Volume 5 Issue 4

“...Know that every deed counts, that every word is power...”

—Abraham Joshua Heschel

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 4

APRIL 1, 2015

Breaking News: In Israel Binyamin Netanyahu Today is April Fools’ Day Wins Majority, But At Heschel, A Different Outcome By: Mariel Priven

By Carlin Greenfield LAST THURSDAY NIGHT, the eighth grade’s study and analysis of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream culminated in a performance of the play in the Roanna Shorofsky Theater. Although initial rehearsals looked as if they were on course for disaster, students rose to the occasion and the play came together in what all felt was an amazingly strong performance. The evening began with an overture beautifully played by Aviva Frost, Mariel Priven and Naomi KazisTaylor. All cast members gave each scene their all. Notable performances included all who played Bottom: Kaia BermanPeters gave an exuberantly funny portrayal of Bottom, as did Carlin Greenfield, and Bottom’s last scene as Pyramus was hilariously played by Omri Benichou. Other s t a n d o u t performances were the quartet of Hannah Bucher (Hermia), Abigail Jacobs (Helena), Leo Hasher (Demetrius), and Charlie Sutton (Lysander).

A LT H O U G H ISRAELI ELECTIONS are usually held every four years, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu chose to hold elections this year, only two years into his term.

In Israel, in order to elect the prime minister, Israeli citizens vote for the political party that they support. Then the winning party, or multiple winning parties, that have more than half the votes, choose the prime minister.

The current political parties in the Israeli government include Likud, Zionist Union, Joint List, Yesh Atid, Kulanu, HaBayit HaYehudi, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Yisrael Beiteinu, and Meretz.

Although only one political party will have its head as prime minister, there are 120 seats in the Knesset, so a certain amount of representatives from each political party will be given seats according to the percentage of votes each political party wins.

On March 17th, 2015, the Israeli elections were held, and Binyamin Netanyahu’s Likud was reelected. Of the 120 seats in the Knesset, Likud had 30, Zionist Union 24, Joint List 13, Yesh Atid 11, Kulanu 10, HaBayit HaYehudi 8, Shas 7, United Torah Judaism 6, Yisrael Beiteinu 6, and Meretz 5. Netanyahu will, no doubt, seek alliances with other parties to strengthen his position in the Knesset.

At the Abraham Joshua Heschel School, some classes chose to hold mock

Continued on page 9

Continued on page 3

The Alan B. Slifka Middle School

Eighth Grade Gives a Rousing Performance of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream

1

April, 2015 Volume 5, Issue 4

Letter from the Editors

2014–2015 Editors Nina Glesby Carlin Greenfield Mariel Priven

Staff Writers Anna Dubey Abigail Sylvor-Greenberg Sophie Fisher Ayelet Kaminer Talia Kahan Tova Kleiner Noa Levine Maya Lukeman Rachel Mehler Sabina Sternklar-Davis Alexandra Wenger Tema Zeldes-Roth

Dear Readers, We are looking forward to sharing a fun filled April Fools’ issue, filled with wonderful stories including the history of April Fools’ Day, the science of some optical illusions, and several poems celebrating National Poetry Month. We urge everyone to write and/or read some poetry this month, no matter where you are. Also, we are all preparing for Pesach, and so we share a few Passover recipes in our food section.

We want to wish the seventh grade issue editors, Abigail Sylvor-Greenberg, Tova Kleiner, and Noa Levine, “good luck” in publishing Issue 5 of the Heschel Herald while we eighth graders are in Israel. We wish all a meaningful Passover.

Please send us your opinions and responses to any of the articles or editorials you read in the Heschel Herald. We will print your letters; it’s fun to see your name in print. Try it.

Your Eighth Grade Editors, Mariel Priven, Nina Glesby, and Carlin Greenfield

Art Tova Kleiner

Photography Carlin Greenfield Karen Dorr Bev Shnaps

Faculty Advisor Karen Dorr Judy Katz

Layout & Design Karen Dorr

Celebrate National Poetry Month: Write a poem...

Read a poem...

“Eat” a poem...

The Journalist of the Issue

By Nina Glesby DEXTER FILKINS IS an accomplished American journalist born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1961. In 1983, he earned a B.A. in political science at the University of Florida. One year later, he received a Master of Philosophy in international relations at Oxford University.

Filkins began to write for the New York Times around fifteen years ago, mainly covering wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Before that, he worked for the Los Angeles Times for several years.

He was part of a team of New York Times journalists who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2009 for reports from Afghanistan and Pakistan, and he alone was a finalist for a Pulitzer in 2002 for reports from Afghanistan. In 2008, his book, The Forever War, about his experiences as a journalist in Afghanistan and Iraq, won the National Book Critics Circle Award, and was cited as best book of the year by The New York Times, Time Magazine, The

The Alan B. Slifka Middle School

2

Washington Post, and others.

