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Shalhevet High School Mid-Year Report 2023-24 | 5784

Deep Commitment to Torah and Israel

Winter 2024 | Choref 5784

Mid-Year Report

2023-24 | 5784 Critical Thinking and Academic Inquiry

Transformative Personal Growth

Empathetic Dialogue and Discourse

Active Engagement in Our Community and Beyond

Mission To prepare our students to lead meaningful, confident, and thoughtful Modern Orthodox lives by empowering them to discover their passions, grow as individuals, and contribute to our community and the world.

History & Vision Since its founding in 1992 by Dr. Jerry Friedman, Shalhevet High School has revolutionized the Jewish education landscape through an innovative educational model that enables transformative personal growth. Guided by values such as critical and creative thinking, empathetic dialogue and discourse, and overall happiness and wellbeing, Shalhevet has graduated thousands of students who have gone on to the finest universities in the world as well as the top yeshivot, midrashot, and study programs in Israel. Today, Shalhevet leads the way in preparing its students to live meaningful, confident, and thoughtful Modern Orthodox lives — committed to Torah values, guided by halacha, and infused with spirituality — by empowering them to discover their passions, grow as individuals, and contribute to our community and the world at large.

Dear Friends, This year has been anything but what we expected it to be. The horrors of October 7, and our necessity for a strong and secure Israel, will never leave us. That is why, for this year’s Mid-Year Report, we begin with a two-page spread featuring some of the many ways our community has shown up for Israel and the Jewish People in their time of need. Of everything we have to share with you, that display of uncompromising Ahavat Yisrael is what makes us most proud. Alongside that, Shalhevet needed to show up for our students, faculty, and staff — providing the education, experience, and community that defines our mission. This first half of the year proved exceptional. Our report begins with our Deep Commitment to Torah and Israel, highlighting countless Torah initiatives, from new programs to continued meaningful learning. Critical Thinking and Academic Inquiry snapshots elements of our enriching education, featuring creative labs, immersive lessons, and guest lectures. Transformational Personal Growth infuses life in and out of the classroom, from sports to academics to transformational programming. Empathetic Dialogue and Discourse was embodied through actual student experiences, similar to how Active Engagement in Our Community and Beyond took form in real, tangible ways: meeting organizations, joining chesed trips, and leading volunteering programs. All that culminates with students’ Wellness, Joy, and Self-Actualization — where the heart of Shalhevet beats. As students enjoy the fullness of their Shalhevet experience, our College Counseling and Israel Guidance teams prepare them to lead their best lives beyond our walls — in their shana ba’aretz and in college. From freshmen to seniors, we provide meetings, classes, and programs to empower students and their parents to make informed and ideal decisions. That is important now more than ever, as the college landscape for Jewish students continues to redefine itself post-October 7 — and we continue to make sure our students are prepared. Shalhevet is a close-knit community, an integrated family. We never expected this year to unfold as it did, but we are ensuring that we meet the challenges and responsibilities necessary for Israel, the Jewish People, and our students. Our Mid-Year Report will never convey the extent of our work, but we hope that it can provide you with a meaningful glimpse.

Wellness, Joy, and Self-Actualization

Rabbi David Block Head of School

Packing Supplies to Support IDF Soldiers As the IDF mobilized for war in the days after October 7, our students mobilized to support soldiers by funding, packing, and sending countless bags of supplies and essentials. Though we could not fight alongside them, we ensured that they could fight with whatever they needed.

One Nation, One Heart: Supporting Israel as a Community

Am Yisrael is one nation with one heart. After the horrors of the October 7 terrorist attack, we knew that now Israel needs us most. That’s why the Shalhevet community mobilized with such force, dedication, and speed to help Israel and the Jewish People. At the same time, we remain heartbroken over the 1,200 innocent Israelis murdered and 240+ initially kidnapped by Hamas. Every day, we daven for Israel to live in peace, security, and safety. But until then, we are showing up to help in whichever ways we can.

Oct. 17: Standing With Israel at Wilshire Federal Building After divrei Torah and a powerful kumzits, we joined the Stand With Israel Rally at Wilshire Federal Building to show up for our brothers and sisters in Israel to face the October 7 tragedy and fight for Am Yisrael.

