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THE BNEI AKIVA SCHOOLS HEADLINES ISSUE 2 • DECEMBER 2020 STUDCO vs COVID Update from the Legendary President of Ulpana

ARIELLE MAYER PRESIDENT, UO STUDENT COUNCIL

Hey BAS! Congrats, we made it through  ! Who knew? While this has been the craziest year ever, I’m so thankful for each and every one of you for making this year as amazing as it has been so far, even with all of our restrictions. COVID- only helped us prove how special BAS is and that nothing will get in the way of us having an amazing year! B’Ezrat Hashem, the next half of the school year will be even better and safer, but we should continue to have the same amount of ruach and achdut that constantly surrounds the BAS community no matter what. is connection is so strong that not even a worldwide pandemic can break us apart, so thank you all for your incredible ruach and positivity! is year has been anything but normal, but thank G-d, we’ve still been able to have many exciting programs and activities going on while social distancing and wearing masks. During the first month of school, we had the an- nual Freshie-Senior BBQ, had an ice cream truck come to school, made bracelets for our sisters, and participated in a super fun see-run-build candy Sukkah competition by grades. e COVID- restrictions aren’t stopping us from having an amazing year! Even during our week of online school, we continued to have fun activities such as daily activity booklets with fun games for everyone to complete. e month continued (in person!) with a picture scavenger hunt in honour of parshat Lech Lecha Things To Do Over Winter Break and we were able to learn more about Avraham’s journey RACHEL GOLDSTEIN to Israel. Of course, we can’t forget about the Ulpana’s Got Talent competition! On the weekend that Shabbaton was Do you ever find yourself feeling bored out of your . Go on socially distant walks with your friends. supposed to be, we had some exciting surprises for you mind whenever there’s a vacation from school? Don’t forget to complain to them about how all. We enjoyed some delicious Kawartha Dairy ice cream Do you want to spice up your life and be more you’ve been learning from home since the be- and the photobooth by the “lake”. We felt just like we were content than  of the world’s population? Well ginning of school. at Fern Resort! We then watched a fun video of teacher this article is definitely for you (no clickbait)! Here . Take up a new hobby – whether that’s cook- competitions and had each class predict the winners. is a list of ten, COVID-friendly must-dos for over Overall, these past three months have been incredible winter break, and it doesn’t include completing ing, baking, running, or sleeping. and I’m so grateful that we’ve been able to spend them the school assignments that were due two weeks . Travel vicariously to distant lands. together in person. ago. Enjoy! . Test the bag of old batteries down in the is year can be looked at in two ways: an excuse to . Go on a technology cleanse. row your basement. stop trying, or a reason to grow even further. COVID- phone out the window and buy a pigeon to de- . Assemble new furniture from Ikea. at is only a part of our year, but it does not define how our liver messages instead. People will be in shock is guaranteed to take you three months to do. year will be; that is up to us. I am so confident that we when they find a pigeon casually sitting on their While you’re at it, translate the whole Ikea cata- windowsill. You’ll likely become a trendsetter. will be able to make the most of this year, no matter the logue into English. challenges or obstacles in our way. We have already been . Annoy your siblings and family. It’s just a . Ponder life’s pressing questions: Do Danish able to do so much in these short three months and I guar- given. antee you that the rest of the year will be just as amazing, . Learn a new language – because how awe- people eat danishes for breakfast? if not better, whether we’re in person or online. I can’t some would it be to have a full-on conversation . Breathe — and wait for things to return to wait to B’Ezrat Hashem see you all again aer the break! with Kesty in Russian? normal! BAS COMMUNITY Page 2

