Jewish Life and College Collide: Exploring Jewish Life
Jewish Life and College Collide: Exploring Jewish Life
Jewish Life and College Collide: Exploring Jewish Life
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אדר ה“תש‘ ע‘ א<br />
February 2011 2011<br />
Helios Volume 9 Issue 4 Volume 9 Issue Page 41<br />
The Official Student Newspaper<br />
of the<br />
Abraham Joshua Heschel<br />
High School<br />
“We st<strong>and</strong> for what we utter…”<br />
- Rabbi Heschel<br />
<strong>Jewish</strong> <strong>Life</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>College</strong> <strong>Collide</strong>: <strong>Exploring</strong> <strong>Jewish</strong> <strong>Life</strong> on Campus<br />
By Rebecca Mack<br />
At the Heschel High School, the college advisors’<br />
offices are located adjacent to the Beit Midrash.<br />
For some Heschel students, college applications<br />
are closely linked to their Judaism.<br />
For others, the two are entirely unrelated.<br />
Each year, as graduation approaches, high<br />
school students are challenged to seek colleges<br />
that will be good fits for their specific<br />
needs. The vast spectrum of considerations in<br />
this big decision gives students an opportunity<br />
to pinpoint their personal values <strong>and</strong> priorities,<br />
including their relationship to <strong>Jewish</strong><br />
life.<br />
Both the quantity <strong>and</strong> the quality of<br />
<strong>Jewish</strong> life at colleges vary tremendously by<br />
school. Those who deem <strong>Jewish</strong> life at their<br />
prospective college an important factor need<br />
to think about what kind of <strong>Jewish</strong> life they<br />
desire, <strong>and</strong> to what extent they wish their<br />
<strong>Jewish</strong> life in college to differ from their <strong>Jewish</strong><br />
life in high school.<br />
Charlotte Marx-Arpadi, a Heschel senior, is<br />
not focusing on <strong>Jewish</strong> life when she looks<br />
at colleges, but once she is at a school, she<br />
intends to “look into their <strong>Jewish</strong> life as a springboard<br />
to meet others <strong>and</strong> learn about the school.”<br />
Marx-Arpadi said, “I want to stay away from my<br />
comfort zone—as in, what I’ve grown up in…I think<br />
that people grow most when they are uncomfortable,<br />
<strong>and</strong> I think that by not relying on what you find comfortable,<br />
<strong>and</strong> really surrounding yourself with the<br />
unknown, you can learn a lot about yourself <strong>and</strong> about<br />
others.”<br />
Mia Appelbaum, another Heschel senior, said<br />
the <strong>Jewish</strong> life on campus was a major factor as she<br />
Illustration by Becca Schwarz<br />
decided where to apply. Appelbaum comes from an<br />
observant <strong>Jewish</strong> background <strong>and</strong>, though she seeks<br />
diversity, she wants “a close group of friends [that are]<br />
observant Jews.” She also added, “I need kosher food<br />
because I’m not going veggie for four years.”<br />
In addition to deciding whether <strong>Jewish</strong> life on<br />
campus is important, students must decide what they<br />
define as “good” <strong>Jewish</strong> life. Jake Sion is a Heschel<br />
graduate <strong>and</strong> a Cornell sophomore. When asked<br />
what he thought made for “good” <strong>Jewish</strong> life, he<br />
spoke about “a campus where there are a significant<br />
number of Jews that have a meaningful<br />
connection to Judaism.” Sion mentioned that<br />
this connection manifests itself in “Israel advocacy,<br />
religious observance, cultural events,<br />
etc,” adding that, “an active Hillel with a large<br />
budget is certainly helpful in accomplishing<br />
those goals.”<br />
Both Appelbaum <strong>and</strong> Sion made a distinction<br />
between the number of Jews at a school<br />
<strong>and</strong> the <strong>Jewish</strong> life that exists there. Appelbaum<br />
noted, “There are some schools that have<br />
so many Jews but they are all secular <strong>and</strong> not<br />
religious.” She believes that great <strong>Jewish</strong> life is<br />
a college with “religious Jews, an active Hillel,<br />
<strong>and</strong> kosher meal plan.”<br />
Sion pointed out that, “there are a lot of<br />
schools with large <strong>Jewish</strong> populations, but it’s<br />
not just the numbers that matter. The <strong>Jewish</strong> atmosphere<br />
is stronger when there are many students<br />
devoted to <strong>Jewish</strong> life.”<br />
For Eliana Lauter, a Heschel graduate <strong>and</strong><br />
president of the <strong>Jewish</strong> Student Union at University<br />
of California Berkeley, sentiments towards Israel<br />
<strong>and</strong> diversity within the <strong>Jewish</strong> campus community<br />
are key. Lauter said, “A huge reason I was so attracted<br />
to Berkeley’s <strong>Jewish</strong> community was because it<br />
was so diverse, just like at Heschel.”<br />
Continued on Page 5<br />
Dream on for<br />
the Dream Act<br />
By Adam Chanes<br />
Beyond the Ivies: Heschel Grads<br />
Take Independent Path<br />
Illustration by Becca Schwarz<br />
By Shoshana Lauter<br />
Teenagers across the nation would say that<br />
the last two years of high school are all about college:<br />
preparation, applications, <strong>and</strong> admissions. With S.A.T.<br />
test takers <strong>and</strong> applications at an all-time high, applying<br />
to college has become, as stated by The New York<br />
Times in a recent article, “a high-anxiety journey that<br />
thous<strong>and</strong>s of students tread each year.”<br />
It has become a social expectation for our society’s<br />
high schools students to start thinking about the<br />
future very early. For many, just getting accepted to<br />
college is not good enough. What equals success for<br />
them are universities that are highly esteemed, not<br />
just in America, but all over the world, such as the Ivy<br />
League schools, Stanford, <strong>and</strong> M.I.T.<br />
The stress on American youth to be accepted<br />
to prestigious undergraduate programs, <strong>and</strong> to build up<br />
the “perfect” resume in order to do so, has been intensely<br />
discussed <strong>and</strong> heavily criticized by the media in<br />
recent years. The education section at Barnes & Nobles<br />
offers both books about preparing a student for a successful<br />
future <strong>and</strong> books condemning the entire process.<br />
Not everyone, however, succumbs to the pressure<br />
to get into these big name universities. Heschel<br />
High School students have embraced the idea that finding<br />
the paths that best suit their personal goals is of great<br />
importance.<br />
Some prospective parents <strong>and</strong> students have expressed<br />
a concern that Heschel graduates all head in the<br />
same direction – choosing to attend small, liberal arts<br />
schools. Asked her opinion on why Heschel students<br />
choose the schools that they do, Micki Talmadge, Heschel’s<br />
college guidance counselor, explained,<br />
Continued on page 6<br />
On Saturday, December 18, 2010, the Senate<br />
rejected a bill that would have created a path to<br />
citizenship for illegal immigrants who were brought<br />
to the U.S. as children. The main provision of the<br />
“DREAM Act” (Development, Relief <strong>and</strong> Education<br />
for Alien Minors Act of 2010) was that completing<br />
two years of military service or college<br />
could grant citizenship to an illegal immigrant. The<br />
Senate voted down this bill after the House of Representative<br />
approved it on December 8.<br />
According to the New York Times, President<br />
Obama personally lobbied for the bill, <strong>and</strong><br />
said that he, along with the other supporters, would<br />
continue to press for the bill to be passed. Obama<br />
called the blocking of the Dream Act, “incredibly<br />
disappointing.” The President said that, “…[The<br />
Dream Act is] the right thing for the United States<br />
of America. Our nation is enriched by [the immigrants’]<br />
talents <strong>and</strong> would benefit from the success<br />
of their efforts.”<br />
Opinions on illegal immigration vary at<br />
Heschel. Sophomore Asher Elbaz said, “Although<br />
I agree that people deserve better futures <strong>and</strong> better<br />
opportunities, the economic pressure involved can<br />
prove to be detrimental to America.” By taking this<br />
two-sided approach, Elbaz believes that there are<br />
definite consequences to this bill.<br />
Continued on page 6<br />
Joseph McNeil, a Member<br />
of the Greensboro Four,<br />
Comes to Heschel<br />
Page 3<br />
Inside this issue:<br />
Heschel Takes<br />
Kindly to the Kindle<br />
Page 6<br />
Top 5 Movies of 2010<br />
Page 7
