Junior & Senior Parents: Please remember to rsvp for the special private evening at the home of Yeshiva University President Richard Joel on Wednesday, February 25th, to hear from the President as well as Dr. Selma Botman, Provost and Vice President for Academic Afffairs, about the vision for Yeshiva University 2020.
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Mazel Tov to Shaya Weinstein ('09) on his marriage to Ruth Brown. Mazel Tov also to parents Mr. and Mrs. Dovid ('86) and Gila, and to brothers Shmoozie ('10), Eli ('13), Shuki ('15) and Chaim ('18). (Apologies to Shuki whom we inadvertently left off last week!)
Mazel Tov to Mordechai ('07) and Raquel Shapiro upon the birth of a boy
Mazel Tov to Ephraim ('03) and Aurlee Loewy upon the birth of a boy. Mazel Tov also to parents Drs. Zvi and Brenda Loewy and brothersYitzi ('08) and Yisroel ('15).
Congratulations to the seniors who were admitted this week to: |
Albany University with Presidential Scholarship
Hofstra University with scholarship
Rutgers University
Yeshiva University
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Varsity Hockey Runs for Chai Lifeline for Fourth Consecutive Year
by Zev Markowitz ('15)
For the fourth consecutive year, the MTA varsity hockey team had the honor of partnering with Chai Lifeline by joining Team Lifeline to run the Miami half marathon. Each runner had to raise at least $1800, and an anonymous sponsor helped each player reach the required $3600.
The flight down to Miami late Thursday night was the start to a warm, beautiful weekend. On Friday morning, the students had the chance to relax and even play some life-sized games of chess! On Friday night, everyone davened together at the Eden Roc Hotel, which is where the magic of Chai Lifeline was truly shown. The way the people there care for and take care of each individual is truly wonderful! The Chai Lifeline organization runs Camp Simcha, a camp that is geared towards children with terminal illnesses. The camp also helps the families of the campers. It was an incredible experience for the MTA Students to see the smiles that the counselors who had flown down for the weekend were able to put on the campers faces.
The magic continued on Motzei Shabbos with a big pasta party to load up on carbs for the run and then on Sunday, it was finally time for the marathon itself. Many supporters were cheering from the sidelines when Team Lifeline passed by and you could hear the crowd really roar when the counselors were passing by while pushing their campers in strollers. It was a truly amazing sight to see.
We look forward to the MTA hockey team continuing what has become an annual tradition for many years to come. We thank former Varsity Hockey Head Coach Dovie Quint ('09) - who made it out to cheer and whose brother Ezra ('15) ran this year - who started this great tradition.
Special thanks as well to David Leshaw ('09) and Dovid Tauber for chaperoning the team over the weekend. Mr. Leshaw finished first of the MTA group, with a time of 1:38 and Zev Markowitz ('15) was the first student to finish, with a time of 1:48.
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Students Join YUPAC Lobby Mission In Washington
Every year, a group of MTA students joins Yeshiva University's YUPAC lobby mission to Washington, DC., and this year was no different when YU held it annual trip this past week. Participating students had to practice their advocacy skills in advance, starting with a half-day training session held last Sunday, at which they prepared their talking points for this incredible opportunity. At the prep session, the boys learned about pressing issues that they would address in Washington regarding American-Israeli relations.
In all, eleven MTA students joined over one-hundred YU participants as they carried out their important mission in the capital. The boys first visited the AIPAC headquarters and then proceeded to Capitol Hill, where they cogently made their points to congressional aides and staffers. The trip concluded with an information session at the nearby Israel Embassy. The students wish to thank Mr. Sragow and Mr. Leshaw for accompanying them on the trip.
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Honors College Heads To The MET
by Ari Kimmelfeld ('18)
On Tuesday, February 3rd, the ninth grade Honors College visited The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The students enjoyed learning about the fundamental juxtapositions between the Ancient Egyptians and the Biblical Jews who lived in Egypt at that time. With the help of Rabbi Cohen and Mr. Dobrick, the trip to the museum emphasized to students the importance of knowing how their daily lives, which are affected by their Jewish history, relate to ancient history. For example, the trip helped the students understand that as Jews, we should differ from the Egyptian obsession with materialistic things by, instead, allowing spirituality to guide our lives.
In addition to walking several regular sections of the museum, the students were taken on a special guided tour by Ms. Ashira Loike, who brought them to the object conservation department. This taught the students some of the ethics involved in conserving antique artifacts and paintings. Students also had the opportunity to speak with one of the experienced conservationists about the museum's preservation of various musical instruments and the tools used to make these instruments.
