Volume 8 Issue 3. December 2009 - The Heschel School

‏ִֵּכסלוּ‏ ה“תש‘‏ ע
December 2009 2009
Helios Volume 8 Issue 3 Volume 8 Issue Page 31
The Official Student Newspaper
of the
Abraham Joshua Heschel
High School
“We stand for what we utter…”
- Rabbi Heschel
Health Bill Side Effect: Abortion Tiff Heats Up
By Emma Goldberg
The 2008 hit film “Juno”
features a scene in which Juno, preparing
to enter an abortion clinic,
has a run-in with her pro-life classmate
Su-Chin. Su-Chin is protesting
outside the clinic, chanting, “All babies
want to get borned” and informs
Juno that her friend’s developing fetus
“already has fingernails.” Upset,
June flees the clinic, deciding to give
birth to the baby and put her child up
for adoption.
Juno is not the only one
divided in her feelings about abortion,
especially right now. As health
care legislation and the Stupak-Pitts
Amendment hit Congress, the prochoice
and pro-life camps burst back
onto the nation’s front pages.
For months, the health care
buzz focused mainly on the so-called
public option, a proposed healthcare
plan that would be run by the federal
government. When a health care
bill that included the public option
passed in the House, an amendment
was tacked on, the conservative
Democrats’ condition to signing the
bill. The Stupak-Pitts Amendment states that, while the
public option guarantees coverage of the costs of most necessary
medical services, it cannot be extended to cover an
abortion, regardless of the circumstances. Current legislation
states that government money cannot pay for abortions.
The Stupak Amendment takes this law further, stating that
any health care plan involved in the government exchange,
even private ones, cannot cover abortions.
Many conservative citizens and politicians sup-
Illustration by Hannah Kober
port this amendment. Some explain that the federal government
has no responsibility to spend tax money to compensate
for Americans who have unwanted pregnancies.
Many liberals also note that abortions are
expensive, costing anywhere from $300 to $5,000, and that
affording one can be impossible for a low-income woman.
In Heschel student Sarah Freedman’s words, “We have a responsibility,
especially as Jews, to help others in their times
of need. Why should someone have to suffer emotionally
The Orthodox Impact at
Heschel
and economically from a single mistake,
if the government does indeed have the
power to help?”
In Congress this polarized issue
has spawned two camps within the
pro-choice movement. Some feel that,
while the Stupak Amendment does restrict
female reproductive rights, prochoicers
must accept this setback and
move on so that Congress can pass a
health reform bill. President Obama said
to The Washington Post that, “I laid out
a very simple principle, which is this is a
health care bill, not an abortion bill.”
Many, however, disagree, maintaining
that 35% of women of reproductive age
have undergone abortions; the Stupak-
Pitts Amendment would therefore effectively
exclude 35% of American women
from a key aspect of health care.
The Stupak-Pitts Amendment has left
the United States, The Heschel School
included, grappling with longstanding
controversies. Where do we draw the
line with regard to abortion? Is an abortion
morally correct? Given that it is legal
in all states, should abortion receive
the same level of health coverage as any
other medical services?
Freshman Isabel Tsesarsky, who calls herself “extremely
pro-life,” stated that not only is abortion immoral and
akin to murder, but it is irresponsible. She claimed that
a pregnant woman should be responsible for her mistake
because abortions are expensive and should not have the
same level of coverage as medical services such as cancer
treatment.
Ariel Kattan, a senior, calls herself “strongly against abor-
(Continued on page 2)
Can a Boy
Wear a Skirt to
Heschel?
By Aliza Rosenfeld
By Anna Rothstein
An interesting question arose in Moshe Goodman’s
11th grade Tanakh class. A student asked Moshe,
who is Orthodox, how he feels about some of his students
completing and sending in homework on Shabbat.
Moshe responded positively to this question. “I
want people to be who they are in front of me. I don’t
want to tell you, ‘Don’t do my homework on Shabbat.’
You should make the decision for yourself.”
Moshe added, “If you believe you are obligated
to keep Shabbat and that is difficult for you, it would make
more sense not to do that homework on Shabbat. Kids
By Rachel Zeuner
should decide for themselves based on how they feel. They
should not decide based on what I think about it.”
Natan Kapustin, another Orthodox Limudei
Qodesh teacher, responded to the question of doing homework
on Shabbat a little differently. Natan replied, “I try not
to think about it. It’s beyond my control and it’s not my fault
that people decide to do homework on Shabbat. Truthfully,
I never look at when the e-mail come into my inbox.”
In one case, one of Natan’s students did his homework on
Yom Kippur, one of the holiest days of the Jewish year. Natan
said, “This year, when someone told me they did my
assignment on Yom Kippur I was a little taken aback, but
(Continued on Page 3)
On November 6th, a controversial article appeared in
the style section of the New York Times. “Can a Boy Wear a
Skirt to School” reported cases in which high school administrations
reprimanded students for cross-dressing. Boys wearing
wigs or makeup were immediately sent home for violating the
school dress code. A girl in Mississippi was not allowed to appear
in the yearbook because she wanted to wear a tuxedo.
It seems that teenagers today are more comfortable
breaching gender boundaries. They do not want to be defined
by a certain look or a particular way society expects them to
dress and act. Classic images of femininity and masculinity are
being redrawn. Is this just a new way teenagers have found to
defy authority? Or is it a new attitude toward gender identity?
Some school administrations feel that school is a place for
learning, for academics and nothing more. It is not a place to
express oneself, but to follow a curriculum and learn information.
Anything that might interfere with this goal is considered
destructive. What students do in their private lives is up to
them, they argue, but school is a public place.
Should students have to live secret lives outside of the classroom?
“You can't tell a boy that he can only cross genders
on weekends. That’s telling him that he doesn't deserve to be
the person he really believes he is,” said senior Sarah Roger.
Learning is just a minute part of what high school is for teenagers.
It is a place where teenagers explore themselves and their
identities. They should be able to do this in a safe and accepting
environment.
“This then raises the question: what kind of environment do
we go to school in if the adults and people who are supposed
(Continued on Page 4)

Page 2 Helios Volume 8 Issue 3 December 2009
Point-Counterpoint: Should the
Drinking Age be Lowered Back to 18?
No, the Drinking
Age Shouldn’t be
Lowered!
By Jessica Appelbaum
Yes, it’s true: America
has one of the highest legal ages
for drinking in the world. It’s
also true that because of this,
many teenagers under the legal
age dangerously consume alcohol
because they have to do it
secretly. Ironically, the drinking
age is meant to benefit American
youth, not deprive it of a
privilege.
American teenagers
often complain about the legal
drinking age, referring to many
countries in Europe, where the
drinking age is sometimes as
low as 16. However, they do not
take into account that in some
countries, the drinking age is
even higher. In some states in
India, the drinking age is as high
as 25. In many Muslim countries,
drinking is banned altogether.
Taking these countries
into account, America seems to
enforce a reasonable drinking
age, not an outrageously high
one.
Consuming alcohol
can be dangerous for people of any age.
In the short term, it causes the drinker to
lose judgment, have delayed reflexes, and
experience plummets in blood sugar level.
If too much alcohol is consumed at one
time, alcohol poisoning can cause death.
In the long term, it weakens the liver and
is known to impact heart disease, diabetes,
and even cause strokes.
The effects of alcohol on the
health of children and teenagers are even
more severe. Alcohol inhibits brain development,
which has many serious ramifications.
America is looking out for the future
wellbeing of its youth by setting a high
drinking age.
The most upsetting possible ramification
of lowering the drinking age is that
even younger children may be influenced
to drink. Often, teenagers begin drinking in
high school when they have older friends
and siblings who can acquire alcohol for
them. Therefore, if teenagers are able to
purchase alcohol, they can provide it for
younger children. What is to stop children
from beginning to drink at ages as young
as 13, if 16-year-olds can buy alcohol?
tion.” Ariel stated that aborting a fetus is
killing a human life because “knowing it
will be alive in nine months is still something
huge.” She argued that fetuses represent
the potential for human life; by killing
the fetus one destroys its potential future as
a feeling, sentient individual.
