CYHSB Weekly 3/17/2023

CYHSB WEEKLY

Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys

Volume 17, Issue 13

Cooper Clicks

Page 3

Earthquakes: What We Can do to Prepare

Page 4

Guess the CYHSBer

Page 6

Vayekhel/Pekudei: Never Underestimate Yourself

Page 7

This Week’s Weekly is sponsored by Nathan Greenbaum in honor of all of the Weekly Staff’s hard work.

A Ski-less Ski Trip

Yaron Weiss (’24)

The Steak Dinner was over and it was now time to get excited for the ski trip and shabbaton. All returning students were getting the new students excited and were telling them of all of the activities that we did last year that we could look forward to this year. But this is life and everything doesn't always go as planned.

Around a week and a half before we are meant to leave for the shabbaton we get the news that due to the warm weather all

of the snow at the ski resort has melted. This meant that by the time we got there there wouldn't be enough snow, or any at all, to ski. Hearing this many students doubted whether or not they wanted to go on the trip. Luckily, Rabbi Gersten figured it out. We met a couple of days before the trip and he announced the new plan for the trip. Everyone got excited and we started to prepare for the shabbaton part of the trip.

February 24. The day started off like any other day, we had a wonderful and meaningful

Continued on Next Page

Despite not being able to ski, the Shabbaton was still an amazing experience. Photo: Avi Becker

davening. After some short learning and breakfast, we began to pack the bus and after a couple of hours, and lots of yelling, the bus pulled out of the school. Our first destination was Natchez Trace Park. We unloaded the bus and Rabbi Gersten gave us instructions on what to do next: prepare for shabbos. Around three hours, and lots of hard work later, we gathered together to daven mincha and kabbalat shabbat. After davening we had the first of our multiple learning sessions. In this session we pretended like we were deciding whether a player should be kicked off a basketball team for speaking badly of the team captain and then apologizing. We each played certain roles that determined our position on this issue. It was a lot of fun. We then davened maariv and had dinner. All of the dinner was delicious from the soup, chicken and brisket made by the students to the kugels and other dishes by the rabbis' wives. After dinner we had a relaxed oneg and went to bed.

Shabbat morning started with davening followed by a delicious kiddush. We then had another session. This session took the form of a debate. A case was given and each student personally decided what the boy should do. When the session was over we ate lunch and then had menucha. Our third session was a Q and A with the Rabbis and then we had seudah shlishit filled with amazing zemirot. After davening maariv we had a bonfire, and played laser tag around the campgrounds, all-in-all an incredible shabbat.

Sunday morning everyone woke up, packed, and davened. After breakfast we packed lunches and the bus. Once the bus was all loaded

around, golfing, eating lunch, and just having fun. Once we were all exhausted from the fun activities, we headed to our hotel in Murfreesboro. The hotel we stayed at was the wonderful Double Tree owned by the Cooper family. We settled down at the hotel and then headed off to SkyZone. We spent a couple of hours there doing a variety of activities that they had including, basketball, jumping, slides, dodgeball, and more. We then went back to the hotel, ate dinner, and relaxed for the rest of the night.

We started off the day with our normal morning routine before heading out of the hotel. Our first destination of the day was the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga. Despite the gloomy weather outside, inside the aquarium we had an amazing time. We got to touch stingrays and we saw loads of fish, penguins, jellyfish, sharks, and turtles. Then we watched a 3D movie about sea

lions. After the movie we drove to Ruby Falls. Ruby Falls is a cave tour that leads you to a beautiful waterfall. On the tour we saw different rock formations and learned about the discovery of the cave and waterfall. We then headed back to the hotel to end off another amazing day.

Tuesday morning arrived and it was the final day of our trip. We started the day like every other, davening and breakfast. Lucky for us, CYHSB students had the opportunity to witness a Get being delivered by Rabbi Males. An amazing educational opportunity that stuck with many students. After, we packed the bus, cleaned up, and headed out for our last activity of the trip: a hike on the Fiery Gizzard Trail. For the next couple of hours we went on a breathtaking hike over mountains, through a valley, and along a stream. Around halfway through the hike we arrived at a small waterfall. Those who were brave enough got into the cold water and swam around for a while, even Rabbi Gerstien got in. We then continued on our hike and departed on the long drive home. We arrived at school at around 9:40, unpacked the bus, and then headed home for a good night's sleep.

Overall this year's shabbaton and trip was one to remember. While it might not have been what we wanted the trip to be, it was still fun. We had the chance to do many activities that everyone enjoyed. It gave students a chance to be leaders, volunteer, and get closer to each other. We are all grateful for an awesome trip and we are all looking forward to next year, and are hoping that maybe, just maybe there will be skiing on the ski trip.

The Shabbaton alowed for many opportunities to self reflect.

Photo: Ezra Wiener

Raanan Vanderwalde, Adam Felsher, and Yonah Lynn are strangely enthraled by Sea Lions. Photo: Yaron Weiss

Jelyfish Horowitz poses for a cinematic photo.

