The Panther Post: Volume VI, Issue 1

Panther Post The

YULA High School VOL. VI NO. 1 Nov 2021 | Kislev 5782

YULA High School Welcomes New Hires

By Leora Teichman (‘22) and Coby Karben (‘22), Community Editors, and Raphy Amsellem (‘23)

There have been many new additions to the Girls’ faculty at YULA High School. Though it is not unheard of for teachers to work at both schools such as Ms. Green did for over 30 years, YULA’s merger has led to a rise in the number of “crossover teachers.”

For starters, YULA Girls’ Division now shares YULA Boys’ head of school, Rabbi Arye Sufrin. Even with his busy schedule, Rabbi Sufrin still finds time to teach classes at both schools, lead student activities, and organize weekly Friday kumzitzes at both schools.

He is not the only Rabbinic staff member to now teach at the Girls’ Division, as Rabbi Joseph Schreiber and Rabbi Nissan Ahoobim now teach Chumash classes there as well. While Rabbi Schreiber commented on how refreshing it is to teach to a new group of students at the Girls’ school, he has one misgiving about working at both schools, “it’s only for one period two times a week, and to get to know the girls [in that short time], is really hard.”

While there are teachers who work at both divisions, the Girls’ Division has received some outside additions to their staff, as well. Ms. Maya Steinborn, a new English teacher, earned her BA in History, MA in Human Rights Education, and MED in Curriculum & Instruction. She enjoys working at YULA, noting the high level of devotion students dedicate to learning,

Celebrating the Merger

and considers the motivated environment, “a breath of fresh air.”

Another recruit, Dr. Elianna Rome, assumed the position of guidance counselor and has been focusing on “connecting with as many girls as possible.” Dr. Rome received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Phillips Graduate Institute, and she has a lot of experience working with young adults dealing with mental health issues. She explains that she was drawn to YULA because she loves working with high school students, and she appreciates having “similar values to the school.”

Also new to YULA Girls is the PE teacher and volleyball coach, Natalie Livermore. Yaelle Shaye (‘22) praised “the faith she has in her athletes” and that she uses her background in coaching to share with her athletes how to “keep [their] heads in the game even when [they] are under pressure.”

YULA High School Boys’ Division has welcomed Rabbi Granick, Mr. Brendan O’Malley, Dr. Philip Streich, and Mrs. Hilary Kaplan. Rabbi Aaron Granick, from Suffern, New York, studied for ten years in various Yeshivot around Eretz Yisroel. At the YULA Boys’ division, he teaches one of the most advanced Gemara classes — the 11th-grade Beit Midrash Track.

After taking his first steps on campus, Rabbi Granick

By Yael Abesera (‘24)

The long-awaited merger between the YULA Boys’ and Girls’ schools has arrived, and the community has questions about the new YULA High School. Will teachers move between campuses? Will the students participate in activities together? The Panther Post has asked Head of School Rabbi Arye Sufrin your questions, and we have answers.

Panther Post: How does the merger benefit YULA as a whole?

Rabbi Sufrin: The merger has created cost savings, which will alleviate the financial burden on our parents for years to come. It also allows both campuses to share resources and faculty where appropriate. For example, this year there are 14 shared staff members, including teachers and support staff. Last year there were only two.

Additionally, with the cost savings of the merger, we’ll be able to invest even more in our existing faculty, curriculum, co-curricular programming, and recruit the best Judaic and General Studies faculty to our school. For instance, this year we added Fencing and Frosh-Soph Volleyball in the Girls’ Division and Cross Country in the Boys’ Division. There’s no doubt the students will be the biggest beneficiaries of the merger.

PP: How will your leadership change with the merger?

RS: I would like to create greater appreciation and excitement in all students, parents, educators, and alumni who recognize that as one YULA High School, we are a stronger community. YULA now has one clear and consistent mission and hashkafah. I believe wholeheartedly we are stronger together. I have always felt that a successful Boys’ Division elevates the Girl’s Division, and a successful Girls’ Division enhances the Boys’ Division, but what I have come to realize throughout this process is that one YULA High School is where we are at our strongest.

We must also implement new dynamic programming that enhances school Ruach, generates school pride, and promotes a feeling of compassion and positivity throughout our campuses. This includes further developing our existing programs,

described the YULA atmosphere as “more friendly and welcoming than I [could] have imagined.”

Dr. Streich, an engaging college professor who has written several books on political science, received his BA from UC Riverside, his MA from the University of Michigan, and his Ph.D. in political science from Rutgers University. YULA is honored and delighted to welcome Dr. Streich to the History and Math Departments.

Mrs. Kaplan is the newest addition to YULA’s English Department. She received her BA from Yale University, her MFA from San Francisco State University, and her MS from Brown University. Both Mrs. Kaplan and the other new teachers explain that what defines YULA is its friendly atmosphere and dual curriculum.

The Boys’ Division has also added teachers from the YULA Girls staff to their own faculty, a change caused by the recent merger. Rabbi Dr. Menachem Hecht strengthens the Israel and Jewish History studies at YULA Boys’ Division, while Director of Athletics, Ms. Alexandra Novak, has brought new teams and equipment to the YULA High School Athletic Department.

Thanks to the merger, YULA welcomes all of its teachers, new and old, and looks forward to a year of growth!

