The Panther Post June 2020

The

Panther Post

VOL. IV NO. 4 YULA Boys High School June 2020 | Sivan 5780

College Board Opts for Nonstandard Standardized Tests

By Benjamin Rubin (‘22), Torah & Israel Editor

In May many students were supposed to wake up and solidify their futures by taking standardized tests administered by the College Board or ACT, which did not happen because of the growing number of coronavirus cases in the country and the new Safer-atHome initiatives.

The College Board canceled May and June SAT test dates. Students who signed up and paid for these tests will receive full refunds, according to College Board officials. The College Board has set a new September test date. While many students are out of school, the College Board is broadening a partnership with Khan Academy to provide free, online resources, including full-length practice tests to help students prepare.

The ACT canceled its April test dates across the country. The June administration of the test will take place nationally; however, there are no test centers authorized to open in the Los Angeles area. Students who paid the fee for the test will have the option to reschedule, free of charge. The ACT website will continue to offer its free practice tests and practice questions to help students prepare.

Akiva Brookler (‘21) Glitches in the online AP system caused students to submit work with only seconds remaining.

Students taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses enjoyed better accommodations. The AP tests were taken at home, were only 45 minutes long, and contained only free-response questions, which was quite different from the normal three-hour exam, which included a multiple-choice component in addition to free responses. The new test was open book, open notes, and internet friendly. Students who tested in May and experienced technical issues have been given permission to retest in June. But because of these

glitches, halfway through the AP exam schedule, the College Board added an option for students who had connectivity issues to email their responses. The College Board will inform all colleges of any academic dishonesty and will cancel all College Board scores for any student who violates their testing policy.

The College Board has put together free live webinars, YouTube videos, and practice questions to help students prepare for their APs. “Since the test is being

Continued on page 4

Online Learning: Why Zoom?

Part 2 in a series

By Arshia Kohanteb (‘22)

By Boaz Edidin (‘22), Executive Editor

ANALYSIS- YULA, like many other schools has moved to online classrooms on Zoom. As YULA prepared for online school, IT Director Mr. Michael Gillett searched for a platform that could hold at least 200 students, support screen-sharing, and secure classrooms from disruptive intruders.

YULA narrowed down its search to five different programs: Google Meets, GoToMeeting, Skype, WebX, and Zoom.

Google Meets, formerly Google Hangouts, is a video chat application for schools and businesses that have G-Suite accounts integrated into their technology ecosystem. Google Meets would have been perfect for YULA

The Homelessness Crisis

because YULA already has G-Suite accounts, but it required a lot of setup time, which the school didn’t have.

YULA’s next option was GoToMeeting. Even before the coronavirus outbreak, GoToMeeting was established as a reliable meeting service for corporations. But GoToMeeting has a steep learning curve and a complex User Interface (UI), which would not have allowed a smooth transition.

Skype for Businesses and WebX were other choices, but both were laggy, hard to use, and in dire need of an update.

While the Safer-at-Home initiative set in place by the government helps keep most people safe from the coronavirus, nearly 60,000 Angelenos don’t have homes in which to stay safe.

As homeless shelters start to reach maximum capacity, the state of California has allocated $150 million to distribute to local governments in support of shelters, emergency housing, and hotel-room-leasing for its homeless population.

Los Angeles County has installed temporary shelters in city recreation centers and has deployed mobile toilets, hand-washing stations, and shower services at some homeless encampments. The Cheviot Hills Recreation Center, located just blocks away from YULA, has been flipped into an active homeless shelter. The government is also renting RVs to provide COVID-19-infected homeless people with an isolated living space.

Since the virus arrived in the U.S., shelter staff members have taken additional precautions to keep themselves and residents safe. They enforce social distancing, limit communal activities, and frequently take tempera-

Continued on page 7

Continued on page 3

The Panther Preview

Mohamed Hassan— PublicDomainPictures

Read Our Guide to Streaming Services

Learn privacy halachaot about the coronavirus

Page 5

Page 8

Curbing Global Warming

TheDigitalArtist—Pixabay

Page 12

Community

2

YULA Hosts Blood Drive in Repsonse to Blood Shortages

By Ethan Frankel (‘22), Community Editor Amid the chaos of COVID-19, YULA hosted a blood drive May 5. The school initially scheduled the blood drive March 19, right when the country shut down, but cancelled it due to health concerns.

The country was in dire need of blood because many schools, churches, and companies canceled their blood drives due to coronavirus concerns.

When things began to settle down, Dean of Students Rabbi Shimon Abramczik reached out to Yontan Blumenstrauch (‘20) and Akiva Brookler (‘21), who planned the

original drive, to help organize a new one.

“The country was in dire need of blood because many schools, churches, and companies canceled their blood drives due to coronavirus concerns. As the need for blood became public knowledge, the school agreed to host the blood drive despite the pandemic,” Brookler said.

During the blood drive, strict Red Cross guidelines had to be followed to ensure everyone’s safety. All participants had to wear masks, sanitize their hands, take their temperatures, and maintain social distancing protocols.

The blood drive reached its maximum number of appointments and collected 54 units of blood. Many people risked their health to come and donate blood. “I felt very relieved and fulfilled to be able to have this opportunity to help out,” Caleb Astrof (‘22) said.

Akiva Brookler (‘21) Yoni Merkin (‘21) donates blood while wearing a face mask in line with the Red Cross’ COVID-19 safety measures.

No Gym, No Problem: Students Workout at Home

By Coby Karben (‘22)

As fitness centers across Los Angeles have closed down to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, YULA students who are unable to attend gyms have adapted to staying healthy and fit while quarantined at home.

Sitting in a chair, taking classes, and staring at a screen

Yosef Levi (‘22) Yosef Levi (‘22) does a set of pushups in his bedroom.

all day is not ideal, so many students dedicate a part of each day to their physical well-being.

Simmy Goldberger (‘22) usually practices jiujitsu multiple times a week. Without the proper training facilities and opponents to practice with, keeping up with his technical jiujitsu skills has become increasingly difficult. “I’ve been watching videos of people posting techniques,” Goldberger said. “I’ve been doing calisthenics: pushups, pullups, leg raises… all the stuff that’s just using your body weight. And I’ve been doing it multiple times a day. Along with a solid diet, it’s a good way to stay in shape during the quarantine.”

YULA initially canceled PE classes, so many students have taken the initiative to stay active during quarantine. Going on walks or runs, while maintaining boundaries when passing fellow pedestrians, has spiked in popularity among YULA students.

Home workouts have also become popular. Students make the most of pullup bars, dumbbells, elliptical trainers, treadmills, resistance bands, and other exercise equipment already found at home. “A lot of people have equipment in their houses,” Yaakov Sarto (‘23) said. “I made a home workout routine. I do pushups, and I have resistance bands that I do curls with.”

Sarto offers workout suggestions and shares progress pictures on an Instagram account he created to document his routines. Sarto used to go to the gym

Without a good diet, none of it’s worth it, ‘cause you’re not gonna get anywhere. If you eat healthy, you see results faster and more effectively.

