The Lion's Tale, Volume 41, Number 3

LT

CESJDS I December 2023 I Volume 41n3

the lion’s tale

solidarity beyond borders

How the Israel-Hamas war impacts the CESJDS community

Junior mental health training pg. 5, G’veret Dagony‘s travel books pg. 22, New Hunger Games review pg. 27

inside the issue Editors-in-Chief Kaylah Goldrich Lena Nadaner

Managing Editor, Copy Ellie Fischman

In-Depth Editor, Director of Social Media Ella Waldman

In-Depth Editor, Director of Staff Development Lilli Libowitz

News Editors

Simon Albert Adin Halbfinger

Features Editors Jonah Beinart Lily Rulnick

Opinion Editors Aliza Bellas Ari Kittrie

Sports Editors

Gigi Gordon Aaron Waldman Ari Werbin

Arts and Entertainment Editors Stella Muzin Cati Werbin

Mulimedia Editor Nini Panner

Illustrators

Libby Hurwitz Taylor Polonsky

Reporters

Ellie Levine, Julia Rich, Ari Blumenthal, Eitan Rattner, Ruby Kotok, Penelope Terl, Talia Loeffler, Gila Safra, Tyler Portnoy, Sadaf Zadeh, Maiya Blumenthal, Eliana Wolf, Sophie Schwartz, Mia Forseter, Maya Greenblum, Vivi Ducker

Staff Adviser

Jessica Nassau

Adviser Emerita

Susan Zuckerman

Cover photo by Alec Silberg, Dimensions

News

04 Antisemitism on the homefront 06 Admin all-in 07 Train your brains

Jewish students face hate in local schools, colleges

School leadership takes on classroom teaching roles

Juniors receive certification in teen mental health first-aid

In-Depth

08 Solidarity beyond borders 11 Omer Balva: A Life

How the Israel-Hamas war impacts the CESJDS community A beacon of kindness and zionism dies at 22

Opinion

13 War on words 14 Senior columns

Coverage of Israel must reflect fact not bias Editors share words of wisdom and experience

Features

20 Dagonys on the move 21 Wellness works 22 Hand(el)ing the situation 23 From educator to activist

Hebrew teacher, husband turn passion into product

CESJDS launches new fellowship program

Alumna supports Jewish communities locally and abroad Former faculty member joins AJC to reach more Jewish students

Arts and Entertainment

24 Energy surge 25 Sushi is my soy-mate 26 Foreign favorites 27 Hungry for more

For non-coffee drinkers, canned caffeinated drinks are essential, so we ranked 6

New addition to Raku chain has great flavor and atmosphere

Netflix’s international shows are worth a watch

“Hunger Games” prequel exceeds expectations

Sports

28 Betting boom 29 Reining it in 30 Coach of champions 31 Dill with it

Rise in sports gambling among teenagers Community members horseback ride

Teacher returns to lead MS basketball team New pickleball courts open across street from school

2 December 2023

Dear Readers,

Lena Nadaner: Sending the 41n1 edition to the printer was gratifying We cannot believe it is already our after working for countless hours over last print edition. It felt like yesterday the summer gathering information and when we were fresh on the job, learning writing the in-depth of that issue, “All how to manage the paper, and now, Eyes on Identity.” six editions and a plethora of online articles later, we are sad to leave but Kaylah Goldrich: Handing out our first print edition was so rewarding. I excited for the juniors to take over.

While we celebrate our final days will never forget seeing all of the other of high school, the war in Israel has not students appreciate the new design and left our minds or our community. This all of our hard work. edition is centered around the conflict, reporting on increased antisemitism, Ellie Fischman: I loved going to the new Israeli CESJDS students and CSPA convention in New York and getting to spend quality time with alumni serving in the IDF. We sincerely thank our entire 2023 friends on both The Lion’s Tale and staff for supporting us and working so Dimensions Yearbook. hard all year. We hope you, our readers, find the stories of this issue compelling Ella Waldman: Creating the in-depth spread for the “Fun Under the Sun” and meaningful.

Now, we would like to hand it over to issue was so fun and fulfilling. I got to our senior executives and editors, who be super creative with the design, and will reflect on their favorite memories I think the finished product turned out really well. from The Lion’s Tale.

Simon Albert: When I saw my very first spread and article in print.

Jonah Beinart: When Matan Silverberg accidentally deleted the entire folder for the print edition that we were working on the third night of production.

Everything turned out OK, but it was quite stressful in the moment.

Lilli Libowitz: Finishing the 40n3 issue with the 2022-2023 staff. The whole staff felt really connected, and it was really fun to reminisce on past memories and celebrate the 2023 seniors.

Adin Halbfinger: Power Rankings.

Aaron Waldman: My favorite memory was getting free tickets to the boys and girls varsity basketball PVAC championships in 2022 because I was covering the girls game.

Ari Werbin-Gradel: Having good laughs with Matan Silverberg (‘23) and Harry Davidson (‘23).

Nini Panner: Lunch meetings where everyone bounces ideas off each other.

Editorial and Ethics Policy As the student newspaper of the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, The Lion’s Tale is a public forum for student opinion and expression. All content is determined by students. Its purpose is to inform the CESJDS community and to express the views of its staff and readers.

The staff has made every effort to ensure the accuracy and objectivity of its news.

Signed columns reflect the opinion of the writer; staff editorials reflect the opinion of the majority of The Lion’s Tale editorial board. The Lion’s Tale staff

welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns, all of which must be signed.

The staff reserves the right to refuse any material and may edit letters or columns for length, clarity, libel, obscenity and/ or disruptiveness. All other contents copyright of The Lion’s Tale. All rights reserved.

Submissions may be emailed to jdslionstale@gmail.com, mailed to The Lion’s Tale or brought to room 320.

The Lion’s Tale is funded by The Simon Hirshman Endowment for the

Upper School Newspaper and The Kuttner-Levenson Endowment for the Upper School Cultural Arts and Student Publications, and community advertisements. The Lion’s Tale reserves the right to refuse advertisement for any reason.

The staff will adhere to the ethics policies of The Society of Professional Journalists and the National Scholastic Press Association. The adviser will be held to the Journalism Education Association’s Adviser Code of Ethics.

The Lion’s Tale Magazine 3

- news Upcoming Dates at JDS

Jan. 9 First senior Separation Workshop

Jan. 11 Varsity Basketball games vs.

Berman

Jan. 12 End of MS 1st Semester

Jan. 19 End of First Semester/ Last Day for Seniors

Feb. 1 Senior Prom

Feb. 9 Class of 2024 Siyyum

“

We have seen an explosion of antisemitic incidents, particularly [at] Montgomery County public schools.”

-Guila Franklin Siegel, Associate Director of JCRC

Antisemitism On the

Homefront

Jewish students face hate in local schools Lily Rulnick Features Editor The world has seen a significant increase in antisemitic incidents since the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel. Despite its large Jewish population, many Jewish residents in the greater Washington, D.C. area have dealt first hand with these antisemitic acts.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has reported several antisemitic incidents in Montgomery County over the past few weeks.

In November alone, swastika graffiti was found at both Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville and a Jewish state delegate’s house in Gaithersburg, not to mention the countless additional incidents reported statewide.

Lyndee Sklute, a senior at Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, says antisemitism has significantly impacted her experience attending a Montgomery County Public School. According to Sklute, she became more cognizant of what she does in all aspects of everyday life since Oct. 7.

“I have felt silenced and unable to [do] simple things like talk about Shabbat or talk about anything that I normally would talk about,” Sklute said.

BY THE NUMBERS

73%

Jewish college students have seen some form of antisemitism since the start of the 2023-2024 school year.

40%

Decrease in Jewish college students who felt comfortable with others on campus knowing they are Jewish from before to after Oct. 7.

Information from the ADL.

In Sklute’s case, she has felt “not comfortable” at her school because of Judaism’s “obvious connections” to Israel, which puts her, as a Jewish student, in a more dangerous position because of many of her peers’ dislike of Israel and its government.

Ella Elimelech (‘23) is a freshman at the University of Maryland (UMD), a school that has seen many acts of antisemitism recently despite Jews making up 19.1% of its student body. According to the Diamondback, UMD’s student run publication, the university has had 37 hate bias reports in October and 46 in November. Jewish students at UMD have been targets of antisemitic harassment, causing Elimelech to feel unsafe on campus. This fear only intensified after a particular protest organized by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) on Nov. 9.

“They [chalked] ‘Holocaust 2.0,’ and they also chanted ‘Intifada now’, which is calling for violence against students here on campus…” Elimelech said.

“During our protests [in support of Israel], someone held up the Taliban flag.”

Because these sentiments encourage violence against Jews, the local police department has been

4 December 2023

Maryland’s leaders on increased antisemitism Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland “I want everyone in Maryland to hear me clearly – hate has no home in our state. The recent rise in hate crimes against the Jewish community is absolutely unacceptable.”

Antisemitic graffiti was found within a mile of Congregation B’nai Israel, CESJDS, Bender JCC and the Ring House on Aug. 27.

Photo by Ari Kittrie, LT.

involved and Elimelech expressed her gratitude for the police’s presence on campus. However, Elimelech has also felt frustrated by the response from administrators when she and other students have gone to them for support.

“We kept asking them to call [SJP’s] chalking antisemitic and violent, and they were just like, ‘freedom of speech exists, and this is hate speech, but there’s not much we can do,’” Elimelech said.

Guila Franklin Siegel, parent to junior Rafi Siegel and Associate Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council Greater Washington (JCRC), responds directly to these local antisemitic incidents. Since Oct. 7, she and her colleagues have had to work 12 to 15-hour work days because of the uptick in antisemitism.

“We have seen an explosion of antisemitic incidents, particularly [at] Montgomery County public schools,” Siegel said. “[There have been] pro-Palestinian walk-outs …

What we were seeing was walkouts that were incredibly aggressive …

There were Jewish students feeling very fearful. And there were also a lot of incidents of Jewish kids being personally harassed.”

But the JCRC has not only

“

been responding to antisemitic incidents at these public schools.

According to Siegel, the JCRC has also received an influx of reports of hateful behaviors in various workplaces, graduate programs and even elementary schools, with young children being told by their peers, “We hate Jews.”

Siegel, in part, attributes this rise in antisemitism to the general culture surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict, as many people “don’t apply the same standards to Israel that they do to other … countries that have to engage in military action to defend their borders.” She also notes how Israeli conflicts with Hamas lead to “explosions” in antisemitism, yet sees this as a much more “protracted conflict” than ever before.

Elimelech, Siegel and Sklute all shared how emotionally trying the last several weeks have been.

Because of this, they emphasize the importance of finding different ways to cope with the emotional effect that this conflict has had and will continue to have on Jews in the U.S. and abroad.

“The most important thing in terms of combating antisemitism is for us to continue to live proudly as Jews,” Siegel said.

- From a press release by the Office of the Governor on March 22, 2023 Photo by Edward Kimmel, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Marc Elrich, Montgomery County Executive “Antisemitism, hate and attempts at intimidation, in any form, should not exist nor be tolerated anywhere, Anity like Montgomery County.”

- From a statement by the Government of Montgomery County on Nov. 14, 2023 Photo by betterDCregion is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Darryll J. Pines, University of Maryland President “We — as a country and as humans — must not let this hate continue to fester and spread.

We must turn the tide on antisemitism.”

- From a joint Letter to the Editor in the Washington Post with Rabbi Ari Israel, Executive Director of Maryland Hillel, on Jan. 4, 2023 Photo from U.S. Department of State.

The Lion’s Tale Magazine 5

- news MEET THE TEAM

Mia Forseter Reporter ost high school administrators start their careers as teachers, and many stop teaching when they become administrators. However, for many CESJDS principals and deans, their role as a teacher does not end when they take on an administrative responsibility.

High School Principal Lisa Vardi starts a busy day with her students in her senior 21st Century American Identity history class.

Vardi has taught in the history and English departments, and while administrators teaching is a new practice at JDS, Vardi said it is common in other private schools.

“The first year I was here, I didn’t teach and that did not feel right…” Vardi said. “In my heart of hearts, I’m a teacher. One of the reasons I love leading advisory or working in the classroom [is] the connection with kids.”

In addition to Vardi, Dean of Experiential Leadership and Service Learning Tori Ball, High School Assistant Principal Aileen Goldstein and Middle School Principal Cassandra Batson also teach.

