The Thursday, December 9, 2010
Observer
Jewish Community High School of the Bay
“Audemus Jura Nostra Defendere”
Students to Lunch E-Va’ad at Tables: Let Us Eat!! the Dump By Ben Feiner
On October 27, the Environmental Va’ad took a tour of an important government complex: the dump. We got a private tour with an employee named Micah. We also got to throw electronics into a giant bin, and saw (and smelled) thousands of pounds of trash sitting in a huge pit. President of the E-Va’ad, junior Tzvi Miller said, “going to the dump was a great trip because it gave us the opportunity to become more informed on ways that we can reduce, reuse and recycle in our everyday lives.” It was a blast, but it was also quite sobering. Micah informed us that much of the garbage in the pit was not actually garbage, but could be recycled or composted. In fact, only about one tenth of all solid garbage in the US is recycled. When a trash bin at JCHS was poured out on a table during Hakhel on November 22, most of the “trash” actually belonged in the recycling and compost bins. We have a huge waste issue, but individual contribution can help ease the problem. One thing the dump is doing to reuse is giving internships to artists for half a year to make artwork Elijah Jatovsky/The Observer A recent investigation found that nearly 40 percent of the lunch tables are unbalanced. out of the junk. On a national level, recycling and compost bins have By Alexander Preneta spread throughout the country in Many tables in the commons have a peculiar trait in common—wobbliness. While this the last decade. We can all make a difference by reducing, reusing, and might bother some people more than others, it can be quite an annoyance for anyone recycling. trying to work or eat on them. After all, no one wants to sit down at a table and have Right now you may be wondering, their milk fall over because the table shakes too much. “But what can I do specifically?” Well, I’m glad you asked. The holiday be done is to remove the existing Over time, the tables seem to of the tables need to be welded in season is one of the most wasteful become more and more shaky; order not to wobble but the tables central base and replace it with times of year, and according to the four individual legs so that the according to a recent Observer are hard to weld because welding Clean Air Council, an additional five investigation, nearly 40 percent them requires welding two curved tables can handle the pressure of students sitting and leaning of the million tons of waste is generated, of the tables in the Commons tables. Admissions Associate Nora four million of which is wrapping at JCHS are wobbly and shaky. paper and shopping bags. Smith said that, at the very least, A lot of people have expressed
“The school should mark which tables are wobbly and which are not, so people can act accordingly.”
their frustration over this issue. According to Anthony Gumberg (’13), the wobbly tables make doing homework and “eating uncomfortable, because you can’t lean on [them].” So, how can we fix this problem? surfaces. Mr. Cole said that while According to Facilities Manager they have been welded by the Jeremy Cole, the problem with the school in the past, what needs to tables lies in the welding. The base
the school should mark which tables are wobbly and which are not, so people can act accordingly. While the solution to the wobbly tables may not be an immediate concern, it is still a valid one. As Albert Einstein put it: “A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?”
WAys TO CUT WASTE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON - Don’t make more food than necessary - Don’t use disposable cutlery and plates - Reuse/save gift wrapping
InsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInside Fall Play Review Ariel Applbaum and Grant Fineman: Bromance By Risa Dunbar “The perfecting of songs, as well as every other aspect of the production, took long hours of work that few see...” (A2)
Jake Rosenberg looks into what’s behind Ariel and Grant (A3)
JCHS students tour the dump.