-Simmy Goldberger routinely, but now he advises those without access to treadmills and elliptical trainers to “run and bike for cardio.” Like Goldberger, Sarto cautions that “without a good diet, none of it’s worth it, ‘cause you’re not gonna get anywhere. If you eat healthy, you see results faster and more effectively.”

Public pools are closed, leaving swimmers nowhere to turn if they don’t have access to personal pools. “I was in the process of becoming a lifeguard at the YMCA, but that closed,” Sam Darvish (‘22) said. “It’s tough not being able to do specific workouts that’ll help you grow, as swimming does, but there are still things you can do outside the water to improve.”

Darvish’s unrelenting attitude keeps him working out, whether in traditional ways or not.

The Panther Post • June 2020 • Community

3

LA Jewish Community Hit Financially

By Ethan Frankel (‘22), Community Editor The Los Angeles Jewish community has many business owners and non-profit institutions who are currently bringing in zero income because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The long-lasting economic effects of this virus may be harshly felt among all members of the community for a long time to come.

Shuls and schools have been forced to shut down normal operations, bringing unprecedented challenges to these institutions. Many organizations have lost their regular donors and are unable to host fundraising events. “The vast majority of our yearly big donations which keep the OU (Orthodox Union) on their feet have been suspended due to the outbreak...as of last week all credit card spendings for our chapter

have been suspended,” an anonymous OU employee said. As funding decreases, the organizations will need either to furlough or let go of employees. The OU, for example, has furloughed 30 employees thus far, and many staff members worry they will be next.

As many day-school parents have faced wage cuts or have lost jobs entirely, a tuition crisis has emerged.

A group of parents are demanding mid-year tuition reductions to help during the financial crisis. Gindi Maimonides Academy is among the schools that have responded to the backlash. They have approved a “substantial increase” in financial aid for Pre-1 through eighth grade and tuition credit to families with children in the nursery program. YULA’s policy

during the economic crisis, which is posted on its website, is that “all monies are awarded on a first come first serve basis. This could mean that depending on when you apply and the number of requests previously approved, funds may not be available even if you would otherwise qualify.”

As Los Angeles County’s stay-at-home orders have been extended for the next three months, the pressure felt by this community might only get worse. In addition to instability in the stock market, renters may not be able to pay their rent, landlords may not be able to sustain their investments, small businesses may shutter permanently, and the face of the neighborhood may be irrevocably altered.

Homeless at Risk During Pandemic Continued from front page tures of the occupants. People Assisting the Homeless (PATH), a non-profit organization that serves 20 percent of California’s homeless population, has taken these precautions and more. They recently banned all non-essential visitors and tours of their sites. Nevertheless, shelter residents are still contracting the virus. At one homeless shelter on Skid Row in Downtown Los Angeles, 79 residents and four staff members had tested positive for COVID-19 as of April 17.

Although the government has endeavored to house as many homeless people as possible, for those who are still not able to find shelter and remain living on the street, new problems have arisen. Many are struggling to find food because of the closure of soup kitchens and the shortage of pedestrians, who might donate food or money directly to them, due to the Safer-at-Home initiative. It has also become more difficult for homeless people to access public bathrooms.

“No party appears to be addressing this problem with any urgency,” U.S. District Judge David O. Carter said. He

issued a court order demanding that local authorities find housing for people still living under bridges. In the city of Los Angeles the order applies to over 3,000 homeless people.

Despite these precautions and innovative policies, according to joint research from Boston University, UCLA, and the University of Pennsylvania, approximately 60,000 homeless Californians are expected to contract the virus, and over 1,200 may die from it. The model also predicts that 400 of those deaths will occur in Los Angeles County.

The hospitalization rate for those infected with the virus is approximately 20%. If the modeled predictions prove true, it would be devastating for California’s health care system because it would create an overwhelming demand for hospital beds and assistance.

On March 12, Governor Gavin Newsom responded with an executive order designed to enhance California’s ability to combat the virus. The government will provide funds to hire more shelter staff members and will commandeer property for temporary residences and

Boaz Edidin (‘22) RVs, set up as tempoarary homeless shelters, line the parking lot of Rancho Park Recreation Center. medical facilities.

While the response to the virus proves that when under duress the government can muster the resources to house most of the homeless population, the current situation is not a sufficient long term fix to LA’s homelessness crisis. Eventually, hotels and recreation

centers are going to open back up and will be forced to evict their current homeless residents. It is still unclear how quickly the economic, social, and health effects of the pandemic will subside in California, but experts predict the virus’s impact will be prolonged in the homeless community.

Keeping Busy at Home

By Ethan Frankel (‘22), Community Editor People are being creative in figuring out different activities that they can do at home to have fun while staying safe. Many people are creating content for social media, organizing family activities throughout the week, and taking on new hobbies.

Being indoors all day is unhealthy, so it is important to exercise and go outside each day in a safe manner.

“Sometimes being indoors all day can get very long, so to pass time, I take my dog on a walk. It gives me an opportunity to be outside and get exercise,” Ella Levkowitz (‘22) said.

Lots of people have made an effort during this time to get into shape by working out at home, “Al-

though I have spent a lot of time watching TV and playing Minecraft, I recently got into working out from home with all of the gyms closed,” Boaz Edidin (‘22) said.

All this free time has enabled people to catch up on television shows, talk with friends, and read books.

“I have been watching a lot of Netflix, specifically ‘All American’ because the new season just came out. I also have been helping my family. Being stuck with them has forced me to get closer with my baby sister, who I usually don’t see throughout the day,” Eli Plotkin (‘22) said. “I have also started working out and walking my dog. It helps me relieve stress by getting outside.”

Leora Teichman (‘22) said that she has been spending a lot of time “reading, and talking with friends I do not usually talk with. Quarantine has also allowed me to clean out my room, and take on drawing.”

For many, staying at home all day shifts circadian rhythms and might get in the way of productivity.

“Since school has been closed, I find myself staying up much later than usual and having incredibly high screen time. It is not just me. All my friends will agree,” Daniel Sentchuk (‘22) said. “Just last week I texted on a group chat with six of my friends at 3 a.m. and all six people responded within 10 minutes.”

Academics YULA Launches Distance Learning

4

Faculty

Focus

By Boaz Edidin (‘22), Executive Editor

Joseph Schreiber Rabbi Jason Weiner, Director of the Spiritual Care Department at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, addresses YULA’s 12th-grade Medical Ethics Seminar on Zoom.

When YULA initiated its online school, YULA BaBayit, the school day spanned from 9:30 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. with the usual 50-minute classes. After students responded to a survey that their school day was too long, the administration shortened the school day: Classes were shortened to 30 minutes each and period 1 and 4a classes were cut. “At first, after the long days, I was fatigued and could not be productive,” Ethan Frankel (‘22) said. “But, since the schedule change, I have been more focused during class and able to efficiently complete assignments after.”

YULA has been holding uplifting events online to make YULA BaBayit more than just a distance learning program. Rabbi Shua Rose led a virtual kumzits, Rabbi Elchanan Schoff led a “ZOOMba” class, and Rabbi Dror Baalhaness led a live cholent cooking show.