Many administrators agree that a benefit of teaching is the connection with students. Batson teaches two eighth grade science classes, similar to the role she had last year before becoming the middle school principal.

“It reminds [students] that I’m another human being,” Batson said. “I think it makes me more approachable. For students who don’t know me, they’re more willing to come up to me in the halls and are more willing to reach out when they have a question.”

Senior Ari Reichmann is in Vardi’s 21st Century American identity class. Reichmann expected the class to be slightly different

Admin all-in

School leadership takes on classroom teaching roles

M

than a normal class, but came in with similar expectations.

One difference Reichmann has noticed is stricter consequences in the classroom.

“If you’re messing around in class, there’s an administrator right there…” Reichmann said. “So you have to be a little more careful with how you act.”

At the beginning of the year, Vardi told her students that they have her ear as both their teacher and principal.

Reichmann sees this as a benefit of having an administrator as a teacher.

Goldstein also receives information from her students, directly impacting a major component of her administrative duties, academic policies and curricula.

“At the end of the day, all of our work is about the students, and should be,” Goldstein said. “To have the opportunity to have student voices through authentic places and spaces, I think it’s so valuable.”

Because she teaches a senior academic class and freshman advisory, Goldstein hears perspectives from both ends of the high school.

Since being an administrator and a teacher are two separate jobs, a challenge of being an administrator and a teacher is time management.

Faculty deal with this differently, from scheduling classes certain periods to teaching fewer classes.

Serving as a teacher and administrator allows administration to better understand the experiences of teachers at school, as they experience similar things.

“I think it is really important that the adults making decisions in school know what is going on with students …[and] what it’s like to be a teacher in that school,” Ball said. “Because the decisions you make ultimately impact students and impact teachers.”

6 December 2023

Train Ruby Kotok Reporter Four in five teens struggling with mental health challenges first turn to their peers for support, according to Drew Fidler, Senior Director of the BBYO Center for Adolescent Wellness. That is why JDS introduced the Teen Mental Health First Aid Training this past November. Led by Fidler and clinical social worker Michal Berkson Powell, the juniors completed the six-session training and received a certification at its conclusion.

A grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington paid for the training. Students engaged in activities and viewed first hand accounts of mental health struggles in the forms of art and video clips. Through discussions and role playing, students learned the five-step action plan outlined in the training: look for warning signs, ask how they are, listen up, help them connect with an adult and remind them that your friendship is important.

“We want to make sure that teens know how to help their peers [and] how to recognize red flags,” Fidler said. “Also, how to help connect their peers to appropriate adult help if and when they need it.”

The training not only highlights the action plan, but also brings awareness to the many ways in which peers could be struggling. For example, students learned about panic attacks, stress and strategies to identify and assist someone who might be struggling with substance abuse.

“It taught us how to approach an issue as teenagers, not as mental health professionals,” junior Aviva Stern said. “I think it’s important to distinguish between the two.”

To gain these skills, students partook in activities where they named their ‘five safe adults’ and learned how to identify red flags

Your brains for friends experiencing mental health crises.

Fidler recalled one particular activity in which the students talked through the types of challenges and struggles their friends could be enduring.

“I think that was a moment where we really saw that it was applicable and really impactful,” Fiddler said. “For everyone in the room.”

Dean of Students and junior grade guidance counselor Roslyn Landy said that one of the ways students can help their peers is to determine if it is a crisis situation and if it is, you need to “break

Juniors receive certification in teen mental health first-aid

confidence,” and share the information with a trusted adult.

“Sometimes you have to risk having your friend angry at you and sometimes even have to lose a friendship because you need to save a life,” Landy said. “Not getting a friend in crisis help could have tragic results and you would carry that pain the rest of your life.”

Stern said that she noticed a newfound respect between her classmates, and that through the training she understood the limits of how she, as a teen, could help.

“There’s only so much you can do as teenagers...” Stern said.

Junior Evan Gorodetsky

you What do the ut think abo h ealt mental h g? in programm

“It was quite unnecessary. A lot of it was stuff we had learned before from other mental health programs at school.”

Junior Adam Bachrach

Junior Navah Gris “There were sections that were helpful and educational about mental health, but overall, I felt like a lot of it was repetitive and unnecessary.”

“At first, I was very hesitant because it was taking away from our breaks throughout the day.

In the end I did think there was some benefit and they did a good job.”

“Do as much as you can, but then at one point, you do need to get a professional adult.”

Landy noted that for some, these workshops might have been recurrent for some students while for others it was totally new.

“We have a number of students who have been or are in therapy. So for some it is repetitious. They have learned the warning signs and strategies in therapy, so it wasn’t new to them,” Landy said. “And then there were some kids for whom this was an eye opening experience. So, it runs the gamut.”

JDS has also been highlighting the importance of mental health through its ‘Wellness Wednesday’ initiatives. On these days, all high school students have the opportunity to hear from speakers or engage with teachers to learn more about mental health. Implemented at the start of the 202324 school year by the Health and Wellness Department, these days help emphasize mental health and wellness in the JDS community.

Stern said that this initiative, in tandem with Fidler’s guidance, emphasized the lessons being taught in the training sessions.

“I found it a little bit repetitive at times, but I think the meaning was important…” Stern noted.

“I feel ready to approach mental health challenges in the right way.”

Fidler prefaced each session with a trigger warning for the upcoming content, giving students the opportunity to step out if they needed. Fidler hopes that students left the training with the understanding that they didn’t need to feel their best to be healthy.

“Mental health doesn’t mean [being] happy all the time…” Fidler said. “It’s okay to not be okay.”

BY THE

NUMBERS

1 in 5 teens experience mental health disorders

16% increase in teen deaths by suicide between 2008-2020

43% of teens with depression recieved treatment for a depressive episode in 2020

$2,673 is the average cost of treatment for a teen with a mental health disorder Information from NIH

The Lion’s Tale Magazine 7

- in-depth Since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, a new sign has greeted Upper School students each morning: “CESJDS Stands in Solidarity With Israel.” JDS’ commitment to supporting Israel in the current war has been constant over the past two months.

For Israeli and Jewish communities, these times have been marked by terror, violence and grief. Hamas’ attacks on Oct. 7, where the most Jews were slaughtered in a single day since the Holocaust, and the subsequent war have significantly impacted the JDS community.

Rise in antisemitism The Israel-Hamas war has sparked a rise in antisemitism.

Among those affected are JDS families, students and teachers.

Antisemitism has been on the rise for the past couple of years, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), but since the war began, there has been a 388% increase in antisemitism in the U.S. “Since Oct. 7, the ADL has recorded 1,481 antisemitic incidents across the United States,” ADL D.C. Regional Director Meredith Weisel said. “This is everything from incidents of vandalism, harassment and assault directed at Jews or Jewish institutions. We have also seen a tremendous increase in anti-Israel rallies where a subset of them have been especially problematic as they have featured explicit or strong implicit support for Hamas and/or attacks on Israelis and Jews.”

Antisemitism has also spiked in Montgomery County. According to the ADL, there has been a 261% spike in the county.

Junior Shayna Lindauer was a victim of an antisemitic attack on Instagram when one of her followers messaged her, “Kill all the Jews” and “All Jews should die” in response to something she posted on her story in support of Israel.

“It was really shocking to see that from someone who I knew,” Lindauer said. “It makes it all feel a lot closer to home.”

For some students, confrontations with antisemites haven’t only been happening online. On a Saturday afternoon, sophomore Adan Magnas and his friend were walking home from shul when they were stopped by a group of

Solidarity beyond borders

How Israel-Hamas war impacts the CESJDS community

kids hurling antisemitic remarks such as “I wish Hitler killed all you guys,” “big-nosed freaks” and “filthy money lenders.’’

During the confrontation, one of the boys said that he had a gun, and another began to run after Magnas. He managed to escape the altercation without being physically harmed, but he said that the incident still sticks with him.

“It’s important as students and leaders in the community that you continually speak out, share facts and condemn antisemitism wherever it shows up,” Weisel said.

Updated security measures In response to the events of Oct. 7 and considering the rise in antisemitism, JDS has heightened its campus security, implementing measures such as an increased presence of armed

guards, continuing teacher security training and improving the security camera system.

Director of Security and Transportation Shay Halevi is responsible for overseeing these continued security measures. In the context of the current conflict, he believes that the school is as safe as it can be.

“The level of security that we got to was very good to the point where there was nothing that we needed to do but [continue] the good work that we are doing already,” Halevi said. “We are working with law enforcement forces around us, and God forbid if something happens, reaction time would be much faster and more efficient.”

According to Head of School Rabbi Mitchell Malkus, JDS has the ability to increase and decrease the amount of security per-

^An Israeli flag is raised in support of Israel during the March for Israel Rally on Nov. 14. JDS cancelled the school day to allow students and teachers to attend.

Photo by Alec Silberg, Dimensions yearbook.

8 December 2023

Kaylah Goldrich

Editor-in-Chief Jonah Beinart

Features Editor Stella Muzin

A&E Editor

Additional reporting by Jonah Mellen,

Guest Writer

sonnel on campus depending on the threat level.

There has also been stronger enforcement of JDS’ policy of only allowing known visitors into the building. According to Malkus, this went into practice at the Lower School Literacy Night event, where parents needed to show a ticket to attend. If they didn’t have it, they had to wait in line for security to confirm their identity.

“We hadn’t done that as diligently [prior to the war] as we are now,” Malkus said.

This was not the only school event impacted by the Israel-Hamas war. On Oct. 13, which was declared Global Jihad Day by a former Hamas official, JDS canceled classes as a precaution.

While the ADL and Secure Community Network said there were no specific credible threats, JDS’ partners at the Israeli Embassy “had a different view,” according to Malkus.

Halevi said that the chance of an attack, specifically targeted at JDS on Global Jihad Day or at any other point, is very slim. Still, he believes that JDS cannot take any risks with the safety of its students and staff. “[The threat] exists, and that’s why I’m here. That’s why we have police officers and all of the training that we are doing,” Halevi said.

“But the chances are very small.

Those online posts [and] the social media frenzy about the day of Jihad make us, normal people, anxious. And that’s what terrorism wants.”

Because Global Jihad Day was five days after the Oct. 7 attacks and JDS has a large population of Israeli Embassy students, the administration opted to be vigilant and close the building.

“People were [so] exhausted emotionally after the first couple of days after those attacks that we just said, given this whole thing, we’re going to be abundantly cautious, even though we felt it would have been safe to come to school,” Malkus said.

School programming JDS has launched numerous in-school activities in light of the war. In the Lower School and middle school, students have participated in a number of volunteer

79

Israeli students that inquired about temporarily attending JDS

388%

Rise in antisemitic incidents in the U.S. since Oct. 7

projects, including writing letters to IDF soldiers and furthering an existing connection with a Keshet school in Israel.

“There is actually a video that went up on [the JDS] website of the battalion that received the letters thanking us for getting it,” Malkus said.

High school grade governments have organized fundraisers to donate money to Israel. The senior class presidents arranged a pickleball tournament, which generated over $500.

“We felt it was really important to raise money for Israel while doing something fun so that we could bond during this awful time,” senior class president Yaeli Greenblum said.

In addition, JDS has emphasized educating students, teachers and parents about the war.

Outside of their classes, Lower School students are updated on events in Israel twice a month, once during a new whole-school morning meeting and once during Kabbalat Shabbat. The high school held numerous lunch and learn sessions, along with a Teen Sum-

Information from the ADL

mit that was open to anyone, including public school students and parents who were interested in learning more about Israel.

“From an educational point of view, we wanted to make sure the facts were talked about and understood,” High School Principal Dr. Lisa Vardi said.

There has also been increased internal support for Israeli members of the JDS community.

A couple weeks after Oct. 7, JDS distributed Shabbat dinners to all of the Israeli faculty and staff.

Also, High School Jewish Life Chair Robbie Shorr encouraged all Zman Kodesh leaders to include prayers about Israel during morning services.

“Those first couple of weeks, there was a bit of shell shock,” Vardi said. “Everybody was so shocked and horrified and upset, so what we wanted to [do] is make sure that we felt like we’re a community coming together, definitely holding the Israelis and the Israeli teachers.”

In their show of support for Israel, JDS canceled classes on Nov.