Photo: Avi Becker

Reuven Marvin rizzes up a butterfl y.

Photo: Ezra Wiener

The CYHSB happily poses in font of an awesome backdrop. Photo: Rabbi Rosssman

Reuven Marvin rizzes up a butter fly. Photo Ezra Wiener

Earthquakes: What You can Expect for the Next Few Years

Nadav Lowell (’25)

Last Week’s Solution

On February 6th and 7th dual magnitude, 7 earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria and caused massive destruction and loss of life. Typically, earthquakes are barely detectable and cause no real harm to buildings or infrastructure. However, on occasion a much higher magnitude earthquake can occur, and when this happens many lives are put at risk. What happened in Turkey and Syria is that the Arabian tectonic plate shifted past the Anatolian plate, in what's called a transform fault. These earthquakes have shown the world that cities must look into these dangers and protect their citizens in the future. The question is how do we do that and what can we do to prepare?

To answer this I have turned to a longtime member of the Memphis Jewish community and geologist: Dr. Kutliroff. Dr. Kutliroff explained the following about the nature of earthquakes. He said, “The key to dealing with earthquakes is that they work cyclically”. This means that we can determine through geology and research that certain areas are prone to high-magnitude earthquakes that repeat after a given amount of time. For example, in Israel, the Arabian plate and the Anatolian plate move apart at about 4 MM a year. This

tension builds up over time and consistently leads to large earthquakes in the area every 80 years or so. Here in Memphis, we can expect to get high-magnitude

quakes are still not to be taken lightly and can result in serious infrastructure and property damage if not properly prepared for. Researchers estimate that we get about 200 minor scale earthquakes in Memphis every year with the occasional level 3 (which gives off a tremor that we can feel but little lasting damage). About every fifty years we get to magnitude 5 and 6s which increase in number when juxtaposed with level 7 earthquakes. Another aspect that can affect the outcome of an earthquake is the earth of the land in question.

The last time this has happened was in 1811-1812 the same period when the Mississippi rose to the level it sits today.

Of course, these predictions are very rough and have large amounts of leeway involved. The next earthquake could be much sooner than expected so we must be prepared. So we know that there are smaller earthquakes that happen regularly, and there are powerful earthquakes that occur cyclically. What about medium-yield earthquakes? Dr. Kutliroff explains that in the years leading up to the large magnitude 7 and 8 earthquakes, there will be a series of smaller ones. These smaller

Memphis and the previously mentioned Tzvet are both at risk due to the soft ground that these cities are laid on. When the earthquake eventually happens and the shockwave is sent out through the surrounding area, the wave is amplified and then causes many smaller tremors to ripple around it. Luckily, we can take steps and procedures to minimize the destructive force of earthquakes. Cities that have high amounts of earthquakes such as those in California have implemented a system that automatically shuts off utilities such as gas and water to minimize damage. With time more and more cities will adopt their systems to match this procedure which will help to minimize lasting damage to infrastructure. Another

The earthquake in Turkey and Syria was devastating, and our hearts go out to al victims. Source: nature.com

strategy that has been employed in Memphis since 1944 is implementing building laws and regulation codes to ensure the sound structure of housing and building in earthquake-frequency areas. There have been ongoing developments to these laws and many of Memphis older buildings have undergone retrofits to maximize structure and safety.

Many parts of Memphis have foundations on unstable ground and might be at higher risk of collapse or damage. Thankfully, many of these buildings are built under proper regulations and will suffer at most, broken walls and furniture. An example that shows this is the small Turkish city of Ezrin. Unlike the majority of the affected Turkish and Syrian settlements that saw wide-scale destruction, Ezrin suffered no death and very minimal property damage. This is a testament to the town's strict building laws that although officially enforced everywhere in Turkey, have been pushed back due to corruption and construction companies skirting safety procedures to save money.

Last Week’s Solution

In conclusion, earthquakes can have devastating effects on communities and infrastructure. However, through geological research and preparation, cities can take measures to minimize the damage caused by earthquakes. Implementing building codes, retrofitting older buildings, and implementing automated utility shut-offs are just a few strategies that cities can use to protect their citizens. While earthquakes cannot be prevented, taking steps to prepare and minimize their impact can save lives and prevent lasting damage to the local infrastructure in the future.

Disaster Go Bags

In our modern-day lives certain situations can occur when you need to leave the house in a hurry but still have supplies such as food or clothes that you can grab quickly. One idea for this issue is to make a "Go Bag". These bags will be helpful in a wide variety of situations from power outages to more dangerous disasters such as earthquakes.

