SEATTLE E D I T I O N
THE NCSY NEWSLETTER
CHANUKAH 2011 Sponsored in loving memory of Dale Behar by Helene Behar and family.
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new JSU clubs opened since September
Over 175 teens attended SeattleCon AKA the Seattle Shabbaton on November 11-13.
In The Right Place By: Makena Owens 12th grade, Northwest Yeshiva High School
During my senior year of high school, my volleyball team qualified for the State Tournament. It was the first time in history this had occurred in my school, an Orthodox Jewish institution. Unfortunately, the games were scheduled for Friday and Saturday afternoons. This conflicted with the Jewish Shabbat, a time we abstain from various types of work
and activities. The administration at my school worked tirelessly with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), the organization responsible for managing the state tournament, to suggest various accommodations that could be made in order for my school to participate. However, after much back and forth, they were not able to reach a resolution and we were unable to attend. The local news reported the WIAA saying, “In some cases, we have to make decisions that benefit what we believe is important … the health of athletes is Continued on next page...
Emma O’Quin A. Reading “Night” by Elie Wiesel in the 10th grade. That definitely changed me. Q. How does your Judaism affect your daily decisions? A. It plays a big role because I don’t go to a Jewish school so I have to sacrifice a lot of activities like football games due to Shabbat. Q. What has been your favorite NCSY event? A. New York Trip!
students went to Israel last summer with NCSY
175
teens attented the Seattle Shabbaton
600 +
teens served annually by Seattle NCSY, JSU and Hebrew High
Emma O’Quin, 12th grader at Spanaway Lake High School. Interviewed by Ilana Polack, 11th grader at NYHS
Q. What is a personal Jewish milestone in your life?
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Emma O’Quin (left) with advisor Perla Maikor and Jennifer Mendoza on SeattleCon 2011.
Q. What are your plans for next year and what are your goals? A. Next year, hopefully I will be in Israel. I really need a year to grow spiritually. I hope to graduate this year in the top two percent of my class. After that, I’d like to attend Stern College for Women at Yeshiva University, get a Masters in Business, and continue to learn on a daily basis. And I have a goal of continuing to take time out of my day to pray.
ily, ds and Fam Dear Frien with you ted to sharending things ci x e re a e W r. Even f the outsta so many o oing on in our chaptemonths that are g as only been a few already though it hear began, we have a look since the y ndous growth. Take nd your seen tremeenjoy! Wishing you a inside and appy Chanukah! family a h an essica Hoffm - Ari a n d J