issue 5
TRANSCRIPT
The Flame Magen David High School Student Newspaper
December 28th, 2012/ Tevet 5773
“We are all one”. We have all heard these lyrics, but what do they really mean? This past weekend, more than a hundred high school students became one and truly understood what the meaning is behind those lyrics. The students were involved in a Shabbaton led by Ms. Nasar and Ms. Nadjar and many amazing volunteer students such as Charles Dana, Alison Cohen, Frieda Kassab, and Leo Esses. Throughout the week, these students went around to classrooms trying to recruit students to be more involved in this special program. After signing more than a hundred students for the annual Shabbaton, they spent the weekend proudly reciting Dvar Torahs with Yachad members, and sitting in a big Yachdute circle playing many games where everyone got to know one another. Yachad members taught cheers to our high school students, and quickly made friends. Everyone really had a blast. Those who participated in the Shabbaton didn’t only learn more
about Yachad members, but they also learned more about their own high school students. The Shabbaton was structured with a Dvar Torah given by Ricky Cohen, followed by a ballgame. Everyone then said Kiddush and had dinner. Afterwards, we sang songs and played games that helped us get to know one another. Soon after we were taught cheers, heard another Dvar Torah given by a Yachad member, and had dessert. Some special events the next morning were the Jewish version of the game “Headbandz” and a Parashat Hashavua trivia game. After lunch, we mingled even more and played even more games. It was truly an incredible weekend. We had an amazing turnout, and the Yachad members couldn’t have been any happier. Thank you all for coming and participating, and making this weekend one to remember. B’ezrat Hashem we can look forward to many more Yachad programs in the future!
YACHAD SHABBATON BY NATHAN HASBANI AND ALISON COHEN
Gabrielle Sabbagh Senior, Blood Drive Organizer
STUDENT OF THE WEEK
By: Gloria Safdieh and Esther Hanon
Q: Why did you decide to volun-teer for the MDYHS blood drive? A: I decided to volunteer for the blood drive because I couldn’t donate myself. I knew that if I couldn’t help by actually giving blood, I would try to help in some other way. Q: What was your job at the blood drive? A: My job was to schedule stu-dent, teacher, and alumni appoint-ments to donate blood. The day of the blood drive I made sure the schedules were on time and that those who scheduled appoint-ments were there at the correct time to donate. Q: What are the requirements needed to become a donor? A: To be a donor, one is required to be a certain weight as well as not have low blood pressure or low iron. They can’t be sick or on medication either. A lot goes into making sure each donor is a good candidate for giving blood.
Q: Who receives the blood dona-tions? Which organization(s) does the drive benefit? A: The New York Blood Center collects the blood our students donate. The blood goes to people in hospitals who need it for any reason. Q: How many people donated blood? A: We had 71 students donate, which means we got 71 pints of blood. Q: What are common after-effects of donating that usually occur? A: After donating, many students feel week or tired. That is why we try to make sure they eat, drink, and relax to prevent fainting or dizziness. Q: What’s the process involved in donating blood? A: If you are trying to donate you need to register first. Once you register, you then move on to medical to make sure you’re an eligible candidate. After that, you go on to the actual blood dona-tion.
Q: Have you ever donated blood before? A: Personally, I am not allowed to donate which is one of the main reasons why I help run this blood drive. Q. What do people say is the hardest part of donating blood? A: Pushing yourself to do it in the first place is probably the hardest part, but once you do the rest isn’t so bad. Q: How would you encourage others to donate blood if they are hesitant or afraid? A: When people are afraid to donate, I usually take them to where the other students are donating to show them that they are fine. Once they see that, they are usually more comfortable to do it too. Also, once you explain how donating can save 3 lives, students usually ease up to it.
Reminders and Announcements Home School Sports Events For December 28h—January 11th
Varsity Basketball: Thursday, January 8th 8:30PM Warriors VS Ohr Hatorah JV Basketball:
Thursday, January 3rd 7:30PM Warriors VS Derech Hatorah Varsity Hockey: Wednesday, January 2nd 9PM Warriors VS DRS JV Hockey: Wednesday, January 2nd 7:30PM Warriors VS DRS
:
Reminders from the College Office for December:
December 25th College Career Breakfast for 11th Graders
Test Make-Up Dates:
Wednesday, January 2nd Monday, January 7th
Birthdates:
12/29 Jennifer Harari, Nicole Sitt,
Frieda Gindi, Rachel Sardar
12/31 Michael Liniado
1/1 Jack Sardar
1/2 Charles Dana, Orly Abadia
1/5 Marie Betesh
1/6 Alicen Franco
1/7 Aaron F. Harari, Lorraine Franco
1/10 Esther Cohen, Rachel Cohen
Candle Lighting Times For December 28th-January 11th
Friday, December 28th 4:18 PM
Friday, January 4th 4:24 PM
Friday, January 11th 4:30 PM
Page 2 ● The Flame ● December 28, 2012
Editor ia ls
T wo weeks ago today, our country faced a grave trage-dy. Adam Lanza, a troubled young man, shot his way into
an elementary school killing 26 inno-cent civilians, 20 of them first graders. The age-old question facing this trag-edy is, if there was an increase in gun control would this tragedy have been avoided? In contrast, if gun control was more lax and a teacher pos-sessed a gun would that have saved all the innocent bloodshed?
The argument of gun control goes a long way back. One side states that if gun control were to in-
crease, especially in Connecticut where they are even more lax with their rules, then maybe Adam Lanza’s mother would not have had the guns and therefore Lanza would not have had access to the lethal weapons. There is no reason for anyone to be carrying around the same gun that was used in the army, and therefore a more mild law would be to deny the right for people to carry assault weapons. Semi automatic guns are le-thal and unnecessary to the common citizen, and it is what enabled Lanza to murder so many.
Those who support more lenient gun laws believe that if it were so, someone in that school would have shot down the gunman before he could have killed so many. To support their argument they allude to the Virginia Tech shoot-ing; the day a man came into the school killing many and injuring even more. One of the victims who was shot four times lived and stated in an interview that he is a gun holder himself. Had he been able to bring his gun to school he could have saved many lives.
Albeit the fact that this argument seems very strong, studies and tests have proven that under a lot of pressure and surprise it is unlikely someone would be able act in time, making carrying a gun more potentially harmful than safe. In the study, the researchers used paintball guns and gave select students arms to protect themselves and their peers. Each person they gave a gun to failed to act in time and save anyone. The gun got stuck in their shirts or they froze on the spot.
