December 9, 2016
9 Kislev 5777  


  

 
     Parshat Vayetzei
Candle Lighting at 5:11 PM
 
Removing the Rock
 
In our parsha, Yaakov meets his future wife Rachel as she is tending her sheep near a well. The shepherds congregating in the area worked together to cover the well with a large stone and explained to Yaakov that he would not be able to remove the rock until later in the day when more shepherds would arrive and help him remove it. They said "לא נוכל", "we are not able" to move the rock. Yaakov, in heroic fashion, ignores the naysayers, singlehandedly removes the rock, and provides water for Rachel's sheep.

Why couldn't the shepherds move the rock, while Yaakov was able to do so easily? Rabbi Norman Lamm suggested a beautiful idea in a sermon he delivered in 1952. The well symbolizes the "well" of the Jewish personality, the deeply-rooted talents and abilities of each Jewish person. The large rock covering the well symbolizes the challenges that we face in life that make it difficult to allow our Judaism to thrive and develop.  The shepherds were afflicted by the attitude of "לא נוכל", an attitude of pessimism and despondency. In contrast, Yaakov had a can-do attitude, a confident disposition which allowed him to easily roll the rock from the well and access the deep waters of the Jewish soul.

In school we know that each student possesses incredible potential, a deep well brimming with exciting possibilities. Our task is to help our students remove the rock and allow them to access the depth of their souls and thrive as the next generation of Jewish leaders.

Shabbat Shalom!

Sincerely,
Rabbi Jonathan Kroll
Head of School
Upcoming Events
Fri. Dec. 9
Freshman Chesed Day

Sat. Dec. 10
Freshman Shabbaton

Mon. Dec. 19
College 101 for Juniors and Parents, 7PM
Good and Welfare 
Marriages

Rachel Danis ('10) to Avi Ginsburg
 
 
Two
Art Basel 
Art Students Spend Sunday at International Art Festival in Miami Beach
Graphic by Alec Gelman ('17) and Josh Bernten ('20)
Two
Junior Night Out 
Students Take Break From Busy Schedule For Bowling and Pizza with Classmates 
Graphic by Justin Isaacs ('19) and Akiva Groman ('19) 
Two 
Mrs. Ciment Honored 
Non-Profit Supporting Survivors of Breast Cancer Honors Beloved English Department Head
  
Graphic by Maurice Bensmihen ('17)
Article by Mrs. Hochner 
 
When assigning an essay to my students, I often try to give them an example to get them started. It should come as no surprise that two years ago when I asked each student to write about his/her real life hero, my example was Mrs. Ciment. This past Saturday night at the annual Sharsheret South Florida Gala, where she was honored, I watched in awe and admiration as I realized that Mrs. Ciment fills this role to countless women in the Jewish community. Her courage, determination, and humor in relaying her experience with cancer touched every one in that room, and there was not a dry eye in the house. In fact, a friend of mine who had never previously met Mrs. Ciment commented that although she doesn't even know her,  she "cried during the speech - the way she spoke made any woman relate to her struggle....she spoke so real."

In Mrs. Ciment's speech she thanked the administration and faculty of Katz Yeshiva High School of South Florida for being links in her chain (the Sharsheret metaphor for the necessity of the Jewish community to work together and help each other). I have never been as proud to be a part of this school as I was at that moment. We cannot change the fact that life is full of unexpected hurdles and challenges, but we can change how we help and support each other through them. Although she does not wear a cape every day to school, the fact that she helps us to learn this lesson truly makes Mrs. Ciment a superhero.
Two 
Digital Citizenship 
Program For Freshmen Begins Discussion of Responsible Use of the Internet and Social Media   
Graphic by Ariel Schneider ('17) and Noa Markovitz ('19) 
Two 
Trivia Showdown
Sophomores Take Down Seniors in Battle of Wits During Grade Meeting Trivia Contest 

Graphic by Sydney Freedman ('20) Liora Mayer ('20) 
Two 
This Week in Pictures  

Graphic by Maurice Bensmihen ('17)
 
 
 

The Yeshiva Highlites Staff