Helios Staff<br />
2010-2011<br />
Page 2 Helios Volume 9 Issue 4 February 2011<br />
By Emma Goldberg<br />
Debbie Friedman, Voice of the<br />
<strong>Jewish</strong> Spirit, Dies at 59<br />
Debbie Friedman, a well-known<br />
<strong>Jewish</strong> folk singer, passed away on January<br />
9 at the age of 59. Friedman’s tunes,<br />
such as her melody for the Mi Shebeirach,<br />
are sung at synagogues, summer camps,<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>Jewish</strong> schools worldwide. She passed<br />
away from complications of pneumonia<br />
contracted while on her way home from<br />
performing at a Limmud conference in<br />
Engl<strong>and</strong>.<br />
Several weeks before Friedman’s<br />
death she sent an email to David Ellenson,<br />
President of Hebrew Union <strong>College</strong> <strong>and</strong> a<br />
former Heschel parent, worrying that her<br />
work would not be remembered after her<br />
death.<br />
Many—both within Heschel<br />
<strong>and</strong> in the larger <strong>Jewish</strong><br />
community--would assure her of<br />
the contrary. Friedman’s music<br />
energizes many Heschel rituals<br />
<strong>and</strong> assemblies with spirit. It is<br />
her melody for the Havdalah that<br />
is used during high school shabbatonim<br />
<strong>and</strong> her song “Lechi Lakh”<br />
is a mainstay at Lower School assemblies<br />
<strong>and</strong> High School graduations.<br />
Friedman’s tunes—such<br />
as her Hnnukah-themed song “I<br />
am a Latke”-- aim to enliven <strong>Jewish</strong><br />
traditions, making them fun for<br />
all ages.<br />
“When I think back on<br />
my childhood, Debbie Friedman<br />
songs definitely come to mind,”<br />
said junior Sasha Gayle Schneider.<br />
“We say words but make no decisions,<br />
forgetting that in prayer words are<br />
commitments, not the subject matter for<br />
aesthetic reflection, <strong>and</strong> that prayer is meaningless<br />
unless we st<strong>and</strong> for what we utter,<br />
unless we feel what we accept.”<br />
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel<br />
wrote this passage as part of an essay featured<br />
in his book Moral Gr<strong>and</strong>eur <strong>and</strong> Spiritual<br />
Audacity, compiled <strong>and</strong> edited by his<br />
daughter Susannah Heschel in 1997. Eight<br />
years later, Helios adopted an excerpt – “We<br />
st<strong>and</strong> for what we utter” – as its motto.<br />
It would be easy to accept our motto<br />
for what it is, to notice it <strong>and</strong> neglect it or<br />
even to disregard it all together; but doing<br />
so would be irresponsible. As the school’s<br />
Helios is a newspaper published<br />
approximately seven times a year by the<br />
student staff of the Abraham Joshua Heschel<br />
High School, 20 West End Avenue,<br />
NY, NY 10023. Telephone: 212-246-<br />
7717. E-mail: helios@heschel.org.<br />
Helios is distributed free to all<br />
members of the student body. The publication<br />
is a member of the Columbia<br />
Scholastic Press Association.<br />
Commentaries <strong>and</strong> opinion columns<br />
are the expressed opinion of the<br />
author <strong>and</strong> not of Helios <strong>and</strong> its editorial<br />
munity, had the capacity to find spirituality<br />
within themselves. In a 2000 interview<br />
with Religion &Ethics NewsWeekly she<br />
said, “I think that each one of us is here for<br />
a purpose, <strong>and</strong> that is really the focus of my<br />
work—that each of us needs to acknowledge<br />
what blessings we carry within us.”<br />
Though Friedman’s songs were<br />
world-renowned <strong>and</strong> her work widely celebrated,<br />
she was also known for her humble,<br />
even shy, demeanor. When dining with<br />
friends for Shabbat dinner, Friedman could<br />
often be found in the kitchen helping to<br />
wash dishes. She was insecure about much<br />
of her music, a quality that came out in her<br />
email to Ellenson. She found it difficult to<br />
Ceremony memorializes passing of <strong>Jewish</strong> folk<br />
singer Debbie Friedman<br />
Photograph by Emma Goldberg<br />
be in crowds socializing, though her spirit<br />
filled whole concert halls with energy.<br />
Despite Friedman’s shyness, she<br />
Friedman often came to the Lower<br />
School to perform for music<br />
classes, <strong>and</strong> enjoyed connecting with<br />
students. Ellenson said, “She had a<br />
unique ability to touch the lives of<br />
the people with whom she came into<br />
contact.”<br />
Friedman believed that all, even<br />
those disconnected from the <strong>Jewish</strong> comwas<br />
considered a force for change in the<br />
<strong>Jewish</strong> community. Her songs stress the<br />
importance of inclusivity <strong>and</strong> egalitarianism.<br />
She wanted to ensure that the <strong>Jewish</strong><br />
historical narrative also include the contributions<br />
of women, recognizing the importance<br />
of Miriam the Prophetess’ leadership<br />
in the lyrics of “Miriam’s Song.” Friedman<br />
herself said, “It was השא לוק (the voice of<br />
women) for השא לכ (every woman) that<br />
inspired me to write inclusive music. It<br />
is beneficial not only for women, but for<br />
men <strong>and</strong> children as well.” She hoped to<br />
inspire a next generation of activists <strong>and</strong><br />
pluralists, writing such songs as “Build<br />
This World Together” <strong>and</strong> “And the Youth<br />
Shall See Visions.”<br />
Openly gay, Friedman also<br />
helped to bring the issue of pluralism<br />
regarding sexual orientation to<br />
the fore in the <strong>Jewish</strong> community.<br />
Senior Esther Lenchner, president<br />
of the Gay Straight Alliance, spoke<br />
of the fact that even some Orthodox<br />
congregations allowed Friedman to<br />
perform <strong>and</strong> said, “I think it definitely<br />
shows a sign of tolerance <strong>and</strong><br />
openness. After all, it’s all about<br />
coming together in the worship of<br />
God.”<br />
Friedman was a force for change<br />
not only within the New York <strong>Jewish</strong><br />
community, but worldwide. As<br />
a singer, songwriter, <strong>and</strong> guitarist<br />
she recorded nineteen albums. She<br />
also served on the faculty of Hebrew<br />
Union <strong>College</strong>’s School of<br />
Sacred Music.<br />
As Friedman herself said, “Singing<br />
helps us learn how to be vocal. The<br />
more our voices are heard in song,<br />
the more we become our lyrics, our<br />
prayers, <strong>and</strong> our convictions.” Friedman’s<br />
songs were her voice to the <strong>Jewish</strong><br />
community, her conviction that traditions<br />
<strong>and</strong> rituals should be wide enough<br />
to include all who wish to engage, regardless<br />
of age, gender, or sexual orientation.<br />
Editorial: Heschel’s Role in <strong>Jewish</strong> <strong>Life</strong><br />
leading source of news <strong>and</strong> opinion, we<br />
must strive to make relevant the words of<br />
our namesake. We must write, in the words<br />
of Heschel, as though “each word has a<br />
soul.”<br />
Of course, this applies not only to<br />
Helios but also to the entire school community<br />
at large. We must strive to welcome<br />
Rabbi Heschel’s philosophies into our lives,<br />
not only because he is our school’s namesake,<br />
but also because doing so will repair<br />
the way in which each of us uses words <strong>and</strong><br />
help us to underst<strong>and</strong> the power of words, in<br />
prayer <strong>and</strong> in daily conversation.<br />
It is not enough to read Heschel’s<br />
teachings for one week each year, to hear<br />
his quotations over the loudspeaker without<br />
board or its advisors. Furthermore, the<br />
opinions are not those of the Abraham<br />
Joshua Heschel School faculty or administration.<br />
Letters to the Editor must include<br />
the writer’s name <strong>and</strong> class. Helios<br />
will not print anything deemed libelous,<br />
obscene, or in poor taste, in accordance<br />
with the Supreme Court’s justified st<strong>and</strong>ards.<br />
Rights are reserved to postpone,<br />
edit, or withhold from publication anything<br />
submitted which does not meet<br />
the specifications. The meaning of any<br />
contemplating their meanings or the impact<br />
that they can have on our lives <strong>and</strong> our relationships.<br />
Each student <strong>and</strong> faculty member<br />
must take it upon himself or herself to fully<br />
absorb Rabbi Heschel’s philosophies <strong>and</strong><br />
then allow them to infiltrate everyday life. It<br />
is, however, not something that can simply<br />
happen; rather, it is something that requires<br />
a bit of effort.<br />
If every person, following in the<br />
