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Friday, February 18, 2011
14 Adar I 5771 |  | Parshat Ki Tisa
Candle Lighting at 5:57 PM |
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Patience
What an Odd Couple! A chosid from Monsey and an Ivy League Dean of Admissions both visited WYHS this week, and shockingly had overlapping messages.
World-renown adolescent expert Rabbi Yanky Horowitz was the second presenter in our series of Judaic Faculty Professional Development. It's a yeoman's task to follow our first presenter, the captivating and creative Rabbi JJ Schachter, but this charedi principal certainly added great and unique insight into the art of inspiring teenagers in the 21st century.
Widely credited with having moved Penn from the bottom to the top tier of Ivy League schools during his 30 year tenure, former University of Pennsylvania Dean of Admissions Lee Stetson spent two days at WYHS this week as well. Dean Stetson sat in classes and met with representative groups of students, parents, and department chairs to help advise our college guidance department and administration on how to continue WYHS' great track record of college admissions as our grades double in size.
From Dean Stetson we learned that 58% of freshmen at Ivy League schools are now female. He explained that (as a rule) girls are more serious academically at age 18 (present company excluded, of course!). There is now actually reverse discrimination in favor of boys to try to keep some gender balance on many college campuses.
On a Thursday morning in Eastern Europe, as Rabbi Horowitz portrayed in his inimitable fashion, a Jew davened with great kavanah that he would find a chicken for shabbos, it wouldn't be a traifa, and the shochet would slaughter it correctly. Today, we have a few weeks worth of chicken in our freezer. Al achat kama vkama, our teenagers want for nothing- perhaps that their ipad that dropped isn't broken!
The overlapping message was that patience is arguably the most challenging virtue to master for parents and teachers. Girls often "get it" religiously and academically earlier than boys (G-d willing the boys will catch up later!), and our job is to plant the seeds that will germinate when they are good and ready.
Prayer is predicated on deep feelings of vulnerability and dependence on heaven. This does not come easy to modern man, who operates with the misconception that he is in control of his life. This is all the more so true about today's teenagers. This month's events across the Arab world and the recent economic Great Recession teach us that everything in our lives could change overnight. We cannot take anything for granted. This worldview often takes maturity and, G-d forbid, yissurim (personal challenges), to acquire.
Until then, we must be patient.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Perry Tirschwell
Head of School
PS. Thank you to WYHS President Jeffrey Harris and WYHS Founder Rabbi Kenneth Brander and his Center for the Jewish Future at Yeshiva University for brainstorming the concept of the Judaic Faculty Professional Development Program and Board Member Michael Rose for the idea of reviewing our college preparation process
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Coming Attractions
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Sun-Mon. Feb 20-21
Presidents Weekend
No School
Tues Feb 22
ISO Program- Girls 1st Period, Boys Second Period
Drama Callbacks for Spring Comedy
Wed Feb 23
Former Israel Ambassador Avner
@CIA/AIPAC Meeting
Mon Feb 28
Last Day of
2nd Trimester-
Chesed Hours Due
Sun Mar 6-Mon Mar 7
Rosh Chodesh Adar II
Sat March 12
Freshman Boys Shabbaton |
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Good & Wellfare
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Mazel Tov
Emily Waxman ('09) on her engagement to Binyamin Davrayev
Elana & Justin Kohlhagen ('04)
on the birth of a boy
Refuah Shleima
Penina Bat Chana
Chaya Yonah Bat Asna
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 News Brief | |
The Hallway Harmony
Girls Transform Second Story into Seventh Heaven
 Written By Kelley Tripp ('13)
Graphic By Jason Mark ('14)
What better way to usher in Shabbat than singing together at the much-anticipated girls kumsitz? Last Friday morning, all girls, from the freshmen to the seniors, gathered in the darkened upstairs hallway to sing their hearts out. As the seniors led the kumsitz, the ruach was instantly felt by all. Each melodious song paved a path for deep introspection and allowed each girl to usher in her own, personal Shabbat.
Principal Mrs. Ora Lee Kanner stood up to deliver a message that each girl will never forget. She spoke of the importance of our public image and the necessity of monitoring the pieces of our lives that are exposed on the internet, especially on Facebook and other social networking sites that can prove dangerous. She closed with the wish that we will all look back at our lives and be proud, never embarrassed.
Each girl understood the significance of always displaying her true neshamah and watching out for the image she makes for herself. This extraordinary kumsitz undoubtedly opened everyone's hearts to many extraordinary Shabbatot.
