Issue 13.ub.pub - Ma'ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls

Bringing news to theonline communityVolume 5 issue 13...every picture on this pageappeared in this year's editions of the "Stream."Can you identify what is happening in each?Don't you wish you had paid more attention?The MusicalChallenge Round:In which Broadwayshow do wehear the song"Little KnownFacts"?1

“The Stream January 7, 2011/6 Shevat 5771Parshat BoA Dvar Torah by Mrs. leah HerzogThis week’s parasha, Parshat Bo can be compared to the labor and deliveryof a child. As much as the birth of a new child brings tremendous excitementand joy, the process can be extremely painful and is always unnervingand humbling. Through the long night of Makkat B’chorot, duringwhich the entire population of Egypt was writhing and wailing, Bnei Yisraelwere hurriedly eating their Korban Pesach and frantically packing upto leave Mitzrayim. All conversation must have centered on leaving the place in which they had lived forover two centuries, and where they had gone from being respected foreigners to abject slaves. There musthave been palpable excitement; however, uncertainty and anxiety were most likely the dominant emotionsthat pervaded Goshen that night.Bnai Yisrael had no real idea of exactly where they were going and how they were getting there. GPS andnavigation systems depended on stars by night and permanent landmarks or trade routes by day. Theirancestral home—C’na’an—was on the other side of water, hostile nations and desert. Moshe and Aharondid not hand out roadmaps. Instead, they presented Bnai Yisrael with the first three mitzvoth that Hashemhad commanded them: kiddush ha’chodesh (establishing the new month), korban pesach and tefillin.Why were these the first three rules that Bnai Yisrael were given? How were these mitzvoth supposed tolay a foundation for the future of this about-to-be-born nation?If one studies political science, history, anthropology or any of the social sciences, it becomes apparentthat there are several components to establishing and maintaining a culture and a people over a long periodof time. A people needs common bonds to hold them together to withstand the pressures of time, dispersionand internal discord. These bonds include geography (a homeland) and a common language. Thepeople also need to share history, and be able to connect to that history through shared celebrations andmemory. The people also need to share a belief system (a religion).Bnai Yisrael already had an ancestral home to which they were bonded and the Midrash tells us that theymaintained their identity as “B’nai Yisrael” through maintaining their language, style of dress and thenames they gave their children. But at this point, Bnai Yisrael were just that—the children of Yisrael—avery large family clan. They were not yet a nation. To function as a nation, they needed a system thatbound them to one another, bound them to their past and bound them to their G-d.The mitzvah of Kiddush ha'chodesh (establishing the new moon and thereby the month and its holidays)gave Bnai Yisrael their own calendar for the first time. With a calendar comes autonomy—you now relyon yourself to establish dates, documents, taxes, holidays, laws and contracts. You have the infrastructureto create a functioning economy and national identity. Historically, calendars are a big deal; each Caesarbegan a new calendar, and the disparity between the Julian and Gregorian calendars caused national, internationaland religious tensions well into the 16 th century. With their own calendar, Bnai Yisrael could becompletely separate—separate from Mitzrayim, separate from the nations of C’na’an, separate from anyother nation that may eventually rule over them. The most basic meaning of the word “kadosh” (whichwe mostly translate as “holy”) is “separate.” The basis and the ultimate reason for our kedusha is our beingseparate from all other nations.2(Continued on page 3)

“The Stream January 7, 2011/6 Shevat 5771A Dvar Torah by Mrs. leah Herzog (continued)(Continued from page 2)The mitzvah of korban pesach—and all of the other details which accompany it—establish two othercomponents of a lasting nation: history and community. The whole point of the korban pesach process isto remember our past, remember our experiences and to recount them to our children. This ensures continuityand connection. In addition, the korban pesach is meant to be eaten in groups—family groups,neighborhood groups, community groups. No one person, no one family, can perpetuate a culture and areligion alone. On the other hand, the national unit is sometimes too large and too distant to tap into on apersonal level. It is the clan and the local community that fill in that gap. In Judaism, the rights and responsibilitiesof the individual are constantly balanced with the rights and the responsibilities of the community.With the korban pesach, shared memory, history, community and continuity is established.What made Judaism unique in ancient times, and continues to distinguish it, is the relationship that eachperson is expected, even commanded to have with G-d. We do not rely on priests or rabbis alone to“mediate” between us and G-d, we interface with G-d personally on a daily basis. No one is too small,too young, or too much of a sinner to talk to G-d. It is our privilege and our right, as well as our responsibility.When each person feels connected to Hashem and senses that Hashem is connected to her, she becomesa richer, fuller person. She is able to fulfill her responsibilities to Hashem, to her family, to hercommunity and to her nation. So Hashem gave us a physical, tangible sign, one that literally “ties” us toHim. (As to why women don’t wear tefillin, consult your local halakhic authority.) The concept isclear—we are connected to our Creator and Redeemer, and He is connected to us. This is also whatmakes us Kadosh.The three mitzvoth in this week’s parasha encapsulate those elements that lays out a map and paves theroad to lasting nationhood—autonomy, history, religion, community, humility and responsibility, andcommitment to oneself, one’s family, one’s community, nation and G-d.Shabbat shalom,Mrs. Leah Herzog, Tanakh Faculty, Israel GuidanceOur Novice Debaters Triumphas reported by Mr. Yaacov Samuels, History Faculty and Debate CoachThe Ma'ayanot Debate Team did an incredible job at the recent novice debate at MTA. The "ladies ofMa'ayanot" took their places at the podium against "the guys" of MTA and DRS on Wednesday night,January 4. The students debated an issue that has received considerable media coverage recently, which iswhether the TSA should cease full body scans and invasive body touching for the general population.Stephanie Guz '13 and Tova Goldstein '13 argued the affirmative, while Mairav Linzer '14 andTemima Kanarfogel '14 argued the negative. I had the pleasure of watching both teams in action, andwas extremely impressed with how well they did. I am proud to report that Stephanie and Tova won theaward for best debating team, and Stephanie won the award for best debater.3

