CONNECTED CHRONICALLY
How growing up online has impacted Gen Z’s social skills
THE LION’S TALE
DEAR READERS, NEWS
We are beyond excited to publish our inaugural edition of The Lion’s Tale as Editors-in-Chief. While we will miss the seniors dearly, we are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to take over.
Our years on The Lion’s Tale staff, as reporters and editors, have been educational and exciting. We are proud to carry on the legacy of the editors before us and we hope to continue to make The Lion’s Tale the highest quality publication for readers, in addition to an enjoyable experience for our staff.
After watching the example that the graduated seniors set for us, we have been working to create a strong staff dynamic. We have loved every second of getting to know and bond with the new staff.
In our first month and a half as Editors-in-Chief, we are proud of the great work the staff has produced. New editors tackled production with enthusiasm, and returning editors exhibited leadership to guide the younger staff members.
We have also already implemented a new Letter to the Editor section of the Lion’s Tale. We created this because we want to hear your thoughts on and responses to our articles, either to be published in our print editions or on our website. We value community input and we hope that this can be a new way for everybody to get involved in The Lion’s Tale.
The Lion’s Tale has always been a reflection of its readers, and we can’t wait to hear your voices. We look forward to the year alongside our staff and our incredible adviser, Jessica Nassau.
Sincerely,
Editors-in-Chief
04 Incoming courses
Additional elective offerings next year
05 Changing the climate
Seventh grade mocks international fair
06 The final countdown
Seniors celebrate culminating events
16
17
Student startups
Sophomores start businesses
Baby steps & big changes
Teachers on parental leave
18 When modesty is not the policy
Tznius dressers at a pluralistic day school 19 Shabbat shalom
How communities spend their Saturdays
Superficial superstars
Morals are more important than fame
In God we trust?
Presidents shouldn’t swear on the Bible
Is mental health education effective?
Students debate wellness programming
IN-DEPTH
12 Chronically connected
The influence of the internet on adolescent social skills
An Uber easy Lyft Guide to using ride-booking apps
Footwear frenzy
Recent popular sneaker trends
Stacks & stories
Local bookstores to check out
Learning the league
Unpacking the PVAC
Kicking It
Students and teacher in martial arts
Winter sports rundown
How the Lions performed this season
Photos used with permission from Melissa Fisanich, Yarden Wilkenfeld Kira Koplow, Robbie Shorr and Anna Polon, LT
THE LION’S TALE STAFF
Eliana Abrams’ favorite app is The Weather App
Jessica Nassau’s favorite app is Insight Timer
Jordana Dauber’s favorite app is Block Blast
Eliana Wolf’s favorite app is YouTube Shorts
Editors-in-Chief
Vivi Ducker & Eliana Wolf
Managing Editor, Copy
Maiya Blumenthal
Managing Editor, Web
Sophie Schwartz
In-Depth Editor
Sadaf Zadeh
News Editors
Eliana Abrams & Penelope Terl
Features Editors
Jordana Dauber & Anna Polon
Opinion Editors
Jonah Mitre & Lindsey Shapiro
Arts and Entertainment Editors
Leora Blumenthal & Jonah Mellen
Sports Editors
Mia Forseter & Tali Loeffler
Reporters
Jonah Mellen’s favorite app is Netflix
Sadaf Zadeh’s favorite app is iMessages
Jonah Mitre’s favorite app is Rise of Kingdoms
Gila Safra, Isaiah Segal-Geetter, Sophia Leinwand, Aviv Stein, Adam Salomon, David Federowicz, Ephraim Blair, Jackson Gill, Eli Loeffler, Liat Netter, Zoe Cohen, Dalya Lurie, Evie May, Kira Koplow
Staff Adviser
Jessica Nassau Adviser Emerita
Susan Zuckerman
THE BEST OF lionstale.org NEWS
Middle school’s minimester
Sophie Schwartz, Managing Editor, Web
OPINION
Leadership isn’t everything
Penelope Terl, News Editor
A&E
Guide to workout clothing
Dalya Lurie, Reporter
As the student newspaper of the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, The Lion’s Tale (LT) is a public forum for student opinion and expression. All content is determined by students. Its purpose is to inform the CESJDS community and to express the views of its staff and readers. The staff has made every effort to ensure the accuracy and objectivity of its news.
Signed columns reflect the opinion of the writer; staff editorials reflect the opinion of the majority of LT editorial board. The LT staff welcomes letters to the editor and guest
Lindsey Shapiro’s favorite app is Spotify
SPORTS
Lions set records at track and field championships
Lindsey Shapiro, Opinion Editor
FEATURES
Student dancers
Sophia Leinwand, Reporter
EDITORIAL AND ETHICS POLICY
columns, which must be signed. The staff reserves the right to refuse any material and may edit letters or columns for length, clarity, libel, obscenity and/or disruptiveness. All other contents copyright of LT. All rights reserved. Submissions may be emailed to jdslionstale@gmail.com, mailed to LT or brought to room 320.
LT magazine and website is funded by The Simon Hirshman Endowment for the Upper School Newspaper and The Kuttner-Levenson Endowment for the Upper School Cultural Arts and Student Publications.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not permitted for any generation of content or brainstorming, including but not limited to the following: writing articles or headlines, spread designs, photography, letter to the editor, audio or video. The only AI usage permitted by LT is for the purpose of transcribing interviews.
The staff will adhere to the ethics of The Society of Professional Journalists and National Scholastic Press Association. The adviser will be held to the Journalism Education Association’s Adviser Code of Ethics.
INCOMING COURSES
Penelope Terl News Editor
Starting in the 2025-26 school year, the history department is adding two social science electives to their course offerings: Economics and Social Entrepreneurship. These electives will be an addition to the existing history and social science electives, and will allow students to learn more about finance before graduating.
Both courses have been in the works for a while, with the Sharon and Jacob (z”l) Benus Social Entrepreneurship Fellows Program established this past school year. The fellowship focuses on solving social issues with a product or service.
According to the curriculum guide, the Economics course will focus on economic principles such as supply and demand, banking and other finance basics. The Social Entrepreneurship course will focus on “key concepts of entrepreneurship,” such as market research and business planning.
Economics will be available for juniors and seniors to take in the fall, and Social Entrepreneurship will be available for sophomores and juniors to take in the spring.
“We’re constantly looking at what we offer and student interest, as well as what’s being offered in [other] high schools that we aren’t offering,” High School Assistant Principal Aileen Goldstein said. “We want to set our students up to really follow their interests and be able to provide that as
WHAT DO THE LIONS THINK?
AT A GLANCE
ECONOMICS
Juniors and Seniors
Fall semester
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Sophomores and Juniors
Spring semester
much as possible.”
According to Goldstein, discussions regarding the addition of an Economics course have been ongoing for around four years. History Department Chair Carl Atwood has been working on the course content, building a unit schedule and collecting resources.
“I think [the course is] a great opportunity for students to explore more knowledge about the world and how our world works,” Atwood said. “… to position themselves to function in our world that in many ways is very driven by economics.”
CESJDS will be creating its own curriculum for the Economics course based on other schools’ curricula. The Social Entrepreneurship course will be similar to the Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship, with elements added in order to make it a more customized to JDS.
“We have the additional level of wanting to make sure that there’s Jewish values infused in them,” Goldstein said. “...So that’s really going to be less about what other courses are out there and how they’re taught, and more about really envisioning [them] for ourselves.”
The Social Entrepreneurship course will allow students who participated in the fellowship to continue working on their projects. It will also give people who weren’t in the fellowship the opportunity to create their own projects.
“Entrepreneurship is import-
“I’m really excited about [Social Entrepreneurship] because its a hands on business experience that can prepare me for the future.”
New social science elective offerings for next year
ant to me because I like numbers, and so I’m attracted to that idea of business,” junior and Social Entrepreneurship fellow Theo Rothenberg said. “The ‘social’ part of it is that you always want to give back to your community, so I think it’s important to have the classes.”
On top of these new courses, some other changes are being made. All courses currently labeled as advanced are being renamed to honors. This change won’t affect the content of the courses, but how they are labeled in transcripts. Similarly, courses currently called “enriched college prep” will be changed to just “college prep” to make it more simple.
With the addition of these new courses, both Atwood and Goldstein hope that students will be able to learn skills and gain knowledge that will be helpful in college and beyond.
“It’s a vital part of understanding what it means to be a citizen in our world today, to understand the relationship between individuals, businesses and the government,” Atwood said. “...It’s another lens of understanding human motivations and how we make decisions about how to go about our lives.”
“I’m looking forward to the Economics course because I haven’t had the previous opportunity to learn about economics and I’m excited to do it in a school environment.”
Freshman
Gabi Kittrie
Junior Jake Krantz
Photos by Penelope Terl, LT. Information
Kira Koplow Reporter
CHANGING THE CLIMATE
Seventh grade students debate policy in mock international fair
The middle school hallways buzzed with conversation during the seventh grade climate fair as parents, teachers and siblings walked between classrooms admiring poster boards. The climate fair took place after school on Feb. 11, starting with opening remarks in the Beit Midrash and then moving into the middle school hallways where students presented their projects.
Previously known as the climate summit, the climate fair was renamed and took on a new format. In prior years, the summit was modeled after a United Nations (U.N.) session. Students worked together to present and vote on mitigation strategies that would help their countries.
The climate fair is a seventh grade project where pairs of students are assigned to research a developing country. They spend time learning about climate change and how it affects their assigned country. Their research culminates with a presentation in which they talk about possible solutions for the climate-related problems in their country.
“I feel that it’s really important that kids our age understand what’s going on because it’s not going to go away, this problem; we can’t just ignore it,” seventh grade student Kayla Judah said. “It’s going to be there until we figure out a way to stop it.”
With this new format, students presented their countries using posters, and then voted on which ideas they liked the best and thought would help solve the climate change crises.
