Bialik January Newsletter (2010)

Message from the President of Bialik

Michael EliesenThis month, a group of Bialik students will be off to San Diego to work with Habitat for Humanity there, following in the footsteps of last year’s students who worked hard building a home for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Last month, Bialik students proudly carried the Olympic torch, and many others volunteered with Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger. Wherever you turn in Montreal and farther afield, don’t be surprised to encounter Bialik students connecting with the outside world in meaningful ways.

Over the next few weeks, you will be receiving in the mail our 2008-2009 printed annual report. While it does list those who have contributed between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009, for which we are most grateful, it also recognizes all those who contributed to the Bialik Expansion Campaign and recalls the delightful day of our press conference and official inauguration of Bialik’s Athletics and Performing Arts Centre on May 19, 2009. It may seem like a long time ago now, especially as we focus on other priorities, but we shouldn’t lose sight of all that was accomplished in two short years, thanks to your help and those who came before us.

I want to also draw your attention to the tribute we pay to alumni, including those who are active on our boards and committees. Many more contribute in many ways, by serving as ambassadors of the school, for instance, as is the case with the alumni of the month. We are intensely proud of our graduates and recognize that their success reflects back on the school. And in turn, by highlighting their achievements, we hope that they derive some benefit, if only recognition. We will continue our efforts to reconnect with the alumni and to exploit their willingness to mentor today’s students. Once a Bialik student, always a Bialik student. Our family is growing.

Michael Eliesen

Message from the Head of School

Laurence FhimaJPPS has been in mourning since the passing of Leah Perez, a beloved member of the JPPS staff as well as a parent of four JPPS-Bialik graduates and daughter of JPPS teacher Chaia Libstug. We extend our sincere condolences to the family and thank Leah’s daughter, Mitzi, for having written a heart-felt piece in this newsletter, a comfort to us all.

On a brighter note, at JPPS this month, a number of students received certificates for having welcomed new students to the school. The students were delighted to be recognized for something that comes naturally to them. Singling out these students certainly sets a wonderful example for other students. Furthermore, recognition of achievement doesn’t only come in the way of marks on tests or report cards.

You will also want to read the article about Dr. Ioana Constantinescu, Bialik’s Director of Academic Support, and the new steps she is taking to better monitor students’ progress. This is all part and parcel of our differentiated learning approach and our constant evaluating of how we go about it.

By the way, Randy Zucker wants parents to know that a limited number of places will become available for the CPE’s summer camp program. Do contact her at 514-488-1232 if you are interested.

On behalf of the Head Office staff, I wish to thank JPPS Home and School for the Chanukah basket. They spoil us!

Laurence Fhima

Message from the Principal of Bialik

Andrew TragerNow that we are back from our break, the month of January continues to unfold with many new and exciting events and activities. A group of 20 Secondary V students accompanied by staff chaperones will be going to San Diego from January 24th through February 1st to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, where they will help rebuild homes that were devastated by the forest fires in that area. To finance their trip, the students have been raising funds through a comedy night, working as grocery baggers in supermarkets, selling water bottles, and soliciting trip sponsors whose names will appear on special T-shirts.

Secondary IV students will be once again participating in a moot court experience this year. The Moot Beit Din program, now in its second year in the mainstream community, is a GEN J–sponsored program that comes to us via BJEC and brings in the McGill University Law School as a partner. Students from Jewish high schools (Bialik, École Maimonides, Hebrew Academy, and Herzliah) learn the Jewish background to be able to debate the outcome of a legal case from an informed Jewish perspective. Students will travel to McGill University Law School on January 20th for a workshop with a law professor on developing legal cases. This year's case deals with the confidentiality of a patient/doctor relationship when it comes into conflict with a threat of danger to others. The top four student groups from each high school will argue their cases before a panel of community rabbis, who will decide on the winning argument, on May 17th at McGill,.

A variety of speakers visited Bialik during January. The Secondary I sensitization program this month featured guest speaker Jill Solomon, who discussed her experiences living with Tourette's Syndrome. Throughout the year, students have the opportunity to meet people who are coping with diverse disabilities and to engage in conversation with them to gain a better understanding of the challenges they face.

Dr. Laurie Plotnick, the chief of the ER at the Montreal Children's Hospital, spoke to our Secondary IV and V students on January 12th about her experiences in the emergency room with adolescent drinking.

A CPR and first aid course for all Secondary III students was held on January 13th. This course is invaluable in giving them basic skills to handle emergency situations until professional help is available.

The Tolerance Caravan is a prejudice and discrimination–awareness activity sponsored by the Tolerance Foundation. During the week of January 18th, senior students will have the unique opportunity to interactively explore and discuss themes related to tolerance. The workshop exhibit will consist of texts, photos, and videos geared to stimulate students to listen and discuss issues of discrimination, such as sexual orientation, ethnic origin, age, social status, religion, and handicap, by which many people are victimized.

