Volume 26 Issue 5

the

l ion’s tale

Feature

In-Depth

see page 13

see page 8-9

Commonplace books

Volume 26 • Issue 5 May 22, 2009 • 28 Iyar 5769

moscow connection

Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School • 11710 Hunters Lane • Rockville, Maryland • 20852

15 percent; Competition bonanza staff layoffs

by Valerie Cohen Approximately 15 percent of staffing positions, or around 35 positions, will not be renewed in the next academic year as part of the cutbacks the administration made due to a drop in enrollment.

These include teaching positions in the Upper and Lower Schools, as well as, administrative positions and additional positions within the school.

“Any number of them are occupied by people who themselves aren’t returning. It’s a mixture of people leaving anyway and positions that aren’t filled that we are going to fill, and people we are not going to be able to offer them a contract,” Head of School Jonathan Cannon said.

For some teachers, however, their teaching contracts were not renewed for the next academic year.

According to Cannon, these cutbacks are being made to reflect a drop in school enrollment.

“The school has to make a tough decision. You have to have the income to justify the expenditure and if you don’t have the income, and the school’s main income is tuition, we cannot ask the parents in this kind of economy to pay more tuition than the school actually costs to run in order to support a level of staffing which the school doesn’t need,” Cannon said. “At the end of the day, if there are six classes of fourth grade and next year, there are five classes in fourth grade, there is no point for the school to be paying for the teachers who would be teaching the sixth class.”

Both Cannon and Dean of Students Roslyn Landy affirm that teacher cutbacks will not affect the education or experience at JDS. “I know that the students and faculty will miss the teachers who are leaving as they have been an important part of our community. While we will miss the individuals, the slightly smaller faculty will not impact the students’ education,” Landy said.

“There may be less sections, but our goal is that you are not going to feel dramatically a change in the education experience,” Cannon said.

Some students however, do not feel that teachers shoul-

For more on ZIMRIAH, see page 6 photo by Jordan Kovalsky

(from left) Juniors Madeline Moss, Yaron Steinfeld and Alexandra Niakani dance to ‘Celebrity’ by Nsync in front of the entire school along with the rest of the junior class. The Class of 2010 strutted down the red carpet donning sunglasses and jackets while students and teachers posed as faux paparazzi.

junior grand entrance

For ZIMRIAH COVERAGE, see page 6 have been let go.

“The school is losing a lot of great talent with [the contracts were not renewed]. The school is worse off for the loss,” junior Jonathan Iskow said.

“In this economy I don’t really believe anyone should lose their job. I mean it is a little cruel, to defend people from losing their jobs and expect an organization to stay in equilibrium, because its practically impossible. I understand that it’s a dog-eat-dog world, but the [change of classroom structure] is really upsetting,” junior David Friedland

Dealing with discipline

by David Weinberg On April 24, the administration revealed in an e-mail to parents that marijuana, an Airsoft gun and brass knuckles were in the possession of a small number of middle and high school students.

In an additional e-mail sent on May 6, the administration added that it discovered one instance of alcohol consumption on campus.

As a consequence for their actions, two students were expelled and an unspecified number of students were suspended.

After rumors from students surfaced, the administration initiated an investigation to determine whether

or not illegal items were on the school’s campus.

“A major goal was to distinguish between what was rumor, of whichthere is always a lot, and what was the truth,” Director of Judaic Studies Michael Kay said.

“Through our investigation, we have determined that on two occasions, items that are banned because they are considered weapons were sold by high school students to middle school students. These items were an Airsoft gun and brass knuckles. Additionally, we have determined that a small number of high school students were involved in the use and distribution of marijuana outside of the school, and, in one case, in the consumption of alcohol

on the school campus,” read the May 6 e-mail to parents.

In addition to the disciplinary actions, the administration referredsome students to programs that provide support and counseling.

The school then held class meetings about the importance of gooddecision making.

“I think that the school has the opportunity and the responsibility to partner with families to teach students about the dangers of drugs and weapons and also to work with students to use sound judgment,” Kay said. “It is also a priority of ours to let students have an opportunity to think, talk, learn and reflect on situations that have an impact on our school community.”

photo by David Herman

Junior captains Ashley Silver and Zachary Cytryn cheer on the blue team during the Color War closing performances. The Incrediblue officers all dressed up as superheroes. The Incrediblues faced off against the Golden Gladiators during this full day competition, but triumphed with a 25 point lead.

lets go blue

For COLOR WAR COVERAGE, see page 2 said. “Most of my classes this year are 9:1 in a student to teacher ratio, and I already know next year every class will have at least 15 students. I acknowledge the school cares about us, but it seems like they care more about money than a better education.”

see CUTBACKS, page 3

What’s Inside News........................2-5 Koby Mendell play

Israel.......................6-7 Israeli pen pals

In-depth...................8-9 Moscow Connection

Op-ed..................10-12 Student Council report card

Feature......................13 A day in the life of Michael Greenberg

Sports..................14-16 Boys varsity tennis

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the

lion’s tale

May 22, 2009

Incrediblue wins the day!

by Daniel Liss

green team introduced themselves at the ceremony, The blue team triumphed over the gold team at this year’s and introduced both teams’ Color War, held on May 15 to celebrate Lag B’Omer. The leadership. entire Upper School spent the day competing and particiThe green team continpating in more than 70 activities as part of the competition. ued the ceremony with its Many members on both the Incrediblue and Golden Gladia- team video which was ditor teams worked tirelessly for weeks on end until the clos- rected and edited by junior ing ceremony where blue was announced as the winner.

Jake Klein.

During the annual Color War competition, the school “The story was [that Ms. is divided into three teams, although only the blue and the Landy] is picking teams for gold teams are eligible to win. The third team is comprised Color War and she picks of Student Council officers who judge and govern over the blue and banana. So, the entire competition as they don their team’s green garb. The gold team complains and members of the green team, specifically Benjamin Block, the green team becomes David Friedland, Thomas Gutterman, Kyle Hardgrave, the judges,” Klein said of Alon Krifcher, Zach Roth, Ezra Rudman and Student Coun- the beginning of the video. cil Advisor Mark Buckley, planned and were responsible “There is not really a coherphoto by Josh Raanan for a bulk of the day’s preparations. ent story throughout, but in The blue and gold teams are each composed of members the next scene there is a long Follow the beat Gold team sophomore Max Levine helps keeps the rhythm going of different ranks. They each have two captains, two gener- dance sequence…and then during the gold team’s song, which was based on the tune for “Livin’ on a Prayer.” als, two lieutenants, two sergeants, one chief and an army there is just a scene where Each team had its own band perform both their English and Hebrew songs. The green of regular student and teacher team members. The generals Ben Block and Thomas team graded each team’s performance and spirit during the songs. are teachers while the captains, lieutenants, sergeants and Gutterman are fighting over chiefs are all juniors. a banana.” competition,”English teacher Kelly Enochson said. “The The blue team’s captains were Zachary Cytryn and AshFollowing the green team video, the blue team played tug of war was fun because we got to participate.” ley Silver. Their generals were Math teacher Victoria Ball their video, which they played as a substitute for their skit.

Many seventh graders, who were participating in the and English teacher Jonathan Fichter. Their lieutenants were It was also written, directed and edited by Klein.

Upper School Color War for the first time, felt neglected Dean Issacharoff and Madeline Moss. Their sergeants were “The blue team video was about the gold team taking throughout the day.

Yael Fishbein and Samantha Trenk and their chief was Talia over JDS. The Incrediblue had to come in and save the day,” “They kind of give the seventh graders all the [activities] Evans. junior Emma Rodwin said. “[The video] brought up a lot of no one else wants…they gave me trivia and spelling bee, The gold team’s captains were Alexandra Niakani and the issues that the country is going through right now in a and that’s not really the point of Color War,” seventh- grader Yaron Steinfeld. Their generals were Math teachers Domi- humorous light. For example the Somali pirates, swine flu Jonathan Silverman said. “The point of Color War is to have nic Lee and Alison Rafalowsky. The team’s lieutenants were and the economic crisis.” fun and do sports.”

Matthew Goulette and Arielle Weiss. Their sergeants were Both videos were well received. Many people thought After the day’s activity periods, there were another round Gabrielle Charnoff and Michelle Koblenz and their chief they were very well done. of team meetings and a closing ceremony that culminated in was Rebecca Hoffman.

“Joe [Jake] Klein has sort of taken on the Quentin Taran- the blue team’s victory.

The gold and blue team leadership both enjoyed color tino role [with our videos] and he is a very serious filmAt the ceremony, teams presented their banners, cakes, war, although the gold team was disappointed to lose at the maker….he spent an inordinate number of hours putting our English songs and Hebrew songs. The blue team won Heend. film together,” Ball said. brew song, while gold team won banner and English song.

“We were disappointed for the first couple of seconds “We made a really good video and we were so excited The blue and gold team each worked extremely hard durbut then you realize that both teams worked so hard and you to show it to the whole school…that video made us get ing the day and spent more money on Color War preparathink of how much fun you had that day,” gold team captain pumped up for the rest of the day,” said Blue Team Sergeant tions than was allotted for them.

Yaron Steinfeld said.

Samantha Trenk.

“We got $150 for our budget, and after preparations we After the opening ceremony, the blue and gold were probably $200 over budget…We bought so much stuff teams held team meetings in separate locations. [for color war],” Trenk said. “We had to buy decorations for After team meetings, the student body reas- outside the school, posters, paint, hairspray, glitter [and] our sembled outside for 11 tug-of-war matches which costumes.” pit students and faculty of opposing teams against Student Council was very organized during Color War each other. The score for the event was 7-4 in and stressed that Color War was primarily about having fun gold’s favor. and community building.

“At tug of war the spirit was definitely really “[The emphasis on Lag B’Omer] kind of comes and incredible and everybody on the gold team was goes. I thinks its really emphasises community building and cheering really loud. It was really cool because we bringing everyone together,” Buckley said. “[Color War] is were winning a lot so, you know, when people win a nice way to pause, have some fun together and just enjoy they are more likely to be more spirited,” eighth- one another’s company.” grader Arielle Panitch said. “[The point of Color War] it to unify the school, make “Tug of war is Color War in my eyes. You see sure everyone is having fun and to relieve stress,” Student so much heart, so much will, so much strength, so Council Vice President Ezra Rudman said. much power, emotion, endurance [and] soul in it,” By the end of the day, the administration was very happy Blue Team Captain Zachary Cytryn said. with Color War. photo by Josh Raanan During the four hours that followed tug-of-war, “This has been a terrific Color War and it is so clear how painting to win Sophomore Simone Roarke, center, puts the finishing touches on the gold team’s banner. Both banners fit with there were five periods of activities planned, which hard the students worked to prepare for it. It has been a great success and a fun day,” Academic Dean David Solomon each team’s theme, gladiators for gold and superheroes for blue. were split up by a lunch period.

Activities were of both competitive and non- saiding competitive nature. However, some students felt that too many of the games were competitive. ‘[When] they announced that we [the blue team] won, “There was too much competition. I think we could have we all freaked out and we were all jumping and screaming,” played more [noncompetitive] games,” seventh-grader Jablue team captain Ashley Silver said. “I cannot remember son Cohen said. being happier in a very long time.”

“They made the gladiator activity competitive so I could All of the generals were holding their positions for their not fight against all my friends on gold...I do not want to first times. fight someone that I do not know,” junior Adina Klingman “We are mostly just in charge of going out [during color said. war] and having fun. We are spirited and keep everybody’s Although some teachers did get extremely spirited for spirits high,” Ball said of her responsibilities as general. “I Color War, many teachers felt that they were generally not get to dress absurdly and act absurdly all day which I am as spirited as students. always gung ho for.”

