spring 2014

JourneysMasaot

JDs Alumni newsletter

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62

feAtureD AlumnAe

Dorienn meDrAno (’02) has been drawing for most of her life and created the hand drawn designs featured here and on the cover. “The designs are all hand drawn on 18”x24” paper. I start with an outline of the design that I want to draw, then tape a piece of paper over the outline and redraw using a basic lightbox (glass table with a light behind it, so I can see the outline clearly as I draw the triangles). For the computer designs, it is still hand drawn, but then scanned into a computer and redrawn by hand using Adobe Illustrator.” Although she works for an HR Tech company in Bothell, so many people were interested in Dorienn’s designs that she has started an online clothing company — visit chasmclothing.com.

Dear JDS alumni, alumni FamilieS anD JDS Community:

It has been an absolutely wonderful year for me here at JDS and I am happy to have been able to be a part of this special community. In June, I will leave JDS secure in the knowledge that I will be followed by a national leader in Jewish day school education.

Hamutal Gavish (right) begins her tenure as permanent Head of School this July. She comes to JDS from northern California where she is Campus Head of the K-8 Brandeis Hillel Day School’s Marin campus. She was also founding Head of JCDS, Boston’s Jewish Community Day school, where she worked for 10 years. Hamutal holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Minnesota, with a focus on math and science, and a Masters of Arts in Jewish Education and Administration from Rheah Hirsch School of Education, Hebrew Union College — Jewish Institute of Religion, Los Angeles. I hope that you’ll help us welcome her to the community when she arrives in Seattle in July.

I will also leave behind an exceptional staff who bring passion and dedication to their work with JDS students every day. With a new Strategic Plan, a committed Board of Trustees, and supportive parents, JDS is at the start of an exciting period of growth. As alumni and alumni families, you will always be an integral part of the JDS community and I encourage you to stay in touch and involved. Enjoy reading these pages and learning about the wonderful young people who have journeyed through our JDS doors.

mike DownS Interim Head of School

JDS wants to thank Mike Downs for serving as Interim Head of School this year. We wish him all the best as he leaves Seattle in June bound for Israel where he will serve as Superintendent of the Walworth Barbour American International School.

JDS alumni newSletter Spring 2014

alumni upDateS

natanya auerbaCh (‘05) graduated from Cornell University last May and relocated to Boston where she is a fundraiser for Gateways, a local Jewish educational nonprofit. Since moving to Boston, she has become involved with several local Jewish organizations and has struggled to keep up with the New England enthusiasm for their many sports teams.

halen baker (’06) attends Boston University and was among authors of a paper titled Genetic Markers Linked to Differences in White Matter Microstructure in Corpus Callosum and Inferior Fronto-Occipital Fasciculus in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome.

rebeCCa boCkow (’95) (left) has returned to Seattle where she and her husband Dave are involved in the Seattle Jewish community. After practicing as a cosmetic dentist in West Seattle for two years, Becca moved to Philadelphia to attend the University of Pennsylvania’s dual residency program in Orthodontics

and Periodontics. Last fall, she opened a boutique orthodontic practice in Kenmore while also maintaining a satellite location in Bellevue. “I am currently accepting new patients and provide orthodontics for children and adults. We offer complimentary consultations, so feel free to schedule an appointment!” SeattleSmileDesigns.comwww.Facebook.com/SeattleSmileDesigns

JeSSiCa brumer (’10) will attend Western Washington University in the Fall and will work at URJ Camp Kalsman this summer.

megan brumer (’08) will be a camp counselor at URJ Camp Kalsman this summer.

benJamin Cape (’12) worked at Valve over the summer as a programmer building Valve’s project, Pipeline. He has also become very involved with BBYO where he is President of his chapter.

tahlia eDgar Chalker (’13) (left) danced in the recent production of Pinocchio with the Pacific Northwest Ballet.

aDam epStein (’07) is a junior at the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Sam epStein is completing his freshman year at UCLA. He spent his junior year of high school at the Alexander Muss High School in Israel.