historic footsteps of Rabbi Heschel, were to<br />
treat each word as a though it has a soul, as<br />
though each word is a commitment in itself,<br />
we might succeed in paying closer attention<br />
to the words we choose when addressing<br />
God <strong>and</strong> our peers, as well the manner in<br />
which we deliver them.<br />
Helios Information <strong>and</strong> Policies<br />
submission will be not altered, but we<br />
reserve the right to correct spelling,<br />
grammar, <strong>and</strong> punctuation when necessary.<br />
Additionally, Helios refuses to print<br />
criticism that is not constructive <strong>and</strong> supported<br />
by facts.<br />
Helios will not intentionally<br />
invade the privacy of any person <strong>and</strong><br />
will make every effort to correctly spell<br />
names <strong>and</strong> make accurate class <strong>and</strong> position<br />
identifications. Accurate reporting<br />
of fact is the goal of the staff.<br />
Opinions will be clearly marked<br />
Editors-in-Chief:<br />
Gabriel Fisher<br />
Emma Goldberg<br />
Art <strong>and</strong> Layout Editors:<br />
Talia Niederman<br />
Andrew Udell<br />
Sports Editor:<br />
Gabriel Klausner<br />
News Editors:<br />
Rebecca Schwarz<br />
Zachary Stecker<br />
Culture Editors:<br />
Anna Rothstein<br />
Shoshana Lauter<br />
Contributing Writers:<br />
Hana Joy Ain<br />
Elliot Allen<br />
Adam Chanes<br />
Rebecca Cooper<br />
Lizzie Davis<br />
Rebecca Mack<br />
Elizabeth Rauner<br />
Ethan Rosenberg<br />
Gabrielle Sherman<br />
Zachary Spiera<br />
Contributing Artists:<br />
Joshua Ashley<br />
Lizzie Davis<br />
Cara Leiderman<br />
Rebecca Leeman<br />
Julie Maschler<br />
Shipley Mason<br />
Lizzi Rauner<br />
Anna Rothstein<br />
Sasha Gayle-Schneider<br />
Rebecca Schwarz<br />
Faculty <strong>and</strong> Staff:<br />
Lisa Cohen<br />
Gabe Godin<br />
Audrey Sieger<br />
Dena Schutzer<br />
We would like to formally thank<br />
Samuel Freedman. His dedication<br />
has helped us move Helios to the<br />
next level.<br />
Printing courtesy of Tri-Star<br />
Offset & Barry Goodman<br />
20 West End Avenue<br />
New York, NY 10023<br />
Send your<br />
comments to<br />
helios@heschel.org<br />
on FirstClass<br />
<strong>and</strong> found on the editorial pages or as<br />
designated on other pages. Corrections<br />
will be printed when mistakes are found<br />
or brought to the attention of the staff.<br />
Original stories will carry bylines, although<br />
stories rewritten by someone<br />
other than the original author will not<br />
receive a byline.<br />
Members of the staff are guided<br />
by the Code of Ethics of the Society of<br />
Professional Journalists, which outlines<br />
principles of responsibility, fairness, <strong>and</strong><br />
accuracy.
February 2011 Helios Volume 9 Issue 4 Page 3<br />
Mountain School Recap<br />
Joseph McNeil, a Member of the<br />
Greensboro Four, Comes to Heschel<br />
By Gabriel Fisher<br />
Joseph McNeil shares his story with Heschel<br />
Photograph by Lizzi Rauner<br />
Not many guest speakers at<br />
Heschel receive a st<strong>and</strong>ing ovation before<br />
they say a word. But, then again,<br />
Joseph McNeil was no ordinary speaker.<br />
On Tuesday, January 18, the day after<br />
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the students<br />
<strong>and</strong> faculty of the Heschel high<br />
school crowded into the gym to hear<br />
the life story of one of the members of<br />
the Greensboro Four.<br />
On February 1, 1960, McNeil<br />
<strong>and</strong> three of his fellow classmates at<br />
North Carolina A&T (Agricultural <strong>and</strong><br />
Technical State University) made national<br />
headlines <strong>and</strong> history when they<br />
sat down at the lunch counter in a Woolworth’s<br />
store<br />
in Greensboro,<br />
North<br />
Carolina. The<br />
act, defying<br />
decades of<br />
segregation<br />
<strong>and</strong> other discriminatory<br />
laws, sparked sit-ins at lunch counters<br />
nationwide, <strong>and</strong> eventually led to the<br />
desegregation of white-only seating in<br />
restaurants.<br />
Fifty-one years later, the Heschel<br />
high school had the privilege to<br />
hear this amazing story from one of the<br />
original members.<br />
The program began with the<br />
senior French class performing a poem<br />
about racism by Senegalese poet, <strong>and</strong><br />
later President, Léopold Sédar Senghor.<br />
The audience watched a documentary<br />
about the Greensboro Four, <strong>and</strong><br />
then Mr. McNeil entered to roaring applause<br />
<strong>and</strong> a st<strong>and</strong>ing ovation.<br />
McNeil, a retired engineer for<br />
the U.S. army, was a reserved speaker,<br />
never raising his voice as he talked.<br />
Yet, by maintaining his calmness <strong>and</strong><br />
composure throughout, he comm<strong>and</strong>ed<br />
the respect of the entire room of<br />
300, who sat quietly listening intently<br />
to his every word.<br />
McNeil described how he <strong>and</strong><br />
his friends decided to take action <strong>and</strong><br />
begin the sit in (which he claimed was<br />
“more than about just a cup of coffee”),<br />
saying, “If we weren’t going to<br />
do it, then who was going to do it? It<br />
was time to act, clearly, <strong>and</strong> to act nonviolently.”<br />
After telling his story, McNeil<br />
opened the floor, fielding questions on<br />
topics ranging from his personal life to<br />
advice he has for the next generation.<br />
He offered that people should “find<br />
what works for you” <strong>and</strong> said that<br />
“If we weren’t going to do<br />
it, then who was going to do<br />
it? It was time to act, clearly,<br />
<strong>and</strong> to act non-violently.”<br />
Photograph by Lizzi Rauner<br />
while people<br />
may not always<br />
take action they<br />
should at least<br />
form opinions<br />
on important<br />
subjects.<br />
While many<br />
people found<br />
his story to be inspirational, they admitted<br />
that they did not believe it<br />
would affect their personal actions.<br />
Sophomore Tamar Stein said, “I believe<br />
that it was really important to<br />
hear him speak because as a civil<br />
rights activist he achieved many amazing<br />
deeds, However, I expected to be<br />
moved but the speech did not touch me<br />
in the level I hoped it would.”<br />
Junior Igor Gluskin said that, while<br />
he enjoyed hearing McNeil speak,<br />
he felt that Heschel students already<br />
subscribe to the values that McNeil<br />
preached. “The beliefs that he tried to<br />
convey,” Gluskin said, “ have already<br />
been instilled in us to a very deep level.”<br />
To many, however, the mere<br />
presence of such a figure was inspir-<br />
By Andrew Udell<br />
I knew<br />
that I had found<br />
the right place<br />
to spend my<br />
junior fall semester<br />
the first<br />
time that I sat<br />
down to lunch<br />
at the Mountain<br />
School.<br />
As I dug into<br />
the string-bean<br />
salad <strong>and</strong> tomato<br />
mozzarella<br />
dishes, a representative<br />
of the<br />
school made<br />
the announcement<br />
that over<br />
70% of the<br />
food served at<br />
the Mountain<br />
School was<br />
grown on the<br />
campus. Suddenly,<br />
the egg<br />
that I was in the process of eating took on<br />
much more significance.<br />
I have been attending the Heschel<br />
School since nursery, making this my<br />
fourteenth year here. In the middle of my<br />
sophomore year, I realized that I needed<br />
to try something new. I decided I would<br />
do some research into semester programs.<br />
Rafi Ellenson, who was at Heschel through<br />
8th grade, told me about a program called<br />
the Mountain School. All I knew about it<br />
was that it was a one-semester program in<br />
Vermont for forty-five students, centered<br />
around environmental studies <strong>and</strong> farming.<br />
As a life-long city dweller <strong>and</strong>,<br />
more recently, environmentally conscious<br />
eater, I have found it difficult to eat in a<br />
sustainable way, buying foods grown locally.<br />
When I learned about the Mountain<br />
School, I saw the program as an opportunity<br />
to put my ideals of being an environmentally<br />
conscious eater into practice.<br />
I can easily say that going to the<br />
Mountain School was the best decision I<br />
have ever made. When friends <strong>and</strong> family<br />
ask me about the Mountain School, I never<br />
know what to say. I can say it was the<br />
most amazing experience of my life, but<br />
that doesn’t do it justice. So, I usually resort<br />
to telling them a couple of highlights.<br />
Some of the most intense days that I<br />
spent at the Mountain School were those<br />
