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The Weekly Newsletter of
Weinbaum
Yeshiva High School
Parshat Metzora
Friday, April 11, 2008
Shabbat begins in Boca @ 7:25
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From the desk
of
Rabbi Perry
Tirschwell
Mazel tov! Yesterday, our accreditation was renewed
by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
(SACS). Most people misunderstand
accreditation. What is it really about?
Accreditation is an institutional chesbon
hanefesh- a self accounting, a good hard look
in the mirror. The accreditation process, which
involves students, parents, lay leaders, faculty and
administration, is in total consonance with our
school's focus and growth.
This visit was very different from our initial
accreditation three years ago. Many more people were
involved in the eight month long self study of the
school. The visiting team also got a much better
understanding of our school. They met with eighty five
people- students, parents, teachers, office and
custodial staff, and board members.
The team of four educators who visited our school for
a day and a half truly fell in love with the school. They
had a hard time coming up with recommendations for
us to improve. They felt that we were truly providing
what we said we provide. We will make their report
available to you when we receive it.
Thank you to Ms. Dana Sardano, who spent
the last year coordinating our re-accreditation. She
attended multi day conferences in Central Florida,
kept on top of our seven faculty-lead committees,
spent endless hours entering our self study report
online, and coordinated a flawless visit.
Yeshiva Highlites will appear next after Pesach, on
Friday, May 2. I wish you and your family a chag
kasher v'sameach.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Perry
Tirschwell
Click
on the images below
to
link to these
nine websites
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Upcoming Events
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Pesach Yom Iyun and
Girls Upsherin
Monday, April 14
Boys Class of 2007
Breakfast & Shiur
Tuesday, April 15
8:00-11:00 am
Girls Class of 2007
Lunch & Shiur
Wednesday, April 16
12:00-2:00
pm
Pesach Vacation
Thurs. - Mon., April 17-28
Yom HaShoah Program
Thursday, May 1
9:15am
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Omission
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Please note that an important cast member, Tamar
Buzaglo, was
left out of the listing in last weeks
Highlites. We congratulate her
on a job well done.
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Click on the Picture for an
Incredible
Slideshow
Snorkeling, Sailing,
and a
Whole Lot of Sunburns
The Amazing Sophomore Class Trip
By Daniella Litiwn ('10)
This year's sophomore trip was
incredible -
one of the best trips in WYHS history!
It all began early Sunday
morning. Although the trip
was supposed to begin at 7 AM, we all
gathered in Miami Beach at
6:30 (the
Boca kids had to wake up at 4:30 and the
Hollywood
kids had to wake up at 5:30) to daven with a Sefer
Torah for Rosh Chodesh Nissan.
After we finished davening, we
got on the
bus and headed down to Islamorada. The buses
were
filled with laughter and excitement. When we
arrived,
the boys boarded a boat to go fishing while
the girls
went kayaking. The boys had an amazing time
on the
fishing trip, even though many of them were
very sea sick. The boys caught hundreds of
fish and the Rebbe (Rabbi Sugerman)
caught over fifty fish. The girls
kayaked for
over two hours. The strenuous work of rowing the
kayak didn't prevent them from having a great
time. Later on, the girls went snorkeling while the
boys went kayaking. The boys had an awesome time
racing each other. Then the entire
grade went together on a
beautiful sunset cruise.
On Sunday night, we all worked together to
prepare
a great
barbecue. Rabbi Sugerman, Anosh Zaghi ('08),
David Spektor, and Ms. Sardano
grilled the meat and fish that the boys had
caught!
Even though it was pouring rain, everyone
had a
great time and was able to bond with each
other
while enjoying delicious food.
On Monday morning, the weather
again was
thankfully sunny and clear. The entire class went to
Theatre by the Sea and enjoyed interacting with
Wilbur, the adorable Sealion. After lunch, the boys
went
snorkeling
and saw all sorts of fish, coral and even
sharks! The
girls went to a beautiful private beach with
aqua
cycles, motorboats, sailing boats, and
kayaks. Then
we all got back on the bus and headed home.