U.S. Antisemitic Incidents Since 2017 information from the ADL 4000 3,697 3000 2,717 2000

1,986

2,107

2,026

2019

2020

1,879

1000 0 2017

2018

2021

2022

The Lion’s Tale Magazine 9

- in-depth 14 to allow teachers and students to attend the March for Israel rally on the National Mall, providing busing to the event. With over 290,000 people in attendance, it marked the largest American Jewish rally in modern history.

“Our thinking was that the rally was a once-in-a-generation type of thing,” Malkus said. “We felt that this was a moment in American Jewish history, as well as just in Jewish history generally, that we wanted to make available to our students and also to our faculty and staff.”

A unique issue the JDS community is navigating is the Irene and Daniel Simpkins Israel Capstone trip. Every year, seniors have the opportunity to attend Alexander Muss High School in Israel for their second semester, but after the war broke out, there has been uncertainty over whether the trip would happen.

After Oct. 7, Muss sent home the groups that were on their campus at the time and started using the dorms to house people who were displaced because of the attack. This led to much uncertainty about future programs at Muss, including for the JDS Israel trip.

The JDS administration has kept in frequent contact with Muss and recently stated their commitment to running the trip in an email to the senior class.

“There are three criteria the school is using for the trip,” Malkus said. “Will it be a safe trip?

Will we say that it’ll have educational value? Will we be able to do the general things that we normally do on the trip? [Muss] believes, and we agree, that they’re able to meet all of those criteria.”

Because of the uncertainty, JDS has extended the deposit refund period through the middle of January so that families can assess the current situation.

New JDS families As a result of the war, many families in Israel have reached out to JDS and inquired about temporarily sending their children to school, in order to avoid the violence of the war. Overall, JDS received inquiries for 79 students, and 40 have been temporarily enrolled with tuition waived. As of Dec. 7, 30 students remained

at JDS, with many having already returned to Israel.

In order to accommodate these new students and provide them with the necessary support, JDS has hired a new teacher in the Lower School Israel Center, who also supports the English as a Second Language (ESOL) program for the elementary students.

Since most of the new Israeli students enrolled in the Lower School, JDS has not brought in another staff member to the Upper School. However, Malkus said that if it becomes necessary, then they would have the ability to do so.

In the interim, Middle School Jewish Text and Hebrew Teacher Aviva Gershman is serving as the Liaison to Temporary Israeli Families in the Upper School. Her job includes serving as another bilingual point of contact for students at school and their families in Israel along with communicating with teachers ahead of their new students arriving to class.

Gershman volunteered for the position as soon as she heard that JDS would be welcoming students from Israel.

“Things are so unprecedented in terms of how awful the situation is in Israel,” Gershman said.

“Everyone is asking themselves, ‘what can we do?’ because we obviously can’t change our reality and we are so busy with our own lives. I felt like this was something

that I could do that could actually make a meaningful impact for individual families that are dealing with the current situation.”

In addition, Gershman is staying in touch with the parents and guardians of the incoming students through WhatsApp to make them feel more welcome in the greater JDS and local Israeli communities. Many of the new families have existing connections with JDS or the area, making it an easy fit.

“We are seeing a similar phenomenon in other Jewish Day schools,” Malkus said. “The families are not researching the schools to find the best fit, rather they are going to places where they have a place to live and there is also a day school.”

Jewish Text Chair and high school Jewish text teacher Grace McMillan is helping these students become more acclimated to the new school environment by acting as their temporary advisory teacher. She expressed an interest in helping in any way she could and her gratitude to the school as soon as she found out that JDS was taking in Israeli students.

“We have a wonderful community at JDS, and really, genuinely kind students and faculty, who are all very eager to be supportive and welcoming,” McMillan said. “I love facilitating that and helping to allow these kids to find

^ Students wave their Israeli flags as the Maccabeats perform at the March for Israel Rally. Numerous musical performances took place, featuring artists such as Ishay Ribo and Omer Adam. Photo by Alec Silberberg, Dimensions Yearbook.

Watch the video of the IDF batallion receiving the Lower School students’ letters

10 December 2023

Having grown up in a home that valued Zionism and attending JDS, which fostered that same ideal, Galitzer felt that it was his responsibility to serve in the IDF. “I thought it was so important not only for Israelis to give to Israel in defending our Jewish home and our only country, but it also falls on Jewish people all over the world,” Galitzer said. “Some people decide to give money, some people decide to go to yeshiva and some people will decide to volunteer, but I thought the best route for me was to give my body to the country.”

Like Galitzer, Lily Daroff (‘19) felt that her JDS education contributed to her desire to join the army. Daroff always knew that she wanted to volunteer in some way before college and ultimately decided that the IDF was the right path for her.

Daroff was in the army from 2019 to 2021 as a part of the spokesperson unit. They are the “voice for the army for international purposes,” Daroff said. Her department specifically was focused on running social media.

While Daroff is not currently serving in the army, she feels that serving has significantly influenced the ways in which she has Sophie been impacted by the war.

Schwartz “It’s hard to think about how I Reporter would be feeling if I hadn’t lived in Israel or joined the army,” Daroff said. “For me, it’s just much more personal. I remember in high school, obviously I cared about Israel so much and politics, but it was less personal…This whole issue just hits really close to home in ways that I know it doesn’t for most people, or even people that haven’t lived there.”

All three alumni feel strongly that education on the war are crucial, specifically due to the amount of misinformation being spread on the topic.

“A lot of people speak about the actual combat over here, but it’s not only the combat war, it’s really the media war also, which is devastating for Israel, because so much misinformation and disinformation is spread, and deliberately spread,” Galitzer said. “So it’s really important to just educate everyone around us to know as much truth as possible.”

Alumni in the idf

their place within the school.”

Yali Tal, a student from Israel who joined the senior class, said that the JDS community has been incredibly inclusive.

“I came here a month ago and they immediately accepted me when I came here. I didn’t start out immediately,...and then I started [the week before Thanksgiving],” Tal said. “It was awesome. Everyone accepted me…the experience is awesome.”

While the community has been able to find moments of light in the tragedy, those moments have been brief. The horrific unfoldings of the war and the increase in antisemitism globally and locally continue to loom over the daily mood of the school.

“We are still going about regular school. We’re studying all the same things, we’re having athletic events and competitions, we’re having the play and concerts and all that stuff,” Malkus said. “But I think that there’s sort of an undertone here of, this is a really difficult time in Israel, which is making it a difficult time in the school.”

Just ten minutes before Eitan Tavor (‘21) prepared to leave his base, sirens and explosions rang through the air. Stationed in the South, where rockets were aimed, Tavor remained in the bomb shelter for around an hour and a half on Oct. 7.

Based 40 minutes south of Be’er Sheva, Tavor is in unit 8200, a classified unit in the IDF that focuses on cyber and communication intelligence. Tavor’s group sits at an air force base and works with a flying squadron that works on intelligence.

On a personal level, Tavor feels that his experience has been different from others because he has not lost anyone directly connected to him during the war. Furthermore, Tavor feels that his responsibilities have made it so that he hasn’t been able to process the situation emotionally.

“We have a lot of work to do.

We don’t really have time to be sad about what happened,” Tavor said.

“We’re always busy and we have a TV that’s always on with the news.

So, we see what’s going on, but it’s kind of separated from the outside world.”

Tavor is one of a few CESJDS alumni currently serving in the IDF. Unlike Tavor, who is still in his active duty, Justin Galitzer (‘19) is volunteering his service.

Galitzer was a volunteer in the army and when the war broke out, he was not in the reserves system.

For the first three weeks of the war, Galitzer helped volunteer by bringing deliveries to bases in the North, South and the West Bank and was on guard duty on kibbutzim around Sderot. However, Galitzer wanted to join a brigade and worked to make this a possibility.

“During the time I would be working all day during the day [and] during the night time, I’d be calling up every company commander and every brigade seeing if I could join them,” Galitzer said.

“And eventually, I found this team over here, and I was able to join them as a combat soldier here.”

Galitzer is currently stationed in Hebron, a city in the Southern West Bank, as a part of an operations team. The team’s job mainly consists of patrolling Jewish villages in the area, detecting people working with Hamas and maintaining army presence in the area.

The Lion’s Tale Magazine 11

Omer Balva

A Beacon of Kindness and Zionism Dies at 22

Used with permission from the Balva family.

Ari Kittrie Opinion Editor Omer Balva (‘19), a CESJDS alumnus who was an ardent Zionist and dreamed of moving to Israel, was killed on Oct. 20 on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon. Balva was a staff sergeant in the 9203rd battalion of the Alexandroni Brigade in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). He was struck by an anti-tank missile fired by Hezbollah, a U.S-designated terrorist organization based in Lebanon, while he was stationed on the Israeli-Lebanese border.

When Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7, Balva was on vacation in Maryland, visiting friends for Sukkot. At the time, he was living in Israel where he was studying for a degree in business administration and economics at the Reichmann Institute in Herzliya. Balva was among the 360,000 reservists called up after Israel mobilized to prepare for their ground invasion of Gaza.

To many, Balva embodied one of JDS’ strongest qualities: community. Kehillah, meaning community in Hebrew, is one of JDS’ eight core values and is core component of the JDS education.

“Omer was just such a great example of what a JDS student should be,” Omer’s brother Barak Balva (‘10) said. “He was friendly,

and he cared about everyone. And this is where we’ve also heard so much this past month and a half, constantly from his friends that have attended [JDS]. We just get flooded with stories. There really wasn’t [any]one he wouldn’t talk to. There was no one he wouldn’t spend time and hang out with. If he saw someone sitting by themselves, he would go sit with them and talk to them, even if he wasn’t necessarily close to them. He just had this warmth and this friendliness and care and love for just absolutely everyone.”

Dean of Students Roslyn Landy said that kindness was a trait Balva always reflected.

“There was something internal in Omer, whether it came from his family or just from him, that made him a very special person,” Landy said.

Theater was one of Balva’s favorite extracurricular activities.

He starred as Bill Anderson in the 2018 JDS High School Musical production of “Mamma Mia.” Director of Arts Education Dr. David Solomon shared a memory of Balva at the memorial service held on Oct. 27. Solomon recounted that he was having a bad day, wich Balva noticed. At the end of the day, once everybody left, a message on the whiteboard of Dr. Solomon’s office was left by Bal-

va which said, “Have a good next semester. Thanks for being the best teacher ever D Sol, Omer. P.S. come see me on Broadway.”

Balva’s life was always connected to Israel. His parents, Eyal and Sigal Balva, were both born and raised in Israel. His older brother, Barak, and his older sister, Shahar, were born in Israel as well.

However, Balva was born in the United States, so there was no obligation for him to serve in the military. Regardless, Balva followed in the footsteps of his older siblings and enlisted in the IDF instead of going to college directly like most of his classmates. While Balva did apply to a variety of colleges, he always had the intention of serving in the IDF. “It was such a respect and love for the country that I think for him it was just the most natural thing to enlist,” Barak said.

Every JDS student takes Modern Jewish History and has to complete a “Family History Project,” in which students research and report on their Jewish family history. In Balva’s project, he discussed the life of his father and his father’s mother, and concluded the project by discussing his own life and what he hoped to do in the future.

“My passion has always been to protect Israel and suggest what is best for what I believe is the greatest country in the world,” Balva wrote. “I intend to pursue my passion through my career.”

The Balva family hopes to put together a tuition scholarship for Omer Balva. Eyal said that many people have been willing to donate towards a possible scholarship and that he believes a scholarship will be “super important so that even kids with not much money have the chance to be there [JDS].”

Balva is survived by his father Eyal, his mother Sigal, his older brother Barak, his older sister Shahar and his younger brother Itai. He was buried at a military cemetery in Herzliya on Oct. 22.

12 December 2023

war on words

Coverage of Israel must reflect fact, not bias No matter their level and prominence, all journalists must assess the best way to deliver nuanced and impartial coverage. As the Israel-Hamas War continues, we’ve seen several news outlets like The New York Times and BBC issue redactions and corrections for incorrect information they have published.

These amendments are necessary because it is complicated to balance speedy, up-to-date coverage with fact-checking and editorial review. In some cases, news publications have prioritized getting the story out quickly over getting the story right.

In their coverage of the explosion of Gaza’s Al Ahli Arab Hospital, several highly accredited media organizations were quick to place false blame for the incident on the Israeli government, when in actuality the event occurred because of a rocket misfire from the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad. These allegations were based entirely on Hamas reports, a terrorist organization that has repeatedly spread misinformation in an attempt to defame Israel.

