The High School Club Made Easy

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CONTENTS 3

WHAT’S INSIDE SUGGESTED LEARNING METHODS

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HIGH SCHOOL CLUB HOW TO

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WEEKLY TOPICS AND RECIPES ADDITIONAL TOPICS

© COPYRIGHT 2014 T H E C T E E N KO S H E R F O O D C LU B CONTENT ADAPTED WITH PERMISSION FROM THE JUDAISM WEBSITE CHABAD.ORG ART & DESIGN: CHAIM KRAUSZ DESIGN

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WHAT’S INSIDE ast year we piloted the Kosher Food Club, a cocurricular high school club, which enables shluchim to reach unaffiliated teens on their home turf. The KFC was popular with students and faculty alike since it serves as both a humanitarian initiative that promotes healthy lifestyles and feeding the homeless, as well as providing hands-on preparation and education of traditional Jewish foods.

After consulting shluchim who regularly run high school clubs, we have created a comprehensive curriculum geared for shorton-time shluchim. Each week, a controversial topic is featured in a question and answer form. Alongside it is a recipe that fits the theme, such as Israeli and Shabbat foods, recipes inspired by the Holocaust Survivor Cookbook, and of course, teen favorites!

You have 25 minutes to impact teens who likely never set foot in a synagogue.

For many students, this may be their first taste of Yiddishkeit.

Hook ‘em and it won’t be their last!

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 3

SUGGESTED LEARNING METHOD

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Rather than lecturing on a topic, get a conversation going. Provoke an argument!

Teen participation and long-term impact will be greater the more involved they are.

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TAPE THE TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION ON THE BOARD.

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TRY TO LEAD THE TEENS TO THE ANSWERS, INSTEAD OF SIMPLY GIVING THE ANSWERS OVER.

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ASK THE GROUP FOR ITS OPINION. FOR A FUN TWIST, SET UP A LIVE TWEET FOR QUESTIONS DURING THE SESSION.

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IF TEENS GET STUCK ON TWO SIDES OF ONE OPINION, SET UP A DEBATE!

BRING THE ASK THE RABBI BOX TO EACH SESSION. THEY CAN DROP QUESTIONS FOR YOU INTO THE BOX, WHICH YOU SHOULD CONSIDER AS TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION AT A LATER DATE.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 5

HIGH SCHOOL CLUB HOW TO

WHAT IS A HIGH SCHOOL CLUB? Many public high schools have clubs. These clubs vary in nature and can be religious, humanitarian, community affairs, volunteering, hobbies, culture, etc. Some clubs are part of a national or international organization, and some are local clubs specific to that particular community.

Students in public high schools have a legal right to bring in an outsider to run a club on their campus.

Students must first find a club “sponsor,” usually a teacher who gives permission for the club to use his or her classroom during lunchtime.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR THE TEENS? Teens join clubs for many reasons, ranging from peer pressure and social exclusivity to extracurriculars for their college applications.

WHY KFC? Because it tastes good!

WHERE DID MY PEOPLE GO? Before doing anything, assess the needs of your community.

Which high schools have the most Jews? Which ones don’t already have a Jewish presence? What matters most to the teens in your community? Are they academics, jocks, community volunteers?

How much do they already know about Judaism?

To what extent do they identify as Jews? How important is Jewish observance in their homes?

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 7

There may already be other Jewish clubs at the school.

Working with them may be to your advantage, but make sure you know the values and mission statement of the club before you consider it. If this club will not respect your standards, it is better to avoid teaming up with them at all. Still, it is important to always demonstrate respect for the other Jewish clubs, especially in front of the teens.

THE KFC ELEVATOR PITCH The KFC club aims to promote healthy lifestyles, provide educational hands on experiences and encourage participants to care for the wellbeing of the homeless and elderly.

CLUB STARTUP 1. Visit the schools. Find out with whom you need to meet and how to do things correctly.

2. Generate excitement. Do you know anyone in the school who could get the word out for you? If there’s no one yet, maybe do some traditional mivtzoim to meet someone there.

3. Know your lingo. Many schools have policies regulating religious programs so you may be restricted from doing any type of prayer, but you may talk about Israel or loving a fellow Jew. The key words here are “culture” and “cultural experiences.”

4. Some schools don’t allow outsiders to come in and run the clubs. If so, consider becoming the “sponsor” and picking students to run the club for you.

5. Some schools only allow multi-cultural clubs, so you may have an opportunity to come in every few months. Choose your words and topic carefully, because there will be other teens there.

LEADING THE LEADER Create leaders who will feel responsible for the club and work to make it succeed. Meet with them, discuss goals with them, make them official CTeen leaders! (Email lrivkin@cteen.com to reach out to them.) This will help ensure your club’s success!

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

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Most of the above applies to private schools as well, but the main thing to take note of is that the school has more control and the right to an open club is not guaranteed. Connecting with students, parents or teachers of this school may be the best way to start your club, as they can talk to the decision makers on your behalf.

CLUBBING CLUBBING Club sessions are usually once a week, mainly during lunchtime, and run for about a half hour.

Set up a Facebook page and get teens to help spread the word. Stay active—post pictures and tag the teens in them!

ALLERGIES Because you will be serving food, it is important to be sensitive to potential allergies. Always announce if there are common allergens in the food you are serving, such as dairy, eggs, or nuts. If a regular student has an allergy, try to be accommodating.

KEEP IT SIMPLE 1. Think of the first session as a startup meeting.

Thank everyone for coming and single out anyone who helped make the club happen.

2.

When making recipes that call for prep time, begin the recipe at the beginning of your program, and then host the discussion while the food cooks. If there’s no rule against it, say a bracha together.

3. Remember, time is limited. Don’t get caught up on the food or the lesson. The teens need to have fun, socialize, and discuss.

4. Tell a personal story with a lesson, or drop a controversial statement and let the teens have at it!

Just make sure you leave enough time to wrap up any argument.

5. Consider playing a game or showing them a slideshow or video.

6. If it’s allowed, put on tefillin or give out neshek at the end.

7. Be flexible. If everyone’s making friends and having a good time, set aside some of the scheduled program and join in! It’s important to teach teens but it’s also important to cultivate longterm relationships with them.

"TAKE SE RA H P O T E CAR THEY CAN’T SO S T P E C N ONG R CO W E H T BE TAKEN AY." W

8. Assign two teens to stand at a pickup table to hand out food at dismissal, either cooked and ready to take home, or in aluminium foil pans so that they can easily cook the food at home.

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TO Y A W E T A G R U O Y S I UB." C L F C K " N E E T C UR O Y G N I D N A EXP

IT'S ALL IN THE PACKAGING Food can be the biggest draw for some, but the biggest turn off for others. Focus on the humanitarian aspect if your group is too sophisticated to show up for “free food.”

KNOW YOUR CLASS The free food might lure some non-Jewish students.

Take care to phrase concepts so they can’t be taken the wrong way. When teaching sensitive topics such as intermarriage or Jewish survival, be prepared with another lesson just in case non-Jewish students join the meeting.

CAN I GET YOUR DIGITS? Don’t let the teens out without getting their contact information! Send follow up emails, inform them of future activities, update them on upcoming clubs, and keep in touch after the school year’s out.

IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME Building a good reputation is the best way to make sure the teens come, again and again.

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Take care to be consistent, on time, and professional. Teens notice these signs of respect and appreciate them. Give them a heads up in advance about upcoming sessions and programs.

A lot of them can’t make last-minute plans.

Try to make the sessions fun and personal. If particular issues are more relevant to your teens, spend more time on them.

Ask the teens to share a personal story based on the topic just discussed.

Incentives like points and raffles might boost attendance.

Try to think of something special to do for yomim tovim. Can you have a large menorah lighting in the school? Can you bring along a pop up sukka for an outdoor session? What about dressing up for Purim?

Find out if you can put updates of your club’s activities in the school newsletter.

Want to lock in a teen? Pretend to be stumped by a question a teen poses and promise to find the answer for next week so the curious teen will come back for more

INVEST Part of leading a successful club is having the right materials. Investing in kitchen utensils and cookware will make the process simpler and easier.

If possible, once you make a connection with each school, find out if a utility closet or storage room may be available for you to store the club items.

Items that you may consider investing in include: 9 by 11 toaster oven Extension cord Electric deep fryer Lots of storage containers (in various sizes) Aluminum pans (in various sizes) Microwave Electric burner Food processor Hand Mixer Knives Peelers

SCHOOL’S OUT! Now that you’ve got the teens, keep them! Think of other after-school activities or programs that you can do with them. It’s easier to get the teens together when they’re already in school, but work to generate interest in events outside of school.

Invite the teens to deliver the food they made to the elderly or homeless.

Plan a KFC reunion or meet up with your teens over vacations. And of course, KFC is your gateway to expanding your CTeen club.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 11

SEPTEMBER

KOSHER MARIJUANA? Do Jewish mystical teachings regard marijuana as a method of getting closer to G‑d? Of course, there is the fact that marijuana is still against the law in many places, but there are obviously some exceptions for actions done for spiritual purposes that normally would be against the law.

Before your soul came down into this world, it was high.

The ultimate high. So high, there was only one way she could get higher: by squeezing herself into a bloodand-bones body and coming to live down here on planet Earth.

This is where the ultimate high comes from: from reaching deep within, all on your own.

Who knows, maybe marijuana and other psychotropic drugs open up the doors of perception for the soul. Maybe it gets a short relief from sweating away at its mission down here. But it’s a high that lies. And for the soul, it makes the long journey down here into a bad trip.

“This is high?” she says. “For this I could have stayed above and been much, much higher!”

The real high can happen only by working with that body, not escaping it; by prying open the doors of your perception step by step, stretching its limits a little more each day, engaging your senses, limbs, heart, mind and stomach in beautiful, divine acts daily. That’s the path to getting high and staying there.

"The real high can happen only by working with the body, not escaping it"

Here’s the gameplan: Soul descends and invests within walking, talking body. Body thinks for itself and doesn’t want to listen to soul. Soul feels trapped, oppressed, forced into doing things it can’t stand. Soul reaches within to find hidden powers. Soul works with body.

Gradually, soul refines body. Body becomes soul-like. Soul discovers its quintessential being.

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Final Say: Find the ultimate high by empowering your body to work with your soul, not against it.

STRAWBERRY / BANANA TOOLBOX: A blender 1 banana 1 cup strawberries ½ cup of vanilla yogurt ½ cup of milk 2 teaspoons honey 1 cup ice A pinch of cinnamon for garnish Large plastic cups in various colors HOW TO: Blend ingredients together.

Pour into cups and enjoy!

FRUIT SMOOTHIES THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 15

TATTOOS What’s wrong with tattoos?

The Torah warns against tattoos in Leviticus 19:28:“You shall not make cuts in your flesh for a person [who died]. You shall not etch a tattoo on yourselves. I am the Lord.”

to insulting G‑d’s handiwork.

Secondly, in ancient times it was customary for idol-worshippers to tattoo themselves as a sign of commitment to their deity—much like an animal that is branded by its owner.

On many occasions the Torah forbids practices that emulate pagan customs to prevent the Jewish people from adopting idolatrous practices.

"Mutilating G-d’s work is rejecting His handiwork."

There are two general explanations for this prohibition. First of all, the human body is G‑d’s creation, and it is therefore unbefitting to mutilate G‑d’s handiwork.¹ This is seen from the juxtaposition of the prohibitions of cutting and tattooing. One must believe that G‑d, the greatest artisan of all, formed him or her in the most fitting way, and one must not change this form. Changing one’s body (unless it is for health reasons) is tantamount

The covenant of circumcision is unique in that is is a physical sign on our bodies of our relationship with G‑d. Making other marks on one’s body would weaken and cheapen this special sign.

Final Say: Your body is G-d’s creation, and should be respected and cared for. Mutilating G-d’s work is rejecting His handiwork.

¹ Some students might follow up with a question about piercings. Body piercing is not a new phenomenon. In fact the Torah mentions nose rings and earrings. Do body piercings, for the purposes of beauty, fall under the prohibition against self-wounding? Not all forms of wounding are prohibited. Obviously, surgery needed for health consideration is not only permitted but mandated. Wounding is permitted when it is intended to benefit the person, therefore the prohibition against wounding is only when it is intended to pain and degrade the body (Iggrot Moshe Choshen Mishpat 2:65-66). Piercings for the sake of beauty and ornamentation would therefore be permitted, but if they are associated with a subculture of masochism and self-destruction, they would violate the prohibition against wounding.

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FALAFEL TOOLBOX: 1 15 oz. can chickpeas, drained 1 medium onion, finely chopped 1 tablespoon minced garlic 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped 1 teaspoon coriander 3/4 teaspoon cumin 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons flour oil for frying (canola or vegetable) HOW TO: 1. Combine chickpeas, garlic, onion, coriander, cumin, salt and pepper (to taste) in medium bowl. Add flour and combine well.

2. Mash chickpeas, making sure to mix ingredients together. You can also combine ingredients in a food processor. You want the result to be a thick paste.

3. Form the mixture into small balls, about the size of a ping pong ball. Slightly flatten.

4. Fry in 2 inches of oil at 350 degrees until golden brown (2-5 minutes).

5. Serve falafel by itself, or with hot pita bread with veggies, hummus, or tahini sauce.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 17

WHAT IS LIFE’S PURPOSE? What is the purpose of life? Why are we here, and what are we meant to accomplish?

One of the most important conversations that children have amongst themselves is what they want to be when they grow up. Every child from a young age knows that they want to be a ballerina, an astronaut, a doctor, or even Superman.

