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From the desk of Rabbi Perry Tirschwell
"Work hard and play hard" could certainly be WYHS'
motto. After a weekend of 60 hours of non-stop fun
and inspiration, we began school late on Monday so we
could take on an intense week. 8 sports games and 10
Israeli yeshiva visits later, the students and staff have
earned a well deserved weekend off.
If a parent hasn't received his/her child's report card
and an Albertsons Card, they should call Mrs. Schultz
at the school. The second trimester that began this
week promises to be as memorable and powerful as the
first. Shabbat
Shalom
Rabbi Perry Tirschwell
| The Greatest Shabbaton in WYHS History! |
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Last weekend's School Shabbaton in Orlando
(see pictures at left) was a smash success from
beginning to end! The theme of the weekend was
Details of Mitzvot and why those
details
are important.
After Friday night dinner, students and faculty
gathered 'round to watch the third annual WYHS
Newlywed Game featuring "couples" such as
Rabbis Brander and Tirschwell, siblings Melissa
(senior) and Andrea (freshman) Marder and Jessica
(senior) and Jonathan (sophomore) Struhl, and
officemates Rabbis Broide and Spodek. The game
was hilarious, and the message of
the game was clear -- it's all in the details!
After davening and kiddush on
Shabbat morning, the students participated in
the WYHS original- CSI: Orlando, where they watched
a hilarious teacher-written skit (kudos to Rabbi
Chaim Lanner) which
presented
several facts about a crime and were then asked to
solve the mystery. Although everyone worked hard to
sift through the information they were given, no one
was able to ultimately solve the case!
Finally, on Shabbat afternoon, WYHS Judaic Studies
teachers led eight simultaneous sessions
discussing
the
importance of details in mitzvot. The classes
culminated in a powerful speech by assistant
principal
Mrs. Ora Lee Kanner, whose message was that details
can
simultaneously destroy, define, and transform a person
or situation.
Other Friday night highlights of the weekend included
an
inspirational tisch led by
Rabbi
Moshe Schochet (husband of Judaic teacher Mrs.
Michal Schochet), and an "Ask the Rabbi and
Rebbetzin"
session with Rabbi and Mrs. Brander. At
incredible seudah shlishit programs,
moving
speeches
by senior Melissa Marder and junior Jenna Bienenfeld as
well as alumni ('01) Shalom Weiss and Mordechai
Turoff,
who spoke about life after WYHS and how to get the
most out of high school.Of course, Saturday
night's bowling,
pizza, live music and dancing (provided by WYHS
student band "Under
Construction"), were a blast, and the Shabbaton ended
with an
amazing day on Sunday, where each person got to
choose the Disney theme park of their
choice!
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| Student-Teachers and Special Role Models |
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For the past month, students have attended
optional student-lead classes in shmirat
halashon and
tefilla (prayer and
appropriate speech) that take place each
morning during breakfast. The classes are organized
and given by students (pictured at right), with
occassional guest teacher
presenters. This innovative project was organized by
the WYHS Committee for Israel Awareness (CIA) and
spearheaded by sophomore Batya Weiss and senior
Mordechai Hodkin.
Last week, WYHS senior boys taught middle school
students at the Brauser
Maimonides Academy in Hollywood (pictured at
right). Each WYHS senior was paired with 2-3
Maimonides middle schoolers and studied the
importance of the blessings recited when learning
Torah. The WYHS boys spent several weeks preparing
the material for this unique experience. The program
was wrapped up by senior Josh Levy, who drew
practical lessons for both groups of students.
This past Monday, the eleventh and twelfth grade
Jewish History classes
had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear from Mr.
Ezra Moses, a leader of the Jewish community in
India. Mr. Moses visited the school and spoke on
behalf of the World Zionist Congress. In his memorable
speech, Mr. Moses taught students about Jewish life in
India,
including the original settlement of Jews in India, the
Jewish school system, and the relationship between
Indian Jews and non-Jews. In another facet
of WYHS' Leadership Training Program, the senior class
had the privilege of hearing Mr. Herb
Gimmelstob,
former
president of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach
County. Mr. Gimbelstob spoke about the importance
of Jewish philanthropy and the need for every
individual to truly get involved in Jewish communal work
in a way that he or she is passionate about. Mr.
