Continued on page 6

On Sunday, February 21st, MTA’s Model United Nations team set out to Stamford, Connecticut to attend the 20th annual YUNMUN, or Yeshiva University National Model United Nations. While the Model UN team does not usually win itself a spot in the limelight of the MTA extracurricular assortment, this year’s delegates knew things would be different. Under the leadership of its new coach Mr. Do-brick, the Model UN team was com-prised of an eclectic assortment of MTA’s veteran public speaking mem-bers. With a new sense of determina-tion, the MTA delegates were eager to bring an end to the decade long reign of YULA as the champion of the con-ference. While we may not have been able to bring an end to the reign of our Californian counterparts, the lion’s roar was surely heard – with MTA coming away with a remarkable four awards.

This year marked the 20th anniver-sary of the annual Yeshiva University sponsored Model United Nations con-ference, which hosts over 400 students from 43 Yeshiva High Schools ranging from California to Canada. The confer-ence is organized each year in order to introduce high school students to Yeshiva University, encouraging them to strongly consider attending the school for their

On Wednesday, March 17th, Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, recent recipient of the inaugural Norman Lamm Prize, addressed over 1,000 Jewish students from a host of local high schools across the tri-state area. Combining his world-renowned erudition with captivating oratory skills Rabbi Sacks proved to be an exceptionally engaging speaker, inciting enthusiasm and interest amongst the vastly disparate group of students in attendance. Although most high school students find it difficult to sit through a long speech, Rabbi Sacks proved to be an exception to this rule.

Rabbi Jonathan Henry Sacks has served as the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Com-monwealth since September 1, 1991. He received the pres-tigious Jerusalem Prize for contributions to Diaspora Jewry in 1995 and was knighted by the Queen in 2005. With an impressive career as a writer, speaker, professor, and spiritual leader, he was, as Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm explained “not the first choice, but the only choice” to be

Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks Addresses High School Students

By Shua Brick (‘11)

Academy News Editor-in-Chief

MTA Debaters Dominate

In Rambam & North Shore On January 12, all the world watched as one of the most devastating disasters in recorded History ravaged the poorest nation of the Western Hemisphere. For many of us, as students in high school, it was unclear what our obligations to Haiti were. To be sure, we saw a very active and energetic response from the Jewish Community, with groups such as the American Joint Distribution Com-mittee and even Chabad sending tons of vital supplies and volunteers to the crip-pled island. Israeli teams were some of the first to arrive in Haiti, erecting some of the largest and most efficient field hospitals in the country. Yet still, for many this was a mismanagement of our priorities and a distraction from our highest obligation to the Jewish com-munity. At best, the Jewish rescue ef-forts were dismissed as ‘at least a Kid-dush Hashem’; as though the most fun-damental Universalist idea of Judaism were a last ditch attempt to redeem anything positive from the otherwise fruitless effort.

Yet, this disappointing reaction only exposes how we are so rapidly losing sight of our greater, global role as a Godly envoy and are instead slipping comfortably into our communal corrals, from which we rarely perceive anything beyond the narrow scope of our provin-cial mindset. We so often see the world

By Mendy Boteach (‘11)

Academy News Staff Writer

Continued on page 4 Continued on page 9

By David Weiss (‘11)

Academy News Editor-in-Chief

Addressing the Youth Lord Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the Hebrew Congregations of the British Commonwealth and recent recipient of the

inaugural Norman Lamm Prize, addressed over 1,000 yeshiva high school students in the Lamport Auditorium.

MTA Mission to Poland : 7

Seven MTA students journey to Poland for a meaningful and

enlightening experience

Lions’ Law : 9

MTA’s Mock Trialing Lions

advance to the New York State quarterfinals for the first time in

MTA history

A School Divided : 14

The issues involved with

attending a secular college: Rabbi

Bechoffer speaks

Under the Dome : 16

Impressions on the

Mekor Chaim

exchange program

On February 28th, RAMBAM hosted its 14th An-nual Debate. Though the resolution (Resolved: That Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the other 9-11 ter-rorists should be tried in civilian court in New York) was poorly worded and heavily criti-cized, over five schools showed up to participate. Be-cause of the vague resolution, almost every MTA team debated someone with a completely different take on the interpretation of the resolution. Perhaps the most original and effec-tive plan was pre-sented by sopho-mores Josh Stein-reich and Sam Dratch, who planned the trial to take place on the USS Intrepid (CV-11). Overall MTA did remarkably well, ranking in 2nd place school and producing a first place team, Dani Goffstein and Dovid Schwartz, and a first place speaker, Dovid Schwartz.

This was the first time this year that we had ex-perienced-novice teams compete in a debate. The two experienced-novice teams were Dani Goffstein and Dovid Schwartz and Yoni Zolty and Nathaniel Piskun, respectively. We also had a novice team,

Sam Dratch and Josh Steinreich, and an experienced team, Elan Stochel and Yoni Jaro-slawicz. MTA did exceedingly well throughout the debate and brought back a 2nd place school award. Dani really summed up the debate per-fectly: “I was very proud of our club's performance in the RAMBAM debate. It was certainly a pleasure to hear our teams' creative plans to come up with a solution for this important is-sue. Although the o the r s choo l s brought some of their best teams,

MTA's preparation, organization, hard work and practice facilitated our victories. This is a monu-

Continued on page 8

Negotiating Debate Vice President Dani Goffstein (’11) makes his argument.

By Dovid Schwartz (‘13)

Academy News Clubs Editor

YUNMUN

Resurrected!

Embracing

Universalism

2

Letters

To My Friends

at MTA

2 April 2010The Academy News

By Shmaya Yosef

Mekor Chaim Exchange Student

Though English is not my best language and this may not be on the writing level of which you are used to, please try to bear with me.

The six of us boarded a plane without the slightest idea of what could be awaiting us at MTA, or of what the true purpose of our trip really was. We knew it was an ‘exchange program’ in which the six of us from Mekor Chaim were going to spend six weeks in MTA but we were not entirely certain why we were coming.

At first it was very difficult to relate with the American students, to start conversa-tions with everybody in spite of the language barriers, and to open ourselves up to conversation. It was almost lonely in the beginning.

Yet after a mere week, we already started to understand that the people here at MTA are not so different than the people we know back at home. There is no big difference between the Jews in Eretz Yisroel and the Jews in the states besides for location. People are kind and made us feel welcome. Feeling at home, having new friends, chatting in our free time, the whole package, we just felt great. Everyone in school has been nice. I was greeted in the morning as I walked into the building from ten different directions with smiles all around. You guys should be proud of yourself for the great hospitality; give yourselves a pat on the back.

We were given the great opportunity of learning in Rabbi Mendelson’s shiur. The Chavruta time was a chance to get to really know new people and their approaches to life. I appreciated having this time to connect with someone personally more than the usual happy greetings while passing someone in the hall.

Sunday afternoons gave us a time to tour the beautiful sites of New York and the greater North Eastern area. Starting with the Empire State Building on the first Sun-day, the following week at the Metropolitan Museum and our far weekend trip to the heart of American history, in Philadelphia, (where we took some funny pictures with Ben Franklin and his friends) and our last Sunday at the Natural History Museum. While I know that there is much more to see, I feel that we received an adequate sample of American accomplishments.

Once we got comfortable in our English speaking surroundings, we started ‘blitzing’ all over the place. Truthfully that was the best experience for me in my few weeks here and I enjoyed every single blitz and never grew tired of them. I felt free and liberated in that I was expressing myself in the most open way without hesita-tion, holding nothing back. I was just open to hear and express what was on my mind and in my heart.

However the weekly highlights for me were the Thursday night “Likrat Shabbat’s”. Singing together with everyone, everyone contributing different opinions and points of view of the parsha was a special and amazing time. Everyone sitting together, coming of their own volition, came to give their ideas, to listen to other’s ideas and for inspiration to flow from one person to the next.

Looking back at these past few weeks I realize I had a fantastic time. I appreciated every moment, and I don’t regret leaving the comfort of my home for this program. I gained a lot and I want to thank you for welcoming us into your community, homes and hearts. Expressing ourselves and talking to you has benefitted us more than you can imagine.

While I am still writing, I would like to thank a few people; Matt Schwartz, our RA, who escorted us across state lines and helped us with our daily needs. Rabbi Mendel-son, for his warmth and hospitality in his class room. Rabbi Gottleib, who’s dream made this all happen. Rabbi Richter, who made this practically possible. Acharon achron chaviv, I would like to thank Tova Rosenberg, the director and coordinator of this program, for giving us the opportunity of a lifetime which we will keep with us forever. I would like to conclude with a blessing that we should all benefit from one another in the future to grow and that this great program should continue for many, many more years where we can fulfill what we pray for every day before Shema, that together we can share the ‘burden’ of the yoke of heaven which we shall receive from and carry with one another.

I have been asked to comment on the theory, advanced in a recent issue of The Academy News, that rebbeim, who are somewhat informal with their talmidim, particularly via referencing popular culture in their teachings, are thereby undermining the appropriate boundaries of respect and deference due their position.

One of the many grave heresies of modernism is the replacement of the rituals of dis-tance and awe due to rebbeim, teachers, parents and elders with a slovenly, smirking, cynicism born of ignorance, insensitivity and egalitarian cant.

A yeshiva, which seeks to implement the basic standards of kavod ha Rav, in this era of civilization suicide and decadence, must be ever vigilant to educate for and, enforce the application of, the derech eretz which is a pre-condition for kinyan Torah.

This will require strength, confidence and consistency on the part of our mechanchim. It is not easy to demand and teach that which is no longer socially acceptable, let alone de-manded.

However, the problem is primarily not with the rabbeim who may or may not be overly palsy-walsy, at times. It is with many of our youngsters who have not been schooled in the forms and essences of the basics of respect and co-operation.

Of course, they too are not to be blamed. America and the entire western world is now some forty years after the revolutions of the late sixties triumphed, thus rendering impo-tent the educational structures of this and similar lands. Other parts of the world, such as Asia and the Middle East were not buried under this avalanche. But we are not there nor living in an earlier epoch. Thus, called upon to do what we can, here and now.

Thus re-education, via a combination of persuasion, knowledge and, yes, perish the thought, coercion. becomes our arduous task. And, it is one that dwarfs the question of rebbeim citing popular culture examples. Yet, it is also one of the most essential tasks that our hanhola, rebbeim and students are summoned to by Almighty G-d.

Re: “Rabbi Pal” Rabbi Mayer Schiller

3

-Rabbi Yissocher Frand

Extracurricular

Adversity

Striving for

Success

Enjoy this issue,

David & Shua

The Editors’ Desk From the Editor-in-Chief

David Weiss

From the Editor-in-Chief

Shua Brick

s this is my final editorial for this year’s Academy News, I have assumed a role of summing-up what I have come to see as the most important components of the thriving MTA student. In the beginning of the year, I outlined the main ways in which an MTA student could attain that far off paragon of excellence embodied in what I called “the true lion”: a student who takes MTA by the reins in the realms of both extracurricular activities and academic pursuits. Yet before the curtain falls and Shua and I head out to the after-party, I would like to illustrate to my readers the ways in which my Junior year has changed my perspective of the school, and in particular, its extracurricular activities.

First, let me emphasize the importance of demonstrating your personal extracur-ricular interests. By shining in these activities, you can exemplify the lionesque qualities that contribute to the glimmer of the MTA student. Yet in spite of the value of these ventures, some MTA students who hope to participate in a number of these activities are often met with a considerable level of opposition. Unfortunately, there are voices in the MTA faculty who express concern regarding some of the school’s extracurricular activities, perceiving them to be nothing more than illicit social op-portunities to interact with the opposite gender.

I recall the first time I attended the annual Yeshiva League Model Congress con-ference. Though I was only a sophomore, the competition meant more to me than just about anything else at the time. After returning, with my treasured first place award in hand, I informed one of my teachers about my success. To my disappoint-ment though, he seemed not to be impressed, and tossed off my victory with a sar-castic comment about whether I had “encountered any models” at the competi-tion. Though painful to admit, these reactions are not uncommon. In fact, it is no secret that some faculty members in our school have dissenting opinions regarding our extracurricular clubs due to the coeducational nature of the events.

To be sure, I can most certainly sympathize with the concerns of those who exhibit unease regarding such matters; in fact, these events have gained much notoriety over the years, and in some ways rightfully deserve it. I therefore would like to make clear that this editorial in no way seeks to disparage those who hold these views. However, I would like to suggest that for many MTA contenders today, such vilify-ing classifications may no longer hold true. MTA is now a serious contender at each and every one of these events. For most MTA participants, these events are some of the most important components of their intellectual and educational growth – and not petty social opportunities. Verily, this year’s debate team has seen an unprece-dented level of success, winning awards at nearly every competition. The Model UN team, once a moribund and under-appreciated public speaking club, now sports an electric assortment of the finest interlocutors, who brought home a remarkable four awards this year. Our Mock Trial team recently made it to the elite eight schools in New York – advancing further in the competition than ever before. It is our respon-sibility to bring these events back into the good graces of our yeshiva’s community, thereby ensuring that future MTA students will be encouraged to participate, and succeed, in these important intellectual pursuits.