“We kind of developed the project again, where it’s more of that showcase, but it’s combining the aspects of the government, culture and economy,” middle school social studies teacher Matthew Jacobson said.
BY THE NUMBERS
Seventh grade parent and high school executive assistant Melanie Rosenthal says she was proud of how her daughter and the entire grade performed.
Some students, such as Judah, didn’t agree with the lens they were assigned. Despite this, for the sake of the assignment they still presented their country under that lens.
25 countries represented 51 students participated
5 continents present
“I was very impressed by the skills that she learned on how to take on the role, to be a delegate and to do the research for the country, learn diplomacy skills and debate skills and then put it all together and present it on her own,” Rosenthal said.
Judah and seventh grade student Naomi Werbin-Gradel presented about the climate change crisis in Chile. Their proposed solution was to direct money towards ending poverty, rather than climate change.
“[We learned about] mitigation and adaptation strategies, and how it just affects your country,” Judah said.
When they began researching, students were assigned different perspectives to analyze their country’s climate challenges. The first lens was that past carbon emitters should pay for their damage. The second option was that all carbon emitters should pay, and the third was that there are more pressing issues at the moment than climate change.
“It was hard, but at the same time, even though I already understood the position, it helped me, and it’s kind of grown on me and now I understand the position better,” Judah said.
Jacobson hopes this project will help students further their presenting and public speaking skills as they progress through school and beyond.
“I think it teaches them to have an appreciation of kind of the things that they have,” Jacobson said. “...And it kind of opens their eyes, and I hope that it gives them some additional perspective.”
Seventh grade student Avital Gris presents on her assigned country.
Photo by Kira Koplow, LT. Students created boards representing their countries and positions. Photo by Kira Koplow, LT.
THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
Seniors celebrate culminating events before leaving for Israel
Jordana Dauber Features Editor
As popular songs played over the speakers at Prom, almost every member of the senior class was dancing and singing along with friends.
The night officially started at 6:30 p.m. with pictures at Woodmont Country Club. Later, party buses took students to Prom at Temple Beth Ami, where they spent four hours eating dinner and dancing to music.
In previous years the event took place at a Marriott hotel, but this year was moved to Temple Beth Ami. While the two venues are fairly similar, Beth Ami offered an outdoor courtyard where students could cool down. Another difference was that the buses to After Prom did not go all the way to the monuments in D.C., but turned around once they reached Georgetown. At After Prom students ate sushi and desserts, played sports in the gym, participated in hypnosis and played games of poker.
Senior Kaelyn Rashti especially enjoyed Prom, which she said felt like a Bar Mitzvah. She appreciated being able to revisit that stage of her life with the same people. Rashti also loved how
6:30 p.m.
8 p.m.
11:30 p.m.
12:30 a.m. After Prom
whenever a popular song came on almost everyone in her grade was on the floor dancing, singing and having fun.
“It felt more like it was a preview of what I was going to see for the next three months and it got me really excited to spend more time with my grade,” Rashti said.
While for Rashti Prom felt like “the start of the end,” the event was an upbeat celebration of how far the grade has come.
“It’s definitely bittersweet to me,” Rashti said. “I feel very happy to be moving on to the next stage of my life, but I’m also sad about having to leave so many people that I know I will rarely see after high school … It’s happy that I’m getting to do something new, but it’s also sad that I’m losing something that I’m so familiar with.”
Top: Senior girls line up by dress color, a tradition JDS girls partake in every year, Photo by Amelia Rich, used with permission.
Bottom: Seniors Shira Shapiro and Eli Gale stand in an iconic position from the movie “Charlie’s Angel,” Photo by Eliana Abrams, LT.
Photos by: Dimensions Yearbook, Monica Abrams and Eliana Abrams, used with permission.
Siyyum
Siyyum took place on Feb. 7 at B’nai Israel Congregation. The event started at 7:45 a.m. with two shacharit services, one mechitzah and one egalitarian. High School Principal and Head of Upper School Campus Dr. Lisa Vardi then took the stage to address the seniors and introduce Melissa Andrew, Freshmen Dean and biology teacher, who was nominated by the grade to speak.
When Andrew was originally asked to give a speech she declined, as she does not like public speaking, but she eventually agreed due to the strong connection she feels with the grade.
“I am very sad that [the seniors] are not going to be here,” Andrew said. “… I really do love all of their personalities, so it makes me sad, but I’m also really excited for them and really happy that they get to do the things in life that are fun and exciting.”
In addition to Andrew’s speech, there were two musical performances and a student dvar Torah during Siyyum. The final part of Siyyum was an award ceremony for students who excelled in a specific subject, including com-
Graduation
As the seniors stood on stage during their graduations’ cantata, they reflected on an imaginary trip they took to Israel in kindergarten, a table that caught on fire at their sophomore Shabbaton and a countdown of their final days at CESJDS.
The event took place on Feb. 9 at Washington Hebrew Congregation and lasted two hours. The event started with the American and Israeli national anthems led by seniors, then a welcome speech from the President of the Board of Directors Stacey Schlactus (‘87) and another speech by Alumna Rabbi Rachel Ain (‘95).
The senior class then presented the school with three gifts: a trophy for future winners of Zimriyah, a hanukkiah in memory of Lower School Principal Rabbi Matthew Bellas (z”l) and a Jewish National Fund donation in honor of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an American-Israeli kidnapped during the
munity service and character. While some of these awards were selected by teachers, others were based on student nominations. A new award was introduced this year in honor of Rabbi Matthew Bellas’ (z”l) passion for performing arts, the Rabbi Matthew Bellas (z”l) Performing Arts Award, which was awarded to senior Skye Feinstein.
“Siyyum is smaller than graduation,” Dean of Students Roz Landy said. “It’s more intimate, it’s not as formal. It’s a little more relaxed. The seniors reflect on their studies at CESJDS, share their theme and how it relates to them. To me, there is something very, very meaningful about Siyyum.”
Oct. 7 attacks and later murdered by Hamas.
Head of School Rabbi Mitchel Malkus gave a speech and afterward, Landy took the stage to give an official “Introduction of the Class of 2025” before giving out the diplomas. Landy gifted each senior with a puzzle of their grade, as she said that each person was crucial to contributing to the grade as a whole.
“They were each individuals,” Landy said. “There was not an overar ching character istic that the class shared. Usually, the class has an overarching ‘personality’ or ‘trait’ but this class was different in that they were each very dif ferent.”
Senior Schedule to Israel
cantata at Graduation.
Photo by Anna Polon, LT.
Top: Senior Aliza Bellas speaks at Siyyum.
Bottom: Senior Zev Mendelson performs a song to commemorate his time at JDS.
Photos by Brielle Bassin, Dimensions.
-
CELEBS MAKING AN IMPACT
Ye is my role model.
Has worked with the Make-aWish Foundation since 2002, and has granted over 650 wishes.
JOHN CENA DOLLY PARTON
Created the Imagination Library, and has given over three million books to children across the world. This project was inspired to improve literacy internationally.
JOHN LEGEND
Created the Show Me Campaign in hopes of giving every child access to a quality education.
Why him?
Nice
eyebrows, married Kim Kardashian and 24 Grammys...
why not?
SUPERFICIAL SUPERSTARS
From Ye’s antisemitic posts on X, seen by his over 32 million followers, to allegations of Lizzo abusing her backup dancers, it is very common that celebrities with questionable morals continue to receive support. Why do we keep idolizing people who don’t set a good example for us?
An Education Week survey from 2023 reveals that 77% of high school students use social media every day. Given this, it is crucial that teens understand the difference between celebrities who engage in questionable behavior, and those who uphold strong morals. It is imperative that we work to elevate those who use their platform for good.
Celebrities often shape public opinion and influence millions, as many people take their words and actions as truth. This impact was seen in October 2022, when Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, posted many antisemitic tweets such as “death con [sic] 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE” and overall praise of Nazis. Since then, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has identified
over 30 acts of antisemitism directly linked to supporters of Ye who were influenced by his posts. He continued to use his influence to spread antisemitism in January 2025, where he made statements such as “I’m a Nazi” and other antisemitic rhetoric through a series of posts on X.
The response to Ye’s statements is not the only example of the impact celebrities can have on teenagers. A National Institute of Health study of almost 1,000 freshmen in urban area U.S. high schools showed that people who listened to celebrities’ music with more cannabis references were almost twice as likely to have used cannabis over the span of a month.
Just because a celebrity produces good music or interesting movies does not mean that they are the best person to be our role models. Being a celebrity is a job. Someone’s skill set that led them to fame does not make them an inherently good person or a role model.
Social media determines fame by entertainment and algorithms, rather than by character. Celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres, who is rumored to have fostered
Morals are more important than fame when selecting role models
a toxic work environment, dominate the headlines. This is all while John Cena’s work granting over 650 wishes with the Makea-Wish Foundation is not reported on frequently.
When picking role models, it is important to focus on values over fame. Frequently, people are warned to never meet their idols to be disappointed when they do not live up to their expectations. As a society, we have normalized glorifying individuals with bad morals, setting ourselves up for disappointment. Instead, we must take an active role in deciding who we give fame to. Celebrities might not change, so by being more intentional about who we follow, and avoiding supporting controversial and problematic figures, we can change this flawed norm. Fame is not an excuse for immorality, so we must foster a culture where integrity is of utmost importance when following celebrities.
- The Lion’s Tale
Photo illustration Lindsey Shapiro, LT.
IN GOD WE TRUST?
Anna Polon Features Editor
Every four years when I watch the presidential inaugurations, I see presidents sworn in on the Bible. While it’s supposed to be a moving moment, as a non-Christian, I don’t feel the significance that it is intended to have. Instead, I feel disconnected because the president’s promise on the Christian Bible means nothing to me.
