “By allowing us to form a student-led club, GOA has entrusted us with the responsibility of becoming leaders with the drive to better our school. Through the One Love Club, we can promote healthy relationships and strengthen our community.”

As president of the CodeRunners, the High School Robotics team, sophomore Max C. said, “I have acquired many valuable leadership skills in my

position, such as project management, flexibility, and decision making. It is such a gift that I can lead a team every day on a topic I’m passionate about.”

Since the Robotics team competes in the FTC League, the CodeRunners are evaluated on a number of different criteria during competitions, from technical success to community outreach. According to Upper School faculty member and CodeRunners advisor Bill Ruhl, “This broad base of competition allows me, as the advisor, to help identify multiple areas of leadership skills for the individuals on the team, empowering all students, not just those who are skilled in technology and building the robot.”

Just as our Robotics team has multiple areas of leadership roles, there are various parts of our arts program that allow students to gain important skills. Since Middle School, senior Izzi Z. has been a stage manager for GOA productions. This past winter, she completed her last production as stage manager for the High School musical, The Addams Family. “In Middle School, I learned the basic skills of stage management, such as taking notes on where props go and how to create a diagram of the stage,” said Izzi. “With the help of the faculty in the Arts Department, I learned essential skills for managing a complex show - how to delegate, communicate, quickly get a group organized, and understand the needs of the group.”

Upper School faculty member Shaira Cruz has been advising the Middle School Social Action Club and LGBTQIA+ Inclusion Club for the past two years and has facilitated student-led initiatives centered around GOA’s values of tikkun olam and kehillah “This year I have been blessed to witness Middle School student leaders grow as they have worked to educate the GOA community,” said Ms. Cruz. “The students developed their public speaking, graphic design, and interpersonal skills to creatively advocate for action on issues they care about.”

won the Division Championship meet for the first time in the history of the program.

Just as students are encouraged to advocate for the creation of new clubs and sports teams, they are also given the opportunity to pitch new program ideas to school. Junior Mimi L. saw the need to create a peer tutoring program, which officially began this year. “Throughout my High School experience, I have seen the profound impact students have when they help their peers,” said Mimi. “I wanted to set up a system in which GOA students had access to convenient schoolwork help as well as the opportunity to volunteer as a tutor.”

Last year, Mimi set about organizing a new Peer Tutoring program. She created a Google form for tutors to use to sign up to volunteer and then proposed the idea to GOA Guidance Counselor Elisa

In addition to clubs, our student athletes are also empowered to start new teams and foster leadership skills outside of the classroom. This spring, a new Track and Field team was created as well as a High School Golf Club in partnership with Essex County Country Club. Our student athletes have also emerged as leaders on the fields, courts and tracks, working tremendously hard to improve and motivate their teams. Senior Daniel S. began his freshman year on the Cross Country team and saw there was room for improvement in the dedication and competitiveness of the team. Daniel helped recruit other committed students to the team, including his brother, and found that as captain of the team for the last two years, he was able to change the culture. This past fall, the Cross Country team had five First Team All Division runners and

Schenker who helped get the program approved and formalized. “As a volunteer for the program, I have definitely seen a positive impact,” said Mimi. “It is so gratifying when I am able to help one of my peers understand a concept they did not previously understand. I think there is something so unique about having a peer tutor because a peer is able to relate to the tutee and their concerns and misunderstandings on a closer level.”

While our clubs and programs are just a small portion of how Golda Och Academy fosters the next generation of Jewish leaders, we could not be more proud of our students and the dedicated faculty who guide them. We have seen firsthand through our alumni how this foundation helps prepare them for the world post graduation. “Growing up in the

LEARNING TO LEAD

Lower School Buddy Program

The Lower School buddy program, which has been running for more than 20 years, pairs our oldest students in the Lower School with one of the youngest grades and is the foundation of many of our peer mentorship programs across campuses. “The 5th GradeGan Buddy program is a beloved tradition and milestone experience at the GOA Wilf Lower School Campus,” said Lower School Principal Carrie Z. Siegel ’92. “The relationships that our oldest students forge with their Gan buddies often last for many years beyond elementary school. In these shared moments, our 5th graders truly emerge as role models, demonstrating kindness, nurturing and care and a commitment to community that is a core value of Golda Och Academy.”

Over the course of the year, Gan students and their buddies get together for holiday

celebrations, activities and crafts. They have planted seeds in the snow in the GOA garden for Tu B’Shevat, played Purim riddle bingo and made signs for the 12th grade class before leaving for Neshama. “The Gan-5th Grade Buddy program is a time-honored tradition at GOA,” said 5th grade teachers Eve Sorkin ’92 and Suzanne Epstein. “The buddies’ relationships reflect the school value of kehillah in its truest form, and it enables 5th graders to tap into their leadership potential.”