It is important for those who question the motivations of their students’ involve-ment in these events to sit with them, and ask the student why they chose to partici-pate in these programs and what they hope to accomplish. Affording these students an opportunity to discuss these matters in a personal context will be a more mean-ingful and effective method for teachers to understand the importance of these events through the perspectives of their students, and allow them-both teacher and student- to express their own position on the relative values of these different goals. I guarantee that when questioned, these students will not cower in their supposed guilt, but will relate at length the profound intellectual growth that they have under-gone while pursuing their passions, and how these activities are among the most fulfilling experiences of their high school years.

A his is probably my last editorial, and the last issue that I will work on before I step down from my post as editor-in-chief. Although I must admit that I found it too easy to let David do much of the hard work, especially considering his incredible tech skills, I still valued what opportunities this position gave me. Of particular merit was the soap-box it provided. Before every issue, I would consider what I would write in my next edi-torial, with my general goal always approximating something that would give mussar to my peers. Even though the drastic change I wanted has not yet come, I do believe that it will one day in the future.

After the introductory joint editorial, I had the privilege to write two additional more, with both containing a more personal message than the first. My first editorial was a call for people to wake up, “arise and shake off the dust,” and make the change they wanted instead of just wishing for it. In my second editorial I wrote about the stress that I feel has an unnecessary negative effect on varsity students nearing the college applica-tion process. This created a situation where students feel pinned against each other in a competition for college acceptance, molding a world in which students try to keep an academic competitive edge to themselves where otherwise they would be able work together to accomplish the same goals.

I wasn’t the only person who used these pages to express their somewhat controversial opinions. In the last issue, Dani Goffstein wrote an article questioning an often used chinuch technique. Previous issues held mussar on a plethora of topics: the general dress of students, intellectual honesty, and the seriousness of certain extracurricular activities.

These articles definitely received some criticism, but despite it all no big responses were ever offered in return. What was readily apparent was that these writers were dis-satisfied with the status quo. But the student body does not seem to share these writers’ convictions and have grown accustomed to the current situation, and thus feels no need any type of civil disobedience.

So why are we still writing? I think all of the writers have acknowledged that it is unlikely that their article will be taken seriously by anyone other than school faculty and the paper staff. The paper staff was probably already likeminded, which is why the arti-cle made it to print in the first place. The teachers and administrators are already de-fined autonomous units whose opinions would very difficult, if not impossible, for an essay written by a high school student to greatly influence their established mind set.

Ultimately, I think we still write for more than the appearance of this extracurricular on that dreaded college application. We do it for a greater reason than our love of writ-ing and the practice this paper gives us, although that is probably what turned us onto this paper in the first place. The true reason we do it is for the little goals that we think these pleas can accomplish. In a well established institution, one with many years that has gone into its making, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to make a drastic change. Rabbi Gottlieb succeeded in making such a change in an old institution and helped en-courage students who feel they have the ability to help with this long-awaited change. They have also come to the realization that a student revolution is highly unlikely, but a small change here and there are certainly realizable. For example, YUHSB’s Arista Hon-ors Society requires 25 hours of school related community service, demanding that many juniors and seniors dedicate a full halachik day for the betterment of our estab-lishment.

And then there are the journalists, and the editors, that took a cue from the impact modern media has had on the world and thought, perhaps, that their fellow students, too, could listen to the power of the written word. The accomplishment may be small, but that one person whom you might be able convince, or even the expression of ideas to the likeminded, make us one step closer to a solution and one step closer to a better MTA. Keep writing, thinking, and expressing what is troubling you so that this sparkle, a shimmer of light reflective of something greater trying to emerge, grows into a lantern to light up the pathway to success.

“It is never too late. It is never too little. It is never enough”

I

April 2010 3 The Academy News

4 4 April 2010The Academy News

School Opinion

“How will this help me in life?” This is a question that is asked by every single kid at

least once during their time in school. It’s an understandable inquiry, considering it’s

very difficult for a fourteen year old teenager to imagine why in the world he would need

to know the precise details of the Shang Empire’s government in Ancient China, or the

law of disjunctive inference, in order to make a good salary. True, it’s doubtful that this

question was ever asked because of simple curiosity, or for the sake of actually improving

the school system. Still, though, giving an answer to this question has never been given

any serious thought. But could it actually be possible, on a serious level, that our educa-

tion system has some serious defects in it? Is the information we’re being taught actually

necessary for our success in real life? And is there prevalent, crucial, and salient informa-

tion that runs today’s world that we aren’t being taught?

Take the subject of economics, for example. I’m not going to pretend that I’m suffi-

ciently knowledgeable in this area to make any profound or clever remarks, but I do

know enough to be able to say that economics deals with money and that we also happen

to be in a national fiscal crisis. I also know that the current generation will be unable to

solve the problem before our generation takes over, which very simply means that we are

going to have to deal with it. Therefore, I would also assume that in order to fix this cri-

sis, one would have to know quite a bit about economics/finance and business. It’s also

very difficult to state that every person will go to college, and that all the people that will

go to college will major in economics/finance or even take a class in economic/finance.

Therefore, we can’t even assume that an ample number of people will know enough

about the economy to help solve the ever mounting debt, or even successfully live

through it. If our students aren’t learning about the economy in high school, and we can’t

assume that enough students will learn about it in college, how can we ever expect to ever

solve the crisis?

Obviously, there will be people that will know enough about the economy/finance to

help solve the crisis and continue to run our businesses, but what about all those people

that didn’t major in economics? Shouldn’t they at least be given a base in the field during

the time they spent in high school? Shouldn’t they have at least some knowledge so that

they won’t be completely clueless as to how to manage their household financial situa-

tion? Yet I’ve never taken an economics course in my life, and I’m not aware of any eco-

nomics classes that are being offered except as elective in senior year. It appears that our

“pre-college” education system has a gaping hole in it: economics is not part of the main

curriculum.

Computers are everywhere, and when I say everywhere, I really do mean everywhere.

Literally everything is run by computers. People communicate through them, store end-

less amounts of information on them, from photos to homework assignments to private

company information, buy numerous products over the Internet, and, believe it or not,

have even found a way to find their soul mates on computers. The world, quite literally,

stands on the shoulders of computers. And yet, once again, with the exception of a 30

minute period of doing nothing in my old middle school, I have never truly taken a class

in computers.

Next to many other accomplishments, such as basketball, hockey, and its school news-

paper, MTA is known for its award winning debate team. Having housed truly gifted de-

baters and orators over the years, one could say that MTA has triumphed greatly in re-

gard to its debate team. Part of succeeding in debate, however, is to be able to speak ar-

ticulately and convincingly, a skill that could be obtained by participating in the debate

club. Yet, the opportunity to obtain the useful and rewarding skill of public speaking is

restricted to a select few: those that are interested in the club. The gift of proper oration

should not only be left to the crucial handful of students mature enough to understand

the significance of it. The advantages of introducing an oratory class, or proper public

speaking, into the school curriculum would be staggering. Imagine if every single student

that graduated high school knew how to speak eloquently: he would immediately have an

opening into a wide variety of careers that otherwise would have been inaccessible to

him. It would give those that were not as successful in academics a chance to thrive in a

very fulfilling area that does not put such heavy emphasis on extensive knowledge. It is a

skill, and a right for every person to have an opportunity to master the art of public

speaking.

Economics, computers, and oration. These are the three classes that, if somehow added

to the school curriculum, even if for only once a week each, would maximize the success

rate of students graduating from high school. The information provided by certain other

subjects, without pointing any fingers, are only necessary for very specific careers, and

although they comprise a crucial portion of a person’s overall knowledge, and cannot be

done away with, will often find themselves languishing in the backs of people’s brains

with no use whatsoever. However, the topics I suggested can all be used on a daily basis

and can be taken advantage of by anybody, no matter the career or profession, to en-

hance the quality and efficiency of their lives. Nothing can be lost, only gained, by adding

these very relevant topics to our education system, and giving out students a chance to

learn them. This can be done by taking three of the current subjects, and converting

them, once a week, into one of the classes suggested. This would allow the current sub-

jects to remain in their entirety and add all of the proposed topics as well.

Our public education system has many flaws besides the absence of these proposed

topics, such as rather supplementary subjects that could easily be reduced in the amount

of time spent in class, and increased in the amount of time spent reading the textbook,

unqualified and negligent teachers, and lack of proper resources in many educational

establishments. However, the addition of these topics, or at least the addition of similar

topics, to the system is clearly a more pressing issue. I believe that the faster we reorgan-

ize and reenergize our schools through adding these topics, the better we’ll be able to

create an education system that will truly cover the demands and requirements of the

contemporary world.

Education:

An Omission Tale By Nate Piskun (‘13)

Academy News Staff Writer

Embracing

Universalism

as barely worth it and find it impossibly full of threats. I’m sure we do have enemies, yet

how many do we dream up? Is it possible that that Twain, Joyce, Nietzsche, and just

about every other major societal influence were all really anti-Semites? Or are we sim-

ply overstating the dangers and detaching ourselves more and more from the world that

we should really be engaging. In truth, the world is not a trap, but an opportunity. It is a

land where influence rules, and by spreading the divine message of kindness and good-

will we can finally establish ‘the Godly kingdom’ that we always speak of.

While our learning, traditions, and communities are of central importance, we can

never let them completely out shadow our grand and noble mission here in this dark

world. We were made to be “a light unto the nations”, to “spread out to the West and to

the East, to the North and to the South.”

To take it to a bit of a lesser extreme than Haiti, New York alone has thousands of un-

sheltered and hungry families and the Jewish community and even students in every

high school should take it upon themselves to get more involved. This should be along

the summit of our

priorities as the

way we act reflects

our God and the

value of our relig-

ion, and by dis-

playing our incli-

nation to kindness

and charity we

paint our faith for

the whole world to

see, in its truest

and most honor-

able form.

In conclusion, I

remember waiting

outside a theater

on a cold thanks-

giving night, when

I began speaking to

a nineteen year old boy next to me. He looked disheveled, lacked the slightest sense of

hygiene, and apparently lived in a tent outside some train tracks about a half hour away.

The skin on his face was blistered and swollen red from a repugnant skin disease. Every

few minutes our awkward conversation would be interrupted by his plea for the coins

which he would almost never received. Otherwise, he was painfully normal. After a bit

of discomforting exchange, I hoped to leave him off with some words of encouragement,

and told him that he should try and find a church to help him get his life back together.

The truth was though that it killed me to say this. It made me sad and disappointed be-

cause I knew I could not tell him to go to a shul and be sure that he would receive the

same attention.

You see, we may not proselytize as the Christians do, but is a conversion all that our

faith has to offer? What about dignity, and values, and morality, or just a kind and help-

ing hand? I know this boy wasn’t Jewish, and was probably responsible for the destruc-

tion of his own life, but we are not here to narrow down our obligations to what we see

as deserving, but must rather represent God in his truest beauty by following in his

ways, and “His ways are the ways of Peace…”

I hope that in the near future we can work on changing our attitude so that whenever

anyone from anywhere is ever in need, they can be sure that those who live by the word

of God will always be the ones to provide them with the kind and warm embrace that

God had intended for all his children.

The Academy News would like to extend its deepest gratitude to Shlomo Fried-man and Eli Blumenthal for their outstanding photogra-phy on behalf of the news-paper throughout this year.

Continued

from page 1

Priorities Chabad members help Haitian citizens in the aftermath of the deadly earthquake this past January.

5 April 2010 5 The Academy News

As most high school students will tell you, the social networking website known as Facebook has become one of the central components of their social life. For some, many friendships play out almost exclu-sively on Facebook. Use of this website for this average high school teenager averages around two to three hours in a single night. The Academy News has chosen to feature a piece about some of the negative repercus-sions that excessive use of this website can result in with the help of one of MTA’s guid-ance counselors, Mrs. Tamar Sheffey.

When did Facebook begin to become a major issue in the teenage world?

Tamar Sheffey: Facebook was started in 2004 as a college website, and its use was limited to college students. However, with the growing popularity of the site, Facebook decided to branch out in the hopes of gain-ing a wider platform. They succeeded, and the Facebook obsession caught on with millions of users, ranging from elementary school to adulthood. Unfortunately, using Facebook as an experienced nineteen year old is very different from using it as an 8th grader. It wasn’t meant for a pre-adolescent age, and is beginning to have a serious im-pact on some of its younger users.

How does using Facebook affect younger users on a social level?

TS: One of the biggest problems that Face-book could have for its younger users is that it can give them the impression that a “Facebook friend” is the equivalent of a real-life friend. Many users have more than 500 Facebook friends, yet ironically know only about 20 or 30 of these people in real life! This could have harmful effects on a teen’s social life. Firstly, the person who doesn’t have a large social circle can get the impression that he has many genuine friends. Facebook has given many users the impression that they possess social skills when they may not. Being popular on Face-book gives a person the sense that he un-derstands how to build a friendship when

the majority of his Facebook friends are not real friends. It may also keep a person from establishing genuine friendships with face to face interaction.

Secondly, Facebook happens behind a screen. When a person speaks from the safety and comfort of his home, he is more willing to say things he would not say in a real life conversation. Speaking to a person over the internet and in person are two completely different experiences. The ap-propriate way to build a meaningful friend-ship with someone is to speak with them in person, not over a social networking web-site.

