Beth Tfiloh Dahan High School's "Insight" Winter Edition

Winter 2015-2016 Edition

Has Amer ica Lost its Mind?

Commercialization of Holidays Detracts from Meaning ALYSE M. '17

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e live in a world where Western civilization is constantly threatened, and where people are murdered in cold blood for practicing the basic freedoms of religion, speech and press. However, it appears that many Americans take their liberties for granted.

Our government has instituted national holidays including Memorial Day, Presidents?Day, Veterans Day, and Martin Luther King Day to celebrate our democratic values and struggles for freedom, but for many Americans, these holidays have become nothing more than a day off from work? a day to watch TV and shop. Seemingly, the meaning surrounding these holidays has evaporated in the midst of the retail industry that capitalizes on every possible opportunity to make money off of the American population.

During Memorial Day Weekend in 2014, Americans spent over $50 Billion in retail stores? sales increased 3.9%as shoppers spent $1.9 billion more in 2014 compared to 2013, according to Applied Predictive Technologies Inc. An AAA/ IHS Global Insights study found that ironically, shopping is the third most popular activity over Memorial Day weekend, with 43%of Americans hitting stores and outlets, 59% dining at restaurants, 52%visiting friends and relatives, and 36%going to the beach.

On average, each American is predicted to have spent $225 over the weekend, with $125 spent on food and alcohol and approximately $100 spent on other items such as clothing and appliances, according to PR Web research. Should these statistics disturb us?

Is it a problem that we have taken a day intended to honor those who have fallen while bravely defending our country and have seemingly perverted it?

Ryan S. ?17 defends many Americans?lax attitude towards these holidays because "most Americans lack personal connections to federal holidays.

Memorial Day is for people to honor loved ones who died fighting for our country and President's Day isn't really relevant to anyone. When people have days off for holidays that aren't relevant to them, they want to enjoy it."

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Mrs. Rina Goloskov D. Watkins, drug-dealer turned writer and educator, discusses opening interracial dialogues to repair Baltimore city's racial divide.

Repair ing Baltimore's Tor n Social Fabr ic: D. Watkins Speaks to AP Psych Class JUSTIN W. '16

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arlier this month, our 12th grade AP Psychology class welcomed D. Watkins, drug-dealer turned writer and educator, to the High School. Convinced that ?we need to communicate with people that we fundamentally don?t know if we are going to resolve human relationships,? Mr. Bolenbaugh arranged the program to offer his students the opportunity to gain understanding through opening a dialogue with a member of the black community actively trying to repair the racial divide in his city.

Culminating weeks of course-work on attribution, the process by which individuals explain the causes of behavior and events, Watkins presented the class a raw perspective on Baltimore from the eyes of a young, African American male growing up in the notorious Lafayette Projects.

Shaking the seniors?perceptions of the recent unrest in Baltimore City, Watkins combined the narrative of underprivileged blacks growing up in poor, inner-city neighborhoods with his gentle yet provocative social and political criticism.

Shocked, like many of the other seniors, by a statistic revealing that merely 21%of Baltimore City police reside within city lines, Daniel G. ?16 explained that ?it is really hard to express empathy towards people who are alien to you, to solve the crushing social problems facing the city first. It seems rational that the police need to develop some kind of commonality with the residents.?

However, Watkins did not harp on police brutality nearly as much as he criticized the rupture of the ?social fabric? in the inner-city, for which he blamed the misalignment of financial incentives. Essentially, a vast number of city residents simply don?t have access to a spectrum of resources from quality education to practical jobs, largely due to the political influence of corrupt interest groups, Watkins said.

Humbled by the unfortunate circumstances shared by many teenagers her age growing up in the city, Emma S. ?16 expressed that ?it?s crazy to be so caught up in the college process where we think that whether or not we get into an Ivy League school is the biggest deal in the world, when in reality it is such a blessing for us even to have the ability to apply.?

Though presenting no silver bullet to cure the current racial disparity, Watkins simultaneously presented the multi-dimensional woes plaguing the city with a far-sweeping and strikingly simple call to action: reading and awareness. While he offered utilizing social media to spread awareness of the unjust situation faced by many city residents, Watkins ultimately offered reading as a means to mend the torn socioracial fabric of our city.

