Shalhevet Boiling Point Volume 21 Issue 5

SHALHEVET HIGH SCHOOL 910 S Fairfax Avenue Los Angeles, CA May 2021 • Sivan 5781 Vol. 21 • Issue 5 shalhevetboilingpoint.com

School officials study path to no masks next fall By Juliet Wiener, Science Writer

ISRAEL UNDER FIRE BP Photo by ELi Weiss

CONFRONT: Above, a woman draped in an Israeli flag and a man wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh debated across the street from a pro-Israel rally in Beverly Garden Park May 23. The rally, supporting Israel after its cease-fire with Gaza, attracted hundreds and was surrounded by police in riot gear. When demonstrators and counter-protestors began to clash, police attempted to disperse crowds with loud sirens. Meanwhile in Israel itself, alumni on gap year programs watched up close as fighting raged for 11 days. BP coverage begins on page 6.

Amidst dancing and ‘pure happiness,’ Shalhevet alumni saw tragedy unfold on Mount Meron By Keira Beller, Staff Writer Around 1:15 a.m. on April 30, Sam Rubanowitz tried to make his way down an overcrowded, slippery exit pathway from the Lag B’Omer celebration at Northern Israel’s Mount Meron. Twenty minutes earlier, 45 people lost their lives, apparently in a forward crush of exiters who were unable to stop moving

after some fell and became trapped underneath them. Some called it a stampede, although no one was running. “The pathway which I had gone was the exact pathway that the stampede happened, around 15 to 20 minutes before I got there,” said Sam in an interview. “If I had chosen to leave earlier, I could’ve been involved in the stampede.” Around the same time, Ari Schlacht

found himself surrounded by yelling and red lights flashing as he came across the night’s disastrous result that Sam would only learn about later on. “One by one, as we’re standing by the top, you see the crowd would split open for a Hatzalah member who would be walking with a stretcher and like, a little kid lying on it, not moving,” said Ari. “It pretty much just Continued on page 8

Seniors go to Oregon for first school trip post-Covid By Tali Liebenthal, Staff Writer Shalhevet’s class of 2021 spent a week in Oregon experiencing nature and recreation, replacing the two weeks they would normally spend in Poland and Israel experiencing education and history. From May 2 to 9, they lived out their seven-day stay in nature at the Macleay Conference Center in Salem, Ore., which contained a soccer field, large gym, arcade, and fully kashered

kitchen all at their disposal. It was the first time any school trip had taken place since Covid cancelled everything from debate conferences to Sarachek last March. Also cancelled were Robotics and Boiling Point conferences, along with other sports meets, chesed trips and Shabbatons. But the three-week Poland=Israel Experience, as it is called, But the three-week Poland=Israel Experience, as it is called, is someting different, beginning with painful visits to concentra

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In order for Shalhevet to be completely mask-free next fall, all staff and students would have to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, school officials said this week. However, the question of whether vaccines will be required for all students in 2021-22 has yet to be decided, according to Chief Operating Officer Ms. Sarah Emerson. “A decision has not yet been made with regards to requiring the Covid vaccine for next year,” Ms. Emerson wrote in an email reply to Boiling Point questions May 21. “We will continue to take guidance from the CDC, as well as, of course, state and local health officials as we make decisions for the school community and student body.” Shalhevet’s administration and Medical Task Force have briefly discussed next year’s Covid guidelines in meetings, but have not yet formally met to make a decision. Dr. Julie Higashi, co-head of the medical task force and a Shalhevet parent, as well as an infectious disease specialist at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, said they will have to come to a conclusion before students return to campus in August. “I really think it’s going to come down to what we want the school to look like going forward...,” Dr. Higashi said in an interview. “It’s about being able to be completely mask-free, and that’s the main decision factor. So I can’t tell you what they are going to do or say but those are the considerations being weighed.” Current CDC guidelines, which will go into effect in Los Angeles County June 15, say vaccinated individuals will no longer have to wear masks indoors or outdoors in any-sized gathering, but those who are unvaccinated will still have to wear a mask. And although school officials are waiting for the CDC to supply more vaccination guidance for schools before making a decision, as a private school Shalhevet technically does not need to wait for the CDC to decide for itself. To date, hundreds of private institutions and universities across the country, including UCLA and USC, have come out with statements saying vaccination will be required for their students returning to campus in the fall. “Everybody wants kids back in school in-person, and so from the standpoint of vaccine mandates, a strategy that other schools have taken is to say we really want to be fully open and we want to be fully open without masks,” Dr. Higashi said. “So what it’s going to take to make that happen is that the vaccine will be mandatory.” Shalhevet is still exploring this option, but Dr. Higashi also offered another model of how school next year might look -- a version where both vaccinated and unvaccinated students would be allowed on campus: vaccinated students can be maskless on campus, while unvaccinated students would be reContinued on page 2

3 9 11 12 SHALHEVET SCOTTSDALE MOVING FORWARD

SPRING ONE-ACTS FEATURE MOVING AUDIENCE

MAKEUP CAN BE CRUELTYFREE

BASEBALL: FIREHAWKS BURN PANTHERS

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The Boiling Point • May 2021 • Community

Constitution is relocated and replaced by Israel display By Tali Liebenthal, Staff Writer

But current Fairness chair Henry Fried deemed the sticker display appropriate considering the current situation in Israel. “I think that the poster that’s currently there regarding Israel is especially relevant right now so I wouldn’t criticize the placement of that being there,” said Henry. “I think that where the constitution is now is still nice. You can still see it. I miss it being front and center, but I wouldn’t want to take away the Israel sign there because I think it’s also a cool display of our views on Israel and how much we love Israel.” Meanwhile, for many freshmen, seeing the constitution in its new location was the first time they had seen it this school year -- it had been in a conference room since October, when it was taken down from the wall of the second floor lobby to be displayed at an open house event; however after that, it had never been returned. From then until May 19, the constitution had not been displayed anywhere in the building.

After being stored in the first-floor administrative conference room since October, the Just Community Constitution has now been permanently moved from the top of the school’s central staircase in the second floor lobby to the administrative suite on the first floor, visible from the foyer behind a curved glass wall. According to Chief Operating Officer Ms. Sarah Emerson, the move was decided on by herself and Principal Daniel Weslow, and its new location was chosen to make room on the wall of the second floor lobby for an art display celebrating Israel. “The new location is permanent for now, although things can always change,” Ms. Emerson wrote in an email response to Boiling Point questions. She said it “was chosen due to the prominence and high visibility of that location, spotlighting and highlighting the Just Community constitution for our school community and any and all visitors to the building.” Occupying the constitution’s former home in the BP Photo By Eli Weiss When Just Community Advisor Rabbi Ari geographical center of the school is an Israel-themed arSchwarzberg learned of the constitution’s new permanent rangement of stickers, organized by Judaic Studies teach- NEW HOME: The constitution now lives in the executive suite next to the er Ms. Ilana Wilner, where students wrote what Israel front entrance to the school. In its old place, “Israel means __ to me” stickers home, he was unbothered by it. “I don’t have strong feelings necessarily about where meant to them on two- by four-inch stickers. They were filled out by students form a display in the second-floor landing lobby. the constitution goes,” he added. “I have not seen any put up on display in the second floor lobby. substantive change in the school’s priorities of any of the is very close to the main entrance to the school, behind the curved “The second floor location where the constitution Just Community elements, and where the actual constitution is loglass wall on the right side of the foyer. had been now has an art installation made by our students coorMoving the constitution from the geological center of the school cated -- I don’t think we should read too much into it.” dinated by Ms. Wilner on Yom Haatzmaut,” Ms. Emerson wrote. Current and former leaders of the Just Community agreed that Written and adopted by students and faculty in 2002, the brought up a variety of reactions from current and past elected following the laws and values of the constitution and the Just Comconstitution set general principles and some details of how the members of the Just Community. “There have been plenty of days in my life where I just walk munity was more important. Just Community was meant to operate. It envisioned what school “It’s far more important to me that the school is really trying to founder Dr. Jerry Friedman called a “direct democracy,” where every past the administrative suite and never go in there,” said outgoing Agenda Chair Kate Orlanski. “But I obviously always, when I go to uphold the tradition that I was exposed to when I was there,” said community member could vote on rules to govern school life. It created an “Agenda Committee” to set the agenda for Town school, pass the second floor so, I would definitely say that [in the former Agenda chair Toby Bern ‘11. and I just hope that they aren’t taking that freedom and self-governance away from the students, Hall, where students would debate and decide community issues, new location] it is not as visible.” Some wondered about the symbolism of moving it to the side, more so than I care about \where the symbol of the school’s values along with a Fairness Committee to resolve disputes privately between community members, and a Constructive Consequences while others thought the symbolism of having Israel at the school’s hangs.” “A lot of governments will, you know, hang their flag high and Committee to enforce school rules. All committees had both stu- center was important at the present time. Others thought the placement didn’t matter, and a few were show off their constitution, but when it comes to following the dent and faculty representatives. rules and \doing right by the people, they don’t. And oftentimes The constitution’s preamble, which lists community members’ convinced the new placement would turn out to be temporary. symbols can become distractions from the fact that governments “I think it means very little,” said incoming Agenda Chair Jack rights, including the right to respect and the right to be heard, was written out in artistic calligraphy and signed by community mem- Sanders. “I would not be surprised if it moved back by the start of and institutions are actually not following the rules that they swore bers at the time, then framed and hung in the Beit Midrash, which next year. I don’t think that this is a permanent place for it and if it to uphold. So the symbolism I think is of the issue honestly is independent of whether or not they are actually following the rules.” was I don’t think it means much.” was also used for Town Hall. “It’s more symbolic if anything, and I think with all of the Former Fairness chair Evan Rubel ‘20 agreed. In the new (current) building, the framed preamble had an “Being an alumnus I know that things change very much year to talking and referencing to the constitution it’s clearly well discussed equally prominent place at the top of the spiral staircase, viewable year, and especially with Covid I understand that with having to in- and well alive regardless of where it is physically,” said Jack Sanders. from the steps both below and above. It was moved this year for an Open House admissions event that corporate extra space for distancing and other Covid precautions…, “So I don’t see much significance to its location.” Henry Fried agreed. took place on Nov. 22. There, it was displayed on an easel in the I can assume that it’s changed a lot,” said Evan. “Who we are as a community is not defined by a piece of paper Former Agenda Chair David Edwards ‘20 worrieid about what gymnasium and put on view for families considering Shalhevet for with names written on it,” said Henry. ”The people that we are as a the move could display about the school’s priorities. their current middle-schoolers. “I guess it is a little demoralizing, it’s kind of sad for me,” said community are much more aligned with our actions and our values Where the constitution sits now is at the entrance to many administrative offices, including those belonging to head of school David. “At least the way things seem, it’s kind of symbolic of maybe and our intentions.” Rabbi Block, Ms. Emerson, Muriel Ohana and Lili Einalhori. It like ‘Hey, we’re pushing this away a little bit more.’”