“We sort of did this in our high schools and colleges “It’s actually really exciting. I have always seen other so this is part three of getting school spirity. It’s not about teachers do it and I have always wanted to. When they asked proving something. It’s just a chance to have fun,” English photo by David Goldstein me I was very excited,” Lee said. “[I am supposed to be] teacher Julia McAdams said. pull iincrediblue , pull !

Junior captain Zachary Cytryn hyping the crowd, going to different activities, cheering “There are also fewer activities [for teachers]. Like there puts all of his energy into cheering on his teammates, people on and getting decked out costume wise.” was the faculty tug of war where it was blue versus gold Madeline Moss, Jordan Kovalsky and Renee Dunn who Color War began with students and teachers alike hud- but other than that we are running things and not comput all their might into defeating the gold team. dled into the gym for the day’s opening ceremony. The peting. So we do not have that same sense of spirit and

May 22, 2009

the

lion’s tale

Commemorating Maria Bermudez

by Josh Boxerman On Feb. 17, the JDS community gathered to mourn the loss of Maria Bermudez, a school maintenance worker who died of a stroke on Jan. 29. A school-wide assembly was held in her honor.

In a speech at the assembly, Assistant Head of School Susan Brinn Siegel remembered Bermudez as a friend.

“We remember Maria as a sweet and caring member of our school family. She was a steady presence on the Upper School campus since it opened 10 years ago,” Siegel said.

“Everyone speaks about her smile and sweetness and many students refer to her as their friend. She treated us like her family and this building like her home. She loved the school and we loved her back.”

Bermudez was born in El Salvador. She immigrated to the United States at the age of 22, eventually settling in Maryland.

Her husband of 21 years, Julio Cruz, a maintenance worker at the Lower School, and her daughter Rosemarie Bermudez were in attendance at the assembly.

“It was very very nice, and I thank everyone for taking the time to do it. It makes me feel special, that my mom was such a special and loving person,” Bermudez said. “I want to thank you guys.”

Facilities Administrator Martin Dempf was also impressed with the assembly.

“I thought it was a wonderful idea,” Dempf said. “The students conducted themselves absolutely perfectly... I was very proud of the students.”

Dempf added that the assembly was also very meaningful for the rest of the maintenance staff, who worked with Bermudez on a daily basis. When asked what the reaction of the staff was, Dempf said, “Everybody was just in shock.

It took us several days to realize that she wasn’t coming back.”

At the assembly, Siegel gave a eulogy for Bermudez, which was translated into Spanish by Romance Language

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teacher Emily Horowitz. One of the goals of the assembly was to be inclusive to Maria’s colleagues on the maintenance staff, many of whom are Spanish speakers. For example, Psalm 23 was recited in Hebrew by all those in attendance, as well as in Spanish by sophomore Gabriel Wilk, who had always felt a linguistic connection to Bermudez.

“In the hallways I always exchanged smiles with her and said hello in Spanish,” Wilk said. “I guess the fact that I’m a Spanish speaker contributed to them picking me because they felt that they could connect with the family more.”

Wilk said that the assembly itself reflected how far Bermudez had progressed in her life.

“I thought it was very meaningful, I mean, especially for her family, coming from El Salvador, in a very poor place, growing up in poverty,” Wilk said. “I think that the assembly got through to people. That it was important. There was a lot of people: maintenance, you know everyone in the Upper School showed up, and we showed the family and we showed her that we do really care about her and I think that that’s really an accomplishment for her, coming where she came from.”

Those who knew Bermudez wanted to preserve as much of her in their memories as they could. Dempf said that she was a unique employee.

“Maria is what I call a self starter. All you had to do is show her what you wanted, and assign her the task, and you could stand out of the way. Maria would drive herself until it was completed properly. And I got to the point where it wasn’t necessary to inspect her work. It was always good,” he said. “She had a great attitude. She was fun to work with.”

Rosmarie Bermudez preferred to remember the everyday moments she shared with her mother.

“I would come from work. She’d be home. I would tell my mom, ‘I’m here,’ and she’d say ‘Oh, you got here OK, you want something to drink?’ And I’d say no, and I’d go to my room, go upstairs around six or seven for dinner, and she’d be there,” she said. “I’m going to miss my mom.”

CUTBACKS, from page 1 Junior Lindsay Schneider thought the school made the right decision in letting teachers go, but she did not agree with their choices.

“I think there are a lot of teachers who are no longer needed [due to the lack of enrollment] but I think they made the wrong decisions about who to let go of,” Schneider said.

Cannon admits the decision was not an easy one.

“I’m humbled everyday by who we have in this school. Good people are not being offered a position next year trying to pretend otherwise is to minimize their incredible contribution and to devalue everything that do,” Cannon said.

Other cutbacks being made include compensation freezes for faculty members not on a pay scale, as well as compensation freezes for administrators.

Additional cutbacks were made in programmatic expenditures, building expenditures and maintenance.

Landy feels that these cutbacks will ultimately not affect clubs and extracurricular activities at JDS. “I believe that, in the past few years, the school has been very generous and we have been able to fund many co-curricular activities and programs,” Landy said. “While I understand that there will most likely need to be some decrease in certain budgets, I believe that we can continue our outstanding programming even with certain cutbacks.”

“Most Americans and most institutions in the country are having to “tighten their belts” also and I am confident that both our academic education and our co-curricular programming will continue to be of the highest caliber,” she said.

Grade government changes affect junior and freshman classes

by David Goldstein Shortly after MORP was held on March 7, science teachers Carrie Michelson and Kimberly Agzigian resigned as the junior class’ grade advisors.

Both Michelson and Agzigian declined to comment.

A grade advisor’s role is to work hand-in-hand with grade officers to ensure that the grade is run smoothly and effectively.

“In January, Ms. Agzigian was not satisfied on how things were going. About a month and a half ago right after MORP, when we got back from break, she said that it’s time for them to leave since she couldn’t handle it anymore,” junior Secretary of Fundraising Jordan Kovalsky said. “We have our difficulties, we don’t always respect each other and we still don’t do things the right way. A lot of times, we would go around their backs, they realized that it wasn’t any longer

something they were interested in doing.”

“The grade advisors made a personal decision to give up their position which is certainly their choice,” Dean of Students Roslyn Landy said.

After Agzigian and Michelson resigned, Landy temporarily served as the junior class’ grade advisor before turning the position over to Math teacher Victoria Ball.

“The main event for the seniors is prom and they will need advisors to help them with the planning for that event,” Landy said.

Ball will be able to commit more time to the position of advisor.

“I’m going to be in touch with people who have done the job in the past to see what all it entails. I plan to bring energy and enthusiasm to the position, Ball said.

Agzigian and Michelson now serve as the freshman class’ grade advisors along with science teachers Elizabeth

Burguieres and Annabella Kraut.

“Every meeting we discuss matters and things we want to do. Then we split up into committees,” freshman Eitan Sayag said. “I usually come up with ideas and we figure out how we are going to make it happen…The first half of the year, we were very unproductive. We had one public event for our grade, it was movie night.”

“It wasn’t successful. It took months to plan. Nothing happened after that. We were trying to restructure grade government. That’s when we started the new committees.

Ms. Agzigian helped with that. We have gotten so much done,” he said.

For now, Ball is looking forward to her new position.

“I just have to find out in what ways that would be most useful... I’m eager to hear what people have to say to make it happen for them,” she said.

Dress me up before you ‘go-go’ to the Purim carnival and megillah readings tumes. I really enjoyed it,” Singelenberg said.

Despite the fun activities and the excited atmosphere, some students chose not to attend school on Purim.

“It’s not that I didn’t want to participate in the school spirit of what was happening, [but] it was that I had a lot of work that needed to get done and I saw this day as a opportunity for that,” sophomore Ilia Esrig said.

by David Weinberg When students come to school dressed in wacky costumes, yearbook photographers have a field day and the a capella choir sings festive songs, it can only mean one thing, Purim has arrived.

This year, Purim was held on Mar. 10, and was celebrated with a variety of activities, including a costume contest and many different megillah readings.

Following a megillah reading, students attended both a Purim carnival and a Purim assembly.

The Purim carnival featured booths by each grade level, Henna tattooing, tug-of-war and other hands on games.

The school also held a Purim assembly which showcased the school’s a cappela choir singing Purim tunes.

Many students enjoyed this year’s Purim celebration.

“I think that Purim at school is really fun and everyone has a good time. The best part is dressing up; and I did, as a butterfly with one of my friends,” seventh grader Rina Bardin said.

Sophomore Shira Singelenberg enjoyed Purim because it gave her an opportunity to practice her photography skills.

“I really enjoy Purim because I am on the yearbook staff

photo by Alex Berger

Sophomore photographer Shira Singelenberg gets a henna tatoo from Anu Gupta. At the Purim carnival each grade government set up a different booth, with a different activity or game. painting pretty pictures

so I get to walk around and take photos, and I took a lot of photos. It is fun to watch people do silly things in crazy cos-

photo by Jordan Kovalsky jabb awoc keez Juniors Yaron Steinfeld and Zach Cytryn

dance at the Purim costume contest.

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the

Sophomores lead debate

by Zachary Wexler Many students have experienced arguing with their parents and siblings, but three JDS sophomores have taken it to the next level by qualifying for the Montgomery County Debate League Finals.

Sophomores Josh Boxerman, Matthew Blank and Galit Krifcher qualified for the debate finals after attaining records of 6-4, 5-5 and 6-2 respectively. Although they did not attend finals, juniors Benjamin Block and Ari Blask both enjoyed successful seasons as the team’s veteran leaders.

Before the finals, Boxerman, Blank and Krifcher spent four to five hours preparing.

“I spent a lot of time learning about the topic and trying to understand all possible angles,” Krifcher said. “I also looked at all possible arguments that my opponent could use and figured out in advance how to rebut

them,” she said.

Debate topics have been varied throughout the season and have included political topics such as whether felons should have the right to vote and ethical topics such as whether it is morally permissible to kill one innocent person to save the lives of more innocent people.

Jewish History teacher Sara Coxe coached the team along with captains Blank and Boxerman.

Blank recommended that more JDS students consider joining the debate team because it provides useful life skills.

“I think that debating gives you great skills that you can keep with you throughout your life,” Blank said. “Debating teaches you how to become a confident public speaker and it also teaches you how to construct well thought out arguments, as well as teaching you how to think quickly.”

Researching global health

by Isaac Nelson On March 31 the seventh grade gathered to discuss global health problems during their annual Global Health Conference.

Each seventh grader researched a country and presented facts about its health issues.

The seventh graders made display boards representing each country with information about the diseases.

The posters were arranged by continent in the central hallway of the school.

History teacher Marc Dworin said the goal of the conference was to spread awareness about global health.

“It’s a part of the seventh grade curriculum. It’s also a great way to get the information out there,” Dworin said.

The seventh graders researched countries

all around the world.

“I did Russia and their health problem with tuberculosis,” seventh-grader Jeffrey Blackman said.

“I did East Timor, a country in the Pacific right next to Indonesia, and its biggest problem is that it doesn’t have enough doctors.

It only has 100 doctors for every 1 million people in the country,” seventh-grader Matthew Foldi said.

The project demonstrated that there were different diseases in different parts of the world.

