May 5 , 2017 9 Iyyar 5777
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Parshat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim
Candle Lighting at 7:37 PM
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Moral Behavior and Enforced Legislation
The beginning of Parshat Kedoshim introduces a series of
mitzvot bein adam l'chaveiro
. The mitzvot include respecting parents, loving your neighbor, caring for the poor, being kind to the unfortunate, etc. These mitzvot shape our moral character and are, of course, critical but as
mitzvot aseh
, positive commandments, if one does not observe them, he faces no legal consequence or punishment. Why not?
Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch offers a penetrating insight in just a few words at the beginning of this section of the Torah: "These virtues cannot be enforced by state power. Failure to practice them will not be penalized by any human court." In other words, we cannot instill moral character by force. Moral character can be encouraged by modeling behavior and by inspiring people to aspire to greatness, but not by enforced legislation. I want to thank Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky of DRS for pointing out Rav Hirsch's comment to me. Thank you to the Highlites staff for putting together another fantastic edition. May we all aspire to the greatness that God expects of us.
Shabbat Shalom!
Sincerely,
Rabbi Jonathan Kroll
Head of School
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Upcoming Events
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Senior Seminar
Sports Banquet
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Good and Welfare
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Condolences
Mr. BenZion Halpern on the passing of his beloved mother, Eva Brecher.
Mr. Dani Bengio on the passing of his beloved mother, Miriam Benhi.
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Yom Hazikaron
Major Alon Wald Shares His Story of Bravery and Dedication Growing Up in the Shadow of Tragedy
Graphic by Yosef Linzer ('18)
Article by Sara Deichman ('19)
There is simply no better way to commemorate Yom Hazikaron than by hearing from someone as invested in the IDF as Major Alon Wald from the Ammunition Hill National Memorial Site in Yerushalayim. Yom Hazikaron is a day filled with recognition, dedication, and appreciation of those who have sacrificed their lives for Israel, and for those who continue to serve the state each and every day.
On Monday, the students of KYHS were privileged to hear from Major Wald as he shared his inspiring story. He is the son of Captain Rami Wald, of blessed memory, who bravely fought and fell in the battle of Ammunition Hill as a paratrooper during the Six Day War.
Major Wald never got to know his father because he was just 10 months old when his father left home for the final time. One thing he left behind for his son were the words, "be brave," something greatly impacting Major Wald's decision to fight in the IDF and continue his mission at Ammunition Hill today. He wanted to be a paratrooper and serve as his father did, but to fight in a combat unit required his mother's consent due to the loss of his father years before, something that generally exempts one from combat service. Major Wald's mother was extremely brave in allowing him to fight, putting aside her own fears and putting her son first. He served for eight years and even served in the Shin Bet, Israel's Secret Service. He shared with us his belief that his accomplishments would not be possible if his father had not been with him in spirit throughout his life's journeys. At 40 years old, Major Wald became deeply involved with Ammunition Hill where he, with the help of the JNF, have decided to tell the stories of those soldiers who have given their lives and fought for the State of Israel. JNF urged the site to speak about heroism and not simply death. JNF and Major Alon Wald welcome visitors young and old to Ammunition Hill, continuing the legacy and bravery of soldiers, like Major Wald's father. KYHS students greatly appreciated the opportunity to hear from a hero, the son of a hero, on Yom Hazikaron.
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Yom Ha'atzmaut
Israel's 69th Birthday Begins with Hallel, Israel Themed Shiurim and Guest Speaker Rabbi Shalom Hammer
Graphic by Josh Bernten ('20) and Daniel Gross ('20)
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Yom Haatzmaut Celebration
Chazak Rocks the Chagigah and Students Spend a Fun Filled Afternoon Ice Skating in Celebration
Graphic by Justin Isaacs ('19)
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Senior Scholars
KYHS Seniors Receive Prestigious National Merit Designatons
Graphic by Mayrav Saketkhou ('20) and Liora Mayer ('20)
Article by Highlites Staff
KYHS proudly celebrates six seniors in the Class of 2017 whose outstanding academic and other achievements have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Three of those seniors have been named National Merit Finalists, and three have been named Commended Scholars. Over 1.6 million students from more than 22,000 high schools across the country entered the 2017 National Merit Scholarship competition last fall. The six KYHS honorees are among the top entrants. Nationally, 1% of all students were designated as Finalists. At KYHS, we are very proud to celebrate the 9% of our Class of 2017 who received National Merit recognition. National Merit awardees are chosen based on their PSAT and SAT scores as well as a rigorous application process focusing on grades, achievements, essays, extracurricular activities, leadership, and recommendations.
In addition to being excited for each of our accomplished awardees, KYHS was also proud to learn that in terms of overall National Merit recognition, KYHS did extremely well when compared to all schools in the United States, secular and religious, public and private; it is significant to have six students out of a senior class of only 67 be awarded National Merit recognition. KYHS had more National Merit Semi-Finalists than any other Orthodox Jewish Day School in the United States. Furthermore, no Jewish schools of any religious denomination outperformed KYHS in terms of National Merit achievements.
Jonah Rose, Lana Rosenthal, and Aaron Senfeld each were named National Merit Finalists, placing them among the top 1% of same-grade students nationwide. Jonah Rose has assumed numerous leadership roles during his four years at KYHS. He has served tirelessly and creatively as both Class President and Student Council President, and he has played an integral role as Captain and a starter on the Varsity Basketball Team. Next year, Jonah will study at the Hartman Institute in Israel, and the following year, he will attend the University of Pennsylvania. Besides serving as Editor-in-Chief of Ashreinu, the weekly KYHS Torah publication, Lana Rosenthal is a talented computer scientist who established a Girls Who Code program at KYHS, inspiring younger students to embrace computer programming. Lana has been selected as a national winner of the prestigious National Merit Scholarship. After studying in Israel at Midgal Oz, Lana will attend the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science. Aaron Senfeld is very musically gifted, playing both piano and drums in two different bands and enthusiastically leading and directing the KYHS band, Chazak, in addition to composing his own music and lyrics. Next year, Aaron will attend Northwestern University, which recognized his many talents and creative energy with a college-sponsored National Merit Scholarship Award.
The three KYHS students who earned National Merit Commendations are Miriam Gammerman, Alec Gelman, and Jonathan Leff. Miriam Gammerman brilliantly led the KYHS Moot Beit Din team to a second place finish in Houston, Texas, a few weeks ago. An accomplished writer, Miriam will take her sharp intellect and study at Nishmat seminary in Israel next year and will attend Washington University in St. Louis the following year. Alec Gelman is the hard-working Editor-in-Chief of KYHS's weekly e-newsletter, Highlites, and also has starred memorably in many of the school's theatrical productions. He plays on the KYHS Varsity Flag Football team and serves as Rosh Snif of B'nai Akiva in Hollywood. He looks forward to studying at Orayta in Israel next year and then will attend Brandeis University. Jonathan Leff has a remarkable creative talent for design and is the person KYHS publication teams turn to for assistance with layout. He also shares his keen math acumen heading up the KYHS Math Lab and serving as a peer tutor. Jonathan will spend next year studying at Orayta in Israel and then will attend the Honors program at Yeshiva University.
The non-profit National Merit Scholarship Corporation seeks to recognize outstanding high school students who manifest exceptional academic promise. KYHS is especially proud that these six remarkable students were included in that select group. Yasher Ko'ach to them and their families.
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AP Week
Get Inside the Mind of Students as They Navigate Advanced Placement Test Season
Graphic by Ariel Schneider ('17)
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This Week In Pictures
Graphic by Maurice Bensmihen ('17)
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The Yeshiva Highlites Staff
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