Admin Letter

Dvar Torah

Freshman Program

Interview

Briefing on Israel

Religious Furor

Vacation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box:        In this weeks Parshah, B'nei Yisroel leave Egypt and enter the Desert. When the Egyptians were chasing Bnei Yisroel, the Jews declared," We'd rather be slaves in Egypt." Why would they want to return to slavery? to exile? How could they prefer enslavement over freedom?  The answer is simple: COMFORT. In Egypt, Bnei Yisroel were provided with all of their basic needs: food, shelter and a schedule. "Mitzrayim" is similar to "Maitzar"-“narrow place,” because they preferred an enclosed environment that gave them a sense of security. For us, it is very difficult to leave our comfort zone, whether it is starting a new school, attending a new camp, or making a new friend. "Ultimately, it is that comfort that we have to fight against, or we will never move forward in our life. So, if you are struggling with a decision, ask yourself: What's the worst thing that can possibly happen? And in 10 years from now, will I regret not having made that decision?" Finally, the Yam Suf splits and Bnei Yisroel walk to freedom-conquering their struggle of "their own paralyzing fear. Adapted from Aish.com                                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

Text Box: Volume 2 Issue 11 2/6/09

Text Box: Soundbytes

Text Box: BH  

Text Box: oundbytes Text Box:     Can you feel it? It's in the air! You can hear it coming! Just watch Aliza every morning. You can sense the energy. Yes, G.O. Shabbos is just around the corner! By the time you read this, we will have splashed the super Motzai Shabbat activity all around you.  We’re hard at work to make this one of the best G.O. Shabbatons ever. So, if you haven’t brought in your application yet to Aliza, its not too late to do so.     This past week has seen its ups and downs. We were saddened by a number of losses to students, faculty, and Klal YIsrael. We take strength in Hashem and in each other to get us through the tough times.     Midos Tovos was absolutely great. Rabbi Hagler and Aliza put together a great program and everyone who came had a great time and learned a lot about themselves and how to react to difficult situations.     Tu Bishvat is this Monday. That means that Purim and Pesach can’t be far behind.  Have  a great Shabbos.                                                                                                                                            

