STAY SAFE EDI TI ON
The Cougar Chronicle April 2020
JACK M. BARRACK HEBREW ACADEMY
Volume XXX Issue 4
NOTI CE: M any ar ticles in this edition were wr itten before the outbreak of COVI D-19. Please excuse any outdated infor mation.
Bar r ack Shuts Door s, K eeps K ehilla Open chance to get up late, and we?re able to learn in the comfort of our own house.? Lehman also stated that though ?it?s not ideal, it
Stefanie Rose, Executive Editor
" I 'm in a way gr ateful to be able to still lear n online dur ing this scar y time." --M ar ia L ehman
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On March 12, 2020, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf released the statement that Montgomery County was to be put on lockdown; unfortunately, Barrack was required to close. Though going to school was not in the foreseeable future, the Barrack administrative team worked quickly and efficiently to get Barrack?s distance learning plan running smoothly. The program is constructed upon a four-day cycle, and each day includes six 35-minute classes via Google Hangouts. Barrack has been using its distance learning program since March 18, 2020, and while there have been a few minor changes, for the most part it has been working out great. The changes to the schedule have consisted of making the lunch break 40 minutes instead of the previous 30 minutes. Since lunch was made longer, the end of 6th
Pictured: Barrack community on the first day of Distance learning
period became 2:50 pm, rather than 2:40 pm like before. Maria Lehman ?21 stated,
?I like the distance learning because it gives the students who live far away from school a
works. There are a lot of schools that don?t have the capability to have online learning like Barrack does, and for that I?m in a way grateful to be able to still learn online during this scary time.? Newly elected SA president, Daniel Bernstein ?21, stated, ?I like distance learning because [even though] the teachers had to switch all of their plans for the year, they still make class productive and interesting.?
Car s, Crosswalks, Complaints: The Bar r ack Par king L ot Aron Shklar, Staff Writer We all know the Barrack parking lot. Almost all of us have to cross part, or all, of it every morning and afternoon. And if you use the parking lot, then you also know there are many problems with it, especially in the afternoon. There are parents parking across crosswalks; parents sitting in their cars in front of parking spaces, which makes it a hassle for student drivers to back up; and students running around, trying to get to a bus or a car. This is a guide to what problems we have, and how possibly to fix them. A major problem that many people encounter, especially students who take the train or subway, is dealing with cars blocking the main crosswalk during afternoon dismissal. Granted, the drivers of
these cars have no other place to wait, but they seem oblivious to the students hurrying to get to the Norristown High-Speed Line (commonly called the subway), or to the buses, and they force students to maneuver around their cars. Do they expect the
We all know the Bar r ack par king lot. (At least, we all did, until the middle of M arch!) students to crawl through their back seats? They create an impediment for the walking students, and they are being unfair to drivers who are behind them who are unable to drive around their idling vehicles. A second major problem that occurs is that student drivers? exit routes are obstructed when parents stop their cars behind filled parking spaces. Students hate
when this happens. Stef Rose ?20 says, ?I think one of the bigger problems is the traffic patterns for pick-up because cars are lining up in front of student cars, and that makes it hard to get out.? Again, this is caused by unobservant parents, who don?t consider the students trying to go home. Rules have been implemented to avoid this, such as having student drivers leave 10 minutes after the school day ends, but this problem continues. Noah Joffe ?22 thinks that ?it?s honestly just a mess; everything they try to do to fix it never works.? A third major problem is the size of the parking lot. Obviously, there are many students at Barrack, and this means many student drivers and many parents arriving Continued on page 7
Keeping Up With The Chronicle: Aron Shklar : Writing song Danny Cohen: I've begun to K ayla Bleier : I have Serena L evingston: I want to work out more-- doing How our staff keeps busy dur ing parodies. I take a song I know improve my writing skills by writing painted my room, cut my and then change the lyrics to be pushups, situps, etc., to get hair, and have had a lot in my journal. And I also want to get the Coronavir us Pandemic. more time to practice better at cleaning my room, but that?s stronger for the basketball about something else, in a guitar. less interesting. (M ore on pages 18-19) satirical way. season
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Niva Cohen, Staff Writer With the November general election fast approaching, Democrats needed to pick a nominee. Regardless of the fact that he fell behind former Vice President Joe Biden in acquiring delegates, the best choice would have been Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Although this is a controversial position to take at Barrack, Bernie was best equipped for the job because of his electability, his potential as an effective president, and his nonthreatening ideas for Israel. Hopefully, this article will ease concerns over Sanders being ?too farleft,? and settle the minds of those who were anxious about the idea of Bernie as President. Bernie Sanders was electable because he brought a great deal of enthusiasm to the table, resulting in an excited base and eager volunteers. The Senator?s passionate, idealistic plans might even have increased voter turnout. He was polling first among young, low- and middle-income, and Latino constituents, all categories of voters with low attendance at the 2016 general election. If Bernie could convince people who are tired of dull, partisan politicians to vote in the primary and general elections, he would have been capable of winning both.
Democr ats need to fight fire with fire. Bernie is not a registered Democrat, which draws Independents to him who find faults within the Democratic party. Much of the country today is unapologetically anti-establishment, just like Senator Sanders. He attracted these citizens and would have also garnered the votes of Democrats who
dislike him, as many of them would have voted for their party?s nominee no matter what. Bernie?s hard-core supporters, however, may now choose to stay home or even vote for Donald Trump, as someone else is chosen as the Democratic nominee. Sanders is the only one who might have been able to get Independents, his steadfast supporters, and identified Democrats on his side. Many Democrats believe that moderate candidates are more likely to win in a general election. This could lead them to make the same mistake that they made in 2016. Clinton?s closeness to center did not win her the election against Trump, and any uninspiring moderate could face similar problems. Democrats should not assume that Trump?s victory was a fluke and return to politics as usual. The truth is, no matter how moderate a candidate they pick, Democrats will not get the votes of many Republicans because people tend to stay with their team. Instead, they should focus on those who didn?t vote, or who are unhappy with both parties. Today, many voters are more attracted to a candidate?s personality than their actual policies. Many Trump fans chose him because of his antiestablishment, no- playing- by- the- rules attitude. Bernie shares these qualities. Democrats need to fight fire with fire. Although she is not a Bernie supporter, Eliana Pasternak ?23 says that she admires him for ?being one of the more genuine candidates and standing by his opinions.? These are attractive traits for people looking to escape the status quo opportunism of most politicians. Many voters will consider choosing the candidate, from either side, whom they feel understands them and will improve their lives. This is what people get from Trump. And that is what Bernie would have offered, as well. Bernie Sanders would have also made a
Why I 'm Not Feeling The Ber n Serena Levingston, World News Editor Democratic Presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders, iconic for his New England accent and far-left policies, was initially successful in the polls. According to an early Washington Post/ABC News poll, Bernie had the support of 32% of Americans, and former Vice President Joe Biden was in second place, with only 16%. In addition, he won the early primary elections in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada. Despite this support, there are many reasons why Bernie Sanders would not have been the best person Americans could have voted for this year. Senator Bernie Sanders is a self- described Democratic Socialist, meaning he supports a democratic government like the one we have in America today, but he believes the economy should be socialist. America has a long history of conflict with communism and socialism, making it unlikely that he would have achieved widespread support. Although he initially had lots of support in the Former Nominee Bernie Sanders polls compared to the other
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Enthusiasm Ber ns Br ight
Bernie Sanders, a self-identifying Democratic Socialist who ran for the Democratic nomination for president
good and effective president by combining his idealistic values with knowledge of how to get things done. From 30 years on Capitol Hill, the Senator has learned how to compromise with Republicans and moderate Democrats. He chaired the Senate Veterans? Affairs Committee. While there, he had to work with many Republicans, including the late Senator John McCain, to create a successful compromise. He was able to find middle ground. Sanders can differentiate between his passionate idealism and his practicality. His vote against the Iraq War shows that he votes for his beliefs, but he also knows when it?s time to make a deal. For example, even though he wanted a more comprehensive healthcare plan in 2010, he voted for Obamacare because he knew it was a step in the right direction. Despite people?s concerns, Bernie would not have had an all-or-nothing approach. He might present himself as a revolutionary, but he knows how Washington works. Around Barrack, many insist that Bernie is a self-hating Jew who might have harmed Israel if elected president. But Bernie?s ideas on Israel are actually non- threatening. In fact, he wants a two-
Continued on page 5
Democratic presidential candidates, the polls did not compare his support with that of Donald Trump, where he led with a much smaller average margin of 4.9 points. As the general election grew closer, the polls changed, shrinking Bernie?s lead until he fell behind former Vice President Joe Biden. Sanders supporters tout his long political career, from mayor of Burlington, Vermont, to a representative in Congress, to his current position as Senator of Vermont. However, in all of those years in Congress, Sanders has not independently proposed many pieces of legislation that have been made into law. Politico wrote that he "rarely forged actual legislation or left a significant imprint on it." While he had many big ideas for policies if he had been elected president, such as his Medicare for All plan, it?s unclear if he would have been able to execute them, especially considering their socialist roots. Furthermore, his Medicare for All plan is divisive and unrealistic. It advocates for a single- payer healthcare system, with the government providing health insurance for all Americans. While Sanders claims the plan would save America money by being more efficient than the current healthcare system in place, the opposite is true. Expanding governmentfunded healthcare means creating a new framework, involving more regulations, government employees, and paperwork. Medicare for All would be inefficient and expensive, defeating the purpose of creating accessible healthcare. In addition, with no financial incentive for the pharmaceutical industry and scientific researchers, competition in those fields would greatly decrease, leading to slower progress in creating life-saving medicine. Clearly, Medicare for All is unfit for America, a nation built on powerful ambition. Although Bernie Sanders is proud of his long political career and consistent beliefs, his inflexible way of thinking polarized voters who are
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OPI NI ON April 2020
L etter To The Editor s Dear Editor: If you're a regular at Barrack, you're probably aware of the problem: there aren't enough pianos in the lobby. Recently, a member of this paper wrote an Opinion piece titled, ?Hands Off or You?ll Be in Treble.? The author argued that the piano in the lobby of Barrack should be off-limits for playing because it ?disrupts the flow of the entire school.? This argument is simply absurd. Many students like to use time during lunch to practice piano or learn new songs. When a student sits down at the piano to play, it?s not ?audacity,? as the editor called
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Berned Out on the fence about whether or not to vote for Donald Trump. About 13% of Trump voters voted for Obama in the 2008 and/or 2012 elections. These voters are willing to vote against party lines for a candidate they believe in, and Obama caught their attention as a moderate Democrat. Sanders, on the other hand, is much farther left and would have been less likely to attract the socalled ?Obama-Trump voters,? espe-
Ber nie?s ideas can only polar ize Amer icans in a time when Amer ica needs unity more than ever. cially given his controversial plan to impose a tax on the extremely wealthy. In an already- divided America, we need a politician ready to unite the public, not drive it further apart. Ultimately, Bernie Sanders was not ready to lead America. Today, we face all sorts of large issues: climate change, poverty, systemic racism, and more. Sanders has a controversial ideology backed by ineffective plans, and he has not successfully introduced much legislation during his lengthy time in politics. Bernie?s ideas would have only polarized Americans in a time when America needs unity more than ever. The only way America can usher in a future we all believe in is with unity, like that in a true democracy.
COUGAR CHRONICLE it; it takes courage. The Opinion piece published last month made it much harder for students to share their music with their peers. The piano creates community at school and when students sit down to
The piano creates community at school and when students sit down to play we should not silence them play we should not silence them. Instead, we should encourage more students to play and learn new songs. The author stated that students should have a minimum requirement of songs they need to know in order to play, but not all students are proficient in playing a full catalog of songs. ?Laziness? is not the reason why some students only know a few songs.
