CYHSB Weekly 12/09/22

CYHSB WEEKLY

Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys

Midterm Elections: Who’s In and Who’s Out Page 6

Kanye West has made antisemitic comments as of late which are disturbingly similar to some of the things Hitler said. Source: Variety.com

2022 or 1939? The Parallels Between Kanye and Early Hitler

This week’s Weekly is sponsored by Ezra Wiener in honor of all of the Weekly Staff’s hard work.

Rafi Davidovics (’26) Let me paint a picture for you. A man with more power, followers, and attention than any one man should have, begins to say awful, untrue things about Jewish people. He claims Jewish people control everything from the prices of food to public figures. He says deranged, inhuman things like that Jewish people will silence anyone who goes against them and even explicitly states he wants to kill all the

Jews. He claims the Jews “own” the people's voice and puts salt in the wound by assuring his followers that no one will prevent him or even attempt to prevent him from saying or doing anything he wants. This lunatic even claims he is being attacked by the “Jewish underground mafia.” When being asked if he thinks these things are racist or not he replies, “Yes that is why I said them. We need to fight fire with fire.” Many of his

supporters flood the busiest streets of the city holding banners and propaganda in support of his claims while raising their arms in the Nazi salute. He even opens youth programs and sends the students the message “we are back and returning with a vengeance.”

Now you might think, oh, this mystery man is obviously Adolf Hitler at the beginning of the Holocaust. Sadly and strangely enough, you are incorrect. I am talking about the artist, record producer, and fashion designer Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. Kanye West has been the center of attention for the last couple of months due to his blatantly racist and antisemitic speech and viewpoints. But to truly understand the weight of the situation we have to go back all the way to the very beginning when this whole situation started.

On November 21, 2016, during Kanye’s U.S tour, he had a psychiatric breakdown which resulted in him being hospitalized. This was where the worry about Kanye's mental health first stems. Some reports even go on to say he felt paranoid and many speculate that this simple paranoia episode grew into his ideas that the Jewish people are controlling the world. On October 3-9 2022 the flood gates opened, and not only did Kanye wear a shirt with controversial message White Lives Matter, but that same week he tweeted “I’m a bit sleepy tonight, but when I wake up I'm going to go death con 3 on Jewish people.”

Now first we have to address, what is death con 3? Well, death con 3 is not a thing. What Kanye meant

to say was Defcon 3, which is a level of war where the airforce is ready to completely mobilize in under fifteen minutes. This is a terrifying tweet. It’s one thing when someone with no followers says this but with Kanye West, who has hundreds of thousands of die hard fans who hang on his every word, it can be incredibly dangerous. Kanye has over 30

“Every human being has something of value that they brought to the table, especially Hitler.” He even went on to say “Also Hitler was born Christian. I like Hitler.”

Now you might say, sure there is an extremely antisemitic lunatic with more influence than we can even fathom wanting the downfall of the Jewish people, but nothing will escalate from this, he is just one crazy man. Well, that is exactly what the European Jews said about Hitler, and because of this misconception millions of innocent men, women, and children died for no reason at all.

On the bright side, we are in a significantly better spot in the world than we have been in over 2000 years. We have our own Jewish state of Israel, and it seems like for the most part companies, public figures, and the populous are on our side this time.

million followers on Twitter alone, which is more than double the amount of Jews there are in the world.

Following his “Defcon” tweet, Kanye went on a rampage doing numerous public interviews. He went on Tucker Carlson where he said things that were so awful that they had to cut them out of an uncensored show. The Shop, Lebron James’s talk show, would not even air his interview because of the awful message Kanye was pushing on it.

On the podcast “Drink Champs” he talked about “Jewish business secrets,” and on Piers Morgan he explicitly stated that he is “absolutely not sorry” for his antisemitic remarks. Scarily enough, Kanye seems to admire Hitler, and in an interview on Alex Jones he said,

Kanye has lost so much due to this, which is extremely reassuring. Kanye’s listeners on Spotify are down 21% since the “Defcon” tweet and the majority of his clothing brands, deals, and even the law firm that worked for him have dropped him. While all that is good we still have to treat this situation with an abundance of caution, as he is inspiring a new generation of NeoNazis.