School officials study path to no masks People who are vaccinated may be allowed to be mask-free; shots unlikely to be required continued from page 1

Shalhevet students are planning on getting vaccinated. “I personally will never get the vaccine, because I’m not really sure what they’re putting in my body,” sophomore Talia Tibi told -quired to wear a mask, she said. “I don’t think the school has any interest in excluding kids from the Boiling Point. “And although there are no side effects now, we coming back to school,” said Dr. Higashi. “It would just be that if don’t know what it will do to us long term. Like I’m young and you’re unvaccinated you should be wearing a mask. That’s my un- healthy and do not see a need for me to get it.” To those who are hesitant, Shalhevet leaders are offering inforderstanding of what we are thinking about going forward.” In the meantime, Shalhevet leaders are still advising students to mation and reassurance. “The administration and the Medical Task Force strongly enget the vaccine. courage all that are eligible to get “The administration and the Medical Task vaccinated,” said Ms. Emerson, “and Force strongly encourage all that are eligible to get are happy to help anyone that needs vaccinated,” said Ms. Emerson, “and are happy to any assistance in securing an aphelp anyone that needs any assistance in securing “I don’t think the school has any interest pointment.” an appointment for themselves or a friend or fam- in excluding kids... It would just be that if Dr. Higashi said vaccines were ily that might need it.” you’re unvaccinated you should be wearactually tested thoroughly on teens. The issues might be different for a lower or eleing a mask. That’s my understanding of “The testing trials that happened mentary school, she added. for teenagers are actually more than “What’s nice about being in high school is right what we are thinking about.” now everybody can get vaccinated,” she said. — Dr. Julie Higashi, LADPH and Shalhevet equivalent to the trials for adults, The question of whether vaccines will be reMedical Task Force because they were put to the test during the height of the surge of quired for next year is important because not all

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Community Outside

the pandemic,” Dr. Higashi said, “[and when] we’ve got variants circulating.” She also said students should not use social media or the internet to make their decisions. “Don’t rely on what youre reading on the internet -- go talk to a healthcare professional,” Dr. Higashi said. BP Graphic By Keira She said she hoped Shalhevet would be Beller and Noah Elad able to convince everyone to get the shot, rather than have to require it like measles or polio vaccines. “The risks associated with the vaccine are so much lower than the risks of being unvaccinated,” Dr. Higashi said. “My hope is that it won’t take a mandate, that people will understand that this is something that’s going to make Shalhevet have a completely back to normal year where there can be shabbatons and all the social stuff that comes with being a part of Shalhevet and a wonderful place to go to high school.”

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The Boiling Point • May 2021 • Community

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Seniors travel to Oregon for first school trip post-Covid continued from page 1 tion camps and ending in a tour of Israel - for some, their first visit there. “I for sure wasn’t thinking about it as a replacement for Poland-Israel -- it just felt like a new senior trip experience,” said senior Noa Silberstein. “Different isn’t necessarily bad, it was just different.” Although school officials tried not to rule out an overseas trip for the seniors entirely, pandemic restrictions gave them no choice other than changing the destination to something closer to home., said Dean of Student Life Dr. Jonny Ravanshenas. Israel was open to schools, but only for long-term programs that had to begin with a 14-day quarantine. “We looked into Poland and Israel to see if we could do the actual trip but, unfortunately due to the restrictions -- Israel’s policy, Poland’s policy for sure -- we could not leave the country,” said Dr. Ravanshenas. “We had to do something nearby. We were trying to do something local, close to home... If God-forbid anything should happen, and if there were any Covid cases, it would just add a lot more layers of difficulty to get back. The Oregon site memt all their requirements, said school chesed director Mrs. Malkie Hametz. BP Photo By Ellie Orlanski “The team was looking for a place that’s not so far away from Los Angeles, pretty easy to get to either BONDING: Shalhevet’s class of ’21 gathers on the grass at the Macleay Conference center in Salem, Ore., May 2. by bus or by plane, and ... a big, open, outdoor space that could accommodate our group,” Mrs Hametz said On their trip, the seniors experienced activities such as ziplining, ous weekend on Mount Meron in Israel, on Lag B”Omer. during the trip. “Everyone is really close together, and “That was really special, being able to you know come together ropes courses, sand duning, hiking and paintball. it’s just a beautiful beautiful place, just out in nature.” Even though they were permitted to travel, students and admin- from all the sports and activities that we were doing all day and to The drastic change in the location of the senior trip, which Shalistration still had to take certain Covid precautions into kind of like commemorate you know fellow jews,” said Jordan Sihevet seniors look forward to mon. “The fact that we were able to stop thinking about the meanextra consideration. for four years, did upset some ingless activities that we were doing all day and able to think about “The students all got tested before we left on the trip, students, although they reand many students quarantined with each other before we those that lost their lives, especially by the firepit and singing and “I for sure wasn’t thinking about it mained positive. flew,” Mrs. Hametz said. “I would say basically everyone davening for them, I think was really important.” “It was really upsetting -- as a replacement for Poland-Israel, Teachers chaperoned in two shifts, with Mr. Tushar Divwedi, on the trip is fully vaccinated, so that was also kind of like, I really wanted to go es- it just felt like a new senior trip exMs. Ilana Wilner, and Dr. Ravanshenas staying the full seven days. definitely something we took into consideration before we pecially because it would have They were joined by Judaic Studies teachers Mrs. Hametz, traveled.” been cool to go with all of my perience. Different isn’t necessarily She said all Covid tests taken by students and teach- Rabbi Yagil Tzaidi and Ms. Natalie Honig for the first three days, close friends,” said senior Jor- bad, it was just different” ers who went on the trip came back negative, and no new and then with Head of School Rabbi Davis Block, Judiac Studies dan Simon. “Especially for the — Noa Silberstein Covid cases had been reported since the seniors’ week of teacher Dr. Sheila Keiter, and Mr. Eli Shavalian, Director of College kids who have never been beCounseling for the end. leisure as of May 11. fore. But I am still glad we were Principal Daniel Weslow joined them from Tuesday until Friday. On Tuesday night, May 4, the seniors and chaperones able to have some sort of trip.” took a step back and spent time reflecting on the lives lost the previ-

Shalhevet Scottsdale is ‘moving forward’ after applications exceed hopes Hybrid program with most learning on Zoom attracts more students after first-year full scholarships are offered to all By Benjamin Gamson, News Editor

dents for the first year of Nishmat Adin. The original tuition was school is ideal, this was the best solution to get Shalhevet Scottsdale going to be $24,750 including travel costs. up and running immediately,” the Steins wrote to the Boiling Point. Shalhevet is now hiring two new faculty for Scottsdale, one rab- “We plan to establish a campus in the next few years and ultimately Exceeding expectations, Shalhevet Scottsdale received at least 13 applications for the upcoming school year across ninth and 10th bi and one Humanities educator, according to the Nishmat Adin wean off of Shalhevet LA by hiring our own faculty.” Dr. Ariella Friedman, the presgrade by its final deadline of May 1, according to school officials website. The plan is for them to provide students with on-site help in any subject, officials have said. ident of the new school’s board, in Los Angeles. Scott and Brooke Stein, who are members of the described Nishmat Adin as a “pri“We’ve had a successful admissions process with between 13-18 board at Nishmat Adin whose son has applied to Nishvate entity,” and said that Nishmat “We’re at the stage [where] there’s applicants and we are planning to start interviews in the coming Adin/Shalhevet Scottsdale was the few weeks,” wrote Assistant Executive Director Nachum Joel in an mat Adin for 10th grade, agreed that Zoom presented significant interest enough to a problem for some. partnership between the schools. email response to Boiling Point questions. say that we’re going to be moving “We have spoken to a few interested families who Officials’ original estimate was between eight and 11 freshmen are hesitant to enroll their children because they be- forward with the project for next Shalhevet Scottsdale is not the and sophomores who might enlieve it to be 100% virtual,” only new Jewish high school planter the hybrid Arizona-Los Angeyear,” Mr. and Mrs. Stein wrote in an ning to open in Scottsdale. In the les program next fall, according — Rabbi Block fall of 2022, the Oasis School, a email response to Boiling Point to a Feb. 18 email from Head of questions. non-denominational Jewish school School Rabbi David Block. But they said the new prois opening. The program, which was regram would not be like the “Zoom school” Also, already operating in Scottsdale are an all-boys school called ferred to in that email to Shalstudents have experienced during the pan- Yeshiva High School of Arizona, and an all-girls high school called hevet parents as a “raw idea” demic. Shearim Torah High School for Girls. and “still just a possibility,” has “For one, the Scottsdale students will be Mr. and Mrs. Stein said neither would affect the need for Shalmoved beyond that now, Rabbi meeting in person and will be in a physical hevet Scottsdale. Block said. classroom together with faculty members “There is a need right now for a Jewish high school and families “We’re at the stage [where] overseeing their classes and available to assist simply can not wait until 2021,” wrote Mr. Stein in response to there’s significant interest enough and supervise,” they wrote. Boiling Point questions. “The fact that we will be up and running to say that we’re going to be movSecond, they said, Shalhevet’s Los Ange- by August 2021 has created an incredible opportunity for several ing forward with the project for les classrooms would be equipped with Owl families with incoming 9th and 10th graders to enroll in a Jewish next year,” wrote Rabbi Block devices to provide learners in Arizona with high school immediately.” May 23 in an email response to multi-perspective views of their classes. “As far as the existence of the two schools, we believe that famBoiling Point questions. Lastly, the Scottsdale students would be ilies will see the differences in the two schools’ curriculums, strucShalhevet Scottsdale aims to attending orientation in person with Shalhe- tures, and targeted demographics and decide which school is a betgive the area’s Jewish communivet students in Los Angeles, and will also be ter fit for their child and their family,” the couple wrote. “To think ty a Modern Orthodox school visiting the California campus every one to that Jewish families in upcoming years could have not one, but two by having students Zoom into Photo: Facebook.com/Nishmat Adin-Shalhevet Scottsdale two months to learn in person with their LA- Jewish high schools to choose from in Scottsdale is a wonderful Shalhevet classes and come to based classmates. prospect.” Los Angeles in person eight to 10 VISION: A pamphlet about Nishmat Adin/ They added that eventually, Nishmat times per year. Shalhevet Scottsdale was photographed on Adin would leave Shalhevet Scottsdale and Because of an anonymous the grave of its namesake, Rabbi Adin Steincreate its own school. donor, Shalhevet Scottsdale is of- saltz z”l, in Israel by a visitor from Scottsdale “While of course a brick-and-mortar fering full scholarships to all stu- last month.

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The Boiling Point • May 2021 • Community

Jack Sanders elected Agenda Chair after first debate in two years focuses on role and style of Town Hall By Gabriella Gomperts, Staff Writer