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Matt Jeffers '07 Overcomes Adversity, Finds Dreams on Big Stage help you realize/ further your passion for acting?

ALYSSA M. '17

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n an interview with actor, motivational speaker, and most importantly, Beth Tfiloh alumnus, Matt Jeffers ?07, he speaks of his experiences both on and off the stage.

Jeffers is most notable for his recent appearance on NBC?s ?The Blacklist? and was also credited by head coach John Harbaugh for saving the Baltimore Ravens?

Superbowl XLVII season.

At 4-foot-2, Jeffers has endured a number of surgeries that forced him to learn to walk again; however, he continues to turn life?s obstacles into new opportunities.

A: How did you first become involved in acting?

M: My mom always said I was a "natural performer,? long before I stepped foot on the stage. She just knew I had something and always encouraged me to go out for the school plays. I was too busy focusing on basketball and soccer tryouts, but eventually I got tired of getting cut all the time...I auditioned for "Charlie Brown" in 8th grade, and the rest is history.

A: Did Beth Tfiloh and its Creative Arts Department

M: I wouldn't be where I am today without Beth Tfiloh's Creative Arts Department, specifically Diane Smith. She saw something in me and gave me everything I needed in order to realize my passions and run with it. Not many people are fortunate to have that kind of support and leadership so early in their career.

A: You've been quoted with saying that "the only disability in life is a bad attitude. A positive attitude is the most powerful combatant to life's misfortunes.? What does that mean to you?

M: Life happens. Plans change. A lot of things in this world are out of our control. It's nice to know that the most important thing in the world is within our control....our attitude?how we deal with the cards we are dealt. It's a very powerful tool.

A: You mention overcoming a number of medical struggles throughout your life. Would you briefly describe them?

M: I've had close to 20 surgeries....I won't bore you with the details. They were long, arduous, and tested that attitude. I had all of them when I was a kid, so it forced me to grow up quick and develop some thick skin.

A: I've read about the email you had sent to the Baltimore Ravens during their Super Bowl XLVII season. Would you please describe that and your experience meeting the team?

Courtesy of Matt Jeffers

Matt Jeffers '07

M: I wrote that email to a generic email address on the Ravens website one cold morning in December. I typed for 20 minutes. It was extemporaneous writing. Later that night, I got an email response from Coach Harbaugh...a few days later, I was visiting the team at their facility.

It was a dream come true for a die-hard Ravens fan. I wasn't surprised at how kind and genuine everyone is there. And

there is a reason it's called the castle?..because it is a castle.

A: Could you please describe your recent experience on NBC?s ?The Blacklist??

M: "The Blacklist" was invaluable for me as a young actor. Getting to work on a set like that so closely with the leaders of the show was invigorating and nerve-wracking and everything in between. I got my own trailer...it's not as fancy as you think it is. I arrived on set and let myself be a "fan" for a few minutes...and then it was down to work.

A: What inspired you to become a motivational speaker and share your incredible story?

M. I fell into motivational speaking. I didn't ask for anything, and certainly didn't try to do it. Shortly after the ESPN feature aired, a speaker in Cleveland called me and told me I needed to share my story, so he put me in touch with his speaking agent and I was fortunate to have been sent out on some great gigs. I have one coming up in January. It's a wonderful experience getting to connect with so many strangers through the story.

A: Did any one event or person shape you into the person you are today?

M: My mother. I could write for a decade and there wouldn't be enough pages for how I feel about her and how important she was in paving the path I'm currently on. But additionally, I am very, VERY blessed to have such wonderful friends, a deeply devoted girlfriend, and a supportive family. I'd like to think that everyone has played their part in getting me to where I currently am.

A:What would you like the students at Beth Tfiloh to know about you?

M: I couldn't be more proud to say I am from Beth Tfiloh. That is a special community. However far I go in this field, I want to take BT along for the ride. Also, if you go into the lobby of the Creative Arts Department...you should see a picture of me where I have very rosy cheeks, grey streaks in my hair, and heavy eye liner. I don't know what the makeup designer was going for, but they nailed it.

Has America Lost its Mind? Weiner From page 1 Ryan offers an important and widely shared perspective of these holidays, but has the problem gone too far? After all, a 2014 Gallup-Healthways poll ranked Memorial Day as the fifth happiest day of the year amongst Americans. Shouldn?t this horrify us? In addition to the perversion of Memorial Day, traditional holidays like Thanksgiving have faded as retail stores are illuminated with sales and dazzling lights.