While this tragic event was an important development in the re-

gion that necessitated coverage, it is the responsibility of prominent news sites to publish accurate and verified information. The spread of misinformation only serves to incite antisemitic and anti-Israel rhetoric.

In addition to the accuracy of reporting, there has been much debate over the language that should be used when reporting on the Israel-Hamas war. The AP Stylebook released a guide to reporting about the war, stating that “words should be chosen carefully to reflect respect for different perspectives on the conflict.”

Word choice can indicate bias, which can then influence readers’ viewpoints. For instance, when describing members of Hamas, the AP Style convention is to call them “militants.”

Other organizations use the term “terrorists” to condemn the Oct. 7 massacre and some even refer to them as “freedom fighters” to endorse Hamas’ actions. This is one example of how the connotation of words can hint at bias in press coverage.

At The Lion’s Tale, we use the term “terrorist” or “militant” to not only be unequivocal in condemning Hamas, but to also

Photo illustration by Libby Hurwitz.

remain in alignment with the U.S. government’s designation of the terrorist organization.

At The Lion’s Tale, our top priority is to present how the war impacts the CESJDS community, which means that our coverage is focused on representing the way that the war impacts Jews and Israelis. Every publication has its own set of goals and processes that determine the content and the perspective of their content.

Above all, journalists should focus on accuracy when covering the Israel-Hamas war. We urge our readers to be wary of articles released so quickly that they could not have undergone a full editorial process. We also urge you to be critical readers and to cross-reference your news with multiple sources. Distinguishing fact from commentary is no easy task, but it’s an important process for us to become informed citizens and active participants in ethical journalism.

- The Lion’s Tale The Lion’s Tale Magazine 13

Stand up for your virtues If Oxford Languages defines a civilization as “the stage of human social and cultural development and organization that is considered most advanced,” how does civilization fail to condemn the massacre of Oct. 7 as evil? Should people in an advanced society not have a clear moral conscience?

The horrors of Oct. 7 shed light on the gaping holes of morality and vices of humanity, not just through the rape and murder of Israelis, but through the sinful societal response. For the sake of civilizations everywhere, speak up to defend your virtues.

Recently, our society has felt like a desert of humanity as people equivocate about the horrendous crisis. They attempt to rationalize terror by insisting that contextualizing the evil explains it.

They say a 17-year-old Palestinian prisoner could not possibly be a threat to Israel and thus was fairly traded for an innocent hostage. This doctrine is not only a threat to Jews but to humankind.

For those with unwavering principles, this event is simple: innocent civilians vs. a genocidal death cult.

Lena Nadaner Editor-in-Chief I am fortunate to have been educated by the CESJDS Jewish History Department, and those classes taught me that antisemitism is incessant and to never concede to it. They also armed me with the knowledge to act confidently and courageously.

When your peers try to defend the genocidal acts of Hamas, or worse, label Israel’s actions of defense as inappropriate, speak up. There should be no lack of clarity as to what is correct in this situation.

Speaking up comes easier to me.

I recognize that it can be difficult, but you must prioritize it.

When people and institutions show you that they are antisemitic and thus are fundamentally immoral, don’t make excuses for them; act with integrity.

Aside from the historical connection to the Land of Israel and the dire need for a Jewish state, it is your duty as a civilized and virtuous member of society to defend Israel. Solidify your virtues, and then stand up for them.

Jettison your expectations

I am a proud New York Jets fan.

It’s humiliating, I know. The amount of laughter that has been directed at me and the amount of apologies I have endured for being a Jets fan are innumerable. And yes, it sucks, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. In fact, I believe that the pain and suffering I have experienced as a Jets fan have taught me a valuable lesson.

If you are unfamiliar with football, all you need to know about the New York Jets is that in some unexplainable, inextricable, almost supernatural way, they always fall short. Always. No matter their players, their coach or even their record, something will always go wrong. And I am not in any way exaggerating. With one Super Bowl win (ever) and the longest current playoff drought in all of professional sports, being a Jets fan is hard.

At some point in my fandom journey, I recognized the hopelessness of my situation. Seasons I was excited about - whether that be because of a high draft pick, talented players, a new coach or a hall-of-fame quarterback -

Kaylah Goldrich Editor-in-Chief

all ended in disappointment, without fail. I learned over the years that to avoid the soul-crushing pain of missing the playoffs, I could not expect success.

In other words, I go into every season with low expectations, so if and when the Jets win a game, or if they somehow finish with a respectable record, I can appreciate it to a greater extent.

This mindset, to a lesser extreme, is universally applicable to situations that you and I will come to experience in life.

I am not advocating for you to never get excited or never be confident in a pursuit, but I do believe that remaining rational, and not letting high expectations get in the way of your enjoyment is important.

So if there is one thing being a Jets fan has ingrained in me, it is the ability to approach life with tempered optimism. This mentality isn’t about settling for mediocrity. Rather, it’s a recognition that happiness often comes in unexpected forms, and appreciating those small moments is just as crucial as chasing Super Bowl victories.

14 December 2023

be a silly goose

Ellie Fischman Managing Editor, Copy

When I look back at everything I’ve written for The Lion’s Tale, I’m overwhelmed by the seriousness of it all.

Why did I feel like I always needed to tackle the hardest issues, like abortion, trans rights and racism?

I feel like I have to advocate for everything I believe in, all the time. I’m concerned that if I don’t speak up, then no one else will. So my voice becomes pretty loud, and many people associate this with me. So much so that my classmates suggested I put “You’re on native land” on my senior jersey. This was making fun of a sticker I had on my water bottle that said that, and it made me feel defined by one thing, boxed into a politically correct stereotype and like my class mates didn’t truly know me.

Looking back on high school, I regret not showing my silly side more often: belting out song lyrics, joking around and saying nonsensical things.

I was worried that people would think I was weird if I acted unconventionally or that it would undermine my credibility in academic settings. But being just

Fake it till you make it On more than one occasion, my debate partner and I have gone into a debate meet entirely unprepared, having done minimal research and only having written our speeches and rebuttals the night before. While this hasn’t paid off every time, the meets where we go in with minimal preparation are often the debates in which we perform the best.

I credit this success to the power of spontaneity. Over-preparing can lead to over-thinking, which generally leads to unintentional self-sabotage. Some of my best ideas start as pure improvisation because I am forced to respond to the situation at hand without an understanding of what the “correct” response should be. By pursuing these ideas, I can explore avenues beyond conventional thought, a necessary step in generating innovative perspectives, opinions and decisions.

Learning to adapt to new or difficult circumstances while maintaining a facade of confidence is an important skill I learned throughout high school, and a skill that will serve me well as I continue in my academic career.

one thing all the time isn’t authentic. I wonder if I could have made more of my high school experience if I let my guard down and let other people get to know me better.

Everything is so loud all the time, and I don’t think that’s going to change anytime soon. Everyone thinks they’re an authority on everything. Everyone has something to say. People won’t shut up about everything serious, and it can make you feel guilty for looking for an escape or happier things. I’m here to tell you that those people are insecure.

They’re worried that if they don’t make their voices heard and make them heard loud, they’re liable to be ignored.

Embrace the silly. Cherish the nonsense, distractions, fiddlesticks and hogwash. Laugh at things that aren’t funny. Say the first thing that comes to mind, even if it sounds stupid. Play the fool, act the jokester or simply do what comes naturally to you. Advocacy is important, but don’t let it drown out the reason why we advocate in the first place: equal pursuit of joy.

Ella Waldman In-Depth Editor, Social Media Director

By developing comfort with sometimes improvising my work, I’ve granted myself a freer approach to my academics and extracurriculars.

Certain assignments and activities do require deliberate effort and conscious attention to detail, but some tasks hold less weight and don’t require the same thorough intention. It is okay not to approach every responsibility with the same level of attention. I have found that it is critical for the sake of my mental balance that I prioritize certain things over others, and dedicate more time to the assignments that truly need the attention.

So, even though I sometimes craft debate arguments on the spot (sorry Ms. Ball), and participate in class discussions having only read the online summary of the chapter (sorry English Department), by embracing the practice of occasionally BS-ing my work, I have achieved success in all of my academic and extracurricular endeavors, and also prioritized a balance in my life.

The Lion’s Tale Magazine 15

You do You

Lilli Libowitz In-Depth Editor, Director of Staff Development I have never been the smartest person in the room. I used to struggle a lot with this. I poured my heart and soul into assignments only to receive a lower grade than what my classmates achieved in a fraction of the time. It felt discouraging—I always felt like I was falling short.

I was in this constant battle between wanting to do well and feeling like I wasn’t smart enough. Every time I heard a kid in my class say “I got an A and I didn’t study,” I became frustrated.

I studied twice as hard, worked endlessly on assignments and pushed myself to the brink just to achieve what others seemed to accomplish effortlessly.

I distinctly remember a breaking point—an entire class spent in the school bathroom, tears streaming down my face over receiving an 83% on an essay on “The Great Gatsby.” As I sat on the bathroom floor with a few of my friends, I began to question what the point of this all was. I realized getting an ‘A’ was not worth jeopardizing my mental and emotional well-being.

Focus on your future “Stop worrying about the future; live in the present!”

I must have heard this phrase a hundred times in school wellness sessions, from friends, my parents and even ironically, from my college guidance counselor. But the truth is, I enjoy focusing on my future, and I firmly believe that for high school students, caring about and investing energy into the future is not only acceptable—it’s vital for your personal growth and future success.

I believe that a balanced and purposeful consideration of the future can actually enhance mental well-being.

By setting goals, planning for academic and career paths and creating a sense of purpose, you can find a source of motivation that contributes positively to your mental health. I had to reshape my mindset, and recognize that obsessing over my future should not be about succumbing to all the worries of the unknown, but rather using my excitement as a guide to inspire my present choices.

Over my high school career, I joined

That realization was transformative. I began to embrace imperfection—not as a sign of weakness but as a testament to my authenticity. I realized perfection is unattainable, so chasing it was just a waste of time.

I decided to pivot my focus. I embraced the mantra of doing what I loved, even if I wasn’t the best at it. I joined the dance team even though I was a horrible dancer because it made me happy. I stayed in that challenging English 11 ADV class because I was determined to learn and grow.

I learned to value the journey rather than fixate on the destination. It wasn’t about being perfect; it was about being myself, flaws and all, and enjoying the experiences that came my way.

For anyone dealing with similar insecurities, here’s my advice: keep at it and stay true to yourself. Pursue what you love, even if you’re not the best at it. Push through challenges to grow, not to be perfect. Embrace imperfections because they make you who you are.

Simon Albert News Editor

numerous clubs and extracurriculars, many of which have required extensive time commitments. Running between Shir Madness and musical rehearsals, mock trial meetings and Lion’s Tale production, there were times I thought I was stretching myself too thin.

However, I’ve found that my involvement in these activities did not hinder my ability to live in the moment; in fact, it often enhanced my present experiences. While I had deliberately chosen activities with an eye toward the future, they also provided me with a deep sense of fulfillment, enjoyment and direction.

To any high school student who, like me, finds themselves spending hours watching college acceptance videos, I encourage you to stay focused on the future. Striving for excellence in your academics is commendable and should be a source of pride.

Do activities and extracurriculars that genuinely resonate with you. Most importantly, approach the future with an optimistic and determined spirit, as it will shape the best moments of your present life.

16 December 2023

Mindset Matters

Jonah Beinart Features Editor

Throughout my time in high school, I’ve made many mistakes, intentional or inadvertent, in all facets of my life.

I used to beat myself up and had a perpetuating, self-deprecating and pessimistic attitude whenever I did something that I deemed wrong. Even something as small as forgetting to complete a homework assignment or not ending a conversation in what I thought was the best way possible felt crushing. This attitude led me to spiral out of control, making me see myself in a much worse light than what was in reality. I know I didn’t take advantage of the opportunities to learn from my mistakes to the best of my ability.

In the past couple of months, I’ve become more flexible in the way I view any mistakes or changes in my life.

It was exhausting to be constantly angry at myself for no logical reason. By letting go of

I do it for the bit Laughter has always felt like a necessity to me. Maybe it isn’t for others, but it should be. Luckily, I have grown up in a family that prioritizes laughter as much as I do.

Laughter and silliness have helped me in many ways. They have acted as a stress reliever for tests and assessments, allowing me to feel more relaxed than I did before. Moreover, laughter has helped me feel more comfortable in social settings and around others.