Justin Trudeau, Member of Parliament for Papineau, will visit Bialik on January 29th to talk about youth being the leaders of today and how they can make a difference in their community and beyond

Secondary III students will be attending a shabbaton on February 5-6 at Camp B'nai Brith. This will offer them the opportunity to reflect on their studies at Bialik and participate in physical, spiritual, and religious activities while interacting with their peers and school staff.

The sports program is in full swing, with our basketball, peewee hockey, and curling teams busy with practice and competitions. Bialik will be hosting the first JPPS-Bialik Elementary School Basketball Tournament on two Sundays, March 7th and 14th. Eight schools have been invited to participate in this event, which will include music, refreshments, and great prizes. Relatives and friends are welcome to come out and support the teams.

A ski/snowboard outing to Mont Tremblant is planned for February 3rd for students who are experienced in either of these activities.

Following on the heels of our very successful Bialik Theatre production of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, rehearsals are well underway for Hello Dolly, which will be presented on March 23-25, with the Gala Concert taking place on March 24th. We are also looking forward to this year's Fashion Show on February 10 and 11. I encourage you to attend these entertaining events and show your support for our talented, enthusiastic students.

Andrew Trager

JPPS-Bialik in the News

The first-in-the-news section of the new decade begins with a glance at 2009’s conclusion. Warren Macdonald’s motivating talk at Bialik was written up in the Canadian Jewish News by David Lazarus towards the end of November (November 26). Moreover, in the winter 2010 edition of the newspaper Inspirations (local educational newspaper geared towards individuals and their families with special needs), Warren Macdonald’s visit is again mentioned. Also in the CJN (December 9), JPPS-Bialik was discussed in an article on the subject of Montreal Jewish schools currently undergoing CESI certification and those that must begin the process. JPPS-Bialik, of course, is well on its way towards certification. JPPS was prominently featured in the Gazette on Saturday, December 12, with a photo of children lighting a Chanukiya gracing its pages. The grand opening of the CPE drew some media attention as well, as the Suburban mentioned the event in its December 16th edition. Attended by the majority of Cote St. Luc city councillors, including Mayor Anthony Housefather, the joyous evening was mentioned on the CSL website as well as on the personal weblogs of Mike Cohen and Glenn Nashen. Also in the same December 16th edition of the Suburban, one of Bialik’s Olympic torchbearers, Daniel Etcovitch '10, wrote a first-person account of his experience.

David Smajovits '00

JPPS-Bialik Sports

The Bialik Bulldogs and JPPS Pugs have been released from their cages for 2010! As always, do monitor Matt Starr’s weekly athletic updates on the website for all things JPPS-Bialik sports. The JPPS-Bialik Athletics Department was quite pleased with the two exhibition showcases of elementary school basketball talent, as both JPPS Grade 6 boys and girls teams played the Solomon Schechter Academy Cougars at the Helen and Sam Steinberg Gymnasium at Bialik. In two highly competitive games, SSA defeated the Pugs both times. JPPS-Bialik would like to thank all the parents, students, coaches, athletes, and staff for making this a successful and fun event.

http://www.jppsbialik.ca/en/bialik/athletics

  • Ronny Varga from Action Sports Physio is back again in 2010 to help with all sports injury–related matters. He will be at Bialik every second Thursday during lunchtime to evaluate whatever ails our student athletes and staff.
  • As JPPS continues to develop its athletics program, a lack of coaches is the greatest issue. If you or someone you know has basketball knowledge at the technical level and has prior coaching experience, please send an email to Emerson Thomas, JPPS-Bialik Director of Athletics, at e.thomas@bialikmtl.ca at your earliest convenience.
  • The Pee Wee Bulldogs hockey team exploded offensively against a very tough Polyvalente Dalbé Viau (PDV) team on January 11, as they went on to defend home ice in a decisive victory. The Midget girls Division 1 Bulldogs came away with two much needed victories last week (week of January 11) against Buerling and ECS. And the very popular Bulldog curling team secured two wins against Villa Maria in recent action.

David Smajovits '00

Alumni of the Month: Marian and Randy Pinsky

Marian and Randy PinskyThe majority of my Bialik educational career (1995-2000) overlapped with that of our January 2010 co-alumni of the month, Randy and Marian Pinsky (1996-2001). It is with this in mind that I can genuinely write that these identical twins have been trying to “heal the world” ever since they first knew what the idea meant. Graduates from that era or perhaps other close followers of Bialik may recall that the internationally renowned advocate for ending child labour, and himself the founder of the organization Kids Can Free The Children, Craig Kielburger, spoke at Bialik in 2001 as a result of the Pinsky’s relentless fundraising and campaigning for the cause. The girls' having tasted success by raising the community’s consciousness of that issue, we could tell that there was so much more to come from them.