Thanksgiving is intended to invoke gratitude? to make us pause our hectic lives and appreciate our family and friends. The Thanksgiving meal optimizes this idea as relatives gather from across the nation to feast and say ?thanks.?However, stores, too eager to wait for Black Friday, are opening earlier and earlier on Thanksgiving Day. Thus, the purpose of Thanksgiving becomes muddled, once again, in the chaos of our everyday lives. In 2014, big-name retailers like Macy?s, Target, and Best Buy opened at 5 and 6 pm on Thanksgiving Day. These stores were not alone. The reason they opened was because consumers were eager and willing to shop on Thanksgiving Day so stores took advantage of an opportunity to make money.

Therefore, in reality, the retailers cannot be blamed for the disappearing meaning behind American holidays. While retailers have exploited these holidays to earn profits, we, the American people, have encouraged them to do so year after year.

Many U.S. citizens such as Melanie B. ?17 ?find it unfortunate that holidays are no longer about

spending time with the people you love but rather revolve around materialism which often outranks the true meaning of holiday.?

Simply put, stores wouldn?t open on holidays if the American people cared enough to stay home and spend time with their families. So, the American people face a dilemma: celebrate and honor these holidays as our forefathers intended or utilize them as day to shop, barbeque, and relax on the beach?

But perhaps there is a way to compromise.

The American people must recognize that holidays like Presidents?Day, Veteran?s Day, Thanksgiving, Martin Luther King Day, and Memorial Day are in fact AMERICAN holidays. WE must recognize that the purpose of these holidays is to invoke feelings of patriotism and appreciation for our rights and privileges, denied to others worldwide.

Rayut B ?17 insists that we must recognize that these holidays ?share a common theme of thanks: gratitude for the people that have given their lives so that we can live better ones, gratitude for our family and friends, and gratitude for those who strove to ensure the democratic values of America.?

If we do this, then we have accomplished the purpose of the holidays.

So yes, shopping and taking trips to the beach detract from the meaning of these holidays, but above all, it is important be mentally aware of the significance of these days and to understand that, as Rayut says, ?we should be thankful for our country.

Showing appreciation is one small way we can give back to a country that has given us so much.?

Tour nament from the Cour t MICHAEL M. '16

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he lights in the Hurwitz gym came down as both Beth Tfiloh Boys and Girls Varsity basketball teams entered the opposite tunnels.

As the hype video played for the students, all of us on the team began to feel a pulse of excitement.

Finally, our tournament moment arrived and we sprinted out onto the court to the tune of 200 screaming fans. While we goofed off and had fun during the pep rally, the serious work lay only hours away.

The buzzer sounded and the tournament officially began. The boys opened with an exhilarating overtime game and the girls made a statement with a blowout victory.

While the action on the court excited all the athletes and fans, the moments off the court truly defined why the Weiner Tournament is so special. This year, schools from Dallas, New York, New Jersey, Toronto, and even Jerusalem came to participate in the epitome of Beth Tfiloh excitement.

During times when we did not have games, all Continued on page 3

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Enact Open Car r y Laws DANIEL B. '17 In light of recent tragedies such as the San Bernardino shooting, politicians have struggled more than ever to prevent similar tragedies from happening again.

Recent executive orders on gun control by President Obama attempt to more strictly enforce existing background checks on gun purchasers.

Although I do agree with the decision itself (albeit whether or not it will be effective in preventing criminals from acquiring guns is a different story), I do not agree with the President?s method of accomplishing his goal. America?s political structure consists of a three branched system: executive, legislative, and judicial. Congress is responsible for legislating, not the President.

The Paris shooters had guns, despite strict gun control laws in Paris. This raises a major question: where did their guns come from? According to The Telegraph, the Charlie Hebdo shooters obtained

25,000 Euros in firearms through the black markets outside France; although there is no conclusive evidence on where the more recent Paris shooters acquired their guns, it is quite likely that they did not do it legally. France requires extensive background checks and permits to own a gun.

However, these precautions failed to stop repeated instances of terrorism. Simply owning guns may still not be enough to prevent a reoccurrence.

