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Dear KYHS Family,
As you will read about in this special end of the year edition of Yeshiva Highlites, you will realize that the end of the school year at KYHS was all but quiet with several special events and programs including our senior trip to Guatemala, annual Journal Dinner, Senior Dinner, graduation and a special goodbye event for Mrs. Ora Lee Kanner.
A huge thank you to Mr. Zach Cohen and our incredibly dedicated and talented Highlites staff for sharing the magic and beauty of the KYHS experience with the thousands who read Highlites each and every week.
Thank you to our dedicated faculty and staff for another amazing year at KYHS. A special farewell and thank you to Rabbi Levitt and Mrs. Kanner for their years of dedication to our school. Wishing both of them good health and continued success.
Wishing everyone an enjoyable and restful summer. Looking forward to an amazing upcoming 23-24 school year.
Shabbat Shalom,
Shimmie Kaminetsky
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Congratulations to the Largest Graduating Class of KYHS | |
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Graphic by Highlites Staff
Mazel Tov to the Class of 2023! On the memorable evening of Wednesday, June 7th, the KYHS class of 2023 officially graduated. The FAU Kaye auditorium filled with family and friends, eager to partake in this simcha. The graduates marched towards the stage to sing the anthems led by our esteemed vocalist Mr. Shimmie Kaminetsky (brother of former Miami Boys Choir member). The event commenced with an opening address by the school president, Dr. David Lasko. Following this, Mrs. Kanner delivered a beautiful and inspiring Dvar Torah, and Rabbi Levitt imparted a heartfelt parting message.
Graduate, Rafael Solomon, took the podium to share an engaging and significant speech. With a perfect blend of humor and inspiration, he emphasized the importance of staying connected to our Jewish roots. The class of 130 students was divided into five groups, each presented with a video showing a picture montage of their four years in high school. Then the group was called up to receive their well-deserved diplomas. One by one students walked up to collect their diploma. Most took theirs nicely and professionally, while others cartwheeled, took selfies, and picked up Rabbi Levitt. (Don’t worry, he didn’t mind).
Rabbi Levitt and Mrs. Kanner were also recognized for their tireless efforts. They were invited to the stage to receive caps as tokens of appreciation as they will also be graduating KYHS after years of hard work and dedication. The graduating class of 2023, filled with an overwhelming sense of accomplishment, joyfully flipped their tassels and erupted in applause.
Following the ceremony was a beautiful dessert reception. Thanks to all who helped put this beautiful night together. Mazel Tov once again to the remarkable Class of 2023. As you embark on new journeys, may the memories of this special day, along with the days that led to this accomplishment, and your continuous commitment to your Jewish heritage guide you towards a bright and fulfilling future.
Check Out Pictures from Graduation HERE!
Click HERE for the Full Graduation Video!
Click HERE for the 1st Graduation Group!
Click HERE for the 2nd Graduation Group!
Click HERE for the 3rd Graduation Group!
Click HERE for the 4th Graduation Group!
Click HERE for the 5th Graduation Group!
Article by Atara Keehn ('23)
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Seniors Last Supper
KYHS Senior Class Enjoys a Night of Fun with Teachers, Yearbooks, and a Video!
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On May 31, the senior class gathered one last time as a unified group before their highly anticipated graduation to commemorate their remarkable year. Dressed to impress, the seniors transformed the Beit Midrash into a stunning venue, adorned with sleek black and gold decorations. The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the delectable food stations that students and teachers alike piled onto their plates.
After capturing memorable photographs and settling into their seats, Ariella Mayer '23 and Mia Kogan '23 orchestrated an engaging game called "Caption That." Each table competed against one another to choose the wittiest and most accurate captions for the amusing photos submitted by the seniors. The game sparked contagious laughter and a spirit of competition throughout the room.
The much-anticipated senior video, a labor of love that had been in the making for what felt like an eternity, finally graced the screen. Packed with hilarious inside jokes and unforgettable moments, such as the senior girls' Purim costume skirmish and the notorious senior baby assassin, the video kept everyone chuckling for a delightful 30 minutes. Thank you to all of the curators of the amazon video!
The apex of the night arrived as the talented yearbook editors, Rebecca Adler '23, Olivia Kahane '23, and Abby Rosenthal '23, unveiled the amusement park-themed masterpiece. They read aloud Rabbi Levitt's heartfelt dedication and expressed their gratitude to the entire yearbook staff for their unwavering devotion. Finally, the long-awaited moment arrived—the seniors held their own copies of the yearbook in their hands, eager to etch their final messages and heartfelt goodbyes onto its pages.
