Upper School

9th Grade Shabbaton: The 9th grade Shabbaton is set for Friday, May 9.

Thank you, Barrack Families: A special thank you is extended to the JBHA families who hosted our guests from Echad Ha'am High School in Israel. They had a wonderful time and were very appreciative of the warm and welcoming hospitality they experienced.

Senior Community Service Updates: Barrack seniors are currently earning 100 hours of community service,  fulfilling a prerequisite for graduation and carrying on the Jewish tradition of helping to make the world a better place for all. Look for a recap in next Friday's Benainu.

Prom Night: Prom Night is set for Thursday, May 31. 

Middle School

Middle School Chesed Day: All Middle School students will volunteer at non-profit community agencies during Chesed Day, set for Wednesday, May 2. Three groups of students and their faculty chaperones will travel to area food banks and resources that help fight hunger in the region: JRA, The Narberth Food Bank and Philabundance. The students will collect canned food donations next week and would appreciate your support. A fourth group of students will remian at JBHA and help create "Shalom Baskets" for HIAS clients, recent refugee families. Danielle Levin '12, who is performing community service at HIAS, will be on hand to help with this project. Donations for the baskets will also be appreciated, including: laundry baskets, brooms and dust pans, CFL light bulbs, shower curtains and rings, and alarm clocks. All items should be new or gently used. Thank you!

7th Grade Trip: The 7th grade trip to Washington, D.C. is set for Monday, May 14.

8th Grade Trip: The 8th grade trip to Colonial Virginia & Jamestowne, Williamsburg, Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, will take palce from Monday, May 14- Friday, May 18. The students will return to school on Monday, May 21.

6th Grade Trip: The 6th grade trip to the Mercer Museum in Doylestown is set for Tuesday, May 15.

School-Wide

Kol Hakavod to the Israel Club: Congratulations to Dr. Sigal Strauss, all the members of the Israel Club and the Israel Spirit electives, (with special shout outs to Rachel Gordon '12, Gracie Gottlieb '14, Samantha Levin '13, and Eliyahu Korn '13) who orchestrated and implemented very moving and meaningful Yom Hazikaron ceremonies and very festive Yom Ha'azmaut celebrations on April 25 and 26, respectively. Having the students and faculty from Echad Ha'am join us and participate in both programs added significance and very special "notes" to both days. Look for full recaps and photos in next Friday's Benainu.

A Shayna Maidel Receives Three Cappie Nominations: The Upper School drama, A Shayna Maidel, received three Cappie nominations in the following categories: Directing: Mira Taichman '12, Lead Actress: Natalie Oppenheimer '12, and Best Drama. The Cappies are awarded to high school productions, actors, and directors and are equivalent to the Tonys. Stay tuned for the announcement of the winners, and BRAVO, Mira, Natalie, and everyone involved in the production!

Exciting News from Wendie Sittenfield, JBHA Head Librarian: The library can now offer members of our community best-selling ebooks and audio books. Look for Wendie's letter for full details.

Limmud Philly, April 27-29. LimmudPhilly presents a Learningfest this weekend, Friday-Sunday, April 27-29 in Center City. Look for the Barrack table on Sunday. Our own Dr. Judd Krueger Levingston will present a session on Sunday, as well. For details: www.limmudphilly.org

Barrack Open House, Tuesday, May 1: Invite your family and friends to experience Barrack at our next Open House on Tuesday, May 1, 9am-noon. Guests are invited to meet our students and faculty, visit classes, and tour our campus and facilities. Personal tours are also available. Contact: admissions@jbha.org or call 610-922-2350.

The Last Survivor, Tuesday, May 1, 7:30pm, BMFI: JBHA and the Human Rights Club are co-sponsoring the screening of The Last Survivor, this Tuesday, May 1, 7:30pm at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute. This poignant and inspiring documentary follows the lives of four survivors of genocide from Rwanda, Darfur, the Congo and Bergen Belsen and their involvement in anti-genocide programs. Tickets are $10 for adults; $7 for seniors and students with IDs, and $5 for BMFI members.

Israel Inside: Wednesday, May 2, 7-9m at Barrack: The JBHA Home and School Association and the Israel Club are co-sponsoring the screening of the documentary film, Israel Inside: How a Small Nation Can Make a Big Difference this Wednesday, May 2, 7-9pm at Barrack. This inspiring film will be followed by a live demo of ReWalk, the first commercially available upright walking technology that was developed in Israel. The program is FREE and refreshments will be served. However, seating is limited, so please RSVP to dparmet@comcast.net

Tickets for the Upper School Musical On Sale Now! Tickets for Once Upon an Island, this year's Upper School musical, set for Sunday-Wednesday, May 20-23, are on sale now! All performances will take place at St. Joe's Bluett Theater, 7:30pm. Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 dollars for Barrack students and faculty; and $36 for patrons and sponsors. The deadline for advanced sale tickets is Monday, May 16. Click here for the ticket order form.

Support the Upper School Musical: Place an ad in the Upper School Musical ad book. Please note that the deadline for ads is this Monday, May 1. Click here for an ad form.

Sports

Athlete of the Week: Congratulations to David Gordon '16, a leading member of the Middle School Baseball Team, who is the Student Athlete of the Week. Look for David's full profile in next week's Benainu.

Quick Sports Round-Up: Our spring sports teams took to the playing fields and courts with skill, spirit and enthusiasm. Look for full details in next week's issue of Benainu. Highlights follow:

Boys' Varsity Baseball Team: Hats off to the Cougars who played an outstanding and passionate game against Mercy Vo Tech and won 8-5. Come out and cheer the team on this Sunday, April 29 at 10am, when the team plays Kohelet Yeshiva at South Ardmore Park. CHECK EMAILS ON SUNDAY MORNING FOR ANY UPDATES.

Boys' Varsity Tennis: The Cougars defeated Girard College, 5-0.

Track: Barrack's Track and Field Team competed in the PJL Invitational on Wednesday, April 26. The boys' 4x100 Meter Relay Team placed first, with fellow teammates achieving their personal best times!

Girls' Varsity Lacrosse Team: The Lady Cougars conquered the Kimberton team and continue to remain undefeated in the Tri-County League.

Boys' Middle School Baseball Team: The Cougars ended their 5-game winning streak, with a loss to Friends Select, 8-2.

Girls' Varsity Softball Team: The Lady Cougars had a 16-10 victory over Westmont Christian Academy. The team is currently tied for first place in the Tri-County League.

Golf Team: It was close, but Barrack lost by one point to Delaware Valley Friends, 112-113.

Upper School

Congratulations, Seniors: Barrack seniors completed their classwork yesterday and joyfully celebrated on campus. What's ahead? Finals, community service projects, the prom in May, graduation ceremonies on June 7, and continued success.

Friends in Faith Program: 11th and 12th grade students from Barrack and Pope John Paul II High School will participate in a unique interfaith dialogue this Thursday, March 29 at our school. Upwards of 200 Jewish and Catholic students, using a carefully-crafted interfaith curriculum, will take part in a Passover Seder and use the historic story of the Exodus from Egypt as a springboard for building greater mutual understanding. Friends in Faith is a cooperative effort of the American Jewish Committee, the two schools, the Department of Ecumenical Affairs of the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia and of St. Joseph's University Institute for Jewish-Catholic Relations. Barrack's Dr. Saundra Epstein is spearheading the program at Barrack, along with a number of students, administrators and faculty members. Look for a full report and photos in next week's Benainu.

Moot Beit Din: 11th graders Liat Goldfarb, Shira Golan, and Shanni Prutchi, and 1oth grader Avi Romanoff will participate in the annual Moot Bein Din competition held in South Florida, March 29-April 1. The competition is being held at the David Posnack Jewish Day School, where students from two dozen schools across the United States and Canada will address this year's topic: Teachers: Their rights under Jewish law to collectively bargain, to strike and to demand a living wage. Students were asked to evaluate a hypothetical case and produce a written ruling. The teams will then defend their rulings before a panel of judges. Good luck, team, and Elisha Stein, advisor. We look forward to hearing about your experiences.

New SA Officers: Congratulations to our new Student Association officers: Joshua Horowitz, President; Dobhran Black, Vice- President; Jeremy Goldfrad, Secretary and Shira Golan, Treasurer.

Panim El Panim: Barrack 10th graders are off to Washington, D.C. from Sunday, March 25-28 to participate in Panim El Panim. They will join teens from across the country.