Record Enrollment

By Moshe Feldman (‘23)

Over 65 boys were accepted into the YULA High School Boys’ Division this year, making the class of 2025 the largest YULA class in the school’s 41-year history. In total, the number of enrolled students in the Boys’ Division for the 2021-2022 school year has increased from 206 to 226, setting another school record. The Girls’ Division has increased to more than 190 students. The high enrollment serves as a testament to the growing interest of prospective students and parents in a YULA education.

Junior Ilan Rosenbaum (‘23), attributes YULA’s student growth to the “limitless opportunities that are provided.” Girls Admissions, Samira Miller, believes that “There’s a lot of good energy and people are very excited about the merger. There is momentum. The students are happy; the parents are happy. The faculty is great. Everyone likes the direction YULA is taking.” which have already been successful. In addition, our students need to have a voice and feel compassion from our staff, who prioritize the students’ development and growth. Each student is unique and needs individualized attention to maximize their growth. The more we celebrate the unique strengths of our students, the more confidence they will have to impact the world after YULA. PP: What’s the best thing about working at the Girls’ Division?

RS: I have realized very quickly that the Boys’ and Girls’ divisions are different.

A special highlight for me has been the incredible students who have been so welcoming, warm, and enthusiastic about my arrival on campus. It has been especially meaningful getting to know the senior class, who are incredible role models and leaders for the student body. Their energy and Ruach are contagious and set the tone for everyone on campus.

I also teach a Machshava class to 12th Grade and have an additional optional weekly learning program at 7:30 a.m., which has been well attended. This has been the biggest highlight for me. Learning with our students is the best way to develop relationships, grow together, and connect for years to come.

Continued on page 4

Community

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YULA Opens the Long-Awaited Sassoon Family Sephardic Beit Midrash

By Reuvi Feinstein (‘23)

With the start of the new school year, YULA Boys’ Division students arrived on campus to a newly renovated Sephardic Beit Midrash.

The main reason for the remodel was the growing influx of new Sephardic students each year. The newly configured room added 22 more seats to the previous 60. Upon entering the Beit Midrash, one will notice the brighter lighting, gray wood floors, and refurbished seating and bookcases, in addition to a newly configured washing station, which is used for the daily Sephardic custom of Birkat Kohanim.

Since the start of COVID, the Sephardic minyan had been davening in the Robin Plaza, so this was a

pleasant return to the Beit Midrash.

“Last year, it was very difficult to get motivated to daven because of different distractions,” said Ariel Khalil (‘23), “but when we finally got back inside, you felt that there was a lot more kavanah.”

The revamped Beit Midrash follows the renovation of the Levkowitz Leadership Center, both science labs, and most recently, the brand new Sanford & Beverly Deutsch Endowment Society Wall.

According to YULA Head of School Rabbi Arye Sufrin, renovation of the Sephardic Beit Midrash was a necessity because “you can’t have the most beautiful campus in the world when your Beit Midrash is outdated.” Most notably he says, “The Beit Midrash is the heart and soul of the yeshiva.”

Rabbi Arye Sufrin also stated that the

school plans to renovate the Kestenbaum Beit Midrash in the near future.

For the time being, the Sephardic minyan has split into two minyanim. The upperclassmen continue to daven in the new Sephardic Beit Midrash while the lower classmen have moved to the student lounge.

The Beit Midrash has been utilized not only for davening purposes. Students have taken advantage of the space for Torah and academic purposes, like Eitan Kavosh (‘22) who delivers daily chaburas during breakfast. The space has also been used by some of the morning shiurim as an alternative to the typical classroom setting.

Pfizer FDA Approval – Have Community Opinions Changed?

By Yaelle Shaye (‘22), Features Editor

Much of the world celebrated when vaccines came out last December, but with the vaccine came a new set of problems that hindered the goal of herd immunity.

All three of the major U.S. vaccines–Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson–were only FDA approved under the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Questions arose regarding the possible negative side effects and long-term consequences of the vaccines, which are still relatively new.

In our own YULA community, there have been mixed responses to the vaccine. While some jumped at the opportunity to get the shot, others were hesitant, preferring to wait for further research and experimental results. Different opinions from rabbis and doctors in our community both encouraged or hindered the vaccine rollout.

On August 23rd, 2021, the world reached another important milestone: the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine received full FDA approval, the first COVID-19 vaccine to do so. For those in our community who were waiting for this approval, they may now feel more comfortable receiving the vaccine. However, there are still many unvaccinated people in our YULA community who are not completely reassured by the FDA approval and are waiting

for further research.

We surveyed over 100 members of YULA faculty and students, asking about their vaccination status and whether the full FDA approval of the vaccine influenced their decision, and 69.2% of participants responded that they are vaccinated. That leaves 30.8% still unvaccinated. Moreover, of the vaccinated individuals, nearly 40% received their vaccine after full FDA approval, with half of these respondents maintaining that it was, in fact, the full FDA approval that pushed them to receive the vaccine. YULA senior Eitan Klein (‘22) explained that he “felt safer and more

dent that [the vaccine] was safe.”

One can see that the full FDA approval has impacted many opinions. However, there are still many members of our YULA community who do not feel comfortable receiving the shot no matter what the approval status. Menachem Nissim (‘22) explained his decision to remain unvaccinated, stating that “I am a healthy kid with no underlying health problems… no one knows the long term effects [of the vaccine].”

Many feel that because they have natural antibodies from recovering from COVID-19, it is not necessary for them to take the vaccine. Yosef Harkham (‘24) remarked that, “I got COVID in the summer, so I already have antibodies.” Additionally, YULA freshman Menucha Halevy (‘25) explained that to her, the vaccine seems “very experimental and unnecessary because I am healthy and have already experienced COVID-19.”

