Obama Continues the Fight to end Racism - The Heschel School

כסלו תשס״ט
December 2008 2008
Helios Volume 7 Issue 2 Volume 7 Issue Page 21
The Official Student Newspaper
of the
Abraham Joshua Heschel
High School
“We stand for what we utter…”
- Rabbi Heschel
Obama Continues the
Fight to end Racism
By Emma Goldberg
Obama mania swept
through the nation on November
4th, Election Day, affecting everyone
from the screaming supporters
who flooded the streets of
the Upper West Side and Harlem
to the elderly in Florida who were
important targets for canvassing in
the weeks leading up to the election.
With the nation’s first black
president-elect, the question on the
lips of thousand of Americans is: is
this the end of racism in the United
States? Or is this just the beginning
of the end?
“I’ve been scared from the
beginning that something would
happen to Obama… I mean, there
are still a lot of racist people out
there,” said Sarah Freedman, a freshman at Heschel
High School. “I don’t think this is the end
of racism in this country, but I definitely think
this is a big step forward.”
While it is true that this election has been
a big leap forward for the United States in ending
racism, the election’s results seemed to have
pulled America’s biggest racists out of hiding. For
weeks after the election, across America major
racist incidents occurred, from crosses burned on
front lawns and nooses hung from trees to racist
expletives such as “Assassinate Obama” yelled
on streets and scrawled on walls and houses. A
plot to assassinate President-elect Obama was
discovered before the election. “Racism is like
cancer,” said William Ferris, Director of the
Study of the American South at North Carolina
University. “It’s never totally wiped out. It’s in
remission.”
Even in New York City, one of the most
diverse cities in the world, racist incidents attributed
to the election have been widespread. A
black New York City teen said he was beat up
with a baseball bat by four white men screaming,
“Obama!” after the election and another Long
Island black teen was attacked on the night of
the election.
Racism against African Americans has
been embedded in American society, from slavery
to the Jim Crow laws of the twentieth century
to the very recent racist attacks following
the election. Parallels have long been drawn
between he slavery of African Americans in
the South to the slavery and oppression of Jews
in Egypt thousands of years ago, slaves taking
strength from hymns with Jewish themes such
as, “Go Down Moses”. Newspapers in the early
twentieth century called anti-Black riots in the
South “pogroms”. As Martin Luther King said,
“The segregationists and racists make no distinction
between the Negro and the Jew.”
With racism so close to home, students
have been discussing their own experiences
with prejudice. “Racism, anti-Semitism. It’s
all the same thing; it’s all discrimination,” said
a freshman at Heschel High. Some students at
Illustration by Leah Whiteman
the school have experienced anti-Semitic attacks.
One student recounted that last year at a
basketball game of Heschel versus the United
Nations International School (UNIS), students
from UNIS called out racial slurs, noticing Heschel
students’ kippot as they entered and left the
school building.
In the mid twentieth century African
Americans and Jews united in the struggle to
end discrimination; Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
was at the forefront of this struggle, marching
with the great African American civil rights
leader Martin Luther King in many of his marches
for Black civil rights.
Students at the Heschel High School,
named after this great Jewish civil rights activist,
theologian, and philosopher, reflect on how
they are connected to the struggle to end racism
in this country today, especially the racism that
has erupted following this historic election.
“I think this election shows that whether we’re
African American or Jewish, both communities
that have experienced prejudice, we can overcome
oppression,” said Sarah Weinstein, a freshman
at Heschel High. “Things don’t have to stay
the way they have been for so long.” Sarah said
that both the African American community and
the Jewish community have united and shown
that they can fight back; they will not continue to
endure racism. In the election this year, 78% of
Jews voted for Obama.
Abraham Joshua Heschel once stated,
“Racism is man’s gravest threat to man - the
maximum hatred for a minimum reason”. While
the fight to end racism is not over, President-elect
Obama stated in his acceptance speech, “Anne
Nixon Cooper [a woman who voted for Obama
in the 2008 election] is 106 years old… She was
there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in
Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher
from Atlanta who told a people that “We Shall
Overcome.” … And this year, in this election, she
touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote,
because after 106 years in America, through the
best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows
how America can change. America, we have
come so far.”
Bloomberg and The
Third Term
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has just
been granted a third term in office.
What does this mean for New York?
By Talia Kula
New York’s Mayor, Michael
Bloomberg, has been given permission by
the New York City Counsel to run for a third
term in office. The counsel voted 29 in favor
of the bill that would allow Bloomberg to be
reelected and 22 against. Many counsel members
believed that since New Yorkers went
to the polls twice and voted in opposition to
term limits, once in 1993 and 1996, it would
be outrageous for the Counsel...
(Continued on Page 2)
Jews Divided Over
Proposition 8
American Jewish communities’
outlook on gay marriage
(Continued on Page 3)
Helios wishes you
a Happy Chanukah
Revived With
Graffiti
Senior art class discovers graffiti
warehouse near The
Heschel School
(Continued on page 5)
Transforming the
“Lost Generation”
How the Hesed Club is
making Heschel greener
(Continued on Page 6)

Page 2 Helios Volume 7 Issue 2 December 2008
Working For Change
By Michael Nevid
As seniors begin to make plans for
next year some will choose to go straight to
college while others will choose to take a gap
year and travel around the world or to study
and volunteer in Israel. But none of us will
have the unique opportunity Adam Gitlin has
had since graduating from Heschel last June.
Adam spent the past few months working
for President-elect Barack Obama during his
campaign for the presidency.
Even before Barack Obama steps
into the Oval Office on January 21st, he will
have already made a significant change in
this country. Over the last two years, Obama
has created the largest coalition of volunteer
workers ever to be used for a presidential
campaign. In every state, Obama volunteers
organized efforts to get people to register to
vote as well as carrying out many other important
tasks.
The volunteer effort was boosted by
the internet. Barack Obama’s campaign website
includes a site where volunteers can create
their own pages, similar to a Facebook or
Myspace page, and use those pages to interact
with other volunteers in order to organize
campaign events. By Election Day, about
1.5 million people had created accounts on
Obama’s website. But these volunteers did
not stop working after the election.
During Obama’s campaign, Adam
Gitlin worked in the campaign headquarters
in Chicago. He helped organize events
geared towards the Jewish vote. He responded
to emails with the smears against Obama
that surfaced during the campaign. He also
worked on the Get Out The Vote program,
which required him to travel to Cleveland
to make sure the final week of the campaign
was a success.