Molly Goldman, a Heschel freshman,
agreed, saying that fetuses, like all humans,
deserve a chance to survive.
One former Heschel student who
now attends The Bronx High School of Science
said that, “Teenage pregnancy often
feels surreal, only in the movies, but it’s real.
And seeing pregnant girls at school, though
there are few, who have to drop out—it’s not
only real, it’s frightening. That’s why I feel
like I have to take a stand.”
During the Panim El Panim trip, an advocacy
and community service program for
The main reason to lower the drinking
age is not to discourage binge drinking.
Studies have proven that in countries with lower
drinking ages, there is still binge drinking
and reckless behavior among the youth. According
to a Eurocare representative quoted in
The Washington Post, binge drinking is actually
rising among European youth. It seems that
lowering the drinking age would make it legal
for Americans
to begin taking
up dangerous drinking habits at a younger
age.
Yes, the Drinking Age
Should be Lowered!
By Becca Schwarz
In 1984, Congress passed the National
Minimum Drinking Age Act, which
required all states to raise the legal age for
purchasing and publicly possessing alcohol
to 21 or lose 10% of their federal highway
funding. By 1988, the legal drinking
age had been raised in every state from 18
to 21.
If American citizens are able to
get a driver’s license, obtain a permit for
a rifle or shotgun, sit on a jury, fight in a
war, and vote at age 18, then why is the
legal drinking age 21? Examples like this
make our government seem hypocritical;
18 year olds are treated as adults for such
important things as selecting the leaders
of our country, but they cannot even select
high school students, juniors Ariel Wiener-
Bronner and Zoe Goldberg met with Senator
Gillibrand’s legislative correspondent
and explained that, “We find it hugely problematic
that the health care bill ignores the
millions of women who, in addition to basic
medical coverage, need to be given the
right to an affordable abortion.” They cited
the case of a formerly homeless man who
had spoken on a Panim panel. He dropped
out of high school to care for his girlfriend’s
baby. His lack of education led to his homelessness
later in life. In Ariel and Zoe’s
words, “Americans everywhere face the repercussions
of unwanted pregnancies.”
Jenny Katz, a junior, struggles to find the
middle ground in this polarizing issue.
While she upholds a woman’s right to
choose, she does not condone abortions in
cases where the abortion does not threaten
beer or wine from a restaurant menu until
they turn 21.
The legal drinking age in many
other countries ranges from 16 to 19; the
most common age is 18 to 19. However,
our higher legal drinking age does not appear
to have solved any of the underage
drinking problems America faces.
When the drinking age
was raised to 21, the liquor
cabinet did not close completely
but instead moved
underground. Young adults
are currently forced to hide
their alcohol consumption,
often pre-gaming and preloading
before they head
out with their friends. To
make up for not being able
to drink throughout the
evening, some will drink
dangerously large amounts
early on, enough to keep
them buzzed for most of
the night.
A lowered drinking age
could help make drinking
back into a more public
and social event. Bartenders
or restaurateurs would
be able to monitor their patrons’
alcohol intake, and
could cut them off from
more drinks should they
think it necessary. In addition,
a bar or restaurant
is not conducive to binge
drinking because the
drinks are expensive and there is no need
to pre-game if one can order another drink
later in the evening.
One common argument is that
the decrease in teenage driving fatalities
has been due entirely to the higher legal
drinking age. Indeed, there has been a
decrease in these accidents, but it cannot
be attributed solely to the drinking age.
Improvement in car design, introduction
of graduated licensing systems, air bags,
and the intensification of seat-belt laws
and their enforcement can also be credited
with the improvement in teen traffic
safety.
Since raising the legal drinking
age has not been totally effective at curtailing
either underage or binge drinking,
perhaps the focus needs to be on educating
young adults to drink responsibly whether
at home, in a public place, or at a party, regardless
of age. Education about the risks
of drinking, as well as the risks inherent
in drinking and driving might be the best
way to deal with this persistent problem.
Health Bill Side Effect: Abortion Tiff Heats Up
(Continued from Page 1)
Illustration by Gaby Belok
the life of the mother. Jenny said that, “As a
woman, I believe that we deserve the right
to our own bodies. Why should the government
be able to make those decisions
for me? I am pro-choice, not pro-abortion.
I think that wording makes a huge difference.”
Some in Heschel oppose abortion altogether,
calling it, in the words of Emil Nusbaum,
“the destruction of life at its roots.”
Others just as adamantly demand that health
care reform not exclude women’s reproductive
rights. Yet another point of view is
that excluding abortion coverage may be
a necessary sacrifice to ensure health care
reform.
As one Heschel High School
sophomore said, “I’m pro-choice, but that’s
not my priority right now. We need health
care reform, and I’m willing to sacrifice the
public option.”
Helios Staff
2009-2010
Editors:
Jessica Appelbaum
Aliza Rosenfeld
Gabriel Fisher
Emma Goldberg
Art and Layout Editors:
Hannah Weintraub
Hannah Kober
Talia Niederman
Sports Editor:
Brandon Bell
Contributing Writers:
Jessica Appelbaum
Brandon Bell
Naomi Blech
Samantha Brandspiegel
Rebecca Cooper
Rachel Fell
Gabriel Fisher
Eno Freedman-Brodmann
Emma Goldberg
Zoe Goldberg
Michaela Hearst
Michele Kaplan
Gabriel Klausner
Talia Kula
Aaron Ladds
Aliza Rosenfeld
Anna Rothstein
Rebecca Schwarz
Andrew Udell
Beatrice Volkmar
Victor Weberman
Rachel Zeuner
Contributing Artists:
Gaby Belok
Lauren Finzi
Hannah Kober
Talia Niederman
Eileen Sutton
Andrew Udell
Hugo Uvegi
Aaron Weil
Rachel Zeuner
Faculty and Staff:
Lisa Cohen
Gabe Godin
Audrey Sieger
Dena Schutzer
We would like to formally thank
to Samuel Freedman. His dedication
has helped us move Helios to
the next level
Printing courtesy of Tri-Star
Offset & Barry Goodman
Send your
comments
to
HS Newspaper on
First Class.

December 2009 Helios Volume 8 Issue 3 Page 3
Editorial: Challenging
Ourselves Beyond Gilad Shalit:
The Next Chapter in Jewish
By Gabe Fisher
For most Jews around the world,
and specifically people here at Heschel, it
is axiomatic that Gilad Shalit needs to go
home. Over three years ago, militants, members
of the terrorist organization Hamas,
captured Shalit, then a nineteen-year-old
soldier. This, among other events, was one
of the main causes of the Second Lebanon
War.
Since this war, Gilad Shalit has
been held captive in Gaza, with no major
signs of progress until two months ago when
Israel traded twenty female Palestinian prisoners
for a video of Gilad Shalit talking and
walking. Now, Israel and Hamas seem close
to a deal that would trade thousands of Palestinian
prisoners for Shalit.
This possible trade poses many
ethical problems for all the people who
have consistently called for the release of
Shalit. The situation becomes much more
complicated when Israel must trade more
than a thousand prisoners, many terrorists
with blood on their hands, in exchange for a
Activism
By Lauren Finzi
single soldier. It has forced many to question
Israel’s policy on recovering their captured
soldiers, both dead and alive.
If Israel were to make this trade,
they would be releasing terrorists, many of
whom have been sentenced to multiple life
sentences for having murdered Israeli civilians.
What makes us so sure that, once free,
they wouldn’t do this again?
On the other hand, Israel has always
promised its soldiers and citizens, that
if soldiers were captured, the country would
extend itself to the fullest to ensure that they
are brought back. By turning down an opportunity
to free Shalit, Israel would be telling
its soldiers, people who have agreed to
die for their country, that the country will
not try to rescue them if they are captured, a
message that is less than reassuring.
All of this aside, another major
issue arises from Gilad Shalit’s potential
release, one that is less crucial to Israel’s
national security, but nonetheless important.
