Shalhevet Boiling Point Vol. 20, Issue 1

SHALHEVET HIGH SCHOOL • Los Angeles, CA October 2019 • Tishrei 5780 •

Vol. 20, Issue 1 shalhevetboilingpoint.com

Rabbi Segal to make gradual departure beginning next year Board names Rabbi Block to succeed him By Molly Litvak, Community Editor

BP Photos by Maia Lefferman ORIGINAL: About 2,000 protestors filled the streets of downtown Sept. 20, most under 30 and many carrying signs with slogans they’d painted themselves. They marched in hot weather from Pershing Square to City Hall, seen at top right behind palm trees against a blue sky.

Skipping school to protest climate change inaction By Jacob Joseph Lefkowitz Brooks, Editor-in-Chief “We’re missing our lessons to teach you one,” read one sign at the Youth Climate March on Sep. 20. The streets of downtown LA were filled with signs and people demanding action combating climate change. But what set this protest apart from many others that have been held in the past was the age of both its organizers and participants. The global event, part of the Earth Strike which ran from Sept. 20 - 27 with events throughout the world, has generated worldwide interest and spurred action after 16-year-old Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg endorsed it. The Sep. 20

marches were in advance of an emergency UN Climate Action Summit in New York City on Sep. 23, where Thunberg later spoke. Los Angeles saw around 2,000 people march through the streets of downtown, starting next to Pershing Square on Olive Street between 5th and 6th streets, and ending on the south lawn of City Hall. “I’m here because the future is in our hands,” said Gaby Cohen, a senior at Marlborough School in Hancock Park, “and the people that currently have power are not making the necessary changes so that we can have a planet. “I’m here because I’m terrified of what the world is going to Continued on page 11

Rabbi Ari Segal, who transformed Shalhevet from an idealistic but financially struggling school housed in a former hospital to a prominent, stable and larger school on a new three-story campus, will be slowly transitioning out of his position as Head of School starting at the beginning of the 2020-21 school year, school officials announced on Aug. 12. According to the e-mail, sent to current parents and staff that day, Rabbi Segal will maintain his position in this academic year and next, but will make aliyah to Israel with most of his family next summer. The email states that during the 2020-21 school year, Rabbi Segal will be at Shalhevet four to five days a week, traveling back to Israel for weekends. The year after that, in 2021-22, Rabbi Segal would take on the new title of Chief Strategy Officer, under which he will guide Shalhevet to “new and greater opportunities and partnerships with institutions both here and in Israel.” According to Dr. Noam Drazin, president of the Shalhevet board, Rabbi Segal will fill this role indefinitely in the years after he steps down. “The best thing to say at this point is we’re not losing him that quickly,” Dr. Drazin said in an interview with the Boiling Point today. “The best part of this plan, as sad as it may be that we are losing at some point Rabbi Segal to Israel, is that we have a two- to three-year transition plan in place.” The school email, which contained separate letters from Rabbi Segal and from Dr. Drazin, also announced that Rabbi Segal’s successor would be Rabbi David Block, who until now was the school’s Assistant Principal for Judaic Studies. This year, Rabbi Segal is Head of School and Rabbi Block is Associate Head of School. Rabbi Segal plans to step down as Head of School in the middle of the 2020-2021 school year and Rabbi Block will replace him. In an interview by the Boiling Point on Aug. 12, Rabbi Segal sounded elated about the announcement. The title of the email he sent out was “Exciting News!” He said the transition for the Segal family would include their second daughter starting at Shalhevet this year and continuing to attend Shalhevet after the family moves, staying with her dad during the week and another family over weekends. Rabbi Segal said he would hopefully continue to come to school during the week throughout her four years at Shalhevet, Continued on page 8

LETHAL VAPOR: 12 deaths so far from mysterious vaping illness By Jacob Lefkowitz Brooks, Editor-in-Chief, and sivan karz, staff writer There are lots of reasons not to vape. For one thing, it’s against Shalhevet rules, as Principal Daniel Weslow announced to the community at an assembly in the fall of last year. Vaping can also cause addiction to nicotine -the most addictive part of tobacco -- even though it doesn’t taste or smell like tobacco. That means once you start, it may be very hard to stop. And since 2016, vaping has also been illegal in the state of California for anyone under 21 years of age.

But suddenly, in the last three months, more than 805 people around the country have been hospitalized with a somewhat mysterious, life-threatening and vaping-related lung condition, which feels like a terrible case of pneumonia or another bacterial or viral infection but does not have any known cause such as asthma or the flu. The federal Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta announced Sept. 27 that the number had grown from just 503 hospitalizations a month earlier. Some patients had been hospitalized for weeks at a time. All were regular users of e-cigarettes, and more who were vaping THC -- the main ingredient in marijuana -- than tobacco

salts. As scientists continue to investigate what is now being called “Vaping-Associated Lung Injury,” a Mayo Clinic study published yesterday found that the damaged lungs resembled those of people who inhaled toxic fumes and suffered chemical burns. The CDC said that of 771 cases with available data on sex and age, 38 percent were in people under 21, and 16 percent were under 18. Twelve patients have died. At Shalhevet, a poll conducted Sep. 16 showed that 17 percent of students had vaped

during the last month -- 11 of 64 students polled on paper forms distributed at breakfast. Half said their parents knew and half said they didn’t. Half had started vaping more than a year ago. Two of the 64 polled students said they vape every day, and both of them said they were experiencing lung symptoms. The poll was anonymous so they could not be interviewed for more details about their condition. Ironically, electric cigarettes were originally intended to give cigarette smokers a safe alternative to tobacco by giving them nicotine without tar -the viscous and cancer-causing residue produced Continued on page 21

LACMA CHANGES THE Shape of the FutURE - P.12 Roen is back! -P.22

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The Boiling Point • October 2019 • Community

School now charging for parking to subsidize spaces at Petersen we subsidized it fully for students and took care of that. But it was a significant cost and it was something that we wanted to look closely at.” The Petersen Automotive Museum charges For the first time in Shalhevet’s history, students driving their own cars to school are $16 to park in its lot for a full day, from 8 a.m paying $750 for an annual parking pass, to par- to 11 p.m. If a student were to pay this cost for tially cover the cost of renting out spots at the every school day, of which there are 110 for sePetersen Automotive Museum, school officials niors and 131 for everyone else, it would cost $1,760 for seniors and $2,096 for everyone else. announced in an email Aug. 2. Instead, Mr. Weslow said, all students will Twenty-five students will park at the Petersbe paying the $750 charge, spreading the cost en Museum this year, because the lot at Tom around. Bergin’s tavern next door to school is no lonThe total amount gained from all 42 stuger available and the student lot does not have enough space for everyone who drives to school. dents who received parking passes is $31,500The museum, located on the corner of or $1,260 per parking spot in the Peterson lot. It is unclear whether Shalhevet received a Wilshire and Fairfax one-and-a-half blocks north of Shalhevet, normally charges $16 discount on renting out the spaces. The question of who is parking where was per day, but no students will have to pay that based on a Just Community vote held in June of amount. Instead, all students who received 2018. At that time, the decision was to have the parking passes will, altogether, pay for the majority of the cost of the spaces. The school will San Vicente lot give priority to seniors. Mr. Weslow said he would be open to a difsubsidize the rest of the cost. ferent system of prioritizing for next year. Bergin’s tavern, an iconic LA pub neighborBut some seniors prefer parking in the Petering just north of school that was closed during the day last year, last month was sold to a new son lot. Also, unlike last year, students will have ownership group which has chosen not to rent a spot for the entire year. “Especially if families are paying for it, we its 20 spaces to Shalhevet this year. want to make it something that’s consistent, “We tried to work with them on striking deal similar to the situation we had previously,” that makes students feel good about always havsaid Principal Mr. Daniel Weslow. “They clear- ing a spot,” the principal said, “where we know ly are going in a different direction… Trying to who’s parking where and what cars, from a safefinesse that with the timing of things — it’s the ty perspective that’s also super helpful.” Shalhevet’s old student lot re-opened last end of summer — was challenging.” Without Bergin’s, the 17 spots in Shalhevet’s year after four years of construction on the new school building and the own student lot, located on adjacent Vinz apartment the northwest corner of San complex. All 17 of its Vicente and Fairfax, fell 25 Especially if families are paying for spaces have been assigned spots short of the demand. it, we want to make it something to seniors, while the reThis year 42 students apthat’s consistent, that makes maining 25 students seplied for parking spaces. By niors and juniors on the charging everyone $750, Mr. students feel good about always second floor of the PetersWeslow said, all 42 will have having a spot.” en lot. a space and everyone will pay All students who rethe same amount. — Mr. Weslow, Principal ceived spaces will pay Mr. Weslow said Tom $750. Mr. Weslow said Bergin’s had also charged the cost, in addition to Shalhevet to rent its lot, and partial subsidizing from the school, will cover that there was not a “substantial difference” bethe price of the spots. tween the cost of the Bergin’s and the museum. The decision for seniors to have priority was Instead, the new charge is due to the haste in made at a May 2018 Town Hall vote, in which which the decision was made last year. the majority of students voted for “senior prioriLast year, he said, was the first year school offered parking after four years of construction ty.” At the time of this poll, it was unknown how during which no parking was offered at all. Stu- many spaces would be in the San Vicente lot. There was also no mention of how spots dents parked at meters on surrounding streets would be allotted if other lots were to become — often having to leave class to refill them — or at the Petersen Museum where they paid the available. “We’re, at this point, staying true to what the full price. Just Community decided,” said Mr. Weslow. “If “Since it was the first year” after that, Mr. I had my own ideas or if we discussed it as an Weslow said, “…and the timing of everything,

By Jacob Joseph Lefkowtiz Brooks, Editor-in-Chief

MORE ON THE WEB: Humans of Shalhevet: Jessica Melamed VIDEO: Rabbi Stein on the Scanner System Candlelighting times Schedule Update LIVEBLOG: 9/17 Israel elections results with video analysis from Hartman Institute Poll: Do you like the new scanner system? ‘Get refuser’ Meir Kin Talks Back Boiling Point Awards For breaking news, special schedules and push notifications, download our new app, Student News Source, and search for Shalhevet. See you online!

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BP Photo by Kate Orlanski

WALK: Students headed toward school this morning from the parking lot of the Petersen Automotive Museum, just south of Wilshire Boulevard where the tall building is at left. On their way, they passed Tom Bergin’s Tavern, where free parking was available last year. This year, all students who want spaces are paying $750 for a yearlong spot at either Petersen or the smaller school lot on San Vicente Boulevard.

admin team, we might come up with something different and incorporate people that live in the Valley or that are carpooling at least two to three people. But until something like that is presented, brought forward to the Just Community, in terms of priority, I’m going to stick with [senior] preference.” Mr. Weslow said he would be open to another Town Hall discussing how spots should be allotted for the 2020-21 school year. Mr. Weslow said that he would want this decision as soon as possible. “I would say before February or March, in preparation for the upcoming school year, would be important,” said Mr. Weslow. “It’s not something we can roll out second semester and start that process.” Not all seniors prefer in the San Vicente lot, however, even though it is about 100 feet closer to school — 529 feet as opposed to 612 feet to the Petersen lot, according to Google Maps . Getting to the San Vicente lot requires crossing Fairfax Avenue at the busy three-way intersection which also includes Olympic Boulevard. “Initially, I was assigned to park in the San Vicente lot,” said senior Caroline Edry. “But having parked there last year, I know from experience that it is really crammed and hard to get out of a spot. So I traded with someone who preferred parking there for a Peterson spot. “So far, I really enjoy parking at Peterson. I feel like it is more accessible and organized.” Senior Elianna Kupferman was assigned to Petersen.

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page 15, Crackdown on Pencil Skirts

“It hasn’t really been an inconvenience,” said Elianna. “I like it better than the San Vicente lot. The only thing is that you need to go upstairs to get to your car but that’s about it.” Elianna also said that while she is happy the school found additional parking, she is still annoyed about having to pay. “Who wouldn’t be?” said Eliyanna. “Especially because it was free last year. I totally understand why we need to pay, but it is just annoying.” Junior Hannah Polterak said parking in the Petersen lot was better than alternatives. Last nine spots in school parking lot go to juniors, by lottery “I really like parking there,” said Hannah. “It’s so easy and much better than a carpool or Uber-ing. I looked around near school at the other options and Peterson is the best option.” Junior Max Wintner said while he would rather park in the San Vicente lot, he is happy to have a space. “It’s been mildly inconvenient to have to park there and not San Vicente.” said Max. “Otherwise it’s all the same to me.” Last year raffles for spots among seniors and juniors were conducted quarterly with the help of then-Agenda Chair Talia Gill and Vice Chair Maya Tochner. This year, spaces will be permanent. “Working with the two of them for 11th grade and 12th grade last year, it took significant time to do that each quarter,” said Mr. Weslow.

page 20, Kosher Snacks: Booming on Campus

18 Opinion 2 Community 9 Outside News 20 Features 12 Special Report 22 Arts 23 Sports 14 Torah

The Boiling Point • October 2019 • Community

The

Spin About this fob thing... By Jacob Benezra, Staff Columnist First off, I want to thank the Boiling Point for offering me this opportunity to share my ideas. Now all of you are trapped hearing the crazy thoughts bouncing around in the void between my small ears. It was not long ago when I thought my Shalhevet career would consist of basketball and basketball only, yet here I am baring my soul to the world. So about this fob thing. When the system was introduced in the beginning of the school year, it was explained to us that it was simply a more efficient procedure for tracking attendance. Assuming that this system is meeting that, the benefit is clear and the students accepted the policy even without having a Town Hall discussion. Shocking, I know. I guess I’m just wondering, and it might only be me that’s thinking about this, what are the real upsides and downsides of this new system that’s in place? How is this a convenience or inconvenience for the students? A clear upside is that human error is no longer an issue when it comes to monitoring attendance at school and at tefillah (prayer). Mistakes on tefillah attendance are no more, and the leaders of each respective minyan can finally breathe a sigh of relief because it means no more arguing with students about whether or not they actually were there. All of the attendance responsibility is placed on each individual student. In some ways, this is also a good preparation for the real world we’ll live in after our years at Shalhevet. Now, I hate to be the guy that bears the bad news, but I have to talk about the inconveniences that this little fob thingamajiggy cause. First of all, it’s extremely hard for us Gen Z-ers to keep track of a tracking device. Walking past the front desk you can listen to students say things like “It was just here a second ago,” or “I swear it was in my pocket.” When I asked someone in a position to know, I was given the figure of five students per week losing a fob. If that doesn’t scream typical teenager then I don’t know what else to give you. I often find myself digging through my backpack like I’m a pirate just to get the little rascal out. There are others who have a bigger issue. Some students think the fob protocol creates a prison-like vibe to the school. While definitely not as extreme as a fingerprint system would be, I can see how people correlate the fob policy with an intense monitoring system -- like an ankle monitor that criminals wear. Nevertheless, in true Shalhevet fashion, we must think bigger picture: the fob protocol is actually an example of replacing human effort with technology. I suspect that it is harder to trick a human teacher than it is to finesse, for lack of a better word, a technological system … or so I’ve heard. I am not saying technology is terrible and we should never use it -- baruch Hashem there are armies of lab rats at work on technological advancements to enhance our daily lives. Still, it’s important for us to be careful, because people finesse technology all the time. A system that allows a couple of people to game it -and we all know people are gaming it -- tempts others around them to do the same thing. Think about it for a second: when you’re standing in line for lunch waiting for Muriel to call your name and a senior (probably me, sorry) barges in and cuts you, you feel like an idiot for not cutting the line before. I think it’s incredibly important that Shalhevet keeps its identity as a Just Community, where students are given more freedom than at most other schools. We would hate to lose such an extraordinary culture with a system that makes students feel uncomfortable. Technology is at the command of whoever is in control; its use can be enhanced in ways that certain parties are not fond of. I don’t think anybody’s worrying about Rabbi Stein being power-hungry, but who knows what Shalhevet’s doing or thinking. We’re weird that way -- we think a lot. All I’m saying is that we should at least continue discussing this so that Shalhevet keeps it’s community feel — one of the things that makes this school truly special.

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Scanning devices to the rescue as school tries new tac to track attendance at tefillah By Molly Litvak, Community Editor Before grabbing a siddur and picking a seat, Shalhevet students now must scan themselves into davening by pressing a small blue fob against a rectangular scanning device mounted on the wall, in a new attendance system installed by the administration to ensure every student is present for prayer. Each student has his or her own blue fob. Devices to scan the fobs have been installed at the doorways of 10 classrooms around the school where minyans are held. Once scanned in, a student’s ID number is logged in to a spreadsheet, which associates it with the student’s name. A digital system then generates emails to inform teachers of who’s missing, and also sends emails to students to let them know that they didn’t check in. “The goal is not to be policing,” said AsBP Photo by Vivienne Schlussel sociate Head of School Rabbi David Block. “The goal is to hold each other accountMORNING: Freshman Maddie Bollag scans in to the main minyan at Shacharit during the able. In class, no one questions whether second week of school. The fob, which she carries on her key chain, transmits her identity to you need to be in attendance, so we don’t a computer program that takes attendance and shares it with teachers who need to know. question that either by tefillah,” or prayer. The system also assists with regular including one last April at Chabad of Poway, common/prevalent that situation is,” he said school attendance, using a scanner device in near San Diego. Rabbi Block said the new in an email to the Boiling Point. the lobby by the front door where students system would let officials know what stuJudaics Studies teacher Rabbi David scan in as they enter the school. dents are in the building that day. Stein is managing coding within the system, According to Rabbi Block, there were “It’s on our minds,” Rabbi Block said. “‘I reducing the cost compared to paying for an many reasons for creating the system, which don’t think anyone talked about ‘We have outside programmer or app developer, offiwas installed over the sumner. The primary to get scanners because of an active shooter,’ cials said. concern originally was figuring out a way to but it’s on my mind at least, that we have to In an interview, Rabbi Stein said that address the attendance issue for tefilah. be ready in all situations -- to know when over the summer he learned how to program Since there are so many different tefilah we evacuate the building if every person is and write scripts for Google Sheets, which options this year, including the main minaccounted for.” he connected through coding to the new yan in addition to electives like the meditaStudent reaction to the scanner system scanning system. Rabbi Stein has a Master’s tion minyan, the Hashkama (early morning) has been mixed. Degree in mechanical engineering from Cominyan and Sephardic minyan, it became Junior Maya Vaakil said she understands lumbia University, and before becoming a difficult to keep track of who was where, he the reasoning behind it. rabbi worked for a year at a firm that designs said. “I get it, because a lot of people were energy-efficient buildings. Teachers had to combine lists of students ditching,” Maya said. “People are actually He said there have been some technical from their minyans, which were often at going to tefillah more.” difficulties and kinks with the system, incontrasting times such as before school or Sophomore Benny Blacher thinks the cluding computers getting overloaded and after first period. They also had to figure out school should spend more time finding ways power outlets turning off every day, but he who wasn’t in school that day, who had davto make davning more meaningful for stu- said they’re continuing to “test and refine” it. ened early and so wasn’t required to be there, dents, instead of concentrating on who is On Sept. 5, there were no complications and who actually skipped minyan. there. and just about everyone logged into the Another problem was that student lead“I feel like there’s a lack of trust in the building and into davening. ers run Hashkama school now that they have “I think it’s gonna be a lot about really minyan, Sephardic to scan us,” Benny said. having students aware of this and conscious minyan and various “Part of me feels like about it,” said Rabbi Stein. “Like, ‘Oh, I other electives, mean‘We’re really going back to a scanning people isn’t the have to remember to scan in,” and so on and ing they were the ones system that very much best option, because let’s so forth. I think it’s going to be a process of taking attendance -say kids, they’re not go- really getting people used to it. I don’t think makes it about the student causing them to miss ing to go pray,” he said. we’re there yet, but I think we’re going to much of tefillah them- responsibility, but also “So the school should find get there.” selves. ensures that there’s account- more ways to get people He said this would change the culture Senior Gabby Lasry, to get into prayers more. around attendance at davening. ability as well. who is a leader of Sep“This way we’re really going back to a — Rabbi David Stein, A lot of kids that go here hardic minyan, thinks don’t find it that meaning- system that very much makes it about the the scanners do a good Judaic Studies teacher ful.” student responsibility,” said Rabbi Stein, job of solving this proband mechanical engineer Junior Josh Glettner “but also ensures that there’s accountability lem. was more sympathetic to as well.” “Before, I spent bathe reasons behind the Another benefit of the system is how it sically the entire davchange. improves fire drill procedure. Before, the ening just taking attendance,” said Gabby. “On the one hand, I understand how it’s teachers and admins would use lists of stu“It was really frustrating because everytime I necessary for the school to make sure people dents enrolled at the school when taking wanted to pray, I couldn’t.” actually go,” said Josh. “On the other hand, attendance outside during a drill, but now “After going to a few davenings” this I do think it puts a negative atmosphere in they can use lists of who is actually in the year, she said, “I realized I’m actually able the room because people feel like they’re be- building. to sit down and have a meaningful prayer.” ing forced to be there. The school should do According to Rabbi Stein, the school The scanners at the front of the building something to make a more voluntary atmo- actually only started formally taking attenare connected to those at the minyans. So sphere.” dance at Shacharit davening a few years ago. if someone unaccounted-for in tefillah never Rabbi Block said he and the administra- When Hashkama minyan started around scanned into the building in the first place, tion spoke to three or four developers to find five years ago, -- before they started taking the system knows they were absent from the right system for the school, and looked attendance -- it became difficult to keep school that day -- meaning they didn’t speinto many more online. Many were too ex- track of who went to early minyan and who cifically ditch davening. pensive or didn’t align with the initial vision, didn’t. According to Rabbi Block, another he said. Although the administration currently benefit to the system is safety, since people For the final program they decided on, doesn’t take attendance during Mincha (afalso scan in at the entrance to school when each individual fob costs $16.90, Rabbi ternoon prayer), Rabbi Stein said that’s bethey arrive for the day. For whatever reason, Block said. He said the scanners were paid cause everyone’s in davening more or less at sometimes teachers don’t take attendance in for through the school’s budgets for tefillah the same time so if a teacher sees someone class or there’s a mistake, he said, so these deand security. in a classroom during Mincha, it’s obvious vices ensure a much more efficient system in If someone were to lose their fob, the they’re ditching. which all students are always accounted for. school will “likely go with some model of There have been multiple school and charging for new fobs, but we first want to synagogue shootings in the last few years, let the year play out a little bit and see how

