ARIEL SHAPIRO
COVER ART BY SHALHEVET CLASS OF ‘25
DEAR STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND THE GREATER SHALHEVET COMMUNITY,
WELCOME TO THIS YEAR'S EDITION OF SHALHEVET’S LITERARY MAGAZINE!
INSIDE, YOU’LL FIND A COLLECTION OF POEMS, ARTWORK, PERSONAL REFLECTIONS, AND PHOTOGRAPHY THAT PROVIDE A WINDOW INTO THE IMAGINATIONS, EMOTIONS, AND THOUGHTS OF MY FELLOW STUDENTS AND OUR FACULTY ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE TO WATCH ALL OF OUR HARD WORK COME TOGETHER IN THE MAGAZINE YOU’RE ABOUT TO ENJOY IN A WORLD OF INCREASINGLY SHORT ATTENTION SPANS, IT’S NICE TO STEP BACK AND TAP INTO THE POWER OF SELF-REFLECTION, EXPRESSING THINGS THAT TYPICALLY DON’T GET MUCH AIRTIME. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THIS MAGAZINE HAS BEEN ROOTED IN THE IDEA OF DISCOVERING TRUE MEANING AND CONNECTION THROUGH THE ART OF EXPRESSION.
THIS YEAR’S THEMES ARE ISRAEL, NATURE, AND PERSONAL REFLECTION/DREAMS. I WANTED TO GIVE OUR CONTRIBUTORS THE FREEDOM TO EXPRESS HOW THEY BEST CONNECT WITH THESE THEMES, WITH ISRAEL PLAYING A CENTRAL ROLE IN THE MAGAZINE. SINCE OCTOBER 7TH, EACH AND EVERY PERSON HAS DEVELOPED A DIFFERENT CONNECTION TO ISRAEL, THE HOSTAGES, THE LOSSES, AND THE UNITY THAT EMERGED FROM THE TRAGEDIES. I HOPE THAT THROUGH THE WORK IN THIS MAGAZINE, YOU’LL BE ABLE TO SEE HOW SOME INDIVIDUALS EXPRESSED THEIR CONNECTIONS TO THEIR LIVES AS JEWS, AND HOW THEIR IDENTITY INTERTWINES WITH THE NATIONAL IDENTITY OF AM YISRAEL AS A COLLECTIVE WHOLE.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR TALENTED TEAM OF EDITORS, THOSE WHO PERSONALLY REFLECTED AND HAD THE COURAGE TO SHARE THEIR WORK WITH US, AND TO OUR FACULTY ADVISORS, MR. FORRESTER AND MR. WESLOW, FOR THEIR SUPPORT, DEDICATION, AND HOURS OF ENGAGEMENT
I HOPE THAT WHEN YOU FINISH READING, YOU’LL FIND THE POWER TO SELF-REFLECT AND DISCOVER HOW YOU BEST EXPRESS YOURSELF - YOUR EMOTIONS AND YOUR THOUGHTS- HOWEVER THAT MAY BE
AM YISRAEL CHAI! WITH GRATITUDE,
NATALIE GUL
EDITOR IN CHIEF 10TH GRADE - SHALHEVET HIGH SCHOOL
STAFF:
NATALIE GUL ‘27
EDITOR IN CHIEF
BELLA GRABER ‘27
CO- MANAGING EDITOR
MINDY NAGEL ‘27
CO- MANAGING EDITOR
EMMA KOTZEN ‘26
LAYOUT EDITOR
BRIAN FORRESTER
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY ADVISOR
ANAEL EDRI ‘27
CO-VISUAL ART EDITOR
HILA SULTAN ‘27
CO-VISUAL ART EDITOR
JOEY JAHAN ‘28
PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
MAYA DAHAN ‘27
FACULTY-STUDENT
COORDINATOR
DANIEL WESLOW
PRINCIPAL
FACULTY ADVISOR
-NATALIE GUL ‘27
While taking this picture of the sunset at the beach in Tel Aviv, I instantly felt a sense of gratitude towards Hashem for giving us a place we can always call our home. There truly is no better feeling than belonging and having the privilege of our Jewish homeland that we can travel to, live in, and come together as a nation in. For me, the sunset captures the feeling I get while being in Israel. There’s something about the sun there that you cannot find anywhere else- how its rays of warmth bring forth a sense of belonging that makes me feel like I’m home.
-GABRIELA ACKERMANN ‘27
-DANIEL WESLOW: PRINCIPAL
GABRIELA ACKERMANN ‘27
When I went to Israel in 8th grade, I landed and instantly felt joyful. Happiness came to me, and this was the first time I saw the land of my people with my own eyes. Everything was like a dream. Then, I went to Israel with my family, and it was after the 7th of October. This time, when I landed, I felt real pain. This was the first time I saw the true sorrow of our people and the horrors each victim encountered. Help them please, and let them free. These hostages are in pain, and I feel it deeply.
-REVA EGORIN ‘27
October 7th was a confusing day. I felt like I had to balance unity and strength with the fact that people were getting murdered and kidnapped in those very moments. It took me a long time to learn to navigate the feelings and pain everyone felt that day. Eventually, I navigated it by learning about the conflict with people who are educated. Now, our job after October 7th is to spread the truth and help others navigate how they felt that day.