They set a goal in their minds, or in other words, a purpose. Now, think of it on a much larger scale: G-d set out with a purpose for creation.

When it comes to our individual purposes in the world, we can look at it in two ways. The first is to look at G-d’s intention for creation as a whole. When G-d created the world, He was creating a physical place in which he could dwell. The purpose of every soul is to elevate the physical world and make it an appropriate place in which G-d can dwell. G-d created every single being with the ability to turn the world over into a spiritual place.

creating a home for G-d, every soul has a unique and individual purpose of it’s own. G-d created every individual to undertake a unique mission in the world, a duty that each person must accomplish during his or her time on earth.

How does one know one’s own specific purpose? The answer is that everything happens by Divine Providence, and if a person is presented with a certain opportunity, this is certainly sent from Above and should be treated as if it is the purpose of one’s soul’s descent.

"If a person is presented with a certain opportunity, this is certainly sent from Above"

Besides for the general purpose of 18 // SEPTEMBER

We look to the Torah for guidance with our purpose. The Torah makes us constantly aware of our duties in life; it gives us a true definition of our purpose, and it shows us the ways and means of attaining this goal, both in spiritual and physical means.

Final Say: Just as each person has a specific purpose, skillset or career, so too, each moment has a specific mission.

CANDIED APPLES TOOLBOX: 15 apples 2 cups white sugar 1 cup light corn syrup 1 1/2 cups water 8 drops red food coloring Cookie Sheets Oil for greasing cookie sheets Craft sticks HOW TO: 1. Lightly grease cookie sheets. Insert craft sticks into whole, stemmed apples.

2. In a medium saucepan over mediumhigh heat, combine sugar, corn syrup and water. Heat to 300 to 310 degrees F (149 to 154 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms hard, brittle threads.

Remove from heat and stir in food coloring.

3. Holding apple by its stick, dip in syrup and remove and turn to coat evenly. Place on prepared sheets to harden.

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AN INVITATION TO MY LIFE I’ve learned that Rosh Hashanah is about coronating G-d as king. That’s a pretty lofty concept. I’m pretty a downto-earth person. How does this esoteric concept affect my relationship with G-d?

Rabbi Shmuel Munkes was traveling before Rosh Hashanah and was stranded in a small village over Shabbat. The next morning the entire village woke up before sunrise to go to the synagogue to recite Selichot, the prayer that opens the High Holiday season, but Rabbi Shmuel remained in bed, fast asleep. Rabbi Shmuel’s host went to wake him up. “What's the matter with you?” he cried. “If I hadn't woken you, you would have slept through the entire Selichot!”

“Selichot?” asked Rabbi Shmuel. “What is Selichot?”

Rabbi Shmuel’s host was beside himself. “Are you making a mockery of me? The entire village is now in the synagogue, praying and begging G-d to bless them with a good year...”

“You're going to the synagogue to pray?” asked Rabbi Shmuel. “What's so urgent that can't keep until morning? What are you praying for?”

“There's so much to pray for, Reb Shmuel,” sighed the villager. “I pray that the cow should give enough milk to keep my children healthy. I pray that the oats should fetch a good price on the market this year, for soon I shall have a daughter to marry off. I pray that my horse should not break a leg, G-d forbid, as happened the year before last...”

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“I don't understand,” interrupted Rabbi Shmuel.

“Since when do grown men wake up in the middle of the night to ask for a bit of milk?”

Our sages explain that because the spiritual world is essentially more connected with its divine source, it is difficult to freely choose to serve G-d when our spiritual selves are awed and overwhelmed by G-dliness. On the other hand, when we invite G-d into our physical lives, when we serve Him through physical deeds and materials, we are truly choosing to submit to Him, for this kind of service goes against the nature of our physical selves.

Crowning G-d as king means accepting Him as sovereign in all areas of our lives, including— and primarily—our most mundane needs and requirements. Seen in such a light, our needs are not personal needs, and our requirements are not selfish requirements.. We ask for money to observe the mitzvah of charity; for strength to build a Sukkah; for food to keep body and soul together so that our physical lives may serve as a “dwelling in the lower realms" that houses His presence in our world.

Final Say: This Rosh Hashanah, when we pray for material good, we are inviting G-d into our real, everyday, routine lives. Asking for our physical needs may seem selfish, but in truth it are only so that we can fulfill our divine mission of making this world a more kind, G-dly place.

ROUND CHALLAH TOOLBOX: 2 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C) 1 tablespoon active dry yeast 1/2 cup honey 4 tablespoons vegetable oil 3 eggs 1 tablespoon salt 8 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon poppy seeds (optional) PREP: Prepare challah dough beforehand. Alternatively, you can buy Rhodes ready made frozen dinner rolls dough at Costoco.

1. In a large bowl, sprinkle yeast over barely warm water.

2. Beat in honey, oil, 2 eggs, and salt.

3. Add the flour one cup at a time, beating after each addition, graduating to kneading with hands as dough thickens.

4. Knead until smooth and elastic and no longer sticky, adding flour as needed.

5. Cover with a damp clean cloth and let rise for 1 1/2 hours or until dough has doubled in bulk.

HOW TO: 1. Preheat oven at 400 F. 2. Divide the dough in half, and further divide each half into thirds and roll out each third into logs of equal length. Lay the pieces out in front of you.

3. Braid the three strands together from the middle.

4. Once the three strands have been made into a braid, bring the two ends of the braid together, turning the challah dough into a circle.

5. Glaze challah loaves with egg glaze and bake for 35-40 minutes until the tops and bottoms are golden.

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OCTOBER

THE JOY OF SIN? I find Yom Kippur depressing.

Why spend a day focusing on our sins and failures? Do we need to be reminded how far we are from being perfect?

Yom Kippur is a celebration of being human. And being human means being imperfect.

"Rather than be depressed by failings, we celebrate them.

Every sin, every slip up, every failed attempt at living up to our calling is another opportunity to grow and improve."

Human failure is so predictable, G-d has placed on the calendar an annual day of forgiveness. It is not an optional holiday for only those who happen to have sinned. Yom Kippur comes every single year for every single person. It is as if we are expected to sin, that there will always be mess-ups for which we have to make amends. G-d is so not surprised by our failings that He allows a clean-up day every year. We

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were never meant to be perfect.

For all of us who are not perfect, Yom Kippur is our day. Rather than be depressed by failings, we celebrate them.

Every sin, every slip up, every failed attempt at living up to our calling is another opportunity to grow and improve. Failing at our mission is itself a part of the mission.

Yom Kippur is the day G-d thanks us for being human, and we thank G-d that we aren't perfect. If we were, we'd have nothing to do.

Final Say: If we were perfect beings, we would have no reason to exist.

Yom Kippur is a day that reminds us we’re human, and just how great being human is, even with our sins and failures.

SALAD BAR TOOLBOX: English cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced 2 pt fresh red cherry tomatoes 2 diced bell peppers, yellow and red 1 pkg baby carrots 15 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed Bag of seasoned croutons 1 cup small black pitted olives Bags of various types of salad greens Bottled dressings in various flavors UTENSILS Small bowls for each ingredient Serving bowls Serving spoons Forks and knives Plates HOW TO: Arrange ingredients around a table.

Enjoy creating your own salads!

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DO THE LULAV SHAKE BRING A LULAV AND ETROG WITH YOU. IF YOU ARE ABLE TO HAVE A CLUB MEETING ON SUKKOT, GIVE THE STUDENTS A CHANCE TO MAKE A BRACHA AND SHAKE THE LULAV, OTHERWISE DEMONSTRATE HOW IT IS DONE AND THEN SEGUE INTO THIS QUESTION. What’s with the shaking of the lemon and all of those branches?

What’s the significance?

The theme of Sukkot is Jewish unity, which is expressed in several ways on this holiday.

The mitzvah of the Four Species is all about Jewish unity. Each of the four types represents a different type of Jew: The etrog, a citron fruit, which smells and tastes good, represents a Jew who learns Torah and does good deeds. The lulav, a palm frond, tastes good but does not have an aroma, symbolizing a Jew who has Torah knowledge but does not perform good

deeds. The hadas, or myrtle branch, has a fine aroma but does not have a taste, representing a Jews who performs good deeds but does not have Torah knowledge. Finally, the aravah, or willow branch, has no taste and no aroma, representing a Jew who does not learn Torah or perform good deeds. We bind these four species together, and shake, symbolizing the unity of all types of Jews, no matter their background or level of observance. After all, we’re the same nation.

Final Say: The Four Species represents the unity of the Jewish people, no matter the background or level of observance of a Jew.

"We bind these four species together, and shake, symbolizing the unity of all types of Jews, no matter their background or level of observance."

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PIZZA IN THE HUT TOOLBOX: Whole wheat pitas 3/4 cup tomato sauce 1 cup shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese 1/4 cup olive oil Fresh oregano Toppings: Olives, peppers, mushrooms Sandwich maker or grill HOW TO: 1. Grill pitas on both sides (about 3 minutes per side) and remove from grill.

2. Spread 2 or 3 spoons of tomato sauce on each pita, leaving a 1/2-inch rim around the edge. Top each pita with 1/4 cup mozzarella.

3. Remove pizza from grill. Drizzle with olive oil, then top with fresh oregano.

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THE CHOSEN PEOPLE I am uncomfortable with the concept of the "Chosen People". To suggest that as Jews we are somehow closer to G-d than all other nations smacks of arrogance, elitism, and racial prejudice. How is that any different to anti-Semitism?

In the Jewish understanding, chosenness leads not to arrogance, but rather to humility. If it were some human king that chose us to be his special people, then your assumption would be correct—we would become elitists.

When a mortal power shows favoritism towards a subject, that subject will become more arrogant as a result -- the closer you are to the king, the more significant you are, and the more significant you are the higher respect you feel you deserve.

petty self-importance fall away when you stand before infinity. Being close with G-d demands introspection and self-improvement, not smugness.

This is the idea of the Chosen People—a nation of individuals who have been given the opportunity to sense G-d's closeness, hear His truth and relay his message to the world. All agree that it was the Jews that introduced the world to monotheism and a system of ethics and morals that has shaped the modern view of life and its purpose. And it is the survival of Judaism to this day that attests to the eternal value of this system.

To say that this is ethnocentric is absurd for one simple reason: anyone from any ethnic background can convert to Judaism and become chosen. Jewish chosenness is not a gene, it is a state of the soul. Anyone wishing to take it upon themselves is welcome -- as long as they are ready to have their bubble burst.

"The true test of chosenness is how humble you are."

But we were chosen by G-d. And the closer you are to G-d, the more you sense your insignificance. While being buddy-buddy with a human leader inflates your ego, a relationship with G-d bursts your selfish bubble. Because G-d is an infinite being, and all delusions of 28 // OCTOBER

So the arrogant person is not acting chosen. The true test of chosenness is how humble you are. While most other religious groups are quite comfortable claiming that they are the best, we Jews will do anything to say that we are nothing special.

Now that's what I call a Chosen People!

Final Say: The Chosen People were tasked with sharing with the world G-d’s message of morality and ethics, the value of life, and to make this world a more kind and G-dly place. Arrogance and elitism impedes a close relationship with G-d—to be chosen is to be humble.

SMILEY FACE COOKIES TOOLBOX:

HOW TO:

COOKIES: Unsalted butter, softened 3/4 cup sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour

1. In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until light and blended, about 2 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. On low speed, beat in flour until dough begins to come together. Gather dough into a ball, flatten into a disc and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 3/16-inch thickness.

3. Cut out circles using 3-1/2-inch and 2-1/2-inch cutters. Transfer circles to ungreased cookie sheets.

Combine and roll out scraps of dough, and cut more circles. Bake cookies at 350 degrees F. for 14 to 16 minutes, rotating halfway, until just browning at edges. Transfer cookies to a rack to cool.

ICING: 1 box (1 pound) confectioner’s sugar 3 tablespoons powdered egg whites Black and yellow food coloring Water EXTRAS: Large Bowl Hand mixer Baking sheets Ziplock bags

ICING: 1. Combine confectioner’s sugar, powdered egg whites, and 7 tablespoons water in a large bowl. With electric mixer on low speed, beat until blended then increase speed to high and beat 6 minutes.

2. Remove 1 cup icing and tint black with food coloring. Tint remaining icing with yellow food coloring. Mix until smooth. Spread yellow icing onto cookies using a small angled spatula. Let dry completely.

3. Transfer black icing to a resealable plastic bag or a piping bag fitted with a writing tip. Pipe eyes and a smiling mouth onto each cookie. Let dry completely at room temperature before stacking cookies. Makes ten 3-1/2- inch cookies and twelve 1-1/2- inch cookies.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 27

DO JEWS CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN? Do Jews celebrate Halloween? I know its origins aren't very “Jewish,” but I don't want to feel left out.

Let me tell you about a wonderful Jewish holiday: once a year, children dress up as sages, princesses, heroes, and clowns. They visit homes in the community, visit the infirm and the aged, spreading joy and laughter.

They bring gifts of food and drink and collect tzedakah (charity) for the needy.

I know how hard it is to be different, but as Jews, we have been doing just that for most of our 3,800 years of history. Since Abraham and Sarah broke away from the pagan Sumerian cult of gods and demons, we have lived amongst other peoples while being very different from them. And we have dramatically changed the world that way.

"demanding instead of giving; scaring instead of rejoicing;"

You guessed it—I’m talking about Purim. It is customary to send mishloach manot, gifts of food, to one’s friends and even more gifts to those in hard times.

Flip it over—October instead of March; demanding instead of giving; scaring instead of rejoicing; demons instead of sages; and you have Halloween.

