by Chava Rubin ('07)

Two weeks ago, the Weinbaum Yeshiva High School was privleged to be visited by the esteemed Rabbi Yona Metzger, the current Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel. It was a truly inspirational experience to be in the presence of the renown Gadol Hador and leader of our nation.

Rav Metzger was originally born in Haifa, making him the first Chief Rabbi to be born in the state of Israel. He fought in several wars in the Tank Brigade and was discharged with the rank of captain. Rabbi Metzger received his ordination from the Kerem Be- Yavne hesder yeshiva and later became the regional rabbi of northern Tel Aviv. In 2003, Rabbi Metzger was appointed the Chief Ashkenazik Rabbi of the State of Israel. Rabbi Metzger was first introduced to the school by Rabbi Spodek who spoke about his personal experience with Rav Metzger and the Shabbos they spent together.

Rav Metzger then spoke to the students by relating a story about an Arab shabbat goy who heard the singing of “Lecha Dodi” on Friday night. The Arab felt such a strong connection to “Lecha Dodi” and soon after discovered his Jewish roots and his ancestor, Rav Shimon Elkabatz, the writer of “Lecha Dodi.” Through his touching story, Rav Metzger expressed the importance of knowing one’s roots and of being proud of our heritage. To be in the presence of the great Rav and tzaddik was an experience that students will remember and treasure for a lifetime.

by Mimi Begas ('06)

This year’s basketball tournament was hosted by the RASG Hebrew Academy of Miami Beach, and proved to be a refreshing change to hosting the tournament ourselves in Boca Raton. Though the location may have shifted south, the enthusiasm, excitement, and the achdut of all the girls remained the same.

Traveling from New York, California, and Ohio, the girls from the other five teams reunited from various different schools including YULA, SKA, Maayonot, and two new schools—Central and Yeshiva of Ohio. It was truly great to see so many Jewish girls from various regions coming together through this shared passion for basketball.

The achdut was not only evident on Shabbos through our strong zmirot (which the WYHS girls started and completely dominated), but also through our commendable sportsmanship and our support for one another both on and off the court, whether on the same or opposing team. At every game, the girls from the other schools would watch the game and cheer for both teams playing.

One great example of the overwhelming sense of friendship and sportsmanship was in a game against Central, when a Storm player accidentally knocked down an opposing player, both girls got up, laughed, and gave each other a hug in the middle of the game. I feel that this moment paradoxically captured the true meaning behind our basketball tournament. While the girls came to win and play their best, the tournament was not all about who came in first, second, or even last; rather, it was the ride—how we played, what friends we made, what we ate—that truly mattered in the end.

by Rachel Marcus (’09) and Rabbi and Mrs. Schochet

Three weeks ago, Mrs. Kanner invited all the freshman girls to North Miami Beach to spend Shabbos with her. We all expected it to be an uplifting and inspirational Shabbos, but it turned out to be so much more than we could ever have hoped for.

Dining at Mrs. Kanner’s home for the three meals left us feeling not only physically satisfied but also spiritually satiated. Everybody came prepared with personal divrei Torah and family anecdotes that were shared throughout the weekend. In between the vivid conversations, hilarious stories, and words of Torah was a great deal of singing.

While most of us aren’t exactly blessed with the best voices, the sound of all the girls together was a magnificent one, emanating from the depths of our souls. In addition to bonding with Mrs. Kanner, new friendships were forged with the girls in the class and old ones were strengthened. Every single person walked away deeply impacted from the Shabbos spent with Mrs. Kanner, who opened her home and heart to unite and inspire the freshman girls.

A few weeks later, the Judaic staff at WYHS again put in extra effort to help inspire students and bring them all together. Just two days after an electrifying but exhausting color war, the week was ended with two unbelievable tisches last erev Shabbat. Despite the fatigue evident on many of the faces around the tables, both the boys and girls came alive with two ruach infused tisches.

Led by Meira Tirschwell (’07), the girls tisch featured heartfelt songs and delicious potato kugel. The boys enjoyed some great chulent and lively dancing that reverberated through the hallways. The boys tisch culminated in an uplifting speech given by Rabbi Tirschwell on the importance of using the energy and ruach that filled the school during color war to jumpstart our lives.