For three years now, the release of Gilad
Shalit has been the major cause that Jews
all over the world have rallied for. His captivity,
which has caused many people pain,
has also served as a way for Jews to channel
their Zionist feelings. Whether through
prayer, posters, or protests, Shalit has constantly
been on the minds of all Jews. Although
hard to admit, his plight has connected
Jews all around the world to rally for
a cause.
Here at Heschel, the senior class
has started a campaign to help raise awareness
for Gilad Shalit. They have put up
somewhat provocative posters, challenging
the students of our school to remember
Shalit throughout the day. Some of these
posters stated, “What will you be doing this
weekend? Gilad Shalit will be in captivity.”
What happens, though, when
Shalit is no longer a captive? What happens
when he is free, and no longer serves
as a symbol of Jewish and Israeli pride? Although
it sounds somewhat strange, Shalit’s
freedom will mostly likely make us feel as
though there is no need for more activism on
behalf of Israel because the main issue that
many of us feel passionately about has been
resolved.
Gilad Shalit’s captivity has transformed
into one of our only ways to express
our patriotic feelings about Israel. It might
be because it is the most interesting issue
that exists, but it also is probably partially
because it is the only issue that requires no
real political association or ideology. It is
indisputable among all Jews, whether on the
right or on the left, democrat or republican,
that Gilad Shalit’s freedom is an unquestionable
necessity, regardless of the messy details
that come with it. Most other issues in
politics, but specifically regarding Israel, require
a strong opinion that one must be able
to defend; however, Gilad Shalit’s captivity
is an easy way for people, especially teenagers,
to get involved without really understanding
the issues.
Although it does give people the opportunity
to become involved, it also protects people
from the real truths - that in order to really
get involved one must create their own opinions,
regardless of their controversial nature.
Now that Gilad Shalit might be released, it is
time for us to examine what we stand by and
why we stand by it.
It is time for us to choose issues that
really resonate with us, even if other people
do not agree with them. The only way to create
any real dialogue or conversation within
our school is if people have strong opinions
that they are willing to defend. Once in a
while an issue such as Gilad Shalit’s captivity
emerges and gains unanimous support,
but in most cases people disagree.
This dialogue though should extend beyond
issues related to Israel. It is time for the
students at our school to make their voices
heard on all issues, whether foreign or domestic.
Everyone in our school has interesting
opinions to share; the question is, why
don’t we?
We made our voices heard regarding
Gilad Shalit. After years of our rallying
and protests, our signs and bracelets, his
freedom seems imminent. So to all those
people who say we cannot change anything,
let Shalit’s freedom serve as an example that
we can.
Now, as Gilad Shalit begins a new
era in his life, a new opportunity and challenge
opens for us. We should now begin to
think of new causes to support, even if they
are controversial or deemed unpopular. We
have already seen the impact we can make
when we champion a cause, so, keeping Gilad
Shalit in mind, we should start to search
for new issues that may allow us to have a
profound effect on our world.
The Orthodox Impact at
Heschel
(Continued from page 1)
I have never said in class that people cannot
work on Shabbat, even while making it
clear that I don’t.”
Regarding students going out on
Shabbat, Natan said, “I really try not to
think about students’ social lives. I do think
it’s a shame if people have never tried to
observe Shabbat traditionally, only because
it’s such a positive experience, but I’m very
comfortable accepting different religious
practices.”
Heschel offers many tfillah options,
from the Orthodox and egalitarian
minyanim to various Iyun minyanim, which
focus on discussion. Are Orthodox teachers
opposed to the idea of Iyun tfillah?
Moshe said, “Having options
is a good thing. Sometimes I wonder if it
wouldn’t be a bad thing to have a mandatory
traditional service. There is educational value
to knowing what a prayer service looks
like. But I like the idea that we give the kids
a chance to decide for themselves.”
Natan responded, “Tefillah is
about you and God, and perhaps your community
as well. We have people from different
communities here and so we should
have options. I teach here precisely because
it is pluralistic, and making it Orthodox in
that regard would not only be a disservice
to the students, but to me as well.”
Natan and Moshe both regard a
pluralistic environment as beneficial to
themselves and the community. As Natan
put it, “What makes the range exciting is
not the denominationalism; it’s that people
think different things and are comfortable
saying them, and that most of the people
here don’t shy away from the tough questions
and thoughtful answers that are necessary
for learning and living meaningfully.”
The Road to Success:
Justice Breyer’s Legacy
By Gabriel Klausner and Andrew Udell
The old adage “hard work pays
off” has been passed down from generation
to generation. Justice Stephen Breyer, one
of two Jewish associate justices in the Supreme
Court of the United States of America,
followed this advice, passed down
from his father, and achieved great success.
When Justice Breyer was a child, he said
that his father would remind him to “do his
job well, then maybe someone will notice.”
Justice Breyer said, “My father would explain
that doing your job well is a win-win
situation. If someone notices, then maybe
they offer you a better job. If not, you have
still done your job well.” Luckily for Justice
Breyer, he did his job well, someone
noticed, and he received and accepted that
better job.
Justice Breyer hosted the annual
American Association of Jewish Lawyers
and Jurists awards dinner at the Supreme
Court building in Washington, D.C. During
his warm and thoughtful speech, he
discussed what he thought was the beauty
of law in the United States. He said, “The
treasure of this country is that we resolve
He added, “Teaching such a range of people
is probably the best part of my religious
life.”
Moshe loves teaching at a pluralistic
school as well. He regarded it as
“awesome.” He said, “I like hearing different
perspectives and opinions and sharing
ideas when the kids don’t agree with each
other. I like helping students from different
basic belief systems figure out their own
truths.”
While Orthodox teachers may benefit from
teaching at a pluralistic school, does their
Orthodoxy influence the way they teach?
Moshe believes it affects his teaching “in
some ways but not many.” He tries to be
true to what he believes but he doesn’t
“push [his] beliefs on others.” He adds, “I
will say that I believe God wrote the Torah.
It doesn’t affect my teaching, it just affects
who I am.”
Natan believes it absolutely does
influence how he teaches and “[he doesn’t]
think anyone would want it any other way.”
He responded to this question saying, “The
Orthodox mindset is part of who I am.
Sometimes that works to my benefit, and
sometimes not. But it always adds to the
richness of the learning experience. I don't
often teach 'as an Orthodox rabbi'. I teach
'as Natan', just as students don't think about
their denominations when they speak. Most
of our classes do not touch on observance
or on authorship of the Torah, so 'being Orthodox'
doesn't factor into class in a tangible
way. In my 12th grade classes - where
it does factor in - I think that being open
about my own thoughts is a positive addition
to class, especially considering that it
is usually a different perspective than most
students have heard.”
our problems under the law. All religions,
races, and ethnicities are bound by the
Constitution”. For Justice Breyer, it is not
all about the accolades and honors associated
with being a justice in the Supreme
Court. He is enthralled by the pursuit of
justice and the powerful changes in society
that he can help enforce.
Before the night was over, Justice
Breyer made sure to address the younger
generation of Americans. In addition to
stressing his father’s honorable advice, he
emphasized the idea of taking advantage of
opportunities. Justice Breyer was offered a
seat on the Supreme Court in 1994 and he
described the offer as “a bolt of lightning.”
He was ecstatic as he admitted anyone
would be and could not refuse the offer.
Justice Breyer took advantage of this rare
opportunity and said that new opportunities
and experiences should be explored
whenever one gets the chance. “You never
know what kind of exploration or adventure
in your life might lead to something
special,” he stated.

Page 4 Helios Volume 8 Issue 3 December 2009
(Continued from page 1)
Can a Boy Wear a Skirt to Heschel?
The three annual Hesed days
have provided students of all grades with
the opportunity to participate in community
service activities. Some of these
include packaging
food, interacting
with young children,
and beautifying
parks. The
V’adat Hesed, the
student committee
that organizes
community service
throughout
the school, decided
that the school
needs additional
programs to infuse
more Hesed work
into the culture at
Heschel.
On Sunday,
November 8th¬¬,
Jewish teens with disabilities came to
Heschel for an evening of fun and games.
They were from an organization called
Yachad that is dedicated to addressing the
needs of all individuals with disabilities
and including them in the Jewish community.
