Upcoming Events:

Sarachek Tournament

Mar. 19 - Mar. 23

Pesach Break

Mar. 29 - Apr. 12

Good & Welfare:

Births:

Jonathan (‘07) and Nadia (Bakst ‘10) Scheiner on the birth of a baby boy, Maor Chaim

Sarah (‘05) and Ethan Chernofsky on the birth of a baby girl 

Marriages:

Sara Merkin (‘17) to Ilan Kogan from Queens, NY

Yakirah Rosen (‘19) to Charlie Bendhaim from New Jersey

Engagements:

Noah Bernten (‘18) to Maayan Resnick from Karnei Shomron, Israel

Aaron Gross (‘20) to Sonya Kest from Los Angeles, CA

Faculty Mazel Tovs:

Elana & Shimmy Lazar on the occasion of their son Ronen becoming a Bar Mitzvah

This past Tuesday morning started in complete chaos.

I woke up late and immediately started rushing around my room, trying to get ready fast enough to still pick up my carpool and make it to school in time for davening. In the rush I quickly put on my bracelets and earrings and reached for the two necklaces I wear every single day. These necklaces are not just accessories to me. They are two gold chai necklaces that are incredibly meaningful. One was a Chanukah gift from my mom, and the other had been passed down in my family and was originally given to my mother for her bat mitzvah. Because they are both real gold and very sentimental, my mom had given me a magnetic clasp that connects the two chains together so they would not get lost. Anyone who knows me knows that I lose just about everything. Because of that, I developed a habit of checking my neck throughout the day to make sure they were still there. That morning I carefully put them on, grabbed my bag, and ran out the door. Because Boca is amazing, I got to school in about twelve minutes. I walked into school and started to daven shacharit.

Everything felt normal until I started to say Shema. Almost without thinking, I reached up and touched my neck the way I always do. My heart immediately dropped. The chain was still there, but the chai charm from my mother’s necklace was gone. I froze. I could not exactly start searching in the middle of davening, but from that moment on I could barely focus. All I could think about was where it could possibly be and how I was going to explain to my mom that something so special had disappeared.

The second davening ended, I ran outside and grabbed as many friends as I could. We searched the parking lot on our hands and knees, scanning every inch of pavement for a tiny gold charm. For twenty minutes we searched everywhere. Nothing. Eventually we had to accept that it was probably gone. My mind was racing and I honestly could not imagine telling my mom what had happened. I walked into my Anatomy class completely defeated.

My teacher noticed immediately that something was wrong and asked what had happened. When I explained the story, some of my classmates suggested that I say the bracha for lost items and give money to tzedakah. At first the idea seemed a little unrealistic to me. How could that possibly help find something that was already lost? But my teacher said something that stayed with me. She reminded me that God pays attention to His creations. So I decided to try. I said the bracha and donated exactly eighteen dollars to tzedakah.

By that point I had already accepted that the necklace was probably gone forever. But during the second period, while I was typing my notes in AP Government, a message appeared on my computer. It was from my mom. Exactly eighteen minutes after I had donated the eighteen dollars. My heart started racing as I opened the message. My mom told me that she had found the charm sitting on the floor in my room. The only reason she noticed it was because the sunlight reflected perfectly off the gold and flashed directly into her face. I stared at the screen in disbelief.

Eighteen dollars. Eighteen minutes. And my chai necklace.

It felt impossible to ignore the timing. In that moment it felt like Hashem was sending a message that He is always paying attention, even to the smallest details in our lives. This week, life has been filled with many struggles and challenges, especially with everything happening in Israel. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming and even hopeless. But this moment reminded me that our tefillot matter and that Hashem is always listening. For me, this experience was a reminder to keep davening, keep believing, and keep growing. Every mitzvah and every act of kindness counts. Now more than ever we have the responsibility to strengthen ourselves through learning, tefillah, and giving to others. These actions will bring strength to our brothers and sisters in Israel and bring Moshiach now.

Good Shabbos,

Emma Harow ('27)

Velocishabbos

KYHS Boys Visit Orlando on Annual Shabbaton

Graphic by Matan Aghion ('29)

When I arrived at school on Friday morning—late as usual—something was different. The halls were empty; the girls were gone; davening was an hour later than usual; and, there were no ID badges to be found. One could imagine my astonishment and shock—was it finally the boys' shabbaton? Following davening, the buses were boarded, attendance was taken, and several breakfasting twelfth graders were waited for before departing on a transformative journey to Orlando, or as Beis Madrich Caleb Breda explained it, the land of Or, spiritual light.



