Fundraising Photos From the Radio!

On Monday, some of our RKYHS seniors volunteered at a fundraising marathon at "JM in the AM," a Jewish radio broadcast that airs every morning from 6 to 9 a.m. in the New York City area on 91.1FM, in the Hudson Valley on 90.1FM, and online at JMINTHEAM.org. The fundraising marathon is on through March 11, so if you donate, be sure to mention RKYHS students!

A Debate Done Well

This past Thursday, students on the JKHA Middle School Debate Team competed against Westchester Day School, Yavneh Academy, and the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway in a home  meet as part of the Middle School Yeshiva Debate Society.

The debate's resolution was "The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is not an accurate portrayal of intelligence and should not be considered by college admissions committees."

Teams were created, with each supporting either the affirmative or negative stance, and JKHA seventh and eighth graders rose to the  occasion, boasting scores that demonstrated their mastery of public speaking skills, research, and cross examination. Leor Fishman and Dalya Dickstein supported the negative stance and earned First Place team honors. Dickstein also was awarded First Place individual speaker for her exceptional performance.

The Debate Team meets each week to research and prepare and revise speeches and to practice under the guidance of Coach Melinda Nagy. Their next meet -- the final one of the season -- will be at Westchester Day School in April.

Seniors on the Radio

On Monday, six RKYHS seniors are volunteering at a fundraising marathon at "JM in the AM," a Jewish radio broadcast that airs every morning from 6 to 9 a.m. You can hear the broadcast in the New York City area on 91.1FM, in the Hudson Valley on 90.1FM, and online at JMINTHEAM.org.

Our students will have a little bit of air time, probably between 7 and 8 a.m., so please tune in to listen -- they might give you a shout out!

If you were planning on donating during this marathon, please make your pledge Monday and be sure to mention the students of RKYHS.

An Evening of Talmud

Click for full size!

Our ninth and tenth grade Honors Talmud students enjoyed an evening of learning Wednesday with their parents led by their rebbe, Sgan Rosh HaYeshiva Rabbi David Chamudot. There was learning, bonding, and, of course, food from Chickies -- because without food, there is no Torah, and without Torah, no food (a slight nod to Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah, Pirkei Avot 3:17).

The evening ended with a shiur by Rabbi Chamudot, and the shiur dealt with the aggadic texts of Rabbi Yossi praying in the ruins of Jerusalem and his exchange with Eliyahu HaNavi, as well as Rabbi Meir's exchange with his wife, Bruriah.

We're happy to have our parents and teachers so involved with student learning outside the classroom!

A Charitable Tourney

On Sunday, RKYHS seniors organized, planned, and ran a 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament to raise money for Yachad, an agency of the Orthodox Union that is dedicated to enhancing the lives of those with disabilities. Nearly 200 atheletes registered for the tournament, and hundreds came to support the charity. The event raised more than $6,000 for Yachad! Yasher Koach seniors!

RKYHS students also will be participating in a Shabbaton on Friday with members of Senior Yachad (ages 16-25).

This is all part of February as Yachad/NJCD's North American Inclusion Month (NAIM), a timeframe specifically designated "to raise awareness and to develop sensitivity of what it means for those who live with disabilities, and how to include them within the greater Jewish community."

Parents, Teachers, Students, and Torah!

With record participation of more than 50 people, the JKHA Middle School S.O.S. Parent/Child Limud Program on Motzei Shabbos, February 12, was a huge success.

Parents and teachers had the special opportunity to study Torah with our Middle School students, further strengthening the meaningful bonds they already share.

In addition to meaningful Torah study in our beautiful Rosenberg Beit Midrash, all S.O.S. Parent/Child Limud Program participants joined together to play various sports in our Gellert Gymnasium.

The Video Chug Returns!

We're very excited to have our Video Chug back in action. Below is their Weekly Update video, which is filled with a Sports Update, World News, a D'var Torah, and more! Please let us know what you think of our students' outstanding and creative work.

Chugim are our clubs that meet every Tuesday throughout the school year. Our students have the chance to immerse themselves in everything from yoga and ultimate frisbee to Arabic and robotics, to Mishmar learning and Chesed opportunities. With the guidance of faculty advisers who are experts in their fields, our students develop new interests, socialize, and find new ways of contributing to our school community.

A Little Pink for a Good Cause

To raise breast cancer awareness, our RKYHS students wore pink to support Sharsheret, a national not-for-profit organization of cancer survivors dedicated to addressing the unique challenges facing young Jewish women living with breast cancer!



From the Sharsheret website: Sharsheret, Hebrew for “chain”, is a national not-for-profit organization supporting young women and their families, of all Jewish backgrounds, facing breast cancer. Our mission is to offer a community of support to women diagnosed with breast cancer or at increased genetic risk, by fostering culturally-relevant individualized connections with networks of peers, health professionals, and related resources.