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There’s a proud role: To be a leader and not a follower, to be a model of what should be instead of what is.

Final Say: You belong to a people who have been entrusted with the mission to be a light to the nations—not an ominous light inside a pumpkin, but a light that stands out and above and shows everyone where to go. Forget about Halloween and wait for Purim to turn the neighborhood upside down!

POTATO KUGEL TOOLBOX: 8 medium potatoes 2 onions 6 eggs 1/2 cup oil 4 tablespoons. all-purpose flour 1 heaping tablespoon salt 1/2-1 teaspoon pepper Food processor or grater 9 x 13 baking dish HOW TO: 1. Preheat oven to 400째 Fahrenheit (200째 Celcius).

2. In a large bowl, mix eggs, oil, flour, salt and pepper. Set aside.

3. Coarsely grate the potatoes and onion by hand or food processor. Let stand 3-5 minutes.

Squeeze out excess liquid. Add grated potatoes to the egg-flour mixture. Mix by hand only until smooth.

4. Pour into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.

Bake, uncovered, for 1 hour or until golden brown on top and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 31

NOVEMBER

WHAT IS THE SECRET OF JEWISH SURVIVAL? Why have Jews survived through the ages while other civilizations and religions have come and gone?

Truly, by all accounts the Jews should have long faded into their place on the bookshelf of history, like all other oncegreat nations. How and why are we still here?

All things are mortal but the Jews; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?..... If the statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one quarter of one percent of the human race... Properly, the Jew ought hardly to be heard of, but he is heard of, has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk… All things are mortal but the Jews; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality? - Mark Twain

This example will help us understand why: Avraham, the first Jew, once asked G-d: “How will I know that I will inherit the Land of Israel?”, G‑d responded by cementing His eternal relationship with Abraham and his descendants. In this covenant, G‑d promised to always protect us, and in return we will be His agents down here to spread absolute morality, kindness and justice, G‑dliness, sanctity of life, and other values that originated with Abraham and by now have been accepted by most cultures around the world. You could say we are G‑d’s PR office.

Now, you may ask: What about all the times when Jews didn’t fulfill their end of the deal? Does G‑d get selective? Does He keep score?

The answer is that the very definition of a covenant is that it’s the type of deal that implies an absolute commitment, irrelevant of the circumstances involving the other partner to the covenant.

So over the years when we tried to forget G‑d, He didn’t forget us, and likewise there were times when we felt that He forgot us, yet we didn’t forget Him.

"You could say we are G‑d’s PR office"

How is simple. G‑d did it and continues to do it. Who else would we suspect of performing miracles but He? 34 // NOVEMBER

But at the end of the day, like it or not, G‑d is our G‑d and we are His children, and it will be that way for all time. It’s our job to make sure that we can say that happily and with good work behind us to back up our part of the deal.

The vehicle which we Jews have used for all time to spread the knowledge of what is good, right, and holy has been our Torah and its mitzvot. Perhaps now would be a good time to “pump it up” a bit.

Final Say: The secret to Jewish survival is our covenant with G-d. G-d promises to always protect us and we share the light of Torah and mitzvot with the world. It’s our job, no matter what, to keep our end of the covenant.

CHOCOLATE FONDUE TOOLBOX: 2 cups heavy cream 1 pound premium semi-sweet chocolate 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract Strawberries, bananas, pineapple, brownies, marshmallow, cookies, or any other dipping item of your choice UTENSILS: 1 saucepan 1 mixing bowl (that will sit on top of saucepan) Measuring cup Measuring spoons Whisk Fondue serving set Fondue skewers HOW TO: 1. Put approximately 4 inches of water in the saucepan and bring to a slow boil. Place the mixing bowl on top and pour in the heavy cream; let heat.

2. Meanwhile, break up or chop chocolate into small pieces. When the cream feels hot to the touch, add chocolate and whisk until smooth.

Whisk in vanilla.

3. Pour into the fondue pot and light the handy fuel underneath; keep the flame low as not to burn the fondue. Arrange strawberries, bananas, pineapple, brownies, marshmallow, cookies or any of your favorite items on a platter and enjoy.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 35

WHY AREN’T WOMEN AND MEN TREATED THE SAME IN JUDAISM? Why aren’t women and men treated the same in Judaism?

In the Torah, a woman has every obligation of a man, and a man every obligation of a woman.

Torah doesn’t know of man and woman as separate beings. They are a single whole, whether they are cognizant of one another or not. Each act is performed once through a single body.

A body that in our world may appear as two, but to the Torah is seen as one.

This is actually a statement of Rabbi Isaac Luria, the greatest of the

kabbalists. He explains that man and woman are a single body—and that is how they are considered in halacha, as well. So, for example, a woman also puts on tefillin—she dons them with her male body. Ideally, that should be her husband. Women’s mitzvot are of utmost importance in the Torah as well. Those mitzvot include baking challah, lighting Shabbos candles, and family purity.

Final Say: Torah doesn't recognize man and woman as separate beings.

Though they are separate physical entities, the Torah recognizes them as one being.

"A body that in our world may appear as two, but to the Torah is seen as one."

² Some students might ask about the spiritual fulfillment of single women. Emphasize that these Kabbalistic teaching is referring to a world of ideals. In an ideal world, marriage unifies a divided soul and allows it to achieve this sort of spiritual fulfillment, but this does not negate the fact that single Jews can also lead spiritually rich lives.

36 // NOVEMBER

ICE COFFEE

TOOLBOX: 1/3 cup medium-coarse ground coffee 1 1/2 cups filtered water Coffee ice cubes 2 packets sugar Milk (optional) PREP: To Make Cold-Brewed Coffee: Place the coffee in a glass jar, add the water, and stir to combine. Cover and set aside at room temperature for 12 hours or overnight.

HOW TO: 1. Strain the coffee through a large-size paper coffee filter, a fine sieve, or a strainer lined with cheesecloth.

2. Fill a tall glass with coffee ice cubes.

Pour in the cold brewed coffee. Sweeten to taste with sugar. Add milk as desired.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 37

WHY IS LIFE SO DIFFICULT? Why is life so challenging?

Can’t G-d give us a break?

G-d could have established a world order in which morality and ethics would reign supreme with little or no effort on the part of man. Ideally, G-d wants man to enjoy goodness and pleasure without hardship and toil.

However, human nature is such that a person enjoys most the pleasure he accomplished with his or her own hard work. Often, a person can feel degraded by receiving something good without earning it, as if he or she had received charity.

When a person knows that that there is a Divine command to follow a certain path in life, one set outs to fulfill that mission no matter the obstacles. In

fact, instead of facing obstacles with fear, obstacles are encountered as a challenge to be faced and overcome—they reinforce a person’s determination and stimulate one’s effort to the maximum degree.

A feeling of satisfaction and pleasure is better achieved from putting effort into one’s work. The greater the struggle, the sweeter the fruit.

Final Say: Whenever you go through something challenging, remember that G-d does not give people challenges that they cannot handle. If you are going through something difficult, it has a purpose. Ultimately, the challenge you are facing will make you a stronger person.

"The greater the struggle, the sweeter the fruit."

38 // NOVEMBER

HUMMUS

TEHINA

TOOLBOX: 1 15-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed 1 clove garlic 1⁄4 cup olive oil, plus more for serving 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon ground cumin kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon paprika Packaged tahini paste Food Processsor

TOOLBOX: 3 cloves garlic 2/3 cup tahini (sesame paste) 3/4 cup water 3 tablespoons lemon juice Salt Food Processsor

HOW TO: 1. In a food processor, puree the chickpeas and garlic with the olive oil, lemon juice, tahini (if using), cumin, and ¾ teaspoon salt until smooth and creamy. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons water as necessary to achieve the desired consistency.

2. Transfer to a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with the paprika before serving.

HOW TO: 1. Mince garlic in food processor, add tahini.

While food processor is running, add water SLOWLY, approximately one teaspoon at a time. You'll notice that the tehina will begin to clump up and look like it’s separating.

2. Continue gradually adding the water, allowing it to become incorporated into the tehina before adding any additional water.

3. Add lemon juice and salt to taste. Note: the tehina will look thin and runny.

4. It will thicken and become light and creamy when chilled in the refrigerator.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 39

DEPRESSION: Why would a kind and caring G‑d create people with depression?

Depression is the pits.

There’s nothing good about depression. Passion can be channeled for good, jealousy can drive a person forward, even anger can be redeemed as righteous indignation. But depression? What can be good about going nowhere?

When a person is happy, he’s healthy.

True happiness is when every faculty, every sense, every neuron and every muscle is in tune and functioning harmoniously. When happy, a person can fulfill his purpose in life, all of him, all of his purpose. Which is why depression is so despicable.

Because depression is a surrender of purpose, of meaning. Depression is the state of a human psyche decomposing, losing all its form and potential.

living. If it’s hurting you, it must be that it’s just not in that right place.

Paradoxically, depression contains the key to its own demise. It can be fought in Kung Fu fashion, using its own power against it. Depression argues that you’re a worthless, hopeless scum in whom nobody would ever take interest. So agree with it. Tell it back, “You’re absolutely right. I’m even less than that. I was created with a purpose that I have not lived up to. I’ve messed up again and again. And yet, nevertheless, I have a G‑d who has put up with me despite all my failures, who continues to ask me to be His agent in His world, eagerly awaiting my mitzvot, looking forward to me sharing my concerns with Him three times a day. My purpose still lies before me, and whatever of it I can fulfill, even for a moment, is worth more than all the pleasures of the Garden of Eden.”

"Teach it to destroy itself"

However, as we said, if our Creator put it within us, there must be a place for it—a place where it provides a valuable function and contributes to healthy

Fight depression as a blood sworn enemy—but be smart about it. Like a Kung Fu master, use it’s own strength against it. Teach it to destroy itself, until one day, you will turn to look back, and discover depression itself has been transformed and all you are left with is a celebration of life.

Final Say: Depression can make a person feel small and useless. Use its tactics to fight it by making yourself humble, and reminding yourself that G-d wants your mitzvot and your happiness, no matter how many times you fail or lose your way.

Obviously, depression is a form of a mental illness than can and should be addressed with medical treatment. If a teen knows someone who suffers from depression or other forms of mental illness, they should not ashamed or hesitant to ask for help.

40 // NOVEMBER

CHICKEN SOUP TOOLBOX: 1 (3 pound) whole chicken 4 carrots, halved 4 stalks celery, halved 1 large onion, halved water to cover salt and pepper to taste Egg noodles (optional) Pot Electric Burner HOW TO: 1. Put the chicken, carrots, celery and onion in a large soup pot and cover with cold water. Heat and simmer, uncovered, until the chicken meat falls off of the bones (skim off foam every so often).

2. Take everything out of the pot. Strain the broth. Pick the meat off of the bones and chop the carrots, celery and onion. Season the broth with salt, pepper and chicken bouillon to taste, if desired. Return the chicken, carrots, celery and onion to the pot, stir together, and serve.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 41

DECEMBER

BELIEF AFTER THE HOLOCAUST How could people continue to believe after the Holocaust?

The questions that people asked regarding G-d after the Holocaust could truly only be asked by a believer. If the answer is that there is no G–d (G–d forbid), then there are no questions.

Without a G–d, the world has no destiny and no purpose. Human beings may decide to act as they wish for there is no accountability. Super races may be formed and only the fittest will survive.

In a G-dless world, the Holocaust is not a theological question, rather a statement of how low man can stoop.

The question becomes rhetorical—not, “where was G-d during the Holocaust?” but rather, “where was man during the Holocaust?”

The very fact that even those who claim they are non-believers incessantly ask where was G–d, is in fact the greatest proof that they too, deep in their hearts, believe there is a G-d. To be more benevolent one may say that, in fact, they want to believe in G–d but the Holocaust poses a question of such dramatic proportions that they feel they cannot believe.

44 // DECEMBER

For the true believer there should be no questions. His faith is not challenged by the fact that he does not understand, for which mortal being can truly comprehend the ways of the A– mighty?

The conflict between tragedy and faith is not new. Anybody knowledgeable in Jewish history will realise that our people have undergone the most terrible persecutions and genocide at the hands of many oppressors. Anti-Semitism was nothing new.

The same method by which the Jew of 1940 knew about the past and yet kept his faith could be employed after the Holocaust.

In truth however, Hitler’s Final Solution was something novel in that few people believed that in the 20th Century, when civilisation had reached its intellectual and ethical peak, such genocide was conceivable. However, the philosophers and poets of Berlin, with their fine manners and high society, turned into the world’s greatest murderers. The Holocaust was not only perpetrated by monsters, but connived at by an entire nation numbering close to one hundred million people.

If anything, the story of the Holocaust shows clearly that man may not rely upon his own intellect and his own feelings for righteousness and justice. Those with the highest diplomas and university degrees were often accomplices, if not direct perpetrators, of cold-blooded murder. Man must be accountable. The command “Thou shalt not kill” must be premised on the principle, “I am the L–rd your G–d.”

Final Say: After the Holocaust, though belief is difficult, it is also vital. After seeing how unreliable the life and morals of man is, how could people, in fact, not believe in G-d?

HOLOCAUST RECIPE

PREFACE: Option #1: Present Holocaust survivor stories and their recipes at your regular KFC. Shut the lights and have the teens read the stories in candlelight to create a solemn setting.

Option #2: Host a Holocaust Recipe Night at your Chabad House or in a teen’s home.

Each teen should research a survivor’s story and prepare the survivor’s recipe for others to taste. If the teens do not have relatives who survived, they can either reach out to a someone in the community or can prepare a survivor story from the Holocaust Survivor Cookbook.