perri erlitz (’00) (left) recently had the opening of her public school kitchen classroom featured on News12 in NYC. See the story at bit.ly/1pxcF7D

gillian FrieDman (‘08) (right), who attends Whitman College where she is also a salsa instructor, is featured on the cover of the March 2014 Whitman Magazine.

allon Freiman (’02) (left)graduates this spring with a dual Master’s Degree from Seattle University in Sports Administration and Non-Profit Management. He is also

the founder of Homecourt Hoops which uses basketball to improve the lives of youth in Ghana: homecourthoops.org

Chef Joel gamoran (left) from Sur La Table cooked on the Katie Couric show in February. See his segment at bit.ly/1p1pbO5

marina garkavi (’05) attended Bar Illan University for one year then went on to Brandeis University where she graduated with a degree in Health: Science, Society, and Policy. “Since my return to Seattle I have been taking many science classes and in my spare time I work for a marketing company, nanny, dogsit and assist with physical therapy. I recently started volunteering at the Kline Galland rehab facility, as well, and have found myself roaming into other sections of the building to spend time with residents and others that are there as part of a recovery process.”

JDS alumni newSletter Spring 2014

alumni upDateS

JDS alumni newSletter Spring 2014

aDam gillman (‘05) was selected as a Pearlstone Integrated Sustainability Apprentice at the Pearlstone Center in Maryland. This 8 month program focuses on sustainable living, organic farming, learning, pluralistic Jewish community building, and program development. Prior to this, Adam participated in the Adamah Jewish Environmental Fellowship in Connecticut, a 3 month program for Jewish young adults that integrates organic agriculture, farm-to-table living, Jewish learning, community building, and spiritual practice.

lela hazary (left) is continuing her modeling career in New York.

theo koepF (‘08) has been spending a gap year in Israel. He spent five months at Kibbutz Yochanan where he passed his Hebrew proficiency exam, did a stint with

Mogen David Adom, and completed a two week tiyul on the Israel Trail. He will complete the gap year training with the Israeli Army and has plans to attend The Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy in Herzliya in the fall.

Danielle levy (’09) is a freshman at Northwestern University pursuing a double major in journalism and economics. She is a Gamma Phi Beta and a NU SHAPE peer facilitator. SHAPE’s mission is to help students learn and adopt healthy behaviors and to recognize and address dangerous behaviors and attitudes.

Juliette levy (’11) is an 11th grader at Seattle Academy where she participates in the SAAS Speech and Debate Team. She has been selected to play the part of Aslan in the SAAS spring performances of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. She is also an Advocate for the American Diabetes Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, a member of USY and will participate in a service trip to Zambia this summer.

beSS loveJoy (’93) (left) is finding great success with her recent book Rest in Pieces: The Curious Fates of Famous Corpses. To learn more visit bit.ly/liZSA9P

alayna maDuell (’11) completes the Advanced Teaching Academy in the Bellevue School District in June and will be attending Northern Arizona University in the fall to study Elementary and Special Education.

JoSh maDuell (’07) recently completed the Semester Diploma Programme in Classical Acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA).

hannah niebulSki (’04) attends Medical School at the University of Rochester. She spent last summer working in Ethiopia on a University of Rochester sponsored research grant with Dr. Rick Hodes & the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC).

JoShua okrent (’06) will graduate from Lehigh University in May with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He remains active and on the student board at Lehigh Chabad. After graduation, he plans and looks forward to going to Israel with Birthright. Joshua recently accepted a position working at Boeing as a Mechanical Engineer in Los Angeles.

raChael okrent (‘08) is in her sophomore year at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where her area of study is Nutritional Sciences. She remains active in her sorority and its governing board Panhellenic where she is an elected member. Rachael is also active at both Hillel and Chabad. This summer Rachael returns to Camp Solomon Schechter for the third year as a staff member, this year as the Program Director. After camp, she plans and looks forward to going to Israel with Birthright.