In 2011, he began writing for The New Yorker, where he is currently working. There, he has written feature articles about a troubled Iraq veteran who sought out the survivors of a family his unit had killed, and the crises in Syria and Lebanon.

When asked in an interview why it remains important for journalists to cover wars, he stated, “It’s impossible to know anything about a place so complex, and about a place in the middle of a war, unless you see it up close with your own eyes. In other words: beware of commentators talking from TV studios.”

April, 2015 Volume 5, Issue 4

NEWS Israeli Elections v. Heschel’s Continued from page one elections to see how their votes would compare to the real Israeli elections. In two eighth grade classes, with a total of 34 students, the results were: Zionist Union won with 13, Joint List 5, Meretz 4, HeBayit HaYehudi 4, Yesh Atid 3, Likud 2, Kulanu 2, and 2 votes were either blank or had multiple parties listed. Interestingly, in contrast to the elections in Israel, at Heschel, the Zionist Union won handily against the Likud Party.

April Is National Poetry Month!

Read A Poem Every Day

South to Be’er Sheva*

by Dara Barnat I stare through the window of the train, until we reach the desert. Then I have to turn away, because who knew how bright sand could be? The soldier next to me has fallen asleep with a gun in his lap. Who knows what he’s seen today?

Dusk falls, so I turn my face to the window again. Who knew that train tracks were built so close to houses? In the desert there are houses for people who believe they are graves for the living. I’m wondering which came first, the houses or the train tracks? I’m thinking the sand will outlive everyone.

Dara Barnat teaches poetry at Tel Aviv University

* Be’er-Sheva is a city in the Negev desert in southern Israel.

The Alan B. Slifka Middle School

3

April, 2015 Volume 5, Issue 4

The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

( kidnapping, sexual abuse, infidelity, and general defeat) it is thoroughly lighthearted and optimistic, shot in bright colors, bubbling with first-rate oneliners, and ever-instilling that human beings are indeed “strong as hell,” as the theme song states.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt makes circumstances that are lessthan-ideal at best, and downright tragic at worst, something to laugh at and therefore survive.

Television Review

By Noa Levine and Abigail Sylvor-Greenberg THE PREMISE IS BIZARRE: an impossibly optimistic twentysomething year old woman who was kept in an underground bunker as part of a post-apocalyptic cult for fifteen years is finally released. With only an eighth grade education, she decides to restart her life in New York City, navigating the ins and outs of a new world alongside her flamboyant roommate, her ridiculous and affluent boss, and a whole gang of other eccentric characters. It’s bizarre, but at the same time, it’s brilliant. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is a new Netflix series written and produced by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock.

It’s a comedic experience complete with a catchy, auto-tuned, theme song, and a cast of unforgettable characters.

Kimmy ( Ellie Kepner), comes to New York with a backpack full of cash, a pair of light up Sketchers, and a dream to restart her life. She is hired as a nanny by the eccentric and extremely wealthy Jacquilyn Voorhees (Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock), who demands that she do everything from stress-eat a burger, to join her in a meeting with her divorce attorney.

Kimmy rents a closet-sized room in an apartment inhabited by Titus Andromidon (Tituss Burgess) who avoids paying rent to the goofy and lonely landlord Lillian (Carol Kane). In Lillian’s words, Titus is, “a little crusty on the outside, but a soft heart, like a wonderful French roll, but black. It’s gonna be wonderful for him to have a roommate because he’s very isolated, but so talented, but disillusioned, but a genius and he’s single, but very gay and he doesn’t know I placed the ad.”

Titus is arguably the best character on the show saying lines such as, ”I got better treated as a werewolf than I ever did as a black man - that’s messed up.” Characters, such as Dong from GED class, add to the mix of eccentric characters. Kimmy and her friends get caught in a love triangle, film a music video, deal with a slew of drunk teenagers, find justice for a group of character impersonators in Times Square, and go viral on the internet.

The show has a perfect balance of welltimed comedy, pop culture references (usually related to Kimmy’s lack of knowledge of modern technology “Hashbrown, no filter”), and a healthy dose of heart. It is vibrant, empowering, and flat out hilarious. Its episodes are short and exploding with life and plot, so as not to feel repetitive or annoying. Though at times it tackles dark subject matter

page

4

Peculiar Poets For Fools and Crazies

By Anna M. Dubey OVER THE YEARS, different poets have been called fools. The quirky Lord Byron, for example, brought a bear with him to college when he was forbidden to bring a dog. However eccentric he might have been, his poems were regarded by many as genius. Another poet that some considered to be odd was Emily Dickinson. She only wore white clothes, and rarely left her house.