Thirdly, people are starting to blur the boundaries between private and public in conversation. Simple statements can be misunderstood in text form, friendly teasing can be seen as an insult in the context of the larger group which is able to read it, and private references that should stay private can easily become public.

What are some of the repercussions of posting inappropriate content on Facebook?

TS: Once it’s out there, it’s out there. Face-book makes it very easy to track what peo-ple are posting, whether it’s a wall posting, photograph, or video. A simple search of one’s name using Google allows any person with internet access to instantly pull up

your profile, photographs, and all past mes-sages and posts. Your friends and family – parents included - can see everything. What’s even more disturbing is the fact that even people you don’t know can see every-thing. I know that you’ll say there are secu-rity measures so nothing harmful happens but many people do not activate the security settings. Even for those who do, these sites are not intended for high security so many people and places have figured out how to bypass the privacy settings. Colleges and employers have begun looking at Facebook and other networking sites to see what is posted. Even Yeshivot in Israel are looking at Facebook . An inappropriate picture or

post can keep you from getting into the Yeshiva or college of your choice or keep you from getting a job. There is simply no possibility of having a ‘secure’ Facebook.

The ability to “tag” another user also tends to have a number of negative consequences for Facebook users. Any person can post a picture of someone else on Facebook – and then ‘tag’ them in a picture, thereby linking the picture to that person’s profile. Even pictures that you post and decide to take off your page may have already been downloaded and re-posted by someone else. This, in my opinion, is a violation of your right to privacy and can be very hurtful and even damaging to you in the ways I men-tioned before such as with a job, parents, or schools.

What are some of the major dangers associated with Facebook use?

TS: The first danger is the danger of wast-ing enormous amounts of time. Facebook has become much more than a simple social networking website; it is the basis for the typical teenager’s social life. Millions of teenagers use this website for hours upon hours at a time. Using this website could take away from necessary activities such as schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and even meeting with actual friends face to face. I have heard countless number of students tell me about keeping their Face-book page open while doing school work and how hard it is for them to concentrate on the task at hand because of Facebook.

The second danger is much more serious. Facebook allows anybody to create a false identity. Two years ago, a known pedophile from California made his way to New York, and using a fake Facebook identity, con-tacted students in our school. You can never be sure of who’s on the other side of the screen. Pictures, words, identities – it can all be fake. One can easily be given a false sense of security when speaking with some-one if their profile contains pictures of other people they know. There are a number of well known stories of Facebook encounters that have turned dangerous. People who use Facebook regularly become comfortable sharing information and welcoming people with similar interests into their lives. This often leads them to communicate exten-sively with people they do not really know who are not whom they appear to be. Teen-agers have the tendency to be more open than adults in this respect. Many people receive a friend request from someone they don’t know, and most teens are willing to press “accept” never bothering to consider who they might be giving access to their private information.

I feel that people can know what they are doing and use Facebook safely. The impor-tant thing is to know how many things are not safe, what is excessive and what can be harmful so that you can avoid making those mistakes.

School Opinion

Facebook Addictions:

Q & A With Mrs. Tamar Sheffey By Academy News Staff

When mentioned in conjunction with MTA, the word “club” brings to mind an incredibly diverse array of extra-curricular options. From Model Congress to wrestling to HaTzioni, there is a club for everyone. However, to group all of these clubs together does not do them justice, be-cause each club has a very distinct purpose different from any other. The single most crucial division which exists among the clubs is that which separates the recreational clubs from the educational clubs. There has been some recent controversy in MTA over certain clubs receiving report card grades. The key to resolving this issue is to take a step back, look at each club individually, and assess its respective value.

A high school’s curriculum is composed of a variety of classes which the school believes are necessary for every student to experience in order to acquire a certain funda-mental core of knowledge. The assumption is that while some students may consider some classes enjoyable, the purpose of curricular courses is education, not student enjoyment. Additionally, a class requires an attainable goal which the teacher can use to gauge each student’s effort and ability in a particular subject. So in order for a class to be a part of the curriculum it needs to be centered around one or more educational goals which every student in the class can work towards and be graded accordingly. It is

important to judge whether a certain extra-curricular is worthy of grade status with these criteria in mind.

For some students, this previous semester’s report card included a grade in debate. When students in other clubs angrily in-quired as to the justifica-tion for grading a club, the response was obvious. What differentiates a de-bate class from any other elective class? Maybe the opposition arose from the fact that debate has always been thought of as an extra-curricular club. However, the fact still stands that a close look at the class-eligibility of the debate club reveals no disqualifi-cation.

To start, the debate club meets regularly during lunch and after school. The public speaking elective is a class which meets twice a week. So the number of sessions a week should not be an issue. The fact that the school already has a public speak-ing class should be enough justification for a debate class, and the important skills which the debate club teaches do more than enough to warrant curricular status. If the name ‘debate club’ sounds too informal, the club could just as well be called the ‘Current Events, Politics, Research, Speech Planning, Public speaking, and Quick Thinking Club.’ All of these skills are acquired by participating in the debate club, so to claim that the debate team is just about extra-curricular fun is quite absurd. Hence the debate club is centered around numerous educational goals which each

student can strive towards and be graded on. All things considered, there is really no reason why debate is not qualified to be a curricular class.

It may be difficult for some people to come to grips with the fact that debate is now a graded class due to its extra-curricular connotation, but one simply needs to think logically in order to reach the same conclusion that the school did. The debate club is as educational as any class, and in many cases more grueling. It meets regularly and is based on attainable goals. Even though people gen-erally enjoy it, it is not fundamentally recreationally ori-ented. People from other educational clubs are welcome to present their cases, but the debate grade is indisputable.

Debate Grades:

The Indisputable Truth

By Doron Levine (‘12)

Academy News School Events Editor

Forceful The debate club is centered around numerous educational goals which each student can strive towards and be graded on.

6 6 April 2010The Academy News

State of the School

With the advent of the college admissions

process growing ever closer, the typical

11th grader’s second semester can be quite

stressful. In addition to maintaining consis-

tently stellar grades and standardized test

scores, Juniors also have the burden of begin-

ning to think about what colleges they have a

realistic chance of being admitted to. This past

Wednesday, February 17th, afforded the MTA

Juniors and their parents the opportunity to

take their first steps on this journey. Every

year, MTA hosts a college fair that is coordi-

nated by Mr. Gononsky, the Director

of College Guidance. The program provides a

useful forum for MTA Juniors to begin look-

ing into popular colleges in the area, ask ques-

tions to real college admissions officers and

alumni, and receive important literature and

forms for the college they seek to apply to.

The program started off with a speech by our

head of school Rabbi Gottlieb. Rabbi Gottlieb

welcomed the parents and students to the

annual event, and spoke about the importance

of the development of young Jewish men who

are proficient in both the secular and religious

realms of discipline, tying it in to YU’s founda-

tional philosophy of Torah u’Madda.

Mr. Gononsky then introduced Mr. Broder

and Rabbi Brownstein, the other two

MTA college guidance counselors, and en-

couraged all students and parents to begin

meeting with their respective counselors to

gain perspective on their college application

p r o c e s s . H e t h e n w e l c o m e d

the college representatives attending the pro-

gram, which inc luded de legate s

from Brandeis, Rutgers, Columbia, Maryland,

NYU, Hofstra, Queens, Baruch, CUNY, LIU,

PACE, Penn, and of course, Yeshiva Univer-

sity.

The next part of the program featured the

keynote speaker of the night: Heather Fomin,

Senior Associate Director of Admissions

at New York University. She spoke about a

variety of important issues that are especially

pertinent to the college-minded high school

junior – ranging from information on the SAT

and ACT, financial aid, and the interview

process. Additionally, she also stressed the

importance of showing off one’s personality

and talents in the admissions process by hav-

ing a broad assortment of extracurricular and

academic interests. She emphasized the fact

that colleges are looking for a vastly disparate

student body, and the importance of mention-

ing a unique trait that one has in his applica-

tion – whether it be athletic, academic, or

personal.

In addition to hearing from representatives

from the wide array of secular colleges attend-

ing the program, parents and students also

had the opportunity to hear from Mr. Murray

Sragow, Associate Dean of Undergraduate

Admissions at Yeshiva University. Mr. Sragow

s p o k e i n d e t a i l a b o u t

the Yeshiva University admissions process,

and also highlighted a number of other impor-

tant issues regarding SAT’s and other stan-

dardized examinations.

Following the introductory speeches, par-

ents and students had the opportunity to meet

with representatives of the various institu-

tions. The representatives were set up in sepa-

rate rooms, allowing each of them to answer

the many questions by both parents and stu-

dents alike. The multitude of colleges in atten-

dance allowed each family to learn about insti-

tutions that were most suitable for their son

and to obtain important forms and literatures

from the schools they were interested in.

Perhaps most importantly, MTA students

were able to ask questions that were especially

pertinent to them concerning Jewish life on

campus. Just as important as a curriculum at

a given college is its religious environment,

particularly for a modern orthodox young

adult. Each representative was able to assist

the MTA students in these areas, providing

useful information about Jewish life on their

respective campuses. Additionally, MTA stu-

dents were also able to receive important in-

formation regarding differing for a year for

the purpose of studying in Eretz Yisroel. Geof-

frey Kidderman, an alumnus of the University

of Pennsylvania and graduate of the Ramaz

School was in attendance, and gave many

students a firsthand perspective of Jewish life

on campus, even inviting many of them to

spend a Shabbos at the university.

The annual YUHSB college fair was a huge

success – featuring an eclectic array of schools

to meet the diverse interests of each student.

Parents and students alike took an important

first step in the college applications process,

by gaining valuable insights and information

from the keynote speakers and by having an

open forum to ask their own personal ques-

tions to the various representatives in atten-

dance. The entire 11th grade would like to en-

thusiastically thank Mr. Gononsky for orga-

nizing this informative and helpful event,

which made the college applications process

just a little less stressful for the already heav-

ily burdened MTA Juniors.

MTA Hosts Annual College

Fair for 11th Grade Students By David Weiss (‘11)

Academy News Editor-in-Chief

A Helping Hand Mr. William Gononsky, Director of the College Guidance Department, organized the informative and helpful night for the 11th grade students.

Yeshiva University instituted the Lamm Heritage this year to be the enduring legacy of Chancellor Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm in honor of his 80th birthday. This foundation includes many new additions to the university; the Norman Lamm Yadin Yadin Kollel, a smicha program made to graduate stu-dents at the highest level of smicha; the Yad Norman Lamm, “a physical space dedicated to telling the story of the ‘Lamm Years,’” his twenty seven years as the President of YU; and the Lamm online archives, which include over 800 digitized ser-mons, in either audio or video format. The Norman Lamm Prize is to be awarded to “leading scholars and personalities who represent the values to which Dr. Lamm has devoted his life.”

After calling Yeshiva University the “single most important educational institution in chutz la’aretz in his acceptance speech the night before, Rabbi Sacks furthered this theme of Jewish identity to the assembled students the following day. Rabbi Sacks spoke about the important roles that we, as the future of Modern Orthodoxy, will eventually play in the com-ing generations of klal Yisrael. In addition to stressing the importance of adhering to our Jewish roots, Rabbi Sacks also stressed the importance of a dual allegiance to both Torah and Madda, further emphasizing the importance of Yeshiva Uni-versity’s founding philosophy.

Rabbi Sacks concluded his address by stressing the impor-tance of furthering our education. He said, “To defend a coun-try you need an army, but to defend a civilization you need schools.”

Rabbi Sacks then prefaced the Q&A session with a close examination of Moshe Rabbeinu’s response to the burning

bush’s request. He explained that the question “Who am I?” was a question we all need to ask ourselves. Rabbi Sacks pointed out that while Moshe could have enjoyed a life of unprecedented luxury, he instead chose to answer the cries of the Jewish people. “When the cries of the Jewish people are heard”, Rabbi Sacks explained, “it is impos-sible to walk away.” Rabbi Sacks challenged the students to pay close attention for when they ask themselves “who am I?” because therein contained is an opportunity to grow.

Following Rabbi Sacks’ in-spiring words, President Rich-ard Joel moderated a number of insightful questions from the precocious high school students in attendance. At the end of the address, Rabbi Sacks encouraged each and every student to strongly consider attending Yeshiva Univer-sity for his or her post high school years, extolling the virtues of the institution’s dual curriculum and worldwide impor-tance.

The event as a whole was a huge success, allowing high school students to familiarize themselves with, and to hear

from, a great Jewish leader. As the Mishna states in Pirkei Avot “and you should sit in the dust of their feet, and imbibe in their words with a great thirst.” Rabbi Sacks’ inspiring words were not only well articulated but also reassuring and allowed us, as students, to fulfil this time-honoured maxim and really learn from a Gadol HaDor.

Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

Addresses Over 1,000 High School Students Continued from page 1

Poignant Remarks Rabbi Sacks concluded his address encouraging the high school students in atten-dance to strongly consider attending Yeshiva University for their post high school years .

7 April 2010 7 The Academy News

MTA Mission to

Poland 2010 7 MTA Students Journey to Poland for a Meaningful and Enlightening Experience

Courtesy of Avi Faitelawicz

On Sunday, February 7, I was privileged to join Mr. Sklar, Rabbi Green, Jacob Braun, Avi Faitelawicz, Shimmy Karasak, Shimon Kronenberg, Kalman Laufer and Eli Muschel on an international service mission to Poland. We embarked on a journey that proved to be absolutely amazing, inspirational, intense and yet most enjoyable. It was a trip that juxta-posed the past and the present. While there is much to tell, as is the norm with such trips, I will try to limit myself to stories that truly illustrate the main theme of our journey.