Overall, the full FDA approval has had an immense impact, despite not completely convincing those unvaccinated in the YULA community to receive the shot. Though many students still want to wait for long-term research or do not feel any pressing necessity, full FDA approval has proven reassuring for those who were on the fence about the vaccine.

Of the vaccinated individuals, nearly 40% received their vaccine after full FDA approval, with half of these respondents maintaining that it was, in fact, the full FDA approval that pushed them to receive the vaccine. secure with the [full FDA] approval.” Similarly, Ava Kohanteb (‘23) was increasingly motivated to get the vaccine after full FDA approval because “it was evi-

The Panther Post • November 2021 • Community

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Girls’ Division Enjoys Changes Brought About by Merger

By Adiel Nourmand (‘22), Executive Editor Rabbis on campus? Music in bathrooms? One YULA High School? On February 5th, 2021, every member of the YULA community was notified that the YULA Girls’ and Boys’ schools will “merge and create one YULA High School,” with YULA Boys’ Head of School, Rabbi Arye Sufrin in charge.

Since then, a number of effective changes have been made throughout the Girls’ Division that will leave a meaningful and lasting impact.

The merger began in the 2021-22 school year, and with that came the adoption of YULA’s Three Pillars: Primacy and Relevancy of Torah, Uncompromising General Studies, and Character Development. Head of YULA High School Rabbi Sufrin states that “everything we have added and continue to add is guided by the Three Pillars… to inspire our students to grow in their spirituality, academics, and character.”

In order to achieve this mission, a number of changes have been implemented at the Girls’ Division. First, students’ pictures are now hung up throughout the school to portray character development. Whether the pictures present the Girls’ sports teams or student activities like color war, a sense of community pervades the hallways. Classical music is also played in all restrooms throughout the Girls’ Division, adding to the stress free environment in school.

New Rebbeim have been added to the YULA Girls’ staff as a result of the merger. Although the Girls’ Division has exemplary Mechanchot, teachers, and women in leadership positions, there was a lack of Rebbeim, which has now been satisfied. Lauren Gabbay (‘22) states that this new addition “has been a tremendous enhancement [to the school] because it’s good to know that there is a Rabbi on campus to consult when I have any questions.”

In addition, with the record enrollment in both divisions this year, there is

an increasing number of students who would like to immerse themselves in athletics at YULA. The Girls’ Division has added a Frosh Soph Volleyball team in addition to the JV and varsity teams and has also added a Fencing Team to meet student requests. YULA Girls now offers over ten sports teams.

Last year, the Girls’ Division did not have a Guidance Counselor on staff.

Over the summer, the Administration worked very hard to select someone to fill that void, hiring Dr. Eliana Rome, a very experienced and learned woman,

who has a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Phillips Graduate Institute.

Zahava Kaplan (‘22) says, Dr. Rome is “always willing to listen and it is very pleasant to have a guidance counselor back on campus.”

Finally, shorter days have now been implemented. Prior to COVID-19, school began at 7:45 a.m. and ended at 4:25 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays and ended at 1:10 p.m. on Fridays.

This year, girls begin school at 8:00 a.m. and finish at 4:00 p.m. and end at 12:30 p.m. on Fridays. The students

appreciate the new schedule, as it adds more time to complete homework and participate in extracurricular activities.

The merging of the YULA Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools has many benefits, and as the new school year has begun, it has become clear that the many changes made are only the beginning of an exciting new journey for YULA High Schools. As Rabbi Sufrin clearly states, “mediocrity is unacceptable, and we will continue to focus on creating excellence in all areas.”

Balancing School and Work

By Natan Rosen (‘23)

YULA’s nine-hour school day poses a great challenge for YULA students who participate in honors courses, extracurriculars, and sports. When paired with these responsibilities, the 7:45 AM – 4:30 PM schedule leaves no time for a job.

Benji Sarir (‘23), a cashier at the Pico “burger joint” Shalom Grill, ends up “doing assignments late and getting home late.” Coby Noorani (‘23) admits that if given the choice to skip school, he “would choose to go to work instead because it prepares [him] for the future.” Similarly, Raphy Amsellem (‘23) believes that “working is a tool that helps you communicate in life – it’s like training for the future.”

He’s right: While classroom studies may challenge students academically, they cannot teach the skills required to succeed in a hands-on working environment.

Some working students have discovered that compromising is key to success and have taken jobs despite their busy schedules. Moshe Darvish (‘22), who runs his own photography and videography company MD Productions, commutes between school and work during breaks and free periods. After school hours, Branden Neman (‘23) completes homework assignments on the job as a cashier at Schnitzly.

If there’s one thing about YULA students, it’s that despite the challenge of balancing work and school, they remain determined to make it work.

Want to Indulge Your Interests? Join a Club

By Nili Torbati (‘24)

Students at the Girls’ Division were able to sign up for new extracurricular activities like the Architecture Club, Mivtzo’im, General Research Club, and many more at this year’s Club Fair. The Boys’ Division introduced its selection of clubs as well, including Debate, YULA Stock Watch, and Ping Pong Club at their Club Fair, which took place after Sukkot Break.

