Friday, August 29, 2014
3 Elul 5774
  

Parshat Shoftim 
Candle Lighting at 7:25 PM
  A Spring in Our Step

Earlier this week we celebrated Rosh Chodesh Elul, and with that we began reciting the 27th perek of Tehilim (לדוד ה׳ אורי) twice daily. In that perek, King David makes a curious request of God:


 

״אחת שאלתי מאת ה׳ אותה אבקש שבתי בבית ה׳ כל ימי חיי לחזות בנעם ה׳ ולבקר בהיכלו״


 

David asks God to allow him to dwell in God's house and to be מבקר in his temple. What does the word מבקר mean? Rashi explains that some define מבקר as "to study" or "to discern." According to that interpretation, King David was asking that he be granted the ability to worship and study in the temple. Rashi prefers an alternate interpretation: to be there every morning -- from the word בוקר, morning. According to this second interpretation, King David was asking to be granted the ability to worship in the temple on a consistent basis. We can consider a third explanation based on the modern Hebrew understanding of the word מבקר, meaning "to visit." In other words, King David is asking to be a permanent fixture in the temple, but to do so as a visitor, with the excitement of a first time guest.


 

This is the beauty of starting a brand new school year. We build on the successes of past years and on the foundations of our prior education, but we start the year with a spring in our step and a renewed passion for learning. The year indeed has gotten off to a phenomenal start. We are being ״יושב בבית ה׳״ while at the same time being ״מבקר בהיכלו״ -- learning in school every day with the confidence of old pros and yet with the excitement of a new beginning. The new initiatives and the new staff members have added an extra boost of energy to the start of the year. I hope that you'll enjoy getting a glimpse of that excitement from this year's first edition of Highlites.  Thank you to the new 2014-15 Highlites staff for putting it together.


 

Shabbat Shalom!


 

Rabbi Jonathan Kroll

Head of School

 
Coming Attractions
Mon. Sept. 1
Labor Day No Classes
 
Tues. Sept. 2
7:30 PM Meet the Teacher Night
 
Mon. Sept. 7
Family Elul Program
 

Good & Welfare

Mazel Tov

 

Births

Avi ('07) & Orah Lasko on the birth of a daughter

Rabbi Gershon & Meira (Tirschwell-'07) Albert on the birth of a girl

Rabbi Perry & Miriam Tirschwell on the birth of a granddaughter

Ely and Chana (Brauser-'10) Shestak on the birth of a baby girl


Engagements

David Clements ('09) to Talia Portal

Alyssa Muckley ('07) to Jason Estes

Jackie Berger ('10) to Yehuda Neuman

Ionit Cohen ('09) to Monty Steckler 

 

Marriages

Reuven Tokayer ('10) to Maya Rosenblum

Sharon Cohen ('10) to Benny Jacob

Matt Firestone ('08) to Raquel Plaut

Noah Lasko ('10) to Debbie Epstein ('10)

Zack Baratz ('10) to Shira Lerner

Perla Maikhor ('09) to Seth Salver

Shana Maikhor  ('05) to Moshe Edelstein

Nava Gross ('11) to Rafael Beginsky

Doba Abrams ('04) to Zev Rudberg

 


Faculty Mazel Tovs

Mr. David Harris on his marriage to Dena

Mrs. Dana Sardano on her marriage to Mr. Rob Sgambellone

Mr. and Mrs. David and Chava (Turk-'02) Epstein on the birth of a baby boy

Rabbi and Mrs. Noah and Michal Zisquit on the birth of a baby girl

  

Refuah Shleima 

To Tzvi Hirsch Chaim Ben Gittel Fellig (father of Vita) 


Condolences

Shlomit Peretz on the loss of her father

Andrea Tait on the loss of her father Charles Tait

Dr. Henry Abramson on the loss of his father Jack David Abramson


Thank Yous 

The Borzak Family for sponsoring a faculty breakfast in honor of the Kaskel and Zaghi families

 


iOrientation
94 Freshmen Enter the Halls of WYHS  

Graphic by Jonah Rose ('17)
Concept by Ariella Mamann ('16)
Article by Shoshanah Marcus ('18)

This past week, over 90 WYHS freshmen attended the annual orientation program. First, the students were introduced to the new-and-improved mentorship program, which allows students to navigate our new environment with a sense of family and support. One of the most exciting and important highlights of the 2014 orientation was the introduction of the new ninth grade iPad initiative. In an effort to introduce cutting-edge educational technology and enhance the students' level of active learning in class, each member of the freshman class was required to purchase an iPad. The iPads came loaded with two classroom textbooks, which help lighten our backpacks and allow each student to take notes inside the virtual book. The new technology provides easy access to homework assignments as well as creating test study guides. Working with the iPads has not only been fun so far, but it allows each student to personalize and maximize his or her learning experience. At the close of the orientation program and after the first week of classes, the freshmen are excited and are looking forward to an amazing year at WYHS!


Giving Back
WYHS Students Learn About Various Chesed Opportunities 

Graphic by Gabby Frohlich ('17)
Article by Alex Factor ('16)

Rosh Chodesh Elul kicked off with tefillah and a festive breakfast featuring waffles and ice cream.  Following breakfast, chesed took center stage as Sherri Siskin from the FIDF (Friends of the IDF) spoke about the important work FIDF does for soldiers. Following Ms. Siskin's presentation, Amiel Abir ('10) and Yoel Goldberg ('10), WYHS alumni and recent IDF soldiers, shared stories of their experiences defending the State of Israel. In the upcoming weeks, WYHS students will begin working together with FIDF on a year-long chesed program.

 

In the afternoon, we continued to learn about the importance of giving as each grade had the chance to hear presentations from representatives of Yachad, Chai Lifeline, Tomchei Shabbos, and NCSY, all of whom emphasized that we as students can make a difference. Rosh Chodesh Elul was a meaningful and enjoyable beginning of a school year filled with chesed.


 

The students at WYHS are so grateful to the presenters who took time out of their busy schedules to convey the important message that everyone has an obligation to give back to the Jewish community. Rosh Chodesh Elul was a meaningful and enjoyable beginning of a school year filled with chesed.
 


 

Click here for an article about Shmuli Goldis ('12) who just finished the I.D.F. and is now attending Y.U.

 

In With the New
A Look at Some of the Many Changes at WYHS


Graphic Aaron Senfeld ('17)

Meet the New Teachers
New Faculty are Given a Pop Quiz of their Own

Videos This Week

Video by Zachary Cohen ('06)
Video by Noah Light ('15)
Click to watch orientation and Rosh Chodesh program Videos.
InstaSuccess
Former WYHS Students Braid Their Way to Fame

Graphic by Cherie Landa ('15)
Article by Ariella Mamann ('16)

Alumna Sophie Rose ('14) and former WYHS student Shir Ben-Zikry made an appearance on ABC's Good Morning America on Wednesday morning to discuss their Instagram account, Instabraid. Click here for the interview. Up to four times a day, Sophie and Shir post pictures of various types of braids as well as tutorials on their website, Instabraid.com. With over 1 million likes, Instabraid has been featured in InStyle magazine and on Today.com.

This Week in Pictures

Graphic by Efraim Shachter ('16) and Alex Factor ('16)