Tzvi Miller/The Observer
Thursday, December 9, 2010
The Observer
A2
A Bounce in our Step, the Sound of Music in our Ears The halls are alive with… what’s that? - the sound of music! It has been a little over two weeks since JCHS’ production of The Sound Of Music, however the tunes are still lingering Fall musical with the same energizing review spirit they had in the musical itself. But the perfecting of such songs, as well as every other aspect of the production, took long hours of work that few see. This hard work contributed to the overall beauty that was presented onstage. As a member of the Intro to Studio Art class, I helped paint the set of The Sound Of Music, including the murals of the Swiss Alps. Each class worked for two full weeks, using
the finished set. But all of that hard work wasn’t for nothing. The night I went to see the production, the beauty of the whole environment struck me. Everything had come together. But let us not forget some of the most important participants in the production: the actors. When asked about her experience in her first JCHS Drama production, Sophomore Jordan Dong, who played Leizl Von Trapp, said, “It was long and frustrating at times, but the overall product was great. It was a kind of cast bonding that I’ve never experienced.” This “cast bonding,” as Jordan refers to it, certainly shined through onstage. The actors appeared comfortable and engaged with one another. Sophomore Faina Cherdak, past actor and present member of the Tech Crew, informed me of another side that we don’t see, even when the production is finalized. “I had the same adrenaline as I would if I were acting because there were so many set change. If we were to get anything wrong then we would mess up the actors.” So, with the final product in our minds, I encourage our JCHS community to thank the techies, artists, actors and the wonderful Visual and Performing Arts Chair and director extraordinaire, Dylan various techniques, such as Russell, for their unfaltering sponging and crosshatching, to commitment that resulted in create an overall composition a beautiful production. Thank that would compliment the you for allowing us to sing in rest of the production. After the halls with a bounce in our two weeks of paint-covered step and of course, the sound hands and repeating the same of music in our ears. image, I was relieved to see
Risa Dunbar
John Chiara via JCHS
The nuns of the Sound of Music.
Reflecting on Mazatlan
We often take for granted our education. We students like to complain about our workload, our teachers, and our classes. It is easy to recognize what we don’t have, as opposed to what we do have. This past November, six members of JCHS’ Interact Club—Tiffany Kats (’11), Emma Richardson (’13), Benny Sosnick (’11), Ben Ryzak (’11), Max Malakoff (’12) and I—traveled to Mazatlan, Mexico, on a humanitarian trip where we distributed wheelchairs and visited an orphanage and two schools. It was when we visited the schools on the second day of the trip that I realized how lucky I was for my education and for JCHS. We were greeted at an elementary school just a bit out of town by a swarm of kids with flags that read, “Thanks for being nice people,” or, “Thank you for help us.” The four hundred or so students were jumping, smiling, screaming, hugging and highfiving us. They treated us like celebrities. The Interact Club is a high school version of the Rotary Club, which had helped fund the school. When the Rotary
Adi Alouf
Max Malakoff/The Observer
Young Mazatlanis show off their English, and appreciation. Club first visited, the school was a “palette” school. The socalled classrooms were barely held together by wooden planks, sheets, and broken metal pieces; the bathroom was a hole in the ground in the middle of three broken doors. The Rotary Club donated a playground, two basketball hoops, bathrooms, and two buildings of classrooms equipped with electricity, desks, whiteboards, and supplies. It was Interact Club’s visit back to the school since the construction.
The musical may be over, but the songs remain in the halls of JCHS
We handed out school supplies, candy, and colorful soccer uniforms. They were all so grateful; their faces were illuminated with warm and genuine smiles. Overall, the trip was inspiring and life-changing. Visiting this school was just one experience that made me realize how lucky I am. So next time we begin to complain about school, let’s try to focus on the good and realize how fortunate we really are.
Photo courtesty of the JCHS Interact Club
Tiffany Kats (’11) and Max Malakoff (’12) with students after delivering school supplies.
Sophia Wilkof (’11) as Maria.
John Chiara via JCHS
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Q&A with Israeli Journalist Bradley Burston Bradley Burston is an Israeli journalist who was born in Los Angeles, CA. He writes columns for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz and is the senior editor of Haaretz.com, which publishes his blog, “A Special Place in Hell.” Burston served as correspondent for the Jerusalem Post (another prominent Israeli newspaper) in Gaza during the first Intifada (19871993) and received the Eliav-Sartawi Award for Middle East Journalism Dan Rous via J Street in 2006 at the United Nations. After graduating from UC Berkeley, Burston moved to Israel in 1976, where he served as a combat medic in the Israeli Defense Force and helped establish Kibbutz Gezer, outside of Jerusalem.