Among the new clubs starting up at the Girls’ Division is Panther Productions, headed by seniors Rina Melamed (‘22) and Maya Manzour (‘22). Panther Productions is a club in which members are taught skills such as video editing and Photoshop. Students will showcase these newly acquired skills as photographers at various school events. Melamed says she’s excited to see “the students’ perspectives” and says that

“it’s just a really nice opportunity for people who like taking pictures to be able to express themselves.”

Additionally, at YULA Girls juniors Rutie Afriat (‘23) and Maya Wertheim (‘23) are starting a club that is affiliated with the organization Bring Change to Mind (BC2M). The goal of this club is to educate its members on different issues of mental health and provide tips regarding the wellness of body and mind. This club will meet one-on-one with each member weekly to discuss their goals and plan ways in which they can foster their progress. Maya Wertheim says this club will “equip students with the tools to better understand their mind, find better coping mechanisms, and ways to better handle school-related stress,” and she’s excited to “instill in students a sense of enthusiasm for

school and remove goal-setting induced stress.”

Leah Pomerance (‘22) has started the Women in Finance Club, which will teach students important business tools and skills that are not conventionally taught in the classroom, like preparing taxes, investing money, and selecting insurance. This club will also host guest speakers to discuss specific financial topics in real-world settings. Pomerance will be working alongside YULA Girls’ Head of Finance Nancy Schiff and says she’s excited for this club to “help students be better prepared for the world after high school.”

This year promises to be filled with new possibilities for students to express themselves creatively or learn more about their interests.

Academics Faculty

Focus

By Jake Stephen (‘23), Executive Editor Alexandra Novak, the new Athletics Director for both the YULA Girls’ and Boys’ Divisions, grew up in Agoura Hills, California, where she attended Agoura High and was a three-sport varsity athlete, playing volleyball, basketball, and softball. Ms. Novak then studied psychology and communications at San Diego State University and was an NCAA Division I rower for the school. After graduating, she studied in seminary in Neve Yerushalayim and received a master’s degree in sports management at Indiana University.

After beginning her career in sports management at UCLA, Ms. Novak received a prestigious position with the Los Angeles Clippers. There, she championed her long-envisioned project of Jewish Heritage Night, an evening dedicated to the celebration of Jewish Heritage on the last night of Chanukah. Coincidentally, during this event, she met members of the YULA staff and student body, who were participating in the event for the very first time. After receiving an offer to work with the 49ers, she began working as a premium sales manager, handling big-ticket events such as the Superbowl.

After transitioning to a job with the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), Ms. Novak realized it was time to pass on her experiences and knowledge to others through teaching high school students.

From a young age, Ms. Novak was always drawn to sports. She explains, “growing up, sports was my life. My coaches and teammates made such an immense impact on my life that I wanted to give back and make that same impact on others.” To pursue this dream, she started working as the athletics director for YULA Girls, in addition to teaching a sports management program at Indiana University. Since then, the YULA Girls athletics program has grown exponentially, from 50 athletes when Ms. Novak began to over 120 this past year.

Under her leadership, the Boys’ Division added a new cross country team. New equipment has been purchased, coaches hired, and more opportunities for YULA students to participate in sports are being created. With Ms. Novak at the helm, now is the perfect time for YULA students to get involved in YULA athletics.

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Panther Post Moves to the Web

By Israel Gootin (‘22), Editor-in-Chief

The Panther Post is excited to announce the launch of its website that will showcase published articles and allow the Panther Post editorial staff to publish time-sensitive content as it arises.

Former YULA student and Editor-in-chief Boaz Edidin spearheaded the website’s development, along with the Post’s new Website Editor, Arshia Kohanteb (‘22).

At first, Edidin and Kohanteb worked completely independently. Using Adobe Dreamweaver, a website design tool, Edidin started developing the website in 2020. Quickly, however, he realized that the Dreamweaver software was difficult to work with and couldn’t meet the Panther Post’s standards for design. So in a long transition process, Edidin switched from Dreamweaver to SNO, a digital media platform geared towards student publications. “It was affordable, professional-looking, and easily manageable,” recounts Edidin. “We struck gold.”

A few months and a demo website later, Edidin convinced the YULA administration to green-light the project. “At that point, the YULA merger was fastly approaching, and the administration wanted the Panther Post Website to usher in the merger,” says Edidin. “So I worked overtime to get it approved beforehand.”

After Edidin transferred to a school in Florida, he handed the reins to Kohanteb. Now Website Editor, Kohanteb has put in every effort to ready it for launch.

“Each night I go through the design of the website to find any bugs and perfect it in every way possible,” he says. “This project is the culmination of many years of hard work. I want to make it count.”

The Panther Post Website – over a year in the making – is now available. “As a product of tight-knit collaboration between the Boys’ and Girls’ Divisions, the website’s launch marks a new chapter for the Panther Post,” says Head of School Rabbi Arye Sufrin. “I’m so proud of what Boaz, Arshia, and the Panther Post editorial board has achieved. I’m even more excited for what’s to come.”

See Us Online!

Celebrating the Merger Continued from page 1

PP: How do you manage your time between both schools?

RS: I generally attend carpool in the morning at the Girls’ Division to welcome the girls to campus until about 8:00 a.m. Then, I join the Boys’ Division for Davening at 8:15 a.m., and I hold a shiur for the 10th grade. I split the rest of the day going back and forth – depending on the day – which also includes teaching at the Girls’ Division.

PP: How was it getting to know new administrators, faculty members, and students at the Girls’ Division?

