Schechter Chai-lights is a monthly newsletter for parents of alumni, alumni, current families, and friends of Schechter connecting you to all things SSLI, the latest news, events and more.
We hope you will share your thoughts and stories with us.
|
|
May 18, 2021 / 7 Sinvan 5781 |
|
First Fruits and the Law
During the time that the Temple stood, the holiday of Shavuot was celebrated by people coming to bring bikurim, that is first fruits. The tradition was to bring our first and best crops and offer them to God through the Temple service, to remind ourselves that what we harvest is ultimately due to God.
In this issue of Chai-Lights, we celebrate our bikkurim as well, namely our graduates who have gone on to seed their own fruit trees. Given that this is our Shavuot issue, we have chosen to feature the law through the work of our students who have taken up the law as their profession. As we know, American jurisprudence owes much to the Jewish legal code. Certainly, our students are well-versed in Jewish law, not only in how halachah is practiced but also in its theory and precedent. The way in which our students learn to analyze legal situations as well as the insights that they gain from the study of codes serves them well as future attorneys (and many other professions of course).
I hope you will enjoy learning from our students, and trust that their experiences will serve to enhance your own celebration of z’man matan Toratenu, the time of the giving of our Torah/law.
Chag sameach.
Dr. Scott Sokol, Head of School
|
|
Alumni Spotlight
In its simplest terms, Passover is about liberty and Shavuot is about the law. Liberty without law leads to chaos and law without liberty can lead to tyrannical rule. People have a birthright to freedom but they also need laws to protect their freedom, provide them with security and help them maintain their values. In every era, there has been a struggle to find the balance between liberty and law.
It is a long time since Sinai, but the Ten Commandments remain an excellent code of personal values for each of us to try to live by. During Shavuot, it is incumbent upon us to consider how we can advance the ideals of the Ten Commandments in our personal and public life.
"Justice, justice, justice shall you pursue." We are fortunate to have two of our finest alumni share their journeys to becoming attorneys and their pursuit of knowledge and justice.
|
|
Aharon Barak, a former Israeli Supreme Court justice, said, “the world is filled with law.” On some level, my world has always been filled with law, as I watched my grandpa develop his practice and always wanted to follow in his and my mom’s footsteps as a lawyer. It’s what drew me to the mock trial team at Schechter now more than 15 years ago. But by the time I graduated high school, Schechter taught me to see the law in everything.
My first real foray into statutory interpretation was not in constitutional law 101, but in rabbinics class, of all places. Teachers and classmates alike taught me how to respect authority and challenge it at the same time—even a transactional lawyer needs a healthy dose of chutzpah. By senior year in Jewish Courts class, we were comparing the U.S., Israeli, and Sanhedrin legal systems and asking questions that we continue to grapple with as a society that at their core are about how to fit modern laws into a legal framework that can seem archaic and impossible to navigate at times. My personal statement for law school, which Ms. Stanton helped refine, reflected on how the law shapes our lives every day.
The ability to think critically, which I first developed at Schechter, has become invaluable to me as a young lawyer. As a corporate associate at Sullivan & Cromwell, I work on complex bank mergers, advise new clients on new derivative products, help bring new companies to market and analyze new cryptocurrencies. These require a level of creativity, even in an otherwise linear legal argument, and a steadfastness that might be more intimidating had I not been used to juggling different priorities and deadlines from our dual curriculum days.
Aharon Barak is considered the “John Marshall” of Israel, and I was fortunate enough to take his class on proportionality in the law at Yale. He embodies so much of why I am proud to be following in the footsteps of so many great Jewish lawyers before me. He also teaches that democracy fights with one arm behind its back and challenges us to live up to the promises and ideals of our laws, especially when the decisions get tough, as they were for him presiding over cases on torture and terrorism in Israel. It reminds me to approach the micro and the macro challenges of our legal system with the same vigor, and to advocate for what I believe, and to challenge the persons or parts of the system that pull us away from that. The importance of tikkun olam that I learned at Schechter keeps me focused on pro bono work helping protect vulnerable populations from eviction and volunteering with Jewish organizations outside of work, where there have been endless opportunities to help people who are suffering this past year more than ever.
I’m grateful for all the ways that Schechter has shaped me into the lawyer I am today and for the friends that have been there along the way. The best part of getting into law school was celebrating with my Schechter friends who were waiting in my kitchen that night, and they are still the ones that I rely on for moral support when I need it most.
Danielle Abada (SSLI ‘10) is an associate at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. Her practice focuses on financial institutions, capital markets, and commodities, futures, and derivatives. Danielle graduated from Cornell University in 2014 and Yale Law School and the Yale School of Management in 2017.
|
|
To my Schechter community and family,
Like many of you, I would not be where I am today without the thirteen years that I spent as a Schechter student. The further I get from my high school graduation, the more I realize how special and impactful my time at Schechter was, is, and will undoubtedly continue to be in my life. As I sit in my office in the Central Islip federal courthouse, I cannot help but appreciate the skills and tools with which the Schechter faculty, community, and family equipped me in order to be a successful attorney and member of society.