Ask Me About My Mask! IZZY ADLER Forget about designer handbags and avant-garde shoes, face masks are all the rage! ere are plenty of different masks out there, but have you ever thought about whether you are purchasing the correct one? You would hate to be walking around in last week’s mask while everybody else is strutting through the school hallways with the best of the best. Which mask is the best, though? Truthfully, shopping for a mask is very similar to shopping for a pair of shoes. It must fit right, feel right, and look right. Experts say that the fabric masks are the best, especially when it is difficult to maintain a two metre physical distance from other people. Fabric masks are like Converse – everybody has them laying around somewhere, and they come in every single pattern and colour imaginable. In fact, wearing a fabric mask can reduce the spread of your own infectious respiratory droplets, in other words… your germs. I know what you are thinking: “If this is true, I’m just going to מה קורה עם השליחים שלנו? ”?make my own fabric masks! Why waste the money אלי יסאר Absolutely not! Homemade masks are not proper medical devices and therefore are not regulated like a medical mask מאז שהתחילה שנת הלימודים נאלצנו להסתגל לכל השינויים שקוביד גרם. עם זאת, דבר אחד שאנחנו אסירי is. Every single mask you purchase to reduce the spread תודה עליו הוא שלא היינו צריכים להתחיל את השנה בלי השליחים האהובים עלינו. השנה, כמו בכל השנים הקודמות, בית הספר שלנו הביא קבוצה נוספת של מורים ישראלים להצטרף למשפחת בתי הספר בני עקיבא has been tested to recognized standards (weof COVID- ואנחנו כל כך שמחים על הצטרפותם. אחת השליחות היא המורה נטעיה וכדי להכיר אותה קצת יותר טוב hope). Without the proper internal nasal bar inside the שאלתי אותה כמה שאלות. תודה לך מורה נטעיה על זמנך! .mask, the virus particles will not be blocked Additionally, masks with exhalation valves are not אלי: כדי להתחיל, האם תוכלי לספר לנו משהו חדש על נוס עשר! :) והעובדה שהגעתי לכאן לבד בלי המשפחה. עצמך (תחומי העניין שלך, מדוע החלטת להיות מורה)? recommended either. ese masks are like the ten-inch מה הדבר שהכי טוב בעייניך בהתנהלות הקנדית, האם heels, everybody wants them, but once you have them נטעיה: האמת היא שאני אוהבת הרבה דברים; אני יש משהו שהיית מאמצת? on your body you realize how awful they truly are. ese אוהבת עובדות רנדומליות ומעניינות ותמיד מנסה masks do not protect others from COVID- or limit the להכניס אותן לשיעורים שלי. אני מאוד אוהבת לעזור הרוגע! הכל מתנהל בנחת, אין הרבה לחץ ולדעתי זה לאנשים, בהתחלה הייתי בכלל אמורה להיות פסיכו־ ,virus. is is why the masks with respirators, like the N שונה מאוד. לוגית, למרות שזה לא כזה שונה מלהיות מורה :) אבל are reserved for health care providers directing care to ”אדם מתכנן וה‘ צוחק...“. למה את הכי מתגעגעת בארץ? . patientsCOVID- האם אי פעם היית בקנדה בעבר או שזו הפעם הרא־ Finally, the most common mask we see is the classic וודאי שאני מתגעגעת למשפחה שלי, וגם, זה ישמע שונה שלך? medical mask. ese masks are like the UGG boots in the מוזר, אבל אני מתגעגעת לחוצפה הישראלית :) זו פעם ראשונה שאני חיה ועובדת בחו“ל וזו חוויה shoe world, everybody has them! ese masks are the best מעניינת ומאתגרת כאחד. אנו לומדים מהתורה שלפעמים אנו זקוקים למישהו for protecting health care providers and slowing the spread מה גרם לך להחליט להגיע לקנדה עכשיו, בתקופה כל מבחוץ עם נקודת מבט חדשה שתעזור לנו להשתפר, of the virus. So next time you find yourself wondering which mask to buy, ask yourself if you would rather wear כך מאתגרת? מה את יכולה להציע לנו מנקודת הראיה שלך? Converse, ten-inch heels, or UGG boots. קודם כל אני מודה על ההזדמנות להגיע ולהיות חלק לאור העובדה שקשה מאוד להפריד את חווית המ־ בקהילה המדהימה הזו, במיוחד בזמנים כה קשים. דווקא בתקופה כזו אני חושבת שהרגשתי שיש כאן ציאות של קנדה בזמן הקורונה מהחוויה של המציאות הזדמנות בשבילי באמת לצאת לשליחות ולעשות משהו בקנדה בתקופה רגילה, קשה לי מאוד להעריך ולשפוט למען האמונה שלי וקירוב הלבבות בעם ישראל. את המצב באופן אובייקטיבי... לפעמים, האופי הקנדי מתנגש עם האופי הישראלי. האם את מרגישה שהתרגלת להבדלי התרבות? האם יש עוד משהו שתרצי להוסיף? לא! אני חושבת שאני אצטרך עוד כמה חודשים טובים אני כל כך שמחה שזכיתי להגיע לכאן ולהכיר אנשים עד שאתרגל... לא רק לאופי, אלא גם למושגים שונים. נהדרים וקהילה מדהימה, אין עוד הרבה כאלה! מא־ כמו למשל ההבדלים בין מעלות פרנהייט לצלזיוס, מה חלת לכולם בהצלחה! שגרם לכך שהשבת הראשונה שלי בקנדה היתה עם אוכל לא מבושל בחלקו. אנחנו למדים שההגעה של נטעיה כמו גם השליחים מה היה האתגר הגדול ביותר במעברך לטורונטו? האחרים כרוכים בהשקעה וויתורים מצידם. זוהי הז־ הקור! השלג! העובדה שאני לא יודעת איך נוהגים במי־ דמנות נפלאה להודות לכולכם! © Blake Ezra Photography Ltd. 2013 ISRAEL & ISRAEL JUDAISM OREL ZVI react with celebrations of thanks of thanks celebrations with react we and ofG-d, help the with them we overpower and us to kill tries a nation identical: sound and look stopus there. 