Laughter has catalyzed opening up to others and connecting with them.

Laughter is a great outlet to deal with thoughts and feelings, especially for adolescents. They can go about this in two ways: trying to be funny and getting people to laugh, or seeking out funny things for themselves. I have found both to be effective for me.

What was your favorite JDS class? my grudges, I was able to open up my mind to valuable lessons and experiences that I would not have been able to have otherwise. Like Billy Joel said, “You’re not the only one who’s made mistakes, but they’re the only things that you can truly call your own. Don’t forget your second wind.”

With enough intentional effort and work, any seemingly negative change in our lives can serve as a way to learn more about ourselves or our peers. A friend said something that caught you off guard? You didn’t get a grade you wanted on a test and your grade drops as a result? It’s going to be okay. Being introspective and considering all aspects of a situation can help remove yourself from the strong emotions associated with it and therefore allow you to proceed in the most logical way possible.

Modern Jewish History - Lena Nadaner

History of the ArabIsraeli Conflict - Kaylah Goldrich

English 11 - Ellie Fischman

Pre-Calc - Ari-Werbin-Gradel

History of the ArabIsraeli Conflict - Jonah Beinart

Aaron Waldman Sports Editor

However, I have learned that in high school there is a time and place for laughter, and it is essential to understand when it is okay to be goofy, and when you need to be serious.

Don’t cross lines that should not be crossed or trivialize something important just to get a laugh. Friendships can often be ruined by an insensitive and poorly timed joke.

This year, I was voted as the class clown, and yet, in my 13 years at JDS, I have never been sent to the office or disciplined through detention or suspension. For me, this proves that laughter can and should be used as a resource and not as a weapon. Laughter has helped me connect with my friends and improve my grades. I encourage every person to find their source of laughter.

Physics 1 - Aaron Waldman

Genetics & Biotechnology I - Ella Waldman

English 10 - Lilli Libowitz

World History I - Simon Albert

Arabic 4 - Adin Halbfinger

The Lion’s Tale Magazine 17

Truth ABove all Else

Adin Halbfinger News Editor

“Wow, that’s crazy,” I remember saying as Director of Publications Jessica Nassau turned the lights back on. It was freshman year, and my Journalism I class had just finished watching “Shattered Glass,” a movie about Stephen Glass, a news reporter who fabricated his news stories. I was shocked by Glass’s lack of moral clarity.

As I do whenever I encounter a serious topic, I cracked a few jokes about the ingenuity behind Glass’ plot, but his actions never ceased to disgust me.

Truth and honesty are not only moral imperatives, but also pivotal in ensuring accurate reporting and fostering public trust. I have spent the past two years dedicated to upholding these virtues of truth and honesty in my role as News Editor.

Sadly, it has become increasingly evident in recent weeks that not all news sources are as dedicated to upholding journalistic values as The Lion’s Tale. Stephen Glass was not alone in neglecting morals.

Take, for instance, Hassan Eslaiah, a freelance photographer whose

Ignore Others’ Opinions “What if they think I’m not good?”

“They’re definitely staring at me.” “Why is he judging me right now?”

The most important part of high school, for many, is what people think of them. Whether you’d like to accept it or not, that’s the reality. We all care about others’ opinions: our friends, teachers, parents and even people we don’t know. We all, to some extent, exert a lot of mental energy towards caring about what others think.

As high school progressed, I realized this is simply a paradigm. It is a never-ending cycle. If absolutely everyone cares to some degree what others think of them, then they’re spending more time worrying about what others think of them than actually judging other people.

This is especially true in high school. Let’s say someone does judge you. They’ll look at you for one second, maybe think of something in their head, or even say something out loud, but then they will immediately go back to worrying about their own life and start worrying about other people

work appeared in CNN, AP News, Reuters and The New York Times. He was found to have an inappropriate relationship with the terrorist group Hamas after a photo was released showing him receiving a kiss on the cheek from Hamas’ Gaza chief, Yahya Sinwar leaked, followed by a video depicting Eslaiah with Hamas militants en route to participate in the massacre of over 1200 Jews in southern Israel on Oct. 7.

Despite AP News and CNN severing ties with Eslaiah, their oversight regarding his involvement with a terrorist group is alarming.

News organizations must maintain impartial reporting.

As I conclude my tenure at The Lion’s Tale, I want to commend our incredible reporters. They consistently uphold the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Their commitment to meticulous fact-checking and prompt correction of errors serves as an example. I can only hope that other journalists hold themselves to similar ethical standards.

Ari Werbin-Gradel Sports Editor

judging them. It’s all a cycle. People are too worried about themselves to worry about you.

Of course, this is easier said than done. It is human nature to crave approval from others. You want people to like and accept you. There is no doubt that for the rest of our lives, we will care what others think of us. However, in high school, our hormones, thoughts and especially our emotions are all nearing their peaks. We are hyper-sensitive, and sometimes, trivial moments in high school seem like life or death.

For me, it’s still something I struggle with. Caring about what others think can entirely consume your life, and it can make you forget about your own opinions. However, if you remember that it’s all a cycle, it’s just a loop where people are too busy worrying about themselves to care about you, your mind will be much more at ease.

Enjoy every moment of high school, appreciate it and do not let others’ opinions get in your head. At the end of the day, what’s most important is you.

18 December 2023

Embrace new Cultures

Nini Panner Multimedia Editor

My heart dropped as I watched my new classmate and teacher pose for a photo in the Nazi salute in the direction of a picture of Adolf Hitler. My other classmates laughed along, unaware of how deeply targeted and vulnerable I felt at that moment.

Having been awarded the State Department YES Abroad scholarship for cultural exchange with Muslim countries, I spent my junior year in Ankara, Turkey. I arrived as the only American student assigned to the remote, mountainous Turkish capital. I joined a host family and enrolled in a public school despite knowing no Turkish.

Three years earlier I had enrolled at CESJDS, driven by my faith and culture in a way public school didn’t satisfy.

Studying ancient texts while absorbing current events, I became engrossed in the centuries-old conflict between Jews and Muslims. The prospect of living in a Muslim country, grappling with an unfamiliar language, culture, and religion, not knowing if I could freely express my own, both thrilled and terrified me.

One day in my Turkish school, a classmate drew swastikas on my arm.

At first, having heard the murmurs of antisemitism, I pretended I was Christian, but it came out that I was Jewish.

Despite my classmates believing that Jews were evil, this Jew packaged and distributed aid, donated clothing, food and cried tears of loss and pain for Turkey’s suffering during the devestating earthquakes, partly my nation now, my family, my friends.

As I returned to JDS, I wish I could say I cracked the code of international understanding, but unsurprisingly I didn’t. Knowing that my host family and friends cared for me warmed my heart.

Watching politics drive kids to senseless ignorance and hatred twisted me up inside.

JDS has especially enabled me to embrace and accept my identity despite the hate the Jewish community has and will continue to face. Even as I leave JDS, my original quest to deepen my faith and seek common understanding still drives me.

What is your ultimate destination ? advocacy -ellie

Diplomat -Kaylah

Mountaintop -Lena

nirvana -Jonah

Jail -adin

Under the Chuppah -Simon

Ceo of tbd -ari Doctor -ella

waldsville -aaron doctor -Lilli

traveler -nini

All photos by Freed Photography and Abby Chesman, used with permission.

The Lion’s Tale Magazine 19

- features -

Dagonys on the move Hebrew teacher, husband turn passion into product Photos provided by Yaffa Dagony, used with permission.

Yaffa and Ron visit a glacier in Iceland.

Yaffa poses with a knight armor in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Ron and Yaffa take a trip to the Galapagos Islands.

Aliza Bellas Opinion Editor ithin the walls of CESJDS classrooms, high school Hebrew teacher Yaffa Dagony spends her days as any other educator would. However, by night, Yaffa’s passion extends far beyond slideshows and lesson plans. Alongside her husband and co-author Ron Dagony, Yaffa spent years in the 1990’s writing and editing her own set of travel books intended to transport Hebrew-speaking readers into the wonders of American life.

Both Yaffa and Ron have always had a passion for travel and found guidebooks particularly useful in their journeys across the U.S. According to Ron, each time they traveled, they would use up to three different guides, but few ever met their high expectations.

“Our favorite activity before each trip was, and still is, a visit to a Barnes & Noble store… to select suitable guides,” Ron said. “We have always been finicky travel book buyers. We know what we want, and oftentimes we find the books on the shelf lacking.”

After years of using what were, in their opinion, “average travel books,” Ron and Yaffa began

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a journey to create their own set of guidebooks, but with a twist. In order to target an audience closer to home, they tailored their guides toward Israeli readers.

“We thought small in terms of potential markets,” Ron said. “We knew we had no chance against established global travel brands like Fodor’s or Frommer. We felt our best bet would be to target the Israeli niche. It’s a small but not negligible market. After all, Israelis love to travel, and it’s an integral part of their psyche.”

After discovering their love of travel, Ron and Yaffa began the writing process by traveling across the U.S. to decide on the main attractions for their books.

Yaffa said they went across the country about four to five times before settling on New York and Florida as their focal points.

Once they decided on these locations and wrote the original draft of the book, Yaffa and Ron began the intense editing process.

They both said that they struggled to keep the information up-todate throughout the time consuming editing proccess.

“The editing at the end was very difficult because we didn’t have the internet possibility that

DAGONY DATA The Dagonys have been married for

54

years Ron and Yaffa have been to

5

continents together The couple met in

1967

we have now,” Yaffa said. “So we had to go over and make sure everything was correct. Since then, prices have changed, restaurants have closed, and we had to rewrite it to make sure it’s all updated.”

After first publishing in 1997, Ron and Yaffa were astonished by the positive feedback that both ”‫“( ”ניו יורק‬New York”) and “‫”פלורידה‬ (“Florida”) received. According to Yaffa, their books became bestsellers in Israel, and she even engaged in press interviews. She said it was incredibly rewarding to see readers walking around various travel destinations carrying her books in their back pockets.

Although Ron and Yaffa stopped publishing after the internet began to gain popularity, Yaffa wants students to remember that teaching is only one part of her life story and that all educators have other sides to their lives, passions and identities.

“If you want to see how your teacher had a different life than just being in school, go and see that she had three loves: her family, her students and traveling,” Yaffa said. “This is a great way to see how those three loves are coming into effect.”

20 December 2023

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ellness orkers

Sophia Leinwand Guest Writer Instead of sitting in their usual advisory classrooms on Nov. 15, high school students got to choose from a wide assortment of unique wellness activities in which to participate. These activities ranged from yoga and mindfulness to origami making. The Health and Wellness Fellows are largely responsible for making this special programming possible.

These fellows are a group of 10 students chosen by Co-Directors of the Upper School Health and Wellness Center, Melissa Gartner and Rachel Soifer, to enhance the student body’s exposure to the many health and wellness issues facing students today.

“We wanted to prioritize and focus on bringing students into this process with a very active leadership role,” Soifer said. “We make sure that whatever it is that we’re planning and delivering to students, there’s a student voice in it.”

Junior Samantha Shapiro is one of the Wellness Fellows, and part of her job is to help organize and execute ideas and projects revolving around wellness within the Upper School.

“I joined the club because I’m passionate about mental health,” Shapiro said. “I want to make an impact [on] my friends and peers.”

Students interested in becoming a Wellness Fellow completed an application and an interview.

Applicants had to demonstrate an interest in health and wellness and leadership abilities. Fellows

Freshman Sami Goldin

CESJDS launches new fellowship program

are required to participate in all commitments that come with the position. This includes attending weekly meetings and leading one significant Health and Wellness program during the year.

Along with general assistance, fellows must support Gartner and Soifer with any other Health and Wellness events by dedicating time outside of school in order to complete any task necessary for the program’s research, development and execution.

Implementing Wellness Wednesdays this year is a big part of the program’s impact on the student body and faculty. Replacing JDS students’ weekly advisory once a month, the Wellness Fellows invite speakers to educate the student body. In October, the high school hosted Dr. Beth Weinstock about fentanyl with a follow-up Narcan training.

Weinstock’s son, Eli, passed away in March of 2021. He was later found to have ingested fentanyl. Weinstock came to JDS to share her son’s story and the dangers and uncertainties of drugs.

“The speakers have been very moving, and it’s important that we have people come and talk to teens today about pressing issues,” freshman Lilah Sacks said.