Since the buddy program has such a meaningful and lasting impact on our students, GOA expanded the program with a new, cross-campus buddy experience for the 5th and 8th grades. In October, our 8th graders traveled to the Lower School to meet their 5th grade buddies for the first time working on projects and team-building

GOA community helped me develop my leadership skills from a young age,” said Sarah Schonfeld ’06, Schechter/GOA Alumni Society Co-Chair. “I vividly remember coming up with the idea for Spirit Week when I was in High School and bringing the idea to the school administration. They supported my

activities together. “It is really special to be the first 5th grade class to have buddies in 8th grade,” said one of our 5th grade students. “I enjoyed getting to talk to my 8th grade buddy about what the Upper School is like.”

In December 2022, the buddies met for a Hanukkah celebration and constructed a giant Lego hanukkiah at the Upper School together. “This new initiative has enabled our 5th graders, the oldest Lower School students, to learn from GOA’s 8th graders, the oldest Middle School students,” said Jessica Wise, Assistant Director of Admissions, Lower School. “Students have been spending time together at both campuses to build new relationships through team-building exercises and to deepen their ties within the larger GOA community.”

vision and gave me the tools and resources to make this vision a reality. It was extremely empowering and helped me build confidence as a leader at a very young age. I have taken that confidence with me ever since, from having a leadership role in my sorority to now being a leader in my workplace.”

Jewish Leadership Goes Global

Two GOA alums tapped for leadership training in Argentina

From December 19-28, Camp Ramah held its 2022 Maslul Argentina service and learning trip with representatives from Ramah’s various camps. Ally Landau ’20 and Michael Lurie ’21 were invited by Camp Ramah Nyack Director Rabbi Ami Hersh to attend. “Ally and Michael have been all-star counselors for the past two summers, and we were excited for them to represent Ramah Nyack on this exciting experience,” said Rabbi Hersh. “Like Golda Och Academy, we believe we play a role in helping to raise future Jewish leaders. With people like Ally and Michael, the Jewish future is in great hands.”

At GOA, Ally was the captain of the Varsity Girls Basketball and Soccer teams and went on to play basketball at Haverford College. Michael is currently a sophomore at the University of Maryland. During high school, he was the director of programming and vice president of student council at GOA, the co-editor-in-chief of The Flame newspaper and an attorney on the Mock Trial team. “GOA definitely instilled confident leadership skills in me,” said Michael. “Our small size made it possible to enter almost any student club or project and quickly grow to be an integral part of that space. I felt supported and excited to enter these roles, and because of that, I have the confidence to continue to seek out leadership positions at college and at camp.”

During winter break, Ally and Michael spent 10 days with representatives from other Ramah camps (Berkshires, Poconos, Darom, Ojai, Galim and Palmer) along with full-time Ramah employees. They worked at a Jewish summer camp outside of Buenos Aires, did service work in the historic

Jewish communities of Entre Rios and followed the footsteps of some of the first Jewish immigrants to Argentina from the train stations of their original settlements, to their homes and shuls, all the way to their resting place. They were able to bring life to some of the synagogues that had not been used in many years.

“In our base town during this tour, Basavilbaso, we davened Hanukkah Hallel in a shul that hasn’t been used for decades,” said Michael. “We lit Hanukkah candles with the small community of 15 Jewish residents remaining in the town as well. It was incredibly powerful to bring the universal Jewish traditions to a place that has mostly forgotten them.”

According to Ally, “This really helped lay the groundwork for our experience in camp as we better understood the origins of a large portion of the Argentinian Jewish community.”

Once they got to Majane Noam, they immediately saw how they shared the same passion for camp as the madrichim (counselors) and chanichim (campers) in Argentina.

Although the time spent there was short, the group learned new customs and tefillah tunes that they hope to bring

their shared Judaism and love for this was an unforgettable experience that we hope can help shape our future

Dan Shpilsky ’14

Dan Shpilsky ‘14 has always identified with the Pirkei Avot teaching “It is not up to you to finish the task, but you are not free to avoid it.” In the late 80’s, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) helped his family emigrate from Kiev to the United States, and Dan still has family living in Ukraine today. Once the war in Ukraine broke out, he knew that this was his opportunity to give back.

Dan’s first step in his activism after the war broke out was to work with the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) to sponsor a number of refugee families. As part of the US government’s “Uniting for Ukraine” program, US citizens are able to sponsor Ukrainian refugees to settle in the US on an accelerated timeline. Together with a few friends, Dan met with refugees over Zoom and helped them assemble the necessary components of their applications. Once they arrived in the US (often within just a few weeks of submitting an application for sponsorship), Dan and his group were able to secure financial support for families to pay for things like their first few months of rent payments or their airplane tickets. He also helped families set up their new lives, whether helping to find a place to live, helping them find jobs, or just offering them general support during this very difficult time. Dan was able to communicate with the refugees because most speak both Ukrainian and Russian.