doing what is called “solo.” Solo is a fourday<br />
<strong>and</strong> three-night trip in the wilderness<br />
alone. Initially,<br />
Andrew Udell juggles on the<br />
Mountain School organic farm<br />
“Where else do first semester<br />
juniors get to take<br />
four days off from school<br />
to be in the wilderness?”<br />
I was pretty excited<br />
about it –<br />
I thought I’d be<br />
able to get a lot<br />
of reading done,<br />
do some journaling,<br />
<strong>and</strong> just relax.<br />
Where else<br />
do first semester juniors get to take four<br />
days off from school to be in the wilderness?<br />
Before we all left, we were given<br />
the weather report: it was going to rain.<br />
A lot. That didn’t trouble me too much;<br />
I figured I could h<strong>and</strong>le a bit of rain. Or<br />
so I thought. During the first day I read<br />
Catcher in the Rye, journaled, made myself<br />
ramen noodles over a fire, <strong>and</strong> took<br />
a nap in my hammock. It started to rain<br />
heavily that night <strong>and</strong>, although I had a<br />
tarp over my hammock, I got soaked. Day<br />
one was the last day I remained at all dry<br />
because, for the rest of the trip, Tropical<br />
Storm Nicole would not stop its torrential<br />
downpour. All of my clothes were soaked,<br />
my sleeping bag was dripping wet, <strong>and</strong><br />
my books <strong>and</strong> journals were soggy. I was<br />
pretty miserable, but instead<br />
of returning to basecamp<br />
with the teachers,<br />
I decided I would tough<br />
it out. When I returned to<br />
school after four days I<br />
hugged all 44 students <strong>and</strong><br />
most teachers. Solo transformed<br />
time spent alone<br />
into a bonding experience<br />
because we knew that each<br />
student had to go through<br />
similar struggles.<br />
The Mountain School<br />
also focused heavily on<br />
environmental learning. In<br />
my Environmental Science<br />
class I first learned about<br />
macro-history <strong>and</strong> the way<br />
the universe was formed.<br />
As the class progressed we<br />
kept narrowing down the<br />
history of the earth until<br />
we each chose one spot on<br />
the 300-acre campus, <strong>and</strong><br />
researched the history of<br />
that spot based on its physical<br />
appearance today <strong>and</strong><br />
artifacts that we found.<br />
The Mountain School, <strong>and</strong> this<br />
class in particular, taught me that learning<br />
can transcend the traditional borders of<br />
classrooms. We took our learning outside<br />
of the classroom during weekly hikes to<br />
learn about our surroundings, later reflecting<br />
on them in the classroom. Often I continued<br />
these discussions walking with my<br />
teacher to lunch. At the Mountain School,<br />
learning goes beyond the classroom. It<br />
follows you when you’re hanging out<br />
with friends <strong>and</strong> teachers, <strong>and</strong> it certainly<br />
does not end when you’re in nature.<br />
The teacher-student relationships<br />
were another key facet to the Mountain<br />
School. I have two distinct memories that<br />
represent how close teachers <strong>and</strong> students<br />
are at the Mountain School. Two of my<br />
close friends <strong>and</strong> I really wanted to milk a<br />
cow. One day, while we were talking with<br />
our science teacher, Pat, he offered us an<br />
opportunity to come to his house <strong>and</strong> milk<br />
his cows. The following week he picked<br />
us up at 5:30 a.m., drove us to his house,<br />
<strong>and</strong> taught us how to milk a cow. Pat went<br />
out of his way to give us this unique learning<br />
experience <strong>and</strong> afterwards he graciously<br />
invited us into his house to share a<br />
cup of fresh milk.<br />
I also developed a close relationship<br />
with my English teacher, Jack. I was<br />
having a difficult time while my gr<strong>and</strong>father<br />
was ill, <strong>and</strong> I had journaled about it<br />
for English class. While driving around<br />
with Jack <strong>and</strong> Molly,<br />
a close friend<br />
from New Mexico,<br />
Jack invited me to<br />
tell stories about<br />
my gr<strong>and</strong>father.<br />
He knew that I am<br />
slightly reserved,<br />
but still wanted to<br />
give me the opportunity to talk about my<br />
gr<strong>and</strong>father. We talked a lot, <strong>and</strong> he helped<br />
me to deal with the loss of my gr<strong>and</strong>father.<br />
He treated me as more than just a student;<br />
I truly felt like I was Jack’s friend.<br />
The Mountain School has been<br />
the most amazing experience of my life.<br />
Whether it was through the tough experiences<br />
that taught me about myself, or<br />
the classes where I was exposed to an entirely<br />
new model of teaching, or the student-teacher<br />
friendships, I have learned<br />
so much. I have made friends from as<br />
far away as Alaska <strong>and</strong> as close as New<br />
York; I have learned how to farm; I have<br />
learned how to fell a tree for firewood;<br />
I have learned more about myself in the<br />
first semester of junior year than I could<br />
have ever imagined.
Page 4 Helios Volume 9 Issue 4 February 2011<br />
Community Reels at Closing of Barnes <strong>and</strong> Noble<br />
By Anna Rothstein<br />
On January 2, 2011, the Upper<br />
West Side lost its largest Barnes<br />
& Noble bookstore, on 66th Street at<br />
the intersection of Broadway<br />
<strong>and</strong> Amsterdam. Only six<br />
blocks away from the high<br />
school, it was the perfect<br />
place to go after school to<br />
do homework, buy a book,<br />
or wait for a friend. Soon, a<br />
Century 21 department store<br />
will be opening up in Barnes<br />
<strong>and</strong> Noble’s stead.<br />
The beloved store<br />
closed because many people<br />
– not only Heschel students<br />
- were going there to hang<br />
out, do their own work, or<br />
use it as a peaceful place to<br />
read; they were not actually<br />
buying books. With the<br />
increased popularity of the<br />
Kindle, downloadable books<br />
online, <strong>and</strong> audio books,<br />
people are less inclined to<br />
buy hardcopy books. Why<br />
carry around a book when<br />
you can have it on your Kindle<br />
or iPhone? In addition<br />
to low book sales, Barnes &<br />
Noble’s “Nook” has not been<br />
Illustration by Julie Maschler<br />
Unveiling the Senior Planning<br />
Committee: What’s Behind the Curtain<br />
By Ethan Rosenberg<br />
What exactly does the Senior Planning<br />
Committee do?<br />
In recent weeks the Senior Planning<br />
Committee organized a schoolwide<br />
game of Soofganiot, a new take<br />
on the game more commonly known as<br />
‘Assassin’. In the Heschel version, each<br />
student was assigned another participant<br />
whom they had to “assassinate.” A<br />
player assassinated another by going up<br />
to his or her assigned victim <strong>and</strong> saying<br />
“Soofganiot,” without anyone else hearing.<br />
Once the victim was eliminated,<br />
his or her assassin was given a new target,<br />
<strong>and</strong> the game continued. To protect<br />
themselves from elimination, players<br />
were able to carry a predetermined safe<br />
item, which changed every few days.<br />
Such items ranged from a pillow to a<br />
h<strong>and</strong>written quote by Rabbi Heschel.<br />
After a few days, however, safe items<br />
were removed to promote tougher competition<br />
<strong>and</strong> more fun.<br />
Photograph by Cara Leiderman<br />
The game was received relatively<br />
well throughout the student body - especially<br />
among the freshmen. Yael Fisher, a<br />
freshman, thought that the game was “a<br />
very good bonding experience with other<br />
grades. ” Another freshman, Leora Einleger,<br />
said that the game was “ a fun way<br />
of including the whole school in a activity.”<br />
Some students thought that the game<br />
needed to be changed so that it could be<br />
more enjoyable <strong>and</strong> fun. Max Padway,<br />
a sophomore said, “The safe items take<br />
away the whole idea of the game, which is<br />
that you always need to be on your toes.”<br />
The Senior Planning Committee<br />
is also in charge of many other schoolwide<br />
events. The first activity this year<br />
was “Heschel Idol,” a singing competition<br />
during town meeting featuring volunteers<br />
from each grade. Participants were judged<br />
based on the quality of their singing <strong>and</strong><br />
how funny <strong>and</strong> creative their act was. The<br />
committee is responsible for all senior<br />
dress up days <strong>and</strong> organizing some of the<br />
senior grade meetings¬¬¬, <strong>and</strong> is currently<br />
