The Panther Post November 2020

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Panther Post The

In-Person Extra-Curricular Activities Resume with Panther Bachutz

YULA Boys High School VOL. V NO. 1 November 2020 | Cheshvan 5781

Pandemic Piskei Halacha

By Aidan Stephen (‘22), Managing Editor

By Moshe Feldman (‘23)

Shimon Abramczik Rabbi Dror Baalhaness grills chicken for freshmen and sophomores at Panther Bachutz.

YULA launched Panther Bachutz, a program that has reintroduced in-person Torah learning and extra-curricular activities. The program begins with mincha, followed by a Torah class. Rabbis lecture on topics, ranging from the parsha, a section of Torah read each week in shul, to Jewish theology. On Thursdays, Dean of Students Rabbi Shimon Abramczik prepares cholent that he serves during the class. After the lecture, students participate in extracurricular activities that they select the week before. Grill-and-Chill seems to be the highlight of Thursday nights on campus. Students watch sports games and enjoy a barbeque together. “Grill-and-

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Chill is the definition of good memories in YULA,” said Akiva Brookler (‘21). “It makes me feel like I’m back at camp YULA again.” While some students like to sit back and relax at Panther Bachutz, others take advantage of the Samson Center’s new gym. A personal trainer for professional athletes offers strength training in the new weight lifting space, while other students practice their shots on the basketball court. In addition, Panther Bachutz offers college guidance for juniors and seniors. “Mr. Heeter has been amazing in helping me prep for my SAT and my col-

In the midst of a global pandemic, leading rabbis had to determine safe and halachic ways to practice the traditional rituals of the High Holy Days. Rav Hershel Schachter, one of the roshei yeshiva of Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary and a halachic advisor to the Orthodox Union, issued a series of Piskei Corona, halachic enactments to guide Orthodox Jews and mitigate health risks during the pandemic. The High Holy Days are replete with both halachot and minhagim, religious customs. Halachot are inviolable requirements that must be adhered to unless extenuating circumstances emerge. Minhagim are binding practices that can be temporarily abrogated under certain circumstances. Rav Schachter’s Piskei Corona advises to temporarily set aside certain minhagim because of pikuach nefesh, life saving concerns. Hatarat Nedarim, the nullification of vows, is a ritual typically performed the day before Rosh Hashanah and must be performed in the physical presence of three adult men. Rav Schachter ruled that virtual Hatarat Nedarim was permissible this year, as long as the three adult men, who were the ones nullifying the vows, were in the same location. Leading up to Rosh Hashana and until Yom Kippur, selichot, prayers of repentance, are typically recited with a minyan. The main component of the prayer is the yud gimmel middot harachamim, a section that may be recited only with a minyan. Rav Schachter ruled that one could have recited yud gimmel middot harachamim at home

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YULA’s Return to Campus: What You Need to Know By Israel Gootin (‘22) & Noah Chriqui (‘22)

Renovation of Science Labs Complete 2

Learn to Cook an Israeli Recipe 7

Student Perspectives on the Politicization of Sports 12

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic constantly presenting new challenges to schools, YULA Boys’ administration has been working hard to make the campus as safe as possible for when students and staff eventually return to in-person learning. Over the summer, YULA shared a detailed path to reopening with families. Administrators stressed that their main priority is maintaining the “safety and health of all stakeholders on campus.” To achieve this goal, YULA has implemented a series of precautions for in-person learning, when it resumes. Many of these COVID-19 safety precautions have already been implemented for daily davening and after-school activities, which occur on campus. Before people can enter campus, they must undergo temperature checks and answer a series of questions to determine whether they pose a risk of spreading COVID-19. As a precaution, YULA’s campus undergoes thorough disinfection procedures each day. Ventilation systems are “sanitized using virucidal cleaners to clean coils and upgrade filters,” according to the administration.

When students return to campus for actual school, they will be subject to even stricter safety precautions. Different bathrooms on campus will be assigned to each grade in order to minimize contact among students. Plexiglass shields have been erected around each desk to minimize health risks. The 22” x 18” glass shields will allow for the best learning experience, while still keeping students safe. According to Principal of General Studies Rick St. Laurent, new sanitizing machines will be used to thoroughly “disinfect classrooms and public space after use.” Additionally, the ventilation systems on campus have been upgraded to provide “more fresh air in the buildings.” Large rooms inside YULA will be transformed into classrooms to ensure social distancing. “Doors will be propped open to allow entrance and exit without the need to touch them,” said Dean of Students Rabbi Shimon Abramczik. Director of Development and Operations Rochel

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