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SPRING 2016/5776
TORAH
DAY
SCHOOL
OF
ATLANTA
DONOR
NEWSLETTER
30 YEARS OF INSPIRING GENERATIONS The gala event celebrating TDSA’s 30th anniversary packed Beth Jacob’s Heritage Hall to capacity. In honoring Dr. Joe and Mrs. Phyllis Tate, Rabbi Moshe and Mrs. Leah Hiller, and Mr. Yacov and Mrs. Rachelle Freedman, TDSA honored stellar exemplars of giving life to a community and school. Dr. Tate does so as the obstetrician responsible for delivering our past, present and future students. Both of the Hillers inspire Torah learning and connect to children, teens, and adults through their teaching and care. Through their plays, the Freedmans have brought the joy of personal growth and confidence to a decade of TDSA’s girls. Mrs. Susan Krohn was also honored, as TDSA’s first general studies teacher, who is retiring after 30 years of “making a difference." Current students Elchonon Birnbaum and Avigayil Landman shared what TDSA means to them. Alumnus and former TDSA rebbe, Rabbi Shmuel Field, spoke with intense fervor about the impact of his TDSA education and Rabbi Hiller’s mentoring have had on his work as the Head of the Torah Day School of Phoenix. Thank you to our devoted Event Committee who made this special evening possible: Nechoma Birnbaum, Event Chair, Yelena Hertzberg, Event Advisor, and Suzanne Spaner, Table Host Chair. Left to Right: Mrs. Susan Krohn, Rabbi Moshe & Leah Hiller, Dr. Joseph & Phyllis Tate with their daughters and granddaughter, and Yacov & Rachelle Freedman
INSIDE WHY I GIVE: Mrs. Evi Reznick SUPERSTARS: Middle School Girls Play Amazes Audiences ALUMNI SUCCESS STORY: Freda (Rubin) Sanders, Class of 2001 CLASS ACT: A Life Long Student Gives Back
LIVING OUR MISSION
THANK YOU FOR HELPING TDSA SOAR
WHY I GIVE
MRS. EVI REZNICK Mrs. Evi Reznick was on the founding board of TDSA in 1985 and sent her three children to TDSA in the 80’s and 90’s. Besides the Middle School Girls play and the Torah Dedication, she had not seen the school in session for quite some time. We invited her on a tour so that she could see how the school has changed. As we walked through the hallways covered in student artwork, the classrooms, the library and computer lab, she reminisced about the early years when the school was housed in a strip mall, and she marveled at how far we’ve come. As we weaved from classroom to classroom, we saw different teaching styles catering to the children's diverse learning styles. We asked the students what they were learning about and saw their excitement as they rushed to retrieve their projects to show us their work. “I was so impressed with the facility, the teachers, and the students,” she remarked after the tour. “While I don't have any grandchildren at the school, I realized that so many of the teachers are close friends or taught my children, and along with the students, they need support.” Until that point Evi felt strongly connected to TDSA’s past, but upon seeing the children’s excitement about learning and the faculty’s clear focus on creativity and inspiring the students, it helped her to connect to Torah Day School’s present and future. As we ended the tour she said, “I want to be on your Endowment Committee. We have to make sure this incredible place of learning is taken care of for future generations. I want to be involved again.”
People often ask me why I am so involved at Torah Day School of Atlanta and why am I so passionate about Jewish education. A walk through Torah Day School illustrates why the efforts of so many, including teachers, parents, lay leaders and donors, enhance the lives of our children and their communities. Some of my joys on the Torah Day School campus include: children's impassioned davening, the excitement of learning in classrooms, and children's imaginative discoveries on the playground, to name a few. Each one of us can make our own list of these joys. They are the pictures of fulfilling our mission - to inspire each student to love G-d, to observe the Torah, to strive for personal excellence, and to pursue lifelong learning. We deliver on this mission every day with experiential learning in rigorous Judaic and general studies academic curricula. Our children benefit all year from you, our donors. We have a beautiful facility with over 330 students learning and living Torah, succeeding in academics and sports, expressing themselves in plays, and growing each day. Much of this is made possible by your generosity. For you, we are so grateful. I encourage you to visit our school, see the wonderful students, and engage with our amazing faculty and staff who are educating the next generation of the Jewish people.
