CYHSB WEEKLY 10/29/2001

October 29, 2021

CYHSB WEEKLY Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys

Volume 16, Issue 1 The Return of Basketball Page 3

A Great Way to Spend Your Summer Page 4 YU Bekius: An Extra Gemara Period or Much More?

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The AP STEM students at the Robotics Convention.

AP Students Get a Glimpse of the Future

What Can We Learn From Nazirus?

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Zev Bosin (’22)

Have you ever wondered what the future might look like? What inventions and innovations might find their way from scientists’ and engineers’ dream boards to cities around the world.

Last Tuesday, Mrs. Nina La Roux’s AP Physics and AP Calculus classes got to truly see what these future inventions look like up close and personal.

Due to the graciousness and connections of Mr. Steven Schwarzberg, we were invited to take part in the AMR & Logistics Conference, a robotics conference in downtown Memphis.

This week’s CYHSB Weekly is sponsored by the Baum family.

As a high school student, hearing that we were going to a Robotics Conference sounded intriguing. What kind of incredible concepts and creations did they have in store for us at the conference? Tuesday rolled around, and the CYHSBers were off to the AMR & Logistics Conference without a hitch. The convention was to be held in the Renaissance Convention Center, right next to the Mississippi River. Upon entering the convention center, we received our name tags and hats and ventured into the unknown, not knowing what kind of crazy inventions and devices we were about to get a glimpse of.

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CYHSB Weekly

Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys

Volume 16, Issue 1

AP Students Cont.

Pause for a moment and imagine you are a high school student about to see the future of science and technology. What would go through your head?

Well, all that was going through my head was the hope that none of these robots would decide at that moment to take control of their movements and take revenge on the human race. But, since the conference, thank G-d, was not a scene from The Terminator, the robots did not attack us. On the contrary, the robots intrigued us.

Walking into the hall, we saw the future, which gave us the impression that we are in good hands. Looking around the room, we were greeted by programmed robots demonstrating their ability to move objects from point A to point B. There were autonomous mobile cranes or “claws” that moved objects without anyone controlling them. The conference had computer chips that were designed for controlling tanks, lasers that could blind a man from 40 feet away, and a lens that allowed the user to see in complete darkness.

That list only scratches the surface of the incredible inventions and devices that we got to witness and interact with at the convention. CYHSB seniors Shahar Cahana and Michael Baum were able to control Spot, Boston Dynamics’ robotic dog capable of autonomous exploration. They maneuvered the remote-controlled dog around the room with a large group of bystanders watching.

Everyone clapped as each gave the remote control back to the company representative after masterfully

Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys

October 29, 2021

controlling the robotic dog around the room.

Michael describes the experience as “a great opportunity to connect academic topics with their real-world applications.”

Mrs. La Roux, allowed us to guide ourselves around the convention center and speak to the company representatives about their Shahar Cahana with Spot. Photo: Michael Baum creations. We all more technology to save the went our separate ways to try planet. Looking at human and cover the most ground civilization as a high school during the hour we had to look student, I truly want to believe around. As we walked from that we are helping make the booth to booth, we heard about world a better place. However, how the world is changing at an as more and more forest and exceptional rate, and the growable land gets destroyed manufacturing industry is going and replaced by factories and to make huge leaps in just a few buildings for consumer goods years due to the new technology production, I cannot help but being created as we speak. The feel as though we are building inventions at the conference, technology to hide the fact that while advanced and impressive, the world is falling apart around are only the beginning of the us. potential of robotic innovations The Earth is now left expected in the future. with 36% of the 14.6 million The conference opened square kilometers of tropical my eyes to autonomous mobile rainforest that it began with. aides, but it also showed me how Over the past 10,000 years, we advanced technology could be have lost over a third of the used for space travel or crop world’s forests. This trend does growth. The world is changing; not appear to be stopping by we as humans cannot be 2100. We believe all of the stagnant. When looking at tropical rainforests in the world history, we as people are unable will be gone. to be satisfied and are constantly growing and adapting with new Continued On Page 4 technologies. Some of these technologies negatively affect the Earth as much as they positively aid civilization in the short term. To counteract this destruction that we have inflicted, we are forced to make 2

CYHSB Weekly

Volume 16, Issue 1

Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys

October 29, 2021

Basketball: AP Students Cont. The Triumphant Return of the Macs Ezra Davidovics (’24)

When Covid began to affect the city of Memphis, there were many changes to the CYHSB, but probably one of the most noticeable changes was the absence of the basketball team.