The author is likely not a musician, because if she was, she would understand how difficult it is to learn and play music, especially for beginner players. With students' rigorous academic schedules, sports, theatre and music lessons, students are not lazy. They simply may not have enough time to learn a new piece. The author also suggested students use the upright piano in the auditorium instead of the lobby. This ignores the fact that the instrument in the lobby is a more beautiful grand piano with higher quality acoustics. In the words of Trey Anastasio from Phish: If children playing all around To you is noise not pleasant sound And you'd be lost on the playground Then this one is for you
Page 3 To those who are bothered by the sweet sound of music, I offer you some advice: Go see a show. Get a Spotify account and boogie to some Marvin. A piano is not a ?beautiful piece of decor.? A piano is meant to be played and a locked piano is no piano at all. --Elijah Ames ?24
Sc h o o l 's L o b b y Pi a n o
Have an opinion? Send your thoughts to maya.shavit@jbha.org to have your letter published.
I nj ustice in the Cr iminal Cour t System Rebecca Shaid, School News Editor The Central Park Jogger criminal court case The deeply entrenched attitudes and entangled took place in 1989 and put five African American and histories of what many see as systemic racism have Hispanic teenage boys, between the ages of 14 and 16, been a problem in our country since slavery, and are into jail for up to 14 years, for a crime they did not still seen today. In the US, there are institutions and commit. They were wrongfully incarcerated because of systems in place that many believe produce different coerced video and written testimony, negligence of outcomes based on race because of the way they are set evidence, and what many up, regardless of the fact that the consider systematic racial individuals within the system discrimation within the (police officers, judges, etc.) are not criminal justice system. inherently racist. One of the On the night of April problems is how the criminal justice 19, 1989, random brutal system, largely founded in the Jim attacks took place against Crow era, is built; the injustices are nine people in and around not personal or deliberate. Michelle Manhattan?s Central Park. Alexander, a legal professor, The most seriously injured of journalist, and civil rights advocate, The Central Park 5 the victims was a 28-year-old female claims that ?millions of blacks arrested for minor jogger, who was raped and left in a coma for 12 days, crimes remain marginalized and disenfranchised, brain-damaged for life. Approximately 30 teenagers of trapped by a criminal justice system that has forever color were roaming the area that night perpetrating branded them as felons and denied them basic rights some of those attacks. In that atmosphere, the New and opportunities that would allow them to become York Police Department took 14 suspects into custody productive, law-abiding citizens.? during the next few days, and arrested the boys now One in every three black men are incarcerated known as the Central Park 5 for raping the female in their lifetime and one in every nine black children jogger. The boys were held for questioning for at least have a parent in prison. Due to what some see as seven hours for the rape of the jogger, without parents over-policing in largely black communities, housing or lawyers present. The officers are accused of lying to and job regulations after incarceration, and more each of the boys, saying the police had evidence discriminatory practices, it is extremely difficult for against the others and leading each to believe they were someone of color to actually stay out of jail. being questioned simply as a witness to a crime. Many To combat racism in the criminal justice claim Linda Fairstein, the prosecutor who supervised system, start by checking any personal bias concerning the interrogation and trial, ignored evidence minorities within the justice system. Calling exonerating the boys and went to unrealistic lengths to representatives and lobbying against unjust outcomes place blame on them. Elizabeth Lederer, the lead and getting involved in criminal justice reform prosecutor in the case, worked hard for the boys? organizations or in the government itself, is always incarceration despite doubts of their guilt, only to have helpful. The criminal justice system has a long way to the real criminal admit to the rape 13 years after their go until it is equal and fair, but education and staying imprisonment. This case is terrifyingly sad, and made aware are a few options in continuing efforts towards even sadder by the fact that it is not unique. criminal justice reform.
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Raising the Tobacco Age but I gnor ing the L ar ger I ssue at Hand On November 27, 2019, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed a law that will change the legal age for buying tobacco to 21 from 18. The law will be enacted in July of 2020. This move by the governor is following in the footsteps of 18 other states that also raised the purchasing age of tobacco to 21, beginning with Hawaii in 2016. In addition, President Trump has spoken out in support of raising the age nationwide.
With the r ise of e-cigarettes in recent year s, par ticular ly among teens, this law does not tackle the actual problem facing Amer ica today. With the rise of ecigarettes in recent years, particularly among teens, this law does not tackle the actual problem facing America today. As of December 19, 2019, over 50 Americans have died and over 2,000 cases of
HEART.ORG
Devora Solomon, Opinion Editor
Va p i n g v s . Sm o k i n g
lung disease have been reported due to e- cigarette use. This law, dealing only with tobacco purchases, comes much too late as the fight against smoking addiction turns to e- cigarettes and vapes, which do not even contain tobacco. Had this law been enacted in the early 2000s, perhaps it would have been more effective. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois shared his disappointment that the law dealt only with tobacco, and did not introduce a ban on flavored e- cigarette cartridges. Sabrina Chevlin ?20
shares this disappointment, as well, especially given that ?our generation was so close to ending cigarette addiction, but got hooked on vapes, right when that was attainable.? Although this new law is a step in the right direction, there are many more steps to take to really tackle the issues of nicotine and tobacco addiction in America. President Trump expressed intentions to ban flavored cartridges but retreated on that position due to lobbying efforts from the vaping industry. The
main reason given for postponing the ban on flavored cartridges is that teens and other e- cigarette users will instead turn to illegal, unregulated, and unsafe substitutes. Rebecca Shaid ?20 adds that ?raising the legal age only encourages more underage, illegal activity.? I believe that the banning of flavored cartridges is necessary in the effort to reduce the number of e-cigarette users. Currently, one in three high schoolers who uses e-cigarettes reports having also smoked cigars, cigarettes, or other tobacco products. This law that raises the tobacco purchasing age clearly acknowledges a big issue, but shies away from the larger issue at hand. Smoking and nicotine products should not be readily available, and they should be much less advertised to teenagers, the most susceptible of consumers. The next step for Pennsylvania, and frankly the country, would be to ban flavored cartridges and raise the legal age for e-cigarettes to 21.
COPPA's Unintended Consequences Raphael Englander, Staff Writer
(Search Engine Journal). Very quickly, one will notice how vague that definition is. Is it right to classify a video as kids?content simply due
ator of the video will be penalized for having targeted ads. However, in the eyes of that creator, his/her content is not meant for children and so s/he should be able to use targeted ads, especially since targeted ads generate more revenue than regular ads.
COPPA is a law dealing with how websites, apps, and other online oper ator s collect data and per sonal infor mation from kids
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COPPA stands for the Children?s Online Privacy Protection Act, which has some unpleasant consequences, despite sounding innocent. COPPA is meant to protect children when they are using the Internet by making it illegal to collect data from children. From now on, YouTube will consider any personal information gathered from videos ?meant? for children as information coming from children, no matter the actual age of the viewer. Therefore, videos ?meant? for children will no longer be able to have targeted ads as they require data collection. Then the question arises, ?hat is classified as kids?content??, the answer is in COPPA?s harmful effects to the livelihoods of content creators on sites like YouTube. According to COPPA, ?a video is made for kids if it is intended for kids, taking into consideration a variety of factors. These factors include the subject matter of the video, whether the video has an emphasis on kids? characters, themes, toys or games, and more?
to one aspect of the video? If a content creator is playing a game that is traditionally thought of as meant for children, but s/he uses foul language and talks about adult topics in that video, is it still meant for kids? These are the questions facing content creators. The danger lies in the fact that peoples?content may be incorrectly identified as children?s content. If YouTube flags a video that they see as meant for kids for having a targeted ad, then the cre-
The requirements for what qualifies as kids? content according to COPPA is confusing, and as a result of this confusion, the livelihoods of many content creators are at risk. It is important that the definition of ?children?s content? is made crystal clear and that YouTube, and other similar sites, work with content creators. This way, creators can correctly label their content as meant for adults or meant for children, hopefully keeping every party involved happy.
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There?s No Use Ar guing: Bar r ack Should Have a Debate Team Barrack does not currently have a debate team, but should. There are multiple kinds of debate formats, most featuring a few team members and competitions between schools. One side argues for and the other argues against (pro and con) a given prompt, and a judge doles out points based on the strength of a team?s claims. A typical structure includes timed arguments and rebuttals on each side, meaning the competitors have to dedicate research to both positions. Barrack should have a debate team because it improves students?communication and listening skills and aligns with Jewish values. Participating in high school debate helps students later in life. Skills they pick up, especially persuasion, make them better at job interviews, presentations, and leading meetings. More proximal is the question of college. Yale Professor Minh Luong published a paper in which he explained the benefits of being on a debate team for college admissions. What should attract Barrack to debate is not that it helps kids get into universities, but why it does. Colleges recognize that debate builds skills in thinking, processing, expression, and organization. Debate turns students into better communicators, both written and verbal. They get more practice researching and they encounter new vocabulary. After this, students must organize their thoughts coherently. Even more striking is the strides that participants make in verbal communication as they need to mold their thoughts into articu-
Niva Cohen, Staff Writer late speech. Instead of focusing just on one or the other, students have to incorporate both logic and emotion effectively to make a persuasive argument. Amina Levites-
short term, while public- speaking skills will help them in the long run. From The Christian Science Monitor?s surveys with par-
Hilel and Shammai, the Jewish model for constructive debate. Cohen ?22 thinks that a debate team ?would help kids learn to form strong arguments.? Teenagers struggle to find themselves in a world where adults are in charge. By becoming better at communication, they can find more control over their lives. Going up in front of people and delivering any kind of oral presentation is nerve- racking. Through debate, students learn how to speak convincingly before large crowds. Not only does this develop their public- speaking skills, but it also builds their selfconfidence. Debate breaks kids out of their shells and comfort zones, which gives them self- esteem, something of which teenagers don?t have enough. This confidence boost will help them in the
Bernie was a viable option Continued from page 2 state solution and believes in Israel?s right to exist as much as he believes in the Palestinian right to a ?homeland in which they and they alone control their political system.? Even President Trump has demonstrated the belief in a twostate solution to ensure the survival of a Jewish democratic state. It is true that some of the people who surround Bernie do have anti-Israel ideas, but he himself does not agree. He endorses these politicians because of their stances on other issues. What Sanders has a problem with is not Israel, but with a government led by Benjamin Netanyahu. As Trump critics know, one can condemn the leader of a country without holding anything against the country itself, or the idea of its existence. Bernie refused to speak at AIPAC strictly because it promoted Netanyahu, whom the Senator thinks is an obstacle to peace, or, in his words, the leader of ?a right wing, racist government.? After all, Netanyahu does want to annex part of the West Bank, which would endanger any possibility of a two-state solution. Besides considering him unelectable or anti-Israel, people have other concerns about Sanders?s identification as a Democratic Socialist. Maddy Denker ?22 says that she doesn?t think Bernie is palatable ?to the general population because of his so-far-left views.? What Democrats should recognize is that the socialist title no longer carries the stigma it once did, especially among
ticipants, it is clear that they have become better students by debating. They insist that the activity taught them how to ask questions, in addition to how to answer them; they speak up more in class and can analyze issues better than their non- debate classmates; they have become more inquisitive and more intellectually curious. Some claim to have become ?more aware of the power of language.? Learning to construct arguments is not only relevant in formal settings; it is relevant in day- to- day discussions about politics, morality, and classroom subjects. Putting aside how debate enhances student abilities, it is also a link to Jewish tradition. Unlike other religions, Judaism is centered on the idea of asking questions,
even if they cast doubt on essential religious beliefs. Moses argued with God at the Burning Bush, and Abraham argued with God to save
Debate breaks kids out of their shells and comfor t zones, which gives them self-esteem righteous people. These stories are told with such reverence and frequency because arguing is ingrained in Jewish tradition and culture; all the more reason for Barrack to have a debate team. The Mishnah says that ?an argument which is for the sake of Heaven will have a positive outcome,? but one that isn?t will have a negative outcome. Eliana Pasternak ?23 says that at Barrack, ?many struggle when they disagree with others and end up just yelling.? When people argue simply to assert their opinions with no intention of listening to another perspective, they are engaging in a dispute that is not for the sake of Heaven. From the research students conduct in debate, they acquire a nuanced understanding of issues. Since debate teaches students to find value in the points of the other side and deal with them (instead of just pushing them aside), it promotes disputes for the sake of Heaven. Kids learn to argue, but they also learn to listen. They begin to respect other viewpoints and receive them with an open mind. Nothing could exemplify Barrack?s values, Barrack?s Jewishness, more than a debate team.