feels safe to the point where they can talk about the constitution, After an in-person debate with three grades present in the gym talk about the Just Community, and one watching on Zoom, Jack Sanders was elected Agenda Chair bring up proposals, comment April 30, defeating Adina Kurzban in a same-day vote via a comput- on Town Hall, anything like that, but it won’t be in their face er program linked on Schoology. It was the first Agenda Chair debate in two years and the first should they not care about or in-person campaign event since 2019. Social distancing guidelines shouldn’t have too much of an opinion on it. for Covid meant only three grades could be on campus at a time. “The balance overall is one Standing behind podiums about 20 feet away from the first row of the audience, Jack and Adina answered questions about how they that the entire Agenda Comwould run the Agenda Committee and Town Halls, and what the mittee will strive to reach, and should I be elected Agenda chair, role is of Agenda within the Just Community. Adina stressed a commitment to fairness while Jack emphasized everyone will feel safe within the his long experience planning Town Halls as vice chair this year and constitution but won’t be forced onto it,” he concluded. secretary the year before. Adina agreed and added that “I care to hear about every single perspective, and I care to hear about perspectives on all the topics we discuss -- not just politics, the Agenda Chair should make not just Just Community issues,” said Adina, answering the question it possible for people to air their of why she was the better candidate. “I care to hear about every- views on different kinds of subjects. thing… “Although politics may “I will be a good moderator between the multiple sides of every issue,” she said. “I will be a great chair because I will moderate be- sometimes seem pretty foreign tween both sides, I will listen to both sides, and I will make sure that -- it may seem that it’s happenBP Photo By Eli Weiss ing to the world and not to us Town Hall is a place that every single person goes to enjoy.” Jack, who served as Agenda vice-chair this year and secretary the specifically -- I think that politics UNMASKED: Agenda Chair candidates were allowed to remove their masks during year before, emphasized his love of Town Hall and his experience in and current events do affect us the debate. They were separated by the moderator and audience by about 20 feet. and our lives, so there should be a helping plan it. But he also doesn’t believe that there’s that great a difference be“Last year, I worked with our former chair David Edwards as combination of both,” said Adina. The candidates were then asked what they would do if the ad- tween the interests of the students and faculty. secretary, where I learned and familiarized myself with the constiministration made decisions without consulting the Just Commu“It’s important that whoever is chair and whoever is on the tution, our values, and what it means to be on Agenda,” Jack said. Agenda Committee strives to uphold what the students believe is “This year, I worked very closely with Kate as vice chair, learn- nity and Town Hall. Adina said it would depend on the issues. With issues that affect right within the scopes of the constitution, which entails Halacha, ing how Town Halls are made, from the seed of the idea, to what music is being played while everyone is sitting down. I even got the students long term, like dress code, she would certainly push back curriculum and law,” Jack said. “So it’s not to say that I don’t care against the administration, she said, but not on more about teachers or not care about faculty, I do very deeply and I think privilege of leading two Town Halls. frequent changes to student life, like special schedules. -- to answer your question -- [the idea] that there’s even a difference I believe my time on Agenda as well “We have special schedules every day, and I think if between faculty and students in terms of interest I think is misleadas my love for Town Hall will make we were to vote every time they wanted to pass a new ing. I think we ultimately have a lot of the same interests, and stand“Although politics may sometimes me the best fit for Agenda Chair.” schedule, it would just be too much, we wouldn’t get ing up for the students also means standing up for the teachers.” There was no debate last year be- seem pretty foreign — it may seem anything done and it would probably have a very conOnly Agenda candidates debated, but in all, 27 students ran for cause Kate Orlanski ran unopposed. that it’s happening to the world and fused school week,” Adina said. eight Just Community offices. Candidates for other offices made Molly Litvak, outgoing ediJack’s response was similar, but he said campaign videos, which will be shown tor-in-chief of the Boiling Point, not to us specifically — I think that that not pushing back things like special this morning at 10:30, followed immedimoderated the April 30 event, politics and current events do affect schedules is actually a part of Agenda’s role in ately by the election itself. which was held during a special us and our lives. So there should be a representing students, because no one wants “The idea that there’s even a Also elected April 30 were juniors 11:35 a.m. assembly. combination of both.” to vote on special schedules each week. He difference between faculty and Henry Fried and Talia Tizabi to serve as Aside from candidates’ qualifi— Adina Kurzban said the job is to always stand up for and co-chairs of the Fairness Committee, and cations, the debate focused primarstudents in terms of interest represent students, particularly in major dejuniors Liad Machmali and Carin Arbib ily on the question of how Agenda I think is misleading. I think cisions. to lead the Student Activities Commitshould operate as a major part of the Dean of Students Rabbi Ari Schwarzberg, who is also we ultimately have a lot of the tee, or SAC. Just Community, while still keeping in line with the constitution, Freshman Josh Orlanski was electbeing respectful of the administration’s decisions, and standing up Just Community faculty adviser, then pointed out that same interests, and standing the Agenda Committee represents the Shalhevet commu- up for the students also means ed secretary of Agenda, freshman Adam for the student body. Harkham will be the new secretary of Jack described the Agenda Committees’ responsibility to inter- nity as a whole, not just students. standing up for the teachers.” “Jack, you said that as Agenda chair you would be Fairness, and sophomore Evan Beller was pret the constitution and make sure proposals uphold rules. — Jack Sanders elected vice chair of SAC. “The Agenda Committee, especially now after the constitution a representative of the students...,” Rabbi Schwarzberg Running unopposed were sophomore and last year’s revisions were passed, has become a situation where said. “I think that job is supposed to represent the whole Keira Beller for Agenda vice chair, and we are supposed to be interpreting the constitution and make sure school community, which includes students of course, and the faculty and admin. So I was wondering if you had any com- freshman Zane Mendelson, who will be the new SAC secretary. that proposals are abiding by and following the rules,” Jack said. As usual, a Boiling Point representative was present while the But he also said talking about the Just Community and the con- ments about that. I think there’s a big difference when you just have stitution too much can get monotonous, and believes that Agenda to represent the students or when you’re thinking about the larger votes were counted, and was given access to the tallies on the coninstitution.” dition that the paper not release how many votes each candidate can provide a remedy. Jack replied that because Agenda represents students, faculty, received. “With that being said, I understand the student body and I One of the races was extremely close, with the winner defeating know myself that it can be very tiring hearing about the constitu- and administration, the chair ultimately represents what the school the first runner up by an extremely small margin. tion and hearing about the Just Community all the time,” said Jack. stands for, with students being a large part of it. “If I were to be Agenda chair, all of Agenda quite frankly repIt was the second time that Fairness ran the spring election, after “There has to be a very fine balance between how much should resents a lot of what the school stands for,” Jack said. “That doesn’t years of Agenda being in charge. For the second time, the committhe Just Community get pushed outwards and how much it stays only mean students, but students are a big part of it, and on a grand- tee used a “ranked choice” voting system, in which voters rank all internally within Agenda,” he said. candidates for a particular office in order of their preference. “I think the solution to this is going to be a case where everyone er scale, the students are what makes up a lot of Shalhevet.”

Dr. Walton, who mixed math with storytelling, will not return next year By Joshua Gamson, Staff Writer Dr. William Walton, known by his students for his kindness and for making his classes fun with interesting stories, will not be returning to Shalhevet next year. Dr. Walton began at Shalhevet in the fall of 2017 and currently serves as Math Department Chair and Director of Curriculum and Instruction. This year, he teaches Foundational Algebra, Algebra 1, Pre-Calculus Honors, and Calculus AB. Junior Isabella Sztuden, who was taught by Dr. Walton in middle school at Gindi Maimonides Academy and this year in Pre-Calculus Honors, described his bringing in metaphors and real-world examples to teach topics. “I would say that I’ve never really seen any other math teacher teach about math history and the lives of the mathematicians who discovered the formulas that we’re learning about,” Isabella said.

“A couple of weeks ago Dr. Walton was introducing our class to calculus, and then he was telling us about the quote unquote rivalry between Newton and Leibniz, the two people that are attributed to discovering calculus. Like, math isn’t really a story-telling subject but he was able to transform it into one.” She also described how he cares about students. “If I ever missed a class, usually I’d reach out first and schedule a meeting to catch up, but Dr. Walton actually reached out to me first to ask if I had any questions about the lesson I missed,” she said. “That shows like how much he really cares about the students and their success,” Isabella said. Sophomore Daniel Kunin, who was taught Algebra 1 by Dr. Walton last year, said he’d miss his energy. “He’s very honest and he’s very understanding,” Daniel said. “He always was willing to teach something again if

someone didn’t understand anything, [and] understood if we had a lot of work. He would try to work with us when to plan tests where we even had the option of take home tests over break just for there to be a little bit more flexibility.” Junior Ethan Fialkov, who had Dr. Walton both in middle school at Gindi Maimonides Academy and this year in Pre-Calculus Honors, said he would be missed. “You can tell he loves what he does, and because of that you can see how kind he is and how excited he is even when someone asks a question,” Ethan said. “He’s happy to hear questions. He loves to answer them and he answers them kindly, which really motivates you to ask more and fully learn the subject.” Dr. Walton declined to be interviewed by the Boiling Point at this time, except to say in an email, “I have enjoyed working with the Shalhevet students and families over the years.”

The Boiling Point • May 2021 • Outside News

5 Protest at French Consulate targets court decision on Sarah Halimi her home “triggered him” and stated he was killing the devil when he murdered her. Since he admitted to his motive as well as his crime, there More than 100 people protested April 25 at Los is wide agreement that the verdict was wrong -- even from the Angeles’ French Consulate over the decision of a Paris president of France. court not to try the killer of Sarah Halimi. “Deciding to take narcotics and then ‘going mad’ should, At least five Shalhevet students were outside the not in my view, remove your criminal responsibility,” said building on Santa Monica Boulevard near Century French President Emmanuel Macron in an interview with Le City. Most there seemed to be French-speaking. Figaro on April 25. Sophomore Amalia Abecassis said she attended Speakers in Los Angeles pushed for the law to be changed. to advocate for laws in France to be modified so Ms. Roz Rothstein, Founder and CEO of Stand With Us, said at Halimi’s death would not be in vain. the rally that her goal was to raise awareness of anti-Semitism “I am here because Sarah Halimi was not given in Ms. Halimi’s honor. justice for being murdered, and so it is really unfair “We hope to place pressure on the French government and what the French government decided to enact on on the French legal system to change the law,” said Ms. Rothher,” Amalia said during the protest. stein. “This is outrageous that someone will get off on torture Sophomore Maalon Bohbot said the problem was and murder of a 66-year-old woman. The whole thing is so France’s legal justice system. disgusting.” “France isn’t doing their part in helping the Jews Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the associate dean of the Simon and the antisemitism they face every day,” Maalon Wiesenthal Center, calledthe ruling “an invitation for every told the Boiling Point at the protest. BP Photo by Eli Weiss anti-Semite in France to attack Jews in a democracy.” There were protests on April 25, the same day as IDENTITY: Demonstrators at the French Consulate said that a French “This is really an attack on every Jew in the world,” Rabbi the Los Angeles demonstration, all over the world incourt had improperly released the admitted killer of Sarah Halimi, a Cooper said in an interview. cluding Paris, Tel Aviv, and New York. The Los Angeles Jewish woman living in Paris. One sign said “I am Sarah” in French. Franky Perez, U.S. representative of the French National crowd was peaceful and included many people wearing Bureau of Vigilance Against Anti-Semitism, said he hoped the kippot and modest clothing. According to media reports, French law enabled the killer to trial would be reopened. Ms. Halimi, a mother of three and retired physician “What happened to Sarah Halimi is outrageous,” said Mr. Perez who lived in the Belleville neighborhood of Paris, was beaten and avoid prosecution because he was under the influence of marijuana killed by her neighbor on April 4, 2017. Her murderer confessed and a mix of other drugs which caused him to enter a ‘psychological in an interview with the Boiling Point. “We hope a trial would be opened under a different angle. Hopefully Kobili Traoré faces a jury to killing her because she was Jewish, and has been in a psychiatric fit’ at the time of the crime. Kobili Traoré, who killed Ms. Halimi, claimed the menorah in trial.” hospital ever since.

