Yeshiva Highlites Israel Edition: Seminary, AIPAC & Neta
Reply:
rpt@wyhs.net
Friday, November 6, 2009 19 Cheshvan 5770
Parshat Vayeira Candle Lighting at 5:18 PM
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Do You Believe in Looping?
Though our school is medium size for a yeshiva high school,
it's certainly small as high schools go in America. Because of this, it is very
likely that a student will have a teacher for more than one year, either for
the same subject, or another. Is this a good thing, or just a fact of life in a
private school?
Looping is a movement in education that promotes the
benefits of students having the same teacher for more than one year. Though
looping is relatively new in America, three year loops are common in the highly
rated Italian preschools. In Germany, six year loops are common. Looping is a bedrock principle of Waldorf
Schools, where a teacher and class are together from grades one through eight. Our tradition's concept of a rebbe muvhak is predicated on looping.
There is a body of research that supports looping. The literature
shows that amongst the benefits of looping are:
1)
Maximizing Time- Students and teachers hit the
ground running at the beginning of the year, not having to waste time getting
to know each other.
2)
Less Anxiety- It takes a student weeks or months
to understand the nuances of the expectations of each teacher. A student who
has had this teacher in a previous year understands what the teacher wants on
an essay, a test, homework and a project.
3)
Relationships
Between Teachers, Students & Parents- When we interview students for the
video shown at graduation, the most frequent answer to the question "What did
you like about WYHS" is relationships with teachers. Looping is a major factor
in developing those lifelong mentor relationships.
The downside of looping is, of course, a poor personality or
learning style match. However, in life, we do not change bosses or co-workers
each year. Part of growing up is learning to meet the expectations of others
(clients, patients, supervisors).
The Judaic staff is looking forward to deepening its
multi-year relationship with our Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale families this
Shabbat. Over a quarter of our students hail from Hollywood, a community which
has truly embraced WYHS.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Perry Tirschwell
Head of School
Next Week
This Shabbat Hollywood Family Shabbaton
Friday, Nov. 13 Stop Iran Rally 9:00am
Monday Nov. 16 Sophomore Night Out
Tue Nov. 16 Sophomore PLAN Exam
Wed. Nov. 17 RoshChodesh Kislev Mesibas at the Rebbes
Good & Welfare
Mazel Tov Jessica Hoffman('05) and Avidan Bienenfeld on their wedding
Refuah Shleima Rachel Masha bat Leah
Simcha Chaya bat Luna
Nachum Chaim ben Yehudit Rivka
Dovid Menachem Chaim Halevi ben Esther Bayla
News Brief
WYHS Loves to Lobby Supporting Israel Through AIPAC
By Adam Poliak ('11)
STAFF WRITER
This
past Tuesday, the AIPAC Committee was privileged to hear from Jeremy
Horelick and Cara Freedman about key issues and how we can make a
difference. Mr. Horelick is the head of AIPAC in the South Palm Beach Chapter and Mrs. Freedman is our Boca liaison. Here is what we learned:
1. AIPAC
has been extremely helpful in the House of Representative's vote
denouncing the "Goldstone Report," the highly critical U.N.
condemnation of Israel for her actions taken against Hamas last January.
2. AIPAC ispublic affairs committee, not a political action committee.
Translation: AIPAC does not sponsor one candidate over another, rather
it tries to educate policy-makers about issues concerning pro-Israel U.S.
citizens.
3. It
is important for us, as American citizens, to establish relationships with our
representatives, urge them to support Israel, and thank them for their
actions.
News Brief
It May Be Our Second Language...
But Hebrew Thrives at WYHS!
By Sarah Struhl ('12)
STAFF WRITER
The NETA program is a Hebrew language system that has been adopted by over 90
schools worldwide. The program is made up of 23 books that range from beginner's level Hebrew to a more advanced curriculum. Through
stimulating stories, songs, and poems, the NETA program seeks to create
a fun and interesting learning environment in all Hebrew classrooms.
The program, which was designed by Hebrew language specialists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has certainly enhanced the Hebrew language
of not only our school but also schools all around the world. We are
privileged to be using this program under highly skilled teachers
who are trained to use this truly extraordinary approach to learning
our language.
Feature Story
Mrs. Kanner's
Taking a Gander at the Gap Year
The Post-High School Year in Israel
By Ezra Kurtz ('12) STAFF WRITER
Israel
has been the Jewish nation's eternal home, a stronghold of spiritual and
religious growth for millennia. Naturally, the chance to continue the age-old
tradition of learning Torah in Israel is one that every WYHS student looks forward
to. The custom of spending the year after high school exclusively learning
Torah is a heavily encouraged practice. Not only is this a unique opportunity
to continue the religious growth of high school, but it also provides students
with an opportunity to further mature before they go to college. Moreover,
students are in a position to concretize their religious beliefs by asking
questions, learning Torah in a distraction free environment, and by recognizing
the importance of learning Torah and continuing the unbroken chain of Mesorah. This helps students prepare religiously
for college, as well as assisting students in recognizing and achieving their
spiritual aspirations.
WYHS profoundly supports students' decisions to spend a
year in Yeshiva or Seminary. This is clearly evinced by the yearly trips Rabbi
Tirschwell and Mrs. Kanner make to Israel, in order to visit,
observe, and evaluate yeshivot and seminaries. They do this with the purpose
of making sure each student is matched with the program that he or she
can take the fullest advantage of.
On her recent trip, Mrs. Kanner
had the privilege of rendezvousing with nearly all of the WYHS alumni learning
in seminary. She was struck by the deep feelings of unity already imparted to
the students by their respective seminaries. This sense of Ahavat Yisrael came
as a result of the communal celebration of Sukkot, as well as the incredible
amount of hospitality the students have been privy to.