Sara Robbins President Board of Trustees
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GIFT TO OUR ANNUAL CAMPAIGN!
YOUR SUPPORT IMPACTS GENERATIONS What makes working at TDSA so rewarding is that we continually have alumni and past parents visiting the school to connect and reunite with prior teachers. Recently, a past parent came to our office and shared this beautiful story. Years ago, when she was a single mother, her young children were enrolled in public school. One day, a visiting speaker at her synagogue gave an impassioned talk about the power of Jewish education—it was the only thing, he said, that could combat assimilation and preserve the continuity of the Jewish people. Moved by these words, this dedicated mother was determined to enroll her children in a proper Jewish day school. She steeled herself for all the challenges this would entail— carpools, tuition, no more hot lunches—and the changes for her family such an undertaking would bring. One of her Atlanta options brought her to TDSA. She and her children loved it immediately. Its warmth and caring fostered the family’s growth in Torah and mitzvah observance. Today, all of her children live in observant communities and Judaism is a strong part of their lives. She shepped much nachas as she told us that all of her grandchildren are in Jewish day schools. What’s even more amazing is that later that same week another parent shared a similar story! It is your gift to Torah Day School that helps children—and their entire families—and sets generations of Jewish boys and girls on the path to Torah knowledge and mitzvah observance.
It is your gift to Torah Day School that helps children—and their entire families— and sets generations of Jewish boys and girls on the path to Torah knowledge and mitzvah observance.
When you next receive your donor newsletter, our 2015-2016 Annual Campaign will be closed. If you haven’t contributed yet, please consider a gift today. Every dollar you give goes directly to providing a Torah education to the children in our community. May Hashem repay your kindness and may you continue, in good health for many years, to have nachas from those you have assisted.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR GIFT: Go online to www.TorahDay.org/Donate or call (404) 982-0800 ext. 128 to make your donation today.
Rabbi Elchanan Schulgasser Senior Development Manager eschulgasser@torahday.org
EXTRA SPECIAL DELIVERY A LETTER FROM A TDSA PARENT Hi Y’all, I just wanted to report that today, after school, a freight truck pulled up on Jody Lane to deliver around 100 heavy boxes for the Amit charity Mishloach Manot baskets. The truck did not have a mechanism to lower the three pallets of boxes to the ground, and the boxes had to be individually brought down off of the truck. It was quite a task! Luckily, the later [4:30pm] walkpool happened by, and quite a few TDSA students literally ran to do a mitzvah. It was a tremendous Kiddush Hashem. The UPS man had never seen anything like it. Not only did the students bring all of the boxes from the truck to the house, but they then hauled them all down to the basement. It really was a beautiful thing to see. You should be very proud. Thanks! Davida Graber and Amit!
ALUMNI UPDATE YOUR GENEROSITY KEEPS OUR STUDENTS
SAFE & SECURE The safety and security of the students at Torah Day School of Atlanta is an extremely high priority for the administration, Board of Trustees, and the parent body. This past year alone, several enhancements have been executed including increased perimeter security fencing and an improved monitoring system which may be accessed both on-site and off-site. These two projects completed the long-term security enhancement program proposed by Mr. Dick Raisler, former Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s Director of Community-Wide Security. These two projects were funded through a Homeland Security Grant. In addition, a new visitor protocol has been implemented which allows all TDSA constituents to easily identify an approved visitor in the school. Faculty and staff training is also a key component in providing a safe environment to the students. This past year alone, all staff members have participated in three different workshops focused on general safety procedures and active shooter response. TDSA Alumnus and parent, Ariel Siegelman of the Draco Group, and Detective J.K. Walker, a representative of the DeKalb County Homeland Security Force, gave life-saving and procedure oriented presentations. Thank you to Mr. Cathal Lucy, the Director of Community-Wide Security with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and Mrs. Marcy Kalnitz for coordinating these in-service opportunities. This year, we instituted a Safe School Team, consisting of a variety of faculty and administration, that meets regularly to review and implement safe school policies and procedures Mr. Levi Afrah, TDSA alumnus and chairman of the Facilities Committee on the Board of Trustees is investigating further security improvements. He is currently in consultation with the Dekalb County Police and is investigating the cost of providing increased security presence. We are looking for generous donors to help underwrite the cost. TDSA is committed to providing a safe environment for its students, staff, and families.
