CYHSB Weekly 4/12/24

CYHSB WEEKLY

Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys

Exploring

Embracing Humility: Understanding the Divine and Ourselves

Page 5

Cooper Clicks

Page 6

Proving Their Mettle: The Cooper Macs' Journey at Sarachek

Two weeks ago, the Baron Hirsch synagogue gave Jewish teens in the Memphis community the opportunity to embark on a solidarity mission trip to Israel. It was a jam-packed five-day trip with meaningful and uplifting sights, speakers, and discussions. The trip would not have been possible without the generosity of Andrew and Jan Groveman and was beautifully led by Baron Hirsch youth directors Eitan and Dina Selter, and Rabbi Lichter. I was fortunate to go on the trip with nine

GMSG. The trip allowed us to connect to Am Yisrael on a deeper level and let us integrate into an entity bigger than ourselves. It allowed us to truly relate to the events and experiences of October 7th and understand the state of Israel as it is today.

Wednesday morning, we arrived. We headed to a high school in Shoham, Israel, to meet with highschool students. We discussed with them their experience of October 7th and the war and found that each Continued On Next page

CYHSB Representatives at the Kotel (lef to right) Akiva Levine, Dotan Weiss Photo Source: Eitan Selter

Continued From Last Page of them, in some way, was directly affected by the events. For instance, a teacher we met was connected to a hostage through her husband's cousin. Everyone in Israel is interconnected.

While there as well, it felt incredible that we connected with Jewish teens living in Israel. Our next visit was to the rehab center of Tel Hashomer, or Sheba Hospital. We met with the head psychologist and two wounded soldiers who bravely shared their stories. Hearing from such courageous individuals, made us wonder how much they have sacrificed by devoting themselves to Am Yisrael. After learning about a biofeedback device used to treat soldiers with PTSD, we went to the “Hostages and Missing Families Forum” headquarters, followed by Hostage Square, in Tel Aviv.

Hearing from former hostages and seeing the booths educating about the massacres in the Kibbutzim, will resonate with us for a lifetime.

We started off the next morning with the lighter activity of volunteering at “Pantry Packers.” We had the chance to help pack food such as coffee beans and lentils for poor families in Israel. Not only was it an engaging activity, but we knew that our food would provide meals for thousands of individuals in need. The same day, we traveled to Southern Israel to the city of Sderot and the sight of the Nova Festival massacre. Sderot is a border town less than 0.6 miles from Gaza and was affected immensely by October 7th. In Sderot, we witnessed the destroyed police station that Hamas ambushed and walked around the city. Rabbi Katz, a former educator in the school, accompanied us in Sderot and shared his stories of October 7th and the war.

The sight of the Nova Festival Massacre was the most poignant sight to witness. Amidst the verdant landscape of the festival were memorials and pictures of each of the murdered and the captive

victims of Hamas. Being there was surreal. Being 6,000 miles away hearing about the Nova massacre on television is one thing, but to stand on the very blood-stained ground of our Jewish brothers was captivating. We gathered together to sing Acheinu and recite Tehillim (other Israelis came to join us); when, in the middle of Acheinu, a shot of artillery fired.

It immediately startled us, yet we soon realized it was the fire of the Israeli Defense Forces, fighting our nation’s brave battle in Gaza, just 3 miles away. We left the sight with a black and white mark on our hearts — a mark of sorrow yet one of hope.

Arriving back in Jerusalem, we met with Tamar Schwarzbard, a woman who works for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In our meeting with her, she told us how she is in charge of the Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok accounts of Israel and it is her duty, with these accounts, to educate the world on emerging Israeli actions and events in the war. Without these accounts,

she explained, individuals would be ill-informed and the world would blame Israel for events during this war. She additionally gave us advice on how to use Social Media safely and productively.

