Solomon Schechter Day School of 
Greater Hartford Newsletter
In This Issue
A Message from Andrea
Schechter Students Win Big at eesmarts Writing Contest
Grandparent Adam Leshem Speaks to 5th Grade
5th Grade Torah Readers
2nd Graders Picnic with HHH Residents
2nd Grade Israeli Shuk
For Your Calendar

Monday, May 23
Kindergarten to Butterfly Conservatory

Tuesday, May 24 
EC 2 to Westmoor Park

Track meet at Berlin HS

Wednesday, May 25
1st grade Hero Show

Thursday, May 26
Lag B'Omer
Field Day

Monday, May 30
Memorial Day
No classes

Tuesday, May 31
1st grade to Mystic Aquarium

Thursday, June 2
8th grade to tour Birkin Manufacturing

Monday, June 13
No Classes
Shavuot

Tuesday, June 14
Middle school trip to Lake Compounce

Wednesday, June 15
9:10 am
8th Grade Recognition Ceremony

Thursday, June 16
Last day of school
8th Grade Graduation

Quick Links
Solomon Schechter Day School offers our heartfelt condolences to... 

Gary and Joan Greenberg, Glen and Deborah Greenberg, Mimi Greenberg, and their families  on the loss of their beloved mother and mother-in-law 
Beatrice Greenberg

The funeral will be held on  Sunday, May 22 at 1:30 pm  at Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford. Interment will follow in the Beth Israel Cemetery, Jackson St. Ext., Avon, CT. 

Shiva will be observed following the interment through Monday evening at her home, 
178 Orchard Road, W H.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Glenn Shafer and Dana Greenberg and their children, Schechter alumni Joshua (2014) and Lily  on the loss of their beloved mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother
Maryellen Shafer
  
The extended family will hold a private funeral. 
A local memorial service will be planned for August. Additional information will follow.

המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי
ציון וירושלים  
  May God comfort you among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

Solomon Schechter Day School extends mazel tov to... 

Debra and Khen Raviv on the occasion of their daughter Eden becoming a Bat Mitzvah this Shabbat.

Solomon Schechter Day School welcomes the newest member of the class of 2030!
Gabriel Spector

Join Our List

Would you like a grandparent, relative, or friend to receive the Schechter newsletter?
Email  LLakenbach@ssds-hartford.org  and include the name, email address, and relationship to Schechter  and we will add them to our list!

 Community Events

May 16-June 3
Donation Drive for Dance!
A social-action project to collect Dance Gear for youth theater programs and dance studios. Click here for more information and where to make your donation.

Sunday, May 22
7:30 pm
Emanuel Synagogue
ADL presentation "What Would You Do?" Interactive and educational, group discussions facilitated by the ADL. Click here for more information.

Thursday, May 26
7:00 pm
Mandell JCC
9th Annual Parenting Conference featuring Amy Alamar, EdD. For more information contact Jane Pasternak 860-231-6342 or click here.

Tuesday, May 31
7:30 pm
Solomon Schechter
Parenting Lessons from a High School Principal featuring Dan Zittoun, Principal at Hall High School. Click here for more information. RSVP  rsvp@ssds-hartford.org

Thursday, June 2
6:30-8:30 pm
University of St. Joseph
Children's Reading Partners presents A Night of Literacy and Laughter.  Click here for more information.

Sunday, June 5
4:30 pm
Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation
Mah Jongg Tournament
For more information contact Terry Cole at 860-558-2587 or click here.

Friday, June 17
5:15 pm
Emanuel Synagogue
Shabbat Under the Stars 
Featuring a "Pre-neg", a musical shabbat service, and BBQ dinner. Click here for more information and to RSVP.

Sunday, June 19
Swim-a-thon 
Click here for more information. 
Photo Gallery





Backtotop
Shabbat Shalom
Parashat Emor
Candlelighting 7:51 pm
May 20, 2016
12 Iyyar 5776

A Message from Andrea
Be Kinder Than Necessary

(excerpt from Ner Tamid Speech)

Thank you once again to everyone that made this year's Ner Tamid a celebratory and successful evening. Thank you to Jayne Rotter, Director of Institutional Advancement, for the spectacular success of this year's Ner Tamid and celebration of Schechter's 45th year. Jayne's partnership over the last two years has been invaluable and the relationships she has developed are fundamental to Schechter's success.

Thank you also to all the people whose work and commitment made the night tremendous: to the event chairs Elaine Leshem and Lauren Eisen and their committee - whose dedication to making the evening beautiful was apparent. Thank you, Sharon Kochen and Jessica Zachs for their incredible partnership. And...thank you to all the members of the faculty and staff of the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford for all the magic they make happen every day in our building. Finally, thank you to the Jewish Federation and Foundation for their incredible support of Schechter, Jewish day schools and the greater community.

It has been a privilege to meet, work with, and be inspired by so many wonderful members of this community. Last week, I was particularly inspired by the remarks of Rabbi Donna Berman, Executive Director of the Charter Oak Cultural Center. Donna quoted, "Be kinder than necessary."

For me as a member and leader in this community, Donna lit a torch, a spark of an idea which I bring to and send out to all of our partners: "Be Kinder Than Necessary"  - Let that be our Ner Tamid.

Let that vision, that aspiration guide us - it has so clearly guided our Ner Tamid honorees - let's not only follow in their footsteps, let's walk beside them and teach our children to do the same.

Education is a promise to change the world one child at a time. Schechter is an idea and a promise of what a meaningful and compassionate world can be.

