Good and Welfare:

Births

Gilad (‘11) and Nina Bengio on the birth of a baby boy, Reuben Jack

Sarah (Katz ‘12) and Josh Hirth (‘12) on the birth of a baby girl, Arielle Summer

Rabbi Yitzchak (‘15) and Elisheva Kaminetsky on the birth of a baby boy, Dovid Tzvi 

Elana (Kaminetsky ’12) and Rabbi Yosef Penner on the birth of a baby boy, Tzvi Hersh

Chani (Kaminetsky ‘20) and Adam Frenkel on the birth of a baby girl, Temima Leba

Dalya (Rubin ‘17) and Richard Patrych on the birth of a baby girl, Lielle Rose

Baila (Eisen ‘15) and Louis Teitelbaum on the birth of a baby girl, Anna Shalva


Engagements

Yaakov Eisenmann (’20) to Yaffa Caplan from Baltimore, MD

Jolie Davies (‘16) to Noam Tansman from Boca Raton, FL

Doni Jacob (‘18) to Orly Ames from Toronto, Canada

Sara Deichman (‘19) to Jeremy Jesselson from Lawrence, NY

Jordan Landes (‘18) to Dahlia Panitch from Potomac, MD

Talia Stauber (‘20) to Aharon Yudin from Woodmere, NY

Eliana Broide (‘21) to Elisha Alter from Bergenfield, NJ

Adi Brener (‘21) to Micha Avihod from Jerusalem

Gavi Ciment (‘19) to Alyssa Hackel from Woodmere, NY

Leora Baitner (‘20) to Gavi Brody from New Milford, NJ

David Cutler (‘14) to Sarah Lipoff from Monsey, NY


Marriages

Leora Keehn (‘19) to Jonathan Linder from Teaneck, NJ

Arielle Gomberg (‘18) to Yaniv Zecharia from Brooklyn, NY

Moriyah Berman (‘19) to Levi Gottlieb from Woodmere, NY

Tova Wax (‘18) to Jake Domsky from Chicago, IL

Shuli (Frier '20) to Yosef Goldstein from Teaneck, NJ

Sam Clarke (’19) to Aliza Goldschlag from Silver Spring, Maryland

Elizabeth Tabouche (’18) to Dovi Weiss

Emma (Schenker '22) to Noah Watman from New York, NY

Shira (Brandt '21) to Mordechai Strauss from Woodmere, NY

Yitzi Eisenberger (‘20) and Eliana Nagler (‘21) both from Hollywood, FL- KYHS 24th Couple!


Faculty Mazel Tovs

Shimmie and Beth Kaminetsky on the births of their three new grandchildren! 

Rabbi Avi & Rebecca Hochman on their daughter, Shulie, becoming a Bat Mitzvah.



Condolences

Renee Kugelman, on the passing of her beloved sister, Pam Lunzer 

Josh Herschberg on the passing of his beloved brother, Marc Herschberg

Perla Pollock on the passing of her beloved mother, Sara Levy

Tammie Purow on the passing of her beloved mother, Florence Rosen 

Upcoming Events:


September 10: Meet the Teacher Night




Returning to school on Tuesday was complicated. In the previous week, we had an exciting "Welcome Home" ceremony and the start of 150+ classes. Yet, the news over the weekend from Israel meant that my mood was laced with real anguish. And this contradiction was of course not unique. My sister-in-law who lives in Yerushalayim sent first day of school pictures of my nieces and nephews and then a few hours later videos of Ori Danino's funeral in the city in which she now lives. 


In Parshat Shoftim, one of the most famous Biblical phrases appears: "צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף" (Devarim 16:20)." This passuk has become emblematic of the Jewish approach to legal issues and is even prominently displayed on the Israeli Supreme Court building. And yet, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l explained that צֶ֖דֶק cannot be translated as legal justice. Of course, legal justice is part of the definition of the word, but many other pesukim in the Torah indicate that the real meaning incorporates elements of compassion, righteousness, charity, fairness, and equity. To translate the word into English, any word in English, is to lose meaning. 


Not only is the word difficult to understand in its complexity, but the Torah also repeats it. There are other parts of the Torah when words are repeated. During the akeiah, אַבְרָהָ֣ם's name is repeated: "אַבְרָהָ֣ם אַבְרָהָ֣ם," (Bereshit 22:11). The Ibn Ezra understands that the repetition is a sign of urgency. Here too, it could be that the word צֶ֥דֶק is repeated to indicate that it is urgent that the Jewish people act. The Kotzker Rebbe understands the repetition in a different way. He explained that we need to use the principles of צֶ֥דֶק not only to determine the outcome of what we want to achieve but also the means in which we achieve it. The final result having צֶ֥דֶק is not sufficient in this understanding; it's also the choices we make to get there. 


When explaining this phrase, both Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks and the Kotzker Rebbe understand that it would be possible to only think of צֶ֥דֶק as being surface-level. In one case, it's only thinking of צֶ֥דֶק through a legal lens, and in the other, it's only thinking of צֶ֥דֶק as being about outcomes. There's a deeper significance that can't be conveyed simply and therefore needs further reflection. In our experience returning to school this week, it also wasn't simple. It was a mixture of happiness and sadness. While this means that reflection is difficult, the reminder of צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף is an inspiring way in thinking of how to take our next step. It is a reminder that the most important thing that we can do is to continue to act with צֶ֥דֶק as we speak with our teachers and our friends and as we approach our learning. And iyh by acting with צֶ֥דֶק, soon we will be zoche to live in a time that is just filled just with simcha.