The next day, Erev-Shabbos, we visited Har Herzl, a military cemetery honoring IDF soldiers who sacrificed themselves for our nation. We heard an inspiring story by a friend of Eitan and Dina Selter, who recounted the life of their brother who fell in battle. Afterwards, we visited the grave of Rose Lubin who courageously defended the State of Israel. As we traversed the grounds before leaving, we witnessed how new the graves were and were told that each day, Har Herzl filled more and more. However, it's not just the grave marking that fills the space but the prayers and appreciation of Am Yisrael.

We finished the day with an activity at Machane Yehuda Market and Ben Yehuda Street. Upon returning to our hotel, we served ice cream to the children of families

Continued On Next page

The group on the Israel trip visits a West Bank IDF Base. Source: Akiva Levine

Continued From Last Page living in our hotel. These families were displaced from their homes in Shlomi, a town near Lebanon in the north, due to the war and the threat of Hezbollah. Before Shabbos, we also gave them toys that we brought from Memphis for the children.

The Shabbos during our trip was a time to reflect on our experiences. Friday night, we went to Nitzanim, a shul in Bacca, and ate at Eitan and Dina Selter’s friends for dinner. On Shabbos day, after davening at a nearby shul, we had the entire afternoon to rest. Right before Seudah Shlishit, we heard from Israelis who personally were affected by the war and who were soon going to American colleges to spread awareness of Israel and Jewish identity. Two individuals whom we spoke to for instance were a survivor of the Nova Music Festival and a paramedic who treated soldiers. After Shabbat ended, we had a meaningful visit to the Kotel and met with our Memphis friends in Yeshiva and the former Torah Mitzion family, the Wendes.

Sunday, was our last day on the mission, but arguably the most impactful. After an early wake-up and breakfast, we headed to Cherish, Israel, a city Northeast of Netanya to meet with Hadas Lowenstern. Hadas

"We left the sight with a black and white mark on our hearts— a mark of sorrow yet one of hope."

is a widow with six kids who lost her husband in the war. She spoke to us about herself and her husband, and her immense emunah, or faith in Hashem, even as she was a ba'al teshuva, in her humble manner. After leaving her home, we were

Following this, we went to Netanya to go strawberry picking for a local farmer. We were happy to help with the farmer’s parnasa and felt that we made an impact. For our last experience of the trip, we had a great opportunity to make a barbecue for IDF soldiers. We arrived at the army base in the West Bank and helped grill the burgers, and set up dinner. During the meal, the soldiers spoke about their service in the reserves and the infantry unit they are in; they told us how many left their families behind to fight on the Gazan border and now they are defending the West Bank while they are based there.

With all of these incredible experiences, from our interactions with IDF soldiers to our visit to Nova, we know that what we experienced will stay with us

fortunate we had this opportunity

Lichter for accompanying us. Thank possible. It is thanks to you that we truly feel a connection to the Jewish

Exploring Language Development in the CYHSB

Baruch Finkelman ('25)

English is a dynamic and everevolving language; its essence continuously shifts and transforms. Words once firmly anchored in one meaning may now sail into new semantic waters, while entirely novel terms can swiftly find a place in our lexicon through widespread usage. The exploration of the origin and development of words within a language is encapsulated in the field of etymology. Often, the process of etymological evolution occurs subtly, almost imperceptibly in realtime. However, within the confines of our educational institution, students at CYHSB are granted a distinctive vantage point to witness the metamorphosis of language, from overarching national trends to the nuanced shifts exclusive to our community.

noun, denoting romantic allure or charm, as in "that boy has crazy rizz," indicating his capacity to enchant others. As a verb, "rizz" encapsulates the act of charming or seducing, as illustrated by "Ryan Reynolds can rizz up anybody,"

Source: Flickr

A poignant example of this linguistic evolution lies in the emergence and proliferation of the term "rizz." Initially sprouting from the root of "charisma," defined as "compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others" (Oxford Dictionary), "rizz" has undergone a remarkable transformation within the digital realm. It now takes on the role of a

spotlighting his prowess in captivating individuals. This term, along with its various conjugated forms (such as L-rizz, W-rizz, etc.), was virtually non-existent prior to its surge in popularity around mid-2021, catalyzed by the online presence of streamer Kai Cenat. Just shy of two years later, it earned the esteemed title of Merriam-Webster’s word of the year.

