January 13, 2017
15 Tevet 5777  

School Logo
  

 
     Parshat Vayechi
Candle Lighting at 5:31 PM
 
The Greatest Blessing Of Them All
 
When Yosef brings his sons to to blessed by their grandfather, Yaakov famously switches his hands and places his right hand on the younger Ephraim and his left hand on the older Menashe. Curiously though, the Torah introduces Yaakov's blessing by saying ויברך את יוסף -- "and he blessed Yosef."  Why does the Torah describe this as blessing to Yosef if in fact the blessings were given to Menashe and Ephraim? The Rashbam answers simply: A blessing for the children is a blessing for the parents. There is no greater gift for parents than to know that their children will be blessed. As educators, too, there is no greater blessing than to see our students grow and achieve. May our children and students continue to be the greatest blessing to us.

Shabbat Shalom.

Sincerely,
Rabbi Jonathan Kroll
Head of School
Upcoming Events
Jan. 15
ISEE Exam
Jan. 19-29 
Winter Break - No Classes 
Good and Welfare 
Engagements
Elie Genet ('11) to Dani Folkman from Ra'anana, Israel 

Marriages
Rebecca Bensimon ('14) to David Dadoun 

Condolences
Julie Halpern on the passing of her father Bernard Rosenthal
Two
Finding Your Natural High
Dr. Matt Bellace Wows Students With Comedy and Content
Graphic by Justin Isaacs ('19) and Akiva Groman ('19)
Article by Matthew A. Samilow ('17)

On Tuesday, Dr. Matt Bellace spoke to the entire KYHS student body about the dangers of substance abuse. Dr. Bellace, who is equal parts stand up comedian and doctor, began his presentation with a lighthearted team-work exercise and interspersed his serious remarks with plenty of comic relief. Entertainment aside, Dr. Bellace spoke of the need to achieve a "natural high," a feeling of excitement or pleasure that derives from a safe, healthy sources (like exercise or listening to music). To wrap up his remarks, Dr. Bellace showed us slides of different brain scans and charts that demonstrated the deleterious effects controlled-substance use has on the nervous system. His basic message is that people (particularly adolescents) need to find fulfillment from non-drug sources.
Two
Matchmaker Matchmaker
Fiddler on the Roof Draws Rave Reviews
Graphic by Sydney Freedman ('20) and Liora Mayer ('20)
Article by Sara Deichman ('19)

It is safe to say that a sense of awe was ubiquitous amongst the crowd at The Crest Theater in Delray Beach, following the KYHS production of Fiddler on the Roof. All the actresses displayed a great sense of connection to the play, which drew the audience attention in more and more. The set and sounds were stunning, adding to the fantastic acting, making some question how this play was put on by high schoolers and not an Off-Broadway cast. The way the cast members interacted as a whole showed the amount of time and effort they put into the production. Audience members enjoyed classic songs such as Tradition, and were excited to hear how every song was made new again by the cast.

The common refrain amongst those in attendance was that this was likely the best play KYHS has put on in years, even though it had a lot to live up to. Expectations were not only met, but exceeded. It was a huge success and although the annual Girls' Musical is a school tradition, this play truly stood out from all the others. Bravo to the cast and their talented director extraordinaire Ms. Jill Lustig on the fantastic performance!

Two
Former Member of Knesset Visits KYHS
Rabbi Dov Lipman Shares His Inspirational Story With Seniors
Graphic by Ariel Schneider ('17)
Article by Matthew A. Samilow ('17)
On Wednesday, former Knesset member Rabbi Dov Lipman spoke to the senior class about how and why he became involved in politics. Rabbi Lipman was quick to note that his background was not all too different that the background of many KYHS students. He described how difficult decision it was to leave his home and life in the United States and make Aliyah. Nevertheless, he is steadfast in his decision.

Rabbi Lipman recounted how he became involved in politics and joined a party that doesn't exactly have a pro-Orthodox reputation the party, Yesh Atid (there is a future), is center-left secular party founded by journalist Yair Lapid). He said that he began to watch Mr. Lapid's speeches and was convinced that his party was the right place to help bridge the secular-religious divide. He contacted the party and after getting involved was offered the 17th position on the party's slate (Yesh Atid unexpectedly won 19 seats in the 2013 elections and Rabbi Lipman entered the Knesset).

Rabbi Lipman spoke about how difficult it was for him to renounce his American citizenship in order to serve in the Knesset and how he feared his initially weak command of Hebrew would be mocked. Nonetheless, he persevered, spending his entire language budget on Hebrew tutoring (he says he is very conversational but still prefers English).
Overall, Rabbi Lipman's message was two-pronged--if you want to get involved in politics, don't hesitate to and all Jews should eventually move to the State of Israel.
Two
Teacher Profile
Meet Ms. Linda Marenus, KYHS Chemistry Teacher
Graphic by Daniel Gross ('19)
Interview by Matthew A. Samilow ('17)

Highlites Writing Editor Matthew A. Samilow had the opportunity to sit down with KYHS Chemistry teacher Ms. Linda Marenus.
Matthew A. Samilow: Where are you from?

Ms. Linda Marenus: I grew up in Edison, NJ. I completed my undergraduate studies at The University of Texas at Austin and my graduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley before finally landing here in Florida. So I took quite a circuitous route to get here, but am very happy to have lived in Boca Raton for the last 16 years!

MAS: What are your main hobbies?

MLM: I enjoy getting involved in the community and have taken on several philanthropic roles this year. I also enjoy spending time in New York City with my sister. I go north any chance I get for good food, great shows, and quality time together. Locally, I enjoy theater, concerts, and live music.

MAS: What/who is your source of inspiration to teach?

MLM: The biggest influence on my teaching style is my high school chemistry teacher, Mr. Jeffrey Greene. I have kept in touch with my former teacher via Facebook, and he even joined me to teach a lesson at my school when he was visiting Florida. I find myself unknowingly explaining concepts the same way he taught me years ago. His enthusiasm and love of science was contagious, and I hope I bring that to my classroom as well.

MAS: What do you like most about your field of expertise?

MLM: Science is about solving problems. Learn the basics and the tools, then apply all of it to different situations. I am a very analytical person, and science is logical and very clear to me. I hope to instill in the students an inquisitive discipline and to NOT memorize (as my students know is my mantra) but rather learn and apply.

MAS:Tell us something that nobody knows about you.

MLM: I never set out to be a teacher. I was a scientist in San Francisco and, furthermore, I had a fear of speaking in front of people. When I moved to Florida, I pretty much fell into the profession, and I haven't looked back since! :)

Two 
Building Update 
   
Graphic by Alec Gelman ('17) 
Two 
This Week In Pictures 

Graphic by Maurice Bensmihen ('17)  
 

The Yeshiva Highlites Staff