The eight days spent in Poland allowed us to ponder and reflect as to how, in the darkest days of our Jewish history, what were once some of the most vibrant Jewish communities in the world were almost all eradicated. It was by visiting cities, shtetels, shuls, old cemeter-ies, historical landmarks, Holocaust memorial sites, and by intermingling with Jews of all ages and diverse background that we were able to visualize, understand and appreciate how the richness that preceded the war, in both the religious and the cultural contexts, shaped the world Jewish community that exists today.

Tomas, our incredible tour guide for the entire duration of our trip, met us at the air-port in Warsaw. Tomas, who is not Jewish, speaks several languages fluently, including Hebrew and Yiddish. His wealth of knowledge of the rich history of Poland and of Polish Jewry, together with Rabbi Green’s insightful shiurim, anecdotes, divrei Torah, and the introductions he gave to us before we visited great gedolim imparted to us a sense of Jewish history and continuity.

As soon as we arrived at the airport, Tomas took us straight to the Warsaw Ghetto. We saw the remains of the Ghetto wall, Mila 18 (headquarters of the Jewish revolt), and the Umschlagplatz from where the Jews were shoved into cattle cars for transport to the death camps of Treblinka, Majdanek and Sobi-bor. We found it most disconcerting that today the site of the Warsaw Ghetto is home to disco-theques, taverns and clubs; it has become a major entertainment district.

Once in Lublin we started our day by daven-ing at the world famous Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin. The yeshiva, whose building is enor-mous, was organized by Rabbi Meir Shapiro z”l, who lived a short but very productive life (he passed away from typhus in 1933 at the age of 47). Rabbi Shapiro is known all over the Torah world as the initiator of the Daf Yomi program. Rabbi Shapiro was of Chassidic background, but he organized Yeshivas Chach-mei Lublin along the lines of a Lithuanian, Misnagdish yeshiva. He wanted to combine the best elements of both worlds. His fame was such that over 10,000 people attended the Chanukat Habait of the yeshiva.

The yeshiva just grew and grew; it was so crowded that students had to learn while standing on the outside balconies. Now, unless there are visitors, there is no minyan or learn-ing at the yeshiva. Nonetheless, we tried to lift the spirit by singing and dancing after daven-ing Mincha and Maariv.

One of the highlights of the trip was our visit to Gura Kalavaria (home of Gerer chasidut). On the way to visit the gravesite of the Sefas Emess we stopped to pick up an elderly gentle-man by the name of Mr. Price. Mr. Price, who is 94 years old, grew up in Ger and went to cheder with the Bais Yisroel, who grew to be-come a Gerer Rebbe. Mr. Price survived the war by living as a non-Jew in a town near Ger. He regaled us with tales of the old days in Ger and shared with us some nigunim from his childhood. His voice is amazingly clear and strong for a man of his age. Outside the kever, someone asked Mr. Price if he was cold. He responded “How can I be cold with the smiles of Jewish children around me? It warms me up so.” After davening at the kever we held a tisch at the same Bais Midrash where the old Gerer rebbes made their tischim. It was a very simple and unassuming place; currently it has only one bookshelf, one table, and no running wa-ter. After enjoying Rebbetzin Green’s delicious home made babka and other delectable foods we broke out into song and dance. Everyone

from the trip joined in, and once again Mr. Price led us with the singing.

The next Friday night, we davened at the Remah’s Shul, which is about 400 years old. It was an amazing experience combined with a tinge of sadness. Shimon Kronenberg led Kabbalat Shabbat services as we sang along to enhance the davening for the other 15 mitpal-

lim. It was lively but truly bittersweet when thinking of what this shul was in all its glory. We then walked to the Jewish Community Center where we had our Shabbat meal with about 40 members of the local Jewish commu-nity.

After the conclusion of the meal we started to sing; everyone joined us around one table, and we sang and sang and sang, mostly songs from the Polish bentchers, with each member of the Krakow community choosing a song. They could not thank us enough for adding such ruach to their meal. We were one of the few groups that did not only deal with the area’s history of death on their trip, but showed the joys of Jewish life to Jews in Poland. Indeed,

that was what made our trip so unique and meaningful.

While there were many heartwarming mo-ments, the bleakness of our trip’s to concentra-tion camps will remain with us forever. Each day spent at a concentration camp, whether Majdanik in Lublin, Plaszow (a vey small camp) in Krakow, or Birkenau/Auschwitz, the

bleakness, the dreariness, the grey stretching out to the horizon and the gloom of the day intensified our already somber moods.

We first visited Majdanik, where we saw the gas chambers, the barracks, the crematorium and the Ash Memorial. We sang Ani Maamin and Habet and recited a special tefilah we had received from Rabbi J. J. Schechter that one recites at the kever of someone who died al Kiddush Hashem.

Seeing the skyline of Lublin very nearby made one wonder: how did people turn their back and refused to acknowledge that some-thing totally unimaginable was happening there?

For me, visiting Auschwitz had a very special meaning, as both of my maternal grandparents survived Auschwitz. Having heard about the inhumane conditions that existed and the atrocities perpetrated at Auschwitz firsthand, I thought I was prepared to see the grounds. One is never prepared. Visualizing is one thing, actually seeing it is another.

As we arrived in the town of Osweciem, we drove around looking at the three different parts of the camp. In Birkenau (Auschwitz II), we looked at the barracks, the ruins of the gas chambers and the crematoria. The places where the Jews arrived, were registered, shaved and were murdered.

We tried to understand, to comprehend to feel what it was like to be in Auschwitz seventy years ago. Unless you are someone who has actually experienced it, you will never know what it was like. One cannot describe the emo-tions we all felt as we sang Ani Maamin and Habet at the stairs of the destroyed gas cham-bers.

A few weeks prior to our departure, I dis-cussed this trip with my grandfather. He en-couraged me to go, and was thrilled when I decided to follow his advice. He could not wait to hear all about it upon my return. However, it was not meant to be. Someone else had other plans for him.

So I stopped and pondered the coincidence and the significance of being at Auschwitz on the day of my grandfather’s shloshim.

I stopped and pondered one more time: How did the world remain silent? To quote the poet Edmund Burke: “All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing.” I pondered no more, and realized it is up to us to make a difference.

It was getting pretty late, so we headed to the old shul in the city of Oswecien, which for some unknown reason was not destroyed. There, we had dinner and davened Maariv. And yes, one last rugalach; after all, we didn’t come to just visit the dead, but to bring life and share life, to perpetuate our ancestors’ legacy and heritage, and to show the world that after the horror, we shall always persist.

Jonathan Hans

By Jonathan Hans (‘11)

Academy News School Events Editor

“Having heard about the atrocities perpetrated at Auschwitz first hand, I thought I was prepared to see the grounds. One is never prepared. Visualizing is one thing, seeing it is another.”

Journeying Accompanied by Mr. Sklar and Rabbi Green, the 7 MTA students journeyed around Poland to see a variety of areas once heavily populated by Polish Jews.

8 8 April 2010The Academy News

MTA Debaters Dominate

In Rambam & North Shore

Hubert Humphrey, America’s 38th Vice President, once

said “Freedom is hammered out on the anvil of discussion,

dissent, and debate.” This sentiment truly embodies the

excitement which possessed Furst Hall and The Glueck Cen-

ter on Sunday, February 7. While people across America

prepared for the upcoming Super Bowl, MTA was hosting a

Super Bowl of

its own: the

MTA Great

Debate.

This year’s

Great Debate

topic was cho-

sen due to its

status as an

i m p o r t a n t

current issue.

The resolution

was: Resolved,

that the fed-

eral govern-

ment should

impose re-

strictions on

executive com-

pensation paid

by large enti-

ties engaged in

interstate or

foreign commerce. Many of the arguments for and against

this resolution centered around the current economic crisis

and to what extent the executives of large companies were

responsible for the meltdown. The MTA debate spent

months researching this topic, working to get to the heart of

the origin of the current economic recession.

Sy Syms School of

Business, the busi-

ness school of Yeshiva

University, gener-

ously agreed to spon-

sor this year’s Great

Debate. The business

aspect

pect of the resolution

reflected the nature of

the debate’s sponsor.

In preparation for the

debate, the MTA de-

bate team was privi-

leged to hear from

Dean Michael Ginzberg of Sy Syms. Dean Ginzberg spoke to

the team in the MTA library in an open forum setting. He

entertained questions, and gave the debaters an in-depth

look at the ins and outs of the financial market. He was ex-

traordinarily helpful and provided key insights which made

preparation for the debate that much easier.

The debaters had substantially more time to research for

the Great Debate than they usually have before any other

debate. The Great Debate was originally supposed to take

place in December, but it had postponed and pushed off to

February, allowing for extensive in-depth research. In fact,

the topic is such a pertinent issue to contemporary times

that some teams actually had to hurriedly change some of

their arguments in between December and February to re-

flect the shifting technicalities of the issue, especially with

regards to current legislation. So when Sunday, February 7

arrived, the MTA debate team was more than ready to en-

gage in verbal combat.

After what felt like eternity, the day finally came. Armed

with their words alone, the debaters converged upon Furst

Hall, as the tantalizing smell of victory permeated the air.

Teams from all over the New York/New Jersey area slowly

arrived and gathered in Furst Hall for a light pizza lunch

provided by Sy Syms School of Business. The atmosphere

progressively became tense, as rivals such as North Shore,

Heschel, and Bruriah arrived one by one, each team eager to

demonstrate its superiority. When all of the schools were

gathered, they were addressed by Sy Syms Associate Dean

of Administration Ira Jaskoll, who spoke about the impor-

tance of the topic and the need for honesty and transpar-

ency within the financial market. When he finished, the

debate teams set off to their respective rooms in Furst Hall

and The Glueck Center, and participated in three rounds of

debating.

After all of the debates concluded, the debaters gathered

again and awaited the results. After a heartfelt Mincha led

by debate team member Aryeh Tiefenbrunn, an enlighten-

ing D’var Torah from debate team past president and cur-

rent Assistant Coach Elie Bochner, and a culminating

speech from Sy Syms Presidential Fellow Adira Katlowitz,

the winners were announced. The results of the Great De-

bate showed yet another success for MTA. Sophomores Meir

Friedenberg and Doron Levine were awarded third place

team, and MTA achieved the first place school award, with

more wins than any other school. When all of the proceed-

ings had concluded, many of the debaters immediately

rushed home to watch the Super Bowl. However, even the

excitement of football could not even come close to match-

ing the excitement of the MTA Great Debate.

Great Debate a Smashing Success

MTA’s Yosef Brander (‘12) competes at the Great Debate.

Champions Sy Syms School of Business Associate Dean of Administration Ira Jaskoll presents Meir Freiden-berg (‘12) and Doron Levine (‘12) with the third place overall team award.

By Doron Levine (‘12)

Academy News Clubs Editor

mental moment in our club's history as well, as we

brought novice debaters partnered with experience debat-

ers to such a large event, where we saw such a great vic-

tory.”

Of course the most pleased of all had to have been Mrs.

Levitt, our esteemed coach. She was more than thrilled

about the school placing in 2nd, which was made even

more impressive by the vast number of schools present at

the debate. The consistency of the experienced-novice

teams made her very proud. So proud in fact, she offered

a spot for an experienced-novice team to go to the North

Shore debate, which would be one of the most challeng-

ing, complex, and interesting debates of the year

(Resolved: Roe v. Wade should be overturned). The day

finally arrived, and MTA sent an experienced-novice

team, Michael Guggenheim and Dovid Schwartz, along

with Meir Hirsch and Doron Levine, Eli Shulman and

Yosef Brander, and Dani Goffstein and Mendy Boteach.

North Shore debates are easily the most difficult and

tiring of all other debates, due to the four rounds and fifth

round for those who qualify. Both sides of the resolution

must be debated, which can be very confusing at times.

Nonetheless, MTA still did outstandingly well. Yosef and

Meir both tied for fourth place speaker, while Doron won

second. Debate President Michael Guggenheim along with

Dovid Schwartz went into the final round against a

Heschel team. During the final round, North Shore made

a poor lapse in judgment and had the Heschel coach, Mr.

Miles, judge. Mrs. Levitt commented on this and said it

was definitely not appropriate, seeing as there were other

judges on hand who did not work at MTA or Heshel,

namely a judge from Dallas. This is simply not proper

debate etiquette.

Regardless, Dovid and Michael lost the debate to the

Heschel team, who made extremely solid points all the

way through. MTA did bring home five trophies, or they

should have (due to the tie between Yosef and Meir, there

weren’t enough trophies to go around), and between the

RAMBAM and North Shore debates MTA was really able

to come out strong both times, placing speakers and de-

baters twice in a row.

Continued from page 1

MTA

Clubs

9

Continued from page 1

April 2010 9 The Academy News

MTA

Clubs

undergraduate years.

