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The Weekly Newsletter of
Weinbaum
Yeshiva High School
Purim 5768
Friday, March 21, 2008
Shabbat begins in Boca @ 7:11
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From the desk
of
Rabbi Perry
Tirschwell
Do we really need so many programs? In the
last two weeks, WYHS ran a Lazy Man Olympics, a
Talent Show, Color War, Purim Chagiga and
Wacky Clothes Day. I grant you that Adar is in
the air, but why is our school at times
indistinguishable from a summer camp?
Good clean fun. One of the reasons we run so
many
experiential programs is to send the message to our
students that one can have a great time in a
halachicly and legally permissible fashion,
without spending a lot of money or doing something
dangerous.
American Jews have become increasingly
affluent. We have
or desire to have beautiful homes, luxury cars, and
fine dining- the best of everything. Just look at the
advertisements for Passover programs in posh
resorts
in the most desirable of vacation destinations. Modern
Orthodoxy's mantra has seemingly become "you
can have it all"- fidelity to Jewish tradition and the
American dream.
This has confused many of our children. If
everything in America is good, can't
we seek pleasure wherever it may be found, as
American
pop culture preaches? Teenagers, who often see the
world as black and white without shades of grey,
understand the message as "it's all good".
Our message as parents and educators must
be that
much of it is good, but much of it is not. One doesn't
have to dress in revealing outfits to look attractive, or
spend Saturday night at an inappropriate party
or movie to have a good time. You don't have to drink,
curse, and behave wildly to enjoy yourself.
The baalei mussar speak about the
difference
between simcha and
holelut, happiness and frivolity. True
happiness doesn't come
from blowing a lot of money or doing something on
the edge. It comes from spending time laughing and
sharing with the people who mean most to you- your
family and friends.
Judaism helps us channel joy. Rabbi
Soloveitchik observed that the mitzva of
simcha is always associated with being
lifnei Hashem- in the presence of G-d. The
message of the month of Adar is that fun
comes hrough religious observance, not despite it.
Purim Sameach & Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Perry
Tirschwell
PS. Mazel tov to David
Berman ('02) on being
accepted to Cornell Medical School. David graduated
from Columbia in December.
Click
on the images below
to
link to these
nine websites
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10 Year Anniversary Journal Dinner
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Tuesday, March 25 @
6:00pm
Join the Tribute
Committee
Download the Ad
Blank
Tribute Committee
Leslie & Sal Abady
Pamela & Prosper Abitbol
Ellen & Jay Adler
Idit & Jonathan Agus
Diane & Jeffrey Aiken
Shula & Eli Amsalem
Lisa & Phil Baratz
Alyssa & Menachem Baumgarten
Evelyn & Al Begas
Lori & Marc Ben-Ezra
Deborah & David Benaim
Helene & Abbey Berkowitz
Batzi & Billy Berman
Carol & Howard Bienenfeld
Elaine & Marc Birnbaum
BNY Mellon
Darlene & Michael Bokor
Deena & Steve Borzak
Ruchie & Rabbi Kenneth Brander
Liz & Joel Brauser
Broad and Cassel
Stacey & Howard Busch
Ray Castel
Yael & Steve Charlap
Claudia & Doug Cohen
Shulamit & Stephen Danis
Mona & Alan Fisher
Tilda & Mark Fisher
Susan & William Ganz
Judy & Tony Gelbart
Dorit & Ben J. Genet
Monica & David Genet
Debbie & Zvi Gold
Rachel & Neil Greenbaum
Miriam & Levi Grunhaus
Ana & Stanley Haar
Jodi & Jeffrey Harris
Anita & Samuel Heering
Shari & Moshe Hirth
Elaine & Merv Jacobs
Sarah & Steven Jacoby
Melanie & Bernie Kaminetsky
Sue & Dan Kaskel
Caroline & Daniel Katz
Judy & Moshe Klein
Judi & Gary Krasna
Ann & Mark Lamet
