Image Source/Getty Images “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? If not now, when?” (Pirke Avot 1:14)
Dear Sinai Akiba Academy Class of 2021-
We are so proud of you!
Most graduates face challenges along the way, but your middle school experience was uniquely arduous due to COVID-19. Middle school always requires some degree of flexibility, independence, and resilience; however, because of the circumstances of a global pandemic, you had to learn how to be even more flexible, even more independent, and even more resilient than ever is typically required. You all faced and overcame incredible personal, emotional, social, and academic challenges! Kol Hakavod!
At Sinai Akiba, we aim to instill a strong Jewish identity in each child and cultivate a sense of agency and responsibility to our community, Jewish people, Israel, and the world. You, the Class of 2021, are living examples of just that!
We value your adolescence as a formative time in your development, and we have a deep respect for the complexities and possibilities of these years. And you have risen to the challenges presented by your teachers to think, reason, question, and experiment.
During your last Kabbalat Shabbat, your thoughtful reflections of the past 9 or more years demonstrated that learning in our Middle School is active, joyful, and collaborative.
Many of you shared how moved you were by the 7th grade Holocaust Survivors program:
“One experience that continues to stand out to me is the time I met and had a deep conversation with a Holocaust survivor. She taught me the key ingredients to a prosperous and happy life, and the importance of respect. One lesson that she taught me was to never give up, because if she gave up during the Holocaust, she would not be here today. Additionally, she said to never be a bystander, especially because if there were no bystanders in Germany in 1941, the Holocaust would have never happened to begin with. She also taught me to never lose my Jewish identity because her Jewish roots are what helped her persevere through the woods and away from danger as a teenager. What she taught me about respect reminded me of the Jewish value – V’ahavta L’reacha Kamocha- love your neighbor as yourself. From her teachings and Judaic Studies here at Sinai, I now know to never give up, respect everyone, and always stay true to my Jewish roots. What I have learned from the teachers and special guests at Sinai will guide and navigate me throughout high school, the next chapter in my life.”
A student who came to SAA in 6th grade shared that:
“Although I have not been at Sinai long, I have learned so many values and morals here. One of the most important ones to me is Tikkun Olam. Sinai has taught me so many important aspects of this moral, including helping the environment, helping the poor, and so much more. We learn how to better the world around us in almost every class, from Tanach to Science to English.”
One of you wrote beautifully about the school exchange program Sinai Akiba participates in with New Horizon School, a Muslim school in Pasadena:
“Out of all the experiences I’ve had throughout my many years at Sinai, the New Horizon exchange was particularly influential on my Jewish education and identity. This experience not only gave me new Muslim friends that I continue to contact and connect with, but also taught me the value of Kehilla (community). Due to the fact that I’ve gone to a private Jewish school nearly my entire life, I hadn’t been exposed to many other cultures and religions, and how lives outside of Jewish communities are lived. The exchange gave me an opportunity to connect with people that differ from who I’m usually surrounded by and to observe the customs of another religion. From this experience, I was taught the meaning and importance of community, and how the diversity of the world around us shouldn’t hold us back, but rather drive us to further learn, empathize, and experience how our peers live.”
We will all miss seeing your smiling faces in our hallways and classrooms! Your teachers will certainly miss you. Here is what some of your teachers remember about you:
“They are a group of passionate debaters. They care deeply about what is going on in the world.”
“You dazzled us with performances in the Talent Show!”
“You are resilient and motivated, able to adjust to various modes of learning; more importantly, you are well mannered and appreciative of your teachers!”
“Despite the year spent apart, I’ve honestly never seen such a tighter bunch of students. They know each other so well! They rile each other up like siblings but they also know how to calm each other down during moments of doubt or fear.”
Some of you excelled in robotics, collaborating on group projects that brought together cad-design, engineering, physics, and programming. Your student-led DIY passion projects included building a gyro-tourbillion (mechanism used in watches), building a 6-key backlit macro pad from scratch (think custom keyboard), and programming a video game using Microsoft’s Make Code Platform.
Your Robotics teacher says, proudly,
“Last year many of these students participated in our school’s Robotics Team and throughout their years at Sinai have produced some of the most innovative projects to come out of our J-STEAM iLab! It has been an honor to see these 8th grade students grow up invigorated and inspired by their passions and experiences they have been exposed to in our Innovation Lab! They made the best out of a bad situation, which really inspired me as an educator. I am thrilled that they are continuing to pursue these subjects of programming and robotics as they move into higher education and look forward to what these great minds will contribute to the world one day!”
Throughout your years at SAA, you have demonstrated our school’s focus on your intellectual, social, emotional, and spiritual growth. You have modeled derech eretz (kindness and respect) and applied your learning to real-world problems. You have been guided by our nurturing community and you have nurtured us in return!
Congratulations to Sinai Akiba’s Class of 2021!!
Geoff Agnor, Middle School Director
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