Click here to watch the kumsitz video. |
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News Brief
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Kiddush Room Chorus
Boys Choose Inspiration or Challenge
Written By Aaron Zimmerman ('13)
Graphic By Jason Mark ('14)
Last Friday, the WYHS male student body experienced a kumsitz that was nothing short of electrifying. Joining hands, students and teachers alike sang with elation.
Following the impassioned singing, Rabbi Benjy Horowitz delivered an inspirational speech regarding the significance of the clothes we wear, touching upon the vitality of every Jewish boy's uniform - the traditional kippah and tzitzit.
At the same time, Rabbi Ben Sugerman also gave a speech to those who preferred intellectual food-for-thought over the singing and dancing. The singing and lovely display of friendship were incredibly uplifting prior to the spirituality of Shabbat.
Click here to watch the kumsitz video.
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Feature Story
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JUMP TrumpsAn Update on the Incredible Success
of the NCSY Based Program
Graphic By Jonah Katz ('11)
Written By Ariana Genet ('12) and Shoshana Linzer ('12)
This past month, the girls participating in Project JUMP ran a clothing drive, donating all of the apparel to AVDA, Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse. AVDA has been a safe haven for thousands of victims of domestic abuse, providing adults and children emergency shelter, crisis counseling, food, clothing, and individual and group counseling services. AVDA's growth reflects the its dedication to enabling domestic abuse victims to lead independent lives free of fear.
Not only does AVDA help incredible individuals in awful conditions, but it also helped fulfill the students' new year's resolutions by "vacating their closets" of all of their gently used and unwanted clothes after winter vacation. In fact, so many students were interested in this act of chesed that the entire back stairwell of WYHS is filled with bags upon bags of clothing, all donated by students who wanted to help out their communities. In addition to WYHS, Brauser Maimonides Academy and Hillel Day School of Boca Raton have all been contributing to this amazing cause. Even though the end of the clothing drive is approaching, students are still bringing trunks-full of apparel for women, men and children.
AVDA would like to thank all of the people who participated in the clothing drive-you have really made a significant impact on someone's life.
Also, this week our JUMP team organized a tzedakah fair at which the WYHS students got to hear about the different work of six unique charity organizations:
· Friendship Circle
· American Red Cross
· Global Jewish Assistance and Relief Network
· Beit Elezraki
· Tomchei Shabbos
· Chai Lifeline
The primary goal of this fair was to bring to the students attention to the various causes in need of their support, in hopes of finding one dear to each individual's heart.
Throughout the rest of this year, the school will maintain a bank account in which the students will be given the opportunity to donate their own money from babysitting, birthdays, etc. They will then get to choose to which organization to donate their money, and the money will be distributed accordingly. Mr. Ron Galatin from Hands on Tzedakah has agreed to designate one of the 6 causes as a mystery organization and pledges to match any student who donates to that specific cause.
This project is designed to teach the students the value of charity and the importance of feeling a connection to the cause, which can only enhance the value of the mitzvah of Tzedakah.
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Storm Center
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Panic! At the Tennis Court
Meet the Stars of our 2011 Tennis Team
Graphic By Andy Agus ('13) and Jesse Slomowitz ('13)
Concept By Leora Litwin ('12)
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Interview Dept.
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Graphic by Aaron Rose ('13) Written by the Highlites Staff
When you see the Highlites, the yearbook, the computer lab, Edline, the Smartboards, and the multimedia presentations at every event, it's no wonder that WYHS has a Technology Director on its staff, Mrs. Claudia Cohen. But Claudia's role at WYHS extends far beyond tech guru; she is our very own professional photographer and photography & videography teacher. Recently, the school has been abuzz about a photo contest in Claudia's photography elective classes showcasing a new style of imaging called HDR. Between her many photo shoots, Mrs. Cohen gladly answered my questions about her photography class:
HS: I keep hearing about this HDR photo contest. First off, what exactly is HDR?
CC: HDR, which stands for High Dynamic Range, is the newest trend in photography. The concept is simple--our eyes are able to pick up a lot of more light and color information than a camera can. HDR corrects for this--to create an HDR picture, the photographer takes three or more snapshots at various settings and uses computer software to combine the images. The result is a photo with a more accurate range of colors and light.
HS: Wow, that sounds a bit complicated. Is this a project only your oldest students, the juniors, can handle?