planning activities for two more town<br />
meeting slots.<br />
popular. And on top of these problems, the<br />
l<strong>and</strong>lords raised the rent significantly.<br />
Though some students were indifferent<br />
to the closing of Barnes <strong>and</strong> Noble<br />
on 66th, a majority expressed disappointment.<br />
Junior Lizzie Davis stated,<br />
“I’ve spent more time there than in<br />
my own home! It had a great ambiance.”<br />
But she was also an example<br />
of the regular customer who did not<br />
Heschel Takes Kindly to Kindle<br />
By Hana Joy Ain<br />
Junior Tsvi Tannin began to<br />
love the Kindle when his dad gave him<br />
his old one two years ago. Tannin said,<br />
“It has been a fantastic experience.<br />
The portability <strong>and</strong> versatility the device<br />
offers are truly revolutionary <strong>and</strong><br />
it keeps on getting better.”<br />
Other students <strong>and</strong> teachers<br />
who own a Kindle also offered positive<br />
reviews. They pointed to the various<br />
features of the Kindle, including internet<br />
access, a built-in dictionary, <strong>and</strong><br />
a multi-tasker, which allows someone<br />
to read more than one book at a time.<br />
Kindle users pay less for virtual books<br />
<strong>and</strong> can also receive subscriptions to<br />
newspapers <strong>and</strong><br />
magazines. A<br />
br<strong>and</strong> new bestseller<br />
that costs<br />
$25.95 in book<br />
form would<br />
cost about $9.95<br />
for the Kindle.<br />
N i n t h<br />
The portability <strong>and</strong><br />
versatility the device<br />
offers are truly revolutionary<br />
<strong>and</strong> it keeps on<br />
getting better.<br />
grade dean<br />
Judith Tumin finds the Kindle tech<br />
support extremely helpful. She said,<br />
“When I needed tech help, I just went<br />
on the internet, found the tech help<br />
section <strong>and</strong> it only took one minute for<br />
it to direct me to a live chat.<br />
One question is if the Kindle<br />
can be used as a tool for learning.<br />
Freshman Asher Ades does not believe<br />
that the Kindle is helpful to use in<br />
school because it does not offer many<br />
textbooks. Judith agreed, adding, “I<br />
never even bring it to school.” Although<br />
Asher Ades <strong>and</strong> Judith shared<br />
that opinion, Tannin’s view on the<br />
situation was different. “Absolutely [it<br />
could be beneficial]. During class if I<br />
want to look up a quote or notes I have<br />
everything a search away. “<br />
buy books. “I don’t think I ever bought<br />
anything other than coffee there, but the<br />
magazine floor was a delight.”<br />
Sophomore Aaron Mayer <strong>and</strong><br />
junior Isabelle Merrin agreed <strong>and</strong> said<br />
they will truly miss it. Merrin said,<br />
“It was in the perfect spot, so at 10:30<br />
p.m., it was the perfect place to meet<br />
up with people on Saturday nights. I<br />
also got all of my books for school<br />
there <strong>and</strong> [even] my first Bananagrams.<br />
It had such a convenient bathroom<br />
<strong>and</strong> the café was the best.”<br />
Mayer agreed with Merrin<br />
<strong>and</strong> commented, “I live on 69th <strong>and</strong><br />
Broadway, <strong>and</strong> when I heard that it<br />
was going to close, I nearly cried. I<br />
blame the Kindle. Let’s gather as<br />
many as we can <strong>and</strong> smash them all!”<br />
As for what he liked to do at Barnes &<br />
Noble, <strong>and</strong> whether or not he bought<br />
books, he said, “For the most part, I<br />
would just hang out there. I would go<br />
to the second floor <strong>and</strong> read things<br />
with my father.”<br />
In defiance of the closing,<br />
Mayer stated, “I was actually in the<br />
middle of reading Atlas Shrugged, by<br />
Ayn R<strong>and</strong>, when I found out the store<br />
was going to close. Because of it, I resolved<br />
never to finish that book as a<br />
tribute to the bookstore.”<br />
A lesser-known function of the<br />
Kindle is its ability to let the user take<br />
notes <strong>and</strong> make annotations, which is<br />
not complicated to learn. “The Kindle<br />
actually has fantastic built-in note taking<br />
functionality,” Tannin said. “You simple<br />
move the cursor over where you want to<br />
take a note <strong>and</strong> start typing. If you want<br />
to highlight a portion of text you simply<br />
move the cursor to the starting point, select,<br />
move to the end point <strong>and</strong> select <strong>and</strong><br />
you’re done.”<br />
The Kindle can be read in the<br />
sun because it has an adjustable backlight.<br />
Judith said, “It is better to use in the<br />
sunlight because I can see much better. I<br />
love reading it in the summer time.”<br />
As the Kindle becomes ever<br />
more popular, people<br />
are beginning to wonder<br />
whether it is making<br />
bookstores obsolete.<br />
Judith, though,<br />
still goes to the bookstore<br />
<strong>and</strong> the library.<br />
She is also part of a<br />
book club in her building<br />
where she shares<br />
books that she enjoyed<br />
reading with other members. On occasions,<br />
Ades also journeys to bookstores<br />
or libraries because, “ Sometimes I enjoy<br />
having the feel of the book instead<br />
of holding an electronic device.” Tannin,<br />
on the other h<strong>and</strong>, finds himself enjoying<br />
the Kindle much more than a book.. “Personally<br />
I have never been a library person<br />
but I definitely don’t go now with the<br />
Kindle,” he remarked.<br />
Judith feels that the only people<br />
who own a Kindle are avid readers to begin<br />
with, which is the reason to buy one in<br />
the first place.<br />
She said, “I find that since reading<br />
was already such a big part of my life,<br />
I still read about the same amount as I did<br />
before.”<br />
Continued on Page 5
February 2011 Helios Volume 9 Issue 4 Page 5<br />
She also spoke about a challenge she<br />
faced, remembering that a “major issue<br />
was having to confront anti-<br />
Israel sentiments on campus.”<br />
Lauter explained<br />
that she took steps to combat<br />
anti-Israel sentiments. “As<br />
president of the <strong>Jewish</strong> Student<br />
Union I befriended the<br />
president of the Muslim Student<br />
Association <strong>and</strong> we have started<br />
to create joint initiatives to bring our<br />
communities together, because they<br />
<strong>Jewish</strong> <strong>Life</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>College</strong> <strong>Collide</strong> Continued from page 1<br />
had previously been so torn due to<br />
anti-Israel sentiments.”<br />
“No matter which path you take<br />
when you get to college, Hillel<br />
will always be a great resource.”<br />
-Eliana Lauter<br />
Though Lauter has chosen<br />
to integrate <strong>Jewish</strong> life into her<br />
college experience, some of Lauter’s<br />
high school friends have made different<br />
decisions. Lauter said,<br />
“Some have chosen to be active<br />
at Hillel, <strong>and</strong> some have<br />
not.” She added, “No matter<br />
which path you take when<br />
you get to college, Hillel<br />
will always be a great resource.<br />
It allows you to create<br />
a smaller, more familiar<br />
community, within the bigger university<br />
setting.”<br />
Heschel Takes Kindly to Kindle<br />
Continued from page 4<br />
already such a big part of my life, I still<br />
read about the same amount as I did before.”<br />
However, Ades finds himself<br />
reading more because it is much easier for<br />
him to buy books for lower prices on the<br />
Kindle than to buy them in a bookstore.<br />
Tannin finds that he has begun<br />
reading more for pleasure because it is so<br />
easy to switch from a book for school to a<br />
book just for fun.<br />
If students are interested in trying<br />
it out, the school owns a few Kindles<br />
that John Hutzler will lend students who<br />
expresses interest.<br />
Construction Underway For Heschel One Campus Plan<br />
Photographs by Lizzi Rauner
Page 6 Helios Volume 9 Issue 4 February 2011<br />
Beyond the Ivies: Heschel Grads Take Independent Path<br />
(Continued from Page 1)<br />
“Picking a college is determined<br />
by a lot more than a prestigious<br />
name, or the hours one spends in class.<br />
The physical environment, majors,<br />
sports <strong>and</strong> clubs are all factors that Heschel<br />
students take into consideration.<br />
And there is not one ‘typical’ direction<br />
in which Heschel students head.”<br />
Maya Matalon, class of 2008, is<br />
in her third year at Oberlin <strong>College</strong> in<br />
Ohio, <strong>and</strong> chose to attend a liberal arts<br />
school “because of the free <strong>and</strong> open environment.<br />