The school has maintained its Jewish atmosphere through this online transition. There is still daily shacharit and mincha minyanim, special hallel on Rosh Chodesh, and optional learning af-

ter davening. Both YULA Boys and Girls send out weekly divrei torah videos to the whole community.

“Creating additional programming shows our resilience and strength,” Head of School Rabbi Arye Sufrin said.

YULA has not only added new events to the schedule, but also has found ways to hold already scheduled events online. YULA Boys held the 2021 STUCO elections, May 8. Candidates delivered their speeches on Zoom, and students voted on Google Forms. YULA Boys used a Zoom webinar for its annual celebration of Torah, May 18, honoring Rabbi Sandy Shulkes.

School will continue online for the remainder of the academic year, and the status of school next year remains unknown. “As of now all signs are pointing to campus being open by the start of next year,” Rabbi Sufrin said. “It is way too early to decide [whether and how to open campus next year], but the responsible thing to do is stay open to all options.”

Online Standardized Testing Continued from front page taken at home, the great teachers that some students have should be shared,” said Coby Karben (‘22).

“There is no reason that one kid should have a good teacher, and one kid can’t, especially when it is literally a click away.”

Many colleges and universities nationwide have switched to test-optional admission requirements for the 2021 admission cycle. YULA’s Director of College Guidance Mr. Michael Heeter recommended that all juniors take the ACT or SAT when it becomes available because high scores will only be advantageous to them.

Advanced Placement--YoutTube John Frensley reviews simple harmonic motion on the AP YouTube channel as part of an effort to make free educational resources avaiable to students.

Michael Gillett

By Eitan Gelb (‘22) Mr. Michael Gillett came to work at YULA during the middle of the school year after Mr. Shawn Clary, former IT Director left. Mr. Gillett, as the new IT Director, has faced unprecedented challenges, and without him the seamless adjustment the students and faculty have made to online classes and events would not have been possible.

Technology malfunctions are bound to happen, and Mr. Gillett has been prepared to help. He has taken advice from other schools in the area while also adding his own touch to YULA’s online environment.

Mr. Gillett grew up in a small town in New Hampshire. He was the “tech guy” at the University of New Hampshire before he moved to Chicago. He earned a theater degree at the Second City Chicago Advanced Conservatory and directed plays in Chicago. After eight years in Chicago, Mr. Gillett moved to Los Angeles.

In his free time, while stuck at home because of COVID-19, Mr. Gillett has cultivated some hobbies: recording a podcast about old-time radio, teaching himself the ukulele, and flying a new drone.

YULA’s welcoming environment has made Mr. Gillet’s transition easier. “Lots of schools talk about being a community but YULA really is,” Mr. Gillett said.

5

Features

Tracking COVID-19: an Interview with Avi Schiffman

By Aidan Stephen (‘22), Managing and Sports Editor

Avi Schiffman, a 17-year-old Seattle native created one of the most vital resources for people seeking accurate, updated numbers on the pandemic. Schiffman’s site, ncov2019.live, has been visited by millions of people globally. It has a continuously updating case and death tracker, an interactive map, and information about the virus. The Post had the opportunity to interview Schiffman about his website.

The Panther Post: When did you first have the idea to create a website that could track the coronavirus?

Avi Schiffman: I started the website early January this year. I think a lot of other news stations that have interviewed me over-exaggerated the timing of my website. People say I predicted the coronavirus, but that’s not entirely true. When I really first got the inspiration to create this website, there were about a hundred cases outside of China, and so I guess you could call it a prediction, but it was already starting to hit that global scale.

to create something that can help the world as well.

You know, there’s plenty of opportunities other than the coronavirus that can be impacted by a teenager’s technology. Last time we had a pandemic, you know like SARS or Ebola, there was never really anybody who stepped up and created something that could help the effort in minimizing the damage of these diseases. Nowadays with the internet, anything is possible. And so my advice to young people would be to pursue their passions and create something that can help the world.

the twelve thousand emails that I get every day.

The Post: I know the Seattle Jewish community has been impacted hard by this pandemic. Can you detail the current situation of your community and how your website has affected them?

Schiffman: Well, to be honest, I’m not a very religious person, but I have done many different interviews with local Jewish newspapers, and it seems like it’s really helped them locate the exact amount of cases in their separate communities.

The Post: Have you learned anything interesting about the disease itself through the process of creating your website?

Schiffman: Yeah. When looking at the data from the website, you can infer a lot of cool things. For example, South Korea and Iran [in March 2019] had very similar case counts for the virus; however, Iran had almost 10 times [more] deaths than South Korea did. From this data, you’re able to infer many different things about the country’s healthcare or even how transparent the governments are being.

The Post: So, I think we all want to know what type of background helped you create this website? As a teenager, you must have had some type of help when you first started.

Schiffman: Yeah, I mean, I’ve been programming for the last seven years of my life. And to be honest, everything I know really comes from YouTube videos. You can learn a lot from just watching a short clip. And any questions that I’ve asked [have] been asked by many people before me, so really everything I needed was on the internet. And of course, a lot of it was just kind of learning as I went along.

The Post: So I understand that your website has been out for a while. What has the response been from the public?

Schiffman: Overall the response has been really good. It seems like people really love what I did and have been using it a lot, but I occasionally do get a few complaints about technology issues and stuff like that.

People like to criticize some of the aspects of the website. They are always looking to add new things to it, but for the most part, people really love what it’s done for the countless communities around the world.

The Post: I know so many teenagers have heard your story and what you were able to accomplish. So what advice can you give to kids your age about accomplishing their goals?

Schiffman: One thing I will say is that I hope that what I’ve created will inspire many other young people

The Post: In terms of the website, do you personally update it or do you have a team of co-workers? And how often do you update it?

Schiffman: For the most part, it’s only me updating the website, but I obviously have people that I can ask questions to. But usually, it’s just me sifting through

The Post: How are you able to count specific cases in each area?

Schiffman: My website uses something called a web scraper, which basically takes all the data off the internet and compiles it into one area. I also have a direct connection between the government’s updates, and it just goes straight to my website. To put it simply, I basically get data from many different outside sources that are continuously updating.

The Post: What are some future plans you have for the website?

Schiffman: I’m just going to be implementing a bunch of updates. I’ll probably add in some graphs and data tables for people to look at. Web scrapers are really hard to stabilize, so for the future I’m just going to be figuring out ways to keep the website running efficiently. As for any future innovations, my goal is just to continue changing the world. I take inspiration from so many different successful businesses, and I hope to make an impact on some type of industry and change the way we know [it]. As soon as this coronavirus is over, I’m going to use my skills and work on so many different ideas that I have.

ncov2019.live

6

The Panther Post • June 2020 • Features

A Guide to Streaming Services

By Arshia Kohanteb (‘22) Chances are you’re spending a good amount of your time indoors due to the coronavirus, and in a world of constant technological development, cable TV is quickly becoming obsolete with subscription services taking its place. There are countless streaming services out there, but which (if any) of these services are worth it?