Moreover, the homophones "tough" and "tuff" have undergone a

linguistic evolution, acquiring fresh meanings and versatile usage. While "tough" traditionally connotes resilience and "tuff" denotes a type of volcanic ash rock, both terms have now assimilated new connotations. Phrases like "Is [name] tuff?" or "That's not tuff" have permeated everyday discourse, where "tough" now signifies ruggedness, and "tuff" embodies something positive or desirable.

Intriguingly, this evolution mirrors language usage chronicled in the 1967 novel

The Outsiders, where these terms were employed with similar meanings by the protagonists, the greasers. Thus, while these words appear to undergo real-time evolution, they are in fact resurfacing with meanings established decades ago.

In summary, the malleability of language allows for the effortless invention of new terms, with linguistic landscapes constantly shifting and expanding. Nearly anyone holds the capacity to introduce fresh vocabulary into circulation. Only time will tell what is next in store for our linguistic evolution.

© CALVIN AND HOBBES Watterson. Reprinted with permission of ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION. All rights reserved.

Embracing Humility: Understanding the Divine and Ourselves

Avi Becker ('24)

Few people would disagree that one must fully understand a subject before forming a novel opinion on the topic. For example, one who doesn’t understand how a plane flies is expected to learn about how the wings work before coming up with a theory on how perhaps the wind of the trees holds it up. Indeed, anyone who would act in this way (similar to people who claim the earth is flat,) would be shamed to no end. However, this ideal is ignored when it comes to G-d. It seems as though, for the sake of convenience, people come to their own conclusions about the intricacies of G-d, ignoring the myriad experts who have studied the topic.

It would at first seem unideal that anyone come to their own conclusion about G-d before learning all the primary source material (Tanach). However, we find this to be an accepted custom. Teenagers often find themselves, in a search for convenience and conquest of knowledge, creating a delusionary image of G-d that doesn’t exist. However, this problem extends far past teenagers and is perhaps even more present in the adult world. While teenagers accept the limitations and continued development of their minds, adults tend to be more secure in their solidified and developed thoughts. This comfort in their current state causes them to be aversive to change. This aversion to change prevents growth. One must take steps to understand his limited intellect and the infinite potential for growth no matter the age. We learn the first step is to understand how lowly man is in comparison to the infinite G-d and how little his understanding is of the vastness of the Torah.

The Kedushas Levi begins his sefer, (although his sefer is not a properly written book, but rather a collection of his teachings put

together by his disciples. It remains unknown whether he spearheaded this mission), with this very point: “It is a basic principle of our faith that G-d created everything, that He is everything.” Here the Kedushas Levi leaves no room for selfinterpretation; Hashem literally is existence. His benevolence is unending and constant. And without this constant flow, creation would cease to exist. It is through this awareness that man can come to accept upon himself a state of divine consciousness referred to as “Nothingness.” One realizes that they are nothing and that G-d, constantly powers him through his creative energy. As such, we say “the One Who forms” in the present tense by the prayer of Asher Yatzar. This present tense is the acknowledgment that one exists merely as a reflection of the divine will and a mirror of Hashem’s energy causing him to exist, for if this energy were to cease at any moment, his existence would cease as well.

Realizing how insignificant we are in the grand scheme of existence can completely change how we see things. But this change only happens when we truly experience this realization, not just when we understand it logically. You can understand something in your mind but not really feel its impact until you face it directly. This lack of a real encounter can stop us from growing because we might not see a problem if we haven't truly experienced it. So, it's not enough to just know something; we need to truly feel its effects to understand its significance. One such example of this is presented in the following Moshel:

Imagine you are a very naturally gifted basketball player. You have always been the best on your team and the best player on the court. Although you show up to basketball practice, you have never taken the

Source: The New York Times

time to hone your abilities in the offseason. Of course, you have the desire to be the best basketball player, but since you have never encountered anyone better, you feel no need to take extra time to practice. One day, in a basketball game, you finally encounter someone better than you.