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The Boiling Point • October 2019 • Community

Fairness Committee now in charge of elections after vote some SAC leaders said their committee should be included because it, too, had its leaders chosen by After years of dilemmas, complications and community vote. The final vote wasn’t close, as the Fairness-only mistakes in the running of elections, the Shalhevet community voted this week to appoint the decision was chosen by almost twice as many stuFairness Committee to be in charge of elections dents as either other option. “Fairness should have been running elections rather than Agenda, which had overseen them this whole time,” said junior Mimi Czuker, who since the founding of the school. In a two-part vote taken online during Town voted for the proposal that won. “It’s called the Hall on Tuesday, 78.7 percent of the Just Com- Fairness Committee because their job is to ensure munity voted “yay” for changing the way elec- that everything the school does is just and what we want it to be. I don’t think that has anything tions are currently run. As for who should oversee the process going to do with Agenda.” This year’s change was spurred by a mistake forward, 42.9 percent said it should be the Fairlast May, when the result of an election for two ness Committee alone. Another 29.2 percent said it should be run jointly by the Fairness, Agenda Fairness co-chairs was overturned after votes and Student Activities committees, while 27.9 for the two slots were counted as first- and secpercent voted for a combination of Fairness and ond-place votes for the same office. This resulted in the computer program that tallied the votes Agenda. That means the Fairness Committee will now failing to consider some students’ votes for first run all elections except those involving proposals. place and other voters’ votes for second place. Members of last year’s Fairness Committee Agenda will continue to oversee proposal votes, decided that voting system, which had been run the winning proposal stated. Current Fairness co-chair Evan Rubel said a by Agenda as usual, was unfair. It overturned the new voting structure would build on the old, and election and allowed the three top-scoring candiwould be ready in time for grade-level representa- dates to become three co-chairs for this year. It was not the first time there were concerns tive elections this fall. “Going forward, we have to take all the in- regarding student elections in the Just Commufrastructure that previous Agenda chairs have put nity. In 2017, Agenda leaders promised to hold a into place and really streamline it, make it more constitutional convention partly to rewrite eleceffective,” said Evan after the vote. “That will ensure that the upcoming rep elec- tion rules, after several issues, including leaders of tions and future officer elections will go smoothly the Fairness Committee picking the winners of the race for senior Fairness representatives instead for Fairness oversight.” The vote and a discussion beforehand were of letting the senior class vote. In 2016, a rising junior was allowed to run a followup from the previous week’s Town Hall, when a proposal was submitted by the chairs of for Agenda Chair even though the constitution Fairness and Agenda for their two committees to said it should be a senior. A senior who asked to challenge the decision in a Fairness case was told oversee elections together. Student reaction and an amendment proposal it was too close to the end of the year. In the spring of 2015, a candidate who lost by from the Student Activities Committee (SAC) led three votes challenged an election result because to competing choices for this week’s vote: to have the sister of the winning candidate had been elections run only by Fairness chairs, or to have the chairs of Agenda, Fairness and SAC respon- asked by administration to gather votes by phone from seven students who hadn’t voted, possibly sible together. During the Town Hall discussion, Agenda influencing their votes. And that summer, an adChair David Edwards thought having three com- ministrator appointed a committee of students to mittees run voting would be confusing, while draft new election rules without Just Community input. In 2010, there were many erStudent Activites Agenda Committee Fairness Committee rors in the election such as one Committee candidate winning a spot on two Should we change how elections currently work? If committees, students administering ballots of a proposal they this fails, Agenda will continue to run elections. themselves had introduced, and NO 21.3% more ballots being submitted per grade than students in that grade. 78.7% YES And in 2007, according to 235 responses Boiling Point print archives, an election was invalidated when it Who should run them? was discovered that one candidate had made extra ballots and 42.9% stuffed them into the Agenda bal27.9% lot box when no one was looking. There have also been con29.2% troversies over political parties, 233 responses whether to publish actual vote BP Graphic by Sarah Navon counts and who should oversee

By molly litvak, community editor

BP Photo by Eliana Kerendian

FAIR: Senior Joseph Klores, one of three co-chairs of the Fairness Committee this year, told the Sept. 10 Town Hall why his committee should help oversee Just Community elections. Students agreed and voted that way.

the balloting. chairs, they only made the proposal because they Each time, candidates for Agenda Chair then thought if the two other Just Community compromised to fix the system the next year, but mittees were involved, they should be too. moved on to other matters once school began. “Once we added ourselves to the proposal, More than a decade later, this week a major David Edwards and the Agenda Committee came change was made. up with a third option of just Fairness,” said Ari David’s original proposal referenced what it in an interview. “We were completely pro that called “Chairgate,” referring to last May’s disput- idea as well. The way they framed it in Town ed election for Fairness chair. All of the proposals Hall didn’t make it seem like that -- it was kinda a can be found on the Just Commisconception for all of the munity website. student body -- but we are “In light of recent events “Fairness should have been completely happy with the (i.e., Chairgate), it has become way it turned out.” running elections this whole time. evident that an explicit frameBefore opening up this It’s called the Fairness Committee work should be established for week’s Town Hall for stuthe administration, design, and because their job is to ensure that dent input, David said execution of Just Community everything the school does is just that neither the Constituand what we want it to be. I don’t elections,” the proposal stated. tion or the Student Hand“We feel that the Agenda think that has anything to do with book of Shalhevet discuss Committee—which has histor- Agenda. ” who should run elections. ically overseen Just Community — Mimi Czuker, 11th grade Agenda’s running them was elections—should henceforth merely tradition. split its responsibilities with the He then explained the Fairness Committee, given that rationale for each choice the Fairness Committee is to uphold every mem- that would appear on the voting ballot. ber of the Just Community’s ‘Right to Fairness.’” For the proposal to combine Agenda and FairAccording to David, after this proposal was ness, the reasoning is that last year the election introduced at Town Hall Sept. 3, leaders of SAC system was flawed, and there should be more sent Agenda a new proposal, in which they ex- oversight. plained why they felt they should be included in For the case for all three committees ruling overseeing elections. together, David said that SAC leaders believed if The SAC proposal stated: the two other Just Community sectors were in“SAC (Student Activities Committee) strong- volved, they should be too. Elections affect SAC ly opposes the new proposal regarding Agenda just as much as the other two committees, and and Fairness overseeing elections. We believe that SAC is “equally involved in the JC as Agenda and if both Agenda and Fairness committees oversee Fairness.” the elections then SAC should be involved as well. David then made the case for the amendment SAC is a Committee that requires electing offi- to make Fairness the only overseeing body in eleccials, Chairs, representative, etc. Thus, we believe tions, which eventually won. that SAC should help oversee that our candidates “Adding multiple committees could make are fairly elected, along with other candidates for things confusing,” David said. other committees.” And he added, “Agenda has always done it, However, SAC leaders actually supported the but Agenda has tons of responsibilities throughidea of all-Fairness election oversight, and agreed out the whole year. Fairness has more of a casewith the results of the vote. According to Gabby by-case basis. Maybe they have some room to Lasry and Ari Shlacht, two of the three SAC co- take on more responsibility in the school.”

Comp-Sci students present internship projects to realtors By Rachel Metzger, Staff Writer At 2:15 p.m. last Thursday, when most students were rushing to their next class, four seniors could be seen leaving the parking lot in very formal attire. Kiku Shaw, Evan Rubel, Sam Rubanowitz and Gilad Spitzer were set to present the projects they had been working on for the entire summer to over 120 California realtors at REimagine! Conference at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The students had participated in a six-week-long paid summer internship at the California Association of Realtors (CAR), run by Dr. Josh Sharfman who is the group’s Chief Technology and Innovation Officer and teaches SAS Computer Science at Shalhevet. Dr. Sharfman has offered this internship to his students, all juniors and seniors, for the last three years. Four who were seniors last year presented at the conference’s Business Technology Forum. The internship applied work done in the classroom to real-world dilemmas, and the interns presented their projects to directors and other leaders of CAR -- people who actually might use them and were very enthusiastic about what they heard. “Dr. Sharfman really promised us that we weren’t going to be

Though the presentations were meaningful for the interns, the doing busy work,” said Kiku Shaw. “He set aside projects for us to do that would really affect and change the way certain things are audience and Dr. Sharfman also learned much. “The single most remarkable outcome of the presentation was done at CAR.” that people walked into the room with a preconceived The projects presented ranged from bias of what high school students could accomplish in the e-mail cybersecurity to legal remedia- ‘They went from having a very low internship program, and throughout the presentations, tion. Dr. Sharfman worked with every expectation of what high school their biases were completely challenged and disassemstudent one-on-one. students could produce to being bled,” said Dr. Sharfman. “They went from having a very “Dr. Sharfman was our support amazed.’ low expectation of what high school students could prosystem,” said Evan. “He assigned us duce to being amazed.” projects based on our interests and it — Dr. Josh Sharfman, But he did not promise to take interns to the conferwas really amazing that he was able to SAS Computer Science teacher ence again next year. personalize our journey and our growth “I inform my decisions based on the needs and capabecause he had us as students the year bilities of the students and the needs of the association prior.” and organization,” Dr. Sharfman said. “I cannot predict those with Nevertheless, they were jittery when it came time to present. “I was really nervous,” said Kiku afterwards, “but the CAR em- certainty right now, so I can certainly say it absolutely be my desire ployees and directors at the presentation were so welcoming and and my hope to be able to do this again next year, but we will have they were so nice to us, just as they were at the internship during to assess what the projects are, who the students are, and what the the summer. We got up there and we really just wanted to show our needs of the Business Technology Forum are at next year’s meeting.” achievements for ourselves and for Dr. Sharfman and show how much we appreciated working for them.”

The Boiling Point • October 2019 • Community

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Nat Reynolds, former Head of School, teacher, mentor, has died By Molly Litvak, Community Editor

they could build a theater there. The two designed it together and Mr. Reynolds even acted in one of Mr. Nathan Reynolds, who founded Shalhevet’s General Stud- their productions, Stage Door, playing the father of ies department, recruited the first student body and years later left another character. Ms. Chase said he was a great mentor to her. retirement on three separate occasions to fill different positions in“I learned a lot from him, watching him in cluding Interim Head of School, died in his sleep on June 24 at his meetings with parents and teachers, and how kind home in Ojai. He was 86. He joined with school founder Dr. Jerry Friedman to open the he was and how graciously he listened to people,” school in 1993, coming out of retirement because he was intrigued Ms. Chase said in an interview. “He was the first to help custodians move desks, with the idea of a school built on moral development. When the school moved into the old campus at San Vicente and Fairfax, he he was very relatable, and he taught me a lot about came up with the idea of turning part of it into a theater, and the how to treat people with dignity. He was an intellectual and a humanitarian.” Wildfire Theater Lab was born. Born in 1933 in Los Angeles, Mr. Reynolds He then returned as General Studies principal for three years in 1997 and again in 2003, staying for a year-and-a-half when the served in the U.S Army for two years, and then graduated from UCLA and spent a year at Johns position became vacant suddenly once again. He returned for the last time in 2010, to be interim head of Hopkins University as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow. school while officials were looking for a permanent new head of His first marriage was to Sallie Gilmore, who he BP FIle Photo by Leona Fallas school after the departure of Rabbi Elchanan Weinbach -- which met at UCLA and with whom he had three chilturned out to be Rabbi Segal -- but soon left after being seriously dren. LITERATURE: Mr. Reynolds, a lover of great literature and the arts, hosted poetry seminars for He married Ms. Loebe, who was teaching Eninjured in a traffic accident while commuting to Shalhevet from students and faculty during his time at Shalhevet. glish at Shalhevet, in 2004 and they moved to Ojai Ojai. “He loved Shalhevet,” said his widow, Ms. Laura Loebe Reyn- together. The two first met at an English Departness committee and so forth, he was very into it.” olds, in an interview with the Boiling Point. “He knew the school ment faculty meeting, where she was “drawn to him While General Studies Principal, Mr. Reynolds hosted poetry instantly.” well, and he always wanted to help Jerry Friedman. He and Jerry seminars for students and faculty members. “He had extended his hand and said to me ‘Nat Reynolds,’ instarted the school together so they went back quite a few years, “A few kids would come to his office,” said Ms. Chase. “It was and every time Shalhevet was in between directors, he was called troducing him, and I took his hand and I just instantly liked him,” an open poetry seminar that he would run with people, so that she said in an interview with the Boiling Point. “I sat down and I because he knew the school so well, and he would just never say no was just very aware of his presence the whole kids who loved poetry would have a special connection with him to them. He just loved Shalhevet.” and talk with him about books. His office was of course lined with meeting, and I’ll never forget it.” At a memorial service held Sept. 8 on the mid“Every experience I had with him... “I will always be grateful to Shalhevet for books.” dle school campus of Harvard-Westlake School in Dr. Friedman remembers the seminars as well. hiring me,” she said. “That’s how I met Nat!” and the common theme and so much Bel Air -- formerly the location of the Westlake “He loved literature,” said Dr. Friedman. “That was his forte, Mr. Reynolds’ first teaching job was at Los School for Girls, where Mr. Reynolds was head of of what we have heard here today, and therefore, when he wanted to do poetry, we were all for it.” Angeles’ Harvard School, a boys high school school for many years -- he was described as in- is that everything he did, he taught. Mr. Reynolds also had an instrumental role with the Boiling he had attended himself. He taught 10th-grade spiring, kind and adventurous. Other than work- Not only how to experience and English there for six years and coached their Point. In the spring of 2003, when Mrs. Joelle Keene was the new ing in education, Mr. Reynolds biked across the enjoy and draw meaning, but how to wrestling and football teams, and then moved part-time Music Appreciation and choir teacher, Mr. Reynolds nocountry, built a house on a foundation of tires and live a meaningful life.” on to be headmaster of Westlake, increasing ticed her journalism background on her resume and asked if she quoted poetry on the fly. wanted to revive the paper, which had been mostly inactive for two enrollment there to 700 students. According to transcripts of the service, all of — Ilan Graff, Shalhevet Class of 2001 His first encounter with Shalhevet was years. She said yes and became full-time starting that fall. the speakers said he was among the most memoraAt his memorial service, Other speakers included three former when Dr. Jerry Friedman was first developing ble teachers of their lives. students spoke who had stayed in touch with him since being in the school and he wanted to hire him as a conRepresenting Shalhevet was alumnus Ilan Graff, class of 2001. his 10th-grade English class at Harvard School back in the 1960s. “Every experience I had with him... and the common theme sultant, after hearing of his retirement. Refusing to accept any salary, Mr. Reynolds worked with Dr. Now in their 70s themselves, they described the effect he had on and so much of what we have heard here today, is that everything he Friedman in 1992 to establish the General Studies department, re- their lives. did, he taught,” said Mr. Graff, addressing several hundred people Mr. Winston Chappel, an architect who had Mr. Reynolds as a cruit the first student body and hire the initial faculty members. in the school’s theater. “Not only how to experience and enjoy and teacher in 1962, remembered some specific lessons. Dr. Friedman said he needed help when starting Shalhevet bedraw meaning, but how to live a meaningful life... “His lectures on Moby Dick were electrifying,” said Mr. Chapcause he had never run a school before. He sought Mr. Reynolds “He taught by being who he was. He taught me engagement by pell. “The day he lectured on the short chapter ‘The Lee Shore,’ being engaged, he taught me compassion by being compassionate, because he knew he had been the head of school at Westlake, a top about Bulkington, and ‘Better to perish in that howling infinite he taught me humility by being, well, mostly humble,” -- the audi- school, and because his ideology was similar to what Dr. Friedman than to stay safe in the harbor’ -- I swear the light changed in the ence chuckled -- “and by gently mocking me every time I did not was hoping to create. room and I have been different ever since.” “There was a kind of methodology that he was a natural at,” said live up to his example.” According to Ms. Emily Chase, Shalhevet’s drama teacher, the Dr. Friedman in an interview with the Boiling Point. “He liked the Editor-in-Chief Jacob Joseph Lefkowitz Brooks contributed to this Wildfire Theatre Lab was Mr. Reynolds’ idea. In the old building, idea of democracy, he liked the idea of sharing rules and regulations story. and developing that with the students -Town Hall meetings, Fairhe showed her a room filled with old hospital equipment and said

Basement is back, along with new bleachers and a larger robotics lab By alex rubel, sports editor While students and faculty were away for the summer, Shalhevet’s maintenance crew of expanded the robotics lab, added bleachers to the school’s gym, and restored four basement classes that were flooded by a city water main break last April. Shalhevet Chief Operating Officer Ms. Sarah Emerson said the school had to adjust its priorities due to the unexpected amount of time it took to repair the damage and deal with the insurance company. “When we got the green light to go ahead and start reconstruction, there were only three weeks before school started,” Ms. Emerson said in an interview with the Boiling Point. “So we made a decision at that moment to focus on the four classrooms.” The basement currently has six classrooms, four of which are now fully functional. The other two classrooms -- B104 and B105 -- are still being restored. “We wanted those four classrooms to be ready for when school started,” Ms. Emerson said. In the gym, a new set of bleachers along the south wall -- officially seating 40 more people -- and three showers have been added. Athletic Coordinator Coach Jeff Remer’s office was relocated closer to the gym bathrooms to make room. Ms. Emerson said that the added seats would benefit not only well-attended basketball games -- such as the Annual Steve Glouberman Z”L basketball tournament in November -- but also other events such as concerts and graduation. “There’s a real benefit to having more seating,” she said. On the second floor, the robotics lab was widened in order to give the robotics team -- which meets almost every day after school during the build season -- more space for its needs. The lab is now connected to Room 210 -- a physics lab -- and a roll-down wall can separate the two rooms as needed. “It’s a natural extension,” she said.

General Studies Principal Mr. Daniel Weslow said that for the past five years, the school wanted to build a digital media and writing lab in the basement. The lab is now expected to open this winter, he said. It will serve as a newsroom and center for digital media -- potentially a digital media class in the future, -- as well as a resource area for students to meet with their English and Humanities teachers. “Both of them will be intertwined,” Mr. Weslow said. Mr. Weslow said the lab would be stocked with iMacs and provide collaboration space, along with a “green screen” for video and possible newscasts. He said the lab can serve a variety of purposes. “Any interdisciplinary or cross-curricular projects can utilize that space,” Mr. Weslow said. In the gym, a new set of bleachers along the south wall -- offiBP Photo by Neima Fax cially seating 40 more people -- and three showers have been addPROGRESS: Jose Flores Jr. worked last month on what will be Room B104, a new ed. Athletic Coordinator Coach Jeff Remer’s office was relocated digital media center. When finished, there will be five basement classrooms in all.. closer to the gym bathrooms to make room. Ms. Emerson said that the added seats would allow the gym to In the basement, things aren’t exactly the same as they were increase its occupancy , benefiting not only well-attended basketbefore the flood. The school is using temporary furniture; the old ball games -- such as the Annual Steve Glouberman Z”L basketball furniture -- which stood in water several inches deep during the tournament in November -- but also other events such as concerts flood -- is being stored in a warehouse in Chatsworth. and graduation. “We’re still working with the insurance company and the hy“There’s a real benefit to having more seating,” she said. gienist about what furniture can be cleaned properly and what furOn the second floor, the robotics lab was widened in order to niture is a total loss,” Ms. Emerson said. give the robotics team -- which meets almost every day after school Math teacher Mr. Andrew Sinajon, who teaches in B102, said during the build season -- more space for its needs. The lab is now his classroom was unavailable throughout orientation but was connected to Room 210 -- a physics lab -- and a roll-down wall can ready for the first day of school. But he’s happy with the way things separate the two rooms as needed. have been going since. “It’s a natural extension,” she said. “I would have liked to have gotten a chance to see the room Robotics Team Captain Samson Taxon said the extra space and before,” said Mr. Sinajon, who teaches all five of his classes in the the roll-down wall will greatly boost the team’s production abilities. basement, but “I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how functional “We can have multiple projects going on at one time and still be things have been.” able to communicate in one space during the build season,” Samson Meanwhile, as promised the administration took advantage of said. the redo to make some changes, though they are not complete yet.

The Boiling Point • October 2019 • Community

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Faculty additions (no subtractions)

By Alex Rubel, Senior Editor For the first time at least since the Boiling Point started keeping track in 2004, not a single classroom teacher was let go or decided not to return at the end of the 2018-2019 school years. Only Ed Support Specialist Ms. Jen Hurvitz left, to pursue higher education. But all of last year’s classroom teachers are continuing to teach this school year. General Studies Principal Mr. Daniel Weslow said the high retention rate was a testament to the school’s strength.