Crackle, founded by Sony in 2007, was once a prevalent streaming service but has slowly disappeared into the void. While writing this article, I considered taking Crackle off the list due to its dying user base and Sony’s poor maintenance of the platform.

However, it’s free, making it an attractive option if you’re on a tight budget. Although the platform shows advertisements, it’s hardly a downside, considering that it costs nothing to enjoy. I do have to warn you, though, if you plan to use Crackle, each film is streamed in standard definition, and a tiny ad floats at the bottom of the screen throughout the entire show.

Apple TV+ disrupted the streaming service industry when it launched in late 2019. Apple TV+ comes in at $4.99 per month and can be shared with up to five other people in your family. Where Apple TV+ really shines is in its Apple Originals, such as “Carpool Karaoke,” “The Series,” “The Morning Show,” and “The Servant.” While Apple TV+ is not the best candidate to replace the traditional set-top box, it supplements other streaming services well.

eo platform YouTube, is Google’s attempt at the ultimate streaming platform. YouTube TV is very similar to cable with its large collection of live channels, but unlike most cable TV bundles, it offers an unlimited DVR capacity. Another added benefit to YouTube TV is that it can be streamed on virtually any device with internet compatibility. The main downside of YouTube TV is its price: It comes in at $49.99, which is more expensive than some cable subscriptions.

Disney+, released in late 2019, is Disney’s take on a streaming platform. It features Disney’s vast catalog of classic movies and shows, all Marvel and Star Wars films, content from Fox, and original content, including the popular “The Mandalorian.” Disney+ comes in at a competitive $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year. (Verizon offers its customers a free year of Disney+.) Disney also offers a bundle for Disney+, ESPN, and Hulu, for just $12.99 per month.

Hulu launched in 2007 with an outburst of support from the community. For years it has battled Netflix for the streaming service crown.

“The Simpsons,” “Saturday Night Live,” and “South Park,” are just a sliver of the amazing shows that are available on Hulu. It’s also the only streaming service app supported by the Nintendo Switch.

Hulu comes in two flavors: the standard on-demand streaming service you’ve always known and loved, and the newly released Hulu + Live TV, which adds a vast array of live channels and up to 50 hours of DVR capacity. You can stream Hulu Apple—Carpool Karaoke on up to two screens simultaneously, re Sling TV by Dish Network highly resembles the gardless of which version. Hulu comes in at $5.99 traditional set-top box with its live TV channels but per month for the classic and $54.99 per month for is accessed through the internet. Sling’s main appeal Hulu + Live TV. One of the downsides is that both to users is its vast array of channels, which can be versions includes advertisements, though you could streamed on any device that supports the Sling app. cough up an additional $6 per month for either plan After a seven-day free trial, Sling TV has two subscrip- to get rid of them. tion services, which each cost $30 per month. Sling Amazon Prime Video uses Amazon’s AWS sevTV Orange contains more channels, but only one user ers to deliver a fast, high quality, clear video stream. can stream at a time, whereas Sling TV Blue has fewer Amazon Prime Video, as the name implies, is includchannels but can stream on up to three devices simul- ed in Amazon Prime’s cost: annually $119 or monthly taneously. Sling TV is a great candidate for those who $12.99. Students with a .edu email pay $59 annually want the traditional live TV channels but don’t want a or $6.49 monthly. The Amazon Prime bundle includes set-top box. many other services such as free, two-day delivery on HBO offers two streaming platforms, HBO GO and Amazon orders and unlimited photo storage with AmHBO NOW. They are almost indistinguishable, but azon Photos. Just like many other platforms, where HBO GO is bundled with cable TV packages, while Amazon Prime Video shines is in its Prime Originals HBO NOW is an independent streaming service. HBO such as “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Patriot,” and is famous for shows such as “The Sopranos,” “Dead- “Fleabag.” Overall Prime Video is a great option for wood,” “Last Week Tonight,” and “The Wire.” HBO is people who don’t need or want live TV. a great service, but it doesn’t come cheap: HBO NOW Netflix has ruled the streaming service industry costs $15.99 per month, and while you might think for more than 10 years despite new companies joining HBO GO is free, you’re paying an extra fee for it in the on-demand streaming game. Netflix’s on-demand your cable package. Both HBO GO and HBO NOW are library holds the most content with fantastic originals, great supplements for cable or other streaming ser- along with some of the best TV shows and movies. Netvices, but neither is adequate alone. flix’s price tag can be daunting, but you get what you YouTube TV, not to be confused with the free vid- pay for. Netflix trumps the competitors with its Netflix

Amazon Prime Video— The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Originals such as “Stranger Things,” “Orange Is the New Black,” and “Tiger King.” While Netflix currently features a rich and diverse library of basically any genre, companies are beginning to take their shows off Netflix to add them to their own proprietary streaming services. The NBC hit, “The Office,” rumored to be one of the most streamed shows, will be removed from Netflix at the end of 2020. Netflix has three plans from which to choose: Basic, Standard, and Premium. Basic allows you to stream on one device at a time, does not allow for HD playback, and costs $8.99 per month.

Standard allows for simultaneous playback on two devices with HD playback and costs $12.99 per month.

Premium allows four devices to simultaneously binge shows in HD for $15.99 per month.

Verdict: While the streaming platform library is vast, it might be hard to choose, so I conducted a survey among YULA students to see what they would choose.

Out of 36 people who participated in the survey, 30 said Netflix is their favorite streaming service. Assuming this reflects the school as a whole, 83% of YULA students prefer Netflix to other services. So with that data in mind, if you need live TV and on-demand content, I would recommend Sling TV in conjunction with Netflix. And if you don’t really need live TV, I would suggest cutting the cord and getting Netflix along with Hulu or Amazon Prime Video, for your entertainment needs. But just remember if you plan on cutting the cord to save money, don’t load up on subscription services that are going to add up to cost more than cable.

Netflix—TigerKing

The Panther Post • June 2020 • Features

7

A Guide to Food Delivery Services

By Aidan Stephen (‘22), Managing and Sports Editor YULA students and their families are used to ordering takeout from kosher restaurants in the Los Angeles area, and with the COVID-19 pandemic prohibiting dining-in, takeout has only become more popular.

But there are so many different options when it comes to delivery services. The Panther Post has taken the liberty of doing the dirty work of evaluating these delivery services for you.

Postmates has been my go-to app for food delivery since I was about ten years old. They always deliver on time and have very approachable drivers.

-Eitan Gelb (‘22) Postmates:

Founded in 2011, Postmates came onto the scene as the first app dedicated to food delivery. Since then, it has become one of the most popular ways to get food to your house promptly and efficiently. “Postmates has been my go-to app for food delivery since I was about 10 years old,” Eitan Gelb (‘22) said. “They always deliver on time and have very approachable drivers.”

In addition to having a loyal customer group and a friendly staff, Postmates offers delivery from more kosher restaurants than the rest of the services. If students are hungry and want to receive their food fast and efficiently, Postmates is the way to go.

