UAlbany Class of 2008
GRAD PARTY
Sunday, 5-7pm May 11th, 2008
at the Shabbos House Jewish Student Center
Class of 2008 (including May, Summer and December Graduates and Masters students) Group Photo outside (soon to be the old) Shabbos House. We hope next year's Grad Party will take place in the new building at 320 Fuller. As some graduates came later on to the grad party - not all are pictured here.

Seated L-R: Chani Rubin, Jessica Rosengarten, Moshe Rubin, Justin Hirsch (Masters), Mushky Rubin, Rachael Woren, Rachel Serkin, Sara Rubin, Sarah Schwedelson, Rachel Braunstein, Jessica Zeitlin, Craig Messer.

Standing L-R: Raizy and Rabbi Mendel Rubin (Shabbos House Directors), Haviva Schwermer, Lea Negrin (Hillel JCSC Fellow 2007-8), Andy Finkelstein, Josh Sisskind (Masters), Josh Rehr, Jeff Greenberg, Tamar Aziz and Tehillah Schaffer (Israeli Bnot Sherut with JERNY), David Sevits, Zakhar Berkovitch, Dan Goldstein, Emily Feller, Andrew Liebowitz, Marin Schloss, Josh Zweig, Gil Abada, Sharon Farkas and Aviva Snyder (Executive Director of UAlbany Hillel).

This year's featured speaker was Mr. Carl Rosner. Mr. Rosner is a Holocaust survivor who founded Intermagnetics General, a GE spinoff later purchased by Phillips, and is now Chairman and CEO of CardioMag, another cutting-edge hi-tech company in the medical field. His fascinating life-story has much to tell to graduating seniors entering a volatile working world of uncertainty. Mr. Rosner is also on the board of directors of the UAlbany Foundation, and on UAlbany's Judaic Studies Advisory Board.

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Each graduating senior received a Shabbos House cookbook with a personalized letter highlighting their accomplishments and contributions to the UAlbany Jewish Community, and a Chamsah travel blessing from UAlbany Hillel.

In addition the following students received these special symbolic awards engraved with the messages below in recognition of their exceptional involvement and service at Shabbos House:

  • MICROPHONE to Rachel Serkin: for taking the stand and spreading the word
  • SERVING SPOON to Sarah Schwedelson: four years of dedicated service with a smile
  • REAR-VIEW MIRROR to Josh Rehr: as one heart reflects another
  • FLAG-STAND to Craig Messer: standing tall with unwavering Jewish pride and commitment at UAlbany
  • DRUMSTICK to Josh Sisskind: for keeping the temp(o) at Shabbos House
  • DRUMSTICK to Dan Goldstein: for keeping rhythmic pace at Shabbos House
  • BALLOONS on plaque to Rachael Woren: for decor, good cheer and uplifting spirit
  • BUNNY plaque to Jessica Rosengarten: for loving our kids
  • CLOCK to Masters graduate Justin Hirsch: for quality (over)time at Shabbos House
  • SHOTGLASS to Dima Tovbin: L'chaim Dima, lifelong farbrengen!

Certificates were awarded to all graduating seniors who were regulars at Torah Tuesday study sessions as well as the following two special awards:

  • ANA B'KOACH award to Josh Zweig for Carlebach Shabbats and appreciation of a Niggun
  • LEGACY award to Jessica Zeitlin, honoring the 3-sibling continuous involvement at Shabbos House
Mr. Rosner and Rabbi Mendel following Mr. Rosner's inspirational presentation Raizy and Lea Negrin, this year's JCSC for Hillel
 		 Aviva Snyder of UAlbany Hillel explains the "Chamsa" gift from Hillel to each senior
Andrew - happy to get the secret to the chip salad dressing..
 		 Rabbi Mendel and David S. who looks forward to attending Grad School here.. Rabbi Mendel and Andy have a little laugh about the Chassidic concept of "Bittul"
Ayelet, not a student - but here more than most students!
 		 Dan G got a drumstick for "keeping rhythmic pace at Shabbos House" with his base guitar... Emily Feller, outgoing Hillel Student President
 
Gil - brought Sephardic Heritage and Middle-Eastern flavor...


 		 Rabbi Mendel and Joe J. for love of learning...


 		 Sarah Schwedelson got an engraved stainless steel serving spoon for her many hours of service with a smile at Shabbos House
Haviva brought California sunshine to our atmosphere... Raizy and Marin S..
 		 Rabbi Mendel and John Dabush...
 
Jessica got a bunny plaque in appreciation of her love of the Rubin Kids. Craig Brimmer ('05) proposed to her the night before - Mazal Tov!!! Josh Sisskind got a engraved drumstick saying: temp(o).. for weather forecasts and drumming
 		 Josh Rehr get a "Rehr-View" mirror for his "one heart reflects another"

 
Craig, ZFA President, and Minyan Gabbai and Kohen, got a flagstand for "standing tall with unwavering Jewish commitement..." Rachel, president of L'chaim, got a mic (pun intended) for "taking a stand and spreading the word"
 		 Justin who stayed on for his Masters, got a clock for quality (over)time at Shabbos House
 

Not all pictured!
Raizy and Rachel B. Sharon is staying on for Grad-School!
Emily, Josh, Rachel and Sarah announce and present the Senior Gifts:
(1) payment for scribal repairs to the Shabbos House Torah
(2) new Siddurim prayerbooks for Shabbos House
(3) new embroidered Bima-cover at Chapel House
(4) spa gift for new-mom-to-be Aviva and Israeli charm for Lea Negrin
Following the Grad Party, a pre-demolition "Farewell to 320" ceremony - with yellow hats and hammers, removal of the Mezuzot and some symbolic wall-smashing... More pictures and info on the May 2008 page of the 320 Building Blog
GRAD PARTY
Farewell to the
UAlbany Class of 2008
active at Shabbos House
and in the UAlbany Jewish community

Hors d’oeuvres & Hot Buffet
Picture-Memories Video
Presentations & Gifts
Class Picture
Farewell Ceremony to the Old 320
(Mezuzot Removal etc...)

Special Address by Carl Rosner
Mr. Carl Rosner is

UAlbany Jewish Community
& Friends of Graduates are Welcome

 

Grad Parties and Grad Pics Index Page at www.shabboshouse.com
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