The Torah of Rochelle Zell
From Caterpillar to Butterfly Abigail Becker, RZJHS 2020
Abby delivered these words during the overwhelming, we always manage to seek out the joy. graduation ceremony. Over time, I’ve realized what is most memorable to me: Just as the caterpillar thought its world it is how our class always finds a way to come together was ending, it turned into a butterfly. as one even though individually we are all unique. My And as we are all about to spread our wings and fly away mind drifts back to our time in Israel this past January. to new adventures, it’s important to look back at where A few nights into the trip, while we roamed around Kibwe’ve come from, what butz Ketura, I found myself we have accomplished, Our Beit Knesset represents our cocoon, a observing this environment and what beauty we will circular place bringing all of us together; it’s a in detail. bring to the rest of the nurturing and safe environment that has laid world moving forward. The place: A soccer field the groundwork allowing us to evolve from the (pause) where we all gathcaterpillar into the butterfly. Though the space ered for a friendly but comI remember as a freshcan feel overwhelming, we always manage to petitive soccer game against man the first day I walked through the halls the residents of Ketura. The seek out the joy. of RZJHS wondering feeling: Unity (pause) as we how I would fit in, would all played a role in the game I be successful, and what whether that was playing on kind of person I would become over the next four years the field or cheering from the sidelines. of high school. Little did I know that March 12, 2020 would be my last day walking through the halls as a Fast forward to one of the last nights of our trip. After we senior. This unforeseen ending illuminates that even sang Havdalah on our final Shabbat in Israel, we had a under the worst of times, drum circle. Those who are the best of times at RoAll endings are confusing. This one musically talented helped chelle Zell forever inhabit guide the rest of us, but ulespecially is extremely baffling. And that my mind and remain close timately we were all able to might not have sunk in yet... We will tell our drum to the same beat. to my heart.
children about this experience and they will
I cherish the safe space tell theirs. We were the babies born following I smile thinking about how we have at Rochelle Zell. I 9/11 and the high school seniors graduating much love and celebrahave witnessed classmates during the rise of Covid-19. Regardless of a tion we all manifested that open up and be vulnerable Saturday night. The why: worldwide pandemic, nobody will ever fail with the rest of our school because no matter how difto remember the class of 2020: a senior class ferent we all are, what we during Friday tefillah. Anwhose last year was historic and disrupted, share draws us together in a other significant part of RZJHS’s Friday celebration yet they remained a vibrant and resilient way that makes us not want honors guests, teachers, group of individuals who are collectively one to be anywhere else. and students, all people soul. who have helped us form As we moved through the our foundation on our second semester, we all felt journey. Our Beit Knesset things falling into place. represents our cocoon, a circular place bringing all of We came home from an unforgettable senior Israel exus together; it’s a nurturing and safe environment that perience ready to make the most of our final months as has laid the groundwork allowing us to evolve from the a class. caterpillar into the butterfly. Though the space can feel See Becker, next page 8
