All around MTA, students have begun to drop used pairs of Nike basketball sneakers and Naot clogs into bins strategically placed throughout the hallways. The Shoe Drive is part of an extended effort to collect and distribute shoes to the needy – a particularly important effort as temperatures around New York City begin to drop. Donate a pair today!
Another tough debate topic will challenge our MTA debaters in their next competition. “It is resolved: New York State should institute a tax at least equal to the general sales tax on foods strongly associated with weight gain.”
We have been fortunate this year in having excellent speakers who have familiarity and knowledge of tough subjects. We are pleased this time that Dr. Ruth Bevan, chair of the political science department at Yeshiva University, will address our group and help us understand the broader implications of the topic. There is, of course, similarity to what Mayor Bloomberg instituted regarding smaller and larger sizes of beverages.
Anyone who is curious about the topic and wants to hear from a first-rate speaker and teacher can join the Debate Club on Monday night, 6:30, in the school library. Tryouts for the tournament will follow the presentation.
On Monday, Rabbi Beitler’s shiur had a special e-visit from three time University of Pennsylvania Quakers men’s basketball captain and their all-time school leader in assists, Zack Rosen. Rosen, who is currently a star of Maccabi Ashdod, skyped in from Israel and spoke to the students about his own incredible journey that led him from pro ball to religious Judaism. Rosen grew up unobservant in Colonia, NJ. He suffered a serious arm fracture in his junior year of high school and doctors told him that he would never be able to play again. But after working incredibly hard, he was able to overcome the odds and was back on the court just nine months later; he soon transferred to one of the elite high school basketball programs in the country (after MTA, of course!!) at Saint Benedict’s in Newark, NJ, where a number of his teammates ended up playing in the NBA. It was there, where he was just one of a small handful of Jewish students in the Catholic school, that he discovered himself and his Jewish faith by observing the faith of those around him following their own religion. Zack explained to the boys that sometimes it takes a yeridah to have an aliyah. We thank Zack for his time and for his incredibly inspiring words.
by Josh Blumenthal (’15)
On Monday, as part of MTA’s Spirit Month, there was a special 3 Point shooting contest for the entire school. Each shiur was represented by a shooter, two rebounders, and a passer. The championship round consisted of the top shooter from each grade. The winning shiur was Rabbi Soniker’s crew, led by sharpshooter Josh Matatov (’15), who scored 11 out of 15 total points to win the championship in a close finale.
On Sunday, the family of Leonard Grunstein, a respected figure in the New York City real estate community, dedicated a Sefer Torah to Yeshiva University in memory of his father, Morris Grunstein, a”h. The shiurim of Rabbi Tanchum Cohen and Rabbi Shimon Kerner had the honor to participate in the celebratory ceremony that took place, which featured a traditional march through the streets from Belfer Hall to the Glueck Beis Medrash, in which MTA students proudly held the four poles of the chuppah - along with family, university administration, and other students of the school. The Torah will be used for services at the university.
For the full article, please click here
 On Monday, students from the Sports Management club traveled to midtown for a private tour of ESPN’s New York studio, where they film the shows Olbermannand Around the Horn. After brief introductions to various members of the ESPN team, Dan Remin, Senior Editorial Graphics Producer for the Olbermann show and host of the tour, spoke to the students about the operations behind putting together each episode. The students were then treated to behind-the-scenes looks at the studio itself and the various control rooms. For more pictures, visit our Flickr. |
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| Yudi Bendahan, Tehilla’s uncle, learns in YU and came to Rabbi Gopin’s shiur to thank them on behalf of the family for their role in the successful surgery, and to give them chizzuk to continue the project. |
The talmidim from Rabbi Gopin’s Shiur have spread their special project,”No Talking for Tehilla,” to the entire Yeshiva. Over 200 members of the MTA family, including students and rebbeim, have now registered to refrain, bli neder, from talking during davening as a zechus for the complete recovery of Tehilla Bas Shoshana.
This is an unbelievable chessed for Tehilla and her family, as they draw inspiration just by knowing that even though they are 6,000 miles away in Israel, they are not alone. Indeed, there are people around the world who want to help out in any way that they can.
Tehilla had her third heart surgery last Thursday and is recovering. B”H, the surgery went well, but she is still in need of our tefillos.
| Chanukah – Dreidel – by Shir Soul |
Please check out the special Chanukah message from our own Mr. David Ross, MTA’s Music teacher, and his extremely talented a cappella group, “Shir Soul.”
Mr. Ross has been MTA’s Music teacher for the last 5 years. He formed “Shir Soul,” also about five years ago, together with Jesse Shore, Jeremy Schonzeit, and David Droze.
The Lions headed to Paramus to take on the Frisch Cougars, hoping for a repeat of their first meeting this season, when the Lions won 4-2.
From the start, the Lions worked the large court well, connecting on many passes. Captain Ami Rosenfeld scored his first of two goals on a power play with a rocket from the point. Frisch quickly came back with a goal of their own, but Ezra Quint then put one past Frisch’s goalie to make it 2-1.
To seal the game in the third, after Daniel Yager pulled a beautiful move and rang a shot off the post, Ami was there to put in the rebound and extend the lead to 3-1.
The Lions are in strong position entering the winter break and stand with a record of 7-4.
Dear Parents, Students, and Faculty,
As you know, many people all over the world do not have the means of providing their families with enough food or clothing.
I would like to introduce an amazing opportunity that we should all be taking advantage of.
Funds2orgs enables United States organizations to collect new, gently-used shoes. YUHSB students will be partnering with them and joining their Flash Drive, which aims to collect at least 300 bags of shoes, containing 25 pairs each. After collecting the shoes, funds2orgs delivers them to micro enterprises who distribute them to vendors in developing countries.
As an added incentive for us, for every 300 bags filled, funds2orgs gives YUHSB $3,000.
We are calling on you to take part in this initiative. Check your closets, reach out to your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers for shoes that they no longer use. Try to get 25 pairs so that you personally can fill a bag. Drop off boxes are located near the office and on every floor of YUHSB.
Thank you in advance for your participation and great success in helping fund the students’ future.
If you have any questions or need additional information, do not hesitate to contact Beth Gorin 212-960-5489 or beth.gorin@yu.edu.
We appreciate your support of Yeshiva University High School for Boys.
Yours,
Beth R. Gorin
Director of Institutional Advancement