However, Postmates has its disadvantages. Most delivery services allow you to place your order before a restaurant opens, but Postmates only allows you to order while the restaurant is open. During the regular

school year, this can be challenging for students who want to order between classes. “My passing period starts at 10:30 but most restaurants don’t open until 11:00,” said Jake Stephen (‘23). “I’m not able to get my food on time and as a result have to eat quickly before my next class.”

The first two times that an account reports missing food, Postmates will refund the customer, but by the third time, Postmates refuses to refund the customer.

Barring these small issues, Postmates presents an on-time delivery service that will get the food to its destination quickly and efficiently.

Overall grade: B+ DoorDash: DoorDash is often known as the “new kid on the block” when it comes to delivery services. DoorDash was founded in 2013 but didn’t become a household brand until 2017. Even with less experience than most delivery services, DoorDash superseded the rest with 27.6% of the on-demand delivery market share in 2019.

While DoorDash has shown that they can accommodate their customers sometimes crazy demands, they have a lot of issues with their service. For one thing, DoorDash is the most expensive out of the three services, charging their customers a base fee of six dollars for delivery that can go as high as $20 from certain distances. The other services do not have a base fee for delivery, so customers pay even less on small orders.

While each major delivery service inevitably receives complaints, it seems that DoorDash racks up the most. Although the app has its issues, we have to appreciate the changes that DoorDash has made since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only have they transitioned to contact-free delivery like other services, but they have also provided sick “dashers”

with financial assistance. They have also let independent restaurants join the delivery service for 30 days free of charge in an effort to promote small businesses.

While in the future DoorDash may take over the food delivery spectrum, for now, they still have much on which to improve.

Overall Grade: CUberEats: When it comes to consistent delivery times, UberEats is at the head of the pack. They receive your order in a matter of seconds and deliver it right on time. UberEats also has the cheapest service out of the three. Somehow, UberEats has figured out a way to take away small transaction and handling fees and still turn a profit on your order. It is a win-win situation.

Unlike Postmates, UberEats will also never turn down a refund request. UberEats recognizes the regularity of small mistakes in a person’s order and is very flexible when it comes to the refunding process.

“About three years ago I ordered almost $150 worth of food for a party, and it never showed up,” Zach Goulson (‘22) said. “I called UberEats and they refunded me for the entire amount that I paid.”

There really isn’t anything negative to say about this service. They are consistent, cheap, and flexible.

Besides unusual or rare circumstances, UberEats is one of the best apps to use when hunger strikes.

Overall Grade: A Verdict: So there you have it. If you are looking for an inexpensive, efficient, and flexible delivery service, UberEats is the way to go. While Postmates comes in a close second, they cannot compete with UberEats’ cheap prices and fast delivery times. When you can’t dine-in at your favorite restaurant and don’t want to cook, download UberEats, and you will have your food within a reasonable amount of time at a reasonable price.

Why Zoom?

Continued from front page Zoom, a practically unheard-of platform before the COVID-19 outbreak, which has little to no back-end setup, a minimal price, and a simple UI, proved the best option. Zoom also has breakout rooms, a unique feature that allows teachers to put students into smaller groups within the class.

Zoom’s service is free for schools affected by COVID-19, making it the clear choice.

However, there have been a couple of hiccups with Zoom. Initially, anyone with a link to a meeting could join, so hundreds of unidentified people, blasting music and screen sharing pornography, were able to disrupt Zoom classrooms. Zoom has taken steps to counteract the “Zoom Bombers” by locking rooms after classes start, admitting one participant at a time into the meeting by creating a

Arye Sufrin YULA Boys and Girls present a Yom HaShoah commemoration on Zoom, taking advantage of its presentation mode where panellists can talk beside a screen they share. virtual waiting room, and embedding passwords into Zoom invitation links.

“I think that the distance learning has been going well. For many it was an almost seamless transition

and learning continued with minimal interruptions,” YULA Principal Rabbi Joseph Schreiber said. “Naturally there were challenges, but overall everyone has risen to the occasion.

That ability to rise to the occasion and perform well is one of the things that makes YULA so special.”

Torah & Israel

8

Israel Forms Unity Government Amid COVID-19

By Jake Stephen (‘23) After three elections and a year-long political deadlock, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced Israeli politicians to form a unity government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed an emergency unity government formation between Blue and White party Leader Benny Gantz and himself in hopes of adressing the medical crisis. Gantz agreed to this proposal, March 26, despite previous promises to his supporters that he would not join forces with Netanyahu.

Under the unity government Mr. Netanyahu secures half a term as prime minister and will cede the role to Mr. Gantz who will initially serve as Defense Minister. The

two have split up control of ministries between their coalitions. They agreed not to push any legislative agenda unrelated to Israel’s COVID-19 response for six months, aside from Mr. Netanyahu’s continued annexation of the West Bank. The agreement contains provisions to prevent either party from disbanding the coalition: if one tries to disband, the other will immediately take full control of the prime ministership.

Mr. Gantz, whose party was primarily set on preventing Mr. Netanyahu from conHaim Zach—Israel GPO tinuing to govern, agreed to the compromise only so there would be united leadership to Political rivals Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and Benny Gantz (right) shake hands with President Reuven Rivlin as they agree handle the pandemic. to form a unity government.

Coronavirus: Halachic HIPAA

By Moshe Feldman (‘23)

As novel coronavirus sweeps through the world and affects all aspects of society, novel Halachic queries emerge, which require, poskim (decisors) to make tough decisions in the face of atypical and challenging situations.

As cases began to occur within the Jewish community, a critical Halachic dilemma materialized: whether or not to publicize the identity of infected people. The announcement may alert people who come in close contact and potentially save lives, but it also carries the possibility of embarrassing people and exposing them to a potential stigma associated with the virus.

Many organizations have chosen anonymity. They alert the community only that a person has contracted the

virus without divulging the person’s identity. There are a few arguments in support of this decision, chief among them privacy issues. Jewish law recognizes a strong right to privacy and guards against embarrassing or slandering others, even if the information is true. Identifying a community member by name could cause feelings of humiliation and give rise to considerable gossip. The underlying prohibition of this position is lashon hara, slanderous speech.

On the other hand, there are those who believe that the privacy issues, while real, are outweighed by a greater need to control the pandemic and save lives. This argument is anchored in the sanctity of human life. Pikuach Nefesh is a mitzvah in

the Torah based on the verse “vechai bahem,” meaning the Torah’s laws do not take precedence over life (except in three cases). This mitzvah is so crucial that one must desecrate Shabbat to save a life, even in a case of safek Pikuach Nefesh (where it is unclear whether the scenario is of life and death). The knowledge that a certain person tested positive can help people figure out if they are at risk of contracting the virus themselves or passing it on to others as a carrier. The issue of embarrassing someone, while important, is contextually irrelevant because saving lives far outweighs that prohibition.