MTA represented Germany, Iraq,

and the Dominican Republic, which

were chosen by Mr. Dobrick who

believed that the MTA delegates

could have the most educational and

meaningful experience through

adopting the views and perspectives

of these countries. YUNMUN par-

ticipants are put in the shoes of

delegates of their respective coun-

tries, and must work with one an-

other to find realistic and efficient

solutions to the world’s most perti-

nent and dire crises. The fifteen

committees covered many diverse

topics of concern, ranging from the

ILO, which is designed to protect

workers from labor rights violations,

to the WHO, which devises efficient

plans to deal with global health

concerns. YUNMUN delegates at-

tend a rigorous yet exhilarating

fifteen hours of debate on these

problems, passionately voicing their

disparate opinions and eventually

coming to consensus as to how to

deal with their unique issues

Upon arrival to the conference, YUNMUN

participants are treated to a variety of Yeshiva

University accessories, ranging from pocket

siddurim to pens, all featuring the YU insignia

and admissions number conveniently im-

printed on each souvenir. Yeshiva University

President Richard Joel also attends the confer-

ence, and delivers his annual remarks extolling

the positive aspects of a Yeshiva University

dual curriculum.

While MTA usually comes away with a peren-

nial paucity of awards, the newfound determi-

nation imbued in each participant was palpable

in the air as they traveled to the conference.

With diligent preparation and the unwavering

support of Mr. Dobrick, the MTA delegates

arrived eager to dethrone their age old nemesis,

YULA. While their aspirations to

win first place school were not

brought to reality, MTA neverthe-

less came away with an exceptional

four awards! Model UN Captain

Alex Goldberg (’10), veteran of the

conference and public speaking

extraordinaire, wrapped up a suc-

cessful four years of delegating,

coming away with a second place

award. Sophomore hopeful Yosef

Brander also came away with a sec-

ond place award, and will be a for-

midable opponent in years to come.

Assistant Captains David Weiss (’11)

and Noah Isaacs (’11) also came

away with second place awards.

Although disheartened, Weiss and

Isaacs will surely be a force to be

reckoned with in their final atten-

dance of YUNMUN, and will take

the reins as captains next year.

This year marked the resurrection

of one of the greatest MTA extracur-

ricular activities – Model UN. This

year’s participants were chosen

from the most serious and brightest

of students, all of whom approached

the event with seriousness and

honor of which this great extracur-

ricular is worthy. The Model United

Nations team owes a great debt to Mr. Dobrick

for taking over as coach with the departure of

Shuey Jacoby, and it looks forward to attending

many more conferences under his leadership.

YUNMUN Resurrected! The MTA Delegation Shines Under the Newfound Leadership of Mr. Adam Dobrick

The Delegates Lead by faculty advisor Mr. Adam Dobrick, the MTA Model UN-ing lions fought fiercer than ever before, bringing home a remarkable four awards.

On Tuesday April 13, 2010, the MTA mock trial team set out to prove their mettle in what will surely go down as one of their toughest matches yet. They were slated to face the Flat-bush Falcons for a spot in the elite eight of the New York State league, bringing them one step closer to their hopes of advancing to the New York State championships. The Mock Trialing Lions were coming off of an extremely success-ful victory against the SAR High School from Riverdale, NY, and were looking to advance to the state quarterfinals for the first time in MTA history. Facing an elite Flatbush team com-posed entirely of senior lawyers, the Lions fought ferociously and were at the top of their game throughout the duration of the three and a half hour match.

The Mock Trial league, of which MTA is a part, consists of 96 schools throughout the New York area. With the possibility of a single loss ending a team’s season, Mock Trial requires a tremendous amount of determination and dedication, proving to be one of the most in-tense extracurricular teams in MTA. With stakes set so high, each team puts in hours upon hours of preparation and research,

memorizing the facts of the case and the rules of standard court procedure. In keeping with the spirit of the times, this year’s case involves a Wall Street Ponzi scheme.

Since the league is mainly composed of NY public schools, MTA rarely gets to face other Jewish high schools in the tournament. How-ever this past year has granted MTA the oppor-tunity to face off against two Jewish schools; SAR and Flatbush.

MTA’s prosecution is lead by attorneys David Weiss (’11,) Michael Guggenheim (’11) and Meir Snyder (’11). Witnesses included Elan Stochel (’12), Shua Brick (’12) and Meir Hirsch (’12). Under the tutelage of Coach Daniel Spector, the lions began their match against SAR with a roar. Weiss set the tone of the match with pow-erful opening statements, censuring Wall Street greed and disparaging the defendant’s claimed ignorance as to the ponzi scheme going on at his investment firm.

The lions continued on in that same fashion, skilfully dismissing all objections and tactfully showing the flaws in the defendant’s argu-ments. However, SAR’s sting was surely felt in the second half of the match, thanks to a num-ber of well interjected objections, attempting to cripple the MTA effort. However, the lions roared back and managed to end the match as

the victors.

MTA was then surprised to be facing off against yet another Jewish school; the Yeshiva of Flatbush in Brooklyn. Facing off against the Falcons was MTA’s defence, lead by attorneys Gershon Adler (’10), Dani Goffstein (’11) and Doron Levine (’12). Witnesses included Yosef Brander (’12) Moshe Jaroslawicz (’10) and Shua Mermelstein (’10).

The Lions began the match with a roar, quickly overwhelming the Falcon’s witnesses and incurring a massive blow against their case. However, the Falcons struck back with a tactfully executed cross examination against MTA’s lead witness, putting the two teams back onto equal grounds. The match continued on in this fashion, with both MTA and Flatbush put-ting on outstanding performances one after the other.

At the end of the case, Gershon Adler deliv-ered the team’s closing arguments, which were subject to tremendous scrutiny by the judge. In breaking with Mock Trial procedure, the judge began to question the legitimacy of both MTA’s and Flatbush’s arguments, and the match quickly shifted from a mock trial arena to an open-ended debate, with lawyers from both sides on their feet and delivering speeches one after the other in a somewhat disorderly fash-ion.

After over one hour of extended debate, the judge finally decided to deliver his verdict. After a tiring 3 and a half hour legal battle, the Lions emerged victorious and rejoiced with a reverberating roar. The team will advance to the top 8 teams in the league, bringing them one step closer to achieving their dreams of winning the state championships for the first time in MTA history.

A Verdict

of Victory

Lions’ Law MTA Mock Trial attorneys David Weiss (‘11) and Michael Guggenheim (‘11) face off against SAR.

MTA’s Lions of the Legal System

Advance to New York State Quarterfinals

By Shua Brick (‘11)

Academy News Editor-in-Chief

10 10 April 2010The Academy News

Colleges & Profiles

New York University, or NYU, is a top-tier

private university that is mainly located in

Washington Square and Greenwich Village,

bustling cultural centers in the heart of Manhat-

tan. Albert Gallatin founded NYU in 1831 as a

university that would accept young men of tal-

ent regardless of social stature or birthright and

was one of the few non-denominational colleges

at the time. NYU has since bloomed into a mul-

tifaceted university renowned for its wide

breadth of fields of study which are as vast and

diverse as its’ approximately 20,000 under-

graduate student body. NYU offers majors in

almost all major subjects ranging from African

Studies to Performing Arts.

Along with the strong academics comes a

lively and extremely vibrant student body.

NYU’s campus life consists of student activities,

Greek Life, as well as the countless opportuni-

ties of living and learning in one of the world’s

most advanced research institutions. The Jew-

ish environment at NYU is one of the most ac-

tive and accommodating of that in any univer-

sity. Along with a kosher cafeteria, there is a

Hillel, Jewish Student’s Center and two Jewish

fraternities. NYU also boasts 19 NCAA varsity

teams, nicknamed the “Violets” who proudly display the school’s

trademark violet and white on their uniforms.

The admissions process at NYU is as grueling as any top level

University, with both a low acceptance rate and a sky-high tui-

tion. To uphold its strong legacy and reputation as well as to

bring in only the sharpest of young minds for its upcoming

classes, NYU is a very selective school and due to an increase in

applicants becomes more selective with each year. With over

40,000 applicants for an incoming class and only about 12,000

accepted, NYU’s acceptance rate has dropped to a tight 32%.

NYU also has one of the highest tuition rates in the country at a

staggering $37,372 for tuition alone and another $12,910 for

housing; it is no wonder that the average student debt is

$34,850. However, like all Universities of its kind what is spent

on the admissions end is gained after graduation, with the aver-

age NYU graduate making $94,900 as a mid-career median.

NYU is one of the world’s top universities with high rankings

from Global University Ranking, U.S News and World Report,

The Princeton Review, and countless other trusted ranking sys-

tems. The Jewish life on campus including the 4,000 Jewish

students, cultural events and religious accommodations is of the

most vibrant Jewish campuses in the nation. Along with their

many schools, myriad degrees and research opportunities NYU

offers accelerated programs, semesters abroad across the world

including in the new NYU Dubai, and many other wonderful

opportunities that students can find themselves fortunate to take

advantage of.

College Profile:

New York University By Haim Engelman (‘11)

Academy News Colleges & Profiles Editor

It seems that in the modern age, for better or for worse, the purpose of high school can be summed up in a single word: college. It is understandable that the college frenzy has been blown to such extreme propor-tions since colleges have been slimming their accep-tance rates in the recent decade. If Harvard Univer-sity’s acceptance rate of 13 percent in 1997 seemed low, this past year’s acceptance rate of 7 % - a nearly 50% drop is enough to stress out most high school students.

Of course, it is important to realize that a top tier school isn’t always the best place for everyone. A non-religious university requires an enormous amount of discipline from a religious student and perhaps for many, Yeshiva University is able to offer more than any Ivy League school. Finally, in recent times, the value of a top tier college has come into question. May statistics have gone so far as to say that the cost of private col-leges removes any benefit of attending the school in the first place. However, no matter what your college aspi-rations are, winning the race to college takes an im-mense commitment from a student whose hands are full with both religious and secular classes, not to men-tion trying to find a bit of free time just to relax.

But, like any marathon runner you have to have a game plan. And to plan for the rest of a high school career, it is absolutely crucial to answer a few ques-tions. Those reading this newspaper probably fall into one of three categories. If you are one of those people who would rather live for the moment than think about the future and you aren’t at all concerned about your higher education then I have one question for you: why are you reading this article? Those who fit into the sec-ond category – organized and very much in control of their life – don’t have much to worry about. But the third category, those of us who are not sure what they want or don’t have the discipline to get what they want, have the most thinking to do.

Students who fit into that third category should con-sider their priorities. As one mother pointed out about top tier colleges in the New York magazine “There’s almost a fetishistic sense of power being able to associ-ate your child with one of these schools… It’s like be-longing to the same country club or something”. If your college aspirations are centered around the belief that eternal successes and happiness is associated with ad-mission into your dream school or worse is the result of pressure from your family or friends – you need to reexamine your priorities. On the other hand if you’d rather just hope for the best than take an active role in fulfilling your goals you need to realize that a high grade point average or SAT score does not give you a free pass into college. In 2007, Harvard turned down 1,100 applicants with 800 scores on the math SAT and Princeton turned away thousands of high school appli-cants with 4.0 grade point averages.

Instead, you need a plan, and to do that you need to set goals. The question that nobody wants to think about is where you want to be at the end of high school. Setting reasonable goals helps fight procrastination because the sooner you fall behind, the more time you have to catch up (think about it). In a startling experi-ment, described in an essay by Jonah Lehrer, an expert in the fields of psychology and neurology, children at the age of four were offered a single marshmallow, or two if they waited patiently for a few minutes without eating the first. It turned out that those children who patiently waited for the second marshmallow almost always became college graduates and scored about two hundred points higher on their SATs than those who did not. The message is clear: self control pays off and sticking to your decisions is just as important as mak-ing the decision in the first place.

So what should you do to increase your chances of being accepted into your dream school? Well for one thing, it is crucial to stand out. Chances are, colleges get thousands of applications that are very similar if not almost identical to the application that will present your abilities and personality to the college of your choice. So the trick is to stand out among the crowd. When the admissions officer reads through his daily quota of 25 to 30 applications, what is going to make him stop at yours and say “I think he can contribute to our campus” or “I would like to meet this applicant”.

And, unless your parents are planning on donating a new wing to the university, you belong to an underrep-resented ethnic minority, or you are one of the top sports players in the country, you are going to need to differentiate yourself from other applicants in another way. This doesn’t mean you need to participate in ex

treme sports or play the tuba – there are other simpler and cheaper ways to stand out.

College admissions officers usually organize the information known about a potential student into two main categories. The first, academics, generally consists of number scores: SAT Reasoning Test (the standard SAT) scores, SAT Subject Test scores, and GPA. The three are usually averaged by the college and converted into a number score that represents your academic ability. Although it is often hard to stand out in academics, it is possible. For example an impressive SATII score in world history together with an essay that talks about your passion for studying history, or a teacher recommendation that speaks of the extra effort that you put into your history papers, gives the admissions officers a basic idea of where your strengths lie and how you might contribute to the college.

Where being unique really comes into play is in the second category: out-of-class personality. Extracurricular activities, vol-unteer work, and summer jobs, are all ways to show your dream school that you are willing to put in the effort to achieve goals, help others, and become successful. Winning regional awards or being a captain of one of a school team may seem like icing on the cake but today in the over-competitive society in the modern

world it has become the norm for top tier college applicants. Either way, proving that you have a passion for some subject or discipline whether by recommendation, essay, test score, or per-sonal accomplishment is a great way to bring your personality one step closer to the admissions officer who will be deciding your fate.

