In This Issue
	DRS Athletics Update DRS Commemorates "The Yoms" DRS Dominates Science & Math Competitions! Getting Ready for Summer @DRS Pre-Shavuot Shiurim @DRS

DRS Commemorates "The Yoms"

Shortly upon returning to school from the Pesach vacation, the DRS student body participated in a series of powerful programs in observance of key events in Jewish history. On Yom Hazikaron, the students commemorated the tragedy of the Holocaust in a program that began with a stirring video produced by Rabbi Emerson. Students read stories and biographies to the audience, highlighting the tremendous determination of Holocaust victims in preserving Torah and Mitzvot in truly horrific conditions. The program was marked by the participation of the DRS band, under the direction of Music Director Ely Zomick, who played meaningful songs, sung by Rabbi Simcha Sussman. In addition, each shiur devoted time to learning Teshuvot written during the Holocaust. The students remembered the fallen soldiers of Israel with a meaningful service after Shacharit, in which students read biographies of soldiers who died defending Israel, and Rabbi Kaminetsky made a special "Keil Maleh" to commemorate their memory. The next day, students came to school to find the dining room transformed into a festive homage to the State of Israel. The entire Yeshiva was privileged to hear from former Rebbe, Rabbi Moshe Benovitz. Rabbi Benovitz, speaking from Israel, spoke live via telephone (after some technical problems with the videoconferencing) about the reasons he and his family made Aliyah. In exhorting the students to ask "why you are NOT in Israel," he delivered a beautiful message about our homeland. After the presentation, the students made their way to the gym for spirited dancing at a chagigah and a special lunch. These programs highlighted a week of Israel celebration at DRS, as students heard special presentations from Rabbi Shalom Hammer, founder of "Degel", and former Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Ohr Hadarom, who spoke about "Medinat Yisrael as the Building Block of the Future". In addition, the students were privileged to hear from Officer Rafi Laderman, who presented an amazing story on his experiences as the third in command of the Israeli force fighting in Jenin, highlighting the incredible sensitivity of the amazing Israel Defense Forces.

DRS Dominates Science & Math Competitions!

The faculty, parents and students at DRS are thrilled and excited at the success of the math and science accomplishments of DRS students at recent competitions held in Nassau County and beyond. The Nassau County Interscholastic Mathematics League has presented DRS with a plaque for outstanding achievement in math in its recently held competition that included public and private high schools across the breadth of Nassau County. The DRS team scored in the top tier of schools in Nassau County. Members of the team included Elihu Herskovics (Gold Pin), Noach Lerman (Gold Pin), Yair Frankel (Gold Pin), David Weiss (Gold Pin), Jonathan Eskowitz (Gold Pin), Marc Liebman (Gold Pin), Josh Hersch (Gold Pin), Steven Kantowitz (Gold Pin), Josh Nissel (Gold Pin), and Daniel Lowenstein (Gold Pin) . Members of the team who received silver pins were Yoni Weinberg, Jonathan Mann, Ariel Pinn, Yoeli Zlotnick and Yossi Wargon. Josh Blachman, a junior at DRS, in addition to receiving a gold pin was recognized for an individual award for being among the top 50 mathematics students out of thousands of Nassau high school students who competed in this competition. The coach of the DRS team was Mr. David Weinstein, who has a love of math and the ability to reach out to each student, tap their potential and motivate his students to achieve on a high level in mathematics. The school is equally pleased with the results announced recently by the Board of Jewish Education in their annual Science Olympiad competition. The competition this year was hosted by North Shore Hebrew Academy in Great Neck. Dr. Rosalie Peck, Chemistry teacher at DRS and Mr. Henry Schwartz, Earth Science teacher at DRS, led and coached a group of very motivated and eager DRS students to the science Olympiad competition. This competition hosted Yeshivas from Nassau, Suffolk, the Five Boroughs of New York City and New Jersey. DRS was awarded 2nd place and received a team trophy as well as 13 individual medals recognizing the achievements of the students who participated. In a tough competition, the Torah Academy of Bergen County topped DRS by a mere two points to take first place. Gold medal winners included Josh Nissel and Elihu Herskovics in architecture, and Marc Liebman, Rafael Green and Elihu Herskovics for experimental design. Silver medal winners included Josh Blachman and Eli Sinnreich for their presentation in the pentathlon event that included contests in earth science and biology. Bronze medal winners included Sammy Steiner and Michael Friedman in physics, Ben Trachtenberg and Elie Freilich in cell biology and Michael Friedman and Elie Freilich in meteorology. All those students who participated in the Olympiad had a great time as well as a rewarding educational experience.