All in all, gun control security should increase. If we prevent people from obtaining guns, we are preventing them from using guns. The best thing we can do is to increase security in public places and not allow just anyone to obtain such a lethal weapon. Before allotting guns to the public, sellers must do a sub-stantial background check to check mental health and family history.
Do New Year’s resolutions make an impact
on one’s year?
A New Year’s resolution is a commitment
one makes within himself, to aim for a per-
sonal or goal or change a habit. Resolu-
tions are meant to anticipate a brand new
beginning to a new year. Pretty much eve-
ryone has attempted to sticking to a resolu-
tion, but has anyone every lasted a whole
year? My personal record was about a
week, when I promised I would stick to a
healthier diet… isn’t that pretty much every
girl’s New Year’s resolution?
So, what’s the point of a resolution if it only
lasts a week or so? Even though it’s rare for one to hold on to his/her resolution
throughout the year, does it actually make an impact on the year? A resolution
doesn’t only refer to starting something new and changing your inner self your own
sake, but also quitting a bad habit for your own good. Even though it may not last
long, it gives you time to reflect and navigate your own personal flaws to get a clearer
vision of who you are aiming to become.
Even though it’s difficult to stick with one goal, maybe try making the goal less broad.
Instead of saying, “I will stop eating junk food every day,” change that to, “I will cut
down my junk food intake to one snack a day.” Making a resolution more specific
may help you recognize that you can’t change yourself drastically overnight. Instead,
you will need to take small steps.
Why do some people think that just because they failed to stay with their resolution
they have to wait until the new upcoming year to start again? Every day is a new
chance to try again, and it’s extremely important to notice that. Every day you should
make a resolution for yourself. Not only once a year!
A few tips to help you with your goals:
1. Be specific
2. Write it down somewhere so you wake up to it
3. Review it constantly
4. Recognize that only you can achieve what you want
5. Never give up!
If you want to ask a lot from yourself, it helps to give a lot to yourself.
Dream big, aim small! -Paulette Gindi
7801 Bay Parkway
Brooklyn, New York 11214
Rabbi Harold Sutton
Rosh Yeshivah
Rabbi Saul Zucker
Principal
Mrs. Sabrina Maleh
Associate Principal
STAFF
Editors: Abraham Tobias, Paulette Gindi
Editing Staff: Ceasar Sitt, Raymond Dayan, Jonathan
Cohen, Julie Swed, Judah Djmal, Joseph
Zalta
Photographers: Jennifer Jemal
Reporters: Maurice Elbaz, Jack Nasar, Suzy Roubin,
Alice Khaski, Esther Hanon, Gloria Safdieh,
Sarah Mamrout, Evana Said, Rachel Faiena,
Nathan Hasbani, Abie Chabbott, Hannah
Cohen, Raquel Salem, Ralph Shalom, Renee
Cohen, Tina Roubin
Sports Staff: Jack Beyda, Benny Mann, Ally Menasche,
Albert Zalta
Advice Column: Florence Catton, Dennis Dweck, Lisa Chak
kalo, David Zafarani, Frieda Kassab
Creative Staff: Evana Said, Shoshana Louzia, Rachel Sar
dar, Jeffrey Grazi
Faculty Advisor: Mrs. Rachel Harari
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS
The Magen David Yeshivah-Celia Esses High School admits student of any race, color, national and
ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to
students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in
administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school
programs.
A Message from Your SGO By: Renee Cohen
Your SGO has been working as
hard as ever between seminar this week-
end and our next semester approaching!
The new MDY apparel samples are in, and
I am sure you all saw the order forms
hanging across the atrium! Order forms are
due soon, so please hand them in to any
SGO member.
With Shirya this past week, I
think we all felt the school spirit and unity
amongst one another. Each of the teams
was really amazing and it was such a
beautiful sight to see all the performances
and banners.
If any senior girl is interested in
helping out making challot (you can get
hours!) please contact Rosie Mosseri.
We are especially excited to
spend this weekend on Junior-Senior semi-
nar. We hope everyone enjoys the PAS-
SIONED filled weekend. It will definitely be
an unforgettable experience.
Lastly, if you have any pictures
from any school events please send them
to [email protected] anytime through-
out the year. We love to post the pictures
on our school blog and Instagram account.
And, as usual, if you have any-
thing whatsoever you would like to talk to
us about please come on over!
Your SGO Secretary,
Renee Cohen
Dvar Torah
By Hannah Cohen
Prayer is a very personal thing, and it means many things to many different people.
In this week’s Parasha, Yoseph is summoned to his father Yaakov with news that
his father is ill. Yoseph brings his two sons, Efraim and Menashe, with him to re-
ceive Yaakov’s blessing. Yaakov says, “I never thought it possible that I might see
you, and Gd has even shown me your children.”
Rabbi Hirsh comments on Yaakov’s words, “I had not thought possible.” He points
out that the root word is pelal (pey, lamed, lamed) and related to the word Tefilah,
prayer. The root word is also related to the word belal which means to mix two sub-
stances together.
Rabbi Hirsh teaches us: Prayer is a time of reflection on truths, which in turn be-
come part of our essential being. Jewish prayer involves rituals and public actions
(not just pouring one’s heart) and they are filled with ideas which make us express
principles we live by everyday. If prayer was only based on our desires within, it
would only happen when someone has the desire.
There is a parable: A king decrees all requests of subjects will be honored. A sub-
ject asks to meet with the king three times daily. His request is granted and he is
allowed to take whatever he wants from the treasures. Just like we have the oppor-
tunity to pray to Hashem whenever we want and must pray to him daily (more than
once), Hashem tries to help us everyday and answer us. We are the subject and
Hashem is the king. We should be honored to pray to Hashem, the king, whenever
we want.
Final week is coming up, we should all keep in mind the strength of prayer. Pray to
Hashem to succeed on the finals.
December 28, 2012 ● The Flame ● Page 3
ASK DENNIS AND FLO
MDYHS Advice Column ● E-mail Questions: [email protected]
Dear Dennis and Flo,
Majority of my friends are all in a different class, and I have being feeling very
left out. I am not a part of a lot of their inside jokes and sometimes they will get
together to study and I am not included. What should I do? -Lonely
Broken Alarm Clock,
Tell your mom to sign for you giving valid reasons why you were absent. If you have good reasons you’re al-lowed to go over the 12. Trust me. If there are no reasons, give your friend your school ID and let them swipe for you. :)
Best regards,
Dennis Dweck
Dear Broken Alarm Clock,
Go buy a new alarm clock that will work and make sure to put it on loud so that you wake up. Also, don’t worry. For the second term you get 5 more absent days. Use them wisely!