Lori & Harold Landa
Arlene & Sam Lasko
Ellen & Jon Lasko
Marissa & David Levenson
Ruth & Gideon Losinski
MDVIP
Joyce & David Muller
Cheryl & Ari Pearl
Fay & Jose Poliak
Brenda & Alan Pritzker
Georgina & George Rice
Jill & Michael Rose
Elanna & Gary Rosenbaum
Hindy & Stuart Rubin
Diane & Ben Saketkhou
Chani & Bennett Salamon
Dana & Barry Schecter
Mike Senders
Naomi & Reid Shapiro
Linda & Daniel Singer
Yael & Ephraim Sobol
Ellen & Zorik Spektor
Sharon & Marshall Stauber
Loren & Eric Stein
Linda & Ted Struhl
Robin & Warren Struhl
Haya & David Tepper
Barbara & Donald Tirschwell
Miriam & Rabbi Perry Tirschwell
Pam & Jonathan Turk
Wachovia Bank
Miriam & Rabbi Chaim Wielgus
Fay & Jeffrey Wolkowicz
Dori & Hedy Zaghi
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It Takes Talent to
Be Lazy
WYHS' Rosh Chodesh Celebration
By Lee Lee Borzak ('10)
To celebrate Rosh Chodesh Adar
Bet, the happiest month of the year, WYHS
held two exciting and fun annual competitions.
The girls welcome Adar Bet with the 2nd annual
Girls Talent Show. From singing to ballet and from
piano to dancing, WYHS girls proved to be
extremely talented. Not only students, however,
performed at the talent show. The teachers' version of
the classic "Summer Loving" from Grease had
members of the audience doubled over with laughter.
The boys welcomed in the month of Adar with the
2nd
annual "Lazy Man Olympics." The competition was
fierce as they participated in "lazy" sports, such as
wiffle ball, foosball, ping pong, arcade games, chess,
and Dance Dance Revolution. Although the events
may not have been strenuous, the feeling of tough
competition was in
the air and fun was had by all.
Thanks so much to Rabbi Spodek, Rabbi Houben,
and Vice President of Programming Rachelli Kaplan
('09) for planning such an exciting Rosh Chodesh!
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World Renown Expert
Dr. David Pelovitz counsels students
By Harry Ganz ('08)
Respected psychologist, Dr. David Pelcovitz, came
to WYHS last week to speak to the senior class about
the year of study in Israel that nearly all of them will be
participating in. The discussion is part of a survey that
he is conducting in conjunction with Y.U, assessing
the development of young Jewish adults before,
during, and after their study in Israel.
The survey and subsequent discussion served as
a point of introspection for the seniors about to leave
the safe and secure shelter of their homes and
families to spend a year abroad. Dr. Pelcovitz warned
the seniors of the possible detrimental behavior that
could occur as teenagers leave the home. He also
spoke of positive aspects of the year in Israel.
The
meeting was more of a dialogue than a speech, with
the seniors speaking their minds about their own
feelings and fears as they prepare to leave home, and
Dr. Pelcovitz addressing those specific concerns.
For most of the seniors at WYHS the year in Israel
is an immensely important step in their lives,
and the
advice of Dr. Pelcovitz is certainly invaluable as they
prepare to leave home.
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Welcome Back Mr.
Dobrick
A Beloved Former Teacher
Visits WYHS
By Lee Lee Borzak ('10)
After an uplifting Rosh Chodesh
davening, not only were students treated to Dunkin
Donuts and Gelato Italian ice cream, but also to a
special visitor-Mr. Adam Dobrick, WYHS' former
Director of College Preparatory Studies and a
founding faculty member of the school.
A beloved member of the WYHS faculty, Mr.
Dobrick has the incredible ability to teach students
with a cogent combination of expansive
knowledge and jocular sense of humor while
truly instilling a love for learning within each of
his
students. Every single student was sad to see him
leave last year and to honor him, WYHS presented Mr.