“The Stream January 7, 2011/6 Shevat 5771A(nother) Class ActMrs. Shifra Schapiro's eleventh grade Tanakh classes celebrated the completion of ParashatShelach with a challah-baking siyum, since the mitzvah of separating challah is given in Bemidbar Perek15, the parsha's final chapter. Class began with the mixing of the dough - students took turns adding ingredientsand Sophie Satloff wentabove and beyond by kneading thedough on behalf of the class. Whilethe dough was rising, we had ourregular Friday parsha presentation(Ilana Kruger did a great job presentingShemot) and began the nextparsha from Sefer Bamidbar, becauseeven though the celebration iscalled a "siyum" (completion),learning Torah never really ends. Atthe end of class, Mrs. Schapiromade the appropriate bracha andperformed hafrashat challah - separatingan ounce from the dough inMembers of mrs. Schapiro's Junior Tanakh class are Rena Bierig,Tsippora Cohen, Michal Fromowitz, Rivka Golding, Zisse Hanfling,Karen Horowitz, Rebecca Kleiner, Rivky Kreinberg, Ilana Kruger,Elisheva Lebowitz, Daniella Meyer, Natali Moyal, Golde Owrutsky,Nicole Polonetsky, Sophie Satloff, Naama Segal, Eliana Sugarman,Atara Yaros and, peeking out at back, Mrs. Schapiroremembrance of the gift of dough given to the Kohanim as part oftheir support. Each student then received a portion to braid and takehome to bake. We got a true "taste" of this beautiful mitzvah!Mrs. Esther Slomnicki's AP Biology classes attended theRockefeller University's Annual Winter Lecture for high school studentsat the RU campus in Manhattan. Mrs. Slomnicki and her studentsbraved the freezing cold air and mounds of snow on Wednesday,December 29, to travel into "the city" to hear Dr. Soheil Tavazoieabove Spohie Satloff demonstrates aspeak about "How Cancer Cells Gain the Power to Multiply and "hands on" approach to learningSpread." In addition to hearing a stimulating lecture, our students wereeven provided with a kosher pizza lunch. Eliana Tambor '12 waspickedto participate in a demonstration of the mechanism by which tumor suppressor genes work and(Continued on page 5)4

“The Stream “ January 7, 2011/6 Shevat 5771A(nother)Class Act - continued(Continued from page 4)Ariella Cohen '11 was brave enough to ask a questionduring the Q and A session.at left, Mrs. Esther Slomnicki and members of her Juniorand Senior AP Bio classes at the Rockefeller University;below, Eliana Tambor '12 participates in ademonstration of tumor suppressors with students fromother schools.Mrs. Ivy Weiner's ninth grade art classes areworking on their "charcoal apples," an exercise in"realistic still life observation drawing." This project,developed in conjunction with Mrs. Marilyn Benkler,Ma'ayanot's Art Director, gets students to create adrawing of an apple inwhich light shiningthrough dark creates theimpression of depth, makingthe drawn apple look three dimensional.Creativity also comes intoplay as the student artists place theirapples into unusual settings, as thephotos show. To see the charcoal appleworksheet and get some ideas foryourself,clickhere.Students in Mrs. Weiner's Freshman art class proudly display their"charcoal apple" projects. Look at the works in progress - can you determinewhere the apple will be placed?5