“I think we’re firing on all cylinders,” Mr. Weslow said. “It’s a great place to work, and I think we’ve got a really good thing going right now. I’m really proud of our team.” “Consistency is important,” he added,” and having that consistency to really develop your departments and programs and the school experience as whole goes a long way.” Meanwhile, the school added six new employees. Mr. Weslow said that was in order to bolster academic departments, increase student resources and lower class sizes. “I’m excited about the year,” Mr. Weslow said. “I think it’s going to be a great one.”

New chesed director is also an athlete By Jolie Wineburgh, Arts and Culture Editor

Now with a two-year-old son, Mrs. Hametz has found time for running hard to come by. She got more involved in yoga and pilates, and now takes boxing as well. “I find it to be so cathartic, punching things and kind of getting out your aggression in a positive and healthy way,” she said. Mrs. Hametz grew up in Monroe, N.Y., 10 minutes away from a Kiryas Yoel, a Satmar Chassidic community of more than 50,000 people north of Manhattan. Her grandparents owned a summer camp there, and Mrs. Hametz learned to love having 500 kids playing sports and games in her backyard during the summer months. To be able to connect with them, she took it upon herself to learn Yiddish in high school, and still can speak the language. “I wear sandals, I don’t dress or speak like the Chassidic community,” she said. “But just having that shared point in language, I found that I was more welcomed, and the Chassidic community was more open to me being there.” Mrs. Hametz jumped into her teaching career after running summer programs and Judaic learning sessions for NCSY, saying it just felt natural to her to teach. She moved to Los Angeles for her job at Maimonides in 2014, and started out by serving as a Judaic teacher for third grade. She received her masters degree in education two years ago at American Jewish University, in the same program and classes as Rabbi David Stein. Mrs. Hametz expects her students to put their best efforts into school, both in class and for assignments in general. And here’s some advice: Mrs. Hametz says that if she sees a student working la’amol baTorah — meaning that they work and really invest themselves in the Torah — she’s more lenient. “As a teacher, I’m incredibly frustrated by students who put in zero effort and are just not trying,” Mrs. Hametz said. “If they don’t succeed then that’s okay, but I would much rather a student work to do their best and work to put their best foot forward each and everyday in class than to kind of give up.”

Malkie Hametz

New Tanakh teacher says the ‘bubble’ is a good thing

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Running marathons and finding zen in yoga are two hobbies of Mrs. Malkie Hametz, Shalhevet’s newest Tanakh teacher and new director of chesed, or community service. A third is boxing. Introduced as “the Lebron James of chesed” on the first day of school by Principal Mr. Daniel Weslow, Mrs. Hametz said boxing classes help her stay both mentally and physically healthy. Mr. Weslow introduces all new teachers by comparing them to pro athletes, but in this case, it fit more than usual. “I’ve never seen exercise at odds with being a kind, genuine, and giving person,” said Mrs. Hametz, who is known to many students from having taught at Gindi Maimonides Academy for five years. At Shalhevet, she is teaching ninth- and 10th-grade Tanakh. She acknowledged that boxing had a different reputation than running, yoga or pilates. “Very often this exercise is perceived to be a more aggressive sort of activity,” she said, “but I find it to just be healthy and it makes you a better and happier person.” Mrs. Hametz will also serve as Shalhevet’s newest mashgicha ruchanit, responsible for religious guidance and supporting students’ emotional and spiritual well-being. Mrs. Hametz started running while in seminary at Darchei Binah in Jerusalem, and began focusing on it more seriously in college. At Stern College for Women of Yeshiva University, she joined the cross-country team and competed against colleges up and down the East Coast. Then she started training for marathons. In 2011, she ran the Miami marathon in 4 hours, 11 minutes. “I actually placed fourth in my age division,” she said, “so I got this special really cool medal that they sent me.” In 2012, Mrs. Hametz ran in a half-marathon to raise money for Chai Lifeline, pushing her camper in a wheelchair for the majority of the race. “It’s really nice to run for a great organization that you believe in because there is so much support and encouragement every step of the way,” she said. “There are coaches available to help you train, a pasta party before the race to load up on carbs, a fun barbecue after, and just really great camaraderie.” She ran another half-marathon in 2015 with her sister.

BP Photo by Maia Lefferman

By liad machmali, torah editor

Natalie Honig Page design by Sarah Feuer

As someone who did not always connect to either Judaism or Jewish school but eventually fell in love with both, new Judaic Studies teacher Mrs. Natalie Honig looks forward to helping others find their own religious path. Mrs. Honig is teaching ninth-grade Tanakh and ninthgrade Tanakh skills. “I love Judaism -- I think it’s so important,” Mrs. Honig said in an interview. “It’s a very hard thing to connect to, but once you connect, it’s like the most incredible thing ever.” Growing up in Los Angeles, Mrs. Honig’s family did not keep all of the holidays or Shabbat but made sure to spend time together, she said. She called her family’s Jewish lifestyle “traditional.” She attended Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy and YULA Girls High School, followed by seminary at Michlelet Esther in Israel. She attended Stern College of Yeshiva University and graduated with a degree in accounting. Meanwhile, for a short period of time at the beginning of 12th grade, she took classes at Santa Monica College, leaving what she considered to be “the Jewish bubble.” That caused her to see Judaism and the community in a new light, she said. “You really don’t realize -- being around Jewish kids and being in that ‘bubble’ is like the best thing ever,” Mrs. Honig said. “You don’t have to explain anything to anyone, they kind of just understand everything.”

She hopes to use her own experience and connection to seminary to help students find their own path to engage and build a relationship with God. “I love the idea that Shalhevet does not stuff it down your throat,” she said, “I just want kids to connect to it in a very nice, happy way, not negatively.” Mrs. Honig lives in LA with her husband and two kids, a toddler age 2 and a four-month-old. Earlier, she lived in Great Neck, N.Y., where she worked for two years at a wig store called Gali Wigs Couture. It supplied hairpieces for both sheitels (wigs for religious head covering), medical conditions or and other needs. Before that, she spent a very short time working at an accounting firm. “I’m a big people person so I didn’t like it, and that’s why I moved to the wigs,” she said, explaining that for the company, it was a chesed project. “You would have people who had cancer that needed a wig and so you would help them with their emotions.” Outside of school, Mrs. Honig enjoys painting and teaching others how to paint. She illustrates wedding portraits for couples who want a different background in their photo, such as the Kotel, and has taught various types of art to children, high school students and senior citizens. Mrs. Honig loves spending time with her kids and although she is sad to not see them as often, she is very excited to be a part of the Shalhevet family. “I just love it,” she said. “I love being with kids -- I love their energy.”

For Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom, it’s back to the future

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By Bayley Sandler, Staff Writer When Rabbi Yiztchak Etshalom began teaching at Shalhevet the first time, the school wasn’t even a year old. Twenty-eight years later, he is teaching courses with the same ideals that he did back then. “I’ve been a fan of Shalhevet from day one,” said Rabbi Etshalom in an interview. “Actually from before day one -- from 1991, when I first started at this school. I always believed that this was an important mission and that this school served an important place in the community, and that has been absolutely proven to be true.” This year, Rabbi Etshalom splits his time between Shalhevet and YULA Boys High School. After he left the Shalhevet faculty the first time, Rabbi Etshalom began working there and is currently going into his 23rd year with the school. It’s his third time at Shalhevet, but his second time splitting his time

Rabbi Etshalom

between both schools at the same time, he said. “I am proud of my association with both places,” Rabbi Etshalom said. “Each school places different emphasis on different things in Jewish life. The student population comes from not totally but somewhat of a different cut of the traditional community.” Rabbi Etshalom is leading a new breakfast-period program this year called the Beit Midrash Track, open to juniors and seniors who want to work at a level higher than AGS (Advanced Gemara Studies). He teaches using the usual methods of chavruta, or partner-type learning, first and then goes over the material with the class. Students say he draws mind maps on the board to explain every detail of the complicated sugu’yot, or a Gemara that discusses a specific Mishna, that they study. “In this class we’re able to work on our strategies and our skills in Gemara while also being sure we understand what we’re learning,” said senior Nicole Klausner. “There’s a lot of analysis and stuff like that. He’s a really serious Talmud teacher … and everyone in there is committed to putting in the work to strengthen their skills.” Rabbi Etshalom has the first-ever Shalhevet title of Rosh Beit Midrash, and also is teaching a combined 11th-12-grade class of Tanakh. To celebrate the new program -- and perhaps the time of day it meets -- school officials purchased a coffee machine for Room 303, where the class meets. Rabbi Etshalom started his career working at Los Angeles Hebrew High School, teaching students who went to public school but wanted to take Jewish courses. He attended L.A. Hebrew High himself, growing up in the San Fernando Valley. Outside of school, he loves to ski, hike, raft and travel around America and Israel. “I basically live at airports,” he said. Rabbi Etshalom says that “the fact that we take our Torah so seriously here helps us directly with the rest of our lives and what we’re doing during summer vacation… This is why I am proud to be a part of the Shalhevet family.” Though the material -- and his own goals in teaching it -- are the same as when he started, the school today, he said,“is a very different place”. “I’m jazzed by the joie de vivre and the joie des livres,” he said, using French expressions for joy in life and joy about books.

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New English teacher brings a worldwide upbringing and a passion for playwriting By Molly Litvak, Community Editor He may teach English, but new Shalhevet teacher Mr. Brian Forrester has a passion for theater, or more specifically, playwriting. Ever since college, he’s been writing plays and operas that focus on historical periods or events. He’s also been teaching, but not high school: Mr. Forrester has taught at Western Kentucky University, where he earned a B.S. English; Kennesaw State University in Georgia; Valparaiso University in Indiana and Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where he earned an M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing. In 2010, Mr. Forrester moved to Los Angeles from Pittsburgh, and this year he is teaching one 10th-grade American Literature class at Shalhevet. “I always thought I was going to be a novelist,” said Mr. Forrester. “But when I couldn’t get into the advanced fiction writing class because it was full, I wanted to do something creative so I took Intro to Playwriting, and I fell head-over-heels in love with it and I never looked back.” At the moment, he is working on an opera libretto, or script, about Lady Macbeth called Blasted Heath. His last play, called The Beast of Skitter Creek, was about a cotton mill strike in 1932 in South Carolina, and was produced at Essential Theater in Atlanta in 2016.

Mr. Forrester’s wife Carolyn also writes plays but they mostly work separately. According to Mr. Forrester, she likes writing about Queen Elizabeth I, who reigned from 1533-1603. Growing up, Mr. Forrester went to a new school every two years or so. His dad was in the Navy, so he grew up mostly on remote islands, such as the Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific and Adak, Alaska. “I got to see pretty much every corner of the world which is a great way to grow up,” Mr. Forrester said. He went to the University of Georgia for undergrad d in English and political science, and then attended Kennesaw State and Carnegie Mellon for graduate school. Mr. Forrester met his wife at Carnegie Mellon and they decided to drive together to Los Angeles from Pittsburgh. The drive took around five days and by the time they arrived in L.A., they were dating and would be married a year-and-a-half later. Mr. Forrester started by teaching theater and drama, and has been teaching for eight years. “It’s one of those things where you kinda don’t get to know your own discipline really until you learn to teach it to others,” said Mr. Forrester. “It’s been incredibly rewarding.” He said he’s excited about “introducing kids to great literature for the first time before they’ve got a chance to learn to be dismissive of it or not be excited about it.”

“By the time they get to college, most students have some pretty firm opinions about literature, so I’m looking forward to catching you guys early,” he said. Mr. Forrester was always into reading growing up. He devoured everything written by Edgar Allen Poe, and then moved into dramas and 20th century plays such as Death of a Salesman. He said he has a very discussion-based teaching style. “I like to throw things out there and then we’ll argue about it,” said Mr. Forrester. “That’s my basic style, that’s what literature is built for.” When he’s not writing or teaching, Mr. Forrester loves to bake. He has recently taken up baking bread.

Brian Forrester

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Spreadsheets, songs and school-running: Nachum Joel By Caleb Fishman, Staff Writer

Nachum Joel

Shalhevet’s apparent love for former singers has surfaced again with the arrival of Mr. Nachum Joel, who has joined the staff as a teacher and administrative intern under Chief Operating Officer Ms. Sarah Emerson. Mr. Joel is teaching the SAS Economics class this year, and is the third member of the Maccabeats -the popular all-male a capella group founded at Yeshiva University -- to join the faculty. Associate Head of School Rabbi David Block and former Judaic Studies teacher Noey Jacobson were also Maccabeats, and Rabbi Block is a founder.But Mr. Joel’s role at Shalhevet will be more in line with his educational and personal background. He earned an MBA from Yeshiva University and worked eight years at an insurance firm, and his father is the former YU President Mr. Richard Joel. This year, he’ll be studying the logistics of running a school as Assistant Executive Director. “I want to learn how schools run from the business side,” Mr. Joel said in an interview. “Anything that entails the facilities or construction, those kind of logistics. We have people who do those jobs like development or admissions, and I want to learn to do all of them.” In a press conference last spring, Head of School Rabbi Ari Segal compared his role to that of new Judaic Studies teachers the school has hosted. “We’re excited to be a school that people look to for that kind of mentoring, meaning he chose to come here,” Rabbi Segal told Boiling Point reporters April 12. He said Mr. Joel would learn about budgets, financial aid, fundrais-

ing, building issues and human resources. “I think he saw this as a real opportunity to be mentored by someone like Sarah, who’s incredible,” he said, “and lots of other people in the building who have great experience.” n right outside Washington D.C., Mr. Joel grew up attending the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy, or as it was known back then, the Hebrew Academy of Greater Washington, through the 11th grade. He then attended his senior year at MTA in New York City. There are two things Mr. Joel loved from his life on the East Coast that he’s continuing with in Los Angeles: food and basketball. “I wanted to make sure that there was at least one basketball game I play in per week,” he said, adding that he’d already been to many kosher restaurants. He’s also found a new hobby that didn’t seem plausible in New York: biking to and from work. His daily commute from the Beverlywood area to Shalhevet is around two-and-a-half miles. “It’s great -- the weather is always perfect and I always get to bike,” he said. “It’s very different from New York.” Mr. Joel said he hoped he could make strong connections with students, even though he’d be spending a lot of time in offices. “In a lot of places, if you’re running the business side of the school and you are not in the educational roles, you don’t necessarily get to interact with the students often,” he said. “I want to make sure that I do.” But that will most likely not result in either a Maccabeat reunion or a collaboration with the Choirhawks. “The odds are not good,” said Mr. Joel. “I heard the Choirhawks practicing and they’re fantastic. They don’t need me or Rabbi Block.”

8

The Boiling Point • October 2019 • Community

Rabbi Block to be Head of School starting next year By Molly Litvak, Community Editor Musical, close to students and known for both humility and a sharp mind, Head of School-designate Rabbi David Block hopes to make his own mark on Shalhevet by listening and “thinking deeply” about what Modern Orthodoxy means in a school setting. At only 31 years old, Rabbi Block has earned six degrees from five different institutions, experienced fame as a founding member of the Maccabeats singing group, has three children with his wife Gila, and soon will replace Rabbi Segal, who is making aliyah, as Head of School at Shalhevet. Before this year, Rabbi Block spent three years at Shalhevet as a teacher and spiritual adviser, including almost two as the school’s Assistant Principal for Judaic Studies. This year, he’s Associate Head of School. In an interview with the Boiling Point, Rabbi Block said he wants to think about different approaches to making the school a “thoughtful Modern Orthodox institution.” “We would do well to think about what Modern Orthodox education looks like in terms of halacha, and Modern Orthodox thought and things like that,” Rabbi Block said. “I want to think a little bit more deeply on that, but I’m open to curricular changes, to whatever our students need. I’m happy to meet them there. “I’m very excited to continue the amazing things the school has been doing, to make my own mark in some unique ways.” Rabbi Block’s degrees are a Doctor of Education and Master of Science, both in education, from Yeshiva University’s Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration; rabbinic ordination from YU’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary; a Master of Arts in Medieval Jewish History from YU’s Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies; a Bachelor of Arts in Jewish History from YU, and

Photo by Eliana Khoobian POSITIVE: Future Head of School Rabbi David Block is known for having great relationships with students, who reacted positively to news of his appointment. a Bachelor of Arts in Jewish History from Yeshivat Shaalvim in Israel. He is a founder of the Maccabeats Jewish a capella group at YU, and also teaches Judaics studies classes including Jewish Philosophy and Talmud while serving as mashgiach ruchani. He’s also a known coffee fanatic and displays a sarcastic sense of humor in class and one-on-one settings. Hailing originally from Long Island, New York, he is a fanatic fan of suburban teams including the Mets, the Jets and the Islanders. Students say he reaches out even to those who don’t have him as a teacher, and that he treats every person as his favorite. In interviews with the Boiling Point, student reaction to Rabbi Block’s appointment was uniformly positive Incoming SAC chair Caroline Edry said Rabbi Block

helped her start the new Hope 4 Humanity club last year. “I think Rabbi Block would be a great head of school,” said Caroline. “I’ve had him as a teacher and I’ve also grown very close with him because … he was sort of my advisor throughout the whole process. “I have a great relationship with him and I know he’s going to do a great job, and I know he has a great relationship with a majority of the students.” Agenda Chair David Edwards called him inspiring. “Both Rabbi Segal and Atara Segal are integral parts to the Shalhevet community,” said David. “While no one can replace Rabbi Segal, Rabbi Block is an amazing leader, teacher and an inspirational person. He will definitely do well in his new role.” Rabbi Block became Assistant Principal after the departure of then-principal Dr. Weissman in 2018. Dr. Noam Drazin, head of Shalhevet’s board, said the board would be looking for someone to replace Rabbi Block in the assistant principal role. Dr. Drazin said he is more than qualified for the role of Head of School. “I think we should think of it as not chronological age but functional age,” said Dr. Drazin. “Despite his young age he has a very mature stature and is incredibly mature and humble. I think he’ll do phenomenally.” Rabbi Block anticipates he will continue teaching while head of school, although perhaps fewer classes than he does now, which is two regular and one class that meets two hours a week rather than three. “It’s very important to me that I’m still going to continue to be involved,” said Rabbi Block. “I have to make sure that I take care of everything, and it’s a lot, but I don’t see that as being an issue. It’s extremely important to me that I continue in the classroom.”

Rabbi Segal to make gradual departure to making aliyah to Israel beginning in 2021, but will stay on staff as ‘Chief Strategy Officer’ Skaist, Rabbi Derek Gormin and Jewish History teachers Mr. Jeremy Shine and Ms. Hannah Tobin Cohen -- all Modern Orthodox themselves, even though commuting to Israel is difficult. “It was important for our family to get to Is- while most of the school’s previous Judaic Studies rael for our kids starting in the 2020-21 year,” teachers had been more Haredi in their training said Rabbi Segal. He and his wife, Judaic Studies or outlook. He also brought highly trained women into teacher Ms. Atara Segal, have an older daughter, Shalhevet alumna Noa Segal ‘18, who made ali- the Judaic Studies department, among them Ms. Ilana Wilner, a graduate of the Graduate Program yah last year, and two younger daughters as well. Rabbi Segal also commuted in 2016-17, while in Advanced Talmudic Studies at Yeshiva Univerhis family lived in Israel for a year so Ms. Segal sity, Rabba Ramie Smith, a graduate of Yeshivat could study to become a Yoetzet Halacha at the Maharat; Dr. Sara Smith, who holds a doctorate in Jewish Education from New York University; Nishmat seminary in Modi’in. “I didn’t want to immediately jump out of and Yoetzet Segal, who before becoming a yoetzet Shalhevet and leave Rabbi Block with only a year halacha became the first woman to teach Gemara in an Orthodox school of us working together on in Los Angeles and also his new school role,” he said. has served as masgicha “Shalhevet has been literally “The best part of this plan, as sad as it ruchanit (spiritual counthe greatest work experience may be that we are losing at some point selor) and head of Israel of my life. I feel incredibly guidance. connected and indebted to Rabbi Segal to Israel, is that we have a In 2016, Rabbi Segal the school but also passion- two- to three-year transition plan in instituted and publicized ate about it, and I wanted to place.” keep it functioning at as high — Dr. Noam Drazin an official LGBT inclusion pledge -- the first of a level as possible.” its kind in an Orthodox Rabbi Segal was appointday school -- hoping it ed head of school in October 2010 and arrived in Los Angeles the following would set an example for other institutions. In fall, in 2011. Since then, school enrollment has 2013, he decided not to allow girls to wear tefillin risen from approximately 180 to 250, with annu- at school, but to let those who wanted to do so al waiting lists of admitted students. The number daven at a Temple Beth Am, a nearby Conserof applicants for each year’s class has risen from 38 vative congregation, and come to school after in 2010 to to 115 in 2016, the last year for which tefilah. Although Rabbi Segal informed the board of statistics were available this afternoon. In 2013, with then-board president Larry Gill his decision to leave a few months ago, he has Rabbi Segal spearheaded the sale of two-thirds of often spoken and written of his family’s wish to the school’s property to the developer of the Vinz live in Israel. “As Religious Zionists,” he wrote in his email apartment complex, using the proceeds to build on Aug. 12, “aliyah has been a dream for us for the new building, which opened in 2015. Meanwhile, he strengthened the school’s Juda- many years, and with the support and guidance ic Studies curriculum, bringing in an entirely new from Nefesh b’Nefesh and our family, we are Judaic Studies staff and backing the development confident in our ability to make this dream a of a new Talmud curriculum, called LaHav, now reality.” As far as this year goes, nothing is changing in use in Jewish schools around the world. He promoted then-YU fellow Dr. Noam but Rabbi Block and Rabbi Segal plan to work Weissman to various administrative roles and together as the transition begins. Dr. Noam Drazin, president of the Shalhevet brought in Rabbi Ari Schwarzberg, Rabbi David Stein, Rabbi Yagil Tsaidi and Rabbi Abraham Li- board, said the decision to elevate Rabbi Block eberman, along with Rabbi Block, as well as cur- was made with the help of a New York-based rent and former teachers Reb Tuli and Ms. Ruthie consultant, Dr. Scott Goldberg, an associate Continued from page 1

professor of education and psychology at Yeshiva University, who has been helping the school for several years on various issues. Also involved were the school’s executive board -- the officers of the board of trustees -- and “certain faculty and administration,” he said. The group did “an informal search of who was available around the country” and was advised to choose someone from inside the school, partly for stability and partly because of Rabbi Block himself, according to the email. “We felt that we should take this opportunity to develop someone who is going to be amazing in the future wherever he may go,” Dr. Drazin said. “We have someone in Rabbi Block who eats and breathes Shalhevet, has a personality that very directly matches the administration and faculty of the school, is one who is extremely motivated and inclined to be mentored in the process, and has a good idea of how this community works and community politics as well,” Dr. Drazin said. Dr. Goldberg lives on the East Coast, so Dr. Drazin said he would be communicating online through weekly video chats. Rabbi Segal has been working at Shalhevet since December 2010 as head of school, but spent his first semester commuting from Houston, where he was head of school at the Robert M.

