|
|
The Weekly Newsletter of
Weinbaum
Yeshiva High School
Parshat Bechukotai
Friday, May 23, 2008
Shabbat begins in Boca @ 7:47
|
 |
|
|
From the desk
of
Rabbi Perry
Tirschwell
What is Judaism's position on vacations? I
distinctly remember one of my high school
rebbeim telling us about gedolim (great
rabbis) who spent every day in the Beit Midrash
studying from early morning to late night. If Torah
Study is so central to our worldview, shouldn't we have
a 12 month school year?
Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, Chancelor of Yeshiva
University, in an important article on The Jewish Ethic of Leisure
posits that G-d has given us a clear blueprint for
vacations in our weekly mandated vacation,
Shabbat. The Torah, he points out, requires us
to vacation from our work one day a week, and two
weeks a year.
The purpose of vacation is to refocus and
reenergize us. As the Syrian Jewish community
says in its vidduy (confession) on Yom Kippur,
many (if not most) of the sins that we commit are due
to the pressures of time. We often feel that we can't
take out the time to be polite, say a bracha, or
contemplate the appropriateness of our actions.
Vacation is not only a time to catch up on the sleep,
exercise, reading, and socializing which we don't do
enough of due to school and work. Like
Shabbat, vacation is a time for
introspection, setting of goals, and recalibrating our
spiritual compasses.
To make summer all that it can be, and not just the
absence of school, there has to be a plan.
The plan has to include religious growth (eg. daily
tefilla and learning), intellectual growth (reading
for pleasure and enrichment), and social growth
(regular contact with peers who have a positive
influence).
If we can help you design any aspect of your
summer experience, please tell us.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Perry
Tirschwell
Click
on the images below
to
link to these
nine websites
|
|
Upcoming Events
|
Memorial Day -
No
Classes
Monday, May 26
Sports Banquet
Wednesday, May 28 @
6:30pm
Student Council Elections
Friday, May 30
Graduation
Sunday, June 1
@
12:00 pm
Senior Trip
Sunday, June 1
|
|
|
|
Mazel tov to
Shayna Hoenig ('04) in her engagement to
Jeremy Bekritsky of Chicago
All the alumni who graduated this past week- to be
highlighted in our annual alumni update
Elana (Katzl '04) Kohlhagen on being named
MVP of the Stern College Varsity Basketball Team
Condolences to
Mr. Howard Tornopsky on the loss of his mother
Refuah Shleima to
Mrs. Leah Pearl
Mr. Jules Weiss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click on the Picture for an
Incredible
Slideshow
Ski Rixen,
Skating,
and Singing
Freshmen End Their First
Year of
High School
with an Amazing
Shabbaton
By Paul Hess ('11)
Last Friday, the Freshmen spent the day
anxiously awaiting the final bell and the start
of their
unbelievable Shabbaton. The boys
boarded the buses to go to Quiet Waters' Ski
Rixen, and the girls went ice-skating. The
girls had lots of fun bonding and skating,
while the boys went through some painful
pleasure at Ski Rixen. Most importantly, everyone
had fun.
After the amazing activities and a short
drive to Ft. Lauderdale, the buses arrived
at The Ocean Sky Hotel and Resort. We
settled into our friend
filled hotel
rooms, prepared for Shabbos, and then walked to
the nearby Chabad Shul.
The rabbi
of the
shul, Rabbi Lipszyc, and his congregants
were
extremely welcoming and friendly.
The
davening was filled with singing and
Ruach. After davening we had a
meaningful
dinner with many of our teachers and their
families.
The Dvar Torahs given by various
students
were inspiring, exuberant zmirot,
and not to
mention the food was delicious (thank you
Mary L's).
At the conclusion of dinner, the boys and girls
separated to go have Tishes. The
Tishes
contained lively singing where
everyone united
as one with arms locked around one
another,
some more Divrei Torah, life-meaning
stories,
jokes, and of course CHULENT.
In the morning, we went back for our second
shot of
shul. Rabbi Tirschwell gave a Shiur
after
Shachrit followed by another filling
meal -
lunch. We all participated in a successful
and
humorous game of getting to know each
other better.
After a dvar torah filled lunch we
returned to
the hotel for a couple hours of free time in
the lobby
with games and snacks. After the time with
our friends
flew by, we returned back to Shul for
Mincha,
followed by a funny yet inspirational skit acted
out by all
our teachers. It was all about how we can improve
ourdavening.
Following the skit, we broke up into teams to
go to different
workshops. There we played challenging teamwork-
needed
games. Everyone had a lot of fun with his or
her teams
trying to work together. More mad Tishes
followed Seudah Shlishis for the
boys and
girls. Rabbi Schochet gave a story and
lesson about
how we should start to prioritize our lives and
set
goals while Rabbi Spodek discussed how
important
torah learning is. The dancing was
probably the
most meaningful especially when we all
joined each
other outside to dance even more.
Overall the common consensus is the
dancing,
singing, and inspirational speeches during
the
Tishes were the fan favorites. The
most
uplifting sight to see was everyone in the
grade's
smiles while they united as one friendly
grade. If
one word could sum up the whole Shabbos it
would
definitely be either "Ruach"
or "Inspiritaional".
Thank you to the ninth grade and to the
entire
faculty that helped in making this Shabbaton
a
tremendous success and one to be
never
forgotten. Without everyone's energy
and
participation it would not have turned out the
way it did.
A specific Hakarat Hatov must be
given to
Rabbi Houben on all his effort and work. Without
him this whole weekend would not have
been
possible. May we have many more
gatherings to
come.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Getting Involved
11th Grade Learns How to Help with
Chai Lifeline
By Perla Maikhor ('09)
This past Thursday afternoon, the junior class had
the privilege of
hearing from Mrs. Ellen Shemesh, Special Projects
Coordinator of Chai
Lifeline, about all that Chai Lifeline has to offer to its
patients and its
volunteers.
