Sunday, Decembet 22
Shiur Sundae/Sunday - The shiur that brings in the most money for the Chinese Auction today will receive an ice cream party!
Presentation from Mr. Shahar Azani - Israel government spokesperson The Great Debate and Extemp Contest at YU Wrestling at TABC - 1:30 Varsity Basketball at Hillel - 3:30
Monday, December 23
"Wake up and smell the coffee - the auction is almost over!"
For each $10 of raffle tickets you buy today, tomorrow, and Wednesday, you will be entered to win a K-cup machine
Blood Drive in Morg Lounge - 10:00-5:00
Chaburah with Rav Mordechai Willig - during lunch - 5th floor of Glueck
10th grade Honors College meeting - 12:20-2:00 - Room 202
Bergen County Night Seder - 9:00-10:00 - Beth Abraham
Tuesday, December 24
Chaburah with Rav Moshe Weinberger - after davening - Glueck Beis Medrash
MTA Chorus practice - during lunch - Room 405
MTA Band practice - 5th period - in the Band Room Monsey Night Seder - 8:30-9:15 - Ohav Shalom Passaic Night Seder - 8:30-9:15 - Agudah of Passaic
Last day to buy Chinese Auction Raffle tickets
Chaburahs with Rav Schachter (not Rav Twersky this week) - after davening - Beis Medrash
Book and Film Club - during lunch - in the Library
Novice Debate practice - 6:00-8:00
Varsity Hockey vs. Haftar - The Den - 7:30
Bergen County Night Seder - 9:00-10:00 - Beth Abraham
Thursday, December 26 ***8th Grade Visit Day - Welcome future Lions!*** Chinese Auction drawings throughout the day Rabbi Danto's bekiyus shiur siyum and trip MTA Chorus practice - during lunch - Room 404 MTA Band practice - 5th period - in the Band Room Mishmar - Dismissal 7:00 West Hempstead Nigh Seder - 9:15 - Anshei Shalom Friday, December 27 Teaneck-Bergenfield Shacharis and shiur - 8:50 - Bnai Yeshurun Motzei Shabbos, December 28 Varsity Hockey vs.Kushner - The Den - 8:00 Basketball doubleheader vs. TABC - The Max - JV at 7:30 - Varsity at 9:00 JV Hockey at JEC - 8:00 |
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Makor Chaim Update - Week 1
by Michael Kolber ('16) and Rami Nordlicht ('16)
The first week of the Makor Chaim exchange program was a blast! After a long flight, we were immediately greeted by a few Makor Chaim students at the airport with singing, dancing, and refreshments. We then kicked off our first day with a trip to Yad LeShiryon, the Israeli Tank Unit's museum. The museum was an amazing experience, as we learned the ins and outs of how the Israeli army utilizes their tanks and how the tanks have evolved over the years. With barely a break in between, we set off for a trip to Yerushalayim. First, we tore keriyah on the rooftop of Yeshivat HaKotel, which overlooks the Western Wall, and then we sang. Next, we toured the tunnels under the Kotel - always an interesting experience. Lastly, we headed towards the Kotel and davened Minchah, and subsequently went out for pizza and falafel. We then retired to the dorm rooms at Yeshivat Har Etzion ("Gush") in Alon Shevut (our rooms at Makor Chaim were unavailable due to the snow!).
On Tuesday, we got our first look at Makor Chaim, met a bunch of the local tenth graders, and had an epic snowball fight! At night, we walked to the home of Asher Taragin (our madrich) for a kumsitz and lots of tasty treats. We got a wonderful d'var torah (and about 50 stories!) from Asher's father, Rabbi Taragin, and learned an original niggun.
Wednesday was our first day in shiur. Later, while one class did a creative writing assignment, the other one wrote some poetry about the snow (which was very exciting to all of the Israelis). After a quick lunch we took a couple of buses to the Begin Museum in Yerushalayim, where we learned all about one of Israel's most influential Prime Ministers. After that we walked around the city, taking in the mix of mountain and metropolis. We then split up into groups of three and stopped a few locals on the street, asking them some questions about their lives in Israel. Asher and Shua Brick, our coordinator, led the activity. We ended off the night with a beautiful kumsitz back at Gush, and heard some motivational speeches from current Gush attendees.