Helping victims of injustice on the other side of the world was one thing, but the sisters realized that there was plenty to be done locally as well. Along came The Starburst Entertainers. In the words of Marian Pinsky, “We’re a group of friends that regularly performs benefit concerts in senior residences, entertaining lonely seniors, and at the same time, always fundraising for a number of different causes. Since 2000, the group has evolved a lot, with musicians and dancers (my sisters help choreograph and perform tap dance trios), and we’ve even had a magician join our group of dynamic performers!” Marian explained that the idea for the entertaining troupe came to light as a result of performing annual birthday concerts for their zaida. They figured that if they enjoyed entertaining so much, why not just add a fundraising component and accomplish more? According to Marian, they have organized well over 100 benefit concerts and events, helping a plethora of organizations, including the Jewish National Fund, Magen David Adom, and victims of Hurricane Katrina.

As the sisters have matured, so have their ideas. Last summer, they co-organized a successful public workshop series with the Social Justice Committee of Montreal on the subjects of Third World debt and social activism. Titled “Responses to the Global Economic Crisis and Its Impacts in the Third World,” the series was highly interactive, and audience discussion and participation was encouraged. From holding corporations accountable, following the release of a case study that revealed certain Canadian mining companies’ complacency in human rights violations, to a detailed discussion on Third World debt, there was plenty of learning going on.

Since this workshop was billed as “sustainability and social justice in action,” it stands to reason that these intrepid girls would ensure that what was advertised was delivered. The conference was as sustainable as possible, using reusable dishes from Sustainable Concordia (they laboured until midnight in a deserted building, washing them with their team, with cloth towels, absolutely no paper); moreover, the food was catered by the Share the Warmth community kitchen that served only fair trade hot beverages. Randy continued, “We also coordinated a fundraising raffle to enable similar Social Justice Conferences to take place in the future where our supporters were carefully selected on their adherence to development and social economy principles. These included Ten Thousand Villages, Vive la Différence, the Concordia Co-op Bookstore and Le Frigo Vert (supplying local and organic food).”

You may be wondering what the Pinsky sisters do when they aren’t volunteering their time. Marian is currently working with a research group with Concordia’s Sociology Department called the Global Futures Laboratory, specifically, the Transition Project, which is researching the viability of social economy by way of conducting interviews with different Montreal community organizations.

“I am really intrigued by India, as it exhibits a diversity of innovative, often women-led initiatives in response to the food crisis. I’m interested in looking at alternatives and responses to attempts at the corporate control of food and the efforts to regain food security and even food sovereignty,” Marian elaborated.

Randy is on her way to completing her second bachelor’s degree, with an Honours in Political Science. She wants to focus her studies on the fields of human rights, international development, and peace building. She would love to build on her wonderful experiences as an intern at the Quebec Regional office of B’nai Brith.

To be sure, these girls have not devoted their lives to these causes because of the accolades; however, this article would not be complete without bringing to light the fact that, in the summer of 2009, Marian and Randy Pinsky were recognized with the Lieutenant-Governor Youth Medal for academic achievement, community activism, and youth leadership. Wow!

As I finish writing this piece, and peruse Marian’s research website, http://globalfutures.concordia.ca/test55442237/Laboratory/Members.html, it’s quite striking how little I was previously aware of these specific global challenges. And while some fine people are hard at work searching for answers, there’s so much room for everyone to play their small part. Now, just how do these issues get a universal buy-in? That’s food for thought.

David Smajovits '00

Academic Support Is Here to Support!

Back in November, Dr. Ioana Constantinescu, Director of Academic Support Services, initiated a pilot project: a drop-in centre over the lunch hour at least once a week for students looking for extra help. Curiously enough, only seven students have attended (five students attended once; one student attended twice; one student attended seven times). It appears that, unless a student can excuse himself/herself from class, extra help is not that appealing. This will not keep her from seeking more innovative ways in which to provide the support that supposedly our students need.

In the meantime, Dr. Constantinescu is working diligently on evaluating LEAP and has already begun implementing some changes with a view to ensuring that our students become independent learners. They include more ongoing monitoring of students’ progress, better communication between the school and the parents, and more written feedback that helps keep track of students’ progress. In fact, where the latter is concerned, instead of waiting for report cards, Dr. Constantinescu encourages teachers to provide her on an ongoing basis with written feedback on the academic performance of any student, LEAP or not. The teachers have forms to complete in which they specify the nature of the issue at hand.

Dr. Constantinescu is also very proud to share with us her work with transition teacher Linda Cohen, who provides Secondary I and II students with wonderful support to ensure that they are equipped with organizational strategies, including keeping their lockers binders, and knapsacks organized, which will serve them well in the long term, no doubt.

Elizabeth H. Kennell, Director of Advancement

Hello, Concert! Gala 2010 Is on a Roll!

Point ZeroCo-chairs Lianne Routtenberg and Andrea Sochaczveski, together with their hard-working committee, are determined to deliver on all fronts, all but the stage production of Hello Dolly, of course. Judging by their success to date, including the securing of two principal event sponsors, Point Zero and Bench, and one in the works, they will be successful! Letters have already gone out to past advertisers. Invitations will go out early next month. Talmidim have been selling like hotcakes at parent-teacher interviews. Meetings have been boisterous occasions for much discussion, and the most recent one included a private sneak preview of Moriel Shahin, aka Dolly, singing one of Hello Dolly’s hit songs under the direction of Bialik Theatre’s Anisa Cameron. She was joined by fellow student producers Michelle Rubin, Noam Shalev, and Einav Ne’eman, and the excitement was palpable.