younger voters. Also, in today?s polarized climate, steadfast Republicans will likely call any Democratic nominee a far-left radical. Other complaints about Bernie are actually directed towards his fans. His online supporters, making up a small percentage of his base, are the ones who draw antagonism. They have a couple of flaws: unrealistic expectations of what Sanders could accomplish and a refusal to recognize that he is not that ideologically different from the rest of the candidates. It is true that Bernie does not keep them from thinking how they do, but he does not share their shortcomings. Moderate Democrats regard Sanders?s ideas as ?too-far-left? for their liking, but there wouldn?t be much difference between moderate and radical candidates once they are actually in office. They would all face the check of a Congress that requires them to give up some of their more extreme ideas, so this should not have been a concern for left-leaning centrists. When all is said and done, Bernie Sanders would have been the Democrats?best pick for their nominee to run against Trump. In some ways, he mirrors the president: he?s passionate, he?s anti-establishment, and he can unite the working class. But in the ways that matter, Sanders and Trump could not differ more. Bernie is a smart Senator who has worked in Washington for 30 years, and he knows how the system operates. He?s idealistic and enthusiastic, but he isn?t delusional. Most of the candidates in the Democratic field were capable and most even shared ideas with Bernie. What they didn?t share is his ability to excite. That excitement is what Democrats need to win the 2020 elections.
SCHOOL NEWS April 2020
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The Politicon Probe Sarah Bartos, Political Action Club Co-President
MARCIA HARWITZ
Thursday, February 13, 2020, was not your average school day for the Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy community. It was Politicon 2020! This conference has been a special part of Barrack and Akiba history. Since
Po l i t i c a l A c t i o n Cl u b . L t o R f r o m b a c k r ow : A m i n a L ev i t e s -Co h e n , M a ya Sh av i t , Sa r a h M i l l e r , Da n i e l B e r n s t e i n , L u k e Fi n k l e s t e i n , M a d d i e De n k e r , Dr. M i n n a Z i s k i n d (A d v i s o r ), Sa r a h B a r t o s (Co -Pr e s i d e n t ), So p h i a Sh a p i r o (Co -Pr e s i d e n t ), I d a N a r l y , B l a k e Fox .
the 80s, members of our community have hosted this conference every four years as a way to educate students before the presidential elections. The goal of the conference is to promote active citizenship and civic engagement because our American democracy is based on having educated and involved citizens. On February 13th, many esteemed speakers came to the campus to speak to us on a wide variety of issues relating to government, politics, media, and the law.
Walking into school that morning, the air was filled with a patriotic spirit. Students posed with the Bernie Sanders cut-out lying on the stairwell and admired the festive decorations adorning the first floor. Around mid-morning, students gathered in the Dining Commons to listen to the keynote address. Maya Patent ?20 and Rivkah Wyner ?20 sang the national anthem beautifully, and co-Presidents of Political Action Club, Sarah Bartos ?20 and Sophia Shapiro ?20, opened up Politicon by introducing Head of School, Mrs. Sharon Levin, and Mr. David Senoff. Mr. Senoff, an accomplished lawyer in Philadelphia, introduced his friend and the keynote speaker, PA Supreme Court Justice David Wecht. Justice Wecht spoke about the importance of embracing our Jewish identity and standing up for the Jewish people. He also talked about how the American Constitution and its protection of minority rights have allowed Jews to thrive in America. He emphasized our generation?s role in shaping the Jewish people?s history in the American Diaspora. We then had a video greeting from rapper Meek Mill that encouraged the students to get involved and speak out about issues we care about. After the keynote assembly, students broke up into workshop sessions. These included, ?The Miranda Rights Revisited,? with Bradley Bridge and Dveera Segal, and ?Contours of Gun Policy in PA and the Nation: Understanding the Second Amendment,? with Max Milkman from CeaseFire PA and Jonathan Goldstein representing the NRA. State Attorney General Josh Shapiro ?91 spoke about
what the AG?s office does, and Assistant US Attorney Denise Wolf talked about her experiences as a federal prosecutor. Experts also spoke about mass incarceration, the First
The goal of the conference is to promote active citizenship and civic engagement because our Amer ican democr acy is based on having educated and involved citizens. Amendment in schools, antisemitism, campaign strategies, and how to do political advocacy. Throughout the day, students could not stop talking about Edward Turzanski?s fantastic presentation entitled, ?Invitation to Struggle: Congress and the Presidency in Foreign Policy.? After the breakout sessions, students had the opportunity to hear from each of the school?s mock primary candidates one last time before voting. Pete Buttigieg, played by Micah Israel ?21, was the victorious candidate. Bernie Sanders, played by Luke Finkelstein ?20, placed second in the vote, but definitely won when it came to impersonations. Historically, the Barrack mock-election has predicted who will be the nominee. However, given how the actual primaries turned out, the South Bend, Indiana mayor is not on track to become the Democratic nominee for president. All in all, Politicon 2020 was a huge success! I am so glad the Barrack community could come together and celebrate the importance of being politically active. (Disclaimer: this was written before Super Sunday)
DECA Happenings From February 19th to 21st, 2020, thirty- one members of Barrack?s DECA chapter spent their days in Hershey, PA, participating in the DECA State Career Development Conference. DECA is an international non- profit organization dedicated to teaching students foundational knowledge for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and tourism, business ad-
DECA teaches students impor tant 21st centur y skills ministration, and entrepreneurship. DECA also teaches students important 21st- century
skills that are useful to companies in every line of work. While at Hershey, students listened to speeches by business executives and experts, took business-oriented tests and participated in evaluated oneon- one conversations with judges in order to refine their ability to interact with coworkers, clients, and employers. Students also had the ability to watch and participate in a fashion show judged by fashion industry experts, and dance at nightly DECA dance parties with the 2,500 other students from around Pennsylvania attending this conference. After enjoying all of these activities and spending some time at Her-
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Gabe Miller, DECA President
B a r r a c k 's DECA N at i o n a l s De l e g at i o n
shey Park, students returned to the five-star Hershey Hotel for a good night's sleep. While no Barrack students were able to qualify for the international
conference in Nashville, Tennessee, this year, hopefully Barrack will be represented next year in Anaheim, California!
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A Parent's Car blocks the main crosswalk on Friday, January 17, 2020.
for pick-up. In the case of student drivers, there just aren?t enough parking spaces to accommodate them all, especially on the days when parking restrictions are implemented. On those days, student drivers are forced to park at Harcum College, or in the nearby SEPTA parking lot. With regard to parents, many arrive close to the end of the day, causing long lines throughout the parking lot, which can delay leaving by up to 15 minutes.
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In response to these problems, Barrack has taken some steps to lessen Outgoing Chronicle Staff the issues. Some examples are that juniors can now only use the Harcum Editor-in-Chief: Helen Rudoler lot; no one can use the SEPTA access road as an exit; and seniors leave 10-15 Executive Editor s: Stefanie Rose & Rivkah Wyner minutes later than everyone else. Wor ld News Editor : Serena L evingston However, despite these changes, there is School News Editor : Rebecca Shaid still much to be done. These are some other possible solutions to the problems. Opinion Editor : Devor a Solomon One is that over the summer, Barrack Features and Games Editor : M aya Shavit expands the parking lot. While this would open new spaces, it would also Center spread Editor : Shir in K aye take much time, effort, and money. A second suggestion is that the Student Ar ts and Enter tainment Editor : Rivkah Wyner Association should work with the Spor ts Editor : Stefanie Rose administration to figure out a resolution. I sr ael Editor : M ir a Greenspan A third and similar option is that a council of administrators, students, and Design: Sivan Bar zeski parents be formed to combat the issue. Business M anager : Devor a Solomon It?s unclear if a true solution will ever be reached, but we certainly hope one is Faculty Advisor : M r s. Judith Pr ansky found.
Congr atulations New Staff!
Get to K now Rav L ar r y! Raphael Englander, Staff Writer
Editor s-in-Chief: Shir in K aye & M aya Shavit L ead Editor : K ayla Bleier L ayout Editor : Danny Cohen
What is Rav L ar r y Ser novitz?s favor ite par t of teaching? Inspiring students to love their Judaism in order to be the best people they can be.
?It is the job of a teacher to help students to believe in themselves.? --Rav Larry
What did he do before Bar r ack? Rav Larry has been teaching for 20 years, primarily at congregations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for the last 15 years. What are his hobbies? Rav Larry is an avid cyclist. Every summer he does a 180-mile bike ride from around Princeton to upstate New York, for Chai LifeLine, an amazing organization that helps kids with cancer and other illnesses. All the profits from the bike ride benefit the organization. Rav Larry does the ride every year because he cares deeply about the organization and enjoys biking. He also does yoga, tries to read as much as possible, and is a political junkie, as he cares about the intersection of Jewish values and the world we live in today. What did he do before becoming a Rav? Rav Larry was a teacher in the
Cheltenham school district, where he grew Wor ld News Editor : Aron Shklar up. School News Editor : Raphael Englander Why did Rav L ar r y become a teacher ? The world has much to offer and Opinion Editor : Niva Cohen being a teacher gives him the ability to allow students to find a deeper meaning in Features and Games Editor : Benny Schienmann what they are studying. Also, when Rav Ar ts and Enter tainment Editor : Becca M iller Larry was a kid, he had a teacher who changed his life which made him want to do Spor ts Editor : Danny Cohen the same for future generations of students. The crucial thing about being a teacher is I sr ael Editor : Blake Fox teaching students to believe that they are Faculty Advisor : M r s. Judith Pr ansky worthy, and changing a person?s life means changing the world. However, teachers also have the ability to destroy, which is What is his favor ite food? dangerous, as every student is created in the Rav Larry loves sushi and will eat most image of G-D. It is the job of a teacher to help sushi (as long as it?s kosher). He also likes students to believe in themselves; the curriculum chicken wings. is important but it is also just a way for students I s Rav L ar r y a spor ts fan? to find their identity. He is a die-hard Philadelphia sports fan. Why did Rav L ar r y switch from being a He grew up with the 1980s Sixers, an era in teacher to being a Rav? which the Sixers were very fun to watch as they When he was teaching a fourth-grade won an NBA championship. He also loves the class, the terror attacks on 9/11 occurred. Rav Phillies and Eagles. Rav Larry has met many of Larry remembers all of the faculty gathering the players (especially of the Eagles), and is around the television and watching the buildings inspired by their willingness to engage with the collapse. He had been teaching at youth community. He thinks that it is vital to recognize programs through synagogues and after the that they are real people too, and treat them as September 11th attacks, he realized that the such. world had changed, and he wanted to be part of What is the most impor tant par t of teaching? the world healing and finding resilience. It was Rav Larry?s daughters love Disney, and also the middle of the Second Intifada, and, for one of the main themes of Disney movies is to him, going through rabbinical school meant dream big. This is something that he teaches to moving to Israel. This was a time people needed both his daughters and his students, because if to engage in the world more deeply, and Rav you do not dream big, you will never get there. Larry felt it was his role to make a difference Also, if you have a passion, your path in life is There are certain times in life where people are much easier to follow, but if you have not found called to a higher purpose, and that was Rav a passion, you must believe that you will. You Larry?s moment. should try new things and experience the world!
