SAR Annual Report 2012

SAR 2012 ANNUAL REPORT SAR ACADEMY & SAR HIGH SCHOOL

2012

SAR ACADEMY & SAR HIGH SCHOOL |

2012 ANNUAL REPORT

Dear SAR Community:

Dear Friends:

Our third Annual Report focuses on the many rich and varied connections that SAR celebrates as we strive to engage our extended community through learning and service. Once again, we recognize academic achievement, faculty commitment, tikun olam, financial resources and dedicated volunteers.

This report also acknowledges the more than 1,100 donors who contributed $3.3 million for scholarships and numerous school initiatives and $4.8 million to important Capital Campaign initiatives.

This annual report is the culmination of a year at SAR where the theme was “Arvut: Connections”— working together to focus on our responsibility for each other and for the broader community. As we look with pride on the wonderful accomplishments of our students and our staff, we understand that it is the entire SAR community that has accepted responsibility for keeping SAR at the forefront of Jewish education, and for that we are humbled and grateful.

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We want to personally thank each one of you for the role you have played to keep SAR at the forefront of education and service in the Modern Orthodox community.

To the family volunteers, program participants, campaign contributors and dedicated friends, we thank you for being part of another successful year at SAR and for keeping us all connected.

From celebrating Gilad Shalit’s release to our grandparent programming, from the alumni basketball game to the Anniversary Dinner, from enrichment clusters to educational technology, we have much exciting news to report.

As you review the following pages, we hope you will reflect on your connections to SAR and the difference you have made.

Jack C. Bendheim President, SAR Board of Trustees

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The emotional ‫ הנני‬prayer, which the chazan recites on the ‫ימים נוראים‬, focuses on this theme as well. It includes the hope, on the part of the chazan, that he is a person who is ‫— מעורב בדעת עם הבריות‬someone whose ideas and values are aligned with the members of the congregation. We too hope that this retrospective helps connect the many supporters, friends and investors in our community's success, and that we can all share in those values by highlighting and reinforcing them here. From the dedicated staff, to the creative students, to the active parent and grandparent body and tireless volunteers, this Report is a tribute to you. As you look through these pages, take time to reflect on the things that you helped make happen, learn about things going on that you didn't know were happening and take pride in the many wonderful accomplishments of our children.

May the Almighty grant a New Year of strength, health and continued success for you, your families and all of ‫כלל ישראל‬.

Rabbi Binyamin Krauss (‘84)

Rabbi Tully Harcsztark

Principal, SAR Academy

Principal, SAR High School

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CONNECTING TO THE SAR COMMUNITY

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A Message from Rabbi Binyamin Krauss, Principal, SAR Academy The 2011-2012 school year was filled with many exciting accomplishments.

Our theme for the year, Arvut, focused on the desire to strengthen connections with our students, our community and with Clal Yisrael. Certainly, this theme was evident in the strides we made toward becoming even more connected to the fast-paced technological world.

In a break from business as usual, we offered enrichment clusters for all our children. As noted educator Dr. Joseph Renzulli has said, “Every child should have the chance to be exceptional without exception.” And without exception, all of our children were exceptional learners this year as they explored their interests and passions in small groups, led by the SAR staff and the community at large. Students experienced everything from building computers and a Lego model of the Mishkan to designing board games, creating original movies and learning about chocolate, ancient times and inventions.

We were especially proud of SAR students on Lag Ba’Omer when our Arvut theme was really put into action. Older grades were paired with younger ones, and each dual-grade team learned and played together, creating new friendships and connections. We celebrated with a picnic lunch, group sporting events at Van Cortlandt Park and, at the end of the day, the whole school gathered on the SAR field to create a giant “wave.”

Our staff has always prided itself on its ability to connect to students in a meaningful way. This year we built on that strength with a staff development program centered on the movie Race To Nowhere. Academy and High School staff members viewed the movie together, and then engaged in discussions of the stresses our students face and coping mechanisms. More than 200 parents viewed the film and discussed the issues, and we are hopeful that productive conversations on the subject will continue.

In grades one through eight, we piloted a new curriculum to strengthen our connections to Medinat Yisrael. The program, developed by the Lookstein Center for Jewish Education at Bar-Ilan University, features 16 lessons about Israel and Zionism.

In the middle school, we introduced Student Life Coordinators with the goal of building an environment in which all students grow spiritually, develop their talents and have their concerns heard. Adina Steinberg and Rabbi Yitz Motechin worked with

eighth graders; Rabbi Shalom Schlagman and Erin Cooper with seventh graders; and David Glazer and Reva Tokayer with our sixth graders. Throughout the middle school, our new coordinators served as leaders and role models, organizing special programming, shabbatonim and chagigot.

We also expanded our very successful inclusion program.

Now families no longer have to choose between meeting their children’s learning needs and providing them with a yeshiva education. With programs in every grade, we can meet the needs of diverse learners.

Our students have always participated in many different kinds of chesed activities, but this year many of our middle school students stepped up to initiate their own chesed activities.

We were especially proud to see our students demonstrate such a wonderful commitment to tzedekah and mitzvot.

In the arts, our middle schools students put on their own Beit Sefer L’Musika show, modeled after Israel’s American Idol.