LOKSHEN (SWEET NOODLE) KUGEL TOOLBOX: 1 cup raisins 12 oz wide egg noodles 6 large eggs 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup unsalted butter or margarine, melted 1/4 teaspoon salt Cinnamon and sugar for dusting Nonstick cooking oil spray Large pot 9 x 13 baking dish HOW TO: 1. Cook noodles in boiling water until tender, 5 to 10 minutes.

2. Place noodles, butter (or margarine), and fruits in a bowl.

3. Add eggs, and season with salt and pepper. Mix well.

4. Pour mixture into a greased 9 x 13 baking dish. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

5. Place in the oven for 45-50 minutes, until the top is brown and crisp.

6. Cut into squares and serve hot.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 45

CAN I LIGHT A MENORAH NEXT TO MY X-MAS TREE? Concerns of fire hazards aside, is it okay to light the menorah near the tree?

The menorah is a statement of who I am. It says, there were these people who came to our land and tried to assimilate us into their mega-culture, but we resisted and retained our identity. They took all we had to offer, along with odds and ends from the Athenians, Spartans, Persians, Parthians, Armenians, Assyrians, Egyptians, etc. and homogenized it all into a mushy Hellenist stew which eventually became our modern world. Yet, of all those ancient peoples, we alone remain, the only tribal entity to have survived into modernity.

being on this earth—especially in our globalized society now. It says that what’s divine about us is not only that which makes us the same, but much more, it’s that which makes each of us different and unique.

Wouldn’t it be more meaningful for you to find something of your own heritage that has real meaning for you, something you received from your parents and grandparents and want to pass on to your family?

"find something of your own heritage that has real meaning for you"

The message of Chanukah is universal.

Like they say, Jews are just like everyone else, only more so. The experience we went through in the Greek Empire back then has meaning to every human

46 // DECEMBER

So find what unique truths there are about you, your family, and your heritage. Use the Torah, G-d's message to all humankind, to find them. Then celebrate them. In your own way, you'll be celebrating Chanukah.

Final Say: Don’t run away from being different; embrace it! Find a unique aspect of Judaism, and make it your own.

DONUTS TOOLBOX: 1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C) 1/3 cup water 1 egg, beaten 3 tablespoons margarine, melted 3/4 cup white sugar 4 1/2 cups bread flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg 1 tablespoon active dry yeast 3/4 cup any flavor fruit jam 2 quarts vegetable oil for frying Bread machine or mixer PREP: 1. In a bread machine pan add the milk, water, beaten egg, melted bwutter, sugar, bread flour, salt, nutmeg, and yeast in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Set machine to the sweet dough cycle.

(Alternatively, you can mix with a mixer.)

2. Once the dough cycle is completed, turn the dough out onto a floured board and let it rest for 10 minutes.

HOW TO: 1. Roll the dough out to a 1/4-inch thickness.

With a floured cookie cutter, cut into 2 1/2-inch rounds.

2. Place 1/2 teaspoon jam or jelly in center of half of the rounds. Moisten edges with cold water; top with the remaining rounds, pinching edges together firmly. Place the sealed doughnuts on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise until doubled in a warm place, about 45 minutes.

3. Heat oil in deep fryer to 375 degrees F (175 degrees C). Fry one layer of doughnuts at a time. Turn doughnuts as they rise to the surface until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Remove from oil, being careful not to poke doughnuts. Drain onto paper towels and toss with sugar, if desired.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 47

BELIEF IN G-D Who Believes in G‑d?

Everyone has a god. There is not a sane person on earth who doesn’t believe in one.

The question here is, which one?

Your “god” is the thing that you believe to be infallible: You trust in its power despite any evidence to the contrary.

It is the thing you can fall back on no matter what. The bedrock of your life, whatever that may be, is your god.

If you think science has all the answers and something is only true if it is scientifically proven, then science is your god. A believer in science can blindly accept the most outlandish theory as long as it was presented by an expert in the field.

Another common god is love. Believers in love make lofty statements about its divine qualities. Love conquers all. Love is forever. All you need is love. Love is the only thing worth dying for. Even though experience has shown that love is not all you need, and it certainly doesn't conquer all, their faith is not shaken.

48 // DECEMBER

Others worship money. “Everything has a price” is their creed. And no matter how many miserable millionaires they meet, their god remains infallible, and they continue to have faith in money as the source of all goodness and happiness.

A very popular modern god is self.

“Believe in yourself. You are capable of anything. If you put your mind to it, there's nothing you can't do.”

Nothing you can’t do? Sounds pretty divine. A pity it’s not true. We have limitations. There are things that are simply beyond our capability. But to the believer, no evidence will move his faith in himself.

It is such a relief to just let G‑d be G‑d.

If G‑d is G‑d, I can be human. I am not G‑d. Nothing about me is infallible, not my feelings, intelligence, and certainly not my bank balance. I don't have to be perfect. G‑d does a good job of that.

Final Say: Science, love, money and self are all very important.

But they are also ever-changing, and unpredictable. The G‑d of Israel hasn't changed. If anyone or anything should be god, it’s G‑d.

"It is such a relief to just let G‑d be G‑d. If G‑d is G‑d, I can be human."

LATKES

TOOLBOX: 8 potatoes 1 onion 5 eggs, beaten 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon salt 1 cup oil for frying Grater or food processor Peeler Large heavy-bottomed skillet HOW TO: 1. Peel and grate the potaoes and onions.

2. In a medium bowl stir the potatoes, onion, eggs, flour and salt together.

3. Heat the oil until hot. Place large spoonfuls of the potato mixture into the hot oil, pressing down on them to form 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick patties. Brown on one side, turn and brown on the other. Let drain on paper towels. Serve hot!

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 49

JANUARY

JEWISH IDENTITY I read a lot about anti-Semitism and heard about the importance of Jewish continuity at home. What do you see as the biggest threat to Jewish survival, assimilation or anti-Semitism?

The biggest threat to Jewish survival is confused Jewish identity. Sadly, today in many Jewish schools and families, Jewish identity is built through teaching Holocaust awareness and a fear of marrying out. The Jewish community's preoccupation with assimilation and anti-Semitism is not the solution, it is the problem.

A pessimistic and negative presentation of being Jewish turns off young Jews more than anything else. When we obsess about anti-Semitism, we paint ourselves as perpetual victims. When we over-emphasize the threat of assimilation, it makes us feel like an endangered species. The Jews are alongside the hump-back whale and the giant panda in the list of helpless and pitiful communities disappearing from the planet. Is it so surprising that young Jews are opting out of Judaism? Who wants to be a victim?

We have to stop defining ourselves by the way others perceive us. Assimilation is when non-Jews love us so much they want to marry us. AntiSemitism is when non-Jews hate us so much they want to kill us. They both just happen to us, but what do we think of ourselves?

We need a clear and positive reason to stay Jewish. Failing that, why should Judaism survive?

Is there a good argument for not assimilating into the welcoming societies surrounding us? Is there a compelling reason to stay proudly Jewish in the face of anti-Semitism?

52 // JANUARY

I think there is.

The Jewish way of life is a revolutionary force that can transform ordinary lives into lives of meaning. A family that keeps Shabbat is always reminded that there is more to life than accumulating wealth. The kosher laws teach us that we are not mere animals that must feed our every urge and desire—eating itself can be holy. A mezuzah on the door tells the world that this home is built for a higher purpose.

Judaism teaches lessons that the world urgently needs to learn: every individual person is created in the image of G-d, and is therefore unique and valuable; morality is not relative but absolute; humans are partners with G-d in creation with a mission to create heaven on earth.

These bold Jewish ideas are more relevant now than ever. But bold Jewish ideas need bold Jewish people to perpetuate them. The world can only be elevated if individuals first elevate themselves. We can only make the world into a divine home if we start with our own home. This is Judaism’s formula to change the world for better. This is why we must stay Jewish.

Final Say: The biggest threat to Judaism is not external pressure but rather internal confusion.

When we lose sight of our mission, we lose the strength and stamina to survive. The Jewish feeling we need to develop in ourselves and our family members is not fear of anti-Semitism or guilt about assimilation. It is a humble pride in the greatness of the Jewish mission and confident resolve to fulfill it. When we are clear about our identity, no threat in the world can shake us.

PANCAKES TOOLBOX: 3/4 cup milk 2 tablespoons white vinegar 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons white sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon saltw 1 egg 2 tablespoons butter, melted cooking spray Syrup Skillet Spatula HOW TO: 1. Combine milk with vinegar in a medium bowl and set aside for 5 minutes to “sour.”

2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Whisk egg and butter into “soured” milk. Pour the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and whisk until lumps are gone.

3. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and coat with cooking spray. Pour 1/4 cupfuls of batter onto the skillet, and cook until bubbles appear on the surface. Flip with a spatula, and cook until browned on the other side.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 53

DID G-D CREATE EVIL? Did G‑d create evil? Surely G‑d made everything. So although it is people who actually do evil, it was G‑d who must have created the idea of evil. But if G‑d is good, how could He create evil?

reality. If G‑d decides He doesn’t want something, then that decision itself makes that thing exist. G‑d’s allpowerfulness means that even His not-wanting creates. Evil is what G‑d doesn’t want. So it exists.

Here’s the paradox: Goodness exists because G‑d desired it; evil exists because G‑d doesn’t want it.

But evil doesn't exist in the same way that goodness exists. G‑d wants goodness, so its existence is true and everlasting. Evil exists as a negative, something G‑d doesn’t want, so its existence is flimsy and temporal.

Evil is no more than an undesirable non-entity, a path not to be taken.

By doing evil acts, we give evil more credit than it deserves. Our bad choices invigorate evil into a truer existence than it really is.

If a human wants something, but doesn’t actually do anything about it, nothing happens. You may want a piece of cake, but a cake will not materialize unless someone bakes it.

"bad choices invigorate evil into a truer existence than it really is"

G-d’s desires create reality. If He wants it, what can possibly stop it from being? He wanted a world, so it was.

He wanted goodness, so it was.

Now the same applies to G‑d not wanting something: it too becomes

54 // JANUARY

Final Say: Evil is a spiritual non-entity.

Our actions and choices can sustain spiritual realities. The only way to banish the ghost of evil is to turn on the light of good.

NACHOS AND CHEESE TOOLBOX: salt and pepper to taste 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese 1 (16 ounce) can refried beans 1 (14.5 ounce) package tortilla chips 1 fresh jalapeno pepper, sliced Mircowave

HOW TO: 1. Arrange chips on a microwavable platter.

Spread beans over the chips. Layer the cheese, and arrange jalapeno peppers on top.

2. Microwave on medium-high until cheese has melted. Serve immediately.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 55

PROOF OF G-D’S EXISTENCE I feel that I cannot observe a religion if I am not certain that it is true. Is there a proof that could give me a 100% certainty that G-d exists and gave the Torah to the Jewish people?

Imagine you could do a blood test to determine who your soul mate is. You would go to a laboratory with a prospective partner and give blood samples, and a half-an-hour later they would tell you yes or no. Sounds amazing! But think about it: Is that an ideal way to start a relationship? How romantic would it be to say, “Listen, the blood test came out positive, so we may as well get engaged?”

of freedom would be lost. Freedom is an essential ingredient of true love. Certainty is not.

That’s why proving G-d’s existence is not helpful.

G-d wants us to enter into a relationship with Him by choice, not by force. He created us as free beings who can deny Him if we want. There is no outside force or argument or proof that compels us to serve G-d. For that reason, when we do serve Him, it is by choice; it is coming from us, and that is the basis for a real relationship.

There are many logical arguments for G-d’s existence and the truth of Torah. But most people are only ready to appreciate these proofs after they have already established a relationship with G-d, just as most people only recognize their soul mate as such after they have already committed to the relationship.

"proving G-d’s existence is not helpful. G-d wants us to enter into a relationship with Him by choice, not by force"

The truth is we wouldn’t appreciate a laboratory-tested soul mate. What makes a relationship meaningful is that it is a choice coming from within.

If we based a commitment on external evidence such as a blood test, we would indeed have certainty, but the sense

56 // JANUARY

If you wait to know for sure that you have found your soulmate, you may forever remain single. And if you wait for proof of G-d’s truth, you may forever live in a lonely universe. Embrace uncertainty and open yourself up to a real relationship. When you make that choice, you will find proof of G-d within your own soul.

Final Say: When you establish your own, deep relationship with G-d, the proof of His existence will become clear to you.

BIG MAC TOOLBOX: 2 pounds ground beef 1 egg, beaten 3/4 cup dry bread crumbs 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 cloves garlic, minced George Foreman Grill Buns, ketchup, mustard, pickels!

HOW TO: 1. Preheat grill for high heat.

2. In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients.

3. Form the mixture into 8 hamburger patties.

4. Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill patties 5 minutes per side, or until well done.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 57

ADDICTION: What does Judaism say about overcoming an addiction?

In order to understand what the Torah says about addiction, we first have to define what an addiction is. An addiction is the insatiable need to satisfy a deeply rooted craving with something that can’t satisfy it. Think of it this way: When you crave sweets, like chocolate or candy, what is in that you’re really craving?

There’s nothing much that your body wants in a cookie. So when you crave that cookie it’s probably not really a physical craving.

What you want is more likely a “soul food”; i.e. something emotional or even spiritual. You might, for example, be craving the experience of sweetness, goodness, pleasure, connection, abundance, a sense of security or comfort.

Let’s draw this out on a bigger scale. Addictions are used as a way to fill a hole. Often times, the physical body craves something and falls into addiction when the spiritual aspect, or, the soul, is not satisfied. A person is endowed with ‘two souls’ (In Hebrew: Neshama): An animal soul (In Hebrew, Nefesh Ha’Behameet) and a G-dly soul (In Hebrew: Nefesh Elokeet).