The Heschel soccer and volleyball
teams, along with members of the Va’adat
Hesed, played basketball, volleyball, and
soccer with the Yachad teenagers.
After the first block of activities,
to be protecting us are targeting us? Pressure
and torments from peers is one thing, but adults
should practice what they preach: tolerance, acceptance,
and respect,” continued Roger.
However, many adults with more traditional
mindsets feel uncomfortable with this
idea, as proven by the harsh reactions of administrators
in some high schools. When teenagers
wear these clothes, teachers feel uncomfortable
teaching.
The issue is not just one of self-expression.
This is also an issue of safety. In some
schools, teenagers get beaten up and abused by
their peers for dressing in a way traditionally
viewed as atypical. The Times article reports a
boy in eighth grade who was shot by a classmate
for wearing high-heeled boots and makeup to
school a few times.
Where should the line be drawn?
What is self-expression and what is protecting
the students? Is cross-dressing breaking the
dress code? If a school’s dress code requires a
skirt to hit the knee, what if a boy wears that
skirt? He is not breaking this rule, but he still
might be punished for his actions.
Some Heschel teachers brought the
New York Times article in to discuss in class.
Ilana Gleichbloom presented it to the women’s
minyan and Joe Moreau spoke about it with
several of his history classes for current events.
A range of opinions was voiced on the issue,
some students supporting any form of expression
and others uncomfortable with allowing
cross-dressing.
In one class, common misconceptions
relating cross-dressing to homosexuality
arose. Though The Times article discussed
this issue, there were students who did not yet
understand that not all gay people cross dress
and all people who cross dress are not gay. The
conversation “quickly escalated” according to
junior Benjamin Heller, who was in the class.
“Some people said really hateful comments,
and I was shocked. When we scratch away the
all-accepting façade that many students wear,
a lot of intolerance becomes exposed.” When
students left the classroom, many of them were
upset or disturbed.
Joe felt the need to talk about what
had occurred in the next class so he prepared
a mini-lecture in which he explained the idea
of not fitting into a certain category. In reaction
to this event, Joe was torn about whether he
should give similar assignments in the future. On
the one hand, it made people very uncomfortable.
On the other, the majority of students responded
respectfully and with perspective. Joe explained
how important it is to bring up controversial topics
and make it more comfortable to discuss them,
especially for people who have never encountered
them.
While cross-dressing has never been an issue in
this school, the administration is beginning to
think more about it. At this point, the school’s
dress code does not clearly prohibit cross-dressing.
However, it does make distinctions between
clothes that boys wear versus clothes that girls
wear.
Jessica Gribetz, assistant to the principal,
explained that if a boy were to wear a skirt
to school he would not be suspended or even sent
home. She would probably ask him to change and
not to repeat the action. The administration will
most likely discuss the issue in the future. Next
year, the dress code may more clearly distinguish
between dress for males and females.
Gribetz said that cross-dressing would
be extremely distracting to the teachers and students
and would detract from learning. While
Heschel Welcomes Yachad
for First Annual Event
By Gabriel Klausner and Brandon Bell
Photo by Brandon Bell
a pizza dinner was enjoyed by all. This was
a chance for everyone to interact and create
friendships. After dinner everyone went to the
gym to participate in a second block of sports
and other fun activities. The Va’adat Hesed
recognized that a night
like this would be a
challenge, but one that
Heschel students could
handle. As expected,
the students stepped
up to the plate and had
a blast, while making a
few new friends along
the way. There were
smiles on everyone’s
faces throughout the
night. High-fives and
hugs were exchanged.
This inaugural
Heschel-Yachad program
was a huge success
and the Va’adat
Hesed expects to continue
this partnership. Asked how he felt after
partaking in the program, sophomore Ethan
Finkelstein said, “Definitely one of the most
fulfilling couple of hours in my Heschel career.
To see the happiness and joy on these
kids’ faces was really special.”
Va’adat Hesed would like to thank
the league champion volleyball teams and the
soccer team for taking part in this inaugural
Heschel-Yachad program.
Heschel has a loose dress code for a Jewish
school, Heschel “tries to set a balance between
comfort and modesty,” according to
Gribetz. The issue is also about “reflecting
the norms of our society. If in ten years it becomes
a norm and society changes, [perhaps
the dress code would change]” she said.
When Heschel students were asked how
they would react if a student cross-dressed
at Heschel, responses were mostly positive.
“We’ve seen people come in crazy clothes
and in nice clothes, and what happens in this
school is that people are pretty accepting. It
draws attention, it’s a conversation starter,
and it sets you apart. No one would view it
in a strange way,” said senior Matthew Grobman.
A range of students, both male
and female, was asked how they would react
in four different situations: when a female
student wears clothes to school that are perceived
as more masculine, such as basketball
shorts and a baggy sweatshirt; if a female
student were to wear a tuxedo to prom; when
males wear clothes like skinny jeans and tight
American Apparel sweaters; if a boy were to
show up in school in a skirt or a dress.
Illustration By Adiel Schmidt
Mima'amakim kar'ati elaikh,
B’oi elai beshuvekh yah'zor shuv ha'or
be'einai…
From deep depths I called to you to come to
me
With your return the light in my
eyes will come back...
These beautiful, spiritual words set
to music by the Idan Raichel Project have
filled the souls, minds, and hearts of millions.
Although Idan Raichel is a Jewish Israeli artist
and sings in Hebrew, his music appeals
not only to members of the Jewish community,
but to people of many different religions
and cultures.
What attracts so many people to his music?
Some Heschel students had the opportunity
to answer this question after attending one of
his concerts weeks ago.
As the lights dimmed and cheering
filled the theater, a teary-eyed Raichal spoke:
“Our ability to live in peace with each other,
depends first and foremost on our ability to
Students agreed that women can wear slightly
masculine clothes and men can wear slightly
feminine clothes with no problem. Senior Emmet
Padway viewed girls who dress in baggy
clothes as “just not in the mood to dress nicely.
It’s the same way that guys might get lazy
sometimes.”
Junior Sharon Amir notices when
girls dress in this way only because she pays
attention to what people wear, not because she
is judgmental of it. In terms of a girl wearing a
tuxedo at Heschel, she said that people would
talk about it. “But since we know the person,
it makes it different. Heschel is a small community
where we all know each other so we are
more understanding.” At another school, she
might be more judgmental of the person if she
didn’t know her personally.
Limor Cohen, a sophomore, said that,
“Society is modern enough to know that women
don’t have to fit into a certain stereotype.” Regarding
a girl in a tuxedo, “If she can rock it, go
for it. Some girls look really great and fashionable,”
she asserted.
An anonymous student said that he
would “not talk to that person. [The tuxedo
would] make me feel uncomfortable, but they
can do what they want.”
When asked about male students
in skinny jeans, most people thought tighter
clothes were completely normal. Cohen said, “I
like when guys dress like that. There’s something
about those clothes that are more aesthetically
pleasing.”
Senior Nathan Katz humorously criticized
the skinny jeans looks. “It’s unnatural.
Dress for utility. If I need to wear a fanny pack,
I wear a fanny pack. If I need pockets I wear
pants with pockets. Do what’s practical.”
All students said they would question or feel uncomfortable
with a male student wearing a skirt.
“I really don’t know why,” said Cohen. “That’s
just the way it is. Girls already have the option
of wearing pants on a daily basis. Tuxedo pants
are just like jeans made out of different material.
But [they can] also [wear] a dress or a skirt.
Guys never have that option.”
Padway agreed, saying that he would be, “More
judgmental towards the guy because it doesn’t
happen as much.”
Concert Review: From the Depths…
The Idan Raichel Project
By Michaela Hearst
Picture by Hugo Uvegi
accept all that is different between us.”
During the more solemn songs, every person in
the audience had his eyes closed in meaningful
reflection. During the upbeat songs the crowd
was spirited and lively; everyone clapped and
tapped their feet to the beat; some got up out of
their seats and began to dance.
"It was amazing to feel the music coming from
their souls and not only from their instruments,”
said junior Hannah Kober.
Raichel’s music is a spiritual combination
of Israeli pop with the ethnic folk music
of Ethiopian immigrants, each song a display of
hope and an expression of the desire for peace
and love in the world.
