Graphic by Serena Fialkoff ('27) | | |
Good & Welfare:
Births
LeeLee Borzak (‘10) and Coby Sloyer on the birth of their daughter Daria Sue (Devasha Sarah) named for Deena Borzak Z’L
Condolences
Dr. Eli and Dr. Meyer Cohen on the loss of their beloved father, Rabbi Mordechai Cohen
Tyler Bierly on the passing of his beloved father, Paul E. Bierly
Engagments
Lana Rosenthal (’17) to Jeremy Kardon from Silver Spring, MD
Brett Aiken (‘09) to Arianne Storch from Phoenix, AZ
Benny Frank (‘21) to Ellie Shron from Modi’in, Israel
Ariel Bugay (‘15) to Zehava Selig from Boca Raton, FL
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HP Moment of the Week
By Aviva Sered
Every day since January, I have been saying Tefillat Haderech before I drive or am driven to school. This bracha gives me the comfort of knowing that Hashem is protecting me on my journey, and when I say it, I recognize that my safety is completely in Hashem’s control.
This past Tuesday, however, I drove to school without saying Tefillat Haderech. I do not know why, but for the first time in months, I simply forgot. Still, Hashem protected me, and I arrived safely at both school and home. There were a few close calls on the road that day, but Hashem kept me, my carpool, and my car safe.
On the way home, a car suddenly swerved into my lane. Instinctively, I slammed on the brakes and turned into the lane beside me. Our cars collided, yet, Baruch Hashem, there was barely a mark on either car. More importantly, everyone was completely okay. The situation could have been so much worse. There could have been another car in the lane I swerved into, or I could have reacted a second too late and gotten into a serious accident.
In that moment, I realized something important: Hashem was reminding me Who is truly in control. In a split second, I swerved into another lane, and miraculously, there was no car there. If I cannot even fully control myself, how could I ever believe I can control every other driver on the road?
Hashem showed me that my safety is never in my own hands alone. He is the One guiding and protecting me. I do not believe I got into an accident because I forgot to say Tefillat Haderech. Rather, forgetting the bracha reflected a mindset of “I can get to school safely on my own.” The experience reminded me how wrong that thinking is.
I am not the one in control. I never was.
Hashem had to remind me that He is the true Driver, not me.
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Celebrating A Season Of Success
KYHS Hosts Their Annual Sports Banquet To Honor All Student Athletes
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Graphic by Matan Aghion ('29)
This past Wednesday night, our school celebrated the annual Sports Banquet, an awards ceremony that recognizes our KYHS athletic achievements and the student-athletes' hard work and dedication. Parents and students gathered in the school’s Beit Midrash to watch a beautiful video, made by Shemaya Zangre (‘27) and Mr. Zach Cohen. This video was filled with game highlights and candid moments that captured the strength, skill, and supportive environment of our KYHS sports teams. After watching the video, the coaches from each team went on stage to speak about their team’s achievements that season and present awards recognizing hard work and good sportsmanship. Each team gathered on the stage while the coaches announced the awards: Most Valuable Player, awarded to the athlete with the overall best performance; Most Improved Player, given to the teammate who showed significant progress and improvement since the start of the season; and the Coaches Award, recognizing the committed player who brought spirit, teamwork, and good energy to the team overall. One player who received the Coaches Award for the boys’ baseball team was Cobey Nadel (‘27), who said that “the Sports Banquet was an awesome time, as it is every year. It allows us to look back at all of our achievements and recognize our hard work each and every year.” Lastly, the ceremony ended with the KYHS Storm Award, recognizing two exceptional athletes, a boy and a girl, who demonstrated overall outstanding athletic ability and dedication across all sports. Congratulations to Abby Bienenfeld (‘26) and Golan Aghion (‘26) for winning the Annual Storm Award! GO STORM!
Article by Annabelle Sokal ('27)
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Crowned Queens
KYHS Rising Senior Girls Partake In Senior Crowning Tradition
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Graphic by Evie Lewinger ('27)
On Monday, May 18th, the junior class was officially crowned the Seniors of 2027! The incoming senior girls had a bonding experience on Sunday May 17th as they gathered at Annabelle Sokal’s (‘27) house. With bows, gems, and markers, each girl decorated her own unique senior crown. The almost-seniors shared laughs and smiles and ate from an assortment of pastas.
Photos were taken on phones and spammed on the newly named Senior Girls Chat. In accordance with KYHS tradition, the girls came to school that Monday dressed all in black with their crowns shining and illuminating the KYHS hallways. During breakfast, they celebrated their coronation by taking pictures on the outside patio.
