From the Rabbi’s Desk

 

Dear Friends,

As the Director of Abrams Hebrew Academy, one of my foremost priorities is the pursuit of new and innovative technologies and strategies that improve the quality of education for our students and keep the school moving forward. I am proud of the many new and exciting changes that Abrams has made that will greatly enhance the learning experience for all of our students and teachers, including:

-Israel Center- we have now completed the construction of a beautiful, technology-enhanced Israel Center that will serve as a hub of learning about Israel and Zionism. This center was funded by the generosity of Dorit and Steve Borrus in honor of Rose Blumenkranz ז״ל.

-Bnot Sherut- This year, Abrams is sponsoring Bat Sherut, who will share their enthusiasm for Israel with our students and will also tutor Hebrew language.

-iPads- Our 5^th-8th grade students will all be using iPad technology as part of their regular school curriculum, an exciting, new innovative learning tool.

-Textbooks- This year AHA will be utilizing a new series of textbooks for Hebrew language that is also used by Kohelet Yeshiva High School. We are excited about this curriculum change, and this will make it easy for us to coordinate our curricula with that of KYHS.

-Discipline- Abrams has a new discipline policy. Mrs. Lamkey has already spoken to the students about the new rules, and we look forward to a successful year with everyone’s cooperation.

-Honors Science- Abrams is partnering with two area Hebrew High Schools to present honors science classes to our 7^th and 8^th grade students via long-distance learning – our 7^th grade students will be taught by a science teacher from Barrack, and our 8^th grade students will be taught by a KYHS teacher. Long-distance learning is quickly becoming part of the mainstream modality of education, and Abrams is enthusiastic about being part of this world-wide trend.

-Finally, we have reached out to Technion University in Haifa, Israel, to partner with them in a program that will offer training to our teachers and assist our students in excelling in science.

My goal is to make Abrams an ESTM school- an institution of Excellence, Science, Torah, and Math.

As Rabbi Eliach, the longtime principal of the Yeshiva of Flatbush said, “Great institutions can die if they don’t adjust themselves to a new era, if you think you’re so good that you don’t have to change… You can always learn.” Rabbi Eliach is right- we must continue to change and grow- change is good, and I am committed to making Abrams Hebrew Academy the best it can be by embracing educational innovations as they continue to develop. We must always look to the future and not rest on the laurels of the past.

 

L’Shalom,

Rabbi Ira Budow