May 24, 2024

16th of Nissan

Volume 22 Issue 25

Parshat Behar

Candle Lighting 7:47

Graphic by Technical Staff

Upcoming Events:

May 28 - June 4:

Finals

In this week’s Parsha, Behar, we learn about the Shemitah/Yovel cycle. In it, Hashem proclaims to Moshe that “קִדַּשְׁתֶּ֗ם אֵ֣ת שְׁנַ֤ת הַחֲמִשִּׁים֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וּקְרָאתֶ֥ם דְּר֛וֹר בָּאָ֖רֶץ לְכׇל־יֹשְׁבֶ֑יהָ יוֹבֵ֥ל הִוא֙ תִּהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֔ם,” “You will make holy the fiftieth year, and you will call out freedom to all dwellers. It will be Yovel for you.” Similar to Shmita, the Torah explains that Jews cannot farm their land during Yovel. Additionally, the passukim state that, during this time, all slaves must be freed and all land must be returned to their owners. Commentaries like Rashi associate Yovel with the Shofar, framing it as a period of renewal and emphasizing the freedom of slaves.

In light of Sefirah, Tosafot makes an enlightening connection in Masechet Menachot, explaining that the phrase used to command us to count the Omer, “וּסְפַרְתֶּ֤ם לָכֶם֙,” is oddly similar to the words used in regard to the Yovel year, “וְסָפַרְתָּ֣ לְךָ֗.” From here, Tosafot links the two, saying that just as we need to formally count Sefirah every night until Shavuos, so too would it be plausible for a Beit Din to annually count until Yovel. However, we can take this bridge even further, bringing both Yovel and Sefirah together at an even deeper level.

As explained above, Rashi presents Yovel as a time of rebirth, focusing on the freedom of slaves. Yet other Rishonim, like the Ramban, take the meaning a step further, explaining, “יובל שישוב אל היובל אשר שם שרשיו,” “Yovel is returning to the source, as there are his roots.” Ramban explains that Yovel is not merely a time of becoming a new person that looks to the future; instead, it is a period of rediscovery and turning to the past. We see this with Lag B’Omer, which is surrounded by past events, as well. On the 18th of Iyar, we not only celebrate the end of the plague that killed many of Rabbi Akiva’s students, but we also commemorate the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. Furthermore, some Rabbis, like the Chatom Sofer, say that it was the day that the mun began falling after the Jewish people complained of hunger in Shemot. All three events that occurred on Lag B’Omer are all connected by beint times of happiness surrounded by a period of worry and doubt. However, we see this most clearly with the day of the Omer itself, with 32 days before and 17 days after. The gematria of both sets of days respectively create the phrase “לב טוב,” “a good heart.” At its core, this is the point of Lag B’Omer and, by extension, the Ramban’s interpretation of Yovel. Situated in the middle of Sefirah, a time meant to mirror the mourning period, Lag B’Omer comes to remind us that our lives are not meant to be filled with constant melancholy and worry. We need to prioritize happiness and a positive mindset. We need to prioritize a לב טוב.

With finals just around the corner, constant studying can create a mountain of anxiety and worry that seems impossible to overcome. This feeling can cause us to fall into an indefinite state of stress. However, this Memorial Weekend, we must remember to have a לב טוב. Despite the pressures that surround our academic lives, we need to realize that, at our core, we are humans. We cannot constantly worry about our exams, since that is not, at its core, a good way to live. On a more serious note, this Sunday will also mark the 76th anniversary of the Israeli Defence Force’s founding, representing a national unity that got rid of the often divided paramilitary groups of the Yishuv. More than three-quarters of a century later, the IDF is fighting one of the most brutal wars in its history, with each death stinging our hearts. Furthermore, despite the horrors of October 7th being over half a year old, the wounds are still fresh and many are still feeling hopeless. Regardless, here too we must look to the past and emphasize a לב טוב. David Ben-Gurion and Menachem Begin, the most famous rivals in early Israeli history, were able to disband the Haganah and Irgun, their respective military organization, for the good of their people, despite the extreme threat that Israel faced in its 1948 war. So too should we come together to foster a לב טוב for the Jewish People of today, rising above rampant antisemitism and focusing on unity.

My hope is that, going into this deeply symbolic weekend, we all take in the words of the Baal HaTanya, the Alter Rebbe, who says that “The foundation of the entire purpose of man is to have a good heart.” Let us all go into this Shabbat fulfilling that purpose.

Shabbat Shalom,

Sammy Jacobs '25

Senior Crowning

The Class of 2025 Celebrates Senior Crowning Tradition

Graphic by Ezra Dimont ('25)

As the school year draws to an end, one of the most anticipated events for the junior girls is the Senior Crowning, a tradition that marks the transition from juniors to seniors. This is a time to celebrate our growth, achievements and the exciting journey ahead. We eagerly awaited for the seniors to officially be gone, before we can finally become the seniors. The first day they were gone, each girl came dressed in black, excited to decorate crowns, however, these aren't just any crowns, they are decorated with glitter, gems, and stickers that spell out "seniors." This year, the Class of 2025 decided to add a personal touch, incorporating their graduation year into the design, crafting crowns that proudly read "2enior5." 