The G-dly soul looks for ways to transform the spiritual into physical, and finds satisfaction through performing mitzvot, while the animal soul finds pleasure in the physical, mundane world, just as, eating a cookie.

"The trick to overcoming an addiction, is first and foremost to recognize it"

If you associate cookies with those feelings you’ll keep going for the cookies. But unfortunately, no matter how many cookies you eat, your craving will never be satisfied.

58 // JANUARY

On a spiritual and physical level, the person feels as though they are missing something.

Often times, instead of going to the root of the craving, which Torah states is rooted in spiritual matters, they look for other outlets, such as food or alcohol, or other physical matters, to fill the void. While it may temporarily satisfy the person, it will not dissolve the craving.

The trick to overcoming an addiction, is first and foremost to recognize it. You have to look deep down inside of you, and find the void, find the spot you’ve been trying to fill. Once you know what it is you’re trying to fill, you can work on caring for the ‘craving’ properly, instead of looking to external matters to satisfy you.

Final Say: Think about the things in your life that you find yourself ‘addicted’ to, be it food, or even TV and video games. Do these external sources satisfy your cravings, or do you find yourself searching for more? Look deep into your cravings and find what it is you truly want. Make the best decisions for yourself based on what you truly need.

BLINTZES TOOLBOX: Blender 4 eggs 1 cup flour 1/3 cup sugar 3/4 cup milk 1/4 cup water 1 tsp vanilla Pinch of salt Nonstick cooking oil spray Vegetable oil

FILLING INGREDIENTS 1 cup lowfat ricotta cheese 1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese 1/4 cup sugar 1 egg yolk 2 tsp fresh lemon juice 1 tsp vanilla Pinch of salt

HOW TO:

1. Blend all of the blintz ingredients together. Consistency of the batter should be smooth (no lumps).

Alternatively, you can use a fork to mix all ingredients together until the batter is smooth.

2. Warm up a nonstick skillet on medium heat until hot. Grease the entire surface of the hot pan generously with nonstick cooking oil spray.

3. Pour the blintz batter by 1/3 cupfuls into the pan, then tilt the pan in a circular motion till the batter coats the entire bottom of the pan in a large, thin circular shape.

4. Let each blintz cook for 60-75 seconds until the edges of the blintz brown and the bottom of the blintz is lightly golden. You can tell it’s ready by touching the center of the pancake's surface—it should be dry and slightly tacky to the touch. Use a spatula to take the blintz out of the pan and place it on a plate.

5. Keep the blintzes separated by pieces of parchment paper, wax paper, or paper towels. This will help keep them from sticking together.

6. When all of the blintzes are cooked, create your filling. Put all of the filling ingredients into a mixing bowl, then use a fork to mix them well.

7. Put 3 tbsp of filling on the lower part of the blintz, about an inch from the edge. Fold the lower edge of the blintz up over the filling.

8. Fold the sides of the blintz inward, as though you’re folding an envelope.

9. Roll the blintz up and over the filling like a burrito, tucking the edges in as you roll.

10. Pour ¼ cup of vegetable oil into the skillet and heat over medium until hot. Cook the blintzes in batches of 3—this will give you space to turn them easily in the pan. The blintzes should fry for 1 ½ to 2 minutes until they’re brown and crispy.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 59

FEBRUARY

HOW CAN I BE HAPPY? I know that a Jew is supposed to always be joyous, but when I look at myself and my life I see no good reason to be happy. On the contrary, I have plenty of reasons to be miserable. Am I supposed to be able to just switch on happiness at will?

Yes, we face some heavy challenges in life, and feelings of despair are understandable. But we can turn our situation around. Happiness is never beyond our reach.

Somewhere along the line things change. We grow older and become more demanding, harder to please, and we lose this childish contentment. As we become jaded by life’s disappointments, we feel that we need a reason to be happy. If you see an adult walking around with a big smile, you ask, “What's wrong with you, why are you smiling?”

"when we mature and become more self-aware that we also become more selfabsorbed"

That’s because happiness is the natural human state. Just look at a young child.

Children don’t need to learn strategies for positive living, and they don’t need a reason to be happy. They need a reason to be sad. If a child cries, we ask, “What’s wrong?” If a child laughs and plays and dances around the room, we don’t ask, “What's the big celebration about? Why are you happy?” A child is happy by default; if a child isn’t happy, there must be a reason, like he or she need to be changed, is hungry, thirsty, or tired. But as long as nothing’s wrong, 62 // FEBRUARY

a child is happy for no reason at all.

The difference is a child is not selfconscious. They are free to be happy because they are not yet aware of themselves. It is only when we mature and become more self-aware that we also become more self-absorbed. We have worries and concerns, unfulfilled desires and unrealized dreams.

The more we are concerned with our own happiness, the farther we are away from achieving it. As soon as we forget about what we need and instead focus on what we are needed for—the good we can do for others rather than the good we can get for ourselves—our childlike joy comes flowing back, and we are happy.

Happiness is not somewhere out there. It rests within that part of us that is forever young and forever giving—our soul.

Final Say: Happiness comes from within. It stems from our souls, and that is where it can always be found.

Do not look to external sources for happiness, just look inside your soul!

CHOCOLATE CROISSANTS TOOLBOX: 1 egg 1 tablespoon water Puff Pastry squares thawed 2/3 cup (113 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips or small chocolate chunks

HOW TO: 1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or non-stick baking mat.

2. Beat the egg and water in a small bowl with a fork or whisk, then set aside.

3. Lightly flour your work surface.

4. Cut each rectangle diagonally into two triangles (making 16 triangles).

5. Place about 2 teaspoons of the chocolate chips down the center of each triangle. Then, starting at the wider end, roll each triangle up.

6. Place each croissant seam-side down so that the tip of the triangle is tucked under the rolled croissant. Then, bend in the edges, creating a crescent shape. Lightly brush tops of croissants with egg wash.

7. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until they are golden brown.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 63

SUICIDE: What is the Jewish perspective about suicide?

According to Judaism, life is extremely precious and holy, and should not be treated lightly. G-d entrusted us with our bodies and, until the moment of natural death, every second that the soul is in the body is incredibly valuable — not just to the body, but to to the Jewish people and the world as a whole.

Therefore, in a strictly legal sense, if a person takes his own life, G-d forbid, he is liable for murder, even if only of himself. This action is so severe that the Torah forbids one who defiantly committed suicide from being buried in a Jewish cemetery or to be mourned by his family. The majority of people who commit suicide are considered to be emotionally or mentally distressed according to Jewish Law and therefore are not held accountable for their actions.

"we do not “own” our soul or body"

When G-d endows a person with life, the person becomes a guardian who must look after his gift of life. According to Judaism, we do not “own” our soul or body. Just as we are not allowed to permanently damage or harm our bodies, we are not free to end life when we want. Life and death should be left in the hands of G-d

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Distressed people who commit suicide are accorded all the respect given to Jews who die naturally, however, this principle equating suicide with murder demonstrates the high value Judaism places on life.

Final Say: Every life is precious. A person should value every second of life, and use it to the fullest advantage.

COOKIES N’ CREME SANDWICHES TOOLBOX: 1 box of store bought chocolate chip cookies 1 ½ cups cookies and cream ice cream (or any flavor) Miniature chocolate chips or colored candy sprinkles, if desired

HOW TO: For each ice cream sandwich, place 2 tablespoons ice cream between 2 cookies. Gently press cookies together (ice cream should spread to edge of cookies). Roll ice cream edges in chocolate chips. Eat immediately, OR to save for later, wrap sandwiches individually in plastic wrap.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 65

WHAT IS THE JEWISH VIEW ON CREMATION? What is the Jewish view on cremation and why has it become so popular?

Cremation has always been looked upon with horror by every sector of Jewish thought. The body is sacred because it is the temple of the soul and because it is the medium by which we do goodness in this world.

Cremation is becoming ever more popular due to the following advantages: Cremation is better for the environment.

No one will visit the grave anyway, so why have one?

Decomposition disgusting.

is

Jewish

2. Although visiting a grave is both important and beautiful, it has absolutely nothing to do with the obligation to bury. At the end of the Torah, G‑d Himself buries Moses and hides the location forever.

3. Despite the advertisements, the cremation process is loud, long, repulsive, and artificial. On the other hand, decomposition, while not pretty, is a biological process, and the natural way of every living being.

Immediately after death, in the very first stage of its ascent, the soul’s main concern is that its body—its partner over many decades—receive a proper Jewish burial. The soul cries out in pain if its body is treated disrespectfully, and screams in unimaginable horror if its beloved body, a holy vessel, is put to the flame. When the body is alive, the body feels pain.

When the body can no longer feel pain—i.e., when it dies—the soul feels its partner’s “physical” pain at a highly spiritual level.

"When the body can no longer feel pain—i.e., when it dies— the soul feels its partner’s “physical” pain at a highly spiritual level"

Cremation is cheaper.

The truth is, only one of these points is accurate. Can you guess which one?

The truth behind the above myths: 1. Environmentalists are not in favor of cremation, which uses a tremendous amount of fossil fuels, and releases 66 // FEBRUARY

toxins—including mercury—into the air. burial is actually the “green burial.”

Final Say: Everything and anything used for the purpose of the world has a sense of permanence.

Just as we value Jewish life, we value the body after death.

SLOPPY JOES TOOLBOX: 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 1/4 pounds ground beef 1/4 cup brown sugar 2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon steak seasoning blend, 1 medium onion, chopped 1 small red bell pepper, chopped 1 tablespoon 2 cups tomato sauce 2 tablespoons tomato paste 4 crusty rolls, split Garnish: sliced ripe tomatoes and pickles

HOW TO: 1. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add oil and meat to the pan.

Spread the meat around the pan and begin to break it up.

2. Combine brown sugar and steak seasoning. Add sugar and spice mixture to the skillet and combine. When the meat has browned, add onion and red peppers to the skillet. Reduce heat to medium and cook onions, peppers, and soy sauce. Add tomato sauce and paste to pan. Stir to combine.

3. Reduce heat to simmer and cook Sloppy Joe mixture 5 minutes longer. Using a large spoon or ice cream scoop, pile sloppy meat onto toasted bun bottoms and cover with bun tops. Serve with your favorite sides or sliced tomatoes seasoned with salt and pepper, dill pickles.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 67

HOW DOES ONE QUIT JUDAISM? Although I was raised in a traditional home, was “brissed” and “bar mitzved,” I have never had any faith or religious belief. I would describe myself as an atheist. I’ll probably end up marrying a non-Jew, and I have no interest in having a Jewish lifestyle.

My question is: Can I consider myself officially non-Jewish by my effective opting-out, or do I need some sort of form or dispensation to be officially no longer Jewish?

unsatisfied: you still feel Jewish! So much so, you feel you need official dispensation!

And so, being an atheist, who do you turn to for a solution to this problem?

A doctor? A psychiatrist? The civil celebrant that married you? No... You turn to a rabbi!

I’m reminded of the child who ran away from home but ended up just going around and around the block because his parents told him never to cross the road by himself.

According to your question, you have done everything possible to negate your Jewishness: in practice you do not keep Jewish tradition; in belief you are an atheist; and in family life you have determined to marry a non-Jew and thus won’t have Jewish children.

In fact, it seems that being Jewish is the most dominant factor of your personality. Jewishness is not a belief, a feeling, a conviction or a lifestyle. It is a state of being. We can either celebrate it or fight against it. But it will always be there. So why not celebrate it?

One would think that all this would be enough to confirm your un-Jewishness.

But no! For some reason, you are still

Final Say: Judaism is not a state of mind, or a lifestyle. It is a state of being. Embrace it!.

"Jewishness is a state of being"

68 // FEBRUARY

HOT PRETZELS TOOLBOX: 1 1/2 cups warm (110 to 115 degrees F) water 1 tablespoon sugar 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 package active dry yeast 22 ounces all-purpose flour, approximately 4 1/2 cups 2 ounces unsalted butter, melted Vegetable oil, for pan 10 cups water 2/3 cup baking soda 1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water Pretzel salt HOW TO: 1. Combine the water, sugar and kosher salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast on top. Allow to sit for 5 minutes or until the mixture begins to foam. Add the flour and butter and, using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until well combined. Change to medium speed and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.

Remove the dough from the bowl, clean the bowl and then oil it well with vegetable oil. Return the dough to the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and sit in a warm place for approximately 50 to 55 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size.

2. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line 2 half-sheet pans with parchment paper and lightly brush with the vegetable oil.

Set aside.

3. Bring the 10 cups of water and the baking soda to a rolling boil in an 8-quart saucepan or roasting pan.

4. In the meantime, turn the dough out onto a slightly oiled work surface and divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into a 24-inch rope. Make a U-shape with the rope, holding the ends of the rope, cross them over each other and press onto the bottom of the U in order to form the shape of a pretzel. Place onto the parchment-lined half sheet pan.

5. Place the pretzels into the boiling water, 1 by 1, for 30 seconds. Remove them from the water using a large flat spatula.

Return to the half sheet pan, brush the top of each pretzel with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture and sprinkle with the pretzel salt. Bake until dark golden brown in color, approximately 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before serving.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 69

MARCH

E D U L C X E S W E J O D Y H W OTHER PEOPLE? I always hear how terrible intermarriage is. I don’t get this whole superiority business. Why do Jews exclude other people?

The Jewish people, like every creature G-d has made on this planet, want to survive and endure. We are a tiny portion of the 6 billion people you mentioned.

