Warriors Week in Review

Dear Parents,

I hope that your Yom HaKippurim was meaningful and fulfilling for you and your family.  Once again the school week was shortened due to the holiday, and still there were many exciting programs and events during these few days at MDYHS - it is a privilege to share a glimpse of some of them with you.

On Monday morning, MDYHS was honored to host a special Selihot Gedolah program for the entire school.  The tefillot were led by Rabbi Nir Shalom and Rabbi Jack Savdie whose sweet voices were inspirational.  The two rabbis were assisted wonderfully by our own talented boys' choir.  When the choir sang, one could sense the palpable admiration and appreciation by all the students present.  The transmission of our beautiful heritage from one generation - the rabbis - to the next generation - the students - was so moving!  (Please access the following link to see and hear a brief part of the wonderful Selihot program: http://sdrv.ms/OWPLoa).  Following the actual Selihot, our students had the opportunity to hear an inspiring message from our esteemed Rosh Yeshivah, Rabbi Harold Sutton, who spoke about the Power of Teshuvah: From the Heart and From the Mind.  The program culminated in a delicious breakfast for students and faculty.  I know that the message and values conveyed in this program will accompany us through the year!

On Monday afternoon, I had the great pleasure of joining Dr. Abe Tawil's Small Business Management (CUNY-credit) class at MDYHS.  Dr. Tawil had arranged a seminar presentation for the class on D.I.S.C. - (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness) - four different styles that come together in business teamwork. The seminar was led by Ms. Ronny Berlin who serves on a Blue Ribbon Panel for the US Government, and has lectured at Baruch College, Cornell University, Hofstra University, and the United Nations.  Over the past number of years, I have attended similar corporate seminars and workshops, and I can proudly say that our students' teams functioned together as smoothly as many of the corporate teams I have seen.  The great future captains of industry are coming out of the MDYHS classrooms!

On Monday night, we hosted a fact-filled Orientation Program for our 12th Grade parents.  The program focused on two main areas: the process of college admissions, and the unique Internship Program at MDYHS.  Mrs. Debbie Solomon, Director of the Department of College Guidance & Career Counseling Services, ably assisted by Mr. Steven Harris, led parents through an array of information, tips, and strategies on the college application, admission, and enrollment process.  This was followed by a presentation by Mrs. Sabrina Maleh, outlining the different components of one of the crown jewels of MDYHS - our Senior Internship Program.  In truth, guidance regarding college admissions and career internships begins in the ninth grade and continues throughout the four years - during which students and parents are presented with programs designed to nurture the students along the way to great success.  Whatever grade your child is in, he or she will participate in programs and meetings that focus on these important issues.

Yesterday, our students - under the supervision of our spirited Director of Student Activities, Rabbi Ben Zion Scheinfeld, with assistance from Mrs. Barbara Dweck, presented a Sukkot Fair to the student body. Select groups of students prepared special exhibits on the various themes of Sukkot - the Lulav & Etrog, the Sukkot Calendar, Sukkot in the Bet HaMikdash, and the structure of the Sukkah.  Each class took a tour through this wonderful exhibit, and the "tour guides" were the students who had designed the various sections.  It was wonderful to watch the students listening attentively to the guides.  Each tour group had an Educational Packet to fill out, based on the exhibits, and successful completion of the packet earned the students fresh cotton candy which the tour guides gladly provided - representing the Ananei HaKavod - a major theme of Sukkot!  Please see the attached photos from this beautiful event.

As we face Sukkot - zeman simhatenu - it is a pleasure for me to extend to you my warmest wishes for a joyous holiday - one imbued with the spirit of Torah and with the smiling faces of family and friends.  I look forward to being in touch again after Sukkot.  Mo'adim LeSimhah!!


Sincerely yours,

Rabbi Saul Zucker