Adam was inspired to work for the Presidentelect’s
campaign because he respects Obama.
He said, “To see a politician who was pursuing
a career in government for the right
(Continued from Front Page)
reasons - for
the good of
the public first
– was very
inspiring and
exciting for me
and I wanted
to help out
the campaign
in whatever
way I could.”
According
to Adam,
Obama’s campaign
was the
ideal form of
politics because
everyone involved worked together for
a common purpose. With regard to the campaign
he stated, “I think [that’s] ultimately
how politics and government should be ―a
group of deeply inspired and motivated people
coming together in an effort to change the
status quo for the better.”
Even before Barack Obama steps
into the Oval Office on January 21st, he will
have already made a significant change in
this country. Over the last two years, Obama
has created the largest coalition of volunteer
workers ever to be used for a presidential
campaign. In every state, Obama volunteers
organized efforts to get people to register to
vote as well as carrying out many other important
tasks.
The volunteer effort was boosted by
the internet. Barack Obama’s campaign website
includes a site where volunteers can create
their own pages, similar to a Facebook or
Myspace page, and use those pages to interact
with other volunteers in order to organize
campaign events. By Election Day, about
1.5 million people had created accounts on
Obama’s website. But these volunteers did
not stop working after the election.
Illustration by Janet Rubin
During Obama’s campaign, Adam
Gitlin worked in the campaign headquarters
in Chicago. He helped organize events
geared towards the Jewish vote. He responded
to emails with the smears against Obama
that surfaced during the campaign. He also
worked on the Get Out The Vote program,
which required him to travel to Cleveland
to make sure the final week of the campaign
was a success.
Adam was inspired to work for the
President-elect’s campaign because he respects
Obama. He said, “To see a politician
who was pursuing a career in government for
the right reasons - for the good of the public
first – was very inspiring and exciting for
me and I wanted to help out the campaign in
whatever way I could.” According to Adam,
Obama’s campaign was the ideal form of
politics because everyone involved worked
together for a common purpose. With regard
to the campaign he stated, “I think [that’s] ultimately
how politics and government should
be - a group of deeply inspired and motivated
people coming together in an effort to change
the status quo for the better.”
Bloomberg and the Third Term
...to override the people’s decision.
Tony Avella, a council member
and candidate for mayor in
Queens, said, “For us to overturn
that legislatively is a disgrace, you
should be all voted out of office for
this.” In addition, the country is in
the midst of a financial meltdown.
City Counsel speaker, Christine
Quinn, who voted in favor of allowing
Bloomberg to run again,
said, “Our city, already in recession,
is headed for a long and deep
downturn, we will need to do more
with less to keep our city moving
in the right direction.” Quinn
is suggesting that New York City
may really need Bloomberg to stay
in office over these next few, very
crucial years.
Bloomberg was first elected
a few months after the September
11th attacks. Regarded as having
helped New York recover economically
from the attacks, he was reelected
in 2005. For the last fifteen
years the city has not allowed any
elected leader to hold office for
longer than two four year terms.
Bloomberg’s request this fall to
be allowed to run for a third term
challenged Americans, specifically
New Yorkers, to think about why
term limits were established. The
Twenty Second
Amendment
of the
United States
Constitution
states, “No
person shall
be elected to
the office of
the President
more than
twice…” The
amendment
refers specifically
to the
presidency,
but the law
represents a
very real fear
that existed already in the minds
of the country’s forefathers. Many
people believe that holding public
office for too long can have negative
results, such as corruption,
sloppiness, and staleness of creativity.
However, the discussion of
a third term has come up now because
Bloomberg is such a beloved
mayor and so widely respected.
The counsel’s permission to
Bloomberg to run for a third term
made a strong statement that these
fears may not be accurate, at least
in the case of Mayor Bloomberg.
Illustration by Miriam Dreiblatt
Although Mayor Bloomberg is
very good at his job and popular
among New Yorkers, this change
in tradition could set a dangerous
precedent. Should laws be bent under
certain circumstances and for
certain people? Perhaps other men
and women holding office will use
this precedent to have rules bent
for them. This issue is important
not only for voting citizens of New
York, but also for the generation
that will have to pay for the consequences
if this third term does not
go well.
Helios Staff
2008-2009
Editor-in-Chief
Talia Siegel
Art & Layout Editor
Leah Whiteman
Sports Editor
Benjamin Seidman
Managing Editor
Jessica Appelbaum
Junior Editors
Aliza Rosenfeld
Hannah Weintraub
Brandon Bell
Contributing Artists
Naomi Blech
Miriam Dreiblatt
Alli Fried
Shelly Kaplan
Hannah Kober
Deborah Levy
Amy Lewis
Talia Niederman
Sabrina Rosenthal
Janet Rubin
Tsvi Tannin
Andrew Udell
Rachel Zeuner
Contributing Writers
Jessica Appelbaum
Brandon Bell
Jenna Doctoroff
Miriam Dreiblatt
Emma Goldberg
Zoe Goldberg
Michaela Hearst
Shayna Hertz
Ari Kramer
Talia Kula
Samuel Kupferberg
Abigail Lipnick
Susan Moskovits
Michael Nevid
Leah Robinson
Aliza Rosenfeld
Anna Rothstein
Rebecca Schwarz
Beatrice Volkmar
Zachary Weg
Rachel Weisberg
Faculty Advisors
Lisa Cohen
Dena Schutzer
Gabriel Godin
Guest Advisor
Samuel Freedman
Printing courtesy of Tri-Star Offset
& Barry Goodman
If you would like to
respond to any of
the articles featured
in this issue, please
send your comments
to HS Newspaper on
First Class.
Thanks,
Editors 2008-2009

December 2008 Helios Volume 7 Issue 2 Page 3
By Jenna Doctoroff
Jews Divided Over
Proposition 8
Just one day after a black
man was elected President of
the United States, Proposition
8 passed. This California ballot
proposition changed the California
state constitution, restricting
the definition of marriage
to a union between a man and a
woman and eliminating the right
of same-sex couples to marry. A
clear divide exists in the Jewish
community on the matter of homosexual
rights and homosexuality
in general.