We’ve been around for almost four thousand years. At times, we made up more than 10% of the world. At other times, much less. Right now, we’re less than a quarter of a percent.

Each people make a contribution to humanity—inventions, ideas, wisdom, music, art, culture. Since Biblical times, we’ve made many important contributions to the rest of the world.

Monotheism, the value of human life, equality before the law, the concept of world peace, and many other ideas that are central to our society today find their source in the Bible and the other traditions of the Jewish people.

Do we claim superiority or exclude others?

Absolutely not. Any person who wishes to join the Jewish people and their holy mission is welcome, regardless of race, color, sex or family background. We only ask that they commit to keeping the rules G-d gave us, just as the Jewish people accepted those rules when they received the Torah at Mount Sinai some 3300 years ago. And if they opt not to join, we believe that the righteous people among the nations will share in the rewards of the time to come.

Of course, we have to discern the intentions of a convert as some people become Jewish just for the sake of marriage, and then once they’re married, the whole thing is dropped.

Final Say: So what’s so terrible about us wanting to survive? Obviously, we aren’t going to survive if we intermarry with everyone else and raise our kids as just a muddle of everything. Our only route to survival is for Jewish people to marry Jewish people and bring their kids up as good Jews.

"what’s so terrible about us wanting to survive?"

72 // MARCH

YOGURT CRUNCH TOOLBOX: 2 cups vanilla fat-free yogurt 1 cup blueberries, raspberries, or sliced strawberries 1/4 cup crunchy maple granola Cups HOW TO: 1. Spoon 1/4 cup yogurt into each cup.

Top each with 1/4 cup berries, 1/4 cup yogurt, and 1 tablespoon crunchy maple granola.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 73

ANXIETY: What does the Torah recommend for dealing with anxiety?

Often, anxiety takes root because a person’s external character is disconnected with his or her inner self. That means that what a person is struggling with internally and how they deal with it externally are two different things. The anxiety may dwell upon other issues and obsessions—but none of these are the true underlying cause. Most souls can tolerate a few inconsistencies. But others are sensitive to every nuance.

As soon as some aspect of their lifestyle is not attuned to the purity of the essential self, the entire person is thrown off balance. That is why, for a Jew, being more careful about the mitzvot will often diminish anxiety.

Keeping your faith strong, even during the most difficult times, will help lessen the blow of anxiety.

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"Keeping your faith strong, even during the most difficult times, will help lessen the blow of anxiety."

Final Say: Whenever you find yourself in an anxious state, check on your level of faith. Is it strong, or is it waivering?

Is there something you can do to help strengthen your faith? If so, do it, and watch as your anxiety diminishes.

CREATE YOUR OWN DESSERT

TOOLBOX: 1 (18 ounce) package refrigerated sugar cookie dough 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed 1/2 cup sliced banana 1/2 cup sliced fresh strawberries 1/2 cup crushed pineapple, drained 1/2 cup seedless grapes, halved

HOW TO: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Press cookie dough evenly into a 12 inch pizza pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack.

2. Spread whipped topping over cooled crust.

Arrange fruit in a decorative pattern.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 75

IS THERE LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS? Someone told me that according to Judaism, human beings are the only conscious beings in the universe. Is there any basis to this?

Dr. Velvel Greene was a biologist who was enlisted

by NASA in their project to determine if there is life on Mars. He asked the Lubavitcher Rebbe privately if this was something he should be doing.

The Rebbe replied, “Dr. Greene, look for life on Mars! And if you don’t find it there, look somewhere else in the universe for it. Because for you to sit here and say there is no life outside of planet Earth is to put limitations on the Creator, and that is not something any of His creatures can do!”

beings and not simply in an allegorical sense. If anyone should ask, “How can a ball of helium and hydrogen contain consciousness?” simply ask in return, “And that a warm mass of gray meat has consciousness is reasonable?”

The uniqueness of humankind is not our consciousness but the way that consciousness is able to enter the realms of good and evil, make decisions, and distinguish between them.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe pointed out that there is support in Torah for the notion that life exists on other planets.

Intelligence is defined by Torah to mean the capacity to make decisions with free will. Free will is only possible where there is Torah, whereby the Creator offers His creatures more than one possibility and asks that they make the appropriate choice.

So, if there would be intelligent life elsewhere in the universe, those creatures would have to have Torah. Could they have a different Torah than us? This is not possible, since Torah is truth, and there cannot be two truths.

First of all, the sages discuss the fact that animals also feel pain, based on the Biblical prohibition against causing them undue suffering.

Could they then have the same Torah as us? This also seems impossible, since the Torah itself describes in detail how the Torah was revealed on this planet, and that account itself has a strong impact on how the Torah is to be fulfilled.

Second, there are plenty of accounts in the Torah of the higher angels, who are conscious of a realm of reality far beyond ours.

It therefore appears that although it is quite possible there is life on other planets, that life would not be intelligent in a way similar to human life and culture.

Third, Maimonides and others write about the heavenly bodies as conscious 76 // MARCH

Final Say: It is not our job to place limits on G-d, our Creator.

Though we are not aware of life on other planets, to decide definitively that it doesn’t exist is to restrain G-d’s abilities.

GINGER ALE FLOATS TOOLBOX: 2 (12 ounce) bottles ginger ale (your choice of flavor) 4 cups real vanilla ice cream Whipped topping

HOW TO: Place a few scoops of vanilla ice cream into 2 tall float glasses. Pour the ginger ale over the ice cream and top with a dollop of whipped cream.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 77

WHAT IS THE TORAH’S VIEW ON ABORTION? What does the Bible say about abortion? Is a child’s life worth less than an adult's? Does life begin at birth or conception?

Judaism contains a lot more wisdom than what you can read in the Bible. There’s a very rich tradition that tells us how to understand the Bible and how to apply it. That tradition has been passed down from teacher to student in an unbroken chain since Moses. Eventually, much of it was written in the Mishnah and the Talmud, along with many of the discussions and later enactments that were based on these traditional teachings.

For example, the Bible tells us “Thou shalt not kill.” But what does that mean?

What if someone is going about killing others? What if he is trying to kill me?

Our tradition tells us that the Bible is not talking about those cases. If someone is out to kill you or other innocent people, you need to protect those innocent lives, even if it means killing the murderer.

This applies to an abortion, as well. A

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Editors Note to Shluchim: This topic includes a video in the shluchim lounge that may be difficult for some of the teens to watch. Please use discretion.

fetus is a potential life, so we are not allowed to kill a fetus. However, if the fetus is endangering the mother’s life and the only way to protect the mother is by taking the life of the fetus, then we must do so.

However, this is all only as long as the fetus is a life-in-potential. Once the baby’s head has emerged from the birth canal, s/he has become a full-fledged human being with the same status as the mother. Even though the mother has a family to take care of and has proven herself viable and valuable, we consider this a matter of one life versus another. At that point, we can’t give precedent to either life. Life, according to our tradition, is not something to which you can apply relative values.

As in all areas of complex halachah (Jewish law), every case needs to be individually evaluated by a rabbi who, when necessary, will consult with medical professionals and/or rabbis who are experts in this particular field of law.

Final Say: Judaism values life. Since a fetus is a potential life, we are not allowed to kill it.

"Life, according to our tradition, is not something to which you can apply relative values."

HAMANTASCHEN TOOLBOX: 3 eggs 1 cup granulated sugar 3/4 cup vegetable oil 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/2 cup orange juice 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 cup fruit preserves, any flavor

HOW TO: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.

2. In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until lightly and fluffy. Stir in the oil, vanilla and orange juice. Combine the flour and baking powder; stir into the batter to form a stiff dough. If dough is not stiff enough to roll out, stir in more flour. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to 1/4 inch in thickness. Cut into circles using a cookie cutter or the rim or a drinking glass. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets. Spoon about 2 teaspoons of preserves into the center of each one. Pinch the edges to form three corners.

3. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned.

Allow cookies to cool for 1 minute on the cookie sheet before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 79

APRIL

DEALING WITH DIFFICULTY I find myself in a very difficult situation. Will I be able to overcome my problems?

Our Torah sages gave counsel long ago that stands for every situation for every person.

missions, and you are given exactly the load that your soul is meant to handle, no less and no more.

There is one difference, however. When the camel driver loads the camel, his interest is in the merchandise, not the camel. G‑d's principal interest is in your soul. In this way, the load he gives you is more like the weights a fitness coach might wrap on your wrists and ankles—not to slow you down, but on the contrary, to make you stronger and faster.

"like the weights a fitness coach might wrap on your wrists and ankles—not to slow you down, but on the contrary, to make you stronger and faster"

The sages of the Mishnah taught us that “according to the camel is the load.” G‑d knows His camels—He made them and He leads them through life. He knows just how much each one can take, and He doesn't load anyone up with any more than he can handle.

These are not problems you are having; they are loads. A camel driver loads his camel because something needs to be done with that load. Similarly, you are put in this world to accomplish certain

82 // APRIL

Final Say: Think of G‑d as your personal trainer and these problems as the hurdles He is making you face in order that you can go higher and higher—to a level which you could never have imagined yourself achieving.

GOURMET POPCORN TOOLBOX: 1/2 cup popcorn kernels 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon cayenne 1 teaspoon garlic powder 2 teaspoons kosher salt HOW TO: 1. Pop the kernels according to package directions and transfer to a large serving bowl.

2. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Mix in the remaining ingredients until well combined. Pour the spiced butter over the popcorn and toss until evenly coated. Serve.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 83

DO JEWS BELIEVE IN AN AFTERLIFE? Do Jews believe in an afterlife?

There isn’t anything after life, because life never ends.

It just goes higher and higher. The soul is liberated from the body and returns closer to her source than ever before.

Each of our lives is strongly impacted by the work of our ancestors in that other world. Grandma’s still watching over you.

Why should souls that are basking in divine light above be at all concerned about what’s happening in your mundane life below?

There they feel the truth so easily overlooked while down here: this lowly, material world is the centerstage of G-d's purpose in creating all that exists.

"Good deeds and wisdom gained on her mission below serve as a protection for her journey upwards."

The Torah describes Abraham’s death, for example, as going to rest with his fathers and similar phrases.

The Talmud discusses the experiences of several people who made the trip there and back.

Classic Jewish works such as Maavor Yabok describe a process of entering the higher world of life as a reflection of the soul’s experiences while within the body. Good deeds and wisdom gained on her mission below serve as a protection for her journey upwards.

You want a real good spacesuit to make this trip.

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This is also why, at the final resolution, all souls will return to physical bodies in this world.

Final Say: When the soul leaves the body, it is continuously elevated. In that way, life does not end. Though the soul is no longer in a physical body, it continues to go higher and higher.

After life ends, it really continues.

MATZA TOOLBOX: 3 Âź cup flour 1 cup water Rolling pins Large Bowl Plastic dough perforators HOW TO: 1. Combine flour and water.

2. Take a handful of dough and roll it out into a circle.

3.Perforate the dough with the perforators.

4.Bake in the oven for 10 minutes.

NOTE: Be sure to tell the teens that this Matzah is not suitable for consumption during Passover.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 85

O S W A L H A R O T IS Y H W RESTRICTIVE OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE GENDERS? Isn’t the Torah law which forbids all physical contact between a man and a woman or even for them to be alone in a room together unless they are first-degree relatives or married to each other carrying it a bit far? Are we really such animals?

When a man and woman are together in a room, and the door closes, that is a sexual event. Not because of what is going to happen, but what has already happened. It may not be something to make novels of, but it is a sexual occurrence.

Male and female is what sexuality used to be all about, but in our world today, in the “free world” certainly, people have, on the whole, stopped thinking in these terms. With the constant exposure and stimulation of men and women sharing all sorts of activities—co-educational school, camps, gyms—we can’t be as naturally sexual as G-d created us to be. If a man says, “I have a woman friend, but we’re just friends, nothing more. I’m not attracted to her in any sexual way; she’s not my type,” you’ve got to ask yourself if this is a person who has died a little bit.

How many times does a relationship begin in a casual, neighborly way and then suddenly become intimate? The great awakening of this boy and girl who are running around, doing all sorts of things, sharing all sorts of activities, and lo and behold, they realize—what drama, what drama— that they

86 // APRIL

are attracted to each other. These are grown-ups, intelligent human beings, and it caught them by surprise? It’s kind of silly.

So closing a door should be recognized as a sexual event. Ask yourself: are you prepared for this? Is it permissible? Is it proper? If not, leave the door open. Should men and women shake hands?

Should it be seen as an intimate gesture? Should any physical contact that is friendly be considered intimate? Hopefully, it should.

These laws are not guarantees against sin. They just lessen the possibility of someone doing something wrong. They also preserve sexuality—because human sexuality is what G-d wants. He gave us these laws to preserve it and to enhance it in the right places and circumstances, not to stifle it.

When you don’t close the door on yourself and that other person, you are recognizing your own sexuality and acknowledging the sexuality of the other person. Being modest, recognizing our borders, and knowing where intimacy begins helps us define our borders and become truly free. It makes you a much more lovable person.

Final Say: Defining your borders not only makes you stronger as a human being, but also makes you more respected. Consider the situations you place yourself in, and ask yourself how it will affect your borders, and the kind of person it makes you in the long run.

HOT CHOCOLATE TOOLBOX: 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 3/4 cup white sugar 1 pinch salt 1/3 cup boiling water 3 1/2 cups milk 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup half-and-half cream HOW TO: Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn’t scorch. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil! Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs. Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 87

IT S N E M O W D N A N E M O D Y H W SEPARATELY AT TRADITIONAL JEWISH SERVICES? Why do men and women sit separately at traditional Jewish services?