She kept her poems mostly secret until her death. Nevertheless, her poems were very unique for her time, and introduced a new form of poetry, with shorter lines and strange punctuation and capitalization.

Edgar Allan Poe, whose poetry is now read by most school children, was called “eccentric” when he lived and apparently went “mad” by the end of his life. William Blake said he saw angel-like creatures in his garden. Percy Shelley, another poet, sleepwalked and had strange hallucinations.

All these famous peculiar poets bring to mind the question: is poetry “better” when written by odd or ‘foolish’ poets?

Their especially unique minds may bring an extra element of creativity to their poems, simply because no one else sees the world the way they do. So the lesson may be, if you want to become a true poet, write poems about the way you, and not anyone else, experiences life.

Alone

by Edgar Allan Poe (published, 1875) From childhood's hour I have not been As others were -- I have not seen As others saw -- I could not bring My passions from a common spring -From the same source I have not taken My sorrow -- I could not awaken “Hope” is the thing with My heart to joy at the same tone -feathers And all I lov'd -- I lov'd alone -By Emily Dickinson Then -- in my childhood -- in the

dawn

Of a most stormy life -- was drawn “Hope” is the thing with feathers From ev'ry depth of good and ill That perches in the soul The mystery which binds me still -And sings the tune without the From the torrent, or the fountain -words From the red cliff of the mountain -And never stops - at all From the sun that 'round me roll'd In its autumn tint of gold -And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard From the lightning in the sky And sore must be the storm As it pass'd me flying by -That could abash the little Bird From the thunder, and the storm -That kept so many warm And the cloud that took the form (When the rest of Heaven was blue) I’ve heard it in the chillest land Of a demon in my view -And on the strangest Sea Yet - never - in Extremity, It asked a crumb - of me.

page

5

Poetry Endless Winter

By Tova Kleiner Snow. Blankets upon blankets. Falling from the sky.

A swirling pattern. Flecks of pure white, yet untouched by the dirt and grime of the city.

Excitement in the air.

Gray. The novelty of the first snow has worn off.

Frigid air. The city is slowly weakening. The snow has grown icy and frozen, crusted with black and graying from the inside.

The streets are cleared but the hard snow piles up around the sidewalk. The frozen ground and tall buildings melt into each other, as one nondescript gray-brown.

Snow again. It covers the gray ice with a fresh quilt that looks new and pillowy. But underneath, the slippery ice is still there, masked by the disguise of the pure white freshness.

Grime covers the streets. The city’s pulse is tired and steady. The breath is slow and without excitement.

It waits for the coming of Spring.

Snow appears from the skies. Unexpected. One last spurt of winter. It lasts for an hour, trying to come through, yet ultimately failing.

Quenched by the tiniest of sun.

A ray that sneaks through the brittle gray clouds.

Thawing the endless winter.

page

6

Fiction

Life As A Story

By Anna M. Dubey I am a story.

I am the child of Creativity and Language, as all stories are. Grammar is our grandfather and Vocabulary is our grandmother. Well, some stories aren’t grandchildren of Grammar and Vocabulary, but those stories don’t make it very far and aren’t usually Written.

Today, Dictionary, our leader, called our entire community together. It was a little disappointing to see all the adventurous, exciting stories around me, even if they hadn’t been Written yet. Someday, almost all of them will be Written. But there are always thousands of stories that aren’t Written. It’s just the way things are.

I will never be Written. I have a disability. I am blank. No story was marked in me when I was born. I always had the comforting thought that I might be a journal or a diary someday, but then I would never get to tell a story. Also, journals have no personality. I have never been able to communicate with any other stories, but they know that I understand them.

Dictionary’s dry but commanding voice snapped me to attention. “I request for the citizens of this district to be attentive.

Promptly!”

Our grandfather, Vocabulary, played a very big part in Dictionary’s creation.

Dictionary sat down heavily. He isn’t very skilled at standing up. He weighs a lot.

“Now,” he announced, “I know that we, as an influential society, are both pleased and satisfied at the range of stories in our community.”

Proud cheers filled the air as everyone remembered how we have stories about absolutely everything in the world, from Alien Giraffes (he was sitting across from me) to Smiling Silly Clowns (I know I saw him around today somewhere).

Dictionary continued. “But, as I have had large quantities of time to reach a conclusion, I have discovered that there is a single subject in this universe that does not yet possess a story.”

This time nervous whispers filled the air as everyone wondered what story doesn’t exist. Could it be about purple alien giraffes? No, I was sure I’d run into her once or twice.

