29 Kislev, 5776

December 11, 2015

This Week at RZJHS

Happy  ChanukahEgg  Drop  2015Mazal  TovSacred  SpaceHillel  Director  SpeaksDrivers'  EdVentra  Cards  for  StudentsArt  ShowStudents  in  the  NewsApply  By  December  15A  Taste  of  Torah

Class ScheduleMonday,  December  14BB  -­‐  extended  tefillah

Tuesday,  December  15C  

Wednesday,  December  16A

Rochelle Zell Lights Up

Week  of  Chanukah  Cheer

The  joyous  spirit  of  Chanukah  is  palpable!  On  Monday,  studentstook  to  the  senior  hallway  to  decorate  the  large  windows  facinginto  the  gym.  Teams  worked  by  grade,  and  created  beau?fulChanukah-­‐themed  decora?ons.  Thursday's  lunch  was  a  fun-­‐filled  affair  with  cookie  decora?ng,  sponsored  by  Holla  forChallah,  and  a  special  Chanukah  movie  sponsored  by  Film  Club.And  throughout  the  week,  DEAP  has  been  collec?ng  new  andlightly  used  children's  books  to  donate  to  Bernie's  Book  Bank.The  collec?on  bins  are  filling  up,  so  bring  in  whatever  books

Thursday,  December  17B

Friday,  December  18CC

Quick Links

CJHS.orgCalendarsLunch  MenuEdlineGive  Now

Save The Date

December  13ACT  at  CJHS

December  7-­‐16Chanukah

December  20  -­‐  January  3Winter  Break

January  3  -­‐  January  22Senior  Israel  Experience

January  4Classes  Resume

January  5Freshman  Parent  Mee?ng

January  11  -­‐  January  15Final  Exams

January  18MLK  Jr.  Day

January  19Semester  2  Begins

you  have  so  we  can  pile  them  over  the  top!

Eggs AhoyKaraoke  Friday  Enhances  Annual  Physics  Compe\\on

Sophomore/Parents  Mee?ng

January  25Classes  Resume  for  SeniorsTu  Bishvat

January  27Junior/Senior  Parent  Mee?ng

February  7ACT  at  CJHS

February  15President's  Day

March  2-­‐6Model  UN  Conference

March  18-­‐19All  School  Shabbaton

March  182:15  pm  Friday  DismissalBegins

STEM Corner

Illinois  Ins?tute  of  Technologyinvites  high  schoolsophomores,  juniors  andseniors  toa\end  NxtGen  Tech  Programin  the  summer  of  2016.Students  will  learntechnologies  and  tools  andget  a  glimpse  of  the  future  ofthe  Internet,  compu?ng,  andthe  next  wave  of  emergingtechnologies.    To  learn  more,click  here.

Dozens  of  enthusias?c  underclassmen  filled  the  upstairs  hall  onTuesday  to  watch  the  fiaeen  excited  teams  of  physics  students  test  weeks'  worth  of  careful  designs  for  the  annual  egg  drop.  Mrs.  Eliaser’s  11th  and  12th  grade  physics  classes  applied  theirknowledge  of  impulse,  momentum  and  collisions  as  theytossed  raw  eggs  over  the  school  balcony  in  collision-­‐proofstructures  of  their  own  design.    Each  team  had  four  sheets  ofpaper  and  20  straws  to  keep  their  egg  from  eggsploding!    In  amomentous  honor  roll,  fully  nine  out  of  the  fiaeen  teamsemerged  triumphant,  holding  up  unbroken  eggs  with  shouts  oftriumph.

The  2015  egg  drop  also  featuredthe  first  ever  all-­‐class  karaokeparty,  as  groups  explained  theirdesign  principles  in  catchy,crea?ve  art  forms.    The  weekkicked  off  with  a  sly  tribute  to  airresistance  with  "It's  Physics,Baby"  by  Melissa  Levin,  HanaLieber,  and  Celia  Pivo,  while  YoniMaltsman,  Akiva  Stein,  andDavid  Weisskopf  shook  theirgroove  thang  with  "Drop  It  LikeIt’s  Hot."    We  got  "FreshPrince  of  the  Egg  Drop"  from

rocketeers  Sara  Behn,  Felix  Rosen,  and  Dave  Vayngart,whose  finned  nose  cone  dented  by  a  good  two  inches,leaving  their  egg  unscratched.    Jonah  Karoll,  ZevMishell,  and  Henry  Wolle  worked  out  a  complete  set  ofphysics  choreography  to  "We're  Gone!"  while  ArielleSmall  and  Gabe  Chasin  beat-­‐boxed  an  original  rapabout  increased  impact  ?me.    Congratula?ons  to  allforty  egg  engineers!