All Jewish practices have their simple reasons as well as deeper, more spiritual explanations.

One obvious benefit of separate seating in a synagogue is that it helps ensure that the main focus is on the prayers and not on the opposite gender. There is no question that we don’t act the same in a mixed crowd as we do in a same-gender one. There is nothing wrong with that. It is good and healthy that we are attracted to each other, but during prayers we shouldn’t be trying to impress anyone other than G-d.

only are we physically different; our thought processes, emotional states, and psychology are all different. This is because our souls are different— they come from complementary but opposite sources. The prayer experience is supposed to be an opportunity to be with your true self, to communicate with your soul. Men and women need space from each other to help them become in tuned to their higher selves.

Final Say: It is by sitting separately in prayer that we are able to truly come together in the other areas of our lives; because it is only when both male and female spiritual energies are allowed to flourish that we are complete as individuals, families, and a community.

But it goes deeper than that. Women and men are very different beings. Not

"our souls are different—they come from complementary but opposite sources"

88 // APRIL

CHOCOLATE HAYSTACKS

TOOLBOX: 2 cups sugar 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine 1/2 cup cocoa 1 dash salt 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 3 cups Chow Mein Noodles HOW TO: 1. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, milk, butter, cocoa and salt.

Heat to boiling, stirring frequently.

2. When it has reached a rolling boil, cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.

3. Remove pan from heat and mix in vanilla and Chow Mein Noodles.

Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper.

Work quickly!

4. Let cool.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 89

MAY

HONOR MY MOTHER? I know that the Ten Commandments require us to respect our parents. But not all parents are worthy of respect. I am disgusted by the things my mother has done.

Respecting your mother doesn’t mean that you think she is all good. But surely she can’t be all bad. Surely you can think of some redeeming feature, something good your mother has done.

There must be something for which you can say that she is a worthwhile person.

Can’t you think of one good thing she has achieved?

Like it or not, you are a product of your parents. No matter how different you are from them, no matter how far you go to avoid repeating their mistakes, you will never be able to change the simple fact that they are your parents.

Whether they were good parents or horrible parents, whether they built you up or put you down, they are where you come from.

Your mother brought you into the world. If you honestly think your mother is all bad, without a good bone in her

92 // MAY

body, then on some level you will see yourself as another one of her failures.

Your existence stems from her. Respect for parents is a base for self-respect.

The fact that she mothered a child who has a clear sense of right and wrong and is aware of her wrongdoing means she must not be all bad. She may not get the credit for your moral sensitivity, but she does get some credit for your existence. If nothing else, you can at least respect her for that. Far from compromising your dignity, respecting your mother forms the basis for your dignity, because she, along with your father and G-d, was a partner in your birth.

Respect does not mean accepting her failings or excusing her misdeeds. It means that if your mother needs help, you should be there for her. When she speaks, you need not agree, but you must listen respectfully. You have to treat her as a mother. Failing that, your self-respect has shaky foundations.

Final Say: You don’t have to respect the life your mother has led. But, for your own sake, you do have to respect that she is your mother.

"Respect for parents is a base for selfrespect"

CHOCOLATE MILKSHAKES

TOOLBOX: 2 teaspoons milk 3 scoops chocolate ice cream 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup 5 tablespoons powdered chocolate drink mix 5 cubes ice 1/4 cup chocolate chips HOW TO: In a blender, combine milk, ice cream, chocolate syrup, chocolate drink mix, ice cubes and chocolate chips. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 93

WHAT IS THE JEWISH VIEW OF DIVORCE? What is the Jewish view of divorce? If souls are united under the Chuppah, can they then split apart?

When a couple gets married in a Jewish wedding ceremony, their souls become one. It is like a spiritual operation that takes separate beings and fuses them into a new whole. The Jewish divorce ceremony is the reverse of this. It is a spiritual amputation, severing one part of the united soul from the other, creating two separate beings.

thing to do is cut off the limb. Similarly, divorce is painful for all involved, but it is the right choice when remaining in an unhealthy relationship will only cause more damage, suffering, and heartache.

It is a last resort. We do everything possible to avoid needing to amputate. If there is a remote chance that the limb can be salvaged, even with great effort and expense, it is worth a try. Only after exhausting all other possibilities do we resort to amputation. Same with divorce—it is only considered after counseling and sincere efforts to change prove fruitless.

Divorce is not just a Plan B. Amputation is not taken lightly. It is not seen as an option if things don’t work out. No one would recklessly experiment on their body, saying, “If anything happens to my limbs, I can always amputate.” Similarly, we don’t enter marriage saying, “If things don’t work out we can always get a divorce.” Divorce should not be a factor in the decision to get married. Marriage is forever. There is no Plan B.

"Divorce, like an amputation, is a tragedy, but sometimes it’s the right thing to do."

Divorce, like an amputation, is a tragedy, but sometimes it’s the right thing to do. Our attitude to divorce parallels our attitude to the amputation of a limb in several ways: It is painful. When a limb becomes so diseased that it endangers the rest of the body, the patient is faced with a horrible choice: to face the pain of amputation or risk worse suffering by leaving things as they are. If the future risks are high enough to clearly outweigh the present pain, the right 94 // MAY

Prevention is better than a cure. Amputees can live a happy and fulfilled life. They may be far better off after their operation than before. But if they could live life over again, they wouldn’t choose to go down that path a second time.

So too, divorce may sometimes lead to happiness, and true love and contentment may come after the dissolution of a relationship. But if we can reach that point without the pain of divorce, surely that would be preferable.

Final Say: While divorce is not an ideal solution, at times it is necessary.

TOOLBOX: 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 3/4 cup sugar 1/3 cup sour cream 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 eggs 24 lollipop sticks 10 ounces white confectioners’ coating miniature semisweet chocolate chips toasted coconut

CHEESECAKE POPS

PREP: 1. Beat cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl until smooth. Mix in the sour cream and blend thoroughly, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Add the flour, vanilla and salt and mix well. Add the eggs one at a time, blending thoroughly before adding the next egg, but do not overbeat. Pour batter into a 9-inch springform pan.

2. Bake in the preheated oven for 50 minutes or until the edges of the cake just begin to turn golden. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour, then refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.

HOW TO: 1. Use a small cookie scoop to scoop out round balls of cheesecake. Roll them into 1 1/2-inch balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper. Push a lollipop stick into each cheesecake ball. Place the tray in the freezer until firm, about 30 minutes.

2. Melt the white confectioners’ coating (or semi-sweet chocolate). Dip each cheesecake pop into the melted coating. Then dip into one of the toppings. Place on waxed paper until coating is set. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Store in refrigerator.

3. Take a handful of dough and roll it out into a circle.

4. Perforate the dough with the perforators.

5. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 95

PROOF OF THE AGE OF THE WORLD How do you refer to the scientific fact that dinosaurs lived long before the Creation (about 6000 years)? We can't deny the facts that skeletons have been found.

Belief in science is just that, belief, but not knowledge.

There was never a dinosaur skeleton discovered. A few large bones were found. From this scientists induced an entire skeleton and constructed models. Whether such induction is scientific is yet another question. Science is supposed to be about proof, not belief.

Now, on to dinosaur bones: Even though it is not exactly proven that there ever were such things as dinosaurs, only theorized, let’s accept that there were, or at least that the bones are real. How do we know how old they are? While scientists believe in the accuracy of carbon dating, Torah does not. That is because the Torah clearly states that during the flood 4000 years ago, not only did rain fall from the sky, but hot water came up from below the earth. Thus the earth was cooking for forty days, and that refutes the uniform conditions theory, the premise that conditions on earth 96 // MAY

were always exactly the same, upon which carbon dating is based. It is comparable to scientists measuring and proving how many days or weeks it took for the water in an empty pan to evaporate, but being blissfully unaware that at some point it had a fire under it and so the process took only minutes.

But let’s even accept that the bones are older than 6000 years.

So what? Let's think about what we’ve read so many times in the Genesis account of Creation.

“G-d said, ‘Let the earth bring forth…fruit trees,’ and it was so.”

(Gen. 1:11) This took place in one and the same day (day three), right? Full grown trees already producing fruit, right? But if a scientist came along with Adam on the sixth day and carbon dated the trees or measured their rings, what conclusions would he draw about their age? And would you believe him when he announced they are tens of years old and agree with him when he laughed at Adam who would have insisted they were only three days old? And what about the events of the sixth day when G-d created man and woman and all the events that unfolded. Does it sound like the verses are talking about babies, even if they were indeed only one day old? But if a doctor were to examine them he would never think so or believe so, would he? So, if before or after eating the forbidden fruit, if Adam or a scientist had dug with a shovel in the garden and uncovered dinosaur bones which had been created on the 2nd or 4th day, do you think they would say, “Oh, these look like they are only a few days old.” Or do you believe G-d is capable of having created them already appearing to be hundreds or thousands of years old?

Final Say: Appreciate the beauty of the world around you. G-d created a ready-made world for us, so that we could focus on fulfilling our missions.

CHOCOLATE PUDDING TOOLBOX: 1/2 cup white sugar 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 3 tablespoons cornstarch 2 cups milk 2 teaspoons vanilla extract HOW TO: 1. In a microwave-safe bowl, whisk together the sugar, cocoa and cornstarch. Whisk in milk a little at a time so the mixture does not have any dry lumps.

2. Place in the microwave, and cook for 3 minutes on high. Stir, then cook at 1 minute intervals, stirring between cooking times for 2 to 4 minutes, or until shiny and thick.

Stir in vanilla.

3. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming, and chill in the refrigerator. Serve cold.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 97

WHY IS JEWISH LAW SO PETTY MINDED? Why does the Jewish religion seem to obsess over insignificant details?

How much matza do we have to eat, which spoon did I use for milk and which for meat, what is the right way to tie my shoelaces?

It seems to me that this misses the bigger picture by focusing on minutiae. Is this nitpicking what Jews call spirituality?

Think about it this way.

Imagine that you send someone an email, and after a week, you still don’t receive a reply. Imagine that the person did in fact reply to your email, but wrote your email address leaving out the “dot” before the “com.” But why would that matter? It’s only one dot missing. Come on, it’s not as if they wrote the wrong name or something drastic like that! Would anyone be so nitpicky as to differentiate between “yahoocom” and “yahoo.com”? Isn’t it

a bit ridiculous that you didn’t get my email just because of a little dot?

No, it’s not ridiculous because the dot is not just a dot. It represents something.

That dot has meaning far beyond the pixels on the screen that form it. To me it may seem insignificant, but that is simply due to my ignorance of the ways of the internet. All I know is that with the dot, the message gets to the right destination; without it, the message is lost in oblivion.

Jewish practices have infinite depth.

Each nuance and detail contains a world of symbolism. And every dot counts. When they are performed with precision, a spiritual vibration is emailed throughout the universe, all the way to G-d’s inbox.

Final Say: If you want to understand the symbolism of the dot, study IT. If you want to understand the symbolism of the mitzvot, study Judaism.

"Would anyone be so nitpicky as to differentiate between “yahoocom” and “yahoo.com”?"

98 // MAY

GARLIC KNOTS TOOLBOX: 1 Packafge of Rhodes Dinner Rolls (Thawed) 1 Tbsp. olive oil 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon sugar Garlic-Butter Coating: 5 Tbsp unsalted butter 4 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 cup parsley, minced 1 teaspoon salt

.

HOW TO: 1. Using a sharp knife, slice the dough into strips of about 1 inch wide by 5 inches long. Cut these strips in half. Take one piece and work it into a snake, then tie it in a knot. The dough will be sticky along the cut edges, so dust these with flour before you tie the knot. Set each knot down on the baking sheet and repeat with the remaining dough. Remember that the dough will rise, so leave some space between each knot.

2. Once all the knots are tied, paint them with a little olive oil.

Loosely cover them with plastic wrap and let them rise again until doubled in size, anywhere from 90 minutes to three hours or so.

Toward the end of this rising period, preheat the oven to 400째.

3. Uncover the knots and bake in the oven 12-15 minutes, or until nicely browned on top.

4. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small pot and cook the garlic gently in it just long enough to take off that raw garlic edge, about 1-2 minutes over medium-low heat. Add the salt and parsley and stir to combine. Turn off the heat.

5. When the knots are done, take out of the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Paint with the garlic-butter-parsley mixture and serve.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 99

JUNE

WHY SO MANY DON'TS ON SHABBAT? I love the Shabbat experience especially the candle lighting and the Kiddush, but why so many restrictions? No driving, no shopping, no playing music, no chatting on the phone—you’re not even allowed to check your e-mail! Sounds more like a prison than a day of rest. Why not just focus on the beautiful rituals and the restful atmosphere? I’d love to start keeping Shabbat, but all this “don't do this” and “don’t do that” is a real turn-off…

Indeed, our sages tell us that at the end of the six days of creation the world was complete. It had everything— except for one element. “What was the world missing? Rest. With the coming of Shabbat came rest.” Rest is a creation—if G-d had not created the seventh day, there would be no such thing as rest. Even now, true rest is an elusive commodity, obtainable only via the active experience of Shabbat.

And to experience Shabbat rest, we need to cease work—that is, cease all creative involvement with our world. If you’re creatively involving, you’re not resting.

If you’re going to be swimming, you’re going to stop doing all the things that interfere with that activity.

Shabbat is the same way.

"Rest is a creation—if G-d had not created the seventh day, there would be no such thing as rest."

O n Shabbat we enter into a state of rest.

Rest sounds easy. It isn’t? It is the most unnatural activity in the universe.