This leaves us with one last question. What steps can you take to improve your chances of being accepted into a top tier college? Well, for one thing, prepare for the standardized tests. SATs are pretty much the only way for colleges to accu-rately compare the academic ability of two applicants from different high schools because it is extremely hard to measure the difficulty of two schools. Second, it is important to get an early start. If you are in ninth or tenth grade you should try to join one or two extracur-

ricular activates in addition to taking an SATII in your strongest subject in June. Colleges will ask to see anywhere from one to three SATII scores from applicants, so it is to your advantage to take as many as possible in order to be able to pick your best three scores to present to colleges. Finally try to stand out. Whether your passion is volunteering at a nearby hospital, writ-ing for the local paper, or spending your summer dissecting wa-ter snails in Cooper Union, follow your dreams and perhaps you’ll accomplish more than you set out to.

In Pursuit

of College By Meir Hirsch (‘12)

Academy News Colleges & Profiles Editor

Getting in For the 93% of Harvard University applicants that are not accepted, the doors are closed .

NYU Quick Facts

- Setting: Urban

- Total Undergraduates: 21,638

- Tuition & Fees: $55,021

- SAT I Median: 1320

- Male/Female Ratio: 41/59

- Acceptance Rate: 38 %

In the Heart of New York Located in Washington Square and Greenwich Village, NYU boasts a thriving urban environment.

11 April 2010 11 The Academy News

12 12 April 2010 The Academy News

Lions

Sports

In this year’s Henry Wittenberg Invitational Wrestling Tournament, the MTA lions took fourth place overall. The annual Jewish High School wrestling tournament is run as a recruiting event by Yeshiva University’s Office of Admissions in honour of Mr. Henry Wittenberg, an Olympic medallist who coached Yeshiva University’s wrestling team for 13 years. The t ou rnamen t h o s t s schools from across the country spanning Los Angeles to New York to compete in the weeklong competition.

The tournament is one of the largest and per-haps only Jewish wres-tling tournaments for high school students in the country. It features some of the most intense matches these students will compete in at this level. However, there is also another aspect of the Wittenberg tourna-ment that is rare to find in a sports competition. Unlike in the NCAA, where the main focus is victory and glory, the Wittenberg tournament promotes camaraderie and unity amongst the vastly disparate assortment of high school students. The wrestlers all spend a meaningful and spiritual Shabbos together, all getting to know each other in a friendly and congenial atmosphere..

At first glance, MTA’s Fourth place ranking may not seem like such a huge achievement, but upon closer examination is indeed a notewor-thy achievement. In a season filled with disappointment, winning only 2 matches, MTA wrestlers were able to hold on to the fight for fourth

place. The lions fought with passion throughout the week, especially against the Yeshiva Atlanta team who had been trailing right behind the lions throughout the tournament.

With only seven returning veteran wrestlers on a team of nineteen, the lions advanced much further than anyone had expected. The wres-

tlers showed a passionate desire for victory that propelled them beyond their limits and expecta-tions, amazing the entire yeshiva world. Even the wrestlers who did not win their matches fought with pride and dignity that is befitting of the ideal MTA lion. MTA had two second place win-ners: Ari Sklar (’12) and Captain Caleb Leibowitz (’10). Captain Ariel Rapps (’11) took fifth place overall as well. Other notable achievers were Mordechai Levitt (’12) who took sixth, Yonah Stromer (‘13), Sruli Baum (‘12), and Mordechai Caplan (‘13).

Each of MTA’s wres-tlers fought with all of the intensity characteristic of the MTA wres-tling team, and proved to be a shining example of what true heart and effort is. Perhaps more notable than the wrestling was the outstanding display of middos that was put on by our school during the tourna-ment Shabbaton. Our wrestlers volunteered for many of the davening and speaking roles during the Shabbaton, and helped lead many of the zemirot. They showed the rest of the tournament that we are not only great wrestlers but that we are also ba’alei middos.

The MTA junior varsity hockey team could not have asked for a better season. Expectations for this year’s team were very high. Coming off a very disappointing season, MTA needed a rebuilding year. The team was in desperate need for some new young stars. With the addition of the Rosenfeld brothers, the clutch goal-minding of goalie Yoni Jaraslowicz, along with the improve-ment of last year’s players, the team showed a sign of hope. With the great coaching of Dovie Quint and Eitan Mishkoff, everything was set for a great season.

The first game of the season came with a huge triumph over Kushner. Then came our math against TABC, which resulted in a very disappoint-ing 5-1 loss. This loss was a heartbreaker for the young MTA Lions. This loss showed the players on the lions that they needed to step up their game. This propelled the team to continue trying, and continue wining. After this loss, MTA began to win many games, by many goals. The next test was the tough Frisch team in their gym. MTA came out rolling. Frisch ended up wining in overtime, which was a heartbreaker for MTA, because this win would have ended any doubts about how good MTA really was. With only one solid win against SAR, which was only a 1-0 win, MTA didn’t really have any good wins to prove that they were in con-tention to go far into the playoffs. After the Frisch game, MTA played a few of the less skilled teams in the league, and kept on wining.

The only challenging game that MTA would sub-sequently compete in would be against TABC, at home, which would be the last game of the season. This game was highly anticipated, and very impor-tant. The day finally came, and MTA came out flying. From the first second, MTA showed how much they improved from their first loss against TABC. The tempo was high, and the game was very intense. Towards the middle of the first period MTA’s captain, Eitan Stern scored a goal. Follow-ing that goal, MTA quickly scored another goal. They had a commanding lead. The second period ended with the score 2-1 in the Lions favor. Every-thing was going perfectly for MTA. They were play-ing very well, and this continued into the third period. With one minute thirty left in the game, TABC scored a heartbreaker. This brought the game into overtime, which ended with a TABC win. Although MTA did lose the game, all doubts were now forgotten. This game ended the regular season with MTA’s record being 7-1-2. This record was the second best in MTA’s conference, making them play Magen David in the first round of the playoffs.

The game was at home, because we were the higher seed. The expectation was that MTA would win, and they did just that. Eitan Rosenfeld led the lions with four goals. Yet this match would be nothing compared to the faceoff against the mighty DRS wildcats. DRS was undefeated, and was ranked first in their conference. On that Tuesday night MTA faced off against the Wildcats. The whistle blew, and the gym went crazy. The game started out . MTA started out strong, taking a 1-0 lead. However, DRS would subsequently score a shot off MTA, tying up the game 1-1. No other goals were scored, and the game went into overtime. The first and second overtimes ended with both teams not coming up with a needed goal. Both teams were exhausted coming into the third overtime. Despite the valiant effort of the MTA defense, DRS scored a goal off of MTA, ending the Lions’ season. Even though the end result of the game was a loss, it still was probably the best Jv hockey game ever. It showed that MTA was able to compete with any team. With the outstanding goaltending of Yoni Jaraslawicz, MTA was able to go into triple over-time.

All in all MTA had a very good season, and this was a step in the right direction. With the incredi-ble coaching of Dovie Quint, and Eitan Mishkoff, MTA improved tremendously, and will surely be a formidable opponent in years to come.

JV Hockey Lions End Season

on a High By Eitan Stern (‘12)

Academy News JV Hockey Editor

MTA Wrestling Lions Shine on and off the Court at Annual Wittenberg Tournament

By Ariel Rapps (‘11)

Academy News Staff Writer

Dedicated In addition to their impressive performance at the Wittenberg Tournament, the MTA Lions were also a shining example of Middos and Derech Eretz throughout the competition

There are many ways to measure athletic success. Some measure it by whether the team wins a championship while others measure it by how far a team has grown. Still others, like legendary coach John Wooden, define success as knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.

When people look back on the 2009 – 2010 season JV basketball season, it will be clear by all measures that the MTA Junior Varsity Lions had a very successful year.

The JV Lions’ season came to an unfortunate end at an away game at SAR High School. More than one hundred people came to watch this second round playoff matchup. The SAR Sting controlled the play for most of the game allowing them to advance to the divisional semifinals.

The first quarter was indicative of the battle that went on throughout the game. MTA started off with the lead and held it the entire quarter. The teams stayed within a few points of one another throughout the first half. The second half opened with a run by MTA that allowed them to be within striking distance of their divisional rivals. Unfortunately, the Li-ons were not able to keep the game as close as they wanted, as the Sting gained momentum that would ultimately put an end to the Lion’s season.

Although the JV basketball squad lost in the quarterfinals, they did have a great season. To advance to the SAR game, the Lions coura-geously defeated the Ramaz Rams at the MSAC. Trailing the entire game, MTA took the lead and won on a last second “shake and bake” drive by Freshman Point Guard Shai

Kameintsky.

In January, the JV Lions played in the Rubinstein Tournament bene-fitting Emunah, an organization in Israel that has a mission to help alleviate the bur-dens of Israel’s social problems, strengthen Israeli society through excellent education for children and adults, and provide emergency services to its citizens dur-ing times of crisis. This tournament was the highlight of the MTA season as the team was crowned tournament champions after they defeated the Frisch Cougars, in a physical, hard fought and spirited championship battle. Zev Senter was the tournament MVP.

After the tournament, the team had only a few games to play before the start of the play-offs. Three games went by quickly and the team prepared for the playoffs and an opening round battle against Ramaz at the MASC. With a vocal crowd in attendance, MTA played tenaciously. The game began with Ramaz starting out strong and holding MTA to a sea-son low two points in the opening quarter. Ramaz was able to get a nice lead for the re-mainder of the second quarter and led at the halftime break. In the third quarter, MTA was able to cut the lead substantially and make it a close game. The fourth quarter promised to be intense as neither team seemed intent on allowing the other team to gain the upper

hand for very long. With fifteen seconds re-maining, Ramaz scored and took a one-point lead. The ball was in-bounded to point guard Kaminetsky and he was able to work his magic from there. Three seconds on the clock re-mained as he released a spinning, acrobatic shot that floated into the basket. This score sealed the victory for MTA and ousted Ramaz from the playoffs. The final score was 30-29, a very low scoring defensive game that was competitive from start to finish.

The 2009-2010 MTA JV Lions will be re-membered as a team that exceeded all expec-tations. Winning a tournament championship and beating four top teams made the season both memorable and successful. Kudos go to the outstanding coaches, Yossi Faber and Josh Friedman, for a great season.

The Rise and Fall of

the JV Basketball Lions By Akiva Blumenthal (‘12)

Academy News JV Basketball Editor

Intensity MTA’s Shai Kaminetsky (‘13) takes a foul shot against Frisch.

13 April 2010 13 The Academy News

Varsity Basketball Lions Fall

Early in Sarachek Tournament

The Yeshiva University Red Sarachek tour-nament is what every MTA basketball player dreams to participate in. After last year’s memorable run to the championship, MTA was eager for more. The tournament brings both tears of joy and sadness after every thrilling game, and the Lions certainly ex-perienced both extremes.

After a very rewarding season, the Lions expected to breeze by the very mediocre M a g e n D a v i d s q u a d . However, M T A ’ s e x p e c t a -tions were shattered when the Wa r r i o r s scored in the last seconds of the game to win by merely two p o i n t s . With the s e a s o n

over and Sarachek on its way, the Lions felt confident that Sarachek was the perfect op-portunity for them to bounce back.

Their confidence was demonstrated as the number 5 seeded Lions defeated the Beren Stars by 17 points, with the help of senior Yehuda Meiteles who finished with 16 points

on 6/7 shooting.

Next, MTA would try to match their previous perform-ance against the higher ranked Frisch Cougars. However without the help of MTA’s role players, the Lions would not prevail. Despite all star Yisrael Feld’s, stellar performance with 24 points on 48% shooting, the Lions would go on to lose by a stagger-ing 12 points.

Although, MTA’s hopes of winning the tier 1 champi-onship were shat-tered, they would not give up, and were prepared to give it their all in the remaining con-solation matches. The lions would eventually roar back with a stun-ning victory against the Ida Crowns Aces by an impressive 17 points. Yisrael Feld proved his might once again, scoring a remarkable 41 points out of MTA’s 71 total points. Yisrael would break the record books reaching the game-high records throughout the history of the tourna-ment, being categorized with the likes of the great Tamir Goodman.

Lastly, they would go on to play the YULA Panthers for 5th place in the entire tourna-

ment. MTA started the game off on a high note, but would eventually let their lead fall to a mere 2 points by half time. The Lions and Panthers would trade buckets through-out the fourth, and eventually would tie up the game by the end of the period. The game proceeded to overtime, but YULA emerged as the victors, winning by a mere one point in what was a very exciting game.

Overall, despite falling to Frisch in the tier 1 semifinal qualifier, MTA made an unforget-

table journey beginning from the preseason up until the very last game in Sarachek. With an 11-3 record in the regular season, the Li-ons learned from all the ups and downs they experienced, and learned a lot from their journey. With the likes of returning starting guards Eli Davis and Yisrael Feld, MTA is confident that they will have a successful and rewarding season next year and will hope-fully reminisce about their championship run after the 2010-2011 season

By Hudie Baruch (‘11)

Academy News Varsity Basketball Editor

The Last Stand The Varsity Basketball Lions pump up for their game against Frisch. Unfortunately, they would go on to lose to the Cougars 50-38, ending their hopes for Sarachek glory once again.