My painting draws inspiration from Israel and nature. My favorite part of the piece is the girl draped in an Israeli flag as a cape, symbolizing her as a hero during the challenges faced by the Jewish people. Surrounded by nature, she represents the resilience and potential for positive change, reminding us of the beauty in the world and our ability to make a meaningful impact.
-ESTHER SHAMOUELIAN ‘27
NATALIE GUL ‘27
Dear Diary... NATURE
I love rainy days. Feeling the cool drops of water falling on my face while the wind makes it turn white and pink is utterly intoxicating. I love letting the water seep throughmyclothesfeelingasthoughit'sreachingmybonesasIdancelikeatoddler playinginpuddles.I'vecometorealizethatmyloveforitisn'tsimplybecauseofthe act itself, but because of what the rain represents to me. The rain doesn't always announce itself. It can come on the sunniest days or the gloomiest ones. It can be heavyorlight.Therainissometimesunpredictableandalwaysuncontrollable.Ifind comfortinknowingthat,foronce,there'ssomethingIcan'tcontrolthatnomatter whatIdo,therainwon'tstop.Ithinkthelackofcontroliscomfortingwhenusually itsthethingIcravemost.Mostimportantly,therainremindsmethatI'mgoingtobe okay. It reminds me that whatever I'm going through, I'll make it through, and that there'ssomethingbiggerthanjustme.Soyes,Ilovetherain.
“THE LADDER“
MY FATHER DREAMT OF A LADDER THAT STRETCHED TO THE HEAVENS ABOVE. THERE, AT THE VERY TOP, WAITED THE CREATOR HIMSELF. AND YET, MY FATHER SLEPT. AT THE BOTTOM. NOT A SINGLE RUNG DID HE ASCEND MY LADDER REACHES NOT HEAVEN BUT OBSTACLES ANEW.
I CONQUER ONE TIER ONLY TO FIND THE NEXT TAUNTING ME. AND YET, I PERSIST.
CLIMBING EVER HIGHER. SLOW AND LABORIOUS AS THE ASCENT MAY BE. FOR MY CREATOR AWAITS ME
WOULD THAT I COULD ROUSE MY FATHER: "YANKEL, MEIN TATTI!
WAKE! WAKE! THE ANGELS BECKON YOU! HOW DARE YOU SQUANDER THIS SACRED OPPORTUNITY, THIS WINDOW IN TIME AND SPACE!" AND YET, ISRAEL SLEEPS.
-DR. SHEILA TULLER KEITER
MINDY NAGEL ‘27
I see nature as a physical representation of Hashem, His own selfportrait.
-MINDY NAGEL ‘27
“I like the sketch because there is so much to look at. All the mistakes become hard to see with the overwhelming amount of buildings, structures, and shading.”
-YOSEF
MAHBOUBI ‘26
LINE ART BY: YOSEF MAHBOUBI ‘26
EVERY WEEKEND, I HIT THE TRAIL, WHERE MALIBU’S CLIFFS AND OCEANS WAIL
I LACE UP MY BOOTS, GRAB MY PACK, AND SLIP MY HIKING STICK IN MY BACK.
IT’S SMALL IN MY POCKET, 9.25, BUT WITH ONE TWIST, IT COMES ALIVE. A LITTLE STRETCH, A SIMPLE CLICK, IT’S READY NOW FOR EVERY KICK.
THROUGH ROCKY PATHS AND WINDS SO WILD,
I WALK ALONE, NATURE’S CHILD. THE STICK’S MY GUIDE, MY STEADY FRIEND, IT KEEPS ME GROUNDED AROUND EACH BEND
THE OCEAN’S THERE, THE SUN’S TOO BRIGHT, BUT WITH EACH STEP, I FEEL THE LIGHT FROM HILLS TO VALLEYS, I CLIMB SO HIGH, WITH MALIBU STRETCHING BENEATH THE SKY
AND WHEN I’M TIRED, WHEN I SLOW, THE STICK KEEPS ME STEADY, KEEPS ME WHOLE.
9 25 IN MY POCK T BUT STRONG
EMILY GOLD ‘27
EDRI ‘27
MY PERFECT DAY IS WARM AND BRIGHT, THE SUN IS OUT, THE MOOD FEELS RIGHT IT'S NOT TOO HOT, AND NOT TOO COLD,
THE KIND OF SUN THAT TURNS MY HAIR TO GOLD
ME AND MY FRIENDS, AT THE BEACH, WITH SNACKS AND MUSIC WITHIN OUR REACH SIT AROUND AND CHILL ALL DAY, JUST TALKING, LAUGHING OUR LIFE AWAY
I EAT SOME CHIPS AND THEY EAT FRUIT, WHATEVER’S EASIEST, NOTHING THAT CUTE THE MUSIC’S LOUD, WE SING ALONG, TO EVERYONE’S OLD AND FAVORITE SONGS
WHEN IT GETS HOT OR WE’RE BORED, WE JUMP IN WAVES AND SPLASH SOME MORE THEN IT'S BACK TO THE TOWELS, WHERE WE ARE LAYING FLAT, ALWAYS JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS AND THAT.
WE NAP A BIT, WE JOKE AND SMILE, AND HONESTLY JUST STAY THERE FOR A WHILE. BY SUNSET, WE’RE ALL KINDA BEAT, BUT IT'S THE GOOD KIND OF TIRED, THE ONE THAT FEELS SWEET AND BY THE NEXT WEEK WE ARE READY TO REPEAT
-BELLA GRABER ‘27
-DANIEL NAZARIAN ‘25
