January 1st this year signaled a special day on the Emek school calendar. Our very first “Family Fun Bowling Day” transpired at the Matador Bowl in Northridge, and what a day it was! The event, organized and facilitated by Rabbi Tropper, our Family Programming Director, transpired at Matador Bowl in Northridge. Rabbi Tropper is always on the lookout for fun and wholesome activities at which our Emek families may socialize and relax together. An added plus with this bowling event was that we were able to raise some important scholarship funds while everyone enjoyed a great time together. Children, young and old, bowled and laughed all afternoon while “noshing” on kosher snacks. Schmoozing and playing together off-campus brings our Emek families together in a relaxed and informal manner, which is so important to building a healthy school environment. There was even a fiercely fun “bowling competition” between our chief faculty members: Rabbi Shifman, Rabbi Solomon, Tova Bayever, and Michelle Andron. Rabbi Solomon won the distinction of “Best Staff Bowler,” inciting the rivalry for next year. If you missed out on the fun, be sure you don’t miss out on next year’s big “rematch.” Stay tuned to your school calendar for upcoming events.
Yeshivat Yavneh holds Achdut Shabbaton in Pico in conjunction with Yavneh PTA.
Los Angeles, CA – Yeshivat Yavneh is holding it’s first ever Pico Shabbaton Friday, January 31st- February 1st. The shabbaton promises to be a grand affair with gourmet catering, kids programs and prizes, a women’s shiur and much more.
Friday night, davening and dinner will begin at the exquisite Mark For Events, followed by a special Tish led by Yavneh’s Rav and Dean, Rabbi Shlomo Einhorn. Shabbat lunch will be held at Beth Jacob. The shabbaton will conclude with a Motzei Shabbos Havdalah and Melava Malka featuring an acoustic performance by the lead singer of the Moshav Band.
“The goal of the shabbaton is to further the warmth and unity amongst the parent body and the students” said Yavneh PTA President Ganit Levy. “For parents, it’ll create a great opportunity to meet and/or catch up with other parents while enjoying the great schedule and meals we have lined up. For the students, seeing each other off campus and especially over shabbat is always exciting.”
“We’re excited to hold our first ever Pico Shabbaton” said Rabbi Einhorn. “With about half our students coming from the pico area and many families being hosted from other parts of LA, it’s shaping up to be our largest off-campus event of the year.”
Davening at the Mark for Events will begin at 5:00 PM and will be led by Yavneh Parents and Faculty. Dinner will be catered by a premier LA caterer and consist of kid’s programs for all ages led by Miriam Usvitzky. The tish will include a special invitation to any prospective parents interested in finding out more about the school or getting to know parents from the school.
Lunch will be at Beth Jacob and begin at 12:30. It will include more kids programs and a women’s shiur by Dassi Weiner. The Havdalah and Melava Malka will be at a Yavneh parent’s residence and include a special performance by Moshav Band headliner Yehuda Solomon. Truly a Yavneh Shabbaton not to be missed!
In the 21st Century, wars are being fought electronically. The Israel Air Force is developing electronic warfare capabilities on land and in the air, to make sure they always stay one step ahead of those who try to attack Israel.
The objective of the Airborne Electronic Control Unit is simple: blind the enemy by disrupting its radar systems, preventing its forces from locating ours. The unit must also prevent communication between the enemy’s aircraft and control towers. To do this, the air and ground teams of the unit work closely together, helping the Air Force to achieve its ultimate goals: maintaining air superiority and defending the State of Israel.
“We are an integral part of operations, both during war and in between conflicts,” says Lt. Col. R, the commander of the Airborne Electronic Control Unit. “This means that we must constantly meet the operational needs of the Air Force. When we observe all the changes taking place in the region, we have to adapt.”
Commanders in the Electronic Control Unit
“We understand the enemy’s capabilities and we’re able to deal with everything that they throw at us,” the commander says. “We know where we are and where we want to go. We have a vision of the future for our unit and we’re moving towards this goal. We want to remain the best.”
A major part of the unit’s mission is to destroy rocket launchers in enemy territory. “Our responsibility is to clear the airspace for our pilots,” the commander says. “They prefer to fly over an area where they have absolute air superiority, because this is much safer. And that is what we provide.”