You knew in your head that there were people better than you. But it wasn't until you actually met someone with superior skills that you felt it hit you, making you insecure. This is where our story splits. In option "A," you're motivated to improve because you're inspired by someone better. In option "B," you feel threatened and try to protect your ego by finding faults in the other person, convincing yourself that you're still the best. By doing this, you avoid facing the reality that there are indeed people better than you. For instance, in option B, you might say the other player is only good at shooting but terrible at passing and dribbling, just to feel better about yourself. In option B, you're avoiding the truth to stay in your comfort zone and eliminate the threat.

Path A prevents change and growth in a person. Path B makes one feel comfortable. And as Winston Churchill said about comfort: “This is no time for ease and comfort. It is time to dare and endure.” May we all have the strength and spirit to divulge from the easy path and truly have the chance to grow into the best version of ourselves.

Cooper Clicks

Top Right: Yosef and Ethan are disgusted by the pink starfish in . . . Middle: Rafi Somer and Rafi Goldkin rizz up Patrick Star. Bottom

Left: Ignoring the ball, Rafi Goldkin tries to do a backflip to impress his fans. Bottom

Middle: Scared of his shadow, Ezra Davidovics clutches on to his newly acquired weapon. Bottom

Right: After realizing that he cannot stand on air, Yosef goes into a full panic.

Photos By: JJ Stein and Jack Kampf

Proving Their Mettle: The Cooper Macs' Journey at Sarachek

Rafi Goldkin (’25)

This past weekend, the basketball team traveled to New York for the Sarachek basketball tournament. While the team could not forget last year’s disappointment, we were eager to prove ourselves in the upcoming weekend. With a successful season, the eager Cooper Macs have been practicing and preparing to prove their worth and mettle in the Yeshiva League basketball.

Under the supervision of Coach Kobi Pinto and Coach David Winestone, the team was able to enjoy themselves on and off the court. Having been given the 17th seed, the Cooper Macs were unable to compete for tier one but were determined to prove that they belonged in tier two. Although receiving the 17th seed was disappointing, it did have its advantages. In our first game on Friday, we matched up against our longtime rivals, the MTA Lions. Having encountered and surpassed them earlier in the season, the Cooper Macs were expecting an easy victory. However, the MTA Lions proved to be more aggressive than they may have thought. The Macs started out the game with a huge advantage, and they capitalized, drawing up a 13-point margin in the first quarter. However, the MTA Lions were determined to come back, and they made way for a comeback. After eliminating the deficit, the MTA Lions barely made it out alive, clutching an exciting and thrilling primetime matchup. The game ended on a missed buzzer-beater. 48-45 Lions Win. The unexpected and shocking loss hit Cooper Macs hard. The MTA Lions as the 16th seed had proven their skill, for now.

themselves on the court. On Sunday, they faced up against the Kushner Cobras. Being one of the lowerperforming teams in the Yeshiva league this past year, the Kushner Cobras, we expected to be crushingly defeated. However, the Cobras proved that they deserved to be out there competing with every

stars. The match started playing a full-court, man-on-man, successfully locking down the two best players of the opponent's team. However, despite Mac efforts, the King's big man and other guards were determined to prove something. They “popped off” performing well under pressure. The Cooper Macs could not find an answer to stop them and sadly fell behind in a 10-point deficit most of the game.

Going into the fourth quarter, the Cooper Macs knew anything was possible by evidence of MTA's miraculous comeback. They gave it their all, putting in a 200% effort. Sadly, it wasn’t enough, and they were defeated.

