Alumni in the News

Gann Alumnus Elie Lehmann '04 was quoted in a New York Times article on Ahmadinejad's visit to Columbia University. Leora Falk '02 contributed to the reporting of the article. Leora is currently interning with the New York Times.

Read the entire article regarding Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to Columbia here.

Upcoming events

NY Area Alumni Reception

Thursday, April 3, 2008
7 p.m.-9 p.m.
Mr. Broadway Kosher Deli
1372 Broadway at 38th Street
212.921.2152

RSVP to Shoshanah Zaritt by March 20, 2008
szaritt@gannacademy.org or 781-642-6800 ext. 137

Alumni Annual Campaign
As the holiday's come to a close, Gann is happy to report that the Alumni have raised $684 for the Alumni Challenge this year. That is an increase of almost $200 over last year. Congratulations to all of you in supporting Gann Academy, and helping it to remain the strong institution you all know and love. Including the matching gift from Mr. Krupp, $1,368 will be added to the Annual Campaign to help support the daily operations of the school. Your gift directly supports faculty salaries, professional development, and scholarships. Every dollar touches the day to day life of the Gann Students.

If you have not yet contributed, it's not too late. While the match is closed, gifts towards the Annual Campaign are accepted throughout the fiscal year, which closes May 31, 2008. Simply click on the donate now button to make a secure online gift or send in a check to Gann Academy, Attn: Jess Adani, 333 Forest Street, Waltham, MA 02452.

Highlights of recent events

Alumni gathering in Israel
Over 20 Gann alumni gathered at T’mol Shilshom in downtown Jerusalem on November 6, 2007. Associate Head of School Judith Pordes, in Israel to visit our juniors at Alexander Muss High School, hosted the dinner on behalf of the school. She was joined by former teachers Susan and Ed Codish, who are now living in Israel. Many of the alumni attending the gathering are in Israel studying at yeshivot and year course programs following high school graduation. Michael Klausner ‘07 is in the Young Judea Shalem program, while others are working or studying at various programs throughout Israel. Daniel Saxe ’07 is an intern at Magen David Adom, Anya Manning ‘03 is a counselor for Kivvunim, and Jacob Merlin is a graduate student at the Hartman Institute.

Quote from Judy Pordes- Associate Head of School
"It was wonderful to have dinner with so many of our alums. I was delighted not only to see them again and to hear about their adventures since their high school graduation, but also to connect with them in Israel. Part of New Jew/Gann's mission is to further and deepen our students' commitment to the State of Israel. It certainly felt as if Gann is succeeding--not only did our alums express this commitment very strongly, they are also living their lives exemplifying this goal."

Alumni gathering in Boston
Gann alumni started their Thanksgiving weekend November 21, 2007, with good food, lots of chatting and a few games of pool at Boston Billiards near Fenway Park. Over 20 alumni turned out for the event, with every alumni class being represented. The classes of ’01 and ’02 had the largest turnouts. Headmaster Rabbi Marc Baker and History Department Chair Dr. Jonathan Golden enjoyed talking with the alumni and learned that many are working in the business world and non-profits, while others are in college and pursuing graduate degrees. It was great to see Elana Fein and Saul Zaritt, class of 2000, Erika Davis, Jenn Rogers, Rachel

Diamond, Ezra Samet and Erica Sanieoff, class of 2001, Netanel Ganin, Rebecca Barron, Becky Hock, Orah Minder, and Shayna Packer from the class or 2002, Mikki Bard, Talia Fein, and Daniel Hoffman from the class of 2003, Seth Izen from the class of 2004, Shelley Barron from the class of 2005, Noah Hodgetts, Eran Hornick, and Elana Knight from the class of 2006, Erica DeLano, Laura Epstein, and Oren Mangoubi from the class of 2007. Along with Rabbi Baker and Dr. Golden, Jessica Adani, Director of Annual Giving and Media Relations and Shoshanah Zaritt, Associate Director of Alumni Relations attended the event.

Annual Alumni Basketball Games
Gann Academy hosted the Annual Alumni Basketball Games on Thursday, January 3, 2008. Over 75 alumni and alumni parents attended the event from nearly every graduating class. The class of 2007 came out in force and was represented 31 classmates. Overall, there were 7 players on the girls’ team, and an all-time high of 19 male alumni team members. Both games were exciting and although our varsity teams both won, our alumni played quite well.

Returning to lace up the old high-tops and take on our varsity girls' squad were Margalit Bayone '06, Talya Brettler '04, Rachel Horenstein '06, Laurel Marcus '06, Shani Miller '06, Ariela Nurko '04 and Jo Treitman '07. The varsity girls won the game handily with a 32-13 final score. The alumnae team welcomed back former alum varsity girls’ coach Josh Horowitz as their leader for the night.

The boys varsity squad faced deep and strong alumnus squad including Eli Aroesty Cohen '02, Dan Forman '01, Ari Kriegel '07, Ari Lowell '06, Aron Merkrebs Finkelstein '07, Alexi Merry '05, Avi Minder '04, Ben Packer '01, Dan Packer '05, Andy Pankin '05, Tomer Radbil '05, Abie Rubin '07, Bentzi Rubin '05, Howie Rudnick '07, Mark Rudnick '05, Ezra Samet '01, Mike Sotkowitz '04 and Mitch Weiss '06. Well coached by Lavi Rudnick '03, the alums competed fiercely and took a one point lead into the half. The varsity boys responded with intense defensive pressure in the second stanza and boasted as much as a 12 point lead with 5 minutes to play. The alums were able to get as close as 4 in the waning moments but ultimately succumbed to the current Gann squad.

The capacity crowd was entertained by the very competitive game. All Gann folk, past and present, enjoyed the evening of food, healthy competition and reminiscing with old friends.

Rabbi Marc Baker, Head of School has the last word:

“The competition was fun and spirits were high, and while our alumni played well, both our boys’ and girls’ varsity teams were victorious. Especially for a school as young as Gann, it is exciting to see so many alumni and their parents from nearly every graduating class reunite with teachers, friends and the Gann – New Jew community.”

Alumni Articles

More articles to come.