A wave of emotion washed over the room as seniors embarked on hours of signing yearbooks and cherishing their last moments together within the school walls. The meticulous attention to detail and the painstaking efforts of the yearbook team were duly appreciated, as each page perfectly encapsulated the essence of their transformative year.
Check Out Pictures from Senior Dinner HERE!
Click HERE for the Senior Dinner Video!
Article by Orly Dimont ('23)
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Senior Graduation Trip
Graduates Get a Glimpse of Guatemala
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Graphic by Highlites Staff
Our graduating class of 2023 was privileged to take their senior trip to Guatemala! This is the school’s third time visiting Guatemala, and this trip was a blast! The seniors and dedicated chaperones woke up early on Sunday, May 14 and took the short international flight over to Central America. Once landing in Guatemala City, they loaded the buses and were off to the beautiful Chabad of Guatemala City. There they ate a delicious lunch and then split up. The girls went to a beautiful authentic market filled with all kinds of trinkets, souvenirs, and doohickeys while the boys went to visit an incredibly inspiring and amazing community of converts in Guatemala City. Then, the boys and girls swapped places. After everyone experienced these two activities, they loaded the buses again and drove off to a gorgeous Shul and had the amazing opportunity to hear from the assistant of Guatemala’s Israeli ambassador. After that, the seniors drove from Guatemala City to Antigua: a city two hours away. There they ate a wonderful dinner at the Chabad of Antigua and then went to their hotels to rest up for the busy trip ahead of them!
The sun dawned on the seniors’ second day in Guatemala, and they were off bright and early to visit the Asociacion Nuestros Ahijados– an incredible organization dedicated to helping impoverished children in the Antigua area. The call was generously allowed to look around the grounds, and then help with various projects around the site. Some scrubbed the gates clean, some helped make fresh corn tortillas, some painted decorations, some played with the little kids. Following lunch, a group of girls were given the opportunity to go waterfall rappelling. Most stayed for a while and then traveled to Hobbitenango, an interactive fantasy-themed attraction, featuring the famous hand statue outstretched over Panchoy Valley for amazing views. Meanwhile, the group of girls who were going waterfall rappelling hiked through beautiful woods to the site. Once there, a fraction of them hiked up, geared up, and were able to experience this amazing feat. Although most did not get the chance to actually reppell, it was still a fun-filled afternoon filled with breathtaking landscapes. The seniors then reconvened at the Chabad for another delicious dinner!
On the third day in Guatemala, the class experienced possibly the most anticipated activity: the four hour hike up the (active) volcano Pacaya. It was a long and arduous journey to the top— if you were on foot. Some advantageously rented horses to ride to the top, while most soldiered on foot. It was an amazing bonding experience coupled with the most amazing payoff at the top. Cool fog enveloping the group partially obscured the class’s vantage point of the colorful country of Guatemala from 8,000 feet above sea level. It was a magical experience, and the class was so blessed to have the opportunity to hike this volcano. Once the magical moment ended, they all hiked back down and headed to a marketplace filled with various articles of clothing, jewelry, and other fun accessories. They then headed back to Chabad for a hot, satiating dinner. After dinner, the seniors had the incredible privilege to hear from the famous Danny Limor. Mr. Limor is a heroic ex-Mossad agent who saved countless lives during Operation Brothers, the Israeli attempt to rescue refugees from Ethiopia and bring them to Israel. The class was privileged to hear him speak all about his experiences and ask him questions. After Mr. Limor spoke, the girls learned how to make pieces of beaded jewelry with a jewelry maker from the area, while the boys circled around the fire pit for inspirational singing and insight from our very own Rabbi Sugerman.
Various activities were sprinkled throughout the day. Everyone got the chance to ride ATVs on real roads and highways, and the class visited and learned about a coffee bean plant. For the other half of the day, students were allowed to choose between activities: some went on an exhilarating zip lining course, played an intense game of paintball, and went for a fun mountain bike ride! Everyone came back to Chabad, and following dinner, we all gathered up for the meaningful Senior Circle. The graduating class sat together and were given the amazing opportunity to sit back and hear from their classmates reminiscing about their time in high school, and have a glimpse into each other's highschool experiences. Classmates spoke highly of each other, and praised inspiring teachers, and expressed their gratitude toward their parents. It was one of the most incredible bonding experiences and fittingly summed up their four years together at KYHS.
The 2023 graduates of Katz Yeshiva High School are incredibly grateful to all the staff, chaperones, Dan Katz, and coordinators who worked endless hours to make this trip the most rewarding experience as a finale for the KYHS journey, and a kickoff to embark on new ones.
Article by Aliza Boker ('23)
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The Ultimate Queen Event!
