Abigail Becker

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. 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 world moving forward. nurturing and safe environment that has laid the groundwork allowing us to evolve from the The place: A soccer field (pause) where we all gathI remember as a freshcaterpillar into the butterfly. Though the space ered for a friendly but comman the first day I can feel overwhelming, we always manage to petitive soccer game against walked through the halls seek out the joy. the residents of Ketura. The 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 Over time, I’ve realized what is most memorable to me: 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 Rochelle Zell forever inhabit my mind and remain close to my heart. All endings are confusing. This one especially is extremely baffling. And that might not have sunk in yet... We will tell our musically talented helped guide the rest of us, but ultimately we were all able to drum to the same beat. 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 open up and be vulnerable with the rest of our school during Friday tefillah. Anduring the rise of Covid-19. Regardless of a worldwide pandemic, nobody will ever fail to remember the class of 2020: a senior class tion we all manifested that Saturday night. The why: because no matter how different we all are, what we other significant part of whose last year was historic and disrupted, share draws us together in a 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 who have helped us form soul. 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

We were able to experience finishing winter sports, going to New York for our final Model U.N. conference, filming our last Purim shpiel, and setting out to accomplish all that we wanted at RZJHS before leaving as graduates. But in mid-March, we were confronted with an unexpected change. We began e-learning from home, hoping it would be temporary, but we found out that this change would be permanent and in-school learning would be canceled for the remainder of the year. Our governor, JB Pritzker, simply summed up this new reality: “We are leaving our teenage years behind in a way that we would have never expected.”

Our senior year took an abrupt turn. Ironically, as much we all complained about homework and waking up early, we yearn for those mundane experiences these days. We have encountered an unforeseen lesson.

One thing I know now is that when we have learning opportunities in the future, we will not take them for granted. We will learn with passion, always asking questions and voicing concerns; all things we were taught to do at Rochelle Zell. I think about how my own classmates will be on the front line four or more years from now. They will be the leaders. I know that all of our futures are bright, and to us, who have waited, great things will happen.

All endings are confusing. This one especially is extremely baffling. And that might not have sunk in yet. But what I have registered is that nobody will ever forget the year 2020. We will tell our children about this experience and they will tell theirs. We were the babies born following 9/11 and the high school seniors graduating during the rise of Covid-19. Regardless of a worldwide pandemic, nobody will ever fail to remember the class of 2020: a senior class whose last year was historic and disrupted, yet they remained a vibrant and resilient group of individuals who are collectively one soul.

So as I leave RZJHS to embark on the next chapter of my life and learning, I am left with the feeling that we, the Class of 2020, are and will always be unforgettable. Over time, I’ve realized what is most memorable to me: it is how our class always finds a way to come together

Talia Brody, RZJHS 2021

as one even though individually we are all unique. My mind drifts back to our time in Israel this past January.

A few nights into the trip, while we roamed around Kibbutz Ketura, I found myself observing this environment in detail. The place: A soccer field where we all gathered for a friendly but competitive soccer game against the residents of Ketura.

The feeling: Unity as we all played a role in the game whether that was playing on the field or cheering from the sidelines. Fast forward to one of the last nights of our trip. After we sang Havdalah on our final Shabbat in Israel, we had a drum circle.

Those who are musically talented helped guide the rest of us, but ultimately we were all able to drum to the same beat. I smile thinking about how much love and celebration we all manifested that Saturday night. The why: because no matter how different we all are, what we share draws us together in a way that makes us not want to be anywhere else.