Furthermore, the concept of lashon hara isn’t applicable here “because it is used litoelet (for a beneficial

purpose), so people can get tested, realize they are asymptomatic carriers, and take extra care not to transmit the virus to others,’’ Rabbi Nachum Sauer, a YULA Rebbe and a renowned Halachic posek, said. “Certainly one could reveal the name of the person to anyone who might have had contact with him … This is muttar (permissible) and [even] mechuyav (obligatory) because of potential Pikuach Nefesh (saving a life).’’ Rabbi Sauer clarified that one should not make a public announcement, rather, only inform people who had close contact with the infected person and potentially contracted the virus.

Fasting in Response to COVID-19

By Ethan Frankel (‘22), Community Editor Orthodox Rabbis have called for two voluntary fast days to show solidarity in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of fast days in Judaism is to reflect and reorient one’s self to pray to God and repent. This fasting was designed to unite Jews during a time where many feel isolated and disconnected.

The Orthodox Union (OU), the Rabbinical Council of America, and the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudath Israel issued a joint fast March 19. The fast was only for people who felt very healthy and lasted only until chatzot, midday. (Fasts built into the Jewish calendar year last until nightfall).

The OU posted a statement online, calling upon people to “engage in extra Tehillim (Psalms) and intense Tefillah (prayer).”

News circulated around the community about the fast day and prompted many students to participate. “I enjoyed participating in the fast day,” Michael Nagel (‘22) said. “It was a great way to come together while still staying safe. I hope that these actions will contribute to returning the world to normalcy.”

Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel David Lau called for another fast day in Israel, March 25.

Rabbi Lau instructed people who could not fast due to health reasons to participate in a Taanit Dibur, abstaining from all speech for a day unless it is Torah or prayer. He also instructed people to add selichot (prayers of repentance) to their davening.

Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudath Israel issues fast day proclamation in Yiddish.

Sports

9 Volleyball Season Cut Short

By Akiva Brookler (‘21), Editor-in-Chief

The Panthers volleyball team finished with a historic undefeated season: The Panthers final season record was 1-0 after the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) canceled the season.

Their journey through this one-match season, however, had the highest winning percentage in YULA history.

The Panthers boarded a bus to Lynwood, California, to face off against Marco Antonio Firebaugh High School. Firebaugh proved a tough opponent, forcing a game five for the Panthers.

YULA took the first game of the match, but lost the subsequent two. The Panthers were down by four at game point but put together a strong comeback, winning 30-28. In the final game, Jaron Cohenca (‘20) hit spikes left and right, scoring 10 points in the final game alone.

“It’s unfortunate that we didn’t get to play the whole season.

It felt good to see our season get off to a great start, and I wish I could’ve seen how the rest went. It was a happy and sad ending to my time playing volleyball at YULA,” Cohenca said.

“You know it feels great to really cement our legacy with all the work we put in and games we played as a team,” Yoni Merkin (‘21) said.

Coach Earl Alcantara prepared the Panthers for this undefeated season. Practice consisted of running, warmups, and drills.

“There was no wasted time, so we were able to train better than ever before,” Moshe Epstein (‘21) said.

Yitzy Frankel

Hayden Klein (‘20) spikes to score against Firebaugh.

LA Sports Fans Miss Out On a Potentially Historic Year

By Aidan Stephen (‘22), Managing and Sports Editor This year was poised to be historic for Los Angeles sports. There was a possibility of three separate playoff appearances, a blossoming city-wide basketball rivalry, a potential comeback season by a former Super Bowl contender, and one of the most hopeful young teams in all of hockey. Los Angeles fans were in for a treat. The year started off magically, but when COVID-19 shut down sports, the hopes of every single fan were destroyed in an instant.

When LeBron James made his decision to join the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2018 offseason and rejuvenate the lost powers of the showtime era, sports

Betts is on a one-year deal and will enter free agency next year. If he decides to leave the team next year, the trade was a waste of our young talent.

-Gavi Steinlauf

fans had something to get excited about.

The rival Clippers went out and signed all-star, free agent Kawhi Leonard and made a blockbuster trade to acquire Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder last offseason, signifying that they hadn’t given up on winning the title of the best team in LA just yet.

“When Leonard and George joined the clippers after an equally historic offseason from the Lakers, I knew it would become one of the greatest rivalries of all time,” Yehuda Holender (‘22) said.

“There had never been a time throughout the NBA where two teams from the same city were both powerhouses.”

As the season neared the playoffs, the two teams were at the top of the conference standings. Los Angeles fans were ecstatic, knowing that they could potentially meet in the Western Conference Finals. It could have been one of the greatest playoff series in NBA history, but as the playoffs drew near, the excitement came to a halt. The season was suspended and one of the most intriguing, blossoming rivalries was put on hold.

Another Los Angeles sports team that fell victim to the pandemic was the Dodgers. For the last five years, Dodgers fans have been waiting for a World Series Championship. The team has come

close year after year but hasn’t been able to close the deal. The growing discontent from Dodgers fans led them to trade young prospects for former MVP, Mookie Betts. The Dodgers proved that they weren’t afraid of sacrificing their future for a win-now move. With Betts on the team, the Dodgers nearly guaranteed themselves a spot in the playoffs.

But when COVID-19 delayed the season’s start, Dodgers fans knew that the blockbuster offseason move had gone to waste. “Betts is on a one-year deal and will enter free agency next year,” Gavi Steinlauf (‘22) said. “If he decides to leave the team next year, the trade was a waste of our young talent.”

Just three years after moving to Los Angeles, the Rams faced off against the New England Patriots in the Superbowl.

The young Rams lost, found themselves out of the playoffs the next year, and struggled with a salary cap. They were forced to part ways with their superstar running back and many other key pieces of their former Super Bowl team.

While the coronavirus hasn’t impacted the NFL season yet, other areas of the sport have felt its effects. Team facilities have shut down, and players must now practice while isolated at home. But fans pray that they will get their chance at redemption this season.

There had never been a time throughout the NBA where two teams from the same city were both powerhouses.

-Yehuda Holender The Kings organization presents a completely different story from the other three Los Angeles sports teams. For the last couple of years, the Kings have been near the bottom of the league but have built up a strong young core for the future.

It seems that next year the rebuild might finally be complete if the Kings succeed in acquiring the number one pick in this year’s NHL draft. With the season postponed, the NHL will have to decide what will happen to the remaining games. If they choose to end the season based on the current standings, the Kings will miss their opportunity.

Opinion

10

Editorial Hindsight is 20/20 As we near the end of the semester, schools have proven that they can continue to offer a rigorous education without physical classrooms. But as nearly every student would attest, regular school offers something that online school cannot parallel.

Take the way Judaism shapes the culture of YULA. Remember the musical hallels, where every student would have his arm around his friend, singing together joyously. Remember the chagigas in the student lounge, where students would come together to celebrate many occasions. Remember the cholent competitions, the smell of savory meat filling the school, the competitive spirit among students, the fun of missing class for a morning devoted to student activities. Remember Shabbatons, when classmates would come together to bond over a traditional Shabbat experience. Our Jewish culture defines our community, and the community defines our Jewish culture. But now we wonder, without the school community, what can we cling to?