Mazal Tov, Joe Steiner!Rochelle Zell EMT Completes His Conversion

This  morning,  we  had  the  privilege  of  celebra?ng  theconversion  to  Judaism  of  our  beloved  security  guardand  EMT,  Joe  Steiner.  Joe  fell  in  love  Judaism  whilehe  was  working  security  on  Friday  evenings  at  B'neiJoshua  Beth  Elohim  (BJBE),  the  congrega?on  acrossthe  way.  Aaer  a  few  weeks,  Joe  began  a\endingeven  on  Friday  nights  when  he  wasn't  working.  Forthe  first  ?me,  he  felt  a  part  of  a  religious  community.While  at  Rochelle  Zell  Jewish  High  School,  Joe  has

found  another  Jewish  community  to  embrace  as  well.  He  said  that  aaer  our  fall  Shabbaton,  heknew  that  he  was  ready  officially  to  become  Jewish.  He  was  cap?vated  by  the  spirit  of  services,  thestudy  of  Torah,  and  the  rituals  which  transform  a  simple  meal  into  an  act  of  community  andworship.  

Joe's  conversion  ceremony  took  place  at  BJBE  on  Monday,  where  he  took  the  Hebrew  nameBinyamin  Chanan,  a  name  he  took  in  honor  of  his  dear  friend  and  mentor,  Mr.  Bruce  Scher.    Whena  few  staff  and  students  wished  to  dash  across  the  street  to  support  their  beloved  guard,  Joegraciously  invited  the  en?re  senior  Bible  class  to  take  ?me  off  from  their  study  of  Megillat  Ruthand  join  him  for  the  official  ceremony.    Presiding,  Rabbi  Brian  Stoller  passed  him  the  Torah  scroll,and  Joe  chanted  the  Shema  for  the  first  ?me  as  a  Jew.    The  seniors  were  able  to  hear  firsthandabout  Joe's  desire  to  become  a  Jew,  the  inspira?on  he  received  from  his  mentors,  and  thelengthy  process  that  made  his  dream  a  reality.

This  morning,  resplendent  in  a  new  tallit,  Joe  was  called  to  the  Torah  as  a  member  of  our  people.  He  shared  with  the  en?re  group  the  story  of  his  Jewish  journey  along  with  his  touching  insights  onwho  your  real  friends  are  and  the  process  of  adop?ng  an  observant  lifestyle.  "Keeping  kosher  wasa  bit  tough  at  first,"  Joe  explained  candidly,  "but  Rabbi  Stoller  explained  it  to  me.  If  you  were  aguest  in  G-­‐d's  house,  and  He  asked  you  not  to  eat  something,  then  out  of  respect  for  Him,  youwouldn't  eat  it."  Rabbi  Silver  presented  Joe  with  a  mezuzah  in  honor  of  Joe's  entrance  into  theJewish  people,  a  sign  of  the  covenant  between  God  and  his  treasured  ones.    Mazal  tov,  Joe!    Asyou  have  entered  our  covenant,  so  may  you  experience  the  joys  of  Torah  study,  Jewish  family  life,and  a  life  of  mitzvot!

Sacred SpaceSophomore Class Explores Houses of Worship

On  Monday  the  sophomore  class  hit  the  road  in  order  toapply  insights  they  have  gleaned  in  their  study  of  “SacredSpace”  in  their  Bible  and  Talmud  classes.    In  visi?ng  andmee?ng  with  clergy  at  Anshe  Emet,  Temple  Sholom,  theBaha'i  Temple,  North  Shore  Congrega?on  Israel  and  B’neiJehoshua  Beth  Elohim  (BJBE),  students  enhanced  theirunderstanding  of  how  sacred  spaces  are  designed  and  howthey  func?on  –  and,  some?me,  don’t  func?on  so  wellanymore.    Two  themes  emerged:  one,  that  we  are  in  a

period  of  ?me  when  the  older,  grander  models  of  sanctuaries  no  longer  fully  serve  theneeds  of  their  congrega?ons  as  well  as  they  once  did  and,  two,  that  the  sanc?ty  of  aspace  can  depend,  in  varying  degrees,  on  both  the  design  and  inten?on  of  the  spaceitself  and  the  community  that  inhabits  it.    The  trip  was  led  by  Ms.  Frankel,  RabbiGreenberg  and  Rabbi  Belgrad.

White House, Gold MenorahRochelle Zell Sophomore Attends Presidential Lighting

Happy  Chanukah  from  the  White  House,  where  EliNasa\r  and  his  family  were  invited  to  the  annualChanukah  party  to  light  the  menorah  with  theObamas.    Eli  writes  from  Washington,  "The  WhiteHouse  Chanukah  celebra?on  was  an  incredibleexperience.  The  mee?ngs  showed  me  that  whileIsrael  and  the  USA's  rela?onship  is  some?mes  foggy,the  USA-­‐Jewish  rela?on  is  unques?onably  strong."