“It introduces me to the musical style
of the culture, because every different area of
the world has a different style, from Argentina
to Yemenite music, and, of course, Israeli,” said
an anonymous sophomore. “When I listen to
different songs from different cultures, it really
gives me a taste of what these different cultures
are all about.”

December 2009 Helios Volume 8 Issue 3 Page 5
Illustration by Andrew Udell
“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” But Does That
Bring Fans?
By Talia Kula
On Monday, November
16th, both the boys’ and girls’ varsity
basketball teams played at home
against the Yeshiva of Flatbush.
The games were back to back, with
the girls playing directly before the
boys.
While the difference between
the number of fans who attend
boys’ games and girls’ games
has always been clear, it was accentuated
at this double header. At the
beginning of the second quarter of
the girls’ game, almost twenty Heschel
students were present. At that
same point in the boys’ game, over
Because of a recent injury, this rep
o r t e r
has had
permission
to
take the
elevator
and
has witn
e s s e d
the number
of
students
abusing
the elevator
rules
firsthand.
T h o u g h
it has
a l w a y s
been an
issue at
Heschel,
students without passes are
now taking the elevator much
more often than in past years. In a recent poll,
nine out of ten students acknowledged having
taken the elevator without permission.
You might ask, is it really that bad
if students take the elevator? As junior Mani
Schlisser argued, “We pay good money to go
to this school. Shouldn’t we be able to take
the elevator?” If the elevators were affecting
our class participation by causing us to
fifty Heschel students were in the
bleacher.
A member of the girls’ varsity basketball
team, who requested to remain
anonymous, noted that the
difference between the two games
extended past the statistics. “There
was less excitement at the girls'
Flatbush game, and the fans that
we did have were not cheering or
into it at all.”
This discrepancy is not specific
to the Heschel School. In 2000,
a national survey was conducted,
asking Americans how interested
they were in sports. While 54% of
Excessive Elevator Usage at
Heschel Affects Those in Need
By Aaron Ladds
be late, wouldn’t it be our responsibility, not
the schools?
T h e r e f o r e ,
perhaps the
school should
not limit elevator
usage.
However,
there is
a tremendous
flaw in the
argument for
changing the
elevator policy:
it ignores
those who
truly need
the elevator
to get from
class to class.
The students
and teachers
who fit into
this category
have been
significantly affected by the students who
do not need the elevator, but use it anyway.
These students slow down those in need tremendously.
As ninth grade dean and English
teacher Judith Tumin asserted, “I shouldn’t
have to wait seven minutes for people who do
not need it… it is almost like someone who is
not handicapped stealing a handicap parking
spot.”
Illustration by Aaron Weil
Letter to Editor:Orthodox
Minyan Faces Midlife
Crisis
Letter to the Editor:
After reading the article Orthodox
Minyan Faces Midlife Crisis,
I felt that I had to respond. I am
a devout member of the egalitarian
minyan at Heschel, as well as a longstanding
believer that women should
be counted as part of a minyan. But
what exactly does it mean to be
‘counted’ as part of a minyan?
In a traditional egalitarian
minyan, women are no doubt included
in the requirement of ten people
for a minyan, whereas, in an orthodox
minyan, this is not the case. However,
in the Orthodox minyan, women are
still obligated to daven shacharit. Just
because women in the orthodox minyan
are not counted in the ten-person
those surveyed reported being fans
of the National Basketball Association
(NBA), only 35% reported being
fans of the Women’s National
Basketball Association (WNBA).
When asked why she thought this
was so, Leah Kahan, a member of
the girls’ varsity basketball team,
stated, “I believe the reason guys
have more fans is that maybe their
games are just more exciting. For
the most part, they don't [make]
error[s] as much and there is a more
consistent flow of the game.”
Perhaps the lack of attendance
at professional female sporting
events is more understandable
than at high school sporting events.
One must pay to attend professional
games, and therefore, it makes
sense that one would only be willing
to do so in order to attend a
game that promises to be especially
entertaining. However, attendance
at high school sports, specifically
at Heschel, should be about more
than amusement. It should be about
friends coming to show their support
for the players and their passion,
and female athletics should be
no exception.
requirement for a minyan, it does not
mean that they are unable to have a
meaningful davening experience.
There are days in the egalitarian minyan
when I feel that my connection
with God is weaker, while on other
days I feel closer to God. However,
this is completely separate from the
fact that I am ‘legally’ considered
part of my minyan. There is a major
difference between being part of the
minyan in a spiritual sense, and being
counted physically as a part of the
minyan. The spiritual aspect should
not be confused with halakhically
being part of the minyan.
Michaela Hearst

Page 6 Helios Volume 8 Issue 3 December 2009
Human Rights Alliance Battling
By Rebecca Cooper
Environmental
The Human
to do better things with the
Rights Club is dedicated
to devoting time as
women become farmers, Injustice
money than the men. The
a group to maintaining
fishers, shopowners, which By Andrew Udell
awareness of the injustices
occurring around
nity, while the men tend and as far away as Native American Reser-
helps their entire commu-
In communities as close as the South Bronx
the world. The Heschel
to spend their money on vations, corporations are taking advantage of
School often focuses
alcohol. This organization disadvantaged groups through a phenomenon
on such issues, but the
(http://www.worldvisionmicro.org)
receives dona-
refers to environmental damages, such as close
known as “environmental injustice”. This term
Human Rights Club creates
a space for thinking
tions and loans the money proximity to power plants, exposure to dangerous
toxins, or a deficiency in green areas such
about these issues not
out to those who need it.
only on special occasions,
but consistently
the money to finance their on economically disadvantaged neighbor-
The entrepreneurs use as parks. These damages are usually inflicted
throughout the year.
businesses; once they make hoods, the traditional victims of environmental
The Human
enough money to keep their
injustice.
Rights Club recently ran
On the Mississippi River in Louisiana,
an 85-mile region famously known as
businesses afloat, they repay
the money to the or-
Stand Fast, a nationwide
“Cancer Alley” is home to manufacturers
project, and the group’s
ganization to be loaned to
who produce one quarter of the petrochemical
first major project of
another person. A donation
products, derived from petroleum or natural
the year. Stand Fast
to one person makes a difference
to many different these enormous amounts of petroleum is un-
gas, made in the United States,. Living near
asks people to give up
one luxury item a day,
people and many different safe and Cancer Alley’s African-American and
something they might
communities.
Latino residents experience an elevated risk of
usually spend money on,
Micro, a project that helps women in countries
all over the world, such as Rwanda,
The Human Rights Club cancer.
such as a cup of coffee or a taxi ride, and
is making and selling bracelets, earrings I n 2002, Louisiana had the secondhighest
death rate caused by cancer in the
to donate that money to the Genocide Intervention
Network, which, according to
and the Philippines, to name just two. This
and other miscellaneous jewelry.
You can buy the jewelry
organization
their website, “empowers individuals and
lends women Photo by Eileen Sutton
United States. This is no coincidence; it is directly
related to the dangers of Cancer Alley.
for yourself or send it to a
communities with the tools to prevent and
money to become
entre-
friend. (Members of the Human
Rights Club will deliver the bracelets (TRI) data revealed that Louisiana was ranked
Moreover, in 2000, Toxic Release Inventory
stop genocide.”
The Human Rights Club has also
preneurs in order to support their families
during lunch.) All the proceeds made from third in the U.S. for the amount of toxic releases.
engaged in raising funds for World Vision
and communities. The organization believes
that women in those countries tend
the jewelry sales will go to the World Vision
Microloans organization.
In her book, Environmental Justice:
Creating Equality, Reclaiming Democracy,
Kristin Shrader-Frechette explains that citizens
living in Cancer Alley have “low socioeconomic
status and limited political influence”.
Twilight: Still a Craze or Just a Phase?
African-American communities have been
disproportionately impacted by the dangers of
Cancer Valley.
Cancer Alley is one of many examples
of environmental injustice in the country;
there are many examples of environmental
injustice in our own community as well. Environmental
injustice is prevalent in the South
Bronx. A leader of environmental justice advocacy,
Majora Carter, has been fighting environmental
injustice there for many years.
