Graphic by Technical Staff

Upcoming Events:

Early Dismissal 

Dec. 24th - 25th

MAP Exam (9th Grade)

Dec. 25th

First Night of Chanukah

Dec. 25th

Chanukah Break

Dec. 27th

Good & Welfare:

Births:

Shira Wolkowicz (‘10) and Gav Blum on the birth of a baby girl

Condolences:

Yanive (and Jade) Dahan on the passing of their beloved mother, Rosette Dahan Bat Sulika

In this week’s Parsha, Parshat Vayeishev,  we read about the tragic sale of Yosef. There are numerous lessons we can learn from the story, many of which the freshmen class delves into in their Chumash class! I want to focus on one seemingly innocuous comment of Rashi.  Famously, Reuven steps in to save Yosef from the brothers and tells them that they should put Yosef in a pit. It is clear that Reuven intends to come back to the pit and to save Yosef later. Meanwhile, the brothers sell Yosef into slavery and Reuven is seemingly unaware that this happened. Rashi wonders where Reuven went, and he offers two suggestions. Either that it was his appointed day to take care of Yaakov, or that Reuven was busy repenting for the time that he switched his father’s bed (see Beraishit chapter 35 verse 22). 

Rav Soloveitchik wonders, according to the second answer of Rashi, why was Reuven doing teshuva at this specific moment. Apparently he had not done it yet, so what spurred him to do it  now. He answers that Reuven finally became aware of what he had done. Reuven understood that the brothers hated Yosef, and he even understood why they wanted to harm him. However, what Reuven could not understand was how the brothers could actually follow through on their bad intentions knowing how much it would hurt their father Yaakov. Why didn’t the brothers' respect for Yaakov hold them back from harming Yosef? 

Rav Soloveitchik answers that in that very moment Reuven realized that his own previous disrespect of Yaakov had given license to the brothers to be disrespectful of Yaakov now. Having finally realized the gravity of what he had done earlier, he immediately began the process of teshuva for that earlier action!

May we do our best to realize the impact of our own actions, to be introspective and honest with ourselves and to take responsibility for our actions just like Reuven did.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Benjy Horowitz

National Anything Covered In Chocolate Day

Milk or Dark Chocolate? Which Do You Prefer?

Graphic by Ezra Dimont ('25)

History has been defined by debates. Ever since humans left their caves and picked up stone tools, we have debated with each other. Let me clear. I am not talking about debates where we dress up all civilized and debate petty things like politics and taxes. I’m referring to those debates that truly divide us, that split society down the middle. Those debates that end relationships. Crunchy or smooth peanut butter? Chocolate or vanilla? Nike or adidas? Serious topics of that nature. 

This week we celebrated National Anything Covered in Chocolate Day. Naturally, the old feud was reignited: Dark or Milk Chocolate? I took to the hallways of Katz Yeshiva High School to find out. 

Before we begin this study it is important to understand something. White chocolate is a lie. There’s a reason it’s not part of this debate. Enough said. 

My first instinct when KYHS got rocked with this debate was to ask the boys what they thought. After conducting thorough research I found out that the average senior boy likes milk chocolate more than dark chocolate. But this is understandable. Senior boys are not sophisticated enough to value the nuance of dark chocolate. Thus, the search for the truth continues. 

The next opinion I encountered is an important one to focus on. I asked Adel Nyer (‘25), renowned chocolate enthusiast, for her thoughts on the matter. She responded quickly, “Dark chocolate ALL THE WAY.” Wow! Such enthusiasm for dark chocolate! Perhaps KYHS is a dark chocolate school?  

But right when I was making these conclusions, Akiva Lanner ('26), known chocolate enjoyer, butted in. He explained to me that “Milk chocolate is obviously better.” Looking at his face, it was clear he believed in his opinions incredibly strongly. I had never seen such conviction. 

Now I’m left confused. The questions remain unanswered. I can barely walk these halls without shuddering. Who can I trust? When I’m sitting in class, is the person next to me a dark chocolate hater? There’s one thing I know for sure: The Great Chocolate Debate will never be solved. 

Article by Elisha Horowitz ('25)

 A Night to Remember

KYHS Faces off against DKJA for the Annual White Out Games

Graphic by Esti Distenfeld ('26)

This past Motzei Shabbat, the KYHS gym was filled with excitement and school spirit as students, parents, and teachers gathered for the annual Whiteout Game, donning their white attire to show support for both the Girls and Boys Varsity teams. While the Whiteout Game has traditionally been a soccer match, this year we decided to switch things up and take a shot at showcasing our talented peers on the basketball court.

Both teams played with incredible energy and skill against the DKJA Eagles. The Girls Varsity team truly took the game by storm, securing an impressive 50-30 victory. The boys, despite a valiant effort, faced a tougher challenge. While they kept the score close for much of the game, they ultimately fell short, with the final score ending 53-69. Still, our Boys Varsity team demonstrated outstanding teamwork, skill, and achdus, making us all proud.

The games were livestreamed, and the spirited commentary from our very own Ronen Ben-Aharon ('26) and Elisha Weisstuch ('26) kept the energy high throughout. Their lively, knowledgeable play-by-play was a highlight, adding to the excitement and sense of community.

The stands were filled with fans showing their support, some even holding up signs to cheer on their teammates. One particularly memorable sight was when senior girls printed out cutouts of their friends' faces from the Boys Varsity team and waved them around throughout the game. It was clear that the school spirit was alive and well in the air! 

Emma Harow ('27), a key player on the Girls Varsity team, shared that “it felt like the whole school came to support us. After the girls' game, I looked around and it felt like a big family." Win or lose, the Whiteout Game was a celebration of our strong community, school spirit, and the incredibly talented athletes who represent our school. 

Together, we cheered, we supported, and we strengthened our school pride, making the night one to remember!

Article by Eden Pardau ('26)

Graphic by Joshua Reich ('25)

 A Special Message for Our Boys' Soccer Team

Graphic by Aaron Rosenhouse ('25)

What an incredible 4-0 win by our boys’ soccer team last night! But something even more meaningful happened that I have to share. After the match, the opposing coach, who has coached Lake Worth Christian for many years, pulled me aside. He shared how much he appreciates playing against our team, saying that our student-athletes and coaches always treat them with such respect and kindness—something they rarely experience with other schools. He said we are gracious competitors, win or lose, and that our sportsmanship stands out.

Not all of our players are star athletes or top students, and like all young people, some occasionally make poor choices. But moments like this remind me that we’re helping to raise not just student athletes, but truly good humans. And isn’t that what the world needs most? Proud of this team, on and off the field.

Message from Assistant Coach Mr. Jeff Toms