Dictionary cleared his throat, and everybody quieted down. “This missing story is about us. The stories. Before we are Written. So, despite this great and grievous error we have made, I have decided to correct it using a method that has never been attempted previously. Will Title-Less please swiftly step onto the podium?”

Every story turned to face my way. Why did Dictionary want me? I couldn’t even communicate! I was blank! But nevertheless, I walked timidly down to the podium where Dictionary was standing. To disobey Dictionary was unheard of.

Dictionary smiled warmly down at me.

“Title-Less,” he explained, “I wish you to undertake an operation that has never existed before. I want to provide you with a story. A story about us. The stories. So now, I bestow upon you a gift to rival all gifts. The gift of a pen.”

He pulled from behind his colossal back a shimmering wooden pen. A pen. All around me there were murmurs of shock, surprise, and delight. A pen is like nothing else. You can change a story with a pen.

“I have discovered a use for the pen beyond adjusting tales,” Dictionary said with an air of great importance. “I have learned that with a pen, you can write a new story. So, Title-Less, my boy,” Dictionary says, “If you do not object you will, in the future, be writing down, with

page

7

this pen, all that you can absorb of our lifestyle. And now, I proclaim that your name be changed from Title-less to Life As A Story!”

Everyone cheered loudly, hoots penetrating the silence that had been inside me for so long. I had a title! I was going to have a story! Wait… did that mean that I could finally speak? I peered up at Dictionary and got ready to utter my first words of the English language when he shook his head at me, smiling. “Save it for when you are alone, Life As A Story.

It should be a special moment for you.”

So here I am. I just spoke my first words.

Wow. Our Planet, Mars, my best friend, yanks me urgently out of bed. “Title-Less! I mean, Life As A Story! Get up! Come on!

I get up sleepily. “What happened?”

Our Planet, Mars stares at me for a moment. “Hey, you can talk! Cool! Now come on! Little Red Riding Hood the Two-thousand Thirty-Ninth is being Written!”

“I never thought that people would come up with the two thousand and thirty ninth version of the Red Riding Hood story,” I mutter sleepily. “Obviously I was mistaken. Humans deserve more credit than we give them.”

Our Planet, Mars pulls at my ear.

“Hurry up! We’re gonna miss it!”

I rub my eyes but obey.

Each story looks unique. Their appearance is always a symbol of their story. For example, Our Planet, Mars looks like an alien. A green one. With three eyes.

I, however, never exactly had a shape.

I’ve always kind of been clear, except for little wisps of fog that followed me wherever I went.

But now, I could see the fog fading away. I still don’t really have a shape, but if I look really closely, I can see tiny colorful patches all over me.

Continued on page 8

Fiction

Life As A Story Continued from page 7 Our Planet, Mars ushers me into a circle full of stories of every shape and size. Everyone is staring at Little Red Riding Hood the Two-thousand ThirtyNinth. She grins at everyone gathered to see her.

“Bye!” she says. “I hope you guys come join me soon!”

With that, the last bit of her left fades away. She is Written and no longer belongs in our land. Everyone disperses, sniffling a little. I continue to gaze at the place where she once was. One day, I’ll be Written. Then I’ll know what it feels like. I look down at myself. My colorful patches are growing brighter, but I still can’t tell what they are. Suddenly, my foot

(or what would be my foot if I had a more distinct shape) disappears! I yelp and call to Our Planet, Mars. “I’m fading! I’m being Written!” Instantly, a huge circle of stories pops up around me. My other foot (area) has faded now.

“Bye, Life as a Story!” everybody choruses. I have tears in my eyes. (Or lack of them.) Without warning, there is a disturbance in the crowd. All the stories part.

Dictionary walks through the aisle.

“Please allow me to speak privately with Life as a Story. Thank you!”

All the stories obediently walk/slither/ float away. Dictionary smiles reassuringly at me. Now, the place where my stomach should be has vanished.

“Dictionary, before I’m fully Written, I just have one question. If this is the land of fiction stories, and I’m writing the truth about it, why am I here? Shouldn’t I be in some sort of land for nonfiction stories?” I ask, aching to know the answer.

Dictionary looks down at me. He really is much bigger than I am.

“Well,” he answers while I lean forward expectantly, “that does raise the question

FASHION In the Halls The fashion goings on within the halls of the Heschel Middle School

by Tova Kleiner ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS like spring may soon be arriving, the most ubiquitous shoe in the halls seems to be the lace-up boot. From black leather knee highs, to studded or suede booties, the laced boot is everywhere. However, people are also starting to lean toward brighter spring colors, and light spring clothing. From floral shoes and lace on light sweaters, to t-shirts to light jackets, it seems that spring is a much hoped for change from the chunky knit sweaters that have been so popular this harsh winter.

page

8

of whether this land is real or not, doesn’t it?”

