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From the Desk of Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky
It was great welcoming everyone back from an
enjoyable and relaxing
sukkot vacation. It is truly amazing how DRS
brought the simcha of Yom
Tov to new heights on both sides of the Atlantic.
In Yeshiva, the
hakafot were more leibedick than ever, as more than
250 of our talmidim,
alumni, families and friends rejoiced and celebrated with
our sifrei
torah. In Eretz Yisrael, over 200 people gathered at
the OU
Sukka to bring the DRS Ruach to Eretz Yisrael, as four
years of DRS
alumni danced together with current students and
parents. We especially
thank all the sponsors of both events for making these
joyous occasions
happen.
The new zman has begun in earnest, highlighted by an
outstanding new
Night Seder program that meets every Tuesday and
Thursday night, that
attracted 70 boys in its first week! Freshman and
Seniors really
enjoyed our Freshman Senior mentoring trip this week,
as Sophomores and
Juniors took the PSAT.
Please note that we encourage all boys to sign up
for basketball
intramurals on Thursday nights after Mishmar, and
hockey intramurals on
Sunday nights from 8-10pm. Also, the Yeshiva's
Open House is right
around the corner on next Sunday, October 24th.
Any Parents who can
help us out that day should please call the Yeshiva.
Our Middle States Self Study is in full swing.
Please
see the link for
the Middle States Parent Survey, download it, and
return it to the
Yeshiva office. Parent feedback is crucial for our
Middle States
Accreditation Process.
May the chizuk and inspiration we all recieved over the
Yomim Noraim
and Sukkot last us all through the long fall and winter
months......
Have an inspiring Shabbat!
Kol Tuv,
Yisroel Kaminetsky
| Formula For Success @ DRS |
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As the Yeshiva collectively experienced the awe of the
Yomim Noraim, the theme of Teshuva, Tefila, and
Tzedaka was not only studied, but acted upon as well,
with several inspiring programs that helped set
the proper tone. On the first night of Selichot,
the Bet Medrash Eliyahu Zvi was once again filled
with parents, students, and members of the
community. Because it corresponded with September
11th, the evening provided a unique opportunity for
reflection upon the tragedy and on Teshuva. A moving
video presentation, produced by Rabbi Dov Emerson,
highlighted the aspect of prayer and closeness to G-d
that arose from the tragic events of that day.
Rabbi Aryeh Cohen then addressed the group in a
moving introduction to the slichos, which were then
led by Rabbi Kaminetsky.
The next week, the yeshiva held its first father-
son learning program of the year, a kinnus teshuva on
Tzom Gedalya. The fathers and sons really
enjoyed the opportunity to daven and learn together,
and to hear divrei torah from Rabbi Kaminetsky.
That week, the annual DRS Tzedaka Day took
place as well, once again under the excellent direction
of Sophomore Joey Kramer. Student volunteers
blanketed the campus with the ubiquitous blue tzedaka
boxes, and their efforts paid off, as the Yeshiva
once again set a new record, raising over $1500 in one
day. The money has been sent to Project
Unite, a program for Jewish children in the Ukraine,
which continues the work begun by DRS Students
Tzvi Simpson, Shaya Gartner, Zachary Klein, Etan
Lipstein, Yoni Weinberg, Ariel Pinn, Micky Friedman and
Eliyhu Herskovits, when they went to the Ukraine on
the NCSY JOLT program this past summer.
Finally, the Senior class participated in a moving
Kinnus Teshuva program held at Yeshiva University.
Attended by representatives from over 15 area
Yeshiva High Schools, the students heard from YU
Roshei Yeshiva Rav Goldvicht and Rav Willig, as well as
President Richard Joel.
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| Parents Head Back to School |
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The DRS Yeshiva hosted its annual "meet your
teacher night" on Wednesday, September 22nd.
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 son's
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. Our
parent body was impressed with the warmth and the
high standards of excellence expected by the faculty.
We especially would like to welcome our new
staff, including Mr. Floyd Bank, Varsity Basketball
Coach; Mrs. Miriam Fisher, English;
Mr. Jonathan Kaufman, Art; Mr. David Mark, AP
Psychology; Mr.
GeraldSchmuger, Global History; Rabbi Dr. Dov Shachar,
Hebrew
Language; Mr.Bal Singh, Chemistry; and Rabbi Perry
Schafler, BOCES Social
Worker. We also give a very special welcome to
our own Rabbi Aryeh Yudin,
who was appointed Director of Guidance.
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| Yom Tov Celebrations at DRS and Abroad! |
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The Yomim Tovim of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat
Torah, as well
as Shabbat Breishit were exciting times for DRS,
both at home and in Eretz Yisrael. Over Sukkot in
Israel, the DRS Simchat Beit Hashoeva was once again
a smashing success, with over 250 alumni, students
learning for the year, and families visiting for Sukkot in
attendance for a night of singing, celebration and
dancing . Once again, the group was treated to the
inspiring words of DRS Faculty Alum Rabbi Moshe
Benovitz. In a first this year, the students and
faculty back at DRS had a very special video
message for the students learning in Israel, in a
presentation produced by Sophomore and Technology
Intern Jason Hagler. Following the video and
pizza, Shlomo Katz rocked the crowd with
great nigunim, and the dancing lasted well into
the night. Rabbi Brazil did an excellent job coordinating
this special evening, and we wish continued hatzlacha
to all our alumni in their learning.