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RENA TORCZYNER We live in a world today that preaches freedom of us, so when we are obsessed with a song like “Don’t whom these celebrities are speaking feel all the more speech. Forums both on and offline spanning hun- Start Now” and Dua Lipa shares a FreePalestine grateful for the support. dreds of widely used platforms present this oppor- post on Twitter, that will have a strong impact on Now, where do we stand? We have many of these tunity, and their users take up the pen eagerly to share both us and her other . million followers. e next societal idols who stand for us and many who stand their thoughts. To give one example: social media, time we hear someone speaking about the conflict, against… but where does that lead us? where the passionate of every generation spill their we have a side to take – perhaps no backup, but a It leads us to our turn. If others are speaking up, lives, values, and ideals. bias that will make it more difficult to convince us it’s high time we do too. at does not mean targeting What about people who aren’t passionate about into a pro-Israeli perspective. BDS supporters or pro-Palestinians. On the contrary, politics, or particularly educated about current Still, this goes both ways. While Dua Lipa may they are not the target audience at all. Everything we events? ey must acquire an opinion, which can not support Israel, Bon Jovi does. So does Scarlett do is to convince the undecided, the aforementioned be done in either of two ways: Johansson, and so did Frank Sinatra… from petitions fandom who are neutral in their stance on Israel until . Learn the facts and cra the ideas themselves. to social media posts to a simple unwavering loyalty, their idols make a statement one way or the other. . Read through others’ opinions and adopt them When we respond to an anti-Semitic post, it is not as their own. necessarily to convince the author who is already When discussing a topic like the Middle East, and Once we become fans, their firm in his/her view, rather to make sure that some- specifically Israel, many of the indifferent will default one who is scrolling through will see that there is to the second option, simply due to the sheer scale opinions mean something to us, more than one side to the story. When we educate of the subject. e Israeli-Palestinian conflict spans ourselves on current events in the Middle East, we millennia; it brings into the picture not only Israeli are ensuring we will have the ability to shoot down and Palestinian history, but incorporates the West several of those in society’s spotlight have stepped up arguments that are based on false premises. When as well, dating back to the British Mandate in the for Israel, in doing so rejecting the discouragement we thank a celebrity for their support, however it is Middle East. It isn’t a simple read-through-a-fact- of their pro-Palestinian peers. sheet or learn a few stories and you’ve got it down. We can appreciate this support all the more be- given, we are showing that the backing is mutual – Consequently, many turn to pre-formed opinions, cause of who it is coming from. Not only do these that the hate they get for their decision is not the and who better to look to for this than the idols of people have a larger platform to express their opin- only feeling they have inspired, because to us, the society? ions, but they also have a much greater risk involved. situation may seem just that much more hopeful Celebrities (even the definition of the word, and In an industry based on entertainment, you need for their loyalty. what it entails) are controversial. Nevertheless, one people supporting you, because without people to Celebrities have the power to project their opin- thing we must all acknowledge is that, at the end of entertain you are out of a job. It is walking a very thin ions to masses of people, but the groundwork – the the day, these people have a stronger social media line to begin to introduce personal ideas, knowing obligation to personally interact with others and ad- platform than the average user, and have amassed that many others will not agree with you, and it vocate for our country – falls to us. By learning which a strong fan following among whom their words can end up being detrimental to your career. Most people are loyal to us, we can make sure they know carry weight. We admire their clothing, their sing- celebrities are highly aware of this, and thus make the impact they have had, and spread that impact as ing, their acting, their personalities (or our narrow sure not to speak up about an issue unless they are much as possible throughout our communities – both perception based on what we see on-screen). Once willing to receive the backlash and continue despite physical and online. ey have spoken out; now it’s we become fans, their opinions mean something to it. It is not an easy decision, and so the Israelis for time for us to move this forward.