Nov. 14: Marching on Washington with 300K Pro-Israel Supporters Learning How to Defend Israel: Continued Education for Our Community After Hamas’ attack on Israel, the general public followed with hateful rhetoric toward Israel. In addition to Shalhevet’s robust existing Israel education, we held several special programs: Rabbi David Stein led a community presentation on “Responding to the Rhetoric: Understanding the IsraeliPalestinian Conflict,” and Firehawks 4 Israel brought Avi Posen from Unpacked and Charlotte Korchak from StandWithUs to our campus.

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Our students joined the historic Washington March with 300,000 other pro-Israel advocates, standing together with Am Yisrael during these challenging times and fighting against antisemitism.

Hearing Testimony from Survivors of October 7 Shye Klein, a survivor of the Nova Music Festival massacre, spoke with Shalhevet students and faculty about his experience meeting and photographing the people he met at the festival, and about surviving and escaping that fateful day. This incredibly powerful event will forever be etched in our memory.

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Paint Night Inspired by Israeli Art Responding to October 7 Our Hebrew Department hosted an incredible paint night for Shalhevet students and parents to view and discuss professional artwork channeling the pain of October 7, and then to create their own.

Torah for Israel: In Their Merit, for Their Safety Our community held special shiurim, programs, and night sedarim for Hashem to protect Am Yisrael and raise the souls of those killed Al Kiddush Hashem. We also held a special night seder for Shalhevet alumni, bringing our widest community members together as one.

Visiting Alumni Learning in Israel: Here for Our Community Only weeks after October 7, Rabbi Block traveled to Israel to support our alumni who are learning in Israel for the year at yeshivot, midrashot, and programs — in addition to those serving in the IDF.

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Baking Challot in the Merit of Our Soldiers and Those Injured Faculty and students baked challot throughout the semester in support of hostages, our soldiers, and those injured in Israel since October 7. Students delivered challot to American families with relatives in the IDF, and also sold challot with all proceeds donated to the IDF.

Student Delegation Joins AIPAC Program with Congressman Shri Thanedar Firehawks 4 Israel students joined an intimate AIPAC brunch where they met U.S. Congressman Shri Thanedar, D-Mich who spoke about his life and his unwavering support for AIPAC and Israel.

Tefilot for Help: Taking Time for Tehillim The dangers facing Israel and the innocent hostages gave our tefilot new kavanah (intention). Building from that, Shalhevet students and faculty voluntarily came together every day during their flex and free periods to say Tehillim for Am Yisrael.

Writing Letters to IDF Soldiers Firehawks 4 Israel organized a daily letter-writing station for students to send words of support and inspiration to IDF soldiers fighting to defend the State of Israel.

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Daily Mishnah Group and Rabbi Block Celebrate Completion of Seder Moed

New Erev Iyyun Series Brings Torah to the Whole Shalhevet Community Torat Shalhevet’s new Erev Iyyun Series organizes monthly shiurim for all members of the Shalhevet community to learn Torah from our esteemed faculty. Torat Shalhevet Director Rabbi Gabe Falk kicked off the first shiur exploring Lecha Dodi and Messianic Religious Zionism.

Rabbi David Block and his “Mishnah Yomit @ Shalhevet” WhatsApp made a siyum on Seder Moed and celebrated with the whole Shalhevet community. The merit of all the Torah learned was directed to the safe return of the hostages and ongoing protection of the IDF soldiers in Israel.

Rosh Chodesh Lunch and Learns Explore Personal and Meaningful Lessons

Deep Commitment to Torah and Israel Shalhevet is guided by a vision of passionate Modern Orthodoxy that is grounded in halacha and engaged in contemporary issues facing the Jewish community and the world at large. We teach students to recognize and infuse spirituality in every facet of life.

75% of Advanced Gemara Shiur Scores in 90th Percentile for the YU Beikus Program Our Advanced Gemara Shiur began the year jumping back into the YU Bekius Program for 2023-24, learning Masechet Rosh Hashanah with Rabbi Ari Schwarzberg to immerse themselves in the world of Torah. On their second bechina, 75% of the shiur scored in the 90th percentile of all students throughout the country.

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Over Rosh Chodesh lunches of salad and spirituality, our students are exposed to empowering and personal Torah lessons with esteemed guest speakers on shiurim about, among other topics, prayer, brachot, and serving Hashem.

Nitzotzei Torah Publication: By Students and Faculty for the LA Community Shalhevet sophomores Etan Lerner ‘26 and Ariel Mazar ‘26 are expanding Torah learning across LA through their launch of “Nitzotzei Torah” — a bi-weekly publication of divrei Torah by Shalhevet students and faculty for the greater LA community.