While Dan continues to sponsor families, he also recently volunteered in Krakow, Poland with JDC for two weeks transporting medical equipment, supporting food packing and distribution and providing Ukrainian seniors with support.

There are so many ways, both big and small, that our community can be a part of helping these refugees write their next chapter. If you are interested in getting involved and would like to learn more about how to do so, please reach out to Dan at dshpilsky@gmail.com.

Kol hakavod to Dan and the rest of our alumni for the amazing work they do to help those in need around the world.

Dana Halpern ’15

Alumni Engagement Coordinator

Dana Halpern ’15 is excited to be rejoining the Golda Och Academy staff as the new Alumni Engagement Coordinator. As a proud GOA alumna, Dana is looking forward to leading our alumni engagement efforts. She is responsible for developing programs to connect our graduates with each other and the school and providing support to alumni across the United States and Israel.

After graduating from GOA in 2015, Dana went on to get her BA in Elementary Education and Jewish Studies from Muhlenberg College and her Master’s in Social Work from Indiana University. She taught at Golda Och Academy’s Lower School for three years across various grade levels and was the Social Work Intern for one year. Over the past summer, Dana worked as the Development Associate for GOA planning many exciting and successful alumni events, including reunions, the College Alumni BBQ, and several NYC networking events. Currently, she is also a 2nd grade teacher at the Heschel School in New York City.

Dana is passionate about working with alumni from all class years and helping them to stay connected to Golda Och Academy and to each other. Should you want to get more involved in the Alumni Society or have anything special happening in your life, please reach out to her! Dana is excited to rejoin our team and to continue to build a strong and vibrant alumni community.

Heather Brown Lower School Assistant Principal

Last July, Heather Brown joined Golda Och Academy as the new Lower School Assistant Principal. As a proud GOA parent and now administrator, Mrs. Brown was thrilled to join the GOA family in this new capacity. We sat down with Mrs. Brown to learn more about her and her first year as Assistant Principal.

Can you discuss your previous experience prior to joining GOA?

I have worked in Jewish education for over 20 years, as the Early Childhood Director at the JCC in Manhattan and most recently, for the past 10 years, as the Education Director at Shomrei Emunah in Montclair. I oversaw both the preschool and religious school and partnered with families to grow the Jewish community at the synagogue.

What attracted you to the position of Assistant Principal?

I immediately fell in love with GOA and the tight-knit community of caring teachers, administrators, and families when my oldest son Dov entered Ganon in 2013, with my daughter Batya following quickly behind in 2015. For the past 10 years, I deepened my connection to the school when I began volunteering to help raise funds for the Annual Fund campaign. Soon after, I became a Parent Ambassador, working to welcome new families to GOA and support current families too. When I learned that the Assistant Principal position was available, I was thrilled to align my professional experience with my passion for the school. I was honored to continue supporting families at GOA in a new capacity.

In your first year as Assistant Principal, what have been some highlights for you?

The switch from being a GOA parent and lay leader to the Assistant Principal has been incredibly rewarding. I love greeting students one by one at Morning Meeting each day. Building relationships with our students and their families is a highlight of my position, and I take that responsibility seriously. I also feel honored to work with our dedicated teaching teams, many of whom I have known and admired over the years when they

taught my own children! I enjoy my time inside the classroom, watching each teacher masterfully practice their craft. The love and dedication for our students is real, and it empowers me to work harder with our teaching teams to nurture more innovative experiences for our school.

Are there any new changes/additions that you have helped implement this year?

In August, I introduced ideas for strengthening communication between our faculty and parents at our professional development days. At a recent faculty meeting, I continued our deep dive into our communication practices by doing an audit of our current practices by grade. We are looking holistically from grade to grade to ensure we are meeting the changing needs of parents and doing our best to strengthen the partnership between school and home. It is important for me to work with our faculty to ensure they are sharing snapshots over the course of the year that allow families to deepen their understanding of our curriculum and the value of a GOA education across the years.

Can you discuss any goals you hope to achieve in your role?

I see my role as a connector, between faculty and administration, between students and faculty, and between school and home. One of my goals is to deepen these relationships, so I can best support the needs of everyone at GOA. I am always striving to move our school forward in creative and innovative ways. If we keep relationships at the forefront, I am confident we will continue to push boundaries for academic and social-emotional success at GOA.

Outside of working at GOA, how do you like to spend your free time?

I love to be outdoors, including hiking, enjoying nature, and even camping! I love to take walks with my family and our dog Winnie too. Ironically, I also love being at home! I love to snuggle under a cozy blanket and read. On Fridays, I enjoy baking challah and experimenting with different toppings and fillings. Baking is a true passion of mine, from cookies to sourdough.