“There was no one disease that was the most prevalent. There was a lot of Malaria, Yellow Fever, AIDS, and malnutrition, but there was no disease that was the most prevalent based on the amount of countries we had,” Dworin said. A similar conference is being planned for next year.

Athletic trainers raise awareness

by Adam Weinberger

May 22, 2009

lion’s tale

ers,” Matula said.

I was able to answer a lot of questions pertaining to sports medicine. Next year I do hope for it to be even bigger with weekly announcements stating facts about athletic training,” Matula said.

Junior Michelle Koblenz said, “My favorite part was being able to wear the same shirts as the other trainers because it was nice to have all of us together and even in the hallways, it was unifying, people would ask us what they meant… and it also just showed the school what was happening.”

During the month of March, JDS participated in spreading awareness about the importance of student athletic trainers.

At school, all teams have student athletic trainers assigned to them.

These trainers supply water, ice and a first aid kit to each team.

In addition, they attend each practice and game so they can care for any injury that may occur.

This year’s theme for the Athletic Training Awareness Month was “Health Care for Life & Sports.”

The goal was to educate people on the medical and physical aspects of living a healthy life, as well as the importance of having certified athletic trainers to advise the public on how to prevent injuries during work and play.

Head Athletic Trainer Jessica Matula and student athletic trainers made tshirts and posters in order to raise awareness for the month.

“I do believe that [Athletic Training Awareness Month] was successful photo by Jeremy Lynn due to the comments that Lets Get Physical Sophomore David Greenberg visits we received amongst our Athletic Trainer Jessica Matula after a baseball injury. classmates [and] co-work- Greenberg is a student athletic trainer.

Juniors experience Jewish life in NYC

by Briana Felson The junior class spent Shabbat with their peers in New York City as part of the annual Junior Shabbaton on March 27-29.

The class got the full New York experience by staying in a hotel on the Upper West side, roaming around Central Park, seeing the Metropolitan Museum of Art and exploring Jewish life in New York City.

“The goal of the Shabbaton was to show the students the different types of Jewish communities they could envision themselves at in the future,” Director of Student Life Victoria Rothenberg said.

To accomplish this goal, students were allowed to select which synagogue they would attend for services on Friday night and Saturday.

“We got to experience different kinds of synagogues which were so amazing.

I went to the BJ [B’Nai Jeshurun] synagogue on Friday night which was really fun.

Everyone was singing and dancing, includ-

ing the JDS kids,” junior Elaine Prigal said.

Outside of services, the students were able to fully experience New York in their free time.

In addition, students participated in a Saturday night Havdalah service.

“It was fun. Free time was something nice because they are usually just ‘stay stay in the hotel,’ just structured activity all the time, they sort of said do whatever you want within this certain area. Go out, shop and see stuff. It was nice to have a little freedom,” junior Ryan Strassman said.

On Saturday night, the students were scheduled to have a surprise activity, which fell through.

However, it was replaced with a trip to Madame Tussauds, a wax museum.

Some students were disappointed with Madame Tussauds but described the trip as a whole was a sucess.

“The Saturday night activity was a little disappointing, but other than that it was an amazing experience,“ Prigal said.

Seventh graders visit NIH

by Haley Cohen As preparation for their upcoming global health unit, the seventh grade took a day trip to the National Library of Medicine at the National Institute of Health (NIH) on Feb. 26. The trip was organized by History teacher Janet Collier.

“I worked with NIH to create lesson plans related to the exhibition on global health. I know they are passionate about opening young people’s eyes to the idea that health is a human right,” Collier said.

The students were excited to get an insider’s look at NIH, and to learn about issues related to health.

“We saw what they do at NIH. Mostly [we heard] lectures on malaria and animals used for testing. There was also an exhibition that

related Harry Potter to factual things which was cool,” seventh-grader Gabrielle Mendelsohn said.

Although students enjoyed the content, many students felt that the trip should have been more interactive.

“I would make the trip more hands-on and have less lectures,” seventh grader Judah Drelich said.

Collier felt the trip may have been too long.

“It should have been a half day trip. [The kids] spent the afternoon sitting and listening.”

However, despite not being as hands-on as students would have liked, Collier said that the trip was still worthwhile. “Most of the kids seemed to enjoy it. The real proof of whether they benefited will come when [they] work on the global health project,” she said.

Head of school dinner celebrates top Ma’ayan campaign donors

by Daniel Liss Ninety JDS donors, who each gifted $1800 or more to this year’s annual Ma’ayan Campaign, attended this year’s Head of School Circle Reception, from 7-8:30 p.m., on March 30.

The reception was chaired by JDS parents Jamie and Scott Siegal and planned with the help of Debbie Stillman, Associate Director for Campaign and Alumni Relations.

The reception’s theme was “A taste of JDS.” It featured a series of tastings related to Pesach, a performance by the a capella choir and a light dessert.

“The [Head of School Circle] event was designed to honor and thank the school’s major donors, while giving them the opportunity to see and experience the incredible education, experiential education that we are providing to our students,” Stillman said.

The event’s first tasting was a wine tasting led by JDS parent Louis Marmon who helped attendees recognize the different flavors that comprise a wine, learn how to choose a wine that they might like and find

wine pairings for various foods.

A charoset tasting followed, which was led by Food Services Manager Erick Gilbert.

He spoke about the history of charoset, its meaning and why its ingredients came to be different throughout the world.

The last tasting was a “taste” of torah, led

by Director of Judaic Studies Michael Kay and junior Jessica Lieberman.

They discussed the story of Passover, how to understand its history and how parents should share it with their children.

Stillman thought that the event was well received and tried to keep costs down wherever possible.

One way she saved money was by buying wine at cost from a JDS parent.

She also used lent centerpieces for the tables that the Siegal family provided for the event. “[We] tried to show that we can do a really impressive event like this while really still maintaining the opportunity to put all of [our donor’s] donations dollars where they need to be, which is in supporting tuition assistance,” Stillman said.

May 22, 2009

the

lion’s tale

5

News

Sophomore rises to youth coordinator

by Alex Gilden This past February, sophomore Andy Siegel became the Youth Leadership Coordinator in the volunteer department at the Charles E. Smith (CES) Life Communities in Rockville.

CES Life Communities encompasses the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington and several other senior residential facilities.

For the past couple of years, Siegel has been an inexhaustible volunteer for the Hebrew Home. He was selected for the coordinator position because of his dedication demonstrated by his many hours of service.

Now he is tasked with overseeing the selection of new volunteers.

His main responsibility is to conduct selection interviews for prospective volunteers to fill a variety of positions.

Last year, as a volunteer at the CES Life

Communities, Siegel became involved with the Lessons of a Lifetime Project.

In this project, student volunteers help elderly residents compose ethical wills, which are documents that contain their personal beliefs, values and experiences.

Siegel described that his volunteer work as being very rewarding.

“There is no other experience that could top this,” Siegel said.

In addition to his position as Youth Leadership Coordinator, Siegel now serves as the Operations Manager for the Lessons of a Lifetime Project.

This year, along with sophomore Orly Farber, Siegel brought the ethical will project to JDS. At JDS, he promoted the project and attracted new volunteers.

“In one conversation with the elders, you can learn so much more than in any other

setting,” Siegel said.

Siegel’s classmates are impressed by his enthusiasm for his volunteer work and are inspired to participate in community service activities.

“He really loves to do community service…nobody really tells him to do it, he just does it on his own,” sophomore Max Levine said.

“If everybody could spend a little bit of time with a senior citizen and really understand what they’ve been through and learn what experiences they’ve had, they will learn much about themselves and how to live their lives,”

photo courtesy of Andy Siegel

Sophomore Andy Siegel helps to lead the volunteer department at the Charles E. Smith Life Communities. making a difference

Models of Congress A brand new doctor comes to the school

by Jonathan Waksman

During the days of Feb. 20-21 and March 24-25, both high school and middle school students had a chance to debate and vote on legislations drafted by their fellow peers. It was through both the JSA (Junior Statesmen of America) and eighth grade Model Congresses that students had the opportunity to interact with one another in a unique way.

“For the JSA Model Congress, the students were broken down into either Senate or House committees that evaluated a docket of 10-12 bills. Those bills that passed both the House and Senate Committees went forward to the Full House and Full Senate sessions,” History teacher Michael Connell said. “For the eighth grade Model Congress, the students attended a two-period session on two consecutive days. Each Congress debated and voted on about eight student-

prepared bills.”

Students that attended the JSA Model Congress also took part in other related activities. These activities included a visit to Capitol Hill to hear different speakers from the government and interest groups and a chance to sit in the actual House of Representatives to hear a retired Congressman speak to them.

Students also participated in a Political Fair, where they had the chance to talk with representatives from various interest groups, debate on various topics and different social activities.

Nevertheless, students who attended both the JSA and the eighth grade Model Congress thought they went well and “Students who [enjoyed] the eighth grade Model Congress should definitely consider joining JSA when they get to high school,” Connell said.

Visiting the National Gallery ART INDULGENCE On April 30, The entire 11th grade, as well as the 10th graders taking Spanish and French, visited the National Gallery of Art. The National Gallery houses famous paintings from around the world from various time periods and styles. The Spanish and French classes took tours in their respective languages and saw paintings they had previously studied. The students saw such paintings as “The Sacrament of the Last Supper” by Dali and “Two Women at a Window” by Murillo. The trip took place during the first half of the day. The students returned to school after lunch outside the National Gallery. To the right, students enter the National Gallery of Art.

by Joshua Handelman

A PhD is the highest degree that a person can hold in a particular field.

“A PhD shows that you know how to do Judaic Studies Director Michael Kay reresearch.

You know how to find informaceived his doctorate on Mar. 25 after comtion, you know how pleting his dissertato process information tion on leadership and and you know how to community building analyze information… in ideologically plupeople who write ralistic Jewish high PhDs have a very speschools. cialized knowledge,” Dr. Kay began his Jewish History teacher working towards his Sarah Coxe said.

PhD as early as 2003.

And, of course, Most of the work Dr. there is nothing but Kay completed while praise for Dr. Kay still working at JDS. from his fellow staff “I was teaching here members. part time, and doing “I know he’s been my dissertation part working on this for time. Last year, which quite some time, and was year five, was my I’m very excited for first year as director of him that he was able Judaic studies, and I photo courtesy of CESJDS.org to complete it while was halftime director nice jewish doctor Kay is one of sevfulfilling all his other of Judaic studies, and eral administrators and teachers at duties for JDS. Iit’s halftime working on JDS to earn their PhD. quite an accomplishmy dissertation. And ment,” said Chair of then this year, I’ve the Math Department Ethan Merlin. been putting the finishing touches on my “We are so proud of Mr. Kay,” said Didissertation, and working here full time. So rector of Upper School Admissions Robin it was a slow transition from full time stuShapiro. dent to full time school administrator,” said Kay.

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6

Israel

the

lion’s tale

May 22, 2009

Tel Aviv’s big birthday bash did not receive some sort of accolade.

“We had all been working so hard, and we really thought that this was going to be the year for us,” junior Jillian Racoosin said. “At first when they announced that we hadn’t won May 6 was JDS’ 16th annual Zimriah, serving to commemorate not only Israel’s 61st anything, it was really hard for me.” birthday but also Tel Aviv’s centennial. The theme was Tel Aviv, with each class incorporatAttempts to assuage the hurt feelings of the disgruntled junior class included breakfast ing the hustle and bustle of the city into their skit, banner, dance and energy they brought the next day, a sympathetic e-mail from the school administrators and a neon green poster to each song. claiming that the junior class is “preposterously awesome” – courtesy of Math teacher and Judging the competition were Ari Roth, director of the class advisor Victoria Ball.