Before
eating dinner at Pita Hut, we davened mincha
in the
parking lot and made a huge Kiddush Hashem.
The
sophomore class would like to thank their
class presidents ¬¬¬Michael Mizrachi and
Daniella
Litwin for working so hard to make this trip
possible.
They would also like to thank their chaperons: Ms.
Sardano, Mrs. Horowitz, Rebbe, Rabbi Houben, and
the student council presidents, Julie
Rosenberg ( '08)
and Anosh Zaghi ( '08). This trip would not
have been
possible without our program director, Rabbi
Spodek,
who made this trip an unforgettable experience -
thank you.
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Honoring a Hero
Alumni in Israel remember Elie
Berdugo
Z"l
By Johnathan Scheiner ('07)
After the tragedy of Elie Berdugo's sudden
passing,
current students in WYHS as
well as the alumni in Israel decided to
commemorate his memory by learning in
his honor. The boys completed all of sefer
mishnayos while the girls learned all
of sefer neviem. We did this because
we were deeply impacted by
the loss of a great role model.
Upon the conclusion of the shloshim, each
group
gathered
for a tsium to share divray torah and pay
tribute to elie's
memory. Everyone who
knew Elie felt that he was not like the
average person who took life
for granted. He knew that every second of life was
precious. Elie lived and
breathed chesed and torah
study. In Judiasm,
we have the idea that when a BRACHA
is taken from this world, it is the job of those who have
benefited from this
bracha to fill the void.
It was this concept that
motivated us all to take
action and try to give back a little piece of what he was
able to give to us.
Elie left
behind a legacy of
learning, CHESED and leadership. We must
try our
best to emulate these
qualities.It
was because of Elie that many students were able to
attend WYHS, which in turn
shaped the south Florida Jewish youth.
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An Am-ace-ing Team
WYHS' Tennis Season
Concludes at
Districts
By Daniel Shimansky ('08)
With the sun shining brightly, clear
blue skies, and an enthusiatically
supportive crowd, the WYHS tennis team competed in
the district tournament with
confidence, energy, and determination.
Shmuel Dresner, Leelee Borzak, Nadia
Bakst, and Martha Baumgarten all put in valiant efforts
as they emerged
victorious in their first round of play. Both Elan and
Brett Aiken, our seasoned
number 2 and 3 seeds respectively, played vigorously
and advanced as well.
Doubles specialists Eitan Heering, with his
unparalelled strength, and Danny
Aiken, with his swift agility, won their first round and
were invited back for
Day 2 of play. Team Captain Daniel Shimansky is
proud of the team's
unprecedented success during district play as well as
in the regular season, as
they fought hard for their nearly undefeated record
of 7-1. The tennis team
truly put their whole heart into this elegant
game of love. Many thanks to Coach Caren
Swain
for her tireless devotion to our team!
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Continuing to Give
Credit
Where Credit is Due
WYHS is Re-Accredited by SACS
By Ms. Dana Sardano, Learning
Specialist
As many of you know, WYHS has just successfully
completed its first Quality Assurance Review since it
was first accredited in April 2005. The process of re
accreditation is intended to offer the school an
opportunity to take a closer look at its vision and the
variety of ways this vision is executed. It also gives the
school an opportunity to celebrate its strengths as
well as identify weaknesses and correct them through
a continuous improvement plan.
In preparation for the visit, several faculty members,
parents, and students put a tremendous amount of
time and energy into the process, and as a result,
WYHS was able to put its best foot forward. For this, I
sincerely would like to thank you all.
As a result of all of your efforts, The Quality Assurance
Review Team (QART) was most impressed with the
school- specifically its unique environment as well as
the warmth and welcoming energy that radiates
throughout the hallways. It became apparent in the exit
report that the team truly had to reach to find
weaknesses in order to offer criticisms and
recommendations, a true testament to the strength of
this institution and its stakeholders.
For me, the process of re accreditation was not only a
reminder of the importance of self study but also a
reminder of how fortunate I am to be a part
of something so a special.
