Introducing Adi and Shira!

by Susie Berger, SSLI '28

Each year, Israeli teenagers have the opportunity to educate Schechter students about Israeli life through planned activities. Two Israeli teens, Shira Barda and Adi Kramer, joined the Schechter community this year through the Bat Ami program. According to the website, the program "works towards positive social change and promotes the values of fellowship and social justice through the modalities of volunteerism in ... leadership programs."

Adi is excited to work with students of all grades. (P.  Charry)

Part of the Bat Ami program involves Barda and Kramer going into each classroom, helping to make connections while teaching kids of all ages about Israeli life and the country's history. Kramer shared that she is especially looking forward to doing fun activities with everyone, bringing Israel into students' lives, and getting to know the students better.

Both Barda and Kramer have expressed their gratitude to be at Schechter and to guide students through the school year. Barda noted her excitement to have joined the students on the annual retreat up at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires. She reflected, “I feel like the retreat was amazing." She loved meeting all the students during retreat: "the kids here are amazing. I love them." 

Likewise, Kramer thought that the retreat was a great icebreaker between her and some of the juniors with whom she bunked.

Shira looks forward to spending the rest of the school year at Schechter. (P. Charry)

Along with making connections with the students, Barda and Kramer have started to make connections with some of the staff. Sigal Cohen, the new Student Activities and Strategic Partnerships coordinator, said that her experiences with them so far have been great and that she is excited to work with them throughout the year.

If they aren't talking to students in the hallways, Adi and Shira can be found in one of the cafeteria offices.

Susie Berger is a writer for Paw Print Now and has been published on the site since January 2025. Susie is currently a sophomore at Schechter School of Long Island and can be reached at the following email address: sberger28@schechterli.org.