Newly Revamped Night Seder Program Packs the Beit Midrash Every Thursday Night Our beit midrash is packed with students, Torah, and — of course — cholent on bi-weekly Thursday evenings, all from our newly relaunched and revamped night seder program, led by Rabbi Ari Schwarzberg.

Torat Shalhevet is Sharing Torah Beyond the Classroom Led by Rabbi Gabe Falk, Torat Shalhevet is providing meaningful learning and connection to our vibrant alumni and parent community through programs such as monthly faculty-delivered shiurim and Ms. Malka Popper’s weekly parsha class — totaling over 20 just this semester. We spread Torah learning far beyond our school’s walls.

Rabbi Yakov Danishefsky Reimagines Relationships for Shalhevet Community as Scholar in Residence Rabbi Yakov Danishefksy — an author, teacher, and social worker — led a fourday immersive learning experience of mishmarim, classes, and workshops for students, faculty, and parents to nurture relationships with Am Yisrael, Medinat Yisrael, Hashem, and one another. His final program for parents focused on growing healthier and more open relationships between children and parents.

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History Department Brings Sophomores to Auschwitz Exhibit for Powerful Learning

Freshmen Bring World History to Life with Athenian Society Hoplons Freshmen studying Athenian society in World History created their own Hoplons — shields used in battle — to bring their studies to life. While also assembling mini-phalanxes (troop bodies), they practiced group communication and cohesion. We make learning real — and fun.

Critical Thinking and Academic Inquiry

Shalhevet cultivates critical and creative thinking through its rigorous and crossdisciplinary educational approach that exposes students to multiple ideas and viewpoints both inside and outside the classroom. By encouraging a deep sense of curiosity, independent thinking, and a love of learning, students attain not only a preeminent General and Judaic studies education, but also the tools and drive to become lifelong learners.

Shalhevet’s History Department brought sophomores to the special “Auschwitz: Not Long Ago. Not Far Away” exhibit at the Ronald Reagan Library and Museum for a powerful day learning about the horrors of Auschwitz through survivor testimony, realia, and more. This sensitively planned trip — with cross-disciplinary learning between Jewish studies and world history — offered important exposure to complement students’ learning.

Murder Mystery Meets High School Biology in Creative Lab

Shalem College Visit

Students in SAS Biology were presented with the macromolecules of a fictional murder victim and tasked to identify them with complex chemical tests. To close this exciting and engaging assignment, students presented theories of the crime’s last moments to then identify the guilty party.

Shalem College — a private liberal arts college in Jerusalem — visited Shalhevet to learn first-hand about our exceptional education and pedagogy, including our curricula, approach, and experience. In the day-long program, their delegation learned alongside our students and met with our staff.

History Department Chair Launches New Book on ‘Mastering the Past’ Shalhevet faculty celebrated alongside History Department Chair Dr. Keith Harris with his latest book “Mastering the Past: Unlocking Excellence in High School History” — a guide for preparing students to thrive in their history classes.

Presenting Tech Solutions at Professional Conference Shalhevet seniors Gabriel Terech ‘24 and Elliot Tessel ‘24 presented their computer science-based innovations to nearly 150 professionals at the Business Technology Forum at the California Association of Realtors (CAR) Board of Directors Meeting and REimagine trade show. Terech and Tessel’s opportunity grew from their rigorous SAS Computer Science class last year, and their work developing this database solution for CAR with Shalhevet’s Dr. Josh Sharfman.

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Seniors Learn About Halachic and Ethical Issues of Organ Donation and War in Special Program The renowned halachic expert Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Brody — executive director of Ematai and author of the new “Ethics of Our Fighters” — taught Shalhevet seniors about the halachic and ethical issues surrounding organ donation, end-of-life care, and war. This educational program brought critical issues to life with real-world questions and situations.

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Remembering and Reflecting on 9/11 as a Community

Virtues v. Achievements: Students Reflect on Living Their Values

To remember and reflect upon the tragedy and heroism of 9/11, the Shalhevet community gathered for a special program reflecting on tolerance, unity, and community. With testimonials, faculty reflections, and stories that emerged from that tragedy, our school community experienced a deeply heartfelt program of commemoration.

Ahead of Rosh Hashanah and before beginning as scholar in residence, Rabbi Yakov Danishefsky led students in a meaningful and productive session on identifying virtues (our qualities and characteristics) and achievements (our measured accomplishments) to reprioritize our values in life.