By Shamim Elyaszadeh, 9th grade

Debate for local Assembly seat finds differences on BDS, housing Isaac Bryan avoids runoff in six-way race decided May 18 “It’s why I sought out the Jewish community in the district.” Each candidate got equal time to answer ques“What is your view on U.S-Israel relations, California-Israel tionsmoderated by Mr. Bob Horning, co-chair of the trade, and BDS, the Boycott Divestment Sanctions movement?” When the two most prominent candidates running for state AJC’s Public Policy Committee. Topics discussed were meant to reflect the Jewish Assembly were asked this question May 3, Heather Hutt said the answer is simple -- she opposes BDS and believes Israel should be community’s interests, debate officials said. Among them were BDS, the U.S’s relationship with Israel, protected and “whole” at all times. “I certainly do stand against the boycott,” said Ms. Hutt. “Israel and combatting hate. “We thought this was a good moment to be able is our ally, we need to protect them, we need them to be whole at all to engage the candidates, to encourage the canditimes and so I’m against it -- it’s just that simple. The other, Isaac Bryan, had a more complicated answer, saying dates, to meet members of the community who may that he supports boycotts, saying he couldn’t help thinking of boy- very well be their constituents in a few weeks,” said cotts that had achieved gains for Black Americans. But this one is Richard Hirschhaut, Regional Director of AJC L.A. “It really is an opportunity for the candidates to “complex,” he said, adding that Israel is an ally. “It’d be hard-pressed to get me to say that I’m against boycotts, speak to a significant sector of the district which is, as a Black American,” said Mr. Bryan, one of four candidates in the in fact, the Jewish community,” he said. BP Screenshot from zipdatamaps.com The 54th district Assembly seat became open race -- including Ms. Hutt -- who is Black. “Right? It’s deep, it is when Assemblywoman Kamlager was elected in March more complex, it’s not that simple. NEIGHBORHOOD: The 54th Assembly district includes Bever“That being said, violence of any kind -- economic violence or to the State Senate, replacing Holly Mitchell who had lywood, Pico-Robertson, Westwood and other areas where most physical violence, state-sanctioned violence -- all ... have to be talked been elected a county supervisor in November. Shalhevet students live. Though almost all of the candidates were Demoabout in these spaces, and we need to have these honest conversations… Israel’s an ally to the U.S, an ally to California, and we have crats -- as are Kamlager and Mitchell -- there were still encounters. It’s deep and it’s rooted and it’s baked in, and we need blurred lines and subtle differences in their responses. to maintain that with absolute sovereignty.” to weed it out at all costs.” BDS, which stands for “Boycott - Divest - Sanctions,” works to The election was held May 18. All voters in the 54th District Ms. Hutt said there are laws in place against all kinds of hate, but cease international trade and support for Israel. The BDS website that they just aren’t being enforced properly. received mail-in ballots. As of election results published May 21, Mr. Bryan had emerged claims that Israel is “occupying and colonizing Palestinian land,” “That would be part of what I would do,” Ms. Hutt said. “Go victorious, receiving 50.78% of votes and avoiding a runoff in spite “discriminating against Palestinians,” and “denying Palestinian refu- back in the books, see what laws already exist, and make sure that of the number of candidates running. Heather Hutt came in second gees the right to return to their homes.” they are working.” It also says that the group is an “inclusive, anti-racist human with 24.9%. Ballots will continue to be counted until May 27. Only one candidate, Dallas Fowler, mentioned California’s conCo-hosted by the American Jewish Committee and B’nai Da- rights movement that is opposed on principle to all forms of dis- troversial anti-bias curriculum -- passed by the Legislature in 2019 vid Judea Congregation in Pico-Robertson, the Zoom event, titled crimination, including antisemitism.” and since then debated as to its recognition of anti-semitism. Ms. Speaking on U.S-Israel relations -- and more than a week before Fowler said she had had an ethnic studies curriculum at her high the 54th District Special Election Forum, featured all six candidates running for the vacant Assembly seat: Ms. Hutt, Mr. Bryan, Dallas current hostilities broke out -- Mr. Bryan said that a two-state solu- school and that ethnic studies should be included at the local level. Fowler, Cheryl Turner, Samuel Robert Morales and Bernard Senter. tion has been the American policy, but that the U.S is not commuHomelessness, housing density, and other economic issues renicating properly with “domestic partners.” Hutt and Bryan were the preceived more attention. “There is a distinction between supporting Jewsumed frontrunners because of Ms. Hutt said she opposes housing bills that would increase ish communities and … getting involved in the local neighborhood density and said that California could use so-called their many endorsements and the visibility of their campaigns “We thought this was a good moment politics of Israel too extensively without being there,” “triple net leases” on blighted commercial properties to quickly Mr. Bryan said. through advertising. Both are house the homeless. to be able to engage the candidates, He said America’s involvement should be Democrats. “We would use the same kind of process that we used on Project “thoughtful,” so as not to further divide Israel. Ms. Hutt, who served as State to encourage the candidates, to Room Key,” Ms. Hutt said, referring to Los Angeles’ renting hotel “The U.S has always stood strong on one side, but rooms to house people early in the pandemic. Director and senior adviser to meet members of the community we haven’t helped resolve,” he said. then-U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, “The Federal Government has billions of dollars in the housing The only non-Democrat in the race is retail gro- infrastructure,” she said. “I would bring those billions of dollars into is endorsed by U.S. Rep. Maxine who may very well be their constitucery worker Bernard Senter, who claims is running on this community so that we would be able to satisfy our homeless Waters, current 50th District State ents in a few weeks.” of the Socialist Workers Party. Mr. Senter said problem.” Assembly representative Richard -Richard Hirschhaut, AJC behalf he opposes BDS because it feeds into anti-semitism. Bloom and others Assembly memMr. Bryan said that communities are suffering from environ“I’m for the recognition of the state of Israel and I mental hazards, underfunded schools, grocery store closures due to bers, and many unions, amongst think that it would behoove the Palestinian leadership really fighting employers’ unwillingness to pay Hero Pay, and a growing homeless other endorsements. “It is clear to me, even if we didn’t have this forum, that Israel for the aspirations of the Palestinians to do the same,” Mr. Senter population -- all because, he said, of the disconnect between politihas a right to exist, and I have always been an ally to my Jewish said. “I’m also in favor of a contiguous Palestinian state with East cal decision-making and morals that unite the community. community,” said Ms. Hutt. “And I’ll continue that, whether I’m an Jerusalem as its capital.” “People are hurting, and we have ideas, and we have solutions, Another topic discussed at the debate was hate -- specifically an- but we don’t have the political courage to move things forward,” Assembly member or not.” Mr. Bryan, who advised the previous occupant of the 54th State ti-semitism, although Mr. Bryan also brought in problems experi- Mr. Bryan said. “We don’t have our footing right in the values that Assembly seat, Sydney Kamlager, ran the campaign for Measure J, enced by Asian and LGBTQ Americans. bind us all.” Mr. Bryan said that hate manifests itself in policy and needs to an LA County measure passed last fall to reserve some law enforceHe said that the pandemic was used as an excuse for a lack of ment funds for supporting community programs and alternatives to be thought about on a more systemic level. spending on housing, but that now, the state has a large surplus “We have to think beyond just the one-on-one interactions of along with billions of dollars arriving in federal aid. jail. In addition to Ms. Kamlager, he is endorsed by the Los Angeles Times, U.S. Rep. Karen Bass, former County Supervisor Zev Yaro- the community and think about how our legislators and how our “We got to make sure that that gets to the communities that systems can promote opportunity, love, and well-being through pol- were the most hurt,” said Mr. Bryan. slavsky and others. “I’ve always been about building coalitions,” Mr. Bryan said. icy,” said Mr. Bryan. “Because hate is more than just the visceral

By Talia DAVOUDIAN, Staff Writer

6

The Boiling Point • May 2021

Views of a war

Page Design by Sarah Feuer Photo By David Edwards

Rockets flew towards their cities, but what also worried alumni in Israel was anti-Semitism on social media and anti-Arab extremism on the ground.

to0 pho m 2 ‘ s rd o Edwa unched fr d i v a a gl el, D e Kot after bein h t g n s eld ooki overl d grass fi m r o e his d ignit ny of orks had May 14. o c l a rew on he b rom t g where fi Shabbat F : K LOO risin efore OVER d smoke rusalem b e e graph in East J n Silwa

had one of the news sources open and were just waiting for the headline to refresh, and at, like, 6:01 we heard ambulances which turned into a siren.” As more and more rockets were fired into Israel, On May 10, six rockets were fired into Israel Israeli citizens fled to bomb shelters and safety rooms from Hamas in Gaza. Two were intercepted by Israel’s multiple times per day as Iron Dome intercepted most Iron Dome air defense system, two fell into the Gaza but not all of the rockets above them. With them Strip, and two landed in open fields. were alumni and others connected with Shalhevet. In the 10 days after that, thousands of rockets The Boiling Point reached out multiple times to a were fired into both Israel and Gaza, leaving 13 Israenumber of Muslim and Arab contacts in Los Angeles lis and more than 200 Palestinians dead. and in Israel communities. Only one -- an Arab What happened before that is hard to tell. News teenager in Israel -- replied, and then cancelled her sources have reported differing stories of violence on planned interview saying she was sick. Jerusalem’s Temple Mount May 9. Among Shalhevet interviewees, some hid in shelOne Shalhevet alum saw it unfold firsthand. Daters, all lived with fear and worry, but none experivid Edwards ‘20, who is studying at Yeshivat Orayta, enced close calls or were injured. Hamas rockets rarely has a view of Har HaBayit, the Temple Mount, and targeted Jerusalem, where most live or study. the city beyond, from his balcony. However, the first rockets launched into Israel “I vividly remember two nights ago, just sitting barrelled towards the Jerusalem district, causing an there in the dark, at night,” David said in an interinitial panic. view with the Boiling Point on May 12. “We sat there “The situation feels a lot more personal,” said Zoe. for just a few hours on the balcony just watching “Whenever I’m at home and I hear these everything happen, and I saw the Yom Yerushalayim things about Israel, I do care, but [Jerusalem Day] dancing, and from what it it’s not the first thing on my looked like for me, Palestinians fired shots to mind every waking second. It’s like, you’ll see four the tree, and [then there was] fire glowing “But being here and flashes on Har Habayit, and then on the tree.” knowing this is happening it’s just they echo. It’s really just The tree caught fire while Israelis not far from me is really crazy seeing all around Jerusalem, were dancing in celebration on the plaza scary, and I also think beyou know the Old City, all that’s below, a scene viewed by many on video. ing in Israel I have a new happening on Yom Yerushalayim. “It was really tragic,” David continperspective, and an inside The only way I could describe it was ued. “Palestinians got dispersed from the perspective, which is like God was crying. Temple Mount, tons of stun grenades and really nice and I’ve learned loud explosions, sounds from the stun grea lot because I can see what’s -- David Edwards ‘20 nades, and fireworks. You could see the piles going on.” of rocks also, on top of the stuff and around... Fear was accompanied by “It’s like, you’ll see four flashes on Har Habayit, confusion for students who had and then it’s just they echo. It’s really just crazy seeing never experienced a bomb siren before, and offered a all around Jerusalem, you know the Old City, all glimpse into what life in Israel can really feel like. that’s happening on Yom Yerushalayim. The only way “Our Israeli roommates were looking at us I could describe it was like God was crying.” and kind of laughing at us,” said Neima Fax ‘20, who The next day, Hamas gave the Israeli government is studying at Midreshet Nishmat in Jerusalem. “For an ultimatum to either remove IDF troops from the them, it’s so normal, but for us, we’ve come in with Temple Mount or they would send rockets into Israel. this fear we’ve never experienced before.” “We saw the ultimatum that Hamas had given David described the normalcy Israelis were feeling. Israel, or Jerusalem specifically, about removing “We heard these sirens going off, and we were like, their troops from Temple Mount,” said Shalhevet there’s no way this is actually the sirens, because I sophomore Zoe Ritz, who is spending this semester at knew that this never really happens to Jerusalem, and Tichon Ramah Yerushalayim, or TRY. I saw these Israelis were making popcorn,” David said. “We knew around six there could be news. We Then came attacks on social media. Neima said

By Caroline Kboudi and Keira Beller, Staff Writers

“

many in her seminary had deleted Instagram because it hurt so much to read it. Zoe said social media was the hardest part of the experience. “There have just been so many false claims being spread in these infographics that have such anti-semitic undertones and false claims in them,” said Zoe. “And it’s really hard because it’s your friends and people you know don’t know any better, but they’re posting them to help their political agenda and make them seem ‘progressive.’ But like, people don’t know any better and you can’t educate everybody.” David said that celebrating Yom Yerushalayim as fighting broke out on the Temple Mount was like when shiva is interrupted by a chag. “When people are in mourning in Judaism and a chag happens, you have to delay your mourning, so that’s what it felt like on Yom Yerushalayim,” David said. “I felt sad because of everything happening, but I had to sing Hallel because it’s like, my people returned to Jerusalem. It’s just a really conflicting feeling, the Yom Yerushalayim parade.” While there, he encountered members of the Lehava party, who follow the beliefs of Meir Kahane, whose anti-Arab views caused his original political party to be labeled terrorist by the Israeli government. Lehava is his followers’ new party. “It’s a very far right wing Israeli political party,” David said, “and there were kids and people passing out stickers that said, Harav Meir Kehana hatzadik. He was a pretty racist figure in Israeli history, I’d say, and he called Arabs dogs, said we should kick them all out. And they were passing out these stickers to people, and they had tons of them. Little kids were wearing them, waving Lehava flags… “So I would say there is legitimate hate on both sides right now, and all the violence escalates it on both sides.” There was also pride at how well Israel was protecting its citizens. “Honestly, I’m so proud of Israel for the Iron Dome and I’m amazed that we have such good protection,” said Yoetzet Halacha Ms. Atara Segal, a Shalhevet faculty member who made aliyah last year. But everyone agreed that being there for the 10day conflict showed them Israel in a new light. Alumnus Alex Rubel ‘20 is studying this year at Yeshivat Lev HaTorah in Ramat Bet Shemesh. “When you’re here and you’re living through the experience itself, there’s actually, like, a hint of realism,” Alex said.