It is a place where school is<br />
taken seriously, <strong>and</strong> the people aren’t all<br />
conventional.” Regarding how Heschel<br />
High impacted her decisions, she said<br />
that, “Heschel’s environment definitely<br />
drew me to want to go to a liberal arts<br />
college. Heschel is a place where we<br />
have such personal relationships with<br />
our teachers <strong>and</strong> peers, <strong>and</strong> I did not<br />
want to lose that.”<br />
Though many students love Heschel’s<br />
smaller environment <strong>and</strong> go to<br />
colleges that have similar atmospheres,<br />
others choose to branch out <strong>and</strong> attend<br />
large state universities, such as the University<br />
of Michigan or the University<br />
of Maryl<strong>and</strong>, as well as schools on the<br />
West Coast, such as the University of<br />
Southern California.<br />
Applying to college is an extremely<br />
exciting time, <strong>and</strong> marks a transition<br />
in a young adult’s life. Society<br />
puts tremendous pressure on this generation<br />
to strive for success. Micki Talmadge<br />
strongly wishes, “for students,<br />
not just at Heschel, but all over the<br />
country, to have more discretion about<br />
where they are applying. Ultimately, applying<br />
to college is a personal process.”<br />
Student Profile: Tali Schulman<br />
Photograph by Anna Rothstein<br />
By Zach Stecker<br />
As the 2011 school year comes<br />
to a close, Heschel’s seniors will begin<br />
the next stage in their lives. For most,<br />
that means starting college, while others<br />
choose to spend a gap year abroad.<br />
Tali Schulman, however, following in<br />
the footsteps of her father <strong>and</strong> her sister,<br />
will join the Israeli Defense Forces.<br />
Born in Israel, Schulman has always<br />
been a dual-citizen of Israel <strong>and</strong> the<br />
United States. When she was six years<br />
old, her older sister joined the Israeli<br />
Army. “I thought it would be a good experience,”<br />
said Schulman of her decision<br />
to join the army, “<strong>and</strong> I really loved being<br />
in Israel.”<br />
For American teenagers like<br />
Schulman, joining the IDF has become<br />
an increasingly popular <strong>and</strong> realistic decision.<br />
In 2007, Israeli newspaper Yediot<br />
Ahronot reported that one hundred <strong>and</strong><br />
fifty Americans between the ages of 18<br />
<strong>and</strong> 23, a record number for the country,<br />
requested to join the IDF. According to<br />
YNet News, the recruits “are the most<br />
enthusiastic soldiers in the army today…<br />
imbued with Zionism <strong>and</strong> sky-high motivation.”<br />
As of now, Schulman does not<br />
have any plans for after her two years in<br />
the army.<br />
While the Dream Act is not a<br />
pressing issue at Heschel, students at<br />
other high schools across America advocate<br />
for the Dream Act. According<br />
to Kensington Patch — a general-news<br />
website focused on students (regarding<br />
happenings in Kensington, Maryl<strong>and</strong>)<br />
— Victor Benitez, a senior at the<br />
Albert Einstein High School, informs<br />
people about the bill <strong>and</strong> advocates for<br />
it. Benitez, once an undocumented immigrant<br />
himself, believes that it is imperative<br />
that the Dream Act be passed<br />
because it addresses the plight of children,<br />
often helpless ones. “We’re not<br />
talking about hardened criminals that<br />
have killed, shot up, raped, murdered.<br />
We’re talking about children that came<br />
here, who have no foundation in their<br />
home country.”<br />
Miko Zeldis-Roth, a former<br />
Heschel student, expressed his opinions<br />
on the Dream Act. “The issue of trying<br />
to bring disenfranchised members into<br />
Illustration by Gabrielle Belok<br />
Dream on for the Dream Act<br />
Continued from page 1<br />
the heart of the American community<br />
is vital, <strong>and</strong> we can only live up to the<br />
Declaration of Independence <strong>and</strong> the<br />
Constitution by doing it.” Zeldis-Roth,<br />
now a student at The Fieldston School,<br />
asserted that although illegal immigrants<br />
should be granted citizenship,<br />
“There needs to be a method<br />
of internal motivation for illegal immigrants<br />
going to college [to be granted<br />
citizenship]; also [although one is<br />
st<strong>and</strong>ing up for his country], I have<br />
moral misgivings about [goiing to the]<br />
army [to be granted citizenship].” He<br />
reported that groups at Fieldston “work<br />
actively” for the Dream Act <strong>and</strong> similar<br />
issues.<br />
Heschel students do not seem<br />
to be as involved in public affairs issues<br />
such as the Dream Act. Senior Skyler<br />
Siegel said, “There is a lack of political<br />
activism at Heschel in general.”<br />
The Dream Act will be re-introduced<br />
in the 112th Congress. Prospects<br />
for the bill’s passage are questionable.<br />
Gracefully’s Opening Excites Heschel Students<br />
By Gabriel Fisher<br />
Heschel students have<br />
found a new hangout hotspot in<br />
the upscale deli <strong>and</strong> supermarket<br />
Gracefully. At any hour of the day,<br />
Gracefully is filled with Heschel<br />
upperclassmen who have free periods.<br />
While some have criticized<br />
Gracefully for being overpriced,<br />
most are pleased with the service<br />
<strong>and</strong> quality of the food at Gracefully.<br />
Junior Maya Miller exclaimed,<br />
“Gracefully is delicious!”<br />
Photographs by Lizzi Rauner
February 2011 Helios Volume 9 Issue 4 Page 7<br />
Concert Review: Not Your Average Mountain Man<br />
Illustration by Lizzie Davis<br />
By Lizzie Davis<br />
The phrase ‘Mountain Man’ inspires<br />
visions of wistful, old wise men with<br />
beaver-pelt hats atop their mottled hair <strong>and</strong><br />
by Elliot Allen<br />
bearskins slung across their shoulders.<br />
Three girls from Bennington<br />
<strong>College</strong> are out to change that.<br />
Molly Erin Sarle, Alex<strong>and</strong>ra Sauser-Monnig<br />
<strong>and</strong> Amelia R<strong>and</strong>all<br />
Meath make up the b<strong>and</strong> Mountain<br />
Man. They are not butch trappers<br />
but dreamy twenty-somethings<br />
with ethereal voices that weave<br />
together in haunting harmonies.<br />
Their poignantly beautiful recordings<br />
make one wonder whether<br />
such delicate vocals can hold up<br />
in the concert setting.<br />
However, at 92YTribeca last<br />
month, the women of Mountain<br />
Man managed to be even more<br />
magical live.<br />
A small man named John Shade<br />
opened for Mountain Man. Mr. Shade<br />
seemed dazed throughout his set, frequently<br />
mumbling, “John Shade. 92YTribeca.<br />
December 11,” between songs, as if he<br />
feared the audience would forget where<br />
they were mid-performance. His songs<br />
were only slightly more lively than his<br />
stage presence. They often took a turn for<br />
the morbid <strong>and</strong> gave the impression that he<br />
was a profoundly sad man.<br />
After Shade departed, the previously<br />
modest crowd doubled in size. Suddenly,<br />
the audience grew still as the women<br />
of Mountain Man nervously hopped onto<br />
the stage <strong>and</strong> took their places at three<br />
equidistant microphones. Many in the audience<br />
were a bit confused at first, for the<br />
timid women st<strong>and</strong>ing before them with<br />
horn-rimmed glasses <strong>and</strong> progressive haircuts<br />
looked like the antithesis of “mountain<br />
men.”<br />
As they began to sing their first<br />
song of the night, though, any skepticism<br />
about their prowess instantly vanished.<br />
Over the course of an hour, they jumped<br />
from their own br<strong>and</strong> of eerily mesmerizing<br />
balladry to Appalachian folk music <strong>and</strong><br />
then back again. Any somberness lingering<br />
between songs was brushed away with<br />
humorous anecdotes from the b<strong>and</strong> members<br />
about everything from their personal<br />
health to life in Minnesota.<br />
In fact, the balance the b<strong>and</strong> maintained between<br />
profound <strong>and</strong> easygoing was almost<br />
as impressive as the music itself; this sentiment<br />
was clearest at the end of the night,<br />
when the smiling crowd <strong>and</strong> b<strong>and</strong> joined<br />
together on the song ‘Animal Tracks’ in a<br />
glorious demonstration of the true might of<br />
Mountain Man.<br />
You can download Mountain Man’s debut<br />
album, Made The Harbor, at mountainman.<br />
b<strong>and</strong>camp.com.<br />
Movie Reviews: Elliot Allen’s Top Five of 2010<br />
These are my personal picks for<br />