“We are looking holistically from grade to grade to ensure we are meeting the changing needs of parents and doing our best to strengthen the partnership between school and home."

FACULTY PROFILE Andrew Mittleman

Lower/Middle School STEAM Educator

This past January, Mr. Andrew Mittleman became the new Lower and Middle School STEAM Educator, teaching technology classes to students in Pre-K through 5th grade, incorporating basic computer skills, coding, robotics, engineering and media production. Mr. Mittleman has also been collaborating with the talented Lower School faculty to help teachers incorporate cutting-edge technology into their classrooms.

In addition to the daily curriculum, Mr. Mittleman hosts after-school Funtracks enrichment opportunities for Lower School students interested in developing advanced media production and/or robotics skills. In the Upper School he continues to advise the Middle School Robotics team, the Ochtobots, and work with the Upper School STEAM faculty to create unique cross-campus collaborations and a one-of-akind, immersive STEAM program that spans both campuses. Mr. Mittleman also plans to meet with local STEM and technology education leaders to ensure that GOA has highly competitive programs and a unique Lower School makerspace experience.

Over the last few years, Dr. Shira Kelmanovich, GOA’s Director of STEM Education, has been working with Lower School science teachers to integrate engineering design skills into the science curriculum. Recognizing the importance of having a dedicated STEM faculty member on campus, GOA brought Mr. Mittleman onboard. “We can see how excited our younger students get when they use design thinking to solve problems or create something new,” said Dr. Kelmanovich. “Having Mr. Mittleman as a full-time STEAM Educator allows us to dive deeper and continue to support our students’ interests in the STEM fields, develop their problem-solving skills, and prepare them for a technology-driven world.”

Though he is a new member of the Lower School faculty, Mr. Mittleman is a passionate educator with a wealth of experiences working with students of all ages. He previously taught Media Production classes at Golda Och Academy’s Upper School Campus to grades 6-12 for three years and led the competitive Middle School Robotics program and Middle School Video club. Mr. Mittleman also co-led the Camp Ramah Nyack

video production team for four years inside their immersive STEAM facility, Park Mada.

Outside of school, Mr. Mittleman is the regional director of Rugged Research, a nature-based education program that provides after-school classes to local elementary schools in Maplewood/ South Orange, and leads environmental sciencebased hiking classes in the South Mountain Reservation on Sundays.

In all his endeavors, Mr. Mittleman challenges his students to develop a growth-oriented, puzzle-solving mindset, which can adapt to tough challenges in the world and technology. “I am so thrilled to collaborate with our amazing

students and help them learn how to use technology to let their imaginations run wild,” said Mittleman. “We will not only be learning how to use technology, but also discover how it was engineered, how it can be improved, and how we can use these tools responsibly to fulfill our practice of tikkun olam.”

To help execute these goals, plans are in place to transform the Lower School technology lab into a world of wonder called the Livnot Lab. The Livnot Lab will be a highly interactive makerspace, fabrication, and design lab featuring the latest educational technology in 3D printing, coding, robotics and video production.

“It is a true pleasure to have Mr. Mittleman in this new role at the Lower School,” said Lower School Principal Carrie Z. Siegel ‘92. “He brings wonderful energy and enthusiasm to our program and appreciates the potential for how we can grow STEAM this year and beyond. Mr. Mittleman has been hard at work co-teaching with Moreh Michael, meeting with grade level team leads, and exploring a range of innovative projects that will surely enhance the GOA experience for our Pre-K through 5th graders.”

Michael Bressman

Director of Development

Golda Och Academy’s search for a new Director of Development recently concluded with the appointment of Michael Bressman. Working closely with Director of Institutional Advancement Stephanie Bash-Soudry, Michael engages donors at all levels in meaningful acts of giving that advance GOA’s core mission.

“By educating students to be inquisitive, empathetic, and discerning, GOA delivers an important public service in our community and beyond,” he said. “I’m excited to continue growing the role philanthropy plays in building on its many strengths.”

Throughout his career as a nonprofit leader, Michael has raised millions in charitable support. Most recently, as Director of the Chilton Medical Center Foundation, he tripled corporate and foundation grants.

He launched his career two decades ago as Special Assistant to the President at Drew University, where he previously earned his BA. At that time, he continued his academic journey and earned a MA from Columbia University.

After laying the groundwork for his future in fundraising as Director of the Annual Fund for Caldwell University, Michael’s commitment to Jewish life led him to Congregation Agudath Israel where he served as Director of Development.

“Synagogues and institutions of higher education have something most nonprofits don’t—a community,” he explained. “This is also true at schools like GOA, giving us the rare and meaningful privilege of forging lifelong philanthropic partnerships with those who share our mission.”