And then the last piece of me disappears and I’m swirling through some kind of cloud and I’m suddenly whole again and I look down at myself and see that the colorful patches all over me are actually pictures of all the stories, my friends. And then tears are falling from my eyes, not the place where my eyes should be, my eyes, and suddenly I feel myself being typed on some sort of glowing paper, and then I come out of a little black box on paper that doesn’t glow, and I feel myself squashed between different stories, some fiction and some nonfiction. And then I feel cool air all over me, and I know instinctively that someone is reading me.

And whatever being read is, I know that it is even better than being Written.

Midsummer Night’s Dream Continued from page 1 Titania (Gabriela Trubowitz) and her band of fairy dancers combined hip hop with ballet to create a memorable dance.

Aaron Bergfeld as Pyramus’ lover, Thisbe, gave the audience a riotous ending to the play within the play. All the performances were wonderful and most of all, everyone had fun recreating the magic of William Shakespeare.

The eighth grade thanks Anna Savant for her direction with assistance from: Karen Dorr, Adam Lubitz, Rachel Malamud-Heching, and Mari Tetzeli. The lighting and sound mix were by AV Club members Jacob Hess, Eduardo Szajman, Daniel Tsesarsky, and Noah Helfstein, led

by Abe Henden. Also a big thanks to Joe Ancowitz and Liat Reisman-Siegel for their help with music and set design.

page

9

National Poetry Month “Eating Poetry”

by Roz Chast

The Alan B. Slifka Middle School

10

April, 2015 Volume 5, Issue 4

EORUM CLARITATEM VESTIG ATIONES

APRIL 15, 2013

Two Poets “Eat� Poetry People Have Been Eating Poetry for Centuries...

Eating Poetry

By Mark Strand (1979) Ink runs from the corners of my mouth.

There is no happiness like mine.

I have been eating poetry.

The librarian does not believe what she sees.

Her eyes are sad and she walks with her hands in her dress.

She does not understand.

When I get on my knees and lick her hand, she screams.

I am a new man.

I snarl at her and bark.

I romp with joy in the bookish dark.

The poems are gone.

The light is dim.

The dogs are on the basement stairs and coming up.

Their eyeballs roll, their blond legs burn like brush.

The poor librarian begins to stamp her feet and weep.

Eating Poetry

By Rumi (13th Century Sufi Mystic) My poems resemble the bread of Egypt -- one night Passes over it, and you can't eat it any more.

So gobble them down now, while they're still fresh, Before the dust of the world settles on them.

Where a poem belongs is here, in the warmth of the chest: Out in the world it dies of cold.

He quivers for a few minutes and then is still.

And even if you eat my poems while they're still fresh, You still have to bring forward many images yourself.

Actually, friend, what you're eating is your own imagination.

These poems are not just some old sayings and proverbs.

You've seen a fish - put him on dry land,

PAGE 11

EORUM CLARITATEM VESTIG ATIONES

April Fools’ Message From Above

By Ayelet Kaminer PEOPLE ALL OVER the East Coast have noticed record breaking amounts of snow during warmer spring months.

Meteorologists have been unable to explain the appearance of snow at times when clearly, there should be none and we should all be picnicking in the park. Now, finally, there are answers as to why this happened.

On Thursday, March 5, lightning struck four times. A few moments later, a booming voice was heard all over the

w o r l d , shouting, “April fools!”

It was soon revealed that this voice was, in fact, the voice of God. Later that evening, the voice was heard again to explain the words spoken earlier. “I thought it would be hilarious if I pranked you all, and man did I get you! I was just sitting up on my Godly throne, without much left to do after having created billions of stars and way too many Kardashians, so I thought, if it snowed in March- that would be funny! ! So I called some people and they agreed with me. At first we were just going to make it snow a little, but then it was so much fun messing with you humans that we decided to have it snow on the first day of spring!”

Regarding potential criticism for the way in which the supreme ruler of the Universe controlled the weather this year, God said, “We might have gone a bit too far.” In response to this, citizens of Boston said, “Heck yeah, you did!” This was

APRIL 15, 2013

understandable, since 108.6 inches of snow fell this winter alone. Responding to this criticism from Bostonians in particular, God said, “I didn’t know that the people would react like this. Last time I did this, I used water instead of snow and that turned out great!

Okay, I may have killed everyone living on Earth at the time, but it was the best prank ever! When I pranked Noah, I sent a dove to tell him that the world was safe, so sorry, this time I just sent a Central Park pigeon.”

When asked for his opinion about the weather, a Canadian who moved to Boston replied, “You call this snow?”

