Friday, Dec. 12, 2014
20th of Kislev 5775

  

 Parshat Vayeishev
Candle Lighting at 5:11PM
 
Loyal to Our Mission

 

So many people have shared their excitement with me over today's announced plans for a new high school building. The new school building will be beautiful and it will afford us so many new educational opportunities. I am eager to grab a shovel and start digging! It's important, though, to express gratitude to our host, the Boca Raton Synagogue, who has treated us so well since the school's founding.

 

The pasuk in Sefer Chagai (2:9) strangely says: "גדול יהיה כבוד הבית הזה האחרון מן הראשון" -- the second Beit Hamikdash will be greater than the first. The pasuk is perplexing; how is it that the second Beit Hamikdash can be characterized as greater than the first one? A homiletic interpretation of the pasuk provides an important message for us. Perhaps the pasuk should not be read as suggesting that the second Beit Hamikdash is greater than the first one. Rather it should be read as: the second Beit Hamikdash will be great when it is "מן הראשון" -- when it stems from, is built upon, the foundation of the first Beit Hamikdash.

 

The second Beit Hamikdash was indeed glorious, but its greatness came from the fact that it was loyal to the mission of the first Beit Hamikdash. Our new school building will also be glorious, especially as it will facilitate more and deeper learning. The education will be bigger and better in our new building because it will be "מן הראשון" --  built on the solid foundation established in the first years of the school and forged in the environment of the Boca Raton Synagogue. I am so grateful to our wonderful board and all of our lay leaders who have made this exciting new project possible. And I am also grateful to the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County which has opened its arms to us and embraced our future presence on their campus. These are exciting times for our school. I am excited to work together with our entire community to build our future "מן הראשון".

 

Shabbat Shalom,


Rabbi Jonathan Kroll
Head of School 
Good and Welfare

 

Births

Avi ('04) and Mimi Amsalem on the birth of a baby girl!

 

Engagements   

David Petrover ('10) to Devora Levin  

Coming Attractions

Mon. Dec 15
College 101 for Juniors and Parents

Tues. Dec 16
First Night of Chanukah 

Tues. Dec 30  
Next Edition of Highlites

Checking in on Alumnae
Mrs. Kanner Visits Alumae in Israel 

 
Graphic by Gabi Frohlich ('17) and Lana Rosenthal ('17)
Article by Mrs. Ora Lee Kanner, Principal

According to Rav Hirsch, "ויפגע במקום" describes the deep impact that the angels of God had upon Yaakov. Fascinatingly, when Yaakov returns to the Land of Israel, the Torah uses the same word,  "ויפגעו בו מלאכי אלוקים" this time describing the profound effect that Yaakov had upon the angels. Obviously Yaakov had been affected by the angels, but the Torah wants us to recognize that the angels were affected by Yaakov as well.

 

I have the awesome responsibility and incredible fortune of being sent by WYHS to spend time at various seminaries in Eretz Yisrael and more importantly to visit our alumni studying in a wide array of programs there. The goal is to encourage and be מחזק our students by addressing their challenges, resolving whatever issues might have arisen, and helping them in any way possible while giving them a taste of home. However, what has occurred yet again is that it is I who leave inspired and strengthened by them. I am awed by their commitment to our land, by their dedication to learning Torah, and by their devotion to each other. My heart and soul swell with pride as I watch them growing at their own pace in their own way and upon hearing again and again that "my years at WYHS were the best  years of my life!"

 

May G-d continue to bless our students and bring peace to Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael.

 
Remembering the Victims of Har Nof
Rabbi Dovid Kupinsky Speaks in Memory of
His Brother, Rabbi Aryeh Kupinsky z"l 

Graphic by Alec Gelman ('17)
Article by Moshe Bock ('16)

A couple of weeks ago a horrible attack took place in Har Nof. The lives of five men were viciously taken when terrorists attacked these men, along with others, while they were davening in their shul. One of the men whose life was tragically taken that morning was Rabbi Aryeh Kupinsky, brother of Rabbi Dovid Kupinsky who spoke to us this past week. This past summer I had the honor of working at Camp Koby, a camp that cares for children who have lost family members to a tragedy, where Rabbi Dovid Kupinsky has served tirelessly for over a decade. Working at Camp Koby, I had the opportunity to develop a relationship with Rabbi Kupinsky and see firsthand the wonderful work he does for the children who attend the camp. I remember the sadness I felt on the day of the attack, and I remember wondering what would happen to Rabbi Kupinsky, but then it hit me -- if there is one man I know that can see Hashem's hand in something even as horrific as this attack, it is Rabbi Dovid Kupinsky. It is awe-inspiring to see a man who has experienced such great sorrow rise from the grief and do incredible things.
 
When Rabbi Kupinsky spoke to us we could see sadness and grief in his eyes, but there was something else we could detect as well -- strength. Rabbi Kupinsky opened his speech with a few stories about the men who were killed that day, and then continued talking about his brother, Rabbi Aryeh Kupinsky. Rabbi Kupinsky told us about the tremendous amount of chesed his brother practiced. He told us how on Shabbat mornings, Rav Aryeh would wake up to daven Shacharit as early as possible so that he would be able to help families making a kiddush set up for their simcha, allowing the family to spend time with their guests while he took care of the logistics. This was just one of many stories about the chesed of Rav Aryeh Kupinsky.

Rabbi Kupinsky then began to talk about faith. He told us that he believes with complete certainty that God was with each and every one of the men who were murdered in the shul that terrible morning. It is incredible to see a man, whose own brother was brutally murdered with no explanation, not only hold on to his faith in God but even have that connection strengthened despite his grief.
Get to Know the JV Basketball Team
Team Returns After 3rd Place Finish at Flatbush Tournament
Graphic by Alex Factor ('16)
Federation Chesed Day
WYHS Juniors Teach Elementary Students About Chesed
Graphic by Ariel Schneider ('17)   
This Week in Pictures

Graphic by Yonah Freiden ('18)