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Up Close and
Personal
with Two Visiting '07
Alumni
By Daniella Greer ('09)
With Pesach soon approaching, many of
the '07
WYHS graduates studying in Israel at a
Yeshiva or
Seminary have returned home to spend
Pesach with
their families. I spoke to alumni Shai Barel
('07) and
Rachey Berkowitz ('07) about their time in
Israel so far
and on how WYHS will always hold a place in
their
hearts.
How have you changed and developed since
being in Israel?
He Said: I feel like I've become
more mature
and responsible. In the beginning of the
year, I thought
no one was watching me and I could do whatever I
wanted. I now realize that Hashem is always
watching
me and I have to watch everything I do or say.
She Said: Being away from home has
caused me to be much more independent and I have
gained a tremendous sense of self. Israel has
enabled me to be more focused in life and has
caused me to shift my priorities. Before,
little things
mattered to me. I now realize what's truly
important in
life and have made that my priority.
What is the most significant thing you have
learned since you have been in Israel?
He Said: The importance of honoring your
parents. Ever since being in Yeshiva, I have
improved
my respect for my parents. What caused this
shift was
when I was in a shiur and my Rabbi said that
I am my
parents biggest investment in life. I learned
that
parents want so much to see their children
grow and
they have given a great deal in order to make
sure
their children get the best Jewish education.
She Said: Growth is a never ending
process.
In life, we always have to keep on growing
and it's o.k.
to go at a pace that is comfortable for you.
Also, I
learned that we should never compare
ourselves to
others and should always be true to
ourselves. My
teachers from WYHS and seminary don't just teach
Torah, they live Torah, and
that should
be something
we all emulate and strive for.
How has your WYHS experience impacted your
year in Israel?
He Said: Throughout my four years at
WYHS,
I was given much help with my Torah skills
which
has greatly helped my learning in Yeshiva . I
feel like I
could have never been at the level I'm at now
without
this
school.
She Said: WYHS has instilled in me such a
positive energy. All the Chagigahs and Tischs
were
always filled with such energy and enthusiasm
and I
have brought that passion to Israel. Also, my
love for
learning stems from WYHS and it would have been
harder for me to adjust to seminary if it
weren't for
WYHS.
Have you maintained a connection with your
teachers and Rebbeim at WYHS throughout this
year?
He Said: Rabbi Sugerman and I have been
exchanging emails and he has given me a lot of
advice all year. Even though I've been far
away from
home, I still feel the close relationship I
have with him
and my other Rebbeim. The lessons they taught
have always stayed close with me.
She Said: Absolutely! I've been in
touch with
many of my teachers, especially the
Schochets. My
WYHS teachers understand me and always make
sure I'm on the right track. Also, Rabbi
Tirschwell and
Mrs. Kanner visited us in Israel, which was
so nice
and
special. Additionally, the values the
teachers have
taught us are everlasting, which makes the
connection I have with this school eternal.
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110 Number of
fish caught on Sophomore
Trip
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37 Number of
times Anosh Zaghi threw up on Sophomore
Trip
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1 Number of
people in Alex Schlinsky's
kayak
5 Number of
people it took to bail out Alex's
kayak
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"The sophomore trip gave us such an
amazing
opportunity to bond with both our
friends
and
teachers.
It was an experience that will never
be
forgotten"
-- Chana Brauser ('10)
reflecting on the Sophomore Trip
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Yeshiva Highlites
Staff |
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| Danielle Wolkowicz
(’09) |
Editor-in-
Chief |
LeeLee Borzak (’10)
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Assistant
Editor |
Mrs. Claudia
Cohen |
Director of Technology
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Alana Dweck(’09)
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Photo Editor |
Daniella Greer(’09)
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Features Editor |
Josh Kaminetsky(’09)
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Layout Editor |
David Petrover(’10)
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Assistant Photo
Editor |
Aleeza Rubin(’09)
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Chief of
Correspondents |
David Spektor(’10)
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Assistant Photo
Editor |
| Rabbi Josh Spodek |
Staff Advisor |
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