Bench.Special tribute this year will be made to a family of siblings well known to the JPPS-Bialik community. They are Benjamin Roskies Z”L, Ruth Roskies Wisse, Eva Roskies Raby, and David Roskies, whose father, Leo Roskies has been immortalized through Bialik’s Library’s carrying his name. Each deserves recognition in his or her own right. Together, they will be this year’s award recipients. You will hear more about their many accomplishments that distinguish them internationally.

Amy Finkelstein, Advancement Manager

The Tickets Have Arrived!

Raffle Co-chairs Marcy Blitt and Leslie Ornstein and their enthusiastic team—Liz Brinberg, Kathy Caplan, Andrea Greenberg Kadanoff, Marc Knobovitch Sherri Leibmann, Karla Luks Ross ‘84, Jennifer Radowitz ‘92, Marnie Stern, Suzanne Grant Schwartz, Nadine and Lorne Switzer, and Jennifer Zucker—have already met several times. They are committed to selling as many tickets as possible, at $100 apiece, because the proceeds go towards tuition assistance. If you know of anyone who is interested in winning a cash prize – who wouldn’t be? — contact either Marcy Blitt (514-502-4390) or Leslie Ornstein (514-831-5564). You should also know that Board members will be selling raffle tickets, too. Whoever sells the most will win a pair of football tickets or a $100 gift certificate at Change Lingerie. So, don’t be surprised to receive a call back within minutes!

Elizabeth H. Kennell, Director of Advancement

Coming Soon: A Fitness Studio Near You—at Bialik!

Student-athletes of all shapes at sizes, including the youngsters from JPPS and Solomon Schechter Academy who played in a basketball tournament here last week, are making great use of Bialik facilities. Following our winter break, they will have a fitness studio, too!

Mrs. Rhoda Rappaport, whose grandchildren are Bialik graduates (Lana ’07, and Rachel ’08) as well as Secondary II student Austin, Secondary IV student Michael, Secondary V student Evan, donated the funds in honour of her late husband, Morton, to make this possible.

Being built on the old stage floor, not only will it respond to the needs of Bialik Bulldog team members in terms of their building core strength, but it will also appeal to other students interested in yoga, Pilates, or other floor exercise programs. Thanks to Emerson Thomas, Director of Athletics, it will also be equipped with an audio system that he is generously donating, and thanks to Secondary IV students Noam Blauer, Ryan Golt, and Joelle Salzman, who ran a bazaar last year, their net profit in part will defray the costs of some equipment, beginning with mats and small weights.

The Athletics Council, chaired by Josh Newpol ’99, is excited about the continued growth of athletics at JPPS-Bialik. Their members, including Rhoda Rappaport’s daughter-in-law, Iris Campbell Rappaport, are committed to engaging as many students as possible in some athletic activity and to ensuring that the resources, both in terms of facilities and coaching, are there. Emerson Thomas, who has had experience running a fitness studio in the past, is well positioned to ensure that it is put to good use. As he says, “Located between the two gyms it will complete our interior facilities. When we address the exterior field, we will truly have a great athletics complex and be among the front runners worthy of our student-athletes, who are performing fantastically not just in the JISA league but also in the GMAA (see JPPS-Bialik Sports News).”

Elizabeth H. Kennell, Director of Advancement

P.S. If anyone finds themselves with some under-utilized equipment, such as a treadmill, we can take care of that guilty feeling and provide you with a very useful receipt for income tax purposes!

It Is Not Only the Alumni Who Think of JPPS or Bialik When It Comes to Preparing Their Wills

BellandiBella Rubinstein Cohen (pictured at right, with neighbour Annette Cohen) passed away at the age of 103 in 2009 but not before thinking of JPPS among many other Jewish educational institutions. She left a bequest for JPPS in her will and yet had never been a student of JPPS or any other Jewish school, having been brought up in Hawkesbury, Ontario, and moved to Montreal at the age of 18.

She believed fervently in the importance of education. She even dreamed of being a journalist, but felt she couldn’t pursue it for financial reasons. While she and her husband had no children of their own, they adopted their long-time neighbours, aptly named the Cohen family, Rosie and Annette, in particular, who took good care of Bella, spending every Shabbat together and all holidays, including graduations, birthdays, and bar and bat mitzvahs. She encouraged her “grandchildren” to do well in school and in all their pursuits. She loved reading and crossword puzzles and was bright and healthy to the end. She inspired each member of the extended Cohen family, and now, through her generous gift to JPPS, is doing likewise for today’s students. How fortunate for all. We are indebted to “Bella!”

We are indebted to Bialik parent Neil Bernstein, Bella Cohen’s trusted accountant, who facilitated this estate gift to JPPS-Bialik.