DC-JCC Theater, Monica Lev-Cohen, director of Academic “We know that you were disappointed Affairs and Speakers Bureau, and Yonatan Peled, spokesin today’s Zimriah competition results,” person for the Israeli embassy. Alumni Michal Abraham and the e-mail began, “and we understand Jonah Nelson, both of the Zimriah triple-champion Class of your disappointment because we know 2009, and 2008 graduate Elisheva Layman served as advihow you put your heart and soul into sors to the judges, but could not vote. planning for the day.”

At the end of the festivities, the freshman class took first “You may not have placed in the Zimplace, the seventh grade and sophomores tied for second and riah awards,” it continued, “but you certhe eighth grade won the banner competition. tainly placed in our hearts and minds for “Zimriah this year was really awesome,” freshman Eitan the passion and ruach that you bring to Sayag said. “I had so much fun with it. I worked to sort of our school.” oversee everything, but we had different committees – for “I thought the e-mail was really decorations and for the skit and so on, and they mostly did sweet,” Racoosin said. “And overall everything. We had about half our grade involved. I was so we came together as a grade so much to proud of us and I thought everyone did a great job.” celebrate Israel and I thought that was “Zim was awesome,” eighth grader Arielle Fontheim amazing. In the end, it wasn’t really said. “It was really cool to win banner because a lot of people about winning or losing.” worked hard on it and it paid off.”

Indeed, Zimriah this year included “I loved the theme of Tel Aviv because Tel Aviv is my more than the annual intra-grade rivalry. favorite city in Israel,” sophomore Ari Eisen said. “I thought Some of the non-competitive highlights everyone did great – our skit was awesome. I’m proud of of the day included an Israeli dance perphoto by Josh Raanan us for coming in second place, but it’s not really about the formance given by juniors Amalia CowWalk it out Math teacher Dominic Lee danced to Michael Jackson’s an and Emma Rodwin and freshman awards.”

Nevertheless, the competition results were met with some “Billie Jean”. Lee played an essential role in the Class of 2011’s skit.

Tamar Gasko. disappointment from the Class of 2010, the only class which “We learned the dance at Yesodot,” Rodwin said, “Which is an Israeli dance troupe for high school students in the greater Washington area. I was really happy to share one of my talents with the school, to help celebrate Israel.”

by Maya Felman

photo by Josh Raanan

Shake that stuff In the Class of 2011 skit, Yehudah Abraham, Dov Block and Rachel Milner audition to get into Tel Aviv late night club. The club was called Club Period.

photo by Josh Raanan

Disco disco woo-woo Freshmen Stephanie Aserapf and Asaf Wurmbrand dance during their grade’s beach-themed skit. The Class of 2012 won the Zimriah competition.

photo by Josh Raanan

The world champion Sophomore Barry Shapiro finishes off his solo dance moves during the Class of 2011’s dance. Shapiro also preformed an assortment of flips.

“I really enjoyed the Israeli dancing,” Jewish Text, Thought and Practice teacher Paul Blank said. “But the best part of the day was when J-boy did that song,” referring to junior Jonathan Iwry who performed a combination of Hebrew and English verses celebrating Tel Aviv.

Teachers added to the Zimriah mayhem too, at one point running into the gym in various superhero costumes.

“Basically, Matt Grossman, a member of the class of 2009, contacted a bunch of teachers to carry on the 2009 legacy,” Ball said. “We all dressed up as superheroes to represent the class of 2009, because their graduation theme was superheroes.”

The results of the 2009 Zimriah celebration may end up serving as a catalyst for a change in the judging system.

Hebrew teacher Yaffa Dagony said, “There have been no plans yet to change the judging system, as it has worked so well for so many years, but perhaps it is time to review and potentially make it more fitting for our current school community.”

May 22, 2009

the

lion’s tale

Israel

7

Koby Mendell tragedy remembered “Seeing the play made me realize events like this are reality,” freshman Arielle Green said.

Following the play, Koby’s father, Seth Mandell, spoke On March 16, students in grades eight through 11 watched a play about Koby Mendell, a 13-year-old boy who to students about his son’s tragic death.

Mandell also discussed the organization started in honor was murdered in 2001.

The play told the tale of Koby and his friend, Yosef of Koby, which provides healing programs for families who Ishran, who were stoned to death by Palestinian terrorists have lost loved ones due to terrorism.

“The program made me feel a vast in a cave near their “A play can dramatize a persons’ range of emotions,” freshman Scott homes. “[The purpose thoughts and expiriences in a way that Goldstein said.

“A play can dramatize a person’s of the play was] to speaking cannot,” thoughts in a way that speaking canhave young people not,” Vander Walde said. think about why and The organization has programs how people, who Joan Vander Walde such as ‘Camp Koby’ to help kids live in Israel, even struggling to deal with the tragic expethose who have been through trauma, connect to Israel, as well as how those of us riences they have faced. who don’t live in Israel can still connect to Israel in meaningful ways,” Middle School Directer Joan Vander Walde destined to remember Students will remember Actress said. “I think serious Israel programming is important,” she Lisa Robins’ performance as Sherri Mandell, Koby’s said. mother. Koby’s father answered questions afterwards.

by Haley Cohen

photo by Andy Siegel

Pen pal relationships connect juniors with Israeli peers

by Briana Felson Thanks to a new pen pal program, juniors in, Hebrew teacher Anat Entin’s second semester I Speak Ivrit class have practiced their Hebrew skills by writing to Israeli juniors at Branco Weiss high school in Beit Shemesh.

So far, Entin’s I speak Ivrit class has sent two PowerPoint presentations to the Bronco Weiss School and received two in return.

In the first PowerPoint presentation, Entin’s class used the textbook’s vocabulary words to describe life at JDS and life at home.

Junior Gil Kline said, “We get to use our Hebrew skills in real life situations. I can’t think of a more appropriate way to use our Hebrew skills.”

Students in Entin’s class said they discovered many similarities between their own lives and those of their Israeli pen pals.

Junior Frankie Sadoun said, “I think that it is really cool that we get the chance to talk to Israeli kids because they are a lot more [like us] than I expected. They like the same kind of movies and they like to hang out at the mall just like us.”

“I just put on some basic facts about myself so they probably just know things like, I go to JDS and I like certain

foods. You don’t really know the person, [but] you know a couple things about them,” Kline said.

Entin plans on continuing the pen pal project for the remainder of this year and for next year’s class.

Both classes are also trying to set up a conversation with each other over Skype.

“I am talking with Ms. Thornton [and] we are planning to Skype with the class. We have to make the time and place.

We will talk to the other class, real conversation,” Entin said.

“I am so excited for the phone conversation, as it is going to be a blast to talk to them,” junior Andrew Lewis said.

8

the

May 22, 2009

lion’s tale

In-Depth

Sam Rabaev

Emil Yarkubov When it came time to match the Russian and American students, there was little rhyme or reason to who got paired with whom. Yet with Emil Yarkubov and Yaron Steinfeld, it was a match made in heaven. Yarkubov is an all-American Russian — his excellent English means that he has no trouble gushing about Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat with Steinfeld.

They talk sports, cars, and movies, and all in English, with little language barrier.

When asked what he wants to do when he grows up, Yarkubov strays slightly from the typical answers of doctor, economist, etc. “I hope I will be an owner of hotels, casinos, restaurants,” he said.

Naturally, Yarkubov is always cracking jokes — both in English and Russian. On the (frequent) occasion that the do not draw a laugh, he brushes it off casually. “It is Russian joke,” he says.

Yarkubov is very active in his free time. He plays basketball on the same team as Sam Rabaev and Ilia Rijinisvalli, and he also spends a great deal of time at the gym. He has an abiding love of American movies, and frequently, if he cannot wait for the dubbed version, he just watches it in English.

Yarkubov is outgoing and chatty, and he quickly got to know all the American students. Following Steinfeld’s lead, he and the other Russians picked up some JDS inside jokes to take back to Moscow, such as peppering his speech with the word “valid.” It is unclear whether they believe these jokes to actually be funny.

Friendly and overflowing with character, Sam Rabaev can always be found jabbering lively with the other Russian students and he is forever cracking jokes. Unfortunately, most of them are lost on the Americans; they are all in Russian, as his English skills are only very basic. He has lots of energy and a passion for Texas Hold ’Em; Rabaev was the Russian finalist in the Russian-American Grand Poker Tournament (a.k.a. late Friday-night Hold ’Em at the Krifchers’). He eventually lost out to Yaron Steinfeld.

The members of the Rabaev family are what would be called “mountain Jews,” an ethnic subset of Judaism that comes from the

Toma Tavdi

Toma Tavdi is one of the younger members of the group, only 14-years-old, though she often comes across as older and more mature. She speaks English with poise and few mistakes, even in situations that others would find intimidating; whether in front of a dozen representatives from the Jewish Federation or while playing Apples to Apples on Shabbat, her English does not fail her.

She also speaks fluent Hebrew.

Tavdi describes herself as a “religious Jew,” and is by far the most observant of the group. She keeps Shabbat and kosher strictly — she would not swim on Saturday, for example — and she celebrates all the Jewish holidays, a bit of an outlier among the students from the Lipman School.

But like many students here at JDS, she does not feel that her level of observance in any way alienates her from her peers.

For her, as well as for the other Russian students, it was a powerful thing to see some of the simple freedoms that American Jews enjoy, such as the ability to wear a kippah in public. At the same time, Tavdi noted that “Judaism in Russia and in the USA is very similar” in terms of how Jews practice.

In her free time, Tavdi likes to dance, sing and spend time with friends. Though she does not like Russian TV or movies, she does like Prison Break and One Tree Hill. Her favorite subjects are math and Hebrew, and she says that she would like to be a doctor or psychologist when she is older.

The Moscow

by Kyle Hardgrave

Sonya Lerman Sonya Lerman, at 16, is the oldest of the Russian students, and next year she will begin attending university. Students in Russia only attend school from first through 11th grade, after which point they take their exams and go to university. This is why, with the exception of Lerman, most of the Russian students were a grade younger than the American students.

For her part, Lerman has an abiding love of animals. She owns two cats, both of which she has taken to numerous shows, and she herself is a member of a number of cat clubs.

Lerman is interested in all animals, however, and she has aspiration of becoming a veterinarian.

Unfortunately, Lerman’s trip was cut short when she was taken to the hospital with a strong headache and was diagnosed with pneumonia on May 7.

As luck would have it, however, her mother was staying with family in New York City, and a chaperone was able to take her up to her mother by train.

“It was really nice having Sonya stay at our house,” said her partner Jordan Kovalsky. “She loved meeting my dog Murey, which was very fun since she loves animals so much. We were very sad to see her leave.”

On Dec. 8, 2008, eight JDS juniors left for Moscow to spend a week with students from the Moscow National Jewish School No. 1311. On May 3, the Russian students completed the Moscow connection by coming here for a week to tour Washington, D.C., connect with American families, improve their English and learn about what it means to be Jewish in America.

The idea for the program first originated when JDS Head of School Jonathan Cannon met with the head of the Moscow School, Gregory Lipman. The program was then subsidized by the Jewish Federation

Savin Benyaminov

At first glance, Savin Benyaminov is the small and unassuming one. He hangs out with Sam Rabaev and Ilia Rijinisval, but he is a certain degree less energetic. Still, when you get him talking, he is motivated and articulate. Benyaminov cited improving his English as one of his primary reasons for participating in the program, as he sees it as very important for his future.

