The Flame

Magen David High School Student Newspaper

December 28th, 2012/ Tevet 5773

STUDENT OF THE WEEK

YACHAD SHABBATON
BY NATHAN HASBANI AND ALISON COHEN
We are all one. We have all heard these lyrics, but what do they really mean? This past weekend, more than a hundred high school students became one and truly understood what the meaning is behind those lyrics. The students were involved in a Shabbaton led by Ms. Nasar and Ms. Nadjar and many amazing volunteer students such as Charles Dana, Alison Cohen, Frieda Kassab, and Leo Esses. Throughout the week, these students went around to classrooms trying to recruit students to be more involved in this special program. After signing more than a hundred students for the annual Shabbaton, they spent the weekend proudly reciting Dvar Torahs with Yachad members, and sitting in a big Yachdute circle playing many games where everyone got to know one another. Yachad members taught cheers to our high school students, and quickly made friends. Everyone really had a blast. Those who participated in the Shabbaton didnt only learn more about Yachad members, but they also learned more about their own high school students. The Shabbaton was structured with a Dvar Torah given by Ricky Cohen, followed by a ballgame. Everyone then said Kiddush and had dinner. Afterwards, we sang songs and played games that helped us get to know one another. Soon after we were taught cheers, heard another Dvar Torah given by a Yachad member, and had dessert. Some special events the next morning were the Jewish version of the game Headbandz and a Parashat Hashavua trivia game. After lunch, we mingled even more and played even more games. It was truly an incredible weekend. We had an amazing turnout, and the Yachad members couldnt have been any happier. Thank you all for coming and participating, and making this weekend one to remember. Bezrat Hashem we can look forward to many more Yachad programs in the future!

Gabrielle Sabbagh
Senior, Blood Drive Organizer
By: Gloria Safdieh and Esther Hanon

Q: Why did you decide to volunteer for the MDYHS blood drive? A: I decided to volunteer for the blood drive because I couldnt donate myself. I knew that if I couldnt help by actually giving blood, I would try to help in some other way. Q: How many people donated blood? Q: What was your job at the blood A: We had 71 students donate, drive? which means we got 71 pints of A: My job was to schedule stu- blood. dent, teacher, and alumni appointments to donate blood. The day of Q: What are common after-effects the blood drive I made sure the of donating that usually occur? schedules were on time and that A: After donating, many students those who scheduled appoint- feel week or tired. That is why we ments were there at the correct try to make sure they eat, drink, time to donate. and relax to prevent fainting or dizziness. Q: What are the requirements needed to become a donor? Q: Whats the process involved in A: To be a donor, one is required donating blood? to be a certain weight as well as A: If you are trying to donate you not have low blood pressure or need to register first. Once you low iron. They cant be sick or on register, you then move on to medication either. A lot goes into medical to make sure youre an making sure each donor is a good eligible candidate. After that, you candidate for giving blood. go on to the actual blood donation.

Q: Who receives the blood donations? Which organization(s) does the drive benefit? A: The New York Blood Center collects the blood our students donate. The blood goes to people in hospitals who need it for any reason.

Q: Have you ever donated blood before? A: Personally, I am not allowed to donate which is one of the main reasons why I help run this blood drive. Q. What do people say is the hardest part of donating blood? A: Pushing yourself to do it in the first place is probably the hardest part, but once you do the rest isnt so bad. Q: How would you encourage others to donate blood if they are hesitant or afraid? A: When people are afraid to donate, I usually take them to where the other students are donating to show them that they are fine. Once they see that, they are usually more comfortable to do it too. Also, once you explain how donating can save 3 lives, students usually ease up to it.

Reminders and Announcements

Home School Sports Events For December 28hJanuary 11th Varsity Basketball: Thursday, January 8th JV Basketball: Thursday, January 3rd Varsity Hockey: Wednesday, January 2nd JV Hockey: Wednesday, January 2nd 8:30PM Warriors VS Ohr Hatorah 7:30PM Warriors VS Derech Hatorah 9PM Warriors VS DRS 7:30PM Warriors VS DRS Reminders from the College Office for December: December 25th College Career Breakfast for 11th Graders Birthdates: Test Make-Up Dates: Wednesday, January 2nd Monday, January 7th 12/29 Jennifer Harari, Nicole Sitt, Frieda Gindi, Rachel Sardar 12/31 Michael Liniado 1/1 Jack Sardar 1/2 Charles Dana, Orly Abadia 1/5 Marie Betesh : 1/6 Alicen Franco 1/7 Aaron F. Harari, Lorraine Franco 1/10 Esther Cohen, Rachel Cohen

Candle Lighting Times For December 28th-January 11th Friday, December 28th Friday, January 4th Friday, January 11th 4:18 PM 4:24 PM 4:30 PM

Page 2 The Flame December 28, 2012

Editorials

STAFF
Editors: Editing Staff: Abraham Tobias, Paulette Gindi Ceasar Sitt, Raymond Dayan, Jonathan Cohen, Julie Swed, Judah Djmal, Joseph Zalta Jennifer Jemal Maurice Elbaz, Jack Nasar, Suzy Roubin, Alice Khaski, Esther Hanon, Gloria Safdieh, Sarah Mamrout, Evana Said, Rachel Faiena, Nathan Hasbani, Abie Chabbott, Hannah Cohen, Raquel Salem, Ralph Shalom, Renee Cohen, Tina Roubin Jack Beyda, Benny Mann, Ally Menasche, Albert Zalta Florence Catton, Dennis Dweck, Lisa Chak kalo, David Zafarani, Frieda Kassab Evana Said, Shoshana Louzia, Rachel Sar dar, Jeffrey Grazi Mrs. Rachel Harari