-Flo
Dear Dennis and Flo,
I already used 7 absent days but there are still 6 months left of school! What
should I do? -Broken Alarm Clock
Lonely,
Buy a dog.
Truthfully, it sounds like a girl prob-lem so just listen to Flo
Ya boy D-Eazy!
Dear Lonely,
Why don't you tell them how you feel? If they are true friends then they will make sure to include you in the future. You should also start to make new friends with the stu-dents in your class. Being friends with everyone is a great quality. Then you will also be able to study with your “class” friends and enjoy it!
-Flo
Russo’s Philosophy
“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If
you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough”
~Oprah Winfrey
This quote means that if you are thankful for the things that you have and you really
appreciate them, then your life becomes so full and rich and you will never feel
empty. On the other hand, if you are not thankful for the things that you have, your
life will always feel empty. You will never feel like you have enough.
There will always be something more you can get– the newest iPad, piece of cloth-
ing, jewelry, etc. Change your mentality. Instead of always wanting, take a minute to
see what good is already around you. Trust me– you will feel like you have more
than enough.
Crime and Video Games: Is There a Link?
By Ralph S. Betesh
When it comes to tragedies, the newspapers and news channels usually blame some other
form of media for the occurrence. After the terrible shootings in Sandy Hook Elementary School, the media
blamed video games for their violence. But are they really the cause of tragedies such as these? Let’s take
some examples of how the media blamed video games for Adam Lanza’s recent shooting rampage.
The U.K. tabloids put Adam Lanza on the front page with big, bold white letters that say,
“Killer’s Call of Duty Obsession.” They follow it up with a two page spread and put the words in huge, white
and black bordered letters that say, “Black Ops Bunker,” making sure the reader can’t miss it. They claim
that Call of Duty had a direct link with his rampages. Lanza was very excited about the game in the past
eight months. He followed details on the game, watched trailers, and read and wrote reviews. He even
wrote positive reviews on the game himself!
The Daily Express writes, “Chillingly, his favorite video game was said to be a shockingly vio-
lent fantasy war game called Dynasty Warriors which is thought to have given him inspiration to act on his
darkest thoughts.” Dynasty Warriors is a game based on the romance of the Three Kingdoms novels. This
game has no blood of any sort. No decapitation, no removal of limbs, and it is impossible to kill people–
they just run away and come back later! This game is played in cartoonish-like graphics. The closest thing
you can get to a gun in this game is a wooden cannon. So this game provoked him? I think not.
Some people have also said that the video game Mass Effect was the cause of his actions
because Lanza’s brother had the audacity to like the Facebook page. People called for the game to be
banned with no knowledge on what it was or who was even playing it. Meanwhile, this game is about a
character who is tormented throughout the whole game by the needless death of a single child. And this is
the game that encouraged the massacre of school children?
The newspapers know that what they are saying is incorrect. They know exactly what these
games are. They will do almost anything to sell some copies or get some more advertisements. There is no
proof that video games cause violence, and studies prove this.
The Secret Service completed a study a few years ago on school shooters. It showed that 37%
exhibited an interest in violent writings, poems, essays, or journals. 27% exhibited an interest in violent
movies, and 24% exhibited an interest in violent books. The smallest percentage exhibited an interest in
violent video games, 12%. This does not prove that violent writings cause this kind of behavior, but it does
prove that video game violence is the least popular form of entertainment for school shooters.
The Washington Post Blog made a graph of video game consumption and murders in ten
countries. They attempted to find some link. What this graph shows is that the line does correlate in any
way, shape, or form.
CNN News stated that Lanza played Starcraft Two and that may have caused him to start a
school shooting. Meanwhile, South Korea turns Starcraft into a televised event and they take it very seri-
ously. Would you like to know how many school shootings happened in South Korea this year? Zero. You
know how many school shootings happened in South Korea throughout history? Zero.
There are mountains upon mountains of evidence that show that video game violence is not
the cause of crimes. But in every school shooting, the shooter is mentally disturbed. We sadly do not know
what influenced Lanza to do these things. What the media does though, is use other forms of media as
scapegoats. Bear in mind that it is in the media’s best interest to blame its competition. Yes, the news is
competition with video games. Teens are still watching news, but less often on TV. They should not be
making profit by blaming other forms of media. Look at facts and listen to what you are hearing! Don’t fall
for the ideas of the mass media.
A Book Review by Adele Sutton
SEND
Send by Patty Blount was one of the
most amazing books I have ever read. There is a lot
of meaning to it and I think you will all enjoy it.
Dan is a senior, new to town. He wants
to fit in and lay low for his last year in high school.
Those dreams are destroyed when he stops a bully
from beating up a kid. He knows that it means to
bully someone because he used to be one.
All he wants is to forget everything–
what he did and the fact that he was in juvenile.
Just start over. But once he meets Julie, she chang-
es his life. She looks at him like she knows he is
hiding something.
The book teaches the reader that bully-
ing is wrong, but also that people cannot be defined
by one mistake. The relationship between Dan and
Julie is a special relationship that not many people
are fortunate to have. Throughout the book, Dan
will learn how to deal with his past and that he can’t
run from his mistakes.
Every page will leave you begging to
read more. The book is written in a way that will
make you feel like you’re part of the book and one
of the characters. It will definitely stay on your mind
way after you put it down.
Page 4 ● The Flame ● December 28, 2012
MDYHS
Fashion News
Hi everyone!
This week, we had our students vote on who they felt should win the title of being:
Best Dressed Faculty and Staff
The winners are Mrs. Cymet and Mrs. Levy for best dressed female faculty, and Mr. Bonica and Rabbi Zucker for
best dressed male faculty. Check out our interviews with the winners!
Jennifer Harari
Mrs. Cymet
Mr. Bonica
Mrs. Levy
Rabbi Zucker
MDYHS Poll
Please vote on which trends you think will
be most popular in 2013.
Camouflage
Knee Socks
Leg Warmers
Colorful Cardigans
Opposite Ombre (darker on bottom)
Dark Lipstick
Scarves with hoods
Suede Leggings
Rainboots comeback
Beanies
E-mail your answers to the-
Results will be posted in our next issue!
Where do you shop?
I’m not a good shopper. Sometimes I shop in the city when I really need things at Bloomingdales, Zara,
and Saks when they are on sale only.
Do you have a favorite piece of clothing?
I don’t have any favorite thing. My only worry with clothing is for it to be appropriate for my age. Being a
mother, a grandmother, and especially a teacher, I need to dress appropriately because I teach through
example.
How do you get ideas?
I dress myself, for myself. I have a conservative way of dressing. I’m not avant-garde.