The Torah states, “If a man
cohabits with a male as with a
woman, both of them have done
an abominable thing; they shall be
put to death; their blood falls back
upon them.”
Most of the Orthodox
community considers Jewish law
to reject homosexuality as a disease
or, more conservatively, as
a direct rebellion against God.
Religious organizations that supported
Proposition 8 included the
Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations
of America, which is
composed of the vast majority of
orthodox synagogues. However,
homosexuality is interpreted differently
by other denominations
of Judaism.
The Reform movement,
now the largest movement among
North America’s Jews, has abandoned
the conservative view on
this issue. In March 2000, a new
resolve was issued by The Central
Conference of American Rabbis
stating that “We do hereby resolve
that the relationship of a Jewish,
same gender couple is worthy of
affirmation through appropriate
Jewish ritual, and further resolved,
Illustration by Sabrina Rosenthal
that we recognize the diversity of
opinions within our ranks on this
issue. We support the decision of
those who choose to officiate at
rituals of union for same-sex couples,
and we support the decision
of those who do not.”
As the stream in the center,
the Conservative community
has had particular difficulties with
homosexual issues in Judaism,
balancing halakhah and change.
Since 2006, the Committee on
Jewish Law and Standards adopted
several resolutions in regard
to this matter. One allowed most
“homosexual conduct” and the
blessing of gay unions (excluding
same-sex marriage) while another,
more conservative response
confirmed a prohibition on homosexual
conduct.
Heschel is a pluralistic
school in which all these views
are represented since there is a
wide range of students belonging
to different streams of Judaism.
When every belief is part of the
mix, it is possible that disagreements
can arise, especially involving
topics like gay rights. The
beauty about being in a pluralistic
environment, however, is that
while peers may not always agree,
they can still be respected for their
views. One 11th grader said, “Pluralism
allows everyone to display
their beliefs…while this is usually
a good thing, it could cause
difficulties and conflict within
our school community, especially
on the topic of homosexuality. It
will be interesting to see how this
plays out and whether this causes
controversy within our Heschel
bubble.”
By Jessica Appelbaum
The Torah Meets
Proposition 2
While California’s Proposition
8, restricting the definition of marriage
as a union between a man and a woman,
received widespread attention, few
people have taken notice of California’s
recent passing of Proposition 2,
which takes measures to stop the inhumane
treatment of farm animals being
raised for food. The proposition states,
“The purpose of this Act is to prohibit
the cruel confinement of farm animals
in a manner that does not allow them to
turn around freely, lie down, stand up,
and fully extend their limbs.” In passing
this bill, California has helped prevent
cruelty to animals.
The approval of Proposition
2 will have many beneficial results.
Because most of America’s meat is
raised in California, the terms of the
new law, requiring measures that can
stop the spread of diseases, will improve
the healthfulness and safety of
meat nationwide. Large meat packing
plants that have not been monitored
have tended to spread untreated waste
to their surrounding towns, polluting
the environment and ruining natural
resources. With Proposition 2, all of
the plants will be monitored, and the
surrounding areas will be safer. In addition,
the law supports family farmers.
Small family farms are more likely
to treat their animals humanely, and
therefore chains such as Burger King
will be more likely to buy from them.
The Humane Society, which
backed Proposition 2, could be viewed
as radical in believing it necessary to
pass a bill regarding the confinement
of farm animals. However, Judaism
shares many of the ideals of Proposition
2. The Torah makes multiple references
to treating animals well. If you
take eggs from a nest, for example,
the Torah requires that you first shoo
away the mother so it does not have to
witness its eggs being removed. This
law considers the feelings and wellbeing
of the bird. Proposition 2 protects
the wellbeing of animals by allowing
them proper space, so they don’t feel
cramped and claustrophobic. In addition,
it prohibits the rough handling of
cattle as they are being herded, which
causes confusion and severely upsets
the cattle. Before the Proposition was
passed, cattle herders whipped and hit
the animals in order to control them.
Proposition 2 can also be related
to the rules of kashrut laid out in
the Torah. The rules of kosher slaughter
are meant to cause less pain for the
animal than other methods. Similarly,
Proposition 2 gives animals the ability
to stand up, sit down, turn around fully,
and extend their legs in all directions.
This prevents muscle cramps, tissue
damage, and pain due to confinement.
Giving the animals a more comfortable
and healthier life leads to a more humane
form of slaughter.
Illustration by Andrew Udell
Benjamin Heller, a Heschel sophomore,
stated, “It’s a Jewish idea that
all living things should be treated with
respect and dignity. If an animal isn’t
treated well, it shouldn’t be kosher.”
*Thank you to Sarah Nemzer for helping
with the Judaic information.

Page 4 Helios Volume 7 Issue 2 December 2008
Heschel Life
Teacher Profiles
Double Lives
By Zoe Goldberg
While many students enroll
in extra-curricular activities because
their parents force them to or
because they think that they should,
Rebecca Schwarz and Andrew Berson,
both tenth grade students, are
very committed to extra-curricular
activities that they love deeply.
Rebecca Schwarz
Photograph by Naomi Blech Photograph by Amy Lewis Photograph by Amy Lewis
Adena Korn
By Michaela Hearst
Many of us know Adena
as the new music teacher
and the assistant director of
student life. She is a wonderful
asset to the Heschel
School, and her beliefs and
values are equally admirable.
Adena attended a yeshiva
day school and lived
in Israel for a portion of
her life. Prior to coming to
Heschel, she studied music
education at New York University.
She was also a student
teacher in various public
schools around New York
City.
Adena is a pianist and
a conductor, and plays many
different instruments as
well. Adena says that she has
“always been surrounded by
a Jewish community.” She
believes that there is a balance
between music and Judaism.
In her view they are
“both ways of life,” and being
involved in music is very
similar to being involved in
prayer. Music and prayer are
both ways of trying to figure
out what the world is like.
In addition, she likes that
Heschel teaches its students
a balance between Judaism
and critical thinking about
the rest of the world.
Adena loves working
at Heschel. She says it
is “wonderful.” The kids are
“very thoughtful,” and the
teachers are “very helpful.”
Jin Seok
By Beatrice Volkmar
When Jason Mendez left
Heschel’s tech department, the
student body was curious as to
who would take his position in
tech support. Jin Seok quickly
stepped in.