Cougars and Pugs Stage Instant Classic at Bialik

JPPS Girls BasketballAlthough no record was on the line, the Exhibition Friendly Basketball Game between the SSA Cougars and JPPS Lady Pugs at Bialik’s new gym was buzzing with excitement. Before the game, festivities included live music, player introductions, and crowd participation with Baruch the Bulldog, Bialik High School’s official mascot. From the opening tip off, it was clear that the game was going to be a defensive struggle; both teams played hard coverage, lunging at loose balls, and picking up important steals. Even though Solomon Schechter played in a higher division than JPPS, it was the Lady Pugs who drew first blood. They stayed with the Cougars throughout the first half and pulled ahead when Sierra Leibner put in a rebound to make it 12-11. The Pugs would add 3 more points before the half ended to go ahead 15-11.

At half time, Cougars coach Sergio Lopez preached to the team to “buckle down and play their game,” and his words inspired the team as they clawed back to try to draw even. After Chloe Gordon added her team high eighth point of the night to cut the Pugs’ lead to 17-15, JPPS took a time out in an effort to calm the team. The teams then exchanged points up until the two-minute mark of the fourth, as the Pugs still led 25-24. From then on, the Cougars attacked the Pugs on defence. Chloe Gordon picked up one of her game high 18 steals of the night, and the ball came to Nikki Nahoum, who made good on a chance in front of the basket and scored with a minute left to make it a 26-25 SSA lead. Emma Perez finished off a strong drive to the net to make it 28-25 Cougars, and as the final horn sounded, that was what the score read.

Even though the game meant nothing in the standings, both teams played hard to the final seconds. “We just played hard all game long, and didn’t give up on chances,” game MVP Gordon remarked. “One of the great things about this team was that we came together early on in the season, and it really helped our chemistry.” Bialik High School cannot wait for these future stars to represent the Bulldogs next year, this time playing together and not as opponents.

Ethan Gordon '10

JPPS-Bialik Is Ready for Vancouver 2010

Daniel EtcovitchThe tradition began many a year before these guys were born, but when the Olympic torch passed through the Montreal area in December, three Bialik students, Robbie Laxer, Secondary II; Daniel Etcovitch, Secondary V; and Ryan Segal, Secondary I all became a part of Canadian Olympic history by running a leg with the torch at different spots.

I, along with students from JPPS, was fortunate to be on hand for Daniel Etcovitch’s run, which occurred along Queen Mary leading up to the Hampstead Town Hall. Yes, it was bitterly cold outside, and yes, the organizers were forced to play the same Sarah McLachlan song “One Dream” ad nauseam (oh right, it’s the official Olympic Games song), but when I caught a glimpse of Daniel running with the torch, I must admit, I felt “Olympic” goose bumps. While watching the flame dance in the air, I could only imagine the experience that Daniel and the others have catalogued to memory. Incidentally, I later discovered that I would have to imagine no longer, as Daniel, who was named the Suburban’s Athlete of the Week, wrote an article on his experience in the Suburban! http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/The-Suburban/thesuburbandec16_2009/2009121601/

Bernard LebovitsAnd while no JPPS student was able to run with the torch, the students were actually treated to an Olympic-sized surprise when torch bearer Bernie Lebovits from Cote St. Luc dropped by for a visit. How exciting!

David Smajovits '00

Alice Had a Great Time in Wonderland

Alice in WonderlandIs it possible to bestow any accolades on Bialik Theatre that haven’t already been bestowed? As someone without a theatre background, I enjoy kvelling when I hear, “That doesn’t look like a high school production,” from people I speak to do regarding Bialik’s theatre program. The superb production team of Anisa Cameron, Nick Burgess, Isabelle Boudreau, and many others form a foundation of excellence that the students thrive on. I can’t hardly wait for Hello, Dolly in March!

David Smajovits ‘00

PS Who is that “rabbinically” inclined chef there in the picture?

Body Language

The Bialik Fashion Show is always one of the more exciting and entertaining events on the calendar. This year’s theme, “Body Language,” certainly has the makings of a classic. Tickets always sell out, so don’t delay and log onto http://store.jppsbialik.ca/products/tickets-for-fashion-show to securely order your tickets at the online store.

Visit by Mark Talesnick

Mark TalesnickBack in November, Bialik had a very successful visit from Professor Mark Talesnick of the Technion, Israel's technical university, a top science and engineering centre in Haifa. They have just opened an international centre, a "section Anglit" program for students to learn in English the same subjects that all students learn at Technion. Professor Talesnick is touring schools in Canada now, talking about science in Israel as part of highlighting the program.

After his talk concerning his engineering field of geotechnology, he specifically and repeatedly remarked on how impressed he was with Bialik students (he had already visited other high schools in Montreal). He said that they asked so many questions, of such depth, that he was very highly surprised and pleased and wanted to be sure that we knew what an excellent impression—over and above their behaviour—they had made on him, especially with their demonstration of scientific knowledge and curiosity

Rabbi Daniel Rosenberg, Director of Jewish Studies

Alcohol and Our Teens: What Everyone Should Know

Dr. Laurie PlotnickBialik cares about its students, and understands the world of today’s teenagers. To that end, on January 12, Bialik students and staff alike welcomed Dr. Laurie Plotnick of the Montreal Childrens’ Hospital. Dr. Plotnick spoke in a frank manner about the effects of alcohol on the adolescent brain and body. She had the full attention of the students, who asked forthright questions about the sometimes very awful consequences of underage drinking.

