Fresh off the heels of a brief winter break, Frisch’s annual dinner took place this past Saturday night, February 6, at the Teaneck Marriott at Glenpointe.
This year’s dinner, Rooted in Frisch, celebrated all that makes us, and keeps us, rooted in Frisch. Whether we are alumni, parents, grandparents, educators or community members who regularly witness the transformative effects of a Frisch educational experience—from the spirit of intellectual inquiry and religious development to the community of kindness and numerous avenues which one can explore his or her passion—there is ample reason to support Frisch and take pride in being part of its success and continued growth. The dinner raised a record amount of funds, and this year saw a record amount of applicants to Frisch for the 2016-2017 school year. Rarely a week goes by in which another school from the U.S., Israel and Europe does not visit Frisch to tour the grounds and meet our educators, to learn about our unique blend of Torah Umadda education and model for joyful learning.
As soon as guests walked into the lobby of the Marriott, they witnessed beautiful décor of trees and roots in keeping with the evening’s theme, and enjoyed a delicious buffet-style dinner.
The program featured remarks by Rabbi Eli Ciner, principal, Dr. Kalman Stein, headmaster, and Paul Rolnick, our first alumni president of the board and a Frisch parent, and honored several people who have been integral to Frisch’s success:
• David ’77 and Jill Blumenthal, our Guests of Honor, sent two of their three children to Frisch and have remained active supporters. They live in New Rochelle, NY.
• Cindy Frank Feigenblum ’88, who received the Nedivat Lev Award, has widespread roots in Frisch: she is an alumna, a Frisch parent, an active volunteer for the Frisch Parents Association and a member of the education committee. She lives in Teaneck.
• Ilana (Kaplan) Gdanski ’91, who received the Alumni Recognition Award, was not only a Frisch student but a staff kid—her father is Bobby Kaplan (“Coach K”), who coached the boys’ varsity basketball team at Frisch. Gdanski is very involved in her Englewood community—especially Moriah, and her shul, Congregation Ahavath Torah—and, as a Frisch parent, has opened her home to host Frisch events.
• Rifkie Silverman ’82, of Teaneck, who received the Rav Shlomo Kahn Memorial Educator’s Award. As one of Frisch’s most beloved faculty members, Rifkie directs engineering and computer science at Frisch, is a member of its math and science departments, and piloted the Frisch engineering program five years ago with the Center of Initiative in Jewish Education. She also spearheaded two senior electives, in conjunction with the Walder Institute and the Tzomet Institute, that integrate Torah, Halacha, science and technology.
All our honorees are proud to align themselves with Frisch’s core values, and Frisch benefits deeply with their involvement.
The past year at Frisch has seen the creation of the Smedra Family 21st Century Learning Space to the dedication of the Bayrish Schreiber a”h Mishmar Program. We hired a new director of Israel advocacy and education, Dr. Tuvia Book, and our Miriam and Daniel Michael Distinguished Speakers Series, which provides Frisch students and their families with learning opportunities through exposure to renowned Jewish scholars of various disciplines, is going strong. Mrs. Shani Taragin, an eminent Torah scholar, was the most recent speaker in the series. New athletic pursuits, like weightlifting and competitive state-league ice hockey, became real options this year, and students have enjoyed a range of inspirational co-curricular activities, like an Aseret Yemei Teshuva program featuring Disney animator and director Saul Blinkoff, a pep rally brimming with trademark Cougar energy, and, this week, an in-school Simply Tsfat concert to show students enrolled in the music track the power of serving Hashem through music.
From academics to athletics, spiritual edification to exciting programming, there are so many wonderful aspects of Frisch that are enhanced with the support of parents, grandparents and community members.
“I’m gratified by the excitement of our Frisch community to participate in this year’s dinner and I’m proud to report that, well before the dinner, we already surpassed our initial fundraising goals,” said Rachel Roth, director of development at Frisch. “As a Frisch staff member and a proud parent, it’s both a professionally and personally fulfilling experience to work for a place that inspires so many people to get involved and give back.”
The dinner also featured a wonderful performance by the talented members of the Frisch choir, supported by our jazz band, and a hilarious video presentation parodying “Undercover Boss,” in which Rabbi Ciner went “undercover” as a Frisch student to find out what students really think of school (spoiler: they love it).
Although this year’s dinner is over, it’s not too late to make your gift to the annual dinner and Scroll of Honor Campaign. Each and every gift makes a difference and helps educate the future leaders of our greater Jewish community. Please contact Rachel Roth at 201-267-9100, ext. 290 or [email protected] to discuss where your gift can make a difference, and visit us at www.frisch.org to keep up with the latest news about the incredible things our students are doing.