Jin was born in South
Korea. When he was two years
old, his father got a job in New
York, and he and his sister
moved to Queens with his parents.
Moving to New York was
not a big adjustment for Jin because
he was so young. However,
as a teenager, he moved
back and fourth between the
United States and Korea, which
was challenging.
Jin attended a high school
in Korea, which was nothing
like Heschel. The high school
experience in Korea, as in most
Asian countries, is very conservative
and rigid. His school had
many rules and was not progressive
like Heschel.
After graduating, Jin attended
New York University
where he studied computer science.
He changed his major
to psychology because computer
science was harder than
he had expected. He realized
that “making video games was
harder than playing them.”
One day Jin walked into
the Apple store and asked for a
job. He worked there for a year,
where he learned a lot about
Mac computers, gained a great
deal of experience and training.
Jin enjoyed working there, but
when his friend told him about
working at Heschel, he realized
that the school would be a great
match for him.
Matt Weber
By Zachary Weg
To say that Matt Weber, one
of Heschel’s new math teachers, is
a well-rounded person is to make a
gross understatement. Not simply
a math buff, this knowledgeable but
down-to-earth individual has many
interests. At Brown University, Matt
majored in French literature, took
classes studying Spanish culture, and
developed a strong interest in music.
“Music is definitely a big part of my
life,” said Matt enthusiastically. Not
only does he have varied taste in music
– loving both the classical notes of
J.S. Bach and the American folk songs
of Bob Dylan – Matt writes music
himself. He likes to “delve into many
genres, from classical to rock.” Asked
if math helps him in studying music,
he quickly responded, “Oh, yeah. It’s
really cool since I can look at a sheet
of music and translate the notes into
numbers.”
Matt also has a deep interest in
literature. His favorite author is Neil
Stevenson because of the way the author
incorporates various fields in his
writing. “He finds a way to relate philosophy
to religion…to…math,” Matt
said with a grin. “It’s pretty impressive.”
But Matt’s first love is math.
In his hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana,
Matt became interested in math
at a young age. “There is a pleasing
aesthetic beauty about finding a
proof,” Matt said. Because of Matt’s
deep love of math, he decided that
he would make it his career. Instead
of pursuing a Ph.D., Matt quickly
decided that teaching was his calling.
Matt liked the “interpersonal
element” of high school teaching and
decided to come to New York to be a
teacher. “I’ve always had a fascination
with New York,” Matt revealed.
He especially appreciates the range of
cultural opportunities in New York,
from concert venues to parks. Matt
feels comfortable in New York, particularly
at Heschel. “I really like the
technical component of the school and
the school’s progressive spirit,” Matt
said. “Heschel is a place where I can
try to fulfill my desire of being a good
teacher and be part of a community.”
Becca has been horseback riding
since she was six years old. Her
riding skills had already won her a blue
ribbon at the age of seven. She rides in
the summer at her beach house in East
Hampton. She began riding at Stony
Hill Stables on a pony named Dapples
and fell in love with the sport. Since
then, she has changed riding locations
several times and has ridden many different
horses. Becca loves horseback
riding because “it makes me feel free...
it’s a place where I forget about what’s
going on. I am just sort of in the moment.”
Her favorite trick is jumping—
her record jump being two feet and
nine inches in the air. Her commitment
to and joy of riding led her to work at
a pony camp over the summer where
she brushed, cleaned, exercised, and
fed the horses.
Andrew Berson
Ross Gitlin is headed to
track nationals! Although Ross
seems like the typical Heschel student
senator, he has another life on
the side. Ross runs track at least
five times a week. On top of that,
on weekends and during vacations,
he dedicates most of his free time
to running and practicing. All
this work paid off when, on Sunday,
November 2nd, Ross ran the
race that decided whether or not
he made nationals, and he came in
second place. His win qualified
him to compete in the upcoming
United States Nationals in Alabama.
Photos by Tsvi Tannin

December 2008 Helios Volume 7 Issue 2 Page 5
9th Grade
By Rachel Weisberg
On Wednesday, November
26th, the 9graders participated in their
first school-wide Hesed day. They
packed bags of art supplies for children
at Project Sunshine, a non-profit organization
that provides free educational,
recreational, and social programs to
children facing medical challenges,
and their families. They also cooked
Thanksgiving meals for the homeless
at St. John’s homeless shelter. Most of
the ninth-graders were present for this
eye-opening activity. Shayna Hertz
stated that “[Hesed Day] helped me realize
how helping other people could be
easy and self-rewarding.” Another 9th
grader, Emmy Tauber, said that “Hesed
Day is important because we fulfilled
an act of Hesed that helped someone
today and tomorrow as well.”
10th Grade
By Rachel Weisberg
On Wednesday November
26th, students in the 10th grade had
the opportunity to spend Hesed day all
over the city. This year, 10th graders
were able to choose which organization
they wanted to go to, unlike last
year when it was decided for them.
There was a wide range of choices:
working in childcare or with the elderly,
stocking or helping to hand out
food to the homeless, or cleaning a
local park. Arielle Wiener-Bronner,
who went to rake in Riverside Park
at 91st Street, said that she “enjoyed
seeing the before and after of the park
hill, and fully noticing how much
work can be done in one hour.” Charlotte
Marx-Arpadi went to the Trinity
Soup Kitchen downtown, where
she “enjoyed handing out food to the
smiling people who seemed thankful
for their delicious meal.” Overall, the
10th grade enjoyed spending Hesed
day outside of school and giving back
to New York City.
Student
Blurbs
11th Grade
By Brandon Bell
The day before Thanksgiving
was a day dedicated to
helping others through community
service. The eleventh grade,
along with the tenth grade, split
up into different groups and
went to various organizations
around the city to participate.
Some of the places attended
by the different groups were
the Trinity Soup Kitchen, The
Food Bank of New York City,
and the West Side Intergenerational
Residence. All of the students
received a great feeling
from lending their time to help
the less fortunate. This Heschel
Hesed day had the highest attendance
yet. Great job, Heschel!
12th Grade
By Talia Siegel
On Wednesday, November
26th, the seniors boarded two yellow
school buses, ready to begin their
Hesed work at Silver Lakes Cemetery
on Staten Island. Prepared for a onehour
ride, students were eager to take
part in community service. After an
hour, however, all passengers began to
realize that something had gone awry.