CC: Actually, I involved all the students from all three of my classes, since I thought that it would be a fun project for all. It's something that the students can even do at home with their own point-and-shoot cameras. They'll submit their best HDR photographs, and the public will vote on the best one.
HS: So, what's the prize for best photo?
CC: Besides for fame on the Highlites, the winner of the contest gets their picture printed as a 17"x22" poster. I'll hang it up in my office, and at the end of the year, the winner can take it home.
HS: I can't wait to see the winning picture! Is this HDR contest something you do every year?
CC: No, this is the first year. Over winter break, I attended a photography workshop with Rick Sammon, a veteran photographer who has authored over 36 books on photography. At the workshop, I learned more about HDR and decided to teach the technique to my students through a contest.
HS: What are some of the other photography techniques that you've taught your students?
CC: Recently we've focused on panoramas. This involves taking at least eight pictures or an expansive view. We then use Photoshop to stitch the images together.
HS: Could you teach me how to take a panorama shot?
CC: Of course. But I'm sure my photography students would be glad to teach you, too!
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Where Are They Now
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Scholarships for Seminaries
Alumna Gives Others Chance to Learn in Israel
Written By Mathew Wolkowicz ('12)
Graphic By Jonah Stein ('13)
Rachey Berkowitz is a WYHS graduate from the class of 2007. Since graduating from WYHS, she spent a year in Michlalah Seminary in Israel and currently lives in midtown Manhattan as a student at Stern College for women. Ms. Berkowitz recently joined a chesed organization called Torah Letzion, which provides partial scholarships for select motivated students in need of financial assistance, in order to spend a year in Israel upon graduating from high school.
A semicha student from Yeshiva University, Marc Merrill, started the organization his first year at YU while fundraising for three students to spend another year in Israel in a shanna bet program. With the extra money that he raised, he decided to be proactive and begin this organization-now called Torah Letzion. The organization has provided almost twenty students with scholarships and has increased fundraising achievements for three straight years. Recently, the organization conducted a raffle for the YU Sefarim sale and raised almost $30,000.
When asked, Ms. Berkowitz is adamant that she has donated her time and money to the right organization. She explains that the reason she chose to join this specific organization is because she "was very inspired by [her] Israel experience and wanted to give others the same opportunity and a similar experience". Her thoughtfulness and altruism is something that can be easily imitated though a donation to this incredible tzedakah.
Click here to donate to Torah Letzion.
Ashreinu
Click on the image to view this week's edition of Ashreinu
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Photo Story
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Big Man Off Campus
Written by the Highlites Staff
Upon the sight of his signature, many students burst into tears; a select few beam with pleasure. Meet Mr. Lee Stetson, former Dean of Undergraduate Admissions at University of Pennsylvania, whose signature has graced the bottom of Penn's admission decision letters from 1978 to 2008.
After resigning from his 30-year post at Penn--during which the applicant pool tripled in size--Dean Stetson decided to work for "the other side" by advising schools, parents, and students about the college admission process. Sharing his expertise on the topic, Stetson has made appearances on NBC's The Today Show, and more recently, at the Weinbaum Yeshiva High School.
Spotted in the back of various history and math classes on Tuesday and Wednesday, the distinguished yet personable dean toured the school, convened with teachers, spoke with parents, and provided feedback on how to best prepare students for and ensure students' admission to highly competitive universities. He then met with a focus group of 11th and 12th graders on Wednesday to solicit student perspectives and to assist them with their college search and applications.
At the conclusion of his visit, Dean Stetson professed that he was greatly impressed with the caliber of WYHS teachers, classes, college guidance department, administrators, and college guidance department. Moreover, he offered students the comforting news that there is no proven correlation between Ivy League institutions and general success; the same quality education and experience are offered at many other colleges, he said. He also emphasized that there is no need to rush to plan out your future in permanent ink. Rather, the dean explained that college is all about the opportunity to explore your options and discovering your passion for a profession, an idea, or a cause.
Horowitz on Horowitz
Written by Rabbi Benjy Horowitz
Rabbi Yakov Horowitz, founder of Yeshiva Darchei Noam in Monsey, New York and founder of YES, an organization that deals with at-risk teens, spoke to the Judaic faculty on Tuesday and Thursday. He spoke about how to inspire students who live in the modern world, as well as about how to make the Torah relevant and meaningful to them. His dynamic presentation and great humor, along with his insightful suggestions, was eye opening and illuminating. His presentation left the faculty with a lot of food-for-thought about how they can better teach classes and inspire students.
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