CYHSB Weekly 01/28/22

Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys

January 28, 2022

CYHSB WEEKLY Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys

Volume 16, Issue 8 Cooper Clicks Page 3 From Ku Klux Klan Member to Converting to Judaism: TM Garret’s Journey Page 4 Parshat Mishpatim: Eved Ivrim and the Shemittah Year Page 5 Stock Market Volatility Rises With Inflation and Geopolitical Tensions Page 6

This week’s CYHSB Weekly is sponsored by Rabbi Akiva & Layala Males in honor of Nadav Goldkin and the CYHSB students who made sure there would be Minyanim at a local Shiva home this week. Yasher Koach!

CYHSB Weekly

Students enjoy the CYFL every Friday. Photo: Zevi Kirshtein

A Semester in Review: The Freshman Perspective Ethan Vanderwalde (’25) The first semester of the 2021-2022 school year at CYHSB has been very eventful, with trips, sports programs, extracurriculars, and of course, a lot of learning; however, not everything went according to plan this semester. In the summer, everyone was expecting this year to be maskless and Covid-free, but then the Delta variant hit. In August, we came to school with masks on and were socially distanced. Even though we still had some events, such as the annual CYHSB Friday night dinner, many other events were canceled due to Covid, including the annual high

school canoeing trip. While the entire school was disappointed, we were still grateful that we could come to school in person.

In-person school didn’t last for long, though. At the start of September, all divisions of the MHA went virtual due to outbreaks of the Delta variant.

Virtual learning was challenging, but eventually, the wave of Covid cases subsided, and we could come back to school. While inperson, we finished the month of Tishrei with inspiring shiurim from our school’s rebbeim and other speakers from out of town, including Rabbi Benzion Twerski. Rabbi Twerski held a question and answer session for 1

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the CYHSB students, and his insight helped clarify questions regarding modern-day Judaism in Western society. We entered the month of Cheshvan feeling spiritually renewed and invigorated.

The start of the school year didn’t just strengthen CYHSB students’ spirits but also their bodies, as the first semester brought several different sports programs.

Cross country and golf were the first sports of the year, starting in early September. During the golf season, the Macs won one round.

There was a lot of improvement among the players with the help of Coach Nokes and golf team captain Benjamin Siegel, a CYHSB senior.

“It was an excellent opportunity for me to transform my teammates into better golfers,” said Siegel regarding being captain of the team.

Golf season ended in September, and we hope that Macs continue to improve next year.

Cross Country is not a team sport; it is an individual one. There were a lot of personal records

January 28, 2022

Students anxiously wait for some delicious breakfast food on Rosh Chodesh Kiselv. Source: Jessica Baum

time for the Macs to get used to playing again. “So far I think the season is going very well,” said sophomore Yosef Vanderwalde.

“Even though we are losing some of our games, everyone on the team has gotten better at basketball. The fact that there was no basketball last year made it hard for the team to adjust back into the sport at the beginning of the season, but now that we are into the season we are playing well and as a team.” The basketball season will go on into the

We entered the month of Cheshvan feeling spiritua y renewed and invigorated. beaten this year during the Cross Country season, with tremendous improvement among cross country runners. “Cross Country was a great sport. It allowed us to get in shape and to have a great time,” said senior Shahar Cahana.

The end of October marked the start of a new sport: basketball. Last year, there was no basketball season due to Covid risks, so it took some

second semester, and we wish the Macs good luck as they continue to play.

There were also many other extracurriculars besides sports that took place in the first semester, such as Yeshiva University National Model United Nations (YUNMUN). YUNMUN is a program that puts Jewish high school students in the shoes of UN

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ambassadors as they try to solve some of the world’s problems with their peers. CYHSB students participating in Model UN will meet with other Jewish students from around the U.S. and attempt to find solutions to issues ranging from satellite traffic in outer space to peace in the Middle East. “I think Model UN is a cool opportunity to learn about other countries and opinions,” said freshman Nadav Lowell. “It’s fun working with teammates to write our position papers and learn about how YUNMUN works.” YUNMUN XXXII will take place on March 13-15 in Connecticut, and we wish the CYHSB delegates luck as they prepare for the meeting.

December was a very eventful month for the CYHSB. It started with Chanukah, and many fun programs centered around it: Chanukah football and snacks, Chanukah dancing, and the CYHSB Chanukah Oneg. As December wore on, students started preparing for midterm exams, a significant portion of the semester grade. Some freshmen had never taken large tests like these, and it really helped fulfill the transition from middle school to high school. “When I heard that we were going to have exams on everything we learned throughout the entire year, I started to panic,” said freshman Nathan Greenbaum.

Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys

“It seems like a lot,Cont. but if you AP Students manage your time wisely and study, all the hard work pays off. These exams will prepare me for much harder tests I will hopefully take in the future.” After exams were over, everyone was relieved and excited to go on a much-needed winter break.

When we came back from winter break, Covid-19 struck again. Just like the Delta variant surprised us at

January 28, 2022

the beginning of the semester, the Omicron variant also took us by surprise. The school became increasingly strict about social distancing and masking again, and many events were postponed due to Omicron; this includes the annual CYHSB steak dinner, which was supposed to take place this week but was instead moved to February. As more and more Covid cases are

affecting the Memphis Jewish community, we end our semester on the same negative note that we started it on. However, that doesn’t mean that the second semester will be terrible. Hopefully, this wave of Covid cases will subside just like it did during the Delta wave in September, and we can finish our school year without having to cancel events or go to virtual classes.

Cooper Clicks Top Le : The Senior boys pose in preparation for their senior photo. Photo Zev Bosin. Top Right: Ra Goldkin and J.J. Stein have fun a boat at Shelby Farms. Photo: Zev Bosin. Bottom Le : Coby Goldblatt and Nadav Goldkin hold some cute puppies the Rovners are fostering. Photo: Zev Bosin. Bottom Right: Nadav Goldkin and Zevi Bosin show o their fancy suits and nerf guns. Photo: Aidan Kahane

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CYHSB Weekly

Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys

January 28, 2022

APKu Students Cont.

From Klux Klan Member to Converting to Judaism: T.M. Garret’s Journe

Zev Bosin (’22) Two weeks ago, on Friday, January 14th, the CYHSB students had the privilege of hearing from T.M. Garret about his life experiences and transformation from white supremacist to human and civil rights activist. The opportunity to hear from Garret, who has a radically different background than the students at the CYHSB, proved that despite minor differences, we could find ways to relate and stand together.

In the Beit Midrash, students listened intently to Garret speak of his incredible life story, from founding a KKK group to championing inclusivity and equality. Garret was born in a small village in Mosbach, Germany. He grew up in a neighboring town in Germany with an alcoholic mother and a father that died when he was eight years old. As a child, Garret appeared to have normal behavior.

He loved to play sports, play games, and spend time with the other children. This soon began to change around the age of 13. Garret explained to the students that he had been bullied while in school and felt that he was truly an outcast.

He became interested in white supremacist music and soon developed into a full-fledged white supremacist. What began as a fascination for hate music and making racist jokes turned into a serious hate for people of color and Jews. Garret explained that he even became an important leader in the European KKK. He was forced to run away from his life as a KKK member when he was confronted by the police in his home. After the

T.M. Garret te ing his story to the high school. Photo: Jessica Baum interaction with the police, he had a realization that if he were to continue down this path, he would surely end up in prison. If he ended up in prison, his children would grow up without a father. This groundbreaking realization was the reason he left his life in Germany in hopes of finding a new direction that wouldn’t land him in prison.

Garret had a revelation that guided him towards the right path when he stayed with his landlord with a different background than himself. He realized how much they shared; their favorite foods were identical, their music tastes were similar, they enjoyed the same forms of entertainment. Following this experience, he decided to start learning about other cultures by going to eat at people’s houses, going to diverse houses of worship, and speaking with others. He

subsequently began public speaking about his experiences, and he founded the Memphis Peace Conference and CHANGE, a nonprofit organization that focuses on community outreach and antiracism and anti-violence campaigns.

After hearing from Garret, CYHSB junior Ezra Wiener said, “It was really cool to see how someone so involved in that is able to find the truth and make a better life for themselves.” As they listened to Garret speak about his incredible transformation from KKK leader to converting Jew and how he worked to fight for racial equality and change, the audience felt a sense of empowerment. Garret conveyed to the students that anything is possible as long as one is willing to work on themselves.

Follow the weekly Instagram at weekly2k22!!

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Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys

January 28, 2022

AP StudentsMishpatim: Cont.