Benyaminov’s style of choice is Calvin Klein — Calvin Klein shirts, Calvin Klein belt, and Calvin Klein hat. Along with Rabaev and Rijinisval, he spent nearly an hour at Syms looking through suits In Russia, Benyaminov is a dedicated student. But when not studying, he occupies himself on Kontakte and various online role-paying games. Most of the Russians are very tech savvy. One interesting cultural phenomenon is that they all seem to own an iPhone or iPod Touch — certainly more than the Americans. Benyaminov is no exception, and he can often be found playing around on his iPhone.

Although Benyaminov can be shy, he is an excellent conversationalist once you get him talking. He seems to approach English conversation seriously, recognizing that, although he is communicating and making friends, this is also and important opportunity for him to sharpen his skills.

the

lion’s tale

May 22, 2009

of Greater Washington, the umbrella organization for Jewish philanthropy in the D.C. area, as part of its Russia committee.

Regrettably, between Madoff and the economy in general, the Federation is making cuts, and this exchange program will not be continued next year. But for the 16 students and four chaperones that participated in the exchange, the program was an invaluable experience, and all have expressed their gratitude for the opportunity. There were more than a few tears when the Russians departed on May 10.

For your convenience, and to reinforce the connections made during the Russian visits, The Lion’s Tale has created this profile of the eight Russian students.

9

Lika Alon

East Caucasian mountains, around Azerbaijan. When it comes to religious practice, they are similar to many of the other Russian students — and, for that matter, to many American Jews. They do not keep strict kosher outside the house, and they have no qualms about driving or using electricity on Shabbat.

Rabaev’s father is an economist and his sister is studying to be an economist so, naturally, Ravaev is also an aspiring economist.

Rabaev’s mother is a gracious and hospitable gynecologist. They live together in a small flat on Leninsky Prospekt, the second-widest street in Moscow.

Like all the other Russian students, Rabaev has an acute fashion sense — he spent a good percentage of his shopping time at H&M — and he is also very active on Kontakte, the Russian equivalent of Facebook, and a player on his school basketball team with Emil Yarkubov and Ilia Rijinisvalli.

w Connection

In-Depth

Lika Alon is friendly and easygoing and she is a big fan of all things American, particularly President Obama. She loves Obama. She also watches Lost, listens to T.I., reads Dan Brown books and watches American movies, such as Titanic, August Rush and The Devil Wears Prada. She is generally quiet mellow, and she likes to read or relax with friends.

Alon has an excellent relationship with her family, and she often takes care of her younger brother Luka, 6. Their family moved to Moscow from Georgia, where she was originally born. She still speaks Georgian, in addition to her Russian, English, and Hebrew. She is also an Israeli citizen from when her family made aliyah — at the airport, hers is the lone blue that stands out against the red of the other Russian students’ passports — and her fluent Hebrew made it easier for her partner Michelle Koblenz to communicate with her. Her family observes some basic Jewish laws, though in general they are fairly secular.

Alon is an excellent student; her favorite subject is Algerba, and although she has not “solved precisely” the problem of what to do when she graduates university, she is tending toward the field of medicine.

Russians

Americans

Liora Bleher

Jillian Racoosin

Ilia Rijinisvalli

David Freidland

Lika Alon

Michelle Koblenz

Sonya Lerman

Jordan Kovalsky

Emil Yarkubov

Yaron Steinfeld

Savin Benyaminov

Alon Krifcher

Sam Rabaev

Kyle Hardgrave

Ilia Rijinisvalli If you saw Ilia Rijinisvalli from afar, the first thing you would notice would be his height. He is the tallest of the group. As you got closer, though, you would see the sly smile that is ever tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Rijinisvalli is only 14, and though he can be shy, he has a dry sense of humor and will often drop a quiet one-liner here and there, little gems for whoever is paying attention. Though he tends to shy away from using it, his English is deceptively good.

Rijinisvalli plays with Emil Yarkubov and Sam Rabaev on the school basketball team. However, above all else, Rijinisvalli’s primary passion is photography. While the others used their point-and-click Sonys and their iPhones, he brought a professional-quality Canon DSLR that he kept with him constantly.

When asked about their favorite part of the week-long program, all the Russian students mentioned the Holocaust Memorial Museum. Yet Rijinisvalli is perhaps the only one of the group who lost a number of family members to the Holocaust. Originally from Moldova, his father’s side of the family perished with most of Eastern Jewry. Rijinisvalli himself moved from Moldova to Georgia and finally to Moscow before he was seven.

Sobering histories aside, however, Rijinisvalli shares the others’ strong fashion sense, and he too is a big fan of American media, including Scrubs, AC/DC, Lost and Kanye West.

Liora Bleher Self-described as “punk rock,” Liora Bleher is a bit of the rebel of the group.

She loves music, and her passion for it shows through in everything she does.

While Sam Rabaev and Ilia Rijinisvalli were trying on shoes at Foot Locker, she spent her mall time browsing Hot Topic.

Sometimes, while walking from place to place or hanging out, you can hear Bleher singing quietly the words of a Russian or American song. She enjoys watching American Idol, Step Up, Raise Your Voice and anything that has to do with music.

And while the other Russian students returned to Moscow with brand-new shoes and clothing, her purchase of choice was a red electric guitar.

Bleher is also the girl of many names; her Russian name is Lillia, but she goes by her Hebrew name, Liora, or her nickname, Liorka. And when she is not singing or playing the guitar, Bleher is an excellent student. She likes to learn different languages, and so her favorite subject is Hebrew. Even though she does not practice much in the way of Judaism, she enjoyed learning about it here in America. Her favorite experience of the week was Shabbat with the Racoosins, because “only with family can you feel real Jewish life.”

10

Editorial

the

lion’s tale

May 22, 2009

David Goldstein

The Schmooze Administration should have acted to prevent teacher layoffs The Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School’s ability to pro- enth grade class in school history with 140 students. When vide a high quality education for its students depends on the enrollment returns, the school will need to hire additional school’s ability to retain and attract excellent faculty. teachers and they will probably not be able to hire the same In an April 2 press release euphemistically entitled excellent teachers back because they will be teaching else“CESJDS Plans to Secure the Excellence of its Educational where.

Programs in the Context of the Current Economic Climate,” In the current economic downturn, the Jewish Day School the administration declared that it would lay off 15 percent of its professional community.

Unfortunately, it appears that the administration has not yet exhausted every alternative to laying off teachers, which I fear will greatly impact the school’s ability to provide a high quality education.

Laying off 15 percent of the faculty will greatly affect the students at school. Many of these teachers are excellent educators and when they leave, the quality of education will diminish.

I have personally been taught by some of the teachers who are leaving and it is difficult for me to imagine my senior year without them.

In addition, JDS is such a close-knit community that many students have established friendships with their teachers.

I oftentimes stop into the Science Department and the Jewish History Department to strike up conversations with the teachers who have impacted my life. The idea of so many of the people who I have known for the last five years leaving pains me.

The administration argues that the teacher layoffs are necessary because of the declining Courtesy of CESJDS Report 2006 enrollment. Therefore, the school contends that there may not be the same classes for the teachers to teach. However, it is important to note that enrollment varies from year to year. is not the only employer facing difficult times. However, This year, there were 94 new families and the largest sev- unlike JDS, some employers have found ways to avoid large

Valerie Cohen

The VALid Voice

layoffs by leveling the gap between executive and worker pay.

I urge JDS to follow the concept of V’ahavta L’Rayakha, set forth in its mission statement which describes creating a caring community where members “are responsible for each other and the community.” Our school should follow the example set by Paul Levy, the CEO of Beth Israel Medical Center, who cut administrative pay at his hospital so that lower paid employees would not be laid off.

As Leonard Abess the CEO of the National Bank of Florida understands, the low level employees who perform the day-to-day tasks are often more important to the customers than the high level administrators.

As he stated, “if the president of a bank doesn’t come to work it’s not a big deal, but if the tellers don’t show up it’s a serious problem.” Similarly, at a school like JDS, it is the teachers, not the administrators, who educate the students, which is the primary mission of the school.

After viewing the school’s 2006 IRS Form 990 available online at guidestar. org, I believe that the school’s highest level administrators receive grossly disproportionate higher salaries than teachers.

At a time when even the president of the United States is questioning the propriety of executive pay, it does not seem unreasonable to question the salaries granted to the school’s top administrators especially when the school claims that it needs to lay off teachers because of declining revenue. If the highest level administrators were to take temporary pay cuts, many teachers’ jobs could be saved.

Besides lowering administrative pay, I also suggest the school consider using some of its endowment and invested money. In a 2006 report to the community, Nancy Hamburger, the past president of the board of directors said, “I feel proud to be part of a school that gives our kids the tools to lead extraordinary lives and the incentive to give back to their community.”

In the same report, JDS cited an imkee, WI, there was even an integrated pressive $57 million in net assets. The project in which the project was a joint school also declared that it had invested history and English research project infive percent of its revenue which amounts volving a thesis. Perhaps by combining to $1.89 million. If the school were to subjects all students are taking into a cash in just some of its investments or joint project students will be forced to take some money out of the endowment, think in ways they have not before. many additional jobs could be saved.

Suppose a student hates history but reFinally, the school is blessed to have ally likes math. Maybe a project looking many philanthropic alumni and supportat some of the mathematical principles ers who care deeply about the Jewish Day in economics will help him or her look School. Many supporters choose to give at history in a new way. Maybe a student unrestricted donations, which can be used really hates science but loves English. A for any purpose the administration deems project where that student has to write prudent. a narrative from Rosalind Franklin’s The school should use the unrestricted perspective, while writing with sciendonations to create a teacher fund to avoid layoffs. As for the restricted donations that tific terminology and perhaps part of her specify how the donations must be used, research, will help that student see that the school should consult with the donors English can relate to science. and ask them if they would be willing to The job teachers have is not easy. Tryallow their donations to be reallocated to ing to force students who are too tired a teacher fund. This is yet another way to or too stressed to focus is not an easy help avoid layoffs. task. Integrating more creative projects Our school is entering a period of great into the school curriculum when there uncertainty over the economy. Howevis already so little time to teach students er, the school is fortunate to enter tough everything they need is a challenge. economic times from a position of great I know, however, how wonderful the strength. teachers at JDS are and I know that they The proposals outlined above will help are up for the challenge. More creative ensure that our school continues to provide projects would enrich student learning a high quality of education focused on inand give classes a level of breadth they dividual attention for every student.

More inspiration needed in projects While the junior commonplace book assignment was a great step towards creating innovative projects for students, more needs to be done to establish projects that truly capture student interest.

There is no doubt in my mind that the commonplace book was a great idea for students. When I looked at people’s commonplace books, I learned things about people I had never known before. Just looking at everyone in my grade bringing in posters, papier-mâché hearts, boxes and books made me realize how much thought everyone put into his or her book. When a project is so open-ended that a video game could be made to present it, it becomes clear that the project is a true chance for students to express themselves.

In my experience as student at JDS I have always learned best when something was taught to me in a creative manner.

Furthermore, when I am forced to think creatively or address a specific topic that interests me, I challenge myself to think harder and push my mental boundaries more than I would for a project that asks me to simply answer questions teachers set before me. It is projects like writing a fake screenplay for an English novel or creating an imaginary species that spark my interest in learning.

I have heard so many complaints from

my friends about various projects they have been assigned that are boring and time consuming. I personally have spent many hours on projects in which I just have not felt invested. I have been given countless projects that require me to spit out facts and make an attractive poster board. In the end, I can never remember the facts I have written down, and I take very little from the project.