PAGE 12

Food & Festivals A Seder For Every Taste

By Noa Levine & Abigail Sylvor-Greenberg

STALE TASTINGCARDBOARD matzah, four glasses of syrupy purple Manischewitz wine, and a Magid to last a lifetime - such is the extent, for some, of the meaning attached to the Passover Seder. For these folks, this ceremonial meal, celebrated each year to mark the beginning of Passover, is jokingly described as simply time when we say, “we suffered, and now we eat.”

The tradition, for them, has been stripped of its spiritual meaning.

Luckily, creative Jews looking for something more, have developed alternatives to bring meaning to their Pesach celebration. Additionally, people have altered the tradition of foods to add meaning as well. Vegetarian and other dietarily diverse Seders have become popular in recent years: roast beets replace lamb shanks on the Seder plate.

Goddess Seders are conducted with equal diligence and respect, incorporating some feminist passion into the recounting of the Pesach story. Additions like Miriam’s cup have nuanced these religious feasts well. President Obama’s White House Seder contained many traditional elements, but with added patriotic flair, including a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation to mirror the Pesach liberation story, and a presidential impersonation of Pharaoh.

Jewish singer, Joshua Nelson held a passionate “artsy” Seder, complete with a festive hora conga line, and free exclamations of desire for peace. Not traditional, but an equally spiritual approach.

Each of these Seders exemplifies religious freedom in the modern era. We

live in a time and community where we are encouraged to deviate from religious norms and explore our freedoms: liberation from hunger, from political tyranny, and wars. All can be incorporated into the telling of the Passover story.

So, Heschel students, are you content to sit and partake in a Seder tired with the weight of hundreds of years of repetition, or do you seek more from your religious repast?

Remember to use well the hardearned freedom with which you are blessed. That is how we truly commemorate Pesach.

The Alan B. Slifka Middle School

13

April, 2015 Volume 5, Issue 4

Charoset Recipe For Passover

By Anna M. Dubey Time to prepare: 15 minutes Ingredients: 3 apples ¾ cup chopped walnuts 1½ tablespoons honey ½ teaspoon cinnamon Dash of nutmeg Dash of clove Brown sugar (Optional)

Nutfree charoset Ingredients: 1apple 1 pear 1 cup desiccated coconut ½ cup raisins ½ cup sweet red wine

Instructions: Peel apples.

Cut apples into small pieces.

Place cut apple in a large bowl.

Stir in remaining ingredients, brown Instructions: sugar optional.

Refrigerate for at least one hour.

Peel and finely dice the apple and Serve it, or put it in the refrigerator. pear. Mix in the rest of the ingredients.

It will keep for about two weeks, Refrigerate until serving. Add a little more refrigerated wine immediately before serving.

Kosher For Passover Muffins

By Mariel Priven Ingredients: 1 cup of grated raw apple 1 cup of grated raw sweet potato 1 cup of grated raw carrot 1 cup of matzah meal ½ cup of sugar (optional, but tastes better with) ½ cup of parve margarine, melted 1 teaspoon of salt 1 teaspoon of baking soda 1 teaspoon of cinnamon 1 teaspoon of nutmeg (optional)

The muffins are more fun than kugelthey look great, you can pop them in the freezer and kids love them.

Directions: 1) Preheat oven to 325°. Grease a 10” casserole or muffin tins (You can also use mini tins and double the recipe) 2) Mix all vegetables together; well 3) Pour into dish or tins. Bake 45 minutes, covered in dish, or 30 minutes uncovered in tins 4) Raise oven to 350°, remove cover and bake for 15 minutes A food processor makes the recipe very easy. If you plan to grate everything, it can be very difficult.

The Alan B. Slifka Middle School

14

April, 2015 Volume 5, Issue 4

#Food4Thought Bees, GMO’s, Insecticides

By Carlin Greenfield “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.”

John Muir FIRST, I WOULD like to address the name change of my column. Although many of my friends know I am very passionate about veganism and animal rights, I am also passionate about how our food is manufactured and how what grows on the plant is often very different from what ends up on the table. And because I’m running out of vegan tirades, I decided to change the name of my column to reflect that I am broadening my topic to include not just veganism but food in general. Warning: you may never want to eat again after reading this.

I will get to my standard Q&A format but first a confession: recently, in a discussion about my recent article on bees and honey, it was brought to my attention that I neglected to talk about the fact that beekeepers gain most of their income from pollination contracts. Beekeepers can get $50 a hive per placement. So I’m not suggesting that you refuse to eat all food pollinated by bees, which makes up at least 33% of food crops grown in the world. However, I do not support the consumption of honey because there is no way to end commercial beekeeping.