This is not the only time I feel excluded when seeing American processes that endorse the Christian faith. For example, I remember saying the Pledge of Allegiance in elementary school with the words, “One nation, under God,” and seeing the phrase, “In God we Trust” embedded on coins and feeling confused. I was shocked because these two commonly used phrases seem contradictory to the fact that the United States has a separation of church and state.
The First Amendment states that the government can’t stop citizens from practicing their religions. This means that legally, presidents can be sworn into office on anything or nothing at all. Still, most presidents, following George Washington, have sworn in on a Bible simply due to tradition. But this tradition of religion in the inauguration process is more problematic than positive.
First, religious affiliation in the United States is only continuing to decrease. While 5% of Americans reported being religiously unaffiliated in 1972,
BY THE NUMBERS
this number has grown to 29%, according to Pew Research Center. Rates of Christianity also went from 90% in the 1990s to around 67% today, mainly due to the decrease in religious affiliation. This shows a large number of people that likely feel disconnected from the inauguration process.
Additionally, some Christians consider swearing, especially relating to God, to be against their religion because it is forbidden in Christian texts. This means that even some Christians may feel uncomfortable with this tradition, taking away from the meaning of this inauguration ceremony.
of Americans believe that the Bible should prevail over the will of the people 28% of members of Congress are Christian 88% of state Constitutions mention God’s name more than once 68% of U.S. adults think religion should be separate from government policies
The president should be an advocate for all U.S. citizens, and America was founded on the principle of being a melting pot for all religions to be practiced freely. Everyone should be able to feel connected to political ceremonies, not just those of a certain religion or group.
The inauguration itself is not relevant to the Bible. When swearing in, presidents promise to “faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States” and to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution” to the best of their abilities. The Bible is not what presidents should be agreeing to protect when they take office. Why does this oath seem to declare that the truth of the Bible depends on a person’s ability to uphold the United States Constitution?
I strongly urge our next president to forgo the swearing in on a book entirely. Tradition is important, but this one needs to be modified to better
- First
represent and unite the American people. This will help everyone feel more connected to the inauguration process, and therefore to this country.
New presidents should not be sworn in on the Bible shall“Congress make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
This logic also applies to our motto, which has officially been “In God we Trust” since 1956. There are many issues with this motto being official and appearing on coins, bills and crests. Not only does it not reflect the many beliefs of citizens of our country, it also doesn’t reflect our values. A motto that promotes action, rather than suggesting faith would be a much more effective way to accomplish things.
The government should think long and hard about certain religiously affiliated traditions and whether they are necessary. Religion should be practiced publicly, but when ceremonies and expressions that should apply to everyone exclude many, it doesn’t help to unite an already divided nation.
Amendment to the Constitution of the United States
PRO WHAT THE LIONS THINK IS MENTAL HEALTH
During my time in both private and public schools, I have struggled with various mental health-related issues. All schools that I have attended have had programming which has been incredibly sympathetic and helpful to me and said struggles.
This programming has been incredibly beneficial to my overall mental health, giving me an environment to air out my thoughts and learn strategies. Mental health programs at school have had exceptional impacts on students, with educational programs helping kids develop strategies to build healthy relationships and maintain their mental health.
Despite this, there is a common myth that schools are cold and unforgiving environments, caring little about the mental health of their students and not educating them effectively. However, this is not the case. CESJDS and many other schools like it
"I
MARCH 12 Narcan training
educate students effectively in the realm of mental health by sharing information through mental health focused presentations in addition to offering counseling opportunities for those in need.
love the variety of speakers that they bring in, and how they teach us about a lot of different aspects of mental health. I find it meaningful and beneficial, and being on the health and wellness team, I want to embody that mental health, and teach others about mental health." MARCH 5
Most schools also offer a wealth of mental health-related education, with Maryland being required to teach sex education and healthy family relationships.
This education’s effectiveness is clear, with studies from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology finding that mental health education has a positive association with the overall mental well-being of kids.
Mental health support for kids is similarly reiterated in data with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reporting decreases in the percentage of students who experience sadness or hopelessness from 2021-2023. This correlates with increasing mental health services in schools over a similar period.
JDS alone has multiple avenues for mental health education and help when needed, with many classes and guidance counselors between the Upper and Lower schools offering amazing mental
FRESHMAN AYLA GERSTINBLITH
health education. JDS offers a wellness fellowship program and a Wellness Center that provides a safe space for students who need a break.
JDS also has frequent Wellness Wednesdays planned by student Wellness Fellows, which host expert speakers in mental health — giving talks on drug use, sex and microaggressions. Some of these talks discuss intervening and helping friends going through struggles, all helping to better the personal and interpersonal relationships at JDS.
Despite assumptions about unsupportive school environments that neglect mental health, schools truly do help to bolster student mental health, with evidently effective services and programs. My experiences, along with the supporting data, show that the majority of schools have been making major efforts, showing schools' mental health education is truly effective.
"A lot of the times, the speakers are very boring. I'd wish they'd be more interactive. Maybe smaller groups would help a lot, but the big speakers don't work for me at least. And also, they take away from our breaks during the day, which is a good time for me to relax."
JUNIOR ALEX BUSHMAN
Jonah Mellen Arts and Entertainment Editor
Photos by Jonah Mitre, LT.
CON EDUCATION EFFECTIVE?
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reports that about 20% of people ages 3-17 in the United States have a mental, emotional, developmental or behavioral disorder. Schools across the country, including CESJDS, address mental health intending to be inclusive and cost-effective. However, recent studies suggest that the methods employed by schools may be counterproductive, and I agree.
Mental health is complicated. There is no one cause or management tool. It is also important to note that one can display signs and feelings of anxiety or depression without being clinically diagnosed. U.S. schools are taking different measures to address the growing rates of adolescent anxiety and depression.
JDS holds assemblies to educate students on emotional issues and seeking help. While I believe they have good intentions, they tend to focus primarily on providing information about terminology, statistics and hotlines. These
programs are doing too much informing and not enough helping those who need it. Instead, I believe that schools should create ways for individuals to receive customized support.
Too much information can be counterproductive. Oxford College professors conducted a study that examines the massive increase in depression cases with a concept called the “Prevalence Inflation Hypothesis.” This idea involves two parts: improved recognition and overinterpretation. Improved recognition is when one becomes familiar with a topic to better their ability to identify the action in question. Overinterpretation is the tendency to diagnose emotions as symptoms of mental illness.
Oxford College hypothesizes that these two behaviors–improved recognition and overinterpretation–contribute to increased depression rates.
JDS has the same issue. An example of JDS mental health education is Wellness Wednesdays. On these weekly occasions, advisories meet to discuss a mental health topic, do an educational activity or have an occasional visit from a guest speaker. While these mental health programs improve recognizing mental health issues,
"I think that the person that they brought in to talk to us about sleep was really effective; a lot of people actually took a good look at their sleeping habits... And then I think some of them don't quite hit the mark. They could definitely bring in people that are more personable.
SOPHOMORE ASH COHEN
BY THE NUMBERS
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality:
20% of people 3-17 in the U.S have a mental, emotional, developmental or behavioral disorder
University of Sydney 2023 research project:
1 in 8 students felt more depressed after taking emotional skills course vs 1 in 13 students felt more depressed after taking regular health course
they may mistakenly lead people to associate themselves with these issues. Schools must consider ways to mitigate improved recognition and overinterpretation in mental health programs.
To test this theory, professors from the School of Psychology at the University of Sydney conducted a research project in 2023. The study compared two different groups of students: some taking a regular health course in school which entails physical health, and others taking weekly eight-hour courses taught by WISE Teens, an emotional skills training organization. These programs were taught similarly to JDS’ methods because it was taught in groups.
The results of the study showed that one out of eight WISE Teens’ participants appeared clinically depressed after completing the program, compared to one out of 13 participants who took the regular health classes. The WISE Teens students also experienced anxiety, difficulty managing emotions and issues with parental relationships.
JDS’ well-intentioned, communal efforts to help those who might be struggling do not achieve the intended goals. Rather, I think the programs that attempt to de-stigmatize mental health over familiarize the concepts and lead adolescents to diagnose themselves with disorders. I believe that a better alternative would include personal meetings with experienced professionals who would help those who are truly in need.
Jack Grunberger Reporter
CHRONICALLY CONNECTED
How growing up online has impacted Generation Z’s social skills
Eliana Wolf Editor-in-Chief
Sophie Schwartz Managing Editor, Web
Sadaf Zadeh
In-Depth Editor
Photo illustration by Sadaf Zadeh, LT.
In the early 2000s, social media made its claim to fame with sites such as MySpace and Facebook hitting over 1 million active users, according to ourworldindata.org. Since then, the social scene has changed drastically, with about 4.8 billion current social media users worldwide, according to the University of Maine.
In a survey of 86 CESJDS high school students by The Lions Tale, roughly 87% reported being on social media platforms, showing its prominence among teens today. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have become the place for students to connect and build relationships in the digital age.
With these social platforms now playing a significant role in the lives of younger generations, there is uncertainty about their true impact. These apps present both opportunities and challenges, so there are many benefits and disadvantages to consider when evaluating social media usage.
Benefits of social media
With the rise of social media, the nature of online communication has shifted. Today’s social media platforms, unlike earlier forms of digital communication, allow users to connect with a larger network of people. This changes the way relationships are formed and maintained on social media.
As social media has grown in popularity, it’s often used to reinforce long-distance relationships. Rather than having to share contact information to get in touch online, users can now connect with people all over the world with a simple search of their name.
“I think the fact that you [students] have it in your hands is huge,” High School Assistant Principal Aileen Goldstein said. “That also allows you to maintain relationships that in previous times would have been much harder to maintain.”
Consequently, teens also use social media to form new connections with others. According to the Pew Research Center, 64% of teens who have met at a new friend online report meeting at least one of them through social media.