RS: Baruch Hashem, the merger has a lot of momentum and a clear sign of the excitement is our increased enrollment. This year we have 186 students compared to 158 last year, and 60+ staff members on the Girls’ Campus. I have been focused on getting to know as many people as I can in a short time. Wearing masks doesn’t make it any easier, but the students have been helpful in introducing themselves.

Everyone has been warm, welcoming, positive, and gracious. It will take more time to further solidify these relationships, but this is a top priority. Relationship building is an important goal of mine and a crucial part of the YULA experience.

PP: Lastly, What message or advice would you like to give to the student body in general?

RS: Take advantage of every moment you have at YULA. There are phenomenal and devoted educators, meaningful co-curricular programs, and clubs that will help shape who you become. Don’t confuse a hard day with a bad experience. And while high school can be challenging at times, the four years will fly by so quickly that you’ll look back on your experience and wish you could have been here longer.

Sports

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Israel Represents at Tokyo Olympics

“En Garde!”

Girls Fence, Too!

By Andrew Rubel (‘23)

By Tali Valensi (‘24)

While the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have come and gone, the lasting impression of Israel’s debut in baseball tells the story of triumph for Jews around the world.

In a talented pool of six countries – including powerhouse teams from the United States, Japan, and South Korea – the Israeli national team finished just one win away from competing in a medal game for baseball. The team also made Israeli history as its first team to represent the country in an Olympic team-sport format in over 40 years.

The team, previously ranked only 41st in the world, mostly comprised American-born Jewish athletes. Among the team members are former major leaguers, current minor league players, and Israeli-born players.

The roster includes two World Series champions, Ryan Lavarnway and Ian Kinsler, as well as former MLB all-stars and Gold Glove Award winners. In order to join the five players born in Israel, 19 out of the 25 foreign-born athletes were required to make aliyah to compete on behalf of Israel.

After going winless in the opening round games against South Korea on July 29th, losing 6-5, and the United States the next day, losing 8-1, the Israeli squad rebounded and defeated Mexico in a crucial win-or-go-home game. However, after a nail-biting 7-6 loss against the Dominican Republic, the Israelis were eliminated and sent home from Tokyo.

Although the final tournament results did not go exactly as Israel’s fans had anticipated, the unlikely success found by Team Israel has provided inspiration for Jewish baseball fans around the world. “As both a Jew and a baseball player, watching Team Israel play on behalf of my homeland makes me proud to represent YULA every time I take the field,” said AJ Tabak (‘22), captain of the YULA Varsity Baseball Team.

While the Israeli National Baseball team may have fallen short in their gold medal aspirations, the team will continue to work to improve their roster and prepare for the next challenge ahead: the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

With the YULA merger came ambitious plans to improve the athletics program. Alexandra Novak, the Director of Athletics for both YULA divisions, decided it was time to add fencing to the Girls’ Division sports teams. Fencing not only offers YULA students more opportunities in their future college careers but also teaches one of the most crucial skills that one can learn in high school–respect. Players must create boundaries and respect their opponents’ space. Developing respect and esteem for one’s opponent is a skill that extends far past any athletic or classroom setting. Since fencing has been a predominantly male sport, the Girls’ Division feels privileged to have this opportunity.

Although fencing can be portrayed as dangerous due to the sharp saber, in reality, the distance between opponents and the use of boundaries make it “one of the safest sports in high school,” says Yitzy Frankel, the fencing coach at YULA. He then described the many successes that the boy’s fencing team has had over the past couple of years, particularly their victories over Harvard-Westlake, one of the most prestigious schools in the league.

Considering that YULA is one of the few Jewish schools that offers fencing, students should appreciate this incredible opportunity to develop their athletic prowess and character.

Torah & Israel

The Halachot Behind Thanksgiving

By Moshe Feldman (‘23), Academics Editor

Hakarat hatov, or giving thanks, is an intrinsic value of Judaism. Despite this sentiment, uncertainty about celebrating arises when it comes to the Thanksgiving holiday, a holiday that ostensibly aligns with this core value of Judaism.

In Vayikra 18:3, the pasuk, or sentence, reads, “uvechukoteihem lo teileichu,” meaning “you shall not walk in [the gentiles’] ways.” The Shulchan Aruch, a compilation of Jewish laws and traditions, explains that this pasuk prohibits Jewish assimilation into secular culture, such as with clothing or haircuts. In Masechet Avodah Zara 13a, Tosafot divides the prohibition into two categories: the first category includes customs that are rooted in Avodah Zara, idolatry; the other, in irrational secular practices and activities.

The Maharik says there are 2 categories: immodest practices like wearing types of clothing and customs which have no known or rational reason so there is a concern that it stems from idolatry. Therefore, as long as there is a reason for the practice of the secular custom, it would be halachically permissible. The Vilna Gaon disagrees and states that even customs which have a known reason, if performed in order to emulate the secular styles, then even if there is a good reason, it would still be a violation of “uvechukoteihem lo teileichu,”.

The question of the halachic legitimacy of observing Thanksgiving revolves around its classification as either a non-Jewish custom or a religious holiday. While there is no religious practice associated with Thanksgiving now-

adays, the Pilgrims still thanked God. Rav Moshe Feinstein considers the holiday to be non-religious and allows observing Thanksgiving only if the nature of the observance is considered optional as opposed to obligatory. Contrarily, Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik considers Thanksgiving to be merely a day devoted to giving gratitude and not Avodah Zara and thus permits all practices such as consuming Turkey.