Parshat Eved Ivrim and the Shemittah Year

Ezra Davidovics (’24) This week’s parsha is parshas Mishpatim. In pasuk Vav of perek chaf-alef, the Torah is talking about the rules of an eved ivri on Yovel. As we know, a Jewish slave is supposed to be released on the year after the seventh shmitah year after the last yovel year, but if he doesn’t want to, then he can get his ear pierced and stay a slave. In this pasuk talking about what to do if he doesn’t want to be released, it says, “then his master will bring him to haelohim.”

What does this mean, because obviously, it is not saying that you are to bring the slave to Hashem as this would normally mean?

This question is Rashi’s question as well, and he gives a good but concise answer. He says that in this case, haelohim is referring to the beis din, or the court. He says that the reason why this ear-piercing must be done in court is that he must ask the people who sold him into slavery in the first place before he commits to be a slave forever.

Now that we have established what this word means here in this context, The Ibn Ezra has a question on this. He asks why, in this case, does haelohim mean the court or judges?

The Ibn Ezra says very simply that judges are called elohim because

The shemittah year happens every seven years and gives jewish slaves a chance to be ee. Source: foodbusinessnews.net

they uphold Hashem’s laws in the land.

The Ramban asks the same question but comes up with a very different answer. He says that the reason judges are referred to as elohim here is that Hashem is with them in judgment. Ultimately Hashem is really the one who decides all of the court cases. The Ramban then brings many pesukim from throughout the tanach where it refers to Hashem as giving judgment

through the courts. He also brings a midrash which says that whenever judges are sitting truthfully to judge a case, Hashem’s shchina comes down and judges among them.

Judgment is not the only place where Hashem is said to sit with us, but also when we learn Torah.

Whenever we are learning, we should realize that what we are doing is important enough for Hashem to come down and be with us, like in judgment. Good Shabbos.

Bris Ballers: 0-1

CYFL Stats

Mighty Siegels: 1-0 Shteiging Shachars: 1-0 Golddiggers: 0-1

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Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys

January 28, 2022

Stock Market Volatility Rises With In ation and Geopolitical Tensions Michael Baum (’22) Amid heightened geopolitical tensions and monetary instability, stock indices are in a bout of weakness. The S&P 500 recently declined 12.5% from its all-time highs to this past week’s lows. The already volatile financial landscape is heightened by anticipation of several large companies releasing their earnings next week. The recent weakness in stocks may reflect the general sentiment about the economic instability caused by soaring inflation, rising interest rates, and increasing tension between Russia and Ukraine.

The Fed is expected to raise interest rates in March to combat high inflation. After Wednesday’s Fed meeting, Chairman Jerome Powell said, “I think there’s quite a bit of room to raise interest rates without threatening the labor market.” During Wednesday’s meeting, Powell also mentioned that the Fed’s quantitative easing (QE) program would start to be tapered.

He said, “There’s a substantial amount of shrinkage in the balance sheet to be done.” The cessation of QE coupled with interest rate increases makes for a rather abrupt policy pivot that may be too late.

The last time that rates were raised, in late 2018, the economy began to struggle, and the stock market declined. It will be interesting to see if the economy and financial markets are prepared for the upcoming rate hike, especially so soon after the 2020 recession. Finding the balance between maintaining low, stable prices and maximizing employment has always been challenging, and it is certainly a complex issue to solve.

Since May 2020, the Consumer Price Index has risen 9.5%, and in 2021 alone, inflation was 7%. This means inflation is eroding buying

Inflation is currently surging, with the CPI increasing 7% in 2021. Source: Olieman.eth/unsplash.com power at rates that haven’t been seen since 1982. In the early 1980s, interest rates were around 10-15% to combat the high inflation. An increase in interest rates to combat rampant inflation causes investment and consumer spending to decrease, since it costs more to borrow money, and reduces disposable income, as people save more and pay higher interest rates on flexible interest rate loans. This causes the unemployment rate to increase, making it difficult to control inflation without sacrificing on the job front. This short-run inverse relationship between inflation and unemployment (represented in the Phillips curve) makes the Fed’s goal of low inflation and full employment difficult.

The Fed’s recent hawkish stance marks a shift from their previously dovish stance. In the past, the Fed largely dismissed inflation concerns in favor of maximizing employment by keeping interest rates low. Last

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April, Powell described how inflation may be “transitory,” saying, “an episode of one-time price increases as the economy reopens is not the same thing as, and is not likely to lead to, persistently higher year-over-year inflation.” However, it does not seem that the current high rate of inflation is due to the sudden increase in demand from reopening the economy following the start of Covid-19. If that were the case, one would think that inflation would have subsided several months ago.