Through features that connect users with mutual friends,
social media has made forming new friendships simple. Having the reassurance that the person added has a mutual friend gives users peace of mind when building relationships online, even if two people have never met.
“Being able to use social media to make friends has become so simple because of things like mutual friends,” junior Liem Elgrably said. “I really like being able to meet new people using features that help connect me with others that I wouldn’t have been able to without it.”
Mutual friends are not the only way to connect with new people on social media, though; the internet is a place where communities are formed too. People with shared interests can come together in group boards, chats and apps to discuss their similarities and support one another.
Particularly for minority groups who find it difficult to meet people they relate to in their dayto-day lives, social media acts as a place for them to meet people with whom they have shared experiences and values. High school Jewish Text Department Chair and psychology teacher Grace McMillan sees this is an advantage of social media usage.
“I think there are a lot of benefits to social media in positive relationship-building ways and in positive ways, especially for kids who feel isolated in the environment that they’re in,” McMillan said. “So for LGBTQ+ kids who feel like no one around them understands them and no one around them understands their experience, finding communities online that are supportive and understanding, I think, is incredibly important and very valuable.”
Some people don’t use social media as a way to connect with others, though. It can also act as a form of entertainment and education, as users can learn more about topics they otherwise may not have or find things that spark their interest.
Social media also acts as an outlet for expression and creativity; with the wide variety of users globally, there exists endless opportunities on these platforms, making it appealing to various communities.
“I’ve definitely learned a lot through social media, just things that I use in my daily life, little facts here and there,” freshman Eden Kotok said. “I have learned that there are people out there who have the same niche thoughts about weird things that I do. And I’ve been introduced to music and poetry and things like that from social media, and I think it is a very good tool.”
Harms of social media
Humans are wired to connect with one another. According to Stanford Medicine, when people make these connections the brain releases dopamine stimulating people to reinforce these behaviors. Social media apps, where people are frequently making connections with others artificially boost dopamine release, making interactions feel more rewarding. This can ultimately lead to compulsive use.
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms in these apps are designed to show people content based on their preferences and the material they have engaged with in the past. In doing so, they keep the users engaged and trigger more dopamine release. When people stop using social media, the brain experiences a drop in dopamine, making the user feel worse and inclined to go back to the app to trigger the dopamine release again.
“Technology is addictive. Texts are addictive,” McMillian said. “[You wonder] ‘Who’s texting me?’ ‘What message is popping up?’ It is literally banging in your head and reshaping your neural networks to both be expecting and hyper-reacting to every little signal that comes at you.”
These apps employ manipulative features, such as daily message streaks and constant notifications, to keep users engaged, ultimately becoming a major distraction. According to a book called “The Distraction Addiction” by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, Americans spend an average of one hour each day dealing with distractions, many of which stem from social media.
Between the ages of 10-19, the brain is going through a developmentally critical and sensitive
of high school students indicate that technology has become an integral part of romantic relationships
phase. Changes in the brain can be caused by regular social media use, impacting emotional regulation, according to Yale Medicine.
Teenagers’ perceptions of themselves are also developing during this time. Social media often presents a curated version of people’s lives, with people only posting the seemingly perfect moments. This can lead to lower self esteem, as people compare themselves to idealized images they see online. According to Kotok, many teenagers fall into this trap during this period of development.
“When we see someone who has the body that we want or the lifestyle that we want, because we’re jealous of that, we just want to know more about it, and we want to keep looking for it and keep searching for it,” Kotok said. This desire to have these idealized yet unrealistic bodies can lead to disordered eating in all genders. According to News Medical Life Sciences, girls with Snapchat and Tumblr accounts and boys with Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram have been found to be particularly prone to developing excessive concern over body weight and shape.
On the emotional side, this comparison can lead to depression, social anxiety, feeling self-conscious and fearing judgment in real-life social situations, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
“I think for a lot of people, social media just creates such profound anxiety: ‘What are people thinking about me?’ ‘What am I projecting?’ ‘What are people saying?’” McMillan said.
Loss of social skills
As social media has grown in prominence, younger generations are dealing with the downstream effects of being raised in the digital age. With the establishment of the iPhone in 2007, Gen Z is the first generation to grow up with technology ingrained in their lives from birth. According to New York Behavioral Health, the increased time online has led to a decrease in social skills.
The New York Behavioral Health, writes that when developing social skills, children must
learn from cues such as pointing and gesturing to have positive social interactions and to learn about the world around them. Reading facial emotions also ensures that children understand the social nuances imperative to succeed with in-person relations. Through social media, there is no way to signal proper gestures and facial expressions seen in person because connection is largely done through chatting online.
“If you’re removed because you’re not in the same room, or you’re looking at a screen, or you don’t get to see their reaction, then you lose that feedback loop of learning how your actions have affected someone emotionally, which, in turn, affects you emotionally,” Sara Dauber, parent of senior Boaz Dauber and sophomore Jordana Dauber said. “Humans seem to be wired to react to each other. The way we react to the other person’s emotions is part of how psychologically healthy humans interact with each other.”
Social media use also has an impact on attention span. According to the Center for Humane Technology, constant content updates and frequent interruptions diminish adolescents’ ability to focus, leading teens to become accustomed to quick snippets and brief videos. A recent survey showed that the optimal length for a TikTok video is 21 to 34 seconds, with users finding videos longer than 34 seconds to be overwhelming, according to The Center for Humane Technology.
According to The Social Skills Center, a shorter attention span due to social media has minimized peoples’ ability to perform tasks that don’t give instant gratification, such as reading, completing school assignments or interacting with peers.
Senior Gus Bookbinder decided to replace his iPhone his junior year, instead buying a flip phone to prevent misuse of social media. Bookbinder says that he has seen many positive benefits since making this change.
“I think my attention span went way up, and I have a lot more time because I was definitely spending a lot of hours just scrolling. And I think a lot of my friends are too,” Bookbinder said. “I know
Photo by Sadaf Zadeh, LT.
people with screen times that go into seven, eight more hours a day, and that’s a lot of time you could be using for a lot of other things.”
Social skills are critically important for society, as building relationships are centered around communication, according to freshmen and sophomore counselor Marnie Lang. The ability to read other people’s social cues and convey messages to a certain audience is a necessary skill to learn at a young age.
“Social skills aren’t necessarily the same as what they used to be, or could be, because there has been so much back and forth with email, texting, whatever it is, that there isn’t the same knowledge of how to, read facial expressions and read body language,” Lang said.
The change in these skills, as emphasized by Lang, reflects the harm of social media on children and shows the ramifications the digital age has had on the youth.
“When people are on their phones while trying to make connections, it just shows depression and how confused our generation is that you’re on your phone to create relationships, but here you are surrounded by your friends and you can talk and socialize,” junior Hadriel Dayanim said.
Ways to improve contact
Despite teens’ complicated relationship with social media, it is not going away anytime soon. In order to create a more healthy digital environment, certain measures can be taken.
Beyond deleting social media, the National Public Radio (NPR) suggests that taking breaks from social media is healthy and a way to enhance one’s relationship with it. For some in the JDS community, this time could be Shabbat, a day when people who are observant take a break from technology and spend time with their friends and family.
“One thing that’s really helpful [to me] is keeping Shabbat, because I started doing that before I got rid of my smartphone,” Bookbinder said. “Having this dedicated time where not only can you not use your phone, but also, if you go to shul you go and spend time with friends on Shabbat, not only
are you not using your phone, but no one’s using their phone, you can really experience what it’s like to have relationships and conversations where no one is sort of half there and half somewhere else.”
With so many people on social media, it can be difficult for students to detach themselves from these platforms. So rather than attempting to convince students to delete these forms of communication entirely, Dauber and Lang believe that there are ways to encourage beneficial use of them.
Dauber believes that the use of technology in moderation is a good practice and in her own household places boundaries and restrictions on phone and social media usage, by getting her children their first phone after eighth grade. She also believes that it is important to have open conversations with teenagers about the impacts of technology and be flexible so as not to make teenagers believe they are being punished for technological overuse.
According to Lang, monitoring one’s usage of social media can ensure that users are reaping the benefits of these apps while avoiding misuse of them.
“I think really keeping an eye and being focused on who you’re following and why you’re following them and I think if they ever move to a place where you don’t agree with what they’re saying, and you see the harmfulness of what they’re saying or how they’re saying it, remove them,” Lang said. “Do whatever you need to do so that you’re protecting your own mental health.”
LIONS ONLINE
Do you worry about the long-term impact of social media on our generation?
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STUDENT STARTUPS
Sophomores start businesses based on their hobbies
Eliana Abrams News Editor
Whether it’s by selling handmade cards or running a summer camp, sophomore girls are starting businesses, making money and reaching people.
SUMMER FUN
Dressing up as clowns, jumping on trampolines and calming crying toddlers are a few of the things sophomores Raizy Moshinsky and Liora Litwack do while running their backyard summer camp, “Camp Keif B’Kaitz,” or “Camp fun in the summer.”
Camp Keif B’Kaitz was founded in 2024 after Moshinsky noticed that many parents in her neighborhood worked during the summer and had no choice but to send their children to expensive camps or daycares. Wanting to provide a more affordable option, she decided to start her own camp for kids ages four through seven, at a reasonable price.
Last summer the camp cost $185 per week, but for summer 2025, the price will increase to $285 per week so the camp can expand their range of activities and hire more counselors. However, the camp offers discounts based on the amount of kids each family sends to the camp. For example, last summer it cost only $300 for families who sent two kids. The discount rates for the upcoming summer are undecided.
“I love that I get to help people in my community,” Moshinsky said. “And it’s even more special because my own siblings attend the camp. I get to make their sum-
mer fun too.”
Moshinsky and Litwack ran a one-week session with 20 kids at the beginning of the 2024 summer. Moshinsky ran another twoweek session alone with 19 kids later in the summer and hired four of her cousins to help.