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I s Anti-Zionism Antisemitism? Rebecca Shaid, School News Editor of the country. There are differing opinions on whether anti- Zionism is antisemitism. One particular belief is that anti- Zionism can be antisemitic, although it is not inherently antisemitic. It crosses the line when Israel?s actions are reflected on the Jewish people as a whole or when Jews are denied the right to exist in a Jewish state. Sam Pomerantz ?20 believes that ?someone who is anti- Zionist might be more likely to be antisemitic, but they are not mutually assured. The actions of the Israeli government don?t represent the beliefs of all Jews, so someone can be anti- Zionist because of what the Israeli government has done, and still be okay with Jews.? One major cause of disagreement with this opinion, though, is the definition of antiZionism. Some people view antiZionism as just being critical of Israel, and in that case, it would be difficult to argue that antiZionism is inherently antisemitic. However, according to many offi-
?Self deter mination is a basic r ight, and if you deny the Jewish people that? it?s discr iminator y.? -Sabr ina Chevlin types that target Jews, Judaism, or Israel. Also according to the ADL, ?Anti- Zionism is a prejudice against the Jewish movement for self- determination and the right of the Jewish people to a homeland in the State of Israel.? It often holds Israel to a different standard than the rest of the world and results in threats or boycotts
cial definitions, anti- Zionism is opposing the State of Israel and its existence, in which case the line between anti- Zionism and antisemitism becomes blurrier and easier to cross. Another opposing belief is that any form of anti- Zionism is, indubitably, antisemitic. People can be critical of Israel all they want, but if they are anti- Zionist they are either denying the Jewish people the right to a homeland, and therefore, the right to selfdetermination, or they are denying the right of the Jewish people to a homeland in Israel. Zionists fought hard for the land, as many
other nations have done before and after, so why is this particular situation invalid? Sabrina Chevlin, 12th grade leader of Israel Club, believes that ?self determination is a basic right, and if you deny the Jewish people that? it?s discriminatory.? Additionally, to many Jews, Zionism isn?t simply a part of their Judaism but rather synonymous with it. An attack on Israel, a beacon of hope for the survival of the Jewish people (especially following the Holocaust), is seen to these Jews as an attack on Judaism as a religion and its ability to survive.
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According to the ADL (Anti- Defamation League), ?Antisemitism is a form of prejudice or discrimination directed toward Jews as individuals or as a group.? Antisemitism is based on ancient myths and modern stereo-
Voting for Your Voice in I sr ael Rivkah Wyner, Executive Editor
Zionism may feel like just another part of Barrack?s
actually still exists. And not only does it still exist, but Jews
FORWARD
Theodor Herzl is known for many things: the famous quote about pursuing dreams, his iconic picture that hangs in Israel?s Independence Hall, and of course, being the father of modern Zionism. But you might be wondering, what exactly did he do that made him so associated with the founding of the State of Israel? One answer is that he planned the first-ever Zionist Congress, which was held in 1897, in Basle, Switzerland, and was the President of the Congress until his death in 1904. Although Herzl?s significant impacts on
Wo r l d Z i o n i s t Co n g r e s s
extensive History curriculum, the Zionist Congress that he established over a century ago
worldwide have a say in it, as well. The 38th Zionist
Congress will be held October 20-22, 2020, in Jerusalem. Up until this past March 11th, American Jews above the age of 18 were even able to cast a vote. The purpose of voting was to ensure representation of your point of view at the next World Zionist Congress (WZC), which is known as the ?parliament of the Jewish people?. There were 15 different slates to choose from that represent ?diverse political beliefs, religious denominations and cultural traditions? (WZC). Those elected from the US will join Continued on page 9
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Jet L ag: Fake or Factual? Lane Barsh, Staff Writer Fortunately, I?ve had the opportunity to travel to Israel multiple times, two of those times being with my grade. My fellow classmates were full of complaints about jet lag, but some people were skeptical of these complaints and said numerous times that ?jet lag is fake?. This peaked my interest, because I understood that these were two completely contradictory perspectives on the matter. There are many myths about jet lag, one being that staying awake for an entire flight will beat it. Other myths include
Science proves the legitimacy of j et lag.
that jet lag is caused by a lack of sleep, or that the only way to help your jet lag is to just accept it and deal with it as it is. However, in my research, I discovered the truth behind jet lag. It is ultimately very real. There are two separate groups of neurons that are connected to sleep: VLPO and MnPO. The first set of neurons manages deep sleep, and the second set manages the REM sleep cycle. When you travel and go through a change in time zones, the REM cycle has trouble adjusting, causing a disruption in the synced cycles of the two groups of neurons. That is what is causing your body to feel what is known as jet lag. Jet lag hits hardest when you are traveling West to East, as we do when traveling to Israel. Our body clocks are on a 24-hour cycle, including
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worldwide delegates at the Congress in October, in which they will make decisions regarding key institutions (World Zionist Organization, Jewish national Fund, Jewish Agency for Israel, etc.) that
The pur pose of voting was to ensure representation of your point of view at the next Wor ld Zionist Congress. allocate nearly a billion dollars annually to support Israel and World Jewry.
The slates you could choose from ranged from Vote Reform (Representing the Reform Movement and Reconstructing Judaism), to the Orthodox Israel Coalition (Vote Torah), to Hatikvah (Progressive Israel Slate), to Herut Zionists (The Jabotinsky Movement). A more detailed list of the 15 slates can be found on https://azm.org/elections. The American Jewish community elects 152 delegates to the WZC. 38% of the delegates are allocated to Israel, 29% to America, and 33% to the other countries of the Diaspora. The US elections were held online and conducted by the American Zionist Movement (AZM), which works across a ?broad ideological, political and
eating and sleeping, that must now readjust. Due to the way the time zones change, our bodies have less time to adjust, causing more severe symptoms. However, there are several things that can help prevent terrible jet lag, the first being not to drink alcohol or caffeine before or during the flight. Also, stretching your body or lying down during a flight lowers the severity of one?s case. Unrelated to the time of the flight, maintaining your fitness and health alongside controlling any medical conditions can also help reduce jet lag. There are those whose body clocks adjust much faster than others depending on their health. With all of this scientific evidence, to think now that jet lag is ?fake? sounds entirely unreasonable!
religious spectrum linking the American Jewish community together in support of Israel, Zionism and the Jewish people? (AZM). In 1951, the WZC held its first meeting in the newly established Israel; they instituted the ?Jerusalem Program? to place its main focus on the newly created state as the central unifying element for the Jewish people. The Jerusalem Program is the belief that ?Zionism, the
national liberation movement of the Jewish people, brought about the establishment of the State of Israel, and views a Jewish, Zionist, democratic and secure State of Israel to be the expression of the common responsibility of the Jewish people for its continuity and future.? The American Zionist Movement requires a belief in this statement in order to vote for the WZC.
Modern Antisemitism an FBI War ns " Endur ing Threat" Against Jewish People
Philadelphia?s own House of K osher super mar ket endured antisemitic slur s in Febr uar y 2020 including harrassment, vandalism, and assualt -was 1,879. That number is 48% higher than 2016 and 99% higher than 2015. The Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism (CSHE) found that Jews were the target of half of all extremist homicides in the US. They also found that the rate of antisemtic attacks has nearly met the levels of the last peak, in 2001. Shaqed Tzabbar ?20 shared that she felt ?the rising antisemitism in the US is frightening and saddening especially as we have just celebrated the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.?
Helen Rudoler, Editor-in-Chief Some of the rise in 2018 and 2019 can be attributed to more accurate reporting and classification, especially in the Los Angeles area, which recently updated its policies surrounding reporting acts of antisemitism. In January of 2020, federal authorities -including the FBI and Homeland Security -warned local authorities to be on the watch for the ?enduring threat? facing the Jewish community. The document referenced the four most recent lethal attacks: the Hanukkah machete attack in
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In the last few years, there has been a worldwide uptick in violent and nonviolent antisemitic attacks. In the week of February 10, 2020, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) counted nine acts of antisemitic vandalism or hate speech. The ADL also found that 2017 and 2018 were two of the three most eventful years, in terms of reported acts of antisemitism, in the past forty. While 2018 had a decrease in vandalisms from 2017, there was an 105% increase in assaults. The 2018 total number of antisemitic incidents --
M ar ch Again st An t isem it ism in New Yor k Cit y
December of 2019, the Jersey City shooting in December of 2019, the Chabad of Poway shooting in April of 2019, and the Tree of Life shooting in October of 2018. The authorities feared
Aliyah: The Best Response to Antisemitism Rivkah Wyner, Executive Editor At a traditional Pesach seder, we recite the words ?b?chol dor v?dor,? which, along with the rest of the phrase, translates to, "In every generation it is the duty of every person to consider himself as if he had come forth from Egypt." This means that it is an obligation upon every Jew to celebrate the Exodus as if he has personally come out of the bondages of Egypt, as opposed to seeing himself as detached from this defining experience of the Jewish people. Unfortunately, it is all too easy to feel the current reality of this historical event. If we see Egypt as an external force of affliction and oppression upon the Jewish people, then the entire course of our exile can be seen as one Egypt after another. Yet, from each source of affliction, we come out victorious; we make our Exodus. We are all familiar with the ?dor v?dor? phrase, but the deep truth behind it is often overlooked. Feeling as if you had yourself come forth from Egypt is not just about identifying today?s source of affliction; it is clear that the current of antisemitism running rampant worldwide is only intensifying. Perhaps the course of the Jewish exile is not as cut and dried as one Exodus from Egypt after another, but
there still is this ongoing cycle: good period, bad period, good period, bad period, and on and on. Throughout our exile, Jews have established communities in foreign countries out of necessity. They end up assimilating and greatly benefiting their residing country. However, the period of success is brought to an abrupt halt by persecution. Then, they are forced to start again somewhere new. And the cycle continues. Perhaps the scariest thing about the Holocaust was that the Jewish people?s friends and neighbors inexplicably turned on them, isolated them, and murdered them. Suddenly, a period of economic success and cultural integration became the darkest period in Jewish history to date. Assimilation was a facade. As much as it hurts to think, the Jews? experience in America is not so different. We have great success in America. We are proud Americans, immense economic contributors, and socially integrated. So what makes this sense of belonging any less of an illusion? How can we be so sure that this period of good won?t end in a period of bad? How can we be so sure that this rise of antisemitism is not just a
copy-cat attacks, mainly by white supremacists. Philadelphia?s own House of Kosher supermarket endured shouted antisemitic slurs in February 2020, alarmingly soon after the Jersey City supermarket shooting. Social media has also brought a new aspect of antisemitism to the forefront. In a report published in May of 2018, 4.2 million antisemitic tweets were uncovered from a twelve-month period. Additionally, harassing robocalls targeting Jewish schools and synagogues are a new, serious threat. Another frightening feature of the recent rise is that the majority of antisemitic hate crimes are perpetrated by people without affiliation to an extremist group, meaning that many average people feel compelled to commit hate-speech, vandalism, and even assault. Antisemitism is heating up in both the far left and far right wings, even among nonradicals. An important caveat to remember is that antisemitism is significantly less overt and accepted than even 50 years ago in the US; stories of Jews not being hired or sold houses in WASPy neighborhoods are far less common. While we might be reaching a height for the past 20 years, those past 20 years in the US are still some of the best for Jews at any time or any place in the world.