Gimmelstob's motivational words included specific
advice on how and
where to begin to get involved.
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| Basketball Teams Sweep a Triple Header! |
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This Wednesday marked an unprecedented
moment in
the history of WYHS athletics! All three Yeshiva Storm
basketball teams defeated Boca Prep in a triple header
that took place on Boca Prep's home court!
In game one, the girls varsity rocked
the house, with unbelievable all-around playing
from
the entire team! Especially incredible were sophomore
Mimi Begas, whose three steals were an essential part
of the victory, and sophomore Ilana Singer, who did an
amazing job as point guard. The final score was
Yeshiva Storm 38, Boca Prep 26.
Game two showcased the WYHS junior varsity's
blossoming talent. Sophomores Moshe Genet
and Steven Marin were outstanding, scoring points and
pulling rebound after rebound to lead their team to its
ultimate 49-42 victory!
The evening ended on a real high with a stunning
65-17 boys varsity win over Boca Prep. In
addition to
the
solid game played by the starting lineup, the rest of the
team had the chance to come out and show their
stuff! High scorers were sophomores Daniel Poliak and
Josh Goldberg, but the entire team contributed to the
blowout victory!
Click Here for a Really Great Picture! »
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| Wow, What a Week We've Got For You |
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Next Tuesday, December 16th at 3 p.m., WYHS will
take
on RASG Hebrew Academy of Greater Miami at two
simultaneous basketball games (see flyer at right).
In order to allow
student fans to cheer on their team, Tuesday will
follow a Friday schedule, with a 1:45 p.m. dismissal.
The boys teams will face off at the Sportsmall
in Deerfield Beach, and the girls teams will
compete at the American Airlines Arena! Boys
tickets are $5 and include a post game pizza party.
Girls tickets are $15 and $25, and entitle Lady Storm
fans to stay for the Miami Heat game afterwards.
Don't miss your chance to be a part of these
unbelievable games! Tickets can only be purchased at
WYHS, so buy yours today!!!
The boys junior varsity basketball team is
honored to be invited to participate
in the Tim Hausdorf Memorial Tournament at the
Yeshiva of Flatbush High School
in Brooklyn, New York from December 18-21. The JV
Storm will be one of several teams from across the
country flying into New York to take part in this
exciting tournament!
The WYHS Hollywood Town Meeting this
Wednesday, December 17, will take place at 8
p.m. at the home of
Diane and Gary Magid. All Hollywood parents are
encouraged to attend! The program is an open forum
for parents to raise questions and suggestions to make
WYHS an even more impactful experience for
its
students. It is the fourth and last fall town meeting.
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| Informal Education Is WYHS' Soul |
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by Rabbi Kenneth
BranderWYHS
Founder
Last weekend I had the privilege of attending our
annual school shabbaton. The last WYHS
shabbaton that I attended
was the Yeshiva's first. It
was held five years ago in Marco Island, when the
student body numbered only 40. I still remember the
inspiring Friday night shiur that Mrs. Kanner
gave. I wondered would it be
possible to reach the same heights that we experienced
that weekend on the west coast of
Florida, with a student body that is now four times the
size.
Rabbi Josh Spodek, our Program Director, created a
truly amazing shabbat. I watched how students
interacted in such a warm, yet respectful way with
their Rabbeim and Judaic teachers. I watched the
various skits and programs which were creatively
designed and professionally presented by our Judaic
staff. These programs conveyed
deep philosophical ideas through humor and with a
profound understanding for a teenager's outlook on
life. The ruach (singing and dancing) created
by
our students and staff was inspiring. Seeing our
graduates come back as advisors and give back was
real nachat.
This Shabbaton reinforced for me the crucial role
that informal education plays at WYHS. Spirituality can
not be fully
experienced in the classroom - it must be
communicated in an informal fashion as well. This is
what our
students experienced last shabbat in Orlando.
We are blessed to have teachers that truly extend
themselves and care for
each of our children.
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