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Friday, May 27, 2011
38th Day of the Omer
|  | Parshat Bamidbar
Candle Lighting at 7:48 PM |
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All's Well
That Ends Well
One day this week at breakfast at school, I overheard two students talking about the NBA playoff game from the night before. One turned off the TV when a team was down nine points with not much time left on the clock. He was shocked to learn that the team had come from behind and won the game. The other student remarked that, "everyone knows that basketball is about the last few minutes".
"Hakol nigrar achar hasof"- the rabbis agree with the adage above and the young man at breakfast.
It is human nature to have a short memory and to judge an entire game (or and entire school year) by the way it ended.
Is that fair? On a certain level, of course it is. As important as hard work is, results are what gets you the account, the girl, the win, or the grade.
Many people have the tendency to finish weak. They are physically and emotionally tired at the end of a year, job or a race. Most people leave a job slacking off because "they're out of here". They think, "Why should I kill myself? I am leaving any way; I put in so much hard work when I came to the company, I'm owed a little time back; Who do I have to impress?"
Final exams are both harder and easier than the rest of the school year. Easier, because students only have to focus on two subjects at a time, and they have at least a day off between each two exams. School begins with davening at 9:00am, giving teenagers the later wake up time their bodies crave. However, final exams are harder, because of yetzer hara to finish weak.
The life lesson of final exams is much greater than the 15% they count of a student's grade in a course at WYHS. In college, final exams count for a much higher percentage of a semester grade. Much more important is the life message that you need to go out with a bang.
People keep saying to me "school must be winding down". The opposite was true this week, one of the busiest of the year. Sunday night, our thespians brought the house down with the play Fools. The 250 parents, students and faculty who attended Monday night's Sports Banquet were truly inspired by Yogev Berdugo's ('01) message of "Flash to the Ball". The Night Seder siyumim on Wednesday evening were as memorable as they were enjoyable. The energy of student council elections Wednesday, Thursday and Friday has been electric.
Finish strong. Fight the urge to peter out. Hakol nigrar achar hasof.
This is the last regular edition of Yeshiva Highlites. Look for a special graduation and senior trip edition in June.
I look forward to seeing you at graduation next Thursday at 7:00pm. If you would like to reserve graduation tickets (at no charge) in advance, please e-mail Shimmie Kaminetsky at MSK@wyhs.net. Tickets will also be available at the door.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Perry Tirschwell
Head of School
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Coming Attractions
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Sun-Mon May 29-30
Memorial Day Weekend- no classes
Tues May 31
9:00am Shacharit
Hist. & Chumash Finals
Thurs June 2
9:00am Shacharit
Science & Navi Finals
7:00pm Graduation Olympic Heights HS
10:30pm Senior Trip leaves
Mon June 6
9:00am Shacharit
Math & English Finals
Senior Trip returns
Tues June 7
Erev Shavuot
11:00am Final Exam for
Students Taking Academic Electives
Wed-Thurs June 8-9
Shavuot- No Classes
Fri June 10 12:00pm Gemara & Tushba Final
Thurs Aug 25
Freshman Orientation
Welcome Back Student BBQ
Fri Aug 26
All Student Orientation |
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Thank You, Ezra!
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Thank you to outgoing Yeshiva Highlites Editor in Chief Ezra Kurtz ('12), who has taken Yeshiva Highlites to even higher heights. Your creativity and dedication inspired our talented staff of 25 students to make this a banner year!
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 News Brief | |
Second Spectacular Siyum
Night Seders Conclude with Inspiring Celebrations
 Graphic By Amir Tsarfati ('13) Written By Moishe ('11) and Elana Kaminetsky ('12)
While the boys gathered together for their final gala night seder at the Kaminetsky's, the girls were privileged to celebrate their year of inspirational learning at the Tirschwell home.
The boys enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Kaminetsky's in honor of seniors Moshe Kaminestky & Arie Hizkiya's siyum (their second in as many years) of Mesechet Rosh Hasahanah. Moshe and Arie spoke eloquently and meaningfully about what they learned from this mesechtah. Arie delivered the message that in order to be successful at anything in life wither it is school learning or life in general you must to have goals and stick to them under any circumstances. He noted that with foresight and realistic goals, you can accomplish anything.
Back at the Tirschwells, Girls Night Seder founding president Adina San Solo ('11), graced the students with words of Torah and inspiration. She transmitted the importance and getting involved and retaining what we have learned and growing from it. Rabbi Tirschwell then commended her on her efforts in transforming Night Seder to one of the best programs our school offers and presented her with an Abarbanel so she can continue this learning. He then delivered an excellent shiur about how this dinner is not an end; rather it is only a beginning of even more learning.