What balance should be made between being proIsrael in the sense you believe Israel has done no wrong, and being proIsrael while recognizing Israel has wronged? I think in many ways there is no country that does no wrong. When you actually make an effort to get to know Israel in its entirety, it takes more effort to look at the whole picture and to know when to see that Israel has done great things and when Israel has wronged. The fact is, if you’re pro-Israel in the sense you believe that Israel has done only right, you’re not even giving it the benefit of appreciating the things that it does that are actually great-that are better than just all right. There are lots of reasons why people care and feel positively about Israel, but the more you get to know Israel, the more you are in the position to say, “I need to criticize Israel when it deserves criticism and I need to strongly defend Israel when it deserves to be defended.” Seeing how there is so much anti-Israel propaganda and sentiment in world, is supporting Israel in its every action a good method of combating this? Being exclusively pro-Israel is not a good response to this because you lose your credibility. You lose your credibility in the same way that the people who are totally anti-Israel do. If the country was as bad as that it wouldn’t even exist, it couldn’t exist. In order to be credible you want to compliment Israel for the things it has done right and take it to task for the things it has done wrong. Then you’re being seen as someone who looks realistically at the picture and not just on the basis of your bias. What should one’s response be to someone who is vehemently antiIsrael?
For someone like that, the response of a pro-Israel person is to defend Israel. If you have self-respect, real self-respect, and you have an opinion that is strongly supportive of Israel then you can certainly survive either of them. You have the strength to defend Israel when it needs that defense as well as admitting the things it has done wrong. Sometimes the best way to defend Israel is to admit X, Y and Z and to point out that A, B and C are lies. What is the likelihood of peace being achieved between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu’s government? If the two governments were to achieve official peace, how would the citizens of each government react? If I had to give it a numerical chance, and many people who are close to Netanyahu have said this, it is unfortunately 50-50. However, this means it could happen. If official peace were to be achieved, I think even though there may be a state of non-war for awhile, there would be tremendous amounts of left over hatred and grudges on both sides. People have been hurt on both sides. Everybody knows somebody who was a casualty of this war and I think it is going to take generations for true peace to bring people together. What kind of connection do you think Jewish teenagers should have with Israel? If there are certain issues you feel strongly about in Israel, many organizations love teenage volunteers. My experience is that if you can get to Israel on some sort of program, you should try. It can change the life that you lead in America because you will grow a connection to the place, which goes back thousands of years. It makes you feel different and fuller about yourself.
The Observer
A3
The Beauty of a Bromance: Ariel Applbaum and Grant Fineman By Jake Rosenberg It is a beautiful thing, the love between two people. Some say it is a razor, a river, or a rose. No two people embody all of these things and more than juniors Ariel Applbaum and Grant Fineman. I sat down with the two to ask them a few questions about their bromance, and all bromances the world over. What I heard both shocked me and warmed my heart. I started off by asking the two what the definition of a bromance was. “It means sharing and caring for the other, you know? Giving hugs when it’s cold, holding them close, the occasional massage, just making them happy,” said Ariel. “And cuddling. Don’t forget cuddling.” The two finish each other’s sentences and know exactly what the other is thinking, like a pair of twins, or oompah loompahs. Grant had this to say about the origin of the bromance between the two: “It began on May 8th, 2008. At about 8: 15 am. I was just sitting down hoping no one weird would come up to me. I came from a school where not a lot of people went to JCHS and so I was feeling kind of alone in a corner. And then Ariel just pops over with his big grin and his calculator, like a big ball of energy. He says, “Hi, I’m Ariel. Are you ready for the math test?” and I rolled my eyes and was just like, oh boy, here we go. And after that there was no turning back.” The two share a chuckle and a knowing glance. I asked them what they like to do together as “bro’s”. Ariel: We like to take a bunch of candy from Rabbi Ruben’s office sometimes, and just run through the commons throwing candy to people saying, “Candy for all! Candy for all!” Classic. While the two argued over a lone noodle on Ariel’s plate, I had time to observe the bro’s in action. They seemed so at ease with each other, the way only true bro’s are. I asked them to finish up by saying how they would describe the other person in one word. They were so filled with love for each other that they each picked three.