On Yom Ha’atzmaut, the students performed Hebrew songs, danced and played the guitar. Eighth graders introduced each act in perfect Hebrew. During the year, children in grades five through eight rehearsed, performed and then recorded in a studio. In June, 31 students in grades three through eight performed at The Town Hall Theater as part of the Yiddish Folksbiene gala that included Dudu Fisher, Mandy Patinkin and Neil Sedaka.

We continued to connect with our community and the world-atlarge. Through our adult education program, we learned together with parents, grandparents and other community members.

Extended family members celebrated many occasions with us, including an eighth-grade Chanukah program, a seventh-grade Pesach program, our long-time fifth-grade Intergenerational Day, the second-grade Chumash play and the first-grade Siddur play.

Importantly, we continued our interactive dialogue with families, highlighted by the Parent Survey. We continue to receive feedback and work diligently to ensure SAR's programming supports the school's mission and goals.

WATCH THE VIDEO!

Beit Sefer L’Musika

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ARVUT–

RESPONSIBILITY, GROWTH, OPPORTUNITY

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A Message from Rabbi Tully Harcsztark, Principal, SAR High School The 2011-2012 school year was an eventful one as we challenged our students to move beyond their comfort zones, to deepen their commitment to Torah and mitzvot and to engage in a meaningful way with the world around them.

Across our curriculum, we saw many exciting achievements as we continued to engage in the Grand Conversation between Torah and the world. In science, for example, five students accepted the challenge to study nuclear energy on their own, using both textbook and online lectures as participants in the Jerusalem Science contest. At the end of the course, they studied current applications of the year's theme in Judaism and Jewish life. The program is co-sponsored by The Walder Science Laboratory and Learning Center in Illinois in partnership with the Jerusalem College of Technology.

SAR's “mathletes” were equally impressive at the American Mathematics Competition and the Greater Metropolitan New York Math Fair. Our writers shone, too, excelling in the prestigious Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and at the First Annual Yeshiva League Poetry Slam, where SAR’s twelfth graders took home Best Poet Award and won Best Presenter. Math Mag was once again recognized for excellence, winning top honors from both the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the American Scholastic Press Association. For the first time, SAR students published D'var Ha'Devora, a Hebrew literary journal.

In keeping with our theme of Arvut, chesed students made connections with students at two local schools in a new partnership program called "Building Bridges." SAR visited public school University Heights High School and Fieldston, a private school, with the goal of creating a new, diverse community.

We have always advocated that learning takes place outside the classroom as well. Certainly, that philosophy was the impetus behind FLASH, or Fellows Learning After School Hours. Our Beit Midrash Fellows learned with students for enrichment, review and support after school and on week nights. In addition, our Beit Midrash program, which has been so successful with our ninth and tenth graders, was extended to juniors for the first time.

We believe learning should be its own reward, and this year we introduced the "Lishma" unit, a program based on that principle.

Across the curriculum, teachers taught one unit without giving tests or graded papers. Through this innovative program, teachers continued to learn what motivates students, and

students continued to learn more about themselves.

SAR proudly hosted the first Girls’ Torah Bowl Competition.

SAR's team won three out of its four matches, encouraging students to build connections with other schools while learning Torah. We were especially pleased to report that one of our students, a ninth grader, won the National Chidon HaTanakh competition at Yeshiva University, and will move on to the international competition next year in Jerusalem.

Our Sting varsity and junior varsity athletes continued to dominate, winning six division and four league championships.

The inaugural season of our wrestling team was a huge success, with many students showing great interest.

In the arts, SAR hosted the Nashir Choral Festival, drawing more than 175 students from area yeshivot. High-schoolers also connected Judaism and art as they produced a beautiful Megillat Esther that they published and sold to the SAR community. Additionally, working with SAR's artist-in-residence David Wander, SAR's artists painted 43 unique canvases interpreting the Book of Jonah.

Throughout the year, we brought distinguished speakers to campus to lecture on a diverse range of topics including macroeconomics, entrepreneurship, physics discoveries, halakha and Torah.

In March, I traveled to Israel to represent SAR in a conference that brought together administrators of yeshiva high schools in North America with their counterparts from the “gap year” yeshivot that so many of our graduates attend. We had the opportunity to open a dialogue with one another, exchange strategies and begin to plan for joint programming.

It is always a great joy to strengthen our connections with alumni. This year, we welcomed our first Bogrim Fellows to study Torah with SAR faculty and to work with students. Nineteen men and women from the classes of 20072010 participated in the three-week program. A website was set up with a virtual Beit Midrash, giving returning students access to sources well beyond the scope of our physical library.

These are just some of this past year's many accomplishments, focused on the High School's greater goal of communicating "It's not just what you learn. It's who you become."

SEE THE ART GALLERY!

David Wander and the Students of SAR High School

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS Hakarat HaTov to SAR's Torah scholars Yasher Koach to the students in both the Academy and the High School who excelled in the Chidon HaTanakh contest.

Jonah Chill, seventh grader, finished 11th at the International Competition in Jerusalem and was seated to the right of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; Shalhevet Schwartz, ninth grader, came in first place in the high school division at the national level. Congratulations also to Yaira Kobrin, eighth grader, Yitzy Richter, seventh grader, and Joseph Block, sixth grader, who qualified for the national competition.