Junior phenom Yisrael Feld (‘11) ended the tournament with a remarkable 102 points.

The Lions were expecting a trip to the cham-

pionship game. They would accept nothing less

than to win the championship, and regain their

throne. Unfortunately, the rest of the league

had other plans.

The Lions began the season with ten straight

wins setting up a Saturday night battle with the

undefeated TABC Storm. The Lions fought

hard, and took an early 1-0 lead on the Storm. However, the Storm fought back and took a 2-1

lead. The Storm scored their third goal, and

injured goalie Natan Bienstock. The Storm

poured too strongly, as they won 4-1.

The Lions had suffered their first loss of the

season, and were hungry for revenge against

the Storm. The Storm would have to come into

the Lion’s Den and defeat the ferocious Lions. This game proved to be a back and forth game,

as TABC scored first. However, they were an-

swered by a ferocious slap shot from Captain

Aaron “Geff the Chef” Geffner. TABC stormed

back, but again junior Noah Isaacs knotted the score. It stayed tied until the overtime period,

when Captain Moshe “J-Roz” Jaroslawicz had a

breakaway. He was stopped by the goalie, and

called for a controversial goalie interference

penalty. The Storm took advantage of the

power play, and won the game 3-2.

Coming off the emotional high that was their

TABC game, the Lions had to face the tough

SAR Sting at the Den a mere four days later.

The Lions looked tired, and nothing like the kings of the jungle they aspired to become,

falling flat to the Sting 5-2.

After a much needed winter vacation, the

Lions returned refreshed and reenergized. They

had already locked up the number two seed in

the West, and along with it, a first round bye,

and home playoff game. However, they faced a

Ramaz Rams squad that was desperate to get into the playoff picture. Hockey wisdom is that

the desperate team usually beats the team with

nothing to play for. However, that adage

proved untrue, as the Lions played hard, and

eventually beat the Rams, when the Rams scored in their own empty net in overtime.

MTA players were baffled by the outcome, until

their coach Rabbi Eric Goldman explained, that

Ramaz by scoring in their own net in overtime

receive zero points for the loss (an overtime loss usually results in a point being awarded),

and would therefore face Frisch in the playoffs,

as they desired. The Lions still felt that it was a

disgraceful thing to do, and were angry at the

Rams for defacing the integrity of the game.

The Lions waited to see who they would play.

They discovered that it would be the Magen

David Warriors, from Brooklyn, who were led

by 28 goal scorer Aaron Cabaso. The Lions knew that they were in for a good game, and

sought to avenge the Varsity Basketball team,

which had lost to the Warriors on a buzzer

beater the night before. The Lions were led by

two goals by Noah Isaacs and a goal apiece by Geffner, Jaroslawicz and Yaakov Hyman, and

beat the Warriors 5-3.

The Lions then prepared for their toughest

challenge yet. They had to travel to Woodmere

to take on the DRS Wildcats. The Lions fought

hard, and behind strong play from goaltender

Natan Bienstock, took a 1-0 lead, on a goal by

Jaroslawicz, into the first intermission. How-

ever, despite Bienstock’s stellar net-minding,

the Wildcats scored 3 unanswered goals, and

the Lions lost to the eventual champion Wild-cats, at the Green House, 3-1.

The Academy News would like to congratu-

late the Lions on a well played season. The Academy News would like to further applaud

the seniors on a terrific four years of MTA

hockey, and wish them luck in all future en-

deavors. The entire varsity hockey team also

like to wish good luck to departing hockey coach Rabbi Eric Goldman, and wish him luck

in his future plans. Hopefully, the Lions will

reclaim their throne next year, and once again

be crowned as Champions of the Yeshiva

League.

Varsity Hockey Lions Lose to DRS in Playoffs

By Natan Bienstock (‘11)

Academy News Varsity Hockey Editor

Fall of the Lion The Varisty Hockey Lions came into DRS eager to advance to the playoffs, but unfortunately would fall to the Wildcats 3-1.

Lions

Sports

14 14 April 2010The Academy News

And when you examine the matter you will see that only connecting to G-d con-stitutes true perfection. And that is what King David says: “And I, for me 'good' consists of closeness to the Lord.” And he [also] says: “One request I have asked of G-d, that [thing] I seek, that I sit in the house of G-d all the days of my life...” For this alone constitutes “good,” and any other thing

that people think constitutes “good” is but vapid and naught, [leading them] astray. However, in order for man to attain this “good,” it behooves him first to toil and at-tempt with his efforts to acquire it. And this is by striving to connect to Him, may He be blessed, through deeds that bring about this matter, and these [deeds] are mitzvos.

(Mesillas Yesharim, Chapter 1)

“One request I have asked of G-d” – I do not ask for many things when new needs arise, for [were that the case], a person would have to ask for different things at different

times - viz., health, sustenance, salvation from enemies, etc. Rather, I have only asked for one request in the past, and that same request I will ask in the future, for this request encompasses all requests. And that is: “That I sit in the house of G-d all the days of my life...”

(Malbim, Tehillim 27:4)

***

The question of which college or university one should attend is an important issue, and arguments can be made pro and con secular institutions. However, to paraphrase the Malbim, there is an overriding issue that encompasses all other issues: How will my secular education and my career choice mesh with with the core and critical value of Shivti b'Beis Hashem kol yemei chayai? What quantity and what quality of learning suffice to fulfill my purpose in life? What kind of environment do I need to ensure that my Yiras Shomayim and Avodas Hashem are in sync with my all-encompassing quest of Shivti b'Beis Hashem? And, even more importantly, is my main ambition, that which I seek in life, a holistic synthesis that makes as many of my pursuits as possible reflect that core value and all encompassing quest? Granted, we are human, and far from perfect, but we have to optimize...

In short, the choice of college or university must be informed by several intertwined values (not in any specific order):

1. Optimizing Talmud Torah.

2. Safeguarding Yiras Shomayim.

3. Defining a personal fulfillment of Shivti b'Beis Hashem.

4. Syncing education and career with ultimate purpose in life.

5. Avodas Hashem and Kiddush Hashem.

A final point: In Hamlet, Polonius exhorts his son Laertes: “This above all: to thine own self be true...” Easy to say, but hard to practice. As the Ba'alei Mussar teach us, we far too often are rendered incapable of objectivity by our vested interests (“negi'os”). It is therefore obviously advisable to consult in such matters with a Rebbe or other mentor who knows you, and who you know to possess the ultimately proper values. Such consultation will likely make it easier to perceive the Ratzon Hashem. May He guide us in the right pathways throughout our lives.

The Ethics Column

The Issues Involved With

Attending a Secular College

A School Divided:

This issue’s ethics column will take a look at one of the most pertinent issues faced by the average Jewish high school student: The question of whether to attend a secular college. The following is a letter from Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Bechoffer in which he provides an opinion on the matter from a torah perspective. Following Rabbi Bechoffer’s opinion, two MTA juniors provide their own unique perspectives on the matter, both of whom will soon be entering the college admissions process next year.

MTA Juniors Respond

Humans are products of their environments. We are influenced by the current circumstance or occasion and adapt to best suit that environment, much like any organism. We change how we act - yet not necessarily how we feel - to yield the best results This feeling or intuition separates us as a species from the animals. However, what is the “best” result? Clearly, every individual will have a different answer and thus a different path in life. However, there is one constant, one facet of everyone’s life that will undoubtedly be the same. That constant is death. In death, every being will meet G-d, the Creator of all. When you will meet G-d, G-d will ask you a series of questions about the decisions you made regarding your ethical and Torah conduct and your at-tempts to maintain commitments to that conduct on a constant basis throughout your lifetime.

Such decisions are influenced by a person’s environment. Naturally, if a person is in a more conducive environment his decisions will be better, and thus fulfill his ethical and Torah obliga-tions to a higher and greater degree. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. In an unsuitable environment, his decisions will be different, and he will be less likely to fulfill those ethical and Torah obligations. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that one should be in an environment that can influence him to make the best decisions that then bring about the furthering of his ethical and Torah being.

Such an environment must be consistently conducive to your decisions. One must be immersed in this encouraging environment every day and at all times during the day, not just on Shabbat. This means that, ideally, the place he sleeps, the place he eats, the places he works or rests, the people he meets, and the classes he takes, all should support and aidi this young man to make the right decisions. His classmates should also share the same goal to become men of G-d (the Jew-ish one). These necessary components of the ideal environment can only be found in an Ortho-dox Jewish college.

An Orthodox Jewish College has the constant omnipresent Jewish environment, classmates who believe in the same G-d and the same goals as you, and Educators who are guiding you on the Jewish path. These factors create that conducive environment that will help a young man over-come his “heart of darkness” to make the right decisions. If a young man were in a secular col-lege, he would be exposed to a plethora of different cultures and beliefs, not to mention the loss of a constant Jewish environment. While his exposure to new and interesting people is positive, the effect that it has on the young man is not. Since a 20-year-old being is still impressionable to a greater degree, his environment will have an effect on him. The people that surround him will have an effect on the young man by and the young man will ultimately end up making decisions that may not yield the best results for his Jewish being.

Moreover, if the young man in question is not yet convinced of the importance of maintaining his level of faith, the people and environment of a secular college will have an even greater effect upon him. This is a fact of the modern age. With the instant-info mentality of our generation, we are all the more prone to lose our conviction in the inundating sea of information that can smash our wills to pieces. We are liable to forget the emotional feeling that accompanied the creation of the will in the first place. This loss of a young man’s conviction in conjunction with the non-conducive environment of a secular college will cause the young man’s decisions to suffer. Even the slightest deviation is terrible. He will become apathetic in regard to the laws of G-d, a sad and unwanted circumstance.

On the other hand, in a perpetual Jewish environment - with constant supervision, guidance, and learning - his conviction will grow, and he will make the best decisions for his growth. He will not lose his will to serve G-d. His will and his conviction will grow. This growth will accom-pany him into the next stage of his life. Thus, the young man needs to be in an appropriate Jew-ish environment for those critical four years, to fortify his consistency and further his metaphysi-cal Jewish being. This cannot occur to the same degree in a secular college.

After 120 years of my life, when I am standing before G-d, I would like to say that I did the best I could do in improving myself, and that according to my limited perception I made the best deci-sions I could have made to help me accomplish my goals. Wouldn’t you?

Shlomo Friedman

As a junior, I am reminded everyday of the important life decision that awaits me just next year. For many, deciding which college to apply to is the most important choice they have had to make in their whole life. It is imperative to place yourself in a good educational environment in order to thrive in the second stage of your life.

But going to college is not just about the classes, as important as they are. It’s about the experience as well. There is culture to be immersed in. Places to see. And, most important of all, the opportunity to break out of the bubble. What is this bubble I mention? The bubble is the Jewish bubble that almost eve-ryone reading this article has been caught in their whole life. Almost all of the students of MTA have grown up in Orthodox communities, gone to Orthodox schools, and are friends almost exclusively with fellow Orthodox Jews.

Breaking out of the bubble is one of the most seminal experiences that many Orthodox Jews will have in college. For those people (or, more appropriately, for us) it will be the first time in their lives in which they have more than a few non-Jewish friends and be in a non-Jewish environment. This isn’t just a cul-tural experience. It is a learning one, and one that is essential to proper emotional maturity. More than classes, it prepares you for the big, wide world out there.

It is hard to overstate this point. Once out of college (and perhaps graduate school), almost all of us will go out and enter the professional workforce. Unlike our current environment, which is dominated by people who are incredibly similar to us, the professional world is full of many different people – the large majority of which aren’t Jewish. Even if you might be more comfortable in a place like YU, going there only delays the inevitable.

There is an intellectual wrinkle to this topic as well. I apologize in advance for quoting an old cliché, but college is about broadening you horizons and opening yourself up to new ideas. The intellectual give-and-take that can be found at most colleges is truly something to behold, and is definitely something that all students can gain something from. Being confronted by someone who does not have the same opinion as you can often spur deeper thought and study, and leave you a better person for the experience. For in-stance, how many times has anyone on YU witnessed someone arguing against an action that Israel has committed? My bet would be that such a scene is exceedingly rare. The story at a secular institution is quite different, with many students and faculty members being quite anti-Israel, or at least not as pro-Israel as many of the students at YU. Although it might be uncomfortable to actually debate this issue at first, both parties in the conversation will ultimately benefit from hearing the points of the other side.

There will always be people who argue against going to a secular college anyway. Even if it might be a place for growth, such growth will surely come at the expense of your Judaism, they assert. An Orthodox Jew needs to attend an Orthodox university in order to preserve his religiosity, according to their line of thought. But arguments like these expired quite a few decades ago. Today, many secular colleges boast bustling Hillels, learning groups, and offer Kosher eating plans. Nowadays, it is very easy to be an Ortho-dox Jew and go to a secular university.

MTA has many alumni who attended secular institutions and have seen tremendous opportunity be-cause of it. Yair Rosenberg, the founder of Scope, is currently in his third year of Harvard. Sammy Flacks, who recently gave a lecture to the debate team on Roe v. Wade, went to Cornell as an undergraduate and then went to Harvard law school, is currently clerking for a judge in New Jersey. It would have been im-possible for him to have achieved this without the connections that he made at these great institutions.