After enjoying a nice Shabbat at a hotel in Teaneck, the Cooper Macs were back and ready to prove

other team. They kept a close game in the first half and then, going into the third, they went up 18 points on the Cooper Macs. Taking a lesson from MTA, the Macs never gave up and continued fighting into the fourth quarter. After a rough battle throughout the game, the Cooper Macs were given the opportunity to win with 10 seconds left in the game. Down 1 point but eager to score, the ball was given to Benny Freiden, who put up a last-second shot and made it for the buzzerbeater win. Cooper Macs, 57-55.

After an adrenaline rush and a win, the excitement cooled down, and the Macs began to prepare for their tier three championship that they would compete in on Monday. Amped and ready for this game, they studied the play film and anticipated the Kohelet Kings (their next-round opponents) might draw up. Getting a good night's sleep and waking up early the next morning, Cooper made all the right preparations for their big game. However, they would soon realize that Kohelet had a few unexpected

Although it was a disappointing end to the tournament, we were happy that we had the chance to participate in Sarachek. Over the weekend, multiple people on our team stepped up in different roles of leadership. A couple of individuals happily obliged to lead multiple aliyot or lead services at the tournament. Yosef Vanderwalde received the Sarachek all-star award for an outstanding 3-game performance. These games were dedicated to the graduating seniors who have now played their last games for the Cooper Macs. We salute Yitzchak Rubin, Avi Becker, and Yosef Vanderwalde. These players proved to be valuable pieces to the Cooper Macs roster, and they will be missed next year. However, even without these key pieces, the up-and-coming Cooper Macs look forward to returning to Sarachek in future years with fresh faces and even more success. We want to extend our deepest gratitude to Coach Pinto and Coach Winestone for all their time, hard work, and effort, contributing so much to our team.

Macs celebrate victory Source: Macs Live

This Weeks Issue is sponsored by Jessica and Alex Baum in honor of the amazing CYHSB students and teachers!

Shabbat Shalom!

Message from the Editor: CYHSB Weekly Staff: Co-Editors in Chief

Nadav Lowell | nadav.lowell@mhafyos.org

Raanan Vanderwalde | raanan.vanderwalde@mhafyos.org

Head of Torah Affairs

Rafi Goldkin | rafael.goldkin@mhafyos.org

Chief Layout Editor

Rafi Davidovics | rafael.davidovics@mhafyos.org

Layout Editors

Amit Zalman | amit.zalman@mhafyos.org

Yitzy Ryp | yitzy.ryp@mhafyos.org

News Editors

Jojo Ardestani | jonathan.ardestani@mhafyos.org

Akiva Levine | akiva.levine@mhafyos.org

Ilan Lowell | ilan.lowell@mhafyos.org

Photography and Social Media Directors

J.J. Stein | jacob.stein@mhafyos.org

Jack Kampf | jack.kampf@mhafyos.org

CYHSB Weekly Staff

Davi Baum | david.baum@mhafyos.org

Benny Freiden | benjamin.freiden@mhafyos.org

Ilan Lennon | ilan.lennon@mhafyos.org

Jonah Siegel | jonah.siegel@mhafyos.org

Omer Zalman | omer.zalman@mhafyos.org

Avigdor Zweihorn | avigdor.zweihorn@mhafyos.org

Editor-in-Chief-Emeritus

Ezra Davidovics | ezra.davidovics@mhafyos.org

Head of Torah Affairs Emeritus

Avi Becker | avi.becker@mhafyos.org

Administrative Advisors

Mrs. Ashley Brown

Rabbi Dov Rossman

From the solidarity mission trip to Israel, where Jewish teens from Memphis forged bonds with wounded soldiers and resilient widows, to the linguistic evolution captured in the emergence of words like "rizz" and "tuff," we witness the evershifting landscape of human connection and expression. Through "Understanding the Infinite" we confront the insignificance of man in the vast expanse of existence, discovering profound truths that transcend understanding alone. Finally, through the sage of the Cooper Macs, we learn to understand the importance of growth and resistance. As Passover approaches may we take these lessons to heart and all achieve a restful uplifting shabbos.

-Nadav Lowell-Co-Editor in Chief