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TIGER TALK Annual Newsletter for the RZJHS community ROCHELLE ZELL JEWISH HIGH SCHOOL
In This Issue Message From The Head of School Tony Frank.....................................................1 Message From The Board President Karen Peaceman..........................................1 Meet Va’ad President Noam Efergan, ’21........................................2 Meet Alum turned MUN Instructor Josh Aaronson, ’14........................................2 Deanna Abrams, ’05 Alum joins the Board of Directors..............3 A Call to Alums.....................................................4 Your support remains critical.............................5 For prospective families...................... back page
Administrative Team Tony Frank, Head of School Jason Loeb, Academic Dean We adapted to a new way of learning Roger Stein, Ph.D., Dean of Faculty Rabbi Zachary Silver, Rav Beit Sefer Rebecca Schorsch, Ph.D., Director of Jewish Studies Stephanie Sanderman, Director of Development and Alumni Relations Riv Lynch, Director of Admissions Jim Baumstark, Director of Finance and Business Operations Inez Drazin, Director of Building and Administrative Services Board of Directors Karen Peaceman, President Brad Levin, Vice President of Development Ari Taitz, M.D., Treasurer Lynn S. Schrayer, Vice President of Development Reuben Warshawsky, Secretary Adam Winick, Vice President of Development Alan Frankel, Ph.D., Immediate Past President Larry D. Adler, Founding President Deanna Abrams Marcos Rosenberg Larry Becker Danit Steinbach Scott Lederman Leslie Rosen Stern Becky Mati Rachel Treister Ron Meisler Jason Wiznitzer Robert Romanoff Rabbi Carl Wolkin Carolyn Rosenberg Jacqueline Kott Wolle Layout & Design Michele Agbodza, Marketing and Communications Coordinator Note: Some photos in this newsletter were taken prior to the Illinois shelter-in-place order in March, 2020.
Message from The Head of School Is it possible to write anything these days that does not make reference to life in the shadow of this pandemic? So much of what we hear and talk about is how different things are, and our school is no exception. It is important, though, also to recognize that which remains unchanged. For example, we reopened school this year in “hybrid mode,” with each grade and class divided into two cohorts (Kachol and Lavan, or blue and white) and the two cohorts alternating periods of time in the building and periods of time learning from home. After a period of adjustment and evaluation, and recognizing the particular challenges our freshmen face transitioning to high school in these unusual conditions, we subsequently decided to enable all of our freshmen to attend in person every day. Living in times of adversity is not something any of us wishes for, but it does develop our capacity for
resilience. In the best of times, Rochelle Zell students are uniquely equipped to navigate an uncertain world. They are ready to meet any challenge because they leave here so deeply grounded – in the teachings of their tradition, in our shared humanity, and in deep compassion for others. I have no doubt that our students will move beyond the challenges of this school year not only well-prepared for the future, but with greater resilience to meet future challenges. We know that 5781 – our 20th anniversary year – will be unlike any other school year in our history but, like our students and graduates, we are ready to meet the challenges. For all that our world has changed, Rochelle Zell Jewish High School will continue to be the same amazing and vibrant institution that is has been since its inception. Wishing you much health and wellness this year and always, Tony Frank
Message from The Board President It is my privilege to serve as the President of Rochelle Zell Jewish High School. Leading a private high school’s Board of Directors is always complicated, but the past eight months have provided substantially more than the usual number of challenges and opportunities -- and every single day I have been incredibly proud to be associated with the school. From the time COVID-19 appeared on the horizon, Tony Frank and his staff began to plan for remote learning. When we were required to go remote last spring, the school did a superb job of pivoting to an entirely new way of teaching, all while being mindful to adhere to our mission and core values. It was heartening to see the joy on the graduates and their families’ faces as we adapted our regular Siyum and other graduation ceremonies to Zoom, YouTube and in-person awarding of diplomas. We did not miss a beat.
remotely. I am happy to report that (as of this writing) we have been able to keep students in the building with a few necessary all-remote days here and there. While many pieces of the day are different, it is wonderful that students are bringing life back into the building. I am so grateful to the Board of Directors who have stepped up to provide supervision in classrooms for teachers who are working remotely. A silver lining for me personally is that while assisting in the classroom, I have been able to get a taste of the RZJHS education I have always wanted, and my Hebrew and chemistry skills are improving!
After a summer of careful planning, we were pleased to open school this year with hybrid learning, whereby half our students can come into school every day while the other half learns
It takes a village and we are all in this together. Thank you for your continuing support.
It is impossible to know all the twists and turns that the rest of this unusual year will bring, but I have every confidence that we will navigate thoughtfully every step of the way, always mindful of the health and safety of our staff, students and their families and meeting our goal of providing the best secular and Jewish education. We are ready.