At GOA, Michael’s primary area of professional leadership is the Annual Fund. He works closely with the Development Committee to garner support for academics, student life, financial aid, and more.

“Our lay leaders are smart, energetic, dedicated, and fun,” he said. “What a joy it is to be their partner in building on the tradition of philanthropy that has helped GOA thrive.”

L-to-R: Ms. Janette Antiles, Shifra Zuckerman ’18, Rachel Berger ’18, and Ms. Nina Bilmes

L-to-R: Emily Schall ’22, Yoni Arzt ’22, Aaron Gutterman ’21, Mr. Jason Langer, Ari Bieber ’21, and Matthew Saperstein ’21

Alumni team (blue shirts) L-to-R: Ian Rosen ’19, Yonatan Arieh ’18, Matthew Saperstein ’21, Kira Kress ‘21, Ari Bieber ’21, Zece Brown ’20, Ethan Steinberg ’20, Jonah Bieber ’20, Jake Kroll ’20, Noah Zuckerman (former student), Josh Berger ’20, and Ben Gutstein ’20

December 21, 2022 Upper School Campus

L-to-R: Jonathan Raport ’22, Kaylee Maines ’22, Emily Schall ’21, Yoni Arzt ’22, and David Heimowitz ‘22

L-to-R: Eitan Gerstle ’19, Josh Kalet ’19, Itai Rekem ’19, Ms. Janette Antiles, Theo Hyman-Bockman ’19, Noah Randman ’19, Aytan Geschwind ’19, and Sam Lurie ’19

L-to-R: Josh Berger ’20, Lauren Gips, and Zece Brown ‘20

L-to-R: Shira Ashkenazi ’21, Lilly Berman ’21, Maya Soudry ’21, DJ Mevorah ’21, Kira Kress ’21, and Jessica Moskowitz ‘21

Israel Reunion

January 26, 2023 Tel Aviv

Thank you to Adam and Geffen for hosting!

L-to-R: Carmelle Bargad Zakaeim ’13, Ms. Jamie Mittleman, Geffen Posner ’13, Eden Posner ’15, Ziva Shapiro ’14, Josh Cooper ’09, Michal Goldstein ’09, Aaron Feinblatt ’09, Aytan Geschwind ’19, Ziva Wernick ’14, Ilana Lissak ’11, Hayley Nagelberg ’15, Adam Talmud ’08, and Ari Schlessinger ’14

L-to-R: Larissa Rosenberg Verissimo ’14, Leor Wasser ’14, Alli Moses ’14, and Elana Marlowe ‘14

L-to-R: Emily Binstein ’17, Mikayla Talmud ’17, and Talia Feldman ‘17

Sara Hessdorf ’16 and Noah Hessdorf ’14

Class of 2023 Graduation

College Matriculations

American University

Binghamton University

Brown University

Colgate University

Elon University

Hebrew University of Jerusalem

High Point University

Ithaca College

Macalester College

Penn State University

Princeton University

Quinnipiac University

Rutgers University

Syracuse University

Texas State University

University of Central Florida

University of Delaware

University of Maryland

University of Massachussetts at Amherst

University of Oregon

University of Wisconsin

Talia Goldman ’23 Salutatorian

Daniel Schiffman ’23 Valedictorian

Dr. Eytan Apter Upper School Principal

Rabbi Danny Nevins Head of School Eli Cehelyk ’13 10-Year Alumni Speaker

CLASS NOTES

1985

2001

Rachel Dobkins founded Inner Arrow Counseling and Wellness service in Wyckoff, NJ in September 2022.

2002

1999

2003

Michelle

Noah Allen and his wife Rena adopted a baby girl, Golda Dani Belle, in December 2022. Golda joins big sister Livya.

Bandes and her husband Josh welcomed the birth of a baby boy, Michael James, on January 19, 2023.

Moshe Horn and his wife Leslie were honored at the Ramah Berkshires Annual Gala on March 11, 2023 in New York City.

Elyssa Folk Friedland, her husband William, and family celebrated their daughter Lila’s BatMitzvah on December 3, 2022 in New York City.

2004

Becky (Isaacson) Lustgarten and her husband Taylor welcomed the birth of a baby girl, Olivia Hannah, on February 27, 2023. Olivia joins big brother Aaron.

2006

Alon Bibring and Natalie George were married on October 29, 2022 in New York City.

2006

Evan Schmidt and his wife Jennie welcomed the birth of a baby girl, Ellie Cassandra, on October 30, 2022.

Sara (Rothenberg) Schonfeld and her husband Evan welcomed the birth of a baby girl, Molly Rose, on February 11, 2023. Molly Rose joins big brother Lenny and sister Shayna.