The buses had been given directions
to a different cemetery. By the time
the drivers and teachers received directions
to the correct cemetery, it was
too late and the buses had to return to
school. With the day wasted, the seniors
were disappointed and hoped
that they would be able to do community
service in the near future.
On Tuesday, December 2nd,
the seniors’ wishes came true. The
school organized a mini-Hesed day
exclusively for seniors, when they
were finally able to help clean up the
Jewish cemetery. Although they were
only there a short while, the grade
helped rake leaves and did the community
service that they had wanted
to do a week prior. The (second) day
ended up being a great success!
Se n at e
Up d at e
By Susan Moskovits
Student Senate spent its meeting
following the Shabbaton analyzing
the programs that had taken place
over those three days. Some students
complained that the Shabbaton felt
“too political” and that the discussions
advocated a negative perception of our
generation, while others found the programming
to be appropriate and motivational.
Senate resolved to plan follow-up
programming that would emphasize that,
though our generation may be considered
by others as ‘lost’, it is now in the position
to really make a difference. On November
24, Senate held its first meeting with the
new 9th grade Senators, Andrew Udell,
Gabe Fisher, and Liz Chernov, along with
Va’adat Hesed to discuss the town meeting
that would precede the first Hesed day
HelioStyle
By Talia Siegel
Like to look
good for school? Not an
athlete but want to stay
comfortable during a
long day? Well, look at
Heschel feet for guidance.
This year, students
in all grades have been
wearing colorful – yet
comfy – sneakers. Shuffling
from class to class,
both boys and girls are
flaunting their flashy
shoes.
If you do play sports, these
sneakers can be put to good use.
Students are showing off this fashion
during lunchtime basketball and
at all of their games.
Illustration by Alli Fried
of the year. Senate talked about ways that
they could motivate students to attend
Hesed day without using guilt, formed
questions to ask in discussion groups, and
did a run-through of the meeting. Senate
also passed Skyler Siegel’s “Shabbat Proposal,”
which would require teachers to
assign homework at least two hours before
Shabbat.
To read more about the happenings of
Student Senate, please read the Meeting
Minutes posted on FirstClass.
Though now in black and white, nine examples (above) of
students’ colorful shoes. Collage by Talia Siegel
This winter, Heschelians
are not interested in muted or dull
colors. They have been creative
and added brightness to the gloom
outside. So, whether on or off the
court, make sure to stay in fashion
and sport these vibrant sneakers.
Revived With Graffiti
By Miriam Dreiblatt
Although New York City is
world renowned for its art museums,
a true masterpiece can be found on an
exterior wall of a renovated warehouse.
Since one of the goals of the Heschel art
curriculum is to discover the new artists
in the local neighborhood, on November
12th, the senior art class took an
impromptu trip to the warehouse at the
corner of 57th Street and 11th Avenue.
As the class arrived on the scene,
the smells of fresh spray paint lingered
in the air. While the warehouse’s walls
had supported the artistic expression of
graffiti artists for years, that Wednesday
a more organized project was underway.
Celso, a local artist in charge of the art
collective based in the warehouse, explained
that the new paint on the walls
was a collaborative mural by artists Paul
Kostabi and LA II. While LA II sat on
the paint-splattered pavement autographing
copies of his work, Kostabi was still
spray-painting when the class arrived.
Wearing a surgical mask because of the
paint’s toxic fumes, Kostabi repainted
older graffiti and added his own images.
Dena Schutzer immediately
noticed Mark
Kostabi in the
crowd and
called him
over. Besides
being Paul’s
older brother,
Mark Kostabi
was very wellknown
in the
1980s for his
open attitude
concerning the
collaboration
of artists and
their assistants
to create a complete
painting.
Kostabi was
very generous
to the group and explained the presence
of the camera crew circling the mural.
According to Mark Kostabi, artists LA
II and Paul Kostabi had an Italian show
opening soon. The installation would
begin with a video of the artists’ work in
New York City, and the film would then
be used to help sell their artwork on European
television stations.
Kostabi excused himself to pick
up a call from Italy, but Celso continued
where he left off. As the manager of this
Chashama art collective, Celso invited
the group to take a tour of the inside of
the warehouse. Although there was not
enough time for the tour, Celso and the
other artists in the neighborhood can be
a great asset to the school community.
Because New York City is brimming
with so many up-and-coming artists and
new exhibits, it is frequently difficult to
know where to begin. Celso, the Kostabi
brothers, and LA II offer Heschel
students a stepping stone into the art
world.
For More Information: http://www.chashama.org/visual/index.html
12th grade art class at the warehouse with Little Angel.

Page 6 Helios Volume 7 Issue 2 December 2008
Transforming the “Lost” Generation
By Anna Rothstein and Rebecca Schwarz
The theme of this year’s Shabbaton,
dren and homeless
the “Lost” Generation, left the people, cookdren
entire school thinking of ways to avoid
a dark future with a troubled economy
ing and serving
meals in
and global warming. Thinking locally, soup kitchens,
one strategy to help change this generation
for the better is to turn the high
school green.
The Student Senate has plans
and sort-
ing and packing
foods in
a food warehouse.
to improve the school’s recycling program
The
by spreading awareness of how to
properly use the recycling bins located
around the school. Almost every classroom
has a bin for containers (such as
plastic and glass bottles and cans) and a
bin for paper. However, students often
deposit a mix of paper, containers and
trash in each bin; as a result, everything
in the bins is just thrown out. Student
senate also hopes to persuade teachers
to use less paper, doing more electronically
instead.
Another approach to helping
change the world and the future is
through Hesed. On Wednesday, November
26th, the entire school participated
in Hesed projects all around the
city. The ninth grade cooked a Thanksgiving
meal in school for the homeless.
The tenth and eleventh grades went
out to different locations in Manhattan
and the boroughs, working with chil-
twelfth grade
went to clean
up an old Jewish
cemetery.
A
standing issue in
the Heschel School
remains how to motivate
students to participate
in community service
activities? Last year,
many students did not come
to Hesed day. Leaving aside
the issue of families choosing
to leave for vacations a day early,
many students choose to skip school
and catch up on sleep instead. Hesed
days are not optional, however; they
are mandatory, school-wide activities.
The more people who join in helping
on Hesed day, the more the community
can be changed for the better and the
better the
w o r l d
c a n
become.