Dobrick with a beautiful plaque to show just how
much he contributed to the school.
Mr. Dobrick, who will forever be remembered at
WYHS, then spoke to all students about how much
working at WYHS meant to him. After that, the AP
Modern European History class was honored to have
him as a guest lecturer.
The excitement everyone felt seeing Mr. Dobrick
again illustrates not only WYHS' close
relationship to its teachers- even after they leave,
but also the positive impact a teacher can have
on a student. Once you become a part of the WYHS
family, you are always welcome back!
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From Colors to Costumes
Celebrating Adar WYHS Style
By LeeLee Borzak ('10)
"Mi shenichnas Adar marbim b'simcha"-
"One who enters the month of Adar will be filled
with joy. " As seen through the month of Adar
Bet dress-up days, everyone at WYHS has held
true to this
statement and really felt the joy of the month.
The excitement was in the air as students entered
the school's doors on Friday morning two weeks ago.
It was "Color War," the day that each grade was
assigned to wear a certain color. Freshmen dressed
in blue, sophomores wore purple, juniors were
garbed in pink, and seniors sported green. Through
wearing
appropriately colored masks, crazy hats, face paint,
and wild jewelry, students showed their true colors
and displayed their grade's color with pride and
exhibited class spirit in imaginative ways.
This past Wednesday, students got a chance to
show their creative sides with the Adar
Costume Contest. From teachers to superheroes and
from movie icons to togas, WYHS students really
got into the Adar spirit. Be sure to vote for
your favorite costume in the poll below!
The dress up day really elevated the ruach and
increased the
excitement for the upcoming Chagiga!
We can't wait to see the creativity for the
next dress up day-Era Day-next Friday!
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Up Close and
Personal
with Rabbi Allan Houben,
Assistant
Program Director
By Daniella Greer ('09)
The month of Adar has and will continue to be
fun-filled at WYHS with several different
activities
taking place throughout the month. Many thanks to
Rabbi Spodek and Rabbi Houben who have taken all
the programs this year to new
levels. In his new position as the Assistant Director of
Programs, Rabbi Houben, with his
creative mind and dedication, has helped make
this
year at WYHS the greatest yet. We spoke to Rabbi
Houben about the various programs he has
organized
and why he thinks these activities are so vital
to the
school.
Why do you think it's important for
the school
to have so many programs?
Rabbi Houben:
I think that it's important for teenagers to
have the
opportunity to experience Judaism through
different
venues and modalities. The various programs
we run
here at WYHS provide opportunities for our
students
to see religion in a different light, to not
just learn in
the classroom, but to experience religion in the real
world.
What's your favorite part of planning these
events?
Rabbi Houben:
It is a privilege for me to be able to work
with so many
talented people and to learn from their many
strengths
and ideas. Watching Rabbi Spodek work and having
the chance to collaborate with him has been
one of
the highlights of the job.
What upcoming events are there this month
for
the students to look forward to?
Rabbi Houben:
We have a Yom Iyun in the works for Nissan to
prepare the student body for Pesach. After
Pesach, we
have a great lineup with programs for Yom
HaShoa,
Yom HaZikaron, & Yom Ha'atzmaut and a fantastic
Freshman Shabbaton.
Out of all the programs this year, which
one has
been the most memorable for you?
Rabbi Houben: Probably the most memorable
program was Panopoluka because it was a program
we had never run before. I had a lot of fun
planning it
and everyone had fun participating. Even
though it
wasn't Color War, as everyone expected it to
be, it was
a great way to end Chanukah on a high note.
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"A perfect combination of wit and
knowledge,
you presented us with a
phenomenal
education in history,
and beyond that, you
have
inculcated in us a love for
learning and
inspired
us to
always strive for greatness."
-Josh Kaminetsky's Farewell
Letter to Mr. Dobrick
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