Thursday was our first full day at Makor Chaim. We left Gush for good and met our new roommates. It was a spectacular, albeit regular, school day. Our chavrusas were highly motivated and friendly. After davening Maariv and hearing a great speech by Rav Dov Singer, the Rosh Yeshiva of Makor Chaim, we settled down with whomever had stayed for Mishmar and had a great time. With a little bit of pizza to finish things off, we left for our dorms, looking forward to the next week.
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Congratulations - College Acceptances
If anyone needs proof that MTA students are the BEST, they need to look no further than the impressive list of accomplishments of our Seniors, particularly in the realm of college acceptances and scholarship offers.
Colleges know that our students are bright, studious, well prepared, and "mentschen." This makes them ideal college students, and as a result, our students are greatly sought after.
But college acceptance is also a highly individual thing, a confirmation of years of hard work and accomplishment. And so, when we congratulate our Seniors on their early college acceptances and scholarship offers, we take pride in both our school's impressive record and the hard earned good fortune of our friends.
Mazel Tov to the seniors
who were accepted (so far) to: |
Florida Atlantic
Rutgers
Temple
Yeshiva University
YU Honors
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Freshman Get Their iPads
by Shai Cohen ('14) and Ben Zion Zuckier ('17)
On Tuesday, during sixth period in Mr. Semach's World History class, an historic, game-changing event took place in MTA, pushing us into the vanguard of 21st century learning. The first group of freshmen has received school-issued iPads and they are already using them to enhance their education, both in and out of the classroom. The rest of the grade will receive theirs next week. Aryeh Bienstock ('17) enthusiastically referred to the iPads as "a very useful learning tool, with great educational potential." Also, as Mr. Semach has stated, the iPad system will be updated throughout the years and the school will be adding more applications and useful educational accessories for the students to utilize. At the same time, their usage will be closely monitored to assure that the devices are being used appreopriately. Dr. Taylor, whose leadership drove this program, looks forward to the "exciting educational enhancements which we believe will come about as a result of this new iPad program" and adds, "It's a cool tool for school." Mr. Semach deserves a huge thank you for all of his hard work making this happen. Thanks also go to Mr. Dobrick, Ms. Lewis, and of course our Director of Educational Technology, Mr. Plotsker, for all their help.
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Congresswoman Grace Meng Visits MTA for Hatzioni Event
by David Aaronson ('14)
This past Monday, Congresswoman Grace Meng paid a visit to MTA for a Hatzioni event. This marked the first time in history that YUHSB hosted a member of Congress as a guest speaker.
Meng, who was elected last year to the U.S. House of Representatives, is an alumnus of Yeshiva University's Cardozo School of Law, and is the first (and currently the only) YU graduate to serve as a member of Congress.
The Congresswoman began her speech by thanking the Hatzioni Club and the YUHSB Administration for inviting her to come speak. She then described her experiences that led her to her current political career. Rep. Meng addressed the importance of U.S. support for Israel and strongly stressed the need for the Senate to pass new sanctions on Iran by the end of the month.
She then spoke about her recent trips to Israel, where she met with President Peres and Prime Minister Netanyahu, and her emotional visit to Sderot, where she was amazed by the courage of families who live under a constant threat of rocket fire.
Congresswoman Meng concluded by taking questions from the audience and then was escorted to the second floor, where we showed her all of our amazing accomplishments that are displayed on the Hatzioni bulletin board.
This event would not have been possible without the hard work and coordination of Yisrael Friedenberg ('15), who took the time to organize and arrange the Congresswoman's visit.
Thank you to all the students and faculty who attended this event and we are looking forward to our next Hatzioni event, featuring Israeli Government Spokesman Shahar Azani.
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YU High School for Boys Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Great Debate Tournament
When Mrs. Harriet Levitt began teaching English at Yeshiva University High School for Boys(YUHSB) / The Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy in 1982, she saw a tremendous opportunity to enrich her students' education through a competitive sport that had long been her passion: debate. "The degree of intellectuality that exists at the high school was amazing to me," she said. "Our students argue Gemara back and forth every morning. I realized the activity of debate would push that even further."
Harriet Levitt, along with her husband, Dan, formed the Yeshiva Debate League in 1988.
Having loved her own experience as a high school and college debater, Mrs. Levitt wanted YUHSB students to be able to participate in the National Forensic League. But there was a problem-the League's debates all took place on Saturdays.