phase, but the early signs of an inevitable, horrible fate? A crucial difference between today?s antisemitism and the horrors we faced throughout exile is that now we have a choice. Our ancestors had to find ways to survive in a world that did not want them. One response was assimilation. Another was isolation by creating insular Jewish communities. Neither have proven immune to further antisemitism. But, since the 20th century, we?ve had a third option: Zionism. It is not a necessity anymore to live at the mercy of another nation. We no longer have to succumb to being treated as expendable. The State of Israel is the opportunity toward which two thousand years of suffering have built -- a chance to break the cycle. Israel is the opportunity to take the Jewish people?s destiny into the hands of the Jewish people, to begin working on establishing an eternal period of good. The future of the Jewish people has been and always will be in the Land of Israel. But only through building the State of Israel can a further redemption be reached. It is clear that Israel is far from perfect -- the economy is difficult to navigate, the standard of living is low, and there is corruption in the government (I mean third elections...really?). But the only way for Israel to improve is by working to improve it. This can only happen when American Jews feel that they are in exile and respond to this antisemitism with Zionist aspirations. It is true that advocating for Israel in
the US is necessary, but that is only because Israel is currently in a position in which it depends on support from America. However, we should be striving for a time when Israel will not need to depend on America, when it won?t matter whether or not the next US president wants to withdraw aid from Israel. It is not realistic for every Diaspora Jew to make Aliyah tomorrow, but the ideal should shift towards rebuilding Israel from inside Israel. Over time, this is how redemption can ultimately be achieved -- through hoping, striving, and acting. This is why I am making Aliyah next year. I?ve had the Aliyah bug since eighth grade, and spending a semester in Jerusalem during 10th grade confirmed my growing aspiration to move to Israel. I understand that it is difficult to live in Israel, but my ideological motivations make me certain in my decision and determined to carry out my conviction. Just as the early Zionists rebuilt a Jewish state with the philosophy of being the vehicle to our redemption, so too do I feel that making Aliyah is a personal, active step in fulfilling my purpose and obligation as a religious Jew. I believe more than anything else that Israel is the future of the Jewish people, and it is my mission to contribute to the fulfillment of that prophecy by making Aliyah myself, a reality I dream of actualizing one day soon. That is why I pray to move to Israel after finishing high school: for my own sake, Hashem?s sake, and for Am Yisrael.
nd How We Deal With I t Political Antisemitism Blake Fox, Staff Writer The campaign for the 2020 Democratic nomination remains contested, but one thing is clear: the party is changing. Early contenders for the nomination, including Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, brought up ideas ranging from the elimination of private insurance, the implementation of the Green New Deal, and the decriminalization of illegal immigration. At the same time, a climate that is tolerant of antisemitism and anti- Zionism has be-
The most blatant example of a 2020 contender who has embraced antisemitism is Senator Bernie Sanders. Sanders, who is Jewish, has built a campaign that is systematically filled with people bearing disdain towards the Jewish people. Most notably, Sanders has campaigned with and accepted the endorsements of Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, the only two sitting members of Congress who support the Boycott Divestment
(ADL). Omar was previously condemned by the ADL for ?antisemitic? comments regarding political influences pushing allegiances to Israel. However, the antisemitism in Sanders? campaign goes far beyond Omar and Tlaib. In September 2019, Linda Sarsour, who formerly served as the co-chair of the Women?s March, endorsed Sanders and since then has become an official campaign surrogate. Sarsour, whom Sanders called a ?wonderful spokesperson? for the campaign, has spoken at events sponsored by Louis Farrakhan, the antisemitic leader of the Nation of Islam; defended Palestinian ter-
A climate that is toler ant of antisemitism has become the nor m within the Democr atic Par ty.
Or igin al Ar t w or k by Sivan Bar zesk i
come the norm within the Democratic Party. This trend has only become further amplified as 2020 contenders continue to prop up and tolerate these positions.
and Sanctions (BDS) Movement against Israel. The movement has been described as ?the most prominent effort to undermine Israel?s existence,? by the Anti- Defamation League
rorist Ramsea Odeh; and referred to Israel as being ?built on the idea that Jews are supreme to everyone else.? In early December 2019, Sanders? campaign was forced to fire Deputy Director of Constituency Organizing Darius Khalil after Tweets were discovered referencing ?Jew Money.? One Barrack student disagreed with Sanders? political view, but said, ?Politics aside, he is still another Jew.? Former Democratic frontrunner and candidate, Senator Elizabeth Warren, also built a campaign with undertones of antisemitism. This summer, she hired Max Berger, the founder of IfNotNow, an organization opposing what it calls Israel?s ?occupation?, as an aide. Berger is a supporter of BDS, has referred to Israel?s actions in Gaza as a ?pogrom,? and claimed that Israel is ?like the South before 1963.? Warren has also flaunted
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Jewish I n The L and of The Free Maya Shavit, Features Editor In a school dedicated to educating future Jewish-American leaders, Barrack students often find themselves engrossed in Israeli politics and culture. As young Jews, Barrack students might find themselves at a loss when attempting to separate their stance on living in Israel and their Judaism in general. Some may say that it is relatively easy to pick up and leave a prosperous Diaspora Jewish home in America and make Aliyah, yet it is not that simple. The modern-day Jewish teenager has a right to feel as tied to America as he or she does to Israel. One simply should not feel obligated to pick sides when it comes to the country one currently calls home. Israel is often considered to be a long-term backup plan for the Jewish people, but Jewish-Americans should not diminish the second half of their identity. After the Holocaust, Jewish people cultivated a robust and diverse community in America. The shuls and communities in America are unlike those in Israel. Sophia Decherny ?21 noted that ?the Jewish people should feel that they are valued citizens in any country in which they reside. Just as Americans should feel safe moving to Israel, any Jew should feel safe in America.? It is vital that Jewish people feel comfortable in Israel, but it is more than acceptable for average modern Jews to feel more
comfortable where they grew up: America. An example of an area where many Jewish people in both Israel and America have varied opinions is religion. While there are Conservative and Reform options in the Holy Land, the ultra-Orthodox tend to overshadow in the mainstream media. America has been widely acknowledged as one of the original homes for fostering diverse people, and the American Jewish community is no different. There is the largest, most varied number of Jewish synagogues and community centers in America; no two temples are the same. No matter people?s beliefs, there is at least one synagogue in America that will welcome them. It is not only acceptable, but normal for people to feel pulled in a more comfortable direction and feel drawn to a personal birthplace and not their nation?s and acknowledge the different nuances of their complex identity. As Jewish-Americans, it can be a struggle to balance all aspects of one?s identity. The current state of American and Israeli politics should not overshadow the message that it is completely kosher to thrive as a Diaspora Jew. Thriving outside of the designated Holy Land shows just how active the Jewish community is. While Israel can remain an important topic of conversation, it does not have to be the entire identity of an American Jew.
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Netflix or Notflix? Helen Rudoler, Editor-in-Chief Prime, more than 50 million subscribers behind. Adam Mamam ?20 noted that "when comparing online streaming services with one
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Over the past few months, Netflix has lost battle after battle for streaming rights on hit television shows. After the departure of Friends, and the impending loss of Parks and Recreation, The Office, The Dark Knight trilogy, and all things Disney, some may wonder why they are paying $13 a month only to see their favorite shows and movies disappear before their eyes. Many streamers report that Netflix is their favorite streaming service, but also that it does not have many movies that they want to watch. ?Sometimes there?s nothing good to watch on Netflix, but I always find some show to binge when I have [a] surplus of free time,? shared Rachel Civan ?20. have found time and again that while I am constantly disappointed by Netflix, there is always at least one show that prevents me
Netflix has an entrenched and loyal viewer ship, who continue to favor Netflix over other options. from letting go. As of now, it?s The Great British Baking Show. Great content. In the past year, Netflix far outperformed the industry in income and revenue growth. It also has 167 million paying subscribers, with its closest competitor, Amazon
another, Netflix is usually considered to be the Gold Standard. You always see other services compared to Netflix, not the other way around." Netflix has an entrenched and loyal viewership, who continue to favor Netflix over other options. Sophie Warsetsky ?20 reported that "while my family also has Hulu and Amazon Prime, I primarily use Netflix." This appears to be a trend, as 85.7% of Barrack students polled responded that Netflix is their favorite streaming service. Nevertheless, Netflix is approaching a crucial moment in its life. With major players like Disney Plus, which accrued 10 million subscribers on the day of launch, and HBO Max joining the field, Netflix has neverbefore-seen competition in both licensing and original content. Additionally, it does not
have a cheaper ad-supported option like Hulu or other services like Amazon Prime. Netflix costs more per month than a bundled package of Hulu, ESPN, and Disney Plus. Additionally, Hulu is known for housing more popular and recent television shows. Stefanie Rose ?20 told the Chronicle that ?I love Netflix but I am starting to stream more on Hulu because Hulu has updated current movies and TV shows where Netflix does not.? The next year may determine whether Netflix sees a dropoff in its subscribership. As Netflix rebounds from countless licensing losses, it, along with other services, is focusing its time and money on one thing that can never be taken away: new content. Netflix spent an estimated 15 billion -- yes, that?s right, billion -- dollars on original content in 2019. No one can predict what the upshot of the streaming wars will be, but I expect to see a growth in the number of people who subscribe to two or more services. The question becomes: will this ever be streamlined? Just as iTunes provided one platform to access every song, there is a similar void to be filled in the streaming industry. Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire are the biggest streaming platforms, but none has accomplished a smooth transition between shows on different services, and none has come close to offering a single payment package.
Frozen I I vs. Frozen Jr. Raphael Englander, Staff Writer for them. As a movie that only just came out, the plot and songs are not as well known as in the original Frozen, so it is a breath of fresh air for people watching the sequel. Also, with a budget of $150,000,000, the effects and animation in Frozen 2 are stunning. Combine that with the world- class talent of stars like Idina Menzel and their ability to do multiple takes in order to get the perfect recording of a song, and Frozen II is a sight to behold. However, there is also something to be said for seeing real-life people performing live, like in Frozen Jr. Due to how recently Frozen II came out, the songs in it are not as beloved as the songs in the original, which are the same mtishows.com
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Which is better, Frozen II or the Middle School musical, Frozen Jr.? One has to consider the pros and cons of each. When people see Frozen II, it is a totally new experience
songs in Frozen Jr.. Also, it is very enjoyable to watch one?s friends, classmates, and fellow students have fun on stage; therefore the audience has a better time because people know whom they are watching. To quote the Trussville Tribune, ?Keeping such a familiar property fresh and exciting can pose a challenge. This version of the story tackles that problem masterfully.? One way this was accomplished was by adding new songs like ?Dangerous to Dream? and other spins on the original Frozen. At the end of the day, it really comes down to personal preference. Does one prefer live theatre or the magic of film?