This year's seniors are
already looking forward to their Israel year next year. "I am looking forward
to the unique opportunity a year in Israel will provide for me," said Ari
Shachter (10). Such enthusiasm is what truly allows students to take the utmost
advantage of their year learning in Israel.
Multimedia
Israeli Music Pick of the Week
By Zack Raab ('10)
MUSIC CORRESPONDENT
Album:Bein Hachalomot Artist: Dor Daniel
Dor Daniel's newest album Bein Hachalomot is a mixture of slow and upbeat pop songs. His
music is very comparable to John Mayer. I would recommend this album to anyone who enjoys having calming and relaxing music in the
background as they do homework or if they are in the office.
My three favorite songs on this album are: Makom Letzidech Ratziti Sheyishtof Oto
Click on the image above to listen to album samples.
In Focus
Fresh Faces on Student Council An Interview with the Freshmen Class Presidents
By Matthew Wolkowicz ('12) STAFF WRITER
After emerging victorious from last week's fierce (but sportsmanlike) campaigning battle, freshmen presidents-elect Aaron Zimmerman and Maya Saketkhou assumed office this week at the 5770 WYHS Student Council. No longer spewing campaign promises and searching the school for the most prominent campaign poster locations, the duo are ready to serve as the voice of the freshman class.
School Presidents Michael Mizrahi ('09) and Daniella Lieberman ('09) graciously interviewed the freshmen presidents, while I had the
privilege of recording their conversation:
School Presidents:What made you decide to run for student council presidents?
Maya Saketkhou:
I really enjoyed being a student council president in middle school and
think that I can represent my class in the best way, like bringing
creative events that have not been done before.
SP: What is on your agenda as freshmen class presidents?
Aaron Zimmerman: We would like to bring creative fundraisers, and fun events to our class to make their year more enjoyable.
We would also like to make their school year less stressful and be an
intermediary between the students and the teachers-making communication
between them easier.
SP:What were you feeling before and after the election?
MS:Before the election I was a little nervous but after it I felt excited that I was given the opportunity to represent such a large class and give them the best year possible.
AZ:I was very anxious to hear the results of the election, but after
hearing that I had won I was flattered and filled with enthusiasm and
excitement to get started as president.
SP: Will you run for president again next year?
MS: I'm not sure yet, I'll decide after I experiment with this year.
AZ:Without a doubt! I can't wait to contribute as much as possible, the more the better.
Culture Poetry & Prose
The Promised Land
By Yitzchak Schultz ('10)
Originally published in the WYHS literary journal, Allie's Mitt
Despair taints the boy's eyes
His family dragged away from him
Broken, bruised.
No one ever thought it would come to this
The non-Jewish neighbors look on in disbelief
The officers screaming orders left and right
Tearing apart families
Destroying lives.
I saw this boy
A few months ago,
Playing with his siblings in the yard,
Reading stories under a tree-
But now he looks so helpless
And I am powerless.
The people scream in terror
As they are shoved onto a train
Some to the left,
Some to the right,
But what matters most is to survive.
As he moves to the right
He is separated from his mother,
He tries to run after her, but a
Hand, out of nowhere, holds him back.
A hand that will save his life.
Years pass.
The boy becomes a man
In the camps,
The will to survive sustaining him.
When he is freed, he returns to his
Home, his city
But how can he piece together such shattered remains?
He swiftly turns his heel and walks away,
His head held high
As he boards a ship to the Promised Land.
SpiritualityD'var Torah
Avraham, We Have a Problem
Parshat Vayera
By Yedidyah Weiss ('11)
This week's parshah, Vayera, demonstrates why the word chesed is
so strongly associated with Avraham. Time after time, he is seen
displaying love and kindness towards all people, regardless of their
beliefs or customs.
First, he eagerly invites three strangers into his house and, ignoring the excruciating pain from his bris,
rushes to serve them the highest quality meat - service that we would
never dream of receiving nowadays. Subsequently, G-d informs Avraham of
His plan to destroy Sodom and its surrounding cities. The cruel
inhabitants of these cities were complete opposites of Avraham. They
punished those who gave charity and forbade hachnasat orchim.
One would expect Avraham to agree with G-d's decision wholeheartedly,
to approve of the annihilation of a negative society. Rather, his
love for others overwhelms him, and he begs G-d to alter His decision.
Finally, Avraham builds an eshel, which, in modern day terms, can be described as a bed-and-breakfast, in order to provide food and shelter for travelers.
While Avraham's actions in this parshah clearly represent his commitment to helping others, the Netivot Shalom
questions why the Torah does not describe any of Avraham's acts of
kindness until after his circumcision. After all, Avraham was mentioned
two weeks ago in Parshat Noach.Why does the Torah wait until now to mention Avraham's best-known character trait, the midah of chesed that he was so famous for?
Until now, Avraham's lack of a brit milah
prevented him from reaching his maximum potential. In order to progress
as a G-d-fearing person, he had to correct an inherent flaw that
limited and restricted him. Therefore, he rushed to circumcise himself,
to remove the obstacle impeding his path to growth. It is no
coincidence that the Torah rattles off a list of Avraham's incredible
actions and accomplishments immediately after his circumcision. He
corrected his problem, climbed spiritual heights at an exponential
rate, formed an intimate relationship with G-d, and created his legacy
of being a
ba'al chesed.
Avraham's success provides a prime example of the reward that awaits a
person who works to correct his or her flaws. By overcoming and
surpassing one's challenges, one can create his own legacy and grow in
extraordinary ways.