Text Box: Letter from the Administration By Rabbi Oratz

Text Box: Dvar Torah By Malka Nusbaum Text Box: Freshman Program By Esther Miller and Dina Chizhik Text Box:     With 78 girls in the ninth grade, it's hard to get to know each girl and remember her name. Ms. Englard, our grade adviser, has been working tirelessly toward enabling the girls to achieve this goal. On Tuesday, she gave each girl a thick packet with everyone's picture and name, promising a test on Thursday. The next day, Friday, going along with the same theme, she gave us each an empty bingo chart and instructions to fill it out with the first and last names of five girls from each class. The original idea was to have a PowerPoint presentation flash pictures of girls in our grade, and we would then cross them off on our charts. And of course, the first person to get five in a row would shout" Bingo!" But due to computer problems, Ms. Englard was forced to come up with a new idea. She would call out things like "Everyone wearing a denim skirt stand up. Now everyone who has blonde hair, sit down…" and so on until it was narrowed down to one person. This new method sparked some confusion (“My hair is not blonde. It has blonde highlights,” or “Is my skirt denim? It looks like it and feels like it, but actually I don't think it is"), but all around it was lots of fun.                                                                                                                                                                                                         Text Box:  Interview with Mrs. Siegfried: An English Teacher By Esther Miller and Dina Chizhik   Text Box: Q: Where were you born?             A: I was born in South Dakota. Q: What hobbies did you have as a child?             A: As a child, I played violin, read all the time, and went horseback     riding through the Black Hills. Q: When you were a child, did you want to be a teacher?             A: Oh no, when I was growing up, I wanted to be a veterinarian.  But then I found out that there was a lot of blood involved.  Next, I wanted to become an attorney.  I started college, and decided to major in mathematics.  Soon, I realized that I didn’t actually like math that much.  I majored in Jewish history, and began teaching.  I taught at MTA. Q: Why did you decide to come to Bruriah?              A: I had heard about Bruriah and what a great school it was, and thought I could learn a lot from the other teachers.  Teaching girls also presented a new challenge. I had always taught boys before, and though I loved teaching them, I knew I could establish a much greater connection with girls.  In addition to that, it was much easier, concerning my daughter, to teach in New Jersey. Q: Have you experienced anything in your life you consider to be life changing?             A: Yes, I have. My husband had died of cancer a number of years ago. This, in addition to raising my four year old (at the time) daughter as a single mother, has strengthened my trust in Hashem.  Being a mother in general changes you. Before one gets married, she is selfish.  But as a mom, you learn to give to others.             I also learn a lot from my students, which changes me. Q: What were some of the most challenging situations for you as a teacher?             A: (These fortunately have not occurred in Bruriah.) I have had students in the   past who were having serious problems such as illnesses in the family or being exposed to dangerous behavior.  I had always felt helpless.  I couldn’t rush in and  save them, which is very upsetting.  At the same time, it is important to create a relationship with a student not only as their English teacher.             Once, a kid’s father had died suddenly, and he was able to relate with me since I  had gone through a similar situation.  I had encouraged him to start writing.  In this way he was able to express his feelings.  Most of the time, you are not even able to see the effects you have on people until much later, and sometimes, not at all. Q: Can you tell us of an amusing experience as a teacher?             A: During my first year at MTA, I taught 11th grade history.  One day, a boy     asked to get a drink.  I let him, but he was gone for a very long time.  Finally he came back with a soda.  It turned out that he had gone to the store across the street.  Part of me was laughing, but I knew I couldn’t show that because then I would lose my authority over the class. Q: What differences are there in teaching girls rather than boys?             A: Well, I love teaching both, but they’re very different.  With boys, when there’s a conflict, it’s very open, very clear. It can just break into a fight and its over. But, with girls, you can have two girls being nasty to each other and I just wouldn’t know- it simmers beneath the surface.             Girls are more grade conscious (at least at Bruriah). Girls are less physically wild in class.  Boys, on the other hand, are more honest and less likely to put on a face.  They usually say what they think. Q: Do you have any dreams you would like to fulfill? A: I would love to work for a non-profit organization, to alleviate hunger and poverty, to make sure people have food on their table. There’s something very concrete about that.             I would also love to travel. See other places. I had actually went sky diving once, and would like to do that again. Q: You went sky diving?!?!?!             A: Yes, I actually did. You see, most people would never guess that I once  jumped out of a plane. When I first heard about it I thought it was really cool. The scariest part was stepping out on the wing. Once you’re out there, it’s too dangerous for them to get you, so you’ve reached the point of “no return”. Q: What do you think is special about English?             A: English teaches you to think, ask questions, to be critical.  It is a way to express yourself. Q: What are some of your favorite books?             A: Steinbeck’s book, Grapes of Wrath. And I loved Lord of the Rings. Q: If you could get all of Bruriah to read one book, what book would you choose?             A: I think Grapes of Wrath, because it gives perspective on social issues, especially poverty.                                                                                                                                                                                                           Text Box:  A Briefing on the Precarious Situation in Israel                           By Naamah Plotzker     Text Box: It was only about two and a half weeks ago, Sunday January 18, when a unilateral cease-fire was called to stop the fighting between Israel and Hamas terrorist forces in Gaza, which lasted for twenty-two days.  It did not take long for the cease-fire, which lasted only for Sunday and Monday, to be broken by the Palestinians, Hamas the alleged perpetrator, first by firing mortar shells into the Western Negev, in open territory.  Over the next days, Hamas continued to fire more than thirty light explosives, including Qassam rockets, mortar shells, and Grad missiles into Israel.  The Israel Air Force retaliated by attacking a number of the targets in Gaza from which such missiles were fired. According to Israeli officials, these attacks from Gaza undermine any chance of a permanent cease-fire.  “It appears that Hamas is out to deliberately undermine any chance for quiet,” said Mark Regev, a spokesman for Olmert. “In allowing the launching of deadly rockets at Israeli cities, Hamas alone holds responsibility for any possible escalation.”   Egypt is helping to mediate a one-year cease-fire between Israel and Hamas which Hamas says it will consider a with Israel if Israel agrees to open the borders to Gaza it sealed after Hamas began to control Gaza in 2007.  Israel refuses to open the borders to Gaza if Hamas insists on refusing to agree to use open borders to smuggle weapons into Gaza.  Hamas rejects Israel’s offers of a gradual opening of borders or requests for a release of Sgt. Gilad Schalit in exchange for the cease-fire. Until that happens, Hamas will continue to fire its missiles at Israel to prove that it has not been defeated at a level that would not provoke another strike by the Israel Defense Force, according to Gerald Steinberg, a political scientist at Bar-Ilan University.             Next week elections for prime minister will be taking place in Israel, the top three candidates being Benyamin Netanyahu, Tzippi Livni, and Ehud Barak.  Im yirtzeh Hashem, with new, stronger leadership, the situation in Israel will stabilize and good decisions will be made by the government.  May we see Mashiach arrive and peace achieved speedily in our days. Sources: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=akg.UvtwZ0po&refer=home http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090203/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_mideast_diplomacy http://www.spectator.co.uk/melaniephillips/3275426/hamas-breaks-ceasefire-britain-ignores-it.thtml                                                                     Text Box: Religious Furor By Rochel Ada Gershonowitz   Text Box: Where did you go for vacation? Not so surprisingly, most people when to Florida, to Israel, or just stayed home. More than a few went to California and to the mountains. A few people went on cruises to who-knows-where. (Hey, you know what? We should do that for next year’s G.O. Shabbaton). Some people traveled to the Mountains (burrr) or Canada (double burrr). There are also the random places people went to like Vegas, Texas, Home (just kidding), Tennessee, and Upstate New York. The weirdest and most random place someone went to was Atlantis. Whoever knew it was the name of a real place? It’s somewhere in the Bahamas, I believe, not under the sea in a bubble (at least I think not). Most people migrated to –or shall I say escaped to– warmer climates for their vacations. Many people went to hang out with family and others went to tourist attractions or skiing. Others watched TV, tanned, visited theme parks, or went to the mall (despite the fact that there are malls back home in America too). Wherever you went (or stayed), I’m sure everyone saw at least a few Jews. In the parks in Orlando, where I was, everywhere you turn there are more Jewish people. We can spot them clearly in a crowd because our eyes are so trained to do so. Even if they don’t dress the way we do, sometimes you can just tell they’re one of us. What really fascinated me was how Jewish people, whether they know each other or not, kind of gravitate towards each other. We always find each other. When it’s almost sunset all these Jewish men come together to daven mincha. Do you ever find it interesting how when you see someone Jewish you feel like you kind of know them, or, how you feel so much more comfortable talking to Jewish people? Who else has all that? When you see or meet Jewish people you feel a connection. You might smile at them more brightly than the next person you meet. When someone Jewish is having trouble of any sort other Jewish people will stop by to see if everything is okay or if they can help. When we stop for each other, an onlooker might even think we are a group traveling together because we seem so connected to one another even from the outside. We feel an obligation and a desire to help because they’re not just some Jo Shmo on the street, (I don’t mean to sound cliché but) they are Hashem’s people too. Also, we have our whole Jewish Geography thing going on there. You wouldn’t go up to your Spanish teacher and ask her if she knows your house cleaner. It just comes to show that we really are one.   Text Box: Where Did You Go For Vacation? By Rachel Mindel Korenblit  

