Graphic by Esti Distenfeld ('26)

Upcoming Events:

Blood Drive

Nov. 4th

Election Day

Nov. 5th

Girls Basketball Tournament

Nov. 6th- 10th

KYHS Boys Shabbaton

Nov. 8th- 10th

Girls Yom Iyun

Nov. 8th

End of Qaurter 1 (9th-11th Grade)

Nov. 11th

Good & Welfare:

Alumni Mazel Tovs:

Ayala Broide ('17) and Jake Mannis on the birth of a baby boy.

Saphira Samuels ('21) on her engagement to Yehuda Fuchs of Woodmere, NY

Faculty Mazel Tovs:

Mrs. Jessica Reichwald and her husband Mr. Yona Groffman (and big brother Jack) on the birth of a baby boy.

Mrs. Michal Zisquit and Mrs. Lysee Stein on finishing their 2nd Sefer b'Chavruta!

Condolences:

Dr. Michelle Slesinger on the passing of her beloved father, Dr. Robert Berkowitz

Ms. Natalie Agajan on the passing of her beloved father, Shimon Keslacy

Mrs. Julie Schrager on the passing of her beloved father, Carl Schwartz

In the first two Parshiyot of Bereishit, Hashem creates the world, destroys the world, and then recreates the world. Notably, in both the original creation and in the recreation, the Torah states that man is created בצלם אלקים – in the image of God. However, the context in which the phrase appears is significantly different in each account, imparting a vastly different lesson as a result. In Bereishit 1, the pasuk simply tells us that Hashem “created man in His image, male and female He created them” (Bereishit 1:26-27). In contrast, in Bereishit 9, upon recreating the world, the pasuk tells us “whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God, He made man” (Bereishit 9:6).

In the first creation account, man may have felt empowered by his unique status, interpreting his likeness to God as a mandate to dominate creation. This sense of power, however, quickly led to a moral decline so severe that “the earth was corrupt before God and the earth was filled with wrongdoing” (Bereishit 6:11).

In the account of the recreation of the world, however, the reader is directed toward a different understanding: that ALL people are created in the image of God. This narrative emphasizes the ethical and moral obligations that bind humanity. It teaches us that recognizing the divinity in others is foundational to understanding the value of life and the moral prohibition against harming another person. It spells out the idea that it is only when an individual sees that all men are Godly that he can also understand that taking the life of another person is wrong; it is only when an individual sees that all men are Godly that he can find the worth in another person.

Rabbi Sacks offers insight into the contrast between these two stories by referencing a mishna in Sanhedrin (4:5): “When a human being makes many coins in the same mint, they all come out the same. God makes us all in the same mint, the same image, His image, and we all come out different.” Before the flood, man is asked to recognize his own divine image; afterward, he is urged to recognize that others–distinct and varied–are also made in the image of God.

It is often easy to see the good and the divine in those closest to us. Parshat Noach teaches us that it may be even more critical to recognize the divine spark in those who are different from us. In our fractured world, let us each consider what our lives would look like if we sought the divine within every person we encounter.

Shabbat Shalom,

Mrs. Melissa Perl

Senior Sunrise

Class of 2025 Davens at the Gorgeous Boca Beach

Photo by Rabbi Akiva Wolk

This past Tuesday, KYHS seniors gathered to uphold a cherished school tradition: Senior Sunrise Minyan. Held at the scenic South Beach Park Pavilion in Boca Raton, the event provided an uplifting milestone in the seniors’ final year at KYHS with an early morning Shacharit minyan as the sun rose over the ocean. Starting the day a little earlier than usual, students arrived at 7 a.m. and enjoyed the serene beach setting while engaging in this reflective and spiritually-enriching experience. Waking up early might feel challenging, but there's something uniquely exciting about starting the day with the sun.

Senior Sunrise Minyan isn’t just about davening; it’s an opportunity for seniors to connect with one another and share a meaningful moment of reflection and unity. Timed perfectly, the sun rose as shmoneh esrei was recited, and it was a beautiful and inspirational experience. After davening, the seniors split up to have breakfast: the boys headed to Eliyah Ehrlich’s ('25) house, while the girls gathered at Talia Hochner’s ('25), where they enjoyed delicious breakfasts before returning to school. While at breakfast, the seniors heard wonderful divrei torah from Eitan Landau ('25) and Tali Ohayon ('25).