Undeterred, Mrs. Levitt began recruiting thoughtful judges and organizing debates between YUHSB and its sister school, the Samuel H. Wang Yeshiva University High School for Girls (Central). Mrs. Levitt and her husband, Dan, also a college debater, began inviting other schools in the tri-state area, and before long, local high schools and yeshivas were calling them, asking to get involved. In 1988, Mrs. Levitt and her husband drafted a policy statement and formalized the first Yeshiva Debate League.
Now made up of close to 20 local yeshivas and high schools and celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Annual Cross-Examination Debate Tournament, or "Great Debate," the League has made an impact on hundreds of students and alumni-particularly at YUHSB, where participation on the debate team is, for many, a highlight of their high school careers.
"I remember being pretty nervous at the beginning of my first debate, then a couple minutes in feeling thrilled and energized," said Moshe Spinowitz '97YUHS, who joined the team as a freshman and found himself hooked right away. He enjoyed debate so much that it played a role in his eventual decision to pursue Harvard Law School and a legal career; Spinowitz went on to clerk for United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia before becoming an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
"I loved learning how to focus on the key issues that are likely to persuade your audience, whether that's a judge presiding over a debate, a judge presiding over a court, or even the opposition, all while developing rational arguments and presenting them effectively," Spinowitz said, noting that all of those skills prove critical to him on a daily basis in law. "Mrs. Levitt also really helped build a strong atmosphere of camaraderie among the debaters that made it not just a great educational experience, but a great social experience as well. I stayed in touch with her over the years and she's been a key mentor."
For Yehoshua Levine '99YUHS, that atmosphere of camaraderie helped him feel connected not only to other debaters on his team, but to members of different classes and even different schools in the League. "Debate helped us cross class and school lines," he said, recalling Levitt's policy of having senior debaters coach freshmen. After graduating from Harvard Medical School, Levine now finds that he draws on the communication tools he honed in the League regularly as a practicing cardiologist. "Medicine calls for a lot of quick decision-making, critical thinking and multidisciplinary communication and interactions as you navigate the health care system, and those are all things I learned in debate," he said.
That Dr. Levine and Mr. Spinowitz are still using their debate skills in two very different but similarly high-powered careers more than 15 years later is no accident-Levitt has always coached her students with an eye toward the future. Her debaters must wear a jacket and tie to every meet, no exceptions. "You are what you wear," she said. "It puts you in a different mindset than if you're simply wearing school clothes." They also must know arguments for both sides of every issue they debate, no matter how strongly they agree or disagree with one in particular.
 YUHSB students argue their case at the Great Debate in 2010.
"I tell them it will help them to know the opposition's arguments and better equip them to respond," Mrs. Levitt said. "When I give students a topic they learn every possible fact about it, becoming mini-experts who are able to speak fluently, write about, and rely on their knowledge of the subject. They come out of the experience asking good questions based on the facts and with really considered, in-depth conclusions."
Shani Pollak joined the debate team at Central as a freshman because she saw it as a great way to enhance her public speaking skills. "I have been on the team for all four years of high school and was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the captains," she said. "I know I'll walk away from debate with the ability to communicate effectively, research rigorously and think critically."
Mrs. Levitt agreed. "All of this is training for the mind that can't happen in any other way than debate," she said.
This year's Great Debate will be held on Sunday, December 22, at Furst Hall on Yeshiva University's Wilf Campus.
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- The Torah Bowl team swept their opening competition to start the season 4-0!
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מזל טוב
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Mazel Tov to Rabbi Baruch Feder, Director of Ptach, and his wife upon the birth of a grandson, a son to Ephraim and Leah Feder of Lakewood.
Mazel Tov to our Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Taubes and his wife upon the birth of a grandson, a son to Yaakov and Racheli Taubes of Washington Heights.
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12/21
Avraham Danino
12/22
Alon Koresh
12/24
Binyamin Shtaynberger
Mordechai Rosenberg
12/25
Eliyahu Yager
12/27
Daniel Rosenberg
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APPLY TO MTA LEAD THROUGH 12/30
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Apply online to MTA LEAD, our business and entrepreneurship program in conjunction with the Sy Syms School of Business, through 12/30. |
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