hannah robin (’09) (below) is majoring in biology at Santa Clara University where she is part of the university’s Global Dental Brigade which travels to Panama to provide oral care in communities with limited access to dental services. She is a Student Shadow Ambassador for prospective students and

was selected by her biology professor as a student biology researcher.

zaCh robin (’12) (left) is an Eastside Prep Student Ambassador for prospective students and continues to

work with his sister Hannah on the non-profit they created 2th Fairy which provides dental supplies for those in need locally and in other countries including Peru and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. www.2thfairy.org

alumni upDateS

JDS alumni newSletter Spring 2014

Sarah wayne rutleDge (’98) and her husband Derek live in Boulder, Colorado. Sarah is the Assistant Director of Admissions for the Art Institute of Colorado.

JeSSe Salomon (’90) (left) and his wife Sarah recently returned from travel in Columbia.

Shani Saul (‘07) is a junior double majoring in Architecture and

Psychology at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, N.Y. She was just inducted into the Psychology Honors Society and has made the Dean’s list every semester. Shani will stay in Geneva this summer to fulfill a paid internship in community development.

zaCh Saul (‘06) is a senior at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas where he majors in Psychology. He recently received a Tikkun Olam award from the Jewish Federation of Arkansas for his three years of work as Hillel co-director. Zach has joined some other music industry entrepreneurs to start a recording studio and record label in Trenton, TN.

Celina SChoCken (’87) received a Distinguished Alumnae Award from Lakeside School for her work in Africa. To read more about her, visit on.cfr.org/1h6EJh6

JoShua Sloan (left) is graduating this May from George Washington University School of Business. He is in a very intense class called Advanced Advertising where they will compete to see which school can come up with the best marketing plan for Mary Kay Cosmetics. Each student team

then “pitches” its campaign to a panel of judges in NYC competing against more than 180 other universities.

harry Spitzer (‘04) (below) worked for a year after graduating at a social media marketing startup in the Bay Area before quitting for a six month journey to the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia. Harry is “temporarily an amateur travel blogger” with plans to return to San Francisco. He has volunteered with Stanford University’s chapter of Camp Kesem, a free week long summer camp for children whose parents had, currently have or passed

away from cancer. Summer plans include attending the World Cup in Brazil.

phil Spitzer (’01) (left) attended Mercer Island

High School, then Stanford University. After graduating, he worked for a startup called Yammer that was acquired by Microsoft in 2012. He’s currently working on his next technology project in San Francisco.

Sarah toner (’92) is working at the University Village Virginia Mason Clinic as an Internist. She is engaged to a fellow internist. The wedding is planned for November and they have just purchased a home on Capitol Hill.

karen touboul (’07) is a junior at Western Washington University and is studying abroad at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. “I am here for one semester and have been traveling, studying, and experiencing a new way of life. It’s been an amazing opportunity!”

JaCob valk (’05) graduated from Occidental College last year and has been in a gap year during which he co-authored two scientific articles based on research which will be published this year. He also staffed two Birthright Israel trips. He has been accepted into and will soon begin medical school.

maya zwang (‘08) is in her second year at University of British Columbia. She is studying Psychology and hopes to become a school counselor. She will be going on a Birthright trip to Israel in May. Active in many forms of community service, Maya works closely with Ronald McDonald House, Relay For Life, and raises funds for many non-profits in BC. In August she will be Head of Staff for the Jump Start Program, which introduces international students to life at UBC.

alumni & alumni FamilieS helping JDS StuDentS

avi Fine (left) coaches the JDS Ultimate Frisbee team and worked with our Preschoolers.

allon Freiman interned with our athletics department.

zaCh Saul was among chaperones for the 5th grade Islandwood Trip.

ben gown (’96) and his band Sasson performed at a fun summer concert on the field at JDS.

