Yeshiva Highlites

Graphic by Serena Fialkoff ('27)

Good & Welfare:

Births

Ronit (Wallerstein ‘11) and Sruly Goodman on the birth of a baby girl, Leora Shalva

Tamara and Harry Pearl (‘13) on the birth of a baby girl

Hannah (Baum ‘10) and Joey Levieddin on the birth of a baby boy, Lior Matan

Moshe and Chana (Phillips ‘18) on the birth of a baby boy

Faculty Mazel Tovs

Mazel tov to Hila Mizrahi on the birth of her first granddaughter Leviya, to Anael (Cogan ‘21) and Ben Kishineff

Upcoming Events:

Summer Break

Jun. 13 - Aug. 26

HP Moment of the Week

By Stella Flasterstein

Hashem once revealed Himself to me in a very unexpected way. But before I tell you my story, here is some background information: Almost every Friday before Shabbat, I have a violin lesson. My teacher has a policy that if a family cancels a lesson with less than 24 hours' notice, they must pay full price for the missed lesson.

One Thursday a few months ago, I was thrilled to be out of school since the next day was Yom Tov. With the extra free time I had, I was finally able to take a break from the demanding workload that many juniors face during the middle of the school year and spend more time with my family. I was calmly chatting with my mom in the living room, discussing friendships, schoolwork, and the like, when suddenly we realized I had a violin lesson booked the next day—on Yom Tov!

Moving at what seemed like the speed of light, my mom quickly checked her phone to see how many hours we had left before the lesson. Just by looking at her expression, I could tell that we had already passed the 24-hour cut-off. Both internally kicking ourselves, my mom and I could not believe how we had been so forgetful as to not tell my teacher in advance. Now we were going to have to pay for keeping Yom Tov.

My teacher is not Jewish, but he has worked with many Jewish students. He knew I could not play on Yom Tov, let alone drive to get to the lesson. Maybe he would make an exception.

“Quickly, call him!” I exclaimed.

My mom called—no answer. She texted him—no answer. There was nothing we could do but wait.

Finally, my mom came to me with a stunned expression. He had messaged back that he completely understood the mistake and that we did not have to pay one penny. My anxious expression melted away as relief overcame me. Baruch Hashem!

Within less than thirty seconds of this episode, I realized what Hashem was trying to tell me. As I have been trying to grow spiritually, feeling close to Hashem still felt far away. Even though I knew Hashem cared, I did not always feel it. I am so small compared to the entire world. Why would Hashem care?

But this fiasco showed me that Hashem really does care about the growth we achieve, every single one of us. Hashem would never let someone who tries to be close to Him lose out because of it. That is why I think my teacher made that exception. I could not help laughing to myself, thinking that, unlike how Hashem hardened Pharaoh’s heart, He softened my teacher’s heart.

Hashem is our Father. He wants a relationship with His children. He will help pave the way for us to ensure that we are able to come closer to Him. He gifted us the Torah so that we would have 613 ways to connect to Him. We should take every opportunity we get to connect to Hashem because He loves us and wants to be near us. He will always help us come closer, as long as we show interest and take the first steps.

Student Standoff

KYHS Students Debate Whether The First Or Last Week Of School Is Better

Graphic by Lexi Newman ('28)

The last week of school is better than the first week of school for multiple reasons. Although the first week of school is filled with uncertainty, the last week of school is a time when students can finally relax, celebrate their accomplishments from the hard work they put in, and enjoy spending time with friends before everyone goes on their own path for the summer.

One reason the last week of school is better is because students are already comfortable with teachers, peers, and daily routines. During the first week, many students feel nervous due to their adjustment to new classes and expectations. Schools often spend the first week reviewing rules and procedures, which can feel repetitive and stressful. By the last week, students are comfortable in their environment and can focus on enjoying their time at school rather than worrying about what to expect. Although the last week can be stressful because of finals, Merav Skoczylas (‘27) says, “The last week of school is better because there's no work.” This quote shows that students often view the final week as fun, even if they have to prepare for final exams.

Argued by Ethan Stern ('28)

School is a place where many people come from different backgrounds and communities to learn and to prepare themselves for their futures. During their four years at high school, students make friends that they otherwise would not have met and sometimes build relationships that last through adulthood. The whole school year offers time to connect and continue to build these relationships, but it is limited to the school year since many people have different summer plans and activities, causing them to not interact with some of their friends.

For many, the first week of school is a joyous time since people are able to finally reconnect with their friends in person after a summer away. Rising senior Avi Weinstock (‘27) explained how “school gives people a way to see each other after a lonely summer.” It provides an opportunity to strengthen bonds, begin new chapters within existing friendships, and simultaneously build new ones. Therefore, the first week of school clearly trumps the last week of school in its individual and social impact on students.

Argued By Jackie Kershner ('27)

The Final Prep

KYHS Students Prepare For Their Finals Exams

Graphic by Eitan Perl ('28)

With final exams beginning, students around KYHS are busy preparing for what can easily be one of the most stressful times of the school year. While some students are counting down the days until summer vacation, others are busy organizing notes, reviewing old tests, and trying to remember everything they’ve learned since August.

One of the most effective ways to prepare for finals is to keep all of your notes organized. Having class materials in one place can save valuable time and make studying much less overwhelming. Instead of digging through backpacks and folders looking for missing worksheets, students can focus on reviewing the material that will actually appear on their exams. Another helpful strategy is reviewing old tests and quizzes. Since many final exams cover concepts taught throughout the year, previous assessments can provide insight into important topics and common mistakes. Looking back at past work can help students identify areas where they may need additional practice before their exam. Many students also find it useful to create review sheets that summarize key concepts, formulas, vocabulary, and other important information. Condensing months of material into a few pages can make studying feel more manageable and help students focus on the most essential content. Flashcards and Quizlets are also great resources! Isabelle Snow (‘27) shared her approach to preparing for finals, saying, “Making a review sheet helps me keep everything organized and shows me what I still need to study before the exam.” Similarly, Baila White (‘27) emphasized the importance of looking back at old assessments: “Reviewing previous tests helps me remember what we learned earlier in the year and gives me a better idea of what might be on the final.”

As finals season approaches, students are encouraged to stay organized, start studying early, and take advantage of the resources available to them. With preparation and a positive mindset, finals can be much more manageable. Good luck to everyone taking exams, and may the countdown to summer begin!

Article by Liel Levy ('27)