However, some poskim, Halachic deciders, such as Rav Avigdor Miller and Rav Yitzchak Hutner, view the holiday as a gentile holiday associated with idolatry because it is annually observed based on the Christian calendar. Others, such as Rav David Cohen, write that according to Tosafot, it would be prohibited for a Jew to consume turkey solely as

a celebration in the spirit of Thanksgiving. Interestingly, he notes that while it is not preferable, one may consume turkey because one enjoys it and not due to the symbolism of the day.

The classification of Thanksgiving as a custom or holiday and its subsequent status in halacha remains a multifaceted machloket, a disagreement between Gedolei Yisroel.

Features Watching at Home? “Knives Out” Will Keep You Guessing

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Balancing Judaism and the American Military: An Interview with Major Moshe Scheinfeld

By Nava Gelb (‘24)

By Tamar Scheinfeld (‘24)

Knives Out tells the story of a novelist’s untimely murder and teaches that the pen is mightier than the sword. Central to the movie is not the violence and the murder, but rather who among the film’s characters will ultimately dictate the plotline.

Christopher Plummer stars as a rich patriarch named Harlan Thrombe, who is found dead at the beginning of the movie. Detective Blanc, played by Daniel Craig, is hired to investigate. Even though the police rule the death as suicide, Blanc is convinced Thrombey was murdered due to family discord over who will inherit his fortune.

Throughout the movie, truths are told in the wrong order until the full story unfolds. Thrombey attempts to write his own story here – he wants to choose his own ending. However, Marta, played by Ana de Armas, Thrombey’s nurse and inheritor, ends up dictating the story. Throughout the film, she believes she is someone watching from the sidelines, when in reality, she is the star of the show. Her constant nervousness and willingness to obey situates her as a pushover, yet towards the end, it becomes clear that it is her actions that force others to react. There are many “writers” in the movie, but Marta emerges victorious in defining its true narrative.

The characters showcase Rian Johnson’s impeccable screenplay. The humor is perfectly timed. Craig, known for his role in the “James Bond” franchise, impresses by switching his trademark British accent to a pointed American Southern accent. The cinematography of the film adds to its atmosphere. In contrast to the bright colors and lights, the famed murderer creeps up the rickety stairs, creating an upbeat suspense not normally found in films of this genre. As the lights slowly dim, the viewer’s eyes dilate with intrigue.

The Knives Out twist on a mystery deserves resounding applause. It’s not a whodunit – it’s a who didn’t do it.

The film’s engaging concoction of laughs, mystery, and suspense makes it a must watch. Now, two years since its release, fans anticipate its upcoming 2022 sequel with the same palpable suspense generated by the original.

In 2001, American Forces with the Northern Alliance defeated the Taliban. From 2001 to 2021, approximately 800,000 U.S. Service Members (Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines) served in Afghanistan. One of those soldiers is my father, Major Moshe Scheinfeld. In this exclusive interview, Major Scheinfeld shares his experience being stationed in Afghanistan and his life in the military.

Panther Post: What is your name, position, and rank in the military?

Moshe Scheinfeld: Major Promotable Moshe Scheinfeld. Promotable means that I have been selected for promotion, and that will happen within the next six to eight weeks. I’ll be promoted to lieutenant colonel. My position, I’m the Future Operations Chief. That means I am responsible for all [of] our missions from thirty days to one year. I’m also the Psychological Operations Chief, so I have two positions in the division. It’s the 40th Infantry Division, which is part of the California Army National Guard, and there are about 8,000 soldiers in the division.

PP: When did you join the military?

MS: I was ROTC, Reserve Officer Training Corps in college, Rice University, and I graduated there in 1991. I was commissioned a Second Lieutenant because I completed the ROTC program for four years.

PP: Why did you choose to join the military?

MS: I felt as a Jew that it was very important that I give back to this country that’s been so amazingly wonderful to the Jews. We have a concept in Judaism of Hakarat HaTov, gratitude. I really felt that I needed to express and demonstrate that and being in the military, to me, is one of the highest forms of Hakarat HaTov because you’re willing to risk your life to keep the country secure and keep the American people secure.

PP: How was daily life in Afghanistan?

MS: We worked seven days a week, for almost a year. There are no days off. And when I say day, that could be anywhere from 12 to 16 hours in a day.

PP: How was it being a Jew in Afghanistan? Was it difficult?

MS: It was difficult because I couldn’t eat all the great food that everyone else was eating. They had steak and lobster and they could have hamburgers and hotdogs. I could just eat the kosher food that I have. I was able to daven and put Tefillin on every day. I made Kiddush on Friday nights and on Saturday. I mean, I have my room and I was fortunate to have my own room. It made it much easier.

PP: Do you think in future wartime the US should use different precautions to prevent a situation like Afghanistan from happening again?

MS: I think that there are a lot of lessons that we can learn that I hope will apply.

The United States military will look back on this and study it very carefully, so we can learn from it and do better and improve in the future. We are a learning organization, we always try to improve and we try to figure out what we did right and what we did wrong.

We try to sustain the things we did right and try to improve the things we did wrong.

What You Need to Know About the End of Bond-Buying Program

By Jake Stephen (‘23), Executive Editor While myriad economic processes have vast implications for our day-to-day lives, the majority of Americans remain oblivious to them. One highly debated issue is the end to the Bond Buying Program, a tool utilized by the Federal Reserve (Fed)—America’s central bank, responsible for controlling the money supply—to orchestrate stability in the economy and mitigate inflation. The program has endured scrutiny and criticism from economists and politicians alike for many years and currently stands on the brink of shutting down. So what is this program, and how will its end impact the lives of Americans coming out of a global pandemic?