Beran Academy. “I think one of the best things that Rabbi Segal has brought to our institution has been progressive thinking in Modern Orthodoxy that has completely changed how we look at Modern Orthodox education in this country,” said Dr. Drazin. “To have him be with us and directly involved in curriculum development and faculty recruitment has been a huge benefit to us and our school.” Less popular among students were Rabbi Segal’s anti-partying and -drinking policies, and what some saw as his favoritism towards basketball over other sports teams at Shalhevet, according to a Boiling Point poll in 2016. With the new building came a state-of-the-art gym used by the school’s basketball and volleyball teams and for P.E classes. The school also founded and sponsors the Steve Glouberman Basketball Tournament, which last year brought in 19 teams total, boys and girls. Shalhevet’s varsity boys basketball team has for the past two years in a row won the Red Sarachek Tournament, a national Jewish high school basketball competition at Yeshiva University.

Photo Courtesy of Rabbi Segal

ALIYAH: The Segal family visited a Bedouin village in this undated photo. They will move to Israel next year.

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Outside News

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MEANWHILE... JULY

OCTOBER 2019 6th

It’s climate vs. economy in Brazil as fires burn 7,000 square miles of Amazon rain forest

Hurricane Dorian tragedy in Bermuda moves freshmen to act once they know about it

BY Naomi Ornstein, staff writer

BY henry fried, staff writer

Often referred to as the lungs of the world, the Amazon rainforest is said to provide around 20 percent of the world’s oxygen. That turns out not to be exactly true, but huge fires that burned there last summer are dangerous for another reason. Trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide -- the most serious threat to global temperatures -- so losing huge swaths of plant-filled forests can injure the climate, scientists say. Fires are common in forests everywhere, but the blazes in Brazil over the summer were almost double what had been experienced the year before. An article from National Geographic said that as of Aug. 22, 7,000 square miles of the Amazon were aflame, and there had been about 76,000 fires in total in the region this year. In all, 2.24 million acres had burned this year, 130,000 acres in August alone. Since then, more fires have burned through the rainforest and are expected to keep burning as the dry season (summer in the Southern Hemisphere) continues and intensifies. According to National Geographic, most of the fires were caused by humans. Some were set in lands that had been previously cleared for the purpose of removing excess vegetation efficiently, while others were being cleared to make room for cattle and crops. Farmers and ranchers both benefit from setting fire to dried-out trees in order to open up land to be used for agriculture. Most observers blame the policies of Brazil’s new president, Yair Bolsonaro, which have encouraged economic development in the economically disadvantaged region. Bolsonaro’s government claims most of the fires were set by natural phenomena, such as lightning. He also campaigned on a promise to open up the Amazon to development, to help those who live there advance economically. “We cannot forget that the world needs to be fed,” Bolsonaro said at the United Nations climate meeting in New York Sept. 25. He also said the Amazon rainforest belongs to Brazil. “It is a fallacy to say that the Amazon is a world heritage,” he said. According to Christian Poirier, the program director of Amazon Watch, a nonprofit organization created to protect the Amazon by advancing the rights of the indigineous people in the Amazon Basin as well as campaigning to preserve the Amazon’s ecological system, nothing was unusual about this year’s seasonal weather changes compared to last year’s. For its part, NASA -- the U.S. space program, which studies satellite imagery of the entire planet -- says it’s too soon to tell what caused the fires. “It is not unusual to see fires in Brazil at this time of year due to high temperatures and low humidity,” says an Aug. 23 article. “Time will tell if this year is a record-breaking or just within normal limits.” But another satellite-reading federal agency -- NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration -- said the fires’ effect is known “Wildfires release large amounts of carbon dioxide, black carbon, brown carbon and ozone precursors into the atmosphere,” according to a fact sheet on NOAA’s website. “These emissions affect radiation, clouds and climate on regional and even global scales.” The Amazon absorbs around 90 billion tons of carbon as well as greenhouse gases to prevent them from clouding and polluting the environment according to an article by AP News.

A freshman class poll in the days after Hurricane Dorian ravaged the Bahamas showed only a fifth of the students had ever heard of the storm, which scientists said was one of the strongest hurricanes the world has ever experienced. But once they found out about it, two-thirds said they’d be willing to donate $2 to help the victims -- said to be tens of thousands of people who’ve lost everything, including the cities they lived in. Freshmen Benjamin Gamson and Talia Shapira conducted the poll as part of a ninth-grade journalism assignment. They said they would consider starting a fund together after their article is published. They said that to their surprise, changing the polling question made people more generous. First students were asked, “Are you interested in efforts to help the victims of Hurricane Dorian,” without any specific way of helping. Fifty percent said yes. But the next question asked was “Would you be willing to donate $2 to help victims” of the storm. “When we gave them a specific number that they could donate, the percentage went up from 50 percent to 66.7 percent,” Benjamin said, “and even though 100 percent of people in the class haven’t helped, 66.7 percent said they would donate $2 to help.” Thirty students were polled through an online Google form on Sept. 13, Benjamin said. Talia said that she and Benjamin will decide after Rosh Hashanah whether to start a GoFundMe.org campaign collecting money for Dorian victims. “After working on the article for journalism and learning more about the hurricane, I started to care more about helping the people who were affected by this,” said Talia. Money is something the Bahamas definitely will need. Hurricane Dorian is the costliest disaster in Bahamian history, estimated to have left behind $7 billion in property damage. As the Bahamas were recovering it was hit by a new tropical storm this past Friday which will only add to the damage and recovery that will be needed. The tens of thousands of people in its path had little time to react. Dorian began as a tropical storm Aug. 24 and quickly developed, growing over the course of six days from a tropical storm into a category 5 hurricane by Sept. 1. It then lingered cruelly over the Bahamas for almost 48 hours, a stationary storm with steady hurricane force winds as strong as a tornado. About The 70,000 people were left homeless, about 2,500 are missing. As of Sept. 23, 50 people have been confirmed dead as the death toll continues to rise. Hurricane Dorian is also notable for how far it traveled. After the Eastern Caribbean, it traveled past Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands at 13 miles per hour. When Dorian hit the warm water of the Atlantic it intensified and became catastrophic for the people of the Bahamas. Its force dissipated when it traveled to the United States passing Florida and deluging South Carolina with 90 mile-perhour winds. What began as a Category 2 storm left 200,000 people without power. It later struck Canada, causing heavy rainfall and wind damage in Nova Scotia, Canada -- a part of the East Coast too far north to have been struck by many hurricanes in the past..

18th

Jeffrey Epstein, a billionaire previously convicted for pedophilia, is arrested on sex trafficking charges for allegedly paying dozens of young girls -- as young as 14 years old -- for sex back in 2002 through 2005. He later commits suicide in his jail cell.

A U.S. Navy warship called the USS Boxer took down an Iranian drone flying within 1,000 yards of the ship in the Strait of Hormuz, which is between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. President Trump said it was threatening the safety of the ship and its crew.

30th-31st CNN hosts the second Democratic presi-

dential debate, held over two nights with 10 candidates on the stage each night. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are questioned about whether their Medicare-for-all plans are too ambitious.

AUGUST 3rd

4th

A 21-year-old gunman walks into a Walmart in El Paso, Texas Saturday morning and opens fire, killing 21 people and leaving dozens injured. He also leaves an anti-Hispanic and anti-immigrant manifesto.

A 24-year-old gunman opens fire in a bar in Dayton, Ohio. He kills 9 people -- including his sister -- and injures 27 others.

SEPTEMBER 12th

24th

Ten candidates debate each other in the third round of Democratic presidential debates, hosted by ABC News. Andrew Yang announces that he will give $1,000 a month to 10 American families for a year in a pilot program of his Universal Basic Income plan. Beto O’Rourke calls for government confiscation of AR-15s and AK-47s rifles.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces a formal impeachment inquiry against President Trump -- a move that she opposed for months -- after a whistleblower complaint filed Aug. 12 with the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community alleged that he asked a foreign leader, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, to discredit a political opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden. Pelosi said his actions violated the Constitution by seeking foreign interference in a U.S. election and that Trump must be held accountable because “no one is above the law.” - Sam Rubanowitz

10

The Boiling Point • October 2019 • Outside News

While EU waits, Israel takes action on Brexit just in case He said that in the long run, trade agreements — which lower tariffs — generally improve trade, assuming that trade is done fairly. But aside from the trade continuity agreement, it’s hard to guess how Brexit will affect Israel at this Leaving the European Union will mean that the United Kingdom — whose full moniker is the point since there are still so many uncertainties, he said. Like Ms. Tobin Cohen, Mr. Abramzon is more United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — will lose the benefits of trade agreements worried about the other side. the EU holds with countries around the world. But Israel and the UK have taken steps to ensure a “The main risk would be that Britain and the EU are hurt economically,” Mr. Abramzon said. “We continuity in trade between them if Brexit — Britain’s exit — does in fact occur. already see Britain being hurt to some degree and we see the British pound weakening, we see some of Last February, the two countries signed a UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement to keep trade the economic activity in Britain weakening.” conditions under the terms of agreements currently in place between Israel and the EU. It also provides For example, just before the UK voted in favor of Brexit in June 2016, the British pound was worth for further trade liberalization, possibly opening about $1.45 in U.S. dollars. As of Sept. 26, its more opportunities for the two countries in the worth was about $1.23 — a 22-cent and 15.1 future. percent reduction. That’s important for Israel, whose third-largInvestments in the UK have also been lower, est trading partner is the UK, according to the Mr. Abramzon said, partially due to the uncerWorld Integrated Trade Solution database. UK tainty having weakened the value of the pound. exports to Israel in 2017 totaled 2.3 billion BritFor Israel, he said, a lower pound value ish pounds — almost $3 billion — and UK could make imports from the UK and other imports from Israel were 1.6 billion pounds — countries cheaper and thus more attractive — about $2 billion, according to a document premeaning Israeli companies could sell more to sented to Parliament explaining the trade contiBritish consumers. But on the flip side, weaknuity agreement. er economic activity in Britain could translate New British Prime Minister Boris Johnson into lower demand for Israel’s goods, and also has said he would exit the EU on Oct. 31 with an increase in prices for Israeli exports. or without a deal that sets rules, principles and “We want our trading partners to be strong,” guidelines for breaking with the EU, a political Mr. Abramzon said, “and when the economy and economic union of 28 mainly European weakens, then their demands for our exports countries. also weakens.” British politics and government are in turMr. Raphael Lapin, an international negomoil, however, and whether the Oct. 31 date tiation and dispute resolution specialist in Los will stick is uncertain. Angeles, said the way in which the UK ultiIn the meantime, the UK has taken preparamately leaves the EU may also have an effect on tory steps to ensure a smooth transition where it Israel. If it’s unfriendly, he worries that it could can. According to the UK’s website, as of Sepbe an excuse for the EU to act against Israel in tember, the UK had signed 14 “trade continuother ways. ity” deals with countries or trading blocs. The “We don’t know for sure,” he said, “But we website also says that countries without trade Photo Courtesy Of www.Gov.IL do know certain things: we know the EU has agreements will, by default, have to do trade not been considerably friendly towards Israel in PARTNERSHIP: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson sits down with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu in with the UK under World Trade Organization terms of policy.” London. The two countries have worked out a trade agreement in case Brexit occurs. (WTO) rules. He compared Brexit to a divorce, in which The European Union, of which the UK is couples can separate in a cordial manner or in currently a part of, currently has about 40 trade deals which cover over 70 countries, also including a bitter fight. Israel. “Just like in a divorce situation if there is a friendly divorce… friends of the couple don’t have to take Israel Education teacher Hannah Tobin Cohen, one of two British-born Shalhevet faculty members, sides, right? They can continue being friends with both parties,” he said. “If it’s an acrimonious divorce, said that the agreement could be a good thing for Israel. But she worried that other costs of Brexit will if its a fight..friends of the parties will feel that they have to take sides.” hurt the UK in the long run and will not necessarily produce positive results for Israel, either. He said that a Brexit situation will have the same dynamics — if the UK pulls out without a deal, “If Britain ends up in a weaker position from Brexit, then it’s not going to be as beneficial as it could in an acrimonious fashion, then there will possibly be complications, because other countries — like have been,” said Ms. Tobin Cohen. “Britain needs to be a real world power, and I’m just a little bit Israel — will have to choose who they want to align themselves with. worried that Brexit will weaken it.” Mr. Lapin thinks the continuity agreement between Israel and the UK shows that right now Israel The Boiling Point asked a senior Israeli economist what would happen to Israel-UK trade once has aligned itself with the UK, and wonders whether that would preclude it from making deals with Brexit takes effect. Mr. Shmuel Abramzon, Senior Deputy to Chief Economist at the Israeli Ministry of the EU. Finance, replied that it’s “hard to quantify the benefit at this point” but that the trade agreement would However, the Israel-EU trading deal is still in force and there have been no signs of either side possibly put Israel in a better position on the world stage. wanting to walk away from it. According to the EU’s website, in 2017 EU exports of goods to Israel He said that the question is whether countries and trading blocs that have trade agreements with the amounted to 21.4 billion euros, which is a little over $23 billion. That same year, imports to the EU UK will possibly be at a greater advantage than those who don’t, once Brexit is completed. from Israel came out to 14.7 billion euros, a bit over $16 billion. “It might make our exports to Britain more competitive compared to other countries that don’t succeed in securing such agreements,” Mr. Abramzon said in a phone interview from Jerusalem Sep. 16.

BY Sam Rubanowitz, Outside News Editor

After second Israel elections of the year, Netanyahu is asked to form a government even though his party came in second “If Netanyahu moves aside, we’ll have a unity government,” Lapid said, according to the Wall Street Journal. Coming in third in the latest election was the Joint List, a comAfter Israel’s second election of the year, it is still unclear who bination of four Arab parties that together won around 12 seats in will be the prime minister and which parties will be part of the the election. That makes them the third-largest party in the Knesset. governing coalition in the Knesset. The Arab parties are unlikely to be courted as coalition partners, “The more that I read about analysts’ reactions to the various but Mr. Shine said this was not because no Jewish party would want polls that are predicting the election results,” said Israel Education to serve with them. teacher Mr. Jeremy Shine before the Sept. 17 vote, “the more it “The Arab parties have never been and are also unlikely to be seems that the results this time ‘round will produce a more compli[part of a coalition government], given the possibility of another cated situation than last April. Arab-Israeli war,” said Mr. Shine. “Someone might just have to give up on a major election prom“Arab members of an Israeli government in such circumstances ise he or she made.” would be considered traitors by the Arab public and Arab world.” And that may be exactly what happens. Netanyahu, however, said it was important to When all the votes were counted, Prime Minkeep Arabs out of the government. ister Benyamin Netanyahu’s Likud party had “In the coming days we will convene negotiawon just 31 seats, two less than the 33 won by “The Arab parties have never tions to assemble a strong Zionist government and the Blue and White party of former IDF Chief of been and are also unlikely to to prevent a dangerous anti-Zionist government,” Staff Benny Gantz. be [part of a coalition govern- Mr. Netanyahu said in a speech to supporters the It takes 61 votes to form a government in the ment], given the possibility of day after the election, according to NPR. 120-seat Knesset. Gantz quickly rejected Netanother Arab-Israeli war” Meanwhile, former Defense Minister Avigdor anyahu’s offer to form a unity coalition. Lieberman has called for a unity government be“I intend to form a broad and liberal unity — Mr. Shine tween Likud and Blue and White, even offering to government under my leadership,” Gantz said. keep his smaller right-wing, secular Yisrael Beiteinu The two leading parties combined would party -- which won an estimated nine seats -- out of have a majority. However, Gantz has said he rethe government to make that easier. fuses to sit in a coalition with Netanyahu, as he This is surprising, because it was Lieberman’s break with the Liran on a platform against Netanyahu’s alleged corruption. kud-led coalition last April over Netanyahu’s refusal to draft HaredBut also said he is not completely opposed to a unity governim into the army that set the stage for the current election. Without ment with Likud, and his deputy, -- Yair Lapid, Blue and White’s the votes of Lieberman’s party -- Yisrael Beiteinu -- Likud did not No. 2 official -- said that was dependent on how Likud handled have enough votes to form a government, and the September elecNetanyahu.

BY SIVAN KARZ, STAFF WRITER

Photo Courtesy of Knesset.gov.il DECISIONS: After Sept. elections, many of Israel’s political parties will need to join forces to secure a large enough coalition to gain or retain power.

tion was set. Another addition to this year’s election was the amount of seats won by Yamina, led by Ayelet Shaked. While that party -- which advocates religious zionism and settlement growth and opposes palestinian statehood- failed to meet the threshold in the April election, Yamina won an estimated seven seats this time around. President Reuven Rivlin, whose role is mostly ceremonial but who has given -- after consulting with all of the parties -- Mr. Netanyahu’s Likud party the first chance to form a new government. However, it seems unlikely that Mr. Netanyahu will be able to find 61 seats for a coalition in his allotted 28 days. President Rivlin can grant a 14-day extension -- which wasn’t enough in April. That led to a new election being called for Sept. 17.

The Boiling Point • October 2019 • Outside News

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Teens storm downtown to demand action on climate continued from page 1 look like when I get a little bit older.” Only four Shalhevet students attended, including Boiling Point staff. That was disappointing for sophomore Eva Brous-Light, who attended with sophomore Shani Shaham and senior Maia Lefferman . “I think that we should’ve promoted it more at Shalhevet,” said Eva. “I don’t think people knew about it. But I do think there should have been a much bigger turnout.” Eva added that she was upset that no Jewish schools came in groups. “I was pretty disappointed at the Jewish community turnout,” she said, “There weren’t really Jewish schools going in groups together, whereas other schools like Archer and Marlborough organized it with their schools. I feel like Shalhevet should have done something like that.” The crowd gathered numbered approximately 2000. The day was filled with chants of “What do we want? Climate justice. When do we want it? Now!” and “Hey hey, ho ho, climate change has got to go.” Despite the foreboding nature of the protesters’ concerns, they generally maintained an upbeat and determined attitude. High school and college students made up the majority of the protest, often leading cheers, but there were also a sizeable number of adults who seemed content to let the kids take charge. “I thought it was important to go to this strike,” said Eva, “because recently there’s been a shift in the discourse on climate and it’s been more youth led and I thought it was really important to get involved in that. It’s an issue that I’m really passionate about and something that I think all teenagers should be interested in.” Organizers in their early 20s in neon vests told protestors where to stand and gave speeches. “I was p “We talk about it’s just going to affect my genret J ewish c ty disappointe eration,” said one organizer in a speech. “No -- it is ommun d at the it weren’t affecting people now. It is affecting people across really J y turnout. The Signs at the our country. It is affecting people across this ewish s r going in chools e g r o u p protest called for a variety of actions world.” s toget other s her, ch President Trump, who rolled back California Marlbor ools like Arche whereas including “regenerative agriculture,” ou r vehicle emission standards just last week and schools gh organized and veganism, and stricter government it .I also opposes most immigration, was criticized have do feel like Shalh with their evet sh ne som legislation, as the buildings of as being part of the problem. o ething like tha uld “Guess what? He won’t address climate downtown towered in the background. t.” — Eva B change -- immigration is gonna skyrockrous-Lig Above, the Lorax, a Dr. Seuss character, et,” said the organizer, whose name was not ht, 10th grade is depicted speaking out against corpoaudible in the crowd. “People are going to have to leave their country because the rate greed destroying the natural world. oceans are rising. “But guess what -- so are we. When the oceans rise, we will too.” After standing from noon until 2 p.m. packed in 82-degree heat next to Pershing Square, the crowd finally began to march.The route wound through downtown, crossing through several streets and causing mass traffic jams. It also climbed several hills. Loud protesters who seemed to not care much about their personal space stood out on downtown streets usually frequented by busy individuals rarely interacting with one another. “It seemed a little bit unorganized at the beginning when we were all just standing there,” said Shani Shaham, referring to the two-plus hours of standing next to Pershing Square. “But I think once we actually started marching towards City Hall, it was going really great.” Toward the end of the 45-minute march, the group reached the south side of City Hall, where Mayor Eric Garcetti spoke from the steps using a megaphone. But it was hard for him to be heard in the immense crowd. The Los Angeles marchers made up only a portion of the four million protestors at similar events around the world that day. The total is estimated by 350.org, a group that helped organize the protests. Many countries protesting took aim at their own government not taking enough action to counteract climate change. According to 350.org this included more than 300,000 people marching through the streets of Berlin; 100,000 in Melbourne; over 3,000 in Jakarta, Indonesia and hundreds in Nairobi, Kenya. Thousands of protesters across Brazil targeted President Jair Bolsonaro, who they claim is not doing enough to prevent the burning of the Amazon rainforest. destroying trees that could absorb carbon dioxide. Shani said the protests around the world made her feel like she was making a difference. “It was really cool how many people showed up,” said Shani. “Reading more about it when I got home, and seeing how big it was all around the globe, four ding p. Rea u million people in different d e ow ple sh g how big cities and countries, made o e p ny eein ow ma me, and s n people in me feel like a part of someh l o o o a o eally c hen I got h - four milli e feel like or r thing that’s not just small s a “It w bout it w e globe ade m my school m in my school or in my h a t s e in all mor ll around countrie st sm city.” a d u e j s n d a a t a o w s r it hg t citie g that’s n 0 t 1 n Messages about , e r am diffe somethin i Shah n how climate change a f o h S t — par could be solved varcity. in my ied, with some signs calling for “regenerative agriculture,” others for veganism, and many for stricter government legislation. All seemed united around the idea that government was not doing enough, and that it was urgent that the younger generation make the crisis known. “It’s important to be here because large corporations are not taking a stand so we have to,” said a protestor named Olivia, who would not give her last name.