Thanks to
the determination
of
the Student
senate, the
Hesed club,
and the community
service
group that meets
during Arts Block, the
Heschel high school is
taking steps to change its
world. Perhaps, in the new environment
they are creating, everyone will
be motivated to do more: whether by
recycling that Snapple bottle bought
during lunch or showing up for the
next Hesed day.
Illustration by Shelly Kaplan
All Women’s Colleges: Are They for You?
By Abigail Lipnick and Aliza Rosenfeld
nard classes
and I also took
a lot of classes
at Columbia
right across
the street, so
I wasn’t isolated.
I did
tend to have
more female
friends, but I
think I would
have anyway,
and there were
men around in
classes, some
Illustration by Hannah Kober
Seven all girls’ high schools are
of the dorms,
on campus,
etc.”
located in New York City, all on the Upper
East Side. For girls attending these schools,
college is a time to break free from the allgirl
bubble. Many of them want to go to
a co-ed college for a more diverse atmosphere.
Sara Winograd, a Heschel Middle
School alumnus who now attends Spence,
remarked that although most students at
Spence love the single-sex environment
now, they are most likely ready for change
Ms. Slutsky believes strongly in
the benefits of having a primarily singlesex
classroom environment. In her experience,
“boys and men tend to be more
outspoken in class and sometimes speak
before they think…there were definitely
some aggressive women.” In general, however,
she claims that she had more time to
consider her responses to questions and
discuss them in a more thoughtful environment.
by the end of four years. At Spence, only
Another reward to being in an all-
seven girls out of the two hundred and
thirty -one graduates of the last five years
have attended all women’s colleges. Sara
explains that “being in an all girls’ school
for childhood and adolescence makes maturing
girls confident to be or do anything.
By the time they enter college it is important
to also be comfortable, in and out of
the classroom, socializing as well as collaborating
with males.”
A common concern of women
who are thinking of attending all women’s
college is the difficulty of meeting men but
it is not really an issue. Carolyn Slutsky,
who teaches the Journalism elective during
Friday’s arts block and attended Barnard,
offers assurance that men are accessible
and states, “There were men in many Barwomen
atmosphere is that it allows those
who are passionate about women’s rights
and feminist values to comfortably express
such sentiments. Ms. Slutsky acknowledges
that at George Washington University,
which she attended before transferring to
Barnard, “feminism was sort of stronger
or more militant because you had to fight
to feel equal and heard.” She partook in
women’s rights issues on both campuses
but commented, “at Barnard it felt more
comfortable and integrated than at GWU
where as a woman I still felt I had to fight a
little harder.”
Over the past few years several
Heschel students have enrolled in women’s
colleges. A number of girls in this year’s
senior class are also looking into all women’s
schools. In addition to Barnard, notable
women’s colleges in the U.S. include
Mount Holyoke, Smith, and Wellesley.
Most young women at Heschel do not feel
intimidated by their male peers. Yet, it is
probable that later in their lives they will
encounter sexism, injustices, and double
standards in society. An all women’s college
can serve as an incubator, getting
young women ready to cope with the various
challenges that so often exist for them
in society. According to Heschel’s college
guidance counselor, Micki Talmadge, “both
in college and after graduation, women
who attend women’s colleges tend to take
on more leadership roles, e.g. over 75%
of the women heading Fortune 500 companies
attended a women’s college, and
women who attended a women’s college
are more likely to succeed in traditionally
‘male fields,’ e.g. math, science, engineering,
business.”
Many girls enjoy single-sex environments
where they feel they can thrive
best. However, some apply to or attend all
women’s colleges “in spite of the fact that
they are all women,” states Ms. Talmadge.
“When thinking about what they want in
a college, while they may find it in a coed
school, they may also find it in a women’s
college.” All-women classrooms can help
females focus more on their education in
the absence of the distractions that sometimes
come when men are around. Many
women feel stifled by the forthright nature
of some men and prefer not to compete
with men for attention from the professor.
Ms. Slutsky liked the idea that Barnard
was “a school that focused on women
and their learning style and needs and power
and development.” She found that, particularly
given that classes at Barnard were rigorous
and challenging, being in some classes with
only women allowed her to formulate her
opinions more slowly and thoughtfully. She
maintains that Barnard taught her “that sense
of women being empowered and strongminded
and competent and worthwhile.”
Op-ed: The Issue
of Elevator Use
By Benjamin Seidman
Using the school elevators
during the day is not a privilege
or a right given to Heschel High
School students. Only teachers,
faculty members, and the battered
and bruised of the student body
can use the elevators. To everyone
else, the elevator is a sacred domain,
only accessible in the mornings
and at the end of the school
day.
Seniors have expressed
their displeasure with their inability
to use the elevators. Said one
senior, “I feel like after all these
years of walking up the stairs, we
need a break.” Another sophomore
said, “I see upperclassmen using it
and I just do not understand why
they have to try and avoid teachers
to use them. I understand that
administrators do not want to
overcrowd the elevators, but these
are our seniors. Shouldn’t we cut
them some slack?”
Senior privileges used to
allow the senior class to ride the
elevator at will, but they have
been revoked in recent years. The
privileges were rescinded because
of the ever-growing size of the senior
class, which overcrowds our
two elevators, and because using
the elevators leads to a loss of exercise
from using the stairs.
Regrettably, seniors and
the rest of the student body still
use the elevator and are often penalized
as a result. Faculty members
who witness students in any
grade using the elevator have no
choice but to assign detentions to
those trespassers.
If seniors were given the
right to use the elevators, less tension
would exist between faculty
and students over this delicate
issue. The ninth, tenth, and eleventh
grades would look forward
to senior year as a time when they
too could exercise the privilege
of using the elevator. This system
would develop a respect for elevator
use and students would think
twice before entering an elevator
instead of climbing the stairs. If
elevator use were deemed a privilege
for the senior class, younger
students would not disobey the elevator
policy because they would
know that one day, they too would
be able to ride the elevator. That
is, once they earn it by climbing
up and down our seven floors for
three years.

December 2008 Helios Volume 7 Issue 2 Page 7
!
SUDOKU
Rules of the game:
The objective of sudoku is to enter a digit from 1 through 9 in each cell,
in such a way that each horizontal row contains each digit exactly once, each
vertical column contains each digit exactly once, and each region (surrounded by
bolded lines) contains each digit exactly once. (To check your answers, feel free
to e-mail taliasi@heschel.org!)