Bon Voyage: Members of Barrack's French Club are off to Paris on March 28-April 5. They will immerse themselves in French and Jewish culture and tour iconic sites. Dr. Sigal Strauss and Dewey Oriente are accompanying the students.

Middle School

6th grade trip: Barrack 6th graders are off to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology to tour the Greece and Rome exhibits on Thursday, March 27.

Commedia Del'Arte: Barrack 6th-8th graders in the Middle School drama elective presented their Commedia Del'Arte project to an audience of parents and peers. The Commedia is an improvised entertainment art form that was developed during the Italian Renaissance. The 16 students wrote, directed, produced, designed, built their masks and choreographed their scenarios. Dewey Oriente is the elective teacher.

School-Wide

10th Annual Tribute Ad Journal Now Closed: We thank everyone who supported our ad journal, and we thank everyone for their support. Of course, Annual Fund donations are always welcome! Please note that reservations for the dinner and/or program and dessert are available through this Wednesday, March 28. If you have not made reservations to-date, join us as we honor Rhonda August, Robin Batoff, Jerry Batoff, and Harold "Doc" Gorvine, four exemplary leaders of our community. For reservations, contact: rbutow@jbha.org.

Come to the Cabaret, this Sunday! Join us this Sunday, March 25, at 7pm for our 18th annual Cabaret, honoring Dewey Oriente, Barrack's Drama Director. Dewey marks his 25th Anniversary this year. Barrack alumni, current students and friends will join Dewey on this special occasion to entertain in style. Tickets re $15 and are available at the door. Proceeds will benefit Barrack's Drama Department.

Announcing:Barrack Hebrew Summer School For Students in Grades 6-12: Barrack is proud to announce the opening of our Hebrew Summer School this summer. Whether you are a beginner, looking to improve your reading, writing, and conversational skills, or seeking enrichment, our school is the place for you. Experiential learning will be offered with individual instruction and interaction in pairs and groups. Student will use new, innovative and creative computer software designed by NETA, a Hebrew language curriculum created by specialists from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Two sessions will be offered: June 18-29 & August 13-24. Fee: $750 per session. Call or email for complete details: rcohen@jbha.org or 610-922-2323.

Carnival for a Cause: Congratulations to Caroline Batoff, Isabel Freedman, Jackie Khutorsky, all the members of the Chesed Club, and advisor Sarah Waxman who organized and implemented a fun-filled Carnival. Over $4,500 was raised to benefit Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Look for a full recap and photos in next week's Benainu.

Human Rights Conference: Congratulations to Nicole Becker and Devra Goldstein, conference co-chairs, all the members of the Human Rights Club, and advisor Tom McLaughlin, for organizing and presenting a very powerful and provocative conference. Kudos to all the speakers as well, especially to Akiba-Barrack alumnus David Carel '09, who delivered the keynote address. A recap and photos will appear in next week's Benainu.

Passover Programs: JLI members are finalizing plans for Passover programs that will be presented on Tuesday, April 3. Rachel Gordon and Yaakov Malomet are spearheading events.

Class of 2012 Passover Wine Sale: Passover is quickly approaching! Order your Passover wine now and help raise funds for the Class of 2012. A wide variety of kosher wines are available for your Passover table and for gifts. Click here for an order form and make checks payable to Barrack Class of 2012. Please give Mrs. Underwood your order forms. Deadline for wine orders: this Monday, March 26.

Sports

Middle School Girls' Basketball Jewish Day School Tournament: Please note that the team from Torah Academy won the Girls' Middle School Jewish Day School Basketball Tournament, defeating the Barrack Cougars by one point. Congratulations to all the teams, and a special thank you to the Kohelet Foundation for sponsoring both the Middle School Boys' and Girls' tournaments and to Kim Gillio and her team for organizing and implementing the tournaments.

Spring Sports Recaps: The Girls' Lacrosse Team had a great win against Delaware County Christian, 23-7. The Girls' Softball Team earned a victory over Baldwin, 15-8. The Golf Team approached the greens for its first games of the season. They hit the links with the team from Shipley. Although everyone played well, Shipley won. Boys' Varsity Tennis: The Cougars played with heart against the Haverford School, but lost to the Fords. Look for full recaps in next week's Benainu.

Upper School

Senior Engineer Arcade Alley: Pinball machines, created by the 12th graders in the senior Engineering class, will be in action! Come try them out on Thursday, March 22.

10th Grade Panim El Panim: Barrack 10th graders are off to Washington, D.C. on March 25-28 to participate in Panim El Panim. They will join teens from across the country.

12th Grade Review Day, March 26: Senior Review Day is set for Monday, March 26, followed by senior exams, on March 27 & 28.

Middle School

Sixth Grade School Trip, March 27: The 6th grade is off to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology to tour the Greece and Rome exhibits on Tuesday, March 27.

School-Wide

Carnival For A Cause, this Sunday! Join us this Sunday, March 18, from 1-4pm for the Chesed Club's Carnival for a Cause, benefiting Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Entrance fee of $15 includes five raffle tickets, games for the entire family, plus food and treats. Bring a stuffed animal and receive a free raffle ticket. Barrack juniors Caroline Batoff, Isabel Freedman and Jackie Khutorsky are spearheading this Chesed Club event. Sarah Waxman in the club's advisor.

10th Annual Tribute Event: Join us on Sunday, April 1, 5:30pm for Barrack's 10th Annual Tribute Event honoring Rhonda August, For Learning; Robin Batoff and Jerry Batoff, For Leading; and Harold "Doc" Gorvine, For Life. Click here for details.

Human Rights Conference: Congratulations to seniors Nicole Becker and Devra Goldstein, all the Human Rights Club members, and Tom McLaughlin, club advisor, for orchestrating and implementing a very informative, "take-action" Human Rights Conference held this week on Thursday, March 15. The conference featured 16 outstanding human rights and social justice advocates, including keynote speaker David Carel '09 and breakout session speaker Julie Retig '06, as well as Barrack seniors Leonie Cohen, Max Gering, and Ivan Levingston. Look for a full recap and photos in next week's Benainu.

9th Grade Annenberg Science Symposium: Congratulations to our 9th grade Annenberg Science Symposium Team who delivered a brilliant presentation entitled The Human Genome: The Heart of the Matter last night at the Symposium and received the Best Clinical Research Award. Mazel tov, as well, to their advisor Rhonda August. Look for details and a photo in next week's issue of Benainu.

Successful Barrack Blood Drive: We thank all our students, parents, faculty, staff and community members who participated in our Red Cross Blood Drive today!

Parsha of the Week, by Brandon Toll '13 & Shoshana Fishbein '13: In parshat Vayakhel, Moses imparts the words of God to the people of Israel, charging them to build the Mishkan, the intricately designed holy tabernacle where the people will feel God’s presence. All of the people are commanded to contribute to the Mishkan in whatever way would best express their commitment and devotion to God, and they generously donated gold and silver. This large undertaking unified us into one people. While all Israel was charged with the same commandment, each person fulfilled it with different intentions and means.

This parsha emphasizes the unity of the Jewish people in relationship to God. There are ways in which we must come together in today’s world: our tradition requires people to hold one another accountable by requiring ten people for a minyan to read from the Torah, to recite certain prayers and to come together to be with mourners. Each individual has a role to play to contribute to the whole. Vayechel serves as a microcosm for the Jewish community as a whole. The parsha motivates us to work together for the sake and success of Judaism, just as the people united to build the Mishkan.

Student Association Elections: SA elections are set for Tuesday, March 20. Exercise your right to vote!

Second Trimester Ends: Second Trimester ends on Thursday, March 22.

Come to the Cabaret! Dewey Oriente, Barrack's Drama Director, marks his 25th Anniversary this year. Join Dewey and friends, including a number of Barrack students and Akiba-Barrack alumni, on Sunday, March 25, 7pm in the Batoff Family Dining Hall. Donation: $15 includes light refreshments. Proceeds to benefit Barrack's theater department. Click here for details.

Records Day: Records Day is set for Friday, March 23. No Classes.

Third Trimester: The third trimester begins on Monday, March 26.

Sports

Girls' Middle School Jewish Day School Basketball Tournament: Barrack's Middle School Girls' Basketball Team took second place in the Jewish Day School Girls' Middle School Basketball Tournament, sponsored by the Kohelet Foundation. The girls' team from The Kohelet Yeshiva High School won the championship trophy by one point, 13-12. Congratulations to the Kohelet Yeshiva champions and to all the teams who participated in the tournament. Look for a recap and photos in next week's Benainu.