David Smajovits ‘00

Bialik Alumnus Healing the World in Israel

A special yasher koach must be said to Bialik alumnus Jonathan Bonder ’97 aka Yonatan Ben Dor. After immigrating to Israel six years ago, Yonatan helped create an organization called Table to Table Israel, which collects surplus food from various sources and then distributes it to the needy. An article in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz claims that Yonatan’s website (www.israelgives.org) “enables non governmental organizations to share information about their projects and activities in the form of papers and other documents, photos and video clips in their profiles. The site encourages transparency by rewarding those organizations that reveal more information about themselves with a higher ranking in the site's search engine.” Ben Dor says that “the site enables anyone, in Israel, or abroad, to play a part in the development of the state and to contribute to changing the lives of millions of Israelis.”

David Smajovits '00

Briefly . . .

Shoshana Fleischer ClassThose fortunate enough to have longtime JPPS-Bialik teacher Shoshana Fleisher as a teacher know how lucky they are! A strong proponent of hands-on learning, Mrs. Fleischer decided that the very best way for her students to learn about the Dead Sea was to bring the Dead Sea to the students! One afternoon, students smeared and slathered authentic Dead Sea mud on themselves in order to feel the effects of the salt. Cool!

A staff member of 33 years who always dreamed of taking this solemn journey will be Bialik’s staff representative on the trip that visits the Nazi death camps as well as Israel. The JPPS-Bialik community looks forward to reading Lainie Smajovits’ reflections on the MOL in a forthcoming newsletter.

The response to the Mazon Food Drive was amazing. Here are two thank-you letters, one written by a paren, and one by a Mazon Canada employee.

Hi Avi -
Thanks so much for bringing Mazon into Bialik. We've had a number of responses from parents and students who would like to be involved in the Food Fest in one way or another. You've allowed us to broaden our base to a group that can grow with us...the future of our community.

Sara Heppner-Waldston, Mazon Canada

Avi,
The food fest last night was a fantastic experience for Josh - he enjoyed the whole event last night and was very very busy throughout the event - they put him to good use.

Marla Eichenbaum-Jagermann

Shaping Our Future, Connecting Through Culture

The Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal will be hosting an event to celebrate the launch of a unique program for artists on Thursday, January 21, at Excentris (3536 boul. Saint-Laurent, Montreal, QC H2X 2V1) Space is limited, and an RSVP is appreciated to allan.schneiderman@jcfmontreal.org. Bialik alumna Evelyn Tauben ’96 will be the comedic MC for the evening. Check it out!

Reunions, Reunions!

Reunion season used to be centred on the High Holidays, but not any longer. So far, in the 2009–2010 academic year, the 1979 Bialik graduating class and the class of 1984 have all partied heartily at their respective reunions. Glancing quickly at the second half of the year, we see that the class of 1989, the class of 1962 Jewish People School, and the class of 1976 will all be celebrating at various points. To boot, the class of 1985 has just begun planning for their 25-year reunion to be held some time towards the end of 2010.

As always, if you want more information about reunions, drop me a line at David.s@jppsbialik.ca

David Smajovits ‘00

Simchas and Condolences

Simchas

  • Congratulations to Barbara Dalfen ’85 and her husband, Scott Trasler, on the birth of their son, Blake, brother to Madison in Grade 2 and Jace in kindergarten at JPPS. Blake is also the nephew of JPPS parents Seth Dalfen ’83 and Sandy Surkis Dalfen and the grandson of Claire Dalfen.
  • Mazel tov to David Nemes ’00 and Erin Sendel ’03 on their recent engagement.

Condolences

  • JPPS-Bialik mourns the passing of Leah Perez, a beloved employee of JPPS for many years. Her passing will be felt by the countless number of children and staff members whose lives she has touched. Leah was the daughter of longtime JPPS Hebrew teacher Chaia Libstug. Our sincerest condolences go out to her entire family.
  • Sincerest condolences to Robert '76, Howard '78, and Mark Better, all graduates of Bialik and JPPS, on the loss of their father, Dr. Ned Better.
  • We are saddened by the passing away of Mayer Schondorf, a Holocaust survivor and leader of many March of the Living trips.

Donor Listing

The following individuals and organizations have made donations to JPPS-Bialik from November 27, 2009, to January 13, 2010. These donors will also be included in a year-end listing according to their level of giving in the JPPS-Bialik annual report. We wish to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who has helped facilitate JPPS-Bialik's role in nurturing Jewish identity and culture while continually pursuing cutting-edge competitiveness marked by academic rigour and excellence.