Do you have any fashion advice?
Yes. For all the students of MDY, instead of copying the people off the street you should keep the ways
with Tziniut and the Jewish way of dressing.
Do you pick out your clothes from the night before?
No, I pick out my clothes in the morning. It doesn’t take me long to get dressed.
Do you have a favorite store?
Yes, I love Loehmann’s.
Do you change your jewelry often?
Yes, I change my jewelry every day.
What’s your favorite color clothing?
I like chocolate brown and black. I also like that combination for my nails.
Do you have any inspiration?
No, I dress for myself and people even ask me to go shopping with them!
Favorite Store?
H&M (even though they don’t have great cardigans) and Banana Republic
Favorite Color?
Orange, but I don’t wear it because it doesn’t look good.
So what colors do look good together?
I tend to wear grey and black, or tan and navy.
Do you have any fashion advice?
Yes. Boys should not be wearing any tight jeans or anything too baggy. They should find a proper medi-
um. They should wear belts, an undershirt, and when it comes to cologne less is more. If you spray half
the bottle of Axe, you’re doing something wrong.
How do you feel about jewelry?
No jewelry. The only accessory should be a watch.
School Inspired Submissions
All of us may not notice, but high school passes by in the
blink of an eye. We should embrace the time we have here
because it is limited. These years are the greatest of all,
although we may not realize it now.
If only this year would never end,
We wouldn’t have to lose our best friend.
We’ve taken in so much throughout the years,
Now we’re saying goodbye with tears.
We’re now ready for the final step,
Of taking all we learnt and hoping for the best.
Even though we’ve accomplished so much and more
Doesn’t mean we don’t have much for us in store.
Life is about learning, achieving, and succeeding,
Although our soul is what truly keeps us going so don’t stop
believing
-
Shoshana Louzia
Last week MDY had a lockdown rehearsal. We hired a detective to find out where some of the
teachers were during the lockdown.
By: Zachary Mosseri and Leo Sorcher
Detective: Where were you at 3:30 on Wednesday, Dec. 19th?
Rabbi Baredes: “Praying Arbit”
Rabbi Zucker: “Get to class NOW!!”
Mrs. Cymet: “Español por favor”
Rabbi Scheinfeld: “Planning Shirya 2015 and writing e-mails.”
Rabbi Haber: “Shabbat Shalom!” “Wait! The interview’s not over!”
Dr. Hadar: “Chilling with Gilad”
Mrs. Saad: “Dunkin Donuts, obv.”
Mrs. Harari: “Tweeting”
Ms. Nasar: “Hanging with Ms. Mishanieh”
Ms. Mishanieh: “Hanging with Ms. Nasar”
Mr. Bonica: “Sweater shopping”
Rabbi Fine: “Where am I?”
Mr. Rabinow: “Ironing my lab coat”
Mr. Benas: “Looking for a new classroom”
Mrs. Auman: “Being the cutest teacher in the world”
Dr. Dearson: “Taking digits”
Rabbi Lebowitz: “Where were YOU at 3:30 on Wednesday, December 19th?”
Mrs. S. Maleh: “Just e-mail your questions at [email protected]”
Where do you shop?
I shop at Century 21 (of course!)
Do you have a favorite piece of clothing?
Yes, a blue tie that my grandson got for me.
Where do you get your inspiration?
I don’t really look for ideas, I just think that the classic, enduring styles are nice.
Do you have any advice?
I think you should use your own sense about clothing. If there is a fad and you don’t really like it, don’t
wear it just because others are doing so.
Is it true you were voted best dressed when you were in high school?
Yes, I was voted “best dressed” in high school! Hard to believe, huh?
December 28, 2012 ● The Flame ● Page 5
Exam Schedule: January 2013
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
1st
Special Schedule: Review
Classes end 12:45
2nd
Spanish 9BH (Pd. M) Spanish 9B1 (Pd. D) Computers 9GH (Pd. M) Computers 9G1 (Pd. K) Computers 9G2 (Pd. L-instead of Safe) Spanish 10BH (Pd. I) Oral Trad. 10BH (Pd. N) Spanish 10B1 (Pd. L) Spanish 10GH (Pd. C) Entrep. 10GH (Pd. L) Entrep. 10G1 (Pd. L) J. Law 12G (Rabbi Fine, Ms. Falack, Ms. Nadjar’s classes)
3rd
Computers 9BH (Pd. M-instead of Span) Computers 9GH (Pd. C) Oral Trad. 9GH (Pd. K) Spanish 9GH (Pd. N) Spanish 9G2 (Pd. M) Entrep. 10BH (Pd. N) Entrep. 10B1 (Pd. L) Entrep. 10B2 (Pd. M) Oral Trad. 10GH (Pd. M) Entrep. 10G2 (Pd. C) Torah 11BH (Pd. N) AP Spanish Business Law Mandarin Chinese Physics Principles of Investment Psychology AP Street Law
4th
Oral Trad. 9BH (Pd. E) Computers 9B1 (Pd. D-instead of Span) Spanish 9G1 (Pd. C) Spanish 10B2 (Pd. I) Oral Trad. 11GH (Pd. A) J. Law 12GH (Ms. Sutton’s class) Human Pathology
2:30 Dismissal
Spanish 10G1 (Pd. A) Spanish 10G2 (Pd. C) AP Biology AP Statistics Art History Business Law Chemistry AP Creative Writing Music Appreciation Nutrition (Bklyn. Col-lege class) Principles of Investment Psychology AP Small Business Man-agement Street Law
7th 8:00 AM Minyan 9:30 – 11:00 AM Talmud 9 & 10 boys Torah 9 & 10 girls (no Acad.girls) 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM Talmud 11 & 12 boys Torah 11 & 12 girls(no
Acad.girls)
8th 8:00 AM Minyan 9:30 – 11:00 AM J.Philo.11&12(Acad.Torah 11& 12) 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM J. History 9 & 10 girls Torah 9& 10 boys (and Acad.10 girls) 2:00 – 3:30 PM
English 9 & 10
8:00 AM Minyan 9:30 – 11:00 AM J. Law 9 & 10 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM Navi 11 Navi 12 girls (and Acad.
boys) Torah 12 boys 2:00 – 3:30 PM English 11 & 12
8:00 AM Minyan 9:30 – 11:00 AM Algebra Geometry Academy Math 10 11:20 AM – 12:50 PM Trigonometry Calculus, Pre-Calculus College Algebra Core Math 12 Senior Math 12 Academy Math 11
8:00 AM Minyan 9:30 – 11:00 AM J. Law 11 & 12 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM Ivrit 9 & 10 2:00 – 3:30 PM Global Studies 9 & 10 AP World History 10
8:00 AM Minyan 9:30 – 11:00 AM Navi 9 & 10 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM Ivrit 11 (Acad. J.History 11) Ivrit 12 girls J. History 12 boys (and Acad girls) 2:00 – 3:30 PM US History 11 US Government 12
8:00 AM Minyan 9:30 – 11:00 AM Biology Chemistry Earth Science Nutrition
THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
9th
10th 11th
14th 15th
16th
Advice from Your Grade Deans
Advice from Top Students
Quiz: What’s Your Study Style?