“I thought the Narcan training was super good and super important for teens to learn today, in case they’re ever in a desperate situation, or someone they know is, they can save a life with the training.”

One of the main attractions of the Health and Wellness Center is

Junior Neely Shemony

the role it provides to the students.

Fellows are able to exercise leadership skills and take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about their community’s mental and physical well-being.

“They [students] have an opportunity to develop leadership in an area that they have a lot of passion about,” Soifer said. “It helps that interaction and that relationship between adults and students in the community to shape and lead programs.”

The first Wednesday of December was focused on continuing the education on substance abuse. The fellows organized information sessions specific for each grade, keeping in mind what kind of information would be most beneficial to educate each grade on. For example, the freshman will be having an information session about alcohol, vaping and different kinds of drugs.

The goal of the fellowship is to incorporate student voices into the school. Gartner and Soifer felt it was crucial to involve students to personalize the program and make it more accessible to the rest of the student body. The Health and Wellness Center allows students to practice leadership and explore subjects they are interested in.

“I’m personally hoping to see a little bit of an increase in mental health awareness around the school and more students and faculty and staff being able to work together to help each other,” Shapiro said.

The Health and Wellness Center is a place the students can turn to in times of struggle. The fellows work together to ensure that there is a place at JDS where students can turn to if they need help.

“We’re extraordinarily proud of our program and our Fellows,” Gartner said. “They are wonderful leaders in our community, and we value all of their contributions to the school.”

Sophomore Ellie Strisik

Junior Hannah Kaffee

Junior Samantha Shapiro

Senior Anna Leinwand

Senior Lilli Libowitz

Junior Adam Helman

Junior Cati Werbin-Gradel

Junior Dalia Epstein

Photos by Freed Photography, Paulette Kaffee, Marin Strisik, Kira Diamond, Naomi Werbin, Debbie Shemony, Adam Helman, and Samantha Shapiro. Used with permission.

Meet the Fellows

The Lion’s Tale Magazine 21

- features -

Hand(el)ing the situation Alumna supports Jewish communities locally and abroad Handelman leads a session on Judaism for Ukrainian refugees in Poland during her time volunteering for the Jewish Service Corps Fellowship. Photo by Dalia Handelman, used with permission.

Eliana Abrams Guest Writer ne of the most profound values alumna Dalia Handelman (‘18) gained while she was a student at CESJDS was that one should do good for one’s intrinsic worth, not for personal gain. It’s that commitment to ethical work that motivates Handelman in her job for the United Jewish Appeal Federation of New York.

Handelman, a Development Associate in the Lawyers Division at the United Jewish Appeal Federation of New York (UJA), has devoted her post-graduate years to doing work related to Judaism.

After college, Handelman joined the year-long Jewish Service Corps Fellowship (JSC), which places recent college graduates in global service opportunities within Jewish communities.

“It was incredibly powerful,” Handleman said, noting that the experience really opened her eyes to conditions around the world.

“America is so detached from so many conflicts that are going on, because we’re so far away,” Handelman said. “We often think of refugee crises and wars and this and that as people that could never be us.”

Handelman signed up for the JSC not knowing what country she would get assigned to and she ended up in Krakow, Poland.

There, Handelman worked at the local Jewish Community Center (JCC), rebuilding its community’s

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outlook on Judaism and providing aid to the influx of Ukrainian refugees as a result of the war in 2022.

“All of my best friends in Poland, most of them were Ukrainian refugees themselves,” Handelman said. “The people that were standing in line every day at my office to get food, it could have been me, it could have been anybody.”

Handelman worked alongside Marta Michalska, Director of External Communications at the JCC, during her year in Poland at the JCC. One project Michalska is currently working on is called “Right for the Living,” a fundraising event whose purpose is to commemorate the Holocaust.

Situated in close proximity to Auschwitz, the Krakow JCC has become a popular stop for many Holocaust survivors returning to Auschwitz after 80 years. To them, it serves as a reaffirmation of Jewish presence in the very place such tragedies occurred. “[It is most meaningful] to celebrate that the Jewish life is still alive,” Michalska said.

After her year in Poland, Handelman moved to New York where she works on the fundraising team at UJA, the biggest Jewish philanthropy organization in the world.

The UJA aims to care for Jews in and out of New York and respond to crises around the world.

Handelman channels her efforts into fundraising for anti-poverty work, crisis relief and Jewish

A DAY IN THE LIFE: WORKING AT THE UJA 1 Arrive at 9 a.m.

2 Catch up on emails and analyze donor data 3 Meet with prospective or current donors 4 Visit a benefactor of the UJA 5 Leave the office anywhere between 6-11 p.m.

life. Some of the funds go to projects that support Jewish causes, while others go to causes that help broader communities. Since Oct. 7, the UJA has raised over $65 million dollars to be allocated to various organizations in Israel that directly work with people.

“It was very stressful,” Handelman said. “But it was also incredibly inspirational.”

Handelman said that other activities at JDS, such as Zimriyah and Kabbalat Shabbat, also shaped her proud Jewish identity.

“I loved that part of growing up, and it made me so proud and happy to be Jewish,” Handelman said.

Handelman attributes her preparedness for this impactful work to the values and foundation instilled in her during her time at JDS. Though she has never been very religious, the Jewish values she received from her JDS education help guide Handelman in her everyday life as well as in her workplace.

She recalls Jewish text teacher Rabbi Reuvane Slater’s Jewish Life Cycles and Rituals class as being especially meaningful and influencing her positive outlook on Judaism.

“I try to teach [students] to grow, grow, grow,” Slater said. “In whatever lessons you’re learning, whatever subjects you’re learning, take something from it that will help you become a better you from that point on.”

22 December 2023

From educator to activist

Former faculty member joins AJC to reach more Jewish students Shia Messler Guest Writer Former CESJDS Jewish History teacher and chair Aaron Bregman has always felt passionate about preparing students to confidently engage in civil discourse about complex topics like Jewish identity, antisemitism and the Arab-Israeli conflict. But now, instead of reaching 100 students a year, he’s able to reach close to 2,000 through his work.

Once a month, over 1,900 Jewish high school students meet around the United States to discuss their experiences with antisemitism, learn how to respond to antisemitism and how they can embrace their Jewish identities.

This program is called Leaders for Tomorrow (LFT), created by the High School Affairs department at the American Jewish Committee (AJC). Bregman is the director of the department.

“When students end the program, they have the ability to walk into a class, walk into a professor’s office, walk into whatever, you name it and say confidently, ‘Here’s what I believe. I’d love to have a conversation about X, Y or Z and actually engage in civil discourse,’” Bregman said.

After a decade of working at JDS, Bregman left after the 202122 school year to work at the AJC. The goal of the AJC is to shape a brighter future for Jewish teens by discussing with leaders on the highest levels of government and society about combating antisemitism, talking to the world about Israel and democratic values.

Bregman’s role as the High School Affairs department director is to help students that have questions about the AJC and what the organization can teach them about combating antisemitism, along with sending out a representative from the AJC to speak with students across the country.

Last summer, Bregman gathered 10 heads of private independent schools from across the country and traveled to Israel to talk about the issues that Israel

is facing today. He focused on explaining the diversity of Israel and the history and current events of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

“They can go back to their schools, work with their educators, work with their Jewish student body, so they have a better sense of what’s happening on the ground [in Israel], and so they can actually have some investment in that conversation,” Bregman said.

Bregman’s leadership in the JDS community is still seen by teachers and alumni today, including alumnus Micah Gritz (‘20), who is currently a senior at Tufts University. Gritz is the Chief Operating Officer at Jewish On Campus, an organization focusing on bringing awareness to antisemitism on college campuses.

Gritz said Bregman was a very “passionate and enthusiastic” teacher, and he stated how he was very relatable in sharing his experiences as a high school and college student. Gritz credits his interest in the Arab-Israeli conflict to Bregman and his teaching style.

“I feel like he really ignited a passion within me for international relations, and specifically, the conflicts in the Middle East,” Gritz said. “I think it’s safe to say he changed my life.”

The current chair of the Jewish History Department, Dan Rosenthal, said that he and Bregman worked together closely for seven years, in which they worked on teaching about Israel’s history and the Arab-Israeli conflict.

“I think it’s a really good opportunity for him to be able to take his knowledge and share it with a wider audience that’s not just within Maryland, but across the entire country,” Rosenthal said.

Bregman says he misses his colleagues and how he could engage with many high school students every day. Especially since Oct. 7, Bregman misses the strong community that JDS brought.

“As someone who’s a local, I always appreciated the warmness and comfort the JDS community provided me and I always will re-

member that,” Bregman said.

Since antisemitic and anti-Israel sentiment has increased exponentially over the past few months, he advises students to speak up for their beliefs. “[What] I would particularly tell JDS students is: Be confident and don’t be afraid to speak out when you hear such rhetoric,” Bregman said. “I have 120% faith in our Jewish history department.

They are giving our students those tools and those materials to understand that background. Then, where the students need to step up is in the non JDS spaces, when they hear rhetoric like that to say proudly loudly, that is antisemitism.”

Below: Bregman speaks at a teachers’ conference for the Center for Israel Education.

Photo by Aaron Bregman, used with permission.

The Lion’s Tale Magazine 23

- arts and entertainment -

Energy Surge

For non-coffee drinkers, canned caffeinated drinks are essential, so we ranked 6

Rockstar Energy Fruit Punch

Alani Nu Juicy Peach

Rockstar energy drinks have been on the market since 2001, but even with over two decades of experience, they have yet to create the perfect drink. Energy drinks are expected to be light and refreshing, and Rockstar bitterly disappoints. The 16 fluid ounce can has 240 mg of caffeine and 61 grams of sugar, double the recommended daily intake. Rockstar will definitely provide you with an energy boost if you are able to take more than a couple of sips. ($17 for 12)

Alani Nu, a nutritional supplements brand, has become popular for its flavorful energy drinks and partnership with Kim Kardashian. Alani Nu offers 15 flavors to choose from, each with B6 and B12 vitamins and 200 mg of caffeine. The popular “Juicy Peach” flavor impresses with its subtle peach flavor that may remind you of a candy and has the perfect amount of fizz. While it has a slightly chemical aftertaste and may be too sugary for some, the drink is delicious. ($22 for 12)

Lena Nadaner Editor-In-Chief Nini Panner Multimedia Editor

Photos by Nini Panner, Lena Nadaner and Stella Muzin

Monster Energy Ultra Peachy Keen

Guayaki Yerba Mate Grapefruit Ginger

One of the country’s most popular energy drink brands, Monster, disappoints with its excessive carbonation. The can claims to “Unleash the ultra beast,” and it accomplishes that goal as we could feel the intense carbonation uncomfortably travel through our bodies. Monster left us with a strong aftertaste, sour from the chemicals. Also, despite having to suffer through the 16 fluid ounce can, it only had 150 mg of caffeine, so we do not recommend this drink. ($27 for 15)

A Yerba Mate is a traditional Latin American herbal tea that has risen in popularity for its strong brand of healthy and natural components. While the yellow can is aesthetically pleasing, the “sparkling ginger grapefruit” flavor tastes like watered-down tea. The can has 80 mg of caffeine, making it a good pick-me-up energy drink option if you want mild flavoring thar isn’t offered by other energy drinks on the market. Otherwise, this drink is not worth a try. ($33 for 12)

Prime Energy Orange Mango

Celsius Peach Vibe

Prime, released in 2022, aims to be a top contender in the energy drink market but misses the mark. Each sip felt like a carbonated assault on the taste buds, with the carbonation overpowering the promised orange mango flavor. The intense fizziness distracts from the beverage’s intended taste and contributes to a discomfort. The sweetness is overwhelming and tastes unmistakably artificial, and the drink has 200 mg of caffeine in just the 12 oz can. ($25 for 12)

Celsius is known as the “healthy” energy drink on the market, often branded around ~vibes~ rather than actual flavors.

If you want to give a peach vibe a go, this is the drink to grab. This energy drink is refreshing, full of vitamins C and B, and the perfect pick-me-up in the morning. It left almost no aftertaste, unlike many of the other drinks we tried. The “Peach Vibe” is an unmistakable top flavor; the range of options makes Celsius a good choice for any occasion. ($29 for 12)

24 December 2023

Sushi is my

soy-mate Eliana Wolf Reporter Rakugaki is a new sushi restaurant in the Wildwood Shopping Center that opened as part of the Raku chain throughout Bethesda and D.C. Their fourth location opened in North Bethesda, with other locations in Bethesda, Cathedral Heights and Dupont Circle. They held a soft opening this past March.