  • 9143-0751 Quebec Inc.
  • Eric and Katia Abitbol
  • Albert Sales
  • Eleanor Altman
  • Gaby Amir
  • Anonymous
  • Anoymous
  • Anoymous
  • Anoymous
  • Anoymous
  • Anoymous
  • Anoymous
  • Bena Aronoff
  • Gitta Ausch
  • Freda Babins
  • Carrie and Brahm Backler
  • Charles and Linda Balass
  • Elisabeth Banon
  • Dr. Marcel Banon
  • Roger Banon
  • Joyce Baran '80
  • Arnold and Eleanor Baron
  • Barry The Blind Man
  • Charles Benedek '89
  • Reva Bercovitch '54
  • Jeffrey Bernstein
  • Veronique Hazan and Eric Bettan
  • Rachelle Blaichman
  • Philip and Lily Blander
  • Robert and Simone Blatt
  • Paula Blitstein
  • Vita Bologna
  • Susan Borer
  • Rhoda Bornstein
  • Alex Botwinik
  • Heather Bouzaglo
  • Brador Sportswear Co. Ltd.
  • Fred Braman
  • Harvey and Elizabeth Ann Brinberg
  • Arthur and Lila Bronstein
  • Harvey and Ellen Buksbaum
  • Jamie and Teri Burak
  • Karen and Gary Byer
  • Gail Fayerman Campbell JPPS '72
  • Lorne and Carole Cassoff
  • Jason Chrein
  • Daniel Cohen and Bonnie Roiter '85
  • Joseph Y. Cohen
  • Larry and Edna Cohen
  • Rosalyn Cohen-Budin
  • Philip and Randi Cola
  • Michael and Anne Concister
  • Daniel Copnick and Cindy Entis
  • Leon and Eleanor Copnick
  • Graca Correia
  • George and Lianne Deckelbaum
  • Ruth Dixter
  • Lorne and Sharon Dubrofsky
  • Dr. and Mrs. Jerry Dushkin
  • Janet Dwoskin
  • Dan and Terry Elituv
  • Sheila Esar
  • Estate of Bella Cohen
  • Malka Ettinger JPPS '46
  • Amram and Lisa Ezerzer
  • Victor Ezerzer
  • Naomi Faraj
  • Brenda Fayerman JPPS '71
  • Jane Feldman
  • Jeffrey and Arlene Feldman
  • Dr. Daphna Fenyves
  • Marni Fishko
  • Hillel Frankel
  • Jill Frankel
  • Phyllis Frankel
  • Corey Frenkiel '00
  • Jerry and Tzilla Friedman
  • Nira Friedman
  • Bernie and Myra Frost
  • Julie Garonce
  • Melissa Gencher '00
  • Galina Germant
  • Arnold Gluz and Eileen Haimovitz
  • Jacques Golbert
  • David and Franceen Gold
  • Mary Grace and Darren Goldenberg
  • Steven Goldenberg '94
  • Wendy Goldstein
  • Saff and Ariele Golombek
  • Jonathan Goltzman
  • Abe and Shirley Gonshor
  • Lou and Phyllis Gordon
  • Dr. Aida Gordon and Mr. Neil Gordon
  • Randee and David Gottlieb
  • Debra Carol Shapiro and Irwin Green
  • Stephen Greenberg
  • Alexander Gross
  • Daisy Gross
  • Carol and Jerry Grossman
  • Guta Grushka
  • Rita and Victor Guindi
  • Tamara and Joseph Haberman
  • Abby and Mitchell Halickman
  • Audrey Harari '83
  • Sarah Hegger
  • Norman Heimlich
  • Cindy Rabinovitch Heller '86
  • Tamar Helman
  • Miriam Herszkopf
  • Alexandre and Alissa Hertzog
  • Ernest and Dina Herz
  • Schewa Honig
  • Bernard Hyams
  • Intercoupe
  • David Inzlicht
  • Jeff and Irene Itcush
  • Selina and Jairo Itzkowitz
  • Ilana Izso
  • Ryan Johnson
  • Denny and Ronit Josepovici
  • Jack and Paula Kadaner
  • Samuel and Vivienne Kairy
  • Dr. Michael and Ilana Kapusta
  • Sary and Earl Karanofsky
  • Felicia and Johnny Karls
  • Ron Karpman
  • Stacey Brotman '86 and Andrew Katz
  • Hirut Kebede
  • Emil and Ruth Khadoury
  • Jeffrey and Brenda Kirstein
  • Mrs. Simcha Kleiman
  • Andrew Kligman '07
  • Sandra Knobovitch
  • Eli and Sandy Kogut
  • Robert and Eliane Komlos
  • Jasmine Ghoddoussi and Russell Krackovitch
  • Janice Kreisman
  • Lorne and Bonnie Kronish
  • Mrs. Esther Krupp JPPS '35
  • Denis Labranche
  • Samuel Lackman
  • Harry and Sonja Langburt
  • Language Art
  • Pepi Laufer
  • Judy '81 and Uri Laxer '81
  • David Lazar '83
  • Ken McGrindle and Ruth Lazarus