The Spring Sports Season is in Full Swing: The Girls' Varsity Softball Team took to the field in a non-league game against Germantown Friends. The team this year has many new players, but everyone did a great job. The Germantown Friends team won, 19-8. The Girls' Varsity Lacrosse Team started off the season with a win against Abington Friends, 17-9. Way to go, team! The Boys' Varsity Tennis team had an impressive first match of the season, with a win at home, 4-1 versus Abington Friends. The Boys' Varsity Baseball Team, in a scrimmage, lost to Academy Park, 8-2. Look for full recaps in next week's issue of Benainu.

Sales

Class of 2012 Passover Wine Sale: Passover is quickly approaching! Order your Passover wine now and help raise funds for the Class of 2012. A wide variety of kosher wines are available for your Passover table and for gifts. Click here for an order form and make checks payable to Barrack Class of 2012. Please give Mrs. Underwood your order forms. Deadline for wine orders: Monday, March 26.

Upper School

JETS Team Competition: Good luck to the members of our Junior Engineering and Technology Team who will compete this Monday, March 5 at Widener University. The competition tests engineering, mathematics and science acumen. Stay tuned for results.

9th Grade Holocaust Symposium: Barrack 9th graders will participate in the Holocaust Symposium hosted by St. Joseph's University 0n Tuesday, March 6.

AP Government Seminar: Members of the AP Government course will attend State Senator Daylin Leach's Seminar on Friday, March 9.

World Affairs Club Trip: The trip is set for Friday, May 9.

Middle School

"Break A Leg,"Annie Jr. Cast and Crew: We know that the cast and crew of the Middle School musical, Annie Jr., will delight audiences this Sunday, March 4 at 2pm and Monday, March 5 at 7pm at Barrack. Tickets will be available at the door; $12 for adults; $10 for students. The charming musical is directed by Dewey Oriente, Drama Director.

7th Grade Parent Party: Barrack 7^th grade parents are invited to socialize at the Home of Holly and Norm Nelson in Wynnewood on Sunday, March 25, 11am -1pm. The Nelsons are the parents of 7^th grader Sarah and 9^th grader Danny. Please RSVP by March 20: nelson99@comcast.net

Boys' Middle School Basketball Tournament Champs: Barrack Middle School Basketball team won the first-ever Jewish Day School Middle School Basketball Tournament, generously sponsored by the Kohelet Foundation, on Sunday, Feb. 26. Read more under "Sports." Way to go team and Coach Cary Walker!

School-Wide

Annie Jr. Bows this Sunday & Monday: Don't miss this year's Middle School musical, Annie Jr. that bows at Barrack this Sunday, March 4 at 2pm and Monday, March 5 at 7pm. Tickets will be available at the door: $12 for adults; $10 for students.

Melton At Barrack: Registration for the first course offered by Barrack's new site of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School, a Scholars curriculum on Jewish Denominations, closes this coming Sunday, March 4th. If you are interested, please contact Andrea Rock, Director, Melton@Barrack (arock@jbha.org) immediately!

10th Annual Tribute Event: Barrack's 10th annual Tribute Event, honoring Rhonda August, For Learning; Robin Batoff and Jerry Batoff , For Leading, and Harold "Doc" Gorvine, For Life, is set for Sunday, April 1, 5:30pm at Barrack. Click here to make reservations and/or to place an ad in the Tribute Journal. Your support will contribute to the success of this major and important Barrack fundraiser.

Parsha of the Week, presented by Sarah Wolfson '14: In this week's Torah portion, Tetzaveh, God tells Moses how Aaron and his sons should dress for the role of being Cohanim. The Torah goes into a lot of detail about the color and design of Aaron's vests. The Torah explains that Aaron wears a robe with pomegranates and bells at the bottom. The Torah states, "Put 36 bells and 36 pomegranates on the front of the robe and the same number on the back. It shall be worn by Aaron when he performs the Divine service. Its sound shall be heard when he enters the Sanctuary before God and when he leaves." God knows where Aaron is at all times, so the bells are not meant for his sake, they are for the people.

The founder of Hasidic thought, The Baal Shem Tov, answers a question that is similar as to why the people would need Aaron to have bells on his robe, "Have you ever seen a person drowning? No one gesticulates more wildly than a drowning man... " He suggests that the bells symbolize people in need of a connection with the Jewish community and in need of a connection with God. Pomegranates are said to have 613 seeds, symbolizing the 613 mitzvot in the Torah. With the bells and the pomegranates on Aaron's priestly clothes, Aaron is in effect reaching out to the helpless drowning people who have difficulty finding their own a path or connection to mitzvot and to Judaism. And even though we cannot walk around everyday wearing what Aaron does, the Torah is showing us that we must always try to bring outsiders in and make them feel welcomed.

HSA's Four-Week Series with Dr. Rabeeya: The course on "The Middle East between Islam and Western Democracy" continues with Barrack's own Dr. Rabeeya on March 5, 12, and 19, from 6:45-8pm at Barrack.

Open House: March 6: Invite your family and friends to experience Barrack this Tuesday, March 6, 9am to noon. They will have an opportunity to meet our students and teachers, visit classes and tour our facilities. Personal tours are also available. Contact: 610-922-2350 or email: admissions@jbha.org.

School-wide Purim Festivities: Barrack students will celebrate Purim on Thursday, March 8, in the morning. School will end at noon. Look for a full recap and festivities in next week's Benainu, and Chag Sameach!

A Megillah Reader Invitation: Would you like to read a chapter or a portion of a chapter from Megillat Esther? We will have two readings this coming Thursday morning: one egalitarian and one male only reading in a mehitza setting. If you're interested, please see or send an email to Jeremy Rudoler or to Rabbi Judd Kruger Levingston. Adult and student readers all welcome.

Alumna Trunk Show to Benefit Barrack Scholarship Fund: Irina V. Mitchell will host a King Baby Studio Trunk Show in her newly-opened boutique, Kaleidoscope, in Old City on Sunday, March 11. Irina, an Akiba-Barrack alumna, will donate 5% of the proceeds to Barrack's Scholarship Fund. Stop by from noon to 5pm and say hello to Irina and "shop for a cause!" Kaleidoscope is located at 151 N. 3rd Street, Phila, PA 19106. You can also visit on line: kaleidoscopeboutique.com.

Israeli Film Festival: Barrack will host the screening of Torn on Sunday evening, March 11, 7pm. For a full film schedule and to purchase tickets, click here.

In Service Day, March 14: No Classes.

Human Rights Conference: Barrack's school-wide Human Rights Conference, spearheaded by seniors Nicole Becker and Devra Goldstein, is set for Thursday, March 15. David Carel '09, the keynote speaker, will launch the conference at 10:35am in the Batoff Family Dining Hall. The first break-out session with guest speakers is set for 11:20-noon. The second breakout session follows at 12:05-12:45. Topics include: Photojournalism in Darfur and the Congo, the Psychology of Terrorists, Women in War Zones, Native Americans, and Choosing Peace in the Face of Extremism.

Barrack Blood Drive: JBHA will hold a Blood Drive on Friday, March 16, 8am-2pm in the gym. If you have donated blood before, please bring your donor card. If this is your first time donating blood, please bring a photo ID.

Carnival For A Cause, March 18. Barrack juniors Caroline Batoff, Isabel Freedman and Jackie Khutorsky are spearheading the Chesed Club's Carnival for a Cause, set for Sunday, March 18, 1-4pm at Barrack. The Carnival will benefit Children's Hospital. Admission is $15 per person at the door and includes five raffle tickets, games, and food. Sponsorships are also available. For full information, to make a donation, and/or to have your questions answered, please contact Caroline Batoff: caroline.batoff@jbha.org Please make checks payable to either JBHA, with "Carnival for a Cause" written in the memo line, or to CHOP. Sarah Waxman is the Chesed Club advisor.