Technology integration brings 21st century learning to classrooms The Academy continues to invest in advanced technology to support curricular objectives. Technology innovations promote student engagement, frequent interaction and feedback, and connection to real-world experts. Further, they enhance learning by making it more accessible and supporting diverse learners. Fourth graders used iPads to create slideshows on Colonial Day, viewed by parents on smart phones using QR codes. Middle schoolers created interactive textbooks and produced documentaries. Students regularly worked with iMovie, stopmotion photography, interactive bulletin boards and textbooks to learn a broad range of topics including Chumash, Navi, history and geography. First and second graders created illustrated picture books using Hebrew vocabulary words, as well as short films showcasing class themes.

Enhanced Judaic Studies at the Academy

Diverse enrichment clusters

SAR has always provided an outstanding Judaic education both within and outside the classroom setting, and this year was no exception as we brought distinguished speakers to campus, went on trips and offered new programs. In eighth grade, students learned Bava Metzia and the four kinds of shomrim (guardians) entrusted with custody and care of another’s objects. Professor Metzger, SAR parent and adjunct professor at New York, Tel Aviv and Yale Universities, spoke to students regarding practical applications in the modern world. Fifth graders visited the 92nd Street Y for Remember Me: Music, Art and Poetry Celebrating the Children of Terezin.

Our first graders took a memorable trip to The Jewish Museum.

For the first time, SAR offered the chance for our students to follow their passions in small groups.

Older children took electives including baking, chesed, creative writing and Zumba, and our younger students built computers, dollhouses and 3-D castles and tried to save the environment with the “Torah, Art & Garbage” enrichment cluster. Visitors included Dr. Donald Liss, who discussed sports medicine with “the Institute for Sports Science,” and Julie Lester, a local artist, who taught the “Collage and Illustration” cluster.

Director and Producer Matt Okin performed with the “Broadway & Beyond” cluster.

WATCH THE VIDEO!

Original music and dance routine teach ‘the scientific method’

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AND REFLECTIONS Math achievements multiply Eleven SAR High School students participated in the Greater Metropolitan NY Math Fair by conducting research, doing independent studies and writing papers. Six of those students earned medals: congratulations to Eliana Lorch, Marty Rubin, Shalhevet Schwartz, Riki Heicklen, Uri Hoch and Noah Katz for their bronze, silver and gold medals. At the American Mathematics Competition, nearly 80 SAR students participated. Top scorer was senior Micky Harris, who earned first place last year. Ninth-grader Shalhevet Schwartz earned the second highest score at SAR in the AMC 12, the most difficult level. Zev Kaplowitz, twelfth grade, scored third highest for the second year. Ninth- grader Marty Rubin placed in the top one percent of all students taking the AMC 10. Both the NY Math League and freshman math teams had great seasons with several students scoring a perfect six out of six in at least one contest.

Beit Midrash deepens religious practice The Beit Midrash program, so successful with ninth and tenth graders, was extended to eleventh graders this year.

Designed to deepen religious practice within the High School, the Beit Midrash students learned in small groups with a faculty member. They reflected on the tension between individual expression and communal affiliation by studying halakhic texts. In tenth and eleventh grade, the focus was on Jewish sexual ethics. In single gender groups, students discussed various topics looking at sources that clearly communicate Jewish values.

Teens recognized for writing & photography Science students learn from masters Students attended symposia studying such cutting-edge advances as “Major Trends in Modern Cancer Research” and “Induction of Pluripotency by Defined Factors.” During the summer, the third edition of the Science Journal was published, and students worked or studied at Rockefeller University, Cooper Union college, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Columbia University, Reuth Rehabilitation Hospital in Israel, University of Maryland and the Dolan DNA Summer Learning Workshops. SAR scientists also joined over 150 students from 10 area yeshivot for the 2012 BJE Science Olympiad.

The SAR team won medals for 11 different events–the most of any school—and came home with the championship. SAR High School has won 49 medals, including gold medals since 2006.

In the prestigious Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, SAR students were singled out for their accomplishments. In the poetry division, tenth graders Eliana Lorch and Zach Smart won a Gold Key and Silver Key, respectively. For the second year, Rebecca Sichel, eleventh grader, won a Gold Key for photography. Twelfth-grader Tova Kamioner took home Best Poet Award and tenth-grader Ethan Metzger won Best Presenter at the First Annual Yeshiva League Poetry Slam.

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SERVICE, SPIRIT, AND High School and Academy commemorate Yom Ha'atzmaut In a special annual event, the entire High School davened together. Afterwards, Rabbi Harcsztark spoke about the text and music of Hatikvah, and the school hosted the second annual Kochav Nolad.

The Academy gathered in prayer, and inaugurated a new Israel curriculum developed by the Lookstein Center for Jewish Education at Bar-Ilan University.

The day culminated in a family BBQ hosted by the PTC.

Celebrating Gilad Shalit's release

Middle schoolers become mitzvah makers

October 18, 2011 was a memorable day for SAR and for Jews around the world, marking the end of 1,941 days of captivity for Gilad Shalit. The Academy literally burst into joyous celebration after seeing that the soldier for whom they had prayed had been freed. Grades one through eight gathered in the gym to watch a montage of Gilad’s momentous release. Students recited Tehilim and then, in an unforgettable mix of technology and serendipity, Rabbi Krauss recorded a message from Israel seen via video link. In Israel at the time for a family simcha, Rabbi Krauss reported that all of Israel stopped to watch the news and celebrate the miracle. The students sang, clapped and cheered together with Clal Yisrael.