  • Michael Lefson '82
  • Brian and Francine Leibgott
  • Teresa Lepenne
  • Michael and Sally Levine
  • Susan Levinger
  • Jenny Lewis
  • Orna and Joseph Lilien
  • Brooke Lindsay
  • Susan and Fred Lipes
  • Sam and Angela Litman
  • Lydia and Larry Long
  • Glenda and Steven Lubotta
  • Anna Luckow
  • David Lupovich
  • Marsha and Michael Lustigman
  • Zelda Luxenberg
  • Wilma Magonet
  • Daniel Maislin
  • Debby Mandelker
  • Nadine Vogel and Neil Mardinger
  • Albert and Maria Marrache
  • Sonny and Ann Shirley Mass
  • Pasquale Massa
  • Michael Meltzer and Katherine Kay
  • Jean-Yves Methot
  • Odette Michelin
  • Dr. Sydney and Susan Miller
  • Peter and Barbie Mitelman
  • Eleanor Moidel and Marvin Miller
  • Brenda Monk
  • Cheryl and Howard Monk
  • Goldie Monk
  • David and Frances Mortimer
  • Mona Nadel
  • Glenn J. Nashen and Dr. Judy Hagshi '79
  • Lisa Needleman
  • David Nemes
  • Nancy Nicoll
  • Shirley Nozetz
  • Joëlle Ohayon
  • Yoseph and Helen Ollo
  • Parade Leasing Inc.
  • Judy and Bob Pell
  • Lois Pendenza
  • Joseph Pleet '92
  • Gerry Plewa
  • David Plotnick
  • Nick and Sharon Pompeo
  • Sandie Sparkman and Robert Presser
  • Proforce Personnel
  • Qualitifruits
  • Bridget and Jamie Rappaport
  • Stephen and Wendy Rapps
  • Jon and Ellen Reider
  • Reuben Richman
  • Karen and Lorne Richter
  • Connie Rimer
  • J. Ritchie
  • Joel Rosen
  • Mitchell and Robin Rosen
  • Rabbi Daniel Rosenberg
  • Marvin Rosenblatt
  • Karla and Jamie Ross
  • Howard and Naomi-Ina Rossdeutscher
  • Esther Rotenberg
  • Dr. Menachem Rotstein
  • Kenny Rozansky
  • Saul and Lily Rozansky
  • Stephen and Rona Rozansky
  • Liana Rubin
  • Helen Rubinski
  • David and Dolly Rudie
  • Dr. Norman Sabin '76
  • Daniella Assaraf and Mark Sadegursky
  • David Salzman
  • Josette Sassoon
  • Mendel and Freda Schipper
  • Saul and Stephanie Schipper
  • Dr. Brynah Schneider JPPS '68
  • Jeanine Schneider
  • Natalie Schreter
  • Suzanne and Murray Schwartz
  • Anonymous
  • Sarah Schwartzberg
  • Arlene Segal
  • Cynthia Segal
  • Heather and Joel Shalit '90
  • Deborah and Jeffrey Shapiro
  • David and Susan Shashoua
  • Sam and Carol Shemie
  • Sam Sheraton
  • Cheryl Millman JPPS '71 and Neal Sherman
  • Dr. Janet Shinder
  • Caroline and Daniel Shteyn
  • Brian Silver '85
  • Alana Silverman '84 and Dani Frodis
  • Lydia Vogel and Vince Simeone
  • Darlene and Jonathan Singerman '84
  • Simon Slawner
  • Stephen and Naomi Smith
  • Gerry and Soryl Soiferman
  • Allen and Carole Spector
  • Laura Stam
  • Harold JPPS '67 and Aviva Staviss
  • Sid Stermer
  • Stanley and Judy Sternthal
  • Harold and Sandra Stupp
  • David Suliteanu
  • Avrom Gomberg and Barbara Szeicz
  • Bella Tajchman
  • Lisa Maislin and Mitchell Takefman
  • Leonard and Ellen Tannenbaum
  • Evelyn Tauben
  • Sara and Irwin Tauben
  • Judith and Leon Tessler
  • Sam Thaler
  • Judy and Jacques Tobianah
  • Ann Toffel
  • Andrea Tremblay
  • Joan Tucker
  • Michel and Claudette Vogel
  • Howard and Jody Wallace
  • Anne Marie Warner
  • Goldie and Hershey Warshawsky
  • Karen and Jeffrey Waxman
  • Yona and Larry Waxman
  • Michael Weinerman
  • Thora Weir
  • Julie Wenger
  • Zees and Myer Wenger
  • Steven and Davina White
  • Gail Wiseman
  • Lynn Woloz
  • Paul Wong
  • Morty Zafran
  • Anne Zavalkoff '89
  • Anne Zeitouni
  • Zelikovitz Leathers
  • Susan JPPS '63 and Aubrey Zelman
  • Dr. Michael Zigman
  • The Zoltak Family
  • Jennifer Gardos and Ari Zucker