18th Annual Cabaret: Come to the 18th Annual Cabaret Fundraiser, on Sunday, March 25, 7pm, celebrating Dewey Oriente's 25th Anniversary as Akiba-Barrack's Drama Director. Many Barrack students and Akiba-Barrack alum will participate in this joyful and entertaining event. Join us and help honor all of Dewey's talents and efforts that result in award-winning student productions! Tickets will be sold at the door: $15 per person. Doors will open at 6pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Sports

Middle School Boys' Basketball Tournament Champs: Congratulations to the members of our Boys' Middle School Basketball Team and their coach, Cary Walker. They won the first-ever Boys' Middle School Jewish Day School Basketball Tournament, generously sponsored by the Kohelet Foundation. The tournament was held at Barrack on Sunday, Feb. 26. Five Jewish day schools competed, including JBHA. Look for photos and complete details in next week's Benainu. Congratulations to all the teams and coaches who participated, and a shout out to all the parents and friends who cheered on the teams. A special thank you to Kim Gillio, Barrack's Athletic Director, who organized the tournament and to Christine Farrell, Barrack's Middle School Coordinator and Dean of Students, who was at her side.

Upper School

Oh, What a Grand Opening! Congratulations to the Class of 2015 and teachers/project advisers Ivy Kaplan and Lilach Taichman for a truly grand and memorable Grand Opening of the Barrack Museum of Jewish Life in Poland that debuted on Sunday, Feb. 5. Bravo as well to all the talented students in Barrack's string ensemble and Barrack instrumentalists, under the direction of Dr. Karin Orenstein, who brought the Arts Festival that complemented the exhibit to life. And a special thank you to Dr. Norton Taichman, keynote speaker. Look for a full recap and photos in the next Benainu.

A Shayna Maidel; A Superb Production: Congratulations to the cast and crew of A Shayna Maidel, directed by Mira Taichman '12. The Upper School drama capped off the Arts Festival in a very touching, emotional, and significant way, helping to assure that the stories of those who perished, as well as those who survived the Shoah will not be forgotten. Look for photos in the next Benainu.

Wine Tasting Event to Benefit the Class of 2012: A wine tasting event will be held in a private home on Sunday, March 4, from 6 to 8pm. Save the date and support the senior class. Full details to follow.

Middle School

Mock Constitutional Convention: Students in Lee Scarborough-Kirk's 7th grade Core class staged a Mock Constitutional Convention last week. Students, attired in colonial garb, assumed the roles of the delegates and presented their points of view. Look for photos and a full recap in the next Benainu.

First Annual JBHA Jewish Day School MS Boys' and Girls' Basketball Tournaments: Four day schools will participate on Sundays, Feb. 26 and March 11, respectively. Full details under Sports!

Order Your Tickets for Annie Jr. Today: Rehearsals are in full swing for Annie Jr. This delightful Middle School musical will bow on Sunday, March 4 at 2pm and continues on Monday, March 5 at 7pm in the Barrack auditorium. Click here to order your tickets.

School-Wide

Tu B'Shevat: An animated version of The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, discussions of the importance of trees to our lives today and tomorrow, and environmental "new year's resolutions" highlighted a very festive and lively Festival of the Trees school-wide Assembly held in the Batoff Family Dining Hall last Wednesday. The assembly, planned and presented by JLI members, was spearheaded by seniors Natalie Oppenheimer and Max Gering.

Parsha of the Week, presented by Alec Cohen '16: This week’s parsha is Yitro. It begins with Yitro, Moshe’s father-in-law, bringing Moshe’s wife and two children to visit Moshe in the wilderness. Moshe tells his father-in-law how God freed the Israelites from slavery. They rejoice over the kindness of the Lord. Later the Israelites entered the wilderness of Sinai and Moshe receives the Ten Commandments from God. The ten most important laws in existence are handed from God to Moshe on top of Mount Sinai.

There is something we can learn from this very valuable parsha. God gives the Israelites ten simple rules to follow and in return God gives them loyalty and respect. From this precious promise we can extract an even larger lesson: treat someone well and you will receive the same treatment in return. If you obey someone and act respectfully towards them, they are sure to respect you and give you their kindness as well. God is saying to the Israelites that if they obey these ten simple laws, He will serve them and their children and their children forever. I believe that no one law is more important than another. Obeying them is what counts. So whenever you are at your wit’s end or just ready to throw in the towel, think and remember that you are part of this covenant. Shabbat Shalom.

Thank you for Volunteering at Super Sunday: We thank all of the JBHA Board members, parents, staff and students who volunteered at Super Sunday, either volunteering at our school table and/or making phone calls. You contributed to the success of a very important day.

Presidents' Weekend: School will be closed on Friday, Feb. 17 and Monday, Feb. 20 for Presidents' Day Weekend. Classes resume on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

World Language Week: Barrack students will present programs and projects during World Language Week, Feb. 21-24. Themed lunch menus during the week will also mirror international cuisine. Barrack parents are invited to join in the festivities.

Israeli Film Festival: Barrack is a proud sponsor of the 16th Annual Israeli Film Festival that begins on Feb. 25 & 26 at the International House on Penn's campus. The opening film is Intimate Grammar. Barrack will host a screening of Torn in our auditorium on Sunday, March 11 at 7pm. The Festival continues through Sunday April 1. For a full schedule, film summaries and to order your tickets, click here.

HSA Parent Learning Series: Mark you calendars and plan to join us for another stimulating HSA parent learning session set for Friday, March 2, 8:15am in the Richman Family Alumni Conference Center Room in the Athletic Building.

Next Open House: Barrack's next Open House is Tuesday, March 6, 9am-noon. Invite your family, neighbors and friends to experience Barrack!

Sports

It's Been a Very Active Sports Week at Barrack: Kim Gillio, Barrack Athletic Director, has forwarded the recaps from Barrack student reporters and team coaches that capture the excitement and results of team sports during this past week. Congratulations to all the athletes on all winter sports teams who played great games and had successful meets. Click here for team results.

Mia Stein‘16, Student Athlete of the Week: Coach Madeira reports: It is my pleasure to nominate Mia Stein as the athlete of the week. Mia is an eighth grade captain this year who has been invaluable to the Middle School Girls' Basketball Team team both on and off the court. On the court, Mia is a versatile player who makes the girls around her better on offense as well as defense. Mia is an aggressive defender who has the ability to rebound and steal the ball. Offensively, Mia is an excellent dribbler who can also shoot and pass. As good as Mia is on the court, she has proven to be an even bigger asset off the court. Once named a captain, Mia made it perfectly clear that she was the vocal leader of the team. Mia takes this responsibility very seriously and has made my job easier. Without being asked, she emails the team reminders about early dismissals, writes game recaps and tells the girls to "hold the ball" when I'm talking. Mia has set an example for the rest of the team on and off the court and much of the teams' success can be attributed to her leadership.

Athletes of the Week Honorable Mentions: Joel Belfer ’15, Boys’ Varsity Basketball; Or Ayash ’15, JV Basketball; Josh Jutcovich ’16, Middle School Basketball; Jackie Khutorsky '13, Girls' Varsity Basketball; and Sarah Weinblatt '12, Coed Swimming.

First Annual JBHA Boys' Middle School Jewish Day School Basketball Tournament: The First Annual Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy Boys' Middle School Jewish Day School Basketball Tournament will take place in our gymnasium on Sunday, February 26, 2012. Four Middle School teams from Barrack, Torah Academy, Saligman Middle School and Kellman Brown Hebrew Academy will participate in this year’s tournament.

A separate Girls' Tournament, with the same participating schools, will take place in our gym on Sunday, March 11th. Please come out both days, cheer on our teams and give a warm welcome to our guests from the other schools. Tip off both days will be about 9:00am. The winning team each day will receive the Elijah’s Cup trophy.

Sales

Chesed Club Challot Sale: Order you challot for Shabbat from the Chesed Club and help support their worthy activities and programs that help make the world a better place. Click here for the order form.

French Club Mishlo'ach Manot Sale:It's not too early to think about Purim and Mishlo'ach Manot. The Barrack French Club is selling ready-made treats that will be ready for pick-up on March 1. Proceeds from this sale will help defer the cost of the club's upcoming trip to Paris. Mishlo'ach Manot will also be available to send to family and friends in Israel and to Israeli soldiers. Click here for details and an order form.

Senior Mishlo'ach Manot Sale: The Class of 2012 is selling Mishlo'ach Manot for Barrack's internal audiences: faculty, students, staff and more.  The costs: $1 for individuals; $3 for advisories; $10 for Upper School grades; $5 for Middle School grades; and $5 for Clubs. Forms are available at Mrs. Underwood's desk.