The Fed’s Bond Buying program started as a reaction to the financial crisis in 2008, the most severe fi-

nancial crisis since the Great Depression in the 1930s.

The initiative works through the purchasing of bonds with treasury money, increasing the supply of money in circulation by exchanging bonds for circulating cash, liquid capital. Conversely, through the sale of bonds, the total money in circulation diminishes. The government uses this technique to reduce inflation and high-interest rates when the economy is unstable.

So now that the nature of the program is understood, why are many people pushing for its end?

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, inflation has soared during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically due to the obstacles of stimulating and reopening the country’s economy. Economists are apprehensive about this course of action, as it risks

overstimulating demand and worsening supply congestion.

In addition, the Fed purchased copious assets, including securities and loans, seeking to make stimulus available for the general population. It also lowered short-term interest rates, which contributed to the volatility of the situation. With prominent figures pushing for the end of this program, the government may lose a crucial tool for combatting fluctuations in the economy. While economists are still unsure of the long-term impacts of this change, what remains certain is that this decision will impact every American household.

Opinion

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Withdrawing from Afghanistan: What Went Wrong?

By Jake Stephen (‘23), Executive Editor

The problem with the decision to pull United States troops out of Afghanistan lies in the execution rather than the idea itself. Talks regarding a withdrawal from Afghanistan have been conducted since the Trump administration and have been expedited by the Biden administration, primarily due to the reports of The Afghanistan Study Group that encouraged the United States to establish a concrete timeline for this withdrawal. Fast forward to July 2021, when the vast majority of the United States’s military presence returned home. Shortly after, the Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani, and other prominent government officials fled in anticipation of the turmoil that would inevitably ensue from the takeover of the Taliban.

The effects of this hastened withdrawal are being felt, as United States citizens and a number of Afghan dissidents remain trapped thousands of miles behind enemy lines without a clear escape. The Afghan government has collapsed, and further calamity seems inevitable. The withdrawal has unraveled much of the progress that was made over the years, but regardless of the consequences, is a complete withdrawal still worth it?

The answer lies in the reason the US intervened in Afghanistan in the first place: to disallow terrorists a safe haven there while attempting to create the foundation for a stable democracy. Was either of these ob-

jectives accomplished? Partially, yes, but this progress was contingent upon a continued American presence.

The effort and resources spent have been for nothing, and Afghanistan emerged from the rubble just as volatile as it was back in 2001.

To clarify, I am by no means a proponent of an indefinite and large-scale occupation of Afghanistan.

But this decision didn’t just impact American soldiers, politicians, and citizens, it removed the only source of solace and stability amidst the turmoil and dangers of the country. The United States no longer has

any resources on the ground to prevent further acts of terrorism, and the Afghani people are once again at the mercy of a terrorist group. While some might argue that over 2000 United States soldiers have died in this conflict, and others will argue that the safety of innocent Afghan people is not an American concern, I maintain that regardless of country of origin, every human has an irrefutable obligation to prevent possible harm. At the very least, the Biden administration should have left a skeleton army to ensure a smooth evacuation and maintain some sense of stability.

The Boldest Foreign Policy Decision of My Lifetime

By Marcus Cate (‘23)

On August 31, 2021, President Joe Biden concluded America’s longest war, the war in Afghanistan. After Al-Qaeda had attacked the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, the United States invaded Afghanistan to punish Afghanistan for providing safe haven for terrorists. The twenty-year campaign has cost more than a trillion dollars and the lives of over 2400 American soldiers.

Although the goal to eradicate Al-Qaeda had been primarily completed by 2011, American forces continued to occupy Afghanistan. The American public was told that the objective in the region would shift from eliminating Al-Qaeda to helping build up Afghanistan as an extension of American democracy and ideals.

However, this effort was fraught with corruption and incompetence. The American public was given insight into just how disastrous this effort was with the release of the Afghanistan Papers. This bombshell exposé contained more than 2000 pages of verbal and written statements by the generals and government officials at the head of the operation.

In his interview, three-star Army General Douglas Lute said that America “[was] devoid of a fundamental understanding of Afghanistan – we didn’t know what we were doing…We didn’t have the foggiest notion of what we were undertaking.” John Spoko, the inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction, said that the Afghan army had no stable leadership, the result of corrupt, untrained, and strategically inept generals.

Illiteracy among these generals was also highlighted.

The generals withheld pay from their soldiers and used

the United States’ funding to line their own pockets.

On August 15, 2021, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled Kabul at the first sight of Taliban militants. With the government collapsing, Afghan soldiers, who had gone months without pay or stable leadership, deserted because they had no desire to sacrifice themselves for a country that thought nothing of them.

The American attempt to construct its ideal version of Afghanistan can only be described as an abject failure, and the war in Afghanistan was one of the largest wastes of American resources in modern history.

Even before we began to withdraw, the Taliban had been capturing more and more of Afghanistan since resuming offensive attacks in 2004. Bob Crowley, an Army colonel who served as a senior counterinsurgency adviser to several US generals, told interviewers that “Every data point was altered to present the best picture possible…Surveys, for instance, were totally unreliable but reinforced that everything we were doing was right.” The problems that led to the disastrous exit from Afghanistan had been actively suppressed in order to maintain the public’s favorable opinion of the war.