Aviva Sered (‘27) shared her experience saying, “Senior crowning was the best night of my life. Cute pictures were added to my camera roll that were needed! My crown was made out of Lindor chocolates and although no one viewed my crown favorably, it was a big hit the next day!” Aviva’s crown seemed yummy, but others took different routes. “My crown was beautiful. I bedazzled the 27 and the ‘I’ in senior,” said Gabi Aghion (‘27). Emma Harow (‘27) described her crown, saying, “My crown is so pretty, and I matched it with my other friends and it got me so ready for senior year.” Let the fun of senior year begin!
Article by Paige Rackman ('27)
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Stepping Up To The Plate
KYHS Baseball Team Competes In Annual Columbus Torah Academy Baseball Tournament
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Graphic by Lexi Newman ('28)
This past week, the KYHS baseball team traveled all the way to the middle of nowhere (Columbus, Ohio) to participate in the Columbus Baseball Invitational Tournament, run by Columbus Torah Academy. Coming in ranked 15th out of 23 teams, the Storm put up a valiant effort. After a one-hit complete-game shutout against JEC from standout sophomore right-handed pitcher Aiden Olsen (‘28), the Storm were coming for SAR, ready to “bleed orange” (trademark pending approval). However, after an objectively blown call by the umpires that made national headlines and an ejection of fearless Coach Brian A. Domenico, the Storm were unable to secure the win. The loss really stung, as SAR was eventually able to win their third consecutive CBI championship, with no team coming nearly as close as the Storm were to knocking out the champs. Next, the Storm took on the Maimonides M-Cats (what even is an M-Cat, like why are you trying to be doctors?) out of Brookline, Massachusetts. The back-and-forth contest saw an incredible three-run bomb by senior 1B Evan Henner (‘26), but it was a valiant yet losing effort once again; the Storm lost in extra innings on a walk off two-run HR.
While it might seem like the Storm had been subdued, they went to sleep after an incredibly hype concert by Eitan Katz and Romanian Meats BBQ and woke up feeling like a category-six hurricane. Senior right-handed pitcher Jake Korchak (‘26) shut down the MTA Lions, holding them to two runs in a winning effort that was highlighted by a towering double off the top of the left field wall by yours truly. This performance was followed up by the Ida Crown Aces begging for mercy by the aforementioned future Storm ace, Aiden Olsen (‘28).
Captain and star four-year senior left-handed pitcher/outfielder Ronen Ben-Aharon (‘26) said that, “even when I felt we had no reason to win, we still managed to take care of business on the third day, and Baruch Hashem, it gave me an unbelievable finish to my high school baseball career.” Overall, the tournament was a resounding success and an awesome time. Junior outfielder Zachary Loberfeld (‘27) put it best: “We went there to prove everyone wrong, and even though we didn’t win, we made a name for Katz baseball.”
Article by Cobey Nadel ('27)
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Lessons Beyond The Classroom
KYHS Seniors Participate in Week long Seminars In Preparation For Life
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Graphic by Eitan Perl ('28)
This past week, KYHS seniors had the opportunity to attend a week of Senior Seminars. Senior Seminar week is a time when seniors no longer care about tests or taking notes, but instead learn meaningful and important lessons for life.
The program I found most impactful and educational was the seminar where we learned about the Chevra Kadisha and the Torah’s dignified approach to death and dying. We learned how a body is properly prepared before being laid to rest. Mrs. Rochel Berman, the leader of the Chevra Kadisha in South Florida, spoke about her connection and devotion to performing this mitzvah. What I found especially meaningful was how deeply she cares about something that many people do not even know about or think about.
What spoke to me the most was when she talked about her husband’s passing this past year. Like anyone who loses someone close to them, it was extremely difficult. However, Mrs. Berman explained that knowing how much care the Chevra Kadisha put into performing her husband’s tahara brought her comfort and peace. It made her feel that her husband was prepared to go to shamayim in such a holy and respectful way.
Furthermore, Mrs. Mirzoeff’s session on tahara also resonated with me. The specific story she shared about how her father cut his fingernails and toenails before he passed away truly encompassed the lessons and ideas we learned about tahara. Tahara is a very difficult and emotional process, and I think it is meaningful to see how intricate the details are in preparing the body, and how careful and respectful the people performing it must be. Every action is done with such dignity, sensitivity, and kavod for the person who passed away.
Other seminars included CPR training, the importance of taharat hamishpacha and how it helps create a pure and meaningful marriage while raising a healthy family, as well as how to respond when confronted with antisemitism.
Overall, the seminars were extremely educational and meaningful experiences that taught me lessons I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Article by Avi Harris ('26)
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