Upper School

Congratulations, HEAR Club Members: Renowned Holocaust historian, scholar and lecturer, Dr. Michael Berenbaum, at the invitation of Barrack's Holocaust Education and Reflection Club, presented a very moving and memorable presentation on Jan. 25 to our Upper School students, parents and special guests on the importance of Jewish memory and of reading documents and texts carefully. Look for a full recap in next week's Benainu. Senora Susan Schwartz is the club's adviser.

Kudos, 9th Graders: Barrack 9th graders are hard at work creating the Barrack Museum of Jewish Life in Poland set to have a Grand Opening for the community on Sunday, Feb. 5, at 1pm. The exhibit, created in conjunction with Centropa, will run through Thursday afternoon, Feb. 9. Ivy Kaplan and Lilach Taichman are the 9th grade teachers and program advisers for this important exhibit that will be complemented by a themed Arts Festival. Full details are under School-wide News.

A Shayna Maidel: The Upper School Drama, A Shayna Maidel, directed by Mira Taichman '12, bows on Sunday, Feb. 5, at 3pm. The play brings the themes depicted in Barrack Museum of Jewish Life alive and runs through Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 6 and 7 at 7pm in the Barrack auditorium.To download a ticket form, click here. Tickets will also be available at the door.

College Night for Juniors: Barrack 11th graders and their parents are invited to College Night set for Wednesday, Feb. 8, 7pm in the Barrack auditorium.

Senior Parent Meeting: A meeting for parents of Barrack seniors is set for Thursday, Feb. 9, 7pm in the Barrack auditorium.

Middle School

Trembling Tower Tournament, Terrific! Kudos to our Middle School students, science teachers, and Rhonda August, Science Department Chair, for a very exciting tournament and climax of the Planet Earth science unit. Student towers trembled and triumphed when tested by the earthquake machine, and all the related events were enjoyed by Middle School parents and invited guests. Look for a full recap, photos and tournament results in next week's issue of Benainu.

Middle School Shabbaton, A Success: The theme of the weekend was "Israel: The Land, The People, and The Culture." Students enjoyed themed programs, as well as festive meals, prayer, and lots of free time to bond. Special thanks to faculty chaperones Judd Levingston, Allen Gottlieb, Laura Stern, Chris Farrell, and alum Andrew Markowitz '06, and to JLI members Max Gering, Jenna Glassman, Ariel Gordon, Rachel Gordon, David Kolansky, Yaakov Malomet, Zara Mellits, Natalie Oppenheimer, and Doron Shore.

Middle School Musical: Annie Jr., this year's Middle School musical is set for Sunday, March 4 at 2pm and Monday, March 5 at 7pm. Rehearsals are underway, so save the date and get ready to order your tickets!

School-Wide

Community Grand Opening of Barrack Museum of Jewish Life in Poland & Arts Festival: Invite family and friends to join us for the Grand Opening of the 9th Grade Museum of Jewish Life in Poland set for Sunday, Feb. 5, at 1pm. The multi-media exhibit, created in conjunction with Centropa, an organization dedicated to preserving Jewish memory in Central and Eastern Europe, will include six-foot story panels, videos, interviews and tours by 9th grade docents. The Arts Festival will feature klezmer music, Yiddish tales, Barrack string ensemble performances and authentic cuisine.The premiere performance of A Shanya Maidel, the Upper School drama, will take place at 3pm. The exhibit and arts festival happenings are free and open to the public. Tickets for the play will be available at the door.

Parsha of the Week, presented by Tamar Parmet '13: This week’s Torah portion, Bo, tells of the last three plagues on Egypt: locust, darkness, and the death of the first born. When I read the parsha, the plague of darkness is the one that stood out. Darkness falls over Egypt for everyone but the Jews. The Jewish people are not touched by the darkness. And then, even after Moses removes the plague of darkness, Pharaoh still does not let the Jewish people go.

I see the Jews here as the light within the darkness of Egypt. The Jewish people experienced persecution, but they persevered and came out brighter. This occurred in the modern era, too. Even after the Holocaust, the Jews were able to come together and attempt to rebuild their communities. We successfully established the State of Israel. Back in Egypt in the biblical period, in a time of darkness, the Jewish people were illuminated with light. It is this light that has shone through the ages and enabled us to become the strong and united people we are today.

Barrack Open House: Invite family and friends to experience Barrack at our next Open House on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 9am-noon. Guests will have an opportunity to visit classes, meet our students, faculty and administration, and tour our facilities. Personal tours are also available. Contact: admissions@jbha.org or call 610-922-2350.

Super Sunday: Calling all Barrack parents and supporters. Mark your calendars and plan to participate in Federation's Super Sunday set for Feb. 12 at Barrack. Call 215-832-0630 to register and volunteer. This is the community's largest fundraiser that helps support key programs and those in need. Register today!

Barrack Cabaret: Save the date and plan to join us on Sunday, March 25, 7pm for the 18th Annual Fundraising Cabaret, marking Dewey Oriente and friends 25th year at Akiba-Barrack. It promises to be a joyful evening!

Host Families Needed: Barrack will be hosting a fabulous youth group from our sister school in Israel from April 20-April 29, 2012. Echad Ha'am High School is sending student performers to our school who will bring warm Israeli spirit to JBHA during the week of Yom Ha'atzmaut. There will be 25 10th grade students and three teacher chaperones. For full details and a list of responsibilities, click here. All interested families should contact Dr. Sigal Strauss: sstrauss@jbha.org. We need the support of, and warm home hospitality from our Barrack community!

Sports

It's Been a Very Active Sports Week at Barrack: Kim Gillio, Barrack Athletic Director, has forwarded the recaps from Barrack student reporters and team coaches that capture the excitement and results of team sports during this past week. Congratulations to all the athletes on all winter sports teams who played great games and had successful meets. Click here for team results.

Athlete of the Week: Congratulations to Tamara Moskowitz '12, Athlete of the Week for Jan. 20. Coach Rebecca Trajtenberg reports that Tamara has been a member of the Girls' Varsity Basketball team since 9th grade. This year, as a senior, Tamara hit a big milestone in her career when she scored 1,000 points! Her commitment to the team and the program is demonstrated day in and day out during practices, as well as games. Her passion and love for the sport of basketball is clear to all through her play on the court. This year, Tamara is averaging over 15 points per game. Against a very strong Kimberton team, Tamara scored 14; during our Woodlyne Game, she scored 25 points; and against Tri-County Falcons, she had 10. Not only is Tamara a presence on the court, as the leader of offense and playing tenacious defense, but she is also a leader off the court. Tamara is co-captain this year of the team and has played an integral role in the success of our team.

Athlete of the Week Honorable Mentions: Congratulations to the following student athletes who received honorable mentions: Samantha Rothman '12, Coed Swim; Ari Nahmani '16, Middle School Basketball; Gavriella Weitzman '17, Middle School Girls' Basketball; Daniel Saltz '13, Boys' Varsity Basketball; and Michael Levin '15, JV Basketball.

Clubs

Chesed Club Challot Sale: Order you challot for Shabbat from the Chesed Club and help support their worthy activities and programs that help make the world a better place. Click here for the order form.

French Club Mishlo'ach Manot Sale:It's not too early to think about Purim and Mishlo'ach Manot. The Barrack French Club is selling ready-made treats that will be ready for pick-up on March 1. Proceeds from this sale will help defer the cost of the club's upcoming trip to Paris. Mishlo'ach Manot will also be available to send to family and friends in Israel and to Israeli soldiers. Click here for details and an order form.

Upper School

Seniors Receive Early Decision College & University Acceptances: Barrack students who have applied to schools through the Early Decision program have agreed to a binding obligation to attend a particular college. They will attend the following outstanding colleges and universities: American University, Barnard College, Boston University, Cornell University, George Washington University, Jewish Theological Seminary/Columbia University, University of Miami, Muhlenberg College, Oberlin College, University of Pennsylvania, University of Rochester, Tufts University, Vassar College, Washington University (St. Louis), and Wellesley College. Congratulations to these seniors and to College Counselors Carol Jacobs and Rebecca Trajtenberg. Stay tuned for announcements of future acceptances.

HEAR CLUB to Host Nationally-Known Speaker, Jan. 25: Barrack's Holocaust Education and Reflection Club will host Dr. Michael Berenbaum, a noted writer, lecturer, teacher, Holocaust scholar, and former Project Director of the Unites States Holocaust Memorial Museum, overseeing its creation, who will address Upper School students on Wednesday, January 25 at noon. His topic reflects the Club's focus this year. Soon, Holocaust survivors and witnesses will no longer be alive to share their stories and experiences as well as serve as witnesses to the horrors of the Shoah. What are the new and creative ways that education can assure that those who perished, those who survived, and that this horrific period of history will never be forgotten? Parents are invited to attend this vital program.