MESSAGES:

BP Photos by Maia Lefferman Page Design by Sarah Feuer

The Boiling Point • October 2019 • Special Report

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new lacma: designing the shape of the future

BY JACOB JOSEPH LEFKOWITZ BROOKS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND JOLIE WINEBURGH, ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR Just two blocks north and one block east of Shalhevet, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art is about to begin a four-year, $650-million process that starts with the demolition of four e buildings and culminates in the opening of a brand-new, single building stretched out on a much larger site. It will be vastly different from what’s there now. The new building will serve the future of Los Angeles with abstract curves and a grid-defying sweep of glass and white stone that will make move visitors through bright, gently curved galleries of art, while at street level making Wilshire Boulevard seem to disappear. It will not only show art -- it will be art, designed by Peter Zumthor, the Swiss architect whose buildings immerse themselves in their geographical context, using materials and colors that replicate their surroundings through texture and form. Thus, the new LACMA will be like Los Angeles: light like the LA sky and spread out in a graceful architectural sprawl, decentralized like the city it will serve. Demolition is scheduled to begin in early 2020 on the three buildings constructed by architect William Pereira in 1968, the tall, narrow structures that have contained the museum’s main galleries for more than 50 years. Most of the permanent collection in the four

Atelier Peter Zumthor & Partner/ The Boundary

A few block from Shalhevet, Los Angeles is about to change. Most of LACMA is closing, to be replaced by a sweeping new modern structure that will cross Wilshire and not only hold art, but be art.

Atelier Peter Zumthor & Partner/ The Boundary

buildings has been wrapped up and is ready to be moved out of LACMA, though the buildings aren’t actually closed yet. All of the eastside buildings will be closed after November, Two newer buildings to the north NEIGHBORHOOD: The new LACMA building will be built in the near vicinity of two ot -- the Anderson built in 1986 and of Motion Pictures with its giant sphere, designed by Renzo Piano and set to open nex the Japanese Art Pavillions in 1988 -- will remain in place and stay open during construction, as will the westparking lot will be built on Ogden drive. side buildings, the Broad Contemporary Art Museum Unlike most new construction, LACMA’s actually (BCAM), which opened in 2008, and the Resnick Pavil- will shrink the museum’s gallery space from 393,000 ion, LACMA’s newest building, which opened in 2010. to 347,500 square feet, while adding an additional 3.5 Chris Burden’s Urban Light exhibit -- the iconic acres of open outdoor space, according to LACMA’s key arrangement of 202 lamp posts restored from the 20’s facts site. Officials plan to use smaller satellite museums and 30’s, and a favorite place for meeting and taking to house more of the collection. Instagram photos Specifically, LACMA is partnering with the Vincent --- will continue to brighten Wilshire Boulevard, at Price Art Museum in East LA and the Charles White least as long as conElementary School in struction goes on, and MacArthur Park, along will stay open 24 hours with special presentations at “The current LACMA design doesn’t seem like a day. the Getty, the Huntington, it is participating in any of that fun. IIt seems The new LACMA the South Coast Botanic like it is a background for that fun. It looks so will stand in place of the plain you feel it is inevitable that somebody is Garden in Palos Verdes and old three on Wilshire, going to hang a banner on it,” the Norton Simon Museum where LACMA has been in Pasadena. since 1910, exactly half - Alexandra Lange, Both its size and its dea mile from school. Architecture Critic, Curbed LA sign have met with disdain To those who’ve seen in some circles. According it in design photos and to Alyssa Walker of Curbed models, the planned new structure is either a beautiful LA, 48 emails received by the county were favored the abstract shape or an irregular blob. It is controversial for new design, whereas 226 opposed it. However, county several reasons. supervisors -- who control the funding -- all remain in Designed by Peter Zumthor, it will bridge support of the design. over Wilshire Boulevard and fill “LACMA has become the Incredible the space where the Shrinking Museum,” wrote LA Times art museum’s curcritic Christophe Knight. “I couldn’t rent parking name another art museum anywhere that has ever raised structure now hundreds of millions of dollars to spend on reducing its stands, in collection space.” between SpalAlexandra Lange, architecture critic for the urban ding and Stanley design blog Curbed LA, criticized the design of the avenues. A new new building in relation to two new buildings even closer to Shalhevet: the Petersen Automotive Museum, redone with its new iconic facade of red, rippled curves in 2015, and the new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, designed by Renzo Piano, set to open in 2020. Both are located on corners of Wilshire and Fairfax. “The current LACMA design doesn’t seem like it is participating in any of that fun,” wrote Ms. Lange. “It

SHRINKING: The Zumthor building, with 347,500 square feet of gallery space, will be 45,500 square feet smaller than the older buildings it is replacing. It does add an additional 3.5 acres of open outdoor space, according to LACMA’s ‘key facts’ site.

The Boiling Point • October 2019 • Special Report

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ther bold architecture projects -- the Petersen Automotive Museum with its zig-zag curves, renovated in 2015, and the future Academy Museum xt year. LACMA will retain its two newest buildings, located just next to the new Academy building. Fairfax Avenue is in the foreground.

seems like it is a background for that fun. It looks so room for her kids to play, she added. plain you feel it is inevitable that somebody is going to Jessica Youn, LACMA’s Interim Director of Commuhang a banner on it.” nications at LACMA, emphasized that LACMA is not But others, including museum board members and closing. Hollywood stars Diane Keaton and Brad Pitt, have “The museum will continue to present an exciting made short public comments in favor of the new design. slate of exhibitions, education programs, and concerts Mr. Pitt defended Zumthor’s design. for adults, teens, and families during the museum’s “I believe that there’s no way to truly understand his transformation,” Ms. Youn wrote in an email to the work from a computer-generated image,” Pitt said at a Boiling Point. meeting last April. “To understand what he does you It will remain scheduled with exhibitions and full of really have to stand in” his buildings. everyday programs throughout construction in the three Zumthor, he said, “builds from the soul, for the remaining buildings. These include an exhibit featuring soul.” Chinese Ming dynasty painter Qiu Ying in the Resnick Another who approves is Shalhevet art teacher SaPavilion starting in February and one featuring Japanese mantha Garelick. artist Yoshitomo Nara in BCAM beginning in May. “I think it’s really cool that it’s gonna cross Wilshire,” Free admission will be offered to LA county resiMs. Garelick said. “I know they are also adding tons of dents after 3 p.m. every weekday. more green space, making more play spaces and parks This month, one section of the Ahmanson building for families, making it an even bigger destination for houses an exhibit called “building LACMA,” which anyone in Los Angeles.” includes a miniature display of the new building. “I think change is sometimes hard for people, be“The buildings to be replaced have many serious cause the LACMA has been standing in its current state structural issues and problems with plumbing, sewfor so long,”“But I did some research, and found out age, lack of seismic isolation and methane mitigation, that the new building is going to be way more efficient defunct waterproofing, and leaks, compromising their and functional for an inclusive audience of art.” ability to host our visitors and hold our collections,” Ms. Garelick said that it will become easier for those reads one document available at the exhibit. who are handicapped and who have trouble with stairs According to the website for the LACMA reconto get around the building. struction, $125 million will be funded by Los Angeles “Now they can just visit the entire museum and look County, which gets its budget from tax dollars, while at it as they choose. $525 million will be They can know that privately raised or oh just because I like “I think change is sometimes hard for people, because financed. this piece, it doesn’t Until the new the LACMA has been standing in its current state for mean that it’s any less so long. But I did some research, and found out that building opens, LACthe new building is going to be way more efficient art than those up in MA’s art itself will be a corner gallery,” said and functional for an inclusive audience of art,” on display at other Garelick. museums in the area. - Samantha Garelick, Art Teacher The extra outdoor “As LA County’s space available in art museum, we are the new building committed to shardesign compared to the old one will allow for more ing our collection with communities throughout LA

and Southern California,” said Ms. Youn in an interview. “Peter Zumthor has designed a beautiful horizontal design that offers a non-hierarchical display of art—a fresh, Los Angeles perspective on the experience of a big art museum,” said Ms. Youn in an email reply to Boiling Point questions. “However, to clarify, many objects from LACMA’s permanent collection are incorporated in current exhibitions, so technically nothing has really ‘left’ the museum.” Zumthor’s plan for the new campus has undergone several drafts since its blueprint was first issued publicly in 2013. Zumthor’s original design was a black structure designed to emulate its neighbor, the La Brea tar pits. In response to criticism, the design was edited to add more transparent surfaces. It was also made 40,000 square feet smaller than its original version, and has been shaved down from 85 feet tall to 60. Senior Zev Kupferman, who spent the summer studying architecture at Cornell University in New York state, said he admires Zumthor’s work. “He thinks that buildings should be a self-evident part of society and its context. The context should have an affect on the design of a building,” said Zev. “So that’s why I think he made LACMA so open, to connect with its surrounding because there’s no real entrance. You can come in from across the street, from north, south, east, west.” He also likes the architect’s focus on avoiding sharp edges and corners. “He focuses on minimizing joints, so they don’t interrupt our eyes, so it doesn’t affect the aesthetics of the building,” said Zev. “That’s why I think the LACMA building is smoothly curved. Although a lot of his work is orthogonal, he still uses material or color or anything to minimize the joints.” For the next four years, LA art enthusiasts will be without most of one of its cultural landmarks. Its planned replacement is a bold architectural plan that has already been derided by many. By this time in 2024, we will know whether LACMA has succeeded in turning an art museum into art.

Page Design and Illustration by Zev Kupferman

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Torah

OCTOBER 2019

Rosh Hashanah 5780:

Lessons from Gan Eden

Drawing by Danya Helperin

By Rachel Lasry, Staff Writer While Rosh HaShanah is mainly known as the Jewish new year, its true origin is often overlooked, which is the commemoration of Creation, and essentially the birthday of Adam and Chava. A short period after their creation, after beginning their time in Gan Eden, Adam and Chava made the drastic mistake of defying Hashem’s wishes and giving in to temptation, leading them to eat from the forbidden Tree of Knowledge. While this reference seems perhaps to contradict the hopeful tone of Rosh Hashanah, it is crucial that we realize that new beginnings, though they offer us a fresh start, do not prevent us from making mistakes. Adam and Chava were blessed with a beautiful new beginning with clear directions from Hashem, and yet their curiosity and human nature drove them to make the dire mistake of defying their Creator. We often make this mistake in our own lives: defying Hashem’s wishes and directions that we have been blessed with and giving in to our human nature and desires, even when they defy our faith in Hashem and our overall morals. However, in looking at Adam and Chava’s flawed

beginning, there is a beauty in the way that they owned up to their mistakes and took on this new challenge of a more difficult world. Adam and Chava made mistakes from the very beginning of their time on earth, and paid for it through a much more challenging lifestyle. However, this mistake and the challenges that came alongside it were something that they took in stride. Point being, with the approaching New Year, we may expect ourselves to magically reach a new level of perfection after some introspection in light of the approaching fresh start. However, a fresh start does not make us any less human, and while we should always strive for excellence both from a religious, and moral point of view, this is far easier said than done. As humans we are bound to make mistakes, no matter how many fresh starts come along in our lifetime. What matters is what we take away from those mistakes, and how they drive us to be stronger, wiser, and more morally and spiritually developed human beings. The solution to our mistakes is not a fresh start, but rather it is the acceptance of our imperfections. Like Adam and Chava, we must accept our mistakes and regrets and take them into the new year with us, rather than leaving them behind, in order to learn and grow from them into a wiser version of ourselves.

The Boiling Point • October 2019 • Torah

Sukkot lessons from Kohelet By Joshua Glettner, Staff Writer It is custom among Jews of Ashkenazi descent to read Sefer Kohelet, or Ecclesiastes, from the Ketuvim on the Shabbat of Chol Hamoed or Shemini Atzeret. But the book’s modern status emerges from a long history of controversy. The Mishna is Masechet Yadim records a debate among the ancient sages over whether the sefer has any kedushah, or holiness, at all -- a dispute repeated in Talmud Bavli (Megillah 7A), which clarifies the issue saying the sefer is simply a work of wisdom literature. Despite this past, the book still has great meaning for us as we celebrate this month. Hevel hevilim, proclaims Kohelet in his opening lines: Hevel, havelim, hakol hevelim! Vanity, vanity, all is vanity (although hevel in truth means a breath, a short wisp of air that dissipates)! These lines set up a deep internal contraction within Sukkot. It is a holiday that at once extols our prosperity and at the same time deconstructs it. We build a

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sukkah in memory of the struggles of our ancestors on their treacherous journey across the Sinai, commemorating their modest residences built in the sand. But Sukkot is not just a time of mourning or suffering; rather it is one of celebration, connected to the end of the labors of the harvest. So we commemorate prosperity, but we do it in the context of suffering of a never-ending journey across the desert. Kohelet manages to fuse these disparate ideas. In one place its author condemns gluttony and drinking was meaningless, in another he encourages a life of enjoyment with “your wife whom you love, all the days of meaningless days.” The sefer teaches that we can resolve the contrast between enjoyment and meaninglessness by experiencing enjoyment while still acknowledging our inferior status in the cosmos. We should have our time of enjoyment with family, and in our banquets for the holiday, but remember that it is we stand not as masters of all, but rather wanderers in creation -- with faith as our only guarantee.

BP Graphic by rachel Metzger

School cracks down on pencil skirts; midis and maxis preferred talk over text about the idea during the remaining months of the school year. Also before deciding on the new policy, Yoetzet Segal said she Shalhevet changed its girls dress code over the summer, announcing that girls would no longer be allowed to wear pencil had had many one-on-one meetings with parents who had exskirts unless they are at least knee-length and worn with leggings pressed their disappointment witsh dress code in the past. These concerns were addressed directly in the email sent out to underneath. According to the policy, which was e-mailed to families July 31 parents on July 31. “Having guidelines that are consistently not followed harms the with a letter from Associate Head of School Rabbi David Block and Yoetzet Halacha Atara Segal, if more than 15 students are Shalhevet school culture we all aim to create,” the email says. According to Yoetzet Segal, most of the feedback has been in dress-coded within any one month of school for wearing leggings and a pencil skirt that is too short, this option, too, will be taken agreement with the new policy. “I would say I received like 20 emails and I would say of the 20, away for the rest of the year. The policy also allows girls to wear looser skirts to the knee, mi- 16 were like, “Oh my gosh, it’s about time,”’ she said. Mrs. Segal stated that the remaining emails were not necessarily di-skirts that reach mid-calf, and maxi-skirts, says the policy, which negative. is published on Page 6 of the 2019-20 Student Handbook. “They were more like concerns like ‘how is this going to be Although dress code is a perennial topic of Town Hall discussions, tweaking and occasional student input -- for example, when applied,’ ‘tell me where we’re supposed to go shopping,’ ‘I find it students suggested boys be allowed to wear t-shirts if their tzitzit are really hard to shop for my daughter,’” Yoetzet Segal said. “It was out -- it is not officially subject to student voting because it is also more about specific concerns. Valid, for sure valid.” Student reactions, however, have been less than unanimous. a matter of Jewish law. Junior Avital Graber said the new policy is inconvenient. “Because of the sensitivity of halakhic and communal norms, “Pencil skirts were just a basic,” Avital this is not one of the areas which can said. “You knew it could match with anybe given over entirely to the democratic thing and you would have an outfit easily. process,” the email states. “Girls wouldn’t get dress-coded for having Now, it’s a little bit more of an effort to figure “At the same time, we care deeply short skirts and so instead of just cracking it out. It’s also hot at this time of the year and about what you believe and experience, down on that they made a stricter rule, which wearing a long skirt is suffocating.” and your voice is crucial in the conversa- works.” Sophomore Barbara Seruya believes the tion,” it continues. “In that vein, back in policy is ineffective. the Spring, we met with many students to — Victory Fuchs, 10th grade “People still wear them and still, people’s hear your thoughts and opinions, and we skirts are the same length,” Barbara said. solicited input and suggestions from the “What’s worse is that when you walk upentire student body.” stairs [in a loose skirt] you’re literally showing Student and parent input was gathered informally, through Schoology-announced emails and meet- everybody everything. Your skirt flies up or something and people can see underneath, which is gross. I don’t like the policy at all.” ings last spring, according to school officials and students. Senior Emma Mackler, who is president of the Fashion Club, Seniors Maital Hiller and Elianna Kupferman had the idea of said the policy has a definite downside -- the reality of the miauthorizing leggings with a pencil skirt. “It was a great way to find common ground between what the di-skirt. “It makes the girls walk like penguins,” said Emma. But she administration wants and what the students want,” said Maital. “It was nice that the administration was trusting us to still be able to also thinks understanding the school’s values will make following it easier, and plans on leading a Fashion Club meeting dedicated to wear pencil skirts and leggings underneath.” Yoetzet Segal stated the new policy was not meant as a punish- styling outfits that follow it. “The pencil skirts that would ride up, I for sure saw an issue ment for the girls but rather as a solution for problems of immodesty associated with pencil skirts, including skirts “riding up,” rules with that,” said Emma. “You’re in a Modern Orthodox school, being applied differently depending on students’ height or body you need to have that level of respect. I’m not saying I’m not guilty type, the school having a rule left unfollowed, and other issues that of it, too, but I think this is the perfect way to stop that.” Others were worried about the cost. Senior Rachel Lasry said have arisen in recent years. “It’s much easier sometimes to make a clear policy that’s much this would be particularly tough on seniors. “Seniors who have to invest in a whole new wardrobe in our more objective and doesn’t have subjectivity to it,” Ms. Segal said. “Instead of having constant fighting, like having to call people senior year of high school, which is both a hassle and expensive,” on it and then arguing like this is too low, this is too tight, this is said Rachel. Some students were bothered that there was no school-wide too this,” she said, the new policy can eliminate feelings of bias or vote on the dress code change, while others saw a need for the arguments, due to its objectivity. Two open discussion opportunities were announced at Town school administrators to be in charge. Senior and SAC Chair Gabby Lasry believes that a core value of Hall in the spring of last year, inviting teachers and students to discuss their opinions on dress code and how it could be improved. Shalhevet is listening to the students and this policy did not allow for that to happen. The meetings took place in Yoetzet Segal’s office. “We pride ourselves on being a Just Community and making Students and teachers cannot remember the dates, but sophomore Victory Fuchs attended both meetings and is pleased with sure that students have a voice,” Gabby said. “I think that needs the new policy. She had already thought the faculty needed to be to be done before the school can just make a rule if that’s what we pride ourselves on.” stricter about dress-coding students. Agenda chair and senior David Edwards sees both sides. “Girls wouldn’t get dress-coded for having short skirts,” said “I’m not really sure what the admin is supposed to do Victory, “and so instead of just cracking down on that they made a in this situation, where students are violating the dress code stricter rule, which works.” The discussion continued in a WhatsApp group chat including over and over again and then somehow they need to bring Mrs. Segal and 28 students who had attended the group discus- it to Town Hall and expect students to maybe vote on a sions. In person, Maital and Eliana brought the idea of allowing stricter dress code,” David said. “I’m not sure if students pencil skirts with leggings to Mrs. Segal and the chat continued to would do that.”

