Graphic by Ariella Mayer ('23) |
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Our parsha begins with the enthralling tale of the birth of the twin sons of Rivka and Yitzchak and concludes with the drama of the blessing "stolen" by Yaakov. Yet the center of our parsha is filled with a rather boring and prosaic interlude describing three wells dug by Yitzchak and the ensuing clashes between him and the Plishtim. Why waste the space to describe an economic clash that seems to have no moral, religious, or interest value?
Isaac named the first well Essek because of the strife it caused between him and his Grari hosts, while he named the second Sitna due to the enmity it unleashed between them. The third well, however, caused no hard feelings and in fact, brought peace. It was thus named Rechovot, meaning capaciousness and spaciousness.
Why did the third well not incur the same contention that the earlier two had wrought? How do we account for the inexplicable change in the relationship between Yitzchak and the Plishtim after the third well?
Rabbi Norman Lamm quotes the suggestion of Rabbi Joseph M. Baumol, who points to a critical difference between the digging of the first two wells versus the digging of the third. The first two wells were dug by the servants of Yitzchak, as the Torah recounts, “Vayachperu avdei Yitzchak”, and again for the second well, “vayachperu be'er acheret.” However, the third well was dug by Yitzchak himself: "vayachpor be'er acheret.” It is this seemingly insignificant difference between the involvement of Yitzchak in the digging of the wells that accounts for the diametrically opposing responses of the Plishtim to him and his endeavors.
A successful relationship can only be achieved when one engages himself, when he participates fully, dedicates his totality to its success and personally gets involved. Relegating his responsibility to others, even his own agents and servants, can result in misunderstandings and miscommunications, thereby leading to strife and contention. Only after Yitzchak himself got involved and personally engaged his energies, could the people of Grar see what a tzaddik they had in their midst.
This message is particularly poignant as we usher in the month of Kislev, in which we celebrate the victory of a small band of Chashmonaim who took upon themselves the onus of personally fighting for the sanctity and survival of Judaism. Be it for our national survival, success with our children, our students, school or business, the take-away is simple. Nobody can do it like you! Get involved, get personal.
Chodesh Tov and Shabbat Shalom,
Mrs. Ora Lee Kanner
Principal
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Superb Senior Sunrise
KYHS class of ‘22 Joins Together for Sunrise Tefillah at the Beach
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Graphic by Rebecca Adler ('23) |
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There are several exciting opportunities for seniors at KYHS that students look forward to throughout their high school years. This past Friday, we had the annual Senior Sunrise Shacharit Minyan, one of the most awaited senior-year events. On Thursday night, seniors set their alarm clocks to go off extra early. Without any sunlight in sight, we drove to the Red Reef Park beach pavilion to daven as we watched the sun rise. As Hailey Gately (‘22) remarked, “Senior sunrise was such a beautiful way to connect with Hashem and to spend time with our whole grade! The davening was so peaceful and an amazing way to start my day.”
After davening at the beach, the girls went to Mrs. Perl’s house and the boys went to Rabbi Wolk’s house. At each house, there was delicious breakfast and a d‘var torah given. For the boys, Rabbi Sugerman shared an inspirational message about ways to see Hashem through looking at the beauty of nature. For the girls, Mrs. Kanner gave an inspiring shiur about the parsha, Parshat Chayei Sarah, explaining the message behind the challah, candles, and shechina that Sarah and Rachel Imeinu merited. Students enjoyed getting to spend time with their teachers and peers while hearing these beautiful Torah ideas. Thank you to Rabbi Wolk and Mrs. Hochner for planning such an incredible morning!
Article by Rebecca Henner ('22)
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Attention: You Are Approaching a Sky Zone
Freshmen Go On Exciting Outings to Sky Zone and Water Sports
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Graphic by Abby Rosenthal ('23) |
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This past week, the entire ninth grade went on an exciting outing. The girls went to LTS, a tubing, wakeboarding, and watersports center. “It was a bonding experience and it was a great opportunity for all of us to get to know each other better,” said Emma Seghi (‘25). The freshman girls were split into groups of people that they do not have many classes with so that they would have a chance to spend time with people who they do not spend most of a regular school day with. The tubing was fun and refreshing and an amazing experience to learn more about each other. Leila Samuels (‘25) remarked, “this event brought me closer to people who I might not have spent time with otherwise.”