Freda (Rubin) Sanders Class of 2001 When I entered Torah Day School of Atlanta in first grade, my family was not yet religious. However, even before I was born, my parents had observed other children who attended Torah Day School of Atlanta and were so impressed with how refined and poised they were, and how much knowledge these children had, that they decided they wanted that same education for me. I’m so happy and appreciative that they did. I really loved it!
I felt that my teachers truly cared about me and were lovingly investing in me from beginning to end. It is because of my wonderful teachers that I was inspired with a desire to share a love and understanding of Torah through both Judaic and secular studies with all Jews from different backgrounds and to help educate all types of learners. After high school, I spent two years studying in Israel, received my BA in education and attended graduate school for special education at Georgia State University. I even had the privilege of returning to TDSA as a teacher from 2010 to 2012. One of my favorite memories from TDSA is the tradition of every morning at line-up saying, “we are worthwhile people because we are created Btzelem Elokim (in the image of G-d). Everything we think, say, and do must show that we are created Btzelem Elokim.” This really infused us with a feeling of self-worth and responsibility for our actions, as well as a value for everyone else around us. That wasn’t just a morning ritual though; it was a tone that was set throughout the school throughout every day. I thank TDSA for the impact it had on my life, shaping my future by preparing me emotionally, spiritually, and academically. I feel that my teachers provided me with a solid foundation from which to spring forth. My husband and I are currently living in Israel where we enjoy hosting TDSA alumni who are studying here for the year, and we are involved in Jewish Education in a variety of capacities. We plan to move back to the States in the near future, where we both hope to be involved in Freda as a student, top row Jewish education and Jewish outreach. second from left
“It is because of my wonderful teachers that I was inspired with a desire to share a love and understanding of Torah through both Judaic and secular studies with all Jews from different backgrounds and to help educate all types of learners.” New perimeter security fencing and gates.
SUPERSTARS
Written and directed by TDSA parents Yacov and Rachelle Freedman, the Middle School Girls Production of Erev Shabbos was a musical and visual treat! Based on the songs from Mary Poppins, this “practically perfect” performance brought joy and laughter to the women and children in the audience. The acting, singing, and dancing were spirited and the costumes and scenery were extremely colorful! Every single girl in the production, including those backstage, selling tickets or food during intermission, made the show a success. TDSA 8th Grade Morah, Mrs. Chashy Alterman, who assists Rachelle in directing, explains that the Middle School Girls plays are the perfect opportunity for teaching social emotional skills. The girls learn that everyone expresses feelings in the same way; reassuring children that their feelings are normal. Students learn self-expression and how to connect to an audience which is important in interpersonal conversation. This year's play, with its erev Shabbos theme, showed the value of process and investment; what you put in is what you'll get out. The girls talked about it, sang about it, but more importantly lived it in the experience of working on the show. Let there be light and sound! Thanks to Madame Director Rachelle Freedman, TDSA now has its own lighting and sound equipment. Rachelle heard about an organization that was closing and giving away thousands of dollars’ worth of lighting and sound equipment. She personally got the equipment and brought it to TDSA for future drama productions. Thank you Rachelle!
MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS CELEBRATE AT THE PIRCHEI MIDWEST SIYUM MISHNAYOS This past March, Rabbi Hiller accompanied ten boys on an exciting trip to the 42nd annual Pirchei Midwest Siyum Mishnayos on the sprawling campus of the Telshe Yeshiva in Wickliffe, Ohio. The annual convention attracts over 350 middle school boys from over a dozen cities. Together the boys celebrate the collective completion of the learning of all mishnayos. Every morning our TDSA boys have voluntarily come to school consistently at 7:00 am since August to learn maseches Bava Metzia with Rabbi Hiller. The Mishnayas trip is a reward for the diligence in their learning. The boys flew with Rabbi Hiller and TDSA parent, Mr. Scott Izenberg, to Akron, Ohio, where they spent Thursday morning at the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton and the afternoon at the JCC of Cleveland. The weekend convention began Thursday night with a special story from Rabbi Shapiro, learning groups with Telshe Yeshiva bochrim, as well as a grand finale melava malka. There was not much sleep, but a great amount of spiritual growth and fun was had by all.