1. When you read:
a) You check to see how many pages you have left
b) You highlight from time to time
c) You take notes
2. At 1:00 AM the night before a big exam, you are:
a) Sleeping
b) On Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook (if anyone still uses that)
c) Reviewing notes for the millionth time
3. You have your third cousin’s wedding in Shaare Zion the night before a midterm. You:
a) Go to the wedding! You two are so close… kind of. I mean you say hi when you see her…
b) Study extra the night before
c) Sacrifice going to study
4. You consider Ariel Cohen’s summer courses:
a) A nightmare to be avoided at all costs!
b) An opportunity to accept failure
c) Who’s Ariel Cohen?
5. You start working on a paper:
a) Midnight before it’s due
b) Two days before it’s due
c) A week before it’s due
6. The library is:
a) A funny word that starts with the letter L
b) A good place to do last minute work
c) Your home away from home
7. Your biggest accomplishment so far is:
a) You have achieved the cutting record
b) Bridge class… NBD
c) Honor roll every semester
8. You mainly use your iPhone to:
a) Snapchat
b) Stay in touch with friends
c) Use the dictionary app! Or thesaurus.
9. When you get to a difficult question in your homework, you:
a) Close the book and check your Fantasy Football scores
b) Skip the question and ask your friend to help you during lunch
c) These are your favorite! You work them out until you get the right answer! You knew you could do it!
10. Your daily supply list could be described as:
a) A sweatshirt pocket with one unsharpened pencil and a crumbled up tissue
b) One notebook with a pen you found on the desk the period before
c) Two five-subject notebooks, one for Judaic subjects and one for secular, a pack of Sharpie pens to color coordinate your notes, an expanding
filing folder, and six different size packs of Post-its.
See last page of the paper for results!
Advice from Your Teachers
Rabbi E. Bitton: Make sure to shut your phone off
and go to a quiet area to study. Do it in sections and
take short breaks after roughly 45 minutes. Keep calm
and ask Hashem to help you retain what you learn!
Mrs. Goldberg: Make an organized schedule for
studying: Similar to your daily schedule, create an hour
by hour “schedule” for yourself. Also, be sure to go to
bed and get enough rest. You are in charge !
Rabbi Tawil: Plan out which day(s) you will study for
each exam. Studying for two things in a day doesn’t
work; you will just be giving each subject 50% effort.
Arrange your notes. Make sure you have what you
need NOW!
Mrs. Muller: Students should make sure now that they
have all the notes for each subject and that they have
handed in all the required assignments for every class.
Review every night what you learn every day so the
material won’t be so difficult when you study for finals.
Rabbi Elnadav: Study during the daytime. This is
when you are used to learning, and so this is really the
best time for you to study. Don’t cram the night before.
Mrs. Cohen: Map out a study schedule. Plan to study
for each final more than a day in advance. Sleep well
and eat protein!
Rabbi Tobias: Briefly look over your notes prior to the
“night before.” Give yourself the opportunity to review
the information while classes are still in session so that
you can ask the teacher any questions you have.
Mrs. Tawil: Use the last few classes before finals to
make sure you have all the material, sources, and
information you need for that exam. It will be very hard
to reach the teachers and gather any missing things
the day before the test!
“Don’t stress over finals. Breathe, everything
will be okay. Organize your notes before the
final comes and don’t wait until the last minute.
If you have time, make a review sheet for sub-
jects you aren’t doing so well in.” -Stella
Sadaka, Sophomore
“Start photocopying other people’s notes from
now so you’re not stressed out the day before
the final. Get a good night’s sleep, because
pulling an all-nighter will do nothing for you. Just
remember: Don’t freak out over studying. You
will gain nothing that way.” -Hannah Cohen,
Junior
“Managing your time while studying for each
final is very important, especially if you have two
finals in one day. Many finals might cover lots of
info so keep track of time while taking the final.
They will soon be over! Hang in there!” -Esther
Hanon, Senior
“Just take it one day at a time. Every day, study
for the final you will be taking the next day.
When it’s over, we have a nice vacation.” -
Joseph Kassin, Senior
“Stay focused and on topic while studying. Make
sure you set a study schedule and have all of
your notes for the class you are studying for.
Studying with groups of friends is a great idea so
you can help one another.” -Jack Beyda, Sopho-
more
“Contrary to popular belief, late night and last
minute cramming never works; in fact, statistics
show that it might cause more harm than good. My
advice: Relax, and take a break. The less stress
the better. A treat like Caramel Macchiato sprinkled
with some good ol’ praying can make the differ-
ence. Good Luck! Rabbi M. Bitton
“Studying for finals is not difficult if you start now.
Outline the main points of the chapters you know
will be on the exam. Define words and terms you
do not fully understand. Then I suggest you review
your notes and old homework assignments. Do not
wait until the last minute. Get a good night’s sleep
and you will be ready. Good Luck! -Mr. Randall
“Get all your things together for each subject
and make a booklet. This way, you won’t have
papers flying everywhere and you won’t have to
wonder where to start!” -Lorry Louzeh, Sopho-
more
“Don’t worry about finals– it’s only a test! Pretend
you are on vacation… just kidding! Plan your study
so that you do least cramming possible, and then
take a deep breath, stay calm, and do your best. It
really is just a test. And, believe it or not, we want
you to do well.” -Mrs. Ullman
Page 6 ● The Flame ● December 28, 2012
Interested in joining the team at MDYHS Flame?
Email Mrs. Harari, Abraham Tobias, or Paulette Gindi
Follow us on Twitter: @MDYFlame
Madeleine’s Baking Corner
Snacking! We all do it. After school, everyone walks in and aims for the kitchen. Most of
the time we eat the first thing we see, which tends to be ready made cookies, cakes, pota-
to chips, etc. We forget how many calories we are actually consuming because we are so
hungry. At that point it’s easy to consume half of your day’s calories just on snacks. Then,
half an hour later you start to get hungry and you wonder why– you just had a snack. Well,
here is the answer: When you eat snacks that have no nutritional value they will not
keep you full for a long amount of time. We are here to show you the right choices to
make.