Each day had a different theme, such as carnival or art day. Moshinsky planned activities based on the theme to keep campers engaged, like a magic show. Every morning started with beading, and davening on a trampoline followed by an art project or science experiment. After a snack and a walk, campers had lunch, nap time and a final project based on the day’s theme. Regular camp was from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays. Daycare was available until 5 p.m. for parents who worked late.
“It gives me a real sense of responsibility,” Moshinsky said. “I was responsible for 40 kids over the summer. I really had to work hard to set guidelines and a daily schedule. It definitely was a lot of work, but I saw how much it paid off and I look forward to doing it again next summer.”
CRAFTED WITH CARE
Sophomore Lyla Silberg’s card business, where she designs and sells handmade greeting cards, is a product of her love for art. What started as a personal creative outlet has grown into “Cards by Lyla,” an business where Silberg customizes watercolor cards for all occasions. Silberg started her business partly due to her interest in art
Sophomores Raizy Moshinsky and Liora Litwack lead an activity using shaving cream during their summer camp. Photo by Raya Moshinsky, used with permission.
and partly because she had more time on her hands. Now, she is working on reaching more people and growing her business.
BIRTHDAY VALENTINES
CUSTOM
Silberg currently reaches people mostly through word-ofmouth by her family and friends. She also has an Instagram account and Etsy storefront she created for the business, where she showcases seasonal designs along with different pricing options. Cards cost between $2 and $8 depending on the customization. Stephanie Walker, a friend of Silberg’s mother, bought two cards for peoples’ birthdays, one with a customized drawing of her dog.
“I really like homemade gifts,” Walker said. “I think that they’re extra special … I thought the card was really sweet and beautiful and really thoughtful.”
Silberg starts the card-making process by buying blank watercolor paper cards and creating a design. The process involves sketching an outline, watercoloring details and drawing over the sketch with colored pens. It takes Silberg around 30-45 minutes to make each card depending on the complexity of the pattern, making around three cards a month. While Silberg finds it hard to manage schoolwork and her art, she enjoys the satisfaction of running her own business.
“I think it can be challenging to keep up, especially with all the social media and making cards and finding time for all that,” Silberg said. “But I think as long as you’re good with how you spend your time, you can always find time for it.”
Photos by Lyla Silberg, Dimensions
BABY STEPS & BIG CHANGES
Teachers take maternity and paternity leave to take care of newborns
Jonah Mitre OpinionEditor
While all phases of parenting present challenges, the few months following childbirth involve even more responsibilities. Parents with newborns manage physical recovery, paid leave and the subsequent work-life balance. Multiple teachers at CESJDS are currently experiencing new parenthood and navigating the effects of recently having children.
Parental leave policies have two parts: job protection and financial compensation. While guidelines for parental leave vary, there are state and federal services that guarantee a degree of benefits and protections. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), passed in 1993, allows eligible employees to take 12 weeks of unpaid leave without the risk of losing their job.
According to the Employee Policy Manual, JDS offers two weeks of paid leave.
Robbie Shorr, Jewish Life Chair and high school math teacher, spent the three months after his daughter Tehila’s birth visiting his wife and newborn in the hospital after work. Tehila was staying in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), due to her two-month premature birth. Shorr officially declared his paid leave when Tehila came home.
“Because she was born so early and had to stay in the hospital for a really long time, we decided it didn’t make sense for me to have paternity leave yet, because
I would just be sitting around at home,” Shorr said. “I’d visit her in the hospital obviously, but we decided [it would] be more valuable for my paternity leave to be when Tehila actually came home.”
Although Shorr had access to 12 unpaid weeks of leave from the FMLA, he decided to use his combined total of sick days from his seven years at JDS, in addition to JDS’ 10-day paid family leave days. This easily covered the month Shorr spent on paternity leave, and allowed him to maintain steady income while avoiding the risk of losing his job.
Unlike Shorr, high school Jewish history teacher Anna Band did not have enough sick days to cover her leave, having only worked at JDS for two and half years in contrast to Shorr’s seven and a half. Band’s son, Ari, was born in February last year, and Band taught every day up to his birth. Band’s leave lasted 12 weeks, using all of the FMLA’s unpaid employment protection.
“Not receiving a paycheck for a lengthy period of time placed financial strain on my family,” Band said in an email interview. “But we saved up to make it work, because it was really important for me to have that extra bonding time with my son. I personally think that all new parents should be entitled to more paid parental leave in general.”
Band’s lack of access to paid parental leave is not a unique experience; only 27% of U.S. civilian
12 WEEKS OF LEAVE
I got to take my baby to his first seder.
1919
Protests begin for formal paid leave policies
1990s
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is passed FMLA provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to qualified employees
2000s
State Level Initiatives: 13 states and D.C. have mandatory paid leave
Eight states have voluntary leave systems
Information from zerotothree.org
workers have access to any form of paid parental leave. Additionally, the United States is the only country out of 38 in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that does not have a nationally mandated paid parental leave policy.
“This issue is not specific to JDS,” Band wrote. “Our country is severely behind the rest of the developed world in terms of parental leave policies. For example, new mothers in Israel are entitled to 26 weeks of maternity leave, 15 of which are paid. In a number of European countries, paid maternity leave spans a full year.”
An administrator currently on leave is Middle School Principal Cassandra Batson. Her maternity leave began Feb. 25 and is scheduled to last the remaining 13 weeks of the school year.
While Batson is on leave, Middle School Assistant Principal Janet Ozer Bass is serving as the active primary middle school principal, with various other administrators serving as backup. Although Batson will not be on campus, she will continue to digitally oversee the planning of the 2025-26 school year.
“I’m just so grateful that I have such a strong and supportive team,” Batson said. “... I’m very grateful that JDS is such a family-oriented, supportive work environment. That’s not always the case.”
JEWISH HISTORY ANNA BAND
4 WEEKS OF LEAVE MATH & JEWISH LIFE ROBERT SHORR
We had time to travel and see baby cousins. And with my free time I learned Farsi.
13 WEEKS OF LEAVE
“ “ “ “ “ “
I want to foster a relationship between my baby and my daughter.
MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL CASSANDRA BATSON
Photos by Jordana Dauber, LT
WHEN MODESTY IS NOT
THE POLICY
Vivi Ducker Editor-in-Chief
CESJDS’ core value of pluralism means that its students come from a variety of Jewish denominations, and the school strives to create an environment where all students feel comfortable expressing their Judaism. One way that students do this is by dressing according to tzniut, the Jewish law of modesty. However, not everyone at JDS understands it.
Tzniut is the Talmudic rabbis’ term for modesty. The Chabad website says that females must cover their shoulders, wear skirts past their knees, dress in loosely fitted clothing and cover their hair after marriage. Men are obligated to wear long trousers, long sleeves and a kippah. Practicing tzniut is most common in Orthodox communities, although people practice and interpret modesty in many different ways.
According to Jewish text teacher Rabbi Reuven Slater, the ideology behind dressing modestly is about “understanding that we’re always in the presence of
MODEST OUTFIT INSPO
Students share experiences of dressing with tzniut at pluralistic day school
Hashem,” and should dress and act as such. Slater dresses according to tzniut out of respect for his job and the “importance of learning Torah.” In the 25 years he has worked at JDS, he feels that his dress has always been respected by the school community.
“When there’s a discussion about it [tzniut], I feel like it always ends up being in a place of respect, not always, necessarily, but almost always,” Slater said. “I never felt that there’s disdain with regards to tzniut in particular, there might be other areas where people have some issues with Judaism, but I don’t think that I’ve ever felt that anything came from a place of something other than a respectful questioning of it.”
Similarly, junior Malka Lederman feels that the JDS community treats her, who dresses modestly, the same as other students.
“I feel like people don’t really care what other people are wearing,” Lederman said. “I can only think of one person asking me once why I wear skirts every day, and that was from a place of curiosity.”
Junior Maya Greenblum is a lifer at JDS but only started dressing according to tzniut this year, though she had wanted to for some time. She says she has encountered some disrespect from her classmates, which has mainly come in the form of people asking questions that she felt did not come from a place of curiosity. According to Greenblum, these questions and the judgment she received were the cause of her hesitancy to dress modestly consistently before this year.
“When I started wearing skirts at first, some of the comments I got were not necessarily negative, but made me feel a little weird,” Greenblum said. “It felt like I always needed to have a reason to explain myself, and I think
HOW IMPORTANT IS TZNIUT TO YOU WHEN GETTING DRESSED?
100%
“I value modesty, and don’t really own immodest clothes.”
-Freshman Emmanuel Sarantos
“It’s usually on my mind. I don’t really wear long skirts, but I also don’t wear crop tops.”
-Sophomore Lilah Sacks
“It’s not on my mind, but I respect those who do follow it.”
-Sophomore Ella Kane
0%
it made me feel vulnerable, and I felt more uncomfortable.”
Some of the frequent comments that made Greenblum uncomfortable were questions asked about why she was at JDS instead of a modern Orthodox school, such as Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy.
Both Greenblum and Slater believe that the attitude students often have towards tzniut, though sometimes poorly exhibited, ultimately comes from a lack of understanding as to why people choose to dress modestly.
“I think many people in the student body, it’s not that they don’t support it, but they don’t quite understand tzniut,” Greenblum said. “It makes sense because in modern Orthodox schools, girls are taught from a young age about these sorts of things, and that’s not taught here, so people just don’t understand.”
To combat this issue, Slater and Lederman proposed that JDS provide tzniut dressers an opportunity to speak publicly about their decisions to dress the way they do. This could occur in a Judaics class, Kab Shab or during a Wellness Wednesday session.