Meanwhile, back in Woodmere, Simchat Torah was
celebrated in grand style.
Inspiring tefilot were led by DRS Alumni Yoni
Bindiger, Shimmy Ramras and Chaim Axelrod, as well as
current students Akiva Feinberg, Mordechai Lerner, and
Eli
Sinnreich. The stage was set for the night of
Simchat Torah, where the
Senior Class led approximately 150 people in
spirited hakafot. Each grade
then led one of the Hakafot. On Simchat Torah
morning, the Senior Class
again led 250 of our alumni, families and friends in more
leibedick
dancing, culminating in a moving sixth hakafa of
slow songs, and a
spirited seventh hakafa of dancing outside under the
bridge. Everyone
then enjoyed the sumptuous kiddush, followed by
the honors bestowed
upon the Chatanim, with Rabbi Gralla receiving Chatan
Torah, Michael
Elsant Chatan Breishit, Chaim Axelrod Kol Hanearim, and
Shimmy Ramras
was Chatan Maftir. The ruach of the Yom Tov will
stay with all the
boys who were there for a long time to come.
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| Senior-Freshman Day a Smashing Success! |
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Between the added responsibilities and more intense
work schedule of high school, making the transition
from eighth grader to high school freshman can be
a daunting experience. At DRS, Director of
Activities Rabbi Eli Brazil also serves as Freshman Grade
Advisor, and in that capacity has implemented
several programs to make the ninth grade experience as
fulfilling and stress free as possible. Our Senior-
Freshman mentoring program has proven to be a real
success over the last several years, with older
students relating that this experience as Freshmen was
vital to their successful integration into the high school.
Each Freshman is appointed a Senior "Big Brother,"
who will be there throughout the year to help him and
answer any questions he may have. One of the
most eagerly anticipated events in the mentoring
calendar is our annual Senior Freshman Day,
which took place this past Wednesday.
The day started off with time for each Freshman-
Senior pair to learn in b'chavruta. The Seniors and
Freshman taught each other the sources given. At the
end of the chavruta period everyone got together to
hear a shiur from the senior Rabbeim, Rabbi Storch
and Rabbi Cohen, who spoke about the
importance of Achdut. After the shiur, the group loaded
onto buses to depart to Jillians, where each group
was able to enjoy an exciting day of bowling, arcades,
and pizza. Freshman Daniel Green
remarked, "I had a great time learning with my Senior
mentor, and the bowling was awesome!"
This trip was an excellent way for the Seniors and
Freshman to get to know each other and develop their
relationship. Through this program, the Seniors and
Freshman were really able to connect to one another
and their friendship can be seen in and out of school.
The trip kicked off a bond that will last for the
rest of the school year.
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| National Merit Scholarship Honors at DRS! |
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Rabbi Kaminetsky, Mr. Feldman, and the entire student
and faculty body at DRS extend congratulations to
DRS seniors who have achieved honors in the 2005
National Merit Scholarship Program. Each student
will receive a commendation letter, along with a
certificate to recognize his achievement.
Senior Yair Frankel has been named a Semifinalist
in the prestigious National Merit Scholarship Search,
based on his outstanding score on last year's PSAT
examination. A member of the National Honor
Society, Yair was President of his Junior Class and is
now the treasurer of the Student Council. We
congratulate him in being one of only 16,000 students
named from the many thousands who took the PSAT in
their junior year. Mazal Tov!
In addition, the following students received
National Merit Commendations for their high academic
achievement: Joshua Blachman, Elihu Herskovics
Steven Kantowitz and Jonathan Mann.
Upcoming Events
Don't forget! The DRS Open House will take
place on Sunday, October 24! Download the flyer in the
Quick Links section! If you would like to volunteer to
help, please contact Rabbi Kaminetsky.
We are in full preparation mode for the annual DRS
Yeshiva Wide Shabbaton, to be held on October
29, in Swan Lake, New York! Don't forget to send in
your money and permission form to the office!
All DRS parents are encouraged to download, fill out,
and send in the survey form for our Middle States
accreditation process. The survey can be found in
the Quick Links section below.
Mazel Tov!
Mazel Tov to DRS Rebbe Rabbi David Friedman,
on the birth of a grandson.
Mazel Tov to DRS Alumnus Eli Schulman on
his forthcoming marriage to Andrea Schwartz.
College Guidance Update: The Cooper Union and
Columbia University Visit DRS
It's crunch time in the College Guidance Office.
The seniors are busy preparing their applications
to colleges. Assistant Deans of Admissions from
The Cooper Union and Columbia University visited DRS
this week. Each meeting was well attended by
DRS seniors and juniors interested in these premier
colleges. Our students asked relevant questions about
college curricula, housing, scholarships, campus life for
the orthodox student, and career placement. Both
admissions officers met our students and addressed
individual questions. Applications to both are
available on line or in the college guidance office.
Our busy schedule continues next week, as we
welcome Queens College, CUNY, Yeshiva University and
N.Y.U.
Click Here to download the latest College Guidance Newsletter!
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