Shevah-Mofet Chess Academy
By GM Boris Alterman
It’s no secret that today, when the education system in many countries faces
huge problems of new materials and methodology, that students in school are
having even more problems absorbing this new and rapidly changing material.
Tests have shown that academic scores across the board went down dramatically
in almost all countries. Unfortunately, the education systems are ignoring an
important tool that could help students do better at school. Studies have proved
that chess lessons improve students’ scores, help their social interaction,
teach responsibility, and have a positive effect on their behavior.
According to my own experience, chess lessons dramatically change the attitude
of students, and develop intuition and experience in modulating most practical
solutions for similar tasks in their real lives. Chess lessons become the greatest
tool for developing mind skills of students in the modern education systems.
In April 2008, I came with my middle son to an appointment at one of the most
acclaimed high schools in Israel, “Shevah-Mofet”
in Tel Aviv. The school is a result of a merger between Shevah, a vocational
school, named after a relative of one of the founders, and Mofet, a night school
for Russian immigrants, trying to assimilate in Israel.
The principal of the school, Dr. Dov Orbach, approached me and asked me to
open the Shevah-Mofet Chess Academy. He promised me to do his best to bring
chess lessons into the classes, build a special chess classroom for all levels,
where the most gifted students will get the best opportunities to pursue the
game intensively.
The Israeli Chess Federation and its chairman, Aviv Bushinsky, were pleased
with the initiative and promised to support the Shevah Mofet Chess Academy.
The chess room is equipped with LCD screens, computers, an extensive library
and, thanks to ChessBase’s generous contribution, plenty of the latest chess
software.
ChessBase – sponsor of Shevah Mofet Chess Academy
A 42 inch flat screen showing top-of-the-line lessons by the best chess
teacher – Garry Kasparov
On the first of September with the start of the new school year the Shevah-Mofet
Chess Academy opened its doors, and every morning kids learn chess on a regular
basis. The more advanced students work with professional chess coaches, and
the top kids are offered a master class. Curiously, school enrollment went up
thanks to the new program! Principal Dr. Orbach has a high aim, wanting to see
chess in the Israeli ‘Bagrut’ exams (the high school matriculation exams).
WFM Marsel Efromsky World under 12 Champion in the chess classroom
On December 22-29 during the Hanukah Holidays the Shevah Mofet Chess Academy
organized the grandiose chess Festival. As a part of the Festival they had:
- the Shevah-Mofet Chess Academy Opening Ceremony;
- Simultanious exhibitions with the President of the Academy Nathan Sharansky,
GM Boris Gelfand, GM Maxim Rodshtein, GM Eugeny Postny, IM Mark Berkovich
and WFM Marsel Efroimsky;
- The Israeli Youth Championships with 200 participants.
Former cabinet minister and author Natan
Sharansky opens the Chess Academy
Boris Alterman demonstrates the ChessBase software to the guests
Simultaneous demonstrations with Nathan Sharansky, Boris Gelfand, Maxim Rodshtein
, Eugeny Postny , Mark Berkovich and Marsel Efroimsky.
Nathan Sharansky
GM Boris Gelfand
GM Maxim Rodshtein
GM Eugeny Postny
Marsel Efroimsky
Closing Ceremony of the Israeli Youth Championships
Gil Popilsky Israeli Champion Under 15 (Shevah-Mofet School, Tel Aviv)
Marsel Efroimsky, Israeli Champion Girl Under 15 (Shevah-Mofet School, Tel-Aviv)
and Nitzan Shtainberg, Israeli Champion Open Under 11 (Haifa)
GM Boris Alterman, General Manager of the Shevah-Mofet Chess Academy
