|
February 23, 2018
8th of Adar, 5778
|
|
Candle Lighting at 6:00 PM
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Performing under Pressure
Parshat Tetzaveh begins with Hashem instructing Moshe to tell Bnei Yisrael to use clear olive oil to light the menorah. The Tzror Hamor comments that the Jewish people are compared to olive oil.
Just like pure olive oil is the result of the great pressure exerted on the olives, so too the Jewish people shine when we endure difficult or stressful situations.
This optimistic approach of Rav Avraham Saba in his sefer Tzror Hamor is especially remarkable considering that he endured the expulsion from Spain in 1492 and then then expulsion from Portugal in 1497.
The past week has been a very challenging time for all of us. We mourn for the precious lives lost at Stoneman Douglas and we cry for their families and loved ones. I have been incredibly impressed by the high school students at Stoneman Douglas who have boldly assumed leadership roles and I am proud of all of our students who have shown support in various ways, from attending funerals, shiva visits, participating in the memorial run, raising money from a bake sale, writing letters, and so much more.
These are indeed very challenging times, but like the pure olive oil, we pray that everyone will have the strength to endure and honor the memories of those who lost their lives.
Rabbi Jonathan Kroll
Head of School
|
|
|
Upcoming Events
|
Wed Feb. 28
Taanit Esther - Early Dismissal
Last Day of Second Trimester
Purim Chagigah
Thu Mar. 1
Purim - No Classes
Fri Mar. 2
Shushan Purim - No Classes
Fri Mar.9
Special Purim Highlites
|
|
Good and Welfare
|
Engagements
Eram Zaghi ('12) to Tamar Shiller from Cleveland, Ohio
Jordana Pachter ('12) is engaged to David Schmelzer from Columbus, Ohio.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Benevolent Baristas
Students Sell Coffee Concoctions, Proceeds Go Towards Chesed Committee Projects
Graphic by Akiva Stadlan ('19)
Article by Libby Weingarten ('19)
Up until two A.M. studying for a history test? Need something sweet to energize you in the morning? Sara Deichman ('19), Yakirah Rosen ('19), and Chaya Kenigsberg ('19), leaders of the Chesed Club, came up with a solution one day at breakfast. They organized a coffee bar to sell the best brew you could have ever imagined for your school morning. Students are quoted saying, "This is the best coffee ever", and (jokingly), "I wish we had this before I spent my life savings on Dunkin' Donuts," noting the club's delicious coffee and cheap prices.
During breakfast, in the cafeteria, the Chesed Club sets up a stand where you can purchase sweet coffees and lattes. The bar has a large selection including their famous homemade iced caramel latte, mimicking what one would find at Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts. Even by simply looking at the drinks you can tell you are getting Starbucks quality for just one-quarter of the price. The drinks cost about $1-2 while the proceeds go to the Chesed Club's future projects. The stand has also begun selling cookies, doughnuts, and bagels on occasion.
Yakirah Rosen ('19) explained that this money ultimately goes back to the student body when the Chesed Club uses it for charity programs and events. In my opinion, you are basically paying yourself to have a taste of heaven. Who wouldn't want that?! All in all, the new Coffee Stand effort is a win-win-win-win: it's run by students, giving an opportunity for community service hours, the coffee is cheap and delicious, the proceeds go to help fund chesed projects, and there's no drive! For more information on volunteer opportunities please speak to one of the leaders of the Chesed Club. Remember to go get your coffee every day at breakfast in the cafeteria!
|
Sara's Scoop: To Free or Not to Free
Graphic by Highlites Staff
Article by Sara Deichman ('19)
In the 1800s, the idea of American leisure sprouted, with common people enjoying activities and moments of relaxation in return for years of hard work. However, this mindset has evaporated; in society today, constant productivity is seemingly incumbent upon students. High school students are pushed to work in order to warrant the best possible results in both school and extracurricular activities. The mindset of a workaholic is dangerous for a teen, often resulting in lack of sleep or extreme anxiety. For this reason, many schools, including our very own, have instituted "free periods," an alloted period of time for students to take a break from class and relax. At KYHS, students generally have one 48 minute period per week in which they have no scheduled classes.
Students spend their free periods in countless ways, some resorting to continuous studying so that the load is lighter at the end of the day, others choosing to simply relax on the chairs in the rotunda. To truly understand how students spend their time, I spoke to a number of members of the KYHS student body. From my observations, it is clear that most students decide to simply relax during this time, whether that be chatting with friends, or (if juniors or seniors) making quick trips to Dunkin', Starbucks, and, more recently, Aroma. One of those students is Meital Fixler ('19), who sees free periods as a social opportunity, giving her the chance to "have a good connection with even those students I don't share classes with."