Mrs. Shemesh started the program with an
outstanding and touching
video about many patients that get to experience
Camp Simcha and Simcha Special.
The video also captured how a child with a lifetime
illness can participate in fun activities, hands on
projects, and a summer long dream that changes
lives
forever.
Mrs. Shemesh continued by introducing the Big
Brother/ Big Sister Program that
Chai Lifeline offers to high school seniors. This
program provides
assistance and support to Chai Lifeline clients and
families during medical
challenges, forging life long connections and
friendships with
these families. Furthermore, Mrs. Shemesh
emphasized how just spending time with a child for
an
hour will put a smile on his/her face.
"Thursday afternoon's meeting truly made an
impression on me and showed me how a few hours a
week can make a difference in people's lives," says
Emily Waxman ('09). From this we can
all learn how our actions and words towards others
can influence, and more
importantly, can impact them strongly and create a
positive and lasting impression.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preparing for the Future
The Junior Class College
Seminar
By Mrs. Marcy Roberts, College Guidance
Counselor
The Junior Class met to review
the "Nuts and Bolts of the College Application
Process," specifically the steps they can and
should be taking now to ensure a smooth
procedure when we return to school in the fall.
First and foremost is a strong
finish to the junior year. Almost without
exception, the most important aspect of any
college application is the transcript, which
reflects the final grades in every class taken during
high school. Junior year represents the last full year
of grades that colleges will see when students apply,
and indicate not only academic achievement to date,
but future intellectual potential as well. Of course all
senior year grades are also sent to colleges during
the course of the year, but usually students have
already applied and admission decisions have been
rendered before final senior year grades are available.
Topics such as when and how often to
retake the SAT or ACT, the process
for requesting letters of recommendation, the
difference between recommendations and
references, the various types of applications and
admission plans, and financial aid were also
discussed.
The importance of ongoing honest
and open communication during the college
application and selection process was
emphasized, particularly communication between
each student and his or her parents and each student
and
his or her college counselor. Students are
encouraged to
frequently review with their parents and counselor
where and when they plan to apply
. Students must also
stay on top of all deadlines and requirements
for the colleges and majors that interest them.
Last, but not least, the process of
brainstorming, drafting, and editing application
essays, personal statements, and resumes or activity
lists was presented. Specific seminars are
planned during English classes in the fall to facilitate
this process and individual editing sessions will be
held with each student.
Applying to college is exciting and daunting, but
we are here to help you every step of the way.
Our goal is to help you find the ideal college where
you will be challenged intellectually and enriched
spiritually. In the meantime, remember to keep the
lines of communication flowing and to keep those
grades up!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Up Close and
Personal
with WYHS' Technical
Staff
By Ilana Be-Ezra ('10)
Over the course of the year the school has been
privileged to view a slew of amazing videos. These
videos are the results of hours of work by WYHS's
Technical Manager Claudia Cohen and her assistants
Josh Stadlan, Arie Hizkia, and Chava Weisel. The
freshmen team has selflessly dedicated hours of their
time to producing videos for the school's enjoyment.
Below are their comments on the progress they have
made this year.
What inspired you to get involved in film
making?
Chava: Part of my inspiration was defiantly my
cousin Ben Shai who made last years videos. On a
more personal level, I first discovered how much I
enjoyed video editing and producing after making the
video for my eight grade last year.
Josh: My first experience with video editing
was in sixth grade and I have enjoyed it ever since.
What does the job entail?
Arie: Everything from setting up setting up to
filming, to taking all the equipment upstairs, to driving
to other schools to interview people, to filming, to
editing.
Josh: We begin with creative brainstorming
and creating a storyboard and we then get footage
and interview people and finish off by editing it all
together.
What was your favorite project?
Chava¬: The second trimester video was my
favorite because we were able to truly work as a team
because we had experience from previous videos.
Arie: I enjoyed the shabbaton video because it
was my first shabbaton and creating the video brought
back cherished memories.
What have you learned working as a team?
Josh: I have personally felt that we learned to
collaborate and manage a project as well as
respectfully critique and accept criticism.
Chava: We have learned how to work
individually and divvy up projects but then unite as a
group.
|
|
|
|
|
|
15 Number of colleges
our seniors were accepted to this
year
|
23 Number of different
yeshivot and seminaries our seniors are going to next
year
|
223 Number of wipeouts
at ski rixen
|
2 Total number of
times the girls made it around the
rink
|
|
|
|
" Mazel Tov to the students, parents, staff
and
administration on the re-accreditation of
WYHS.
I
never doubted for a minute that you would receive the
recognition you truly deserve and work so hard to
achieve. "
-- Michael Kaplan
former
faculty member on our SACS Re-Accreditation
|
|
|
|
|
Yeshiva Highlites
Staff |
|
| Danielle Wolkowicz
(’09) |
Editor-in-
Chief |
LeeLee Borzak (’10)
|
Assistant
Editor |
Mrs. Claudia
Cohen |
Director of Technology
|
Alana Dweck(’09)
|
Photo Editor |
Daniella Greer(’09)
|
Features Editor |
Josh Kaminetsky(’09)
|
Layout Editor |
David Petrover(’10)
|
Assistant Photo
Editor |
Aleeza Rubin(’09)
|
Chief of
Correspondents |
David Spektor(’10)
|
Assistant Photo
Editor |
| Rabbi Josh Spodek |
Staff Advisor |
|
|
|
|