Wild bees actually do a better job of pollinating many food species than commercially raised honey bees. I share this information because I think it is important to give the other side a voice, even in my own column.

Next I would like to speak about GMOs Q: What are GMOs, and why are they so bad?

A: GMOs are “Genetically Modified Organisms.” There are GMO animals, but I will be mainly writing about GMO plants as they are more prevalent in the

food supply. They are produced by taking an organism and adding, removing, or modifying a gene in it, usually to emphasize certain traits. As for why they are bad, the short answer is, they aren't.

GMOs on their own are actually very good on many fronts: they often produce more crops, grow faster than their heirloom counterparts, and can be more resistant to environmental factors such as heat and drought. However, one big problem with GMOs is that they can be patented, as Monsanto has done, and when the gene is spread to other farmers’ fields who didn't plant GMO seeds, large companies, such as Monsanto can, and often will, sue the farmers for using seeds that the company patented, even though the farmer never bought or wanted the GMO seeds.

Another problem is that GMOs are also usually made by, or in conjunction with Monsanto to be “Roundup Ready,” in other words, resistant to Monsanto's

herbicide, Glyphosate, marketed as Roundup. Monsanto’s NK603 Roundupresistant genetically modified corn allow farmers to coat their fields in the herbicide, killing everything but the wanted plant. Unfortunately, there are some major health consequences to pouring over eighty thousand tons of herbicide onto our fields annually. As reported in the March 22nd, New York Times, the World Health Organization has found that the use of Roundup (glyphosate) is linked to cancer in human

The Alan B. Slifka Middle School

15

beings. (I will report on this in our next issue). Additionally, the use of Roundup has been linked to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) Q: What is the reduction in bee populations, and what causes it?

A: The sudden decline in bee populations globally is referred to as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD.) As for what causes it, we don't yet have the complete data, but there are multiple possibilities. One, is that GMO crops like Monsanto’s “BT Corn,” which has been genetically engineered to produce a toxin, Bacillus thuringiensis, a soil dwelling bacteria that produces Delta endotoxins, a natural insecticide may contribute to the problem. Many studies have shown that it may play a role when combined with commercial beekeepers’ tendency to deprive their bees of the necessary nutritional honey they need during the winter. Another possibility, is the aforementioned Roundup Ready crops and the fact that dowsing fields in pesticide kills all natural flowers and makes it harder for bees to find food.

Plus, although much study has been done into lethal doses of pesticide, very few studies have been done into what below lethal doses could do. Another side effect of industrial agriculture, is that vast monocultures of crops replace wild habitats, making it harder for bees to find wild flora to get nectar from to turn into honey. Finally, the only near sure cause of CCD is the Varroa destructor also known as the Varroa Mite, a parasitic mite that is often found in

Continues on page 16

April, 2015 Volume 5, Issue 4

#Food4Thought

consumer and environmental regulations, including those governing GMOs, are Continued from page 15 now more restrictive than in the United empty bee colonies after they States. experience CCD. Varroa mites latch onto larval bees and spread viruses.

Furthermore, the only country that has been spared from the Varroa mite is Australia, a country that has also been mostly spared from CCD. From the 1960s through the mid1980s, the regulation of health, safety and environmental risks was generally stricter in the United States than in Europe. Since the mid 1980s, the opposite has often been the case: a wide array of European I f you have a question about veganism, vegetarianism, animal rights or industrial agriculture, email me at carlingr@heschel.org and I will address your question or comments in the next edition of the Heschel Herald.

SPORTS The Heschel Heat Takes the AIPSL Championship

Learn to read the labels on the produce you buy in the market.

the fourth quarter, the game became more ball, and with only a few seconds intense. As the final seconds approached, remaining, they took a three point shot, Heschel was winning by only three but missed -- Heschel won! points, two of which were converted free throws in the last minute. Â Rodeph had the

By Eduardo Szajman Once again, the Heschel Heat won the AIPSL Championship, bringing the basketball season to a successful conclusion. This is the third win in a row under the leadership of coach Rick Munn.

The Heschel Heat had a very good regular season; they lost only a few games, and made it to the finals on March 9th against Rodeph Shalom. Many students and parents filled the bleachers of the 8th floor gym. As the game began, the score was close; the point differential was small for most of the game. Then, in

The Alan B. Slifka Middle School

16

April, 2015 Volume 5, Issue 4

How Optical Illusions Trick Your Brain

Science

By Carlin Greenfield, Talia Kahan, and Alexandra Wenger OPTICAL ILLUSIONS ARE more than just a bit of fun. Scientists are finding out what tricking the brain reveals about how our minds work.

Sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell. We believe what our senses tell us but most of all we trust our eyes. But our brains are extraordinarily powerful organs. Without us realizing it, they are instantly processing the information they receive to make sense of the world around us. And that has been crucial to our evolution.