Now more than ever we have to stick together as a community and stay strong in the face of baseless hatred. If we are one and we are strong we do not have to fear anything at all. As Sun Tzu says: “If you know your enemy and you know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.”

Kanye West has achieved the impossible, making Alex Jones look like a sane human being. Source: marca.com

Weekly Puzzle: Guess the CYHSB’er

He’s a Captain of a CYFL Team

He sits shiva for Titan’s losses

He drives a Toyota Corolla

There will be a different puzzle each week, so stay tuned!

First person to send in a completed puzzle to ezra.wiener@mhafyos.org gets a prize!

An Exciting New Year: A Freshman Perspective

Akiva Levine (’26)

The CYHSB is almost halfway through their year and so far it has been great. There are many new students, many of whom have just begun high school and are entering a new chapter in their life. I, along with many others in the 9th grade, find the transition into this new environment overwhelming, yet rewarding once you overcome it. iiiiiFor the last 12 years of our life, we have been in all different sorts of schools, from nursery, preschool, elementary school and middle school. Entering middle school, our class was put through even more rigorous study. Yet all the while, it was never to compare with our first year of high school. As the high school days etch on, I think to myself how much change has undergone this year. The schedule, the classes, the teachers - all of it had evolved from what I had previously experienced.

Last Week’s Solution

I, as a freshman, feel that each day is twice as long as the last. For nearly 10 hours and 10 periods — from morning to night — we study, sit, and power through each class. School begins at 7:45 am. and concludes at 4:45 pm. If you attend the daily Masmidim (Gemara learning) program, you return home at 5:30 pm. Getting used to a new schedule took a few weeks but I was happy for a change.

As freshman Amit Zalman said, "High school was a new beginning for most of us, but it was nice to change up things and experience

new schedules; sometimes a longer day is a better day."

The year is also different in

many fun school programs and events, including mishmar, shabbatons, trips, and speakers. To mark the beginning of the year, the students had a blast at the JCC waterpark. Just a few weeks later, we went on a canoe trip in Arkansas. This was an amazing experience for me and many other students as we got to know each other better. Following this trip there were many other programs such as Mishmar, a weekly learning and basketball program.

regard to the classes. More homework and assignments are given out that make students discipline themselves and get their work done. Additionally, with the schedule being longer and some students even participating in extracurricular activities, freshmen are compelled to finish their work in less time. We as freshmen feel that this helps us develop a more functional work ethic, acquire better time management skills, and get more discipline.

As Freshman Jack Kampf said, " When I get home from basketball practice at 8pm every day, I force myself to get my work done so I don't fall behind. When my school day ended earlier, I wouldn't feel as compelled to do my work as much since I had so much more time."

Aside from change at an academic standpoint, high school has been fun and enjoyable through

At almost halfway through the year, we have already enjoyed incredible experiences and programs that freshmen believe have created memories that will last for years. As freshman Rafi Davidovics said, "All the trips and programs offered during high school create memories for me and my friends that will last throughout all my high school experience and even my life."

Though high school can seem meaningless at first, you realize that this time of your life is to be valued. You should make the most of it, and always do your best. Though change can be hard, change is good. There is no reason to put yourself under duress with the advancing schedule and classes; you should try to be happy and succeed. I and the freshman are delighted to be in a new year and environment in high school and look forward to being in these halls for the next four years.

Amit Zalman diligently studies for his history test. Photo: Ezra Wiener

Cooper Clicks

Top Left: DR and Zecharia have quite possibly the worst missed high five of all time. Top Right: Rafi seemingly has a manic episode and attempts to brush his teeth in the middle of a game. Middle Right: Avi Becker sprouts another head on his right shoulder to achieve full 360 vision of the court. Bottom Right: Yosef calmly tries to explain why knocking out the whole other team to score points was not a foul. Bottom Left: In a brilliant display of ball handling skills Adam Felsher decapitates a player on the opposing team. Photo: J.J, Stein

Midterm Elections: Who’s In and Who’s Out

Nadav Lowell (’26)

On November 8, the people of America voted to seat a new Congress. The 35 senators who were elected are beginning their six-year term along with their twoyear term counterparts from the House of Representatives. Despite the projected results of a massive takeover of Congress by the Republican party, this year's results showed the Democrat's victory in the race for the Senate.

