Weekly Newsletter- January 6, 2023 - King David High School

News from King David

January 6, 2023 / Tevet 13, 5783

Shabbat Begins: 4:12 p.m. Shabbat Ends: 5:25 p.m.

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT LEARNS FROM KING DAVID

On Wednesday, accompanied by Nico Slobinsky from CIJA, Parry Sound Ontario CPC Member of Parliament, Scott Aitchison, visited King David. Our school was part of a special trip for him to get to know the Jewish community on the West Coast to inform his work as the Official Opposition Critic for the department of Housing, Diversity and Inclusion. A group of Grade 12 students, who have each been instrumental in organizing this year’s Random Acts of Chesed Week, volunteering and leading the Student Council, gave him a tour of the building and discussed how we live our King David’s values.

A FAMILY’S MEMORY OF THE HOLOCAUST

On Thursday, Howard Dancyger, the son of two Holocaust survivors, came to our Holocaust and Genocide Studies 12 class to share his father’s story. Howard’s Father, Morris Dancyger, was only a child when the Nazis took his family to Auschwitz. As Howard puts it, Morris was an incredibly adorable kid and won the favour of one of the Nazi official’s wives who would sneak extra food and look out for him which helped him survive the awful conditions. After the Soviet Army liberated Auschwitz in 1945, Morris and his surviving family were taken to USA controlled DP camp in Stuttgart, Germany. Only a year after the war ended, a German Police Officer shot and killed Morris’s Father (Howard’s Grandfather) during a German Police Raid of the camp authorized by the Americans. Hearing this was particularly heartbreaking to me. Imagine enduring the unimaginable – surviving in a concentration camp, only to be murdered in front of your son a year later; I can’t even begin to comprehend how Morris must have felt. But the story does not end there. Morris would eventually immigrate to Palestine and subsequently weathered another attempt to destroy Jewish People, the War of Israeli Independence. Before the age of nine, Morris had lived through two momentous events in the history of our people. After the War of Independence, Morris moved to Calgary and, over the years, built a successful life for himself and his family.

Howard mentioned that as he has gotten older, his emotion and connection to his family’s story have grown deeper and more present; this is my main takeaway from Howard’s visit. Our responsibility to remember the Holocaust and pass down our people’s history must be a never-ending life-long journey.

~Max Kimel, Grade 12

PREPARING FOR (RANDOM ACTS OF CHESED) RAC WEEK!

Cece Kliner, Haylee Topp, and Miriam Bohbot share their enthusiasm about RAC Week

with Grade 8 students

Today in TAG, Grade 12 student leaders gave younger students a preview of all the exciting activities and opportunities happening during Random Acts of Chesed (RAC) Week this year and introduced the 2023 theme, RACvengers, inspiring the superhero in all of us.

RAC Week was created in memory of alumni Gabrielle Isserow z”l whose superpower was kindness. Her commitment to good deeds still inspires us every day.

During RAC Week, students and staff spread out across the Lower Mainland to volunteer and perform random acts of chesed. Through our staff’s leadership and dedication, and donors’ generous support to the Gabrielle Isserow z”l Chesed Fund, random acts of kindness continue to be at the core of all we do.

Buy Tickets Here

The proceeds from the Benefit Concert will be donated to two organizations supporting mental health for youth: Sahar, Israel and Foundry, BC

Featuring Grade 10, 11 and 12 Bands.

Thursday, January 12 at 7:00 p.m.

King David Atrium or stream live on YouTube

We would love for you and your whole family to join us for an evening of fun, music, and snacks. This invitation is open to the whole community, so tell your friends and bring them along!

GO LIONS!

Both the Junior and Senior Boys’ Basketball teams played Khalsa School this week. Mazal Tov to the Seniors (pictured above) on their win and respectful play!

The Bantam Boys’ Basketball Team played in North Vancouver and won their game against Lions Gate Christian Academy this week!

INTERESTED IN JOINING KING DAVID?

King David will be having families apply for new students online using Veracross for the first time this year. Veracross allows you to efficiently apply, upload the required documents, and track the status of your application through our Admissions Portal. We have done extensive testing to ensure a smooth process and ask for your patience if you experience any issues.

New Families Applying: Click here

After completing the Inquiry Form you will receive an email with your username, instructions to create a password, and a link to the Admissions Portal to begin your application.

For families applying for Tuition Assistance, the process and FAST application can be accessed through the Admissions Portal.

If you experience any difficulty or have questions, please email our Admissions Office or call 604-263-9700. We’ll be happy to help!

Applications are due by January 13, 2023. You can log in as many times as you need to complete this application.