By Harry Ganz ('08)

Rabbi Natan Slifkin, more commonly known as the "Zoo Rabbi," spoke about animals and their relationship to Torah in front of a captive WYHS audience last Friday.

The ideas he presented were somewhat shocking to those of us who imagined the Jewish people "riding on the wings of an eagle" rather than on a Griffon Vulture, but Rabbi Slifkin's explanations were both enlightening and entertaining.

By Lee Borzak ('10)

When freshmen enter high school, they are introduced to a whole new group of peers. WYHS helps ease this transition with Freshman Orientation, Big Brother/ Big Sister Programs, and a Freshman Night to enable the 9th graders to develop friendships.

How about the parents? They don't go to school together or live in the same community. It's true that WYHS runs a New Parent Orientation, Meet the Teacher Evening, and Parent Teacher Conferences, but these nights focus on the "business" of being a WYHS parent.

This past Saturday night, Rabbi and Mrs. Tirschwell opened up their home for a Freshman Parent Melava Malka, which offered an amazing opportunity for parents to socialize and get to know each other. Mrs. Melissa Pereira, WYHS' Admissions Director, explained the purpose of this evening; "When a student says to his parents that he wants to go to a classmate's home for Shabbat or for an evening, we want the parents to be comfortable picking up the phone and calling each other."

Upon entering the house, each parent received a name tag with the name and picture of his or her ninth grade child. "Your child has been in my house," was a comment heard often throughout the evening. Parents were also able to speak to each other about their children's transition to high school.

By Daniella Greer ('09)

Rabbi Moshe Schochet, a highly esteemed teacher and Rebbe at WYHS, wears a number of hats this year. Not only does he teach the most classes in the school, but he is also interning as a school guidance counselor for WYHS boys, under the tutelage of Mrs. Marilyn Goldstein. Rabbi Schochet dedicated the past two summers to getting his masters degree in counseling from Pace University in New York, and is expected to graduate this summer. I was privileged to speak to Rabbi Schochet about both his internship and his teaching position.

What have you learned so far during your time spent interning as a guidance counselor?

Rabbi Schochet: I learned that what you see, isn't always what you get. Many times students seem one way, but after I meet with them on a personal level I see them on a whole different level. I've discovered that there's great depth and perplexities to teenagers.

Rabbi Schochet: Often times, people approach me for guidance about issues going on in their personal lives. Teenagers face many obstacles and challenges. I therefore felt it only appropriate to further my education in that area in order to better help people with their emotional and spiritual development.

Rabbi Schochet: Showing students that the Torah is alive, and that almost everything and anything their teachers have taught them has been, can be, and will be relevant their lives.

Rabbi Schochet: Great! The students seem extremely engaged and interested in the topics and the classroom is constantly filled with exciting conversations. The topics we have discussed so far has been brain death and abortion, and we will soon be discussing the topics of steroids, gambling, and Zionism. These are topics that students are normally confronted with in life, yet aren't typically discussed in a formal setting.

Rabbi Schochet: It definitely has caused me to approach teaching differently. Now that I know that there's more than meets with eye with my students, I want to go the extra mile to help them grow and to teach them important life lessons.