“The Stream “ January 7, 2011/6 Shevat 5771NewsbytesMa'ayanot's Chess Team, the only team from an all-girls high school in the YeshivaLeague, had an exciting start to its season on Monday, January 3. Our team is comprised ofFreshmen Rena Kleiner, Hannah Last and Shira Sohn; Sophs Ariella Applebaum,Tamar Fischweicher, Elana Forman, Lauren Haberman, Naomi Kadish, TziporaLeiser, Elise Rosenthal, Tzipporah Rossman, Sylvie Sapadin, Sarah Schwartz and Amira Tepler; JuniorsChana Garbow, Sarah Gold, Daniella Greenbaum, Lizzy Klein, Aviva Mazurek and DeborahStrauss. Seven pairs of Ma'ayanoters went up against players from MAYHS, and were victorious in threeof the matches! The team is coached by Mr. Boris Gulko, an International Grandmaster, and Ms. ElanaFlaumenhaft is Ma'ayanot's team liaison. Read more about Mr. Gulko's accomplishments by clicking here.We are proud to be the only all-girls high school in the Yeshiva League, playing for our second year.Our Mock Trial Team, coached by Mr. Abe Kinstlinger, also had a successful start to its season. OnJanuary 5, our team travelled to the Bergen County courthouse in Hackensack to argue a caseagainst "lawyers" from Northern Highlands High School. The case is certainly a commentaryon contemporary life, because a pedestrian, allegedly talking on a cell phone, was hit by a car,the driver of which was allegedly texting while driving. Ma'ayanot represented the plaintiff andwe won, with our team "lawyers" Eliana Applebaum and Elana Forman successfully defendingthe argument that the driver was culpable. Our Mock Trial Team is comprised of FreshmenShana Horn and Hannah Piskun; Sophs Ariella Applebaum, Eliana Applebaum andElana Forman; Juniors Elana Blanchard, Kayla Gottlieb, Rivka Golding, Rivka Oshin and EtanaStaiman; and Seniors Daniella Grodko and Chaya Kanarfogel.Rabbi Jonathan Rosenblatt Rabbi of the Riverdale Jewish Center (and father of Rivka Rosenblatt '11) spoketo the entire 11 th grade at lunch about the meaning of Modern Orthodoxy, after which heand answered student questions. Rabbi Rosenblatt made this presentation last year aswell, as a part of our Jewish Philosophy program. To watch Rabbi Rosenblatt's presentation,click here.Midterm Exam ScheduleMonday Jan. 10 Tanakh 9, 12Talmud 10, 11Tuesday Jan. 11 Math 9, 11History 10English 12Wednesday Jan. 12 STUDY DAYThursday Jan. 13 Science 9, 11, 12English 10Friday Jan. 14 English 9, 11Math 10Govt. 12Monday Jan. 17 Talmud 9, 12Tanakh 10, 11Tuesday Jan. 18 History 9Science 10Ivrit 11SENIORS – FREEWednesday Jan. 19 Ivrit 9, 10History 11Math 126

“The Stream “ January 7, 2011/6 Shevat 5771Save the Date!Ma'ayanot'sAnnual Schlarship Fund Dinnerwill be heldSaturday evening, March 12, 2011 - 7 Adar II 5771atCongregation Keter Torahin Teaneck, New JerseyThis year's honorees areDr. Howard and Mrs. Paula FriedmanKeter Shem Tov AwardMr. Abie and Mrs. Dena FeigenbaumParents of the Year AwardDr. Hillel and Mrs. Linda Moed CohenMa'ayanot Service AwardMrs. Shayna GoldbergTeacher of the YearOur annual dinner is dedicated to underwriting Ma'ayanot's scholarship program and is the onlymajor fundraising campaign of the year. To download an ad blank, click here.Sports Update“Coach” Eileen Schwartz, Athletic Director; Ms. Laura Schuette, Assistant Athletic DirectorFall sports are well into their seasons. As we head into winter break, our teams stand as follows:∗ Volleyball A: 4-4∗ Volleyball B: 4-3∗ JV Basketball: 2-6∗ Varsity Basketball: 3-5Please remember to check the sports board at the main entrance and come out and support your clasmates.Go, Rapids!7

“The Stream January 11, 2011/6 Shevat 5771THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL DONOR TESTING IN BROOKLINE, MAON JANUARY 22, 2011 FROM 8-10 PM. INTERESTED OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO MIGHTBE? CALL 781-366-32978

“The Stream January 11, 2011/6 Shevat 5771MA'AYANOT HOTLINETo find out if school will be closed due to bad weather, if there will be a delayed opening, or to learnother time-sensitive information,call our hotline201-833-4307 x 411As always, such information will always be posted on our website as soon as it becomesavailable, and will be sent to you by email as well.Blood Drive at Congregation Rinat Yisrael in Teaneck on January 18, 2011Sponsored by the NJ Blood ServicesFor information or to register, contact Sara Schnaidman at sara.schnaidman@gmail.comSave the DateJanuary 7 (Friday): Last day of classes before examsJanuary 10 - 19 (Monday-Wednesday): Midterm examsJanuary 20 - 30: (Thursday - Sunday): Midwinter vacationJanuary 31 (Monday): Classes resumeFebruary 15 (Tuesday): Family learning NightFebruary 21 (Monday): Presidents Day, observed, no sessionsLOOK FOR THE NEXT ISSUE OF "THE STREAM" DELIVERED TO YOURINBOX ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2011.is a publication ofMa’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls1650 Palisade Avenue Teaneck, NJ 07666Mrs. Rivka Kahan, PrincipalMrs. Tamar Appel and Ms. Elana Flaumenhaft, Assistant PrincipalsRachel Feldman, AdministratorDr. Howard Friedman, PresidentMrs. Madeline Schmuckler, Layoutvisit us on the web at www.maayanot.orgto learn more about our school and for back issues of this publication9