DECEMBER 2013 • TEVET 5774 Fantasy Davening’s 2013 Season Kicks Off By Hallie M. ’14 and Alex C. ;14 To many high schoolers across the country, fall marks the beginning of changing leaves, pumpkin spice, and, of course, the all-consuming fantasy football season. Yet, for Beth Tfiloh males in the Beit Midrash davening group, a far holier season resumes come September. No, we’re not talking about the High Holidays. We’re talking about Fantasy Davening. In the parameters of this fantasy league, seasoned coaches select their teams each year from within the davening group, drawing from a deep pool of talent. Rookies and veterans alike compete for the hard-earned Fantasy Davening Championship that requires blood, sweat, tears, (and, of course, kavanah) from each competitor over a long period of many months and the prize that comes with it – the much coveted, golden Heisman, that is – no, not a free lunch from Chaim, or a free bagel – but a not-of-this-world championship: honor and prestige in the eyes of the Almighty. This year, a wide range of highly competitive teams have entered the hunt for the Championship and have begun the process of scouting out their potential draft picks. Returning teams include Team Talmud Style, the Koren Kabbalists, rival squads Team Hillel and Team Shammai, and last, but certainly not least, the Hurwitz Hoodlums. New to the league this year is the Davening Demons, comprised of mostly rookie freshmen, who are struggling to get off their feet and join the pack. Five prospects have emerged from the pool of players to be named on the preseason Top 5 watch list for Fantasy Davening MVP. In the lead, Elliyahu Luck, entering his final year of eligibility in the league, commandeers the shulchan with an almost athletic vengeance. A mature veteran, Luck is an all-around beast when it comes to davening, able to lead, read Torah, and shuckle under any conditions. In second, Ben Roethlisberger, who, after a stellar rookie season, has emerged as a dual threat davener, near the top of the stat sheet at both leading and delivering Dvar Torahs, often at a moment’s
notice. In third, Andrew Ayanbadejo, a rookie to the league, leads services with confidence and assumes the offensive when it comes to reading Torah. He certainly drives the service right into the end-zone. Touchdown, or should we say, Amen? In fourth, we have Aaron Sproles, who week in and week out delivers a solid amount of points for his team. A consistent source of fantasy points, Sproles can be trusted every Monday and Thursday to complete the Hail Mary of all passes – the Kohen Aliyah. Finally, rounding out the top five, we have Josh “Beast-Mode” Stafford. Need we say more for this seasoned veteran? Stafford is certainly the fan favorite and can rev up any crowd with his ability to shake distractions at will and turn out consistent high quality davenings. Characterized by his intelligent davening style, Stafford wins over any crowd with his calm, focused demeanor to lead under pressure, seemingly always knowing the page number of any and all brachot even before they are announced.
Faculty Advisors Mrs. Halaine Steinberg, Newspaper Advisor Mrs. Rina Goloskov, Associate Newspaper Advisor
“I can’t picture doing this at my school,” a visiting senior from a local private high school observed at the Thursday night game. “Everyone likes each other here and seems to want their teams to succeed, which I can’t say about my school.”
varsity with enough energy to dent the floor boards (much to the heightened dismay and anxiety of Coach Clarke). I encountered that same deja-vu feeling my sophomore year, rooting for the Warriors with the help of that year’s head cheerleader Noah F. ‘12 as he introduced the famed “Roller Coaster” cheer to the student body. And again,
This year’s Weiner began early in October, when the Sports and Spirit Committee (SPIT) introduced the black athletic t-shirts to the student body. This new initiative, led by Maddie T. ‘14, promised to donate a large percentage of the shirt’s profits ($200, not including donations) to the Sacred Valley Project, an organization dedicated to providing impoverished Peruvian women with an education.
We wish all teams good luck during this coming Fantasy Davening season. It is sure to be one remembered for years to come. In the words of Commissioner Spencer “Henny” Kaepernick, this season, one for the ages, will be “intense.” Intensely spiritual, that is.
Weiner Tournament Reflections By Hallie M. ‘14 Photos by Jenny R. ‘14 As a ninth grader, I remember dress shopping with my best friend for her first homecoming dance at Pikesville High School on a lazy October Sunday. As we meandered around the boutique, I stopped every so often by each rack and ran my fingers along the fabrics out of want for a homecoming (or, at the very least, a homecoming dress) of my own. Concealing this envy, I picked out dozens of options for her to try, vicariously experiencing the excitement of a homecoming through her.
Alex C. ‘14 and Hallie M. ‘14 Co-Editors in Chief Writing Staff Reuven B. ‘15 Michael M. ‘16 Alex R. ‘16 Justin W. ‘16
“I think it’s such a phenomenon in the community because it’s a chance for students, teachers, and parents to show their spirit without having to leave campus at all.”
A few weeks later, packed tightly into the far left corner of the Hurwitz Gym in the middle of the Boys’ Championship Game, I realized all pangs of homecoming jealousy quickly ceased to exist as the Warriors scored the game-winning basket; moments later, entangled in a giant mosh pit of bodies in the center of the court, we collectively celebrated the “Double Weiner” victory for both girls and boys
junior year, rushing to submit my twoweek research paper early enough to attend the first Wednesday game on time, seven of my close friends competing in that year’s tournament. Yet, despite our tournament standings, nothing compares to this year’s Weiner Tournament, my fourth and final, consisting of the launch of both radio and website coverage, “Spandex Nation,” over one thousand Facebook pictures, and, of course, ample faux-hawks (namely, Leizer’s). “It’s as close to a homecoming as we get at this school,” one teacher remarked to his senior class on Monday afternoon.
“I love the shirts and the idea behind them. It was a great way to start my senior Weiner,” commented Meredith S. ‘14. Excitement further mounted starting the week of December 2, beginning with the High School’s second annual “spirit week,” a series of consecutive dress down days aimed to incite Weiner Fever before the first game. Among the themes this year, USA Day helped raise funds on behalf of the Wounded Warrior Project, a support program for Veterans. By the end of the second day of Spirit Week, over $400 had been accumulated for this organization.
However, after four years of Weiner Fever, I realize that, for us, Weiner is homecoming, if not in essence then in spirit; school pride peaks at an all-time high, unity between grades flourishes, athletes play for the win with their hearts on their sleeves, spectators lose their voices over the roar of the crowd. In the student section, hand-made fan posters adorn the wall, a testament to the intensified school spirit as well as a tribute to our friends, brothers, sisters, and students on the court. “It brings the entire school–Lower, Middle, and Upper—together, rooting for their teams,” notes Jen R. ‘14, this year’s resident Weiner photographer. over