the 5 movies of 2010 that I thought were<br />
interesting enough to write about. They<br />
are presented in alphabetical order as all<br />
of them are equally worth your time.<br />
Batman: Under the Red Hood- The best<br />
Batman movie ever made. This pick may<br />
seem very strange to most people. How<br />
could a direct-to-DVD animated cartoon<br />
be superior to Christopher Nolan’s recently<br />
made <strong>and</strong> universally lauded The<br />
Dark Knight? For many reasons. First,<br />
this movie actually treats Batman as a<br />
real human being. The Dark Knight was<br />
praised for its realism, yet this cartoon<br />
manages to be more realistic than that<br />
movie. In all other Batman films, Bruce<br />
Wayne is treated as a brooding, robotic,<br />
<strong>and</strong> overall unlikable man who rarely is<br />
given the opportunity to show that he is<br />
still human. Yes, Batman is dark, <strong>and</strong> calculatingly<br />
somber, but he is still human,<br />
<strong>and</strong> he still has feelings. Most other Batman<br />
films completely miss that aspect of<br />
his character, but not this one. This movie<br />
features what is widely believed to be the<br />
greatest tragedy in Batman’s life (besides<br />
the death of his parents, of course), <strong>and</strong><br />
because of the emotional turmoil <strong>and</strong><br />
stress that both Batman <strong>and</strong> Bruce Wayne<br />
go through, we as the audience grow attached<br />
to him as a character. We see that<br />
although he is obscenely wealthy, implausibly<br />
strong, <strong>and</strong> slightly insane, he<br />
is still a man. This character insight is just<br />
one of the many reasons why this movie<br />
is fantastic <strong>and</strong> should not be missed by<br />
any fan of cinema. The only critique I<br />
have is that Mark Hamill is not the voice<br />
of the Joker—such a shame, but not big<br />
enough to ruin the movie.<br />
Morning Glory: Seeing this movie on<br />
my list may also raise some eyebrows.<br />
In my sea of critically acclaimed movies<br />
this one st<strong>and</strong>s alone for having received<br />
a mixed reception. Do not let the lack of<br />
critical laurels dissuade you from watching<br />
this movie. This is a very smartly<br />
written film, driven by the charisma of its<br />
lead stars, Rachel McAdams <strong>and</strong> Harrison<br />
Ford. Both play very likeable characters,<br />
making this film very pleasant to<br />
watch. In fact, likeable <strong>and</strong> pleasant are<br />
both perfect words to describe this film. It<br />
is formulaic, following the classic romantic<br />
comedy structure, but the formula became<br />
a formula in the first place because<br />
it is so successful. This is the movie to<br />
be watched when you are having a cozy<br />
night at home with loved ones. The safety<br />
of this film makes it amazing, not to mention<br />
funny <strong>and</strong> sharp witted, having been<br />
written by Aline Brosh McKenna (The<br />
Devil Wears Prada). If I were to compare<br />
this movie to a drink it would be a nice<br />
cup of apple juice, joyful <strong>and</strong> exuberant.<br />
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: Scott Pilgrim<br />
Vs. the World is a nerd’s perfect<br />
movie. The film injects video game logic<br />
into reality to create<br />
a crazy, action-packed adventure. Another<br />
plus is that it was written <strong>and</strong> directed<br />
by Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot<br />
Fuzz) who I believe<br />
is the best<br />
director of our<br />
generation. His<br />
script is clever<br />
<strong>and</strong> hilarious,<br />
perfectly capturing<br />
the spirit of everything fun in the<br />
world, i.e., comic books, martial arts<br />
movies, alt rock, <strong>and</strong> video games. This<br />
whimsical spirit is what really makes<br />
the movie work; it is a simple story of<br />
a guy wanting a girl, but it becomes so<br />
much more thanks to its vigor. The film<br />
not only is an amazing comedy, but it is<br />
an amazing martial arts movie as well. In<br />
fact, this film is the best action movie of<br />
the year. The film completely exists in its<br />
Movie Collage by Jordon Katz<br />
own universe where logic is thrown out<br />
the window for the sake of fun, because<br />
the film underst<strong>and</strong>s completely what the<br />
very essence of nerddom is: it is the fact<br />
that reality is an awful place where you<br />
don’t fit in, that just brings terrible ordeals<br />
upon you, i.e., the opposite sex, school,<br />
<strong>and</strong> expectations. This contrasts with the<br />
joy of fantasy where one may leap fifty<br />
feet in the air <strong>and</strong><br />
not be questioned. This is what makes<br />
Scott Pilgrim utterly sublime as a fantasy/<br />
comedy/action/romance. If you are interested<br />
in any of<br />
Disney is back <strong>and</strong> they<br />
have returned to their roots<br />
that we all know <strong>and</strong> love.<br />
those genres<br />
check out this<br />
film; it is sure to<br />
be a cult classic<br />
judging by its<br />
abysmal boxoffice<br />
performance <strong>and</strong> huge internet f<strong>and</strong>om.<br />
The Social Network: Ah, the movie that<br />
I predict will win best picture at the Academy<br />
Awards; the reasons for which it will<br />
win may be questionable, but it shall win<br />
nonetheless. At least we can rest in peace<br />
knowing that this year a movie deserving<br />
of praise will probably win the award<br />
(Note: The King’s Speech is appearing<br />
as fierce competition to this film <strong>and</strong> is<br />
a better movie, yet it is far less interesting<br />
to write about, so I did not put it on<br />
this list).)This is a very modern movie.<br />
It is not so much about the founding of<br />
Facebook as it is about how one man’s<br />
greed can lead him to great loneliness<br />
<strong>and</strong> isolation. I know I am not the first to<br />
compare this movie to Citizen Kane, but<br />
the comparisons are really quite evident.<br />
They both feature main characters who<br />
are overcome by their inner demons, <strong>and</strong><br />
their youthful ideals give way to cynicism<br />
<strong>and</strong> regret. Of course, I think the fact that<br />
this all happens in the span of 6 years for<br />
Zuckerberg, as opposed to the lifetime of<br />
Charles Forrester Kane, does take away<br />
some of the impact. This film is without<br />
a doubt masterfully directed <strong>and</strong> written<br />
very well. The only complaint I have is<br />
with Jesse Eisenberg’s portrayal of Mark<br />
Zuckerberg. He casts him as a complete<br />
<strong>and</strong> utter robot with an utter lack of morals<br />
or human decency. This may have<br />
been intentional on the part of the director<br />
so as to tell the timeless tale of how greed<br />
leads to intense loneliness, which I believe<br />
is where this movie really finds success.<br />
A great film, it is just tainted by the<br />
inescapable feeling that it was made for<br />
profit <strong>and</strong> pretentious self-righteousness<br />
rather than artistic merit.<br />
Tangled: Speaking of Facebook, when<br />
The Princess <strong>and</strong> the Frog came out in<br />
2009 I proudly proclaimed, “Disney is<br />
back” on my Facebook status page. I am<br />
now proudly proclaiming that my previous<br />
assertion st<strong>and</strong>s the test of time. Yes,<br />
Disney is back <strong>and</strong> they have returned to<br />
their familiar <strong>and</strong> beloved roots. Sure,<br />
Tangled may be computer animated, but<br />
it still beats with the heart of a classic<br />
Disney princess movie. Plus, unlike The<br />
Princess <strong>and</strong> the Frog, Rapunzel (which<br />
is what this movie should be called) is<br />
not weighed down by idiotic p<strong>and</strong>ering<br />
to a certain demographic….oh, wait, it<br />
is! Why can Disney executives not underst<strong>and</strong><br />
that their movies have a universal<br />
appeal because they are based on the<br />
timeless fairytales that have become ingrained<br />
into the collective subconscious<br />
of the human race?! Uch…I have gotten<br />
off topic; back to the film. This movie is<br />
really amazing. Wonderful visuals <strong>and</strong><br />
an inc<strong>and</strong>escent soundtrack that harkens<br />
back to the classic Disney musicals of<br />
yore are all present in this film. (In fact,<br />
while writing this I had the sudden urge to<br />
play the soundtrack… <strong>and</strong> I am listening<br />
to it repeatedly. Damn, it’s addictive!) See<br />
this movie if you want a nostalgic blast<br />
<strong>and</strong>, simultaneously, a viewing of what I<br />
believe to be a future classic.
