Two students from our Yeshiva have been working hard this past month to help bring some happiness and joy to children in Israel who have been struck with sickness and disease. The project, undertaken by 10th graders Zeke Miller and Jason Straus, was to raise funds and toys for the organization Chayeinu, a remarkable organization that provides many different services for sick children in Eretz Israel. These services include daily living services, counseling, family retreats, tutoring /educational programs and Camp Simcha in Israel. Zeke and Jason decided that they were going to run a community-based raffle. The raffle included prizes such as an iPod Mini, New York Mets and Yankees Tickets , as well as jewelry and gift certificates to different stores in the neighborhood. The money raised by this raffle would then be sent to DRS Alumni who are studying in Israel for the year, to purchase toys and host a Chanukah party in the hospital with Chayeinu for the children.

After weeks of working on the project and selling raffle tickets, Zeke and Jason raised over $5,000. The money helped to purchase food and plenty of presents at the DRS- Chayeinu Chanukah party. The party, which was attended by ten DRS alumni in Israel, was a resounding success . The ruach and energy permeated the room as the boys sang and danced late into the night. Jeremy Joszef, former President of the DRS G.O., remarked that "it was such a privilege to be part of this magical evening, which connected an amazing effort on behalf of the current DRS students and the alumni in Israel."

This effort on behalf of Chayeinu just epitomizes what DRS Chesed is all about: reaching out and caring about the lives of others. Zeke and Jason have already ambitiously set next year's goals at double the amount raised and to host not just one but several different parties in Israel!

The Yeshiva finished off Chanuka with a bang this past week, as several shiurim and classes held awesome events, including a special party thrown by AP Psychology teacher Mr. David Mark, and Shiur parties at Rabbi Kaminetsky and Rabbi Storch's homes, pictured above.

At times even the most dedicated student might find the workload oppressive, the rules constraining, the teacher "as strict as Stalin," but for the past few days Mrs. Fisher's tenth-grade English students have enthusiastically entered into an Orwellian universe of their own creation. Via a series of projects, they brought into sharp focus the concepts of Newspeak, doublethink, and Big Brother first delineated in George Orwell's 1984, the classic political novel of a totalitarian state.

Using Power Point presentations, videotaped "teleplays," live acting, musical ensemble performances of an "Opus 1984" accompanied by program notes, and original book cover art with a museum-style catalog, the boys demonstrated, illustrated, performed, analyzed, and proved how the dangers Orwell warns about permeate our society. Working as teams and individually, they made the case for such issues as how language is losing its meaning and being given political and commercial spin through the use of euphemisms and contracted expression, how nations and communities and people-- including adolescents-- delude themselves and others by engaging in doublethink, and how the Patriot Act and rapidly developing technology permit both government and non-government surveillance of private citizens.

Both students and staff have fallen under the power of this totalitarian "nightmare." Debbie Pearlman, our super-competent and super-sensible high school secretary, found herself compelled to check out a document she had been asked to photocopy by a student. Written on official school stationery and bearing Rabbi Kaminetsky's bona fide signature, it announced that from now on, secular studies classes would be held on Shabbos. Yes, Purim came on Chanukah this year. This pseudo-declaration turned out to be a clever demonstration of historical revisionism and the falsification of reality- processes Orwell exposed. So, if over the next few days you hear reports of unorthodox goings-on, it's perfectly kosher. Rest assured, Big Brother is watching.

Pictured in this article are members of Mrs. Fisher's period 6 class. The group presenting included Elliot Eisenberg, Mordechai Fenster, Josh Joseph, Jason Strauss, and Gavi Unger, who provided a crash course in doublethink, and Zeke Miller who gave a lesson on the latest in surveillance methods with its implications for identity theft.

Bait Medrash Eliyahu Tzvi was really hopping last night, and it was difficult to find a seat! Fathers and Sons from the seventh and eighth grades of HALB Elementary School joined DRS students and dads for a night of learning to commemorate the life of Koby Mandell, a 13 year old boy killed in cold blood while hiking outside his home in the Yerushalayim suburb of Tekoa.

The evening was graced with the presence of Rav Yitzchak Cohen, Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University, Rosh Kollel of the Morasha High School Kollel, (and Rabbi Kaminetsky's ninth grade rebbe!) Rav Cohen spoke to a packed Bait Medrash about the need to strengthen one's desire for learning, and how even great scholars need encouragement to continue aspiring to achieve in learning.

After ma'ariv, the boys were treated to a spirited Kumzitz led by the renowned singer and musician Shlomo Katz, from Eretz Yisrael.

Sophomore Tuli Kagan and the members of HALB Political Action Comitee (HPAC), along with Rabbi Brazil, deserve a tremendous Ya'asher Koach for planning and coordinating this inspiring evening from start to finish.