After two hours of difficult travel, we made our first stop: Fort Drum Service Plaza-Turnpike mile marker 184. If you’ve never been to this specific rest stop, you probably haven’t missed much, but after a long two hour bus ride, nothing felt more deserved than some snacks and massage chairs (not that anyone paid to turn them on). With rest then accomplished, it was on to Orlando and bowling.

Upon arriving at bowling, the Shabbaton truly began. Sitting and sleeping were replaced with competition and standing, and the excitement was palpable. We filled the entire bowling alley with strikes and spares lighting up almost every screen. It was there, in the bowling alley, where we were met with a surprise: four Beis Madrichim who had come to chill with us and inspire us on the shabbaton. Finally, after time well spent bowling, we had to leave to prepare for Shabbos. It was upon arriving at the hotel that our next surprise was waiting for us: Mr. Stern—and the jerseys Rabbi Wolk would be raffling off throughout Shabbos.

When Shabbos did come, the Shabbaton only continued to build, becoming better and better. An excellent Kabalas Shabbos by our very own Shimmie Kaminetzky was followed by an excellent meal and Tisch, and then a Post-Tisch led by the Beis Madrichim. Shabbos day was a natural outgrowth from Friday night as the davening and shiurim encouraged teachers, rabbis, and students to really explore how they have grown and plan on continuing to grow. As we closed out Shabbos singing, all I could do was reflect on how fantastic and meaningful this year’s shabbaton was.

Saturday night at Topgolf offered one final chance for friendly competition, which everyone greatly appreciated. Finally, as Sunday morning came and Universal was upon us, the Shabbaton began coming to an end. Universal, fun as always, presented the KYHS boys and teachers with one final bonding opportunity before leaving, something which I took advantage of by bonding with Ms. Crowther over our shared dislike of Sneetches in Dr. Seuss world. As mincha and dinner finished up, I was very melancholy, not because the shabbaton lacked at all, but because it would be my last as a KYHS student, an experience that we all had to say a sad goodbye to.

Article by Netanel Fridman-Rubin ('26)

Marry a Mensch

Devorah Kigel Speaks to KYHS Girls About Tznius and Shomer

Graphic by Talya Zaretsky ('27)

Last Wednesday, ninth through twelfth grade girls had the amazing opportunity to hear from Devorah Kigel, a professional Jewish dating and marriage coach, who spoke about the power of dressing modestly and the importance of forming meaningful connections through shomer relationships. For the ninth and tenth grade girls, Mrs. Kigel spoke about dressing tzniusly and the impact it can have. She explained that tznius is not just an external practice, but that it shapes how we act and influences our inner selves and our character. Keira Fialkoff (‘29) said that “it was really interesting to hear about the power of dressing tzniusly.” 

For the eleventh and twelfth grade girls, Mrs. Kigel focused on the importance of being shomer and the benefits it brings. She emphasized that forming shomer relationships results in deeper, more genuine connections. She even noted that some of her non-Jewish clients bring the concept of shomer negiah into their relationships; not for religious reasons, but because it simply makes sense and they find it beneficial. After hearing her speak, students had the privilege of asking Mrs. Kigel any questions they had. Students left the discussion inspired, reflecting on the choices they make, their modesty, and the values they uphold.     

Article by Annabelle Sokal ('27)

Student Standoff

Islands of Adventure or Universal Studios?

Graphic by Lexi Newman ('28)

“AHHHHHH” or “WHOOOO” are two sounds that have never been heard on a merry-go-round unless exclaimed in a facetious manner. However, rides like Hulk, VelociCoaster, and Doctor Doom’s Fearfall don’t need fake screams to appear thrilling. The rides themselves come with authentic ear-bursting, lung-crushing, and throat-scratching screams.

Universal’s Islands of Adventures amusement park is full of these rides: rides that pump so much adrenaline into your system that all you can do is scream. For some it’s out of fear, some out of pain, but for most, it’s a scream of pure joy. You and your friends sitting side by side all going through the same traumatizing experience together. But for some reason, after the minute and a half of terror is over, you are willing to wait another two hours just to go through that same agonizing feeling again. Why is that? It’s because roller coasters and other various thrilling rides bring out another side of a person. That feeling of losing control and shouting at the top of your lungs. Feeling the wind blow in your face while your stomach gets squashed in between your seat and the lap bar. That is the feeling of a real thrill. A sensation that only gets brought out by a few activities, and an Islands of Adventure roller coaster is definitely one of them…unlike a merry-go-round, which you will find in Universal Studios. Thank you for your time.

Disclaimer: I personally do not like roller coasters and my Islands of Adventure experience consisted of hanging out with Rabbi Jacobs, his son, and others (to be honest, it was still a 10/10 experience). However, if I did like roller coasters, then I think my article would be quite compelling.   

Argued by Akiva Lanner ('26)