Others decide to be studious and engage in homework so that when they return home, their amount of work has appreciably decreased. For example, thanks to my scheduled free period, I was able to produce this article. Kayla Bensmihen ('19) shares how free periods are beneficial to her personally, saying, "Free periods are really beneficial for students on a sports team. They allow us to organize ourselves so we can give it 100% on the field, knowing we got some homework done before then."
Personally, I find working for lengthy periods of time to be counterproductive, as my attention falters and the quality of my work decreases. For this reason, I believe free periods, along with lunch breaks, are integral to the overall school environment. Nina Mamrout ('19) accounts for this benefit, explaining, "free periods are extremely beneficial in easing my stress and bettering my mental health." Furthermore, recent studies show that those who submit to any sort of distraction during a one-hour period will perform better in the long run than those who work continuously.
In contrast, Adina Hirsch ('19) voices her opinion that free periods stand as an interruption in her day saying, "As I finally get in the flow of learning, I find free periods distracting and detracting from my learning." Other institutions have invoked mental health days, standing as a full day off instead of simply a period, negating the midday interruption that students sharing a belief with Adina Hirsch find disruptive. For example, Two Rivers School gives students a day off after administrators noticed a recent need for mental health services within the community. Schools offering mental health days have seen temporary improvement in the stress levels of students. No matter the form, time off from hard work is the only way human productivity can endure.
|
Stoneman Douglas Strong
Students Participate in Inter-School Run For Shooting Victims
Graphic by Sydney Freedman ('20)
Article by Adina Hirsch ('19)
KYHS is deeply saddened by the tragic shooting that took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. In an effort to turn this sadness into action, this past Tuesday, KYHS students wrote letters in their English classes to students at Stoneman Douglas, signed a poster from the entire school and took a group picture that drew out a heart and spelled out MSD (see the Banner). After school, students had the incredible opportunity to participate in a run in honor of cross country coach: Mr. Beigel, as well as the 16 other victims. Students were encouraged to participate and the number of attending students was impressive.
When students first arrived at the park, they had a chance to pay their respects at each poignant memorial. The atmosphere was absolutely inspiring; thousands of people, those who personally knew the victims and those who did not, gathered together in unity and strength to commemorate the 17 victims whose lives ended far too early. Kayla Bensmihen ('19) expressed, "
The run for Beigel was a great way for us to show our support for the Douglas community. Regardless of if you ran, walked, or just stood there, the unity amongst the different schools was incredible".
Through the moving words of the members of the cross country team, it was evident that although this was Mr. Beigel's first year coaching at MSD, in just six short months, the impact he had on the team was immense. While Beigel was not professionally trained as cross country coach, he impacted the runners mentally and helped them make it through the district, regional, and state meets.
The ceremony concluded with a candle lighting ceremony, running a final lap in memory of Coach Beigel and releasing balloons. This event highlighted the unparalleled sense of love and support in the Parkland community.
This past Thursday, the senior girls held a bake sale and donated all the money they made
to help students and victims from
the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The bake sale was very successful, raising over 1000 dollars! While we are still extremely saddened, students are thankful to make an effort in returning Stoneman Douglas students to a safe and happy environment.
May Hashem provide MSD and the whole Parkland community with the strength they must muster to overcome this difficult time. We are already so proud of their obvious strength.
Stoneman Douglas Strong!
|
Acting Like Esther
Rabbi Ari Berman, President of YU, Speaks to Students About the Megillah and the Actions that Define it
Graphic by Akiva Groman ('19)
Article by Lexi Cohen ('18)
Last Friday, Rabbi Ari Berman from Yeshiva University came to KYHS to speak to the student body. He shared his own thoughts and the opinions of esteemed Torah scholars including Rav Soloveitchik on Esther, the heroine of the Megillah. Rabbi Berman noted that Esther actually played a passive role in the story. That is, until Mordechai told her to finally take action and speak out, as the time for passivity had ended. Now, actions had to be taken. Esther then bravely spoke to the king without notifying him that she would be speaking to him, and revealed her Jewish identity.
Rabbi Berman also mentioned the significance of Hashem's name being excluded from the Megillah. He discussed Hashem's involvement behind the scenes, and His love for the Jewish nation. One student said of the shiur, "I feel so privileged to have heard Rabbi Berman speak. It was both enlightening and captivating, and I feel as though I now have a greater appreciation of the Megillah and the heroes in the Purim story."
|
|
The Yeshiva Highlites Staff
|
|
|