The cause for the chaotic exit can be placed on most of the past few Presidential administrations and is a result of 20 years of terrible foreign policy decisions. In addition, there had been no interviews for the Special Immigrant Visa program, going back all the way to March 2020, making it much harder for Afghan allies to exit the country with the proper paperwork. The Biden administration should have en-

sured that all American citizens, Afghan allies, and any refugees they intended to take home had a safe way out of the country. The rushed exit was further exacerbated by an overestimation of the Afghan army’s strength because America expected them to be able to hold off the Taliban for some time. This overreliance on the Afghan military led to some American citizens being trapped in the country when the government collapsed. However, the current government has ensured that many of these citizens have been evacuated.

Eighty-five of the last Americans who had remained in Afghanistan had departed on a commercial flight in mid-September, almost two weeks after the official end of the airlift.

The decision to withdraw from Afghanistan is one that will be looked back on as a huge turning point in American foreign policy. By pulling out, Biden is taking a huge step towards ending the wars in the Middle East. These huge expenditures have cost billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars and thousands of American lives. Although marred by logistical missteps and the attack on the Kabul airport, tragically killing 13 US service members, the long-term implications of this decision will ultimately help save American lives and resources. Tulsi Gabbard, an Army veteran, succinctly captured the core of the issue in a 2020 primary debate when she said, “The Taliban were there long before we came in and will be there long after we leave.”

We completed the main objectives of the invasion 10 years ago and then attempted and failed to build a nation in Afghanistan.

The Panther Post • November 2021 • Opinion

Test-Optional Colleges: Beneficial or Detrimental?

By Nellie Javaherian (‘24)

Panther Post The

Editors-in-Chief Israel Gootin Daniella Zisblatt

Executive Editors Jake Stephen Adiel Nourmand Managing Editors Ethan Frankel Shoshana Zisblatt Community Editors Coby Karben Leora Teichman Academics Editors Moshe Feldman Maya Wertheim

Since it began in March, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has altered various aspects of life as we know it, including the college admissions process and the classic ACT and SAT entrance exams.

Due to surges in Covid cases, many testing sessions for these exams were canceled earlier during the pandemic, limiting access to these exams and denying many students the option to test in time to submit their applications. As a result, many colleges shifted to a short-term test-optional status. With test-optional colleges, students choose whether or not they want to submit their ACT or SAT scores with their applications.

Test-optional colleges are not the same as test-blind colleges, however, which do not consider any submitted exam scores at all. Rather, for test-optional colleges, scores are not mandatory, nor are they the main indicating factor for admission.

While I believe that the ACT and SAT can certainly help pinpoint a student’s likelihood of succeeding in college, I do not believe that they should be the deciding factor in a student’s admission either. There are plenty of intelligent and capable people who apply to colleges who merely underperform in standardized testing environments.

Their scores on these tests would not accurately reflect their potential for success. There are also people who possess a different category of intelligence, which is not recognized by classic standardized exams. Test-optional colleges allow both types of students the opportunity to display their talents in ways that standardized tests cannot.

Moreover, a standardized test only

represents several hours of a student’s career. What if there are certain unfavorable conditions on test day, which cause the student to score lower than they normally would’ve on any other day? Is it fair to say that any achievements attained during a student’s four years should be heavily outweighed by a single day’s exam? Similarly, if a student with a high GPA, who also participates in various extracurricular activities, happens to score lower than another student who has a lower GPA and little to no extracurriculars, would their test scores justly determine who the better candidate for the school is?

Test-optional colleges allow for greater attention to be paid to the more crucial elements of a student’s application, such as grades, extracurriculars, and general involvement within their community – elements that up until now have been overshadowed by ACT and SAT scores.

Although test-optional colleges provide a varied number of benefits, the switch to test-optional does come with its disadvantages. Since some colleges that once required ACT/SAT scores are now removing that requirement, there are more people now applying who in prior admission cycles would have believed they had no chance of admission to these schools. As a result, the colleges are receiving a higher number of applications and must reject more applicants, leading to record-breaking low acceptance rates. Furthermore, since test-optional colleges allow for greater emphasis on the other parts of a student’s application, the students will be more inclined to focus on their areas of strength. Students can, therefore,

strengthen their chances of admission to these schools by presenting a more authentic version of themselves.

One could argue that test-optional colleges, while they are technically “test-optional,” still consider the scores, which impacts admission. Students who opt not to submit test scores are viewed as less competitive. In turn, they may have a lower chance of getting in. But, test-optional schools remain beneficial in their emphasis on other aspects of the application. Therefore, there’s still an increased opportunity for students to showcase their strengths and talents in ways other than standardized tests.

Since colleges have gone test-optional, there has been greater diversity within the student body with “no notable difference in academic achievement between students who opted out of testing and those who submitted scores,” according to Wake Forest University.

Since Wake Forest University’s test-optional policy went into effect in 2008, the ethnic diversity of the student body has increased by 90%. Likewise, studies show that performance on standardized tests correlates directly with education level and family income. By making standardized tests optional, colleges can focus on the overall academic performance of their applicants, which Marist College states, “can best illustrate commitment, motivation, work ethic, and a willingness to take on challenges.”

With test-optional colleges becoming the new norm, the odds of applicants being admitted to a college that best caters to their potential are enhanced and are making way for a more inclusive student population.

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