It has been a really nice year thanks to all the wonderful students, families and staff members who were a part of the Midrasha program during the 2006/2007 academic year.  Our year came to an end on Monday, May 7, 2007 when we honored our seniors and staff members at our graduation program.  Highlights of the evening included a speech from three of our Seniors, Ali Abelson, Hannah Porst and Sophie Rosen; a slide show of baby, bar/bat mitzvah, and senior pictures of our graduates; delicious food from B’Tayavon Catering; and an Israeli dance performance by Yonim (Madison’s Israeli Dance Troupe).  There was also a presentation by Diane Seder and Bruce Rosen called “Excuses, Excuses.”  They created a list of the top ten excuses their daughter, Sophie, had given them over the years about why she could not attend Midrasha on certain nights.  Diane and Bruce were very funny!

Twelve seniors graduated this year.  Mazel Tov to Ali Abelson, Jacob Bank, David Ben-Ami, David Deutsch, Amy Follett, Rachel Follett, Hannah Lindholm, Hannah Porst, Sophie Rosen, Ana Sessler, Rachel Spear, and Sarah Sperling.  They are an amazing group of students and I’m sure they will do well with whatever their future plans might be.  We wish them all the best.

Midrasha Incentive Awards were given to eleven students.  All of them will use the $1000 award to further their Jewish education through college courses, conferences, and organized trips to Israel. The award was given to the following students because of their dedication to Jewish education and commitment to Jewish life.  Congratulations to Ali Abelson, David Ben-Ami, David Deutsch, Amy Follett, Rachel Follett, Hannah Lindholm, Hannah Porst, Sophie Rosen, Ana Sessler, Rachel Spear, and Sarah Sperling.

During the graduation program we also took time to thank our teaching staff.  Without their dedication, energy, and knowledge Midrasha would not be as successful as it is.  With close to 100 students attending, we thank our teachers for their efforts and reiterate to them how appreciative we are.  Our wonderful teaching staff includes:  Mara Alpert, Rabbi Jonathan Biatch, Rabbi Renee Bauer, Diklah Cohen, Micah Engler, Ruth Fromstein, Jamie Gepner, Noah Golden-Krasner, Laurel Hefty, Jodie Honigman, Aviva Kaiser, Rabbi Kenneth Katz, Ayla Koplin-Green, Deborah Martin, Faygie Matusof, Esther Poler, Reuven Szleifer, Inbal Unger Cavari, Ellen Weismer, Haya Yuchtman, and Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman.  I would also like to thank Sean Grossberg and Pasha Sternberg, the Midrasha office assistants, who helped  everything run smoothly at Midrasha during the year.

Special notice went to teacher Laurel Hefty who was recognized for ten years of teaching at Midrasha.  Laurel attended Midrasha when she was in High School and was a member of the Midrasha student body the first year the program started.  It is a pleasure to have her as part of the Midrasha staff and we thank her for ten years of teaching.

I would also like to extend a special thank you to the Midrasha committee and Maryann Sumi, the Chair person, for all their support and involvement.  They meet once a month throughout the year to discuss the program and  are involved in the Midrasha Open House as well as the Midrasha graduation program.  Thank you to Lisa Abelson, Beth Copelovitch, Doris Dubielzig, Amy Fruchtman, Marsha Harnett, Cynthia Hirsch, Robin Kite, Stefanie Rose, Laurie Schmidt, Missy Sosman, Maryann Sumi, Joan Sumkin, and Elisha Terre.

Once again, it has been a wonderful year.  Many thanks to everyone who is a part of the Midrasha program.  Have a safe, happy, and healthy summer and we’ll see you in the fall!