Both celebrations served as both a closure to a superb year of learning, and a reminder to continue this learning as the year's progress and the summer approaches and as this year comes to a close. As a reward for such an amazing year, the boys ate a huge meat meal with hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken wings, shish kabobs (made by none other than Moshe himself), fries and a delicious watermelon and brownie desert. Simultaneously, the girls enjoyed a (much lighter) dairy dinner of lasagna and salad with an ice cream desert.
We should express our gratitude and commendation to the numerous seniors who have been such active participants in Night Seder and truly molded its uniqueness and success today.
Click here to watch the girls' Night Seder video.
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News Brief
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AIPAC Adventure
Students Attend
Largest National
Pro-Israel Gathering
Graphic By Jason Mark ('14)
Written By Kelley Tripp ('13)
"The bonds between the United States and Israel are unbreakable and the commitment of the United States to the security of Israel is ironclad." These words from President Barack Obama were one of the first things ringing through the ears of the 10,000 people and 11 WYHS students who gathered in Washington, D.C. this Sunday through Tuesday for the annual AIPAC Policy Conference.
Over these three days, the devoted AIPAC Board members, dedicated staff and inspirational guest speakers worked to infuse the thousands of people with better understanding of the unique relationship between Israel and America. Each AIPAC delegate learned about the relationship's vitality not only for Jews, but also for America.
The conference began with a speech from the Honorable President Barack Obama, who restated the significance of US's ally, Israel. Students then attended many fascinating sessions where they learned about the threats Israel and U.S faces as well as the importance of being leaders for tomorrow. The people also heard from the House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Speaker of the House John Boehner. The delegates also had the privilege to hear from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He filled the room with excitement and joy as he thanked the US for its support for his beloved country.
To close the conference, delegates from all over the country went to lobby congress at Capitol Hill, thus fulfilling AIPAC's mission and goal: To educate and advocate for the state of Israel by showing the importance Israel has for the U.S and vice versa. In essence, this AIPAC conference proved true the notion that Israel and America are "smarter, safer, stronger, and better together."
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Feature Story
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A Comedy to Remember
More to the Production of Fools than Meets the Eye
Graphic By Ben Shai ('07)
Written By Aaron Zimmerman ('13)
In less than 2 hours, what took months of rehearsal and dedication was complete. The play was over. To the audience, the comedy was an hour of laughs, but to its castmates, the final scene of Fools was the accomplishment of months' efforts. The completion of the play was the culmination of each actor's relentless work and dedication to the production. Starting in February, the 10 students who had made the cut began rehearsing for what would be the production of their lives. Castmates were expected to attend rehearsal every Tuesday & Thursday, sometimes as late as 6 o'clock at night. The members of the play were responsible to not only memorize their lines, but to internalize the play as a whole. What many do not realize is that preparing for a play means more than just memorization. The art of understanding the words of one's character is a feat that takes great efforts. Each castmate was responsible to create an idiosyncratic character, filled with unique expressions, vocal dialects, and personas that had to shine as their own while on stage. Each Fool also needed to absorb where he/she stood in each scene, how to stand, and what emotions to portray with each line uttered. Also, the castmates had to ensure that their characters interacted cohesively and dynamically during their scenes together. With all of these components in mind, the actors presented Fools with such hilarity and professionalism that it even exceeded WYHS's mile-high expectations. The fools toiled week after week, perfecting each scene only through repetition and persistence. Despite the actors' hard efforts, without the esteemed directing of Mrs. Elizabeth Saddler, the play would not have been of the same caliber. Overall, Fools was a hit success and will be remembered for years to come. Click here to view the Fools gallery. |
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Dept. of Feasting
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The Night of the Storm
Annual Banquet Celebrates Jewish Athletes
Graphic By Binyamin Feit ('12) Written By Leora Litwin ('12)
WYHS takes pride in the efforts and achievements of its students. It's as simple as that. Student involvement is a critical aspect in the formation of the atmosphere of the school. Just last week, student leaders were heralded for their enthusiastic devotion to school activities and extracurriculars at the SLAB awards banquet. The practice of of distinguishing certain individuals for their unique and appreciated innovations to the WYHS family is no different in the realm of sports.
The highly anticipated annual sports banquet was held on Monday. The ornately decorated room was fit for the occasion with Storm balloons radiating the schools colors of maroon and grey. Pictures of famous athletes were advertised on the walls as living proof for the existence of Jewish athletes playing in a secular league and the amazing success of the athletes despite their religious restrictions.
To inspire young yeshiva students to pursuer athletic aspirations and to emphasize the importance of teamwork and commitment, alumnus Yogev Berdugo ('01) spoke about "Flash to the Ball" and shared his experiences playing NCAA Division I and g professional basketball in Israel. After, short videos for each sport were shown followed by a trophy distribution ceremony, culminating with the sought-after Most Valuable Player and Most Important Player awards.