Grant: “He’s genuine, and hilarious, and just all around great!”Ariel: “He’s really caring, and slender, and kind of cute,” he said, with that classic mischievous Applbaum twinkle in his eye. As lunchtime was ending, the two got up to clear their trays. Before they stood up,
they gave each other a classical bro-hug, which ended with the ritualistic beating of the other bro’s back with your open palm. As I watched them walk into the distance, I could only think to myself, back in 2008, on May 8, at 8:15, a beautiful thing was made.
Shai Tabb/The Observer
Bros: Grant Fineman (left) and Ariel Applbaum
JCHSportst i c k e r Girl’s Basketball
12/1 - Contra Costa Christian @ JCHS (L) 23-58 12/2 - Drew @ JCHS (L) 28-23 Record: 0-2-0
Boy’s Basketball 11/30 - Liberty Baptist @ JCHS (W) 46-31 12/1 - Contra Costa Christian @ JCHS (W) 46-31 12/2 - JCHS @ Oceana (W) 63-62 12/7 - JCHS @ Mid Peninsula (L) 57-54 Record: 3-1-0
JV Boys 12/2 - JCHS @ Oceana (L) 46-21 12/7 - JCHS @ Mid-Peninsula (W) 26-25 Record: 1-1-0
Life, the Universe and, Everything by Talia Beck
Opinion
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Boise’s WAC
HP7: Was it deathly shallow?
The Observer
High in the hills of the Sierras, 15 miles from the shores of Lake Tahoe, the 4th ranked Boise State Broncos took on 19th ranked Nevada Wolf Pack on November 26. The game would determine the fate of Boise State, the underdog on the national college football scene. Undefeated as they took Mackay Field in Reno, Nevada, a win against the Wolf Pack would give them a shot at playing in the national chamMy dad started reading the Harry Potter books to me as soon pionship game. Boise had suffered criticism as they came out in 1998. The fourth book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, was the first Harry Potter book I read on my throughout the season as an overrated team that had not played any challenging opown and ever since then, I have anxiously awaited the release position, so the oppurtunity to play a team of every book, speed-reading through the seventh and final 19th in the country meant they could book in five hours the night it came out. Needless to say, I am a ranked show that they were a serious contender Harry Potter fan. and deserved their high ranking. That said, movie adaptations of books have always been a The Broncos were up 17-0 early, problem for me. The balance between remaining true to the and went into halftime leading 24-7. Then plot line of the book while maintaining enough the well-named duo of quarterback Collin artistic license to cram a book into a movie of Kaepernick and running back Vai Taua teamed reasonable length rarely seems to agree with my up to score 24 points in the second half to Boise’s personal taste. This balance depends entirely on 7. The Broncos were looking like a weak team, unable to who is directing the movie. The Harry Potter stop Nevada’s marches down the field. And yet, despite the film series has gone through four different beating being delivered, there they were: 13 seconds left directors, all of whom have had their own in the 4th quarter, tie game, the Boise State Quarterback interpretation of the series. Chris Columbus, Kellen Moore dropped back and launched the ball down the director of the first two movies, decided the field to Titus Young who dove, rolled, and made an to remain very incredible catch. The raucous crowd had been silenced. Two faithful to the seconds remaining, ball on the nine yard line. All Boise State plot of the books, needed to win the game was knock in a short field goal. With however many the game as good as over, Boise players were celebrating on the say that sideline, the Nevada coach was cursing, and fans were in tears. they Out came Kyle Brotzman for the easy field goal... it went up, seem and... no good! Boise had choked, they had shown that when long and they were put in a tough situation against a good team they drawn out and couldn’t follow through. lack character Yet, once again, overtime gave them another shot at the development. win and Brotzman came out once again, for another easy field goal and a chance at redemption. He knocked the ball wide The movies that Kyle Brotzman, Boise State Place left and sealed the fate of Boise’s season as the Wolf Pack followed have Kicker, missed each marched into the end zone after gaining possession and two short field won the game. The Broncos had not trailed an opponent in The Observer (adapted from book cover and movie poster) goals and cost the used different balances of plot verses interpretation to varying the second half of a game since the very beginning of their Broncos the game. season, and when put under the pressure degrees of success. After having been sorely disappointed by Harry Potter and of having to come back, they choked. Boise (along with Nevada and Fresno the Half Blood Prince, my expectations were not high for the most recent