CLASS NOTES

2008

Shira Kleinman and her husband Noam welcomed the birth of a baby boy, Eitan Uri, on December 18, 2022. Proud savta is Shira’s mother and Lower School faculty member Diane.

2008

Noemi Schor and her husband Michael welcomed the birth of a baby girl, Sasha Belle, on February 9, 2023. Sasha joins big brother Matan.

Danielle (Newman) Zolot and her husband David welcomed the birth of a baby boy, Mickey Asher, on December 16, 2022.

2009

Britty Cohen and her husband Yuval Haddad welcomed the birth of a baby girl, Carmel Lia, on August 8, 2022.

Jody (Lederman) Levin and her husband Phil welcomed the birth of a baby boy, Elisha Aaron, on February 7, 2023.

alumni@goldaochacademy.org

2009

Josh Sauer and Dena Kaye-Phillips were engaged on October 18, 2022.

2010

Liat Kessler and Ran Amar were married on November 25, 2022 in Israel. Mazel tov to Liat’s mother, former Lower School faculty member Paula Spack ’84 (Morah P’nina).

2011

Arielle Klein is developing and producing her award-winning short film script based on her grandmother’s Holocaust story. Learn more at: cinefemme.net/projects/red-shoe.

Stephanie (Blum) Aaron and her husband Robb welcomed the birth of their son, Aiden Vic, on February 7, 2023.

CLASS NOTES

Jesse Talmud and Elizabeth Yellin were married on January 16, 2022. In attendance were proud siblings Adam Talmud ’08 and Mikayla Talmud ’17, and friends from the Class of 2011: Eddy Allen, Keith Brien, Josh Forster, Danny Klein, Eric Marcus, Jordan Marcus, Phil Nydick, Jeff Shafir, and Theo Silverberg.

2012

Dana Brodsky and Alex Rappoport are engaged to be married. They are planning an October 2023 wedding.

alumni@goldaochacademy.org

2013

Eli Cehelyk and Sophie Beren are engaged to be married. They have known each other for ten years and are so thrilled to celebrate this moment with the SSDS-GOA community!

2013

Naomi Gutstein and Jordan Wilimovsky are engaged to be married.

Jared Kaplan and Sarah Weisfogel welcomed the birth of a baby girl, Simi Lou, on October 8, 2022.

CLASS NOTES

2013

2013

2014

Daniella Portal and Jacob Salant are engaged to be married.

Genna Karp and Jeremy Shriber are engaged to be married. Mazel tov to Genna’s mother and Lower School faculty member Donna Karp!

Avi Kessler and Emily Schuback are engaged to be married. Mazel tov to Avi’s mother, former Lower School faculty member Paula Spack ’84 (Morah P’nina).

Maya (Moran) Meltzer and her husband Elan welcomed the birth of a baby girl, Aria Rose, on January 15, 2023.

2015

2015

a

Noah Pearlstein and Julia Kolodny were married on November 10, 2022.

2019

Eli Esrig and Tova Weinberger are engaged to be married.

Harris Mevorah and Dalia Gatoff are engaged to be married. They are planning

summer wedding. Mazel tov to Harris’ mother and Lower School faculty member Shari Mevorah.

Fanya Hoffman, Ian Rosen, Jamie Gutterman, Sam Lurie, and Gideon Fox came out to support GOA’s production of The Addams Family

CLASS NOTES

2019

2022

2020

Ally Landau was named Scholar Athlete of the Year, First Team All-Conference, and Second Team All-Region.

Former Students

Yoni Abrahamian and his wife Katherine welcomed the birth of a baby boy, Asher, on January 20, 2023. Mazel tov to Lower School faculty member and proud grandma Tina Abrahamian!

Alexis Fulop and Maddie Rubin are Sigma Delta Tau sorority sisters at Indiana University. Alexis’ father Daniel Fulop z”l and Maddie’s mother Pam Katzman Rubin were both members of the Class of 1992.

Maya Wasserman and Louis Adler are engaged to be married.

First Ever GOA Day of Giving is

a Big Success!

On March 21, 2023, we held our first ever GOA Day of Giving led by our dynamic Schechter-Golda Och Academy Alumni Society. With over 1,800 alumni strong, this was a wonderful opportunity to connect with alumni, enlist their help as leaders and ambassadors, hear their GOA stories, and give everyone a chance to give back to this school that has given everyone so much! The goal was 180 gifts for our GOA 2022-23 Annual Fund and at the end of the day, we had raised 190 gifts totaling $24,015!

Special thank you to the dynamic duo of Naomi Mullen ’10 and Arielle Kuzdral ’08 for serving as co-chairs of the successful day! Special thank you to Jamie Mittleman, Interim Alumni Coordinator, and Dana Halpern ’15, our new Alumni Engagement Coordinator, for leading the way on this innovative new project. Thank you to all the class ambassadors who reached out to their classmates!