I do not begrudge those who choose to go to YU. For many, that type of environment, on which a few hours a day are always set aside for learning, is a perfect fit. The key word there is ‘fit.’ For many more, YU will not be that fit, and going there will ultimately not be beneficial for the student. It is important for us, as maturing young adults, to attend a college where we will be able to maximize our potential. One should not make such an important decision because of assumptions that are made based on the high school that he or she goes to.

Today’s colleges offer a breathtaking array of choices in both the academic and the cultural scenes. Thankfully, due to the realities of the situation on campus, observant Jews are able to fully participate in these scenes that unfold at almost every college across the nation. There are many options that people like us can choose from. We shouldn’t needlessly limit ourselves.

Michael Guggenheim

15 April 2010 15 The Academy News

After lying dormant for a number of years and playing an (almost) back-stage role to Hebrew and English singers, the concept of the Modern-Yiddish singer is being revived. While there’s been Carlebach, Shwekey, Mattisyahu and many other “modern” singers, there has been a paucity of Yiddish singing singers and songs written for the Yiddish-speaking world. This is why the idea of having one, such as Lipa Shmeltzer, is such a radical idea – yet it seems to be one that is working.

I was introduced to Lipa’s work a few years ago at a rela-tive’s house. We had been there for a family event and, be-fore we left, one of my relatives decided to show us his new CD he had just bought. The song he played was “Hentelech,” and although it was strange and the only words that I under-stood were “aveinu shebashamayim” it had an interesting taste, rhythm and style. For a few days afterwards, my father wouldn’t turn the repeat button off that song in his car’s ste-reo. Although it had been very rudimentary, the introduction was enough to spark my interest.

I recently have become interested again in Lipa’s music and I can lend the added enthu-siasm to a few main reasons. The primary reason why I have become interested is that since I started learning Yiddish this past fall, I have picked up enough words to make headway in understanding the songs. I must admit that I can’t understand it and I have much more work to do, but with my limited knowledge the lyrics start to make some sense. A reader of this article may ask: “What’s the point of listening to Yiddish music anyway, if you can’t understand it?” There are many good answers, and I will attempt to answer using some of them. The fact that the lyrics are in Yiddish seems to add another level to the song, as it introduces an interesting twist to traditional, Hebrew songs. For example, while Lipa sometimes uses Hebrew lyrics as a background he also adds Yiddish phrases and whole verses writ-ten in Yiddish, effectively changing the envi-ronment that the original Hebrew lyrics had produced. The fact that it is in Yiddish and not in English is also important. Yiddish was our mame shprach for centu-ries, and while it is satisfying to see a modern adaptation of Yiddish in music, it is equally satisfying to discover the intri-cacies of the language and how the language itself fits into the music, in contrast to the sometimes forced English lyrics that are found in other modern Jewish singers’ songs. Yiddish, many argue, is also the only language that is genuinely Jew-ish, and it is usually much easier to find genuine Jewish lyrics and phrases in the yiddisha shprach than in any secular lan-guage. Thus, Lipa presents the opportunity to adapt the modern Jewish singer’s attitude of entertainment to the pleasantness of having Yiddish lyrics as well in order to bol-ster the power of music.

As shown by the recent concert held at YU this past Chanu-kah, many young men and women are beginning to acknowl-edge Lipa as a modern Jewish singer. This is important be-cause although it would be false to say that Lipa is without controversy, the Jewish world is beginning to feel his pres-ence and to accept him as well. This is all very important in that the Jewish world is acknowledging this new kind of Yid-dish music and many young Jews are signing on.

Lipa has changed the Yiddish language Jewish music indus-try, and for the better. He has a modern touch which finds a niche in modern America’s young Jewry, but retains the all the important language and content that make his music worthwhile to listen to.

Auto-Tune: Musical Revolution

or Disintegration of Today’s Music?

Bringing back Yiddish With a blend of English-Hebrew-Yiddish lyrics, singer Lipa Shmeltzer is revolutionizing music for the Yiddish-speaking world

In 2007, T-Pain’s chart-topping single, “Buy You a Drank”, turned the heads of those who were unfamiliar with the “rappa ternt sanga”. The reason this song was so peculiar was because it gave off the impres-sion that T-Pain’s voice was synthesized or robotic. T-Pain had revived a style, one that we refer to as Auto-Tune. Auto-Tune is a proprietary audio processor created by Antares Audio Technologies. Essentially what it does is correct pitch in vocal and instrumental performances using a phase vocoder. This allows for any singer to per-form a perfectly tuned vocal track without singing in tune, by disguising off-key inac-curacies.

The reason I say T-Pain “revived” the style is because Cher had used the software in her 1998 hit single, “Believe”. After Cher’s ma-jor success with the pitch-corrector, many popular artists of the late 1990’s began us-ing Auto-Tune, but this trend quickly faded. The reason I use the word “style” is because in T-Pain and Cher’s case that’s exactly what Auto-Tune is. Some say Auto-Tune is noth-ing but a crutch for singers that just can’t hit the notes. Well perhaps for artists such as Faith Hill, Avril Levine, Sara Evans, John Michael Montgomery, Chris Brown, Tim McGraw, Gary Levox of Rascal Flatts and many others, who all use Auto-Tune, this is the case. They need the software to compen-sate for pitch troubles. In fact, Auto-Tune has become regularly used in almost all recording studios. Too many artists need the pitch-correction because the music in-dustry has become less and less about real talent and more and more about the look/ swagga an artist possesses. Auto-Tune is the steroids of music and 2010 in music is 2003 in Major League Baseball. Everyone’s using it.

However, those artists that use it as a crutch try to make their usage of it as subtle as possible, so it appears they can actually hit the notes and sing the song without a pitch correction. Sometimes it’s nearly im-possible to hear, but let’s be honest; you know Miley Cyrus can’t hit those notes on her own. But why is it that T-Pain’s usage of the software is so obvious? Why doesn’t he use it subtly like Miley and JoJo? Is his voice that horrible that it makes Auto-Tune out of whack? It’s simple. T-Pain exploits the pitch correction to get the robot voice. This has become such a popular style that even great singers such as Mary J. Blige,

Rihanna and Mariah Carey have used it even though they can clearly hit every note. While other artists who have decent voices like Jamie Foxx and Janet Jackson, still use the software for the synth-voice and in the process get the pitch-correction that they could use. They get the best of both worlds.

While artists like Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Ke$ha and Modanna have revolutionized pop music with Auto-Tune, the pop revolution doesn’t come close to the changes rap music has endured with the Auto-Tune frenzy. The first single off the multi-platinum album, Tha Carter 3, from the self-proclaimed “best rapper alive”, Lil’ Wayne, was Auto-Tuned-to-the-extreme, “Lollipop”. While the radio loved the hit single, die-hard Wayne fans gave him seri-ous rebuke for “going pop”. However, to Wayne and other rappers the profit out-weighed the rebuke, as Tha Carter 3 went platinum in a week and “Lollipop” stayed at the top of the charts for 5 weeks, won the 2009 Grammy for Best Rap Song and is Lil’ Wayne’s most successful song to date. Fol-lowing in Wayne’s footsteps was rap-per/superproducer, Kanye West with his 2008 R&B album, 808s and Heartbreak. While the album was commercially and for the most part critically successful, fans begged West to go back to hip-hop. The

New York Times review of the album notes, "Mr. West can't sing, and it is that weakness for which this album will ultimately be re-membered, some solid songs notwithstand-ing. For him, using Auto-Tune, the pitch-correction software with the robotic vocal effect, is a true crutch." But rappers want to be like T-Pain because he’s on everything. He collaborates with dozens of artists from Jesse McCartney to The Lonely Island. So artists like Ronz Brown and rapper/singer Drake have put on the vocal affect to play a similar role as T-Pain. Rappers like Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Will.I.Am and many others also threw on the affect to start singing when they should be rapping.

It seemed like rap music was coming to an end. The transformation to R&B using Auto-Tune was inevitable. However, one man had a vision and said enough is enough. Rapper, Jay-Z, released his lead single from his Blue Print 3, entitled D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune). “Get back to rap you T-Pain’n too much” he raps. Although the message was clear and the response was positive, T-Pain declared he would not give up using the pitch-corrector/ vocal effect. Lil’ Wayne also responded in an interview, “Auto-tune ain't dead. My career would be dead; that's if I didn't have my Auto-Tune. You've got the whole game using that. We

rely on it.” While that may have been Wayne’s response back in October, his mind may have changed with the commercial and critical failure of the rapper’s rock album, Rebirth, which was completely Auto-Tuned. Upon extremely negative criticism of the album, Wayne promised his next album, Tha Carter IV, would not have Auto-Tune and he would be back to rapping. Kanye West plans to follow suit for his next album.

The Anti-Auto-Tune Movement essen-tially began with the Jay-Z single and has evidently taken effect. The goal is clear: to create a new generations of talented artists who do not need to rely on pitch correction and to give listeners the satisfaction of knowing what they are listening to is raw talent with no artificial corrections. An art-ist supporting the movement can put a sticker on their album informing buys that no pitch-correction or vocal enhancement was used in the making of the album. Artists endorsing the movement range from Wyclef Jean to Death Cab for Cutie, who appeared at last year’s Grammy Awards wearing blue ribbons to protest the use of Auto-Tune in the music industry. As the movement pro-gresses, I believe many artists especially rappers will abandon Auto-Tune in re-sponse to the assertion that “they can’t sing without it”.

While the Auto-Tune fad may be ending just as quickly as it started, it has left quite a legacy. The iPhone application, “I Am T-Pain”, is Auto-Tune for your iPod/ iPhone. The YouTube series, “Auto-Tune the News”, is a hilarious reporting of the news through song using Auto-Tune. Countless other ce-lebrities, from Andy Milinokis to Elen De-generous, have joked around with the vocal effect. It has also been featured in Budlite commercials.

If one listens to T-Pain’s “Buy You a Drank” and JoJo’s “Too Little Too Late”, they would think these songs have virtually nothing in common. However, both songs used Auto-Tune. On one of the songs the artist is trying to deceive you by making you think she has perfect pitch. On the other, the artist is saying “This effect is cool and I’m going to use it until your sick of it”. Whichever version you prefer (if either), remember that Auto-Tune will used for both reasons. The world of needing talent to be a star no longer exists, but that does not mean Auto-Tune will be prevalent forever. To most it will forever be known as the “T-Pain effect”.

Protesting Death Cab for Cutie wearing blue ribbons at the 51st Grammy Awards in order to protest the use of Auto-Tune in the music industry.

By Dani Goffstein (‘11)

Academy News Op-Ed Editor

Lipa:

A Renaissance of Modern, Yiddish

Music By Aryeh Schonbrun (‘12)

Academy News Staff Writer

Arts & Letters

16

UNDER the

DOME Here at The Academy News, we’re on the cutting edge of virtually everything. Writ-i n g , e d i t i n g , s e l f -aggrandizement, you name it. It’s with this in mind that we present our “Under the Dome” column, our assembly of potpourri on whatever’s occurring in MTA, the Heights, and around the world. We welcome com-ments, questions, criticisms, witticisms, praises and sacri-fices. Just make them out to “cash”.

observations

notations

insights

thoughts

ideas

outs

ins

Restore the Roar!!!

See inside for the latest updates, statistics, and

pictures of your favorite MTA

sports and public speaking teams

16 April 2010The Academy News

An International Exchange MTA Impressions of the Mekor Chaim Exchange Program

“I've held their hand to say good-bye, but they hold my heart for eternity.”

***

Rabbi Mordechai Brownstein

English, Tikvah, College Guidance

“If you let the sunlight stream in, squinted your eyes, and then looked around, for one blissful

moment, you were in Israel and everything was all right. Then a car honked, the Israeli's were gone,

and the reverie ended.”

***

Shlomo Friedman (‘11),

Member of last year’s “MC-10”

“Their example demanded that we engage in

serious spiritual re-assessment.”

***

Yochanan Buchbinder (‘11)

“The 6 boys brought multiple talents to the class; there was the philosopher of the group, the artist,

the musician.”

***

Mrs. Tova Rosenberg

Director of the Mekor Chaim Exchange Program

“It was refreshing but odd to see the combo of Hasidic emotionality with ‘60’s “hippie” mentality. I very much appreciated their desire and willing-ness to think, and deeply, though I might have

preferred a little bit greater dependence on scien-tific logic. Therefore, I am proud to have their

picture hanging on my wall as a fond memory and incentive to understand, and appreciate, other points of view and to fine-tune my approach to

convince.”

***

Rabbi Sid Schimmel (‘60)

Mathematics, Psychology

“Having the MCers in MTA is like having six major leaguers spend time with a triple A franchise. It reminds those who are watching what the game is all about.”

***

Rabbi Mayer Schiller

Maggid Shiur, 10th Grade

Over the past two months we at MTA were blessed

with the presence of six students from the pre-

eminent Israeli yeshiva, Yeshivat Mekor Chaim. These

students spent almost six and a half weeks enhancing

the MTA school spirit and infusing a true sense of

D’veikut into our high school. Sadly, they left us after

their too-short stay to return home to Eretz Yisrael.

We must remember to keep their message in our

minds and in our hearts. After their departure the

MTA community was canvassed. This page contains a

small selection of the reactions to their visit from the

MTA community.