Take the way athletics unifies the school. Remember the packed gym

Had an article showing the value of school been written a few months ago, most readers would have laughed at it. But it took losing these occasions to realize how valuable they are. during every cross-town rivalry game and students cheering for their school.

Remember seeing the flag football team wearing their pink jerseys and kippahs on game day to show support for their coach, who is fighting breast cancer.

Remember the New York trips to cheer on the school at the Red Sarachek Basketball Tournament. We united over the common goal of victory for our friends on the court because we cling to our pride in each other.

The small occurrences that we took for granted every day are what made the school. Had an article showing the value of school been written a few months ago, most readers would have laughed

at it. But it took losing these occasions to realize how valuable they are. And it’s not just being at school that we can now appreciate because we lost it.

When was the last time we missed waking up early on a Saturday morning to attend shul? Recall the rabbis’ sermons, the conversations in the back rows, the kiddush after davening. We never stopped to think about the significance of the religious and social outlets that serve as the foundation of our community.

When was the last time we missed eating meals with extended family? Remember the political arguments at the table and the loud noises of young children. The things we could do without are now what we miss. We constantly wanted more “me time,” but now that all we have is “me time,” we realize the importance of spending time with people.

But as we miss what we have lost, are we taking the time to appreciate our current lifestyle? We can pursue our other academic interests through many universities’ free online classes, like learning biochemistry or psycholo-

gy; we can roll out of bed in the morning minutes before class starts; we have much more time to relax; we have the opportunity to begin new hobbies—I have a friend who took up cross stitching, of all things. Ironcially the stress of distanced learning alleviates the stress of our sometimes impossible schedules.

I for one am going outside every day, whether to appreciate the growth in my mom’s vegetable garden or to take a leisurely walk, which I never would have done before quarantine. We can either take these hidden blessings for granted, or we can savor our unique circumstances and cling to our new perspective.

As it is stated in Psalms 30:7, “When I felt secure, I said, ‘I will never be shaken.’” We have seen how our lives flipped in an instant. If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it is never to feel immortal; rather, we must appreciate the parts of our lives, both pre- and post-quarantine, that we now fully realize can disappear in an instant.

Voting, Not Violence Effects Change We thought life would return to normal when the country started to reopen after it shut down due to the coronavirus. But this past week, as streets have filled with violent rioters, local governments have imposed curfews, and the national guard has mobilized, we realize we are far from returning to normal life.

And while some opportunists hijacked protests to enjoy chaos-sponsored “shopping sprees,” for many, the point of these riots is not to let America return to normal because George Floyd and his family will never return to their normal lives, because too many innocent black people will never return to their families, because too many guilty law enforcement officers have returned to their normal lives after their acquittal. It took a whole week of violent riots over Floyd’s death for Thomas Lane, Tou Thao, and J. Alexander Kueng to be charged for their involvment in Floyd’s murder. Your average white American does not think about police brutality in their day-to-day lives, so the protestors want to bring these issues to the forefront of American life..

What the protestors want is just and fair, but violence is not the way to promote change. We all must make our voices heard, but peacefully: To stand on the side and not speak out against

the needless killing of anyone would be inhumane; to stand on the side and not speak out against the racism rampant in law enforcement would be cowardly; to stand on the side and not speak out against the corruption of the justice system that lets cops off the hook simply because “cops have a hard job and we need to respect the badge” would be shortsighted.

While torching stores certainly sends a smoke signal advocating change, are the store owners guilty of Floyd’s murder? While creating a need to deploy the national guard certainly makes headlines, are the thousands of police and military officers guilty of Floyd’s murder? While inciting public fear certainly plays well on television, are the millions of Americans who have been placed under curfew guilty of Floyd’s murder? How can there be civil rights when the path to those rights is far from civil?

While the rioters may feel violence intended to break the system is the most effective way to react to systemic racism, in actuality violence and looting are the most effective ways to turn public opinion against any cause. If anything, violent protests tend to reinforce the very stereotypes that protesters stand against. When the public sees protestors burning down and looting

Rosa Pineda—Wikimedia Commons Rioters set fires outside of Lafayette Square in Washington D.C. storefronts, they aren’t going to show them any sympathy. When some politicians see these riots, they will only use them to fuel hatred among their base.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said in his “Other America” speech that “Certain conditions continue to exist in our society, which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard.” Since no one condones violence, how can black people in this country be heard? Colin Kaepernick was publicly condemned and lost his

job because he took a knee, while Derrick Chauvin was almost ignored taking a knee on Floyd’s neck and killing him.

Though it may seem that black people have no voice in this country, they do. We must not forget the system built into the Constitution: Elections are just around the corner. Showing up to the polls—not only to vote for the president and congress members, but also for local officials—is the way to be heard.

Solving the national problem starts at home. We must strengthen our cities and relationships, not burn them down.

The Panther Post • June 2020 • Opinion

11

B”H Plz Send Answers

By Yonah Berenson (‘20), Editor-in-Chief Emeritus I’ve noticed classmates praying more intensely than usual when they have a test the following period.

I’ve also noticed some of those same classmates cheating on those tests.

The epidemic of cheating—both at YULA and in the world at large—is hardly unique to the newfound challenges to academic honesty posed by the coronavirus. But the recent surge in cheating is only a symptom of a problem that’s been festering and left unaddressed for years.

Cheating has doubtless increased during this pandemic simply because the opportunity to cheat has increased.

Where proctors once eyed suspiciously any student who glanced anywhere in the room but squarely on his test, no proctors now watch. Where cheating once required a surreptitious glance or a nearly silent whisper, students can now FaceTime or message each other during a test with none the wiser.

Some are ready to embrace this new system of trust. After all, once college is over, or in many cases even in college, there will be no one (except The One) scrutinizing every move. Students should avoid cheating because cheating is wrong, not because they’re afraid of being caught, reported, or blacklisted from future testing (threats the College Board made to Advanced Placement exam takers to discourage cheating).

It would be fine to live and let live, to let students fail and realize their own mistakes, except cheating hurts many others besides the cheater. Obvious-

ly cheating deceives teachers, college admissions officers, and employers because students attempt to pass off others’ work as their own. But cheating also hurts those students whose ethical backbone the coronavirus has not broken. They suffer when the quality of their work has declined in comparison to their peers’ because they’re not sharing answers during a test via WhatsApp. They suffer when their test scores are thrown out because others cheated. I won’t go so far as to repeat the canard that cheating hurts the cheater most because more often than not it doesn’t.

I’m not alleging a cheating culture in YULA. I certainly have no reason to believe anything I’ve seen at YULA is unique or more unseemly than what goes on in schools and offices across the country. Those schools and offices likely also stress “uncompromising general studies” and “character development,” which cheating actively negates. But YULA and Jewish schools like it also proclaim the “primacy and relevancy of Torah.” Torah can’t be of prime concern when an A on the test is of prime concern, and Torah can’t be relevant when the vehicle for getting that A is cheating.