film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part State) is leaving their small athletic conference, the Western Athletic Confer1, as it had the same director as the previous movie. But as I ence (WAC), to go to the Mountain West stood up to walk out of the theater once the movie was over, Conference, a bigger conference where I was surprised at what an engaging film it had been. Always they are convinced they’ll be able to gain being a stickler for plot accuracy, I noticed a few moments which appeared in the book that were missing in the movie, or more respect and be taken more seriously. moments that may have seemed hastily inserted into the movie Their absence will wipe out the WAC’s strength and cost them thousands of dolso as to make up for scenes that had been lacking in the sixth movie. However, these minor irritants would only be noticeable lars. Boise demonstrated in their game against Nevada that they can’t compete by a true fan. against serious opponents and have no Overall, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is a brilliantly made film. It manages to be dark but romantic, business leaving their conference. - Arno serious but lighthearted at points. We are able to see Rosenfeld (’12), Co-editor-in-chief relationships change and experience emotions from characters that we may not have experienced before. Not only that, but Editors, the realistic graphics make easy to dive in and truly believe I was pleased to see an article on the that this magical world exists and that you are a part of it for Safe Homes Network (SHN) in the two and a half hours. Granted, this film leaves a lot to look November 10th issue. Allow me to forward to. The point at which Parts One and Two are split is so correct a few misconceptions. The SHN suspenseful and so momentous that the viewer feels they must is about creating trust, not breaking return and see the second part. trust. It is not a contract but rather a The bottom line is, even for Harry Potter buffs and accuracy collective agreement for those who signObserverJCHS.Wordpress.com sticklers like me, this film was an engaging and enjoyable on regarding our community’s norms experience that made me believe what I saw on screen was JEWISH COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL OF for teen parties. As pointed out, the SHN THE BAY actually happening, which is exactly what I believe J.K. recognizes that families have different Rowling’s wish for these books and films is. - Micah values and therefore suggests that parents 1835 Ellis St., San Francisco, CA, sign-on for those that are in sync with Fenner (’12) 94115 their own. No one is asked to “cross a line” Elijah Jatovsky (’12) ...................... Co-editor-in-chief The Observer welcomes letthat makes him or her uncomfortable. Arno Rosenfeld (’12) ..................... Co-editor-in-chief ters from all readers. Letters should be emailed to That is for each family to decide. It is no secret that drugs and alcohol are a Observer.JCHS@gmail.com. We reserve the right to Adi Alouf (’13) ........................................... staff writer edit letters for length and clarity. Unsigned, libelous and in- problem for some teens, or that dangerous Risa Dunbar (’13) ...................................... staff writer and out-of-control parties occur. We are Ben Feiner (’12) ......................................... staff writer napropriate letters will not be published. fortunate that no JCHS student or home Alexander Preneta (’12) ............................ staff writer has ever been severely hurt at any party The opinions expressed in The Jake Rosenberg (’14) ................................. staff writer and we want to keep it that way. The SHN Observer do not necessarily reflect the views of the Jewish allows every family to determine what Micah Fenner (’12) ............................................. critic Community High School of the Bay. Articles appearing in works to help his/her teen safely navigate the “Opinion” section that have the author listed, express Talia Beck (’12) ............................................. cartoons these issues. An expert in the field of only the opinion of that individual. Similarly, opinions exadolescent behavior upon hearing about pressed in “Reviews” reflect only the opinion of the author. David Conneran (’11) ........................................ editor the SHN and the kids’ response stated that, “If the kids are furious, [we] must be Shai Tabb (’13).......................................photographer For information regarddoing something right.” ing the publishing of advertisements, contact us at - Naomi Jatovsky, JCHS Parent Maura Feingold.......................................... publishing Observer.JCHS@gmail.com. Organization Co-President Karie Rubin ......................................... faculty adviser
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