Jerusalem Old City

7

DAVID EDWARDS

From our dorms we can see right into Har Habayit [the Temple Mount. So I’ve been seeing everything, like on our balcony just out of the dorms you can see everything, you can see fully all the way out to Sheikh Jarrah, the neighborhood that’s been problematic. I vividly remember two nights ago just sitting there in the dark, at night. We sat there for just a few hours on the balcony just watching everything happen, and I saw the Yom Yerushalayim dancing. From what it looked like for me, Palestinians fired shots to the tree [next to the Al Aqsa mosque], and fire glowing on the tree. I imagine the only time there was a fire like that recently was when the Temple was destroyed. And it was really tragic. Palestinians got dispersed from the Temple Mount, tons of stun grenades and loud explosions, sounds from the stun grenades, and fireworks. You could see the piles of rocks also, on top of the stuff and around -- it was really tragic, [that’s] the

only way I could describe the feeling of watching on Yom Yerushalayim, hearing all these sounds. Also one thing you don’t realize is that you see the flashing lights, and then three seconds later there’s an explosion. It’s like, you’ll see four flashes on Har Habayit, and then it’s just they echo. It’s really just crazy seeing all around Jerusalem, you know the Old City -- all that’s happening on Yom Yerushalayim. The only way I could describe it was like God was crying. And you just think why is all of this happening. I realized a few things. One, I’m a pretty liberal person honestly, and maybe I feel kind of, I don’t know. like a kind of American liberal thinking, “Oh, everyone has their own context, you can’t judge anyone, nobody is really right” -- that whole thing, everyone has their own perspective. This whole thing kind of crumbles when you feel like people are trying to kill you, honestly. It was really

hard for me. During the morning my whole Yeshiva, we were davening at the Tayelet, this view that overlooks all of Jerusalem, and during Shemoneh Esrei, which is when all the rockets happened in the morning, we just saw explosions that went off every second, like smoke grenades going off. And while that was happening I looked at the news and I saw like, “Oh, Israelis are invading and entering Palestinians,” And I was so upset, I was like I can’t believe we’re doing this on Yom Yerushalayim. It was really hard… like when people are in mourning in Judaism and a chag happens, you have to delay your mourning. That’s what it felt like on Yom Yerushalayim. I felt sad because of everything happening, but I had to sing Hallel because it’s like my people returned to Jerusalem. It’s just a really conflicting feeling.

NEIMA FAX Jerusalem So it kind of started when people were deciding whether or not to go to the [Yom Yerushalayim] march in the city area of Jerusalem, and it was a question of whether it was safe or not, and me and a few other people decided that we didn’t want to risk it, so we stayed back and hung out. Other people went, and after a while my friend and I decided we did want to go check it out because it’s this huge experience that everyone talks about, so I was like we’ll go check it out for five minutes, see what its about and we’ll leave. And right as we were leaving we heard like really loud booming sounds outside. I was yelling, “What is that, what is that?” and I was like we’re not going, we’re staying here.

Modi’in

Then all of the sudden all of these texts roll in on all of these group chats saying, “If you’re at the march, find the madricha [group leader],”and everyone at the march was on the floor putting their hands on their heads, until they were able to move again. Then they said again, if you’re at the march, find a madricha, if you’re on a bus go to Nishmat, and if you’re at Nishmat go to a bomb shelter. And my room was the bomb shelter, which was pretty lucky. So a few of my friends came in here and we locked ourselves in and closed the window, and since then it’s been pretty tense. There haven’t been any rockets directly near us, but it’s just really tense right now. Like, we’re not supposed to go far

YOETZET ATARA SEGAL

The regulations for new construction housing in Israel is that you have to have something called a mamad, which is a shelter in your house that is built to withstand rockets and has a special filtration unit if God-forbid there’s a chemical attack or biological attack. So [her daughter] Nili’s room is actually our mamad, so that’s been very convenient. [People in older buildings] either have to go outside of the houses, like at a communal shelter, or if they just don’t want to go, then just stand and stay in the hallway, which is safer because there’s no flying glass. We hear sirens about every day, but they’re not the sirens that are for us. I think we ourselves have only gotten two or three sirens. We hear the sirens from probably Ashkelon, or Ashdod. Last night, there were a lot of rockets sent to Tel Aviv, and we could see the Iron Dome intercepting rockets over Tel Aviv.

Actually, it did not bother me very [much]. It sounds funny, but to be perfectly honest I feel like we’ve had a very crazy year. We’ve had riots in LA, and we’ve had Corona shut down everything, and -- granted, thank God I haven’t had a rocket fall in our neighborhood -- it’s just I feel like I’ve developed a lot of having to roll with the punches this year. And I felt like, okay, one more crazy thing. What can you do? It’s so hard and it’s terrible and devastating, but at the end of the day, the Israeli army is committed to protecting us. There’s not even a question. I feel the most cared for by the Israeli army and the security apparatus. And just the Jewish people in general. I’ve been reaching out to all my friends from all over and it’s really nice to have people reaching out. “How are you doing?” “What can we do to help you?” It’s really gratifying.

to get food or go shopping. And because we live near an Arab village, we generally have good relations with them, and we walked to the makolet [market] and you could just feel in the air where you didn’t know if the people walking next to you were your friends or not. It was scary because usually I make an effort to smile and be friendly, because they’re my neighbors and I want to be friends with them. But I was just scared. It’s also scary knowing all of my friends in Tel Aviv had rockets raining there. And you just go about your day, it’s just everyone is stressed out and we’re trying not to think about it.

Jerusalem We were supposed to go somewhere in Gaza but [are] not doing that anymore. But other than that my program has basically made a very seamless transition. Whatever we were supposed to do we just rescheduled and they would give us a new activity. The biggest thing that’s been affecting the entire program is the social media representation of the situation. It’s been really frustrating and super isolating for all of us, because we’re here and we’re seeing what’s happening, and it’s not being properly represented on the media. There have just been so many false claims being spread in these infographics that have such anti-Se-

ZOE RITZ mitic undertones and false claims in them, and it’s really hard because it’s your friends and people [who] you know don’t know any better, but they’re posting them to help their political agenda and make them seem “progressive.” But like, people don’t know any better and you can’t educate everybody. It’s just super frustrating with the spike in anti-semitism. The most annoying thing are the celebrities that are posting things and they don’t know what they’re talking about and have such big platforms. People are taking their word for it because they don’t know any better, and people are so impressionable on social media.

ALEX RUBEL Ramat Bet Shemesh

We only had one siren and I was not in the shelter at that time. I was coming back from Jerusalem on the bus, and I was walking back from the bus stop. I had to cover on the street with a few people that had just gotten off the bus, and we took cover next to a building by a street. It wasn’t a very pleasant experience and it was definitely frightening, I didn’t really know what to do. The siren ended in a short amount of time. I know that you’re supposed to stay in a certain position, but, to be honest, it wasn’t that long of an event.

It’s different to live through it than it is to see it on social media, in a very like, counter-intuitive way. When you see it on social media, you see it through the perspective of organizations that are trying to grab your attention and suck you in emotionally. When you’re here and you’re living through the experience itself, there’s actually like a hint of realism. [To those wondering whether to come to Israel,] I would say this: We celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim -- they are holidays that mark Jewish conquest of Israel,

how we’ve become sovereign in our own land. But these conflicts around today remind you that the battle for Jewish sovereignty is really eternal. It doesn’t really stop or start anywhere, and as Zionist Jews, we should feel a connection to our state, to our people. This really has enabled me to feel a part of Israel. And you just realize that you’re part of a larger group. And you represent ideas that are greater than any individual self.

More interviews on shalhevetboilingpoint.com

8

The Boiling Point • May 2021 • Outside News

Amidst dancing and ‘pure happiness,’ Shalhevet alumni saw tragedy unfold on Mount Meron At least five grads studying in yeshivot were present when Lag B’Omer celebration turned deadly continued from page 1