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A Director 's Sense and Sensibility Barrack?s theater department blew us away once again; this time, with an adaptation of Jane Austen?s Sense and Sensibility, which was the annual studentdirected play. Twelfth grader Rivkah Wyner was chosen to direct the play this year, and she did not let us down with her selection of Sense and Sensibility. Contestants for student- director must make a presentation regarding their vision in order to be selected for the position, along with their chosen play. Wyner chose Sense and Sensibility because it combined her passions for theater and
Wyner even said that ?the biggest difficulty [of the play] was the language,? but ever yone involved in the play conquered it and excelled. literature. The adaptation Wyner chose retained what she so loved about Jane Austen novels, but was also conducive to student-
Rebecca Shaid, School News Editor directing. Although she was the only contestant this year, her play selection still had to be approved, which she was skeptical about because of its complexity. Neverthe-
poverty, deal with their flawed marriage- dependent society, and ultimately learn from each other to achieve happiness. The on- point cast selection, perfect stage block-
A c t r e s s M a ya Pat e n t w i t h s t u d e n t -d i r e c t o r Ri v k a h Wy n e r
less, Wyner persisted, and it paid off with an amazing performance. Sense and Sensibility follows two sisters, Elinor (played by Niva Cohen ?23) and Marianne (played by Maya Patent ?20), who, when faced with the prospect of
ing, direction in rehearsals and overall hard work throughout the whole process, were extremely impressive and well done. Similarly, the cast for this show was one of the best ever seen in a Barrack production. The
Cappies Review of Sense and Sensibility Hope Odhner, Academy of the New Church The Cappies is a high-school theater review and awards program. This review was written by a student critic. Witty and charming, Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility was brought to life by the dedicated cast and crew at Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy. Austen's beloved story was adapted into a play by Emma Whipday and Brian McMahon, and first premiered in September 2017 at the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, VA. The plot centers around two sisters, Elinor and Marianne, whose opposite natures are confronted with very similar romantic troubles. Practically turned out of their home by their own brother after the death of their father, the girls and their mother find themselves settled in a quaint cottage where they run into more than one charming young man with unclear intentions. Austen's clever dialogue and lovable characters tell the rest. The vision for the play was the work of high school senior Rivkah Wyner, who directed and produced this student-run show.
Her passion and attention to detail were evident and contagious as she oversaw the dramatic aspects as well as the technical elements. The cast showed dedication and
Ca s t o f Se n s e a n d Se n s i b i l i t y
spirit as they grappled with complex lines and character development. Niva Cohen and Maya Patent, as Elinor and Marianne, captured the contradictory relationship of sisters who often disagree, yet remain the closest of friends. The cycle of disputes and forgiveness flowed smoothly, and the girls took naturally to Austen's lavish language and cutting remarks. Cohen's honesty
nineteenth century language was an underlying difficulty, yet not one line was omitted. Wyner even said that ?the biggest difficulty [of the show] was the language,? but everyone involved in the play conquered it, and excelled. It was obvious that the actors put their all into their characters, and it paid off; the show was a success. Not only were the cast and director for this play top-notch, the stage crew never missed a beat. Their effort and time put into this play were recognized and applauded. Wyner noted that ?working so hard and seeing [the play] materialize in front of [her] eyes ? was super fulfilling,? and that the ?production was a success because everyone put in the effort.? Getting involved in the theater department is a wonderful opportunity to work hard for something you?re passionate about and to share your creativity and talent, all of which was especially visible in Sense and Sensibility. Great job to Rivkah and everyone involved.
and earnest sincerity provided a solid opposition to Patent's spirited opinions and high emotion. The sisters' mother, Mrs. Dashwood, played by Daniela Barow, maintained a gentle balance between sense and sensibility. Her light voice and kind manners lent themselves well to her role as the mother of two decidedly different daughters. The various love interests all proved to be charming, each in their own way, most notably Eli Beaubien as John Willoughby. His charismatic grace and confident, easy humor made him almost too good to be true, while the lovable awkwardness of Edward Ferrars, played by Jacob Spivack, eventually blossomed into sweet amiability. Besides Rivkah Wyner and her dedicated efforts in directing, producing, props, and publicity, there was a host of other students who contributed to the show's success. Sophia Decherney served as stage manager, working with Wyner on the simple, yet effective lighting design which was executed by Charlie Mansheim. A classic story of polar opposites and unexpected romance, Jane Austen's work continues to resonate with audiences today. Thanks to the hardworking students at Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy, the characters of Sense and Sensibility have been lifted from the page and put onstage to speak to us once more.
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Foreign Policy: US-I r an Update
Iranian General Qassem Soleimani
With climate change catastrophes and World War III conspiracy theories, foreign policy is
The attacks are symbolic of the revenge. currently a hot topic in the news. What caused this hubbub, and how does it affect us now? On January 2, 2020, the United States assassinated Iranian military leader General Qassem Soleimani in a successful airstrike under President Donald Trump. According to the president, the US killed this ?monster? at the right time: before an attack that the general was planning could come to fruition. A
decorated war strategist to the Iranian government, General Soleimani had a reputation of terror in the eyes of others. In immediate response, the Iranian government forced its citizens to take the day off and protest following the ?martyr?s? funeral. In retaliation, on January 7, Iran showered two Iraqi bases that had an American military presence, with ballistic missiles. The bases were informed of the strike far enough in advance to move personnel to safety. Though there were no casualties, and intentionally so, the attacks are symbolic of the revenge that Iran seeks to take on the US. The missiles accidentally and tragically struck down Ukrainian Airlines Flight 752, a passenger plane containing 176 people, which happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Other results of the air strike are Iran?s threat of developing and launching more accurate missiles, and the US?s increased sanctions on Iran. In addition to heightening tensions with the Middle East on the world stage, the Iran strike prompted responses from international and American people of influence. For example, the 2020 presidential candidates, among other politicians, had to reconsider their foreign
policy platforms, especially regarding Iran, in light of the recent events. Micah Israel ?21, who portrayed Pete Buttigieg in Barrack?s mock election, explained to the Chronicle that the mayor?s experience as a naval intelligence officer in Afghanistan qualifies him for a ?nuanced, forward-looking? approach to foreign policy as president. Since then, however, Mayor Buttigieg has ended his
foreignpolicy.com
TEHRANTIMES.COM
Shirin Kaye, Centerspread Editor
campaign for the presidency. ?While all of the candidates denounce President Trump?s catalyzing of the strike, Joe Biden emphasizes his experience under President Obama and in the Senate?s foreign relations committee,? said Beila Friedman ?22, who portrayed the vice president at school. The aftermath of this air strike is likely to linger on the political and international horizons.
China's Uighur I nter nment Camps Serena Levingston, World News Editor government employees. Han Chinese began moving to the Xinjiang region, diluting the
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For about three years, the Chinese government has been detaining Uighurs, an ethnic minority in China, in internment camps. The Uighurs are a largely Muslim ethnic group of about 10 million living in Xinjiang, a northwestern region of China. Recently, their conflict with the ethnic majority, the Han Chinese, has escalated to new, alarming levels. The tensions began in the late 1800s when the Qing Dynasty gained control of the Uighurs against their will. Although they tried to become independent again in 1933 and 1944, the Chinese government reabsorbed them both times. While the Chinese government made the Xinjiang region autonomous in 1955, they still effectively control the region. In the 1950s, China began encouraging ethnic Han Chinese to move to the Xinjiang region to receive such social services as housing, education, and healthcare. From the 1950s to the 1970s, the government enacted policies for Chinese unity across cultural differences in addition to policies restricting the Uighurs? freedom of expression. Elementary school teachers were required to teach in Mandarin instead of their Turkic language, and traditional Uighur beards, headscarves, and prayer at work were all banned or restricted for
Uighurs going through the process of ?re-education.?
Uighur community and weakening its cultural identity. Only 6% of the population of Xinjiang was Han Chinese in 1949, but now it has increased to around 50%, creating a large wealth gap and cultural tensions. This is just one way the Chinese government is working to hurt the Uighur community. The Uighurs began resisting China?s actions, and their resistance quickly grew violent. In 2009, a peaceful protest devolved into violence, killing a total of 184 people, the majority of whom were Han Chinese. The government reacted by detaining about 1,400
Uighurs, sentencing six of them to death. Violence from Uighurs continued, and China ramped up its response in the following years. Since 2017, the Chinese government has been detaining Uighurs in what they call Vocational Education and Training Centers. Despite the innocent-sounding name, these centers are overcrowded internment camps. There, Uighurs are tortured, isolated, interrogated, and deprived of food and sleep. According to Uighur testimonies, they are also forced to study Chinese, sing Chinese revolutionary songs, and criticize their own religion and traditions as a part of the mandatory political indoctrination. Once the Uighurs are released from the camps, they are secretly sent to prisons in the northeast region of China. This entire system of oppression is overseen by a network of
Since 2017, the Chinese gover nment has been detaining Uighur s in what they call Vocational Education and Tr aining Center s. Continued on page 15
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Apocalypse Now: Austr alia's Uncontrollable Wildfires Aron Shklar, Staff Writer
A kangaroo r ushes past a bur ning house in L ake Conj ola, Austr alia, on December 31, 2020.
Roaring walls of flame. Burning and collapsed houses. Post-apocalyptic conditions. This isn?t a movie set; this is Australia, right now. The world?s largest island is still in the midst of a wildfire crisis that is devastating the country. All across the island, massive wildfires burn, and firefighters desperately try to contain them. They have been successful in some places, but in others, the fires are out of control and there seems to be no end in sight for some. The fires have caused ruin and destruction almost everywhere,destroying thousands of homes, and killing 33 people. Millions of dollars in property damage have already been caused, with more to come. Almost every state of Australia is being damaged by the fires, and the larger cities, such as Melbourne and Sydney, have been hit as well. In both cities, homes in the outer suburbs were destroyed, and smoke is visible in the skies. Rebecca Wilson ?22 said, ?Australian fires are completely devastating. They have taken and uprooted so many innocent people's lives. We should
acknowledge these victims in a terrible time.? According to CNN and NASA, ?Smoke from fires in Australia is expected to make at least one ?full circuit? around the globe and return to the skies over the country.? A full circuit is when the smoke goes around the whole world, before returning to Australia. This means it can cause breathing problems for other countries, and add even more smoke to their atmospheres. In addition, it is causing even more climate change and harming the environment, since the smoke is causing increased global heat. In early December, the smoke was so horrible in Sydney that air quality measured 11 times the ?hazardous? level, according to CNN. Despite these disastrous conditions, rain brought some relief, specifically in the state of New South Wales, which was hit most heavily by the fires. Sydney saw its heaviest rain in 30 years, on February 9th and
They?ve destroyed thousands of homes, killed 33 people, and killed near ly half a billion local animals such as koalas
and kangaroos. 10th. Approximately 7.9 inches of rain fell in 24 hours, with a total of 15.4 inches falling over four days, from now ex-Tropical Cyclone Uesi. The rain was helpful in putting out several fires, but also causing some flooding. In the four days of heavy rain, 30 fires were extinguished, some of which had been burning for months. The Currowan fire was the largest of these, which had been burning for 74 days and burned 499,621 hectares of land (roughly 1,929 miles). The New South Wales Rural Fire Service announced on February 14th that all the fires in the state were officially contained,
according to CNN. Then, on March 2nd, the fire department announced that for the first time in 240 days, all the fires were extinguished. Police have arrested at least 24 people in connection with starting the fires. They are accused of arson, but why they set the fires is unknown. Some of them unintentionally started fires, but are charged with breaking the ban on burning objects. This ban was put in place when the fires started, and it does not allow for objects to be burned in or outside of the home, because the loose sparks could ignite more fires. People have sparked fires by just using simple household tools. Some people were arrested for using power tools, or using open stoves or flame ovens outside on multiple occasions. A 19-year-old boy was charged with intentionally setting seven fires over a six-week period. Many countries have stepped in to help combat the fires. The US has sent some anti-fire planes to assist, and many other countries have sent aid money. Despite this, the fires continue to burn. While the people of Australia have been hit hard by the fires, the local animals have suffered even more. Upwards of half a billion animals have been affected by the fires, with thousands more killed, and thousands of acres of natural habitats destroyed. Ari Powers ?23 says, ?The wildfires are horrible; they have killed so many wild animals that just want to live their lives in peace, but these fires have made it impossible for them.? Local animal shelters and zoos are taking in and trying to heal the animals hurt by the fires, and there are many fundraisers to help fight the fires and help those that have been displaced by them. Hopefully, these horrible fires will soon stop, and Australia, along with its people and animals, can begin the long path to recovery.