wo weeks ago today, our country faced a grave tragedy. Adam Lanza, a troubled young man, shot his way into an elementary school killing 26 innocent civilians, 20 of them first graders. The age-old question facing this tragedy is, if there was an increase in gun control would this tragedy have been avoided? In contrast, if gun control was more lax and a teacher possessed a gun would that have saved all the innocent bloodshed? The argument of gun control goes a long way back. One side states that if gun control were to increase, especially in Connecticut where they are even more lax with their rules, then maybe Adam Lanzas mother would not have had the guns and therefore Lanza would not have had access to the lethal weapons. There is no reason for anyone to be carrying around the same gun that was used in the army, and therefore a more mild law would be to deny the right for people to carry assault weapons. Semi automatic guns are lethal and unnecessary to the common citizen, and it is what enabled Lanza to murder so many. Those who support more lenient gun laws believe that if it were so, someone in that school would have shot down the gunman before he could have killed so many. To support their argument they allude to the Virginia Tech shooting; the day a man came into the school killing many and injuring even more. One of the victims who was shot four times lived and stated in an interview that he is a gun holder himself. Had he been able to bring his gun to school he could have saved many lives. Albeit the fact that this argument seems very strong, studies and tests have proven that under a lot of pressure and surprise it is unlikely someone would be able act in time, making carrying a gun more potentially harmful than safe. In the study, the researchers used paintball guns and gave select students arms to protect themselves and their peers. Each person they gave a gun to failed to act in time and save anyone. The gun got stuck in their shirts or they froze on the spot. All in all, gun control security should increase. If we prevent people from obtaining guns, we are preventing them from using guns. The best thing we can do is to increase security in public places and not allow just anyone to obtain such a lethal weapon. Before allotting guns to the public, sellers must do a substantial background check to check mental health and family history. Do New Years resolutions make an impact on ones year? A New Years resolution is a commitment one makes within himself, to aim for a personal or goal or change a habit. Resolutions are meant to anticipate a brand new beginning to a new year. Pretty much everyone has attempted to sticking to a resolution, but has anyone every lasted a whole year? My personal record was about a week, when I promised I would stick to a healthier diet isnt that pretty much every girls New Years resolution? So, whats the point of a resolution if it only lasts a week or so? Even though its rare for one to hold on to his/her resolution throughout the year, does it actually make an impact on the year? A resolution doesnt only refer to starting something new and changing your inner self your own sake, but also quitting a bad habit for your own good. Even though it may not last long, it gives you time to reflect and navigate your own personal flaws to get a clearer vision of who you are aiming to become. Even though its difficult to stick with one goal, maybe try making the goal less broad. Instead of saying, I will stop eating junk food every day, change that to, I will cut down my junk food intake to one snack a day. Making a resolution more specific may help you recognize that you cant change yourself drastically overnight. Instead, you will need to take small steps. Why do some people think that just because they failed to stay with their resolution they have to wait until the new upcoming year to start again? Every day is a new chance to try again, and its extremely important to notice that. Every day you should make a resolution for yourself. Not only once a year! A few tips to help you with your goals: 1. Be specific 2. Write it down somewhere so you wake up to it 3. Review it constantly 4. Recognize that only you can achieve what you want 5. Never give up! If you want to ask a lot from yourself, it helps to give a lot to yourself. Dream big, aim small! -Paulette Gindi

7801 Bay Parkway Brooklyn, New York 11214 Rabbi Harold Sutton Rosh Yeshivah Rabbi Saul Zucker Principal Mrs. Sabrina Maleh Associate Principal

Photographers: Reporters:

Sports Staff:

Advice Column:

Creative Staff:

Faculty Advisor:

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS The Magen David Yeshivah-Celia Esses High School admits student of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school programs.

Your SGO has been working as hard as ever between seminar this weekend and our next semester approaching! The new MDY apparel samples are in, and I am sure you all saw the order forms hanging across the atrium! Order forms are due soon, so please hand them in to any SGO member. With Shirya this past week, I think we all felt the school spirit and unity amongst one another. Each of the teams was really amazing and it was such a beautiful sight to see all the performances and banners. If any senior girl is interested in helping out making challot (you can get hours!) please contact Rosie Mosseri.

We are especially excited to spend this weekend on Junior-Senior seminar. We hope everyone enjoys the PASSIONED filled weekend. It will definitely be an unforgettable experience. Lastly, if you have any pictures from any school events please send them to MDYSGO@mdyhs.net anytime throughout the year. We love to post the pictures on our school blog and Instagram account. And, as usual, if you have anything whatsoever you would like to talk to us about please come on over! Your SGO Secretary, Renee Cohen

A Message from Your SGO

By: Renee Cohen

Dvar Torah
By Hannah Cohen Prayer is a very personal thing, and it means many things to many different people. In this weeks Parasha, Yoseph is summoned to his father Yaakov with news that his father is ill. Yoseph brings his two sons, Efraim and Menashe, with him to receive Yaakovs blessing. Yaakov says, I never thought it possible that I might see you, and Gd has even shown me your children. Rabbi Hirsh comments on Yaakovs words, I had not thought possible. He points out that the root word is pelal (pey, lamed, lamed) and related to the word Tefilah, prayer. The root word is also related to the word belal which means to mix two substances together. Rabbi Hirsh teaches us: Prayer is a time of reflection on truths, which in turn become part of our essential being. Jewish prayer involves rituals and public actions (not just pouring ones heart) and they are filled with ideas which make us express principles we live by everyday. If prayer was only based on our desires within, it would only happen when someone has the desire. There is a parable: A king decrees all requests of subjects will be honored. A subject asks to meet with the king three times daily. His request is granted and he is allowed to take whatever he wants from the treasures. Just like we have the opportunity to pray to Hashem whenever we want and must pray to him daily (more than once), Hashem tries to help us everyday and answer us. We are the subject and Hashem is the king. We should be honored to pray to Hashem, the king, whenever we want. Final week is coming up, we should all keep in mind the strength of prayer. Pray to Hashem to succeed on the finals.