Greenblum, Lederman and Slater all believe that JDS’ pluralistic environment allows tzniut dressers to feel comfortable, so long as students are polite in their questions. Greenblum does not take issue with people expressing curiosity in tzniut respectfully.
“The negative comments that [I] got are upsetting because I think they’re misunderstanding what pluralism is,” Greenblum said. “Pluralism is accepting all denominations of Judaism, including Orthodoxy. And though I have the choice to go to Berman or another modern Orthodox Jewish day school if I really wanted to go, I choose to go here and to be in this pluralistic community.”
with junior Maya Greenblum
Photos by Anna Polon, LT.
Photo by Vivi Ducker, LT.
S
HABBAT
HALOM
How different communities spend their Saturdays
Leora Blumenthal Arts and Entertainment Editor
On National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day on Feb. 1, which fell on Shabbat, B’nai Israel Congregation was lively. Ice cream was served at youth services and kiddush. The same day, there was a Bar Mitzvah, an 100th birthday and a 30th wedding anniversary. While this may seem like many festivities for one day, according to the congregations Senior Rabbi Michael Safra, it was just a typical Shabbat.
B’nai Israel Congregation is a Conservative synagogue in Rockville. Safra has been the head rabbi for 23 years, and his favorite part is serving people at their most meaningful moments.
“Very often those are moments of joy, when people bring new lives into the world, celebrating attainments, Jewish education and other things,” Safra said. “Also it’s times that are some of the most challenging in life, when people have to deal with challenging illnesses, when people have to con-
SHEPHERD PARK
sider death, burial and taking care of their loved ones.”
ROCKVILLE
According to Safra, Shabbat services at B’nai Israel are often a “production.” There is usually a life cycle celebration, but even on weeks without them, there are always a couple hundred people who attend services.
B’nai Israel offers all kinds of different minyans on Shabbat including a “Tot Shabbat” for young children, a family minyan and a teen minyan for those who want to daven in smaller groups. There are also programs or lectures, which often involve Jewish studies. Services always conclude with a kiddush luncheon where the community can share a Shabbat meal together.
“My favorite part of every Shabbat service is celebrating the community being together,” Safra said.
Surrounded by some of his closest friends during Kabbalat Shabbat, junior Ari Einhorn feels a strong sense of community. Davening at Ohev Sholom Congregation on Friday nights is one of his favorite parts of Shabbat.
Ohev Sholom is a modern Orthodox synagogue established in 1886 and located in Shepherd Park, a neighborhood in Northwest D.C. According to Einhorn, most members, especially the younger generations, feel very devoted to the community and want to be involved in any way they can. In the group chat for the daily minyan, it takes less than five minutes for people to volunteer whenever there are not the ten people required to make a minyan.
“Ohev has a lot of great families,” Einhorn said. “It’s very welcoming; there’s always guests coming in and going out. It’s a really great group of people.”
As sophomore Eve Sharp works in the thirdgrade Hebrew school classroom at Temple Emanuel, she feels overjoyed to be a part of the younger generation’s connection with Judaism. Sharp has worked in the Hebrew school for three years and enjoys her time there every Sunday.
Temple Emanuel is a reform synagogue in Kensington and was established in 1952. Sharp has been a member her whole life. While Sharp does not normally attend services on Shabbat, she is able to maintain her relationship by working at the Hebrew school.
“I feel a close connection to the community there,” Sharp said. “Not just my peers but also the staff, the rabbi and cantor.”
For Sharp, a typical Shabbat consists of Friday night dinner with her family or friends,
A typical Shabbat for Einhorn begins with going to services with his family on Friday night, followed by Shabbat dinner. Afterwards, he goes to a friend’s house until around midnight with 10 to 15 other local teens, many who also go to CESJDS.
On Saturday mornings, Einhorn goes to Ohev for services, has lunch with family and hangs out with friends at a different house each week. For him, Shabbat is an opportunity to spend time with friends and celebrate with his community. Whether playing basketball on Saturday afternoons or playing board games in someone’s basement, he feels that the sense of community is always present.
“I think everyone’s just really into it [synagogue involvement],” Einhorn said. “I think if you asked every single person in the community to sacrifice something, they’d be willing.”
where she enjoys feeling disconnected from her everyday life and being present at the dinner table. Sharp follows her grandmother’s challah recipe every Shabbat, a tradition she holds dear.
Despite not always going to synagogue on Saturday mornings, Sharp still aims to spend Shabbat with her family, and enjoys using the time to play games and catch up with her family. She tries to use Shabbat as a break from schoolwork and social media, and a time to reflect on the week.
“Even though we don’t follow all the customs of Shabbat, it is still something I look forward to every week,” Sharp said. “It’s really a time for me to be present with my family, which does not happen so often throughout the school week.”
Photo by Anna Polon, LT.
Photo from Wikimedia Commons.
Photo by Freed Photography, used with permission
- arts and entertainment -
Guide to using ridebooking apps
UBER EASY LYFT
ANIsaiah Segal-Geetter Reporter
When I’m out with friends and my parents aren’t available to pick me up, I’m faced with a decision: I can either wait for my parents to pick me up or I could use a ride-booking app. These apps allow users to order rides, which pick them up and drop them off at their desired destination, all from their phone.
Most ride-booking apps can be signed up for quickly. Uber ` is a great option for teens because its teen service is available for kids 1318. However, for Lyft users must be 18 or older. To sign up, a form of payment such as a credit or debit card is needed. This process can usually be done in five minutes or less. Here is a guide to using ride-booking apps easily, safely and efficiently:
Safety
Many ride-booking apps have implemented precautions to ensure the safety of the rider. Uber, for example, has a feature that sends an alert to the rider’s phone when the driver stops for too long or goes too far off the designated route. The rider will then receive a notification asking if everything is okay. If they don’t reply, a button will be displayed which notifies emergency services of the rider’s exact location and vehicle information. The rider can also share their ride information or call a family member from the app when they get in the Uber, so there is the added protection of another person knowing about your ride.
Additionally, Lyft has many precautions to ensure drivers are trustworthy. Lyft does annual background checks on drivers and requires them to complete mandatory safety training before driving for the company.
1 in 8
parents reported their teen ever using a ride-booking service
In many scenarios, it can be safer driving with a ride-booking service than by yourself, because the drivers are experienced and know their way around the area. It can also help when someone is in a situation unfit to drive, such as being sick, tired or intoxicated. For new drivers who may not be comfortable driving on the highway or at night, ride-booking can be an easy alternative.
While these apps are generally safe, there have been instances where they have proven to be dangerous. According to the MKP Law Group, physical assault fatalities among riders are less than 100 fatalities per year nationwide, nonetheless, assault is a concern that should be taken extremely seriously.
Uber
Uber prides itself on being a safe, reliable platform. Most Ubers cost about $1 per minute of transit, and anyone can get an Uber pretty much anywhere in the DMV within 15 minutes.
Uber Teen is the easiest ride-booking method for students, as it is the only one solely dedicated to teens. Once teen users go through the sign up process, they have access to Uber’s most trusted drivers, albeit for a slightly steeper price.
For anyone looking for a safer version of traditional apps and are willing to spend a few extra dollars, Uber Teen is perfect. It will notify a parent or guardian when a user gets a ride and will let them track the route. The driv er is also not able to start driving until the teen confirms a pin code that Uber provides for each ride.
Lyft
In Montgomery County most ride-booking drivers work for
59% of parents are concerned about ride-booking drivers being impaired from drugs or alcohol while driving their teen
Uber, but many are also signed up as drivers on Lyft. Lyft can be useful in cities where they are more common and therefore cheaper than alternatives. It can also be helpful to check Lyft to see if there are any cheaper prices compared to Uber. However, Lyft is only available for passengers over 18. For safety purposes, make sure that when using Lyft, an adult is present. For this reason Uber is much more useful as teens can ride in them alone.
Alternatives
If you don’t want to ride in a car, Uber and Lyft are both linked to E-bike and E-scooter apps, which can be used by anyone over the age of 16. Uber is connected to Lime scooters and Lyft to Lyft scooters. These can be found on the street throughout most cities and can also be quite fun to ride, just be sure to wear a helmet for safety.
These services are the perfect way to get somewhere when in a pickle. With this guide, they can be the perfect efficient, cheap and safe option.
>5 billion
total Uber rides in 2024
Photos by Leora Blumenthal, LT and Wikipedia Commons.
OOTWEAR
RENZY
Sophia Leinwand Reporter
Recent sneaker trends to enhance your wardrobe
Fashion is constantly evolving with new trends coming and going quickly. One way to keep up with the latest fads is by incorporating trending pieces into ones style. Sneakers are a great place to start. Many new sneaker trends feature innovative, timeless and eye-catching designs, accommodating diverse styles and personal preferences.
A major trend that began last year, and is continuing in 2025, is vibrant hues and unexpected color combinations. One prime example is Adidas Sambas. While they may seem like any ordinary shoe, Sambas are taken to the next level with their bold splashes of color and unique quality.
Sambas’ popularity rose rapidly in recent months due to celebrity promotions and social media influence, despite the fact that they have been around for decades. Sambas quickly became known due to an emphasis on retro and vintage styles. Since being originally introduced, Sambas have undergone functional updates and more color choices. Sambas come in a variety of colors, from light blues to hot pinks, and they are sure to brighten any outfit.
Another trendy shoe is the Adidas Campus. In contrast to Sambas, Campuses are more basic and heavy-looking. These shoes are made of timeless suede with a stiffer bottom. Campuses are a bulkier alternative to some of Adidas’ more basic sneakers and are the perfect day-to-day shoes to complete anyone’s style.
The next trend that has gone in and out of fashion in the last few years, but has come back recently is chunky sneakers.
Chunky sneakers are distin guishable by their bulk and solid appearance. An example of this is the New Balance 530s. They have intricate fabric work with a trendy edge, despite having a reputation as “dad shoes,” associating their chunky appearance with a dad’s style. 530s are a go-to sneaker for everyday wear and have a balanced mix of sporty and effortless style, with a nostalgic retro vibe.