Since the 2020 recession was the shortest US recession in history, lasting only two months, and inflation is now at its highest levels in decades, perhaps the monetary stimulus provided was excessive and is the cause of the inflation. The stimulus that was provided was clearly so strong and inflationary that it not only resolved the Covid-19 induced recession and fueled the real GDP to rise to all-

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fueled the real GDP to rise to alltime highs, but it also left the economy with excess inflation even a couple of years after the recession.

Now, it seems as if the Fed’s newly hawkish stance is to negate the inflationary effects of the excess stimulus provided from 2020-2021.

Rising tensions between Ukraine and Russia have introduced geopolitical risk to financial market participants in addition to the monetary risk already present.

Russia currently has stationed 35% of its battalion tactical groups, an estimated 100,000 soldiers, near the Ukrainian border. The increased military presence has caused many to speculate that Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine. An altercation

January 28, 2022

could hit commodities hard since Ukraine is predicted to be the world’s third-largest exporter of corn and the fourth-largest exporter of wheat in the 2021-2022 season, and Russia is currently the world’s top wheat exporter, according to the International Grains Council.

The volatility and movement that these monetary and geopolitical events are causing are astounding.

On Monday, the Nasdaq-100 recovered from an intraday loss of nearly 5% to end the day up 0.49%.

The last time the Nasdaq-100 erased intraday losses of over 4% was in November of 2008. Also, on Monday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average reversed an intraday loss of over 1,000 points to close up on the

day for the first time ever. The second highest volume for $SPY, an S&P 500 exchange-traded fund (ETF), in dollars traded occurred on Monday. At the same time, the 10year Treasury yield jumped to 1.855%.

As monetary policy changes, inflation runs rampant, and geopolitical conflicts occur, many are concerned about whether the stock market will bottom out soon or if it will continue to crash. The decision about where to invest money is always a difficult one, but it is especially challenging when money that is not invested loses about 7% of its buying power per year due to inflation. Hopefully, stability can be reached soon.

Crazy Crosswords

Last Week’s Solution Can you gure out the names?

The rst one to send in a completed puzzle to nadav.weiss@mhafyos.org will receive a shoutout!

Note: All answers can be found in the articles themselves.

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Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys

January 28, 2022

Sponsor an Issue A sponsorship is a great way to honor the memory of a loved one, celebrate an accomplishment, or just show appreciation to the CYHSB Weekly. We reach hundreds of people each week, helping to get your announcement out for just $20.

CYHSB Weekly Staff Editor-in-Chief Michael Baum | michael.baum@mhafyos.org

Assistant Editor Zev Bosin | zev.bosin@mhafyos.org

From the Editor: This semester was full of exciting events that

Layout Editor

uplifted and engaged the

Ezra Wiener | ezra.wiener@mhafyos.org

students. We heard from

Editors Benjamin Siegel | benjamin.siegel@mhafyos.org Shahar Cahana | shahar.cahana@mhafyos.org Avi Klein| avi.klein@mhafyos.org

Complaint Manager Zevi Kirshtein| zevi.kirshtein@mhafyos.org

CYHSB Weekly Staff Coby Goldblatt | coby.goldblatt@mhafyos.org Nadav Goldkin | nadav.goldkin@mhafyos.org Noam Cahana | noam.cahana@mhafyos.org Aidan Kahane | aidan.kahane@mhafyos.org Gavi Peiser | gavi.peiser@mhafyos.org Ezra Davidovics | ezra.davidovics@mhafyos.org Yosef Vanderwalde | yosef.vanderwalde@mhafyos.org Ra Somer | ra .somer@mhafyos.org Ethan Vanderwalde | ethan.vanderwalde@mhafyos.org Raanan Vanderwalde | raanan.vanderwalde@mhafyos.org Nadav Lowell | nadav.lowell@mhafyos.org Jojo Ardestani | jonathan.ardestani@mhafyos.org Nathan Greenbaum | nathan.greenbaum@mhafyos.org Nadav Weiss | nadav.weiss@mhafyos.org

guest speakers like T.M. Garret, all the while closely following the unstable geopolitical and economic situation.

Students learned about how almost everyone has the ability to change and improve. As the first semester comes to a close, we hope to keep learning and growing.

-Michael Baum

Administrative Advisors

Rabbi Baruch Harris & Mrs. Ashley Brown

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