December 28, 2012 The Flame Page 3

ASK DENNIS AND FLO

MDYHS Advice Column E-mail Questions: thepress@mdyhs.net

Dear Dennis and Flo, I already used 7 absent days but there are still 6 months left of school! What should I do? -Broken Alarm Clock

SEND
A Book Review by Adele Sutton
Broken Alarm Clock, Tell your mom to sign for you giving valid reasons why you were absent. If you have good reasons youre allowed to go over the 12. Trust me. If there are no reasons, give your friend your school ID and let them swipe for you. :) Best regards, Dennis Dweck
By Ralph S. Betesh When it comes to tragedies, the newspapers and news channels usually blame some other form of media for the occurrence. After the terrible shootings in Sandy Hook Elementary School, the media blamed video games for their violence. But are they really the cause of tragedies such as these? Lets take some examples of how the media blamed video games for Adam Lanzas recent shooting rampage. The U.K. tabloids put Adam Lanza on the front page with big, bold white letters that say, Killers Call of Duty Obsession. They follow it up with a two page spread and put the words in huge, white and black bordered letters that say, Black Ops Bunker, making sure the reader cant miss it. They claim that Call of Duty had a direct link with his rampages. Lanza was very excited about the game in the past eight months. He followed details on the game, watched trailers, and read and wrote reviews. He even wrote positive reviews on the game himself! The Daily Express writes, Chillingly, his favorite video game was said to be a shockingly violent fantasy war game called Dynasty Warriors which is thought to have given him inspiration to act on his darkest thoughts. Dynasty Warriors is a game based on the romance of the Three Kingdoms novels. This game has no blood of any sort. No decapitation, no removal of limbs, and it is impossible to kill people they just run away and come back later! This game is played in cartoonish-like graphics. The closest thing you can get to a gun in this game is a wooden cannon. So this game provoked him? I think not. Some people have also said that the video game Mass Effect was the cause of his actions because Lanzas brother had the audacity to like the Facebook page. People called for the game to be banned with no knowledge on what it was or who was even playing it. Meanwhile, this game is about a character who is tormented throughout the whole game by the needless death of a single child. And this is the game that encouraged the massacre of school children? The newspapers know that what they are saying is incorrect. They know exactly what these games are. They will do almost anything to sell some copies or get some more advertisements. There is no proof that video games cause violence, and studies prove this. The Secret Service completed a study a few years ago on school shooters. It showed that 37% exhibited an interest in violent writings, poems, essays, or journals. 27% exhibited an interest in violent movies, and 24% exhibited an interest in violent books. The smallest percentage exhibited an interest in violent video games, 12%. This does not prove that violent writings cause this kind of behavior, but it does prove that video game violence is the least popular form of entertainment for school shooters. The Washington Post Blog made a graph of video game consumption and murders in ten countries. They attempted to find some link. What this graph shows is that the line does correlate in any way, shape, or form.

Dear Broken Alarm Clock, Go buy a new alarm clock that will work and make sure to put it on loud so that you wake up. Also, dont worry. For the second term you get 5 more absent days. Use them wisely! -Flo

Send by Patty Blount was one of the The book teaches the reader that bullymost amazing books I have ever read. There is a lot ing is wrong, but also that people cannot be defined of meaning to it and I think you will all enjoy it. by one mistake. The relationship between Dan and Julie is a special relationship that not many people Dan is a senior, new to town. He wants are fortunate to have. Throughout the book, Dan to fit in and lay low for his last year in high school. will learn how to deal with his past and that he cant Those dreams are destroyed when he stops a bully run from his mistakes. from beating up a kid. He knows that it means to bully someone because he used to be one. Every page will leave you begging to read more. The book is written in a way that will All he wants is to forget everything make you feel like youre part of the book and one what he did and the fact that he was in juvenile. of the characters. It will definitely stay on your mind Just start over. But once he meets Julie, she chang- way after you put it down. es his life. She looks at him like she knows he is hiding something.

Crime and Video Games: Is There a Link?

Dear Dennis and Flo, Majority of my friends are all in a different class, and I have being feeling very left out. I am not a part of a lot of their inside jokes and sometimes they will get together to study and I am not included. What should I do? -Lonely

Lonely, Buy a dog. Truthfully, it sounds like a girl problem so just listen to Flo Ya boy D-Eazy!

Dear Lonely,

Why don't you tell them how you feel? If they are true friends then they will make sure to include you in the future. You should also start to make new friends with the students in your class. Being friends with everyone is a great quality. Then you will also be able to study with your class friends and enjoy it!
-Flo

Russos Philosophy

Be thankful for what you have; youll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you dont have, you will never, ever have enough ~Oprah Winfrey This quote means that if you are thankful for the things that you have and you really appreciate them, then your life becomes so full and rich and you will never feel empty. On the other hand, if you are not thankful for the things that you have, your life will always feel empty. You will never feel like you have enough. There will always be something more you can get the newest iPad, piece of clothing, jewelry, etc. Change your mentality. Instead of always wanting, take a minute to see what good is already around you. Trust me you will feel like you have more than enough.

CNN News stated that Lanza played Starcraft Two and that may have caused him to start a school shooting. Meanwhile, South Korea turns Starcraft into a televised event and they take it very seriously. Would you like to know how many school shootings happened in South Korea this year? Zero. You know how many school shootings happened in South Korea throughout history? Zero. There are mountains upon mountains of evidence that show that video game violence is not the cause of crimes. But in every school shooting, the shooter is mentally disturbed. We sadly do not know what influenced Lanza to do these things. What the media does though, is use other forms of media as scapegoats. Bear in mind that it is in the medias best interest to blame its competition. Yes, the news is competition with video games. Teens are still watching news, but less often on TV. They should not be making profit by blaming other forms of media. Look at facts and listen to what you are hearing! Dont fall for the ideas of the mass media.

Page 4 The Flame December 28, 2012

MDYHS Fashion News

Hi everyone! This week, we had our students vote on who they felt should win the title of being:

Best Dressed Faculty and Staff

The winners are Mrs. Cymet and Mrs. Levy for best dressed female faculty, and Mr. Bonica and Rabbi Zucker for best dressed male faculty. Check out our interviews with the winners!

Mrs. Cymet

Where do you shop? Im not a good shopper. Sometimes I shop in the city when I really need things at Bloomingdales, Zara, and Saks when they are on sale only. Do you have a favorite piece of clothing? I dont have any favorite thing. My only worry with clothing is for it to be appropriate for my age. Being a mother, a grandmother, and especially a teacher, I need to dress appropriately because I teach through example. How do you get ideas? I dress myself, for myself. I have a conservative way of dressing. Im not avant-garde. Do you have any fashion advice? Yes. For all the students of MDY, instead of copying the people off the street you should keep the ways with Tziniut and the Jewish way of dressing.