Recently, she founded an organization called
Sustainable South Bronx (SSBx), which has
been successful in “greening the ghetto”.
SSBx projects have included sustainable construction,
political advocacy related to environmental
injustice, fitness, food choices, and
air quality.
Ms. Carter has said, “The business of
poverty is too expensive a bill for humanity to
By Rachel Zeuner
Illustration ByTalia Niederman
pay any longer. All of our solutions must incorporate
poverty alleviation and policies that
acknowledge and mediate the environmental
inequities that poor communities have traditionally
experienced.”
It might be difficult to feel connected to Cancer
Alley in Louisiana, but the South Bronx is
right outside our door, and injustice is being
committed against our neighbors daily. Ms.
Carter believes that the environmental justice
campaign is a crucial cause—what she calls
the civil rights battle of the 21st century.
Fads can define a generation. For our
parents, it was tie-dye, mood rings, bell bottoms,
mix tapes, pet rocks, Pong, The Rocky
Horror Picture Show, Madonna, shoulder pads,
and ouija boards. These fads, whether they were
long-term crazes or passing phases, have come
to symbolize the culture of the 1960’s through
the 1980’s.
For our generation, it is Tamagotchi,
Pokemon, beanie babies, boy bands and hiphop
music, Bop-It, Harry Potter, Ipods, skinny
jeans, Uggs, razor scooters and Facebook.
Throughout the 90’s and the 00’s, kids have
embraced these fads to such an extent that they
will eventually define our generation.
With the recent release of the movie
The Twilight Saga: New Moon, one may begin
to wonder if Twilight will be added to our
list. Will it remain a craze and join the likes of
Harry Potter on our bookshelves? Or will it just
be another phase, forgotten with the times?
In order for Twilight to be remembered,
the movies and novels must be intriguing
and exciting enough that fans will want to
watch or read them again and again. In order to
make the movies appeal to non-Twilight fans,
the director was faced with the challenge of
how much of the book’s plot should transfer
into the movie and how much could be fabricated
or taken from other books in the series.
To many avid New Moon fans, the movie was
an accurate representation of the book. Junior
Ilana Rayport, who liked the movie, commented,
“Twilight was completely inaccurate while
New Moon stuck much closer to the actual
book.”
According to general consensus, although
New Moon was indeed a much better
movie than Twilight, once the fan-girl obsession
passes, true fans will realize that New Moon really
is not a high quality film.
As for New Moon being better than Twilight,
this could have been due in part to the change
in directors from Catherine Hardwicke to Chris
Weitz, who managed to make a more cinematically
and dramatically interesting film. In addition,
the increase in popularity of the New
Moon film could be because the film so closely
followed the well-known plot. Finally, the addition
of a bigger role for the character Jacob
Black, played by Taylor Lautner, may also have
contributed to the increase in popularity, especially
among the pre-teen and female teenage
fan base.
Although the movies are not exactly
Academy Award winning quality and the books
are, as junior Rebecca Cooper commented,
“a beach read,” Twilight seems to have taken
over the bookstores, movie theaters, and female
teenage minds of America and the world. (The
books have been translated to over thirteen languages.)
So is Twilight just a phase that will
pass with the times, or will the craze continue to
develop and be added to the list of fads from our
generation?
Self-described level two Twilight fan,
(on a scale from one to ten, one being “I hate it”
and ten being “it is all I live for”) senior Jessica
Appelbaum said, “It's a complete phase; that's
why they're cranking out the movies so quickly.
They know that if more than a year passes
between movies, the craze will die out. There
are no new books coming out, and by this time,
anyone who will read the books has read them.
They know that if they don't keep creating press
through quick movie production, everyone will
stop caring.” Jessica is an example of a Twilight
reader who only read the books because of the
craze around the movies.
Level seven fan Ilana Rayport said,
“Everyone is reading the books because of the
movies and because it's the fad, but I read them
before anyone told me about them. I was a fan
from the beginning, not the beginning-beginning
like when they were first published, but
early enough that none of my friends were reading
them. I started reading them way before the
craze started.” Even fans who loved the books
from the beginning recognize the craze but do
not feel it is a phase.
Then there are fans who fall somewhere
in the middle. Senior Nora Swidler says,
“Last year my obsession was around a 9.5. This
year my obsession ranges around 3 or 4… It's
totally a phase. I am mostly out of it already. I
was crazed last year when it was new and exciting,
but now I realize that the excitement has
passed and so will the 'craze'.” Nora, who read
the books when the craze was at its height before
the release of the Twilight film, is an example
of someone for whom the craze has become
just a phase.
Will the Twilight craze continue or will newer
story lines eclipse the phase? Only time will tell
if The Twilight Saga will join the likes of Harry
Potter or Ipods in defining our generation. But
for now, anyone who is looking for a very light
read or for a movie that’s just okay, The Twilight
Saga would be a good choice for you.
Earthjustice is one environmental
justice organization focused on national, as
well as international, governmental policies.
To anyone who wonders why its members
lobby for environmental justice, their slogan
answers: “Because the Earth Needs a Good
Lawyer.”
Even as Heschel students, including
the new Sustainability Committee led by
junior Daniel Kressel, think of ways to green
the Heschel School, it is important to extend
ourselves to other communities who are suffering
from the effects of environmental injustice.
These other communities, such as the
South Bronx, need help defending themselves
through political lobbying and volunteering.
If you feel inspired to join the battle for environmental
justice issues locally, nationally,
or internationally, visit http://ssbx.org/index.
php?link=24 for SSBx volunteer opportunities
and http://www.earthjustice.org/how_to_
help/index.html for ways to help Earthjustice
through advocacy and lobbyism.

December 2009 Helios Volume 8 Issue 3 Page 7
Mohammad Bakri Op-Ed
By Eno Freedman-Brodmann
Before I knew Mohammad
Bakri was coming to visit our school,
I had the chance to see two of his
films at Cinema Village. The first one
I saw was Laila’s Birthday in which
he played the role of a father trying to
get home in time to give his daughter
a present. The second film, Zahara,
featured Bakri as a director telling the
story of his aunt.
Bakri did not appear in the
theater until the film was over and it
had spoken for itself. I did not know
anything about his history or his past
films. During the question-and-answer
session, I did not look at Bakri
as a Palestinian or an enemy. I viewed
him as an actor and filmmaker. He
was like me. An artist.
Bakri had an incredible comfort
in the theater, filled mostly with
Israelis and Jewish Americans. He
smiled and talked openly about his
life and views. He spoke about how
excited he was to come to the country
and walk the streets. He was comfortable
with people knowing where he
was from and who he was. He was
happy to listen to others and talk.
I had the opportunity to speak
to Bakri alone twice. We smiled while
he lit his cigarette and talked about
filmmaking. He told me that his voice
was muted where he came from, and
that films were a way to express to
the world what he had gone through.
We left our past behind that night.
He knew I was Jewish and I knew he
was Palestinian. He might have had
something against my people and
vice versa, but the fact that we were
both artists allowed us to discuss topics
besides the conflict.
Even with this in mind, I
understand how students are taken
aback by Bakri’s visit to our school.
I, too, admit that I do not know so
much about his past work. However,
Bakri is indeed a symbol of future
dialogue. Not only does he want to
talk to the other side, but he is a dual
citizen. Although he lives in Be’ina,
he attended Tel Aviv University and
works with Israelis on a daily basis.
On November 19, Mohammad
Bakri took a brave step. He came
from Ramallah and stepped foot in
the beit midrash of a Jewish school to
talk with Jewish students for the first
time in his life. This was new to him
and he did not know exactly what to
expect. Although he travelled a long
distance with a smile on his face and
had good intentions, some students
thought of protesting the event.
One senior said, “I felt it was positive
that people attended, but there
was some disrespect in the tone used
by students asking questions. They
repeated their opinions and insisted
that he answer, unsatisfied with his
responses. It was not that Bakri was
evading the questions or avoiding accountability
for his views. He wanted
to show respect so that that the
dialogue would continue.”