The journey to become an operator in the unit is long and difficult. “During the first weeks of training, they are in shock,” says Maj. A., the commander of the unit’s training school. “We put the cadets in difficult conditions, with physical constraints and strict discipline.”
Although they deal mostly with electronics, the soldiers also train as fighters. “This is necessary because they may be forced to eject if their aircraft is hit, and will then find themselves behind enemy lines,” he says. “They therefore undergo not only extensive training on electronic warfare, but also learn about the enemy and its capabilities. The extent of what they need to learn is enormous.”
First Sergeant R, a reserve soldier in the unit, recalls how the unit molded him into an expert on electronic warfare. “We didn’t even need basic knowledge of technology in order to get here,” he says, describing the beginning of his service. “Ultimately, it’s a lot like learning to play a video game. Once you understand how it works, you get better quickly.”
First Sgt. R took part in Operation Cast Lead in January 2009. “Our squadron was constantly active, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we had helicopters in the air at all times,” he says. “It was extremely intense, and the military clearly needed our work. We realized that we had taken part in something greater than ourselves.”
“The atmosphere makes the unit feel a lot like a family,” First Sgt. R adds. “This is a small unit, and it helps to have strong bonds. Every two years, the soldiers of the unit end their service and new people arrive, but this doesn’t change the spirit that unifies the people who serve here.”
According to reports by the Shira Schoenberg for massslive.com many Volunteers from the Jewish community fanned out across the Boston area on Wednesday morning to search for missing teenager Caleb Jacoby.
The coordinated search effort began at Maimonides School, the Jewish day school where Jacoby is an 11th grader. Ellen Pulda, a school spokeswoman, said volunteers planned to search the areas around Boston, Brookline and nearby train stations.
“The support from the community is outstanding,” Pulda said. “People from near and far offered to help.”
Jacoby, 16, is the son of Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby and his wife Laura. Caleb Jacoby was last seen at 12:30 p.m. on Monday.
Brookline Police Captain Thomas Keaveney said Wednesday morning that the police had no reason to believe there was any foul play. “We’re leaning more toward a runaway, but we can’t be sure,” Keaveney said. Keaveney said the police were continuing to search for him.
Some of the volunteers at the search knew the family; others were simply part of the local Jewish community. “He’s a good boy. He’s not just a boy that would run away from home,” said Yishai Admanit, who knows the Jacoby family from the Young Israel of Brookline, a local synagogue. “It’s not a reasonable option.”
Admanit described Caleb Jacoby as “a quiet boy” and a “good boy.”
Sharon resident Lisa Michael does not know the Jacobys, but her children attend Maimonides School. “If it was my kid, I’d want people to come out for mine,” Michael said. “We’re all part of a community.”
Michael Goldman’s son is a classmate of Caleb’s younger brother. Goldman said he came to the search to do whatever he can to help the family. “I have two 17-year-old twins. I can relate to the pain they must be going through,” Goldman said.
Jerry Halpern, a teacher at Maimonides, was arriving at the school as the search was beginning. Halpern taught Caleb two years ago. “He’s a lovely guy. We’re all very upset. We hope it has a good ending,” Halpern said.
Jeff Jacoby tweeted early Wednesday, “We are so deeply, deeply grateful for everything being done to reunite us with our beloved son Caleb.”
The Brookline police said the teenager was last seen wearing navy chino pants or jeans, a navy polo shirt, a brown winter jacket with a hood, brown shoes or sneakers, and white socks. He frequents public libraries and the Young Israel of Brookline on Green Street.
Anyone who sees Jacoby should contact the Brookline police at 617-730-2222.
Please say Tehillim for Calev Avraham ben Elisheva Rut.
This is the missing-person flier being distributed by Brookline police, who continue to search for 16-year-old Caleb Jacoby, the son of Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby. (Brookline Police Department)
Jeff Jacoby, leading columnist for the Boston globe and father of the missing teen, took to twitter to thank everyone who is assisting the search for missing Caleb.
We are so deeply, deeply grateful for everything being done to reunite us with our beloved son Caleb. pic.twitter.com/o7wHTr0BrA
