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March 1, 2019
24th of Adar, 5779
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Candle Lighting at 6:04 PM
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Holy Work
Rav Aharon Levin, a remarkable Rabbi who served the Jewish community in Galicia and was murdered in the Shoah, wrote a beautiful book on Chumash called HaDerash V'haIyun. In his book, he offers an important insight into this week's parsha. The Torah instructs us to rest on Shabbat, and introduces that mitzvah by saying "ששת ימים תעשה מלאכה", for six days of the week you should work. Rav Levin points out that whenever the Torah commands us to keep Shabbat, it always instructs us to do work for six days of the week. Rav Levin explains that the Torah is not simply contrasting the weekdays with Shabbat, but teaching us that just as it is a mitzvah to rest on Shabbat, it is also a mitzvah to work and be productive during the week. As Jews, we recognize that spirituality is to be experienced not only in the wholly religious arena of Shabbat, but also in the holy work of daily productivity and enhancing the world that God has given us.
Thank you to the entire Highlites staff for another great edition.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Jonathan Kroll
Head of School
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Good & Welfare
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Births
Ilana (Dolgow '02) and Brian Roberts on the birth of their son, Ronald
Rebecca (Isaacs '07) and Michael Feldman on the birth of their son,
Adam Jacob.
Engagements
Jessica Wolff ('12) to Arik Neuwrith from Hollywood, FL
Condolences
Mr. Ofer Agajan and KYHS Hebrew teacher Mrs. Natalie Agajan on the passing of Ofer's beloved father, Mr. Levi Agajan.
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KYHS Engineers
Explore Israel
Dr. Wolf & Students Return T
o Israel For The Annual CIJE Trip
Graphic by Liora Mayer ('20)
Article by Adin Blumofe ('21)
Recently, I had the esteemed privilege of going on the CIJE Israel trip. The experience was a once in a lifetime adventure. Seven of my friends and I travelled throughout the Holy Land in a non-stop race against the clock to learn as much about engineering as possible, before we had to return home. Jet lagged, we were thrown from the plane into an observer booth for the Israeli equivalent of Sharktank. After, the program took us on a systematic roadmap as we visited the institutions of success that have built Israel. We received the rare ability to access Mobile-eye, the largest start-up in Israeli history. The company produces self-driving cars generations more advanced than any competitors. We visited companies that produced AI programed drones that can complete tasks no human could ever hope to replicate. Other companies constructed battery-powered airplanes. One company in particular that struck me was Innovative Mazor Robotics. The company is a medical device company that has virtually automated complex spine surgery. Their device has reduced eight-hour surgeries to one hour. The CIJE trip had us constantly visiting new and innovative companies that will shape our future.
On behalf of all the boys in my grade who went on the trip, we would personally like to thank Eric Stein and Seth Frohlich. They provided us with invaluable effort, labor, time, pizza, burgers, and patience as they watched us for ten days. Dr. Yosef Wolf has led us through our technological journeys not for days but for years. His education and guidance cannot be overstated. It truly was the best of times.
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Seniors Volunteer All Over South Florida As Part Of S.A.V.E. Program
Graphic by Naomi Reichemberg ('22) and Devorah Lome ('22)
Article by Meital Fixler ('19)
Seniors have anticipated the KYHS S.A.V.E. program all year, and it's finally here. Organized by Mrs. Lysee Stein, S.A.V.E. has proven to be a rewarding, community-service based opportunity for the senior class, year after year. On Wednesday afternoons, seniors embark on their journeys to complete various fulfilling community service opportunities. While some package food for the needy at food pantries, others comfort the elderly in assisted-living homes. Some play with and tutor kids while their classmates volunteer with Chai Lifeline. Elinor Lugassy ('19), who volunteers at Florence Fuller Child Development Center, describes the children she has already built relationships with in the past two week as "lit!" Wednesdays just got a whole lot better thanks to S.A.V.E.
