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Dear NYHS Community,
This past weekend was our first ever freshmen/sophomore Shabbaton on Mercer Island, and it was a success! Over Shabbat, the freshmen and sophomore classes were able to connect on a more intimate level while celebrating Shabbat with the Mercer Island community. It was a unique experience of sleeping in classrooms, playing games, enjoying each other's company and participating in a staple of Judaism together.
Shabbat was filled with thoughtful Devrei Torah, delicious food and good company. Saturday night we cheered on the NYHS 613s at the boys' and girls' basketball games, collaborated with the SHA 8th grade trip to Israel parent volunteers for an awesome dinner, and showed off our skills at bowling.
As we get back into the flow of our lives it is important to take a moment to appreciate the time and effort individuals dedicated to making the Shabbaton possible. If I inadvertently left someone off the list, please know that we appreciate your contributions immensely.
- Mrs. Malka Popper: Mrs. Popper's guidance ensured that no details were left behind in the making of the Shabbaton. From sleeping over in the school (Danny, too!) to the creation of delicious food and beyond, we are grateful for your contributions.
- Island Synagogue: It was a pleasure joining you for services throughout Shabbat and for Kiddush and Seudat Shlishit. Thank you for working with us to successfully coordinate the weekend partnership.
- Sandorffy Family: Thank you for opening up your home to our students and creating a warm environment for the Friday night oneg. Thank you also for rallying the Mercer Island community to supply our students with reflective vests to ensure safety while walking in the dark. Our gratitude goes out to the Sandorffy family, the Greismans, Negrins and Levins and undoubtedly a few more families for lending us vests.
- Dalia Amon: Thank you for donating meatballs to enhance everyone's taste buds!
- Rabbi Nissan Kornfeld: Rabbi Nissan Kornfeld balanced leading Island Synagogue in services (Rabbi Kornfeld Sr. was out of town) and leading NYHS students at meal times with grace and style, not to mention his Friday night learning session. We look forward to having his family join us next time!
- All the people who lent us hot plates for the weekend: Judy Maimon, Jessica Hoffman, and Randy Kessler.
- Patrick Young: Figuring out the building logistics - our heating and security systems - is no easy task and thanks to your efforts we were able to sleep soundly.
- Student Leadership: Mimi Broches, Bronya Sandorffy, Esti Weiss and Brielle Bush were rock stars. They were we involved in a significant amount of planning that ranged from bonding games to researching costs for the Saturday night activity. Their student leadership was an integral part of the success of the weekend. Abraham Bobroff, Dina Koyfman, Fay Koyfman, AJ Maimon and Regie Mezistrano were the people who spent their Friday afternoon preparing the school for students to live in over Shabbat. From re-arranging the furniture in classrooms to making welcome signs, they were a huge help.
- Thank you to all the people who gave Devrei Torah: Baruch Levine (Shabbat dinnner), Mimi Broches (Friday night oneg), Dina Koyfman (Shabbat lunch) and Naftali Katsman (Seudat Shlishit at Island Synagogue). Thank you also to Shoshanah Horne of the Stroum Jewish Community Center, for a meaningful Dvar Torah and interactive discussion exploring chesed and volunteerism in Judaism
- Thank you to all those who led us in Birkat Hamazon and other blessings: Michael Khaimov and Naftali Katsman.
- Shout out to our two additional advisors/chaperones: Jake Baker (2009) and Omri Nimni.
- Jamie Merriman-Cohen and Cynthia Gamel: Thank you to Jamie, Cynthia and all of the SHA 8th grade Israel trip parent volunteers for putting on a delicious dinner for our students Saturday night at the NYHS basketball games. We are thrilled to support the SHA Israel trip and are so appreciative of the great dinner you made for our students and for the hard work and dedication for the trip.
There are so many more people and so much more that went into making this Shabbaton a success. Please know that we are so appreciative of everyone's efforts. Thank you to all of the students who attended the Shabbaton and the parents for allowing us the privilege of spending time with their children over the weekend.
If you registered for the Shabbaton but did not get a sweatshirt, I have one for you. If you did not register for the Shabbaton, you are welcome to purchase a sweatshirt for $10. Also, we have a number of lost-and-found items including a pillow with a white pillow case, a reversible leather belt, a black draw-string bag with jeans inside, a black kippah with silver around the edge, a purple yoga mat, Old Spice deodorant, and a clear water bottle with a blue top. Check in with me if any of these items belong to you!
All the best,
Zelle
Alexandra Zelle Rettman
NYHS Director of Student Life
Phone: 206-232-5272 x 521
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