Graphic by Gabriella Asher ('25)

Upcoming Events:



Sep. 28th

Selichot Programming for 10th, 11th, and 12th Graders- 9:15PM

Oct. 2nd- 4th

Rosh Hashanah

As we embark on a New Year, it’s near impossible to imagine Rosh Hashanah a year ago. Imagine us as we sat in shul, davening and beseeching Hashem to provide for us, our family, our community and the collective Jewish people a year of peace and prosperity. Can we even believe the kind of year that we experienced? We have felt the din of Yom HaDin. And here we are again approaching the King with an entirely different perspective. My visit to Eretz Yisrael, this past January, included a shiva visit to dear friends of ours who lost their 33 year old son who was fighting in Gaza — and that is only one snapshot of the loss that we collectively have experienced.

Rosh Hashanah is highlighted with the blowing of the shofar, but specifically the broken sound which the Torah describes as the teruah. Over the years, we have collected multiple traditions of how to create that broken sound, and we do numerous variations in order to ensure that we get the sound right, but principally and primarily it’s a broken sound. The Talmud teaches us that it is the sound of crying which dovetails with the theme of the day. It’s equally important to note that every broken sound that is produced on Rosh Hashanah is bracketed by a complete sound both before and after: the tekiah. And so with every occasion of blowing the shofar, It comes in the form of a complete sound - broken sound - complete sound. What is the significance of having these tekiot bookend every teruah?

Perhaps the Torah is presenting to us the proper posture and perspective that we are all to have when confronted with challenges and tragedy. Despite the fact that we are broken on the inside, the surrounding solid sounds are there to support and hold us up. We can be broken but at the same time present an unbroken attitude. We must (and it’s easier said than done) maintain the optimism and strength that we are broken yet far from knocked down.  

May Hashem inscribe all of us in the book of life and may He answer all of our tefillot.

Ketiva V’chatima Tova,

Rabbi Ben Sugerman

A Better High

Dr. Bellace Teaches Students the Importance of Mental Health and the Dangers of Illegal Substances

Graphic by Joshua Reich ('25)

This week, on September 23rd, Katz Yeshiva High School students had the opportunity to hear from Dr. Matt Bellace. Dr. Bellace is a professional speaker and stand-up comedian who has inspired people in over 45 states across the U.S. He’s the author of the best-selling book, A Better High: Laugh, Help, Run, Love and Other Ways to Get Naturally High (Wyatt MacKenzie, 2012). His most recent book, Life Is Disappointing and Other Inspiring Thoughts (Wyatt MacKenzie, 2021), focuses on dealing with disappointment and techniques for coping with pain, loss and failure. Dr. Bellace’s presentation aims to educate and engage students in a meaningful way, combining valuable information with a unique, entertaining approach.  

Dr. Bellace gave an impactful and humorous presentation to the students at KYHS about mental health and the dangers of illegal substances. He grabbed their attention with jokes, which helped ease the heaviness of the subject while still delivering the important information. In his presentation, Dr. Bellace emphasized the importance of feeling good and healthy, natural ways to feel good rather than resorting to drugs. He explained how illegal substances stimulate the brain’s release of dopamine. Instead of turning to harmful substances, he taught the students how they can achieve similar effects through different healthier activities. He suggested simple yet effective practices such as running, listening to music, eating food, and meditation. These healthy habits, he explained, can give people the same sense of joy and fulfillment that drugs may provide, without the harmful consequences. Through his mix of humor and education, Dr. Bellace left the students with a deeper understanding of how to make healthy choices that improve their mental state without putting their health at risk.

Article by Lauren Tabbouche ('25)

 Artsy Article about Ms. Tagliero

Graphic by Talya Zaretsky ('27)

It is really important to cultivate creativity in a high school environment because students need a place to creatively express themselves outside of the classroom. They need a place where they feel comfortable creating whatever they are feeling, free of judgment and ridicule. It takes a certain kind of person to create this environment, and Ms. Tagliero is exactly the person we need to ensure that the students of KYHS are both creatively stimulated and supported. 

KYHS’s brand new art teacher Ms. Tagliero graduated from Palmer Trinity and then went on to study art at Loyola University. She chose to then pursue a career as a teacher of art. Ms. Tagliero has done many prestigious things like judging the Fall Arts Showcase of Palmer Trinity.

The art room is not a place only for people who are good at art, it’s for people who love it. Everyone is welcome to come and express themselves, that is the beauty of art.

Article by Jacob Zucker ('25)

Recognizing Redheads

KYHS Honors Redhead Appreciation Day

Graphic by Rabbi Akiva Wolk

In case you missed it, this past Monday was National Redhead Day! For a week prior, students nominated their redheaded classmates for recognition, and on September 23rd, KYHS was plastered with posters celebrating our nearly 20 redheads for the glorious color of their hair. Many pictures were uploaded to the KYHS Storm Instagram of students with their favorite carrot friends. We were prompted to say hi to a nice KYHS redhead, buy a snack for a redhead, appreciate the greatness of redheads, and tell a redhead that they have nice hair. Rabbi Wolk of the KOSL, a redhead himself, felt that “Redheads are a special group of people who are often overlooked and deserve to be celebrated.” However, Melissa Tabbouche (‘25), also a redhead, felt “Angered by this silly attention over her hair.” To each their own! Needless to say, it was classic KYHS shtick and surely a day to be remembered. 

Article by Aliyah Harow ('25)