The atmosphere was filled with excitement and pride. After each crown was creatively crafted, all the girls went outside and took pictures to capture this special moment. These pictures will be cherished forever, symbolizing a significant milestone in our high school journey. The Senior Crowning is more than just a tradition; it brings the girls closer together, fostering a sense of unity. It’s a celebration of our achievements and a glimpse into the bright future that lies ahead, and the excitement of being the official seniors of something we have been waiting for, for years. 

Article by Melissa Tabbouche ('25)

Masmidos Shabbatone

Learning and Growing One Lunch'n Learn at a Time

Graphic by Esti Distenfeld ('26)

This past weekend, the Masmidot girls spent the weekend in Hollywood for the Masmidot Shabbaton. Organized and led by Mrs. Dobkowski, the shabbaton was full of Torah, zemirot, and amazing food! Sarah Posner ('24) and Lia Sedaghati ('24)each shared a beautiful dvar Torah over Shabbos, Sarah at the Kahn home and Lia at the Markovich home. Additionally, Mrs. Dobkowski gave a shiur about counting up to Shavuot instead of counting down. She explained that we are transitioning from a Korban made of barley, the food of animals, to a Shtei Halachem, the food of man, to show our growth from leaving Egypt as “animals” to getting the Torah as human. Also, we count the weeks and days so that we can look back and see how far we have come. Mrs. Dobkowski emphasized that growth comes step by step; eventually we are able to look back and see how far we have come. 

Following both dinner and lunch, the girls played a game, both of which got very heated. After a wonderful Seudah Shlishit at the Leibowitz home filled with singing, food, and laughter, the girls heard havdalah, went to change, and headed to bowling at Bowlero!! Hannah Markovich ('24) summed up the weekend perfectly: “As a senior in Masmidot, I was determined to make the shabbaton the best one yet. I am so happy I have such a great role model and great girls in Masmidot and I loved spending time with everyone this past weekend.” Overall, Mrs. Dobkowski’s enthusiasm really reflects, as the weekend was planned meticulously and the Masmidot girls had an incredible time. 



Article by Kira Kornbluth ('25)

Farewell and New Beginnings

Embracing the End of the School Year at KYHS

Graphic by Zachary Rutner ('25)

As the school year concludes, a wave of emotions swirl throughout the halls. The end of the school year is a bittersweet moment, a balance between the joy of no work, and missing our cherished friends. For seniors, the end of the school year marks a large milestone in their lives. This is a time of reflection on the past four years filled with learning, friendships, and amazing memories.

Graduating students feel a mix of excitement to move on with their lives, but sadness that they are leaving their homes for the past four years. 

Students have really exciting plans for their summer. Some students are ecstatic about their upcoming trips and travel programs to Israel as they are beyond excited to return to their homeland. Other students look forward to their family vacations, visiting their relatives, or attending summer camps. These experiences are wonderful opportunities to create new friends and memories. Some students are also gaining experience through part-time jobs or internships, providing chances for them to develop new, important life skills. Whether it’s the excitement of new adventures or the joy of relaxation, the students can’t wait to begin their well-deserved vacation. 

The students wanted to take a moment to thank their teachers and the administration for an amazing school year. The dedication of the KYHS staff members is deeply appreciated and does not go unnoticed. To conclude, the students have a bittersweet feeling as they are happy for the upcoming break, yet sad as they are parting ways with their friends. 

Have an amazing break!

Article by Reese Zombek ('26)

Champions of KYHS

Celebrating Excellence at the Annual Sports Banquet

Graphic by Adam Ribault ('25)

The annual sports banquet at KYHS was a memorable evening that celebrated the achievements and dedication of our student-athletes. Held in the school's Beit Midrash, a beautifully directed video starring some of our senior athletes, capturing their skills. This video, filled with game highlights, and candid moments, is a great tribute to the seniors' contributions and growth. Following the video, the coaches from each sport took to the stage to present awards, recognizing outstanding performances and sportsmanship. The whole team gathered on stage while the coaches proceeded to hand out three awards per team: Most Valuable Player, recognizing the athlete with exceptional skills and leadership; Most Improved Player, awarded to the athlete who showed significant progress and dedication; and the Coaches' Award, given to the player who exemplified teamwork, spirit, and commitment. Each award was met with an abundance of applause for all their efforts, and clearly was well deserved and truly showed how hard that individual had worked to benefit their team.  

It was a night to remember, honoring hard work, celebrating successes, and fostering a sense of community and pride among the students.

Sports Banquet Video

Sport Banquet Photo Album



Article by Keren Lazar ('25)