I then asked myself the question,
would I be able to go to an Arab
school and open a dialogue like Bakri
did?
Lashing out at
By Zoe Goldberg
The theme of the Heschel
school shabbaton was the importance
of accepting, not just tolerating
people who are different from us.
In groups led by the student senate,
students defined the words “accept”
and “tolerate” and brainstormed how
to incorporate the idea of acceptance
into their daily lives. This could mean
just saying “thank you” to the people
who serve lunch and wash the dishes
at school, but it could also mean defending
the rights of others.
Acts of racism and anti-
Semitism are on the increase around
the world. In Europe and Britain,
anti-Semitic leaders and Holocaustdeniers
have been elected into government
positions. A black man was
kicked out of a jazz club in Kansas
City because of his color. On December
5th in Switzerland, nearly 60% of
the population voted to ban minarets,
the tall spires on mosques. Black
Italian soccer player Gabriele Marcotti
has been abused by Italian citizens.
Soon after, three people were
caught on camera knocking down a
big menorah in Long Island. Several
weeks ago, three anti-Semitic acts
Jews
were committed in New Jersey.
This year at Stanford University, the
Hillel sukkah was vandalized by an
unidentified student when it was left
unattended over night. The students
of Stanford did not take this act lightly.
A large number of students, both
Jewish and non-Jewish, slept around
and inside the sukkah to protect it.
Though they were not all believers in
Jewish ideals and traditions, they all
believed in religious tolerance.
Many day school students
never experience acts of anti-Semitism
and may therefore feel somewhat
distant from the issue. However,
the Heschel School believes
in tolerance and acceptance and in
social action. Students are taught to
accept everyone as they are, regardless
of their background, and are
taught to do hesed, acts of kindness,
in order to help the world become a
better place. These lessons teach us
that it is important to take issues of
prejudice seriously. As one Heschel
student commented, “even when we
don’t see anti-Semitism in front of
our eyes, it’s still important to keep it
in our minds and try to prevent it.”
Teacher Profiles: Sophie
Rapoport and Tanya
Freedman
By Beatrice Volkmar
Photo by Hugo Uvegi
This year Sophie Rapoport
joined the Heschel Limudei Qodesh
staff. Sophie grew up in Minneapolis
and attended a middle school much
like Heschel. She then attended St.
Louis Parks, which was a mid-sized
public high school. Sophie learned to
be an active, religious Jew even in the
non-Jewish setting of her high school.
She believes that her endeavor to retain
her connection to Judaism in a
public school ultimately made her a
more strongly connected Jew. As a
college student at MIT she studied
math and minored in music or, as she
put it, she “majored in Hillel.”
Sophie has two younger sisters
and a long list of hobbies and
passions. In high school, Sophie
participated in many extracurricular
activities, including the math team,
quiz bowl, orchestra, cross-country,
and lacrosse. Although Sophie misses
playing team sports, such as hockey,
and also misses playing in the orchestra,
she still keeps busy. Sophie enjoys
playing violin, reading, hiking,
biking and running. She stays active
and bikes to school almost every day.
Readers may wonder—how
did Sophie end up at the Heschel
High School? Sophie has always
loved helping people learn. She wanted
to be a math professor for a long
time, but realized in college that she
cared more about Jewish communitybuilding
than “staring at blackboards
hoping for mathematical inspiration.”
After falling in love with Torah study,
she decided that teaching Talmud
would be a perfect combination of
Torah and math-- using mathematical
logic to addresses deep human questions.
Sophie still aspires to teach
math someday. For now, co-advising
the math team gives her the opportunity
to work through challenging and
interesting math problems with students.
Sophie is enjoying working
at Heschel, both because the students
are exciting and thoughtful, and because
the faculty is so cooperative.
And the students are enjoying having
Sophie work at Heschel as well!
By Samantha Brandspiegel
This year a new art teacher,
Tanya Freedman, has come to join the
high school art department. As the
artist-in-residence at Heschel, Tanya
is working with the Student Life office
and with different clubs throughout the
year.
Tanya was born in Saint Louis, Missouri,
and grew up in an Orthodox
community. She attended Brandeis
University, where she received her diploma
in Art. Some of the students at
Heschel might like to know that she is
the cousin of Anielle Freedman, who
graduated from Heschel last year. Before
coming to Heschel, Tanya taught
at high schools in Rwanda and Israel.
The community atmosphere at the high
school she taught at in Rwanda was
like Heschel’s, which is what brought
her to the high school.
Tanya wanted to be a teacher
from the time she was 12 years old. At
first, she wanted to teach in the Judaic
Studies department in a Jewish high
school, but in her teenage years she discovered
her passion for art. She wanted
to be an art teacher because, she said,
“I love creating things based on what I
see in the world.” She also likes to see
the ideas that other people can come up
with, because to her, “ art is a way to
challenge your [own] ideas.”
Tanya primarily paints portraits.
She also loves working with a
lot of people on big projects, such as
community murals. While in Rwanda,
Tanya helped the villagers paint a beautiful
mural to beautify their village.
Tanya is not just an artist. She
has many other hobbies, which include
skiing, exploring nature, and African
dancing.
In the few months that Tanya has been
at Heschel, she has already come to
love it. She said that the students are
really motivated and have great ideas.
She cannot wait to help the students at
Heschel make those ideas come alive
in art. She said that she likes that all the
teachers have their own styles of teaching.
She added that she has seen that the
teachers work to make their classes fun
and interesting for students. She especially
enjoyed going on the Shabbaton
because she was able to meet and see
the Heschel community as a whole.
Welcome to Heschel, Tanya!

Page 8 Helios Volume 8 Issue 3 December 2009
Horoscopes
Heliostyle:
Leo:
Shorts in
Since vacation is coming
up, try and think of
doing something new.
Winter
Book a flight with your
By Rachel Fell
family or friends to
a place you’ve never
Hello, Style Students!
been before. Take a
Welcome back to our 3rd edition
road trip! Visit a beach! You will have a
of HelioStyle this year! I’m sorry to say,
great time experiencing all these new places
with people you love around you.
style advice, but boys, keep the questions
but today we are going to return to female-
Virgo:
coming!
It’s time for you
to change up your
An anonymous female student asked:
look. Get a dramatic
haircut. It’ll
Q: How can I wear shorts in the wintertime?
be fun to get all
the compliments and
you will be inspired to keep changing your
look. With winter around the corner, get
cool hats--from barrettes, hunter hats, or
Eskimo hats. There is a big variety of fun
winter clothing. Have fun! Be original!
By Michele Kaplan
Aries:
B r o a d e n
your music selection.
Try to listen to
different genres and
artists. You will love
the different types of
music you’ve never
heard before and they will inspire you to
try other new things.
Taurus:
Try to exercise.
During the winter it
is easy to stay inside.
However, try signing
up for classes or
even just exercising
at home by doing crunches and push-ups.
Stay active and don’t give up.
Gemini:
Spend less time watching
television this week.
It may be tough to give
up, but when you realize
how much time you
save you will be glad.
You will soon have so much free time,
you’ll be less stressed, get work done, and
even be able to pick up a hobby.
Cancer:
This week
you’re inclined
to get hurt. Be
careful and try to
avoid rowdy situations.
If you get
some rest and think clearly to prevent
these situations you will be okay.
By Victor Weberman
On October 28, Head Coach Kevin
Flynn told his varsity players that he had resigned
from his position under pressure from his full-time
job at the Hoboken Charter School. He ultimately
had no choice, and told his boys several times he
wished he did not have to leave the Heschel family.
Mark Wiseman was promoted to head coach
and Abraham Keita remained as assistant coach.
The Heat’s season opener took place
at the high school against Magen David Yeshiva
(MDY) with a more than substantial crowd in attendance.
The game moved at a slow pace, with
no team totaling more than 45 points by the final
buzzer. Only 7 out of 14 players played significant
minutes for the Heat, and they were often
struggling during the game. While Heschel never
lost the lead in the second half, its lackluster offense
(scoring only 43 points) rarely provided excitement
for the audience. However, on the defensive
end, the Heat held MDY to 34 for the entire
game.