Thank you to our entire GOA Development Team led by Chair Leslie Dannin Rosenthal for all of their support! This brings our GOA 2022-23 Annual Fund total as of June 1, 2023 to $721,636 from 660 donor families.

Thank you!

190 TOTAL DONORS 20% NEW DONORS 74% DONATIONS UNDER $100

$24,015 RAISED

CLASS OF 2013 HIGHEST PARTICIPATION

May their memory be for a blessing

Birgitta Ahlstrom z”l, beloved mother of Annika Ahlström, Upper School learning specialist.

Stanton Altzman z”l, beloved father of Josie Altzman, grandfather of Daniel ’24.

Rachel Michaela Bargad z”l, beloved mother of Jonathan (Hannah) Bargad, grandmother of Carmelle Bargad Zakaeim ’13, Ben Bargad ’20 and Nathaniel Bargad.

Avraham Benisty z”l, beloved brother of Mordechai Benisty, brother-in-law of Lower School faculty member Natasha Cooper-Benisty, uncle of Manon Benisty ’12 and Adiel Benisty ’21.

Michael Dovdavany z”l, beloved father of Daniel (Ruth) Dovdavany, grandfather of former students Jonah and Raffi Dovdavany.

Adam Feldberg z”l, beloved son of Lower School Judaics faculty member Tsipi Taube and Lewis Feldberg, brother of Noa and Danielle.

Lucille Gallin z”l, beloved mother of former SSDS-GOA board member Ric Gallin (Lisa Lacon) and grandmother of Cindy ’07 and Emily ’10.

Sylvia Gladstein z”l, beloved wife of Irving Gladstein z”l, mother of Beverly (Ed) Stern, Ned (Jane) Gladstein and Lynne (Joel) Mesznik; grandmother of Scott, Mark (Lauren), Paul, Hannah (Brandon), Dara (Frank), Liza (Liad), Daniel (Sogol), Jared (Rebecca) and Kara (Robert);

great-grandmother of Isaac, Ellison, Gabriel, Mia, Gavin, Jackson, Wesley, Benji ’33, Abby ’35, Jacob, David, Chiara, Gideon, Leigh, Hayley and Dylan.

Barbara Glueck z”l, beloved mother of Evan (Mindy) Blum, grandmother of Matthew ’16 and Corey ’18.

Andrea Levy Goldman z”l, beloved wife of Adam Goldman ’03, mother of Bryce Goldman, daughter of Mark and JoAnn Levy, sister of Evan (Fallon) Levy, Brian (Whitney) Levy, and sister-in-law of Matthew Goldman ’01.

Yuval Hibshoosh z”l, beloved father of Ron Hibshoosh (Rebecca) and grandfather of Judah ’30 and Hannah ’32.

Isabelle Himelstein z”l, former Lower School faculty member and beloved wife of Nathan Himelstein, mother of Julie Borker (Gary) and Shari Rynar, brother of Marvin Wainschel (Mickie) and grandmother of Zachary, Aliza, Jackson, Melissa, Jade and Chloe.

David Horn z”l, beloved father of Steven (Deborah) Horn ’85 and Kenneth Horn ’86.

Larry Karlin z”l, beloved father of Rabbi Gary Karlin, grandfather of Michal ’15 and Moshe ’18.

Rosalie Keene z”l, beloved mother of Cathy Distelburger (Bert), Laura Feuer (Paul), and Judith Senfeld z”l; grandmother of Brian Distelburger (Jessica), Rachel Zorel (Leeor) and Lisa

Kull (Matt); great-grandmother of Jude, Shaya ’26, Ami ’28, Matai ’30, Ozzie ’32, Dylan, Blake, and Damian.

Adele Kleiman z”l, beloved wife of Murray z”l, mother of Randi (Oron) Brokman, Leslie (David) Gleaner, and Mitchell (Nancy) Kleiman; grandmother of Yuval (Sarah) Brokman, Aviv (Morgan), Ian Gleaner ’09 (Noa), Ariel Gleaner ’12, Kineret Brokman ’14 (Matt), Seth Gleaner ’16, and Alexis; and great-grandmother of Idan ’31, Noam ’34, and Orly Brokman ’36, Maya, Shai, Itai, and Ayal.

Howard Knauer z”l, beloved husband of Roberta Knauer, father of Samantha Knauer ’05.

Lois Labendz z”l, beloved mother of Barbara (Jonathan) Fink ’97 and Janet (Richard) Yablonsky ’01 and grandmother of Hannah, Mason, Chloe, and Paige.

Robert Levin z”l, beloved husband of Marilyn Levin, father of Lower School learning specialist Sandi Fein (Darren), grandfather of Tyler and Jordan.