Page 8 Helios Volume 9 Issue 4 February 2011<br />
Sports Column: Knicks Cause a City to Rock Once Again<br />
By Gabriel Klausner<br />
Despite what has been a brutal<br />
winter thus far, New York City is alive<br />
again. The people of the Big Apple are<br />
coming together, woven together by a<br />
common thread. Turn on your TV, dial<br />
up the radio, <strong>and</strong> pick up that newspaper,<br />
folks – the New York Knicks are<br />
back.<br />
For years, the Knicks were the<br />
laughing stock of the National Basketball<br />
Association, failing to make playoffs<br />
year after year. As an organization,<br />
the Knickerbockers were an embarrassment,<br />
going through five head coaches<br />
in a span of 7 seasons (2001-2008).<br />
General Managers Scott Layden <strong>and</strong><br />
Isaiah Thomas traded away nearly every<br />
draft pick. (Traditionally the high draft<br />
picks awarded to the league’s worst<br />
teams provide poor squads a way to rebuild<br />
a winning roster.) They also made<br />
many poor signings <strong>and</strong> trades, taking<br />
By Zachary Spiera<br />
Photograph by Andrew Udell<br />
on some of the game’s highest-paid, yet<br />
lowest performing players. Fans became<br />
so fed up that websites began to pop up<br />
calling for a franchise makeover starting<br />
from the top, pushing for the ousting of<br />
team owner, chairman of Cablevision<br />
<strong>and</strong> Madison Square Garden Inc., James<br />
Dolan.<br />
But the past is the past. The<br />
Knicks are a different team with a savvy<br />
team president in Donnie Walsh, a proven<br />
head coach in Mike D’Antoni, <strong>and</strong> a<br />
bevy of young, talented basketball players.<br />
Most notably, the Knicks made noise<br />
this past off-season by signing perennial<br />
all-star Amare Stoudemire to a $100 million<br />
contract <strong>and</strong> point guard Raymond<br />
Felton, who has been the team’s general<br />
on the floor.<br />
This revival of a team with such a storied<br />
history has brought life to Madison<br />
Square Garden as well as invigorating<br />
fans at Heschel who have been waiting,<br />
not so patiently, for a return to winning<br />
ways.<br />
Senior Jacob Feld noted his joy at the<br />
new <strong>and</strong> improved Knicks. “I’ve been a<br />
fan a long time <strong>and</strong> I haven’t seen a team<br />
like this since before 2000. Every night<br />
I see intensity, I see teamwork, but most<br />
importantly, I see a desire to win. This<br />
is a desire that every true New Yorker<br />
carries.” Barely coming up for air, Feld<br />
continued, “It is a<br />
team, a consistency,<br />
<strong>and</strong> a feeling that<br />
temporarily satiates<br />
our constant feelings<br />
of nostalgia, a feeling<br />
that this city has been<br />
waiting for.”<br />
I can’t help<br />
but notice that there<br />
seems to be Knicks<br />
fans crawling from every corner, supporting<br />
the new Knicks. But where were<br />
these folk when the team was mired in a<br />
long string of embarrassing seasons?<br />
I watched night after night, year after<br />
year, through Stephon Marbury taking<br />
twenty-five shots a game, Isaiah Thomas<br />
signing Jerome James to a five-year contract,<br />
<strong>and</strong> the franchise’s $130 million<br />
payroll (the highest in the NBA) despite<br />
the second worst record in the league.<br />
Yet now I blend in with the rest<br />
of the Knicks fans who only are supporting<br />
their hometown team in this time of<br />
long-awaited triumph. Do I welcome all<br />
Knicks fans? Of course. But there are<br />
far too many fans who didn’t tune in to a<br />
single game over the past decade of misery<br />
that I, along with many others, suffered<br />
through.<br />
Daniel Kressel, a fellow senior <strong>and</strong> loyal<br />
Knicks fan over the years, shares my<br />
sentiment: “It’s despicable. I’ve been<br />
through the worst of times as a fan, never<br />
giving up, <strong>and</strong> now, when the Knicks are<br />
Turn on your TV, dial<br />
up the radio, <strong>and</strong> pick<br />
up that newspaper,<br />
folks – the New York<br />
Knicks are back.<br />
finally returning<br />
to respectability,<br />
everyone<br />
jumps on board.<br />
Let’s see what<br />
happens if the<br />
Knicks tank.<br />
Let’s see who is<br />
left.”<br />
The bottom<br />
line is that the<br />
Knicks are back. It’s time for everyone<br />
in this school <strong>and</strong> across this town to<br />
rise up <strong>and</strong> support our team. But just<br />
know all you b<strong>and</strong>wagoners out there,<br />
no matter how energized <strong>and</strong> overjoyed<br />
you feel at the thought of a competitive<br />
New York Knicks team, it doesn’t touch<br />
the sweet taste in the mouths of all loyal<br />
Knicks fans who have been devoted to<br />
their team through thick <strong>and</strong> through<br />
thin.<br />
To my fellow true Knickerbocker<br />
faithful I say, Go New York! Go New<br />
York! Go!<br />
Girls Junior Varsity Basketball: Where’d Ya Go?<br />
It is only January, yet the basketball<br />
season is already over for the<br />
2011 junior varsity girls. What went<br />
wrong?<br />
According to the<br />
players, the team started out<br />
on a very positive note. Practices<br />
were effective, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
team was developing. “It was<br />
a good learning experience, it<br />
was very fun, <strong>and</strong> we felt like<br />
we were improving,” said Ariela<br />
Orgel <strong>and</strong> Jessie Wachtel,<br />
two freshmen who had been<br />
on the team.<br />
Another freshman,<br />
Nava Sido, agreed, “Because<br />
of the level of seriousness<br />
that we had during practices, I<br />
thought that our team was getting<br />
stronger <strong>and</strong> developing a<br />
certain chemistry as we went<br />
along.”<br />
But the downfall began<br />
early in the season. It<br />
started when a few of the<br />
players on the team decided<br />
to leave the team for personal<br />
reasons. “People had<br />
their own individual problems<br />
about various things<br />
that caused them to leave the<br />
team,” said Nava.<br />
In early December,<br />
sophomore Leah Dorfman moved up<br />
to the varsity squad when they needed<br />
an extra player for a Yeshiva League<br />
tournament in Baltimore. After playing<br />
well <strong>and</strong> having a great time at the tournament,<br />
she decided to stay on varsity<br />
permanently.<br />
Meanwhile, the team started<br />
experiencing some commitment problems.<br />
“Some people decided coming to<br />
practice wasn’t worth it anymore,” said<br />
Rachel S<strong>and</strong>ers, another freshman who<br />
had been on the team. The team was losing<br />
every game, <strong>and</strong> attendance at practice<br />
was dwindling.<br />
Then came the pivotal Kushner<br />
Illustration by Joshua Ashley<br />
game in mid-December at home. One<br />
hour before game time, only three girls<br />
were warming up when a fourth member<br />
of the team ran up to Larry Rispoli, the<br />
Athletic Director, to tell him that nobody<br />
else was coming. Larry was forced to<br />
tell the opposing team after a long drive<br />
into New York that Heschel had to forfeit<br />
the game. “It was a bad scene, a<br />
very embarrassing scene for Heschel,<br />
for the Athletic Department, for me, for<br />
the coaches, for those who did show up,”<br />
Larry said. He continued, clearly upset,<br />
“I was really heartbroken, because I had<br />
never had this happen in the history of<br />
Heschel.”<br />
This was only the beginning<br />
of the girls’ troubles. After that embarrassing<br />
forfeit, only the same three girls<br />
showed up for practice. Before their<br />
next game, Larry, not wanting another<br />
embarrassing moment for the school,<br />
took it upon himself to go find each<br />
member of the team <strong>and</strong> ask if she was<br />
planning to show up. To his frustration,<br />
only the same three loyal players said<br />
yes. Larry was forced to call the opposing<br />
team, to cancel the game, <strong>and</strong> forfeit<br />
once again. He then consulted Ahuva<br />
Halberstam, Head of the High School,<br />
<strong>and</strong> Roanna Shorofsky, Head of School,<br />
before calling the league to tell them that<br />
he was disb<strong>and</strong>ing the team. “I should<br />
not have to go hunt down bodies to<br />
find out if they’re going to show up<br />
for a game,” Larry said.<br />
With no junior varsity girls’<br />
team, the sophomores were allowed<br />
to bump up to Varsity, leaving<br />
the committed freshmen with<br />
nothing but workouts <strong>and</strong> Larry<br />
with the question of how instill a<br />
sense of responsibility <strong>and</strong> dedication<br />
in student athletes. This problem<br />
is more widespread than just<br />
the JV girls, though. As Larry was<br />
sharing his side of the junior varsity<br />
girls’ basketball fiasco, several<br />
players from other teams walked<br />
into his office to complain about<br />
having to practice during the AFC<br />
Championship Jet game <strong>and</strong> on<br />
Super Bowl Sunday. “As an athletic<br />
department, you can’t have<br />
athletes who do this,” Larry said.<br />
So what does he plan to do to<br />
fix this problem at Heschel? He<br />
intends to make sure that all potential<br />
student athletes <strong>and</strong> their<br />
parents underst<strong>and</strong> the commitment<br />
required to be on a team at<br />
Heschel. “Next year I’m going<br />
to implement an orientation for<br />
the student athletes <strong>and</strong> their parents, because<br />
of the word ‘commitment.’ You’re<br />
only going to be allowed to miss something<br />
if there is a religious event or a<br />
death in the family.”<br />
“We need to be committed <strong>and</strong><br />
focus on one goal: trying to do well <strong>and</strong><br />
win a championship. That’s it,” he added.