Graphic by Ezra Dimont ('25) and Netanel Asher ('28)

Good & Welfare

Engagements:

Ilana Rindsberg ('17) to Nathaniel Diamond from Palm Beach, FL

The month of Kislev is full of blessings and light. It’s a month of ניסים, miracles, not only in the past but also in the present and hopefully in the future. Hashem is the One who performs miracles but we can also attract those miracles by doing our part.

First, say thank you to Hashem every day, a few times a day.

We have learned in class and in my Shacharit group the importance of saying מזמור לתודה (Tehillim 100). It is so important to show Hashem gratitude. We must thank Him for everything we have. Hashem is so exceedingly kind to us, and even when we feel like things are tough and going the wrong way, we still need to thank Him. One day we will understand the reason for those challenges.

When you read Tehillim it's important to know what you are saying so that it will be meaningful and you can feel more connected to the words.

:מִזְמ֥וֹר לְתוֹדָ֑ה הָרִֽיעוּ לַֽ֜יהֹוָ֗ה כָּל־הָאָ

A song for a thanksgiving offering. Shout to the Lord, all the earth.

:עִבְד֣וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה בְּשִׂמְחָ֑ה בֹּ֥אוּ לְ֜פָנָ֗יו בִּרְנָנָֽה

Serve the Lord with joy, come before Him with praise.

:דְּע֗וּ כִּ֥י יְהֹוָה֘ ה֚וּא אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים ה֣וּא עָ֖שָׂנוּ וְל֣וֹ (כתיב וְלֹ֣א) אֲנַ֑חְנוּ עַ֜מּ֗וֹ וְצֹ֣אן מַרְעִיתֽוֹ

Know that the Lord is God; He made us and we are His, people and the flock of His pasture.

:בֹּ֚אוּ שְׁעָרָ֨יו | בְּתוֹדָ֗ה חֲצֵֽרֹתָ֥יו בִּתְהִלָּ֑ה ה֥וֹדוּ ל֜֗וֹ בָּֽרְכ֥וּ שְׁמֽוֹ

Come into His gates with thanksgiving, [into] His courtyards with praise; give thanks to Him, bless His name.

:כִּי־ט֣וֹב יְ֖הֹוָה לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּ֑וֹ וְעַד־דֹּ֥ר וָ֜דֹ֗ר אֱמֽוּנָתֽוֹ

For the Lord is good; His kindness is forever, and until generation after generation is His faith.

Second, have trust and faith: אמונה וביטחון. Hashem is always good and wants the best for us. Whatever happens, happens for a reason. Once you practice that, you will feel calm, relaxed and happy.

Third, STAY POSITIVE and wait for the miracles to happen!

Shabbat Shalom,

Morah Natalie Agajan

Israel Update:

Exploring the End of Syria's 60-Year-Long Dictatorship and How It Effects the Jewish State

Graphic by Esti Distenfeld ('26) and Mikayla Gottheil ('26)

Last weekend, the Syrian Arab Republic, the totalitarian state that ruled Syria for over sixty years, fell as opposition forces captured Damascus. The surprisingly swift takeover has shocked the world and carried major implications, especially for Israel.

Following their defeat in Israel’s War of Independence, Syria was under military rule as coups erupted throughout the 1950s. By the 1960s, the Ba’ath party, a socialist and Arab-nationalist organization, gained influence within the army and seized power in a coup in March 1963. From then on, the country was governed under a one-party dictatorship that aligned itself with anti-Western countries such as the Soviet Union (later Russia) and Iran. However, toward the end of the 20th century, dissent began to grow. In 2011, dissidents launched an uprising against the regime, igniting the Syrian Civil War. While the war reached a stalemate in 2020, opposition forces made a rapid push for the capital in recent weeks, toppling the government. Bashar al-Assad, one week ago a powerful tyrant, now lives in exile in Moscow.

What does this have to do with Israel, you ask? A lot, actually. As mentioned earlier, Ba’athist Syria was a close ally of Iran, effectively becoming part of a vast network of Iranian-backed militant groups in the Middle East known as the Axis of Resistance. In the past, Iran used Syria as a direct link to Hezbollah, and even sent terrorists to aid Syria during its civil war. Alongside the Israel-Hamas War, the fall of this Iranian-backed government is yet another blow to the Axis of Resistance, weakening its influence in the region and limiting Iran’s ability to threaten Israeli and Western interests.

But that’s not all. The ousting of a pro-Iranian regime could prove critical in securing a ceasefire with Hamas. Along with the recent deal negotiated with Hezbollah, the Ba’ath party’s fall has left Hamas isolated in its brutal war against Israel. When Hamas initiated the conflict over one year ago, it did so with the confidence that Iran’s allies in the north would provide support. Now that confidence is gone. 

So, was the fall of the Assad regime good for Israel? Well, yes and no. Abu Mohammad al-Julani, one of the most prominent of the rebel leaders, is viewed by the U.S. as a terrorist and was affiliated with Al-Qaeda until 2016, seeking to establish an Islamic State in Syria. While Julani has avoided denouncing Israel, many of the rebels around him haven’t. In a widely circulated video, one Syrian rebel declared, “From here to Jerusalem. We’re coming for Jerusalem. Patience, people of Gaza, patience.” Recognizing the potential threat, Israel entered Syria last weekend to secure the buffer zone established after the Yom Kippur War. Over the past few days, Israel has also launched hundreds of airstrikes into Syria in order to ensure that key military assets “won’t fall into the hands of the jihadists,” according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

So yes, there are certainly good things to come out of last week’s events for Israel. But Israel will need to be cautious as the new government takes shape. Given Syria’s recent history of violence—whether under the regime or jihadist groups—there’s a very real risk that the region will fall into chaos again if the current coalition fractures. A government forged through so much death sets a dangerous precedent of using violence as a means of taking power, so the next few months will be crucial for the new regime to legitimize and distance itself from the war it just won. And if it fails, Syria may become a danger not only to its own citizens, but also to its neighbor to the south.