Jennifer Harari

MDYHS Poll Please vote on which trends you think will be most popular in 2013. Camouflage Knee Socks Leg Warmers Colorful Cardigans Opposite Ombre (darker on bottom) Dark Lipstick Scarves with hoods Suede Leggings Rainboots comeback Beanies

Favorite Store? H&M (even though they dont have great cardigans) and Banana Republic Favorite Color? Orange, but I dont wear it because it doesnt look good. So what colors do look good together? I tend to wear grey and black, or tan and navy. Do you have any fashion advice? Yes. Boys should not be wearing any tight jeans or anything too baggy. They should find a proper medium. They should wear belts, an undershirt, and when it comes to cologne less is more. If you spray half the bottle of Axe, youre doing something wrong. How do you feel about jewelry? No jewelry. The only accessory should be a watch.

Mr. Bonica

Do you pick out your clothes from the night before? No, I pick out my clothes in the morning. It doesnt take me long to get dressed. Do you have a favorite store? Yes, I love Loehmanns. Do you change your jewelry often? Yes, I change my jewelry every day. Whats your favorite color clothing? I like chocolate brown and black. I also like that combination for my nails. Do you have any inspiration? No, I dress for myself and people even ask me to go shopping with them!

Mrs. Levy

E-mail your answers to thepress@mdyhs.net. Results will be posted in our next issue!

Where do you shop? I shop at Century 21 (of course!) Do you have a favorite piece of clothing? Yes, a blue tie that my grandson got for me. Where do you get your inspiration? I dont really look for ideas, I just think that the classic, enduring styles are nice. Do you have any advice? I think you should use your own sense about clothing. If there is a fad and you dont really like it, dont wear it just because others are doing so. Is it true you were voted best dressed when you were in high school? Yes, I was voted best dressed in high school! Hard to believe, huh?

Rabbi Zucker

School Inspired Submissions

Last week MDY had a lockdown rehearsal. We hired a detective to find out where some of the teachers were during the lockdown. By: Zachary Mosseri and Leo Sorcher Detective: Where were you at 3:30 on Wednesday, Dec. 19th? Rabbi Baredes: Praying Arbit Rabbi Zucker: Get to class NOW!! Mrs. Cymet: Espaol por favor Rabbi Scheinfeld: Planning Shirya 2015 and writing e-mails. Rabbi Haber: Shabbat Shalom! Wait! The interviews not over! Dr. Hadar: Chilling with Gilad Mrs. Saad: Dunkin Donuts, obv. Mrs. Harari: Tweeting Ms. Nasar: Hanging with Ms. Mishanieh Ms. Mishanieh: Hanging with Ms. Nasar Mr. Bonica: Sweater shopping Rabbi Fine: Where am I? Mr. Rabinow: Ironing my lab coat Mr. Benas: Looking for a new classroom Mrs. Auman: Being the cutest teacher in the world Dr. Dearson: Taking digits Rabbi Lebowitz: Where were YOU at 3:30 on Wednesday, December 19th? Mrs. S. Maleh: Just e-mail your questions at sexymoose@aol.com

All of us may not notice, but high school passes by in the blink of an eye. We should embrace the time we have here because it is limited. These years are the greatest of all, although we may not realize it now. If only this year would never end, We wouldnt have to lose our best friend. Weve taken in so much throughout the years, Now were saying goodbye with tears. Were now ready for the final step, Of taking all we learnt and hoping for the best. Even though weve accomplished so much and more Doesnt mean we dont have much for us in store. Life is about learning, achieving, and succeeding, Although our soul is what truly keeps us going so dont stop believing Shoshana Louzia

December 28, 2012 The Flame Page 5

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

Exam Schedule: January 2013
Monday Tuesday
1st

Advice from Your Grade Deans

Friday
3rd 4th

Wednesday
2nd

Thursday

Rabbi E. Bitton: Make sure to shut your phone off and go to a quiet area to study. Do it in sections and take short breaks after roughly 45 minutes. Keep calm and ask Hashem to help you retain what you learn! Mrs. Goldberg: Make an organized schedule for studying: Similar to your daily schedule, create an hour by hour schedule for yourself. Also, be sure to go to bed and get enough rest. You are in charge ! Rabbi Tawil: Plan out which day(s) you will study for each exam. Studying for two things in a day doesnt work; you will just be giving each subject 50% effort. Arrange your notes. Make sure you have what you need NOW! Mrs. Muller: Students should make sure now that they have all the notes for each subject and that they have handed in all the required assignments for every class. Review every night what you learn every day so the material wont be so difficult when you study for finals. Rabbi Elnadav: Study during the daytime. This is when you are used to learning, and so this is really the best time for you to study. Dont cram the night before.

Special Schedule: Review Classes end 12:45

Spanish 9BH (Pd. M) Spanish 9B1 (Pd. D) Computers 9GH (Pd. M) Computers 9G1 (Pd. K) Computers 9G2 (Pd. Linstead of Safe) Spanish 10BH (Pd. I) Oral Trad. 10BH (Pd. N) Spanish 10B1 (Pd. L) Spanish 10GH (Pd. C) Entrep. 10GH (Pd. L) Entrep. 10G1 (Pd. L) J. Law 12G (Rabbi Fine, Ms. Falack, Ms. Nadjars classes)

Computers 9BH (Pd. Minstead of Span) Computers 9GH (Pd. C) Oral Trad. 9GH (Pd. K) Spanish 9GH (Pd. N) Spanish 9G2 (Pd. M) Entrep. 10BH (Pd. N) Entrep. 10B1 (Pd. L) Entrep. 10B2 (Pd. M) Oral Trad. 10GH (Pd. M) Entrep. 10G2 (Pd. C) Torah 11BH (Pd. N) AP Spanish Business Law Mandarin Chinese Physics Principles of Investment Psychology AP Street Law

Oral Trad. 9BH (Pd. E) Computers 9B1 (Pd. Dinstead of Span) Spanish 9G1 (Pd. C) Spanish 10B2 (Pd. I) Oral Trad. 11GH (Pd. A) J. Law 12GH (Ms. Suttons class) Human Pathology

2:30 Dismissal

7th

8:00 AM Minyan 9:30 11:00 AM Talmud 9 & 10 boys Torah 9 & 10 girls (no Acad.girls) 11:45 AM 1:15 PM Talmud 11 & 12 boys Torah 11 & 12 girls(no Acad.girls)