What was supposed to be a joyous celebration became a dark looks like your average horror tragedy that took the lives of 45 movie.” people, including 12 yeshiva stuSam and Ari, alumni from dents. Shalhevet’s class of ‘20, are both Donny Morris z”l, a 19-yearin Israel studying in yeshiva this old student from Bergenfield, N.J., year, Sam at Yeshivat Har Etzion spending his gap year at Yeshivat and Ari at Yeshivat HaKotel. They Sha’alvim, was one of them. were among at least five ShalheAri had met Donny a few weeks vet alumni who were present that before Lag B’Omer through mutunight at what is said to have been al friends. the deadliest civil disaster in Isra“It made me realize that there’s el’s history. now somebody from the yeshiva Lag B’Omer is the 33rd day of world who’s missing,” Ari said. “It the Jewish semi-mourning period makes you realize how fragile life is titled the Omer, which mourns in a very real way.” the death by plague of thousands Donny’s death struck yeshiva of students of Rabbi Akiva, a students all around Israel. Accordfirst-century Jewish scholar and ing to Sam, a few thousand peoone of the greatest rabbinic sages; ple attended in person and over Lag B’Omer marks the day the 30,000 people watched virtually plague ended. as his funeral took place next to The day has a related meaning Sha’alvim. honoring Rabbi Shimon Bar YoYeshivat Har Etzion provided chai, a famous student of Rabbi transportation for students, and Akiva and author of the Zohar, the Sam felt it was very important for central text of Jewish mysticism. him to attend. Different yeshivot Photo By Sam Rubanowitz Lag B’Omer is said to be the anwent in groups. niversary of his death -- but instead JOY: Thousands of an estimated 100,000 Haredim and others rejoice around the main bonfire at Mount “Seeing the people that knew of mourning, the Jewish people cel- Meron after 12:30 a.m. on Lag B’Omer. To the left is the path where a lethal crush of people occured. him in my yeshiva who were crying ebrate to fulfill his wish to have his was very affective, and hearing the yahrzeit represent his joy. [pain] of the parents and the family Sam walked along the road looking for a bus to get on, and Many Jews celebrate by lighting bonfires and some, including eventually found one that would take him and many others out of and his [friends],” said Sam, “coupled with the fact that this could many in Israel, make a pilgrimage to Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai’s the area. have been me if I had acted differently.” tomb on Mount Meron. This year, about 100,000 were there. “His father spoke about walking with his son to shul and learnYeshiva students from all over Israel have joined Haredim at Ari Schlacht watched the situation unfold from the top of the ing with him, that he wanted to get [prepared] a little bit more,” Mount Meron’s Lag B’Omer festival for decades to partake in this mountain. Sam said. “That stood out to me the most, because I would do the popular component of the “Israel experience.” Ari and around 80 other people from his yeshiva in the Old City same thing with my father.” “This is the ultimate way to spend Lag B’Omer in Eretz Yisra- of Jerusalem celebrated Lag B’Omer at Mount Meron that night. At Shalhevet, Donny Morris’ death hit close to home for Dean el,” said Sam. “This is Lag B’Omer -- there’s no other place in the of Students Rabbi Ari Schwarzberg. Rabbi Schwarzberg was once Around the time of the incident, Ari was in a big tent with world like this and I got to be there, be involved, dance, and be his friends when he and around 20 others wanted to walk up the a student at Sha’alvim himself, and he also grew up in the same with everyone.” community in New Jersey as Donny did. mountain. Sam’s night started out as expected. He arrived from his yeshiva For that and other reasons, it felt like he knew him. “It was so crowded that when you walk around you have to in Gush Etzion in the West Bank at a crowded Mount Meron a either hold hands or make like a chain with your guys, so that way “Donny is from our community -- he’s from the Modern Orlittle past 9 pm, where he walked around and danced, soaking in the you can’t get pulled out and stuck,” said Ari. thodox community,” said Rabbi Schwarzberg. “I know what his life religious, joyful atmosphere. On their way up, he heard ambulances but didn’t think much looked like, I know what his high school looks like… I know DonHe made his way toward one of the bonfires on the mountain ny without knowing Donny.” of it. next to the area where the tombRabbi Schwarzberg viewed the funeral online, and as a parent Then, rumors started circulating that a bleacher had stone of Rabbi Shimon bar Yocouldn’t stop thinking about Donny’s parents’ loss. But he was also fallen. chai is located to meet a friend “Everyone was like ‘Oh that’s crazy, but let’s go check inspired by the abundance of compassion from the Jewish com“This is the ultimate way to spend Lag B’Omer and dance. munity. it out,’” he said. in Eretz Yisrael. This is Lag B’Omer -- there’s Half an hour to 40 min“The outpouring of support and love that was felt, which oftenAtop the mountain, the crowd continued to dance no other place in the world like this and I got utes later, Sam decided to leave times happens in times of tragedy, is inspiring and beautiful, and it and celebrate together, unaware of the tragedy unfolding to be there, be involved, dance, and be with Mount Meron and return to his reminds you of the potential of our people, and the ultimate supbelow. everyone.” yeshiva. But as Ari watched from the top, he saw Hatzalah port of our people despite different factions that we might have,” — Sam Rubanowitz ‘20 “I started to walk down this members rushing through the crowd when he noticed a said Rabbi Schwarzberg. sloping pathway, and it was slipchild motionless on a stretcher. pery,” he said. “It seemed like Lag B’Omer at Mount Meron attracts hundreds of thousands “You just see people after people on stretchers being there were drinks that people dropped there, because they were giv- pulled out, and nobody knew where it was coming from,” he said. of Jews almost every year, although last year, due to the pandemic, ing out grape juice, wine, and water.” Eventually, he got in touch with a friend who was closer to the only 150 people were permitted on the grounds. He then noticed many injured people lined up on the side of the incident. “It’s probably one of the happiest places you’ll ever see in Judapath, being tended to by others. ism,” Ari said. “It’s just pure happiness and drinking and having a “He told me that it was, like, a crush,” Ari said. “I don’t think “I thought that this was just the regular situation in Meron -- a ‘stampede’ is a fair word because a stampede is kind of dealing great time, and it’s an incredible experience for a lot of guys and where people would pass out because of overcrowding or dehydra- with animals. Nobody like, ran anybody over, it just-- happened. girls that go.” tion or something,” he said. Rabbi Schwarzberg said he would still encourage Shalhevet People got pushed, and people fell, and nobody could have really Then he saw members of Hatzalah, which is a volunteer-based controlled it.” alumni to go to Meron in the future. emergency medical service, hastily trying to clear the pathway. Sam “Going to Meron is aweHe and his friends then started their way back down had to turn around and find a different exit. some,” Rabbi Schwarzberg said. the mountain, passing Haredi men who were heading Beyond that exit, he saw Hatzalah members performing CPR upward but were blocked by a chain of Hatzalah mem“The main thing is people celeon people laid on the ground with their shirts open. brating, and you get to experibers and police -- all of them female, because officials “It was, like, a crush. I don’t think a ‘stampede’ “There was a lot of screaming,” he said. ence the world of Chassidut and is a fair word because a stampede is kind were using the laws of shomer negiah, which forbid most According to media reports, the office of Israel’s State Comptrol- physical contact between members of the opposite sex, of dealing with animals. Nobody, like, ran different ways of Jews getting ler has announced that it will open an investigation to determine to hold back the crowds. together in a meaningful way to anybody over, it just-- happened. People got exactly what happened. Sam believes it was a domino effect caused “They took all the female members they had to block pushed, and people fell, and nobody could have have fun, to dance, to sing… It’s by the slippery ground. a festival, and it’s great.” off the area where it happened,” Ari said. “Because the really controlled it.” He said a large number of people were trying to exit an area of Haredim wouldn’t listen, and [so] and they formed, like, Despite the tragedy, Sam ap— Ari Schlacht ‘20 Mount Meron all at once through a narrow pathway, and as “one a female wall, so the Haredim couldn’t go through bepreciates his experience and is person fell, then a few people, people just keep going and then they cause of shomer negiah.” not afraid to go again. would fall on top of others -- causing 45 people to die.” However, this visit to Mount Ari soon made his way down the mountain and got But at that point in the night, Sam was still oblivious to the onto one of the first buses back to Jerusalem at around 3 a.m. He Meron left him with more than memories of excitement and relitragedy that had just unfolded. fell asleep until he arrived back in Jerusalem at around 7 or 8 a.m., gious unity. Instead, it was an introspective moment for him that “I made my way out -- I still didn’t know what was going on, as not realizing the severity of what he had witnessed until Shabbat. left him with a new appreciation for life. far as the actual stampede that happened,” said Sam. “I thought this “I could have been in this situation and something bad could “Nobody knew how to grieve or how to think about it because was just the general situation that would happen because I’ve been nobody knew what happened, nobody knew how it happened, it have happened if I had chosen to leave earlier and take that same told that it gets pretty crazy and very dangerous. Every year they was still a mystery to most people,” said Ari. pathway,” Sam said. have Ichud Hatzalah set up because they know things can happen, “It made me appreciative to be alive.” “That I think was the most painful to most people, because nousually minor things.” body could blame anybody. Not even ourselves. You just couldn’t Sam couldn’t find a way to leave for a while as all of the expected blame anybody.” bus lines were stopped and crowds gathered on the side of the road trying to find a way home.

ARTS & Culture

9

MAY 2021

One-Acts triumph over Covid with live scenes set at school By Eli Weiss, Arts Editor

following directions. A major plot point of the play, written by freshman Zion Schlussel and shown in the Wildfire Gitty Rav-Noy and Dallas Corn were arguing Theater, overhears a backroom conversation between on the outdoor stairwell at school. Except it wasn’t Sean and his son, Reeve, played by freshman Nathan “school,” and it wasn’t actually Gitty and Dallas Soussana, whose character doesn’t want to inherit arguing -- it was Veronica, a social media influencer, Sean’s company. The anger of the characters was arguing with her husband Todd, an aspiring film diconvincingly forceful as they shouted at each other. rector, outside a gala dinner at the fictional Hollywood Another scene, written by sophomore Zach Rub, Producers Guild. shows a conversation between Liza White, a trendy Gitty and Dallas were actors in a scene that Dallas social media influencer played by Leeyah Klyman, had written for this year’s iteration of the annual spring and Matt Wilson, an actor expected to speak at the One-Acts. gala who is extremely nervous as his ex-boyfriend is Starry Night was a student-written, site-specific expected to be in the audience. As Matt, Zach fidcomedy that ran from April 22 to April 29, using the gets, the agitation etched believably on his face. This Shalhevet building as a stage for socially distanced auscene is the first in a Shalhevet play to suggest any dience pods, with playgoers split up into groups going form of LGBT romance. Then enters Emma Rhodes, from scene to scene. the planner for the event, whom Matt suspects to be Each scene showed a different interaction at an dating his ex-boyfriend. event made to honor a character named Sean Brooke, The play wraps up with the whole cast and played by Joey Blumofe. Every scene in the play was audience coming to the main Gala event, which written by a different student and was viewed by each Photo by Geoff Wade was written by all of the playwrights together and group separately, until the end of the Gala, when the OUTSIDE: Dallas Corn, Gitty Rav-Noy, and Natalie Harkham on the parking lot stairs. featured, among other things, Joey Blumofe’s acting entire audience was seated in pre-arranged, socially of anger subsiding completely into tipsiness. The distant seats on the third-floor turf for a final scene and comprised of short, separate plays. In Starry Night, writers collabfilmed tribute to Sean, written by Noah Maslia and filmed “tribute” to Sean. orated so their scenes could tell a single story. edited by Wolfie Paskowitz, uses various actors from the play and The production was a feat of its own. Starry Night is one of The scene on the stairs, written by Dallas Corn, featured instead of the expected fluff piece, it was mostly people saying few live performances, both student and professional, to have a character named Carla Boyd, a producer played by Natalie negative things about him. in-person live theater showings during the Covid pandemic withHarkham whom Todd tried desperately to pitch a movie script out car seating. Shalhevet Drama and its director, Ms. Emily he had written. The scene shows believably annoying bickering Site-specific isn’t new to the Shalhevet drama department. Chase, used locations of different kinds throughout the building between Todd and his wife, played by Gitty. In 2015, forced to relocate to the Westside JCC while the new and created an almost theme-park-attraction way of moving Another scene, written by senior Rebecca Cohen, featured building was under construction, it staged Bart’s Birthday Bash, people around. Sean’s perfectly Brooklyn-accented mother played by Rachel Blu- which took students from room to room of a Beverly Hills home. Each group of viewers saw the various scenes in a separate mofe, trying to convince Sean’s wife, Andromeda, played with Last year, only two months after the pandemic forced school order without missing any of the story, culminating in a scene compelling intensity by Talia Davoudian, to invite a TV crew online, it converted already-written student plays into a video that everyone sees together at the end. into their life for a reality TV show. format that was shown to the entire school. The production wasn’t always seamless. At times groups Freshman Mai Sultan wrote a scene set in the school kitchen, In Starry Night, the department has once again not only risen would have to wait for the next scene to finish before they where Carly DuPree, played by Talya Kukurudz, frantically to a challenge, but taken it in stride, integrating what sets it back could move on, though the group’s student guide would stay in tries to prepare food for the final ceremony. Her sibling Charles, into a show that flourishes because of it. Covid presented itself as character to entertain the “guests.” This system also meant that played by Gray Segal, walks in with swagger, confessing to hava threat to theater, but in Starry Nights, the drama department the actors were almost never mic’d up, meaning that some guests ing wrecked the car again and asking for the keys to Carly’s. The once again delivered an unforgettable contribution to the culture may have had trouble hearing. two strike a deal and Charles agrees to help prepare food, and of the school. Something that the play was able to preserve was the Talya seemed to enjoy herself as Carly yelling at Charles for not student-written aspect. Normally, Shalhevet’s spring plays are

With heists and highway chases, ‘Tenet’ launches back and forth in time By Elliot Serure, 10th Grade

