By Sharon Wisch-Ray

I love hearing about folks’ spontaneous efforts toward tikkun olam. Read on to learn about a nifty project spearheaded by Brentfield sixth grader Sydney Bennett.

Honorable Menschen

Sydney Bennett and seven of her energetic schoolmates were on a mission late last month. Despite frigid temperatures on Dec. 30, Sydney organized an impromptu mitzvah project, the 4 G Scavenger Hunt. 4 G stands for “Great Girls Gathering Goods.”

The girls spent close to two hours knocking on doors to collect donations for Operation Kindness, Goodwill, North Texas Food Bank and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. In that short time, they collected 60 items for Goodwill, 150 canned food items, and $185 for MS and 10 items for Operation Kindness. Sydney is the daughter of Leigh and Scott Bennett. Yasher koach!

Noted educator and author Michael Gurian will be Pollman lecturer at Akiba

Akiba Academy will welcome New York Times bestselling author, educator and family counselor Michael Gurian to the school at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 30 as part of its Pollman Lecture Series. The talk is free and open to the community.
A prolific author of 25 books, Gurian’s research has demonstrated how the distinction in hard-wiring and socialized gender differences affects how boys and girls learn. Gurian presents a new way to educate children based on brain science, neurological development, and chemical and hormonal disparities. His innovations have been applied in classrooms throughout the country and proven successful, with dramatic improvements in test scores. In his best-selling classic “Boys and Girls Learn Differently,” he explained the origin and nature of gender differences in the classroom. His important book explored the behavior teachers observed and the challenges they faced with both boys and girls in their classrooms.

Important blood drive

Yavneh Academy will host its annual Maddie’s Mitzvah blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, Jan. 25 in the school’s Pollman Hall (12324 Merit Dr., Dallas).
First dedicated seven years ago for Maddie White, the granddaughter of Bill Burns, long the school’s printer and supporter of its programs and events, Yavneh is glad to report that Maddie who at one time required many surgeries and the transfusion of hundreds of pints of plasma, whole blood and platelets, is a thriving seventh grader and is doing well.
This year, Yavneh has added a bone marrow registration drive, in partnership with Delete Blood Cancer (www.deletebloodcancer.org) to its Maddie’s Mitzvah, in the merit of good health toward community member Zach Guillot.
Walk-in donors are welcome or contact Deb Silverthorn at 972-839-6916 or info@yavnehdallas.org to request an appointment.
Lauren Stock will speak to Yavneh’s students Friday morning about her High School Heroes program, promoting bone marrow registration for students when they turn 18.

It’s time to apply for a JFS Klein Summer Internship

The application process for the Klein Summer Internship Program is underway at JFS. High school sophomores or juniors who turn 16 by Sept. 1, 2013, are eligible to apply.
This six-week internship program gives students the opportunity to work with non-profit agencies in the DFW area, matching each student’s individual interests and skills with the needs of the participating agencies. There are approximately 25 internships available this year.
Students are considered for internships without regard to religion, race or ethnicity. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 11. Submit online or by email to Beri Schwitzer at bschwitzer@jfsdallas.org. For more information or an application, visit http://www.jfsdallas.org/rabbi-gerald-j-klein-summer-internship-program.

Sports shorts

• Austin College senior Ariel Marder was named by the Jewish Sports Review as a First Team All-American in women’s soccer, Marder, a midfielder from Plano, is one of just 11 players to be named to the First Team, which consists of players from the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA levels. Marder, who was an All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference selection this season, scored two goals, including one game winner, and was among the conference leaders with eight assists. She also led the ‘Roos with 12 total points for the year.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. Ariel is the daughter of Beth and Charlie Marder.

• Alan Rosenthal, 18, a St. Marks’ senior has been named to the Maccabi USA Cycling team and will travel to Israel for the 19th annual games in July. You may remember Alan from a Good Sports profile in the TJP in September 2011. He is fairly new to biking; he picked up the sport during his freshman year.
The cycling season has started and Alan has been training hard for the past few weeks. His first races of the high shhool season will be Feb. 9 and 10 at the Cedar Hill Race Festival, which is a pre-season event. After that, he will compete in statewide races. The last race he competed in was the Junior 4/5 McInnish Park Crit in December where he placed 1st. A “crit” or criterium is a short, fast bike race usually less than five kilometers. Often held on closed-off city streets, it requires a great deal of technical skill due to the tight corners and close competition.
Like all Maccabi USA athletes Alan will be required to raise $5,000 for his trip. To help support Alan’s Macabbi USA efforts visit his fundraising page at tinyurl.com/arhmauv.
Alan is the son of Ana and Leon Rosenthal of Dallas.

Smart cookies

• Ben Schachter, son of Amy and Steve Schachter won the Levine Academy Middle School Geography Bee sponsored by National Geographic. Ben is now eligible to take a written test to qualify for the regional competition.
• Amanda Steinborn, daughter Vivian and David Steinborn of Dallas has been accepted into the American Hebrew Academy Honor Society. Amanda is an eighth grader at Akiba Academy. The Academy, America’s premier Jewish pluralistic college-prep boarding school, recently extended invitations to 50 students worldwide for admittance into its exclusive organization. Now in its fourth year, the American Hebrew Academy Honor Society is an international honor society that acknowledges exceptional 8th and 9th grade students, like Amanda, who have demonstrated excellence in academics, athletics, the arts, leadership and service to their communities.
• Dalit Agronin, daughter Carol and David Agronin of Dallas earned Dean’s lists honors for the Fall 2012 semester of Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa. Students must earn a minimum of a 3.5 grade point average (4.0 scale) to attain Dean’s List status. A member of the class of 2016, Dalit is a graduate of Yavneh Academy.
Keep the news coming! We love to hear from our readers. Send your news to me at sharonw@texasjewishpost.com or by snail mail to me at 7920 Belt Line Road, Ste. 680, Dallas, TX 75254.