Transformative Personal Growth

Shalhevet inspires each student to maximize their potential, pursue their passions, and become the best version of themselves. By pushing them outside their comfort zones and providing them with engaging cocurriculars, programs, and curricula, students achieve transformative personal growth — morally, religiously, academically, and socially.

2023 Champions: Boys and Girls Teams Win Glouberman Tournament Both our Boys and Girls Basketball Teams won the 9th Annual Steve Glouberman z”l Basketball Tournament with incredible victories against teams from across the country. The weekend-long tournament began with a beautiful kumzits at the Glouberman Welcome BBQ, spotlighting the tournament’s goal of building vibrant Jewish community.

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Boys Basketball Take Home Winning Trophy at Annual Milken Tournament Defeating the Royal team 54-48, our Boys Basketball Team won the Annual Milken Basketball Tournament with athletic excellence. Junior Aiden Bitran ‘25 won Tournament MVP, and Jacob Kilberg ‘24 and Zane Mendelson ‘24 were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Choirhawks Rocks the House at Winter Concert Our Choirhawks beautifully performed their winter concert with special performances by Zion Schlussel ‘24, Maayan Mazar ‘24, and Joshua Gamson ‘24 — and these stunning singers had the whole room captivated.

Shalhevet’s Robotics Team 6000 Holds Kickoff Meeting to Start the Season Talia Davoudian ‘24 ran a leadership training for our Robotics Team 6000 in addition to a kickoff meeting for the year. These informational and inspirational sessions prepared our team — the national competition’s only team from a yeshiva day school — to continue competing at the nation’s highest level.

Girls Flag Football Places Second Overall in Annual Rams Tournament Our Girls Flag Football Team placed second overall in the 2023 NFL Los Angeles Rams Flag Football Tournament, competing in Huntington Beach against powerhouse teams from states throughout the West.

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Mock Trial Team Successfully Wins Case in First Round of Competition In the first round of the 2023 Los Angeles County Competition, our Mock Trial Team successfully reached a “not guilty” verdict for their defendant. Eliam Mizrahi ‘27 won MVP for her exceptional performance during the hours-long trial.

Empathetic Dialogue and Discourse

Shalhevet empowers students to find their voices, develop personal views, and effectively communicate through discourse, discussion, and debate. More importantly, they learn how to respectfully listen, engage, and thoughtfully process different perspectives. Our students learn to understand and value each other whether in the classroom, the Beit Midrash, the gym, or our weekly Town Hall.

Religion and State, Social Media, and the Purpose of Dialogue: Town Hall Tackles Big Topics Big topics deserve big conversations, and at Shalhevet, that means big Town Halls. This year, like all years, students tackled important questions while learning from and listening to their peers, faculty, and staff. The Role of Religion in Israel What does it mean for Israel to be a Jewish State — in terms of halacha and democracy? Students explored the balance Israel navigates in the modern world while discussing Israel’s nature as the homeland of the Jewish People. The Social Media Dilemma These days, using social media is considered a given — especially for teens. While it can be a powerful tool for communication and learning, social media also spreads misinformation and harmful content, especially for Jews. How should platforms moderate while maintaining free speech? Our students had some ideas. The Purpose of Town Hall Town Hall has been operative at Shalhevet since its earliest days. But what’s the purpose of it, and how can today’s generation “buy into” the value of dialogue? Students broke down the usefulness regarding moral dilemmas, public policy, religious values, and more.

Discussing, Learning, and Exploring on Martin Luther King Day

Opening New Conversations With ‘Modern Orthodoxy’s Town Hall’ To open new conversations relevant to the Modern Orthodox world, Shalhevet launched the Modern Orthodoxy’s Town Hall podcast, hosted by Rabbi David Block alongside different co-hosts. Tackling today’s most important topics, the podcast is like a Shabbos table conversation open to the world.

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Model Congress Wins 11 Awards at Princeton’s Annual Conference Our Model Congress Team won 11 awards — including two gavels for “Best Delegate” — at Princeton’s annual two-day conference. Among hundreds of students from across the country, our students strategized, debated, and succeeded with excellent performances.

Students had grade-level programming on Martin Luther King Day to delve deeper into Dr. King’s legacy and impact on America. Freshmen discussed how we remember historical figures; sophomores read Dr. King’s slavery imagery juxtaposed to Shemot commentary; juniors created cross-disciplinary artwork; and seniors explored the power and responsibility of language.