1. Think before you eat. First, think about whether or not the food you are about to eat
has any nutritional value that will keep you full until dinner, or is it food something that
will pass right through you?
2. Have pre-cut fruits and vegetables stored in your fridge. This way, healthy items
will be the first thing you grab to eat, and they will actually satisfy you.
3. Eat a 100 Calorie Snack or something with high fiber, which should keep you full until
dinner without overdoing the caloric intake.
4. Try apples and peanut butter, a healthy snack with a ton of nutritional value and
protein.
Finals! We all know finals are an extremely stressful time, and the most common way to
deal with stress is by eating! What we suggest is:
1. Try to keep your mind off the food and focused on your work.
2. Try studying away from the kitchen so you don’t get distracted by all the food. This
way you won’t be pigging out when you aren’t even hungry!
3. Avoid emotional eating, which is eating out of stress or anxiety.
4. When it’s time for that anticipated “break” pick up a piece of fruit or a vegetable, a
glass of water, and get back to studying.
Lastly, make sure you eat breakfast the morning of your finals. It is proven that breakfast
gives your brain the energy to properly function. Try something like eggs or walnuts
for omega 3 fatty acids to build your brain, grapes or blueberries for antioxidants, or
dairy and soy to spark your brain and improve concentration!
Nutrition & Health By Frances C. Mamiye and Michelle Catton
Tiramisu
In a large bowl, whisk milk and pud-
ding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2
minutes or until soft-set. In a small bowl,
beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add
confectioners’ sugar; beat until soft
peaks form. Fold into pudding; cover and
refrigerate.
Arrange half of the ladyfingers cute
side up in an 11-in. x 7-in. dish. Dissolve
coffee granules in boiling water; drizzle
half over the ladyfingers. Spread with half
of the pudding mixture. Repeat layers.
Sprinkle with cocoa. Refrigerate until
serving.
Ingredients
2 cups cold milk
1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanil-
la pudding mix
1 cup heavy whipping cream
3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
18 ladyfingers, split
2-1/2 teaspoons instant coffee gran-
ules
1/2 cup boiling water
1 tablespoon baking cocoa
RACHEL VS EVANA STUDENT DEBATE COLUMN
Topic:
Should students be required to stay in the exam room a full hour
if they finish a final early?
Con ProProPro
Students should not have to stay after they finish their test be-cause it’s simply unfair. I know the feeling where you finish your test and you are just staring at the clock watching every minute pass by, wait-ing for the teacher to collect the ex-am.
I know the feeling where you keep going over your answers, overanalyzing them and changing some around because there is simp-ly nothing else to do. Most of the time, the initial answer was right!
I also know the feeling where you think the teacher doesn’t make any sense by not letting you speak after you turn in your test. It is very annoying waiting for the time to pass. In that time you are waiting, you could be home studying for the
next final or relaxing after the stress-ful day.
There is no reason for students to stay in the room for a full hour, even if they finish the exam before then. The time is for people who need it, and when other stu-dents are in the room staring at the wall or the clock it distracts the stu-dents who are still taking the exam.
Teachers need to under-stand that there are fast test takers. Think about how students feel and how they could be spending their time!
-Rachel Faiena
Many students immediately answer that they feel it is totally un-fair to require students to stay in the exam room a full hour after it begins, even if they finish the test early. They feel it is just another way for teachers to torture students. While I definitely do think it’s annoying, I can understand why we aren’t allowed to leave early and I believe it makes a lot of sense.
Firstly, a student who gets out early could somehow either text or find another way to get an answer to his/her friends still taking the test. Students may say that that’s crazy and they would never do that, but the school has to be extra cautious.
It also gives students a chance to relax and calm down after taking such an important and nerve-
wracking test. If students were re-quired to take two tests in one day, and were told right away to start the second after finishing the first, they would most likely get stressed and freak out. By having students stay for a full hour, the school is actually helping. Instead of taking two tests in a shorter time period, they now have the opportunity to do their best on both finals.
Also, when students know they are required to stay a full hour they tend not to rush through it. This helps stu-dents relax and answer more ques-tions slowly and correctly. If there was no required limit to stay in the classroom, students would be rush-ing through the test to just hand it in and leave early!
-Evana Said
Who is the winner? Tell us who you think won this debate!
E-mail: [email protected] Twitter: @MDYFlame
15 Most Ridiculous Reactions to Hearing Someone is a Vegan
As George Bernard Shaw once said, “I do not want to make my stomach a graveyard of dead
animals.” I agree! I have been a vegan for about a year and every time someone hears this
they say some very ridiculous things. These are the top 15.
1. I tried being vegan once, but I got very sick and almost died.
2. If Gd didn’t want us eating animals then why’d he make them out of meat?
3. What if eggs came from a chicken you rescued? Would you eat them?
4. If we stopped eating animal products, then animals would have no reason to live.
5. But doesn’t P.E.T.A. stand for People Eating Tasty Animals?
6. Have you ever stepped on an ant? Then you’re not really vegan!
7. I hate animal cruelty but meat is so delicious!
8. You secretly eat meat, don't you?
9. When are you going to start eating like a normal person again?
10. If we only ate plants then there wouldn’t be any more oxygen and we would all die of
oxygen deprivation.
