April 24, 2015
5th of Iyyar 5775

  

 Parshat Tazria-Metzora 
Candle Lighting at 7:30 PM
 
Between Yom Hashoah and Yom Ha'atzmaut

 

On Monday afternoon, the entire school davened mincha together and I shared some thoughts about Rav Aharon Lichtenstein זצ״ל. I referred to the period of time between Yom Hashoah and Yom Ha'atzmaut as being a bit confusing or perhaps complex. Are the days in between the two commemorations meant to feel more like they are winding down from Yom Hashoah or leading up to Yom Ha'atzmaut? Do they reflect the Europe that was or the Israel that is? I explained that this time period really reflects Rav Aharon's uniqueness and that from now on I'll always consider this time period to be Rav Aharon's time. Rav Aharon was an inspiring teacher and uplifting role model. He represented a bridge from the great Jewish tradition of pre-war Europe to the contemporary religious Zionist scene in Israel. I only had the opportunity to learn from Rav Aharon for one year, and I consider myself richly blessed to have have done so. Rav Aharon became a profound leader of the religious Zionist community in Israel after his aliyah in 1971. He was both an optimist and a realist. He saw Israel for the greatness that it was and for the greatness that it had not yet achieved. In a beautiful book of conversations with Rav Aharon called פניך אבקש, published four years ago, Rav Aharon was asked whether he thought that Zionist leadership had achieved as much as it should have. Rav Aharon responded, "When I go to the World to Come, I prefer that they ask me why I gave Ben Gurion too much credit instead of asking me why I didn't give him enough credit."

 

As we commemorated Yom Hashoah last week and then Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut this week, we are fully aware and deeply appreciative of the miracle of the State of Israel.  I was so proud of our students as they transitioned from the somber sadness of Yom Hashoah to the appreciative recognition of Yom Hazikaron and finally to the enthusiastic celebration of Yom Ha'atzmaut. Like Rav Aharon, our students see the greatness that is the State of Israel and are aiming to serve it and contribute to it each in their own way.  

 

We would like to thank those who generously sponsored the programming for these three memorable and meaningful days:

 

  • Yom Hashoah, in memory of Isak and Esther Bauman, z"l.
  • Yom Hazikaron, by Dov and Debbie Linzer
  • Yom Ha'atzmaut, by Michael and Rebecca Wiederhorn, in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of Joan Meyers, z"l. 

 

 

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Jonathan Kroll
Head of School 


 Graphic by Aaron Senfeld ('17), Gabi Frolich ('17), and Cherie Landa ('15)
 Video by Ariel Schneider ('17) 
 
 
Yom Hashoah  
Article by Shanee Markovitz ('16)
This Yom Hashoah students were given the unique opportunity of hearing from numerous holocaust survivors, including Mr. Aaron Bell, one of the Bielski brothers featured in the 2009 film, Defiance. Students saw parts of Defiance, an empowering depiction of Jews surviving and fighting the Nazis in forests during the Holocaust. After a discussion with Mr. Bell, a real life character from the actual story, local survivors lit candles in memory of those who were brutally murdered by the Nazis and shared words with us about their family members who were taken from them.  Not often enough do we focus on those who fought back, and so this Yom Hashoah gave us a new perspective and a sense of pride. We are the children and grandchildren of those who perished, and we fight back by living.


Yom Hazikaron 
Article by Jonathan Leff ('17)
 
This past Wednesday was Yom Hazikaron - the memorial day commemorating fallen Israeli soldiers and victims of terror. As the school gathered together for the day's event, we had the privilege of hearing from two heroes. The first was Jacob Ovadia -- a current IDF solider and WYHS alumnus (Class of 2013) -- who spoke about his experiences in the Israeli army. We then heard from Shlomi Lugassy -- an Israeli war veteran. He screened his actual IDF combat footage and spoke about what it means to fight for the Jewish state. Furthermore, we viewed an amazing video called A Green Kippah, which focused on three American Jews who died in the face of war terrorism in Israel -- all Jewish heroes and immense sources of inspiration. It provided an incredible perspective on the nation of Israel that we so easily take for granted. I believe that the Yom Hazikaron program this year was an eye-opening experience that truly captured the essence of Zionism and the fundamental sacrifice behind our Jewish home.
 

Yom Ha'atzmaut
Article by Eli Litwin ('18) 
 
Thursday marked the celebration of Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel Independence Day. The entire WYHS student body participated in a day full of festivities. The day began with a special Yom Ha'atzmaut school-wide davening. After breakfast, grades were separated into groups in which different teachers shared interesting thoughts and ideas pertaining to Israel's history, culture and Torah. Following the learning sessions, everyone reconvened in the main sanctuary for a special viewing of Above and Beyond, a movie which depicts American pilots who traveled to the newly established state of Israel in 1948 to aid Israel in her fight in the War of Independence. After the movie, an amazing chagigah took place in the ballroom. Music, dancing, and the spirit of enthusiasm filled the room. We all enjoyed a delicious barbecue lunch before heading on
buses to go bowling with an Israeli flavor! The day was a memorable celebration of Israel and Yom Ha'atzmaut.

 
 
 Click on the picture above to watch a video highlighting Yom HaShoah, Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut at WYHS