Understanding how we see is one of the main aims of brain science (called neuroscience). And illusions hold the key to answering this question.

The beautiful thing about illusions is they make us realize things are never what they seem, and that our experiences of the world shape our understanding of it.

A rabbit and a ???

Check out these fun illusions.

An eskimo and a ??

How many legs can you see?

The Alan B. Slifka Middle School

17

April, 2015 Volume 5, Issue 4

April Fools The Origin Stories: April Fools’ Day

celebrating Attis, a Roman god. The Hindu calendar has Holi and the Jewish calendar has Purim. Maybe, there is

By Talia Kahan something about the atmosphere during the turn from winter to spring that lends SO HOW DID this crazy tradition itself to the jokes, pranks, and having fun. start? Truthfully, it remains a mystery, April Fools’ Day is celebrated in although there are many theories about many different ways around the world. In how April Fools’ Day got started. We do France, French children sometimes tape a not know for sure of the origin of April picture of a fish on a friends back, and Fools’ Day, also known as All Fools Day. then cry “Poisson d’Avril,” when the Some believe that first of April prank is discovered. “Poisson d’Avril” became associated with fools because means “April Fish.” many ancient cultures celebrated New In the Western world, practices Year’s Day around April 1st. In 1582, include sending someone on an errand, Pope Gregory XIII ordered the use of a or looking for things that do not exist. new calendar, known as the Gregorian In 1996, Taco Bell, announced that calendar, which celebrated New Year’s the company had bought the Liberty Day on the first of January.

Bell and said that it would rename the According to the legend, many Liberty Bell to the “Taco” Liberty Bell! people refused to recognize the new Taco Bell claimed that it would buy the calendar, or simply didn’t know about it. Liberty Bell in order to help the national These people continued to celebrate New deficit. In other words, to give money to Year’s Day on the first of April. The the United States government. It people that observed the new calendar revealed the hoax a few hours later, but made fun of these “fools” by sending reporters had already called the White them to look for things that did not House to inquire. actually exist. These things were called Two years later Burger King “fools errands.” announced that they had made a new Other people believe that April Fools’ sandwich called the “Left Handed day originated from a desire to celebrate Whopper”. It ran an advertisement in the arrival of spring. In fact, many USA Today announcing that they had cultures have celebrations around the made a new sandwich designed beginning of April. specifically for left handed Americans, Another possible explanation for this called the “Left Handed Whopper”. mysterious day was provided by Joseph Burger King claimed that thousands of Boskin, a professor at Boston University. customers had asked about the addition to He states that the practice began during the menu. the reign of Constantine. During his reign Maybe this whole article is an April a group of court jesters told the Roman Fools’ joke! Fact-checkers welcome. emperor that they could do a better job running the empire. Constantine, amused, allowed a Jester named Kugel to attempt to be king for one day. Because of this BOYCOTT APRIL FOOLS’ act, the custom of jokes and tricks began.

DAY PRANKS! Finally, another possible origin of April Fools is that many ancient cultures THE WISE FOOL DOES have a day of foolishness around the NOT PRANK beginning of April. The Romans had a festival named Hilaria on March 25,

The Alan B. Slifka Middle School

18

BREAKING NEWS! John Oliver Calls For a Boycott of April Fools’ Pranks!

LAST WEEK TONIGHT'S John Oliver released a YouTube video on Sunday, exposing the true evil of April Fools’ Day — and why he wants viewers to boycott it.

"Anyone who claims to be excited for April Fools' Day is probably a sociopath, because what they're really saying is, 'I cannot wait to hurt the people close to me,'" he said in the video, posted while his show is on break.

April 1 is a popular excuse each year to play pranks and practical jokes on friends and family. But Oliver wants people to swear the day off with his NoPrank Pledge: I solemnly swear that on this April Fools' Day, I will not post a fake engagement photo on Facebook like some kind of a******, nor will I perpetuate a celebrity death hoax, because that makes people sad. In fact, I will not play any practical jokes. And if I see someone planning a prank, I will say to them, "Hey, you're being a jerk* right now. Stop being a jerk*. Stop being a jerk*. Seriously, stop being a jerk*." *Substituted a printable word for this newspaper.

April, 2015 Volume 5, Issue 4

Purim Pandemonium

The Alan B. Slifka Middle School

19

April, 2015 Volume 5, Issue 4

We wish the Heschel Middle School eighth graders and their teachers a safe and memorable trip to Israel.

Turn off your phones and set your senses free!

To all: Chag Sameach!

The Alan B. Slifka Middle School

20

April, 2015 Volume 5, Issue 4