Article by Sammy Jacobs ('25)

 The Road to College: Junior Edition

College Guidance Prepares 11th Graders at Junior College Night

Graphic by Adam Ribault ('25) and Ariella Ribault ('28)

On Wednesday night, December 11, all juniors were invited to attend a college planning presentation led by our very own College Guidance team: Mrs. LeMar, Mrs. Groveman, and Mr. Wolf. Each of our College Guidance staff presented a different part of a slideshow presentation, which helped the students understand what colleges expect to see from them.The presentation included the certain types of classes students should take, extracurriculars, and the timeline to apply to college. The College Guidance department also explained that students need to write their college essay during junior year. This is so integral to the process, not only to show colleges the amazing person you are but, more importantly, as a way to ask yourself: Who am I? Who is the person I want to become? How did I get to be the person I am today? These are all very important questions for anyone, but urgently important for those who are leaving for college and starting a new chapter in their life. 

Along with the excitement of thinking about college, planning for the future is also very frightening and intimidating. You are starting fresh by being in a new environment, making new friends, taking new classes, and living independently from your parents. Despite this somewhat scary new reality, there is so much one can gain from this experience if they go in with a positive mindset. The 12 years of schooling which students go through prepares them for the next chapter of their lives. During those first 12 years, students have parents, teachers, and rebbeim who care for them, nurture them, and teach them how and why to grow in all aspects of life. 

As a person goes through life, they should begin to think about the good that happens to them, have the mindset to ‘make it a great day,’ and try to inspire those around them. As a person grows, they begin to have new morals, new commitments, and new values they want to carry with them for the rest of their life. It is important to enter a new environment by embracing the values and things you find important, and not to be scared to show new people who you are all about. It is not enough to believe in the values you stand by, but to EMBODY them. 



Article by Avi Harris ('26)

That's a Wrap

Graphic by Talya Zaretsky ('27)

It’s that time of year. Spotify Wrapped is out. It's quite exuberant. It’s a reflection of everything we have been listening to this entire year.  It gives you the statistics on not only your most listened songs, but also artists and genres. With the help of AI, it looks at your music taste and finds other songs and artists it knows you will like.

I must say, the playlists they make for you are surprisingly suited to your exact taste. There are three types of people when it comes to Spotify. The first is the one who is somehow surprised that the music they were listening to all year ends up being the music the app tells them is the music they were listening to all year. The second are the people who swear that they haven’t listened to this artist since February, and the third is the person who refuses to show anyone their Wrapped because of how bad their music taste is. It is truly interesting seeing how other people choose to spend their time and what songs they listen to. However, Spotify Wrapped is more than just a data dump. It's a celebration of music and a chance to share your love of tunes with your friends. With interactive features you can proudly display your musical identity across social media. 

Students enjoy all different types of genres. It varies of course. Most of the student population at KYHS was tuning towards many Israeli artists this year amidst the war. It helped us connect to the land and feel a sense of unity with our brothers and sisters in Israel. Israeli pop was a huge genre this year, ranging from Omer Adam to Eden Hason. These Israeli artists brought a sense of zionism and achdut into upbeat tracks. Now driving to and from school most students are heard listening to these beats. 

So, whether you're a die-hard fan of a specific artist or a genre-hopper, there's something for everyone in Spotify Wrapped. Don’t be afraid to show off your music taste.

Article by Rami Samuels ('28)

Spreading Light

Pre-Med Inspiration Club Makes a Difference This Chanukah Season

Graphic by Technical Staff

Students in the Pre-Med Inspiration club had the opportunity to contribute to a Chanukah mitzvah through the Healing Hearts organization. Throughout the day, students wrote heartfelt letters to patients, spreading light and warmth with personalized messages wishing them a joyous holiday. We had the privilege to hear from Esti Klein, one of the founders of Healing Hearts, who discussed both the purpose of this amazing organization and the strong partnership with medical professionals that allows them to do what they do.  

In addition, the club worked together to assemble almost 100 gift bags filled with Chanukah treats, such as chocolate gelt and colorful dreidels, along with the cards to bring smiles to patients and their families during this time.

By participating in these meaningful activities, we aim to embody the values of kindness and connection that are essential to the medical field. These moments remind us that healing extends beyond physical care—it includes emotional support and acts of love and chesed.

The Pre-Med Inspiration Club looks forward to continuing our partnership with Healing Hearts and exploring more ways to make a difference in the lives of patients. Together, we are inspired to heal and grow as future medical professionals.

Article by Tali Leubitz ('25)

The Highlites Podcast:

BEHIND THE BLACKBOARD

(ft. New HOS Dr. Roni Raab)

With Hostesses Rebecca Freedman ('25)and Rhyan Rackman ('25)! Thank you to Aaron Rosenhouse ('25) for filming and editing!