8th

8:00 AM Minyan 9:30 11:00 AM J.Philo.11&12(Acad.Torah 11& 12) 11:45 AM 1:15 PM J. History 9 & 10 girls Torah 9& 10 boys (and Acad.10 girls)

9th

8:00 AM Minyan 9:30 11:00 AM J. Law 9 & 10

10th

8:00 AM Minyan 9:30 11:00 AM Algebra Geometry Academy Math 10

11th

Spanish 10G1 (Pd. A) Spanish 10G2 (Pd. C) AP Biology AP Statistics Art History Business Law Chemistry AP Creative Writing Music Appreciation Nutrition (Bklyn. College class) Principles of Investment Psychology AP Small Business Management Street Law

Mrs. Cohen: Map out a study schedule. Plan to study for each final more than a day in advance. Sleep well and eat protein! Rabbi Tobias: Briefly look over your notes prior to the night before. Give yourself the opportunity to review the information while classes are still in session so that you can ask the teacher any questions you have. Mrs. Tawil: Use the last few classes before finals to make sure you have all the material, sources, and information you need for that exam. It will be very hard to reach the teachers and gather any missing things the day before the test!

11:45 AM 1:15 PM Navi 11 Navi 12 girls (and Acad. boys) Torah 12 boys 2:00 3:30 PM English 11 & 12

11:20 AM 12:50 PM Trigonometry Calculus, Pre-Calculus College Algebra Core Math 12 Senior Math 12 Academy Math 11

2:00 3:30 PM English 9 & 10

8:00 AM Minyan 9:30 11:00 AM J. Law 11 & 12

14th

8:00 AM Minyan 9:30 11:00 AM Navi 9 & 10

15th

8:00 AM Minyan 9:30 11:00 AM Biology Chemistry Earth Science Nutrition

16th

Advice from Top Students

Dont stress over finals. Breathe, everything will be okay. Organize your notes before the final comes and dont wait until the last minute. If you have time, make a review sheet for subjects you arent doing so well in. -Stella Sadaka, Sophomore Start photocopying other peoples notes from now so youre not stressed out the day before the final. Get a good nights sleep, because pulling an all-nighter will do nothing for you. Just remember: Dont freak out over studying. You will gain nothing that way. -Hannah Cohen, Junior Managing your time while studying for each final is very important, especially if you have two finals in one day. Many finals might cover lots of info so keep track of time while taking the final. They will soon be over! Hang in there! -Esther Hanon, Senior Just take it one day at a time. Every day, study for the final you will be taking the next day. When its over, we have a nice vacation. Joseph Kassin, Senior

11:45 AM 1:15 PM Ivrit 9 & 10

11:45 AM 1:15 PM Ivrit 11 (Acad. J.History 11) Ivrit 12 girls J. History 12 boys (and Acad girls) 2:00 3:30 PM US History 11 US Government 12

2:00 3:30 PM Global Studies 9 & 10 AP World History 10

Quiz: Whats Your Study Style?

1. a) b) c) 2. a) b) c) 3. a) b) c) 4. a) b) c) 5. a) b) c) 6. a) b) c) 7. a) b) c) 8. a) b) c) 9. a) b) c) 10. a) b) c) When you read: You check to see how many pages you have left You highlight from time to time You take notes At 1:00 AM the night before a big exam, you are: Sleeping On Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook (if anyone still uses that) Reviewing notes for the millionth time You have your third cousins wedding in Shaare Zion the night before a midterm. You: Go to the wedding! You two are so close kind of. I mean you say hi when you see her Study extra the night before Sacrifice going to study You consider Ariel Cohens summer courses: A nightmare to be avoided at all costs! An opportunity to accept failure Whos Ariel Cohen? You start working on a paper: Midnight before its due Two days before its due A week before its due The library is: A funny word that starts with the letter L A good place to do last minute work Your home away from home Your biggest accomplishment so far is: You have achieved the cutting record Bridge class NBD Honor roll every semester You mainly use your iPhone to: Snapchat Stay in touch with friends Use the dictionary app! Or thesaurus. When you get to a difficult question in your homework, you: Close the book and check your Fantasy Football scores Skip the question and ask your friend to help you during lunch These are your favorite! You work them out until you get the right answer! You knew you could do it! Your daily supply list could be described as: A sweatshirt pocket with one unsharpened pencil and a crumbled up tissue One notebook with a pen you found on the desk the period before Two five-subject notebooks, one for Judaic subjects and one for secular, a pack of Sharpie pens to color coordinate your notes, an expanding filing folder, and six different size packs of Post-its.

See last page of the paper for results!

Stay focused and on topic while studying. Make sure you set a study schedule and have all of your notes for the class you are studying for. Studying with groups of friends is a great idea so you can help one another. -Jack Beyda, Sophomore Get all your things together for each subject and make a booklet. This way, you wont have papers flying everywhere and you wont have to wonder where to start! -Lorry Louzeh, Sophomore

Advice from Your Teachers

Studying for finals is not difficult if you start now. Outline the main points of the chapters you know will be on the exam. Define words and terms you do not fully understand. Then I suggest you review your notes and old homework assignments. Do not wait until the last minute. Get a good nights sleep and you will be ready. Good Luck! -Mr. Randall Dont worry about finals its only a test! Pretend you are on vacation just kidding! Plan your study so that you do least cramming possible, and then take a deep breath, stay calm, and do your best. It really is just a test. And, believe it or not, we want you to do well. -Mrs. Ullman

Contrary to popular belief, late night and last minute cramming never works; in fact, statistics show that it might cause more harm than good. My advice: Relax, and take a break. The less stress the better. A treat like Caramel Macchiato sprinkled with some good ol praying can make the difference. Good Luck! Rabbi M. Bitton

Page 6 The Flame December 28, 2012

RACHEL VS EVANA
STUDENT DEBATE COLUMN
Topic: Should students be required to stay in the exam room a full hour if they finish a final early?

Con
Students should not have to stay after they finish their test because its simply unfair. I know the feeling where you finish your test and you are just staring at the clock watching every minute pass by, waiting for the teacher to collect the exam. next final or relaxing after the stressful day. There is no reason for students to stay in the room for a full hour, even if they finish the exam before then. The time is for people who need it, and when other students are in the room staring at the wall or the clock it distracts the students who are still taking the exam.

