From generation to generation in Israel
JoAnn Rosenberg tells the TJP,
“I made a wonderful trip to Israel this summer to visit my granddaughter, Jennifer Brill, who is studying for her master’s at Ben-Gurion University. There were so many ecstatic moments for me on this visit. The first day I arrived, Jennifer met me at the airport. En route from Tel Aviv, the new highway was breathtaking. I was admiring all the trees off the highway as far as I could see. I told Jennifer how I planted so many of them, all my life in Dallas.
“We went to the Jerusalem Wall at the end of the Sabbath. That was, as always, very emotional, yet inspiring. My granddaughter encouraged me to navigate my way through the crowd so I could touch the Wall. We spent one day at the Diaspora, but I wish we could have spent more time there. There is so much Jewish history there. the most sensational and moving day in Israel for us was when we went to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. I knew that my father, Sidney J. Rubenstein of Dallas, was a founder in 1965. As many times as we have been to Israel, had family go to school there, live there, and even one nephew spending two years in the Israel Defense Forces, no one went to look for the founders’ plaques. First, we went to the Mount Scopus campus and met some very kind ladies who directed us to the campus at the Safrat Ram, the Edmon J. Safra Campus. When we arrived at that campus, the first building had a wall of plaques on the outer side. Above them read, ‘The Society of the Founders of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.’ I was so excited to see that! Jennifer said, ‘Mimi, you will never find it.’ Luckily it was in alphabetical order; I walked up to the R’s, and it immediately jumped out at me! What a terrific day that was to have generations side by side, my father’s blessed memory, my granddaughter and myself to witness the history of our family together.”
Levine Academy students rank among nation’s best and brightest
Year in and year out, Ann and Nate Levine Academy students achieve recognition as some of the brightest in the nation. Levine students have achieved top placement in national mathematics competitions, literary competitions, Judaic/Hebrew competitions, NewBowl and a myriad of other prestigious academic events. This year, Levine Academy is pleased to announce that 18 of its fifth- and seventh-grade students qualified for the 2010 Duke Talent Identification Program (TIP). To qualify, fifth- and seventh-grade students must have scored at the 95th percentile or higher on the verbal or math sections on the standardized achievement test taken last year.
Duke TIP, the largest program of its kind in the nation, identifies gifted children and provides resources to nurture the development of these exceptionally bright youngsters. Qualifying fifth-grade students may participate in Duke TIP’s Talent Search program and are given the opportunity to take the EXPLORE test which was developed by ACT for eighth-graders to evaluate their academic development. In addition, the fifth-grade students receive a variety of academic resource materials, academic courses they can do at home and the opportunity to participate in the Talent Search Writing Contest.
Qualifying seventh-grade students may participate in the Seventh Grade Talent Search program and are invited to take the college entrance exam, ACT or SAT, with high school juniors and seniors. Over the years, Levine Academy students have been among the top performers in the nation and have received national recognition and invitations to participate in a variety of summer academic college-based programs throughout their high school years. Each summer Levine students can be found on the campus of Duke University, taking advantage of the wonderful academic programs Duke TIP has to offer.
“We are so proud that we consistently have a strong percentage of our fifth- and seventh-grade students qualify for TIP,” said K-8 Principal Dr. Susie Wolbe. “We attribute this not only to their natural abilities, but also to the strong curricular base the school provides. We never teach to the test. We simply stress the skills required for a student to be successful. This is why our students excel again and again.”
To learn more about Levine Academy students’ other state and national achievements, contact Dr. Wolbe at 972-248-3032 or swolbe@levineacademy.org.
Congratulations to the following students qualifying for the seventh-grade TIP: Elise Eisenberg, Jonas Frenkel, Jordan Gernsbacher, Shira Hovav, Elena Okowita and Molly Paley.
Congratulations to the following students qualifying for the fifth-grade TIP: Isaac Ableman, Emma Ableman, Cameron Eisenberg, Sophia Fineberg, Carly Hacker, Kayley Horowitz, Josh Kane, Heather Kurtzman, Courtney Rawitscher, Sam Stafford, Seth Sugerman and Sam Weinstein.
‘Wall of Heroes’ project under way by JWV at the Dallas J
Post Historian Jerry Kasten, of the Dr. Harvey J. Bloom Dallas Post 256 of the Jewish War Veterans of America (JWV), informs TJP readers that a visual photo exhibit of veteran members, both current and deceased, is being prepared to go on permanent display at the J at 7900 Northaven Road.
The display, titled the “Wall of Heroes,” will feature photos taken of members in their service uniforms, serving our country in peace and in war. It will identify each member, providing name, arm of service, rate or rank, service years, location and job assignment, and will include members who have served from World War II up to the present.
The JWV, the oldest existing veterans’ organization, was established in 1896. Originally formed by Civil War Jewish veterans to counter anti-Semitic charges that “Jews don’t serve,” it continues its pride of country; in fact, Jews have served in each and every war since the American Revolution.
Current JWV members who have not already done so are requested to submit their service photo (from 2-1/4 by 3-1/4 inches, up to 5 by 7 inches) for this project in an envelope, with the appropriate information, to the JWV mailbox at the Dallas JCC as soon as possible. Families of deceased members are also invited to participate in this worthwhile project. Kasten suggests that larger-sized photos can be minimized to the requested dimensions at a conveniently located Walgreens or CVS store, and then submitted. Since the photos will not be returned, it is advisable also that copies be made at these stores.
In other JWV news, Post Commander Dick Lethe dropped by the TJP office and shared some exciting news about the Post. In August, the Post received the highest awards in community services and monthly newspaper at the national convention, held in Savannah, Ga.
Lethe encourages anyone who has srved honorably in the military to join the veterans of the Dr. Harvey J. Bloom Dallas Post 256. For more information, write the Post 255 in care of the JCC, 7900, Northaven Rd., Dallas, TX 75230.
‘Kosher Chic’ arrives at Shearith
Congregation Shearith Israel Sisterhood will celebrate the arrival of its new cookbook, “Kosher Chic,” on Sunday morning, Oct. 24, from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Ornish Garden.