That is not, however, to say that I have not been assigned some really interesting projects in my time at JDS. I have had many teachers who have made efforts to be creative. But to truly make a difference in the education of students, it cannot just be a creative project here or there.

Students will benefit very little from a creative project here or there. Teachers need to make a real effort to keep creative learning going between projects.

There are so many ways to make projects more interesting for students. Teachers could have students create skits enacting what it must have been like to have lived during the American Revolution or have a math project where students have to create some form of a business model using compound interest.

Another option would even to find ways to integrate subjects. At my cousin’s school, Nicolet High School in Milwau-

would otherwise not have.

May 22, 2009

the

lion’s tale

Editorial

11

Administration must set clearer consequences We, of the Lion’s Tale staff, agree with the school’s policy of handling each discipline issue on a case-by-case basis. However, as a result of the recent discipline situation in the school, we feel that the administration still needs to be clearer about the consequences of students’ actions.

When judges of legal courts make rulings, they select the degree of the punishment from a canonized list of punishments. They take into account the specific situation, the defendant’s previous record, and any other factors that may relate to the case. Although this is an extreme example, the point still stands that there must be a level of consistency within the punishment system.

Students, especially middle schoolers, may be confused when not everyone who has broken a rule is facing the same repercussions.

JDS does a great job in addressing a student’s personal situation. The fact that it took two weeks to fully assess the situation and decide on a punishment proves that administrators do not act too hastily. We are all still learning and trying to grow from our mistakes. It is comforting to know that if we make a mistake the administration is going to take into account our own personal situation.

Deciding what is an act worthy of expulsion or suspension is a gray area.

Truthfully no matter what, everyone is not going to be happy with the punishment scenario. The school is wise in deciding to dole out punishments on a case-by-case basis because it will be easier to provide an explanation for families about the punishments that gives them closure.

In spite of the case-by-case nature of the school’s discipline program, everyone does know there will be a consequence. However, there is a clear difference in level of punishments between detentions and expulsions. We, of the Lion’s Tale staff, do not recall an explanation ever being offered about what the punishments may be for various crimes. While a zero-tolerance policy would be too strict, an understanding of specifically which behaviors will earn which punishments would be greatly beneficial to the student body.

It clearly varies on a case-by-case basis, but that does not mean that guidelines should not be given. If communication about which offenses provoke which punishments were more transparent, students may think twice before breaking a school rule.

We recall on many occasions in classes and discussions with administrators that there has been an emphasis on the importance of decision making. In order to make proper decisions, students need to be able to weigh their options.

If they do not know what the punishments are, then all the cards are not on the table when students are making decisions.

It is up to the administration to build students decision-making abilities.

However, how are they going to accomplish this without giving students all the decisions they can?

The school has truly taken a smart approach to the difficult task of deciding the punishments for students. However, the guidelines for students must be clearer if they are ever going to learn how to make good decisions.

Word on the street

the

lion’s tale

Do you think the recent discipline situation is an indicator of a school-wide problem or were these isolated incidents?

Editors-in-Chief Valerie Cohen David Goldstein Managing Editor Benjamin Block Copy Editor Jonathan Waksman

It is a school wide problem, because I think that a lot more people make bad decisions than the school knows about.

News Editor Adam Weinberger ass’t: Joshua Boxerman Feature Editor Danny Schwaber

Stephanie Prigal, sophomore

Israel Editor Neville Brodie

I think there is a problem because I have heard a lot about the eighth grade, and I definitely know that there are some students from my grade students in the school that have done drugs. But I think that compared to other schools, ours is not much of a big deal...I don’t think it’s a huge problem, but there definitely is a problem.

In-Depth Editor Kyle Hardgrave

Reporters Joshua Boxerman, Samantha Bressman, Haley Cohen, Emily Dworkin, Nathan Forman, Daniel Him0.melfarb, Meryl Kravitz, Joshua Lerner, Jessica Lieberman, Daniel Liss, Isaac Nelson, Jacob Schaperow, Ryan Strassman, David Weinberg, Jonah Weisel

I think that it is just a small group of kids who are just doing bad things and they are all getting blamed for it.

Photographers Joshua Raanan Shira Singelenberg David Herman

Danielle Masica, Eighth Grader

Sharon Kimel, junior

Imaging Editor Joshua Raanan Web Editor Daniel Liss

Samuel Yeroushalmi, freshman

I wouldn’t say that it is a completely isolated problem, I definitely think that there are more people who are doing those kinds of things, but it’s not a majority of the school.

Sports Editors Jeremy Lynn Joshua Walfish

Advertising Manager Joshua Tessler ass’t: Nathan Forman

Business Task Force Managers Benjamin Block Thomas Gutterman Ezra Rudman Business Task Force David Ben-Ami, Ari Blask, Gabrielle Charnoff, Max Cutler, Jeremy Halpern, Kyle Hardgrave, Daniel Kolender, Alexander Orenstein, Yaron Steinfeld, Josh Walfish Faculty Adviser Samantha Gendler Adviser Emerita Susan Zuckerman Member: Columbia Scholastic Press Association, Maryland Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Quill and Scroll Recipient: CSPA Silver Crown, Gold Medalist Award; MSPA Marylander Award; Quill and Scroll George H. Gallup Award The Lion’s Tale is a forum for student expression. Its purpose is to inform the CES/JDS community and to express the views of its staff and readers. The staff has made every effort to ensure the accuracy and objectivity of its news. Editorials reflect the opinion of a majority of the LT board. The Lion’s Tale encour­ages its readers to write letters to the editor and reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity. All letters must be typed and signed. Letters may be e-mailed to lionstale@cesjds.org.

Published by the students of the Upper School Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School Annette M. & Theodore N. Lerner Family Upper School Campus 11710 Hunters Lane Rockville, MD 20852 phone: 301.881.1404 fax: 301.230.1986 www.lionstale.org

the

lion’s tale

Opinion

May 22, 2009

12

Letters Students should receive Swim accomplishments English credit for journalism missing from PVAC article Dear Editor, After reading your article about the seniors transition from PVAC to NCAA I was disappointed that you failed to mention my son, Ethan Litman also a recruited athlete, in your article.

I suppose he wasn’t mentioned in the article as his sport, swimming, is not a team sport at JDS, but that does not diminish his accomplishments as a swimmer in the PVAC Swim League.

Ethan, like the other three students mentioned in your article was recruited by numerous Division III schools & universities last summer and early fall. Bowdoin, Tufts, Wesleyan, Amherst, Dartmouth, Claremont Mckenna, Colby....just to name a few- and decided to attend Middlebury College where he will also be swimming in the

NCAA, or more specifically the NESCAC league.

During his high school years Ethan tried to form a JDS swim club/team but for countless reasons never was able to form a team.

Maybe if you had mentioned Ethan in your article it would have encouraged other swimmers, whom there are many at JDS to strive to swim at the collegiate level.

It’s unfortunate that he didn’t get the recognition that he deserved from your paper for his hard work and commitment to his sport of swimming.

Margie Litman Parent

STUDENT COUNCIL REPORT CARD The Lion’s Tale editorial board, as it has done in past years, has rated the overall performance of the Student Council. We assessed their success in organizing activities, involvement with tzedakah projects, and communication with and representation of the student body. Each grade represents the most frequent letter grade given by individual members of the editorial board.

Communication: Student Body Representation: Activities: Color War: Tzedakah:

B ABA B+

Overall Grade:

B+

www.lionstale.org

Dear Editor, Of the 10 JDS students who know where to place commas, it’s a safe bet nine of them took Journalism. In each class, Journalism students continue to learn new writing skills.

As a course, Journalism teaches students grammar, editing and writing but somehow does not receive an English credit at JDS. Where is the justice in that?

Reading words off a sheet in Public Speaking, watching films from the 1950s in American Film and journaling feelings in Creative Writing helps students reach the necessary credits to graduate.

While students in Journalism, who are taking AP style quizzes, learning ethics, creating balance in stories, and writing and editing simply earn an elective credit.

In order to attain the extra English credit that is dropped senior year because of early graduation, a JDS student must take an extra English class.

The options include Mystery Writing and Detective Fiction, Film and Litera-

ture, American Film, Comedy, Creative Writing, Graphic Novels, Language Study and Public Speaking.

In Journalism, students are taught different styles of writing that are not presented in the regular English classes: news, editorial and feature.

Students learn how to write properly by organizing facts, creating clever headlines and conducting interviews.

English is more than learning how to analyze novels, films and other forms of literature.

Students who take Journalism have the challenge of learning the basics of writing. We learn how to get our ideas across in a concise way, which is a skill that is extremely helpful in analysis and essay writing in the standard English classes.

Unlike the “JDS credit acceptable” English classes, students actually learn grammar.

Rather than just analyzing someone else’s words, Journalism students are taught to write words of their own.

Daniele Marx Class Of 2011

Short Fridays should be a yearround tradition to encourage students to prepare for Shabbat Dear Editor, On March 13 we had our first regular Friday since early October. Short Fridays, which end at 2:18 p.m., were created to allow time to prepare before Shabbat begins during the winter months. In addition to the original intention for short Fridays, they are beneficial for other reasons.

They give us more time to relax after a long week, take a deep breath and prepare mentally as well as physically for Shabbat. Most students can’t focus in the last hour and a half of school on Fridays anyway. Short Fridays can enhance the tradition of preparing for Shabbat, making it more extensive and meaningful. It makes the end of the week before Shabbat something special to look forward to. I believe short Friday’s should not be limited to the daylight savings times, but instead be all year round.

Every week at JDS is intense and difficult. Short Fridays are a great reward because they give us something to look forward to and give us motivation to get through the week. In addition to short

Fridays being a reward to the students, it also makes logical sense in terms of learning; at the very end of the day on Fridays, students are already checked out and our minds are on break. It is a waste of time to teach us at this point because it will just have to be re-taught. If we have short Fridays and cut off the end of the day we have the energy and the stamina to stay focused and really learn until the end of the week.

Most importantly, one of the reasons families pay to send their children to JDS is because the school is supposed to respect our traditions. Our traditions continue all year long, but short Fridays do not. Short Fridays all year allow students and families to welcome Shabbat in a calmer, more pleasant manner, feeling treated more special after a long week of hard work. Short Fridays are important to have all year round and it will create a more productive, relaxed and respectful atmosphere in the school.

Eitan Sayag Class of 2011

Visit the new and improved Lion’s Tale!

May 22, 2009

the

lion’s tale

Feature

13

The not-so-commonplace book

by Danny Schwaber

quotes he had chosen. He, along with other students, chose better awareness of how we exist and understand each other to loosely interpret the word ‘book’. through language. It should also be something that they en“I created a Box of Chocolates, aka Chocothoughts,” joy, it is really personal and it’s supposed to be rigorous, They say that the name tells all. Well, that could not be junior Amalia Cowan said.

This entailed placing quotes in it’s supposed to be challenging but it is also supposed to be farther from the truth when it comes to the 11th grade comcupcake holders, then putting pieces of chocolate that relatfun,” Fitzpatrick said. monplace book project. ed to the topic of the quotes, inside those cupcake holders.

Krifcher thought the project accomplished its goals.

These projects went beyond the everyday English projJunior Jake Klein created a video game for his common“I thought it was a pretty cool way to incorporate evect. The project is designed to push students to see how lanplace book project. eryday life, incorporating things you hear off the street, guage shapes the world around them by taking quotes from “In short, I made a video game.