By Liad Machmali, Torah Editor

Junior Alessandra Judaken believes that this was something important for the administration alone to enforce as the old issues with the dress code affected her view on Shalhevet. “Although we are a Just Community, it’s okay for the school to take a more aggressive approach on something,” Alessandra said. “Because it’s not a good look when everyone has the tiniest skirts and everything like that at a Jewish school. “When I first toured the school, which was last year, I remember immediately noticing everyone’s pencil skirts being extremely tight and extremely short and it contradicted my perception of a Modern Orthodox school,” Alessandra said. Meanwhile, word of the policy caused some consternation over the summer. Ms. Karen Michelle, owner of the women’s clothing store by that name which focuses on clothing that’s both trendy and modest, heard about the dress code change from Shalhevet students coming to her store. Ms. Michelle then contacted Mrs. Segal and offered to come to school to give students new skirt options they could buy that would follow the policy. On Aug. 22, she came to school after the freshman orientation with skirts they could buy to replace their pencil skirts. The new policy, she said, was giving girls tools for being tzniut, or modest, even outside of school, while maintaining the desired atmosphere in school itself. “These are just guidelines that the school gives you so that you can make choices when you’re older, when you’re over 18 and you’re out and you’re in college,” said Ms. Michelle. “There’s not going to be anyone there skirting you, and so it’s always been what does tznius mean to you? “When you go somewhere, there’s a rule in place -- the environment -- and when you’re older you’ll make all the right decisions for you,” she said.

BP Graphic by Talia Cohen

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The Boiling Point • October 2019 • Torah

Rabbis, others demonstrate against ‘get refuser’ Meir Kin while he is sitting shiva for his mother By Jacob Joseph Lefkowitz Brooks,Editor-in-Chief Soaked from knee to toe, 40 people stood outside a shiva home on Poinsettia Place Aug. 23 to take a stand against get refusal. Inside, a man who has refused to give his wife a valid get, or religious divorce, was observing the seven days of mourning for his mother, who died earlier this month. Shiva is a solemn time when a community normally gathers to offer comfort to the bereaved. Shiva was being observed at the home the couple used to share, which is now owned by the husband’s relatives.The husband, Israel Meir Kin, and his wife, who now uses her maiden name of Lonna Ralbag, have been civilly divorced since 2005. There was no visible attempt from anyone inside to stop the protest, but at 8:16 a.m., sprinklers on the lawn turned on. Local rabbis, anti-get-refusal activists, Shalhevet students and both Jewish and non-Jewish school staff were there. The protestors’ feet and lower legs were slowly soaked, but they did not move from their positions on the sidewalk directly in front of the house. “Meir Kin, stop the abuse!” the group chanted. “Kin family, shame on you!” Shalhevet was made aware of the protest by Head of School Rabbi Ari Segal, who announced it on Schoology on Aug. 21 at 10:17 p.m. and in an email that day, and encouraged people to attend. BP Photo by Maia Lefferman “It is vital to continue to demonstrate our communal rejection of this get-refuser, especially as he engages in the blatant hypocrisy PROTEST: From left, Shalhevet faculty Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom, Dr. Jonathan Ravanshenas, Mr. Chris St. Germaine, and of sitting shiva while keeping his wife in chains,” wrote Rabbi Rabbi David Block stood outside a home on Poinsettia Place in Hancock Park to support Lonna Ralbag’s right to a get, or Segal. religious Jewish divorce, Aug. 23. Agunah activist Rabbi Jeremy Stern joined them, at right. Science teacher Mr. Chris St. Germaine, who heard about the protest from Rabbi Segal’s email. said he drives by the area of the protest on his way to work, and was convinced to attend by the Segal, Associate Head of School Rabbi David Block, Principal Mr. comfortable with. And the dayanim on the Beis Din of America, severity of the case. Daniel Weslow, Rabbi Abraham Lieberman, Rabbi Yitzhak Etof the RCA, Rav Herschel Schechter and others haven’t recognized “I originally wasn’t going to go because it kind of felt like shalomand Student Life and Admissions Coordinator Mr. Tushar this as a reputable Beis Din. At least insofar as they’ve been dealing protesting a funeral, which gave me a bad taste in my mouth,” said Dwivedi, along with Rabbi Topp and Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky, senior with this case.” Mr. St. Germaine, who is not Jewish. “But then I later heard more rabbi of B’nai David-Judea Congregation in Pico-Robertson. After Mr. Kin’s mother died earlier this month — the Boiling of the details regarding the whole situation and it became seemingThe only Shalhevet students at the protest were Boiling Point Point was not able to determine the exact date — the Kin family ly a pretty significant abuse of a spouse. staff. wished to have her buried in Israel, where all burials are controlled “I thought if I could…bring a little more awareness to that Guests who went in and out of the house to pay shiva calls by rabbinic authorities. a woman is being, years and years after separating from her huswere met with shouts and chants of “shame on you.” As one womMedia reports stated that the Ashkenazi Chief of Israel, Rabbi band, still being abused by him, it an drove into the driveway, a man shouted at her, David Lau, ordered that she could not be buried until Mr. Kin seemed worthy of a half-an-hour “Could be you in a few years!” gave Ms. Ralbag a new get. They said the Rabbinate continued of my time.” At 8:06 a.m., five police officers spoke with the with the burial after Mr. Kin agreed to do so. “No one should think that there are no The unusual timing of the protestors, who had been spread out on the driveMr. Kin said in the video posted Aug. 21 that those reports consequences for get refusal. Rather, protest — during shiva — reflectway and grass beside the sidewalk, and told them were false. each and every case where a man ed the frustration of many in the to stand only on the sidewalk itself. “You should all know that this is fake news,” Mr. Kin says in Orthodox world who have been refuses to give his wife a get, we will Neighbors on Poinsettia Place in the Hancock the video. “No one from the rabbanut — not Rabbi Lau, nor any trying to counter the effects of a of his subordinates — ever contacted me at any point. Nobody be there to demonstrate against him.” Park area stood outside their homes and watched Biblical law, which states that a the protest. Some interacted with the demonstraelse representing my name ever agreed to any conditions, such as man must give a get — a docutors. paying money to be left as collateral until a get is delivered.” -- Rabbi Jeremy Stern ment of religious divorce — for the One neighbor who asked only to be identified He went on to accuse the Israeli rabbinate of corruption. end of a marriage to be finalized. as Debbie said that Israel Kin’s actions should not Reached for comment several times, Ms. Lonna Ralbag promA woman can request but not give affect the mourning of his father, who she referred ised she would contact the Boiling Point at a later time but so far the get. to as Rabbi Kin, for his wife. The Boiling Point was not able to has not done so. Women who do not have a valid get, or who refuse to accept confirm his first name. Esther Macner of Get Jewish Divorce said that Ms. Ralbag a get they consider coercive — for example, one conditioned “This is disgusting,” said Debbie. “Because one thing has nothworks full time to support herself and her family and is not on their paying large sums of money or giving up contact with ing to do with the other. Rabbi Kin is an amazing man. He just available during the day, and that she is usually not as busy as she their children — become what are known as agunot, or “chained lost his wife… This is not about religion. Leave the man alone, let is now. women,” because they are not religiously divorced and so cannot him mourn, and deal with this after.” Also in attendance at the protest was Rabbi Jeremy Stern of remarry. Israel Meir Kin and Lonna Ralbag divorced under California Efrat, Israel. Rabbi Stern is the former executive of the OrganiTheir husbands, however, can remarry, if they get approval law in 2005, but Mr. Kin has refused to give her a valid get, a zation for the Resolution of Agunot, had worked on the Kin case from 100 rabbis. Mr. Kin received this approval from rabbis in a religious document recognizing the divorce, rendering Ms. Ralbag and happened to be in Los Angeles on vacation. Haredi community in New Jersey and was remarried in 2014. The an agunah. Rabbi Stern said that demonstrations have to take the place of wedding was also met with protests. In a Youtube video he posted on Aug. 21, Mr. Kin said, “You any punishment that would be given under Jewish law. With rabbinical courts unable to resolve the issue and civil should know that a get has been waiting for my wife for over 10 “Essentially it’s like we have speed limits without traffic cops,” courts unable to get involved, activists have resorted to various years at the Beit Din of Shaarey Mishpat [in Monsey].” said Rabbi Stern. “[Mr. Kin] is breaking the law but we have no forms of publicity to pressure husbands into releasing their wives The Boiling Point has not seen this get, but In 2014, the New way of enforcing the law. If we were able to, we’d put him in jail… from ended marriages. York Times reported Ms. Ralbag stating, this get would be condiThe problem is that we have a separation of church and state in Rabbi Kalman Topp of Beth Jacob Congregation in Beverly tional on her giving Mr. Kin a payment of $500,000 and custody the United States and so we can’t enforce Jewish law. Hills said the protest during shiva was allowed in this case because of their son, who was 12 years old at the time the get was written. “But what we do have is communal pressure… that’s why these Mr. Kin had failed to give Ms. Ralbag a get before he buried his According to Rabbi Block, a conditional get could still be contypes of rallies and these demonstrations are so important. And it’s mother. sidered valid, regardless of whether or not it contained an unfair not only for this case specifically but to make a statement through“The Ramah, Rav Moshe Isserlis, father of Ashkenazic authoricondition. out the community that get refusal is unacceptable. That no one ty, says that if a man refuses to give a get to his wife, that we don’t “Putting the moral pieces of that aside, if it was a conditional should think that there are no consequences for get refusal. Rather, allow him to bury a relative,” Rabbi Topp told the protestors in a get, and those conditions were met, and the get was halachically each and every case where a man refuses to give his wife a get, we break from their chants. constructed and the Beis Din, that was a reputable Beis Din, will be there to demonstrate against him.” “And I think that’s based on the gemara that says we don’t give signed off on it, then it would be an effective get,” said Rabbi Rabbi Stern said get refusal was against Jewish law and also a respect even to a rabbi or to anyone when there’s desecration of Block. kind of domestic abuse. God’s name, which is what’s ongoing over here.’” But in this case, it was not, because the rabbinic court that “Domestic abuse is not just about black-and-blue marks,” said The protest began at 7:30 a.m. Demonstrators carried issued it is not considered authoritative. Rabbi Stern. “It’s about a pattern of controlling behavior, about a hand-painted signs with messages including “15 years is long “I don’t know the dayanim, or judges, personally,” said Rabbi repeated assertion of power and control from one party over the ENOUGH” and “Your mother will be in Gehinnom, until you Block. “I know that any three people can technically come togethother, and that’s exactly what’s going on in each and every case free Lana from hers!” — Gehinnom referring to a Biblical concept er and claim to be a beis din. And the way that we make detergenerally understood as a resting place for wicked souls. minations about the authority of a beis din is by looking at the In addition to Mr. St. Germaine, attendees included Rabbi Continued on the next page Torah scholars and the experts in halacha [Jewish law] that we are

The Boiling Point • October 2019 • Torah

‘get refuser’

ESSENTIALS FOR THE HIGH HOLIDAYS 5780

Continued from the previous page of get refusal.” One protestor who would be identified only as Ron said that greater communal effort was required to force Mr. Kin to give a get. “It’s just despicable that somebody can go for 15 years without giving a get,” said Ron. “He’s moved on, he’s married and he lied to the rabbanut… How anybody here in the community can support the family, it’s against halacha.” He said there was more that communities could do, and suggested cherem, a form of being ostracized or excommunicated. “Someone who refuses to give a get … should be ostracized from the community,” said Ron. “But the whole community here doesn’t do it. If the whole community stood up against the family, then the family would have to pressure him to do it.” Esther Macner, founder and president of Get Jewish Divorce Justice, said this case made the need for rabbinic annulments to become more prevalent. “This case specifically demonstrates, I believe, how the system is broken down,” said Ms. Macner. “It demonstrates that when someone is so evil and determined not to give a get, we need to find solutions that are there in halacha to invalidate these marriages. We need to really have rabbinic courts make the effort to find a solution in halacha that would free these women without a get. The solutions are there, they are not being used.” Ms. Macner expanded on the concept of bittel kadushin, voiding a marriage. “When you have a case where a man does not want to give a get, the Beis Din can, if they summon him and he doesn’t show up, can go ahead and hear testimony from the agunah herself and any documentary evidence she has or witnesses of the husband’s defects,” said Ms. Macner. “So for instance if there is abuse, whether sexual, physical, financial, all of these things are factors that a Beit Din should investigate and find whatever proof they can in the form of medical records or police reports or even testimony of neighbors or other family members who observe them together. And once they investigate and come to a determination that there was domestic violence or mental dysfunction, the marriage can be voided.” In 2014, Shalhevet students and faculty protested outside Mr. Kin’s wedding to his second wife in Las Vegas. Having multiple wives is legal in the Torah but was made illegal under Jewish rabbinic law. It can be permitted if a man is given a heter meah rabbanim, an overriding of a rabbinic law by obtaining the signatures of 100 rabbis; this heter makes it possible to marry a new wife while still being halachically married to the previous. The heter meah rabbanim cannot be applied to women since a woman having two husbands is considered committing adultery, which is prohibited in the Torah itself. Therefore, at the present time, Mr. Kin has two wives, while Lonna Ralbag is an agunah.

By Liad Machmali, Torah Editor Here come the chagim! Rosh Hashanah starts Sept. 29, Yom Kippur Oct. 8, and the eight days of Sukkot follow just a few days later on Oct. 13. While this can be an overwhelming time for everyone in the family, the Boiling Point is here to help! Here are the top 10 essentials you’ve always wanted but never knew you needed. CROCS!! The ultimate solution to avoid leather and look stylish this Yom Kipper! Because you can’t walk your hydro flask to shul... Outdoor Mosquito Repellant - Hashem may have commanded us to sleep outside in our sukkah, but nothing was said about bunking with the mosquitos. For all the San Diego residents! Buy this to protect yourself from the new breed of mosquitos spreading yellow fever. Febreeze and Tide to-go stain sticks - it might not be Pesach, but we all know those Sephardis who are just waiting to whip out the scallions. Apples dipped in honey for Rosh Hashanah! Were you singing it too? Keep your wallet sweet and download Honey for automatic coupons, promo codes, and deals. Construction paper!! You know your sukkah isn’t complete without some DIY paper chains, lanterns and random plastic fruits hanging from the roof! Head to your local Lululemon to pick up a tote bag--free of charge! You’re going to need somewhere to hide all your post-shul snacks and ugly but comfortable walking shoes. The ceramic pomegranate table ornament, screaming for someone to ask you about your recent trip to Israel.

Forget Urban Outfitters or Brandy Melville. Pull up to shul in the perfect outfit to remind everyone how much Hashem loves you. Because October is going to be a holy one, think about picking up a good book to read! Kanye West’s Thank you and You’re Welcome and Snoop Dogg’s From Crook to Cook will help you learn a little more before helping your mom in the kitchen this Chag. A special message to send to your friends spending TWO nights of Rosh Hashanah in Israel...

BP Photo by Maia Lefferman PARTICIPATE: Student Life and Admission Coordinator, Tushar Dwivedi participated in the protest as he held and vocalized a sign shaming the get-refuser, Meir Kin.

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18 The

BOILING POINT When we know it, you’ll know it

Editor-in-Chief Jacob Joseph Lefkowitz Brooks Director of Production and Design Zev Kupferman Managing Editor Nicholas Fields

Opinion

EDITORIALS

Community Editor Molly Litvak Sports Editor Alex Rubel Outside News Editor Sam Rubanowitz Features Editor Kate Orlanski Torah Editor Liad Machmali Arts & Culture Editor Jolie Wineburgh Opinion Editor Zach Helfand Chief Layout Editors Ellie Orlanski Sarah Feuer Layout Staff Orian Klein Eva Rosencrans Avital Graber Zoey Miller Amalia Abecassis Tehilla Fishman Chief-Photo Editor Zoey Botnick Photo Editor Maia Lefferman Director of Reader Engagement Shayna Becker Website Editor-in-Chief Gilad Spitzer 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 Co-Editors-in-Chief, Web Editor, Community Editor and 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 the Advertising Editor at beckershayna@ 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. Sweepstakes Awards, 2016, 2018 Blue and Gold Comprehensive Writing Award 2016

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Let’s rename the Wildfire Theater By the Boiling Point Editorial Board Few if any students at Shalhevet today have any memory of Nat Reynolds, z”l, who died last summer at the age of 86. But all of us are nevertheless benefiting from his work. In the process of interviewing those who knew Mr. Reynolds, it became clear to the Boiling Point that Shalhevet as we know it would not exist if it was not for him. After decades in education including his time as head of school at Westlake School for Girls -- whose merger with Harvard he helped bring about -- Mr. Reynolds was the person brought in by Shalhevet founder Jerry Friedman to pick the first General Studies faculty in 1993. He also returned three more times to fill various positions, including interim head of school. But he had a particular influence in Drama. One anecdote from drama director Ms. Emily Chase encapsulates the impact Mr. Reynolds left on our school. She recalled that he showed her an old storage room filled with leftover supplies from when the old Shalhevet building was a hospital. Mr. Reynolds suggested they turn it into a theater -- and they did, painted black, with lights, a stage and a backstage area for storing costumes. It was used

to stage years of incredible plays and productions, bringing the drama department to the level of professionalism we take for granted today. Shalhevet is recognizable in the Orthodox world for its extensive artistic departments, as well as its General Studies program which stands up to any general studies department in the city. Much of this can be credited to the leader who was so invested in literature, arts and ideas that he hosted a regular poetry seminar. According to his widow, former Shalhevet English teacher Ms. Laura Loebe Reynolds (see related story, Page 5), he did all this -- and without taking a salary -- because he loved the school. Considering what Mr. Reynolds did for our school, it seems only fitting that Shalhevet love him back. The Boiling Point Editorial Board believes that Shalhevet should rename the Wildfire Theater the Nat Reynolds Theater in his honor. Obviously, renaming something as critical to Shalhevet as the theater is a big deal -- which is why we think it should happen. Nat Reynolds was not only an educational giant and an incredibly inspiring person, he also played an instrumental role in making Shalhevet and its drama department what it is today. After all, if not for Mr. Reynolds, there might be no theater at all.

AIPAC: More than a justification machine By the Boiling Point Editorial Board On Thursday, August 15, U.S. Representatives Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan were prohibited by the Israeli government from traveling to Israel. The two have been outspokenly critical of the Israeli government. President Trump tweeted: “They hate Israel & all Jewish people, & there is nothing that can be said or done to change their minds,” and then encouraged Israel--- which had originally granting them visas -- to take the action that they did. Some sided with Israel, others against. Notably, AIPAC came out and disagreed with Israel’s action. In a world where Israel is criticized constantly, it’s unusual for the largest Israel advocacy group in the world to openly criticize it as well, actions of the very country they lobby for, but we believe this was the right decision. If AIPAC stoops down to the level of blindly following every action Israel makes, it becomes nothing more than the nation’s international justification machine. A lobbying organization that does nothing more than make excuses for everything its cause does, no matter what, is a faulty organization. We might expect them to jump and defend Netanyahu’s actions, perhaps to explain why the actions taken were the best choice available. But there is no excuse for not admitting repre-

sentatives Omar and Tlaib purely because they do not share the same extremely pro-Israel stance of nearly every other U.S. legislator. Closing Israel off to these representatives would send the message that Israel is opposed to dialogue and refuses to listen to criticism. When AIPAC tweeted that they “believe every member of Congress should be able to visit and experience our democratic ally Israel firsthand,” they were calling Israel out for what they believed to be the wrong decision. Their choice to do this was admirable, and they did so respectfully. The Boiling Point Editorial Board is pleased with how AIPAC, respected especially in our Jewish community, handled this case. We are glad that they aren’t afraid to share that they are capable of disagreeing with decisions made by the Israeli government -- just the way plenty of patriotic Americans disagree with decisions made by the U.S. Government. It’s wonderful that we have such an organization as AIPAC in today’s world. On the one hand, they are incredibly dedicated to advocating on Israel’s behalf. They work tirelessly on Israel-America relations, and have done great work. On the other hand, we’re glad that it can also remain independent as an organization and not stoop to the level or brainless support. Well done, AIPAC.

The Boiling Point • October 2019 • Opinion

19

TWO BOILING POINTS OF VIEW:

Should we protest a ‘get refuser’ sitting shiva with family? Yes: There is halakhic basis to ostracize this man uncnditionally

No: It’s ganging up on innocent family By Sam rubanowitz, Outside news editor

By Josh Glettner, Staff Writer As August drew to a close, the Shalhevet community united in protest around a shiva house. Jew and non-Jew alike, the protestors were brought together by the actions of the mourner, Meir Kin, whose name has long been an object of revulsion. In Israel, the deceased mourner’s mother briefly laid unburied under the Rabbinate’s orders. Mr. The manipulation of the get in Kin has for over a decade refused to grant a get to his wife and even order to gain an advantage in civil remarried and has faced universal law is rightly considered abuse. It is rabbinic sanction. His former wife claims that he is demanding only a person of extreme evil who $500,000 and full custody. Some might view the measures takes advantage of the law for his against him as a chillul Hashem benefit. and a desecration of the dead. However, the measures taken against him are completely within the right of the law. As Rabbi Kalman Topp stated, “There is no kavod haRav in chillul Hashem”: we don’t honor even a rabbi who desecrates God’s name. It is necessary to understand the extremity of the refusal in order to understand the righteousness of the Israeli rebbeim’s actions. A pasuk in Devarim Chapter 24, Verse 1, describes the process of divorce as one initiated by the man on his free will. However, there are cases such as of the Kins, where the get -- the official writ of religious divorce -- is not given. In such a case the woman cannot remarry, for it is considered to be adultery since she is still married to her first husband. However the man can, if he can earn the support of 100 rebbeim, because the prohibition of polygamy only dates to Rabbeinu Gershov’s medieval decree. The Shulchan Aruch and other halakhic sources make clear that one can be forced even by the whip. The Rema states in Hamapah, a gloss on the Shulchan Aruch, an opinion cited by many rabbeim, that one delays burial or circumcision of a son on the refusal to give a get. This is a practice with a long history. The ninth-century Paltoi Gaon stated, among other things, that the get refuser cannot bury his dead. Despite some opposition for the harshness of his penalties, many Rishonim including the Rif, the Rashba, and the Beit Yosef hold with him. The manipulation of the get in order to gain an advantage in civil law is rightly considered abuse. It is only a person of extreme evil who takes advantage of the law for his benefit. Meir Kin’s supporters might point to his claim that he has in fact offered a get. This is only partially correct. He has only offered a get in a Beis Din in Monsey, one not considered to be a reputable one. So stands the consensus of the Torah giants of the United States and Israel; including Rav Schacter and Rabbi Lau, against one miscreant. The weight of 2,000 years of Jewish law stand together against one man. Who should we believe?