Another highlight of the trip was Mr. Dobrick's lecture on the painting "The Death of Socrates" that was painted by Jacque-Louis David. This painting depicted the death of Socrates as told by Plato in his Phaedo. A more profound message of this painting is that it questions our social experiences and challenges us to reflect on the way we view our lives, or rather, our "cups."
Overall, this trip was as memorable and exciting as it was informative. The trip taught students many educational and personal life lessons, and was enjoyed by all members of the ninth grade Honors College.
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Who's interested in a Krav Maga club right here at MTA? That was the question that was asked during lunch hour on Wednesday February 4th, where about thirty students of MTA were treated to a Krav Maga demonstration by Captain Eilon Even-Esh of Shomer360. Captain Even-Esh specializes in teaching the Israeli Army's version of self-defense to the Orthodox Jewish community. He served in the IDF as Staff Sergeant, where he originally learned Krav Maga in the famed LOTAR compound, and then served in the United States Marine Corps where he was introduced to their version of self-defense as well. Currently, he learns here in YU at RIETS in the pre-semichah program from Monday to Thursday.
The mini-seminar was designed around three gun defense and disarm techniques, where the MTA students used rubber demonstration guns. In the first situation, students learned what to do if, God forbid, a pistol is held right up to the front of their face or head area. The second analyzed a gun to the front of the torso. Finally, in the third, Captain Even-Esh demonstrated the defense for a gun to the back of the head. Concepts such as the "rodef" were also discussed and middos and safety were emphasized. Parents and students interested in continuing with a Krav Maga club should contact our Student Activities Director Rabbi Green at jgreen@yuhsb.org or reach out to Captain Even-Esh at www.shomer360.com
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Student Council Election Results Are In
Student council elections were held this week for the Freshman and Junior classes.
The results are in and the new Junior Class Presidents are: Jason Blatt, Meechael Hizami, and David Pando.
Running unopposed in the Freshman race are the new Freshman Class Presidents: Yisrael Katz and Hanan Berger.
Congratulations to all!!
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Makor Chaim Update
as compiled by Ashi Taragin (Makor Chaim Program Madrich)
Approaching the last few days of the program, every effort was expended to get in everything possible and end on this unique experience on a high note.
Last week, we went on a very interesting hike along the "Patriarchs' Road," Derech Ha'Avot, which is not far from the yeshiva, finishing with snacks from a delicious bakery. After another intense week of learning, we went on an incredible tour of Me'arat HaMachpeilah.
Our last Shabbat was one to remember, as other alumni joined for a special tisch and kumzitz.
On Sunday, we had one of our most anticipated activities - watching the Super Bowl! Despite the time difference which meant that we'd have to watch the game in the middle of the night Israel time, we were allowed to do so on condition that we collectively finish learning all of Seder Moed. And so we did! We all drove to the home of Menachem, our Madrich, heard a nice idea from his father, Rabbi Eli Weber of Yeshivat Har Etzion, pertaining to Torah and sports, and then enjoyed the game while partaking of a gigantic hero sandwich. Everyone had a great time!
Monday morning, after the superball\moed siyum party, we entered the ancient mud caves near Efrat. Later in the day, we had so more exciting fun: paintball!
Tuesday night, we had a special activity that was planned and organized all by the 1th graders themselves, which included running, hearing stories and Torah and, of course, having a delightful dinner to cap it off.
Finally, on Wednesday we departed from Makor Chaim, finishing where we started: the Kotel. In the morning we had a short morning seder. Each one of us got to learn with an MTA alumnus, thereafter hearing a shiur from Rabbi Horn.
Then, we were led on a tour in Eir Dovid and the water tunnels. At the closing of the experience we had a great kumzitz on the rooftop of Yeshivat Hakotel, where each of us were presented with a special book.
On Thursday, we arrived back in the USA and are excited to return to the hallowed halls of MTA, along with our new exchange students from Makor Chaim!
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Please share with us your significant family milestones so we may appropriately acknowledge events and losses and properly communicate information. Please contact Mr. Nachum Cooper at ncooper@yuhsb.org
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The 2015 MTA Kippah
TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO ORDER A PERSONALIZED KIPPAH
Personalized Kippahs need to be ordered by 2/7. Kippahs expected to arrive week of 2/23. |
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Support YUHSB at these stores!
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A Lion's Life Executive Staff
Editors-in-Chief: Aryeh Burg ('15), Rafael Anapolle ('15)
Sports Editors: Jeremy Borgen ('15), Zev Markowitz ('15)
Associate Editor: Shimmy Mandelbaum ('16)
Photography Editor: Shimmy Socol ('16)
Faculty Advisor: Mr. Nachum Cooper ('09)
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