Shabbat Shalom,

Dr. Seidenfeld

Nir Rubin Inspires Students With His Heartfelt Speech

Graphic by Esti Distenfeld ('26)


This week on Tuesday the KYHS student body and staff was privileged to hear from Nir Rubin, an Israeli hero. Nir took us through his journey of being in Lebanon in 2006 to fight for our homeland, Eretz Yisroel. Nir described the hardship of fighting and the adversity he faced while fighting Hisbala in Arab territory. Nir truly made the audience feel part of his journey with him by describing it in such detail and acting everything out. He also plays every instrument which helps him portray the mood of the scene. He shared one story about how he was looking over at a terrorist with a sniper, but then all of a sudden ducked. Everyone understood the immediate danger he was in, but then screamed “BANG” as he was being shot at. Despite this horrific experience, no one could believe what he was about to say next. He shared that when the shooting was over, he looked back and noticed that the shots were in the exact place where he had been. The amount of appreciation he had for Hashem in that moment showed everyone the intricate ways in which Hashem runs the world and how the smallest moment can save someone's life. Nir shared that his own wedding was only a week later, and one inch could have changed everything for him and his loved ones.


Overall, Nir shared his heroic stories and made it clear that they are not his stories, but those of the Jewish nation to share. The Jews are all brothers with Hashem guiding and helping us overcome adversity wherever we go. Nir is a prime example of this. Am Yisroel Chai!



Article by Avi Harris ('26)

Check Out Our New Highlites Podcast!

With Hostesses Rebecca Freedman ('25) and Rhyan Rackman ('25)


Our first episode features an interview with former Israeli soldier Nir Rubin. Thank you to Aaron Rosenhouse ('25) for filming and editing! Keep an eye for more episodes!


Click here for the Podcast

Disconnect to Reconnect

KYHS Updates their Phone Policy

Graphic by Ezra Dimont ('25)


This year, the KYHS administration has decided to make crucial changes to both the phone policy and student schedules. Just last week, Rabbi Lanner sent out an email saying that phones were effectively banned “until the end of third period.” Furthermore, Shimmy Kaminetzky and other faculty members have been presenting multiple schedule changes over the past month that impact everyone. While many are fine with these new adjustments, others are finding it hard to accept them.



Adam Ribault (‘25) had just entered third period when he had his phone out last week. “It was just after I was looking at my schedule,” Adam says, that his teacher confiscated the device. He continued, saying that looking at phones “is a habit, and it takes a while to get used to.” Although, Adam is not the only one that shares this sentiment; According to Rabbi Lanner, seven students similarly had their phones taken away last Friday. Many more doubt that the policy will do much in the way of curbing distractions. “I can’t notice a change. I don’t think it’s making much of a difference,” said one anonymous student who was concerned that people would just use other devices, such as Ipads and computers, to get around the phone ban. The administration, meanwhile, seems confident that the change is working; “I'm sure we will do even better next week,” Rabbi Lanner emailed after the first day the policy was implemented.


However, possibly more important to students were the schedule changes introduced this year. At the beginning of August, an email was sent out outlining the bulk of these revisions, with one of the most major ones making school start at 8:15 instead of 8:20. While only five minutes earlier, this seemingly small change is hard to get used to; this is especially true for upperclassmen, who have spent the majority of their high school careers starting at 8:20 and now have to push their morning schedule back five minutes. The changes made with lunch are also problematic; this year, some students have lunch at separate times, making it tougher to meet up with friends throughout the day and harder to “reconnect,” which was one of the major goals of the new phone policy. A few students have even ended up having a class during their lunch period, taking away a critical time that is often used to unwind from the stresses of high school. Universally praised, however, is the proposed early dismissal on Fridays for daylight saving time, which would leave only six periods that day. Such a schedule would let students be able to relax after a long week of school and prepare for Shabbos with a lot less pressure.



Article by Sammy Jacobs ('25)

Home Away From Home

Graphic by Joshua Reich ('25)


The smell of new school shoes, newly sharpened pencils, the cleanliness of your new school backpack, and a taste of hot lunch on the first day of school. These are the dreams we wonder about the night before the first day of school. That fluttery feeling of anticipation for the first day radiates through your body as you walk into the school building and everything comes to life. Your smile becomes brighter and your dreams, from the night before, of having the best school year comes into focus. 


Upon entering the school building the students are greeted with friendly smiles from peers and previous classmates. Everyone is ecstatic to continue their journey through the magical and turbulent high school experience together. Katz Yeshiva High School of South Florida welcomed back former students with opened arms while greeting Freshman and transfer students as well. KYHS students, faculty, and teachers are very excited about the newest additions to our school community. 


Abby Tache (‘25) remarked, “I was thrilled to finally come back to school. It was great to see all my friends and teachers again, as I am a senior this year and I have to soak up every last bit of my time at this school. This first day was the last one, but it was bittersweet for both myself and my classmates.” 


To kick off the new school year there was an assembly in the Beit Midrash to welcome all of the students back. The KOSL planned an event that was in the theme of the Olympics, as the Olympics just occurred. The teachers were each called up subject by subject to compete against each other. Some competitions were breakdancing contests, awesome synchronized walking, and talented archery. Shoutout to all the teachers who won gold medals and to the runners up who gave their best effort! 


We are all looking forward to strengthening and creating bonds with students and teachers and we can’t wait for an amazing school year to come.



Article by Miriam Marcus ('25)


Click Here for first week of School Recap Video

This Week in Pictures

Highlites credits will be updated by next week.