Enjoy Kushner Connections Weekly Newsletter

February 1, 2024/ 22nd of Sh'vat 5784/ Parsha Yitro

Candle Lighting: 4:57 PM

Early Childhood/Lower School

It is letter P week in EC4! So many ways to study and celebrate this letter from dressing up for a Pajama Party, having a Pajama Parade led by Ms Klahr, hearing the book "The World Needs More Purple People," and eating pretzels for a snack!

Throughout the year, the Lower School guidance department has been going into classrooms to work on social skills. These sessions focus on SEL (Social Emotional Learning) and have covered topics ranging from identifying feelings, expected behaviors, and kindness. This week, Ms Klahr and Ms Tassler went into classrooms and spoke to students on topics that included resilience, using a social filter when speaking, and the power to choose - how making good choices can turn our day around.

First grade has started a new unit - Brazil! They are excited to delve into learning all about this country, its history, culture and traditions and be able to contrast and compare to those in America. Students were excited to create their own versions of the Brazil flag this week as they start the new unit!

Middle School

Fifth grade Computer Science class is working on Building 3D design Tinkercad towers. They were tasked with choosing different towers to design in the program in the 3D modeling program and showed so much ingenuity and creativity as well as 3D design skill.

Seventh graders in Mrs Shanskhalil's have been researching different careers and will be writing career research reports based on their work. As part of learning about different careers, the class had the opportunity to interview a veterinarian, Dr Silberman (who also happens to be Middle School teacher Mrs. Silberman's husband!). Students asked many insightful questions as they grew their research on this interesting career.

In the Middle School after school STEM club with Mrs Rubin, students worked on an engineering and coding project as they coded the Hummingbird processor to activate different mechanisms, including a crank, wenches, and pulleys. They then built the mechanism to be activated by the code. Click here or on the image to watch the work in action.

High School

During breakfast this week Rabbi Szafranski led a session entitled "Hagbah Like a Boss.” Students learned the halachot of hagbah, practiced how to do it with skill and confidence, and then had donuts. The program is part of a larger series on aspects of davening and practices.

A group of students have been dedicating hours of their own free time, even over break, to learn Tanach to prepare for yesterday's Chidon HaTanach. We applaud their commitment to Kvi’at Itim LaTorah (dedicating time to Torah learning) - and hope they enjoyed their sweet treats after finishing the exam!

Students in the RKYHS Sports Management Club had the special experience to take part in Sports Career Education Day at the Barclays Center with the Nets this week. It was a great opportunity to learn the "ins and outs" of the sports management industry. There was a panel discussion among other components to the day, including meeting with Olivier Sedra, the Nets PA announcer. The day concluded with watching an exciting Nets game at night. Before the game the group took a tour in Crown Heights of 770 and other sites in Crown heights. They were led on the tour by Rabbi Yoni Katz of the Lubavitch Youth Organization.

RKYHS students participated in the Essex County Mock Trial Competition, facing off against schools from around the county at the Veterans' Courthouse in Newark. In separate trials, students argued both the Prosecution and Defense side of a criminal case involving a college admissions scandal and played the role of witnesses. During the months of preparation students gained insight into the legal field and the different aspects that go into a trial and the legal process.

Students in the RKYHS Art program joined the Mock Trial team in the courthouse this week and worked on their sketching skills, assuming the role of courtroom artist at the trial, sketching the courtroom scene in a short timeframe.

SPORTS

Congrats to the JKHA Middle School Girls Basketball team on their win vs Ramaz.

Congrats to the RKYHS Boys Varsity Hockey team on their win vs SAR. We were thrilled to honor the hard work, leadership and dedication of the seniors at the last home game of the regular season.

DVAR TORAH

Click Here to Read JLC's The Schmooze

ALUMNI

Mazel Tov to Rachel Berk (RKYHS '18) on her engagement to Dan Sonnenblick!

Mazel Tov on the wedding of our newest Kushner Couple, Maya Mendelson

and Jesse Langer (both JKHA '16/RKYHS '20)!

Mazel Tov to Judi Fusman (JKHA '12/RKYHS '16) and Alon Kosowsky-Sachs on the birth of a baby girl!!

Kushner Alumni, Eric Israeli (JKHA ‘02/RKYHS ‘06) and Avi Jacob (JKHA ‘03/RKYHS ‘07) make a BBQ for fellow alum, Aviad Moskowitz (JKHA ‘02/RKYHS ‘06) who is currently serving in miluim in the IDF.

KPAC

EVENTS

PARNAS HAYOM

February 12 - 23 Shevat

Was dedicated in memory of

Eric Levenson (JKHA '01)

Eliezer Ze'ev ben Moshe Yeshaya z"l

beloved son of Eta and Mark Levenson and

brother of Hadassa Levenson Korn (JKHA '03/RKYHS '07) and Jessica Levenson Mirsky (JKHA '05/RKYHS '09)

in commemoration of his upcoming yahrtzeit on 25 Shevat.

February 12 - 23 Shevat

Was dedicated by

Liat and Jay Matthew

in memory of

Emanuel Tzvi ben Yitzchak

beloved father of Liat Matthew and Amir Besterman

and beloved grandfather of Ariana (JKHA '15/ RKYHS '19), Josh (JKHA '15/RKYHS '19), Ben (JKHA '18/RKYHS '22), and Eli (5th grade) Matthew

and Ethan (6th grade) and Gabe (11th grade) Besterman.

February 1 - 22 Shevat

Was dedicated in memory of

last week's tragic loss of 21 Kedoshim, Chayalim of the IDF

who gave their life for the protection of Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael,

and for a zechut for all the brave men and women serving.

May Hashem protect them.

Humbly,

A Grateful Family

January 31 - 21 Shevat

Was dedicated by

Abby and Noah Levenson

in memory of

George Wolff z"l

beloved father of Abby Levenson and

grandfather of Avner (3rd Grade), Shai (1st Grade) and Sarit Levenson

in commemoration of his yahrtzeit.

January 30 - 20 Shevat

Was dedicated by

Shira and Barry Hammerman

in loving memory of

Rabbi Howard Alpert z"l

beloved father of Shira Hammerman

grandfather of Ariel (JKHA '19/RKYHS '23), Eitan (11th grade), Aliya (9th grade), and Dalia (6th grade) Hammerman

in commemoration of his second yahrzeit.

January 30 - 20 Shevat

Was dedicated by

Rachel and Jeff Jager

in loving memory of

Millie Lipshutz

Misha Bat Devorah z"l

great-grandmother of Sarah (9th grade), Gabriel (7th grade),

and Simon (3rd grade) Jager

in commemoration of her yahrzeit.

May today's learning serve as an aliyah for her neshama.

Click Here to Donate

We Invite You to Dedicate Our Children's Torah Learning at JKHA/RKYHS

If you are interested in sponsoring a Day of Learning, contact Aly Greenstein: agreenstein@jkha.org or (862) 437-8001

COMMUNITY

Rabbi Rubin will be included amongst the expert panel in the "Israel at War: College Decision Making" program being offered through Greater MetroWest Federation. Click below for more information.