More specifically, a type in movies, in music and then incorporating them in movies, TV or anywhere else and then determining how the of video game called an RPG,” Klein said. an analytical way and a creative way,” Krifcher said. quotes connect to them.

It was split into multiple “levels” where in each a cat“I learned that anything has value and if you just look for Students then made a creative project that connected the egory of quotes were shown and you fought the people who the value in something you’ll be able to find it. Everything quotes they chose to a common theme. Students made a vasaid those quotes. has something worth seeing,” junior Alexander Orenstein riety of different projects.

Also the game had a storyline which said.

“Everything has something interesting to it and if you “It’s a little bit difwas my trying to do the project,” Klein just put it down and look at it later you’ll find it has relferent for every persaid. evance to really almost everything.” son,” English teacher Students had their own personal reasons This project was a fun way for students to push their arCaroline Fitzpatrick for choosing which tistic, analytical and creative said. “The idea is that project to make. minds. They created these the students are taking “I thought that the “books” to reflect on themlanguage, language quotes that I chose selves. that has influenced which I grouped into The commonplace projthem in some way, different groups, I ect helps students understand quotes from their thought they reprehow language is not present friends, quotes from sented time and makonly in the classroom but also their favorite movies, ing an hourglass is a in the world around them. quotes from books good way to show

“One of the things that that they’ve read, just how time elapses, the make it special is that I think little pieces of lanpast, the present and that it doesn’t end.

You write guage and spending in the game Junior Jake Klein created a video the future,” Krifcher a paper you turn it in and you a lot of time thinking game with him starring as the main character. said. say “phew” I never have to about how to sort them “I choose to do look at that again, of course in ways that create new the project this way because I had so as an English teacher we all meaning,” she said. many different categories, and had to hope that you don’t do that Junior Ryan Strassman created a menu that included a have someway to link it all, and I for but we know that when your meat section with the important and “meaty” quotes and a one am a huge chocoholic, and after done with it you say, ‘that dessert section that included romantic quotes. all, this project was supposed to be a assignment is finished and Another junior, Sharon Kimel created a fairy tale book photo by Danny Schwaber way to show who I am, and I already I never have to go back to which began with a common fairytale and then moved on to fun in the sun Junior Michelle Koblenz’s projhad the quotes to express who I was, I it,” Fitzpatrick said. “This produce a new fairytale with personal quotes. ect created a guide to the perfect vacation. wanted a different aspect of my life, so is a little bit different beWhether it was a scrapbook, menu or a book of fairy I chose chocolate,” Cowan said. cause it’s about you and so tales, the 11th grade students explored their creative side in The English department hoped that the project would enit’s never finished.

Sure you turn something in, you get a a variety of different ways. able students to think outside of the box. grade but it’s something you’re going to keep thinking about “I created an hourglass which I surrounded with the “I hope they [the students] gain a better awareness of and that’s pretty cool.

To use a fancy English teacher word, quotes that I used,” junior Alon Krifcher said. The hourhow language shapes our world, their worlds specifically.

A cool.” glass represented time which he felt was connected to the

a

in the

of...

Freshman Michael Greenberg lives through a crazy day Note: I am writing this day in the life because I won it in the Purim raffle, not because I was sought out for my literary talent. I actually must confess, I cheated the lottery in order to win this prize. I took all the raffle tickets out of the “day in the life” box, and transferred them into the empty “Mrs. Heller will bake you a cake” box.

6:55 a.m. Wake up, stumble around my room trying to figure out what to do.

7:04 a.m. Decide on the blue argyle sweater, as the hood can be bunched up into a very comfortable pillow.

7:58 a.m. Arrive in orthodox minyan. We are actually quite progressive there. We believe that everyone deserves a role, including women, so they get the job of taking attendance.

7:59 a.m. Rabbi Bienenstock gives me the “I want you to lead,” signal. Ya, not after that passive participant grade I received.

8:00 a.m. Leave for middle school minyan.

8:34 a.m. Arrive at Parshanut class.

8:35 a.m. Wait! It’s a C day. Rush to the front desk to get a hall pass, but instead Mrs. Martin gives me a late pass; the U is circled…in pen.

8:41 a.m. Spend 10 minutes trying to erase the circle.

No luck. Trudge to Mrs. Lakein’s class.

9:47 a.m. Ms. Michelson surveys the class on how I look in a hat. Answers range from young to devilishly handsome.

10:52 a.m. Mr. Silberman, “Michael, you’re smiling unusually widely today.”

12:45 p.m. Sit down at lunch table.

12:47 p.m. Israelis arrive. Try to avoid the barrage of spilled drinks and flying coleslaw which surrounds me.

1:18 p.m. Flee the cafeteria.

1:33 p.m. Mindlessly fill out a worksheet in Journalism class. Hand it in.

1:37 p.m. Wait, that was a quiz?

2:47 p.m. Peacefully fall asleep in class. Hopefully none of the other six kids in the class noticed.

2:48 p.m. It is beginning to seem that this class will go on forever and that I am not getting any closer to the bell.

3:17 p.m. Arrive at Hadash.

3:18 p.m. Leave Hadash.

3:22 p.m. Put on my “Saftey-whistle” to ensure my safety. This way, if someone begins hurting me on the Rock Creek Trail, I will be able to blow it so loud that they will leave immediately, because they can’t stand the deafening high-pitched screech that the whistle makes when blown at full volume.

3:55 p.m. Arrive at blacktop for track practice.

4:16 p.m. Leave for a distance run in the park.

5:23 p.m. Get back from the run.

5:37 p.m. Pack my shoes, lunchbox and running clothes in my reusable earth-justice bag (100% organic, made from recycled cotton) 6:23 p.m. Set the table for dinner. Yonatan has this weird thing that no one is allowed to sit in Sam’s seat, so we leave that place empty.

7:24 p.m. Begin my homework, usually done on my

bedroom floor because the desk is cluttered.

10:17 p.m. Time for cookies and milk, or in my case, whole wheat prune and date filled candy cigars and orange juice.

11:21 p.m. Time for bed, “good night everyone.”

photo by David Herman

Freshman Michael Greenberg dressed as a porcupine for Purim. He made his costume from a beach ball and toothpicks.

living it up

14

Sports

the

Extra inning heroics for BVB Ezra Rudman said.

by Jonah Weisel With two outs the Lions scored a run on an RBI double

by Melinger-Cohen, who also scored the tying run after an The varsity baseball team was an underdog going into the error by the Wildebeests. The game went into three extra innings. In the bottom of playoffs. They ended the regular the 10th inning Krosnick season with a record of 6-3, a resingled. He then stole cord that the team felt did not reptwo bases to get onto resent the team’s full potential. third base. With one out, “Our hard work didn’t show freshman Joshua Singer much in the regular season, we hit a grounder that drove weren’t all playing our best basein Krosnick for the winball,” junior Samuel Krosnick ning run in the champisaid. onship and made a final “I think that we were trying to score of 7-6. feel ourselves out during the reguThe team credits its lar season, and we were also trychampionship season ing to make sure that we were well to its coach, PE teacher rested. We were ready to hit our Steve Forestieri. stride in the playoffs,” junior Ryan “Coach [Forestieri] Strassman said. brings a relaxed atmoThe Lions definitely hit their sphere in which we feel stride going into the playoffs. structured, but we don’t They battled their way through the feel the need to perform first two rounds, beating the St. well. He relates really Anselems Panthers in a nail-biter well to the players and in order to make the championship tries to make everyone game. Strassman pitched all seven feel important on the innings of the game, only letting team,” Strassman said. up one earned run. The Lions won Forestieri believes the game with a final score of 2-1. photo by Davud Herman that the team grew up “Ryan pitched a fantastic game what a Play Junior Ezra Rudman converts the force out throughout the season [in the semifinals], he carried us at first base during a game earlier this season. The team and turned into a true through to bring us to the champibeat Sandy Spring 7-6 in 10 innings to win the PVAC unit. onship. He exemplified the toughchampionship. The team finished 9-3 overall and 8-3 in “Our team grew toness and heart that our team valconference. The team was led by junior pitcher Ryan gether at the end of the ues so greatly,” sophomore Adam Strassman and coach Steve Forestieri. season and continually Goldfarb said. became a stronger team After the victory, the Lions advanced to the championship game on May 14 against the unit as the season progressed. All of the players do a great Sandy Spring Wildebeests. Junior Ari Melinger-Cohen job adjusting to the fact that we don’t have seniors on the started at pitcher, letting up two runs through four innings. team. The juniors have really taken the role as the leaders on At the end of the fourth inning, the Lions led the Wildebeests the team this year and the underclassmen stepped up as well to make it a successful season,” Forsetieri said. “Winning 3-2.

At the end of the sixth inning the Wildebeests took a 5-3 the PVAC tournament championship this year was definitely a culmination of smart hard work, dedication, and focus lead.

“At that point I was so scared that we had come so far for from the entire team. I hope they take these lessons with nothing. We knew that we needed to win the game,” junior them when they graduate from JDS.”

A championship game for the ages

by Emily Dworkin As the spring sports move into the second half of their seasons, the boys middle school baseball team won its first playoff championship title since 2006.

The team was led by Coach Greg Weller and eighth graders Yaacov Adler, Michael Gould, Brain Morris and Michael Paretzky.

The team of seventh and eighth grade boys got off to a successful start by winning its first two games over the Grace Brethren Eagles, 15-5 in four innings, and the St. Anselm’s Panthers, 9-5.

The team then lost its next two games against the Covenant Life Cougars, 5-1, and the Heights School Cavaliers, 16-0 in four innings.

The game against the Heights School was an out of conference game.

The Lions were overmatched from the beginning when the Cavaliers sent out a strong left-handed pitcher.

The team rebounded strongly though, defeating archrival Hebrew Academy Cougars 11-1 on April 26.

In the playoffs, the team earned the top overall seed and once again defeated Hebrew Academy, 12-0 on May 12.

Despite losing twice in a row earlier in the season, the team stayed unified and was optimistic and motivated about its future.

May 22, 2009

lion’s tale

This was put to the test in the May 13 championship game against Covenant Life.

The Lions fell behind 5-0 after the first inning.

The Lions scored two runs in the second inning to cut the lead to 5-2. In the fifth inning the Lions scored three runs to tie the game at five.

After Adler pitched his way out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the sixth with a groundout to the shortstop, the Lions won the game 6-5 in the bottom of the sixth when eighth grader Ethan Walfish got a two out base hit between the first and second baseman. It was Walfish’s only hit on the day.

Following the game, the team dumped the water coolphoto by David Herman er on Walfish. The team also presented Middle School we are champs Eighth grader Yaacov Adler Director Joan Vander Walde pitches in a game against the Hebrew Acdemy with a game ball signed by Cougars on April 26. The Lions won 11-1 in four innings on the PVAC mercy rule. the whole team.

“I think our team has good them during real game situations. chemistry and plays well, we “We have spent a lot of time workjust need to learn the signs the coach ing on small details of the game that gives,” seventh-grader Michael Greenare important, but that means we can’t berg said. get much practice on the actual game,” The team is specifically working seventh-grader Ethan Steinberg said. on learning in-game hand signals from the coach. These signals help to direct

So close, yet so far

by David Weinberg The girls varsity tennis team’s fight for the PVAC title ended abruptly with its tournament championship loss on May 13. The team played its final match, a match which could have won them the championship.

This defining game was against the Washington International School Red Devils.

“Though we did not win collectively, every one of us played the best tennis of the season, and I’m really proud of what we have accomplished,” sophomore Galit Krifcher said.