The United States government should allow open carry. It would serve as a deterrent to criminals, forcing them to think twice before risking their lives for crime.

For example, if a criminal wanted to rob a Macy?s store with a firearm, he or she would likely deliberate before threatening a cashier for money in store full of armed civilians.

Beth Tfiloh's Rabbi Jonathan Gross shared his

Americans have to acclimate themselves to a scary reality that we are unsafe even here in America.

opinion on gun control, and reminded me of the point that ?open carry may make some people uncomfortable.? It might, but I feel that over time Americans would become used to seeing firearms on the street not as weapons of destruction, but weapons of protection.

Unfortunately, Americans have to acclimate themselves to a scary reality that we are unsafe even here in America. Rabbi Gross suggests that ?with the increase in terror in Europe and the US? more and more law abiding citizens will want to be able to protect themselves in the same way? as those in Israel who ?are accustomed to carrying weapons in the open.?

Therefore, to deter criminals and terrorists, the United States should expand the availability of open carry licenses and implement laws that allow Americans to protect each other.

Thank you to Rabbi Gross for contributing his opinion on this topic.

Enact Reasonable Gun Control Laws ANDREW A. '17 America has seen a dramatic increase in gun violence this past year: 372 mass shootings that killed 475 and wounded 1,870 people, according to PBS. (Note: a mass shooting means that at least four people were shot.) However, almost none of these were coordinated terrorist attacks.

Rather, the majority of these attacks were perpetrated by mentally unstable individuals who obtained assault weapons through a flawed system that allows people who pose a threat to society if armed to legally purchase lethal weapons.

Therefore, America should implement more thorough background checks and higher standards for issuing gun permits.

Many Americans believe that arming the public could help deter crime and prevent further shootings. After all, to them, this is a constitutional right and intuitively would seem to work effectively.

Stricter gun control laws would not suppress this in the slightest? responsible citizens, after undergoing a thorough background check, could still purchase firearms at their pleasure. They could then use these weapons to protect their lives and the lives of those around them.

But for this to happen, it is imperative that the government first ensure that these people whom they are arming do not pose a risk of misusing their weapons and committing unnecessary acts of violence. The US has a responsibility not to arm dangerous people who would threaten the lives of its citizens.

Stricter gun control laws would resolve this conflict between the right to safety and the Second Amendment.

The only people who would be prevented from purchasing guns would be convicted felons, people with a history of violence, including domestic abuse, and those with psychological issues that would threaten the safety of others. Responsible, law-abiding citizens would still have access to weapons with few impediments once they have proven their trustworthiness through background checks.

These laws, which would still be much more lenient than those of France, a country with strict gun control laws but that recently suffered a

significant terrorist attack, might not stop weapons from reaching terrorists who operate under large budgets and access black markets.

But, they would stop the majority of mass shooters in the country from legally purchasing guns, and would still allow responsible citizens to prevent crime.

In fact, President Obama?s recent executive action on gun safety mirrors this outlook; he believes that America should concentrate on enforcing its established gun control regulations and prevent guns from reaching potential criminals rather than banning guns altogether.

Rather than permitting everyone to purchase guns, as some suggest, America must remain cautious in selecting those eligible for gun permits.

If we allow only trustworthy citizens to purchase guns and prevent potentially dangerous citizens from obtaining them, we could stop the vast majority of mass shootings we see much too often.

By Natan I. '16 and Maggie S. '16

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Does the SAT Really Measure Students' Success?

KARA E. '16

It?s 7:00 on a Sunday morning. Grabbing your TI-84 calculator, three sharpened pencils, and an eraser, you know that these next few hours will shape your future. No pressure though!

Recently, however, many colleges have begun questioning whether a four hour test accurately represents a person?s intelligence. What do you think?

In the Test Scrutiny and Fairness section of its website, The College Board claims that its test ?gives every student a standardized, fair, and equitable opportunity to demonstrate college readiness.?

However, should one test really count as much as a four year academic GPA? Roey P '16 thinks that ?the SAT does not measure a person?s intelligence? it?s just one test.? Unfortunately, many colleges use this test to ?weed out?

candidates who did not score that 710 on math or 750 in reading comprehension.

