Remembering the Holocaust, meeting David Friedman, medaling at math fair

Filled with rigorous Advanced Placement exam preparation, off-campus fairs and activities, special events, and guest speakers, these past few weeks have been livelier than ever at Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway High School.

Following the Passover holiday, students and faculty partook in an intimate gathering to commemorate Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. Several weeks prior, 19 HAFTR High seniors, led by Judaic Studies Principal Rabbi Gedaliah Oppen, embarked on the Abraham Scharf z"l HAFTR Mission to Poland, where they were privileged to witness the extermination camps in which a multitude of Jewish individuals perished in the Holocaust, as well as expand their knowledge of Jewish history.

On Yom HaShoah, students and faculty gathered in the auditorium to hear these students speak. The program began with an introductory speech by Rabbi Oppen, and subsequently, students had the opportunity to view a film created by their peers who went on the trip.

This film provided students with a first-hand glimpse of the participants’ indescribable journey, revealing actual footage of the various historical sites visited, supplemented by sound bites of students sharing their insights and reflecting on their personal experiences.

Following the video, a select group of participants spoke about their individual journeys, and a sentimental candle-lighting ceremony took place. The program ended with guest speaker and HAFTR grandparent, Irene Hizme, sharing her own personal Holocaust experience as a survivor of Auschwitz Birkenau.

Later that week, David Friedman, the newly appointed U.S. ambassador to Israel, made an unannounced visit to HAFTR High School. He spoke to students and faculty about his appointment and addressed the plethora of goals he hopes to fulfill during his ambassadorship.

He spoke about how his appointment early in the administration essentially reflects the importance the Trump administration places on American relations with Israel and the promotion of peace within the region.

Friedman also asserted that he has worked tirelessly to reach out to members of Congress on both ends of the political spectrum to garner support for the administration’s Israel-oriented goals. Having a long-standing relationship with HAFTR, being both a graduate of the institution as well as a HAFTR parent, Ambassador Friedman truly connected to the students and effectively communicated his message.

Math fair medaling
Eight HAFTR juniors and seniors attended the Al Kalfus Long Island Mathematics Fair at Hofstra University on April 28. Throughout the course of the year, under the guidance of Mathematics Department Chair Neil Bernstein, students compiled research papers and posters that reflected the research they conducted within a particular field; some areas of research included prime numbers, knot theory, fractals, and aleph-null cardinality.

Students submitted their research and presented their work to panels of judges. All HAFTR students who entered the competition subsequently received medals for their achievements. Five students received bronze medals, two students received silver medals, and one student received a gold medal.

As the end of the year winds down, HAFTR students continue to thrive academically while keeping summer in their line of sight.