Shabbat Shalom,
Andrea


Schechter Students Win Big at 12th Annual eesmarts Student Contest
Announced last month, Solomon Schechter students Sydney Huttner (third grade),  Talia Leshem ( fourth grade), and Victoria Boustani ( seventh grade)  were finalists at the 12th Annual statewide eesmarts  Student Contest. The winners in grades K-12 were revealed on April 29th at a ceremony held at the State Capitol. Schechter is thrilled to announce that Sydney Huttner won 3rd place for her fictional narrative about the importance of recycling to conserve Earth's limited resources. Talia Leshem won second place for a news article written for her local paper which included facts about energy efficiency and conservation. In the seventh-grade category, Victoria Boustani received first place for her gubernatorial persuasive speech. Written as the governor of Connecticut, her speech was directed toward residents and businesses; it discussed her policy regarding energy conservation, energy-efficient technologies and clean, renewable energy sources.
 
The eesmarts Students Contest is an annual contest inviting Connecticut students to create projects about energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability.
 
Congratulations to these three students for this outstanding accomplishment and making Schechter's name shine at the state level!


Grandparent Adam Leshem Speaks to 5th Grade
This week, the fifth grade had the privilege of hearing from Adam Leshem, grandfather of fifth grade student Ethan Leshem. Mr. Leshem shared the story of the beautiful Torah scroll that his grandfather saved during his years fleeing the Nazis in Poland. In 1958, when his grandfather was finally able to make aliyah and join the family in Israel, he brought with him the small Torah. Two weeks later, his grandfather died, before the young Adam had the opportunity to learn about his grandfather and from his grandfather.

Mr. Leshem also shared his experiences in the Israeli military during the Six Day War in June of 1967, explaining how the war began as well as some of the strategies employed both by Israel and by the Arab countries surrounding it. At the end of the war, Mr. Leshem noted that in contrast to other country's such as Russia, everyone got the same medal, even generals. Heroes were given special certificates but nothing that you would see walking down the street.

During his talk, Mr. Leshem shared advice that he has learned in the course of his life's experiences. "There is no winning a war. Some lose more, some lose less-but no one wins." At the end of visit, Mr. Leshem shared the following poignant message, "My advice to you, if you have elderly people in your family, is to sit down and talk to them. Ask them questions. I would love five minutes with my grandfather to ask him why of all things, he brought the Torah with him. Listen to them. Learn from them. Everyone has an interesting story."

The students were clearly moved by his visit. Harris Berson said, "Amazing!  The story of the Torah was really cool." Lilian Ehrlich commented, "He shared words of wisdom, and it was amazing how much he could share with us about the Six Day War."   Molly Lerner noted, "His story was very inspiring. I hope that one day I'll be like him and keep precious objects like the Torah. He really cares about it."


5th Grade Students Torah Reading
On Monday  and  Thursday  of this week, six students in the fifth grade read Torah for the very first time in school. Since December, the students have been studying Torah trope, the notation that indicates how the Torah is to be chanted. Applying this knowledge to actual text, the students are now demonstrating the fruits of their labor. 












Spencer Berson , Harris Berson ,   and Maya Patt  read Torah on Monday and  Morissa Kranc , Alex Kowalsky,   and David Wolf read on Thursday. All the students chanted beautifully and with confidence as their parents stood at their sides, faces beaming with pride and love. Enhancing the experience further, each student used the beautiful yad  they each created for just this purpose.  When asked about the experience, Spencer Berson asked "Can I do it again?" 












2nd Graders Picnic with HHH Residents
On Wednesday, students in second grade, their parents, and residents of the Hebrew Home and Hospital enjoyed a barbecue lunch an dessert together. Over the course of the year, the students and residents have been sharing holidays and special occasions together. This was their last visit of the school year. The students have enjoyed getting to know these seniors while the residents have delighted in the relationship with these youngsters. Displaying Schechter's core values of  Kl al Yisrael (community) and Lev Tov (a good heart), the students assisted the residents with lunch, engaged in conversation, and gave them numerous hugs before leaving.

One of the parents observed that "It is so important for my child to know and understand that elderly people have much to share."  Second grade teacher Ziva Kovner said, "This is such a wonderful program for all involved. We look forward to continuing to visit the Hebrew Home with next year's second grade class." 


2nd Grade Israeli Shuk
During the past few months, second grade students have been learning the Hebrew names for many objects in their classroom.  To conclude this unit the students created an "Israeli Shuk." At the shuk, the students practiced selling and buying stationery items using their Hebrew language skills. Third and fourth grade customers visited the shuk to assist the second graders in their Hebrew language skills as well as practice their own skills. 

The second grade class raised almost two-hundred dollars to be donated to Connecticut Childrens' Medical Center.


Victoria's Walk for Early Memory Loss
Victoria's Memory Walk took place on Sunday, May 15 at the Farmington Reservoir. The event, which was organized in honor of my grandmother, was a huge success and helped raise critical funds for Jewish Family Services of Greater Hartford's Early Memory Loss programs. I would like to thank everyone who participated in the walk, supported my lollipop sale, and for all the generous donations made to JFS. For my Bat Mitzvah project I wanted to do something significant for me and my family. It was important for me to give back and support this cause.
 
Thank you,
Victoria Boustani


Schechter 8th Grade Graduation


Susan Kurtis, Editor
Lara Lakenbach and Audrey Sobel, Asst. Editors
Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford