 
What’s New At Machon HaTorah
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Published on Thursday, September 04, 2008 -
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As the morning air becomes a little more crisp, parents and students turn their thoughts to the coming school year. Meanwhile, all three divisions of Machon HaTorah (HAFTR—the co-ed division, Rambam Mesivta—the boys division, and Shalhevet—the girls division) have geared up over the summer to provide top notch and exciting programs for the coming year. All three divisions will be teaching innovative courses that will engage their students and enable them to grow in knowledge, commitment to Torah, and leadership in their communities.
HAFTR High School
At HAFTR High School, the year promises to combine Jewish education, community service, and academic excellence in an exciting, innovative program for everyone.
Each incoming freshman will be paired with a senior “big sibling” who will ease the process of acclimation and adjustment to high school. Highlights of this program include a barbecue and several athletic events. The eagerly anticipated Freshman Retreat will take place at the Nevele Hotel which will give time for the students to reflect on the new opportunities ahead. This will be a Shabbat filled with ruach and chevrah.
Students will engage in chesed activities on behalf of members of the local Jewish community. For the highly-regarded Tomchei Shabbat program, students will continue to pick up and deliver food to 20 local families every week. In addition, HAFTR students will once again build sukkot to raise money for tzedakah.
Rabbi Steve Moskowitz will again be preparing his famous cholent on Fridays. He will also continue to oversee the planning of wedding festivities for indigent brides.
The “Ask the Rabbi” seminars will be expanded. In these penetrating and informative sessions, students are encouraged to pose any questions about Jewish values, practices, and contemporary issues in a warm and supportive setting.
The adult-education classes are also growing: Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, Principal Rabbi Yotav Eliach, and the students’ rebbeim will once again offer educational seminars in the evenings. Father/son and mother/daughter learning will not only continue, but will build on past success to reach out to even more families in the community.
Continuing in its tradition of academic excellence, HAFTR will offer a wide variety of Advanced Placement, Honors, and Regents classes in General Studies subjects. This fall, Harvard, Princeton, Cornell, Columbia, Barnard, and The University of Chicago, among other institutions of higher learning, will welcome HAFTR graduates.
The very special extra curricular offerings will include Mock Trial, Inklings, the literary magazine, yearbook and over 25 clubs. Past school trips have had destinations as varied as Berlin, New Orleans, and Washington, DC.
Rambam Mesivta
5768-5769 promises to be an exciting year at Rambam Mesivta. There are a number of new and expanded programs that Rambam is introducing to the school community.
This coming year, Rambam Mesivta is expanding its limudei kodesh curriculum with a new course in Tefillah. Introduced as a part of the Thursday night Mishmar program, the Tefillah course will emphasize hilchos and biurei ha’tefillah. This combination will inculcate talmidim with a deeper appreciation for and understanding of davening.
Torah studies at Rambam have always been augmented by a variety of additional after-hours learning opportunities. Rambam’s popular and successful “TNL”—Thursday Night Learning regularly attracts scores of students and alumni. The beit medrash is open every night for learning. Additionally, this year Rambam will be expanding its Night Learning with a number of public shiurim open to members of the community. Last year, students were privileged to hear from noted rabbanim and lecturers at Rambam including Rav Reuven Feinstein, Rav Bennie Eisner of Mercaz HaRav, and Rav Yaacov Medan of Yeshivat Har Etzion (Gush).
The coming school year brings a number of new offerings in the general studies department, as well. A new EMT course will provide preliminary training for students who are interested in becoming medics and getting involved with organizations like Hatzalah. This “hands-on” learning opportunity adds variety and depth to Rambam’s award-winning science department, which this year will be further enhanced by Advanced Placement courses in physics, biology, and psychology. Additionally, an Introduction to Business course will be taught by Prof. John Naclerio. Rambam also offers “Physiology and Halachah” to 11th and 12th graders, which explains how the chochmas Hashem manifests in each and every part of the body as well as the relevant halachos on how the body functions. The class is taught by Rabbi Avi Haar, who also holds a degree as a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine.
All student learning at Rambam will be enhanced by the school’s maximal use of educational technology. Over the summer, a number of Rambam’s faculty participated in a unique “Smart Board Camp” in which they were trained to use interactive computer whiteboards in class presentations. Additional smart board units in the school will ensure that all talmidim will benefit from the technology every day.
The students are looking forward to another great year filled with learning, ruach, chevrah, shabbatonim, and chesed projects, together with their dedicated rebbeim at Rambam.
Shalhevet
What’s new and exciting at Shalhevet High School? Everything!
New—because they opened their doors for the very first time on Tuesday, September 2; Exciting—because their dedicated administration, outstanding faculty, and wonderful incoming class are working together with great enthusiasm to ensure that their inaugural year will be great!
Shalhevet students were welcomed with a fun-filled freshman orientation. After divrei Torah and introductory remarks in the beautiful brand new beit midrash, and lunch in the newly remodeled cafeteria/student lounge, the freshmen had the opportunity to spend some time with each other and with the administrators who have been planning for their arrival for the past several months. The freshmen—coming to high school for the first time—and the administrators and faculty—who have already spent many years working in high schools—all share the excitement of this new beginning.
September will be a very busy time, filled with wonderful events supplementing a strong month of learning before the chagim arrive. Shalhevet’s first annual Shabbaton will bring the girls together in mid-September in an idyllic setting in New Hampshire, as guests of Rosh HaYeshiva Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman and his wife, Renee, at their summer cottage. Club hour will offer a range of delightful options, including choir, newspaper, martial arts (jujitsu), and academic competitions demonstrating Shalhevet’s commitment to matching the activities to students’ strengths while exposing them to new ventures. With G.O. elections, Shalhevet will have a new president and vice-president long before America does (though, looking ahead, an exciting debate on the national presidential election is also in the planning for October). A special presentation featuring Mrs. Suri Tropper of Yad Eliezer will get the girls started on a high school career full of chesed opportunities. Lunch ’n Learn at the home of noted educator Mrs. Esther Wein will be a great way to prepare for the Yomim Noraim. And all this before Rosh Hashanah!
Shalhevet is a small school with big ideas. Supplementing a traditional curriculum, there will be a course in Zionism, scheduled time for learning b’chevruta in the beit midrash, a period for music and drama, special sessions to encourage scientific endeavors, and opportunities for mentoring by highly successful professional women. Differentiation and accommodation of their students’ academic interests and needs is paramount. Shalhevet will offer two tracks in Chumash, two levels of math, and a choice of a foreign language, Spanish or Arabic. Shalhevet’s faculty members and program and activities directors will be coordinating their schedules to allow for subject integration. For example, in English class, the students will read Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in conjunction with the related unit in global studies; they will visit the Robert Frost Museum as they study his poetry. Shalhevet’s computer lab will be equipped with Apple MacBooks and students will be able to take them home to enrich their studies.
With the exceptionally favorable educator/student ratio that Shalhevet has to offer, they are confident that Shalhevet administrators, faculty, and students will develop a very strong personal connection. Their goal is to provide the best in Jewish education to enable their young women to grow in Torah, in midot, and in general studies, preparing them to pursue the careers of their choice. ♦
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