Barrack Museum Of Jewish Life In Poland & Arts Festival Grand Opening, Feb. 5. Save the Date! Barrack 9th graders are in the process of creating The Barrack Museum of Jewish Life in Poland, in partnership with Centropa- the organization dedicated to preserving Jewish memory in Central and Eastern Europe. The exhibit will be complemented by klezmer music, Yiddish tales and authentic cuisine. The week-long multi-media exhibit will begin with a Grand Opening for the community on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 1pm. The production of A Shayna Maidel, the Upper School drama directed by senior Mira Taichman, will bow at 3pm. Join us for an enriching and memorable afternoon.

Middle School

Middle School Trembling Tower Tournament, Jan 25. Barrack Middle School students are busy building towers out of balsa wood that will be tested on an earthquake machine on Wednesday, Jan, 25, 1-3pm. This contest marks the completion of the students' Planet Earth science unit. Members of Barrack's 12th grade engineering course are helping the Middle School students build their towers and are also running the contest. Additional activities will include panning for gold, exploring the cave, and "Earth Science Jeopardy." Middle School parents are invited to enjoy this exciting tournament.

School-Wide

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service: School will be closed on Monday, Jan. 16, a national holiday. Students are aware of Community Service opportunities and have been asked to view Monday as a "day on" and not a "day off."

Political Conference and Mock Primary Election, Jan 17. Barrack parents are invited to attend the Barrack Political Conference set for this Tuesday, Jan. 17. Keynote speaker Representative Patrick Murphy will open the conference at 8:30am in the Batoff Family Dining Commons. The opening program will be followed by a series of workshops from 9am-11am led by a number of distinguished guests including: Josh Shapiro '91, Montgomery County Commissioner; Risa Vetri Ferman, Montgomery County District Attorney; Larry Kane, journalist, author and political commentator; Michael Smerconish, nationally syndicated radio host, MSNBC contributor, and columnist; and Brian Taff, 6 ABC News co-anchor at 4pm. Many other noted workshop leaders will also share their time, expertise and talents with us. Kudos to Dr. Minna Ziskind and Barrack students Jenna Ferman, Max Gering, Michael Shaid, Josh Brickman and David Treatman for organizing the conference and bringing the importance and excitement of the political process and active citizenship alive at Barrack.

Parsha of the Week:Presented by Lev Cohen ‘17: This week’s Torah portion is Shemot. In the middle of the Parsha, we find Moses in Midian where he has run to take refuge from punishment for killing an Egyptian slave master. He is a shepherd and tending to his sheep in the wilderness. G-d appears to Moses in a burning bush and instructs him to go to Pharaoh and ask Pharaoh to release the Israelites. Moses resists, making many excuses, asking, “Why me?”

This reminds me of when Abram is asked by G-d to leave everything he knows to go to a new place and start a new life and become the leader of a new nation. He obeys G-d willingly. In contrast, when Moses is ordered by G-d to ask Pharaoh to release the Hebrews, he resists not once, but five times. This is a striking difference between the two leaders. Abraham is known as “Avinu,” our father. Moses is known as “Rabbeinu,” our teacher. While Abraham is fatherly, and wants everything to be done as soon as someone asks it to be done, Moses is different. He is a teacher, and wants people to ask questions, and be logical.

I think this shows that there is more than one correct way of doing things. You can be like the early Abraham and be obedient, without knowing why you are doing something. Or you can be like Moses, the teacher, who questions everything and makes sure he knows exactly why he would do something. I see myself as more like Moses because I like to question things.

HSA Meeting and Program:, Jan.25: Barrack's Home and School Association will host a meeting at 6:30pm on Wednesday, Jan. 25, prior to a discussion on "Underage Drinking and Teens," presented by representatives of the District Attorney's Office of Montgomery County. Join us!

Sports

Boys’ Varsity Basketball: Jacob Reich ’14 reports: As the Barrack Cougars apprehensively approached the hardwood for their game against Wyncote Academy, their emotions ran rampant. Would we win? Lose? Tie? Nobody knew what to expect. The Cougars came out giving it their all. Jacob Reich led the score with 12, while Shawn Martin and Aaron Elkin had 11 and 10, respectively. Ezra Solway collected 9, Eliyahu Korn 8, Daniel Saltz 7, Marc Meltzer 6, Corey Barnet 4, and lastly Joel Belfer scored a majestic 3 point shot. The Cougars truly played with ruach today and showed the league they are not a force to be reckoned with! Heads up to Eric Henzel for his brave assistant coaching and his great passing! Lastly Aaron Elkin played a truly “fantasmic” game. Phil Khrichenko played great defense. Final score: 70-12

Co-ed Swim team: Samantha Rothman ‘12 reports: The swim team swam exceedingly well against The Baldwin School. We put up a good fight against one of the best swim teams in the area. Our success in the first few relays gave us an early lead, thanks to captains Sam Rothman, Rachel Gordon, and Jared Raikin. We came in first and second in the 100 breast stroke and Hannah Cooper swam the 500 for the first time! Even without goggles, Klielle Glanzberg-Krainin was able to finish the 200 freestyle without disqualifying. We look forward to swimming for the rest of the season, especially with the whole team present at meets! Go fish!

Boys’ Middle School Basketball: Josh Jutcovich ’16 reports: the Cougars came out and played hard against a good Saligman team. Although we fell behind early, we had a much better 2nd half, but still it was a very close and exciting game. David Gordon led the scoring with 12, Ari Nahmani (4 points) had some good rebounds, and Johnny Saewitz played great defense on their best player. Micah Weitzman also played excellent defense. Adding to the offense was Benji Joffe (2), Ofek Peres (2), Jacob Stein (1) and Simon Gordon (1). Shout out to everyone who came and supported us today. Final score: 31-26.

Girls’ Middle School Basketball: Tali Glickman ‘16 reports: Your Middle School Lady Cougars won our game against Saligman 17-12. The game started out tough going into the half with a 1 point lead, 4-3. We came out strong in the second half, scoring 13 points from Tali Glickman, Alice Schmidt, Sarah Nelson, Maya Shapira, Dria Gutierrez and Tamar Cahana. Gavriella Weitzman also played great with three fast break assists.

Clubs

Chesed Club Announces New Challot Sale: The Chesed Club will be selling, ordering, and distributing challot every week to families, students, and faculty who wish to use the club's services to supplement your weekly Shabbat meal.  “100% of our proceeds will benefit the Chesed activities of the club and support the many organizations we donate to each year,” shares Sarah Waxman, Club adviser. Look for more details and the order form in Benainu that will be posted on Monday.

Upper School

11th Grade Shabbaton: Barrack juniors are enjoying a Shabbaton at school this weekend.

Senior Class Auction: The Senior Class Auction is set for Thursday, Jan. 19. Stay tuned for details.

Senior Portraits: Senior photos are set for Thursday, Jan. 19.

SAT/ACT Combo Practice Test: Attention all sophomores and juniors. These practice tests will take place on Sunday, Jan. 22, 8am-noon in the Batoff Family Dining Hall. The fee: $15, with all proceeds going to Key of Success Academy in Ghana.

College Selection Night: An evening panel discussion with representatives from college admissions offices is set for Wednesday, Feb. 8, 7pm in the Barrack Auditorium. All juniors and their parents are invited to attend.

Middle School

Middle School Shabbaton: The Middle School Shabbaton is set forJan. 20 and 21 at school.

The Trembling Tower Tournament: Barrack Middle School Parents are invited to The Trembling Tower Tournament set for Wednesday, Jan. 25, 1-3pm at Barrack. Come see your students test their balsa towers on the earthquake machine! This contest marks the completion of their Planet Earth unit. Additional activities will include panning for gold, exploring the cave and "Earth Science" jeopardy. Join us!

School-Wide

Parsha of the Week, presented by Wendy Woods '14: In this week’s parsha, Vayehi, Jacob is on his deathbed, and he is saying his last words. He blesses all of his sons, and he instructs Joseph on his burial. Jacob dies, and Joseph is filled with sadness. Joseph ensures that Jacob is buried according to his wishes. Joseph’s brothers are afraid that Joseph is going to take revenge on them, so they lie and tell him that Jacob said to forgive them. His brothers also bow down to Joseph as if they are slaves. Joseph is touched by this, and he tells his brothers not to bow down. He offers comfort to them and assures them that he will take care of their children.