This year, many students created their own opportunities for giving. Amichai Zierler-Feit led the seventh-grade boys’ basketball team to dedicate a game for first grader Neshama Ryman, who has been battling cancer, and Chai Lifeline, a source of support for her family. In January, eight staff members represented SAR and Team Neshama at the Miami Marathon.

Seventh graders Rebecca Hyman and Liana Katz helped organize a “pink” day to support breast cancer research, and several middle school students raised money for Bet Elazraki Children’s Home in memory of Rabbi Jacob and Debbie Rubenstein z"l. In addition, seventh grader Jacob Wasserman led a bike ride to raise money for Matan; four sixth-grade boys sold chocolate milk and chocolate chip cookies for tzedakah; sixth grader Hadas Krasner hosted a bake sale to raise money for pancreatic cancer research.

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SPORTS

Specialized technology @ SAR makes music sing

New program builds tolerance For the first time, High School students “built bridges” to local students attending public and secular schools. Together with Fieldston, a private school, and University Heights, a public school, SAR teens looked beyond stereotypes to learn about different cultures and values, recognizing how much they all shared in common. The group spent time at each of the three schools, viewing thought-provoking movies and sharing perspectives and activities. At University Heights, the students watched a trailer for a documentary about the struggles of three teenagers. At SAR, the students attended a Beit Midrash session and discussed Jewish texts together.

A new music technology lab with iMacs, keyboards and recording technology enabled students to write and record their own compositions using Garageband.

Students composed rhythm compositions and melodies, podcast and wrote their own radio programs and composed original music for a scene from a film. Based on the overwhelming enthusiasm, the program will now be offered to all tenth-grade music classes.

High School Sting teams win division championships SAR played hard in a variety of sports with six teams taking home division championships: Girls’ JV Volleyball, Boys’ Varsity Basketball, Girls’ Hockey, Boys’ Varsity Soccer, and Boys’ and Girls’ Tennis teams. In addition, our Boys’ JV Basketball, Boys’ JV Soccer, Boys’ Volleyball and Boys’ JV Softball all won their league championships.

SAR’s JV Boys’ Basketball Team also won the championship in the Fourth Annual Rabbi Jacob and Debbie Rubenstein Memorial JV Basketball Tournament.

Academy Basketball team wins Yeshiva League tourney The SAR Sting teams played some tough and fearless games, shining in many different sports. Our sixth-grade Boys’ Basketball team won the Yeshiva League Championship, and the seventh and eighth-grade Girls’ Basketball players also advanced to the finals. For the first time, our Girls’ Hockey team made it to the semi-finals.

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OUR PEOPLE ARE OU Kol Hakavod to the faculty and staff of SAR Academy and SAR High School.

Your work this past year connected our students to the energy and enthusiasm of Jewish life and learning. This year we mark several milestones:

We bid a fond farewell to Milly Rosner (37 years) , Estelle Simon (26 years ), Pearl Taback (33 years) and Zelda Stern (12 years). Milly served as Associate Principal for General Studies for 13 years after stretches as a fifth-grade teacher and Resource Room Director.

Estelle was a beloved fifth and formerly fourth-grade teacher, and Pearl taught sixth grade and enrichment groups, including SAR’s math team. Zelda worked as the Academy’s office administrator. All four women touched the lives of thousands of children and their families.

930 464 ACADEMY ENROLLMENT

HIGH SCHOOL ENROLLMENT

OPEN

Beth Pepper was named Associate Principal for General Studies, grades two through five. Beth brings over 16 years of classroom experience to the position, including ten as a head second-grade teacher at SAR. She holds a Master’s of Education from Bank Street College and a B.A. in Psychology from Barnard College, Beth has been instrumental in creating a learning environment that encourages dialogue, creative expression and respect for diverse ways of thinking.

A heartfelt thank you to High School PTC chair Robin Reich for her contributions to SAR for the past two years, and best of luck to Tami Bezborodko and Debbie SternBlumenthal, incoming Chairs. Robin's leadership, enthusiasm and dedication were evident in numerous programs, including the Parent Social Night, sARTs, the Liaison Committee and Junior's College Night. She is directly responsible for engaging High School parents with SAR. Kol Hakavod to Sara Blechner, Stephanie Minkove and Adeena Rosen, Academy PTC Presidium, on their very successful first year.

We take great pride in the eleven male and seven female SAR High School graduates who have chosen to serve in ‫צה״ל‬, the Israel Defense Forces.

KITCHEN

SAR celebrated the publication of The Open Kitchen cookbook, which was sponsored by the Raskas family in memory of Sheri Raskas z"l, beloved SAR grandmother and community leader. The Open Kitchen features kosher recipes submitted by the SAR community for everything from caponata to cholent. The cookbook was a true labor of love for the committee, led by Shoshana Winter, editor. On May 20th, Yom Yerushalayim, the book was formally introduced at an SAR family fun day carnival.

To order, visit www.openkitchencookbook.com or e-mail info@openkitchencookbook.com.