Since Sharsheret’s founding in 2001, we have responded to more than 19,000 breast cancer inquiries, involved more than 1,000 peer supporters, and presented over 200 educational programs nationwide. Sharsheret now offers a continuum of care for the Jewish community – addressing the needs of those who are concerned about the risk of breast cancer in their family, those who have been diagnosed with the disease and are undergoing treatment, and those who face issues of survivorship or recurrence.

Giving Back With Battle of the Bands

Last May, our RKYHS students coordinated a classic Battle of the Bands competition, bringing talented high school musicians from across the tri-state area together not only to tout their musical skills, but also to raise money for the Yad Eliezer Widow and Orphan Fund. The event was a huge success, and the students raised thousands of tzedekah dollars.

The feedback from the bands, fans, and parents was so positive, that we will be hosting a second RKYHS Battle of the Bands on March 10, 2011. Mark your calendars!

This year's funds raised will go to Kids Kicking Cancer, a non-profit organization founded by Rabbi/Professor Elimelech Goldberg, a black belt, who lost his 2-year-old daughter to Leukemia in 1983. In response to his loss, Rabbi "G" began a program that offers mental, physical, and emotional reprieve for cancer patients through martial arts from black belt martial artists. Through a variety of classes, sick children learn relaxation and mental strategies, breathing, meditation, and karate exercises that can help them overcome the physical and emotional challenges they face while battling cancer. For more about the organization, visit their YouTube and Facebook pages.




All donations are tax deductible, and we encourage you to help make our students make Battle of the Bands a smashing success! For information on how to donate, please email battleoftheband@gmail.com or post a comment on this post!

Welcoming Adar I

Our students celebrated Rosh Chodesh Adar I with a chagiga and kumsitz. How did you welcome Adar I?

Shabbat Shalom: Hashem's Resting Place

From our weekly bulletin, by Danielle Goldstein.

Parshat Terumah begins the final chapters of Sefer Shemot in which Hashem commands Moshe to build the Mishkan as a resting place for Hashem's presence. This "home" is the place that B'nei Yisrael will come to in order to serve Hashem and sanctify his name. One of the most controversial and important ideas regarding the Mishkan comes up in this parsha. The main machloket amongst the Mefarshim regarding the Mishkan is the question of its necessity within the Jewish Camp.

Rashi, Sforno, and others maintain that there was never supposed to be a physical temple in which the Jews would go to serve Hashem. They explain that the only reason Moshe was commanded to build this physical structure was because after the sin of the Golden Calf, it was clear that the Jews were unable to serve Hashem with out some sort of physical manifestation. Had things gone according to plan, the Jewish people would have remained on a very high spiritual level and would be able to serve Hashem from anywhere.

Ramban and others completely disagree and they believe that the Mishkan was a necessary part of Jewish life and that it was Hashem's will to have this structure created as his dwelling place. This school of thought feels that the great redemption from Mitzraim would not have been complete without it culmination in the building of the Mishkan. This is because once Hashem took them out of Egypt and B'nei Yisrael accepted the Torah at Har Sinai they were ready for the permanent and central rallying point of their Jewish lives.

This Temple, which would be in the center of the Jewish camp, would be the place in which all Jews would gather to bring offerings to Hashem and serve him wholeheartedly.

Whether one believes that the Mishkan was not supposed to be built until the sin of the golden calf, or you believe that it was always the way in which B'nei Yisrael were supposed to serve Hashem, it is something that we are still lacking today. Although it is hard for us living so many years later to understand the kedusha of the Mishkan, we pray three times a day for the rebuilding of this holy Sanctuary. May we be zoche to see the building of the third Beit Hamikdash speedily in our day!

A Leadership and Values Adventure

Our students with Sen. Frank Lautenberg (center).

In December, approxiamately 95 students -- including five from our very own Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School -- from five communities attended the 2010 Panim el Panim seminar through the PANIM Instititute for Jewish Leadership and Values of BBYO.

Students explored the issue of homelessness through two powerful programs: a presentation by DC-area homeless individuals organized by the National Coalition for the Homeless, and a PANIM program called "Street Torah," in which the students met the homeless on the street, listened to their stories, and distributed clothing and toiletries the students had brought from home.

The students heard from Jonathan Kessler of AIPAC, where they were updated on the current situation in the Middle East and the work AIPAC is currently involved in, and discussed America-Israel relations. They also learned many tips on how to advocate effectively, especially on behalf of Israel.

The students were prepped on lobbying skills prior to their visit to Capitol Hill. At the Hill students met with the legislative director for Sen. Robert Menendez, as well as Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

The students were able to see the sights of Washington D.C. during their visit to the White House, Monuments, National Mall, Smithsonian Museums, and the Library of Congresss. At the Library of Congress, our high school students had the unique opportunity to observe rare Judaic manuscripts, including one of the earliest Bibles from 15th century Italy.

Stay tuned for more on our students' endeavors and experiences!