Pro
Many students immediately answer that they feel it is totally unfair to require students to stay in the exam room a full hour after it begins, even if they finish the test early. They feel it is just another way for teachers to torture students. While I definitely do think its annoying, I can understand why we arent allowed to leave early and I believe it makes a lot of sense. Firstly, a student who gets out early could somehow either text or find another way to get an answer to his/her friends still taking the test. Students may say that thats crazy and they would never do that, but the school has to be extra cautious. It also gives students a chance to relax and calm down after taking such an important and nervewracking test. If students were required to take two tests in one day, and were told right away to start the second after finishing the first, they would most likely get stressed and freak out. By having students stay for a full hour, the school is actually helping. Instead of taking two tests in a shorter time period, they now have the opportunity to do their best on both finals. Also, when students know they are required to stay a full hour they tend not to rush through it. This helps students relax and answer more questions slowly and correctly. If there was no required limit to stay in the classroom, students would be rushing through the test to just hand it in and leave early! -Evana Said

I know the feeling where you keep going over your answers, overanalyzing them and changing Teachers need to undersome around because there is simpstand that there are fast test takers. ly nothing else to do. Most of the Think about how students feel and time, the initial answer was right! how they could be spending their I also know the feeling time! where you think the teacher doesnt -Rachel Faiena make any sense by not letting you speak after you turn in your test. It is very annoying waiting for the time to pass. In that time you are waiting, you could be home studying for the

Who is the winner? Tell us who you think won this debate! E-mail: thepress@mdyhs.net Twitter: @MDYFlame

Nutrition & Health

By Frances C. Mamiye and Michelle Catton
Snacking! We all do it. After school, everyone walks in and aims for the kitchen. Most of the time we eat the first thing we see, which tends to be ready made cookies, cakes, potato chips, etc. We forget how many calories we are actually consuming because we are so hungry. At that point its easy to consume half of your days calories just on snacks. Then, half an hour later you start to get hungry and you wonder why you just had a snack. Well, here is the answer: When you eat snacks that have no nutritional value they will not keep you full for a long amount of time. We are here to show you the right choices to make. 1. Think before you eat. First, think about whether or not the food you are about to eat has any nutritional value that will keep you full until dinner, or is it food something that will pass right through you? Have pre-cut fruits and vegetables stored in your fridge. This way, healthy items will be the first thing you grab to eat, and they will actually satisfy you. Eat a 100 Calorie Snack or something with high fiber, which should keep you full until dinner without overdoing the caloric intake. Try apples and peanut butter, a healthy snack with a ton of nutritional value and protein.

Madeleines Baking Corner

Tiramisu
Ingredients 2 cups cold milk 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix 1 cup heavy whipping cream 3 tablespoons confectioners sugar 18 ladyfingers, split 2-1/2 teaspoons instant coffee granules 1/2 cup boiling water 1 tablespoon baking cocoa

In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. In a small bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners sugar; beat until soft peaks form. Fold into pudding; cover and refrigerate.

2. 3. 4.

Arrange half of the ladyfingers cute side up in an 11-in. x 7-in. dish. Dissolve coffee granules in boiling water; drizzle half over the ladyfingers. Spread with half of the pudding mixture. Repeat layers. Sprinkle with cocoa. Refrigerate until serving.

15 Most Ridiculous Reactions to Hearing Someone is a Vegan As George Bernard Shaw once said, I do not want to make my stomach a graveyard of dead animals. I agree! I have been a vegan for about a year and every time someone hears this they say some very ridiculous things. These are the top 15. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. I tried being vegan once, but I got very sick and almost died. If Gd didnt want us eating animals then whyd he make them out of meat? What if eggs came from a chicken you rescued? Would you eat them? If we stopped eating animal products, then animals would have no reason to live. But doesnt P.E.T.A. stand for People Eating Tasty Animals? Have you ever stepped on an ant? Then youre not really vegan! I hate animal cruelty but meat is so delicious! You secretly eat meat, don't you? When are you going to start eating like a normal person again? If we only ate plants then there wouldnt be any more oxygen and we would all die of oxygen deprivation. Quick! No ones looking just try it! If we don't eat animal then they will eat us! Youre not going to force your children to be vegan are you? Thats child abuse. If everyone went vegan then there would be a worldwide economic meltdown! If we dont eat animals then they will take over the planet!

Finals! We all know finals are an extremely stressful time, and the most common way to deal with stress is by eating! What we suggest is: 1. Try to keep your mind off the food and focused on your work. 2. Try studying away from the kitchen so you dont get distracted by all the food. This way you wont be pigging out when you arent even hungry! 3. Avoid emotional eating, which is eating out of stress or anxiety. 4. When its time for that anticipated break pick up a piece of fruit or a vegetable, a glass of water, and get back to studying. Lastly, make sure you eat breakfast the morning of your finals. It is proven that breakfast gives your brain the energy to properly function. Try something like eggs or walnuts for omega 3 fatty acids to build your brain, grapes or blueberries for antioxidants, or dairy and soy to spark your brain and improve concentration!

By: Sarah Srour

Interested in joining the team at MDYHS Flame? Email Mrs. Harari, Abraham Tobias, or Paulette Gindi ThePress@mdyhs.net Follow us on Twitter: @MDYFlame

December 28, 2012 The Flame Page 7

Barbara Franco (right), currently a freshman in NYU Steinhardt, recently spoke with Renee Sutton (left) who was accepted into the University last week.

Jeffrey Pardo was recently accepted into Boston University.

Maurice Shalam is currently a freshman in Babson College, which is located in Boston.