With the rising cost of shoes, it is important to purchase them wisely and make sure they can be worn with anything, as is the case with New Balance 550s. Due to their subtle colors with an oc casional bold accent color, these shoes are a stylish mix of “classic charm and modern flair,” accord ing to New Balance. Similar to Vejas, these shoes can be paired with any outfit. They are sleek and unlikely to go out of style due to their quality and extreme comfort.
Veja V-90s are another shoe with classic aspects to them. These shoes are made in a variety of colors, some neutral and some more vibrant. The great thing about Vejas is their potential to be dressed up or dressed down. They can elevate any look, or contribute to a relaxed, casual outfit. Veja V-90s have a retro twist to them, partly due to the timeless design and embrace of ‘90s athletic fashion.
With such a large variety of sneaker options, there is no one way to go. Depending on one’s fashion preferences, sneakers can serve as the highlight of an outfit, or a way to mix things up and ex periment with new styles. Regard less, bold and chunky sneakers as well as timeless neutral ones are continuing to gain popularity, even as other fashion trends continue to shift.
Photos by Leora Blumenthal, LT.
- arts & entertainment -
Mia Forseter SportsEditor
Local bookstores to check out
4886 BOILING BROOK PKWY
Friends of the Library Politics and Prose Stacks &
5015 Connecticut Ave, Washington DC.
My favorite bookstore to visit when I am not sure what book I want to buy is Friends of the Library. This shop is second hand, meaning that all the books in the store have already been owned and are donated. Friends of the Library creates an ambiance perfect for readers looking for an easy-going and cozy bookstore.
The store is part of a larger non-profit organization, Friends of the Library Montgomery County (FOLMC), which was founded with the purpose of supporting Montgomery County Public Libraries.
There is a location in Wheaton, but the Friends of the Library location that I most often visit is conveniently located across the street from CESJDS.
Friends of the Library has a variety of options for low prices, around two or three dollars each.
I am often able to buy around five books here for the price of one somewhere else. As a result, I will often leave Friends of the Library with more books than I set out to get, having found many old favorites or books I have never heard of that sound interesting.
With three locations across D.C., Politics and Prose (P&P) is the perfect bookstore for finding a specific book or participating in a community event. My favorite of their locations is located on Connecticut Avenue NW, as it also has a great coffee shop, The Den.
This location has two levels, packed to the brim with books neatly lined on shelves or stacked on display tables. The display tables highlight relevant books for the month and reader favorites throughout each level, giving overwhelmed readers the ability to easily find recommendations.
The store is spacious and I have often walked into an aisle to find someone reading by themselves in the privacy the space offers. The bookstore receives about a hundred boxes of books each day, ensuring that it has almost every book you could think of.
In addition to selling books, P&P hosts many clubs, author talks and writing classes, it also
has a book-a-month program, where recipients input information about what types of books they like, and are shipped books monthly based on that.
Since COVID-19, P&P has grown its online presence. Through the P&P website, customers can order books to their houses, learn about programs like author talks and gain easy access to the many other services.
P&P gives shoppers the classic experience of a large bookstore while also providing space for people to connect in smaller settings.
Photos by Mia Forseter, LT.
Photos by Penelope Terl, LT.
Graphic by Jonah Mellen, LT
Wonderland Books STORIEs
Q&A with Wonderland Books owner Amy Joyce:
Q: Why did you found Wonderland Books
After years of downtown Bethesda not having a bookstore, in Nov. 2024, Wonderland Books, a small independent bookstore, moved in. Downtown Bethesda has not had a bookstore since 2022, when Amazon Books went out of business. Wonderland Books is a welcome addition to the neighborhood, as the staff provides a friendly environment, giving members of the community an easy place to find both books and a community.
Wonderland Books was founded by Amy Joyce and Gayle Weiswasser, who had previously been in a book club together. The store feels very open and inviting, upon entering I instantly feel comfortable talking to staff and other shoppers.
Walking into Wonderland Books, I immediately notice its simplicity and the feeling of community it fosters. Display tables are scattered throughout the one-room store, while still leaving plenty of room to move around. On the wall, polaroid pictures of pets who have visited the store are proudly displayed, highlighting the sense of community the store strives for.
Despite its small size, the store has different options for all readers, from the humor section to the young adult section. For readers who are unsure what book to pick, the store offers a “blind date with a book,” where books are wrapped to hide their covers and descrip tions are written on the wrapping.
A: ”We started talking about how Bethesda didn’t have an independent bookstore, and needed an independent bookstore.”
Q: How does Wonderland Books serve the community?
A: ”We see Wonderland Books as a space for people to come in and enjoy themselves, feel relaxed and talk to each other, books in hand.”
Q: What can teens do to get involved in the store?
A: ”I hope to have teenagers come in and maybe start reading to kids and doing story times.”
Q: Why do you think book stores are important?
A: ”I think they help
Photo by Mia Forseter, LT.
PhotobyMiaForseter,LT.
Unpacking the PVAC
LEARNING THE LEAGUE
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Tali Loeffler SportsEditor
For many, sports teams are an indispensable part of the CESJDS experience. From practices to championships, many students enjoy the opportunities that these teams have to offer. While people attend these games, few people see the work and organization that goes on behind the scenes of the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference (PVAC).
Founded in 1979, the PVAC was created when a group of D.C. and Maryland schools, including JDS, came together in search of friendly competition for private schools. With relatively similar student body populations and philosophies surrounding sports competition, the schools formed the PVAC.
Now, with 15 participating schools, the PVAC has nine sports with divisions for boys and girls: basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, cross country, track and field, golf, tennis, swimming and volleyball. Wrestling is the only official coed sport, although no school besides JDS has female wrestlers. The league does not allow members to recruit student-athletes.
“The league’s goal is to foster competition between its member schools,” Executive Director of the PVAC Jessie Gaylord said. “It provides meaning to a season, it provides structure to school schedules … but it also provides guardrails and rules to level the playing field.”
Former athletic director at the Field School, Gaylord has been involved with the PVAC since 2006. As league director, Gaylord works
Charles E. Smith
Jewish Day School
with the athletic directors of each school to organize the PVAC. He helps set policies, looks after the league’s financial status and acts as a referee liaison.
To join the PVAC, a school must go through a substantial application process. This process includes a letter of interest from the school to the league with information about the school and a presentation from the athletic director of the school. Upon approval, the school participates in the league for a probationary year before officially joining.
“We’re all kind of homegrown schools,” former President of the PVAC and Director of Athletics Becky Silberman said.
“...It’s a really good mix of people and abilities, and it also gets space for kids to thrive in different areas.”
A school is required to have at least five different sports teams to participate in the league. For each sport team in the league, a minimum of four teams is required for a playoff tournament, and a minimum of five teams is required for a regular season.
In November, the JDS Student Athletic Leadership Committee participated in a retreat at the Field School with students from two other schools in the PVAC. Through group discussions and listening to lectures from various PVAC staff, the student-athletes worked to find ways to improve the league and created a code of conduct for fan participation at sporting events.
Junior Amalia Netter attended the retreat and appreciated that the PVAC was looking for ways to better itself and take feed-
PVAC schools
Spencerville Adventist Academy Washington International School
Melvin J. Berman
Hebrew Academy
The Field School
Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School
Washington Christian Academy
Kendall Demonstration Elementary School McLean School
back from students.
“I think it [the PVAC] looks out for students’ interest,” Netter said. “They really wanted to hear how it could help the students specifically.”
With so many different schools involved, the PVAC sometimes faces scheduling issues. For example, religious differences prohibit schools like JDS and Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy from playing games on Friday or Saturdays, while schools like St. Anslems cannot play on Sundays. Thus, according to Silberman, the league schedules some games approximately seven or eight months in advance of the season.
Despite minor challenges, Gaylord believes the league serves students well. According to Gaylord, the PVAC’s schedule allows for students to be multi-season athletes without compromising a sport. Silberman also notes that students can be successful as athletes and thrive in other parts of their academic and extracurricular lives because the league is not as competitive or demanding as others are.
“It’s a really wonderful league because of its diversity,” Gaylord said. “There’s a lot of religious diversity and socioeconomic diversity and a lot of different schools of thought, both literally and figuratively, of different academic philosophies. I think it’s cool that sports can be a space where things are relatively level and you can bring people who have different backgrounds together to engage with one another.”
Milton Gottesman
Jewish Day School
Edmund Burke School
Sandy Spring Friends School
St. Anselm’s Abbey School
Model Secondary School for the Deaf
Students and teacher participate in martial arts
Lindsey Shapiro OpinionEditor
KICKING IT
At a martial arts competition last December, English teacher and Department Chair Melissa Fisanich prepared to impress the judges with her practiced forms, or representations of movements, in tang soo do. She had been practicing to improve these skills for many years and was excited to demonstrate her abilities in a higher-stakes environment.
Fisanich has been doing tang soo do, an offshoot of Japanese martial arts, for 10 years. Many aspects make up tang soo do, such as detailed sequences of movements and choreographed fights to showcase technique. Tang soo do focuses on sparring, which are motions of fighting without the harsh contact. Fights at competitions are combinations of rehearsed sequences and real fights against competitors to demonstrate skills spontaneously.
Fisanich originally got in volved with martial arts because her son was taking te classes and her husband thought she might enjoy it herself. She is cur rently working on becoming a black belt-which signi fies mastery of basic karate skills-at the Tompkins Karate As sociation in Gaithers burg.
“If I become a black belt, it will open up a lot more opportunities to go [compete at a higher level] with other peo ple in my organization,” Fisanich said. “Black belts in my organiza tion might travel to tournaments at different places and compete against other high-level martial artists.”