11. Quick! No one’s looking just try it!
12. If we don't eat animal then they will eat us!
13. You’re not going to force your children to be vegan are you? That’s child abuse.
14. If everyone went vegan then there would be a worldwide economic meltdown!
15. If we don’t eat animals then they will take over the planet!
By: Sarah Srour
December 28, 2012 ● The Flame ● Page 7
High School Humor A frog telephones the Psychic Hotline. His personal psychic advisor tells him, “You are going to meet a beautiful young girl who will want to know everything about you!” The frog is thrilled, “This is great! Will I meet her at a party?” “No, says his advisor, “in her biology class.” The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture. “Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, ‘There’s Jennifer; she’s a lawyer,’ or ‘That’s Michael he’s a doctor.’” A small voice at the back of the room rang out, “And there’s the teacher...she’s not around anymore.” “Can people predict the future with cards?” Suzie asked Little Johnny. “My mother can,” said Johnny. “Really?” “Yes, she takes one look at my report card and can tell me exactly what will happen when my Dad gets home!” Top Ridiculous Homework Excuses: 1. I accidentally confused it with toilet paper! 2. I gave it to Jeff to copy and he never gave it back! 3. I tried to turn it into a paper airplane and escape! 4. My mom took it to have it framed. 5. You said to do the homework, not to give it in! Top ridiculous excuses for being late to school: A. My ex-girlfriend was Mayan and she told me not to bother with school because it wasn’t supposed to
exist anymore! B. Turns out the snooze button isn’t there to make you wake up earlier. C. I was being followed on the way to school so I took the long way. D. Robin called in sick today so I had to help Batman fight the bad guys. E. I thought this place closes at 5:30!!! Things that are different: Teachers and trains. Teachers demand you stop chewing gum while trains say Chew! Chew! Chew! Riddle: How many months have 28 days? Last week’s answer: Because he liked to eat hay Winner: Eddie Rawas
E-mail your answer for a $5 lunch card! [email protected]
Finals Week Word Search
Created By:
Abie Chabbott
Words:
Breakfast
Hebrew
Minhah
Shaharit
English
Lunch
Navi
Spanish
Gemara
Math
Science
Torah
Barbara Franco (right), currently a freshman in NYU Steinhardt, recently spoke
with Renee Sutton (left) who was accepted into the University last week.
NYU Steinhardt RS: How do I get there?!
BF: I take the train everyday because I like to do my readings there. Sometimes I get lifts with
Betty Laboz or my brother.
RS: Is it a lot of work?
BF: Yes. There is always something that needs to be done– either reading or writing. I spend
many Fridays and Sundays just doing work.
RS: What should I expect?
BF: Expect to be reading a lot and writing a lot of papers. Don’t expect A’s in every class. What’s
good in high school might not be good enough for college. Expect a high level of competition.
RS: What do you consider your hardest and easiest classes?
BF: Easiest would be Intro to Human Communications. The professor, Paul Fotsch, was so fun-
ny and the readings were so interesting. I definitely recommend it. The hardest class was Writing
the Essay. The professor was very strict and it required a lot of time and effort.
RS: Any scheduling tips and advice?
BF: Do not take an 8AM class! It was painful and not worth it. Also, try not to schedule too many
classes in a row. You might want a break in between to work, read, study, or eat lunch.
RS: How can I be a part of the culture if I am not dorming?
BF: There is a commuter program where they take commuter students on trips. You can also
stay after school to join clubs. I haven’t done so yet but it’s definitely possible.
RS: Any good shopping?
BF: During my break I’ve gone to French Connection and Aldo– they are on my way to class!
Urban Outfitters is right by the train station, and Chobani yogurt is two blocks away and it’s a
great midday snack.
RS: How do I make friends?
BF: Everyone wants to make friends so don’t be afraid to talk to the people in your class. Also,
you need to make friends the first week so you can get notes when you miss class during holi-
days. Also, take classes with Syrians because you can always work together!
RS: How do I stay involved with Magen David?
BF: I coach the girls’ basketball team. Also, don't be afraid to ask your teachers for help. Mrs.
Harari has been especially helpful.
RS: Any first year mistakes I should avoid?
BF: Do not take Texts and Ideas first semester. It is a lot of reading and it isn’t so interesting.
Instead take a science of math because you won’t have to read or write papers.
Jeffrey Pardo was recently accepted into Boston
University.
Maurice Shalam is currently a freshman in Babson
College, which is located in Boston.
Life in Boston
JP: How often do you come home?
MS: I come home once a month, or for holidays and weddings.
JP: How do you stay religious?
MS: There is a kid from Brooklyn who has his own kitchen and he makes us Friday night dinner.
But we don’t have a Hillel house, BU does though so I guess you can eat there. Being religious
is not so hard you just need to put effort into it.
JP: How is dorming life and the living conditions compared to what you are used to?
MS: It’s obviously not a hotel, and probably not even a motel. But you meet a lot of new people
and you have the freedom to put anything you want (TV, Nintendo 64, fridge, etc.).
JP: How do you time manage?
MS: Just do all your work before you do anything else. When that doesn’t work, stay up as long
as you need to.
JP: How do you maintain your work ethic?
MS: Coming into college I didn’t have much work ethic, but in college I developed one by just
doing the work.
JP: Is it hard to stay in touch with the community and Magen David High School?
MS: It’s not hard to stay in touch. You can text and also with social networks you always know
what’s going on. If you want to stay in touch, you’ll stay in touch.
JP: Are there any good Kosher restaurants?
MS: In Brookline there are a ton of good Kosher restaurants. There are some in Boston too.
JP: Is there a Jewish fraternity or Jewish clubs and organizations?
MS: There is the Hillel house and there is a Jewish fraternity but I forgot what it’s called.
JP: Do you go to Red Sox games?
MS: I could go to them but I don’t like baseball. I already have several tickets to future Celtics
games and I plan on going to some Patriot games. Tickets are much cheaper in Boston than in
New York.
JP: Any good shopping? I have to keep my reputation as Fashion Police Pardo.
MS: The #1 Urban Outfitters is in Boston not so far from BU. Also, there’s a great mall close to
BU with every possible department store you can think of.
Results of Shirya 2012
It’s an entire week filled with mayhem, tears, and paint… lots of paint. You know it’s not as easy as we all thought it would be. You have to
make a banner, a song, a stomp, a couple of videos… GOOD ENOUGH TO IMPRESS RABBI SCHEINFELD. Not only did we have to do that, but
since the Magen David students are so thoughtful we even redecorated the South! But all jokes aside, every grade put so much hard work and effort
into this year’s Shirya. That one week filled with mayhem led up to the night every student was waiting for– the main event.
We started off the night with all of the videos, and we have to admit that the seniors’ “Daddy Come Home” was an amazing touch. When
the videos ended we went on to our personal favorite, food! After each grade presented their cake. The whol school then went up to the fifth floor to
sing our songs and present our stomps and banners. When each grade sang, the rest of the school couldn’t help but join in. As for the banners, the
Sophomore idea to draw an event from Jewish History was great. But the highlight of the night was the stomp.
The real shocker of the night was when the winners were announced. In fourth place came the Juniors, in third the Sophomores, in second
the Freshies, and in first the undefeated Seniors! Till Next Year! -Becky Chakkalo and Natalie Segev
F S G A H M C T T Z L U N D S
O V O A A M P S U D D D A G P
X R R A G A A Y H W O S V Q A
U O V Z P F S H A H A R I T N
T U M K K L A U H O X H S F I
V Z R A I T J H N S M C Y I S
I L E W P W F N I U I V W C H
P R C J B P R G M E D R R N L
B E W P T B V U N K V M P K W
T J N E L U N C H U A P A D X
U D T G R E E A R A M E G T R
U P R F L B A J J M N G R X H
K J J B N I E I O J I G D Z S
T G G F J E S H E N J L B H J
A Q S S C I F H T S S O K Y J
Hurricane Sandy Drive
By: Maurice Elbaz
This week, the freshmen participated in a toy drive for
Jewish families whose houses were affected by Hurricane Sandy. The
week before, we were all given a card that said either boy or girl, and
an age. We were asked to buy a gift for a child based on the card we
got.