“rotas” arise. All of these words show up in the film at one time continues moving forwards around you is an interesting thought, or another. but as executed on film it is truly spectacular. Nolan filmed such Nolan takes this principle, introduces it to viewers, and then scenes both forwards and backwards in order to receive the effect Writer-director Christopher Nolan’s long-awaited Tenet exponentially expands it before the viewers can wrap their minds he wanted, requiring actor John David Washington to record was supposed to save the film industry. Prior to Covid, movie around it. This concept facilitates many spectacufights forward and backwards, throwtheatre attendance was already falling with increased availability lar-looking scenes, even as it leaves many audience ing reverse punches and kicks. of streaming services at home; Covid exacerbated this, closing Unlike typical movies which offer members confused. It is way more complicated than Additionally, the movie had a most theaters. Still, throughout 2020’s quarantine, Tenet was Nolan’s highly praised past movies, among them whopping $200 million budget. This me an escape from life soon forwidely advertised and filmgoers eagerly awaited its release. It was allowed Nolan to film in nine different hoped that its late August debut would combine with a decline in Memento, Interstellar, and Inception, all of which gotten once the film ends, Tenet reflect Nolan’s obsession with time. In Tenet, bullets countries. The Tenet crew also tried infection rates to draw people back to the theatres. intruded into my life. reverse back into the chambers of guns, cars zoom to use as little computer generated It didn’t. Its complicated storyline and poor sound mixing backwards on crowded highways, and people travel imagery as possible, resulting in them combined to hinder its success in spite of many strengths. backwards in time as the world travels forward actually crashing a real 747 airplane From its opening minutes, Tenet throws the viewer into an around them. into a hangar, and also closing down four miles of a busy highaction-packed covert operation playing Especially during your first viewing, it is way in Estonia for two weeks. out in a cinematically beautiful opera difficult to fully grasp it mentally at all, let alone Only time will tell if its Tenet’s financial loss of $50 million house. Intense music blares as the viewto apply it to what you are seeing on the screen. was due purely to the pandemic or if it signals the end of movie er follows The Protagonist through a It is even more onerous considering that the theatre cinema beyond the pandemic’s end. It received fine mysterious operation in Ukraine. And viewer grapples with this idea while watching reviews, but nothing compared to previous Nolan movies or what yes, the main character’s name really is it all unfold. So many Tenet fans will watch it people were hoping for. Many believe the studio’s financial loss The Protagonist. multiple times. was actually upwards of $100 million. The movie then unfolds to reveal Ludwig Goransson, who wrote scores for It would be a tall order for any film to save the movie industhat there are inverted objects which movies including Black Panther and Creed, try, especially during Covid. It is possible that in such a hectic were sent from the future and could wrote the soundtrack, succeeding the legendary year, many people would have preferred a movie a bit more be the catalyst for a future World War Hanz Zimmer, who wrote music for Nolan’s simple and easy to digest. Just as plausibly, Covid itself could be III. The Protagonist, a secret agent Inception and Interstellar. Goransson wrote a responsible. Additionally, Warner Brothers, the studio that made played by John David Washington, tumultuous soundtrack for Tenet. His booming Tenet, decided to release all of its new 2021 films on its streammust travel through time to prevent music and intense synthesizers perfectly match ing service HBO max in addition to theatres. All of this could the destruction of the earth in a James Photo by M Disdero for Wikipedia the intensity of the film. Parts of the soundtrack ominously hint at a movie theatre-less future. Bond-esque thriller. were even played backwards in order to emphaStill, Tenet is work of art. It is complex and like a piece of ANCIENT: The Sator Square is a “Tenet” -- the word -- reads the size the core theme of inversion through time. literature -- only appreciated completely when analyzed multiple 2D palindromic acrostic that dates same way forwards as it does backThe music, however, was set too loud times. This makes it very rewarding to those who spend time back to Pompeii, and inspired the ward, making it a palindrome. This is especially in loud subtitle-less movie theatres in trying to understand it. title of the movie. no coincidence;its palindromic nature which Tenet is meant to play. This exacerbates This is partially why I loved it. Unlike movies which offer an alludes to Tenet’s world of time travel, the already confusing storyline, leaving many escape from life soon forgotten once the film ends, Tenet intrudwhere events happen both forwards audience members bewildered. ed into my life. Since watching it, I have spent hours rewatching and backwards at the same time. The word “tenet” itself comes Visually, Tenet is groundbreaking, and it’s not surprising that it, meditating on the complex plot and physics, and even writing from an ancient two-dimensional palindrome found in Pompeii it won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects and Production Design. a review about it. Tenet is an experience, and it does not end once called the Sator Square. No matter which way you read the letters The concept of moving through time backwards as the world the credits roll. on the square, the words “tenet,” “opera,” “sator,” “arepo,” or

10

Opinion

EDITORIALS

Dress code controversy: Who should decide? By THE BOILING POINT EDITORIAL BOARD News Editor Benjamin Gamson Chief Web and Digital Editor Eli Weiss Features Editor Liad Machmali Arts Editor Eli Weiss Sports Editor Noah Elad Captions and Copy Editor Keira Beller Acting Photo Editor Evan Beller Layout Editors Sarah Feuer Tehilla Fishman Ezra Helfand Amalia Abecassis Faculty Adviser Mrs. Joelle Keene

The Boiling Point is the student-produced newspaper of Shalhevet High School and a public forum for the students and the community. Unsigned editorials represent the majority view of the members of the Editorial Board, which consists of the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Executive Editor, News Editor, Life and Features Editor, Digital Media Editor and the faculty advisor. We welcome submissions for signed editorials from members of the Shalhevet Community, and the final decision about printing them is made by the Editorial Board. Letters to the Editor may be submitted via e-mail to shalhevetboilingpoint@gmail.com. The Boiling Point reserves the right to edit letters and opinion submissions and all become the property of The Boiling Point. Signed opinion articles and advertisements in The Boiling Point do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Editorial Board or The Boiling Point as a whole. To advertise, please contact orlanskiellie@gmail.com Corrections: The Boiling Point encourages readers to inform the newspaper of any possible factual errors found in print or online by emailing us as at shalhevetboilingpoint@gmail.com. When appropriate, we will fix the story online, and correct the error on Page 2 or on this page in the next print edition. Policies on conflict of interest and the use of anonymous sources can be viewed at shalhevetboilingpoint.com under the “Policies” tab.

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Considering the numerous student opinions voiced on Schoology and intense debates between students and Rabbi Schwarzberg in the halls this month, it is clear that the student body is in need of a place to voice its opinion on the potential change to dress code that may occur after Rabbi Schwarzberg took the boys to Fairness for abusing certain leniencies. Town Hall, run by the Agenda Committee and including the whole school, should be that place. “If you’ve developed the rules and regulations and the consequences together, you’re more apt to listen to them, and that’s what the Just Community’s about,” Dr. Jerry Friedman said in an interview with the Boiling Point last year. When founding Shalhevet, Dr. Friedman put immense focus on students governing themselves through communal discussion, questioning, and voting. Yet during a time of new rules and debates among Shalhevet students and teachers, the Agenda committee is not part of the process. Only Fairness is. Since returning after Covid, the boys, everyone seems to agree, have abused their freedom to wear dark blue jeans and non-collared shirts with tzitzit out by wearing faded jeans, ripped jeans, light-wash jeans, etc., and non-collared shirts without tzitzit showing. Instead of there being a Town Hall discussion and petition around the topic of a potential need for change, the Fairness Committee met about it, privately, and decided on setting a probation period from May 24 until June 10. If during this period more than 10 boys are cited as out of dress-code for specifically wearing light wash jeans or non-collared shirt without tzitzit, boys will no longer be allowed to wear jeans and long sleeve shirts. That would overturn a policy passed by the Just Community in 2014. Male students will

have to wear dress pants and collared shirts from then on. Shalhevet focuses intensely on student voices and initiative, yet when it comes to a case that may lead to a major change for the boys and is not grounded in a religious practice such as tznius (modesty), students are not being given the chance to vote, discuss fully in a school forum, or even argue the current issue with more than a pair of voices heard. Even though there was a Fairness hearing during a lunch period, there were only a few minutes available for students to speak, and even though Rabbi Schwarzberg’s proposal as adopted by the Fairness Committee was slightly altered, there was never a proper school-wide discussion. This leads thoughtful students like Jacob Hoenig, Jack Sanders and many others to share their opinions through the only other school-wide device they have: Schoology, which has no power at all. Considering everything mentioned above, one thing is clear, the democracy of the Shalhevet students is on the line. What will come next? Will Town Halls no longer be a place used for students to decide on future policies? Will a teacher taking the student body to Fairness lead to an immediate probation period devised behind closed doors, instead of having the students decide what to do going forward? “When I was head of school,” Dr. Friedman said in that same interview, “we never had a vote that I couldn’t live with, because the school was like the curriculum. The curriculum was a school. So when you had a Town Hall meeting, there was that mutual respect, because we developed that atmosphere and everybody -- teachers, principals — that we could raise the hand and it was really working.” We hope Shalhevet moves toward a more direct democracy, rather than the representative democracy it is currently governed by through the Fairness decisions. That’s our agenda for the Just Community.

Ruth the Moabite: Turning loss into strength God, and on acts of lovingkindness. Without these three crucial attributes, we learn, the world would not survive. On Shavuot we read the Book of Ruth, whose character was Ruth exemplifies for us in her quiet way what it means to be a strong and principled. She was a Moabite married into a Jewish bat Torah, a daughter of Torah; Ruth understands the notion of imfamily at a time when intermarriage was frowned upon. Tragedy itating God so that we can learn from His ways struck the family suddenly, leaving her fathersince we have been fashioned in His image. in-law, brother-in-law, and husband dead. Ruth This is what it means to be a bat Yisrael, finds herself left with her sister-in-law, Orpah, and Ruth exemplifies for us a daughter of Israel. Getting to know all the mother-in-law, Naomi. in her quiet way what it people around you, their strengths and their Planning to journey back to the land of Israel, weaknesses, their fears and their dreams. means to be a bat Torah, Naomi tells Ruth and Orpah to stay behind, Pirkei Avot highlights this lesson, too, in remarry in Moab, and avoid the strenuous joura daughter of Torah. perek bet (chapter two): ney. While Orpah agrees, Ruth stays true to her In a place where there is no man, strive to be mother-in-law and the Jewish faith. In a beautiful a man. passage, she tells Naomi, “Do not urge me to We learn from Ruth that if there is no one leave you, to turn back and not follow you. For wherever around to stand for a cause, we must get up, even if you go, I will go; wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your that means extending ourselves beyond our comfort people shall be my people, and your God my God.” zones — as Ruth did for Naomi, for whom there was (Ruth 1:16) no one else left to stand. After making this dramatic statement, Ruth takes When faced with difficult choices, Rav Yosef direction from those around her, gathering sheaves of Soleveitchik says, don’t ask lama, or “why”? Instead, grain left behind by harvesters in the field to provide ask yourself l’ma — “Now what?” We can wallow food for Naomi to eat. She consistently shows kindness in misery or we can try and figure out how to and compassion, displaying acts of chesed (lovingkindtake ownership of our own destiny, engendering BP Graphic By Ezra Helfand ness) both hidden and obvious towards Naomi as she redemption on a personal or even a national scale. sustains the elder woman’s basic needs with care and respect. This is exactly what Ruth models for us on Shavuot, as we celeThis leads to redemption for all parties involved: ultimately, the brate the gift of Torah by reading her story out loud together in our loyalty and strength displayed here are the reason Ruth becomes the synagogues. Although she is a Moabite, Ruth takes control of her mother of the future dynasty of Israel, through her descendent King own destiny and decides to make Noami as comfortable as she can. David, who will be ancestor to the messiah. Ruth betters the world around her and teaches a wonderful lesson Pirkei Avot also teaches us: for how we should treat others. This is vital no matter the circumOn three pillars the world stands: on the Torah, on the service of stances.

By olivia orbuch, 9th grade

11

Features

MAY 2021

Can you enjoy beauty products without hurting animals? Here are 10 ways to try. By Olivia fishman, staff writer Testing cosmetic products on animals has historically been a common way to discover if they’re safe for human use. But thinking about the suffering the animals may endure may not make you feel pretty. And according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, between 17 and 22 million animals -- including mice, rats, rabbits, and

guinea pigs -- are used for this process each year. Typically, says Cruelty Free International the product will be rubbed or injected into the animal’s eyes or skin to see if they have a reaction. Sometimes, according to the Humane Society, an animal will experience some form of pain, permanent damage or even death in order to ensure the safety of the product for humans. That has led to considerable consumer demand for “cruelty-free” products, along with the creation of organizations to provide non-animal alternatives. According to Green Matters, a media

company whose mission is to educate the world about sustainability, options include testing on human tissue, donated either post-mortem or from a living volunteer after surgery or a biopsy, along with computer models and cell cultures. Makeup brands are taking notice. Here are 10 that you can buy knowing that animals were not involved!

1. Milk Makeup

Milk is a popular makeup brand based out of New York City. Milk focuses on healthy products for any skin type, including sensitive skin. Their primary focus is “quick makeup” that can look amazing even when done in a rush. They offer various face, eye, lip and multi-use products to leave you glowing. Their products are very well priced, which is also a plus! Their face products range from $18-$40, their eye products range from $18-$22, and their lip products range from $15-$30. Their multi-use products are also around a similar price range.

2. Urban Decay Urban Decay is a subsidiary of the well-known company L’Oréal which still tests on animals, but Urban Decay doesn’t. They offer an abundance of makeup options for every skin tone and preference; with so many choices, you may well find a product that you love -- perhaps something in their famous “Naked Palette” of eyeshadows. They also offer products that cater to oily skin.

3. Glossier Glossier is one of the most popular cosmetic brands out there. With sophisticated packaging, their products are pleasing to the eye. Glossier carries great sets that come with multiple makeup products perfect for gifting, and their skin products are said to work like magic.

4. Anastasia Beverly Hills Started right in Beverly Hills, ABH is a local brand with its own store, and best known for their eyebrow products. It’s also currently one of the top sellers at Sephora, according to Glamour magazine. Their eyeshadow palettes offer an enormous color scheme for every possible occasion.