Denis Lustig z”l, beloved father of Lower School faculty member Gena Jarmel (Matthew), Alan Lustig (Alison) and Meryl Markowitz (Dr. Charles Markowitz); grandfather of Larissa Verissimo ’14 (Femi), David Rosenberg ’17, Benjamin Jarmel, Hannah Jarmel, Jessamine Lopez (Geoff), Carly Lustig, Evan Lustig, Sara Markowitz and Bryan Markowitz (Tehila); and great-grandfather of Ezra and Calla.

Stanley Malaga z”l, beloved father of Ross Malaga, father-inlaw of former GOA Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer Julia Malaga, grandfather of Benjamin and Rachel.

David Newman z”l, beloved husband of Carol Newman, father of Howard Newman (Joanne), Elliott Newman, GOA Lower School faculty member Michael Newman (former student Sandi); grandfather of Cody Newman (Elizabeth), Matthew Newman, Gavi Newman ’20, Adina Newman ’24, Peri Newman ’24, Shoshana Newman ’24; great-grandfather of Liam and Weston Newman.

Martha Oleinick z”l, beloved mother of Susan Shapiro (Charles), grandmother of Daniel ’23 and Sagan ’27.

Robert Morris Oleinick z”l, beloved brother of Sue Shapiro (Charles), uncle of Daniel ’23 and Sagan ’27.

Steven “Igal” Orlowski z”l, beloved husband of Neta, father of Michelle Rosen (David) and Neil Orlowski (Sonja), and grandfather of Ian ’19.

Judge Ronald I. Parker z”l, beloved husband of Adrienne Parker; father of GOA Israel Educator Emmy Atlas (Harry), Sue Gerson (Rabbi Bernie), and Jeff Parker (Nancy); grandfather of Rabbi Chayim (Chaya Miriam) and Jennie Gerson, Elana and Noah Atlas and Robbie and Aaron Parker; and great-grandfather of Naomi, Yehuda and Yaeli Gerson.

Stephen J. Randman z”l, beloved father of Gary Randman (Elyssa), grandfather of Noah Randman ’19 and Josh Randman ’16 z”l.

Patricia (Patti) Ricciardelli z”l, beloved GOA Upper School Office Manager, mother of Renee Ricciardelli and Manfred Ricciardelli.

Lori Rothbard z”l, beloved former GOA Lower School substitute teacher, wife of Bruce Rothbard, mother of Jessica and Harris, sister of Lower School faculty member Jamie Breitman.

Ruth (Gruman) Rothman z”l, beloved wife of Stanley Rothman, former SSDS-GOA board member; mother of Reena (Rothman) DeSimone, Judi (Rothman) Osbahr ’80, and Dan Rothman ’84; grandmother of Michelle, Crissie, Matthew, Ryan, Hannah, Casey, and Dylan; great-grandmother of Aubrey, Raelyn, and Hudson; aunt of Rifka (Footerman) Moyal ’81 and Rafi Footerman ’84; sister of Gittel Footerman.

Melvyn Schlosser z”l, beloved husband of Heather Schlosser, father of Stephanie Steiner (David) and grandfather of Marissa and Andrew ’21.

Heather Schlosser z”l, beloved mother of Stephanie Steiner (David), grandmother of Marissa and Andrew ’21.

Melvin Seidman z”l, beloved father of Sharon Freedman (Richard), grandfather of Maya Freedman ’18.

Alan Singer z”l, beloved husband of Eleanor Singer; father of Vicky Parkes (John), Rabbi Robert Green (Ruth Deitz), and Michael Singer; grandfather of Isaac ’13, Theo ’19, and former student Abraham Deitz-Green.

Dolores Steinberg z”l, beloved mother to Ephraim Karpel z”l, mother-in-law of Fran Karpel, grandmother to Lexi ’09 and Dylan Karpel ’12.

Ken Strogov z”l, beloved husband of Emilia; father of Tara Kipnees ’03 (Josh ’02), Leelila (Ernie), and Peter (Michelle); grandfather of Jordan, Zachary, Avery, Scarlet, Elliot, Eilat ’29, and Jules ’33.

Betty Sturm z”l, beloved mother of Jacob Sturm, grandmother of Hannah Sturm ’17.

Maureen Venitelli z”l, beloved sister of Lower School faculty member Jul McCormick-Anesh (Wayne Anesh) and Michael McCormick (Michelle); daughter of Eileen McCormick; wife of Joseph Venitelli z”l; mother of Joseph and Eryn Bella Venitelli; and aunt of CC, Evangeline Jo, Elizabeth and Michael.

Florence Winter z”l, beloved mother of Daniel Winter (Aylah), grandmother of Ben ’29, Gabby ’31 and Julia.