CLASS OF 2007

CLASS OF 2010

Noam Tokayer, David Walk, Yehuda Walk, Noam White

David Abadie, David Arbit, Hillel Axelrod, Ariel Lavi, Scarlett Toledo

CLASS OF 2008

Gavi Hill, Dalia Liberman, Sarah Schloss, Aaron Shalman, Adina Wohlberg z"l

CLASS OF 2011

Ayelet Hill, Max Kane, Hannah Liberman CLASS OF 2012

Sophie Tulkoff

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UR STRENGTH SAR is Connected: Recent Guests and Visits ACADEMY

HIGH SCHOOL

The Academy was abuzz with excitement this year starting with a visit by beekeeper Cliff Sunflower. Musical performances were provided by Simply Tsfat, the Y Studs, an a capella group from Yeshiva University, and Drum Tales. Ruth Goodman, head of the Israeli Dance Institute, spoke to a musical enrichment cluster. Other enrichment cluster visitors included Joan Motyka, former NY Times editor, engineer Andre Yamus, architect Abby Glass, Alice Lebowitz (Wave Hill volunteer), Dr. David Lent (orthopedic surgeon), Dr. Ari Leifer (pathologist), Yossi Gorodischer (architect), Robert Kalfus (photojournalist), Robert Haleluk (inventor) and Steve Diller (dog trainer).

The SAR Choir and Band performed at the annual Chanukah celebration at the French Consulate, The Choir sang at West Point Military Academy, and Hazamir’s Zamir Choral Foundation delighted students with a concert on campus.

On Yom Hashoah, survivors Jay Sommer and Dr. Moshe Avital lit yahrzeit candles, and before Pesach, Bentsion Cohen shared his private collection of over 5,000 haggadot with the third grade. Eli Beer, chief coordinator of United Hatzalah of Israel, spoke to middle schoolers.

Mark Weitzman of the Simon Wiesenthal Center spoke to librarians gathered at SAR for the Conference of the NY Metropolitan area chapter of the Association of Jewish Libraries.

Our children enjoyed trips to Washington, D.C., Boston, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Jewish Museum, The Museum of Natural History and the Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance.

Another highlight was a visit by Nick Raposo, son of Sesame Street songwriter Joe Raposo (“Sing a Song”), who wrote and recorded a Tu B’shvat song with our ELC students.

The sophomores camped out at Harriman State Park, and AP Macroeconomics classes visited David's Cookies Factory. Students saw rare Jewish medieval manuscripts at the Jewish Theological Seminary and the Dead Sea Scrolls at Discovery Times Square. History Matters Club visited the Second Circuit Courthouse and met with Federal Judge Denny Chin. Elizabeth Mandel talked to students about her film Pushing the Elephant, three FBI agents spoke to a class in forensics, Professor Michael Strauss of YU’s Syms School of Business talked to an economics class about entrepreneurship.

Fifteen IDF officers, mostly of Russian descent, came to campus. Students attended a dinner for the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous. Dr. Bernard Schanzer and his twin brother Henry Schanzer, who were both hidden by Christian families in France during the Shoah, talked to students. High-schoolers attended the AIPAC conference in Washington, arriving in time for President Obama’s speech.

Dennis Barton and Lisa Sperber, representatives from the Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing who are both formerly homeless, shared their life stories. Students also heard from Robby Berman, founder and director of

the Halakhic Organ Donor Society, and Danielle Butin, founder and Executive Director of the AFYA Foundation. Other students attended a roundtable discussion at the German Consulate with Professor Hasia Diner and Rabbi Yehuda Sarna about Jewish life and issues.

Students heard presentations from Dr. Derek Huffman on the Biology of Aging; Rabbi Natan Slifkin about Torah and the Theory of Evolution; Dr. Radhika Muzumbdar on Multiple Age Related Disease; Dr. David Cassidy about the Greatest Physics Discoveries of the 20th Century; and Dr. Richard Kollmar about zebra fish and animal models. Dr. Brett Abrahams talked about Genetic Insights into Autism; Dr. Evan Mintzer about Radioactivity: The Bad, The Ugly and the Good; Professor Nathan Aviezer about Contradictions between Torah and Science; Rabbi Jeremy Wieder about The Non-Literal Interpretation of Scripture: Torah, Age of the World and Evolution. Dr. Edward Reichman presented insights on stem cell research, cloning and Jewish law, and Dr. Richard Grazi lectured on in vitro fertilization and Jewish law.

Other distinguished visitors included Professor Mark Raider, professor of Modern Jewish History at the University of Cincinnati; noted storyteller Peninnah Schram, professor of Speech and Drama at Stern College; and Margareta Ploder, an Austrian diplomat to the United Nations.

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Dear SAR Family:

Fundraising Campaigns

We are privileged that so many in the greater SAR community are committed to our mission and steadfastly support us with their tzedakah giving. The continued support of our donors is essential, especially for financial aid and debt elimination.

Todah rabba to all of our donors. $1.6 MILLION

SAR’S 43RD ANNIVERSARY DINNER 1,000+ gathered to recognize our brilliant honorees and show community support for SAR’s mission and values.

CO-CHAIRS:

Dana Jason (’92), Lynette Tulkoff

Scholarship needs have risen dramatically in recent years. But with your help we've been able to keep pace, providing necessary financial aid to families in the communities we serve. With your help, we enable over 260 families to keep 465 students as part of our community. Thank you to the more than 1,100 donors who collectively contributed $3.3 million this year in support of scholarships and programming, and the $4.8 million in paid capital contributions used for debt reduction and building improvements.