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Sophomores Bring Ruach and Chesed to Palm Springs Trip

Annual Chesed Fair Showcases the Beauty of Giving Back to Students At the onset of the year, students explored the vast opportunities to give back to our community at our annual Chesed Fair — with representatives from organizations like Chai Lifeline, Yesh Tivka, Friendship Circle, ORA, Camp Moshava, and many more.

Active Engagement in Our Community and Beyond

The sophomore chesed trip to Palm Springs brought lasting impact and meaningful connection — from delivering meals to the elderly and reading with children to participating in a community Shabbat Party and organizing activities at Yachad Headquarters. The trip was filled with other exciting activities and closed off with some Dave & Buster’s fun.

Juniors Spend the Weekend Giving on Unforgettable Chesed Trip For an entire weekend, Shalhevet juniors focused solely on chesed. From Beverly Hills Senior Housing to Our Big Kitchen - LA, Project Angel Soup Kitchen, Meadowbrook Senior Living, and Ateres Avigail, students gave time, presence, food, and love to people who needed them. The best part wasn’t the closing trip to Sky Zone Park but hearing powerful testimony from Holocaust survivor Nathan Spivak.

Dashing for Sharsheret Students, parents, and faculty of the Shalhevet community joined Sharsheret’s 2023 West Coast Dash to raise awareness and money for Sharsheret’s efforts for women and families impacted by breast cancer. (And Rabbi Block finished sixth overall of 453 runners!)

Shalhevet encourages its students to think beyond themselves and take an active role in contributing to the common good of our Shalhevet community and the world at large. Dedicated to chesed in all forms, students advocate for meaningful causes, volunteer their time, and learn to become positive leaders and global citizens.

Welcoming New Students and Staff to Our Firehawks Family We welcomed new faculty and students for their first Shabbat of the school year with special goody bags — including fresh challot!

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Students Save Lives at Emergency Blood Drive

Seniors Prepare Over 300 Meals Before Chagim

Our entirely student-organized semester blood drive for Cedar Sinai Blood Donation Services saved lives with over 40 Shalhevet donors showing up for the cause.

In advance of the Chagim, Shalhevet seniors gathered at Our Big Kitchen - Los Angeles to prepare 300 individual meals for those who need it most while also connecting with one another.

Supporting Breast Cancer with Sharsheret During Pink Day Programs For Pink Day 2023 — a worldwide initiative to raise awareness of breast cancer — Shalhevet partnered with Sharsheret for educational programming and activities, including designing and selling sweatshirts and communal education.

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8 Days of Celebration and Support: Chanukah Week

Simcha Leiner Brings That Shalhevet Ruach The renowned Jewish singer Simcha Leiner joined Shalhevet for a special morning kumzits in honor of our IDF soldiers fighting to defend the Jewish homeland.

Alongside Chanukah Week’s celebration of an all-school Tefila Chagigit, celebratory donuts, and activities, we included immense chesed in tribute to Israel. We distributed Shabbat kits to hospitals, crafted dolls for children, and created Tehillim-reading stations, and much more, to bring the community together for a meaningful and important Chanukah.

Making 5784 a Sweet New Year with Sweet Treats We began our “Sweet New Year” with tasting different honeys, freshly baked honey cake, and apple-cinnamon popcorn — all coordinated by students and faculty to wish our community a year of health, inspiration, and kindness.

Wellness, Joy, and Self-Actualization

Freshmen Bond Over Chesed and Fun Leading Soulful Kumzitses and Tisches with Inspirational Ruach We wouldn’t be “Firehawks” without setting our souls on “fire” — and like every Shalhevet year, our students experienced kumzitses and tisches filled with bonding, Torah, ruach, and of course, incredible food.

Shalhevet ensures students thrive in our safe and joyful environment, where they feel cared for and are embraced for being their authentic selves. Students form close relationships with peers and faculty that support their overall wellbeing. By creating a warm, energetic, and spirited atmosphere, students are genuinely excited and happy to be in school.

Our newest Firehawks came together for a day of bonding and chesed at Friendship Circle, successfully raising over $3,000 while helping to prepare the walk for Israel. The day ended with a special trip to Knott’s Berry Farm, an exhilarating amusement park.