RS: How do I get there?! BF: I take the train everyday because I like to do my readings there. Sometimes I get lifts with Betty Laboz or my brother. RS: Is it a lot of work? BF: Yes. There is always something that needs to be done either reading or writing. I spend many Fridays and Sundays just doing work. RS: What should I expect? BF: Expect to be reading a lot and writing a lot of papers. Dont expect As in every class. Whats good in high school might not be good enough for college. Expect a high level of competition. RS: What do you consider your hardest and easiest classes? BF: Easiest would be Intro to Human Communications. The professor, Paul Fotsch, was so funny and the readings were so interesting. I definitely recommend it. The hardest class was Writing the Essay. The professor was very strict and it required a lot of time and effort. RS: Any scheduling tips and advice? BF: Do not take an 8AM class! It was painful and not worth it. Also, try not to schedule too many classes in a row. You might want a break in between to work, read, study, or eat lunch. RS: How can I be a part of the culture if I am not dorming? BF: There is a commuter program where they take commuter students on trips. You can also stay after school to join clubs. I havent done so yet but its definitely possible. RS: Any good shopping? BF: During my break Ive gone to French Connection and Aldo they are on my way to class! Urban Outfitters is right by the train station, and Chobani yogurt is two blocks away and its a great midday snack. RS: How do I make friends? BF: Everyone wants to make friends so dont be afraid to talk to the people in your class. Also, you need to make friends the first week so you can get notes when you miss class during holidays. Also, take classes with Syrians because you can always work together! RS: How do I stay involved with Magen David? BF: I coach the girls basketball team. Also, don't be afraid to ask your teachers for help. Mrs. Harari has been especially helpful. RS: Any first year mistakes I should avoid? BF: Do not take Texts and Ideas first semester. It is a lot of reading and it isnt so interesting. Instead take a science of math because you wont have to read or write papers.

NYU Steinhardt

Life in Boston
JP: How often do you come home? MS: I come home once a month, or for holidays and weddings. JP: How do you stay religious? MS: There is a kid from Brooklyn who has his own kitchen and he makes us Friday night dinner. But we dont have a Hillel house, BU does though so I guess you can eat there. Being religious is not so hard you just need to put effort into it. JP: How is dorming life and the living conditions compared to what you are used to? MS: Its obviously not a hotel, and probably not even a motel. But you meet a lot of new people and you have the freedom to put anything you want (TV, Nintendo 64, fridge, etc.). JP: How do you time manage? MS: Just do all your work before you do anything else. When that doesnt work, stay up as long as you need to. JP: How do you maintain your work ethic? MS: Coming into college I didnt have much work ethic, but in college I developed one by just doing the work. JP: Is it hard to stay in touch with the community and Magen David High School? MS: Its not hard to stay in touch. You can text and also with social networks you always know whats going on. If you want to stay in touch, youll stay in touch. JP: Are there any good Kosher restaurants? MS: In Brookline there are a ton of good Kosher restaurants. There are some in Boston too. JP: Is there a Jewish fraternity or Jewish clubs and organizations? MS: There is the Hillel house and there is a Jewish fraternity but I forgot what its called. JP: Do you go to Red Sox games? MS: I could go to them but I dont like baseball. I already have several tickets to future Celtics games and I plan on going to some Patriot games. Tickets are much cheaper in Boston than in New York. JP: Any good shopping? I have to keep my reputation as Fashion Police Pardo. MS: The #1 Urban Outfitters is in Boston not so far from BU. Also, theres a great mall close to BU with every possible department store you can think of.

Results of Shirya 2012

Its an entire week filled with mayhem, tears, and paint lots of paint. You know its not as easy as we all thought it would be. You have to make a banner, a song, a stomp, a couple of videos GOOD ENOUGH TO IMPRESS RABBI SCHEINFELD. Not only did we have to do that, but since the Magen David students are so thoughtful we even redecorated the South! But all jokes aside, every grade put so much hard work and effort into this years Shirya. That one week filled with mayhem led up to the night every student was waiting for the main event. We started off the night with all of the videos, and we have to admit that the seniors Daddy Come Home was an amazing touch. When the videos ended we went on to our personal favorite, food! After each grade presented their cake. The whol school then went up to the fifth floor to sing our songs and present our stomps and banners. When each grade sang, the rest of the school couldnt help but join in. As for the banners, the Sophomore idea to draw an event from Jewish History was great. But the highlight of the night was the stomp. The real shocker of the night was when the winners were announced. In fourth place came the Juniors, in third the Sophomores, in second the Freshies, and in first the undefeated Seniors! Till Next Year! -Becky Chakkalo and Natalie Segev

Hurricane Sandy Drive By: Maurice Elbaz This week, the freshmen participated in a toy drive for Jewish families whose houses were affected by Hurricane Sandy. The week before, we were all given a card that said either boy or girl, and an age. We were asked to buy a gift for a child based on the card we got. On Tuesday, we brought our gifts into school to wrap. We gathered in room 207 where we made cards for the recipient and decorated them with stickers. After that, we wrapped the gifts and put together to be delivered. It was a beautiful experience and we hope we made an impact by bringing these children happiness in a stressful time!

High School Humor Finals Week Word Search

A frog telephones the Psychic Hotline. His personal psychic advisor tells him, You are going to meet a beautiful young girl who will want to know everything about you! The frog is thrilled, This is great! Will I meet her at a party? No, says his advisor, in her biology class. The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture. Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, Theres Jennifer; shes a lawyer, or Thats Michael hes a doctor. A small voice at the back of the room rang out, And theres the teacher...shes not around anymore. Can people predict the future with cards? Suzie asked Little Johnny. My mother can, said Johnny. Really? Yes, she takes one look at my report card and can tell me exactly what will happen when my Dad gets home! Top Ridiculous Homework Excuses: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. I accidentally confused it with toilet paper! I gave it to Jeff to copy and he never gave it back! I tried to turn it into a paper airplane and escape! My mom took it to have it framed. You said to do the homework, not to give it in!

F SGAHMC T T Z L UND S OVOAAMPSUDDDAGP X R R A G A A Y HWO S V Q A UOV Z P F SHAHAR I TN T UMK K L AUHOXHS F I V Z R A I T J HN SMC Y I S I L EWPWF N I U I VWC H P R C J B P RGME D R R N L B EWP T B V U N K VMP KW T J NE LUNCHUAPADX UDTGRE EARAMEGTR U P R F L B A J J MNGR X H K J J BN I E I O J I GDZ S T GGF J E SH EN J L BH J AQSSC I FHTSSOKY J

Words:
Breakfast Hebrew Minhah Shaharit English Lunch Navi Spanish Gemara Math Science Torah

Top ridiculous excuses for being late to school: A.