Photos by Zoey Botnick and Maia Lefferman Drawing by Sam Rubanowitz

On Aug. 23, members of the Shalhevet community and respected rabbis of the greater Los Angeles Jewish community gathered outside a building on Poinsettia Place. Inside was not the home of a corporation abusing animal rights or underpaying its employees -- inside was a private Jewish family mourning the death of their mother and wife. Meir Kin, the primary subject of this protest, had lost his mother, Rebbetzin Yehudis Kin -- a respected educator of hundreds of Jewish children in Los Angeles -- earlier that month. After delays to his mother’s burial in Israel, he was sitting shiva in the home of his father, Rabbi Yitzchak Kin -- a beloved rebbe in many Jewish day schools -- in Los Angeles together with his father and five siblings. It was the last day of shiva, so those gathered knew it was their last chance to make the statement they were there to make. A common refrain from protestors was that they will not allow for another Jew to “manipulate halacha,” or Jewish law, to his benefit, and if he does, they will publicly shame him -- even while he and his family mourn their mother. The manipulation they speak of stems from the fact that Mr. Kin has not provided a get to his wife, Lonna, for over 14 years. The facts of this case are in dispute and cannot be discerned for certain by anyone on the outside, on either side of this debate. But there is a clear question here: how appropriate is it to protest a shiva? Publicly demonstrating against a shiva displays a certain level of achzariyut -- cold cruelty -and lack of concern for the dead, and for the living who are trying to memorialize her. It shows a tremendous lack of sensitivity to capitalize on the powerlessness of a family during its time of sorrow in order to further an agenda. Meir Kin was not alone in that home. Even if he himself deserves no respect, a demonstration at the shiva house still displays a complete lack of respect for the others inside: his father, sister and four brothers. Protestors respond that they were also demonstrating against Mr. Kin’s siblings for not disassociating themselves with him and failing to ban him from the shiva house until he provides a get. Firstly, are they now deciding the rules that siblings must follow in their relationships with each other? They don’t know the family dynamics in a way that can allow them to speak with such confidence about a private family’s internal matters. Secondly, we don’t see protests against the siblings of money embezzlers or launderers, whose victims suffer enormous damage. There are no rules that the brother of a criminal should not get an aliyah until he guarantees that his brother remediates the damage of his crime. Why should it be different here? Others make the argument that Meir Kin, is in fact, the one who is committing the egregious action, that it’s cruel not to give a get. But is that really how society should work -- an eye for an eye? That wholly un-Jewish outlook would lead a functioning society off a cliff. Keep in mind the maxim of Lo sikom v’lo sitor -- do not take revenge or bear a grudge. It is not a Jewish value to treat others exactly how they treat us. In addition to the insensitivity aspect, there is the issue of defamation. Did each of the rabbanim and others at the protest independently verify the facts of the case and come to the conclusion that this is what Judaism requires? Or did they just follow the crowd? It is not my place to judge others, and nor am I saying that I am 100 percent within the right, but I do know this: Every single person at that protest will have to answer for themselves one day -- without the help of the mob -- in front of the heavenly court, during their own week of shiva. They will have to justify every act they have done. Are they all that confident that the protest was the right thing to do? It is certainly not worth the risk to take the chance. Eliyahu Kin, Meir Kin’s brother, said in an interview with the Boiling Point that the most important lesson he wants people to learn from this situation is to pursue shalom -- peace -- at all costs. He said that situations between a husband and wife should be dealt with “silk gloves,” and that it is important to tread carefully and respond with patience, love and understanding. “People have to try harder to unite, not to be apart, not to support machlokes -- arguments” he said. “There’s too much of that.”

20

Features

OCTOBER 2019

Kosher knockoffs give Jews a taste of the wide world of American snacks

Treif

Kosher

Students were asked in the Boiling Point poll whether there dairy... “I guess pretty much it’s were any non-kosher snacks they wish they could get kosher, and just that kosher manufacthere were no votes on the Boiling Point poll saying any students Sandwich Cremeos. Chips a Plenty. Elite Cheetos Crunch. turers are trying to expand wished they could have regular Takis. Chesters Puffcorn. Chili & Lime Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips. The Trader Joe’s version alludes to the non-kosher snack with- and distribute throughout What do all these snacks have in common? the whole world,” said Mr. You may not have heard of them, but they are all 100 percent out explicitly mentioning it in the product description. Kohanzadeh. “You see these “Compared to similar snacks available elsewhere, these glukosher-certified. products in Israel, like for exten-free Chips are cut & rolled a little thicker for additional The American snack industry produces tens of billions of dollars in revenue each year. Within this market, according to the crunch,” the website says. “They’re also crispier, since we’ve re- ample Liebers and Paskesz, or even in England, or anywhere Boston Globe, over 40 percent of the U.S.’s packaged food and duced the amount of water in them before they hit the fryer.” else in the world where there is Cheetos -crunchy cheese puffs normally beverages are certified kosher, making koa Jewish population.” made by Frito-Lay, are made kosher in Israel sher food a $13 billion industry. Both kosher and non-koand marketed there by Elite Brand. Shalhevet Some Shalhevet students like kosher “It makes it easier to keep students can be found snacking on the foreign sher products are copied by snacks and some don’t, but those who eat kosher that way, and I have the cheese puffs often, as they can be purchased in the kosher specialty comthem are very grateful that they’re here. panies -- but sometimes, made in kosher “They’re delicious,” said junior Gaby access to good kosher snacks.” local American kosher markets. “It’s good having the kosher option,” said versions by the companies themselves. For example, Tillamook Bentolila, when spotted with a bag of Elite Cheetos, “and I think that making kosher - Jonah Ackermann sophomore Jonah Ackermann. “It makes it Cheddar Cheese, which is normally not kosher, makes a kosher easier to keep kosher that way, and I have the line called Tillamook Kosher Medium. It’s harder to find, but snacks is great and gives Jewish people an stores in Jewish neighborhoods -- including Trader Joe’s in Culaccess to good kosher snacks.” opportunity to eat these snacks and still Other students, however, find the knock- ver City and sometimes in Ralph’s on Beverwil -- usually have keep kosher.” them in stock. According to YPulse, a website that does research on Gener- offs unappetizing, unnecessary or both. In the snack realm, Frito Lay’s “Cheetos,” adorned with a “They don’t taste good,” said sophomore Barbara Seruya, who ation Z and millenials, among Gen Z’s favorite snacks are Oreo, “Chester Cheetah” logo on their packaging, are not certified kosaid the only kosher snack she likes are Trader Joe’s Takis. Cheetos and a variety of other junk foods, some certified kosher “I think the idea is good that they are trying to make it so sher. But the company also offers a similar snack called “Chesand some not. Many of these American favorites have been replicated by kosher food brands, and can be found on the shelves of that we can have these snacks,” Barbara said. “They just don’t ter’s Puffcorn,” which features the same Chester Cheetah logo as Cheetos and even shares flavors. For example, there is a Chesend up tasting good.” kosher markets around the country. ters product called “Chester’s Flamin’ Hot Puffcorn Snack” just Some students admit that they don’t like kosher snacks simIn a poll conducted as there is a “Cheetos Crunchy Flamin’ Hot Cheese Flavored by the Boiling Point on ply because they prefer the original non-kosher versions. “I just eat the non-kosher ones,” said sophomore Eitan Jalali Snack.” which kosher snacks And in Israel, Cheetos themselves -- the real thing -- are students prefer, Trad- in an interview with the Boiling Point. “I tried the Takis from sold by the Israeli brand Strauss, featuring the exact same name Trader Joes -they’re eh. I just like Takis better. They’re just er Joe’s Takis were the spelled in Hebrew, and Chester Cheetah too. overwhelming favorite, like, sweeter -- I don’t know. They just taste They are certified kosher, and advertised promwith 37 votes, followed better.” inently on the website of Strauss. Dairy versus parve is another area by kosher Cheetos cheese “Cheetos, the crunchy cheese flavored snack puff snacks with 23 votes. where knock-off snacks can be helpful. in the nostalgic red bag, ‘immigrated’ to Israel Sixty-four students partici- For example, Oreos -- Gen Z’s snack of from the US in the early 1990s,” says Strauss pated in the poll, taken on choice, according to YPulse -- is certified on its website. kosher dairy. Kids who keep kosher can paper Sept. 16. Strauss merged with the Elite brand in 2004 The third-favorite ko- eat them -- but not after meat. to form Strauss-Elite. According to the StraussOreos were certified kosher in 1997, sher snack was Oreos, comElite website, the company partnered with Frimeaning they’ve been around for 22 years. ing in with five votes. to-Lay in 1998, wanting to compete in the salty But despite this, kosher brands have repliImitation Takis are snack market. This granted Strauss-Elite access so popular that junior cated the treat, among them with Paskez’ to Frito-Lay trademarked snacks, with the two Allesandra Judaken Duplex Sandwich Cookies and Lieber’s companies agreeing to take 50 percent each of the handed them out as part Sandwich Cremeos, which share not only profit from the merged products. most of Oreos’ name but their iconic blue of her campaign for SAC Vice Chair last year. Considering that Strauss’s foods are already “ I like to call them Jewish drugs, or a Jewish addiction,” said packaging. hugely popular in Israel -- and that it’s a multi-naMarket owners in the Pico-Robertson Allesandra, who lost the election in spite of the snack. “People tional corporation with 14,000 employees and seemed to love them. They were a big hit, a lot of people asked neighborhood said the non-dairy alternathat’s traded on the Tel Aviv 35 Index -- why tive is an important selling point for those for seconds. I saw them all over campus the entire day.” even talk about sharing profits? Why would an Officially named “Trader Joe’s Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips - brands. Israeli brand want to work with Frito-Lay? “One of the reasons that they needed Chili & Lime Flavored,” Trader Joe’s Takis are said to be very Schlacht BP Graphics by Aaron Maybe because of the colorful logos, catchy to have these is because Lieber’s and Paskez comparable to Takis Fuego, made by Barcel USA. names and international recognition of Frito-lay products. are pareve, but Oreo is dairy,” says Mr. Farzad Kohanzadeh, the Takis Fuego, according to the food’s website, offer “an intense Or maybe to increase its share of the $13 billion American flavor combination of hot chili pepper and lime.” But they’re not owner of Livonia Glatt. “So when you have your lunch or dinner and you want to have something that is similar to Oreo snacks, market in kosher foods. certified kosher. if you have had meat, you cannot have Oreos because they are

By Kate orlanski, Features editor

Treif

Kosher

Kosher

Treif

One with the water: 11th-grade swimmer practices 10 times a week By eliana koobian, staff writer “I swim for a club team that’s not with the school, and train 10 times in a five-day week, once before school and after school. It’s tough, I miss my last class every day but all my teachers are super understanding. Luckily because I do it, the school helps me a lot and I always go to Ashley. Aviva helped me with my schedule and set it perfectly, and Weslow and all my teachers are super understanding so that helps me a lot, but like during the week it’s tough to balance everything out. It all actually started when I didn’t know how to swim and when I was 8 my dad said that it’s not okay because of water safety. He enrolled me into a few swim lessons and after a little while in lessons they said to really solidify his swimming and confidence in water he should join the swim team. So I did. I loved the swim team. The person there then told me to take it to the next level and he sent me to the club team I‘m a part of now. I started swimming this intensely in 8th grade, so four years ago, but

some of the kids I’ve been swimming with have been doing it for 10 years plus. I love swimming but obviously there are days that I get to practice and I’m like ‘ugh I have to swim, but most days I’m excited to jump in and ready to put in work. Once you’re in the water, your ears are blocked and you can’t hear anything, see anything, so you get to focus on yourself self and become one with the water and even get to forget all the worries you have, and it all just goes out of your head.”

The Boiling Point • October 2019 • Community

21

Just as it was exploding in popularity, vaping has been found to cause severe lung and possibly permanent lung damage, lengthy hospitalizations and even death. conitnued frm page 1 Vaping-Associated Lung Injury (VAPI) include chest pain, from burning tobacco The vapor produced by an electronic cigarette is formed nausea, coughing, fatigue, and shortness of breath. These can be when a battery heats a liquid which contains nicotine, flavoring symptoms of other illnesses as well, including asthma, pertussis, and other substances, and the heat turns the liquid into aerosol pneumonia and the flu. But if you experience those symptoms, -- tiny liquid particles suspended in a gas. The aerosol is inhaled you should stop vaping immediately and see your doctor, health officials said. into lungs. Dr. Julie Higashi, Tuberculosis Controller at Los Angeles Originally introduced to the U.S. market in 2007, there are many types of e-cigarettes, the most common being a “pod” County Department of Public Health, said that not enough vape, popularized by JUUL, currently the most recognized research has been done to determine a threshold of symptoms that should send someone who vapes to a doctor. brand. “The thing about vaping is that we have no idea how it may A pod vape resembles a flash drive, making it easy to hide and popular with students. The largest part of the device is a affect the body,” said Dr. Higashi, who is the mother of senior battery, which is attached to a pod containing the liquids that Kiku Shaw. “I don’t know that there’s a threshold. I don’t know that you could think you’re going to be okay up to a certain are heated into aerosols. A single JUUL pod, which their website says is roughly 200 point. I don’t think we know enough. “And that’s what happens when clinical syndromes develop puffs, contains the same amount of nicotine as a whole pack of and they’re new,” she added. “It takes us a while in the medical cigarettes. Marijuana vapes often look like a pen. The liquid commonly community to understand what to look out for. “If you’re feeling ill and you’re vaping at all, don’t be relucused is hash oil, a fatty oil extract from the marijuana plant which can contain up to 80 percent THC, the main psychoac- tant to reach out to your healthcare provider.” She also said you should stop vaping right away. tive chemical in marijuana, according to a website of the state of Colorado. Dr. Higashi said many of the cases resemble something One benefit of marijuana vaping is that has no smell. Answering an anonymous online questionnaire, a Shalhe- called “lipoid pneumonia,” where fat particles enter the lungs and cause an inflammatory reaction vet student who said they vaped THC wrote which can ultimately lead to lung failthat that was why. “If you’re feeling ill and you’re vaping at ure or permanent damage. “I can get high without smelling like This is different than smoking tobacweed,” the student said. all, don’t be reluctant to reach out to co, a substance filled with carcinogens, your healthcare provider.” which causes lung cancer by damaging Studies have shown that vaping is skythe cells which line the lungs, according rocketing. The 2018 University of Michigan - Dr. Julie Higashi, Los Angeles County to the Mayo Clinic. “Monitoring the Future” survey, which meaDepartment of Public Health While no one knows for sure, Dr. Hisures teen drug use, found that 21 percent of gashi said that there could be something high school students had vaped within the dangerous in the aerosol unrelated to the past month, almost doubling the 11 percent nicotine or THC that is being inhaled. of the previous year. If that trend has con“Some of these illnesses have occured when people are tinued in 2019, almost half of all teens are vaping now. At Shalhevet, information about the danger of vaping has vaping nothing but the flavor,” said Dr. Higashi referring to become far more widespread in the past month. That may be non-nicotine vaporizers. “And so the actual vehicle may be part because of viral messages like an Instagram post by Simah Her- of what’s impacting health.” Researchers in the Mayo Clinic study found lung damage man, a former student at YULA Girls High School. On Aug. 29, Simah posted a series of pictures of herself in resembling what was caused by chemical weapons. Dr. Brana hospital bed hooked up to a breathing apparatus, each one don T. Larsen, a surgical pathologist at the Mayo Clinic in holding up a paper with a message written in Sharpie. The post Scottsdale, Ariz., told the New York Times the patients’ lungs looked like those of victims of mustard gas -- the devastating has nearly 1 million likes. chemical weapon used in World War I and then banned by “I want to start a no vaping campaign,” says one. “The dangers of vaping are real and this can happen to you,” international treaty. The study examined biopsies from 17 pashe writes in the caption of her post. “Please don’t let it. It’s not tients, including a 25-year-old and a 31-year old who had died. The FDA warns specifically of vaping THC. While the coreasy to quit, nicotine is a very addictive chemical but the more relation between THC and the new illness appears especially you vape the more likely you are to end up where I did.” She wrote that during her time vaping, she had developed strong, some of the severely ill vaped only nicotine. She said all of the cases involve an inflammation in the symptoms including nausea and blurred vision. But she did not lungs. suspect that it was because she vaped. “What it is is an inflammatory response because there is a In the hospital, she was put into a drug-induced coma while in the hospital, she wrote. She was sharing her story so other substance in the lungs and the body is fighting that off,” said Dr. Higashi. people don’t go through the same experiences. Whether people are sick or not, the CDC recommends they “Don’t let vaping win. Take back your life and quit smoking. give up any type of vaping until further information about the it’s just not worth it.” According to senior Gabby Lasry, one of Simah’s friends, she illness is found. “People should not vape,” said Dr. Higashi. is out of the hospital now and “doing much better.” The Boiling Point contacted Simah and she replied that she Now, with hundreds of young people severely sick, vaping was “taking a break” from publicity and didn’t want to be interviewed, but hoped to speak to the whole Shalhevet student has evolved from an evolving public phenomenon into a public body at some point about what happened to her. She’s hoping health crisis. On Sept. 20, Walmart announced it would stop selling the publicity will cause people to quit. Of the 11 Shalhevet students polled who said they vape, e-cigarettes at its stores across the United States. Other stores four said they had tried to quit. One said he or she had quit have recently done the same, including Costco and Rite Aid. CNN and CBS said they will no longer air advertisements for successfully. “I stopped because I was scared of the dangers of vaping,” e-cigarettes. President Trump last month announced a plan to ban flathat student said. vored e-cigarettes, tweeting: “While I like the Vaping alternaneed to make According to the New York Times, warning signs for the tive to Cigarettes, we

“

Page Design and Illustration by Zev Kupferman, Director of Production and Design

sure this alternative is SAFE for ALL! Let’s get counterfeits off the market, and keep young children from Vaping!” In California, vaping is considered a kind of smoking and subject to the smoking minimum-age laws, banning sales to those under 21. Schools are now getting involved. According to the New York Times, a school in Alabama removed the bathroom stall doors in an attempt to prevent students vaping while hiding out. In Colorado, a school forfeited a volleyball game after finding out students were vaping. In a Pennsylvania school, students caught with vaping devices face a three-day suspension and a $50 fee, the Times said. Mr. Weslow said that Shalhevet currently does not plan to punish students caught vaping on campus any more than the handbook mandates for any substance use -- which is a possible expulsion. But he also said the administration had been meeting since the beginning of the year about how to best address the issue. So far, he said, they’re planning to have the guidance department as well as professionals talk to students about the science behind the danger of vaping, and also how to resist social pressure to vape. “The focus right now is meaningful programming throughout the year,” said Mr. Weslow. The thought of having a special program to address the health risks of vaping would not have crossed the mind of anyone just last June. School rules were already in place and had been publicized. Vaping seemed like something that could get you addicted to nicotine but more safely than smoking tobacco, or could get you high without getting caught. Just four months later, the death total is at 12 and rising; the Mayo Clinic study put it at 16. Public health professionals still do not know what exactly in the vapor is causing the crisis. But they know that it can be lethal.