Karen L. Peaceman
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Meet Senior Noam Efergan, Va’ad President Student makes it his goal to help others stay socially connected As many summer camps and other activities shut down, senior Noam Efergan decided to help start a camp of his own. Although he was supposed to be in Israel this past summer, Noam made the best of the situation. With the help of his stepbrother, Noam ran a four week long sports camp for boys near his hometown of Evanston. Running a camp put many of the skills from the classroom into real-world experience. Noam understood the value of camps that he had been to himself, but he did not realize the leadership qualities needed to create a safe and welcoming haven. Noam Efergan, ’21
Noam is the president of our Va’ad Hastudentim (student government). Under Noam’s leadership, Va’ad Hastudentim has been a driving force behind planning many of the socially distant, grade-wide events, such as a Bears watch party and mini golf outings. Members of Va’ad HaStudentim voiced, early on, how important student socialization is during this time, and the necessity to create events like these to keep students connected. “Being Va’ad President allows me to make a positive impact in the daily lives of my classmates. I know as President I have a responsibility to listen and implement each student’s ideas to the best to my ability.” Reflecting on his time at Rochelle Zell, Noam said further: “RZJHS is an incredible high school where I grew academically, socially and individually. The community you will find here is unlike no other. No matter with a teacher or student, the bonds you will create here will last you a lifetime.”
Meet Alum Josh Aaronson, MUN Instructor Putting an emphasis on collaboration and cooperation
As both a former RZJHS MUN student and the current instructor of Model UN, Josh Aaronson has experienced both sides of this prestigious program. When he was a student participating in MUN, he learned from upperclassmen about the art of debate, compromise, and cooperation. Now, as a faculty member and instructor of MUN at RZJHS, he has the opportunity to teach those skills to current students, while supplementing the educational aspect of the class. At RZJHS, teachers get to know their students on many levels, and form a bond Josh Aaronson, ’14 and trust that gives their students confidence in their ability to advocate for themselves. This is especially true in MUN. Model UN is unique in that the leadership of the class is largely in the hands of student “presidents”, and is overseen by faculty. The students have greater autonomy, and the faculty are there to assist them. They also learn to be more effective students and people from the example set by their leaders. Aaronson succinctly summarized the value of MUN: “The beauty of Model UN is the emphasis on the educational aspect and the collaborative aspect.” He goes on to say that “Competitive debate tends to put emphasis on beating your opponent, whereas Model UN puts an emphasis on collaborating with individuals and countries that you may disagree with, but recognizing that there are issues in the world that are more important than individual squabbles.” Collaboration, between fellow students and between students and faculty, is one of MUN’s greatest assets. A lesson in today’s world that we can all learn from. 2
Class of 2005 Alum Joins the RZJHS Board of Directors Deanna Abrams, ’05, brings experience, expertise and family to Rochelle Zell’s slate of officers Legacy is a funny thing. The past has a way of shaping one’s future in unexpected directions, and coming back into one’s life again and again. Nobody knows this better than Deanna Abrams (Class of 2005). As an Alum of the class of 2005, Deanna Abrams, who at the time was named Deanna Levin, has watched the school evolve from humble beginnings into what it is today. A lot has changed. “It’s a different school than it was back then. It’s a different building.” she recalled. Deanna and Brett Abrams and their children The student body and the offerings have expanded greatly since she attended. “It was a lot smaller, and there’s a lot more to student life activities now. I am shocked there is golf. That’s awesome!”. As a new member of the Board of Directors, Abrams has seen the school from all sides. “Being on the board provided me with a new lens to see the school” She said. “I had the lens of a student, now I have the lens of being a parent at a private Jewish school. And I’ve had the lens of a high school teacher. It kind of gave me that last perspective of all the different aspects that go into education, so I was excited to get that experience and go see it from the board’s perspective”. Board meetings, as with most things, have changed quite a bit since her graduation. “I remember board meetings going on in the basement of my parent’s house.” Abrams started her own instructional design company over 5 years ago helping educational institutions design, create, and implement online curriculum. She has worked with multiple schools and universities across the country. Her coursework design has reached across a broad spectrum of subjects including Business Accounting to Military Psychology and Third Grade Math to Medical Diagnostics. Before that, she was a mathematics teacher at Barrington High School. Abrams says (CJHS) mathematics teacher Sarah Bierman played a significant role in her decision to be a math teacher. “I was not understanding calculus, and Ms. Bierman came up to me during study hall and said “I’ve been thinking about this all night, how I’m going to teach it to you a different way” and I thought “you spent time outside of school thinking about that? That’s really nice! I have taken that experience and applied it to my own work in the classroom. She has been a mentor and someone I aspire to be like.””
From left to right: Deanna (Levin) Abrams, Rachel (Hilker) Shapiro, and Jessie (Silverman) Gindea in the original CJHS building in Morton Grove, IL. 3
A Call to Action - Alumni We Need You A Message from the Director of Alumni Relations, Stephanie Sanderman Our school needs you, our faculty thrives on hearing from you, our current students look up to you, and your peers – no matter which year you graduated - count on you for connection.
