YESHIVA HIGHLITES
Weekly Newsletter of Weinbaum Yeshiva High School

Parshat Tetzaveh 5766
Friday, March 10, 2006
Shabbat begins in Boca at 6:09
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In This Issue
 

From the desk of
Rabbi Perry Tirschwell

It’s hard to imagine that two/thirds of the school year is behind us today, as we end the second trimester. With an eye towards the finish line, I want to remind students and parents that the school policy is that grades become final on June 30 of each school year.

The deadline to place ads for our Founders Dinner is next Sunday, March 19. Please participate in honoring Mrs. Pam Turk, Rabbi Ben Sugerman as well as The Founding of The Sephardic Scholarship Fund and The Keter Society. Please click here to email Shimmie Kaminetsky for additional information, or click on the invitation at the bottom of this e-mail to download an ad blank.

Parents of juniors are encouraged to attend the Junior Parents Meeting next Saturday night, March 18, at the home of Dr. Sam and Arlene Lasko in Hollywood. Please click here to e-mail Mrs. Marissa Levenson to RSVP.

The month of Adar in general, and Purim specifically, is one of the most fun times of the year at WYHS. I look forward to seeing everyone on Purim (either at the school’s chagiga or when I deliver mishloach manot).

Shabbat Shalom and Purim Sameach

Rabbi Perry Tirschwell

Mazel tov to Yudi Riesel on his engagement.

Click on the images below
to link to these three websites
highwaylogo  

Skiing, Tubing And Snowballs
Juniors Have A Blast On Their Trip

CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE FOR A GREAT SLIDESHOW

by Chava Rubin (’07)

As the juniors arrived back in school Thursday morning, there was only one thing on everyone’s minds and lips—the amazing junior ski trip!

The juniors began their ski odyssey at the crack of dawn Sunday morning. They boarded the bus with ski parkas, hats, gloves and goggles and began the long drive to Sugar Mountain, North Carolina. When they arrived, the students piled into the main cabin for singing, games and BBQ dinner. The fun and class bonding was already underway!

On Monday, after suiting up in their winter garb, the students hit the slopes. Some attended group ski lessons to master the art of skiing. The juniors had a full day of skiing and snowboarding, while watching their friends fly down the mountain; some for the first time!

One of the most unforgettable activities of the trip was ice skating outdoors at night. Students glided across the ice and were delighted by the surprise snowfall that added to the magic of the night. Everyone enjoyed making snow angels, tossing a few snowballs and the falling snow- a rare sight for the Floridians. The night was capped off by hillarious games of charades, increasing the bond between the over 40 members of the class.

The next morning’s activity, snow tubing, was fun and enjoyable for everyone! Friends raced each other down the mountain in their tubes, careened down the track in massive human chains, and engaged in a class wide snowball war. The cold air was filled with laughter and shouts of delight as the entire class had an amazing time. The rest of the day and evening was filled with skiing and snowboarding.

This two day trip, packed with amazing winter activities, was without a doubt an incredible one. On the bus ride back home, new groups of friends, who would not have existed without this trip, enjoyed their last 12 hours of the trip togehter. Spending so much amazing time together fostered an incredible sense of class unity and camaraderie.

Thank you so much to Rabbi Josh Spodek, Mrs. Claudia Cohen, Raquel Amram, Chaim Seligman and Avi Lasko for working night and day to make this the most incredible class trip in WYHS history!


"It’s Never Too Early"
Freshmen Begin College Planning

Click on the picture to view the "Prepare Early for College" Powerpoint Presentation

by Rachel Marcus ('09)

On Monday afternoon, Director of College Preparation Mr. Adam Dobrick gave an extremely informative presentation to the freshman class on a crucial topic: beginning college preparation early.

To the Class of ’09, college seems a long way off, and freshman year might seem a bit too early to begin thinking seriously about the topic. However, as in most things in life, our next few years in high school will pass by as fast as the blink of an eye, and college application time will roll around. Therefore, it is important to build a strong foundation even as early as ninth grade so that when the time comes, we will have taken the correct courses and participated in the right activities.

The presentation began with an explanation of the importance of a quality college education. In addition, college is also where lifelong friendships are made, and students may begin dating seriously. Mr. Dobrick relayed that it is vital to choose a college with the type of environment and community one would like to be associated with and grow from.

