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From the Desk of Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky
It is with great excitement that I greet our DRS
extended family in our first edition of the DRS Address.
This bulletin will fill you in on many of the exciting
happenings at our beloved Yeshiva. We plan on
providing pictures, articles, web links, schedules, and
general information on all of our programs through this
email system.
The year has gotten off to a great start
with many new and old faces. I am especially excited
to welcome the new members of our administrative
team, Mr. Harvey Feldman moving in to the Principal's
job, and
Mr. Stuart Rahr taking over as Assistant Principal. Both
men have made a huge impact in a very short time on
the quality of the education and the atmosphere of our
Yeshiva. I am also thrilled that joining Director of
Activities Rabbi Eli Brazil as Director of Programs is
Rabbi Dov Emerson, who, in addition to putting together
an outstanding September 11th commemoration, is the
guiding force behind this new publication. Let me wish
all of our families a K'tiva V'chatima Tovah, a year of
health and happiness for us and all of Klal Yisroel.
| A New Journey for DRS Freshmen and their Parents |
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With 71 students, our Freshman class makes up a major
component of our school. In order to ease the
sometimes overwhelming transition from elementary to
high school, the Yeshiva hosts an annual Freshman
Orientation program. The much-anticipated event
allows the incoming Freshmen to become familiarized
with the daily schedules and procedures at DRS, and to
begin to develop what are sure to be life long
friendships with classmates.
Rabbi Kaminetsky and Mr. Feldman greeted the
incoming Freshman as they entered the building that
they will learn and grow in for the next four years. The
students spent the rest of the day meeting the
administration and their new classmates. After a great
dinner, the incoming ninth graders spent the rest of the
evening enjoying mini-golf and batting cages. As
orientation ended, every student agreed that it was a
great start to the school year. Gary Stein, an incoming
Freshman from Holliswood, Queens, said "It was an
exciting new beginning to school. It was great to meet
everyone before school starts!"
Starting High School can be a daunting experience for
parents as well, as they are suddenly called upon to
help their sons juggle a more intense schedule. In order
to help them make the transition, the DRS
administration held a Freshman parents orientation as
well. While the Freshmen were meeting each other,
their parents were being introduced to Rabbi
Kaminetsky, Mr Feldman and Mr.
Rahr. They were given a chance to ask questions. The
administration presented the parents with many
thoughtful approaches for dealing with the pressures of
high school. The program ended with both parents and
sons excited and confident that the coming year would
be a smashing success.
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| Rabbi Frand at DRS |
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Each summer, DRS strives to improve its facilities and
programs to better impact the students and the HALB
family. One of the most exciting additions is our new
state-of-the-art
videoconferencing system at the DRS campus. Utilizing
this system, students and teachers are able to
participate in real time learning and collaboration with
scholars and Jewish leaders from all over the world. In
addition to hearing and seeing the individual giving a
class, the students can actually respond to the
presenter and ask questions. Many new and exciting
programs utilizing videoconferencing are being planned
for this year, with a focus on learning from leading
Jewish scholars in Israel. In addition, several regular
classes are being presented to the local community,
bringing world class Torah lectures to people who
otherwise would be unable to attend.
Every Thursday evening at 9 PM, DRS hosts a
videoconference broadcast of Rabbi Yissochar Frand's
parsha shiur, live from Baltimore, MD. Over 40 people
have attended each of the first two shiurim. In
addition, plans are underway to begin broadcasting
Rabbi Yisroel Reisman's Tanach class, live from
Brooklyn, NY.
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| DIRECT CONNECT: DRS Commemorates September 11th by Initiating a New Tefila Awareness Campaign |
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The Yeshiva commemorated the tragedy of September
11 in several very moving ways. At the end of Shachrit,
the Yeshiva joined the rest of the country in two
moments of silence at the times the planes hit the
World Trade Center Towers. Rabbi Kaminetsky spoke
about the need to direct one's emotions into a more
meaningful dialogue with G-d, and the entire Yeshiva
recited Tehillim together.
In the evening, the Yeshiva inaugurated "Direct
Connect," a new Tefila awareness campaign, by
screening a stirring video produced by Rabbi Dov
Emerson, DRS Director of Programs, that recounted
some of the
last prayers uttered by victims of September 11th
before they perished. Following the video, the students
broke up into smaller groups with their Rebbeim and
began discussing practical approaches to improving
prayer. The program concluded as the students recited
the words of Ma'ariv with newfound appreciation.This
Tefila campaign will continue throughout the semester,
as each shiur will devote part of the day towards
learning about prayer.
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| DRS Parents Go Back to School |
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The DRS Yeshiva hosted its annual "Meet Your Teacher
Night" on Wednesday, September 17th. Rabbi
Kaminetsky, Mr. Rahr, and Mr. Feldman greeted the
parents as they entered the building. The halls were
crowded with parents as they followed their sons' daily
schedules, modified into 'micro-periods' of eight minutes
each. At each class, parents were able to meet with
their son's teachers, asking questions about the course
and the material covered. The teachers each gave
presentations, describing the unique nature of their
courses, and what type of workload the parents could
expect.
Parents and teachers alike eagerly anticipate this
event, as it provides an opportunity for everyone to
begin the year fostering open channels of
communication and clear expectations for each class.
When the final bell rang, the parents were invited into
the dining room for a collation, and the program
concluded with Ma'ariv in the Beit Medrash.
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| Welcome Back! |
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Yeshiva began this year on Thursday, September 4th,
with a record 256 students, including 71 freshman!
Every student was given a personalized schedule,
designed to maximize their learning experience at DRS
on their own unique level. The entire student body is
already hard at work, learning, playing, and growing.
We have many new and exciting programs planned for
this year, with something to interest each and every
student.
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