5. Lush

Focused less on makeup and more on “feeling good,” Lush is a chain of stores -- including one in the Century City Mall -- filled with bath bombs, body scrubs, lotions, face masks and much more. In the store, you can test products in their sinks and try samples of most items. Their goal is to make you feel good after using their products. Although a little higher-priced than other self-care brands, you may find that their products are all worth it.

6. Covergirl Covergirl is one of the best lower-priced cosmetics brands out there. Not only do I think it is excellent makeup for such a low price, there is also something for everyone. Their website can be easily navigated and their products can also be found in any local drugstore. If you’re looking for something chic, low priced and easy to find, Covergirl is there for you. They are best known for their foundation, BB cream and other skin products. Personally, I love their foundation and concealer -- they have great coverage and last a long time!

7. Drunk Elephant With adorable packaging and cute product names, you may find it hard to resist Drunk Elephant. Their packaging is mainly a white container with a pastel-colored lid, which is pleasing to the eye. Their products have light and fun names, like “Day Dream Duo,” or “Call it a Night.” They have tons of skin products, including SPF-included moisturizers. A fan favorite is their collection of eye creams -- according to Glamour, their eye products help to relieve under-eye bags and make you feel refreshed! Although somewhat expensive, Drunk Elephant products are worth the money. From this writer’s personal experience, their products will last you a long time and will always impress.

9. Smashbox Smashbox is high-end, but they have frequent sales to assist with the high prices. Their eyeshadow is considered by many to be the best -- it picks up easily onto a brush and holds for long hours without smudging on your face. Palettes cost between $30 and $50. Their eyeliner is also easy to apply and their foundation is hydrating and safe for the skin. Their foundation is usually around $40. Their lip glosses are nicely priced, at around $20 per gloss. If you’re looking for a great quality makeup product, spend your money here!

8. Elf Elf is an extremely affordable brand, with eyeshadow palettes priced between $10 and $14, and lip products between $3 and $6. With tons of eye-product choices and skincare options, Elf will always have something that works for you, including makeup brushes or brush sets. Affordability with good quality is gold, and Elf will offer you just that.

10. Stila Stila is somewhat expensive, but they offer discounts on various products. For example, an eyeshadow palette is $49 at its original price, but is $39 with their discount offered online. Their face and body brush that is usually $58 is now being sold for $23. Stila offers stunning, sparkly makeup palettes with great color selections and a sophisticated approach towards makeup -- they have natural options for a more subtle look, but also carry bold and colorful products for a fancier look. BP Graphics By Ezra Helfand Page Design By Ezra Helfand

12

Sports

May 2021

Walk-off single by J. Harrison lifts Firehawks over Panthers, 6-5 First rivalry baseball matchup since 2019 shows strong defensive and offensive plays for Firehawks up — how I look at every pitch — and I made sure to be confident with every It was around 2 p.m. in the bottom of the seventh, and the time I throw the pitch and not like just Firehawk baseball team was down 5-4 against the YULA Panthers let it rip.” In the bottom of that first inning, at the East Valley Baseball Fields in North Hollywood May 16. Since it was a seven-inning game and Shalhevet was the home Jacob Kilberg reached second base team, that meant it was also the Firehawks’ last chance to win when YULA’s second baseman and without going into extra innings. For both teams, the holiday of right fielder collided with one another while attempting to catch his hit. This Shavuot was coming up at sunset. Firehawk sophomore Daniel Harrison singled to center, fol- put the game on hold for approximatelowed up by another single by junior Andrew Petlak. Freshman ly 10 minutes while the injured boys were checked out by coaches and fellow Jamie Victor struck out, but during that at-bat Daniel stole third. Freshman Jacob Kilberg then singled to left, which scored Dan- players. The Panther second baseman, Noam Goldberg, reentered the game, iel and sent Andrew to third. The score was now 5-5. Sam Rubin, a senior and captain of the team, was then walked but right fielder Adam Kirschenbaum by YULA’s second pitcher of the game, Moshe Feldman. Bases were did not return. Sam Rubin then reached second loaded, with only one out. Next up was senior Josh Harrison, Daniel’s brother, who plays as well, when YULA’s right fielder bp photo by jacob hoenig first base. Josh came through with a bases-loaded single to center dropped the ball, putting Shalhevet players at second and third base. field — ending the game and securing a Firehawk victory, 6-5. SWING: Above, Josh Harrison hit a game-ending single to left centerfield at the bottom of the Jack Metzger flied out to right, which “Heading up to the plate I was beyond nervous,” said Josh in seventh inning at East Valley Baseball Fields last Sunday an interview after the game. “I’ve never been in a situation like this scored Kilberg, tying the game after the take a base hit away from YULA, and right-fielder Jacob Kilberg before, and since it was against our rivals I had this extra nerve on first inning. The top of the second was quick with Jack retiring two YULA threw a double play to third-baseman Daniel Harrison, who threw me, and this extra pressure that I need to hit the ball.” “And then the moment I made contact with the ball and I saw it batters with strikeouts and Andrew Petlak catching an out at second to Noah Elad at second to end the inning. fly into the outfield, I knew that that was the game-ending hit and base. The bottom of the second also saw three straight outs from the Firehawks. YULA made a comeback at the top of the sixth beginning with I did it, I didn’t mess up.” he said. At the top of the third, sophomore Noah Elad, who was playing a single into left. Panther first baseman Andrew Rubel then singled “I was just filled with joy, and seeing my teammates run at me after I got the hit was one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever felt while shortstop, caught a ground-out which he threw to first. Jack then as well. Jack walked the next batter to load the bases. Moshe Feldstruck out two more batters to end the bottom top of the inning. man then singled to center, scoring one and shrinking Shalhevet’s playing baseball.” In the bottom of the third the Firehawks expanded their lead, lead to one run, with bases still loaded for YULA and no outs. Andrew Petlak then relieved Jack as pitcher to face the basThe rivalry game — which due to the pandemic was the two beginning with a double to center by Jamie Victor, his first hit schools’ first baseball matchup since 2019 — lasted two hours and this season and as a Firehawk. Jamie stole third, then scored on a es-loaded YULA team and Jack moved to second base. ground out by Sam Rubin. YULA’s Avi Etshalom grounded out to second base which 11 minutes. Spectators included 25 people Shalhevet was leading 2-1. scored one run, tying the game 4-4. Another ground-out put the in the Shalhevet section, some of them stuIn the fourth, Jack walked A.J. Tabak Panthers ahead for the first time during the game. YULA then enddents, and 30 people in the YULA section. who later scored on a ground out, tying the ed the inning on a ground-out to Noah Elad at shortstop. Until that point, the game’s momen- “Seeing my teammates run at me game again. No scoring occurred during the bottom of the sixth or the top of tum had gone back and forth, though the after I got the hit was one of the Shalhevet took a two-run lead during the seventh. Each team retired three of the opposing team’s batters. Firehawks led most of the way. But Shalhevet came back to win in the bottom of the seventh, YULA scored one run in the first inning greatest feelings I’ve ever felt while the bottom of the fourth, with three hits starting with Noah Elad, who singled to when Josh Harrison hit a hard line drive to left center that resulted off a wild pitch from the Firehawk starting playing baseball.” deep left center. Avi Litvak then doubled in the Firehawks running out to the field to celebrate the victory. pitcher Jack Metzger. But Jack had a great - Josh Harrison down the third base line, sending Noah to YULA first baseman Andrew Rubel said that although the Panshowing throughout the game, starting in third base. Daniel Harrison then hit a dou- thers lost they enjoyed playing against Shalhevet. that same inning, when he struck out two ble to center field, scoring Noah and Avi. “We put our best foot forward,” said Andrew. “This is someYULA batters. Jack ended the game with That brought the score to 4-2, Fire- thing we have marked on our calendars for a long time, our crosssix strikeouts pitching five innings. town rivals. Obviously the result isn’t what we wanted but I’m glad “I had my fastball working, and my fastball is my best pitch, hawks lead. The fifth inning was scoreless but the Firehawks had two strong we got out there, had some fun and got to play them. It was a good so when I get it working it’s very hard for the other team to hit,” said Jack later. “And also from my last start, I changed something defensive plays. Jamie Victor made a sliding catch in left field to game.”

By benjamin gamson, news editor

Two weeks, eight teams, 23 games in all as all Firehawk team sports resume By Noah Elad, Sports Editor From April 12 to April 30, Shalhevet sports returned, being the first time in over a year when Firehawk sports teams played in games. There were 23 games in all with eight Firehawk teams playing, including three Firehawk basketball teams (JV, varsity, and girls), both soccer teams (girls and boys), the baseball team, and both girls volleyball teams (JV and varsity). Shalhevet overall won 10 out of the 23. The girls basketball team scored a come-from-behind win against the Pacifica Christian Seawolves 67-60 on April 20; and the baseball team defeated the East Valley Eagles 14-5 on April 25. For the girls, freshman shooting guard Kira Kupferman said the team began practicing in March, and the players are also beginning to build closer relationships with one another. “It felt really good to finally win a game with all the hard work we have been putting in throughout the season,” said Kira. “We need to continue playing as a team and I think doing bonding off of the court really helped us play better together.” The team also won on April 16, defeating YULA girls, 43-31. The Firehawk baseball team played five games over the first two weeks, playing the de Toledo Panthers in two of them, along with the East Valley Eagles, Southwestern Academy Suns, and Campbell Hall Vikings. The Firehawks lost 10-1 in their first game against de Toledo on April 12 and 7-0 in the second, which was on April 22. The team bounced back on April 25 against the East Valley Ea-

gles and got its first win 14-5. The Eagles are an all-star team in the East Valley youth baseball league. Team captain Sam Rubin was pleased to finally score a win. “It is a little demoralizing when you lose, especially by a significant amount, so I think it just boosted our confidence for games to come,” said Sam. However, they have lost two more games since then, 10-0 against the Southwestern Academy Suns on April 28 and 9-4 against the Campbell Hall Vikings on April 29. Volleyball and soccer also have restarted. The Firehawk girls’ varsity volleyball program now has two teams -- varsity and junior varsity -- and its varsity team lost to the YULA Panthers on April 19, three sets to one. Shalhevet’s JV team beat YULA 2-1. For varsity volleyball, two teams play five games, or “sets,” the winner of each set being the first team to reach 25 points. Then, the first team to win three sets wins the entire match. In JV volleyball, two teams play four sets, and the first team to win two sets wins the entire match. The varsity Firehawks lost the first set 25-17, won the second 25-13, lost the third 25-12, and lost the fourth 25-23. Sophomore varsity player Hannah Nili said she thinks the team’s fortunes will improve. “All we have to do in order to win is stay in the game,” said Hannah in a text message. “We tend to get down on ourselves when YULA’s up, but positivity is key.” Both girls and boys Firehawk soccer teams played in their first

games last week, both of them playing on April 27 against the Ánimo Eagles. The boys team lost 7-1 and the girls team tied 3-3. Meanwhile, the boys varsity basketball team continued its successful season with five wins over their first two weeks, beating the Calabasas Coyotes 72-62 on April 19, Pacifica Christian Seawolves 78-53 on April 20, Burroughs Indians 62-58 on April 21, Pilibos Eagles 73-57 on April 30, and Wiseburn - Da Vinci Wolves 55-45. The Firehawks handed Pilibos and Wiseburn - Da Vinci their first losses of the season. Senior Jacob Pofsky, co-captain of the boys varsity team, said he couldn’t be happier with the team’s start. “We just need to continue to work together, have fun, play hard, be disciplined, and continue to develop the family bond,” said Jacob in a text message after the team’s eighth win. “Just happy to be back playing with such a great group of guys for my last year.” bp photo by Maya Cohen Meanwhile, the Firehawks’ JV team played the Calabasas FIELD: Alessandra Judaken kicks Coyotes on April 19 and lost 37 a soccer ball while playing the Animo Eagles on April 27. - 53.