Unfortunately, one political action committee that did not achieve a victory was AIPAC.

Founded in 1963, the bi-partisan political organization American Israel Public Affairs Committee

Last Week’s Solution

AIPAC has made it its mission to support Israel. To do this they endorse the campaigns of politicians in Congress that align with their views. The organization has no problem backing up its members and collectively donated more than 6,000,000 dollars to the campaigns of politicians such as Jared Moskowitz, Robert Garcia, Valerie Foushee, and Glenn Ivey.

AIPAC supports over 320 politicians on both sides but in recent years has swung to a majority of Republicans. Since 2004, they have supported many Republican politicians in both the

Senate and the House. More than 4 million dollars was spent to boost the campaign of Republican Mike Doyle against Democrat Summer Lee. Many Israel-supporting Democrats have, therefore, switched to other pro-Israeli/Jewish organizations for backing and support such as AIPAC's rival organization, J Street.

Washington post writer Ben Terris states, “While both groups call themselves bipartisan, AIPAC has won support from overwhelming majority of Republican Jews, while J Street is presenting itself as an alternative for Democrats who have grown uncomfortable with both Netanyahu's policies and the conservatives' flocking to AIPAC.” iiiiiAIPAC was sure that with the right support they would be able to swing the election in their favor. When we look at the outcomes of the midterm elections we can clearly see that they were not as

successful as they projected in securing seats for this midterm election.

The current map of the Senate post-midterm elections is 2 seats for independent parties, 48 seats for the Democrats, and 49 seats for the Republicans. When we look at the House of Representatives the vote is similarly close with the tally coming out to 213 seats for the Democrats and 221 for the Republicans. While this might not seem close with the largescale votes in the House, it is still a very slim majority for the Republicans and the leading votes can go either way.

This is a large shock for many political analysts seeing as how it has become the norm for the opposing party which does not hold the presidency to take Congress by a vast majority. It was a big surprise to all when the Republicans only won the House with extremely slim margins. Not only this but the Republicans completely lost the Senate in its entirety. As the two 2 unaffiliated votes in the Senate vote Democrat, and the Georgia run-off election is projected the same, blue will hold the majority in the Senate. Despite the slim Republican victory for the Continued on the next page

Google’s election map shows an even split in the Senate. Source: Google

Sometimes We Fall: Fighting to Get Back Up

Avi Becker (’24)

Sometimes we fail, sometimes we fall. Sometimes we drop to our knees and find it impossible to stand up. The weight of our mistakes presses down on us, pressures us, and we carry it around with us.

In 1992 Derek Redmond was favored to win a medal in the Olympic 400-meter sprint. Preparing for months, if not years, with hours upon hours of intense training, race day had finally come. After a lightning start, about 150 meters in, Redmond felt a searing pain; in agony he fell to the ground with a torn hamstring.

The Gemara in Eruchin on Daf Tet Vav amud Bet states that one who goes 40 days without any issues ought to be worried. Every painful experience is really a blessing. That bad grade on the test you studied for, that burnt pancake, that day where everything goes wrong, it's for the best. A person ought to rejoice after every mishap in their life. And that’s exactly what Judaism is, a religion of ought. As Harold Schulweis wrote: “Think ought.

Last Week’s Solution

Midterms Cont. majority in the Senate. Despite the slim Republican victory for the majority of the House, it was a much closer race than anyone could have predicted. Many swing states in the midterm election were predicted to swing Republican, but states such as Arizona, Nevada, and Pennsylvania all turned out blue.

Another point to take notice of is former president Trump's effect on recent GOP politics. During or after Trump's time in office, his administration lost its large majority not only in the House and the Senate but in the eye of public opinion as well. This is displayed by The Hill, in a poll shows a 40

Not what is a Jew, but what ought a Jew to be.