$1.3 MILLION

LEAD DONORS Todah rabba to our inspirational lead donors who have committed to giving $100K or more annually toward the operating campaigns. SAR is most appreciative of your ongoing commitment and contribution.

Two years ago we were burdened with nearly $15 million in debt.

Today, thanks to the donors who generously responded to Jack and Giti Bendheim’s inspired challenge, that total has been cut in half. We are counting on you to help us eliminate this debt entirely, thereby securing a stable financial future for SAR. Thank you for all of your incredible efforts. Please continue to give generously. Each and every participant makes a huge impact.

Dr. Teena L. Lerner Chair, SAR Development Committee SAR Parent, 1984-2010

$90,000

SAR’S SUPER AUCTION RALLY More than 650 items were donated, and more than 450 bidders rallied to participate in SAR’s most exciting online auction to date.

CHAIR:

Michal Abehsera

$186,000

'CLASS OF 2012' GIFT CAMPAIGN We applaud the SAR High School Class of 2012 for achieving 100% participation for a class gift earmarked for the SAR Capital Campaign! All the parents of our 114 graduating seniors came together to benefit the school. Parents were inspired to participate by the offer of a class parent to donate an additional $50,000 to the total amount collected if the 100% participation was achieved. SAR further benefited as the Bendheim Challenge Grant matched the gift by 50%.

CO-CHAIRS:

Heidi Greenbaum, Nancy Lerea

COMMUNITY COMMITMENT TO JEWISH EDUCATION $190,000

SHAVUOT APPEAL Thank you to the 330 contributors, and once again to Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, Riverdale Jewish Center, Young Israel of New Rochelle and Young Israel Ohab Zedek for partnering with SAR to support day school education.

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2012 ANNUAL REPORT

2011-2012 Financials 2011-2012 REVENUE

2011-2012 EXPENSES

SAR ACADEMY AND SAR HIGH SCHOOL

SAR ACADEMY AND SAR HIGH SCHOOL

Tuition, grants, and other revenue cover 88.8% of our needs. Remaining 11.2% is $3.3 million, which was secured through fundraising campaigns.

Total Expenses $29.5 Million*

SAR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN THE PAST YEAR

Salaries and Benefits are 86% of total.

SEPTEMBER 2011 – AUGUST 2012

Capital Spending (IN MILLIONS)

Loan Repayments

$4.85 M

Interest Expense

.44 M

Construction/Building Improvements

.91 M $6.20M

TOTAL

Capital Contributions (EXCLUDING BENDHEIM CHALLENGE GRANT)

$1.5M

PAYMENTS

85.7%

66.7%

TUITION, ANNUAL FUND AND FEES

ACADEMIC SALARIES

NET OF SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS OF $5.8 MILLION

10.0%

11.2%

SEPTEMBER 2010 – PRESENT 20

ACADEMIC BENEFITS

FUNDRAISING

9.6%

2.6%

BUSINESS OFFICE AND FACILITIES — SALARIES AND BENEFITS

EDUCATIONAL GRANTS AND OTHER

5.6%

0.5%

FACILITY EXPENSES

ENDOWMENT WITHDRAWAL

Bendheim Challenge Grant Progress

15

10

5

2.2% SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT

2.1%

0

CAPITAL GOAL: TO BE DEBT FREE

PLEDGES TO DATE

(IN MILLIONS)

(IN MILLIONS)

15

3.5

DEBT RETIREMENT

MATCH

FOOD PROGRAM

1.4% TECHNOLOGY

1.2%

7 NEW PLEDGES

STUDENT ACTIVITIES, TRIPS AND TEAMS

1.1% LEGAL, ACCOUNTING AND OTHER SERVICES

0.1% OTHER EXPENSES

*Not including construction, improvements, interest expense and loan repayments.

All figures unaudited, as of 8.31.12

If you would like to discuss making a gift, or leaving a bequest to SAR, please contact Heidi Greenbaum, Director of Development, greenh@saracademy.org or (718) 548-1717 x1256.

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2012 ANNUAL REPORT

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RABBI YONAH FULD, RABBI BINYAMIN KRAUSS, RABBI JOEL COHN, RABBI SHELDON CHWAT and HARVEY BENNETT, REUNION CO-CHAIR

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CO-CHAIRS

The recently formed SAR High School Alumni Association completed its first year under the leadership of Shoshana Bar-David (Academy ’03, HS’ 07) and Derek Greenbaum (Academy ’04, HS’ 08). Together they have reconnected alumni with one another through Facebook, initiated multiple alumni events and welcomed a new graduating class into the Alumni Association.

THANKSGIVING REUNION

More than 120 alumni from the five graduating SAR High School classes gathered together for the Faculty vs. Alumni basketball game and schmoozing in the cafe over Thanksgiving weekend.

This was the first alumni-wide gathering for the nascent SAR High School Alumni Association.

5-YEAR REUNION

The SAR High School Class of 2007 was a group of “Pioneers” who helped turn the dream of a high school into a reality. Their five-year reunion this spring brought together more than half the class and a dozen faculty. They reminisced about those first years, and reconnected as many alumni graduate from college and begin their careers.