By eliminating these students who didn?t ?ace? the test, colleges often dismiss candidates who have a strong GPA, take rigorous classes, and participate in extra-curricular activities, but have a sub-par standardized test score.

On the first page of the Barron?s SAT prep review book, the editors claim that the SAT ?measures ?reasoning ability??; however, all this test does is measure a student?s capability of taking a standardized test.

Recently, many schools have decided to use a more ?holistic? review process as well as began a ?test optional? policy. Colleges like University of California, Berkeley and Barnard, two prestigious and highly selective universities, consider qualitative factors in addition to standardized test scores. According to UC Berkeley's website, admissions officers consider the ?full spectrum of the applicant?s qualifications? and ?carry no preassigned weights? to the different aspects of a student?s application.

However, colleges like Wake Forest and Brandeis, ranked 27th and 34th nationally in U.S. News & World Report, have implemented a test optional policy, where students can determine whether or not their standardized test scores accurately represents their intelligence.

Rather than basing a student?s academic qualifications on four hours instead of four years, colleges should shift their approach and use a more holistic approach to evaluate applicants. In a Frontline John Katzman, founder and president of

What Does the New SAT Mean for Juniors?

AMANDA S. '16

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s 2015 comes to a close, many changes await us. For juniors and sophomores nationwide, the panic regarding the redesigned SAT has already begun. Does this mean no more monstrous SAT practice books?

Or studying stacks of SAT vocabulary words the night before the test? Let me answer the question that everyone seems to have?

?What is the new SAT??

The main differences between the old SAT and the redesigned version are primarily in content and layout.

First off, the new SAT reverts to a 1,600-point scale, unlike the previous 2,400 scale. This means the test will include a math section, combined reading and writing section, and an optional essay.

So what does this mean? The new reading and writing section will test students?writing skills and ability to interpret literary texts. No longer will the reading section test vocabulary sentence completions, but rather how students comprehend certain words in context. New reading questions will also ask test takers to identify evidence to support an argument and to interpret data in order to make a claim.

Most importantly, the passages on the new SAT are pre-set, relating to US and world literature, history, or science. Each version of the test will include a ?Founding Document? or ?Great Global Conversation? that the test taker must analyze and answer broad questions about.

Writing questions will deal with passages rather than isolated sentences, requiring test takers to read a passage and then analyze sentences for grammatical mistakes. The optional fifty-minute essay section will require students to

analyze the author?s writing strategies, answering questions such as "explain how the author builds an argument to prove his/ her opinion."

Finally, the new math section will differ in the variety of skills tested. Rather than testing math concepts, the section will focus on interpreting graphs, performing basic algebra, and solving equations. Unlike the old SAT math section, the new version includes a minimal amount of geometry and ?tricky? math concepts.

But what?s the most drastic change? One part of the math section will be ?calculator free.?

All of these new changes are occurring for a reason. College Board claims that test-takers will be able to ?solve problems, communicate clearly, and understand complex relationships.?

According to an article published by The Huffington Post, David Coleman, president of The College Board, said that ?changes are meant to mitigate the unfair test prep culture the SAT has engendered.? While expensive tutors and programs may teach students certain tricks, not all students have access to those outside resources.

At Beth Tfiloh, Mr. Bruner and the English department have taken proactive steps in preparing juniors for the new SAT. In English, History, Jewish history, and Judaic classes, students will be given time slots to write practice essays.

Juniors at Beth Tfiloh have mixed responses to the redesigned SAT. A significant number of students took the ?old? SAT this past November and December, but still plan on taking the ?new? version this year.

Although many students have heard that the redesigned SAT is easier and less in depth than the previous test, Mitchell C. ?17 claims that the ?test is much harder to prepare for.? As juniors prepare for the redesigned test, many are confident that they will succeed.

Rather than basing a student?s academic qualifications on four hours instead of four years, colleges should shift their approach and use a more holistic approach to evaluate applicants.

The Princeton Review, acknowledges that ?The SAT is a scam; it has never measured anything.

And it continues to measure nothing.?

Although colleges do need a way to compare applicants, the SAT is not the answer. This faulty system has plagued the wallets of Americans, forcing parents to spend thousands of dollars on SAT prep review courses, SAT tutors, SAT books, etc.

The SAT is not a way to measure intelligence; it is a business.