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Substance Abuse Education
Students And Parents Gather For A Night Of Substance Abuse Education
Graphic by Chana Schandelson ('22), Aerin Tripp ('22) and Penina Kahane ('22)
Article by Ariella Greenberg ('19)
This week, parents and students attended the first school-run Substance Abuse Education Night. This was a valuable opportunity to educate and inform KYHS students and their parents. Students heard from Moshe Yachnes, a social worker specializing in addiction. He spoke about the three phases of addiction, such as how to diagnose an addiction. Not only did we learn about drug addiction, but additional helpful information about other forms of addiction such as technology addiction was presented as well. Students were given the opportunity to speak to a professional and ask questions. Rabbi Kroll also discussed the importance of having a Substance Abuse Education Night and announced new policies that will be put in place regarding the topic.
Freshman Elie Loberfeld remarked, "After attending the substance abuse seminar on Thursday evening, I am now even more aware of the awful effects of doing drugs. The seminar taught us how to deal with addiction and consequences of drugs and how they can ruin your life." Overall it was an educational and informative event that will benefit students and positively impact their decisions.
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KYHS Robotics Team Qualifies For State Championship
Graphic by Leora Cohn ('20) and Justin Isaacs ('19)
Article by Al Dimont ('20)
This past Sunday, the KYHS Robotics Team got the chance of a lifetime: competing in the VEX Robotics Tournament. After months of hard work and problem solving, late-nights and long weekends, the robotics team was finally able to put their robot to the test in a basketball-like battle against other robots. I personally remember going back to school late one night because I had forgotten a book in my locker, and when I got there, the robotics team members were still working in the Makerspace, figuring out the best contraption to shoot a plastic ball. I asked them when they were planning on leaving and they responded that they were going to be working on the robot until late into the night. The robotics team deserved this opportunity and is often overlooked in favor of the more conventional sports, but the team defines commitment and dedication, as they put in hundreds of hours.
Wondering how to play? The game is fairly simple. You must get your robot to successfully shoot balls at different targets and hit them to get points. Also, you must block other robots from doing the same with their balls. Whoever has the most points at the end of the round wins. At the VEX tournament, different teams were paired up together for the fight. Yehudah Marcus ('20) explained that, "With every match and competition, we tested our design and strategy and as a team developed effective solutions that ultimately resulted in our ability to advance."
And advance they did. KYHS sent in three teams with hopes of at least one win. Not only did one of the teams win, but they managed to get second place and qualified for the state championships as well. As Mr. Rath said, "In just one year, we went from being the new kids on the block to serious competitors in our region. We certainly didn't start off the year thinking we'd have a team that would qualify for States, but I think those students just set the bar for our program."
Due to the championship being held on Shabbat, the students were not able to attend. That did not ruin any hopes for next year. As best said by Joshua Bernten ('20), "We look forward to growing our multiple Storm Robotics teams and going even further next year. Thank you, Dr. Wolf and Mr. Rath, and let's go Storm!!!"
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Rabbi Avi Weiss Speaks To Students About The Importance Of Service and Giving Back to the World
Graphic by Highlites Staff
Article by Aharon Brandwein ('19)
Rabbi Avi Weiss talked to KYHS seniors last Friday about the power of giving. His moving speech about how giving is the key to a happy, meaningful life motivated the seniors who are currently involved in their SAVE volunteer work. He also talked about how the youth are the builders of the world, and the fate it has lies within our choices. This simple yet effective message was taken to heart by everyone, and it inspired students who are preparing to go into the world and build something great.
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Seniors Say Goodbye To Stress And Hello To USEFUL Math
Graphic by Josh Bernten ('20)
Article by Sara Deichman ('19)
Step into Mrs. Epstein's Pre-Calculus class and you might learn the unit circle; In Mr. Rath's Geometry class you'll learn about triangles; but step into Ms. Segal's senior class, and you'll be an architect soon enough. Her class is no exception when taking a look at the new system for third-trimester math for the senior class. Aside from the 20 students taking a math AP exam come May, third-trimester seniors are the guinea pigs in the math department's creative and unconventional experiment. For the next couple of months, seniors will enter three different ten-day courses designed to teach them something both interesting and useful. To get the inside scoop, I talked to students taking the courses to hear about how they are functioning thus far.