Seniors Pass the Torch to Freshmen at Annual Opening Year Shabbaton Centered on mesorah (tradition), this year’s Freshmen-Senior Shabbaton brought our youngest and oldest students together to connect over their future and past four years in a heartening display of our family-like school community.

Kicking Off Senior Year With Our Special Senior Retreat The Class of 2024 began senior year with our annual Senior Retreat — including an all-school BBQ, a thrill at Go Kart World, and meaningful Torah learning with Rabbi Block. What followed was an all-nighter of games, bonding, an oneg, and delicious food.

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Sophomores Spend Day for Bonding and Connection To strengthen bonds with quality time together, sophomores enjoyed a day of kickball, rollerskating, and other activities to create incredible life experiences.

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Preparing for Life Beyond Shalhevet

Creating an Engaged and Excited Parent Community

College Counseling: Preparing for the Future

Israel Guidance: The Ultimate ‘Am Yisrael’ Year

Meetings, Classes, and More: Ready for Another Successful Admissions Season

From Education to Application: Israel Program Prep

We are geared up for another successful college admissions season led by our exceptional College Counseling team: Jordan Moss and Camille Bradshaw. They provide education, assistance, and guidance to ensure that parents and students of all grades are informed and empowered at each stage of the process. Whether it’s introducing the fundamentals of college applications to underclassmen or offering semesterlong college counseling classes to upperclassmen, they are supporting our students step-by-step.

Our seniors begin their journeys with yeshivot, midrashot, and programs right when the year begins — commencing with our informational senior parent night. Throughout the semester, our Israel Guidance team meets individually with students to create a list of interests and help them learn more. In-person presentations by Israel programs, along with connecting to Shalhevet alumni, brings us through the application process, where Rabbi Yagil Tsaidi and Ms. Malka Popper offer hands-on support at our celebratory “Appy Hours.”

Students Receive Exceptional ‘Early’ Acceptances to Top Schools

Staying Connected with Our Firehawks, Even After Graduation

Before the standard admissions began, our seniors applied to top schools through binding early decision and restrictive early action applications — and their success has been exceptional. Yale, Stanford, Princeton, NYU, and Columbia-JTS, among others, recognized our students’ stellar performance and already granted them admission offers.

Rabbi Block flew to Israel to visit our alumni learning in yeshivot, midrashot, and programs while living in our homeland — despite the war facing Israel. And while Rabbi Block connected with alumni in Israel, Rabbi Tsaidi visited our alumni beginning their first days of college at Yeshiva University — with a special visit by President Ari Berman.

The Shalhevet Parent Association fosters a sense of connection and community for Shalhevet parents, helping them feel engaged and involved in school life. Expressing Teacher Appreciation Every Single Month

It’s a Dad’s Night: Special BBQ for Shalhevet Fathers

To demonstrate our appreciation for Shalhevet’s teachers, we have given holiday gift cards, delicious sweets, coffee carts, and more to our faculty every single month this semester.

Now in its second year, our popular Dad’s Night BBQ drew a great crowd for a special evening of delicious food and enjoyable conversation.

Reading Together in Our Parent Book Club

Preparing and Packing as Parents: OBKLA Chesed Event

With 90+ parents in our book club chat, we met four times this fall — once about every six weeks — to discuss and bond over reading and our four book selections.

Volunteering at Glouberman Tournament to Support Our Community Over 30 parents volunteered at Shalhevet’s annual Glouberman Tournament — packing, stuffing, delivering, and overseeing pizza sales. This major event allowed parents to connect with each other and with the larger community.

In this unique bonding experience, parents prepared and packed food with Our Big Kitchen - Los Angeles for those of our community who are in need.

Hiking Across LA on Rosh Chodesh Each Rosh Chodesh, a group of parents sets out to enjoy nature’s beauty at places like Franklin Canyon Park — open to all, enjoyable to all.

Senior Parents Meet Up for Lively Social Event Like all grades, our senior parents gathered for food, socialization, and inspiration at another parent’s home — one of the many ways we keep everyone close and connected.

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Meet Some of the Shalhevet Community

Yalee Schwartz ‘24

Aidan Sztuden ‘25

Daniel Kunin ‘23

The energy and atmosphere of Shalhevet — at games, kumzitses, and even regular days — are unmatched. It’s a warm, loving, and supportive environment where you can feel comfortable being and expressing yourself. Shalhevet encourages thinking differently and dialoguing with others while being respectful, whether in Town Hall or classes. The teachers and faculty are wonderful, very approachable, and helpful for anything you need. Shalhevet has helped me deepen my connection to Judaism through the staff, teachers, Judaic classes, and emphasis on maintaining a strong relationship with Hashem and tefila every day. It’s sad that I am soon graduating. I will miss the lively energy, the memories created, the constant laughter, and the strong bonds made. I am extremely grateful.