ISRAEL REUNION

In a downtown Jerusalem community center this March, nearly 100 people gathered for our first SAR Israel Reunion in many years. The attendees enjoyed live entertainment from beloved teacher and Jewish music legend Avshalom Katz. They also had the opportunity to reconnect with the four SAR Academy principals who were all in attendance.

Find us on FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/SARalumni

SAR’12

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ADMINISTRATION & PROGRAMMING (2011-2012) SAR COMMUNITY EVENTS

SAR ACADEMY Rabbi Binyamin Krauss ('84) Marcia Jacobowitz Milly Rosner Sharon Richter Rebecca Hirschfield Deganit Ronen Dr. Barbara Gochberg Dr. Adina Shrage Harriet Levin Reva Tokayer Ruthie Stavsky David Glazer Rabbi Yitz Motechin Adina Steinberg Jennifer Sokol Beverly Wolfer-Nerenberg Chavie Wilner

Principal Associate Principal Associate Principal Associate Principal Associate Principal Associate Principal Director of Inclusion Program School Psychologist; Guidance, Grades One, Two Guidance Guidance, Grade Six; Grade Six Coordinator Guidance, Grades Seven, Eight Grade Six Coordinator Grade Eight Coordinator Grade Eight Coordinator Programming Coordinator Director, Communications & Admissions Operations Manager

ACADEMY 'CLASS OF 2012' GRADUATION

Hudi Askowitz (’87), Avigyle Gorodischer, Phyllis Kann, Chairs HIGH SCHOOL ‘CLASS OF 2012’ GRADUATION

Lisa Bernstein, Adrienne Cooper (’78), Debbie Kamioner, Shari Lindenbaum, Debbie Schwartz, Chairs LEARNING TO LOOK

Sarah Zitter Milstein, Tami Weitzman, Chairs NEW PARENT BREAKFAST

Yael Baker, Nava Cohen, Liz Spevack, ELC Chairs Daniella Fuchs, Shira Wurzberger, Academy Chairs Andrea Harris, High School Chair SHABBAT SPARKS

Amy and Noah Weisberger, Hosts SIDDUR SPARKS

Abbie and Moshe (‘75) Greenberg, Hosts PARENT-TEACHER COUNCIL (PTC) PROGRAMS

SAR HIGH SCHOOL Rabbi Tully Harcsztark Dr. Mark Shinar Nancy Lerea Rabbi Jonathan Kroll Dr. Rivka Schwartz Lisa Schlaff Marjorie Jacobs Michael Courtney Lisa Birnbaum Rabbi Akiva Block Rabbi Ruben Gober Karen Goldscheider Rabbi Jeremy Spierer Shoshana Chanales Shira Hecht-Koller Gloria Schneider Dr. Russell Hoffman Dr. Michelle Humi Gila Kolb Michelle Hoch

PTC PRESIDIUM, ACADEMY

Principal Director of General Studies Associate Principal Associate Principal Assistant Principal; Grade Twelve Coordinator Assistant Principal; Israel Guidance Director of College Counseling Associate Director of College Counseling Assistant Director of College Counseling; Grade Ten Coordinator Israel Guidance Israel Guidance Israel Guidance Israel Guidance Grade Nine Coordinator Grade Nine Coordinator Grade Ten Coordinator School Psychologist School Psychologist Registrar Operations Manager; Grade Eleven Coordinator

Sara Blechner, Stephanie Minkove (’91), Adeena Rosen PTC CHAIR, HIGH SCHOOL

Robin Reich PTC TREASURER

Lynda Vidomlanski ACADEMY HIGHLIGHTS ANNUAL PARENTING SYMPOSIUM, “RACE TO NOWHERE”

Jessica Rezak Schwab, Elana Spira, Program Coordinators BOOK FAIR

Rachel Berger, Adina Garbuz, Chairs ELC NIGHT

Sophia Hershman, Nomi Roseman, Ricki Scharf, Chairs ELC WELCOME PICNIC AND CONCERT

Stephanie Minkove ('91), Rebecca Wolf MABEL'S LABELS FUNDRAISER

Lilach Bar MISHLOACH MANOT

Simone Semer, Joanne Siegel, Toby Smith BUSINESS OFFICE Debra May ('85) Geet Engel Heidi Greenbaum Andy Sandler Nick Fadda Gilad Mor

“THE OPEN KITCHEN” COOKBOOK

Executive Director Director of Finance Director of Development Information Technology Director Facilities and Grounds Manager Security

Shoshana Winter, Editor, Tami Bezborodko (’83), Mona Friedan, Aliza Major, Yardaena Osband, Stanley Raskas PARENT SUPPORT COMMITTEE

Andrea Harris, Dina Sterman, Chairs PTC GRADE LEVEL COORDINATORS, ELC-GRADE 8

Nava Cohen, Liz Spevack SAR SPIRITWEAR

2012 ANNUAL REPORT

Susie Loberfeld

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

EDITOR

Heidi Greenbaum

Heidi Kane

DESIGN & LAYOUT

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Ahlgrim Design Group

Kathy Kafer

DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE

DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE

Aaron Steinberg

Rachel Spinner

YOM HA'ATZMAUT CELEBRATION

Tami Bezborodko (’83), Susie Loberfeld, Marcella Marcus HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS JUNIORS' COLLEGE NIGHT

PARENT VOLUNTEERS

Lauren Altholz, Joy Goldsmith, Zeva Herman, Audrey Reich, Jennifer Saal, Ivy Schildkraut, Chairs

Judy Friedman, Sandra Greenstein

LIAISON COMMITTEE

PHOTOGRAPHY

Gilad Mor, as well as staff, parents and alumni who submitted photos.