It should go without saying how seriously Judaism treats taking unethical shortcuts, but since it too often does go without saying, I’ll say it. The first question each of us will be asked after he dies, we believe, is whether he was honest in business. Our relationship with God and our observance of the ritual aspects of Judaism are important too, but

The Panther Post Editor-in-Chief: Akiva Brookler (‘21) Executive Editor: Boaz Edidin (‘22) Managing Editor: Aidan Stephen (‘22) Faculty Adviser: Ms. Pam Felcher Editor-in-Chief Emeritus: Yonah Berenson (‘20)

Community Editor: Ethan Frankel (‘22) Academics Editor: Moshe Epstein (‘21) Torah & Israel Editor: Benjamin Rubin (‘22) Features Editor: Aaron Silvera (‘23) Sports Editor: Aidan Stephen (‘22) Opinion Editor: Yoni Merkin (‘21)

Layout & Graphics Editor: Daniel Sentchuk (‘22)

Please be mindful that this publication contains words of Torah and should be treated with respect.

YULA Boys, 9760 Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035

question No. 1 is whether we conducted ourselves ethically in our affairs with others. Judaism believes that advancing one’s career by means of deception constitutes full-fledged monetary theft (geneivat mamon) and that the deception itself constitutes intellectual theft (geneivat daat), two Torah prohibitions Rav Moshe Feinstein cited in a responsum to a question about rumored cheating during the New York State Regents Examinations.

How can students at an Orthodox Jewish high school ask each other to post the answers to a quiz—during the quiz— on a WhatsApp group chat? How, in the pre-coronavirus and in all likelihood post-coronavirus days, can students who wear kippot to remind themselves that God is above them at all times peek at another student’s answers?

Society at large would have to change its whole value system to fix its cheating problem. But if you’re reading this, you’re probably a Modern Orthodox Jew. Our solution should only require believing what we already profess to believe. We pride ourselves on taking the best from society while sticking to a Torah perspective.

That’s why it’s all the more troubling that our definition of success has come, at least in practice, to so closely resemble society’s. Our success centers on money as well—money to give to tzedakah, money to pay day-school tuition, money to pay for expensive kosher goods. And even if our ends are pure, we sometimes forget to keep the means pure as well.

As we learn about the importance of sending our kids to Jewish schools, we might sometimes fail to learn about the importance of maintaining, figuratively and literally, honest weights and measures. As we learn about the importance of acting like Torah-observant Jews, we might sometimes forget to be Torah-observant Jews.

None of this means to negate the importance of a Jewish education, of kashrut, of Pesach, of living in a Jewish community. It means only to draw attention to the phenomenon to which I alluded in the first sentences of this essay: students who whisper prayers to God one minute and answers to their peers the next.

The Torah was the first document in history not to distinguish between ritual law and legal code, between moral behavior toward God and ethical behavior toward other people. To fail to educate our children in a Jewish environment is to be false to our ancient tradition of Jewish education. To cheat on an exam to get an A to get into college to get a job to pay for that Jewish education is to be false to our ancient tradition not to steal and cheat and lie. We can’t bypass one to get to the other more easily or quickly.

Or, in Rabbi Akiva’s words, “What is hateful to you do not do to your fellow. That is the entire Torah, and the rest is its commentary. Go learn.”

A vital part of The Panther Post is our extensive opinion section, which includes both the Editorial Board’s opinions as well as op-eds written by the student body. But these pieces should not be the end of the conversation; instead, they should catalyze a meaningful conversation within our community on important issues. So we want to hear your opinions. Any article you read—whether you agree, disagree, or have a relevant comment—we want to hear how you feel. Letters to the Editor are an essential part of all newspapers, and ours should be no different. We ask that you send your brief reactions (an edited 150 words) to letters@yula.org, so that we and all our readers can hear our community’s diverse opinions.

12

The Panther Post • June 2020 • Opinion

We Adapted to Survive the Coronavirus.

How About Climate Change?

By Boaz Edidin (‘22), Executive Editor

It only took a few months to flip the world upside down. The number of recorded cases for the novel coronavirus has surpassed six million. To avoid infection people everywhere are staying home and avoiding social interaction.

On a positive note, this has led to a reduction in pollutive greenhouse gas emissions.

Governments around the world are shutting down stores, businesses, and public gatherings and enforcing social distancing restrictions to minimize human-to-human contact and impede the virus’s spread. Although most countries have not banned public transit, people are avoiding buses and trains. Global travel has also stalled as flights remain empty and many routes have been canceled.

In recent months, the reductions in industrial activity in response to the coronavirus have led to massive drops in levels of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, the primary agents of global warming. A study published on May 19 found that these measures contributed to an estimated 17 percent decline in daily global carbon dioxide emissions worldwide from 2019’s daily averages. In March, Columbia University researchers monitoring air pollutant levels in New York City discovered 10% drops in carbon dioxide and methane

as well as a 50% decrease in carbon monoxide. Pollution levels have also plunged dramatically in China, and the waters of Venice, Italy, have cleared.

Will these improvements prove fleeting or can we do something to maintain this positive outcome?

Scientists are concerned that although the world’s reaction to COVID-19 might seem beneficial to the environment at the moment, it won’t last. History has shown that during disasters that negatively impact the economy or force people to stay inside, greenhouse emissions tend to drop but then rebound back to prior levels after the disaster abates. The 14th-century Black Plague that pummeled Europe forced people to quarantine, the Second World War financially drained the countries involved, and the mortgage crisis of 2008 caused an economic recession. Each had a positive impact on the environment because it restricted the human ability to tamper with nature. However, once the public and the economy recovered from those crises, the environment suffered. When people begin to drive and fly again after quarantine ends, will the environment be at risk of collapsing once again?

Unlike the reactions to crises in the past, the international community’s rapid and unified response to COVID-19

can teach us important lessons in our fight against climate change. Elizabeth Sawin, co-director of the non-profit think tank Climate Interactive, said that while the effects of the virus are unfurling much faster than those of climate change, a common principle applies: if you wait until you can see the impact, it is too late to stop it.

History has shown that during disasters that negatively impact the economy or force people to stay inside, greenhouse emissions tend to drop but then rebound back to prior levels after the disaster abates.

Other experts hope that the coronavirus response can serve as an example for unified global warming efforts. Bill Gates told Chris Anderson of TED that “the idea of innovation and science and the world working together — that is totally common between these two prob-

lems [of the coronavirus and climate change].” According to Mr. Gates, who donated $100 million to develop coronavirus treatment efforts, we can prove the naysayers wrong and replicate our response to the virus with climate change.

Governments and environmentalists must formulate a comprehensive set of guidelines that people worldwide can follow to combat global warming. People can use the time at home to adjust to the guidelines then fully implement them into their lives when the Safer-atHome initiative and the need to social distance expire.

The opportunity to apply lessons from the response to the virus to the global fight against climate change, might be hindered by the shortage of funds due to the economic downturn, so this leaves civilians with the responsibility to lead.

Perhaps we can stall global warming by continuing to reduce our travel and by changing our schedules to be more eco-friendly. To that end, remote learning and working from home might become more common. While replicating a quarantine-like response may not be the answer, people now know they have the power to make a change if they work together, even if that work is from home.

digifly840—Pixabay