For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be an attorney. For almost equally as long, Schechter provided me with opportunities to grow and develop a then-burgeoning interest in what will hopefully be a long and fruitful career. I fondly look back on my time as a member of SSHSLI’s Mock Trial team, where our coaches – my father and Mr. Trupin – instilled our team with basic trial advocacy skills. These early experiences provided me with my first taste of litigation and helped me form ad develop skills upon which I hope to be able to rely as I progress in my career.
When I think about the holiday of Shavuot and the Israelites’ receipt of the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai, I am immediately reminded of the importance of both the role and the rule of law in our society. Laws govern our behaviors, teach us the difference between right and wrong, and provide our communities with structure, stability, and continuity. The same could be said for the Israelites when they received the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai. Those two tablets provided a then-fledgling nation with a preliminary set of rules and regulations – a legal “starter pack,” if you will – that has served as our literal and figurative bedrock for millennia. This holiday marks the receipt of what has helped our people develop and grow into the strong, vibrant, and resolute nation that we all identify with and of which we are all members today.
While the Ten Commandments – and ensuing Torah – may have been open to interpretation and not as clear-cut or easily discernable as the Israelites might have wanted or even envisioned, with the help of God and the nation’s leaders, the laws were clarified, concretized, and passed down m’dor l’dor – from generation to generation. So too, as lawyers, it is our job to help our clients, colleagues, friends, and families navigate the myriad laws, codes, rules, and regulations that govern almost every aspect of our current lives. Without clear laws, our society cannot function, and I am humbled to be part of a profession that, as we learn from the prophet Isaiah, functions “as a light unto the nations.”
I am currently working as a law clerk to a federal judge where, on a nearly daily basis, I find myself working with members of the federal judiciary and legal community to ensure that our laws are properly interpreted and clarified for the benefit of our society. On a larger scale, as American Jews, it is our job to help continue to bridge the gaps in this world with humility, compassion, and understanding. I know that I, along with many of your reading, would not have been able to understand and find meaning or fulfillment in Judaism without the help of the Schechter community. For that, I am eternally grateful.
Max Bartell (SSLI '12) is a Judicial Law Clerk at U.S. District Courts. Max graduated from Binghamton University in 2016 and St. John's University School of Law in 2019.
|
|
Sara Poniachek has been a beloved faculty member for 20 years, beginning as a Hebrew teacher and adding Hebrew Coordinator to her portfolio of responsibilities. Sara is known for the extraordinary effort she puts into each year's culminating Senior Class all Hebrew language production. We all wish Sara and her husband Avi a healthy, happy, and a fulfilling new chapter of their lives.
Please read below Sara's reflections on 20 years at Schechter:
|
|
We are used to calling Schechter our second family. It sounds naive, but this is what it was for me. I frequently spent more hours at school than at home. I would arrive early in the morning and leave late in the evening. There were times that I was asked if I had a bed in school so I could rest a little. Sometimes it almost was not worth it for me to go home during the preparations for the seniors' shows and the afternoon rehearsals since I live in Queens. But the most important part is that I really loved the school. Schechter is a very special environment with exceptionally close and friendly faculty, the willingness to listen to each other, and share information and special stories, including very personal ones. It was great to come in the morning and hear interesting discussions about different issues, advising each other how to take care of specific students, cracking jokes, and helping each other out. As an Israeli, I would be asked about my family in Israel, especially during difficult times like the ones we are facing right now. On the other hand, in the Hebrew department, we shared plenty of jokes in Hebrew by Shmulik and in particular by Ofra. Nobody in the teachers’ room could ignore my laugh. Therefore, I would hear the following: “Sara, your laugh is contagious.” When I missed a day or more after surgery, I was welcomed: “Sara, we missed you very much and especially your laugh.” If this isn’t a family environment, I don’t know what it is?
As the coordinator of the Hebrew department, I always enjoyed working with our teachers. We listened to each other, shared ideas and opinions, helped out whenever anyone of us needed help, and we were always there for each other. Our teamwork was outstanding thanks to the two great teachers in the department: Dalia Stern and Shmulik Baumvoll. As it is in life, we had good times and difficulties, but we always managed to overcome them in a very efficient manner. Together, we planned, in addition to the Neta program, a curriculum that included reading books, watching Israeli movies that were discussed in class in order to get students familiar with the Israeli culture by discussing topics like the Israeli youth movements, ethnic groups in Israel, secular and religious Jews in Israel, learning about the lifestyle in the city in comparison to the kibbutz, Israeli sports, Tzahal, current events, political issues and tolerance towards the other. I tried to bring students closer to Israel in order to implement the love for Israel and to prepare them to be Israel’s advocates on campuses.