This is a lesson for us: two wrongs don’t make a right. Joseph could have used his brothers as slaves, but instead he acts nobly and comforts them. This life lesson can apply to anyone today who has the opportunity to step above base feelings and act graciously.

Parent/Teacher Conferences: Conferences continue this Tuesday, January 10, 1-4pm. Student will be dismissed at noon.

Ski Trip, January 11: The SA Ski Trip is set for Wednesday, Jan. 11. No Classes. Faculty In-Service Day.

Candidates' Debate: The tradition continues. Every four years, during primary election season, Barrack students portray the candidates (of the party out of power) who are vying for their party's nomination for President. Then the entire school community votes to elect the standard bearer. Come hear our students, representing the Republican candidates, debate economic and foreign policy issues. The debate will take place during an assembly this Monday, Jan. 9. Mitt Romney will be represented by Josh Horowitz; Rick Santorum by Yaakov Malomet; Ron Paul by Ivan Levingston; Rick Perry by Brett Krasner; Newt Gingrich by 9th grader Daniel Horowitz; and Jon Huntsman by Avi Romanoff.

Political Convention and Mock Primary Election, Jan. 17. Save the Date! The Jan. 9 debate will be followed by a school-wide Political Conference and Mock Primary Election set for Tuesday, Jan. 17. Congressman Patrick Meehan will deliver the keynote address. Additional distinguished speakers from the realms of politics, law, economics and civil rights will conduct workshops. Barrack parents are invited to attend the debate and the Political Conference that is being organized by Barrack students Jenna Ferman, Max Gering, Michael Shaid, Josh Brikman, and David Treatman. Dr. Minna Ziskind is the program adviser. Look for full details in the Jan. 13 issue of Benainu.

HSA Meeting/Program, Jan. 25: Barrack parents, mark your calendars and plan to join us for an HSA meeting at 6:45 pm on Wednesday, Jan, 25, followed by a special program. Full details will appear in the Jan. 13 issue of Benainu.

Sports

Eliyahu Korn '13: Athlete of the Week (12/16/11) : Boys' Varsity Basketball Coach Barnett Kamen reports: In addition to being selected as one of the two captains by his teammates, Eliyahu led Barrack in scoring in the three games played this week. On Monday, he scored 12 against Friends Select, 10 against Perkiomen on Tuesday, and 14 against Woodlynde on Wednesday. Eliyahu played excellent defense, guarding the opponents best player. He exhibited strong leadership skills, by always encouraging his teammates and pushing them to play their best. Eliyahu has matured as well. Last year, when calls would go against him, Eliyahu would let it get to him and be taken out of his game. This year, he is letting it go, and continuing to hustle. Eliyahu's progress in leadership will go a long way in determining the success of our season.

Honorable Mentions for Athlete of the Week included: Jack Kolansky, JV Basketball; Sivan Ben-Maimon, Girls' Varsity Basketball; Mia Stein, Middle School Girls' Varisty Basketball, and Ari Cooper, Coed-Swimming.

Middle School Girls' Basketball: Dria Guitterez '16 reports: The Girls' Middle School Basketball Team won their amazing game today with a score of 30-7. All of the girls did an outstadning job and held a great defense. Shout-outs to Talia Raikin, Alice Schmidt, and Tamar Cahana for steals and rebounds. Davi Cohen, Mia Stein, Tamar Cahana, Emily Greenspan (her first basket) and Sarah Nelson contributed a basket. Allie Einhorn had 4 points. Maya Shapira had 6, and Dria Guiterrez had 10 points. Great job girls. We are on a three streak win! Congratulations team and Coach Brian Madeira.

Middle School Boys' Basketball: David Gordon '16 reports: The Barrack Cougars came out strong with their first win. Everyone on the team contributed to the win against Woodlynde. Simon Gordon had great ball handling. Micah Weitzman had great rebounding. Benji Joffe played excellent in the paint, and Jon Saewitz played outstanding defense. Jacob Stein led the score sheet. Ofek Peres had many great steals. David Gordon led many great break aways with Ben Shapira. Ari Nahmani had excellent blocking and rebounding. Josh Jutcovich had many assists and Josh Cohen made some nice steals and gave everyone chances on offense. Congratualtions Coach Cary Walker and team!

Boys' Varsity Basketball: Ezra Solway ’12 reports: The Cougars notched their second win of the season tonight beating The Woodlynde School 35-28. Starting off relatively rusty in the first quarter, the Cougars picked up their defensive intensity forcing many Woodlynde turnovers. Ezra Solway supplied scoring early with eight points in the first quarter (12 total) while Eliyahu Korn provided another reliable offensive performance finishing with 11 points. Having one of his best defensive games, Eric Henzel stuck with Woodlyne’s best player the whole game, drawing two charges while still contributing 4 points. Playing late in the game Daniel Horowitz provided 4 points as Marc Meltzer and Daniel Saltz provided 2 points respectively. Shout out to Jacob Reich who played and supported the team.

Girls’Varisty Basketball: Zara Mellits ‘12 reports: The Lady Cougars had an intense game tonight against Mercy Vocational. The team struggled in the first half but came back strong with brilliant defense to get back into the game, scoring beautiful lay ups from steals and fast breaks. We fought hard and tied the game in a fierce fourth quarter, going into overtime, 34-34. After a hard fight in overtime, the final score was 39-38 Mercy. Contributing to the score were Tamara Moskowitz with 17 points, Jackie Khutorsky with 12, Sivan Ben-Maimon 4, Jenna Glassman 3, and Sarah Gordon 2. Stepping in for the overtime, Caroline Batoff contributed with excellent rebounds. The Cougars played hard and worked together without giving up, and look forward to practice and learn from the mistakes in today's game. Congratulations Coach Trajtenberg and team!

Upper School

Welcome Home!! Barrack juniors who studied in Israel for a trimester at Muss returned to campus and to the cheers , kisses and hugs of their families and friends yesterday, Thursday, Dec. 1. They return to classes on Monday, Dec. 12, the beginning of the second trimester.

9th Grade Annenberg Science Symposium Kick-Off: The kick-off is set for Friday, Dec. 9.

10th Grade Shabbaton: Today, Friday, Dec. 2 at 2:30pm at Barrack.

Middle School

Auditions for Middle School Musical: Auditions for Annie Jr. are set for Monday, Dec. 5, 4pm in the auditorium.

Middle School Tri-Arts Festival: The festival will showcase the artistic, vocal and dramatic talents of Barrack Middle School students on Tuesday, Dec. 6.

6th Grade Trip: Barrack 6th graders will tour the Egypt and Israel exhibits at the University Museum of Archeology and Anthropology on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

School-Wide

Parsha of the Week- Parashat Vayetze presented by Erik Miller '12, resident of Elkins Park and Tanakh student of Dr. Saundra Sterling Epstein. In this week's parashah, Jacob leaves Be'er Sheva and travels to Haran, his mother Rebecca's homeland. On his way, he has a dream about angels going up and down a ladder. God promises that Jacob's descendants will inherit the land on which Jacob sleeps. After waking up, Jacob makes an altar and calls the place Bet El, which translates to "The Dwelling Place of God."

The great commentator Rashi believes that because Jacob was able to find this place, he could be considered a righteous man in his day. Rashi explains that Abraham had found his way to this holy place two generations earlier, but the precise location had been lost until Jacob spent the night there. The lesson learned here is that if we wish to be righteous, then we, too, should try to overcome our fears and find holiness in unexpected places.

Barrack Open House-Tuesday, Dec. 6 9am-noon. Invite family and friends to meet our faculty and students, attend classes, and tour our campus and facilities. We look forward to meeting all prospective families! For details or to arrange a personal tour, contact Admissions: vyoung@jbha.org

Trimester One Ends on Thursday, December 8: Trimester Two begins on Monday, December 12.

Records Day: Friday, Dec. 9. No Classes.