Gone were the days of students of all skill levels rushing to basketball practice or talking in the halls about their next game. Gone were the days of going to the gym to watch our team face off against the best teams in the state. But those days are gone no more, as at the beginning of this school year it was announced that the basketball team was making its triumphant return.

The buzz around the school is tangible as everybody prepares for the new season.

Shahar Cahana, a CYHSB senior who missed participating in basketball last year, remarked, “basketball is a great extracurricular, and after not having it last year, it’s great that it’s back.” It is clear that basketball is an essential sport in our school, and the student body suffered greatly from not having it last year.

Regarding lasting Covid changes to games and practices Coach James Nokes said that “the one requirement we’ve had in the preseason, our open gym period, is that we’ve required everyone to have a Covid vaccination to participate.” He also didn’t seem to think that player fatigue from not playing during the Covid period was going to be much of an issue.

He said, “With the open gyms and the time we’ll officially practice once we are allowed to do so, I’m not concerned with fatigue. There’s plenty of time to get fit and be prepared. Our biggest challenge will be adjusting to a year off.

Most of our opponents participated in some sort of season last year.

There’s an edge we’ll have to find to make up for that missed time.

Junior Varsity at Flatbush two years ago. Source: MHA

But so far, our spirits have been really good. Guys are hungry for knowledge, they’re happy to be out there and are very engaged.”

Clearly, the coach believes in his team but is realistic and knows that it will be a struggle.

But enough dwelling in the past. This year’s team might be a little bit rusty after not having played for a whole season, but they also might come bursting out of the gate fully energized after a long rest from the thrill of the competition. During this upcoming season, the team will feature some new faces while retaining the talent and experience of the veterans on the squad. Expert predictions suggest we will have a good shot at winning the championship. I believe this is due to the simple facts along with some predictions.

The facts would be that this team, on paper, is very good. This team also has all of the intangibles that are necessary for building a championship team. The mild

speculation is a prediction of some breakout seasons in key spots, including veteran stars and rookies alike. These breakout seasons will have multiple players playing above the stat sheets just by seeing the improved confidence throughout the locker room.

Another reason we will win the championship this year is that the other teams won’t expect us to be good. They’ll see us and underestimate our talents, which is when the Cooper Macs will strike early to demolish the competition.

All in all, even if my predictions are wrong, I am absolutely certain that this season will fill the void within our student body’s collective hearts as we return triumphantly to a new season of basketball. This upcoming season, no matter the outcome, will allow us to succeed and grow as a team. Let’s go get the championship, support our teammates, and enjoy the season.

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CYHSB Weekly

Volume 16, Issue 1

Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys

October 29, 2021

NCSY Israel: A Great Way to Spend Your Summer Shahar Cahana (’22) This past summer, many of the students from the CYHSB went on a variety of Israel programs, including Kollel, Israel ID, and Jolt Israel. These programs, offered by NCSY, a Jewish youth group, promise an “action-packed” summer that is “uplifting and life changing.”

These summer programs offered the students an enjoyable experience and a glimpse into life in Israel, enabling learning and growth.

NCSY Kollel, an all boys program, known for its combination of a good learning environment, trips, and sports, fosters a relationship with other high school students and Rebbeim. One goal of the program is to intensify the commitment one has toward the Jewish people and learning Torah.

During this program, you really have the opportunity to experience the land in a unique way that you likely have never been able to experience before. CYHSB junior Ezra Wiener, who went on this program, said, “Kollel was a really great opportunity for me to grow in my learning and also have a fun summer.” Ezra Wiener plans to return to Israel this upcoming summer to learn and re-experience the land of Israel.

Several CYHSB students also went on JOLT Israel, another NCSY program. This Israel

program is a co-ed program for teen leaders who are looking for a way to enhance their leadership skills throughout the summer. One of the highlights of this program is running a camp for siblings of children with chronic illnesses for 10-days.

The program allowed for customized leadership programming, team building activities, and formal and informal discussions. Students in this program are Jolt Israel on a water hike. Photo: Zev Bosin also able to experience Israel’s tour, have fun, volunteer, and natural beauty and spiritual more. CYHSB senior Nadav landmarks. CYHSB senior Coby Weiss, who went on this program Goldblatt, who went on this over the summer, said, “Israel ID program, said, “I loved JOLT. It is a fantastic program if you are brought me closer to myself, my visiting Israel for the first time religion, and Israel.” and want to learn about the land Other students went on that Hashem bestowed upon us.”