Despite the loss, eighth grader Shira Becker and the doubles team of sophomores Miriam Thorne and Krifcher won the championships this year at the tournament. Becker entered the tournament as the number one seed as did the team of Krifcher and Thorne.

photo by David Herman

Eighth-grader Hannah Becker returns a shot in a tennis match at JDS against the Field School this season. game

set

match

This year’s season was tough due to a number of different reasons. The season itself was especially short because numerous games and practices were canceled due to rain. The team itself had also fallen short because of lack of returning players from last year’s team. The team was led by sophomore Michelle Shevin-Coetzee who played the number one spot in the Championship tournament.

“Because most of the juniors on the team this year were not on the team last year, there was not a strong sense of leadership. Our team lost five out of the seven players on the ladder so we were very young and inexperienced,” Krifcher said.

Because the team was smaller than past years, the players were able to get more one on one time with the coach and it was easier for the girls to get to know each other and for them to form one solid and unified team.

Even though the team was small, there were two coaches, Lower School PE teacher Raymond Istas and boys varsity tennis coach Harris Rosenblatt. Istas helped a lot by giving coaching advice while Rosenblatt kept the team organized.

“While we did not get enough time as we would liked to be coached individually, the best coaching we got was from matches,” Krifcher said.

“We definitely got better as the season got going.

I think everyone was surprised on how far we went because of the challenges we had to overcome. I believe we will be able to go even further next season,” sophomore Abigail Litman said.

May 22, 2009

the

lion’s tale

Sports

15

4x100 race is number one Safety before competition

by Daniel Himmelfarb

Schoenburg said.

“Sunday practices are by far the most rigorous practices and are by far the most beneficial,” sophomore Alex Gilden said.

“There is a station set up for shot-put, and we’re all able to practice our own events,”

It is 10:00 on a Sunday morning, and the JDS varsity track and field team is already running around the track at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda. While many of their friends are asleep or just waking up, the members of the track team are getting in an extra day of sprints, relays and long-distance running.

Varsity track and field has an extra practice on Sunday, in addition to its regular weekday practices held after school in order to give the students more experience on a track-like surface. This tracklike surface is nonexistent at JDS. The extra practice has paid off, as the team came in second place at its first meet this season.

The team is coached by Jason Belinkie and has captains from both the sophomore and junior classes.

“Our job is to set an example for the younger kids by going out and running photo by David Herman our hardest every practice,” junior cap- run like crazy Junior Jared Lese runs in a meet on April 30 tain Jared Lese said. at Magruder High School. Lese won gold in the 4x100.

The Sunday practices have been beneficial for getting experience with being in a he said. match-like environment.

“We don’t have the luxury of a track “Instead of pavement around the school, that we can practice on every day, but if we this [Whitman’s track] actually gives us the could, that would be great for all of us,” he feel of a real track. Other PVAC schools said. have tracks, so that gives them an advantage In the championship meet, the team took that the Sunday practices help make up for,” home a gold medal with the 4x100 relay Lese said. team of juniors Michael Beckerman, Jared Sunday practices have also been a good Lese, Andrew Lewis, and sophomore Gregway of progressing the skills and techniques ory Weiss. of the team.

Lese also qualified for the 100 meter “Although Sunday practices are a lot as the third seed and the 200 meter as the harder they help my running, and they’re eighth seed. He finished fourth and seventh really important to go to,” freshman Ari respectivly.

PVAC allconference selections:

Brodie, Zachary Cytryn, Alon Krifcher, Jonathan Kader and Yaron Steinfeld

Boys varsity baseball: First team - Ryan

Galit Krifcher and Miriam Thorne.

Strassman and Ari MelingerCohen

Second team - Matthew

Goulette

Boys varsity tennis: First Team - Ariel Blask,

Benjamin Block, Neville

Girls varsity tennis: First Team- Shira Becker, Second Team- Hannah Becker, Danielle Clemons, Abigail Litman and Michelle Shevin-Coetzee Varsity track: First Team: Michael

Beckerman, Jared Lese, Andrew Lewis and Gregory Weiss.

by Joshua Walfish The boys varsity volleyball team will not have a competitive season this year due to lack of interest.

Coach Patrick Dudash said he had middle school students who were interested, but in the end decided against playing in the competitive Independent Schools Boys Volleyball League, a league that was created because the PVAC does not have a boys volleyball league.

“We just felt that with five seventh graders out of eight guys, that it wouldn’t be safe and it wouldn’t be productive for them to continue on in volleyball,” Dudash said.

Instead, Dudash holds weekly clinics for interested students to improve their volleyball skills. He feels as though the clinics have been very successful.

“The first few weeks we only had a cou-

ple of guys show up, but as word got around and we had a few games, it got a little more popular,” Dudash said.

Members of the girls varsity volleyball team assist Dudash in running these clinics.

“It gives them a chance to learn how to teach someone else,” Dudash said.

The girls varsity softball team also cancelled its competitive season.

“I had been looking forward to playing a sport that I liked for the school,” junior Michelle Singer said.

The team had seven players try out for the team, two short of the normal nine player lineup. The team’s lack of players could also be attributed to a lack of interest.

“A lot of them didn’t want to come back and went and did other sports,” Singer said.

The team lost in the quarterfinals last year to the Grace Bretheren Eagles. The team was asked to help the middle school team for credit.

Early Exit for GMS Golf team places fourth

by Joshua Walfish

by Valerie Cohen

The girls middle school softball team fell this year in the semifinals of the PVAC tournament. The team, led by first year coach Jay Matula, earned the second seed in the tournament. The team beat the Montrose Christian Mustangs in the quarterfinals before losing to the Grace Bretheren Eagles 20-13 in the semifinals at home.

The team did improve on last year’s record of 2-4 and a quarterfina defeat at the hands of the Kendall School Wildcats.

On May 7th, the coed varsity golf team placed fourth in the PVAC Varsity Golf Championships with a season record of 2-2.

The team was led by number one spot, sophomore Joshua Lerner and number two spot, junior Jacob Akman. The team also had issues with practice time.

“Our biggest challenge was getting to practices. A lot of our practices were cancelled because of rain,” junior Thomas Gutterman said.

May 22, 2009

S

the

lion’s tale

port

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Dominating the PVAC

by Ryan Strassman

the team to come together and focus on the tasks that lay ahead of them before each match.

“We come together and have a great pep talk. We discuss our strengths and our weaknesses as a team and really get ourselves excited for the match,” sophomore Andy Siegel

This season, the boys varsity tennis team got off to a strong start and finished the same way. The team won all five championships that could be won and all were PVAC first team members.

Juniors Benjamin Block and Alon Krifcher went undefeated as a doubles team and were the best doubles team players in their PVAC division.

“Our team’s goals this season were to go undefeated at every single spot, to go undefeated in every single match, to win the regular season championship, and to win the tournament championship. To this point, having not lost a spot, I’d say we’re headed in the right direction,” junior Ari Blask said.

The tennis team’s success photo courtesy of Danny Krifcher can be partially credited to its experience on the varsity undisputed pvac champions The entire boys varsity tennis team rallies around their two championship banners after their tournament victory on May 13 at Carter level.

“Our team is made up of Baron Tennis Center in Washington D.C. The playing team consisted of number kids who have been on the one spot junior Yaron Steinfeld, number two spot sophomore Neville Brodie, numteam for [several] years. We ber three spot freshman Jonathan Kader and the doubles teams of juniors Ariel Blask and Zachary Cytryn and juniors Benjamin Block and Alon Krifcher.

said.

“After that we can go out on to the court and play as strong as possible,” he said.

One of the building blocks of the team’s ability to work together is a clinic, run by the team’s coach, Harris Rosenblatt, which players attend year round.

“Throughout the year we go to a tennis clinic taught by our coach, and that really keeps us together as players and as a team. The clinic really helps make sure that we remain strong as a team throughout the off season,” Siegel said.

While competition photo by Danny Krifcher wasn’t as good as in years beating the champ Junior Zachary Cytryn sets up for a shot during his championship past, the team realized that match at the Carter Baron Tennis Center in Washington D.C. Cytryn won the champithey had to play one match onship with doubles partner junior Ariel Blask on May 13, 10 games to two. at a time “We knew that we had have two players who have been on the team for the past the ability to win the season banner and every spot’s chamfour years, and our entire starting lineup has played varsity pionship. The only thing in our way was making sure we tennis for at least two years. Jonathan Kader (’12) and my- didn’t get too far ahead of ourselves. We knew that we can self have won two championships, and both [junior] Yaron win every spot we play, but if we got overconfident we may Steinfeld and [sophomore] Neville Brodie have been in the have lost to a team we know we deserved to beat,” Krifcher championships for the past three years in a row,” Krifcher said. said.

“The only thing that can stop us now is losing sight of According to junior Zachary Cytryn, a vital role in the what our goals are. If we lose focus during a match, or even team’s run to the championship was its chemistry. a spot, we may lose sight of our goals,” Blask said.

“Our team’s biggest strength this year is our chemistry.

The team certainly kept these principles in mind while We really like having a good time together, and you can see they cruised to their undefeated record. The team never lost that in our play and on the courts. When we have fun and focus on their goals and in the end that helped them capture play relaxed, we get results,” Cytryn said. the banners they so desparatly coveted this season.

The team’s chemistry also enabled the many players of

The Lions Tale would like to congratulate all of our spring sports teams on their championship years: Congratulations to the boys middle school baseball, boys varsity tennis and boys varsity baseball teams.

16

Josh Walfish

When do varsity athletics take precedence?

The middle school program is meant to feed athletes into the varsity program in their sport. Yet, in a year dominated by middle school students who compete at the varsity level, two JDS teams cancelled their competitive seasons, despite the existence of middle school teams.

What is the current purpose of the middle school athletic program?

This year, three middle school students successfully made it onto varsity teams and excelled at the varsity level when middle school teams were an option. Eighth graders Jacob Mintz, Nathaniel Phillips and Shira Racoosin all played important roles on their teams during their seasons.

Phillips started at midfield for the boys varsity soc-

photo by Joshua Walfish

Seventh graders Jacob Borenstein and Andrew Siegal learn volleyball skills from coach Patrick Dudash at a clinic on May 18.

bump set spike

cer team on many occasions during its regular season.

Racoosin played crucial minutes in the girls varsity basketball games and Mintz started most games in the infield for the boys varsity baseball team. These three athletes proved that middle school students can compete at the varsity level.

However, students have mixed reaction to the idea of middle school students playing on varsity teams. Freshman Max Ungar argued that there is a grave disconnect between the middle school and high school. However, if they can make the team then let them play. It is up to the coach to determine whether or not it is safe for the student to play. If the coach decides that the player is capable of playing without getting hurt then there should be no reason not to let them play.

Having been on the varsity soccer team, I saw Phillips play on a day-to-day basis. He fit very well into the team chemistry and in a way united the team.

Phillips also played a crucial role in a very successful season without actually scoring a goal.

Similarly, Mintz fits in very well with the laid back attitude the varsity baseball team takes during practice. Mintz gets along well with all of his teammates and they constantly joke and play pranks on one another.

There are high school students who only play one sport and therefore only have one chance to represent their school. The cancellation of the volleyball and softball seasons denied these students their chance to represent JDS on the field of play.

This seems wrong for a school whose values promote everyone giving back to their community in their own way. The cancellation does not allow these students to give back to the JDS community athletically. It is a shame this is the case. These students have the right to participate in athletics at JDS, now that right has been taken away from them.