ConJew Students Learn About Israel on CampusRabbi Winberg Addresses Sophomores

Last  Friday,  Rabbi  Seth  Winberg,  the  Execu?ve  Director  of  Metro  Chicago  Hillel,  visitedContemporary  Judaism  class  to  speak  about  his  experiences  encountering  the  Boyco\,Divestment,  and  Sanc?ons  movement  on  college  campuses.  He  gave  a  broad  picture  of  the  climateon  several  campuses,  no?ng  the  challenges  that  students  might  face.  Rabbi  Winberg  noted  thatthis  BDS  movement  is  a  feature  on  most  campuses  and  being  aware  of  some  of  the  rhetoric  is  animportant  first  step  in  represen?ng  Israel.  He  encouraged  students  to  con?nue  being  nuanced  intheir  thinking  about  Israel,  even  in  the  midst  of  these  challenging  ?mes.    We  look  forward  tohearing  from  students  in  the  coming  weeks  about  their  experiences.

Driver's EdSign-Up Forms Coming for Freshmen and Sophomores

Please  be  on  the  lookout  for  the  Driver's  Ed  email  for  the  Spring  Semester.    Adams  School  ofDriving  will  be  holding  classes  at  Rochelle  Zell  Jewish  High  School  beginning  on  Thursday,  January21,  2016  from  4:10  p.m.  to  5:10  p.m.  and  on  select  dates.    In  order  to  enroll  in  these  classes  yourstudent  must  have  been  born  on  or  before  May  16,  2001.    If  you  have  any  ques?ons  regarding  theclasses,  please  call  Adams  School  of  Driving  at  847.965.6565  or  email  Janice  Dla\  atjdla\@cjhs.org.

Alumni Trivia

Happy  Chanukah  from  Anthony  Goldstein,  Luna  Lovegood,  and  therest  of  the  Harry  Po\er  fans!    ...And  has  anyone  seen  my  calculator?Which  of  our  Po\errific  alumni  played  "Luna"  almost  every  year  inthe  class  Purim  spiels,  performing  a  hilarious  sendup  of  herself  andher  lost  possessions?    And  where  is  she  now?

Studio Art Show Heller Nature Center | 2821 Ridge Rd., Highland Park

Ms.  Snyder’s  pain?ng  class  has  been  studying  textures  and  color  play  in  the  common  pineapple  aspart  of  their  ongoing  study  of  mindful  living,  and  taking  ?me  to  focus  on  what  ma\ersin  all  aspects  of  life.    As  Ms.  Snyder  says,  “The  pineapple  reminds  us  that  life  can  be  colorful,sweet,  tart  and  some?mes  prickly.”    The  studio  art  class  will  hosted  the  opening  recep?on  of  theirexhibit  "MINDFUL  DESIGN"  last  weekend  at  the  Heller  Nature  Center  in  Highland  Park,  so  come  onby  to  view  the  pain?ngs!    The  exhibit  will  be  up  for  all  of  December.

Renew Your Ventra Pass Today!Reduced Fare For Public Transportation

Students  who  use  Ventra  cards  must  RENEW  REDUCED  FARE  RIDING  PRIVILEGES  EVERY  SCHOOLYEAR.    Fill  out  this  form  and  email  it  to  idrazin@cjhs.org  for  the  school  to  place  its  official  seal  onthe  form  and  send  to  Ventra  Chicago.

Don't Delay! Apply Today!

Save  $500:  Apply  to  Rochelle  Zell  By  December  15,  2015All  incoming  freshmen  and  transfer  students  can  save  $500  ontui?on  when  they  submit  their  applica?on  for  admission  byDecember  15,  2015.  Click  here  to  begin  your  applica?on  today!

Happy Chanukah from the Parent Organization

Thank  you  to  Mar?ne  Gorstein  for  organizing  the  Faculty/StaffChanukah  fund.  Thanks,  too,  to  all  of  the  families  who  contributedin  support  of  our  amazing  faculty  and  staff.    On  Monday,December  14,  the  P.O.  will  provide  students  with  a  meat  lunch  incelebra?on  of  Chanukah.    Come  enjoy  hot  dogs,  burgers,  latkes,

and  sufganiyot.    Happy  Chanukah!  

Sponsored Breakfast

Thank  you  to  Oliver  Friedman's  family  for  sponsoring  breakfastlast  week  in  honor  of  the  staff.    (And  apologies  for  last  week's  errorin  repor?ng!)    If  you  would  like  to  sponsor  breakfast  in  honor  ofyour  favorite  Tiger,  contact  Diane  Zidman  at  dzidman@cjhs.org.