In anticipation of be coming a black belt, Fisan ich has spent time per fecting many moves.
“I’m able to let off steam and just let go of my energy in the class and feel so much better, both physically and mentally.”
- Junior Alma Medvedofsky
One of the moves Fisanich has found the most difficult to perfect at the black belt level is an upwards block, done by lifting an arm with a bent elbow and a fisted hand above one’s head.
In contrast to the perfected choreographed movements of tang soo do, for three years, sophomore Jonah Soffler has been doing martial arts styles focused on joint locks and takedowns such as kickboxing, wrestling and jiu-jitsu, a type of Japanese martial arts.
Soffler trains at Culture of Jiu-Jitsu in Gaithersburg. He originally started learning martial arts with a physical trainer to try an individual sport, but he ended up enjoying practicing even more and has been doing it ever since.
“I played team sports for a while, and then I decided to experiment with individual sports, I would be in control of the sport instead of having a team,” Soffler said.
According to Fisanich and Soffler, many people enjoy focusing on self-improvement and individual skills rather than having to rely on a team.
In addition to Soffler and Fisanich, junior Alma Medvedofsky has been doing karate at Kicks Karate in Bethesda
The style of karate that Medvedofsky does includes self-discipline and choreographed movements found in tang soo do, in addition to kickboxing
with an emphasis on improving sparring skills.
Medvedofsky has been a second-degree black belt since March 2024, with an even higher status of knowledge and devotion than a first-degree black belt. According to Medvedofsky, her experience doing karate has taught her discipline as well as the ability to protect herself.
“It really, really makes me feel so good physically afterwards,” Medvedofsky said. “I’m able to let off steam and just let go of my energy in the class and feel so much better both physically and mentally.”
Fisanich practices forms in order to prepare for upcoming competitions.
Photos by Howard County Department of Recreation and Forrest Fisanich, used with permission.
Photo by Danit Levy-Medvedofsky, used with permission.
sports -
As the season comes to a close, here’s how the Lions finished
WINTER SPORTS
by Adam Hirsh, Jason Belinkie Aviva Hadas and Sophia Leinwand, LT. Used with permission.
DANCE
The dance team had an eventful season, with performances at multiple Kabbalat Shabbats and during halftime at a few varsity basketball games. The dance team, which does not typically perform this frequently, was led by senior captains Navah Gris, Cati Werbin and Molly Wollner as well as head coach Elianna Bernstein (‘16).
The team practiced three times a week in the dining hall and at the Bender Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington.
Sophomore Gloria Jeruchim said that one of her season highlights was celebrating the seniors on senior night.
“I really enjoyed making the posters for the seniors to show how much we appreciated them,” Jeruchim said. “We felt super happy for them.”
TRACK & FIELD
Despite having many of their practices canceled due to snow and cold weather, the track team tried to maintain a positive attitude throughout the season.
The team had a successful season, with athletes including senior Nathan Szubin, junior Mia Forseter, sophomores Ryan Klepper and Isaiah Segal-Geetter and freshman Max Obstfeld all setting personal records during the Montgomery County Private School Indoor Track & Field Championship race on Feb. 5.
The Lions were a much smaller team than many other schools
RUNDOWN
WRESTLING
This season CESJDS won the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference (PVAC) wrestling championship, which took place at St. Anselm’s Abbey School, for the first time in three years. The wrestling team is made up of high school and middle school students.
Head coach Chuck Woolery and the wrestling team also traveled to the Henry Wittenberg Invitational at the Frisch School in Paramus, New Jersey, where they
David Federowicz and Aviv Stein Reporters
placed seventh out of 12 teams. One of the challenges with the Wittenberg tournament was that only five out of JDS’ 14 wrestlers were able to participate because many of them had plans that weekend. Sophomore Adin Kahan hopes that in the upcoming seasons more players will join wrestling.
“Most of the wrestlers are sophomores so trying to get more people from other grades is really important for our team’s success,” Kahan said.
but still managed to be competitive. Freshman Asher Kotok felt that even though they weren’t the best or biggest team at the meet, their tenacity made a big impression on others.
“We definitely did better than people thought,” Kotok said. “... We had a very small team, but when we had our indoor championships, we won four or five medals.”
Photos
VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL
Starting off their season, the boys varsity basketball team traveled to the Memphis Yeshiva Invitational Tournament in Tennessee, where they were ranked as the 14th seed out of the 16 teams. The Lions went 2-2 in the tournament. In their final game, they beat the Cooper Yeshiva Macabees 50-33.
Even though the team only had one senior, the team had a 17-6 record under the direction of head coach Ryan Escow. In the first round of playoffs, the team defeated the Washington Christian Academy Red Devils 58-37, but ended up losing by three points to the Sandy Spring
JV BASKETBALL
The JV boys basketball team had an undefeated season with a record of 12-0. Led by head coach Mathew Landy, JV capped off their season by beating Berman 29-27 in the PVAC championship. Freshman Tani Kastan noted his teammates’ great improvement throughout the season.
“It was a great learning experience,” Kastan said. “I think we had a lot of people who hadn’t really played so much basketball before, and I think everyone got a lot better.”
VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Lions won the PVAC championship against the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy Cougars 45-32 on Feb. 22, after losing to them twice in the regular season. Led by junior captain Tali Loeffler, senior captains Gigi Gordon and Josie Silverberg and head coach Becky Silberman, the girls varsity basketball team had an action-packed season.
After scoring 10 points during the game, Loeffler was awarded tournament MVP.
Midway through their regular season, the girls participated in the Israel Becker Invitational Tournament in Toronto,
Wildebeests in the semifinals on Feb. 18.
Junior and captain Cyrus Blumenthal led the team scoring an average of 18 points per game. Junior captains Micah Goldrich, Leo Steindecker and Blumenthal are all looking forward to seeking redemption against Sandy Spring next winter.
“Our goal next season is to win a championship, 100%,” Steindecker said. “A lot of people didn’t expect us to do much this year because we lost a lot of our key guys, but we rebranded ourselves as a team that played with hustle and selfless oriented basketball.”
The JV girls basketball team is fairly new to the JDS athletic program, as this was the second season a team was fielded in the last 10 years. With only freshmen girls on the roster, the season was full of learning, skill building and team bonding, according to freshman Kira Koplow.
“I’m excited to play with the same girls again,” Koplow said. “I’m also really excited to hopefully win some more games [next year] and get better.”
Canada, where Loeffler also won tournament MVP. Sophomore Yarden Wilkenfeld believes that the tournament was one of the key factors that helped them succeed later in the season.
“I think going to Toronto really bonded us as a team, which we seriously needed,” Wilkenfeld said. “Our performance was our best all season and that allowed us to come back to the playoffs and propel us on a playoff run.”
MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL
After finishing the regular season with a 9-4 record, the middle school boys basketball team lost their semifinal playoff game against the Sandy Spring Friends School Wildebeests, 36-33 on Feb. 5. Eighth grade student Sam Olin was the team’s leading scorer for the season, averaging 18 points per game.
“Obviously, the end was disappointing, as we didn’t win the league,” Olin said. “But, regardless, I think we all were very happy with how we did and how everybody improved.”
The middle school girls team finished their season with an in-conference record of 4-7, losing to the Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School Pandas in the first round of the playoffs 14-8. Head coach Brett Kugler believes that this was an important year for his players as they learned from their mistakes and improved all around. He expects a strong season next year.
“We have a lot of eighth graders leaving … but that leaves more opportunity for new players to come in and get an opportunity to lead the team,” Kugler said.
SPRING FEVER
Local treasures for the incoming season
Maiya Blumenthal ManagingEditor,Copy
Cherry Blossoms
Attracting over 1.5 million tourists each year to D.C., the cherry blossoms are a must-see as spring begins. This year, the National Cherry Blossom Festival spans from March 20 to April 13. Walking through neighborhoods like Kenwood in Bethesda and the Tidal Basin are great ways to see the trees.
Embassy Day
D.C.’s embassies offer two opportunities for the public to experience international cultures: the Around the World Embassy Tour on May 3, and the European Union Embassies’ Open House on May 10. From sampling countries’ national foods to learning about their unique arts, Embassy Day is a must-attend event this spring.
Fletcher’s Boathouse
As the weather warms up, there is no better feeling than spending the day on the water. Fletcher’s Boathouse in Northwest D.C. offers the opportunity to rent different types of boats for a day spent on the Potomac River either through private rentals ($22-32/hr depending on boat type), boating classes or tours.
Nationals Park
As spring blooms, baseball fans flood Nationals Park at Navy Yard for the start of the baseball season. Attending a Washington Nationals game is a great way to celebrate the warm weather and show spirit for the nation’s capital. This season will kick off on March 27 with a home game against the Philadelphia Phillies, with ticket prices starting at $54.
Butler’s Orchard
A highlight of the spring season is always new, fresh produce. Even better is handpicking the produce on your own. Butler’s Orchard in Germantown enables guests to do just that, with 23 different producepicking options and a farmers market. To start the season on April 27, asparagus is the main crop to pick. The entry price per guest is $4.
By Managing Editor, Copy Maiya Blumenthal, Editor-InChief Vivi Ducker and In-Depth Editor Sadaf
Zadeh
DEAR EDITORS,
I love your work, first time caller, long time listener. I enjoyed your article on ADHD, as someone who does have it. However, it took a lot of effort and many tries to read it in its entirety. The thing is, for an article about how hard it is for people with ADHD to focus, I found the article not very “ADHD-friendly” and hard to focus on. The amount of words on the page combined with the lack of color was difficult for the attention span of someone with ADHD. The article itself was great, but that’s assuming the target audience reads it.
Photo by Eliana Wolf, LT.
Photo by Maiya Blumenthal, LT.
Photo by Leora Blumenthal, LT.
Photo by Jen Blumenthal
Photo by Vivi Ducker, LT.