Faculty and Family Give Over Their Gratitude for Mrs. Kanner's 25 Years of Dedication
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Graphic by Highlites Staff
On Tuesday night, June 13, faculty members, former faculty members, board members, alumni and members of the Kanner family joined together in the Beit Midrash for a farewell tribute to our beloved Principal Mrs. Ora Lee Kanner who has been the backbone of our school for the past 25 years.
Following a delicious dairy dinner including plenty of chocolate treats (Mrs. Kanner’s favorite), tributes were heard from Shimmie Kaminetsky, Rabbi Chaim Lanner, Naomi Reichenberg ('22) and KYHS President Dr. David Lasko. A short video followed with messages from several KYHS alumni. The program continued with moving words of tribute from Rabbi Avi Levitt as well as words from Rabbi Jonathan Kroll and Rabbi Perry Tirschwell who flew in to be here for this special event. Following the presentation of a beautiful plaque and memory book, including several hundred messages from members of the school community, Mrs. Kanner shared a profound and entertaining farewell speech.
The evening was both enjoyable and moving. Although the dinner was a meaningful tribute and farewell, nothing could truly encapsulate our gratitude toward Mrs. Kanner for all that she has done for the school and community. Special thank you to the following faculty members (current and past) for their hard work putting this beautiful evening together. Mrs. Ellen Chait, Mrs. Claudia Cohen, Mr. Zach Cohen, Mrs. Beth Kaminetsky, Mr. Shimmie Kaminetsky, Mrs. Carla Levine, Mrs. Melissa Pereira, Mrs. Lysee Stein, and Mrs. Loren Stein.
We will miss you Mrs. Kanner!!
Click HERE for the Full Video of the Event!
Click HERE for Mrs. Kanner's Thank You Video!
Click HERE for the Pictures from the Event!
Article by Shimmie Kaminetsky
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Graphic by Highlites Staff
Our KYHS Annual Journal Dinner 2023 was such a wonderful evening, and success! Alyson Lev, our new Director of Development planned an incredible evening along with an amazing group of co-chairs, Dr. Liora & Daniel Adler, Denise & Adam Snow, and Naomi (’08) & Elie (’08) Baratz who all worked diligently together and were able to bring the event to fruition. Also, having the support of KYHS Executive Director, Shimmie Kaminetsky, and our board president, Dr. David Lasko, helped to keep the event moving in a positive direction for the much anticipated evening.
This year’s event with gratitude to Hashem was special beyond what was expected, and having the opportunity to honor Bonnie & Joey Betesh, Rabbi Avi & Rebecca Hochman, and Mrs. Melissa (Marder ’04) Glaser, made the evening perfect in every possible way. There was an outpour of family, friends, and alumni of Katz Yeshiva High School who attended the event, and with more than 280 supporters & contributors in attendance our Beit Midrash was bursting. We were so thrilled and gracious for all who came to enjoy the evening, and missed those who were happy to support and sponsor KYHS but were unable to attend.
Keep an eye out for next year's invite to the 2024 Annual Journal Dinner! You won't want to miss it!
Check Out the Hochman's Video HERE!
Check Out the Betesh's Video HERE!
Check Out Melissa Glaser's Video HERE!
Check Out Pictures from the Event HERE!
Article by Alyson Lev
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It's Move Up Day for Seniors
Graduates Get Accepted into Colleges as They Move on to Another Stage in Life
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Graphic by Highlites Staff
To the Class of 2023:
Congratulations on your graduation, and on achieving this monumental milestone in your journey!
After months of hard work completing college applications, writing and rewriting essays, taking and retaking standardized testing, and making your final decisions, you're on your way! The colleges to which you have committed are lucky to have you, and we are certain that you will enhance their campuses while reaping the rewards of a quality educational atmosphere. Mazel tov on a job well done!
Remember, as you go forth into the world, following whatever path you have chosen to walk, that the lessons and experiences that you have gathered are there to help you along the way. They can serve as reflections, and as directions, to help smooth the path ahead. The drive, however, and the energy that keeps you going, comes from within you. You have your future in your hands, and can make it whatever you choose.
We wish you luck in your endeavors, and anticipate hearing about all you will accomplish as you each walk towards whatever goals and destinations await you!
Your College Guidance Team
Class of 2023 Acceptances:
Yeshiva University
Washington University in St Louis
University of South Florida-Main Campus
University of Miami
University of Maryland-College Park
University of Florida
University of Central Florida
Touro College
Reichman University (IDC Herzliya)
Palm Beach State College
Ohio State University-Main Campus
Nova Southeastern University
New York University
Muhlenberg College
Lynn University
List College - JTS
Jerusalem College of Technology
Harvard University
Florida State University
Florida Atlantic University
Drexel University
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
Cornell University
Broward College
Brandeis University
Binghamton University
Babson College
Article by the College Guidance Counselors
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