In their second game of the season, the
Heat defeated Ohr HaTorah by a walloping score
of 61-34. The game was over after the first quarter
when Coach Wiseman already pulled out some of
his starters while up double digits; every player
checked into the game and scored.
In their next matchup, Heschel played
in one of their most revenge-filled games as they
took on a familiar foe from Flatbush in a packed
gym at home. Heschel jumped out to an impressive
17-6 lead after the first quarter, mainly due to
the scoring of captains Jack Liechtung and Daniel
Kasman. Heschel tacked on one more point before
Flatbush opened up the second quarter with
an 8-0 run, and closed the gap to two points (25-
23) at the half.
Coach Wiseman was furious at his
boys in the locker room and the Flatbush coach
must have given his boys an earful too, as both
teams scored a combined 36 points in the third
quarter with Heschel up 44-40.
The Heat started the fourth quarter
without sixth man David Yitzhari, who fouled
out, and Kasman who was still on the floor with
four fouls. Less than two minutes into the final
period the Heat found themselves with a starter
and sixth man on the bench because they fouled
out.
Flatbush found their groove on offense
in the third quarter, and carried over their excellent
shooting into final quarter only missing a few
Libra:
Try to stay in for
the weekends.
Lately you have
been really busy
and going out. Just
breathe, maybe rent a movie. Going out
will just make you more exhausted and
you need to rest and rejuvenate for the next
week.
Scorpio:
Don’t trust all your
friends. Someone is very
jealous of you and will
want to make you fall.
Be careful who you trust
and who you tell things
to. Be careful of who
you are surrounded by
and find friends you can rely on.
Varsity Basketball Update
outside jumpers and breaking down Heschel’s 2-3
zone defense by getting easy lay- up opportunities.
With 16 seconds left in the game, Flatbush missed
the front end of a one-and-one at the free throw
line, and Coach Wiseman called a timeout to draw
up a play. When the referees called the teams back
onto the floor to resume play, Wiseman burned a
consecutive timeout leaving him with no timeouts
remaining. The play broke down, and after Liechtung
lost 8 seconds by dribbling the ball around,
he finally found an open man, Ezra Ellenberg.
Ellenberg started his drive along the baseline,
but stepped out prior to attempting a shot. With
5 seconds left, the Heat fouled Flatbush again,
sending them to the line with a chance to ice the
game with two free throws. The first attempt was
missed and the second one was forfeited due to a
lane violation by the Falcons. Heschel received
the ball at the opposite end of their basket with
2.8 ticks left on the clock. Junior guard Emanuel
Schlisser had to chuck up a prayer from half court
at the buzzer, and was just a few feet to the left of
a game-winning basket.
Heschel easily bounced back in their
next game beating Shaare Torah 46-36. Heschel
was leading by double digits in the second quarter
and grabbed a 33-8 lead in the early fourth
quarter. This really was a 20 point win; however,
Shaare Torah kept their starters in and made the
score look respectable.
Sagittarius:
This is your
month! Your birthday
is coming up or just
passed. Get pumped!
This will be the best
birthday yet. Your
friends and family will
know exactly what you
want to get and you will have a blast.
Capricorn:
Show someone you
care this week. Buy roses,
chocolate, or even a
small card. If you show
your appreciation to
your friend or someone
you like, they will be very
thankful. You will be surprised how grateful
they’ll be to receive your gifts and they
will reciprocate.
Aquarius:
Don’t do anything
you don’t want to do.
If you’re not ready
for something, speak
up. Take your time
and don’t follow your friends. If you don’t rush
into anything, no one will care. You just have
to listen to your inner voice and move at your
own pace.
Pisces:
You are going to have
a famous moment.
Everywhere you go,
someone will know
you and recognize you.
You may even run into
a celebrity at the places
you’re going. Have fun and bring out your
inner super star!
Illustration by Talia Niederman
In the Heat’s following match, they
played MTA on the road for their first away game.
Heschel started out with a bang going up 8-0 then
13-5, but then MTA had a run of their own, to
go up 18-14. MTA led at the half, 23-20, and a
series of runs turned it into a back-and-forth style
of game, with the deficit never greater than a five
point lead. With 15 seconds left ,Heschel found
themselves down by 2 with the ball. Kasman received
the ball in the corner, drove baseline and
missed a lay up in traffic. MTA got the ball, and
with no time left after they missed a free throw,
the scoreboard read: MTA 50, Heschel 48.
Heschel’s next match up was on the
road at MDY; the first time they faced a team
twice thus far. The first half was filled with fouls
(15+ combined), and resulted in a low-scoring
half with Heschel up 20-13. The Heat controlled
the tempo of the game never letting MDY to gain
a lead in the second half, and hitting foul shots
when it counted. Schlisser, Kasman, and Liechtung
combined for 28 points as Heschel defeated
MDY 36-24.
Heschel’s next game was against the
Photo by Eileen Sutton
Flatbush Falcons. In this game it was the Falcons
who jumped out to and early lead of 7 points in
the 1st quarter at 8-1 and 10-3. In the second
quarter however, Heschel outscored Flatbush 16-
A: While the temperature continues to
cool down outside, and the winter months
are quickly approaching, we are forced to
say so long to our summer clothes. Don’t
worry, folks, I am here to let you know that
you don’t have to put away all your summer
clothing. Shorts can be used as an alternative
to a dress or a skirt in the winter
months. They can be paired with boots and
tights to create the ultimate winter-appropriate
look. For example, your khaki shorts
can be used for an equestrian look. Going
for equestrian style, look for clothing in
the brown, tan, and ivory family, including
thick wool tights, riding boots, and a wellfitting
buttoned blouse or sweater to tuck
into the shorts. Jean shorts can create a boho-inspired
look when paired with lace-up
boots, a loose plain or graphic T-shirt, and
a vest or a cardigan. And of course, appropriate
accessories like belts, necklaces, and
bracelets are always encouraged.
I hope this gives you a little taste of how to
keep the summer with you all year long!
Keep the questions coming,
RF
11 to close the gap to 2 (21-19) at halftime. The
Heat came out with fire in their eyes in the 3rd
quarter as they outscored the Falcons again 14-5,
going up 33-26. In this period Mani sunk a triple,
and Kasman hit two three-pointers; one, a buzzer
beater, that got the Heschel players, coaches, and
most of all fans pumped up. Flatbush would not
go away quietly in the final eight minutes of this
game closing the gap to a mere point three times
(35-34, 36-35, and 38-37). Heschel would score
their last few points on free throws after their final
made field goal was a beautiful leaning jumper
by Jack from the foul line with 2:30 minutes to
go pushing the score the Heschel lead to 4 (35-
31). With six seconds left on the clock, Flatbush
fouled Kasman putting him at the line to push a
nail-bitting one point lead to an ever so slightly
more comfortable lead to three points. Kasman
missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity
giving Flatbush the ball with three seconds left
at mid-court. A broken play resulted in Heschel’s
possession; the following play time expired after
one pass, with the scoreboard reading: Heschel
38, Flatbush 37. Fans and players stormed the
court as Heschel’s four game losing-streak (including
playoffs) to the ‘bush ended, and putting
Heschel back in the mix of contention for a top
seeding in the playoffs.
As of this writing, the Cooper Yeshiva
H.S. Invitational in Memphis, Tennessee, featuring
16 teams representing states across America,
is coming up. Heschel has been given the #4 seed
for the tournament, pairing them with #13 Stern
Hebrew H.S. from Philadelphia, PA (a school Heschel
has never played) in the first round.
Check back for a complete wrap-up of this tournament
in the next issue of Helios.
Come support all four Heschel Heat basketball
Teams at Home! Below is the home schedule
for all four teams in the month of January.
Let’s Go Heat!!
Sunday, January 10th – Girls Varsity vs.
HANC 4:00 P.M.
Tuesday, January 12th – Boys Varsity vs.
TABC 8:00 P.M.
Thursday, January 21st – Boys Junior Varsity
vs. Westchester 7:30 P.M.
Monday, January 25th – Boys Varsity vs. Trevor
5:30 P.M.