Continued from page 14
Uighurs surveillance systems and heavy-duty security. Since 9/11, when intense fears of terrorism began, China has justified its actions by claiming the Uighurs are part of their war on terror, specifically Islamic extremism. China alternatively denies the existence of the camps or calls them ?political education? centers. The Uighur community has been greatly affected by these detainments. When China decides to detain a Uighur individual, there is usually no trial or even charges laid against them. Most Uighurs born from 1980 to 2000 were detained because the
Chinese government considers that generation untrustworthy. So many adults have been detained that in one Xinjiang county, 18 new orphanages had to open to take in newly-orphaned children. Families will undoubtedly be traumatized from these separations for years to come, not to mention the unbearable conditions in the internment camps themselves. A UN Human Rights panel stated that there were a million Uighurs detained in camps, and the number has likely increased since then. There has been an international reaction to China?s persecution of the Uighurs. On July 8, 2019, twenty-two UN Ambassadors, including those from France, Germany, and the
UK, signed a statement sent to the UN?s High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHRC), condemning the internment camps. That same month, 37 countries, including North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela, signed a statement sent to the UNHRC, commending China?s actions, claiming that ?the fundamental human rights of people of all ethnic groups [in Xinjiang] are safeguarded." In October 2019, twenty-three UN Ambassadors, including from the US, signed a joint letter to the UNHRC and the UN General Assembly?s Third Committee urging China to close the camps. Lastly, in November of 2019, fifty-four countries, including Pakistan and Egypt, signed a statement supporting all
of China?s policies against the Uighurs. At Barrack, students are taught extensively about the Holocaust and the international inaction even after photographs of death camps were released. Although the Uighurs are not being systematically murdered like Jews were in the Holocaust, there are some chilling similarities. According to Niva Cohen ?24, ?We can?t only stand up for our morals when it suits us? [and] we must not be hypocrites? when America has the opportunity to intervene and stop what some have called the ethnic cleansing of Uighurs. She believes ?it is our job to petition our government to get involved, and it is theirs to listen to us.?
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There's No Place L ike Home Danny Cohen, Staff Writer
opponents points per game (PPG), allowing just 106; however, they let up 9 fewer PPG at home than on the road, going from being the top defensive team (101 PPG) at home to a below-average team (110 PPG) on the road. Additionally, when playing at the Wells Fargo Center, the Sixers force almost 15 turnovers per game, which is above the NBA average. In contrast, when the Sixers are away from home, they force just 13.5 turnovers, which seems like a small difference, but is actually pretty significant, placing the Sixers as the 6th worst team in forcing turnovers on the road. When away,
?The Sixer s?on-the-road str uggle may have little to do with basketball ability; they have plenty of pure talent.?
BILL STREICHER/ USA TODAY SPORTS
the Sixers are allowing their opponents to get to the free-throw line 27 times per game, compared to just 21 times at home. Some of this may reflect the team?s lack of energy without the home crowd?s support. In recent years, Philadelphia has consistently been a top rebounding team in the NBA, and they still are, but their differential has plummeted on the road, dropping from seven to one. The Sixers were built to be a defensive team The Sixers' starting five with head coach Brett Brown that can win an NBA a 10-24 record away from home, worse then Championship, but if they continue to cellar-dwellers like the New York Knicks. defend as they have been on the road, it will Luckily, the Sixers hold the best home be hard to imagine them winning the title. record of 29-2, so despite their road In regards to the offensive side, the troubles, they are still in fine shape. The Sixers have also seen a drop in productivity Sixers occasional struggle the road is away from home. Because of Ben Simmons? predictable and completely realistic- every unwillingness to shoot, Joel Embiid?s team has some off nights - but the problem careless play, and Al Horford?s inefficient with the Sixers is that this pattern has first half of the season, the Sixers have been persisted for more than half of their season. a bottom-half offensive team. As expected, So, then, the obvious question is: Why are their offense at home has been better than the Sixers so bad on the road? away, scoring 7 more PPG in Philadelphia The Sixers?on-the-road struggle may than when on the road. The Sixers shoot have little to do with basketball ability; they 48.5% from the field at home, ranking 5th in have plenty of pure talent. It could possibly the NBA, but this level falls to 44.7% on the be coaching, mental toughness, fatigue, or road, which is 23rd best in the league. team chemistry. In almost every major stat Furthermore, as a team that lacks 3 point throughout the season, the Sixers have been shooting in general (35.4 3PT%), worse on the road than at home, and it isn?t Philadelphia shoots 37.5% at home, ranking very close. Philadelphia is ranked second in them 8th in the NBA, and only 33.6% away,
decreasing their rank to 26th. Most teams have a home-court advantage, as only two of 15 Eastern MITCHELL LEFF/ GETTY IMAGES
Around an hour after the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Detroit Pistons on March 11, 2020, Rudy Gobert, an All-Star center for the Utah Jazz, tested positive for the Coronavirus. As a result, the NBA decided to suspend the NBA season for at least one month. The Philadelphia 76ers had a record of 39-26, which is good for 6th place in the Eastern Conference. After bringing in forward/center Al Horford and Guard Josh Richarson, the Sixers were hopeful for a dominant regular season, and a deep playoff push. After their first five games, they started out 5-0, winning three road games. One of those games included a comeback from a 21 point deficit against the Blazers, with Furkan Korkmaz knocking down the game-winning three-pointer. Unfortunately, that would be the only road win for the Sixers in two weeks, losing four of five in that span. These road woes have continued, as it is now mid-March, and the Sixers post
Joel Embiid celebrating an and-one against the Miami Heat
Conference teams have fared on the road than at home, so it is not a surprise the Sixers have worse numbers away from the Wells Fargo Center. However, the Sixers? home-road splits are highly atypical and rather alarming, as no team should be in the top 8 in field goal and three-point percentage at home, but be in the bottom 8 away. Prior to the NBA trade deadline, Elton Brand, the General Manager of the Sixers, sent 3 second-round picks to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for shooting guard Alec Burks and small forward Glenn Robinson III. Both of these players are above average three-point shooters, and will add depth and certainly boost the Sixers? shooting in general. With 17 games left in the season, the Sixers have the 2nd easiest strength of schedule, playing 10 home games and 7 away. If Philadelphia can keep the league?s best home record and improve their road record to above .500, they have a reasonable chance to move up to the 3 seed. That would put them in an ideal situation, in that they would delay a possible matchup with Milwaukee until the Eastern Conference Finals. If the Sixers do not figure out their road struggles, then their path to a title will become more complicated, especially since it will likely involve multiple series in which they do not have home-court advantage. On the other hand, if they turn up their defensive intensity and start shooting a higher percentage on the road, they could make a serious push in the NBA Playoffs. The NBA still has not made a decision regarding their season, and it is unclear when they will announce if and when the season will continue. On the bright side for the Sixers, this hiatus will give time for all of their players to get healthy, in particular Ben Simmons, who was nursing a back injury prior to this delay.
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BARRACK SCOREBOARD! Congratulations to our Girls and Boys Varsity Basketball Teams and their coaches, Chris Corcoran, Rebecca Trajtenberg, Jose Sanchez, Ben Falk, and Devin Bluestien, for winning their TCISL Championship games!
The Teams?Records: Boys Varsity Basketball: 18:1 Boys Junior Varsity Basketball: 3:8
Girls Varsity Basketball team, and manager Mia Erlbaum ?20 (kneeling at far right) after winning their TCISL championship game.
Girls Varsity Basketball: 19:5 Girls Junior Varsity Basketball: 3:3 Coed Varsity Swimming 1:3 Upper School Indoor Track (Practice sessions only) Cheerleading (Not a competitive sport) Middle School Boys Basketball A: 4:5
Boys Varsity Basketball team after winning their TCISL Championship game, with (from left to right in top row) coaches Devin Bluestien and Ben Falk, and manager Jacob Erlbaum ?22 Videographer Adam Gladstone ?21 is at far right.
Middle School Boys Basketball B: 5:2 Middle School Girls Basketball A: 6:2 Middle School Girls Basketball B: 3:6 Middle School Swimming 0:1
Barrack's Cheer team
L egends are Forever Benny Scheinmann, Staff Writer
?The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do? -Kobe Bryant. On the morning of January 26, 2020, a helicopter crash in the suburbs of Los Angeles, California, ended the life of nine people, including 41-year-old basketball legend Kobe Bryant. Most people know Bryant for his unbelievable basketball skills, his extraordinary scoring talent, and his passion for winning at everything. However, what Bryant really excelled at was his ability to inspire the people he touched to embrace sports, including the game of basketball. Bryant was a mentor to many young basketball players who grew up watching him play. One in particular was Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks. Young based his entire style of play off of Bryant, learning to become an incredible shooter and a go-to player to take the final shot; that is exactly how Bryant played throughout his storied career. Bryant and Young first
encountered each other when Young was a top college prospect coming out of high school in 2015. He gave Young tips and encouraged him to continue being a leader. Upon the news of Bryant?s unfortunate passing, Young tweeted, ?All the lessons, all the advice, every word you ever told me...will stick with me forever, thank you Kobe.? This is but one example of Bryant?s influence on younger players with regard to both their approach to the game of basketball and to the way they approach life in general.
Not only was Bryant influential to people on and off the court, but he was also admired for his tireless work ethic. No one would argue that to improve one?s performance, whether it be in academics or athletics, requires a commitment to hard work. Yet, hard work is an understatement for Bryant?s performance. Kobe Bryant was drafted into the NBA straight after graduating from Lower Merion High School at the young age of 18. Former coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, Byron Scott, said that he often found the 18-year-old
?The most impor tant thing is to tr y and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.? -K obe Br yant practicing in the Lakers?dark gym two hours before practice had even begun. A similar story is told by a Team USA trainer who noted that Bryant once held a workout from 4:15 a.m. to 11 a.m., refusing to leave the gym until he made 800 shots. Finally, the most impressive example of Bryant?s dedication to his craft was when he limped to the sideline after getting fouled hard in an NBA regular season game. With tears of pain in his eyes, he calmly proceeded to swish both of his foul shots before leaving the game to have his condition checked by the Lakers? training staff. It turned out he had a torn Achilles tendon. Bryant?s mentality to never give up and to never let anything come in the way of his and his team?s success was seen all the time, especially in this instance. Bryant?s love of basketball went even further than just playing. Upon retirement, he felt it was necessary to give back to his favorite game by making a short animated film conveying his fondness for the sport. His short film, ?Dear Basketball,? expressed how basketball would always be a part of him and how thankful he was to have had the gifts to play NBA basketball as a career. Similar to his five NBA titles, Bryant was rewarded with an Oscar for best animated short film for this inspirational show of affection. In addition to Bryant?s many achievements, another way he chose to give back to the game of basketball was by creating the Mamba Sports Academy, in Thousand Oaks, California, in 2018. This training facility helped amateur and professional athletes improve and master their skills. Kobe truly enjoyed giving back to the basketball community. Bryant poured his all into every single game and every single second of basketball. He inspired people on and off the court. So love him as a player, hate him as a player, but one must always recognize how Kobe Bryant changed the game of basketball, and inspired an entire generation to love the game as much as he did.