Not what is a synagogue, but what ought a synagogue to be.

Not what prayer is, but what prayer ought to be.

Not what ritual is, but what ritual ought to be.

Ought emancipates me from status quo thinking.

Ought is the freedom of spirit. Ought we not Ought?”

Not willing to give up and determined to finish the race, Derek continued, half running, half hopping along the track, tears of agony and exertion pouring down his face. Breaking through security, a man came to Derek's side. It was his father. "You don't have to do this, he told him. "Yes, I do, Derek cried. "Well then, we are going to finish this together.”

Focus from is to ought, and our mindset is affected. Is faces me toward the present; ought turns me to the future. Ought challenges my creative imagination and opens me to the realm of possibilities and responsibilities to realize yesterday's dream.

Ought and is are complementary. Without an is, the genius of our past and present collective wisdom is forgotten. Without an ought, the great visions of tomorrow fade. Ought demands not only a knowledge of history but of exciting expectation. Is is a being, ought is a becoming.

percent decrease (from 70% to 30% of Republicans who would vote for Trump in a 2024 presidential election). As the presidential election in 2024 is still more than two years away, many potential candidates have yet to officially join the running, but with Trump's confirmation that he is in the race, he is likely to go up against other Republican politicians such as his old partner Mike Pence or Floridian counterpart Ron Desantis. Splitting the Republican vote between so many candidates may decrease the chances of one of these candidates succeeding in taking office.

Arm in arm, leaning heavily on his father, Derek limped, sobbing, along the track. Together, father and son continued. Just before the finish line, Derek's father let him go to complete his race, receiving a standing ovation from a crowd of over 65,000.

The Alter of Kelm said “Ask not if a thing is possible, ask only if it is necessary.” For we can do whatever we want, overcome any challenge that comes our way, work through any mishap; if only we had, not the strength, for that is G-d-given, but the courage.

Overall, this year's midterm elections came as a large shock to all political parties. We wait in anticipation of the official statements of any politicians hoping to take part in the 2024 presidential election. AIPAC is continuing its efforts to support Israel with a statement released by their spokesperson Marshall Wittman who said, “We are proud of the efforts of AIPAC activists to help elect pro-Israel Democratic and Republican candidates and defeat detractors of the U.S.-Israel relationship.” From here we will wait and see what the future holds for the future of American politics.

The Alter of Kelm said “Ask not if a thing is possible, ask only if it is necessary.”

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CYHSB Weekly Staff

Editor-in-Chief

Ezra Wiener | ezra.wiener@mhafyos.org

Layout Editor

Ezra Davidovics | ezra.davidovics@mhafyos.org

Editors

Ethan VanderWalde | ethan.vanderwalde@mhafyos.org

Nathan Greenbaum | nathan.greenbaum@mhafyos.org

Raanan Vanderwalde | raanan.vanderwalde@mhafyos.org

Complaint Manager

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

CYHSB Weekly Staff

Akiva Levine | akiva.levine@mhafyos.org

Amit Zalman | amit.zalman@mhafyos.org

Avi Becker | avi.becker@mhafyos.org

Baruch Finkleman | baruch.finkleman@mhafyos.org

Rafi Davidovics | rafael.davidovics@mhafyos.org

Joshua Parcover | joshua.parcover@mhafyos.org

Yaron Weiss | yaron.weiss@mhafyos.org

Benny Freiden | benny.freiden@mhafyos.org

Rafi Goldkin | rafael.goldkin@mhafyos.org

Yosef VanderWalde | yosef.vanderwalde@mhafyos.org

Jojo Ardestani | jonathan.ardestani@mhafyos.org

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Administrative Advisors

Mrs.

From the Editor

As the first semester gets closer to ending it is important for us to look back and reflect on these last two quarters, and how we can grow as people moving on to the next two quarters. Whether it be watching what we say or voting in elections, there is never a shortage of opportunities to be the best you you can be. Hopefully these next few quarters we will take advantage of these opportunities. Good Shabbos.

Ashley Brown Rabbi Dov Rossman