The universe—existence itself—is a giant perpetual motion machine—from galaxies to atoms . Not for a single moment does our heart stop pumping, our brain churning, our soul yearning.

Earning a living is work, running a home is work, vacationing is work. Rest? The very fact that we can even articulate the idea of rest to ourselves is a miracle!

102 // JUNE

Final Say: Shabbat may feel restrictive at first, but once you shrug off those cowboy boots and chuck all thoughts of the piano playing out of your mind, the rest kicks in.

CHOCOLATE FUDGE TRUFFLES

TOOLBOX: 3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 (14 ounce) can Sweetened Condensed Milk/Soy Milk 1 tablespoon vanilla extract COATINGS: Finely chopped toasted nuts, flaked coconut, chocolate sprinkles, colored sprinkles, unsweetened cocoa, powdered sugar or colored sugars HOW TO: 1. Melt chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk in large saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.

2. Pour into medium bowl. Cover and chill until firm.

3. Shape into 1-inch balls; roll in desired coating and/ or decorate with frosting and candies. Chill 1 hour or until firm.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 103

WHAT’S UP WITH THE KIPAH? If covering the head with a yarmulke (head covering) or a hat recognizes that G-d is above you, why do I have to actually cover the head as long as I know He is above me in my heart and mind?

The yarmulka or kipah is a bit like a wedding ring.

A wedding ring is a sign that you belong to someone. If you anyway think of your loved one all the time, do you no longer need to wear the ring?

Is a ring only worn until you love each other enough not to need a reminder?

Of course not!

First of all, knowing that you’re married doesn’t mean you won’t forget when temptation comes your way.

Secondly, the ring is a symbol for the one wearing it and a warning for everyone else that this person belongs to somebody else, so don’t mess.

Thirdly, if you see marriage as a burden, you wear the ring like a ball and chain, but if you are in a relationship that is deep and real, you wear the ring with pride. Its very existence means that there is someone out there that loves you more than anyone in the world.

103 // JUNE

Same with the Yarmulka. Only a very holy person can be conscious of G-d absolutely all the time. The rest of us (men) need something very tangible to remind us that He is always there.

Final Say: The yarmulke identifies us as Jews in the eyes of those around us. We belong to something and Someone. We wear it with pride because the Jewish people have a deeply loving relationship with G-d. True love is with us at all times, and we want to tell the world!

If women don’t wear kippot, how are we supposed to identify ourselves as Jews in the eyes of those around us?

Only because spirituality is more foreign to men do they need a tangible reminder of it. According to Kabbalah the feminine soul is more in tune with spirituality, and therefore doesn’t need something so superficial to remind her of her innate connection with G-d. This is why men need more ceremony and ritual than women (like tallit, tefillin, being called-up to the Torah). Without ritual, spirituality is too abstract for men to relate to. A woman is more sensitive to what is holy and sublime and therefore doesn’t need as many rituals to express her soul-connection.

A man needs to announce his Jewishness not so much for the people around him as for himself.

Final Say: Male spirituality is aggressive and loud and has to be displayed. This is a way to refine the male ego.

Feminine spirituality is more inner and subtle, and would be compromised if advertised.

"the feminine soul is more in tune with spirituality"

ICE CREAM SUNDAES TOOLBOX: 1 cup heavy cream 1 pint chocolate ice cream 1 pint vanilla ice cream 1 pint strawberry ice cream 1 cup hot fudge 4 strawberries, stems and leaves removed, cut into thirds crosswise HOW TO: 1. In a medium bowl, whip heavy cream with a hand mixer until soft peaks form. Using a serrated knife, cut each pint of ice cream crosswise into four disks. Place a chocolate disk on each of four plates. Top each with a vanilla and strawberry disk. Pour hot fudge over each stack, and top each with a dollop of whipped cream.

Garnish with strawberry slices, and serve.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 105

KABBALAH What is Kabbalah?

Let’s begin with a working definition. Kabbalah: That which is received, and thus cannot be known through science or intellectual pursuit alone. It is an inner knowledge that has been passed down from sage to student from the earliest of times and a discipline that awakens awareness of the essence of things.

To explain our world without examining this inner depth is as shallow as explaining the workings of a computer by describing the images viewed on its monitor. If we see a ball moving up and down on the screen, would we say that it is rebounding against the bottom of the screen? Do the gadgets on your scroll bar really exert some force on the page inside the window? Does the menu bar really have drop-down menus hidden behind it?

The code behind reality is what breathes life into it and makes it real. Men and women have sacrificed their food, their comfort, traveled great distances, and paid with their very lives to come to know these things. There is not a culture in the world that does not have its teachings to describe them. In Jewish teaching, they are described in the Kabbalah.

"The code behind reality is what breathes life into it and makes it real"

We enter this world and our senses meet its outer crust.

Soon we begin to measure, to weigh and describe with precision. we record the behaviors of chemicals, plants, animals and human beings. From our observations we learn to harness our environment with inventions and contraptions, often thinking we got it right.

But we ourselves, our consciousness that is examining this world, we reside on a deeper layer. That is why we cannot help but ask, What about the thing itself? That which is there before we measured it? What is matter, energy, time, space—and how do they come to be?

106 // JUNE

According to tradition, the truths of the Kabbalah were known to Adam, Noah, Abraham, and a select few. They were the fathers of all humankind. That is why you will find inklings of the truths they taught wherever human culture has reached.

Nevertheless, the essential source for the Kabbalah is not Adam or Noah or even Abraham. It is the event at Mount Sinai, where the primal essence of the cosmos was laid bare for an entire nation to see. It was an experience that left an indelible mark on the Jewish psyche, molding all our thought and behavior ever since.

Final Say: That is why Kabbalah is not a philosophy. A philosophy is the product of human minds, but Kabbalah means that which is received—not just from a teacher, but from Sinai.

PICKLES

TOOLBOX: 1 cup distilled white vinegar 1 tablespoon salt 2 cups white sugar 6 cups sliced cucumbers 1 cup sliced onions HOW TO: 1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring vinegar, salt and sugar to a boil. Boil until the sugar has dissolved, about 10 minutes.

2. Place the cucumbers, onions and green bell peppers in a large bowl. Pour the vinegar mixture over the vegetables.

Transfer to sterile containers and store in the refrigerator.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 107

IS NEW-WAVE KABBALAH AUTHENTIC? I was watching a news report the other day about Madonna (now known as Esther). She was discussing how Kabbalah has changed her life, the new views she has, and the insight she has gained from learning with her rabbi. She apparently even keeps a kosher home. What are your thoughts on the masses learning Kabbalah? Is it a good thing or just a fad?

I’m not sure how authentic the “Kabbalah” being studied by Madonna is, but renewed interest in Kabbalah is a good thing. The Kabbalists always said that although in earlier generations Kabbalah was a restricted area of study, a time will come when these teachings will become available to everyone. Its blend of profound thought and downto-earth spirituality is much needed today.

The question is not so much who can study Kabbalah, but who can teach it and how it is taught. Some modern exponents of the Kabbalah claim that it is a separate religion, distinct from Judaism. This claim is not only untrue, it is self-destructive, and one should be

108 // ADDTIONAL TOPICS

"Taking Kabbalah out of its Jewish context and removing it from Jewish practice is like picking a flower from a garden. It looks beautiful and smells nice for a while but soon starts to wither, rot, and stink."

wary of such teachers.

The Kabbalists call Jewish mysticism Pardes, meaning “garden.”

If you see a beautiful flower in a garden, you may have the urge to pick it and take it home to enjoy its beauty. Yet, disconnected from its natural habitat, a flower will very quickly wither and die.

Taking Kabbalah out of its Jewish context and removing it from Jewish practice is like picking a flower from a garden. It looks beautiful and smells nice for a while but soon starts to wither, rot, and stink. Kabbalah is a living, breathing spirituality that is nourished by the rich soil of Jewish wisdom and practice. Those who are calling it a separate religion, for the obvious reason of gaining a wider audience, are turning something deep and holy into just another passing fad. It looks good, creates a stir, but won’t last.

While one can taste the teachings of Kabbalah even without being particularly observant of Judaism, you can’t detach it from its source. Kabbalah is the heart of Judaism. A body without a heart is lifeless. A heart without its body is useless. Judaism without its mystical side can become dry and unattractive. But Kabbalah without the grounding of practical Judaism is an uprooted flower.

We are a searching generation. We’ve tried empty materialism, and it has failed to sustain us. We have experimented with spiritual escapism and it has left us floating towards nowhere.

Real Kabbalah is deeply rooted insights.

Final Say: Real Kabbalah is the deepest mystical insights grounded in the fertile soil of Jewish tradition and observance.

EVIL EYE I was given a red string by a friend—she called it a “Kabbalah bracelet” and says it brings success and protection and guards against the Evil Eye. Is this for real?

harmless. But the Talmud says that the Evil Eye can only affect you if you worry about it, whereas it leaves you alone if you ignore it. So a more effective (and cheaper) way to avoid the Evil Eye is to forget about it.

There is absolutely no doubt that red strings have brought astounding success—to the people selling them for $29 a pop. The question is what they do for everyone else.

If you are concerned that some sinister power has designs on you, there are other solutions. The most powerful protection against evil forces is the force of goodness. Whether a red string helps or not, I do not know, but it is definitely not a replacement for sincere prayer, generous charity, and moral conduct.

"a more effective way to avoid the Evil Eye is to forget about it."

Although not written in any Kabbalistic source that I have seen, the red string is an old tradition. A thread is wrapped seven times around the tomb of Rachel in Israel, and then cut into little cords. It is then said to give protection from the Evil Eye for one who wears it on his or her wrist.

The Evil Eye is the name given to harmful negative energy which is created by people looking at you with envy or ill-feeling. The red string is supposed to deflect this energy.

This is a widely accepted belief and regardless of its source, it seems pretty

Final Say: It is certainly easier and less demanding to just buy a piece of string, but the world does not become better as a result. There is still negative energy; it just hasn’t caught you.

When you increase in positive energy by doing more selfless and holy acts, you are combating those forces and diminishing their power rather than just deflecting them away from you.

For someone who lives an ethical life, a red string is nothing more than an accessory.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 109

WHAT’S WITH THE WIG? Isn’t it ironic that observant Jewish women wear wigs?

In biblical Judaism, the rule was that married women should cover their hair in order to be modest and unattractive. Today’s wigs are often more attractive than natural hair, defeating the whole purpose of covering the hair! So, why wear a wig anymore?

By mistaking a wig for real hair, you have also confused what it means to be modest.

Your version equates modesty with unattractiveness, but that is your definition, not Judaism's. From the Jewish perspective, modesty has nothing to do with being unattractive.

Rather, modesty is a means to create privacy. And that is what a wig achieves.

A hair-covering was never intended to make a married woman look ugly.

Beauty is a divine gift, and Jewish tradition encourages both men and women to care for their appearance and always look presentable. Jewish tradition also encourages modesty to channel our beauty and attractiveness to be saved for where it belongs -within marriage.

110 // ADDTIONAL TOPICS

By covering her hair, the married woman makes a statement: "I am not available. You can see me, but I am not open to the public. Even my hair, the most obvious and visible part of me, is not for your eyes."

The hair-covering also has a profound effect on the wearer. It creates a psychological barrier, a cognitive distance between her and strangers.

Her beauty becomes visible but inconspicuous; she is attractive but unavailable.

The wig achieves the desired effect exactly, because a wig allows a woman to cover all her hair, while maintaining her attractive appearance. She can be proud of the way she looks without compromising her privacy. And even if her wig looks so real as to be mistaken for natural hair, she knows that no one is looking at the real her. She has created a private space, and only she decides who to let into that space.

Final Say: Modesty has nothing to do with being unattractive. True beauty, inner beauty, needs modesty to protect it and allow it to thrive.

S U IO IG L E -R N O N Y M E R A Y WH PARENTS AGAINST MY MARRYING A NON-JEW? I am seriously dating a girl who is everything I ever dreamed of. She is smart, pretty, and funny. But— you guessed it—she isn’t Jewish. My parents have refused to even meet her and are hardly speaking to me. My grandmother is beside herself.

My parents aren’t religious, we never kept kosher or any of the festivals.

There was nothing very Jewish about our home. Why all of a sudden are they so Jewish when it comes to whom I marry? When I ask them this they just answer, “This is different.”

That makes no sense to me. Isn’t that totally hypocritical?

Why does intermarriage touch a nerve in so many people more than any other Jewish issue?

Your frustration is well-founded. It is unreasonable of your parents to expect Judaism to be important to you if it never seemed important to them. What's more, they can’t explain to you why they feel the way they do.

They probably can’t even explain it to themselves. But I have a theory.

There is a profound truth that somehow our parents learnt subconsciously from

their parents: Jewishness is who you are, not what you do.

No Jew who is more Jewish than another.

A Jew may be sitting in a church eating bacon on Yom Kippur dressed up as Santa Claus, but he’s still 100% Jewish. Is he a good Jew? A faithful Jew? A proud Jew? G-d knows. But a Jew he remains. Because Jewishness isn’t something you do; it’s something you are. Nothing you do can affect who you are.

Nothing, that is, with one exception: whom you marry.

Getting married is not a hobby or a career move; it is making someone else a part of your identity, and becoming a part of theirs. Your spouse fills a void in your very being, and you fill the void in them. So marriage, like Jewishness, is not something you do; it is something you are.

If you marry a non-Jew, you're still 100% Jewish, but a part of you—your other half— is not. You can be happy together. You can be in love with each other. But there is a part of you that you will never share.

Final Say: The challenge of our generation is to come up with real answers to the questions of what it means to be in love, to marry, and to be Jewish.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 111

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