Chava mirel performed at our Purim Celebration.

ken tSipren (left) visited the JDS 5th grade recently to speak with students about his family’s experience emigrating from Russia. Ken is now an attorney practicing in Bellevue.

benJamin Cape and rebeCCa brown volunteered at one of our Middle School dances. Our DJs were also alumni JoShua greenStein, ben FrieDman and Danny glaDner.

benJamin Cape and ben FrieDman have spoken to students about B’nai Brith.

emily CaDitz, beCky ConStantine and natanya auerbaCh (right) worked on campus last summer. Emily and Becky helped with our Alumni Relations and Natanya helped Development.

Thank you to alumni parents Lela and Harley Franco who welcomed the JDS green team at the new Harley and Lela Franco Maritime Center which opened in August.

It includes the Ahbra and Robert Franco Puget Sound Sealife Sanctuary named for their two children and JDS alumni.

JDS alumni newSletter Spring 2014

noteworthy

JDS Alumni from ’97 attended Fraser Wirth’s wedding in the fall. From left to right: JaCk roSen, Daniel noviCk, FraSer

wirth, roxanne kritzer briDge and aaron walD

JorDan Sloan, nathan Cohen and Daniel DavyDov graduated JDS together and just placed 5th (a school record) in State for the Seattle Academy Varsity Basketball team.

Daniel Cohen (’10) welcomes local high school students including a number of his JDS classmates to his home every week to delve a little deeper into Judaism.

To join the group, contact Daniel at cdanielb@gmail.com or 425-698-9907. (Also pictured: Jonah anDerSon, miChaela Covner, Daniel Cohen, Dov alberStone, alayna maDuell, harry SimpSon and gilaD touboul)

Two long time faculty members are retiring this year. linDa kriSher and rita zohav will be leaving JDS when school ends in June. We will greatly miss them and appreciate their contributions to our school over the years.

JDS lost one of its founders this year. leSlie rabkin z”l passed away in January after suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease for several years. He had a distinguished career working around the world and with his own psychology practice in Seattle. He was a Clinical

Professor of Psychology, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the UW until he retired. Our thoughts are with his wife, Janice, and his children, JDS alumni Sasha and Rebecca.

auCtion

JDS alumni newSletter Spring 2014

It was wonderful to see so many alumni and alumni families at our 2014 gala & auCtion held March 23rd at the Hyatt Hotel in downtown Bellevue. The event raised more than $400,000 for our school and included one of our largest Fund-a-Needs in school history. Nearly a quarter of a million dollars was raised during Fund-a-Need for our inquiry-based program. Thank you to our alumni and their families who volunteered, attended, donated, provided gift matches and helped procure items. We couldn’t do it without you! If you were unable to attend but would still like to make a gift to JDS, please contact our Development Director Risa Coleman at rcoleman@jds.org or give securely online through www.jds.org.

Thank you to our alumnae who have supported this year’s JDS Annual Fund — mimi roSen (’94), Sarah wayne rutleDge (’08), Sarah toner (’92) and ilana gloSSer woDlinger (’96). If you would like to make a gift to the Annual Fund or place a tribute, contact our Development Director Risa Coleman at rcoleman@jds.org.

JDS alumni newSletter Spring 2014

Stay ConneCteD

We hope you’ll remain connected or reconnect with JDS. JDS Board of Trustees member and alumnae Sarah toner (left) is heading up our JDS Alumni Relations effort so if you’d like to get involved, be added to our mailing list or just connect, email Sarah at alumni@jds.org. Also, if you’re not already a member, be sure

to join our Facebook Alumni Group.

We’re delighted to have alumni whose children are now JDS students! If you’re interested in JDS for your child(ren), please contact amy aDler in our Admissions Office at aadler@jds.org to learn about our preschool through 8th grade inquiry-based learning program. Ask about our new year-round preschool with expanded hours.

Join us as we celebrate our soon-to-be newest alumni — the JDS ClaSS oF ‘14. You’re invited to our Graduation Ceremony on Thursday, June 19th at 7:00pm in the Greenstein Athetic Center.

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