!
CROSSWORD
THE JUDITH TUMIN EDITION
Entertainment
Created by Talia Siegel
Movie Review: Twilight
By Shayna Hertz and Leah Robinson
Twilight is about the life of a girl
named Bella Swan who moves with her
father to the small town of Forks, Washington.
At school she meets a boy named
Edward Cullen
who lives
with his four
siblings and
foster parents.
The Cullens
are a bit of a
peculiar family
but no one
in the small
town knows
the truth about
them. Bella
and Edward
fall in love,
though Bella
has still not
figured out
how Edward
is different
from the other boys
at school. After doing
some research,
Bella concludes that Edward and his family
are vampires. Though this information
should be troubling, it only strengthens the
bond between them. Just when things are
going well for Bella and Edward, dangerous
vampires from another area encounter
Bella while she is with the Cullens. These
vampires take a special interest in her;
they decide to track her down and kill her.
Edward must make difficult choices if he
wants to save her.
The concept of the movie was
very engaging; the theme and the events in
the movie
s t a y e d
very true
to the book
by Stephanie
Meyer
on which
it is based.
The movie
i n c l u d e d
all the
necessary
details of
the book,
a l t h o u g h
the plot a
little difficult
to understand
if
you hadn’t
read the book.
The movie did
an excellent job
of portraying Bella and Edward’s complicated
relationship. All the actors brought
their characters convincingly to life. The
supporting actors helped make the movie
very gripping and real. Though teenage
girls may be more likely to relate to the
theme of two teenagers falling in love,
this movie can be enjoyed by people of all
ages.
Illustration by Talia Niederman
The Men in Her Majesty’s Secret Service
By Samuel Kupferberg and Michael Nevid
ACROSS
1 Israel, the ___ State
6 New York football team
10 ___ acids, which are found in
proteins
11 Adorable one
12 Nickname for Mallory or Malcolm
13 Judith’s favorite Heschel sport
(abbr.)
15 A Frenchman’s friend
16 Judith’s favorite British guy
22 Pen filler
23 “__ your own horn”
24 E-mailing, even faster
26 Cell phone messaging (abbr.)
27 Do-__-Mi
28 Fuzzy stuff found on dark pants
30 Time period
32 Fruit that makes you pucker
35 Casual snack
38 Arkansas (abbr.)
39 In between kay and em
40 No one can touch this special
item—except Judith
41 “Stubbed your toe” exclamation
DOWN
1 Actor ___ Franco
2 Hebrew teacher __ Horovitz
Created by Talia Siegel
3 Fred Flintstone’s wife
4 “Blowin’ __ the Wind”
5 Cry loudly
6 Star-cross’d lover
7 Extra-terrestrial life (init.)
8 “Live Your Life” rapper
9 Things only told to your best
friend
11 Summer location for some kids
14 ___ in the sun
17 Bart’s dad, or author of The
Iliad and The Odyssey
18 Near relative
19 Judith’s favorite subject
20 New York Times’ movie reviewer
A.O. Scott’s initials
21 Star-cross’d lover
24 Jim Carrey film, “Me, Myself
and ___”
25 Will Ferrell, Steve Martin and
Tina Fey were all a part of this
show
29 Rip
31 Al Gore’s “__ Inconvenient
Truth”
33 Mister (abbr.)
34 Not later, but __
36 Fox’s retired teen drama, “The
__”
37 “Ha-__!”
“Bond, James Bond.” No matter
what man occupies the title role of the Bond
series, the allure of Agent 007 is the same.
He is the cool customer who dispenses witty
remarks in times of imminent peril; he
can take out a Soviet military base without
breaking a sweat; and he always gets the
girl. The character was originally created
in Ian Fleming’s novels about a British spy
and his adventures. James Bond became
famous when President Kennedy mentioned that
he was an avid reader of the series, and turned into
an icon once Scottish actor, Sean Connery, graced
the silver screen as James Bond in the 1962 film
“Dr. No.” He played Bond in six of the first seven
movies, and set the standard of what Agent 007
should be by inhabiting a character who loved
shaken martinis, pricey hotels, and beautiful
women. These traits have been evident in every
interpretation of Bond since, but many claim that
only Connery was able to balance this image with
the tough exterior of an international spy during
the Cold War era.
Five men other than Sean Connery
played the part to varying degrees of success.
The first man to replace Connery was George Lazenby,
who is widely regarded as the worst Bond
portrayer; in fact his forgettable performance
prompted the producers to bring back Connery for
one more movie. Many felt that Lazenby lacked
the charm to captivate audiences in the same way
that his predecessor did. After Sean Connery’s
brief return, Roger Moore took over the mantle
for the next seven movies. He was considered
an acceptable Bond because of his smooth manner,
but many fans felt that his poise was not balanced
with the brawn and physicality demanded
by the part. Daniel Craig, the current Bond, who
recently starred in his second appearance as Bond
in Quantum of Solace, has received the opposite
critique -- being too much of a brute, lacking in
the grace displayed by Connery and Moore.
A Heschel poll designed to discover
what students feel about this cultural icon discovered
that students think that Sean Connery was
the best Bond actor. He received a dominating
58% of the votes, more than three times that of
the second place and current Bond, Daniel Craig,
who received 17%. Craig’s immediate predecessor
was Pierce Brosnan, who received 13% of the
vote. Brosnan is adored by fans for his combination
of good looks, sly nature, and decent fighting
skills. However, his movies, dominated by
farfetched plots and ridiculous gadgets, do not
let him approach Connery’s stature. The survey
of Heschel students was rounded out by Roger
Moore’s 8% and Timothy Dalton’s 4%. Dalton is
known for taking a darker approach to the character,
one similar to Ian Fleming’s original portrayal
of Bond in the novels, but he faced the criticism
also faced by Craig -- that his movies are not as
much sheer fun as the others. Predictably, the
aforementioned George Lazenby failed to secure
a single vote.
This survey demonstrated that the Heschel
community, in its awareness of this pop
culture icon, clearly understood the role James
Bond and his various portrayers play in our society.
It also demonstrated that Sean Connery is
clearly thought to be the best Bond. His blend
of eloquence and sangfroid created the character
we now know as James Bond, and helped define
what it means to be “cool” for a period that is now
near half a century. Ian Fleming himself was so
impressed by Connery’s portrayal of Bond in Dr.