Mr. Rath's class is no longer learning limits and derivatives; he now teaches a course on finance where students learn math skills to help them in the near future, all in a ten-day period. As for Ms. Segal's senior class, she now teaches a course on architecture, instead of Pre-Calculus, in which students learn budgeting and, ultimately, what mathematical intricacies go into design. Rabbi Lanner's statistics class delves into statistics in the real world.
There's something for even those who have never meshed with equations and the variable
x
. Ultimately, students who are otherwise stressed with life-decisions or fail to find their motivation at this time of year can relax in these final-free zones. One student explained that after concluding with the Calculus they struggled through in the first trimester, they can take in real-life knowledge without a grade lingering over their head. This was echoed by Daniel Levin ('19), as he recalled, "It feels like I'm finishing off a section of my life, and I'm grateful for my KYHS education and how it's preparing me for my next stage." A majority of students have responded similarly, happy with the new arrangement. But what about those still interested in Calculus? There's something for them too.
Mrs. Weiss and Mrs. Epstein have continued on course to the AP Calculus AB and BC exams with eager students just the same. Shmuel Gross ('19), who plans on taking the AP Calculus AB exam, remarked, "I think that if I study hard, I'll be able to do well. I put in a lot of effort this year, so why stop now when I can take the AP exam and receive college credit?"
Mrs. Epstein explained, "If students are not taking the AP exam, it's generally hard for them to stay engaged and committed. That makes it harder for the kids who want to stick to the standard curriculum to focus. Through this new system, we created a plan so that all students can stay engaged and make better use of their time."
Depending on where students fall in terms of their personal math levels, they are receiving the type of math education fit for them. With only a couple months left of senior year, I would say the program has done an excellent job of keeping students involved, without unwanted pressure. The feedback so far has been a
sine
of a great success!
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Stephen Flatow Speaks To Seniors About His Daughter, Her Story, And His Fight With Iran
Graphic by Highlites Chevra
Article by Jaqueline Zimmerman ('19)
This past Friday, the seniors had the privilege of hearing from Stephen Flatow, an attorney in New Jersey, the Vice President of The Religious Zionists of America, and most importantly, father of Alisa Flatow, who was murdered in an Iranian-sponsored terrorist attack in Israel in 1995. Before this terrorist attack, Alisa urged her parents to send her to a Jewish day school. Over time, she influenced her family to become more observant and develop a deeper appreciation for Israel. Alisa went on the March of the Living, a program that took her to Poland and Israel, ultimately shaping her as a person and enhancing her love of Judaism. After attending college at Brandeis, Alisa decided to study in Israel at the Nishmat program.
During her time there, she went on vacation with her roommate and another peer to Gush Katif. On the way there, her bus was tragically bombed. Alisa was rushed to the hospital where she was declared brain dead; Alisa's parents graciously donated her organs. When Mr. Flatow realized that Iran was responsible for this horrible tragedy, he sued Iran, which ultimately earned him 250 million dollars. Mr. Flatow used this money to set up memorial foundations for his daughter, and he constantly provides scholarships for students to study in Israel. Alisa's legacy will always remain. Hearing from Mr. Flatow was truly inspiring, and the senior class is grateful that they got to hear from such an honorable man.
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KYHS Students Share What They Are Most Excited for in the Third Trimester
Graphic by Akiva Groman ('19)
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Ask Adina
Hear Sage Advice From An Experienced Senior
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Hi Adina! I always have wanted to join the Tisch Club; there is so much ruach, and the cholent always looks and smells amazing! However, I feel awkward and out of place as a girl going to the Tisch Club's table. Do you have any advice?
-Tisch Wannabe
Hi! You should definitely join the Tisch Club if you're interested. Everyone is welcome to join! In fact, club leader Yitzy Lanner ('19) encourages participation of both boys and girls, saying, "We welcome all people who are interested in singing, hearing divrei Torah, and enjoying a good cholent." If you feel awkward, encourage your friends to go with you!
You shouldn't be uncomfortable to express your love for Judaism! #EmpoweredWomenEmpowerWomen
Sincerely,
Adina
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The Yeshiva Highlites Staff
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