The restaurant front is uniform with the quaint feel of the shopping center. Upon walking into the restaurant, the atmosphere is casual and clean with elements of Japanese aesthetics like origami art pieces that give it an authentic feel.

My party and I were seated at a booth by a patient server.

The service was extremely quick, and my dining partner and I were not left waiting to eat. There were many options on the menu, ranging from soups to salads to noodles and even more entrees.

There was a wide range of sushi options, but I decided to start with the pumpkin soup ($9.00) which was delicious. It had a strong ginger undertone that pulled the creamy soup together and overall its nice fusion helped bring Japanese flavors, like ginger to the homestyle dish of pumpkin soup.

Within five minutes of ordering, we had our first batch of sushi rolls. We started with the “Salmon California Roll” ($9.00)

fan

favorites What’s your go-to sushi order?

“Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll” Junior Josie Silverberg

New addition to Raku chain has great flavor and atmosphere which was a classic and a favorite.

The addition of fish roe to the traditional roll elevated the dish.

After the full sushi order was placed, a beautiful assortment of rolls was brought out. The “Treasure Roll” ($15.00) was my personal favorite of the specialty rolls with a futomaki style that incorporated a lot of tuna with Japanese vegetables such as shiso and Oshinko. It was topped off with salmon roe to bring the flavors together. This roll is for the more adventurous eater, but I highly recommend trying it for the experience.

The “Veggie Lover roll” ($8.00) is a great vegan option, with many different vegetables such as Oshinko, Inari and Shiitake mushroom. It had a mintiness to it that made the roll feel fresh and healthy. We also ordered a salmon scallion roll ($7.50) that was understated but satisfying.

I recommend this to anyone looking for a simpler roll but still wants a bit of flavor.

The next roll was the “Wasabi Dynamite Roll” ($13.00), with more spice added to the wasabi fish roe. This roll was a little out of my comfort zone, with the array of fish such as salmon, tuna and yellowtail, but it had less of a fishy

“California Roll” Junior Shayna Lindauer “Avocado Roll” - Junior Evan Gorodetzky “Salmon Skin Roll” Senior Alec Silberg “Spicy Tuna Roll” Freshman Kasuba Chama

The Lion’s Tale Magazine 25

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taste than I expected it to contain. The last roll we ordered was the “Black Snake Roll” ($16.00), which was my least favorite because of the spiciness. I got it without the truffle oil because I don’t like truffle flavor but it still was spicy and not flavorful beyond the spice.

For dessert, there were many options, but I chose the “Choco Parfait” ($10.00) which was a light dessert with palate-cleansing vanilla soft-serve and chocolate crunch. I didn’t expect sushi to go with parfaits but it was the perfect topper to a fantastic meal. I highly recommend it to anyone with room for dessert after sushi.

The total bill ended up being pricier than expected, with the price a little higher than the quality of the food. It was not totally out of budget though, as Wildwood Shopping Center tends to be more expensive than other shopping areas.

While Rakugaki is a great addition to D.C. area sushi, it felt like an addition to Raku, and not particularly evolutionary. But, if you are looking for a comfortable and family-friendly local sushi restaurant, Rakugaki is a great option for a meal.

- arts and entertainment -

foreign Favorites

Vivi Ducker Reporter

Netflix’s international shows are worth a watch

It is no secret that the U.S. has a booming television industry with a range of genres and shows. After some time, these shows can become repetitive and cliche.

If you are getting bored of the typical American romcoms, you might want to try international television, as it offers more unique storytelling styles and plotlines.

LUPIN “Lupin,’’ the perfect French show is a suspenseful mystery embedded with drama and comedy. The show begins by showcasing protagonist Assane Diop in his heist at the Louvre Museum. Throughout the five episodes of the first season, viewers learn about Assane’s heartbreaking past, making viewers care for and empathize with him. Assane bases his heists on a children’s book of a mastermind thief that his father gave him as a child, keeping his schemes exciting and creative. The creativity in his plans miraculously keeps any suspicion off of him, even in the unforeseen twists and turns along the way as they seem impossible to be authenticated.

On top of being a refreshing show with wit and emotion, “Lupin’’ is appealing because of its beautiful language and setting. Set in Paris and with glimpses of other parts of France, watching “Lupin” feels like being in a whole new world and culture.

MONEY HEIST

FAUDA

Set in Israel, “Fauda” is an action packed thriller that eerily mirrors important current events. “Fauda” transitions between Hebrew and Arabic, recounting the lives of undercover Israeli operatives in conflicts with Hamas. The series follows the elite Israeli Army unit: the “​​Mista’arvim.”

“Fauda” follows the main character, Doron, and his life and missions along with the personal lives of the fellow members of the Mista’arvim. The show is fast paced, addictive and is widely admired by reviewers for its dual representation of the Palestinian and Israeli side of the conflict in the Middle East. This show is unique as it gives perspective and empathy to both sides. Watching shows like “Fauda” is the perfect way to continue education and cultural immersion outside of the classroom, while enjoying a dramatic series.

The show “Money Heist” is about the burglary of the Royal Mint of Spain and is one of many enticing Spanish shows offered on Netflix. “Money Heist” follows a large cast, each character with their own intricate backstory that the audience learns about throughout the first season. Following the eight robbers and their leader, The Professor, the show offers plotlines with growth, tragedy, drama and romance. The show’s main feature is a woman named Tokyo who is on the run from the police when she is saved by The Professor’s heist offer. Throughout the series, viewers follow the main events of the heist as well as the challenging aftermath of the unexpected twists that make the plan go south. While Netflix offers a dubbed version in English, reviewers say that the translation loses some of the nuanced dialogue and the show can be better appreciated in the authentic Spanish version with English subtitles.

Photos from Netflix.

26 December 2023

Hungry for more

Who is your favorite “hunger games” Character?

“Hunger Games” prequal exceeds expectations Sadaf Zadeh Reporter The long-awaited film adaptation of the prequel to Suzanne Collins’ award-winning dystopian trilogy “The Hunger Games” hit theaters worldwide on Nov. 17, and although expectations weren’t very high for the film, it is arguably the best cinematic rendition in “The Hunger Games” series so far.

The story of “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” is set during the tenth annual Hunger Games, a game in which two tributes from each of the 12 districts are randomly selected to fight to kill with the goal of being the last one standing.

The film follows the power-hungry Coriolanus Snow as he strives to become president of Panem, the government system under which the characters live.

The visual aesthetics in this movie are nothing short of extraordinary. From the glamor of the Capitol, which is filled with the highest class, to the filth of the impoverished Districts who live in unfortunate conditions, the producers of this movie succeeded in creating settings that were painstakingly stunning. The optics of this rendition give the viewer a journey for the eye as the narration of the story is a journey for the soul.

Not only was the captivating narrative portrayed beautifully through the storytelling and visuals, but the actors also excelled in giving the film an intense emotion. Tom Blyth, who played the main role of Coriolanus Snow,

perfectly expressed the multiple dimensions of his complicated character by giving each scene the perfect sensation.

Along with this, Rachel Zegler, who played the role of Lucy Gray Baird, gave a captivating performance of a young, naive girl who has a passion for song.

Zegler not only uses her enchanting voice to give life to her character, but also gives the audience a look into Lucy Gray’s persona through her physical expressions and strong sentiments.

Similar to the previous films, this storyline deals with complex themes of power, morality and rebellion. The portrayal of this narrative intricately navigates the complexities of Snow’s role to bring emphasis to the significance of the decisions he makes when considering the line between good and bad.

The script also portrays many parallels between Lucy’s story and that of Katniss Everdeen, the protagonist of the original trilogy. These parallels come in many different forms such as body language, phrases and character perception. In each production, they both are seen doing the same curtsy, referencing mockingjays and are Hunger Games tributes from District 12.

This rendition has deservedly broken records for the Hunger Games franchise, making $44 million on opening night. The movie has become an internet sensation and fans worldwide have been raving about the new release and what it might mean for previous and future releases.

“The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” proves to be a cinematic triumph that, along with exceeding fans’ expectations, gives the audience a captivating experience involving strong passion and a powerful storyline that leaves a lasting impression on viewers.

“I like Rue because she is really sweet and innocent and just doesn’t deserve to be there. I feel kind of bad for her.”

Junior Tovah Berger

“Lucy Gray Baird is my favorite character because I like her songs.”

Senior Gaby Goldberg

“My favorite character is Katniss Everdeen.

She is my favorite because I really like Jennifer Lawrence.”

Junior Georgia Lindenauer

“Rue, because she did a great job bringing the trauma to life in the first book and movie.”

Junior Eli Cashon

“Probably Rue, just because she’s really resourceful.”

Freshman Liora Litwack

Photos by Cati Werbin, LT.

Photo from Lionsgate.com

The Lion’s Tale Magazine 27

- sports -

Betting Boom Tali Loeffler Reporter n the night of the 2023 Super Bowl, gamblers settled into their homes to determine if the sizable bets they placed were worth it. In the last eight seconds of the heated game, the Kansas City Chiefs triumphed with a three point lead. Not only were the Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles faced with high stakes that night, but so were 50 million American gamblers.

The phenomenon of sports betting has become increasingly popular over the past few years.

This year, the number of Americans planning to participate in these bets has risen by 56%, with 73 million planning to place a bet on an NFL game this season, according to ESPN. Sports betting was legalized in Maryland in 2021 for participants at least 21 years old. However, many younger sports fans participate illegally. Bettors can wager in a variety of ways through their phones, computers or in person at certain locations. A gambler can bet on the outcome of a game, the amount of points a team wins or loses by and player statistics.

“People like when the stakes are high,” senior and co-president of the sports analysis club Ethan Safra said. “It’s totally natural with sports to feel that the stakes are high. But it [sports betting] can make the stakes higher.”

Increased advertisement for betting has played a big role in the rise of sports betting. Additionally, television networks have begun to offer advice to fans on bets to make for the best outcome. There are currently 12 legal online betting platforms for fans, the most popular of which are FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM. In general, betting platforms have generated large amounts of money for states governments.

Platforms controlled by the state profit from winning bets which can boost local economies.

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Rise in sports gambling among teenagers

As betting increases in popularity, so does education on it. Assistant Athletic Director and alumnus Matthew Landy (‘18) studies sports betting at Georgetown University as part of his Master’s degree in sports management.

“I wanted to get a better understanding of the betting market,” Landy said. “It has become a huge part of the sports industry and will only continue to grow within the industry as more states continue to legalize it.”

Despite the appeal associated with sports betting, it has had negative impacts on mental health. According to Landy, betting is highly addictive, even from a screen. Placing large wagers can cause anxiety because, when not careful, bettors can easily lose money which can affect their financial situation.

A high school student who requested anonymity thinks betting can be fun when one is not addicted and if it is managed in a controlled environment. The student bets with their father a couple times a week but does not bet by themselves as it is illegal.

“I feel like I have a very advanced knowledge of sports,” the student said. “And this is a way that all my sports knowledge could potentially make me money. I feel like some sports are a bit rigged, and I know about it, so I can take that to my advantage and make a bit of money.”

Ultimately, the student thinks that by understanding how to bet safely as a teen, they can be more prepared for the future when legally betting by themselves.

“It’s important that if you do feel like it’s necessary to begin betting, that you do so in a safe way and have someone that is more knowledgeable about it and more experienced to help guide you through the entire process so that you’re making informed decisions,” Landy said.

28 December 2023

Gamble Gab

Betting terms

The Line

Betting odds set by the website or bookmaker

Parlay

Linking of bets for a higher stakes as it relies on more outcomes

Backdoor Cover

When something happens and affects bettors but not the game’s outcome

Over/Under

A bet on whether the outcome will be more or less than a set amount of points

Bad Beat

A wager that was on the verge of winning but loses

Exposure

Greatest amount of money that could be lost on a bet

Sharp

Someone who

sports gambles professionally and uses research and resources to place bets

Information from sportsillustrated. com. Photos from rawpixel.com.

Reining it in Community members horseback ride Eighth grader Caitlyn Levitan practices her skills by leading her horse through obstacles. Photo by Natalie Levitan, used with permission.