Text Box:                When in Rome, do as the Romans do, or so the saying goes.  Thursday, January 29th we, the Jews, chose not to do as the Romans.  Pope Benedict XVI has recently lifted the excommunication of four priests associated with a Catholic society, the Society of St Pius X, which believes the Holocaust never occurred.  The Chief Rabbi of Israel has raised an outcry, backed by all Jews, threatening to break off ties with the Vatican for the reinstatement of Bishop Richard Williamson, a denier of the Holocaust.  The Chief Rabbi has also canceled the meeting between Israel and the Vatican scheduled for March, until there is an apology heard from Williamson for the most horrible statements issuing from his mouth.  The leader of another traditional Catholic society, Floriano Abrahamowicz, was quoted saying, ''I know that gas chambers existed as a means to disinfect, but I cannot say for sure if they killed anyone because I really haven't looked into it.”   Now I can’t say I disinfect people riddled with diseases often (as Abrahamowicz ‘believes’ the Nazis were doing), but I believe that one wouldn’t go about it using Zyklon B gas, which as we know is lethal if breathed in.  Plus, if one would just take a single peek into the gas chambers today they would see green stains all over the walls. Maybe Abrahamowicz will say it’s from the soap they used or something of that sort, but all you have to do is take a culture of it and anyone can tell its Zyklon B gas.              The Chief Rabbi says that he isn’t cutting ties between Israel and the Vatican; all he wants is for the Pope to explain himself, to apologize.  The Pope has already made conciliatory remarks, saying to the Catholic community that there were “millions of Jews were cruelly massacred, innocent victims of blind racial and religious hatred.”  He highlighted this point to his minions, yet he has not fully apologized, nor explained, why he has let these four priests be recognized once again.  The pope says over and over that he knows the Holocaust happened, that it is real because he saw the evidence with his own eyes- yet he still hypocritically welcomes back these priests whom are non believers of the Holocaust.              Noble Peace prize winner and Holocaust survivor Elie Weisel had an interview cocerning his views of this horrifying situation.  He very simply said that Pope Benidect has given credence to “the most vulgar aspect of anti-Semitism”, that the Church fully knows what they are doing, especially with a situation as delicate as this.  They must have some game plan with this, some intention, for the Church does not perform blindly.  But those intentions, says Elie Wiesel, are as elusive to him as to the rest of us.            

Text Box:                                                   Staff                            Rabbi Hagler- Faculty Advisor                            Yonina Fogel– Editor-In– Chief                            Leah Mandelbaum– Assistant Editor                                                    Ilona Grudnikoff– Layout Editor                            Aviva Azar– English Editor                           Yafit Fishbach-Photography Editor                           ARK-Photography Editor                           Shoshana Kaplan-Photography Editor                           Malka Nusbaum- Writer                           Racheli Levy– Writer                                                    Adeeva Goldstein– Writer                            Deena Jacob– Writer                            Chana Gorelik– Writer                            Rochel Ada Gershonowitz-Writer                             Shira Eisenman– Writer                            Nechama Dreyfus– Writer                            Rachel Mindel Korenblit– Writer                            Esther Miller-Writer                            Dina Chizhik- Writet                            Neeli Rhodes– Writer                             Naamah Plotzker- Writer                             Abby Chesir– Writer                             Tal Mieri– Writer                             Talia Berlin– Writer                             Dina Lichtman- Writer                           Chana Rayman– Technological Assistance   

Text Box: Soundbytes

Text Box: BH