Friends from the Class of 2011 celebrating Eitan Delrahim’s wedding September, 2019 from left to right: Jacob Rudolph, Kevin Rahmanim, Zachary Spellman, Adam Rudolph, Eitan Delrahim, Paz Abergel, Danny Stamos, Aaron Cohn and Adam Seidenberg
In today’s world, connectedness is a value we all cherish. Joining the RZJHS team in January, I had little time to make new friends and build relationships as I typically would before the world changed. I didn’t get to feel the warm vibe from a traditional Grandparents Day or the ruach of a final all school tefillah but what I got instead was so much more. As I acclimated to our new normal I realized that the silver linings in staying safe at home was the greater depth of connection that I was able to make with an intimate few. What a gift – to be able to see someone’s home office, pets, and loved ones in the background of their Zoom windows. To see a person as a whole is so much more relatable and fun. Not only did many of us experience this through work or school but also through personal relationships. Long lost camp and school friends or work colleagues all of a sudden reappeared in Zoom boxes on laptops for happy hours and catch up coffees. As we unfurl from our cocoons, slowly emerging back into the world, let’s not lose sight of the silver lining of keeping in touch. How can we keep this same energy of connectedness moving forward? This is where our 17 classes and over 600 graduates come in. 4
CJHS/RZJHS Alumni – recent or from our very first class – let’s do this. How can we gather virtually or, when able, in person to reestablish bonds? Together how can we purposefully reengage with each other and with current students? Let’s make connection a priority. I can’t wait to hear from you. Contact me anytime by phone or email: ssanderman@rzjhs.org or 847.324.3720. Stephanie Sanderman Director of Development and Alumni Relations
Official RZJHS/CJHS Alumni Facebook page facebook.com/cjhsalumni
Your Support Remains Critically Important Make an impact. Join us today! Rochelle Zell Jewish High School is the proud recipient of generous gifts from the Zell Family Foundation, the Harvey L. Miller Supporting Foundation, and the Crown Family. Thanks to these gifts, and to the invaluable assistance and support of JUF, we are able to provide top of the line education to students throughout the Chicagoland area.
Check out our new classroom setup
Easy Ways to Help Amazon Smile Sign up for Amazon Smile and select Rochelle Zell Jewish High School. A percentage of all your Amazon shopping will go straight to RZJHS, zero added cost to you!
Make a Gift to the Annual Fund Honor someone special with a Tribute or Memorial Card. Making a gift to Rochelle Zell is the perfect way to honor a friend, family member, or colleague. RZJHS will send the recipient a customized card for whatever occassion sharing the news.
Empower Illinois Help empower students whose education may be limited due to household income through tax scholarship credits.
We still need your help! We must raise over $1.5 million each year to meet our annual operating budget, which sustains all we do including academic programs, tuition assistance, athletics, extra-curricular activities, and more. Tuition alone does not cover the total cost of educating our students. Over 50% of our students receive tuition assistance. Due to the economic effects of Covid-19, your help is needed more than ever. Rochelle Zell prides itself on providing an education to any Jewish student regardless of financial circumstances. Offering financial support also enables the school to attract a more diverse student body, providing our students with a richer educational and social experience. Your generosity has allowed us to continue our mission to create a “culture of academic excellence that inspires and prepares our students to think critically, achieve their full potential, and live Judaism as responsible and involved citizens in the modern world.� Please consider making a gift to help to ensure that all who want an RZJHS education can afford it. If you have already made a gift to RZJHS this year, please consider making an additional gift during these extraordinary times. On behalf of everyone at RZJHS, thank you!
Make your gift online at www.RZJHS.org or mail your donation in the enclosed envelope. For more information, call Stephanie Sanderman, Director of Development and Alumni Relations, at 847.324.3720 or email ssanderman@rzjhs.org. 5
Rochelle Zell Jewish High School 1095 Lake Cook Road Deerfield, IL 60015 847.470.6700
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We are accepting applications for the 2021-22 school year! Access applications, forms and more on our website, www.RZJHS.org or email admissions@rzjhs.org. Save $500 Apply by December 15, 2020 and receive a $500 tuition credit. Incoming 9th grade placement test RSVP under admission events on December 13, 2020 or February 7, 2021 Family tours and student shadow days The health and safety of every member of our community is of utmost importance. Therefore, we are currently offering in-person tours after school hours as well as live tours via Zoom. Please contact the admissions department at 847.324.3706 or admissions@rzjhs.org to schedule a tour. We have postponed all student shadow days until it is deemed safe to do so. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Save The Date February 7 is Curriculum Night for incoming 9th grade students. Subscribe to our admissions newsletter - email admissions@rzjhs.org. Tuition Assistance We are proud to offer personalized approaches to help Jewish families manage tuition. Apply early - the deadine to complete applications is January 11, 2021. Mission Rochelle Zell Jewish High School creates a culture of academic excellence that inspires and prepares our students to think critically, achieve their full potential, and live Judaism as responsible and involved citizens in the modern world. Rochelle Zell is a partner with the Jewish United Fund in serving our community. Affiliated with Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools. Accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education and The Independent Schools Association of the Central States. www.RZJHS.org