 , Tornai transformed her shop into Fashion Magazine. Each and every Say Yes to an Israeli Dress: a bridal salon. one of Tornai’s gowns is hand sewn Pnina Tornai’s Rise to Fame By , the ever-so-famous New with fabrics imported from Europe. York City bridal boutique, Kleinfeld Her famous body-hugging corsets are Bridal, brought Tornai in as a perma- IZZY ADLER she developed a passion for vintage dressed up with Swarovski crystals nent designer for their company. With- couture fashion. Aer spending ten and precious stones. She also has an Ruffles, bows, taffeta and sparkles all in two years she was their top vendor. years in Paris, she made her way back represent the elegance and charm that Today, Tornai is the only designer to entire modest line for religious Jewish to Israel and opened a small clothing is displayed on the most elegant gowns have her own bridal boutique with- & Muslim brides. store in Tel-Aviv with one seamstress. in the world. A wedding dress defines in Kleinfeld’s. Her dresses are sold Tornai exhibits the true meaning Tornai’s shop only consisted of day and the day you remember for the rest of all over the world, including China, of fashion. She takes inspiration from evening gowns until a bride walked your life. Whether your gown depicts South Korea, Angola, Croatia, Ger- Israel and around the world to build into the store asking her to recreate one luxury and class or dazzle and flash, the many, Greece, Italy, Israel, the Baha- her own bridal empire that has truly dress tells it all. of her evening gowns into a wedding mas, Canada, and the United States. taken the world by storm. It is very Pnina Tornai is an Israeli fashion dress. Tornai accepted the challenge Her gowns are constantly featured important for an Israeli designer like and wedding dress designer. Before and made the dress for her customer. on TLC’s reality television show Say Pnina Tornai to work internationally. Tornai’s rise to fame, she enlisted in Is- e dress was a major success and was Yes to the Dress, which airs in over  rael’s mandatory military service. Aer featured on the front page of an Israeli countries. Pictures of her gowns have Brides of all backgrounds gain respect serving in the military, Tornai moved newspaper. Due to the dress’s popu- been published in People Magazine, for the Israelis and the Jewish people to Paris, France to pursue an acting larity, Tornai attracted a lot of brides- e New York Times Fashion & Style when they fawn over a Pnina Tornai career. During Tornai’s time in Paris to-be looking for wedding dresses. In Magazine, and Women’s Wear Daily wedding dress. ISRAEL & JUDAISM Page 5 Gen Z’s Perception of the Holocaust The Influence of TikTok on Holocaust Education

ELI YISSAR By now, I am sure that everyone read- ing this article knows about TikTok, the social media platform that has taken the world by storm. e platform is all about sharing videos and trying to get featured on the ‘For You’ recom- mendations page for other users, in or- der to receive more views. is results in the video maker’s fieen seconds of fame. Creators have taken this in various directions: some have chosen the comedy route, others have tried to show off their talents (dancing in par- ticular), and others have been accused of using their looks to gain followers. Regardless of the way it started, many Photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash people have become so concerned with obtaining their fieen seconds of fame ness, especially at a time when Holo- case! How many times have any of you know a little more about the topic. that some stopped thinking some of caust denial is at a rise. We all know the scrolled through the comments of a Express the reason that you found their decisions through. saying, it’s the thought that counts. It fol- TikTok video, or other social media the video offensive. is could even Over the past few months, there lows that we should be able to forgive post, because you didn’t understand be a great lesson for us to learn. If we have been several trends, which catch these users whilst still showing them a joke? Or maybe, you wanted to don’t know enough about a topic, we on and are recreated by thousands of the error in their judgement. ere are, make sure that you were not the only should never pretend we do because TikTok users. Many of these trends are aer all, much better ways to educate one that found it funny? People go we could easily be spreading offensive innocent and entertaining, but one that young people about the Holocaust, through the comments all the time misinformation, which is the last thing does not fit either of those adjectives even whil still using TikTok. which makes it all the more important any of us want. is the Holocaust trend. is