Lindsey Shapiro Guest Writer With over 100,000 horses, Maryland has more horses per square mile than any other state.

So, it’s no surprise that CESJDS students and even faculty can be found on horseback when they’re not at school.

Eighth-grader Caitlyn Levitan has been riding horses since she was four years old, and she currently rides at Bascule in Poolesville, Maryland.

“My favorite part of the sport is having a bond with the horse and being able to have such a great connection with a completely different animal,” Levitan said.

“It’s just kind of magical to me.”

There are different styles of riding, and each requires a different skill set. Two of the most popular styles are English and Western, both entailing different saddles and ways of holding reins.

Freshman Noam Miller, who has been riding for two years, moved from Israel to Maryland last summer and had to switch riding styles. He rode Western style in Israel but learned English style when he started riding in America. It was a hard adjustment

for him, but the instructors at his new barn, Potomac Horse Center, were very supportive and helpful to him as he learned the new style.

Levitan rides in many disciplines. She does eventing, which includes show jumping, dressage and cross country. Show jumping is where horses and riders will jump over various heights, dressage is having a horse perform sequences of trained movements and cross country is a speed and agility course to test a horse and riders’ endurance. Levitan does shows within her barn, but hasn’t competed in any recognized shows yet.

Students aren’t the only people riding; Middle School Executive Assistant Elizabeth Polit rode for around 25 years, but stopped around ten years ago. She has fond memories of riding, but one of her favorite experiences was bonding with the horses she rode.

“Sometimes I’d go out to the barn, and I had a lesson and at the end [it’d] just be me and the horse… I’d just lay back on the horse, just relax under the stars and just let him trot wherever he wanted to,” Polit said.

While there are so many positives of horseback riding, many consider it to be a dangerous

sport. Almost all riders hurt themselves at some point, including Polit and Levitan who have both suffered multiple injuries.

“If you never fall off, then you’re doing something wrong,” Polit said.

Despite the dangers to the sport, those committed to riding enjoy it.

There are many riding stables in Montgomery County, and they are accessible online.

“I would find a place that I feel like my coach is good and I have a connection with the horses…,” Miller said. “It really depends on where you are and where they really help you.”

Most riders ride at least twice a week in order to get the practice they need.

Though riding can be a big commitment, enthusiasts believe that it has taught them skills that can be applied to everyday life that can help improve self-confidence.

“You’re gonna fail sometimes, but what’s important is that you just try again, and you keep trying over and over until you get it,” Levitan said.

Local places to Ride 1. Potomac Horse Center, North Potomac 2. Wheaton Park Stables, Inc., Silver Spring 3. Woodland Horse Center, Silver Spring 4. Meadowbrook Stables, Chevy Chase

Done Deal: Freshman Noam Miller looks back to see the path he just rode. Photo

by Gilat Miller, used with permission.

The Lion’s Tale Magazine 29

- sports -

Coach of champions Teacher returns to lead MS basketball team

Lyla Silberg Guest Writer Returning for his seventh season and aiming for a fourth championship win, learning specialist Brett Kugler is excited to be back on his home court coaching middle school girls basketball.

Kugler has loved basketball since he was a kid. In high school, he played varsity basketball, continuing to play until he had to stop due to injuries. Although he could no longer play, Kugler was not quite ready to give the game up.

“Coaching was something that combined my love of basketball and my passion for teaching,” Kugler said.

Throughout his career, Kugler has coached six seasons for the middle school girls basketball team, gone to the championship in five of them and won three out of those five championships.

Kugler took a short hiatus from CESJDS in the beginning of the 2022-23 school year. He returned in the beginning of the basketball season, however, it was too

late for him to coach the team that year. Health and Exercise Science teacher Alexander Kirsch coached that season and Kugler jumped at the opportunity to resume coaching this year.

Middle school is Kugler’s favorite age group to coach because he helps begin the careers of future stars. He likes to help players find their inner potential and shape them into good teammates with a strong set of skills.

“You see a tremendous amount of growth from the start of middle school to the end of middle school basketball, and I love being a part of that journey,” Kugler said.

During the tryout process, Kugler looks for players that are not only skilled in basketball, but are team players as well. He feels that those are the people that make great players.

Eighth-grader Kira Koplow is looking forward to Kugler’s return to the team. She was on the team in her sixth grade year, making it her second year playing for Kugler.

“I’m very excited that we are

2015 was Kugler’s first season as the girls middle school basketball coach.

BY THE NUMBERS 3

championship wins with Kugler

5

finals appearances

6

seaons with the team

Photo by Tess Mendelson (‘21), Dimensions yearbook.

getting Coach Kugler back,” Koplow said. “He has a lot of knowledge about the sport and also brings a lot of spirit and ruach to the team.”

In Kugler’s last season coaching, he enlisted the help of an assistant coach. Middle school Hebrew teacher Guy Koren became Kugler’s assistant coach for the 2021-22 basketball season. In the 2022-23 season, Koren continued to be assistant coach for Kirsch and will continue the role this season for Kugler.

Kugler asked Koren to help out because having another set of eyes on the court gives him a sense of relief. While Koren doesn’t have much experience playing the game, he is a big fan of basketball and loves to help out.

Koren agreed because he thought it was a good way to connect with students and participate in a sport that he loves.

Koren feels that Kugler brings a lot to the team. Koren sees how he coaches players into improving their basketball abilities in ways that others don’t see.

“He has this special way of knowing how to give those little small tips to the players where they know to make the right adjustments and become better players,” Koren said.

Kugler has always found something special in basketball.

The sport means more to him than just scoring points and winning games; it taught him a lesson about the importance of loving your work that is worth more than any trophy.

“I think that as a player, myself, and a student of the game I didn’t always have the most talent but what you can do when you combine the talent that you have, with heart and thought and effort you’re really able to create something that overrides general natural ability,” Kugler said.

30 December 2023

Voices from the Lion’s Den

Dill With it

New pickleball courts open across street from school Senior Jonah Beinart and sophomore Liam Sher compete in the pickleball tournament. Photo by Yaeli Greenblum, used with permission.

Isaiah Segal-Geetter Guest Writer Juniors Evan Gorodetzky, Yedidya Milner-Gillers, Nathan Szubin, Joshua Berl and Jonah Berman were walking through the Moti’s parking lot a few weeks ago when they noticed something they had never seen before: a pickleball court. Little did they know this would become a focus of their Community Time (CT) over the next few weeks. They had discovered a pickleball establishment only a few minutes walk from CESJDS. In an alcove of the Moti’s parking lot lies an attraction that has been a highlight of many CESJDS students’ free time over the past few months. Dill Dinkers is a company that lets people rent out pickleball courts, and its popularity has quickly risen in the JDS community.

For the past few weeks, many JDS students have been going to Dill Dinkers, often during CT and after school. It is only a five minute walk from the school, and it gives students a fun and active thing to do during free time.

“I haven’t played pickleball in a while. It’d be so fun to get my friends to play,” Milner-Gillers said after he walked by Dill Dinkers for the first time.

He immediately gathered his friends to scope out the courts, which they realized were once an old trampoline park that had been converted into pickleball courts.

“They looked [like] very new, fresh courts,” Milner-Gillers said.

Dill Dinkers is open every day during the school day. In addition, it is also open on Wednesdays and Fridays after school until seven p.m. The current pricing is $7.50 per person per session and it must be paid for by credit card. Students can create accounts if they don’t want to bring a credit card every time they play and can make reservations on their Dill Dinkers.

Dill Dinkers is a chain of pickleball venues throughout Montgomery County and Prince George’s County. They have locations in Manassas and Rockville among others. This specific venue only opened late last school year.

Dill Dinkers has nine courts in their North Bethesda location meaning that most days, there is no wait time. They also offer pickleball lessons for an extra cost if people want to improve their skills. Dill Dinkers also sells rackets and other equipment for people that would like to play in other places. “[Pickleball] is basically like tennis and ping pong. It’s very aerobic though. So you can run around and play lots, you can hit the ball,” Szubin said. “It’s just a lot of fun because it’s a great way to get aerobic exercise during lunch.”

Because a lot of students have been going to Dill Dinkers, the athletics department is making efforts to get a discounted price for kids from JDS. Right now, students are paying the member pricing but hope that they can develop an

“

It’s a lot of fun because it’s a great way to get aerobic exercise.”

-junior Nate Szubin

organized partnership like they have with other activities, such as rock climbing.

On Nov. 12, the school held a pickleball tournament at Dill Dinkers to raise money for Israel.

Students paid $12 dollars per person and half of that was donated.

Because of the increased interest in pickleball among the students, JDS decided it would be a great way to raise money.

Pickleball has spread very quickly in America over the last few years, but it has mostly been popular for adults. It appealed to adults because it is not too strenuous a sport but still provides a challenge. For students who need to return to school afterwards, this makes it the perfect sport to have fun but not lose all their energy or get too sweaty.

“We love having kids come through here. I think it’s definitely an area where pickleball is played a lot,” Dill Dinkers North Bethesda owner Sam Morris said. “And it’s an easy, fun thing for anybody to pick up.”

“It felt great to win and prove that we were the best pickleballers But it even felt better knowing we were raising money for Israel. Am yisrael chai.”

Senior Matthew Steindecker

“I loved the pickeball tournament because it brought our whole highschool together in order to help Israel.”

Senior Sam Sharp

“The pickleball tournament was a super fun and creative way to raise money for Israel.

It also had a fun competitive aspect to it.”

Junior Evan Gorodetsky

“I’ve never played pickleball before so I thought it would be like tennis and I would have a good chance of winning.”

Senior Dalia Greenblum Photos by Ari Werbin

The Lion’s Tale Magazine 31

Jordan Levy (Swimming): Senior Jordan Levy started swimming competitively in first grade and has been on the CESJDS team since eighth grade. Even though the team is not super competitive, “we always have fun together,” Levy said. Levy is a captain for the second year in a row and competes in the 50 and 100 meter freestyle and the 100 meter breaststroke. As a captain, he also leads his teammates in warmups before practices and meets.

“I’m looking forward to picking my co-captain … and I’m also looking forward to hanging out with the team and having fun,” Levy said.

Photo by Coby Malkus (‘23), Dimensions Yearbook

Shani Schwartz (Girls Varsity Basketball): Senior Shani Schwartz started playing on the varsity team in eighth grade and went on to lead her team to victory in the 2023 PVAC championships only three years later. “I’m feeling better about Berman this year than last. … [I expect] to win again,” Schwartz said.

Last year Schwartz scored her 1,000th point of her high school career in the quarter-final game against the Washington Waldorf School.

SENIOR

STARS

By Jordana Dauber, Guest Writer

Ethan Safra (Winter Track): Senior Ethan Safra has been running since sixth grade and has spent seven years working to become a better runner and athlete. Safra is hoping to improve his personal record during the upcoming track season. One of Safra’s best meets was the PVAC championships last year, which JDS won.

Safra’s 5K personal record (PR) is 18:24.

During winter track, Safra runs the 400 and 800 meter, but in the fall, Safra competes in the 5K. “It’s my last chance to PR…and just embrace my last season on the team,” Safra said.

Photo by Jordan Levy, Dimensions Yearbook

“I think we have a good group of girls that have been together for a while and a bunch of new players coming that will make [the season] very exciting,” Schwartz said.

Photo by Abby Chesman, LT Dalya Brickman (Dance Team): Senior Dalya Brickman has been dancing since she was only two years old. She’s danced ballet, jazz, modern, tap, hip hop, contemporary and even pointe. Brickman joined the JDS dance in tenth grade and has officially been on the team for the past two years. As one of three captains, Brickman helps choreograph and teach the dances. Brickman says she’s met some of her best friends on the team and encourages others to join.

“It’s a good way for me to decompress from school,” Brickman said. “After school I can just have dance team.”

Photo by Abby Chesman, LT

Sam Sharp (Boys Varsity Basketball): Starting point guard and two-time varsity captain Sam Sharp is looking forward to his fourth and final season at CESJDS. One of Sharp’s best games for JDS was a game in Toronto against Leo Baeck, a team from Israel. With 10 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds he helped his team secure the win.

“The last two years we’ve had a pretty similar team and I think it’ll be exciting, for me at least to have new teammates that I’ve never played with before and continue to play the role as a captain and get us the best looks we can and become the best possible team we can,” Sharp said.

Photo by Jordan Levy, Dimensions Yearbook