A tremendous thank you must be attributed to Athletics Director Rachel Yudewitz for organizing every detail of the banquet and for orchestrating such an unbelievable year of Storm Sports. We bid farewell to all of the senior athletes who will be of absence come next school year, but the 2011-2012 athletics season is sure to be the site of fresh talent from incoming ninth graders.
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Dept. of Leisure
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Ski Rixen, Kayaking and Singing Freshmen End Their First Year of High School with Amazing Shabbaton Graphic By Jason Mark ('14) and Binyamin Feit ('12) Written By Isaac Kurtz and Lilly Katz ('14)
This past week, with finals right around the corner, the freshman headed to Ft Lauderdale beach for the long-awaited annual Freshman Shabbaton. The weekend began when the freshman boys headed to Ski Rixen where they enjoyed an afternoon of knee boarding, wake skating and quite a few wipeouts. Afterwards, Moshe Levenson remarked how "it was great to be able to spend the afternoon together connecting with one another during this awesome activity." Concurrently, the girls enjoyed an adventurous kayak trip on the intercoastal Friday afternoon. The freshman then headed to the Ocean Sky Hotel where they checked in and rushed to prepare for the Shabbat ahead. Friday night began with davening at the Chabad Jewish Center of Fort Lauderdale Beach were the congregants made all 70 freshman feel welcomed into their small community. The night continued with a superb meal at a nearby hotel, which was filled with was filled with zmirot and devri torah. However, the night was not yet done for the freshman who then headed back to the Chabad to participate in an uplifting tish. The girls especially enjoyed the bonding experience, which consisted of a "sister-sister" game which was followed by uplifting singing. The next morning the freshman awoke and went to the Chabad for davening. Afterwards, they were treated to a special shiur from Rabbi Horowitz or Mrs. Kanner and then headed across the street to the hotel, where they once again partook in a scrumptious meal and a few more zmirot. They then headed back to their rooms where they relaxed for several hours in preparation for what lay in store for them in the coming hours of the afternoon. The night concluded with moving boys' and girls' kumzitzes. The activity was a particularly moving and spiritual experience, as many shared touching lessons they've learned throughout the school year, or heartfelt "thank-yous" to friends for their constant support. Clearly, the Freshman Shabbaton was a success because it formed everlasting friendships while providing a terrific end to the school year. |
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Dept. of Elections
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Graphic By Josh Stadlan ('13)
Election season is one of the most cherished parts of the year for many students. Besides the thrill of participating in the democratic process, many students are excited by the posters, candidates and issues that the week brings. Above is a small sampling of the public opinion on Student Council. |
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From the Desk of Mrs. Roberts
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Congratulations to our seniors on another astounding year of college acceptances and best of luck in your future endeavors!
Members of the WYHS Class of 2011 were admitted to the following colleges and universities:
Barnard College Baruch College/CUNY Berkeley College, NYC Binghamton University/SUNY Brandeis University Columbia University Drexel University Florida Atlantic University Florida International University Florida State University Harriet Wilkes FAU Honors College Harvard University Hunter College/CUNY Johns Hopkins University Lander College for Women New York University Parsons School of Design Princeton University Queens College/CUNY Rutgers University Stern College Stern College Honors Program Touro College South University of Central Florida University of Florida University of Maryland U. of Maryland Honors Program University of Michigan University of Pennsylvania Washington University in St. Louis Yeshiva University Yeshiva University Honors Program |
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Ashreinu
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Interview Dept.
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New Chairs of The Blood Drive Committee 
Graphic By Jesse Slomowitz ('13)Written By Jessica Hopen ('13) WYHS is always big on chesed, and blood drives are a major way which we display this. Juniors Eli Mamann, and Shayna Bender, the new heads of the Blood Drive Committee, sat down with me to tell a little more about their positions and what they hope to implement in blood drives for next year.
Jessica Hopen: What does your job entail? And how were you chosen for this position? Eli Mamman: We displayed a great interest in every blood drive, and we stood out to the school, so we were great candidates for the position. Our job pretty much consists of spreading the importance of participation in blood drives and getting everyone involved. Shayna Bender: In addition to the great points that Eli mentioned, I think we were chosen for having a deeper understanding of these blood drives. We are saving lives and we hope to encourage everyone to participate and understand how meaningful this little act of kindness really is.
JH: How often does our school host a blood drive and what are some important things for students to keep in mind? EM: WYHS hosts blood drives about 3 or 4 times a year. We hope that students will be open to becoming more aware of the importance of giving blood. But before they donate, they have to make sure they haven't traveled internationally, aren't sick, and are eating healthy. SB: Although we hope that everyone gets involved, giving blood is something you should do when you're READY! Make sure to eat a nutritious breakfast and lunch the day of a blood drive also. We are so excited for even more students to participate in the upcoming year. |
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Classroom Spotlight
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The Honors European History class, taught by Mrs. Melanie Diamond, recently created videos about the many different characters and events they learned about throughout the year. Click in the graphic above to view the videos. |
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