trend in- Sadly, this was not the case for many to call out people who are including . Comparing Israel to Nazi Ger- volved people dressing up as Holocaust others who uploaded Holocaust trend false, offensive, or even harmful infor- many, or the IDF to Nazi soldiers is victims (wearing yellow stars, striped videos. Many had the goal of making mation in their videos. at way, when antisemitic. In this case, using edu- shirts, and creating bruises with their fun of the atrocities that occurred in someone doesn’t know anything about cation is incredibly important, pri- makeup), some even used the back- the Holocaust and created a form of the topic (which is usually the vast ma- marily for all the people who will be drop of a Nazi concentration camp, denial, sending the message that, “It jority of viewers) and looks through seeing the video without knowing the and others pretended that they were in couldn’t have been that bad; why are the comments section for some more truth. Such statements try to erase heaven and told their Holocaust story. you Jews always complaining about it?” information, they will learn that there the significance and uniqueness of the Some TikTokers pretended to die in Some uplauders went so far as to com- are multiple points of view and that Holocaust, while also attacking the their showers, and some acted as if they pare IDF soldiers to Nazi criminals. the video posted is not the word of validity of Israel as a state. e best were walking towards a gas chamber. is made it difficult to forget or justify. G-d. at being said, you are definitely way to go about this is to be very clear Needless to say, many people on this Is it enough to just ignore such vid- not expected to write a five paragraph about what kind of things Israel does platform were appalled by the trend eos? is is a question that I had asked essay teaching them about Jewish hist- today and explicitly writing the differ- and called out some of the people who myself when I first came across them. ory; it would suffice to write, this is not ence between that and the atrocities made these videos. Although this trend I didn’t know what the best solution true followed by a little bit of informa- of the Holocaust. Some arguments is no longer in play it is important to was, but I couldn’t just keep scrolling. tion on how you know that. can include: Israel has given equal cit- talk about how we, as a Jewish com- Although I am definitely not a social . All of these people are not ne- izenship status to all of its citizens re- munity, can respond to such uploads. media expert, this is what I have learn- cessarily antisemitic. I know, the gardless of religion and has never done Aer the backlash, many people ed so far: first reaction for us (the people have anything to exterminate a group of came out to say that they created . e comments section makes been educated about the Holocaust people, whereas the Holocaust was a these videos in order to reach out to a difference. More oen than not, all our lives) is to call these people genocide that murdered eleven million the younger generation and educate people who are offended by certain antisemitic, and leave it at that. Here innocent people (you definitely don’t them about the horrors of the Holo- posts choose not to do anything about is the thing… many of these people have to only talk about the Jews, bring caust. ey chose to use a platform them because they don’t think any- have not been as well-educated about up the murder of the communists, the with which they were comfortable, thing they write will make a difference the genocide as we have been. ey disabled, the gypsies, the LGBTQ+ and knew that younger people were as to the original poster. I used to be don’t come from an evil place, just an community, etc). well. ese TikTokers figured that this one of those people, but now, I am ignorant one, so the best way to react Remember: your voice matters. Use would be a good way to bring aware- here to inform you that this is not the is to educate. Try letting these people it. People care what you have to say. ISRAEL & JUDAISM Page 6 Israel’s Advancements in Alzheimer’s Dementia

