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Friday February 24, 2012
1 Adar, 5772
|  | Parashat Terumah
Candle Lighting at 6:01 PM |
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A Job for a Nice Jewish Boy?
You've got to have a huge amount of respect for the rabbis of synagogue. Some of the many differences between shul rabbis and the rest of us are...
1) They are always on call- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
2) Not only do they work on Shabbat, but EVERY day is their busiest day
3) Their Sundays and weeknights are filled with an endless number of smachot, funerals & shivas
4) They have to deal with truly heart-wrenching situations (death, divorce, illness)
5) Though their job is to give mussar in their sermons, they will no doubt offend someone.
Though it's a REALLY hard job, there are upsides to the shul rabbi position. They have the opportunity to shape the direction of a community. Because they play a pivotal role at congregants' greatest time of need, many people recognize the rabbi's contribution in their lives. Respect your synagogue rabbi!
Like brain surgeons and dermatologists, school rabbis and shul rabbis went to graduate school together. Those of us who chose education did so for many reasons, amongst them are;
1) As opposed to most adults, we love teenagers!
2) We love teaching (and perhaps feel that we're not as well suited for pastoral responsibilities)
3) We love to celebrate with students as they shine in Color War, athletic competitions, Rosh Chodesh Chagigas, etc.
4) Shaping young minds when they are making life direction decisions
5) The energy and excitement of teenage exuberance!
However, there are downsides to being in education on the high school level as well. Each year, teachers get a year older, but the ninth graders stay the same age. Educators must make difficult decisions which students may not have the wisdom of years to understand. Teaching high school requires a super human balance of patience and discernment to see the adult a teenager can develop into.
A person who has a need for honor can't go into high school education. A person who has a need to make a difference in people's lives can.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Perry Tirschwell
Head of School
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Coming Attractions
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Sat. Feb. 25WYHS Family Shabbaton in Hollywood
Feb.27-Mar. 2
Israel Education Week
Fri. Mar. 2
Trimester ends Wed. Mar. 7 Ta'anit Esther
WYHS Annual Purim Chagigah Click here to RSVPMar. 8-9 Purim- No SchoolMar. 18-19Schoolwide retreat
Mar. 22-26Saracheck
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Good and Welfare
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Mazel Tov to
Rachey Berkowitz ('07) on her engagement to Ari Mirzoeff from Jamaica Estates
Aliza and Daniel Gluck ('03) on their marriage
Aliza and Dov Jason Mann on their marriage
Mr. Faculty Member Mrs. Sonia Schwartz on the birth of a boy
Rabbi Ovi and former WYHS Faculty Member Mrs. Michal Jacob on the birth of a boy
Refuah Shleima to
Nadia Bella Sardano on her surgery this coming week
Condolences to
Bernard Juroviesky on the loss of his mother
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News Brief
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Gemara and Growth
A Closer Look into Why We Learn Gemara
Graphic By Eric Ditchek ('14)
Written By Isaac Kurtz ('12)
While Gemara Sanhedren is at times incredibly riveting and enjoyable, it has occasionally come under fire by students who complain that it lacks practicality in today's life. It seems strange to learn this Gemara, when it does not appear that Jewish courts will be executing somebody or enforcing many of the laws discussed anytime soon. However, this past week, the students in Rabbi Lanner's class were able to bring lessons from the Gemara into their everyday lives.
After the question of the practicality of the tractate was raised in class, the students were told to come back the next day with thoughts on how the last five lines of Gemara they had learned could be brought into modern times. What happened the next day was shocking! The students arrived with a plethora of lessons extrapolated from the Gemara, ranging from reasons to stand up for the state of Israel, to carpe diem, to giving everyone the benefit of the doubt and even honoring your parents.
Ultimately, the class was surprised at both the quantity and diversity of the practical lessons could be learned from a mere five lines of Gemara. Moreover, students now saw how although some of the laws may no longer be practical the messages are still undoubtedly worthwhile. It was certainly meaningful for every student to take the time to learn how practical to our everyday lives this seemingly irrelevant Gemara is.
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Chesed Dept.
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Chasing Charity
Select WYHS Students Take Part in Chesed Day
Graphic By Seth Fisher ('13) Written By Jessica Wolff ('12) Several weeks ago, in the first ever event of its kind, several WYHS students joined high school students from Donna Klein Jewish Academy to discuss chesed with elementary and middle school kids from Hillel Day School of Boca Raton and Donna Klein Jewish Academy. The goal of the inter-school program was to inform them of the various local chesed opportunities and encourage them to take the initiative in participating in different charitable organizations.
The program began with an introduction from VP of Chesed, Elana Kaminetsky ('12), who spoke about the importance of chesed both for the recipient and the giver. The program continued with the high school students describing the different ways in which everyone, regardless of age, can be utilized in charitable organizations.