At Shalhevet, students get a tailored, individualized education, while also being part of a great community. We gain a connection to what we are learning, and are able to apply it in our lives. I am so fortunate to learn one-on-one with rebbeim who care about us, and to be in shiurim that allow me to learn at a high level and strengthen my connection to Judaism. Our teachers and administrators are genuine role models, who always make themselves available to their students even outside the classroom. At Shalhevet, no one falls through the cracks. Every student is set up to not only reach their potential but to exceed it.

High school is a time of much change, of personal discovery and exploration. At Shalhevet, I always felt supported and encouraged by my teachers to seek out my own unique interests and abilities. At Shalhevet, there were no barriers to your interest, if you were passionate about something, you could make it into a club. You could go to your teachers and they would guide and mentor you. I was able to participate in a wide variety of clubs and co-curriculars, ranging from Co-President of Firehawks 4 Israel to the Varsity Boys Basketball Team Manager. I’m forever grateful to my teachers, rabbis, and faculty for creating the nurturing environment that made me who I am today.

Shalhevet is ‘unmatched’

‘No one falls through the cracks’

Aidan Sztuden ‘25 is currently a junior at Shalhevet. He plays on the flag football team and enjoys participating in the Beit Midrash program.

Yalee Schwartz ‘24 is a senior in the Beit Midrash Track and the captain of the Girls Varsity Basketball Team.

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‘I always felt supported’

Daniel Kunin graduated Shalhevet in 2023 and is now a student at Yeshivat Torah V’Avodah in Jerusalem, Israel. Daniel plans to draft in the IDF next year.

Danielle Kupferman

I love that my kids ‘want to be in school’

There is one thing that stands out above all else at Shalhevet High School which is that Shalhevet, through its faculty and administrators, creates an environment within and around the school that keeps the students engaged and enthusiastic to the point where they don’t want to leave the campus. This is one of the most unique characteristics about Shalhevet, which is more important today than ever before. As a parent, knowing that your kids want to be in school makes being a mom that much more enjoyable. For almost a decade, I have seen this over and over again through my own children, my friends’ children, and my children’s friends. Albeit hypothetical, this natural excellence that is uniquely Shalhevet should be packaged and sold to all Jewish day schools nationwide. Danielle Kupferman is a mother of four. Elianna and Zev graduated from Shalhevet in 2020, Kira is a senior, and Aaron is in sixth grade at Gindi Maimonides Academy.

Ruthie Skaist

Rabbi Yagil Tsaidi

I’m grateful to be a part of the Shalhevet faculty — a team of truly thoughtful and dedicated educators who care deeply for their students. I appreciate the instant camaraderie that I feel with all of them. Despite full schedules filled with multiple courses, dozens of students, and loads of prep, my colleagues have always taken the time to engage with me, whether it’s a simple check-in while getting some coffee or an intellectual discussion over something that happened in class. Another amazing part of being a Shalhevet faculty member is the autonomy I have in creating my art classes and the enthusiasm my supervisors and colleagues express over what I’m dreaming up. It’s thrilling and meaningful work, and I’m so excited to be doing it.

Being a part of the Shalhevet faculty is an absolute dream. I’ve dedicated nearly my entire professional career to Shalhevet, and I consider it one of the greatest berachot in my life. Here, you not only grow professionally but also form authentic friendships with your colleagues. It’s a very rare experience to work in a place that genuinely invests in your growth, mentoring, and connection with students. Shalhevet has been a haven of tremendous warmth and growth, and I will forever cherish my time with these one-of-akind talmidim and talmidot. The Tsaidi Mishpacha are Firehawks for life!

‘It’s thrilling and meaningful work’

‘One of the greatest brachot in my life’

Rabbi Yagil Tsaidi is the Mashgiach Ruchani, the Israel Guidance Director, and rebbe in the Torah faculty at Shalhevet High School.

Ruthie Skaist is the art teacher for ninth grade and Shalhevet Advanced Studies Art.

SHALHEVET HIGH SCHOOL I MID-YEAR REPORT 2023-24 I 5784

Shalhevet High School 910 South Fairfax Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036

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