Mr. Dobrick informed the class of the key steps to attaining that goal: maintaining solid grades, participating in meaningful extra curricular activities, as well as doing well on standardized tests like the PSATS, SATS, ACTS, and SAT IIs.

The presentation hit home with the freshman class because it revealed how the world has changed and how students must face a new reality. Our generation must work harder to succeed than past generations, and now, more than ever, we must work in high school to make our futures as bright as possible.


Israel Under Attack On Campus
Sophomores Learn Israel Advocacy

by Alexa Bryn ('08)

On Wednesday, Mr. Dobrick gave a thought- provoking presentation on the goals of the David Project. Designed to respond to the rampant anti-Israel bias found on college campuses around the country, the David Project seeks to educate high school students on the history of the Israeli-Arab conflict so that they can respond factually and articulately to the possible anti-Zionism of their future college professors and peers.

Mr. Dobrick informed the students of situations at Columbia, Berekley, U Mass, Yale, and other top universities where pro-Israel students have been attacked by anti-Israel professors in the classroom and on campus. He helped us realize that soon we may be faced with these same challenges and that the pro-Zionist environment we enjoy at WYHS does not exist everywhere.

To further articulate these concerns, Mr. Dobrick played a video of Alan Dershowitz responding to the virulent anti-Semitism of some of Columbia University’s professors. Mr. Dershowitz condemned the Columbia professors for failing to teach the facts, denying students the opportunity to express their opinions freely, and using their classrooms as forums for spreading propaganda.

It was clear from the reactions of the students that the problems described hit close to home. Students began to see that a big part of loving Israel is knowing why we love what we love—the history, politics and strengths that make Israel what it is today.

Thank you Mr. Dobrick for introducing us to the David Project. You have made us aware that it is essential to not only be active members of society, but to also be prepared to represent our beliefs to the broader public.


Students Making A Difference
In The Community

by Mrs. Heather Andron
Chesed Coordinator

Although we have passed the halfway mark of our school year, the students at WYHS are picking up the pace when it comes to Chesed projects. No matter what activity, our students are making a difference in their respective communities. I am privileged to receive the numerous compliments of the difference our students are making and we should all be proud of these interactions.

This past Wednesday, eight boys accompanied me to visit Hillel Day School of Boca Raton. Or Bazini (’09), Doron David (’09), Joey Dray (’09), Julian Gordon (’08), Jacob Marder (’09), Jonathan Odiz (“09), Sasan Peimani (’08) and Chaim Thoma (’09) spent some of their morning playing and interacting with the early childhood children in various projects, such as working on a puzzle, making hamantaschen, decorating a megilla or a grager. The WYHS boys made such an impact on these young children who were begging their new friends to stay. We look forward to spending more quality time with these youngsters!

On Wednesday, March 1st, Bayla Halbstein (’09), Aleeza Rubin (’09), Avital Abir (’08), Hadass Avisar (’06) and Yael Hirth (’06) volunteered at the American Red Cross packaging gifts for hurricane volunteers. These students recognized important volunteers who came to the rescue during the hurricane season. Cheryl Barr, Coordinator of Youth Services, was thrilled with the help and looks forward to getting to know our students better.

Our students have recently completed Penny Wars at school. We raised over $1100 for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Palm Beach County, an amount that reveals the heart and dedication of the school. Thank you to all the students who brought in their spare change. We know that this money will make a difference for many families.

Upcoming Chesed Events

  • Sunday March 12: MS Walk at South County Regional Park in Boca Raton at 8:00am.
  • Sunday March 12: BRS Community Kollel needs some students to provide childcare from 8:45am-11:00am.
  • Sunday March 12: BRS Carnival needs volunteers. Speak to Rabbi Broide or Mrs. Gelman (tziporahgelman@hotmail.com).


  • Please Join Us At
    The WYHS Founders Journal Dinner

    CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD AN AD FORM



     

    Yeshiva High-lites Staff

    Shira Borzak (’07)  

    Copy Editor

    Mrs. Claudia Cohen

      Director of Technology

    Jordana Kaminetsky (’07)

      Senior Editor

    Chava Rubin (’07)

     

    Chief of Correspondents

    Benjamin Shai (’07)

     

    Photo Editor

    Rabbi Josh Spodek

     

    Editor in Chief

         
         
    email: rpt@wyhs.net
    voice: 561-417-7422