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Boiling Point poll of 64 students

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Arts & Culture

October 2019

Roen Salem returns to a grateful art room school day, surprising her with a To the theme song of the Chicago Bulls, Mrs. Roen Salem larger cohort than walked among the Shalhevet staff to the front of the gym Aug. expected. “She came with 28, welcomed by clapping and cheering students. It was the first all the kids when day of the school year, when veteran teachers, new teachers, and I was gonna have other staff march through up the center aisle to loud music, just a few kids, cheers and applause from the student body. After all the teachers had reached the front of the room, Mr. and then 26 of you Weslow took a minute to single out Mrs. Salem, wishing her well showed up — that was a really nice and welcoming her back. Roen “And then all of a sudden everybody started applauding and surprise,” stood up, and I just lost it,” Mrs. Salem said. “It was very very reminisced. Senior Aiden Bieda, who sweet.” She had been gone since mid-February — about four school visited that day, months plus two months of summer, after being diagnosed with said that Roen’s falling ill “was cancer. someIn an email Feb. 17 to the Shalhevet community, Head of definitely thing that really hit School Rabbi Ari Segal wrote that Roen had “continued teaching until the day before her surgery. Refuah Shelaima for Roen home, it was really — it affected me a Salem.” Although students and faculty worried — and prayed — lot.” He said that he Roen said she always planned to return. “I knew I was coming back,” she said in a recent interview. “It has been close to BP Photo by Neima Fax her his whole life, was a goal, I just worked towards getting stronger.” OUT-OF-THE-BOX: Juniors Lenny Wolkind and Sophie Handelman worked on pencil drawing in SAS Studio Mrs. Salem, who is known universally simply as Roen, has having had her as Art last week. Students say Roen has helped them think more freely and take risks in their art. an art teachbeen teaching at Shalhevet for er in first and 28 years, ever since the school’s still struggle with being uptight with my art, but she’s gotten me second grade opening in 1992. to a place where I feel like I can let go if I want to and just sort of as well as at Camp Ramah in Ojai, where Roen has taught She’s a crazy strong Roen underwent both surgery do what comes freely on the page.” during the summer for 30 years. and chemotherapy for her illness. person. She just strikes Roen said the transition back to school has been smooth. This After she left, Aiden said, “I lost hope in my art for a When she was receiving treatyear she is teaching three classes, as opposed to the six classes she me as a survivor. little bit.” ment, she said, she was so weak Even so, he said he believed she would come back — taught last year, and Ms. Garelick is teaching the rest. she “couldn’t even lift a dinner While Roen was sick, Ms. Garelick taught both Roen’s classes -Aiden Bieda, 12th echoing Roen’s own confidence in her return. plate,” but as the chemo wore off and her own. This year Roen teaches upperclassmen while Ms. “She’s a crazy strong person,” he said. “She just strikes me she regained her strength. grade SAS Art student Garelick has grades nine and 10. as a survivor.” The support she received Now that she’s teaching half the time that she did last year, she Senior Danya Helperin said she didn’t think Roen would ranged from people leaving flowwill have more time to focus on painting for herself, Roen said. come back to teach. ers at the hospital, food at her “I like to do wacky, out-of-the-box kind of paintings with a “I figured that once she got better she would retire, but door, phone calls and emails to lot of little savings that I have from years ago, like Barbie shoes, she didn’t,” Danya said. “She’s a powerhouse. She’s got it.” visits from both students and alumni. Danya said Roen has taught her not only composition and my bird feather from when I was 10 years old,” she said. “I have Ms. Samantha Garelick, who joined Shalhevet last year as all kinds of crazy stuff included in my paintings.” color theory, but how to be more flexible with her art. ninth-grade art teacher, regularly visited Roen after the surgery. “She taught me how to loosen up a little bit,” said Danya. “I In April, she brought a group of students to visit during the

By Sam Rubanowitz, Outside News Editor

REVIEW: Making violence funny in Tarantino’s latest blockbuster By Molly Litvak, Community Editor Comic relief is a popular way of alleviating pain or lightening the intensity of violence in films. But generating laughter while displaying gruesome and violent scenes is hard to achieve, especially while aiming to maintain a well-written script.

Sonypictures.com STARS: Three top stars portray figures in a fictionalized Manson case story.

Quentin Tarantino’s newest masterpiece makes this happen in a way that creates an opportunity to examine how such a thing could be funny. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood takes you through Hollywood in 1969, focusing primarily on Rick Dalton, played by Leonardo DeCaprio, a has-been alcoholic Western movie star, and Cliff Booth, played by Brad Pitt, Rick’s stunt-double, driver and friend. A storyline links their friendship to the Manson family murders, which happened at the same time period the movie takes place. The actress and real-life victim Sharon Tate, played by Margot Robbie, and her husband Roman Polanski, who is barely shown in the movie, are next-door neighbors to Rick, who dreams of being cast in one of Polanski’s films. Cliff ends up driving a young hitch-hiking hippie to what turns out to be Charles Manson’s ranch, which is where this passenger lives. The scene at the ranch is quite comedic in its absurdity. An arrogant hippie who is part of the cult flattens a tire in Rick’s car, which Cliff used to drive there. Cliff -- a tough guy who doesn’t let anyone mock or annoy him -- responds by beating up the teenager gruesomely, bashing him in the face and mouth to force him to put on a new tire. The ranch girls watch in a combination of pity and awe as Cliff repeatedly bangs the boy’s head until it is bloodied; one girl even mouths the words “I love you” in the victim’s direction. These hippies

laughing hysterically by the finale. Of course, the are evidently evil and brainwashed and the viewer Manson murders were a tragedy, and an event may identifies less with the victim than with the in history that will always go down as uniquely tough and careless individual who is weirded out horrific. But Quentin Tarantino depicted the event by the group’s hysterics. in a different way. A similar reaction is Tarantino is known for ignited when Cliff starts Tarantino is known for his his violent yet comedic films, a fight with Bruce Lee, violent yet comedic films, and and this one is no exception. played by Mike Moh. On this one is no exception. HowHowever, considering how a set of a movie he was playing Rick’s stunt double ever, considering how gruesome gruesome the movie was, the audience response raises the in, Cliff sees Bruce talking the movie was, the audience question of why it can be about how good of a response raises the question thought of as funny. There is fighter he is. of why it can be thought of as always a debate after he releases Annoyed by his arroa film over whether or not he is gance, Cliff speaks up and funny. promoting violence. ridicules him, and Bruce While many people may responds by proposing a laugh at bloody scenes, almost none of them friendly fight. Bruce is confident and loud, even would react that way while witnessing real violence claiming his hands are “registered as lethal weapin person. Movies are inherently unrealistic; like ons,” but Cliff easily wins their little duel. satire and cartoons, even if they are based on true Meanwhile, the movie’s soundtrack evokes the events, their goal is to entertain. era in which the movie takes place. With classic In Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Tarantino hits like “Mrs. Robinson,’’ “California Dreampushes that envelope even further to achieve this in’”and “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show” end -- mixing violence with humor. The film’s playing on Rick’s radio, Tarantino showcases the worldwide success indicates that laughing at cruelpopular music of 1969. ty is a common experience -- at least at the movies, At the end, when the clock is ticking toward and maybe only when in the hands of someone the hippies invading Tate and Polanski’s home, who is capable enough to pull it off. Someone like “Out of Time” by the Rolling Stones is playing, Quenten Tarantino. fitting perfectly with the moment. Although I don’t want to give away the ending, I will say that everyone in the theater I was in was

23

Sports

OCTOBER 2019

Firehawk baseball program is no longer seasonal By Adam Tizabi, Staff Writer

Photo by Sabrina Jahan

FOCUS: Senior Zach Helfand winds up to pitch during the Firehawks win over the East Valley Eagles Sept. 22. The Firehawks are participating in a fall ball program until Dec. 1 in preparation for the competitive season next spring..

Welcome to fall ball. For all of Shalhevet’s history, baseball has been played as a spring sport. But this year, in a bid to continue to grow the baseball department, Head Coach Brad Gunches was determined to organize a year-round baseball program. Coach Gunches, who took over as Head Coach for the sport last January, said he wanted to start a fall program for the team to work on the fundamentals. And that’s what happened. “In the fall season, everyone gets to play and prepare for the spring season,” said Coach Gunches, who has coached baseball in various places for 43 years. “We just work on things to get better and pick up fundamental skills.” The Athletic Department has created a fall-ball season to last until December. Athletic Coordinator Coach Jeff Remer said that playing non-league, non-competitive baseball in fall would pay dividends later. “It will parlay itself into something positive come springtime,” said Coach

Remer. In addition, Coach Gunches announced that the team would be participating in the Third Annual Ezra Schwartz Z”L Memorial Baseball Tournament in Boston next April. The tournament was created by Ezra’s parents after the 18-year-old was murdered in Israel by a Palestinian terrorist while on a volunteer trip in 2015. Freshman Jack Metzger said he expects the tournament to be the highlight of the year for the Firehawks. “I think our team will really bond through this tournament,” said Jack. “We will create memories and become closer.” The Firehawks have joined a fall league through the East Valley Colt Baseball league. They are scheduled to play about 12 recreational games through the end of November, according to Coach Gunches. They won their first game on Sept. 15, 8-3, against the Vigilantes from La Canada. As of Sept. 23, they are 2-0. Last season, the team went 8-7 in a season that started in mid-February. Catcher Sam Rubin said the team had

its first practice just two weeks prior to the first regular-season game in February and thus wasn’t well-conditioned to play. He said he expects playing fall ball will give the team a spring forward. “It’s obviously a big jump from last year,” said Sam. “All of our players are going to be in great shape and get tons of practice in before the spring.” Fall games are on Sundays and in between, the team practices Wednesday evenings at Fairfax High School. They are expecting to have about 10 practices. The fall-season ends on Dec. 1, and there will be a six-week break before spring baseball gears up in the second week of January. Co-Captain pitcher Jesse Harrison said having a fall program could be especially beneficial for the team’s six new freshmen recruits. He also said that the team will have time to gel before the competitive spring season. “Fall ball is the time to get familiar with each other and learn each others’ names,” Jesse said. “By the time spring rolls around, we’ll be all warmed up and have better chemistry.”

Coleman now leads varsity girls and boys, Remer coaches JV By Alex Rubel, Senior Editor Coach Ryan Coleman, who has been the head coach of the Firehawk boys varsity basketball team for the past five seasons and led the team to multiple titles in prestigious basketball tournaments, has additionally been named head coach of the Firehawk girls varsity basketball team for this year. Coach Coleman is replacing former girls varsity basketball head coach Jeff Remer, who is also the school’s Athletic Coordinator. Coach Remer had coached the girls’ team for the previous two years. Coach Remer is now the assistant coach of the boys junior varsity team and head coach of a new girls junior varsity team, which is being inaugurated this year. Coach Alex Plak will be head coach of the junior varsity boys team. In an interview with the Boiling Point, Coach Remer said that the main purpose of the change was to ensure that all four teams of the school’s basketball program -- varsity and junior-varsity of both boys and girls basketball -- run similarly. “We need to have more continuity in the basketball program,” Coach Remer said in an interview with the Boiling Point. “Our boys program has been run by Coach Ryan, and as you can see, they’ve had a phenomenal run under Coach Ryan’s tenure.” “Now, both programs are under the same coach and doing the same thing,” Coach Remer said. “Now I can implement what Ryan wants me to do at the JV level.” Last year, Coach Coleman coached the boys’ varsity team and was a mentor for the boys JV team. As Head Coach of the boys varsity team last year, he led the Firehawks to the school’s first ever boys basketball title in the Annual Steve Glouberman Tournament in November, along with a historic

CIF playoff run in February that drove them to the quarter-final round in Division 3A, and a back-to-back title at Yeshiva University’s Red Sarachek Tournament in March. Coach Coleman was also named Jewish Hoops of America Coach of the Year for the 2017-18 season. Players said they would miss Coach Remer, but hoped the addition of Coach Coleman can enable the team to reach new heights. They said they felt the same way about Coach Ronnie “Flava” Winbush, who led the girls until Remer took over for the 2017-18 season. “We loved Coach Flava, we loved Coach Remer, and now we have Coach Ryan,” said senior star guard Kiku Shaw. “He’s worked with us a couple times in the past, and we absolutely loved it.” Kiku said Coach Ryan is teaching girls how to play situational basketball -- what to do when -- in addition to working with them to master the basics. “Last year we focused on fundamentals,” Kiku said. “But this year it’s not just about the fundamentals. It’s also about building our general basketball IQ.” Senior star guard Maital Hiller said Coach Ryan has scheduled more practices this year than the team had last year at this point in the season. She thinks they’ll pay off. “Ryan is pushing us harder as a team,” Maital said. “I’m really excited for what’s in store for the upcoming year.” The team is very optimistic about winning more games this year, and have set their sights on their second-ever Glouberman Tournament championship title this year. Last year, the team went 21-6 in the regular season, but lost in the quarter-final round of the Fourth Annual Steve Glouberman Tournament in November to the SAR Sting 55-27.

“I think the other teams should be scared,” said junior forward Hilla Lasry. “I think Coach Ryan is gonna teach us really good plays. We’re gonna be really well conditioned, and we’re gonna be able to see the court differently.”

Photo by Maia Lefferman PRACTICE: New JV boys coach Alex Plax leads a drill during practice on Sept. 24 Coach Ryan Coleman will be taking over the varsity basketball program this year, while Athletic Coordinator Coach Jeff Remer will have oversight on the JV program.

Hiller fills the scorecard as Firehawk girls dominate Panthers in flag football By Alex Rubel, Senior Editor

Photo by Layla Dauer RUSH: Firehawks quarterback Maital Hiller runs the ball as her teammates block the defenders in the Firehawk victory over YULA Sept. 16.

Shalhevet’s Girls Flag Football team walloped their rival YULA Panthers’ 30-2 led by Firehawk quarterback Maital Hiller’s five touchdowns and five interceptions. The game, played at the Glendale Sports Complex on Sept. 16, was the Firehawks season opener, and the first game played after a two year-long hiatus due to scheduling difficulties. Coach Tommy Cannon, who is also the head coach of the Firehawk boys flag football team, said he was pleased with the team’s performance since they entered the game relatively unprepared. “To my surprise, we executed quite well,” said Coach Tommy. “It was definitely nice to come in and seal a victory.” Future games might be tougher, however. This season, the

team has six more games scheduled, against YULA, Loma Linda, Redlands Academy, Glendale, Newbury Park, and Venice high schools. “All those teams are good,” Coach Tommy said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do.” Quarterback Maital Hiller said she was proud of the team’s victory and thanked her coach and teammates. “Tommy is a great coach,” Maital said. “And he has taught us a lot.” The new coach had only praise for his star player. “She’s just an amazing athlete,” Coach Tommy said. “You give her the ball and ask her to give you five yards, and she gives you 50. “And she’s a leader. She gets everyone going and they follow suit.”

The Boiling Point • October 2019 • Sports

24

Team spirit bumps girls volleyball team to new heights returning. “This year, we were practicing two weeks before school started,” said Coach Remer. “They were in the gym every single day for two and a half hours. I think the commitment to be Senior Ashley Botnick has played on more serious, the girls really appreciate that. “ the volleyball team for all four years of high In fact, interest has grown so much that school, and this year, she is one of the teams’ Athletic Coordinator Coach Jeff Remer scramthree captains. bled to form a junior varsity girls volleyball But she wears a different color jersey team. from the rest of the team. “We’re working on it,” Coach Remer said. That’s because, for the first time in the “We have approval, but because it’s already late team’s history, the team has a libero, a defenin the season, we’ll do what we can to get then sive player who plays only in the back row. some games and some extra practice time.” Ashley is the libero, and to distinguish her Players say that having so many players position, she wears the opposite color jersey -- 22 -- on the varsity team prevents everyone of her teammates. from getting the individual attention they need “For the past few years we’ve tried to to improve. make it happen but it never did,” said Ash“It’s so hard to work on our skills as best as ley, who is a co-captain along with her twin we can when there are so many people,” said sister Zoey Botnick and fellow senior Avital sophomore Danielle Finn. Jacobson. “The coaches never got around to Even though they’re doing better, players adding one, and because of that we never say they still have room for improvement. ordered a different color jersey.” Danielle said that proper communication Last year, Ashley said, the team only with each other, especially between players who wore red uniforms. Because they now Photo by Amanda Wannon call for the ball, is a must for the team moving have red away uniforms and white home forward. uniforms this year, having a libero was made “We need to have better communication possible. TEAMWORK: Firehawk volleyball players perform a team cheer ahead of their home game against Enviromental Charter on Sept. 25. Team members say with each other,” Danielle said. “Once we are Having a libero -- who is restricted to communication is important, especially among players who call for the ball. Enthusiasm for the sport continues to grow as practice becomes more rigorous. down a couple points, our whole mindset playing in the back row -- allows the team to changes, and we sabotage ourselves.” substitute players without compromising the positions: setter, outside hitter, right hitter, middle blocker, middle back, Because communication is essential, havdefense. and left back. In addition, each team has one libero, a defensively-mind- ing a lack of it during games can mean the difference between a win “The libero can sub in with anyone in the back row,” Ashley said, ed player restricted to the last row. The libero can replace any player as and a loss. “and those substitutions are not counted towards the amount allowed long as she’s positioned in the back row. It did when the Firehawks lost 3-0 to Animo Leadership on Sept. 17. for the game.” Each player on the court is part of the serve rotation. The players But it’s not just about having a libero. The volleyball team is becomrotate before the serve at the beginning of each possession. If they win “I think we lost our own game,” said Coach Jelly after that game. ing a lot more serious about improving, bonding, and ultimately, winthe point, the same player serves for the next play. If they lose a point, “Animo did not beat us. We just weren’t communicating effectively ning games. the ball goes to the opponent and the rotation moves clockwise once the enough with each other.” This year, the team has experienced a flurry of interest from players team regains its serve. who want to be a part of what they consider a “sisterhood.” Currently, A volleyball team cannot touch the ball more than three times on the So far this season, the team is 5-6. There are three more games the team has 22 players, and in volleyball, only six are on the court at a same possession. Typically, volleyball players are taught to maximize the left to play. time. three hits by using a combination of bumpBut they already have more wins than last year and they’re not even Since last year, it has been led by Coach Angelica Casing and setting to slow down an opponent’s half-way done with the season. Last year, they went 3-4, and the year tellanos, who also coaches the new boys volleyball team in The team has 22 players, and hit, to the team’s setter who is tasked with before that, they went 3-11 the spring. preparing her team for a spike. “I think there has been so much improvement regarding our skills “The sisterhood and camaraderie is something we real- in volleyball only six are on the Height is advantageous for volleyball from previous years,” said Sophie. “But there is still room for more.” ly push with the girls,” said Coach Castellanos, whom her court at a time. teams because it enables them to dominate Danielle said that continued hard work will keep the team from players call Coach Jelly. the net with blocking or a spike. having to constantly fight uphill battles against better conditioned op“There’s no seniority, there’s no hazing, there’s no nothThe volleyball Firehawks play in the ponents. ing. I think that keeps girls interested.” Mullholland league -- as all Shal“It’s a little frustrating for everyone, as Her players agreed. hevet athletic teams do -- and primarily plays their league much as we work really hard, all of the “It’s fun to be with my teammates and to experience the feeling of Players rotate before the teams just seem to be better than us,” opponents. just being in the game,” said freshman Noa Talasazan. serve at the beginning of each Danielle said. “So we got kind of down Ashley said that the volleyball team has become a family. ourselves. But overall, we’re for sure “The idea of having a team is something special,” said Ashley. “And possession. If they win the on Players seem to be responding positively to the increased improving a lot.” having a team filled with people who aren’t necessarily only in your grade rigor. point, the same player serves Ashley said it’s been great watching and getting to know other people -- both underclassmen and upperclass“When you put in countless hours of work and see real men -- is really valuable.” for the next play. the team improve, and she expects that results, it’s really rewarding,” said junior Sophie Handleman. to continue. The team has practiced almost every day during the sea“Playing sports in high school teaches son. Junior Hannah Benji said that the extra commitment has you many things that make up your high school experience,” said Ashley. Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the girls volleyball team, how made the team more cohesive. “It teaches you teamwork and balancing school work with co-curricuthe sport works remains largely unknown to the rest of the student body. “Compared to last year, we’ve all grown as a family and we’ve become lars.” Volleyball games are played as best-of-five, meaning that the first sisters,” Hannah said. “It’s clear that it’s due to all the extra time that we’re Things are looking up for the team, with an abundance of younger team to win three sets is victor of the game. A set is won when a team putting in.” players ready to learn these same lessons. scores 25 points. Shalhevet Athletic Coordinator Coach Jeff Remer said that Coach But next season, they’ll have to pick a new libero. Six players are on the court at a time. Each player plays one of six Jelly’s dedication to the team appeals to the players -- both new and

By Alex Rubel, Senior Editor and Caleb Fishman, Staff Writer

For the Clipper who used to be a Raptor, only love By Jacob Joseph Lefkowitz Brooks, Editor-in-Cheif

twitter.com/Rap tors Champions: The Toronto Raptors celebrated after beating the reigning back-to-back champion Golden State Warriors in the NBA finals last June. It was Toronto’s first NBA title ever, led by Kawhi Leonard, who now will play for Clippers.

There were four seconds left on the shot clock in a tied game seven against the Philadelphia 76ers. Kawhi Leonard caught the inbounds pass and dribbled to the right sideline, double-teamed by two Sixers. He stepped back and launched an impossible shot. It bounced off the right rim, then the left, and after what seemed like a millennium, dropped into the net. That was my dayenu moment. If you somehow don’t know, I’m from Toronto and spend an unhealthy amount of time from October to June obsessing over my favorite team in the world. For a lifelong Raptors fan who had seen our hopes and excitement dashed in similarly spectacular fashion by the likes of Allen Iverson, Paul Pierce, John Wall, and Lebron James (way too many times), it would have been enough for Kawhi’s game-winning shot to

be the climax of our postseason journey. So it goes without saying that what ended up happening was greater than anything I had ever dreamed of: an improbable comeback from down 0-2 against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, and an impossible victory against the almighty Golden State Warriors in the NBA finals. I was asked all summer what I thought about Kawhi leaving Toronto as a free agent to join Paul George on the LA Clippers. I’m sure they expected me to be angry about the wasted potential of a team that could have won more championships. Or maybe they thought I would have considered Kawhi a traitor, who turned his back on a country full of fans who lauded him with praise at every turn. No. I have only love for a team that defied all expectations and brought the city of Toronto its first championship. And yes, I will be going to see Kawhi play every chance I get, and I will cheer for him as loud as I can.