Boys learning at the Telshe Yeshiva in Wickliffe, Ohio
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Thank you to our Matchers! ERIC & MALKA ADELMAN LEVI & ALIZA AFRAH ANONYMOUS DR. JASON & KIMBERLEY BERENDT DRS. DANIEL & KIM COHEN DR. AARON & DEVORAH FELDMAN RABBI ILAN D. & MIRIAM FELDMAN SARA ROBBINS SCOTT ITALIAANDER SHIMON & ANNA KAMINETZKY
MARK & KAREN KAPLAN DR. ALLEN & JUDY LIPIS MALCOLM & BETTY MINSK RABBI DONIEL & ESTHER PRANSKY BRIAN & SUZANNE SPANER ART & ROBIN SAUL RABBI YOEL & CHAVIE SPOTTS JORDAN & ERICA TRITT DR. MICHAEL & YAEL WOLF
The Charidy Campaign is in lieu of our annual Raffle. Please give generously!
YOUR LEGACY
OUR FUTURE
George Fox, a well-known Atlanta attorney who specializes in estateplanning at Fox & Mattson, PC, loves hearing his grandchildren talk about TDSA. So when the opportunity presented itself to help the School build a $1.2 million dollar endowment over the next three years, he didn't need much persuading to join the Endowment Committee. "The PEJE Generations National initiative will allow me to help the school secure a bright Jewish future. Endowments are forever and will keep generating income, whether for tuition assistance, new programming, or otherwise. It’s exciting to help design an endowment for TDSA, and that’s why I offered to help,” says George, who has helped create and guide endowments for individuals, families, and other local institutions. “Anybody can give an endowment gift; it’s not just for the well-to-do or someone needing a charitable deduction. An endowment can be created without disturbing a family’s cash flow. An endowment can be set up now to be funded later. With this flexibility, and knowing about how permanent an endowment can be, why not create one, or add to one, at TDSA?” George suggests. TDSA is in year one of a three-year legacy and endowment building program to help the future sustainability of Torah education in Atlanta. We have a dynamic and growing committee of dedicated lay leaders and staff who are following a strategic work plan to raise both endowment awareness and funds for the school. A strong Endowment and Legacy Campaign will allow us to operate from a place of strength. With a robust endowment, TDSA can generate funds to enhance the facility and programming in ways we can’t even imagine. Every single Endowment Committee member has committed to giving an endowment and/or legacy gift and we have already secured several leadership gifts. “Giving to an endowment creates an income stream that can literally
George Fox's daughter Jennifer, and son-in-law, Lee, with his grandchildren, all TDSA students (Present & Alum) go from generation to generation,” says George. “You support TDSA now because you see the incalculable value of giving our students a strong Jewish and general studies education. You give because you care about Jewish continuity and empowering the next generation of Jewish leaders. By giving an endowment gift, you have the opportunity to partner with us in ensuring TDSA’s future. Help us step into TDSA’s future with strength, security and sustainability.” For more information about legacy and endowment opportunities, please contact Marcy Kalnitz at 404-982-0800, ext 101 or mkalnitz@torahday.org.
Mrs. Marcy Kalnitz Director of Finance & Development mkalnitz@torahday.org
A STELLAR YEAR FOR TDSA SPORTS This has been an exciting sports season for TDSA! For the first time our students have won three championships in one year! Congratulations to the JV Boys Basketball team led by TDSA parent and Coach Neil Kalnitz, the Varsity Boys Basketball Team led by Coaches and TDSA Parents, Rabbi Michoel Alterman and Dr. Charles Diener and the Middle School Boys Flag Football team led by TDSA's Coach Earl Moore! Another big accomplishment this year is that three of our students, Yocheved Halpern, Binyamin Freundlich, and Yoel Minkowicz, were selected by Metro Atlanta Athletic Conference (MAAC) coaches from schools in the conference to participate in the All Star Basketball Games. Go TDSA Thunder!