No that he created a half-Scottish heritage for
Bond in later novels. Sean Connery’s success as
James Bond propelled him to a highly successful
acting career rewarded with an academy award
and knighthood. However, most filmgoers remember
him as a hero with a license to kill.

Page 8 Helios Volume 7 Issue 2 December 2008
By Brandon Bell
A Subway Superbowl?
The last time two New York
City teams met in their sport’s respective
championship was in 2000
when the Yankees and Mets squared
off in the World Series. That occasion
was eight years ago, and since
then sports fans have been deprived
of anything like it.
In this 2008 football season,
the New York Giants and New York
Jets have displayed dominance in
their respective conferences and
each has made its case that they are
the better New York team. As reigning
Super Bowl champions, the Giants
have proved to the rest of the
league that they are not a fluke.
With their core players returning
every year, the Giants are now considered
a legitimate dynasty. Using
the momentum they gained from the
historic Super Bowl victory against
the New England Patriots, the Giants
are at the top of the league in
wins and have displayed supremacy
in a range of areas. Eli Manning has
proved that his stellar season a year
ago was a testament to his ability
as a team leader. Skeptics thought
the Giants’ defense took a big hit
when they lost their most talented
and reliable player, Osi Umenyiora.
To fill this hole, players like Justin
Tuck and Antonio Pierce have
stepped up in his place. The Giants
are ranked as the third best defense
in the league.
Meanwhile, in the AFC the
New York Jets are a completely different
team than they were last season.
The Jets put that dismal season
behind them and have been at the
top of the AFC all year. Success
for the Jets has not come without
hard work and preparation. During
the off-season, the Jets went on a
spending spree to sign many players
who they believed would help
transform the Jets into a powerful
team. The most important of those
acquisitions has been the future hall
of famer, Brett Favre. The legendary
quarterback has improved the
Jets as a whole by creating one of
the most dangerous offenses in the
league. Favre’s presence on the field
and in the locker room has boosted
the confidence of many Jet players.
Illustration by Rachel Zeuner
With the success of both
teams, a New York Super Bowl is
very likely. Adam Bresgi, a junior
at Heschel and a dedicated Jets fan,
said, “The prospect of a subway Super
Bowl is incredibly exciting. As
a Jets fan I have had to endure tireless
bragging and flouncing by Giants
fans. Recently, even I was introduced
by a Giant fan to the idea
that the Big Blue was like the cute
little Jets’ big brother. This analogy
is simply unfair. Whether Giants
fans choose to admit it or not,
the Jets are a very capable football
team. We’d give them a run for their
money; it wouldn’t be easy but it
could happen. We’d be fighting for
respect.”
If this subway Super Bowl
happens, will the gang green or big
blue parade the Heschel hallways?
That’s for the Giants and Jets to determine.
An Interview With the Heschel Varsity
Basketball Coach, Kevin Flynn
By Ari Kramer
Helios recently interviewed
Kevin Flynn, the new coach of Heschel’s
varsity boy’s basketball team.
Last year, Flynn coached at Ramaz,
Heschel’s rival, and now has his
Heat rolling in what has been a quality
start to the 2008-2009 season.
Helios: How has the transition from
cross-town rival Ramaz to Heschel
been so far?
KF: I told Larry that Heschel/Ramaz
is a lot like Yankees/Red Sox.
We have a pretty fierce rivalry. I
really like this team and if we play
like we played against TABC, we
are tough to beat.
Helios: Was coaching this Heschel
team made easier after seeing the
Heat play multiple times against
you?
KF: Yes, definitely, plus the fact I
put together the scouting reports at
Ramaz, so I was very familiar with
the players skill-wise. The biggest
task was getting the guys to buy
into the system I use. We kept some
plays and defenses from the prior
coaching staff but 95% is new to
them. We have a huge advantage
with our home court. It’s small and
the crowd is always loud. I always
appreciated how the Heschel team
was supported no matter who the
opponent was.
Helios: Do you think you will feel
any tension between yourself and
Ramaz’s players when your Heschel
team plays them later in the
season?
KF: No.
Helios: Is that game at the top of
your “must win” list?
KF: Every game to me is a mustwin
game; you have to keep getting
better every week and play your best
basketball in February and March.
Helios: If I remember correctly, Heschel
was moved into the New Jersey
division. Has that affected your
players? Is it an easier division than
the New York division?
KF: I had coaches tell me the NJ
Division is not as strong as other
divisions. That could not be more
false. We play Frisch, Hillel, and
Kushner in our division. They are
strong teams. No game is automatic
at the varsity level.
Helios: The season is still young,
but what, so far, has been the best
aspect of Heschel’s game? The
worst?
KF: Best is when we come out with
a lot of energy and heart. When
we play our game with intensity,
our talent can back it up. The MTA
game was us at our best and us at
our worst. We need to play smart
and consistent, and hustle. I told
them you have to want to win like
you want to breathe.
Helios: The website JV Elite predicted
Heschel would make it to
the Yeshiva League Semifinals. Is
that a reasonable prediction, or do
you have higher expectations of this
team?
KF: JV Elite is a lot like the National
Enquirer, not a reliable source.
We have solid players at every position.
I would like to see our seniors
go out on top. They deserve it. I
told the team nothing feels better
than winning a championship. Once
you’re a champion, you’re a champion
forever.
January Heschel
Sports Calendar
Boys Varsity Basketball
1/7: Away – Kushner 7:30 PM
1/12: Home – Ramaz 7:00 PM
1/14: Home – MAYHS 7:30 PM
1/26: Away – SAR 6:30 PM
1/29: Home – Kushner 7:30 PM
Boys Junior Varsity Basketball
1/10: Away – Frisch 8:00 PM
1/27: Away – SAR 8:00 PM
Girls Varsity Volleyball
1/8: Home – Frisch 7:00 PM
1/15: Away – SAR 6:30 PM
Girls Varsity Basketball
1/8: Home – Zviroth 5:30 PM
1/12: Away – Westchester 6:30 PM
Girls Junior Varsity Basketball
1/7: Away – Solomon 6:15 PM
1/15: Home – Ramaz 6:30 PM
1/29: Home – Solomon 6:15 PM