Three Great Events on One Day, Sunday, Dec. 11: Join us for three great community events:

1. Open House 9:30-11:30am: Invite your family, friends and neighbors to meet our administrators and students, enjoy mini-classes and tour our facilities and campus. Contact Admissions: vyoung@jbha.org.
2. A Festive Community Camp Fair 11am-3pm: Over 20 day camps and overnight camps, plus raffles, music and more. Free and open to the public. Click here for details.
3. Barrack U! An exciting day of learning for the entire Jewish community 1-5pm. Over 12 stimulating courses presented by talented Barrack faculty and Akiba-Barrack alumni. Free Child Care - Kindergarten through Grade School. Click here for a full list of courses and presenters and register today!

Chanukah Assembly: Tuesday, Dec. 20. First Chanukah candle lighting at night. Chag Sameach!

Winter Break: Friday, Dec. 23 -Monday, Jan.2. School resumes on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

Sports

Congratulations to Michael Cahana & Aden Ohayon: Barrack sophomores Michael Cahana and Aden Ohayon were voted to the TCISL All-League Soccer Team, a prestigious honor, especially for 10th graders. The game took place on Nov. 27, and Michael scored a goal for his team. Way to go, Michael and Aden!

Girls' Varsity Basketball Update: Yesterday, our Girls' Varsity Basketball team members came out and played to their full potential and defeated Academy of New Church, 36-18!. Everyone on the team got into the game and gave it their all. Jenna Glassman had 6 points, Ashira Naftali-Greer and Nora Abel both contributed with 2 points. Sivan Ben-Maimon, Gracie Gottlieb and Tamara Moskowitz also contributed with scoring. "We played a hard game and through our defense had a lot of open lay-ups," reports Coach Rebecca Trajtenberg. The next game is away at Collegium.

Upper School

AIPAC: AIPAC Conference in Washington, D.C.-Sunday-Tuesday, Nov. 6-8

College Financial Aid Night: Barrack parents of 10th, 11th and 12th grade students are invited to learn about the financial aid process and hear guest speaker Greg Mitton, Financial Aid Director at Muhlenberg College, on Wednesday evening, Nov. 9, 7pm in the Batoff Family Dining Hall.

Middle School

All Day Middle School Trip: The Middle School is off to the Sterling Mines on Thursday, Nov. 10.

Chesed Day: Middle School Chesed Day is set for Wednesday, Nov. 16.

Thanksgiving Seder: The 8th grade Thanksgiving Seder with students form Kellman Brown is set for Thursday, Nov. 17.

School-Wide

WOW! What a "Grand" Grandparents and Grandfriends Day: Over 100 Barrack grandparents and grandfriends had a grand time at our school today, meeting our teachers and administration, attending classes, and enjoying lunch and photo ops with their "grands." We wish we could go to school here,"was the consensus of our grand guests, and "No wonder our grandchildren love it here," could be heard as our guests walked to classes. Look for a full recap of a "Grand Day" in next week's Benainu.

Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Assembly: Barrack Israel Club members will present a Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Assembly on Wednesday, Nov. 9 and host a special memorial exhibition. Parents are invited to view the exhibit. The Israel Club has also invited Oded Marek, the shaliach from Habonin Dror Galil to lead a special workshop for our 11th graders.

Alyn: Israel Sports Center for the Disabled: Barrack will also welcome three disabled Israeli athletes and the director of Alin to our school on Wednesday , Nov. 9. They will spend the day and interact with our students who are raising funds for Alyn via "Hoops 2 Help," involving a pay- to- play basketball tournament and knock out games. If your family wishes to help support Alyn, please send your donations in an envelope marked "To the Attention of Sarah Waxman- Chesed Club adviser." All donations are welcome. Thank you.

HSA Parent Learning Series: Barrack's Home and School Association will present the first of this year's Parent Learning Series on Friday, Nov. 11, 8:15-9:15am in the Richman Family Alumni Conference Room located in the Athletic Building. Join us as we begin our monthly study of MIDOT: Jewish values and character traits. The first session will be lead by Rabbi Ethan Franzel of Mainline Reform Temple, who will discuss the MIDDAH of Hishtavut/equanimity. No RSVP required. Any questions, contact Nomi Shapiro: NOMIHINDA@GMAIL.COM. The next session is set for Friday, Dec. 2 with Rabbi Eric Yanoff.

An Evening Celebrating the Life of Lea Goldberg: The Israeli Film Festival and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia present An evening celebrating the life of Lea Goldberg, one of Israel's most beloved poets, on Saturday, Nov. 12, 8pm at Barrack. Tickets re $10 and are available at www.jffphila.com.

Barrack Sunday Open House: Barrack will host a Sunday Open House on Nov. 13, 5pm, followed by a production of Almost, Maine at 7pm. Invite family and friends to attend the Open House and to stay for Barrack Repertory Company's production of a romantic comedy to remember!

Almost, Maine: Barrack Repertory Company presents Almost, Maine, a delightful romantic comedy, Sunday-Tuesday, Nov. 13-15. All performances begin at 7pm.Tickets are $10 for students and $12 for adults. Click here to order your tickets today!

Picture Retakes: Student picture retakes are set for Monday, Nov. 14.

Parsha of the Week, presented by Micah Weitzman '17

Parshat Lech Lecha starts out with G-d commanding Avram to leave the place where he has grown up and to go to the land of Canaan. Once he travels to the land, a famine breaks out, forcing Avram, his wife Sarai, and his nephew Lot to go to Egypt in search of food. When they arrive in Egypt, Pharaoh takes Sarai as his wife, but later that night, G-d protects her and sends a plague on Egypt, forcing Pharaoh to return Sarai to her real husband. In the middle of the parsha, G-d makes a covenant with Avram and foretells the future of his great nation. At the end of the parsha, G-d changes Avram’s name to Avraham and Sarai’s name to Sarah showing that G-d will always be with them. They are promised a child and at ninety-nine years-old Avraham circumcises himself and all of the males of his household to seal the covenant.

I can closely relate to this parsha because I have recently gone through a similar journey. As some of you know, I, too was taken from my homeland (San Diego, CA), and told to go to a strange land (Philadelphia, PA). One of the personal lessons that Avraham realizes in this parsha is that wherever he goes, G-d will be with him and protect him. Like Avram, I felt that our family was also being tested. We faced a big and uncertain move that included storms, a hurricane and an earthquake. Here in Philadelphia, my family and I have joined the Jewish community where we have felt immediately connected. The communities at school and my shul have helped us to overcome the challenges of leaving the city where I grew up. Just like Avraham opened up his tent to all visitors, local families here have welcomed us into their homes as guests. Avraham was the first to establish a lasting covenant with G-d. Today we continue this covenant and feel protected.

Young Alumni Thanksgiving Reunion: Parents of Akiba-Barrack alumni, Classes 2007-2011, please remind your "children" about this lively reunion set for Wednesday, Nov. 23, 11-1:30am at Barrack. Thank you!

Sports

Girls' Varsity Tennis Team Captures Two Championship Titles: Congratulations to our Lady Cougars, Tri-County and Penn-Jersey Champions! Way to go Team and Coach Earlene Riley. Full details in next week's Benainu.

Fall Sports Assembly: The Fall Sports Assembly set for Tuesday, Nov. 8, noon to 12:45, during an all school assembly, will replace the evening sports banquet. Lunch will be served directly after the assembly in the gym during an end- of- season party for fall athletes and their coaches. There will be a $5 charge for pizza ( 2 slices,) drinks and snacks. Any athlete who is planning to buy pizza must pre-pay and bring a check to Mrs. Gillio no later than 12:30pm on Monday, Nov. 7. Uniforms will also be collected. Parents are welcome to the Fall Sports Assembly. However, there will be a Sports Banquet in May, honoring and highlighting all 2011-2012 Barrack teams and student athletes.

Dads' Basketball Game: A number of Barrack dads came out to shoot hoops and enjoy a friendly game of basketball on Wednesday evening. Stay tuned for details about the next game.

Winter Sports Season Begins Next Week: Girls' Varsity Basketball begins on Monday, Nov. 7, 3:30-5pm; Boys' Varsity and JV Basketball begins on Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 3:30-5pm; MS Basketball begins on Monday, Nov. 14, 3:30-4:30pm, Coed Swimming training begins on Monday, Nov. 21, 3:30-5pm at the Maguire Pool on St Joe's campus. Transportation will be provided. Practice and game schedules will be posted on our school website, under "Athletics," on our school website: www.jbha.org.

Student Athlete of the Week: Congratulations to Gracie Gottlieb '14 who was named "Barrack's Athlete of the Week." Gracie is a key member of our Girls' Varsity Soccer Team. Read all about Gracie in next week's Benainu.