The freshman boys were taken to Skyzone, an indoor trampoline park. “Going to Skyzone was a great way to get to know everyone in the grade and I had a lot of fun,” said Yonah Greenberg (‘25). “It was a really nice break because the adjustment from middle school to high school was a big change and this break was something that allowed everyone to come together as a grade outside the classroom,” added Nachi Rosen (‘25). The freshman outing was a great opportunity for ninth grade students to become closer and more connected as a class. We were able to bond over something other than school work and it was a great chance to make new friends in a new environment. Thank you to Rabbi Kimche and Melissa Pereira for planning the fabulous outings!
Article by Ariela Leibowitz ('25)
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Student Standoff
Mishael Sommers (‘23) and Eitan Kaminetzky (‘25) Debate Whether or Not Students Should Come to Parent-Teacher Conferences
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Graphic by Highlites Staff |
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This past Tuesday and last Wednesday, KYHS held their first-quarter parent-student-teacher conferences. We sat down with Mishael Sommers (‘23) and Eitan Kaminetzky (‘25) to get their opinion about whether or not it is beneficial to have students at these conferences.
Q: Do you think it is beneficial for students to be at parent teacher conferences?
Mishael: No, I do not think it is good for students to be at parent teacher conferences.
Eitan: Yes, I think it is beneficial for students to be at parent teacher conferences.
Q: Why do you think students should not be at conferences?
Mishael: During parent teacher conferences it is important that teachers can critique to the full extent that they need to, which would not happen with the student present.
Eitan: I think students should not be at conferences because the students are more likely to get defensive when hearing criticism straight from the teachers.
Q: What are the good things about students being there?
Mishael: Students hear the critique straight from the teacher and not through a middleman.
Eitan: I think it is beneficial for students to be at conferences because when they hear the comments directly from the teacher they are more likely to take them to heart.
Q: How do you think that students take what the teacher said and change?
Mishael: I think that parent-teacher-conferences can be really helpful when students are not there and that students do take what the teacher said and change.
Eitan: I think that it depends on the student; some students care about what their teacher says and some do not.
Q: How do you think parent-teacher-conferences can be improved?
Mishael: I think that they would be better if the student was not there. I also think that they can be improved by allowing the teachers to have as much time as they need with the parents.
Eitan: Student-parent-teacher conferences are amazing the way they are.
Article by Highlites Staff
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I am Davening Not Just for You, but With You
Rabbi Kimche Gives Over a JEDTalk on How to Be There for Someone with an Illness
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Graphic by Eitan Kaminetzky ('25) |
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This week’s JED talk was given by our one and only Rabbi Kimche. He spoke about his experience with cancer and the way that people reacted to his illness. Rabbi Kimche did not want to make the speech about his cancer because he does not live his life as someone whose entire identity is that of a cancer survivor. Instead, he sees his illness like any other struggle in a person’s life.
Since Rabbi Kimche sees human challenges as a part of the fabric of life, he sees his personal challenge as something that is a part of him but as something that should not define him. Rabbi Kimche mainly focused on explaining how he would have liked to have been treated by the people around him in the wake of his diagnosis. He laid it out in a “how-to guide ” format, describing how to help someone who is dealing with illness.
Rabbi Kimche prefaced this “guide” by saying that this was entirely his personal opinion. An important point that he raised is that if you were not originally close with a person before their illness, after the diagnosis is not the time to become their best friend. A simple text would be nice enough in that situation. If you are close with that person, however, this is when they need you the most. Rabbi Kimche also explained that the messages you give a sick person should make it clear that you are there to support them. This is how you can give them strength. Sometimes it's not what a person says, but just their presence that gives strength.
Molly Seghi (‘22) remarked, “I felt it was really important to hear his story of how we can support someone who is going through that kind of situation because a lot of times personally I don't know what the right thing to do is and it is helpful to hear what someone would have wanted to hear.”
This speech opened the students’ eyes to the thoughts and feelings of a person going through a serious illness, and if God forbid we find ourselves in a situation where we need to, we will now be prepared for how to comfort a person going through illness. Rabbi Kimche made it clear that his experience with illness did not define him, but it did teach him the value of life and strengthen his relationship with God. The senior class is tremendously grateful to Rabbi Kimche for sharing his story and words of inspiration.
Article by Kira Jacoby ('22)
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