The most important thing for me was to bring the students to an understanding that knowledge is the key in order to coexist in peace. I always told the students that if they are willing to study and to get to know more about Israel, they will be able to hold a nice conversation and explain issues as needed. At the same time, they will have to listen to others and get to know them better. Only a civilized discussion is the way to get people closer to each other. Being tolerant and listening can get us on a better path.
In summary, I had a great time working at Schechter. Students studied the Hebrew language and got to discuss current events. I feel that my work strengthened the love for Israel in my students and enhanced their sense of connectedness with Israel. In the department, we taught the historical milestones on the path to the establishment of the State of Israel. The students learned about The Balfour Declaration, 11/2/1917, The Partition Plan, 11/29/1947, and the establishment of the State, 5/14/1948 , ה׳ באייר ה׳תש״ח. The Yom Ha’Zikaron ceremony and the senior’s big finale on Yom Ha’Atzmaut presenting a show entirely in Hebrew, is the climax of what I wanted to do, ה׳ באייר ה׳תש״ח, as I look back at 20 years at Schechter.
I started everything in the first year at Schechter, knowing that it will highlight the connection with Israel and the importance of the Hebrew language.
The main message that I wanted to convey is that we need to remember we have only one homeland, and that is Israel. Let’s be proud as Jews and as Israelis. We are one nation, Am Ehad, based on a history that we need to embrace, study and pass on to future generations. The love for Israel will keep us strong, united, and committed.
Am Israel Chai!
Sara Poniachek, Coordinator of the Hebrew Department
|
|
Sara Poniacheck and her work will be honored during this year's Gala.
To join us in celebrating
in-person or via livestream,
|
|
Schechter Gala Goes Live!!!
|
|
To Our Graduates,
We want to take this opportunity to express our deep appreciation to each of our graduates for persevering and modeling positive attitudes and behaviors for our younger students during challenging times. You've stepped up with courage, humor, spirit, creativity, and compassion while continuing to excel academically.
Our community is proud of you and looks forward to celebrating your graduation.
To Our Community,
we would like to introduce you to our SSLI 2021 graduates and join us in offering congratulations to these young women and men and their families.
Please visit us on Instagram for more pictures of the class of 2021.
|
|
CHAI Club- Monthly Giving at SSLI
At the Schechter School of Long Island, one of our goals is to continue providing the highest quality education possible for all students. By becoming a Schechter Long Island Monthly Giving Club Contributor, you can help us make Jewish education accessible for everyone and ensure that our students succeed in school and thrive in life.
Advancing our mission as a Jewish day school with a dual curriculum of excellence requires constant investments in our educational platforms, faculty development, and infrastructure. We rely on our generous supporters to help us make these required investments. With your monthly gift, you will join a dedicated group of Schechter supporters who understand the importance of providing the tools and opportunities necessary to educate our students at the highest levels and to prepare them for a lifetime of advancement and Jewish community involvement.
With each donation of $18 or more, we will send a tribute card to those you’d like to honor.
|
|
For more information or other opportunities please contact
Eileen Olan Bohrer, Director of Institutional Advancement
by calling 516.935.1441 ext. 1131 or
by emailing ebohrer@schechterli.org.
Jewish education is the key to the survival of our community. Your monthly gift will help sustain our school for the future and thereby help ensure that our community benefits from the positive contributions of our students and alumni. Of course, you can always change your monthly amount or modify your preferred method of payment by calling our Development Office.
On behalf of all the students we serve, thank you for making an ongoing investment in their future. Your gift provides an extra level of certainty as we expand existing innovative educational programs and develop new ones for every child, every classroom, every day.
|
|
Mazal Tov to Upper School Jewish Studies teacher Jessica Fruithandler & SSLI Rabbi-in-Residence (and Rabbi of Woodbury JC) Rabbi Jason Fruithandler on the birth of their daughter Hadar Chava (SSLI '39) who was born April 21st.
Mazal Tov as well to Big Sister Liba (SSLI '28) and Big Brother Micah (SSLI '31).
Proud Grandparents are Ethan and Gloria Horwitz, Barbara Cohen, Neil, and Sheryl Fruithandler.
|
|
Mazal Tov to Sarah (Broad) (SSLI '08) and Trace Cohen on the birth of their son Shai Ezra who was born May 5th.
Proud Grandparents are Elissa Buchman and Lewis Broad and Carol and Brian Cohen.
.
|
|
Mazal Tov to Rabbi Dahlia Bernstein (SSLI '05) on her engagement to Martin Yafe.
Proud parents are Rabbi Morris and Naomi Bernstein and Rabbi Felipe and Debbie Yafe of Buenos Aires.
|
|
This month's tributes:
In Honor/ in Memory
|
|
If you would like to honor a person's memory or mark a celebration with a contribution to Schechter LI, you may make an online donation, or send your donation to the Development Office. The family will be notified of your contribution.
|
|
To discuss making a donation to Schechter LI, please email Eileen Bohrer, Director of Institutional Advancement to ebohrer@schechterli.org or call 516.935.1441 ext.1131.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