Created By: Abie Chabbott

B. C. D. E.

My ex-girlfriend was Mayan and she told me not to bother with school because it wasnt supposed to exist anymore! Turns out the snooze button isnt there to make you wake up earlier. I was being followed on the way to school so I took the long way. Robin called in sick today so I had to help Batman fight the bad guys. I thought this place closes at 5:30!!!

Things that are different: Teachers and trains. Teachers demand you stop chewing gum while trains say Chew! Chew! Chew! Riddle: How many months have 28 days? Last weeks answer: Because he liked to eat hay Winner: Eddie Rawas

E-mail your answer for a $5 lunch card! Thepress@mdyhs.net

Page 8 The Flame December 28, 2012

We asked Twitter: Whats your New Years Resolution for 2013 @JayHarari: To start going to class Oh and to come to school before 10. BH BH BH! @SophSaf_: To own a pair of headphones for more than a week without them breaking @BrigetteDana: To stop bullying @SophSaf_... No promises though @SophSaf_: I change my mind to get away from Brigette @AwesomeZami: Go to sleep at 930 @BrigetteDana: @SophSaf_ or to fulfill your wanderlust desires and get away from EVERYONE not just me @JulGreeny: Isnt the world supposed to end? How would there be a New Years? @Sharronnnn: To pass math!! @GabySabbagh: To stop having 2 Kitkats a day and only have one! Resolution complete! @Abedude627: To start writing more neatly @MChalouh: To meet Justin Bieber!! @SarahSaide: Legit I think Im gonna try to go to sleep earlier because this whole 12am thing isnt working out for me. @RaqSab: Walk up to the fifth floor without hyperventilating @RaquelImir: To finally pass my math regent. And meet Joseph GordonLevitt @RaquelNahum: Stop eating chocolate #chocoholic @JenJemal: To go to sleep earlier. Been the same resolution since 08 lets see if its any different this year @Gmmusiclover1: To.. Try stopping myself not to be addicted to music my twit name gave ya a hint

Rabbi Benzion Scheinfeld

Rabbi Scheinfeld Organized Successful Shirya
By Esther Cohen

Tweet Us! @MDYFlame

(Warning: If we follow you back, we might correct your spelling and grammar)

EC: What motivated you to start Shirya? RS: When I was studying for Smicha in YU I had the opportunity to travel to Australia and do outreach for a Jewish school with kids who were not very religious. We ran educational retreats with lots of music and discussion. In just a few days we ended up feeling such a love and excitement about Judaism and Torah even though the kids werent observant. When I started teaching in a Yeshivah High School with knowledgeable, observant kids, I realized that despite the millions of dollars spent on their education and much Torah learning, there was not even one moment during the year that I felt had the ruach and passion for Judaism and Torah that the whole school could share. I wanted to change that. It was in Australia singing with those nonreligious kids that I fell in love with the song Minyan Man and wanted to share that with the kids who keep Shabbos and go to minyan! I wanted to help create a moment where one could feel totally excited and touched by their Torah. EC: Tell us about the first Shiryah you ever did and what it felt like! RS: It was a tremendous professional risk. No one in the school knew what Shirya was or what it was meant to be and suddenly all the kids started missing some classes, and nobody except for me (and I had my doubts) knew what was going to come of it. But I decided it was worth the risk even it failed. The night ended up being magical. It felt like a new miracle of Hanukah. Even the coolest kids were singing and feeling the beautiful words and how it resonated in the hallways. I had goosebumps. EC: What is special to you about Shirya here in MDY? RS: The night of Shirya was so heart opening for me that it bonded me so deeply with the students of Magen David. I could see the shine on people's faces and the feeling of joy that came from within. I feel like I know all the kids in a way that is real. It is also beautiful to see how each grade is proud of the other grades because of the sense of community here at MDY. EC: What is your favorite moment of Shirya? RS: When the beautiful banners are brought in and all the teams together are singing the slow songs. Those songs focused on the beautiful banners followed by the Divrei Torah really capture the unity and Torah messages and inspiration that I look for in the Shirya. I also love working will all the kids and seeing their wonderful realness as they express themselves in art of music and try to connect to the messages of the Torah. And of course singing Minyan Man, a song that somehow has this magical effect and opens up our hearts!

Message Board:
Freshie Honors Takeover! Do I have to do my homework is the world going to end? -Evana and Rachel Guys, chill. It didnt end and nobody reads your column. Becky and Natalie Of course Rachel and Evana are saying the world is ending because everyone reads your articles Becky and Natalie? -Julie and Olga Happy birthday tomorrow Rachel Sardar! -Ezra Mosseri Happy birthday again tomorrow Rachel Sardar! -Rebecca and Sarah I love you Mrs. Harari! -Becky I want to put my books in the ceiling too (finger spasm) -Wannabe Seniors (Rachel and Evana) Jackie, please come around with the Shabbat Grams :) -Anonymous Freshies Just putting it out here we spent $20 on all these messages Natalie I feel left out. Mama and Rebecca, the only Sys
To Sponsor a Message, Please See Dennis Dayan or Michael Massy.

Quiz Results
Mostly A When was the last time you cracked open a book? Probably not recently, and your grades may show it. You probably have a social life that others are jealous of, but its important to keep up with your schoolwork too. If youre having trouble motivating yourself, find new ways to study like setting up a study group, getting creative with flashcards, or going to the peer tutoring center. A good education will help you live out your dreams, so figure out what works for you and make it a new habit! Mostly B Youve seemed to master the ability to balance work and play. Your priorities are in order, which means you have time for the best of both worlds: A decent GPA and tickets to Swedish House Mafia with your friends. You know when to step it up without putting too much pressure on yourself. However, if you want to move past the middle of the road and start getting As, some good strategies are turning off your phone while studying, teaching your friends the material, and creating review sheets. Mostly C If you ever wanted to be the next Martha or Tyra, you could your hard work and tenacity will take you far. But watch out for being too rigid or you could miss out on some other great experiences. Your grades are something to be proud of, but so are strong friendships and awesome memories. Remember, colleges and grad schools like well-rounded students, so try joining a club outside your comfort zone, trying out for a sports team, or even doing extra volunteer work. Chances are, you will enjoy yourself and make new friends!