Coach Neil Kalnitz and JV Boys Basketball Champions
Coaches Rabbi Michoel Alterman and Dr. Charles Diener and the Varsity Boys Basketball Metro Atlanta Athletic Conference (MAAC) Champions
Coach Earl Moore and the Middle School Boys Youth Passing League Football Champions
1985 LaVista Road Atlanta, GA 30329 404-982-0800 Rabbi Joshua Einzig Head of School Mrs. Linda Rabinowitz General Studies Principal Mrs. Lisa Stroll Assistant Principal Mrs. Marcy Kalnitz Director of Finance & Development Rabbi Elchanan Schulgasser Senior Development Manager
CLASS ACT A LIFE LONG STUDENT GIVES BACK
Executive Board of Trustees Ms. Sara Robbins, President Rabbi Yoel Spotts, Vice President Mr. Jordan Tritt, Treasurer Mrs. Devorah Feldman, Secretary Dr. Allen Lipis, Parliamentarian Board of Trustees Mr. Eric Adelman Mr. Levi Afrah Dr. Jason Berendt Dr. Kim Cohen Mr. Shimon Kaminetzky Mrs. Karen Kaplan Rabbi Eli Kerzner Mrs. Betty Minsk Mrs. Rivka Neuberger Rabbi Doniel Pransky Mrs. Robin Saul Mr. Gidon Sobel Mr. Brian Spaner Rabbinic Advisor Rabbi Ilan D. Feldman Accredited by SAIS and SACS Member of AAAIS, GISA Beneficiary agency of the
Rabbi Menachem Deutsch, Rabbi Moshe Hiller, Mr. Jake Aronov, and Mr. Brian Spaner On Sunday, April 3rd, Mr. Jake F. Aronov, a talmid of Rabbi Moshe Hiller and a close family friend, dedicated two TDSA classrooms in honor of Rabbi Moshe Hiller and his wife, Mrs. Leah Hiller, both long-time and beloved teachers at TDSA. Mrs. Hiller’s classroom was dedicated in memory of her parents, Mr. Nachman and Mrs. Selma Stern, z”l. Rabbi Hiller’s classroom was dedicated in memory of his mother, Mrs. Anna Hiller, z”l. The inscription on the plaques outside of the classrooms include the heartfelt words, “with gratitude from your students for inspiring us and for your dedication to our growth in Torah.”
“We are all aware of the impact Rabbi Hiller has had on our students from the youngest to the oldest, in his second grade classroom up through to the middle school mishnayos class,” said Rabbi Einzig, Torah Day School of Atlanta’s Head of School. “Mrs. Hiller is the epitome of chesed. She was a devoted daughter who visited her mother, of blessed memory, on an almost daily basis. Her way of sharing this very special middah with her students was by creating the 'Chesed with a Smile Club' in her seventh grade class. Each girl chooses a chesed project and even though it is designed to last for just the During the small gathering including several of the school year, many of our girls have extended Hiller’s children and grandchildren, Rabbi Hiller’s their projects for multiple years.” father, Mr. Ben Hiller, a Holocaust survivor, Among those in attendance were Rabbi Joshua and brother, Rabbi Shmuel Hiller, Mr. Aronov Einzig, Head of School, Mrs. Linda Rabinowitz, expressed his hakaros hatov to the Hillers for all General Studies Principal, Mrs. Marcy Kalnitz, that they have done for him. He has been learning Director of Finance and Development, Rabbi with Rabbi Hiller for many years through the Elchanan Schulgasser, Senior Development Atlanta Scholars Kollel, of which Rabbi Hiller is a Manager, Ms. Sara Robbins, TDSA’s Board of member, as well as opening their home to him with Trustees President, Mr. Jordan Tritt, TDSA’s Shabbos and Yom Tov hospitality. When speaking, Board of Trustees Treasurer, Rabbi Menachem Mr. Aronov acknowledged that Torah Day School Deutsch, CEO of Olami, Rabbi David Silverman, of Atlanta is an important and integral part of Dean of the Atlanta Scholars Kollel, and Mr. the Toco Hills Jewish community and the Atlanta Brian Spaner and Mrs. Michelle Winer, TDSA Jewish community at large and that he was proud Co-Chairs for the Annual Fund, as well as close to be a supporter of this worthy institution. family and friends.
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