Teaching Spor ts? and Values: Coach Sonya Howell From page 3 No matter on which court or track she stands, Coach Howell coaches with intensity and passion.

She asserts that whatever she does ?[she does] it with [ her] whole heart.? Even though her intense style of coaching may be demanding physically? for example, Nathan F. ?18 describes his track experience last year as ?very hard,? having to constantly push his body to the limit through his training and exercise? Coach Howell?s perseverance as a coach exemplifies the strength and commitment it takes to win.

This fortitude appears both on and off the field. Coach Howell explains that her greatest success at Beth Tfiloh was ?beating cancer, then the next year winning the girls basketball championship.?

Current students and alumni alike can declare that they had the privilege of being coached, taught, and supported? and continue to be to this day? by Coach Howell. Director of Physical Education Mrs. Stacy Hollander Fuld ?02 praises Coach Howell, asserting that Coach Howell ?supported [ her] through [ her] athletic and professional career.? She further elucidates that everything Coach Howell does comes ?from her love and care for her students.? That influence even extends to her colleagues.

Coach Marc Burkom ?98 values Coach Howell?s passion for teaching, saying the ?intensity she brought to her teams from the first day she came to Beth Tfiloh is totally undiminished,? inspiring people like Coach Burkom to ?keep learning and growing.?

Coach Jen Postal also works with Coach Howell during track and field season; she praises Coach Howell, knowing that ?[Coach Howell] is a great person to learn from.? One of her students, Andrew C. ?28, sums up Beth Tfiloh?s feelings toward Coach Howell, declaring that ?she does hard work and she is the greatest coach ever.? .

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Student Government Institutes Election Coalitions STUDENT GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT JUSTIN W. '16

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ith elections approaching, Student Government is currently considering completely restructuring the representative and executive board positions.

In the past, three grade representatives, including at least one of each gender, have stepped up as leaders of their respective grades. These three students represent their entire grades in weekly meetings while organizing grade-specific, as well as school-wide, events and special programs.

Although fully operational in theory, this system is flawed.

The Problem Voted to office as individuals, grade representatives often struggle to collaborate with each other as a team.

A recurring theme throughout the past years on Student Government, grade representatives are often plagued by simple miscommunications and inefficacy due to their unfamiliarity, and sometimes incompatibility, with each other.

Furthermore, the sheer numbers of grade representatives serving on Student Government, twelve in total, fosters confusion and a frequent shuffling of responsibilities among each other. Undertaking many projects to hone communication and team building skills within the grade reps themselves, Student Government has recently confronted the dilemma that the current election process sets students up for failure.

Get your tickets for "Aida" today!

The Solution To address concerns of inefficacy and miscommunication while solving the unmanageable size of the decision-making body, one solution is to extend last year?s consolidation of clubs and committees to Student Government itself. Thus the advent of Student Government pairs.

Instead of three students individually campaigning against each other, two students will now form a ?coalition? to campaign against other pairs of students.

Since the campaign itself will be test of communication and teamwork, the election will double as a vetting process. Additionally, this option to choose a running mate should increase the efficiency of the grade representatives since they will presumably be more familiar and compatible with one another.

Instead of requiring that students run with a member of the opposite gender, this new election dynamic will favor cross-gender partners due to their ability to gain support from both guys and girls. With these grade rep pairs, responsibilities can be more evenly distributed; ultimately, this will allow Student Government to function more efficiently.

Although this plan is still developing, Student Government is already considering extending a similar approach to the reorganization of the executive board.

We welcome any questions, advice, or even scr utiny in the for m of letters to the editor to aid in making our decision.

insight Co-Editors-in-Chief Alex R. '16 and Samantha S. '16 Co-Managing Editors Hannah C. '16 and Amanda S. '16 Design and Layout Alex R. '16 Staff Benjamin B. '17, Daniel B. '17, Jordan C. '17, Kara E. '16, Julius L. '16, Alyse M. '17, Alyssa M. '17, Michael M. '16, Amanda S. '16, Ryan S. '17, Justin W. '16

Please send us letters to the editor! They may be dropped in the mailboxes of the Co-Editors-in-Chief, given to the High School Office and designated for Insight, or emailed to btnewspaper @gmail.com.

Guest Writer Andrew A. '17 Faculty Advisor Mrs. Rina Goloskov