NCSY’s Israel ID program. This The above programs are is a co-ed program for teens that just a glimpse into the many are looking for a chance to tour programs that are offered for teens Israel while also having a funto go and visit the land of Israel. filled summer. This program These trips enable students to really does it all. In just five connect to and learn about the weeks, people on this program land of their forefathers. It seems visit all of Israel. Program that all the students that went had participants have a very engaging, a great time and came away with action-packed schedule, and there positive experiences. is never a dull moment. Students

AP Cont.

2100. We believe all of the tropical rainforests in the world will be gone.

After seeing each booth and the incredible inventions you only see in the movies about space travel and sci-fi adventure, I realized that we as human beings are able to save this planet from forest extinction and soon nature

as we know it. The conference was only the start; scientists and engineers worldwide are working to help save our planet one creation at a time. For now, as a high school student who just had the privilege to attend one of the most prestigious conferences in robotics in the United States, I have to say that the world of

technology as a career path may be a very intriguing option.

Thank you again to Mr. Steven Schwarzberg and Mrs. La Roux for giving my classmates and me the ability to look into the crystal ball and have a glimpse at the future.

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CYHSB Weekly

Volume 16, Issue 1

Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys

October 29, 2021

YU Bekius: An Extra Gemara Period, or Much More?

Ethan Vanderwalde (’25)

Most of the Gemara classes in the CYHSB teach Gemara b’iyun, meaning that the students learn Gemara in-depth.

It is common to spend up to two weeks on a few lines of Gemara in a Gemara Kiddushin class because the class spends time exploring the Gemara and its commentaries in great detail.

While this style of learning does help train one’s analytical skills, it lacks the breadth of learning that one would get in a bekiut class. The CYHSB has just started the YU-NCSY Bekiut program for 2021-2022 for students who aren’t satisfied with just learning Gemara b’iyun.

The Hebrew word Bekiut means to learn in a broad but not deep way, and that is what participants of the program do.

They study and analyze one daf or amud of Gemara and its Rashi commentary per week, as opposed to spending a longer period of time learning all of the Gemara’s commentaries. Every few weeks, there is a test given by the program to see how much participants have learned. If students do well on these tests, they can win a number of prizes, ranging from cash to NCSY summer scholarships.

Most of the learning in the program is done in chevrutot, meaning that participants pair up and learn together. In other Gemara classes at the CYHSB, teachers will teach the class the material, with students enriching the discussion. In chevrutot, students can improve their Aramaic vocabulary and ability to read Gemara along with their peers. Rabbi Yisrael Wende, who

YU Bekius Class Learning In Chavrusas Photo: Ezra Wiener

directs the Bekiut program said that “every student really adds to the learning, to the discussion, to the reading, and that is an amazing thing to do together.”

Each chevruta can choose how much Gemara they want to learn. Some chevrutot have the goal of finishing all of Masechet Ta’anit or Masechet Sukkot this year by learning one amud of Gemara per week.

Others are learning at the pace of one daf per week and plan to finish half of a masechet.

CYHSB senior Shahar Cahana describes the program as a great opportunity for those wishing to learn more Gemara, saying, “the Bekius program is a great way to develop your Gemara skills and get some extra quality Gemara

learning.” Rabbi Wende further shares his perspective on the program, saying, “this is an amazing class to teach. The students are self motivated; they want to learn gemara. They want to increase their skills of learning, so the role of the teacher is to help the student achieve his potential.”

The YU-NCSY Bekiut program takes place during the third period and is available for upperclassmen. The program is a great way to learn Gemara with a friend and earn cool prizes. The group is always looking for more participants. If you are interested in the program or are looking for more information, please contact Rabbi Wende at yisrael.wendefyos.org.

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CYHSB Weekly

Volume 16, Issue 1

Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys

October 29, 2021

What Can We Learn From Nazirus?

Avi Klein (’22) Throughout Jewish History, there are many known Nazir’im, such as Shimshon, Shmuel, and Avshalom. Being a Nazir is something that we can’t relate to, and we can’t understand why someone would do such a strange thing and limit themselves. However, when looking at the pesukim in-depth, the restrictions of a Nazir come along with reasons.

When learning these reasons behind the restrictions, we can then interpret the true meaning and purpose of becoming a Nazir and if it is truly a good thing. When we finally discover why someone would do such a thing, we can internalize the reasons and implement them into our own lives as well.

When someone chooses to become a Nazir, they are choosing to distance themselves from sin and become closer to Hashem. In order to do this, the Nazir must refrain from eating any products that come from grapes, ranging from grapes themselves, grape peels, or any type of wine that comes from grapes. A Nazir is also required to restrict and distance themselves from the bodies of those who have died. While in other cases of people needing to distance themselves from the dead (such as a Cohen), they are allowed to (and must) go near the dead person when it is someone who is a close relative.

