Carmel Academy Blog

After traveling through Tzfat, and rafting on the Jordan River, we pulled up to the Hula Valley. We got fitted for bikes and helmets and started our ride around the valley. We were really lucky to have been here at this time because we could see all of the migratory birds. It wasn’t just a few like we might see at home, but millions of birds pass through the Hula Valley at this time of year. We saw cranes, storks, and lots of other species of birds. Our whole group was spread out over a bit of space, and we all went at our own paces and the view was beautiful.

Our ride was 10 kilometers long, which was about 5 and ½ miles. It was beautiful to see all of the nature and plants. The water was beautiful, and all of these great sights combined with the migrating birds and wildlife made for a really fun time. Also, we were finishing up our ride as the sun started to set, and the scenery was even more beautiful. Overall, this whole day and this activity was a really fun and rewarding experience.

We arrived in Tzfat mid-morning and it was freezing cold. No matter how many times we were told to bring jackets, we thought that the weather would be good and we “forgot” to bring our jacket, and we were wearing shorts and t-shirt. Tzvat is about 3000 feet high, on a cloudy day…imagine the rest!. Anyway, Tzfat is a beautiful city. It reminded me of Jerusalem, it had the same limestone in most of the buildings and street. As we walked through the old, narrow streets of the city, we noticed that the architecture was wonderful and it transported us to another time and another era. Since the city is placed in such a high point, the views from where we stood were spectacular.

When we actually started touring, our tour guide told us many stories of the mystics of Tzfat-he told us about their faith and beliefs. We also visited an old Sephardic synagogue which was like none I had ever seen before. It was not so big, but it was decorated beautifully and had symbols just like the “Echad Mi Yodea” we just sang during the Pesach Seder. It had of course “One Bimah,” “Two staircases going up to the Bimah,” “Three Aron Kodesh,” “Four Columns,” etc. There were many paintings on the walls; it made my synagogue look like nothing. It was truly a wonderful, and awing experience, I really hope I get to go back.

As soon as we got to the rafting place we ate a nice lunch of differently spiced breads with Israeli toppings. We then changed into our bathing suits and jumped on the bus for a short ride upstream to meet the rafts. It was a warm, windy day which was perfect for “rafting around” The Jordan river. We divided ourselves into groups of five students and one teacher, we took a group photo and off we went to pick our raft and paddles. After that it was push off and the race began! My boat was the second one launched off the river bank but with Morah Rachel’s help we took a early lead. We soon laid off the oars and just drifted down the river.

The weather was truly amazing, it was warm but not hot, it was breezy but not windy-it was nothing like nothing US weather. We had only two paddles so I helped put a bit with doggy paddling. Behind our raft there was a full-fledged war going on between three other rafts so we put our advantage to good use by enjoying our lead and doing circles. However another raft caught up to us and we had a minor scrimmage where we came on top. Our raft came in first and we all dried off and got on the bus to go to the Naot factory where they had some awesome shoes at low prices. That was one of the best experiences yet in Israel.

I have gone to Jerusalem many times during my life and as always I had a very fun time. During this visit to the Old City, I learned about the temple and walked through the Kotel Tunnels. I learned that the “kotel” or Western Wall of the Temple, is much larger than just the plaza which we have all enjoyed visiting since the unification of Jerusalem in 1967. The kotel plaza is only 1/8 of the whole kotel. Walking through the tunnels we used our imaginations to picture what it was like during the time of the Temple-the shops, the people coming during the “shalosh regalim,” the sacrifices, the cohanim…Jerusalem was then, as it is now, a bustling, spiritually charged and lively city.

After going through the tunnels, we had a “pizzur lunch”, where we were given money and independence to explore different restaurants and shops in the Jewish quarter. I had pizza and falafel: they were tasty, fragrant and delicious. After eating we went to the Cardo, the business center of the Jewish Quarter. There, I met a family friend who owns a jewelry shop called Mira. My friends Darcy and Elisabeth shopped for some jewelry and got great deals from my friend. It was really nice to see him again! Spending time in the Old City was amazing-it was a great day.