Community News and Events

Alumni Trivia

Madeleine  Mynae  ('13),  our  resident  ar?ste  and  coiffeusewhose  lost  calculator  achieved  comedic  propor?ons,  isstudying  crea?ve  wri?ng,  musical  composi?on,  and  digitalmedia  design  at  Lake  Forest  College,  as  well  as  being  asecond  chair  violinist  in  the  college  orchestra.  Maddie  isalso  a  designer  at  the  Lake  Forest  Costume  Shop  for  thetheatre.    Maddie  reports,  "I  also  recently  co-­‐hosted  and

researched  as  an  official  Digital  Research  Assistant  for  the  Andrew.  J.  MellonFounda?on  Conference  here  at  Lake  Forest.    I’m  also  planning  to  study  abroad  at  theRothberg  Interna?onal  School  at  Hebrew  University  next  fall."    Good  for  you,  Maddie!

A Taste of Torah: Mikketz

Parashat  Miketz  features  Joseph  as  the  prince  of  Egypt,  a  man  who  was  pulled  up  from  a  pit  to  bePharaoh’s  dream  interpreter  and  confidante.  Materially  he  has  everything.  Or  does  he?  In  the  middle  of  this  week’s  parasha,  his  brothers  sojourn  down  to  Egypt  to  search  for  food,because  there  is  a  famine  in  the  Land  of  Israel.  Joseph  recognizes  them,  but  they  do  not  recognizehim.  They  bow  down  to  him,  and  in  turn,  Joseph  speaks  harshly  to  them.  Seemingly,  Joseph  hastransformed  so  quickly  and  drama?cally  to  look  and  speak  like  an  Egyp?an,  he  is  unrecognizable  asthe  Hebrew  that  he  is.    Oddly,  Joseph  asks  the  brothers  to  go  back  to  Canaan  and  bring  theiryoungest  brother  with  them.  He  takes  Simeon  as  collateral  to  ensure  that  they  will  return.    He  willdo  this  again.  Upon  the  brothers’  return,  Joseph  has  a  minister  place  a  goblet  in  Benjamin’s  sackand  subsequently  accuses  the  brothers  of  stealing  from  him.  Naturally,  Joseph  discovers  this“stolen  item”  in  Benjamin’s  bag  and  says  that  Benjamin  must  go  to  jail.  The  ques?on  is  why  does  he  go  through  this  process?  Why  torture  his  brothers  in  this  fashion?Rabbi  Jonathan  Sacks  notes  that  one  might  think  that  this  is  out  of  spite,  a  measure-­‐for-­‐measureenactment  of  revenge,  a  reversal  of  power  dynamics,  and  an  anonymous  one,  at  that  (Not  in  God’sName).    But  Joseph  cries  privately  in  each  of  three  situa?ons:  when  he  first  sees  the  brothers;when  the  brothers  return;  and  aaer  Judah’s  passionate  speech  to  save  Benjamin,  where  he  offershimself  instead  of  his  youngest  brother.  As  Rabbi  Sacks  notes,  “there  is  no  malice  here”  (152).  Infact,  each  of  these  situa?ons  tears  him  apart  emo?onally  to  the  point  that  he  needs  to  step  asideand  not  let  his  brothers  see  him  distraught.  During  each  of  these  interac?ons,  Joseph  brings  his  brothers  through  the  process  of  teshuva.  AsRabbi  Sacks  suggests,  “Joseph  has  constructed  a  controlled  experiment  in  [Maimonides’  defini?onof]  ‘perfect  repentance.’”  He  puts  the  brothers  in  a  series  of  situa?ons  where  they  experienceprecisely  the  same  situa?ons  as  vic?ms  as  the  ones  that  they  afflicted  Joseph  with.    Finally,  in  nextweek’s  parasha,  Judah  is  willing  to  sacrifice  his  life  for  that  of  his  brother,  and  the  trial  is  over.  Of  utmost  importance,  Joseph  forgives  them  at  the  end  of  this  narra?ve.  But  the  brothers  do  notask  for  it  in  words.  Their  true  teshuva  illustrates  more  than  words  ever  could.  And  it  is  this  “moralgrowth,  on  which  the  biblical  vision  depends”  (156).  

Rabbi  Zachary  Silver

From All of Us at SchoolShabbat  Shalom  and  Chag  Chanukah  Sameach  fromall  of  us  here  at  Rochelle  Zell  Jewish  High  School!May  your  days  be  full  of  peace  and  your  homes  befull  of  light.

1095 Lake Cook Road Deerfield, IL 60015 | cjhstigers@cjhs.org | 847.470.6700