The
Panther Post
VOL. III NO. 1
November 2018 | Cheshvan-Kislev 5779
Eleven Killed in Anti-Semitic Shooting at Pittsburgh Synagogue
A Publication of YULA High Schools
YULA Girls Smashes Fundraising Goal!
Hanna Gootin (‘19), Editor-In-Chief
ing of his community is liable to the prophecy in Yishayahu 11, which goes so far as to say that one who neglects his community may die as punishment. In a famous teshuva (responsum), Rav Moshe Feinstein wrote that “it is incumbent upon each Jewish citizen to participate in the democratic system which guards the freedoms we enjoy. The most fundamental responsibility incumbent on each individual is to register and to vote.” In this letter Rav Feinstein also
On 17th and 18th October, YULA Girls had a fundraising event with the goal of raising $400,000 towards helping girls who wish to attend the school but might not be able to otherwise. Known as the YULA’s Beiteinu Education Fund, the whole school community came together in a 24 hour intensive drive, and by the deadline had exceeded its goal by 159%! The final total was $636,432, an astonishing achievement and a dramatic testament to the commitment of YULA Girls students, parents, and faculty. YULA Girls paired up with Charidy, a nonprofit crowdfunding platform that applies fundraising techniques to the online world, and due to the generosity of four special donors, each dollar donated was matched to quadruple its value. Rabbi Spodek, YULA Girls Head of School, pointed out that “the needs of our community grow year by year, and we are committed to ensure every Jewish teen an equal opportunity to attend YULA Girls and be a part of its legacy.” Planning for this event started last May with the stated aim of expanding YULA Girl’s financial aid and scholarship grants for students in need. Throughout the entire school day, each grade was called out to go to Kest Commons (aka the “War Room”) where lines of phones and donation forms were waiting to be used. The entire area was a frenzy of phones ringing, cheering faculty members, and passionate students getting in touch with their contacts. Prizes were given to girls who raised the most money each hour and bells were rung when a single donation exceeded $500. The energy of the day was palpable as students bore their Panther Pride when sharing with their callers how much YULA Girls means to them on both a personal and academic level. The YULA administration team of Nancy Schiff, Michal Braun, Samir Miller, Zach Cohen, and Rabbi Spodek, were impressed by the commitment shown by everyone involved. “The entire Jewish community came together to support our students; it was such a moving and unifying experience. The girls really showed initiative,” said Samira Miller. “It was in reality a celebration of students, faculty, family, and everything that
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Eleven Jews were murdered on Shabbat, October 27, at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Above, the Los Angeles community came together outside the Federal Building at Wilshire and Veteran. To read YULA students’ perspectives on the deadliest act of terrorism aimed at Jews ever in the U.S., see back page.
YULA Boys Junior Awarded Innovation Grant Liam Abucasis (‘21) Jonah Zelkha (‘20) has been awarded the Julie Beren Platt Innovation Grant for his app idea, which would help users, especially low-income families, eat healthily, even with busy schedules. The JBP Innovation Grant, as described on the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles’ website, is meant to encourage Los Angeles-based teens to take risks, be creative, and experiment. Students can win up to $1500 in grant money. According to the website, “In addition to the prize
money, [students] will receive mentoring from a professional in the community, a connection to other Jewish teens, and an amazing opportunity to bring [their] concepts to fruition.” Thanks to Rabbi Michael Cohen, Director of Innovation, Zelkha was able to apply for this grant. Rabbi Cohen also taught Zelkha the steps and skills for starting and running an app. Zelkha thought of this app idea last year when he was having trouble organizing school work. He decided to get a school planner. Once he saw how easy school
became with a planner, he decided to “apply this to food.” With his app only in its starting phase, he plans to use the grant money to develop a prototype app to present to investors. Zelkha said he plans for the app to “make a meal plan that fits
the person’s budget. It’s going to make a meal plan that fits the family size, and it will suggest ingredients for an entire month. “I’m really going to be helping people by organizing their meal plan, which is going to make their lives much easier.”
“I’m really going to be helping people by organizing their meal plan, which is going to make their lives much easier.” Jonah Zelkha (‘20) discusses his grant-winning app with Mrs. Sheri Schlesinger, founder of Genesis, in the new - Jonah Zelkha (‘20) Schlesinger Entreperneurship and STEAM Lab.
Halacha on Civic Duty and Voting Yoni Merkin (‘21)
In Vayikra 19 we learn to “love your fellow as you love yourself.” Additionally, many times in Halacha we are taught that we must help others. But does the same apply for taking part in an attempt to help one’s government? One of the most effective ways in America to help the government is to vote in elections. So the question arises whether Halacha requires Jews to participate in elections while in galut, exile. Multiple times in the Gemara, the idea of dina demalchuta dina arises, which means that
Jews who are in galut are halachically obligated to follow the laws of the country they are in, so long as those laws do not contradict Halacha. The Gemara seems to imply that even in galut, we are members of the nation in which we are living. In Taanit, the Gemara says that “when the community is im-
mersed in suffering, a person may not say: I will go to my home and I will eat and drink” (11b). This Gemara indicates that one should play an active role to help his community, so it seems that one should be required to vote to elect government officials. Furthemore, the Gemara rules that someone who ignores the suffer-
“The most fundamental responsibility incumbent on each individual is to register and to vote.” - Rav Moshe Feinstein