By Danielle Wolkowicz('09)

Chanu-Palooza 5767 was a week filled with non-stop fun, from thrilling Tzedakah auctions and Mesibas at the Rebbes to the intense, two- day Color War. However, the most anticipated event of the week was the annual Chanukah Chagigah, a chance for the WYHS family to eat, dance, and celebrate the miracle of Chanukah together.

Students, faculty, family and even some alumni arrived in the colorful and festive ballroom ready for an amazing evening filled with food and ruach.

Coinciding with the last hours of Color War, the chagigah kicked off with team captains David Atkin (’07) and Anosh Zaghi (’08) lighting the chanukiah together. After a delicious dinner, the school's new band, "Chazak", debuted. It brought everyone onto the dance floor. It was a beautiful sight to see members of both teams putting aside the competitiveness of the day and dancing together with every ounce of energy left in them after the intensity of Color War. Not to be left out, teachers, rebbeim and parents and siblings joined in on the amazing ruach.

The chagigah concluded with a slideshow that truly captured the excitement of the color war, from breakout to closing ceremony.

By Shira Borzak ('07)

To kick off Chanu-Palooza 5767, the boys JV basketball team took on the faculty team on motzei Shabbat, the second night of Chanukah. In a display of sportsmanship and skill, both teams played excellently.

On the faculty side, Rabbi Schochet wowed the crowd and led the faculty team in points. Faculty spouse Rabbi Grossman and Athletic Director Jon Kaweblum showed major skill as the team’s point guards, while Executive Director Shimmie Kaminetsky was a force to be reckoned with under the boards.

On the Storm side, BJ Litwin (’09) and Shai Barel (’07) were fantastic all-around team players. Max Singer (’09) had an amazing last second 3-pointer.

At half-time, fans were able to compete in a game of Knockout and enjoy great food and music while members of the Chanukah committee launched Storm gear into the stands. Thanks to Mary L's for serving hot food and donating the proceeds to the school.

By Yoni Levenson ('09)

For the fans, Monday afternoon was an opportunity to watch an extraordinary basketball game. For the players, it was a dream come true. The boys varsity basketball team faced off against the Storm’s friendly rival, the RASG Hebrew Academy Warriors at the American Airlines Arena, home of the Miami Heat. After morning classes, students and faculty boarded buses and traveled to the arena, feeling the excitement and anticipation.

Decked out in Storm gear and pumped up by the pre-game festivities, the throngs of Storm fans were a mighty force, cheering on the players and showing intense school spirit.

The Storm played a game for the record books, cinching their nail-biting victory, 42-38, in the last moments of the game. Aryeh Genet (’08) and co- captain Eli Baratz (’08) defended the court with fierce passion, and co-captain Anosh Zaghi (‘08) scored an unbelievable 20 points, and displayed grace under pressure when he “swished” four crucial free throws in a row, securing the game for the Storm.

By Meira Tirschwell ('07)

Even during WYHS' Chanukah whirlwind, students were sure to find time to do some chesed. On Tuesday, the fourth day of Chanukah, WYHS held its annual Teacher Tzedakah Auction. Students bid on items contributed by teachers and community members, ranging from a super bowl party for 8 at the Horowitz home to five points on Mrs. Rainbeau's midterm for an entire class.

With Rabbi Spodek emceeing the exciting auction, the room was abuzz with excitement, while students enjoyed special Chanukah treats and bid with much gusto for these priceless items.

Special thanks to the Berkowitz, Hodkin and Lasko families, Mr. Rosov and Avi Frier of the Florida Jewish News for their generous and impressive donations to the auction, including Level 1 tickets to a Miami Heat game, a Shaq autographed basketball and a deluxe Panthers hockey VIP package. Congratulations to Ilana Ben-Ezra (’10), the silent auction’s big winner.

By Alexa Bryn (’08)

This past Thursday, WYHS teachers and Rebbeim welcomed their students into their homes for a morning filled with food, bonding, and inspiration for the annual Mesibas at the Rebbes. Below, Josh Berdugo (’10) and Leora Cohen (’11) speak about how their teachers’ hachnasat orchim impacted them.

Why do you think Mesibas At The Rebbes is such an important part of Chanukah week at WYHS?

He said: It shows you how important it is to be together with your friends, teachers and family during a holiday. You really appreciate Chanukah so much more when there are other people celebrating with you.

She said: Chanukah is such an important time to get together with your class. Color war and the Chagigah gave us school- wide unity, but the Mesibas was also a wonderful way to help each class become more unified.

Did you learn anything in particular from your Rebbe or teacher at the Mesibas?

He said: We had a really interesting discussion with Rabbi Spodek about how Chanukah is a holiday about appreciating your heritage, about refusing to assimilate and how that keeps us strong as a people.

She said: I learned that teachers lead very normal lives, have normal families, but also, are always willing to go out of their way for the students outside of school.

Mesibas at the Rebbes shows a lot about the unique student-teacher relationship at WYHS. What has your relationship with your teachers given you?

By Jordana Kaminetsky (’07)

On Monday morning, the third day of Chanukah, students were privileged to kick off the action- packed Chanukah week with a speech from our founder, Rabbi Kenneth Brander.

Immediately after davening, Rabbi Brander, in his first official visit to the school since leaving South Florida to assume the position of Dean of the Center For The Jewish Future at Yeshiva University, discussed with the students the deeper meaning of lighting the Chanukah candles, as seen through the famed refusenik, Natan Sharansky.

Rabbi Brander gave us a powerful insight into what Chanukah is all about, and urged us to "take the fibers of our souls and create light around us."

Like Natan Sharansky in his prison cell in the Soviet Union, fighting to preserve his own Yiddishkeit, we “as Jews have to light lights and change the world around us.”

Rabbi Brander’s inspiring and moving speech set the tone for the chag, reminding us to change the world, one candle at a time.