The program ended with the lower school students being educated about various organizations that do invaluable chesed for the community. Some that were mentioned included Chai Lifeline, Family Promise, and Joe DiMaggio Children's' Hospital.
The WYHS Chesed Committee recently traveled back to Donna Klein to follow-up on the impact their program was making. This time, the lower school students came together to take part in a special project called the "Cuddly Lap Blanket Project". This project involved the students compiling and delivering boxes consisting of a blanket, Hershey bar, and a letter inside, to children suffering illnesses. This simple act of giving allowed the students to see the unmatchable joy of having an underprivileged child smile when kindness is bestowed upon them.
Every student, whether still in elementary school or preparing to enter college, left the chesed program with a beaming smile and a rewarding feeling, knowing that they helped a person in need and passed that smile forward.
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Interview Dept.
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Our Soldiers SpeakSgt. Benjamin Anthony Inspires Students
 Graphic By Jonah Stein ('13) Click below to see students share their thoughts on Sgt. Anthony's presentation.
 | | WYHS 5772 Around the School Interviews about Sgt. Benjamin Anthony Speech |
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Feature Story
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Nobel Prize Winner Speaks
Professor Robert Aumann Applies Game Theory to Mishna
Graphic By Jonah Stein ('13)
Last Friday, the entire student body had the unique opportunity to hear from one of the smartest men in the world- Nobel Prize winner Professor Robert Aumann.
Renown for his knowledge and applications of Game Theory, Professor Aumann gave a scintillating talk using Game Theory to explain a difficult Mishna in Ketuvot discussing bankruptcy allocation.
After showing that the commentaries have struggled to understand how the Mishna arrived upon its allocation, since no clear pattern follows through all 3 cases, Professor Aumann explained the opinion of Rav Hai Gaon who seemed to solve the Mishna's riddle.
He then outlined his research and how he was able to prove through Game Theory that the logic of the Mishna will work in any case, no matter the value of the estate or the number of debtors.
It was truly an experience to be in the presence of such an esteemed professor and we swelled with Jewish pride to know that there are people like Professor Aumann on the cutting edge, earning the respect of his peers and gaining celebrity.
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News Brief
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WYHS Takes Model UN by Storm Three Students Are Honored and All Excel
Graphic By Seth Fisher ('13)
Click below to see an interview with the winners of Best Delegate about their experiences on Model UN
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| | WYHS 5772 Model UN Inverview |
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Featurette
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Graphic By Jonathan Razon ('13)
Written By Kelley Tripp ('13) and Moshe Levenson ('14)
After months of studying the ins and outs of everyday money management, Rabbi Chaim Lanner's elective business classes were privileged to experience how their studies apply in the financial world. Doug Cohen, not only a professional accountant but also Director of Technology Claudia Cohen's husband, lectured the budding businessmen and businesswomen on the details of taxes. Mr. Cohen described multiple scenarios in which a purchase can be eligible for a tax deductible. The students were also exposed to ways in which one can lessen ones income tax and plan for retirement funds. Students asked many questions about the details of these taxes, and each one left with a deeper and more extensive knowledge of this field of business and money management. Thank you to Rabbi Lanner and Doug Cohen for this amazing educational opportunity. This past week, the Biomedical Club was privileged to hear from guest speaker Dr. David Markowitz, MD. As an interventional radiologist, Dr. Markowitz finds himself performing numerous procedures on a daily basis. The committee was taught different methods, from biopsies to live ultrasound imaging, which are helpful to performing these procedures. Candidates where then allowed to participate in an exercise on a dead specimen simulating what Dr. Markowitz would do on a human. The biomedical club greatly appreciates the time Dr. Markowitz allocated to teach the future generation of medical professionals. Many WYHS faculty members devoted an evening to experience Ron Clark, esteemed author and creator of Ron Clark Academy. He emphasized the pivotal aspect of camaraderie amongst the teachers and administration, as well as the critical importance of teaching with passion. Whether it's jumping on a desk when an answer is said or singing a song to start off the class, he infused to the teachers the importance of creating an exciting and passionate learning environment.
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Picture of the Week
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Click on the image above to view the Rosh Chodesh Adar gallery.
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Ashreinu
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Click on the image above to view this week's Ashreinu. |
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| The Yeshiva Highlites Staff | 
| Sarah Struhl
Editor-in-Chief |  |  |  |  |  |  | Ezra Kurtz
Senior Editor | Aaron Rose
Technical Editor | Shoshana Linzer
Creative Editor | Rashel Maikhor
Creative Editor | Jeffrey Herr
Layout Editor | Darren Jacoby
English Editor |
 |  |  |  |  |  | Aaron Zimmerman
Chief-of-Writers | Amir Tsarfati
Chief Photographer | Josh Firestone
Video Editor | Binyamin Feit
Asst. Tech. Editor | Jonathan Razon
Asst. Tech. Editor | Bracha Brauser
Creative Staff |
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