Graphic by Technical Staff

Good and Welfare:

Births:

Lilly (Katz ‘14) and Ezra Gontownick on the birth of a baby boy

Ariella (Len ‘13) and Ezra Miller on the birth of a baby girl 

Jacob Berger (‘16) and Miri Cadranel on the birth of a baby boy

Marriages:

Eliana (Loskove ‘16) and Jacob Levenson (‘11) both from Boca Raton, FL - KYHS’s 25th couple!

Engagements:

Shmuel Belizon (‘20) to Tamar Felman from Teaneck, NJ

Nadia Bakst (‘20) to Jonathan Scheiner (‘07) both from Boca Raton, FL - KYHS’s 26th couple!

Upcoming Events:

Yom Kippur

Oct 11th- 12th

Sukkot Break

Oct 16th- 27th

Over summer break I took my kids ice skating, and the rink was basically empty except for a small group of older men. These men were nearing 80 and were skating around the rink leaning on the walkers meant for first-time skaters. As I was watching my kids circle the ice and cheering them on, I couldn't help but watch these older men make their way happily around the rink.

When the men came off the ice, I asked them how often they came skating. They told me that they all used to be serious skaters in their youth but they haven't gone in decades. They all decided to give it a try again because they always loved it so much. Because of their age, they realized that as a precaution they should use walkers because a fall could be truly catastrophic. 

After our conversation I was so inspired by these men. Despite the difficulty and the time that had passed, they were committed to experience skating again! We were all born as pure neshamot that were close to Hashem, but as we’ve aged we might have grown closer to Hashem in some ways but have undoubtedly strayed from Him in other ways. Before Yom Kippur it's incumbent upon us to make the effort to return to that closeness with Hashem, even if it means making accommodations to get there. After all that’s what the word teshuvah means: return. So before Yom Kippur, let’s find a way to return to Hashem even if we need to make some accommodations to get there. Wishing us all a meaningful Yom Kippur, and may Hashem answer all of our tefillot l’tova with an imminent geulah.

Gmar V'chatima Tova,

Mrs. Michal Zisquit

One Year Later

KYHS Commemorates the October 7th attacks

Graphic by Ezra Dimont ('25)

October 7th, 2023 devastated millions of Jews throughout the world. We lost too many of our brothers and sisters at the hands of a despicable terrorist organization. Every day, we mourn the brutalization and unspeakable acts that occurred on that horrifying day. Our hearts ache, and the Katz Yeshiva High School student body ends our daily Shacharit with a perek of Tehillim, conveying our hope that each day will finally be the day that we “bring our hostages home.” 

Although each day we yearn for the safety of our soldiers and captives, this past Monday, October 7th, 2024 was different. October 7th will always be different. As students entered the school, we were confronted by smiling faces – pictures of so many of the fallen. Unfortunately, seeing each image caused our own smiles to fade as we recognized the tremendous loss of the hundreds of people whose faces surrounded us. Before us was an exhibit that told the stories of each individual who lost their life at the hands of terrorism. This set the grieving tone for the day. 

The hallways were flooded with tears as students carried siddurim with them throughout the day, hoping and praying that our tefillot would make a difference. The open doors of the Beit Midrash invited students to learn in honor of our family far away. Our student body united by creating Tehillim groups, as we have done throughout the year. Still, Monday was different. We truly felt the pain of such a dark day.

Arms linked in the center of the school, we sang. We mourned. We cried. And we will continue to sing, mourn, and cry to commemorate everyone we lost and everyone we still fight for. October 7th will forever be remembered, continuing to unite our student body and the Jewish nation as we plead for the safe return of our hostages and the protection of our precious homeland.

Article by Riley Spitz ('25)

 More Than Just Practice

Exploring the Importance of the PSAT

Graphic by Adam Ribault ('25)

The PSAT exam, often just thought of as a simple practice run for the SAT, holds greater significance for students nationwide than commonly thought. Although it is just a test, it is also a checkpoint for each student, allowing them to see how ready for college they are at different stages in high school. The PSAT shows students which areas they do well in and where they may need to improve, helping them better prepare for future challenges like the SAT or ACT.

One of the most important aspects of the PSAT is its connection to the National Merit Scholarship Program. High-scoring students can qualify for this prestigious scholarship, which not only provides financial support for college but also elevates a resume by including this huge achievement. 

The PSAT’s impact goes even beyond the individual and their personal score. It is a shared experience for students across the country, bringing them together as they see the national average of everyone who took it. This allows students to see how they compare to their peers on a national level, motivating them to improve and perform better as the real SAT comes closer. The PSAT shows people that hard work pays off and gets rewarded.  

Lastly, the PSAT is more than just another test, it’s a key component of students’ academic careers that shapes their academic journeys and allows for opportunities that can significantly impact their futures.

Article by Karen Lazar ('25)

The Hurricane Hub

Graphic by Esti Distenfeld ('26)

Hurricane season is upon us. Floridians were still recovering from the extensive destruction caused by Hurricane Helene when Hurricane Milton struck, making landfall near Sarasota as a Category 3 storm. As the fifth hurricane hitting the Gulf Coast this year, students are experiencing a plethora of emotions. Sarah Leff (‘27) expressed her gratitude and relief for the situation by saying, “I am really thankful that the hurricane didn’t hit anywhere near the school or my home. I am also appreciative of the day off of school because now I can take a break from studying and school work.” Batsheva Smierc (‘25) showed her fear and apprehension for the situation and explained, “I am glad we are off of school, but it is  hard to enjoy it with the uncertainty.” The hurricane's path from the west to the north led to vastly different experiences across the state. With winds reaching 100 mph, tornado outbreaks, and storm surges, the storm claimed at least six lives, left over three million without power, and caused about 18 inches of flooding in some areas. 

South Florida students’ encounters with wind, flooding, and tornadoes differed from those in the west and north. The only "wind" our students experienced was from their overheating computers, exploring apps beyond Google Classroom. As the night progressed, the rapid pace of thumbs scrolling on TikTok took on a tornado-like frenzy. It appears the weather mistook Coach Ruffo’s email as a cancellation of the real storm instead of the KYHS Storm sports teams. 

In all seriousness, while we are thankful for our safety, it’s essential to acknowledge the severe losses endured by others nearby. Together we can bring our community hope and resilience. I wish everyone safety and a future where our largest inconvenience is receiving too many pictures of sunsets.

Article by Abby Tache ('25)

The Highlites Podcast

With Hostesses Rebecca Freedman ('25)and Rhyan Rackman ('25)

This episode covers an interview with 3 KYHS Freshman Students and how they're adjusting to a new school environment. Thank you to Aaron Rosenhouse ('25) for filming and editing!

Click here for the Podcast