• Some recommended items for a go bag are the following:

◦ Water bottles or a hydration pack

◦ Non-perishable food items, such as energy bars or canned goods

◦ First aid kit

◦ Two full sets of clothes

◦ Required Medications/assorted counter medicines such as Tylenol, Advil, and basic cold medicine

◦ Copies of important documents, such as identification, passport, and insurance policies

◦ Cash and/or credit cards

◦ Portable phone charger and charging cables

◦ Flashlight and extra batteries

◦ Warm clothing, including a jacket or coat, gloves, and a hat

◦ Multi-purpose tool or Swiss Army knife

◦ Personal hygiene items, such as hand sanitizer or soap

Guess the CYHSBer

Isn’t on Chapter Board

Likes to Sing Is Thriving

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!

Vayekhel/Pekudei: Never Underestimate Yourself

Avi Becker (’24)

Last Week’s Solution

After the building of the Mishkan, G-d designated Betzalel, who was only thirteen at the time, to oversee the construction. This is learned from Sanhedrin 69b. Now you would seldom find a thirteen-yearold with the skills required to construct a structure of this stature, let alone the holiest building in the world at this time. Even more miraculous is that the Jews at this time expectedly would not have the skills required in order to accomplish the tasks set out for them on account of the backbreaking labor they did in Egypt, which wasn’t exactly conducive to such tasks. G-d doing this is primarily represented as his expression of his ultimate mastery of the world and his ability to let these measly humans serve him beyond their natural capabilities of them and give them the resources necessary to do so. However, there’s something else you can learn from this. The Chachamim taught about Betzalel that he had a level of knowledge that was similar to that which G-d created the universe with. This little kid who most of the people reading this are older than, already had the capabilities to perform this task.

Often kids grow up thinking that they are incapable of doing certain tasks due to their age. For some reason, they believe that their age they are is the most prominent factor to perform tasks rather than hard work. Although I would not suggest doing exactly what the following example represents, it shows something beautiful. The following is excerpted from an episode of the famous kids' show Phineas and Ferb:

Building Engineer: Aren't you a little young to build a rollercoaster?

Phineas: Yes, yes I am.

Building Engineer: Well I must say that I'm really quite impressed,

but all your permits are in order. Don't forget the bricks and mortar and if you need a power loader, be my guest. But if I'm pressed, I'd say you look a little young to drive a forklift.

Phineas: Yes, yes I am.

never be great in basketball as he, himself (the father) is already below average. Upon seeing how dejected he made his son feel Christopher realized his mistake and quickly stated:

“Hey. Don’t ever let somebody tell you… You can’t do something. Not even me. Alright? You got a dream… You gotta protect it. People can’t do something’ themselves, they wanna tell you you can’t do it. If you want something’, go get it. Period.”

However, this is all from Ki Sisa. What does this have to do with the double parsha of Vayakhel-Pekudei that we’re reading this week?

Building Engineer: It's good to see a younger guy like you who's creative and ambitious. A little bigger than his britches. And who's got a fresh, exciting point of view. Yes, it's true!

That you seem a little young to do the things that you do, even with all that moxie you've got. Yes, you seem a little green to be controlling this machinery.

Phineas: Yeah, I get that a lot.

Although this story is fabricated it shows something beautiful. This building engineer, who did not know this kid before, put full faith in him, despite his age, due to the hard work he put in and how wellorganized he was. The point is, don’t let someone tell you, you can't, especially because of age.

In the movie The Pursuit of Happyness while shooting a basketball with his son Christopher (Jaden Smith), Chris Gardner (Will Smith) said to his son that he will

Vayakhel, “And you shall gather,” is generally seen as a reference to the unification of all the entities in our diverse world, uniting them in the spiritual sense. Pekudei, by contrast, means “counting,” and highlights how every entity possesses its own unique importance, for every creation was given a special nature with which it can serve G-d.

Even though each creature has its open ability to serve G-d though, just as children often feel that they can independently make intelligent choices. It is often important to remember, just as Vayakehl is read with Pekudei, that sometimes relying on those around you, who are smarter than you, can have tremendous benefits.

I was told a great related analogy by my esteemed Rabbi, Rabbi Gelb: Imagine you’re lost in a corn maze. Corn surrounds you in every direction. And let’s add to this situation that you see someone on a raised platform in the middle. You’d go to them for help, right? So too, when there is someone near you who is raised above you, you should turn to them for help.

No matter what your age is, you are capable of amazing things. Source:

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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

Nadav Lowell | nadav.lowell@mhafyos.org

Jojo Ardestani | jonathan.ardestani@mhafyos.org

Yonah Lynn | yonah.lynn@mhafyos.org

Administrative Advisors

Mrs. Ashley Brown

Rabbi Dov Rossman

From the Editor

One of the most important things in life is being prepared. As Ben Franklin put it, “By failing to prepare, you prepare to fail.”

Whether it be more large scale, like an Earthquake, or something smaller like a Shabbaton, it is always important to make sure you are prepared for as much as you can be prepared for.

Also, the more you prepare the less stressed you are in General, which is also a good thing. Good Shabbos