Throughout my life I had seen pictures of the Old City of Jerusalem; the Dome of the rock, the Kotel, the shops, and the throngs of people. I thought I knew what to expect, but the second we passed through security I was all wrong. You get this feeling that is hard to explain, a tingle in your spine. At first I was a little confused, right after we went through the normal security checkpoints, the soldiers stopped everyone because there was an Arab diplomat going to the Al-Aksa mosque. So one moment I was seeing the heavy security and the next moment I turned my head and felt the sun beating on my face, with my eyes squinted I saw the Kotel; once and always the heart of the Jewish people. The first time my fingers touched the wall I felt the reality of all the facts that have been accumulating throughout my years of studying. The only problem with this amazing moment is that it lasted one second because there are many people pushing and tourists taking pictures. Then when I was done with my turn, I walk with your face to the wall and left with a sense of enlightenment.

Once we left this spiritual center we walked through a few small alleys close to 3,000 years old and into the “open mall” of the Old City of Jerusalem. When I say “open mall” I mean that there are tons of different stores lined up one next to another. The alley dumps into the center of the “open mall” and you can smell the freshly baked goods (a relief after Pesach), the falafel, and the freshly carved shwarma. All the food there is amazing. They also have many jewelry stores, and the Cardo. I loved the Old City.

When I first arrived in Israel, I was so overwhelmed. Everything that I have been dreaming of since before I could remember came true. The land was truly magnificent. I felt the emotion and excitement that our ancestors felt when they first came to Israel. I also felt completely connected to my Judaism. One of the first things we did was plant a tree at Neot Kdumim, the Biblical Forest. Knowing that I was planting a tree which connects me to the land, has a place in our history and will be there for generations to come was amazing!

After planting the tree, we went to Beit Guvrin, for a “Dig for a Day.” When we arrived at the dig site, I was very nervous. I didn’t know what to expect from the digging. We went inside a cave, found a place, and just started to dig in the dirt. After a while of looking at bones, pottery, rocks etc., I started to get really into it. I was having a blast. Seeing these things made me realize that I was digging in history. The artifacts I found could eventually be shown in a museum. I had an amazing time, and I hope that in the future, I continue having experiences where I am connected to Israel’s history, present and future!

written by Marni Levine

Arriving to Israel was thrilling to say the least. The place I had learned about and heard stories about since pre-school was finally before me. From the moment I stepped out of the airport I could tell that this trip was going to be one of the most important trips of my life. Not only are the activities and atmosphere different from America, but the energy is different. The whole country feels welcoming and safe. When I saw Israel for the first time out of the small plane window, I was amazed at the beauty of the land. The land on eye level is even more stunning then it was from the air. I want to take pictures of everything.

When we arrived, we went straight to a biblical forest. The forest used to be bare land, until a man decided he wanted to fill the land with all of the plants mentioned in the Bible. Surprisingly, there are over 600 plant species growing there. I thought that it was an amazing way to bring something written from thousands of years ago into real life. I have only been in Israel for 24 hours and I am having the time of my life!

Written by Tovia Marinstein

This past spring, the Carmel Academy community said goodbye to Amy Erani, our long term Director of Judaic Studies, founding Board Member and long time parent. In her capacity, Amy provided our school with religious guidance and policy setting. Carmel Academy’s Mission Statement declares that our school “…is passionate about Jewish identity and values.” therefore, it became critical to find a religious leader who embraces our commitment to living Jewish values and will help guide us in matters of religious practice.

Nora Anderson, Head of School and Dr. Tali Aldouby Schuck, Director of Judaic Curriculum and Professional Development, convened a search committee consisting of six members of our parent body. The committee reflected the religious diversity of our school and its members have clearly demonstrated their commitment to Jewish life.

