September 16, 2016

27 Elul 5776
 



  

 
     Parshat Nitzavim
Candle Lighting at 6:49 PM
 
The Importance of Environment 
 
The Torah's timeless messages speak to every generation. So why, when speaking of the mitzvah of teshuva, does the Torah use the odd formulation that God will open "your heart and the heart of your children" -- "ומל ה׳ את לבבך ואת לבב זרעך"? The Sefat Emet asks why the Torah couldn't have said more simply: "you will do teshuva," and we would have understood that the promise of teshuva applied equally to everyone, both parents and children.

The Sefat Emet explains that the Torah is teaching us that we are all deeply influenced by our environment. When parents do teshuva, it becomes more likely that their children will do teshuva as well. The influence of role models and of the environment in which we develop plays a critical role in defining our personalities.

At Katz Yeshiva High School of South Florida, we aim to provide our students with a rich learning environment, a broad array of co-curricular activities, warm and caring teachers, and an overall hashkafa of love and excitement for Hashem and His Torah. As parents and as educators, we all want our children to make the right decisions and to follow the path that we have begun to chart for them. As our adolescents emerge as adults, they will forge their own paths. I believe that the education and environment that we provide will deeply influence our students and set them in the right direction that will ultimately lead to all of us, both parents and children, coming closer to God.

I want to thank the entire school community: teachers, students, and parents for working together to create this environment. May we all merit to have a sweet new year filled with joy, good health, inspiration and growth.

Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tova.

Sincerely,
Rabbi Jonathan Kroll
Head of School
Upcoming Events
Oct. 3-4
Rosh Hashana - No Classes
  
Wed. Oct. 5
Tzom Gedaliah - Early Dismissal

Sun. Oct. 9
Family Learning Program
Good and Welfare
Engagements
Danielle Sobol ('13) on her engagement to Tzachi Kahn of Chicago

Births
Maya ('03) and Gil Rubenstein on the birth of a boy

Lior ('10) and Aliza (Friedman '10) Goldstein on the birth of a boy
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Selichot Program
KYHS Partners with Young Israel of Hollywood and BMA as Mordechai Shapiro Leads Inspirational Kumsitz and Selichot
Graphic by Ariel Schneider ('17) 
Article by Eli Litwin ('18)

This past Motzei Shabbat the KYHS student body was privileged to take part in a kumzits and Selichot program with music sensation, Mordechai Shapiro. The program kicked off with a tasty pizza Melaveh Malka in the Young Israel of Hollywood social hall. While waiting for other students to arrive, everyone ate, socialized, and flocked to Shapiro for pictures. The lights were then dimmed and everyone knew it was time for the greatly anticipated kumzits; students crowded before Shapiro on the floor and sat on the surrounding chairs awaiting to hear his musical genius. The kumzits was amazing! It was energetic, invigorating, uplifting; everyone sang, swayed, and danced, as Shapiro led everyone in song. Prior to concluding the spectacular and joyous kumzits, Shapiro sang some of his original songs from his extremely popular album, Kol Haderech. Everyone then proceeded to the main shul for a melodious Selichot led by Mordechai Shapiro. His use of tunes, such as one commonly associated with the Jewish song "Im Eshkachech," while reciting Selichot, truly enhanced the event; many joined him in song creating a meaningful and inspiring atmosphere. The KYHS 2016 Selichot program was a genuine success!

Two
Kinnus Teshuva 
Teachers Open Homes to Students for Pre-Yamim Noraim               Breakfasts                 
Graphic by Maurice Bensmihen ('17)
Article by Max Wiederhorn ('18)

On Wednesday KYHS held its annual Kinnus Teshuva breakfasts at teachers' homes. The breakfasts gave students the unique opportunity to visit their teacher's home and connect with them on a personal level. Teachers and students chowed down on a hearty breakfast of eggs, hash browns, and mouth-watering  croissants. Following the meal, teachers shared divrei Torah. Wednesday breakfast was most definitely a special and meaningful occasion all around Montoya Circle.