When it comes to a Nazir, they must even stay away from the bodies of their close relatives, which is a stringency compared

to a Cohen Gadol. Lastly, a Nazir may not cut their hair for the time that they are Nazir, and then following the Nazir period, they must fully shave their head.

A Nazir is someone who voluntarily chooses to dedicate and bring himself closer to Hashem. Why would someone choose to limit themselves in this way? Some people would choose

themself from sin, Hashem will view him as a Cohen. Both are holy, both can’t come in contact with a dead person, and both have a close relationship with Hashem. This outlook would prove that becoming a Nazir is a positive thing since it was a way for the Nazir to get closer to Hashem. Another positive outlook on Nazir is the fact that he is distancing himself from sin. The Shemot Rabba 15 explains that we can learn this since the Parsha of Nazir comes right after the Parsha of Sotah. These Parshiot being adjacent to each other shows the motive as to why the person chooses to become a Nazir since it is a way for him to distance himself from sins.

While some may see the Nazir period to be one of positivity and becoming closer to Hashem, there are aspects to it that can be seen as negative. The Pasuk says, ‫ְוע ָ ָ֣שׂה” הַכּ ֹ ֵ֗הן א ָ ֶ֤חד‬ ‫ ” ְל ַחטָּא ֙ת‬which explains that the Nazir must bring a Korban Chatat, a sin offering, showing that he has sinned in some way.

Rabbi Elazar HaKappar further explains in a Braisa that the Nazir must bring a sin offering because he is distancing himself from wine. While distancing from wine may seem like a positive thing, Rabbi Elazar HaKappar explains that he is causing his body to suffer by not drinking wine, a creation that Hashem created, which is sinning with his own soul.

When looking at the positive and negative aspects of the Nazir, I believe that the

“When someone chooses to become a Nazir, they are choosing to distance themselves from sin and become closer to Hashem.” to do this when realizing that they have strayed from the way and are close to sinning in different ways. One possible sin that one would like to distance themselves from is the sin of having inappropriate relationships, which is why the Parsha follows the Parsha of Sotah. Another reason may be if the person sees someone else who sinned and is trying to distance themselves from such sins as well. Lastly, someone may be a Nazir for any reason on their own, such as saying thanks to Hashem for something that he did for them.

While there are many different ideas and attitudes regarding if becoming a Nazir is a good thing or not, the Bamidbar Raba, 10 says that when someone becomes a Nazir, Hashem says that he views the Nazir like a Cohen Gadol. Since the Nazir is trying to distance

Continued On Next Page.

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Nazirus Cont.

Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys

the positive aspects overrule the negative ones. While distancing ourselves from wine may be a negative thing for the body, Hashem is the one who created wine and is also the one who told us that if we become a Nazir, we cannot drink wine.

Also, by staying away from wine, the person is uplifting their soul and who they are, which is inherently better than indulging in physical pleasures such as wine. Lastly, when someone chooses to personally change, they must do whatever is needed to get the result that they want, so abstaining from wine may be necessary for this selfimprovement, and is not necessarily a bad thing.

The idea of a Nazir is one that may seem to be very old-fashioned and something that doesn’t relate to us nowadays. However, when looking at the cases and stories of Nazirs, we can learn a major

lesson on introspection and selfchange. One of the main reasons a Nazir chose to take on this responsibility was because he was exposed or almost committed a sin, distancing himself from Hashem. In a Braita, Rabbi Shimon HaTzaddik tells a story of a beautiful man who came from the south and decided to become a Nazir. The man said that he chose to become a Nazir because he saw his reflection in the water and his Evil Inclination came upon him and he was inclined to commit a major sin. When Rabbi Shimon heard this, he was overcome with joy and kissed the man on his head, because he saw him as the first man to become a Nazir out of good intentions. What we can learn from this is that true introspection and determination to self-change is something that we must all strive for and look to do when we see ourselves

October 29, 2021

Shimshon. Source: nachnook.com

coming close to sin. If we follow what this southern man did, we too can bring ourselves closer to Hashem.

In conclusion, the topic of Nazir is one that is not simple. There are many aspects to the depth of the Nazir and why each detail is important such as refraining from wine, going near the dead, and cutting one's hair. Each of these aspects ultimately helps the Nazir internalize who they are and become closer to Hashem just like a Cohen, Hashem’s priests.

Crazy Crosswords

Can you guess the CYHSbers?

The

rst one to send in a completed puzzle, done after

Shabbos, will receive a shoutout!

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October 29, 2021

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