Stuart Levi, Committee Chair, Carmella Abraham, David Pitkoff, Robin Reich, Liz Samuels, Gail Schorr, Reva Slasky, Debra Sternberg

DEVELOPMENT OFFICE SUPPORT

PARENTS’ SOCIAL NIGHT

Judith Block (parent), Saul Lieman (grandparent), Eva Shaw (grandparent)

Careena Parker, Dasi Schwalbe, Chairs SRUGIM AT SAR

Linda Apple, Sheryl Elias, Chairs

2011-2012 OFFICERS, BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND BOARD COMMITTEES OFFICERS

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

COMMUNITY TRUSTEES

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Ludwig Jesselson z"l Founding Chairman, Board of Trustees

Hudi Bellin Askowitz ('87) Dr. Tzvi Bar-David Benjy Belfer Louis Benjamin Jeff Bogursky Saul E. Burian Ilana Chill Shelley Cohen Adrienne Cooper ('78) Deborah E. David ('78) Abe Eisenstat Stanley Fortgang Avi Friedman Alan E. Goldberg Dr. Steven I. Goldstein Alan M. Greenberg Rabbi Irving Greenberg Moshe Greenberg ('75) Ira A. Greenstein Ari Hait Adam Ingber Benson Jerusalmi Esther Joel Howard Jonas Dr. Dov Kahane ('72) Nathan Kahn Meyer Koplow Dr. Michael Kramer Faye Landes Joshua Landes Dr. Larry Lerner Polina Liberman Dr. Donald Liss Steven Major Daniel Perla Steven S. Pretsfelder Michael Raskas Tobias B. Schapiro Gail Schorr Mark Semer Elissa Shay Ordan Susan Shay Zev Skolnick Marilyn Sopher Jonathan Tropper ('83) Alan Wasserman ('75) Spencer M. Waxman Jonathan N. Wiener

Dr. Norman Kahan Dr. Sheldon Kupferman Dr. Martin L. Leib Michael M. Marton Dr. Stanley F. Schoenbach Ziggy Spindler Milton Steinberg Abraham Zion Mark S. Zion

Dr. Teena Lerner, Chairperson Hudi Bellin Askowitz ('87) Lawrence Burian Marc Jason Alyssa Herman Kronisch Nathan Lindenbaum Careena Parker Dan Perla Mark Semer Barbara Sopher (’80) Lynette Tulkoff Rabbi Marc Wolff

Dr. Brian Grobois z”l

David Brody z”l

Joseph (Joey) Vogel z”l

Adina Wohlberg z”l

DECEMBER 11, 2011 | 15 KISLEV 5772

APRIL 12, 2012 | 21 NISAN 5772

APRIL 15, 2012 | 23 NISSAN 5772

SEPTEMBER 20 , 2012

Beloved husband of Susan, father of Marshal, Julie and Lauren

Beloved husband of Michelle, father of Anina and Raphael Jasper-Brody

Beloved son of Yvette and Murray, brother of David, Mark and Adam

Beloved daughter of Debbie and Jeffrey, sister of Yechiel, Zachary and Shimmy

Ludwig Bravmann Vice Chairman, Board of Trustees Jack C. Bendheim President Harvey Beker Chairman, Executive Committee Michael Jesselson Vice President Sidney Newman Vice President David M. Sable Vice President Dr. Bernard M. Weiner Vice President Dr. Harvey Bennett Treasurer Nachman Mazurek Secretary

ADVISORY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Dr. Jayne and Harvey Beker Dr. Giti and Jack Bendheim Ludwig Bravmann Tamar and Abe Eisenstat Linda and Michael Jesselson Sandy and Nathan Kahn Karen and Mitchell Kuflik Drs. Teena and Larry Lerner David Sable Bettina and Spencer Waxman AUDIT COMMITTEE Barry Aranoff, Chairperson Ira A. Greenstein Adam Ingber

SAR ACADEMY BOARD OF EDUCATION Dr. David Noble, Chairperson Dr. Jayne Beker Dr. Giti Bendheim Herbert Block Dr. Elliot Cohen Dr. Idana Goldberg Atara Gorsetman Dr. Laurel Hecht Lamelle Ryman Monica Shapiro Noah Weisberger

FINANCE COMMITTEE Sandy Kahn, Acting Chairperson Dr. Teena Lerner, Vice Chairperson Harvey Beker Jack C. Bendheim Avi Friedman Michael Jesselson Gabriel Lambert Nachman Mazurek Leon Metzger Stephen Neuwirth Jennifer Paradise Bruce Schanzer Noah Weisberger

IN MEMORIAM

| 4 TISHREI 5773

SAR ACADEMY

SAR HIGH SCHOOL

Jesselson Campus 655 West 254th Street Riverdale, NY 10471 718.548.1717 www.saracademy.org

Dedicated to the Memory of JJ Greenberg z"l 503 West 259th Street Riverdale, NY 10471 718.548.2727 www.sarhighschool.org

! s e t a D e h t Sa ve

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