For KYHS seniors, the Senior Sunrise Minyan is a special time to pause and appreciate the moments of their final year at KYHS. They had the chance to reflect on their formative years of high school and get excited about what the next year will bring. Seniors are lucky to daven in front of the beautiful backdrop of sunrise—a fitting metaphor for the journey ahead.

Article by Emma Seghi ('25)

Procrastination–Everybody Does It.

What rationalizations do students use to push things off?

Graphic by Adam Ribault ('25)

People say that high school is supposed to be the best and worst years of your life. On one hand, high school is such a fun and exciting experience with friends, chagigahs, color war, fun classes, talent shows, and more special and regular amazing school days. On the other hand, high school is also a stressful experience with projects, tests, SAT/ACTs, regular school work and long hours. One really difficult thing that many students struggle with and desire to overcome is procrastination. 

Throughout my high school career, procrastination has been a challenge for me because I sometimes lack the motivation to sit down and get work done, as most students do. My main procrastination struggle is being on my phone so a tip I have is to put your phone in a different room. It may sound silly, but try it and see how it goes! Or, if you are not ready to have a wall separating you and your phone just yet, put it on the do not disturb setting and check it after you have completed your work. Although most upperclassmen still struggle with procrastination, we’ve realized a few things. For example, “When I don’t procrastinate, I have room to do the things I love so that’s my motivation,” said Izzie Gately (‘26). Izzie recently released her original song, “Tissues”, on Spotify, and manages to balance her schoolwork and musical passion by motivating herself to get done what needs to get done so she can have time for what she truly loves. 

Even if a student enters high school with the motivation to do work, this motivation can falter at times. Eden Pardau (‘26) explained, “It can be really difficult to stay motivated and avoid procrastination specifically with SAT preparation, which requires multiple hours of practice throughout the week, when I have so many other tasks that I need to accomplish. However, knowing the hard work I am putting in now will benefit me in my future years, I am able to positively view my work as the foundation for the rest of my life and not just a burden.” Staying motivated and getting your work done is such an important aspect of high school that students should capitalize on and appreciate because it shapes their futures and it can be highly beneficial in the long run. 

Article by Amira Kahn ('25)

"How To"

How To Transition Back to School After a Long Holiday

Graphic by Serena Fialkoff ('27)

How do you transition back to school from all the holidays? This is a question people have never truly found the answer to. The night before the return to school is approaching and the sun is going down. You are eventually going to need to go to sleep, wake up the next morning, and get ready, but you can't accept it. You tell yourself you are going to go to sleep “early.” However, early has become 12am, 2am, and even 5am during the recent break. You tell yourself you will make your lunch the night before, lay out your clothes, and maybe even wake up early to start the day off right. Lies! The worst part about all of this is that I am required to share the BEST way to get back in the school mindset, yet I struggle with it more than anyone. No matter what you think or what you plan on doing you will always end up doing an assignment last minute, despite the fact that you had two weeks to do it. 

The morning comes and you forgot to pack your lunch, there are assignments on Google Classroom that you still need to get done, and you are running around, looking for the right hoodie to wear. You get in the car to drive to school, you close your eyes, and you start jamming out. The stress, maybe the tears, the lack of sleep…it all goes away when you turn on your favorite song and jam out with your carpool. The vibes are “immaculate” as some would say, and you feel a true sense of unity with those singing the same song around you. Then you get to school, see your friends, and realize life is good after all! Despite being stressed and despite wearing the wrong hoodie, your mind instantly goes back into “school mode” – not necessarily because you want it to, but it's here and you have to make the most of it. School is a mindset. 

Each day you have to wake up with the mindset that you were given the opportunity to be better. Show your teachers the amazing person you are instead of sleeping through class and wishing you were on break. School gives you that chance to learn new subjects, but more importantly to learn about yourself. Use to your advantage the rebbeim, teachers, friends, and the environment to find out the special person you are right now and who you are trying to become. 

Article by Avi Harris ('25)