Getting Ready for Summer @DRS

Following in the footsteps of Jonathan Hefter, who achieved the distinction of being named an Intel-semi finalist and first place winner in the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair, four more DRS students will embark on summer science research projects this summer. Benjamin Eghbali, Josh Nissel and Daniel Hefter will spend seven weeks conducting experiments and doing research at the Garcia Materials Science and Engineering Research Center at SUNY Stony Brook under the direction of Dr. Miriam Rafailovich, director of the center and the Department of Materials Science. Ariel Jacob will be conducting research in the laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania in physics. Space is very limited in these institutions and acceptance is very competitive and prestigious. DRS has been named an Intel semi-finalist school and has joined a distinguished list of high schools that Intel has recognized for achievement in science. Intel has presented DRS with both a banner and a check to further its science program. DRS is proud to congratulate Jonathan Hefter on being accepted to the Weitzman Institute in Rechovot, Israel. He is one of only 20 students from the United States and one of 70 worldwide to be accepted to this prestigious institution. Jonathan will be conducting research and experiments over the summer under the direction of renowned scientists in this globally recognized and highly regarded institution. We are equally proud of a fine group of young men who are heading off to Israel this summer as part of the NCSY Kollel, who will be involved in a rigorous course of study in Judaic subjects under the direction of exceptional rebbeim in Israel. The program allows men of high school age who wish to increase their commitment to Torah study and the land of Israel an intensive six-week educational experience on the campus of Yeshivat Ohr Yerushalayim. Kollel is a combination of classes, touring, free time, and organized sports. Classes include shiurim in Talmud, Halacha (Jewish Law), Chumash (Bible), and Hashkafah (Jewish Philosophy) on advanced and beginner levels. In addition, various seminars are delivered by world- renowned Torah personalities like Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, Rav Hershel Schachter, the former Chief Rabbi of Israel Rav Yisroel Meir Lau, Rav Mordechai Elon, the Bostoner Rebbe, and Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel. DRS students attending the Kollel this summer include three freshman, 15 sophomores and 9 juniors. The students (some of which are pictured above) attending the Kollel are Charlie Borgen, Elie Cohen, Ariel Auman, Baruch Y. Abittan, Elie Bashevkin, Yossi Berger, Chaim Chovev, Daniel Elsant, Ari Feldstein, Avi Heinberg, Aryeh Landau, Yosef Miller, Shimmy Pianko, Elliot Samuels, Aryeh Schlusselberg, Eli Sklar, Andy Stahler, Noah Weichselbaum, Akiva Feinberg, Mully Fein, Josh Hersch, Josh Reich, Eli Sinnreich, David Weiss, Yossi Westreich, and Eliezer Williams. Recreational facilities include a state of the art gym and Tuesdays are usually reserved for touring. The Israel Summer Kollel is directed by Rabbi Moshe Benovitz and our own Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky. The Kollel is staffed by top advisors and experienced educators from the United States and Israel.

Pre-Shavuot Shiurim @DRS

As the entire Yeshiva family prepares for a renewed commitment to the Torah on Shavuot, we are once again excited to present our annual pre Shavuot shiurim. Each Thursday night, at 9 PM, the DRS Bet Medrash fills with people, excited to hear words of Torah from true Gedolei Yisroel. Now halfway through the schedule, the Yeshiva was graced with the presence of Rabbi Pesach Krohn, who spoke about utilizing Sefirat Haomer to improve our interpersonal relationships. Rabbi Herschel Shachter, Rosh Yeshiva and Rosh Kollel at Yeshiva University, spoke this past Thursday night about the Halachic issues surrounding walking on the Temple Mount. The program concludes with presentations by Rabbi Meir Goldvicht and Rabbi Mordechai Willig. We encourage everyone to attend. Please see the link below to download the Shiur schedule. Click HERE to download the complete DRS Pre-Shavuot Shiur Schedule »