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M id-Night Tales (Par t 2) Kayla Bleier, Staff Writer Recap: Odgen, a small creature, is living among humans. At night he comes out and explores his large world. The house is full of mysteries and his enemy Mitsy, the household cat. ? The base of the stairs came into view. Odgen was just tall enough to haul himself up. Tonight, if his luck continued, he would go all the way up. Up there was where the big men slept. And that is where the treasures Odgen had in mind would be. The trouble was, however, in reaching the highly-anticipated treasures. Mitsy was elsewhere. The glossed wooden steps were gleaming in the moonlight; everything around him was washed in shadows and light, faintly blue and fuzzy. To climb up the stairs would mean completely exposing himself. Odgen was of no size to properly ascend, so he would need to crawl. He would have no place to escape and no shadows to hide within. He looked around again. In front of him stood the stairs marching up into the unknown darkness. Behind him, like a comforting friend, stood the lightly painted wall. There was little else Odgen could see. His world was a constant mix of shadows and fog, now more than ever. With the understanding that if not now he would never act, Odgen darted to the first step. The adrenaline and courage from defeating Mitsy was practically beading on his skin. He lifted his leg over the step. Both of his arms clung over the lip, his left leg sat next to them bent at the knee, the rest hung towards his body, still attached to his hip. He pushed up and found himself belly-first on the top of the bottom step. A triumph! By the time Odgen had bested eight steps, the moonlight was slowly dripping down the stairs closer to the base of the window from which it had entered. His ears were itchy from his fur clinging to his head. The temptation to move his hands was strong, but so was the one to look down, which he had not done yet. Nor had he heard Mitsy, but it was hard
to hear anything over his pounding heart and rough breaths. Was this worth the anxiety and suspense? Surely there must be a better way to get up. Perhaps, in the early light before returning home he could find an alternate route, since locating one now was difficult to do in the dark, even with his beady yellow eyes. Up and up and up, up, up. There were two steps left in front of him. His arms wobbled and his chest throbbed, but he was almost at the top. Despite the end in sight, Odgen felt weak and tired. The whole ordeal had been a lot harder than he had expected. When he had begun, he was confident and sly. Now his mind wavered between exhaustion and collapse. Where was Mitsy? Surely he had been loud enough for the foolish creature to hear him. It was time to be more cautious, quieter, sneakier. He sighed and then realized. What a fool! For the first time in his arduous adventure, he turned his head. He was resting in a hanging position from the third step from the top. His feet just barely brushed the step below. The moonlight had now nearly escaped, having retreated through the window from which it stole in. Only a splash of the light remained on the floor. And then the splash moved. Mitsy sat staring up the stairs. It was as if she was contemplating whether or not to climb. Thankfully, Odgen was dangling in the shadows, hidden by them at the top of the steps. But he was sure any one of his movements would alert her. Without thinking, he pushed with all his might to stand up on the step. He glanced behind him and to his dismay saw Mitsy walking towards the stairs. He scrambled to the next step; there was one left to go. Mitsy, he saw, was bounding towards him. With his arms in position to hoist his little body over the lip of the final step keeping him from the top, Odgen jumped. To be continued?
Daf Yomi: Ever yone's Doing it! Stefanie Rose, Executive Editor Rabbi Michael Yondorf, For The Chronicle Daf Yomi is a pretty popular thing to do early in the morning before work or school. Don?t believe me? Imagine 90,000 people in MetLife stadium? ..and there was no football game; and yes, all of those 90,000 people also participated in Daf Yomi. Daf Yomi (meaning ?Page of the Day?) is the study on a daily basis of a complete page of Talmud. That means both sides of the page. This system of study was initiated by a young Romanian Rabbi, Meir Shapiro, on Rosh HaShana, September 11, 1923. It takes approximately seven years and five months to complete the 2,711 pages of Talmud. This year, the MetLife Stadium hosted the Siyum HaShas of Daf Yomi for the second time on January 1, 2020. You might ask, what in the world is a
was published by the United States government for distribution in the Displaced Persons camps following the Holocaust. The son of a survivor, and the Jewish chaplain who had met the survivor at the liberation of the death camps, participated in the ceremony and presented the Talmud to be used. Two Barrack teachers participated in making this siyum: Rabbi Steven Razin, who completed his first cycle of Daf Yomi, and Rabbi Michael Yondorf, who completed his second cycle. They are now joined in the study of the next cycle of Daf Yomi by Dr. Darin Katz, Rabbi Will Keller, and Rabbi Dan Rosenberg. As our school has gone into its distance learning program, sadly the group is not as active, but Rabbi Yondorf does keep the group informed by sending tidbits everyday.
Siyum HaShas? Siyum HaShas (meaning ?Completion of the Talmud?) is when the people partaking in the study of Daf Yomi have successfully gone through the 2,711 pages of Talmud, after approximately seven years and five months. When you finish such a monumental achievement, there is cause for celebration. The ceremonies at MetLife Stadium were indeed such a celebration. Not only were there 90,000 in attendance, thousands more watched via live stream. The actual edition of the Talmud that was used at the Siyum
HAMODIA.COM
When you finish such a monumental achievement, there is cause for celebr ation
MetLife stadium during the Siyum HaShas, on January 1, 2020
M aya Shavit: I am trying to get better Devor a Solomon: I?ve Niva Cohen: I want to Stefanie Rose: Hobbies at journaling while I am home HOM E HOBBI ES become a faster reader and that I love are going on Shir in K aye: Growing been knitting a blanket vegetables and self-quarantining so one day I can look (from page 1) tackle the books I?ve long walks outside and and I want to learn maintaining a garden back and remember how I felt during doing puzzles. wanted to read for awhile. Italian this historical event.
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M ondays Are for the Bachelor Stefanie Rose, Executive Editor It?s Monday night, approximately 8:00 PM, but you already know what time it is: time for The Bachelor on ABC! The Bachelor is a very popular, reality TV show about a man who is essentially dating 30 girls at once. In every episode, there are group dates and a one-on-one date. A group date is when the bachelor interacts with a group of 6-8 women. A one-on-one date is where a woman is chosen to have an individual date with the bachelor. Every week, during the rose ceremony, each woman that does not receive a rose goes home; at least three women go home every episode. As the season progresses and gets to the final episodes, if a woman does not receive a rose
This show has successfully broken down gender bar r ier s because it also addresses topics that are applicable to any relationship on her one-on-one date, she is sent home immediately, without even making it to the rose ceremony. The goal of the show is for the bachelor to pick the best woman to be his wife. Overall, the show is exactly what pops into mind when you think of reality TV, but the drama is super entertaining. This season of The Bachelor had many changes with regard to the show?s viewers. This year, a greater amount of guys tuned in, and the idea of a Bachelor Bracket became increasingly
popular. Constructing a bracket is fairly simple. Before the season premier airs, you must select from all 30 of the contestants, who will make it through every week and who will go home. Once you have selected your picks and have clicked the ?submit?button, they are permanent and cannot be changed. Whoever has the order of women closest to how the show plays out is ultimately the winner. There is also another version of the Bracket where you pick five women every week before each episode premiers, and you are rewarded points based on what happens with them in the episode. For example, if one of the girls you picked gets a rose, you are rewarded points, but if one of the girls you picked does not receive a rose or curses on screen, you can lose points. Not only is the Bracket a new addition to watching the show, but the show?s viewers also seem to be breaking gender norms. At Barrack, many more guys are invested in watching The Bachelor than ever before. Dylan Mandel ?21 stated that he likes the show because it is ?funny to watch and exciting until the end. Also it is a great way to connect with other Jewish teens who watch the show; they will instantly want to be your friend because you both watch The Bachelor.? This show has broken down stereotypical gender barriers relating to the series, because it addresses topics that are applicable to any relationship, topics to which both guys and girls can relate. As the show progresses, each woman?s
relationship with the bachelor is tested in some way or another, and only the strongest ones will withstand it all. This show is about trust, honesty, and being your true self, and the most successful contestants have displayed and embraced those qualities to the fullest. This season, women have been sent home solely based on not displaying those qualities, because when it comes down to it, the bachelor is picking his future wife. Viewers are able to sense which relationships are unhealthy by identifying the contestants that just love to stir the pot and create drama 24/7. But viewers are also able to see that successful relationships are a result of this show. Ultimately, while The Bachelor includes elements of reality by showing the viewers what comprises a true romance, it is also extremely entertaining for all who watch it, appealing successfully to all genders.
Season 24's contestants with bachelor, Pilot Pete
Continued From Centerspread (page 11)
Political Antisemitism the endorsement of Palestinian- American actress Maysoon Zayid, who has accused Jewish Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman- Schultz of having ?her loyalties lie with Israel.? Last month in New Hampshire, Warren nodded when a questioner referred to AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, as an ?unholy alliance...with Islamophobes and antisemites and white nationalists.? Antisemitism in the Democratic Party goes far beyond the campaigns of Sanders and Warren. Former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel, who ran a failed bid for President in 2020, was a frequent guest on the podcasts of Holocaust deniers Lyndon LaRouche and Kevin Barrett; he also attended the International Conference on Hollywoodism. That conference, which is organized by the Iranian government, claims to be centered around the ?role of Hollywood in promoting negative views of Iran.? In reality, it is nothing more than a gathering for some of the world?s leading antisemites. The conference was described by the ADL?s for-
Rebecca Shaid: Skateboarding!
mer National Director Abe Foxman as having ?a deep undercurrent of antisemitism and antiZionism.? While running for the 2020 Democratic Nomination, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker said he was open to meeting with Louis Farrakhan and, in 2014, former Vice President Joe Biden referred to landlords as ?Shylocks,? a medieval, Shakespearean stereotype involving Jews and money. On the other hand, both Booker and Biden were present at AIPAC?s annual Policy Conference in Washington D.C. Although the Democrats may have an antisemitism problem, they are not unique in that. The Republican Party, under the leadership of President Donald Trump, has been viewed as antisemitic by many. A 2019 study from the Jewish Electorate Institute found that 59% of Jewish Americans found President Trump to be responsible for antisemitism in some capacity. In 2015, Trump spoke to a group of Jewish Republicans using antisemitic tropes: he said the group wants to ?control [their] own politicians.? When speaking to the same organization four years later, Trump referred to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
as ?your Prime Minister.? Trump also accused Jewish Americans who vote for Democrats of being ?disloyal.? The ADL called the statement ?antisemitic,? and David Harris, the CEO of the American Jewish Committee, said the comments were ?outrageous.? The antisemitism on the right goes far beyond President Trump. Republican Congressman Steve King stated in an interview, ?White nationalist, white supremacist...how did that language become offensive?? King has also met with a far-right Austrian organization that was founded by a Nazi SS officer and retweeted Mark Collett, a white supremacist and Holocaust denier. Another Republican entangled with antisemitism is Representative Mo Brooks, who read Mein Kampf on the House floor in 2019. In January 2020, the Vice President of the Sussex County GOP, Nelly Jordan, was removed from office following her accusation of Jews being behind the impeachment of Trump. While both the Democrats and Republicans may say they oppose antisemitism, it remains clear that it continues to manifest on both sides of the aisle.
Benny Scheinmann: Lately I Judith Pr ansky: I've learned how to make face Helen Rudoler : My new Rivkah Wyner : I have have been playing much more masks with filter inserts; to host on Zoom; to hobbies are learning basketball outside because the been cooking new decontaminate groceries, newspapers and mail; Calligraphy and re-watching recipes. weather has been so nice. and to visit with friends through glass storm Parks and Rec doors.
Games
CLIPART
COUGAR CHRONICLE
Hangman Answer : Homemade Frosting
April 2020
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Credits Word Search-- Stefanie Rose, Executive Editor Sudoku-- Google Hangman- Maya Shavit, Features and Games Editor