On Tuesday, we brought our gifts into school to wrap. We
gathered in room 207 where we made cards for the recipient and
decorated them with stickers. After that, we wrapped the gifts and put
together to be delivered. It was a beautiful experience and we hope
we made an impact by bringing these children happiness in a stressful
time!
Page 8 ● The Flame ● December 28, 2012
Message Board: Freshie Honors Takeover! Do I have to do my homework is the world going to end? -Evana and Rachel Guys, chill. It didn’t end and nobody reads your column. –Becky and Natalie Of course Rachel and Evana are saying the world is ending… because everyone reads your articles Becky and Natalie? -Julie and Olga Happy birthday tomorrow Rachel Sardar! -Ezra Mosseri Happy birthday again tomorrow Rachel Sardar! -Rebecca and Sarah I love you Mrs. Harari! -Becky I want to put my books in the ceiling too (finger spasm) -Wannabe Seniors (Rachel and Evana) Jackie, please come around with the Shabbat Grams :) -Anonymous Freshies Just putting it out here we spent $20 on all these messages –Natalie I feel left out. –Mama and Rebecca, the only Sys
To Sponsor a Message, Please See Dennis Dayan or Michael Massy.
We asked Twitter:
“What’s your New Year’s Resolution for 2013”
@JayHarari: To start going to class… Oh and to come to school before 10.
BH BH BH!
@SophSaf_: To own a pair of headphones for more than a week without
them breaking
@BrigetteDana: To stop bullying @SophSaf_... No promises though
@SophSaf_: I change my mind— to get away from Brigette
@AwesomeZami: Go to sleep at 930
@BrigetteDana: @SophSaf_ or to fulfill your “wanderlust”
desires and get away from EVERYONE not just me
@JulGreeny: Isn’t the world supposed to end? How would
there be a New Years?
@Sharronnnn: To pass math!!
@GabySabbagh: To stop having 2 Kitkats a day and only have one! Reso-
lution complete!
@Abedude627: To start writing more neatly
@MChalouh: To meet Justin Bieber!!
@SarahSaide: Legit I think I’m gonna try to go to sleep earlier because this
whole 12am thing isn’t working out for me.
@RaqSab: Walk up to the fifth floor without hyperventilating
@RaquelImir: To finally pass my math regent. And meet Joseph Gordon-
Levitt
@RaquelNahum: Stop eating chocolate #chocoholic
@JenJemal: To go to sleep earlier. Been the same resolution since 08 lets
see if its any different this year
@Gmmusiclover1: To….. Try stopping myself not to be addicted to music…
my twit name gave ya a hint
Tweet Us! @MDYFlame (Warning: If we follow you back, we might correct your spelling and grammar)
Rabbi Scheinfeld Organized Successful Shirya By Esther Cohen
EC: What motivated you to start Shirya?
RS: When I was studying for Smicha in YU I had the opportunity to travel to Australia
and do outreach for a Jewish school with kids who were not very religious. We ran
educational retreats with lots of music and discussion. In just a few days we ended up
feeling such a love and excitement about Judaism and Torah even though the kids
weren’t observant. When I started teaching in a Yeshivah High School with knowl-
edgeable, observant kids, I realized that despite the millions of dollars spent on their
education and much Torah learning, there was not even one moment during the year
that I felt had the ruach and passion for Judaism and Torah that the whole school
could share. I wanted to change that. It was in Australia singing with those non-
religious kids that I fell in love with the song Minyan Man and wanted to share that
with the kids who keep Shabbos and go to minyan! I wanted to help create a moment
where one could feel totally excited and touched by their Torah.
EC: Tell us about the first Shiryah you ever did and what it felt like!
RS: It was a tremendous professional risk. No one in the school knew what Shirya
was or what it was meant to be and suddenly all the kids started missing some clas-
ses, and nobody except for me (and I had my doubts) knew what was going to come
of it. But I decided it was worth the risk even it failed. The night ended up being magi-
cal. It felt like a new miracle of Hanukah. Even the “coolest” kids were singing and
feeling the beautiful words and how it resonated in the hallways. I had goosebumps.
EC: What is special to you about Shirya here in MDY?
RS: The night of Shirya was so heart opening for me that it bonded me so deeply with
the students of Magen David. I could see the shine on people's faces and the feeling
of joy that came from within. I feel like I know all the kids in a way that is real. It is also
beautiful to see how each grade is proud of the other grades because of the sense of
community here at MDY.
EC: What is your favorite moment of Shirya?
RS: When the beautiful banners are brought in and all the teams together are singing
the slow songs. Those songs focused on the beautiful banners followed by the Divrei
Torah really capture the unity and Torah messages and inspiration that I look for in
the Shirya. I also love working will all the kids and seeing their wonderful realness as
they express themselves in art of music and try to connect to the messages of the
Torah. And of course singing Minyan Man, a song that somehow has this magical
effect and opens up our hearts!
Rabbi Benzion Scheinfeld
Mostly A
When was the last time you cracked open a book? Probably
not recently, and your grades may show it. You probably have
a social life that others are jealous of, but it’s important to keep
up with your schoolwork too. If you’re having trouble motivating
yourself, find new ways to study like setting up a study
group, getting creative with flashcards, or going to the
peer tutoring center. A good education will help you live out
your dreams, so figure out what works for you and make it a
new habit!
Mostly B
You’ve seemed to master the ability to balance work and play.
Your priorities are in order, which means you have time for the
best of both worlds: A decent GPA and tickets to Swedish House
Mafia with your friends. You know when to step it up without put-
ting too much pressure on yourself. However, if you want to move
past the middle of the road and start getting A’s, some good strat-
egies are turning off your phone while studying, “teaching”
your friends the material, and creating review sheets.
Quiz Results
Mostly C
If you ever wanted to be the next Martha or Tyra, you could–
your hard work and tenacity will take you far. But watch out for
being too rigid or you could miss out on some other great ex-
periences. Your grades are something to be proud of, but so
are strong friendships and awesome memories. Remember,
colleges and grad schools like well-rounded students, so try
joining a club outside your comfort zone, trying out for a
sports team, or even doing extra volunteer work. Chances
are, you will enjoy yourself and make new friends!