Two 
Grade Meetings
First Edition of Monthly Grade Meetings Well Received by Students   
Graphic by Alec Gelman ('17) 
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Bobbing Into the New Year
Student Council Sponsored Pre-Rosh Hashana Apple Bobbing Tournament Brings Competition, Laughs to Lunch Hour
Graphic by Justin Isaacs ('19) 
Article by Jonah Rose ('17) 

 Snakes go hiss. Lions go roar. A leaky faucet goes drip-drop. Rice Krispies go snap, crackle, pop. And 32 KYHS students furiously bobbing for apples goes ting-a-ling-bruh-ding.
       Ting-a-ling-bruh-ding was the sound that could be heard throughout the court, corridors, and crevices of KYHS during lunch on Thursday as 32 students participated in a Student Council-led apple bobbing tournament in honor of the coming of Rosh Hashanah.
       The tournament began with the competitors lined up in front of plastic tubs, each filled with sixteen quarts of water and three ruby red apples. If the apples could speak (which of course they cannot because they are just delicious fruit, not sentient beings), they would be saying, "Bob me human! Bob me! The water is a bit too chilly for my tastes, and I want to be let out into the humid Florida sunshine!"
The competition was set to begin, and the tension could be felt hanging in the air like a tapestry.
       
3... The countdown begins. Competitors glance around, scouting their competition with both eagerness and caution. Beads of sweat can be seen forming on the athletes furrowed brows, and thirteen of the student-athletes reach into their breast pocket to retrieve their handkerchief to wipe their brows.
2... The start of the match is imminent. Some competitors begin having second thoughts. Why? What is my purpose here? Am I just some random conglomeration of atoms living in a world of ants or am I here to fulfill some higher purpose? Is this base reality or am I being controlled like a character from the Sims?
      1... This is just like the last second of the countdown.
       BEGIN!!!! Ting-a-ling-bruh-ding, the competitors dunk their heads under the water.

After adjusting to their new habitat, the student-athlete-fish hybrids widen their mouths as much as physically possible (one competitor is said to have opened her mouth so big that she actually forgot how to close it and still has her mouth hanging open like a hammerhead shark about to engulf its prey). Chomp! The competitors begin clamping down on each apple, one at a time, before swinging their necks around violently to toss the apple away from the water like a vegan with a rib-eye steak.

And so it went, until contestants were eliminated one by one until the last human was standing. Congratulations to Daniel "The Man with the Plan" Portnoy on the outstanding victory! Yippee! 

Two 
Chesed Drive
In Jacob's Shoes Has Students Performing Acts of Chesed
Graphic by Akiva Stadlan ('19) 
Article by Matthew A. Samilow ('17) 

I sat down with Mrs. Lysee Stein, Director of Chesed and Tzedakah, to discuss the new chesed initiative at KYHS.
 
MAS: Please explain in detail the chesed project that KYHS students will have the opportunity to participate in over the coming weeks.

MLYS: In Jacob's Shoes is a local organization that supplies backpacks, new or lightly-worn shoes, school supplies, and sports equipment to local kids, homeless shelter, and food pantries.

MAS: Why is KYHS doing this now?

MLYS: We figured in the month of Elul we wanted to give our students the opportunity to give back the community through a meaningful chesed project. Also, in our kickoff event, we spoke about Teshuvah, Tefilla, and Tzedakah. This project give students the opportunity to fulfill the mitzvah of Tzedakah, even if they don't have funds to donate. Everyone has an old backpack or pair of shoes lying around.
Two 
Freshman Day Out
Afternoon of Watersports and Bonding Brings 
Class of 2020 Closer Together
Graphic by Sydney Freedman ('20) 
Two 
This Week in Pictures 
Two 
Graphic by Simcha Stadlan ('16) 
Tashlich App!
We would like to draw your attention to a beautiful Tashlich app that was created in memory of Mr. Joseph Katzenstein, grandfather of Alec ('13), Bryant ('15), and Remi ('17) Feintuch. Tashlich can be performed from Rosh Hashana until Hoshana Rabba, so if you do Tashlich after Yom Tov
please avail yourself of this app available for Apple and Android devices
 

The Yeshiva Highlites Staff