The search committee created an interview process where potential candidates had personal conversations, conducted demonstration lessons, delivered divrei Torah (words of Torah) and spent time observing our classes. After a long search and many interviews, the committee selected Rabbi Seth Braunstein to become Carmel Academy’s new Director of Religious Experience.

Rabbi Seth has traveled extensively, working for many Jewish communities around the world. Some of his experiences include: the educational directorship for YUSSR (Yeshiva and University students for the spiritual survival of Russian Jewry) in Belarus; coordinating a communal educational empowerment program in Perth, Australia; and directing an outdoor adventure leadership training program at Camp Moshava. He has also led a teaching seminar in Austria for the Ronald Lauder Foundation. In Israel, he led an inter-denominational teen program for the Abraham Joshua Heschel School. Seth has worked with a variety of special needs groups in both the Jewish community and the greater world, such as Yachad, The Council for the Jewish Disabled and participated in an inter-denominational rabbinical mission to El Salvador with the American Jewish World Service (AJWS). Seth served as the rabbinic associate/family educator at the Hebrew Institute of White Plains and as the Director of Havayah and Moreshet at Hebrew College in Boston. Currently he directs The Szarvas Fellowships program in Hungary. He speaks Russian, enjoys photography and hiking. Seth received rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School in June 2006.

The hiring of Rabbi Seth completes Carmel Academy’s strong Judaic Leadership Team. With Nora Anderson at the helm, Dr. Tali Aldouby Schuck overseeing TaNaKh, Mishna and Gemara curriculum and professional development, Erica Sokoloff overseeing our students’ Chagim, Chesed and Tzedakah experience and Irit Kornblit leading the Hebrew Language department, CA’s Judaic Studies program is vibrant and academically rigorous.

We are delighted and honored to welcome Rabbi Seth Braunstein to our school. His vast experience, knowledge and engaging personality will make him a valued member of our Carmel Academy community as well as a role model to our students, faculty, parents and community.

As our school grows we continue to take steps to formalize our educational and administrative processes. One of these steps is to become an accredited school. The Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (www.caisct.org) is an approved agency by the Connecticut State Board of Education which provides accreditation to independent schools.

According the National Association of Independent Schools, “accreditation is a system of accountability that is ongoing, voluntary, and comprehensive in scope. It respects differences in institutional populations, missions, and cultures, and fosters institutional change grounded in the judgment of practicing educators. It is based on standards, which are developed and regularly reviewed by the member institutions and which define the characteristics of good schools and colleges.”

The first phase of the accreditation process is the submission of a Self Study Report to the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS). Our faculty spent a year studying the fifteen standards for CAIS accreditation and summarizing their findings and recommendations. These findings were synthesized into the Carmel Academy Self Study Report.

The next step of the Accreditation process is an on-site evaluation by a CAIS Accreditation Visiting Team. The CAIS Accreditation Visiting Team, led by Mark Griffin (former Head of School of Eagle Hill) and Shelley Kreiger (former Head of School of Ezra Academy), both extremely experienced and well respected professionals in the field, spent three full days in our school visiting classrooms, assessing our curriculum, looking at our program, analyzing our financial data and ultimately, seeing whether we live by our Mission Statement.

The CAIS Accreditation Visiting Team, unanimously recommended our school for full accreditation. Furthermore, on a 1 to 6 scale with 1 being exemplary and 6 representing failure, they rated our school a 1!!!! Carmel Academy passed the Accreditation Process with Distinction.

On Thursday night at our Board Meeting, Dr. Douglas Lyons, Executive Director of CAIS and former Head of School of Greenwich Country Day School, told the Board that Carmel Academy meets the highest standards of education. He went on to describe the 14 standards assessed as high standards, not as minimum standards of professional practice. Dr. Lyons concluded that our school is one that exemplifies best practices in education.

On behalf of our faculty and staff, we thank the Board of Trustees, our parents and our friends and supporters for their partnership and their belief that at Carmel, students receive an outstanding Jewish and General studies education. May we continue to grow M’Chayi L’Chayil-From strength to strength.