LIR YISSAR January is Alzheimer’s Awareness month in Canada. Alzheim- ers is a growing problem with more than  million people suffering from this disease worldwide. To raise money for a cure please donate to Alzheimer’s Society of Canada and follow @alzheimers_helpglobal to help raise awareness. Even when it seems that there is no way to stop this disease from taking over our loved ones, people around the world are working hard in order to find a cure, including Israel. Once, we were full of blossoming trees. Trees that would change colours every fall. Trees that spread deep roots. en, a few trees in a huge forest get poisoned. Slowly, one tree fell, another’s leaves didn’t grow back, and all of the beautiful roots began disintegrating. is is our forest of memories and the poison is Alzheimer’s Dementia (AD). Alzheimer’s Dementia is a disease that causes memory loss in its early stages, and worsens in its later stages to the point where an individual cannot carry out simple conversations or respond to his/her surroundings. At the moment, AD has no cure but scientists around the world are constantly working together to progress the existing methods of preventing, diagnosing, and treating this overpowering brain disorder. Israeli scientists are among the collaborators. ey have been working hard for years to find different treatments in order to help those suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, and, hopefully, cure the disease. Here are a few examples of promising Israeli inventions and discoveries. Prevention Many different genetic mutations and environmental fac- tors increase the risk of an individual being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. is is being developed Treatment Alzheimer’s Dementia. is includes; heart disease, diabetes, by researchers from the Hebrew University of ere are many different medications for stroke, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Israeli scientist Jerusalem. Dr. Aviv Mezer, a lead researcher, Alzheimer’s Disease, including Israeli-made Professor Eitan Okun, at Paul E. Feder Alzheimer’s Research Lab explains that the new MRI technique will allow Exelon, but they cannot cure or stop the pro- in Bar-Ilan University, has been testing an Alzheimer’s Vaccine. doctors to differentiate between brain scans of gression of this disease. Rather, they can relieve Vaccines give the body a weakened dose of a virus in order the same patient that were taken over a period or delay symptoms. An Israeli Professor, Marin to help build immunity against the stronger villain. Okun’s of time, to compare the healthy and diseased Kupiec, and colleagues at Tel Aviv University, technique is to prepare the body to attack amyloid beta protein brain tissue. suggest that it may be possible to reverse the clumps in the brain, the signature sign of AD. Dr. Shahar Arzy, director of the computa- protein clumping involved in neurodegenera- Okun has already been experimenting on mice and is now tional neuropsychiatry lab at Hadassah Heb- moving on to a clinical trial that is focused on people who have tive diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s rew University Medical Center in Jerusalem, Disease. Amyloid protein growth increases a high risk of developing early onset (under  years of age) worked with her team to create Clara. Clara with age and can lead to neurodegeneration Alzheimer’s Disease. ese trials will allow Okun to determine works as an artificially intelligent ChatBot because proteins can create incorrect form, if the vaccine is successful and how it affects the human body. that could potentially detect early signs of Alz- where they’re misfolded. Kupiec says that re- Depending on the results, Okun will understand how much heimer’s Disease, based on the understanding moving glucose from a certain clump of protein more time is needed before it can go global. that AD affects the brain’s orientation system makes it dissolve. If results can be repeated in Okun has also been exploring different ways to diagnose AD before memory. Using this information, Clara more complex proteins, then scientists will early on, using advanced MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) asks patients about themselves and their re- and technologies to detect the early progression of amyloid lationships with people, events, and places. have a new research avenue toward treatments beta protein. en, Clara compares the answers to a comput- that can reverse the neurodegeneration effect Diagnosis er-based test made for diagnosing Alzheimer’s of protein build-up. PET scans and spinal taps are now the most reliable and Dementia very early on. ese are just a few of the many advances Is- standard way of diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease around the Arzy and her team have posted a study rael has made towards preventing, diagnosing, world, but they are expensive and have many risks, including claiming that Clara is correct  of the time. and curing Alzheimer’s Dementia. Ladostigil, infections, brain herniation, and high radiation exposure. Israel Clara is now three years into a five-year trial at NeuroAD, and ElMindA are a few more. With is developing tests that are non-invasive, affordable and can Harvard to compare data given by the system Israel and the rest of the world working togeth- provide an earlier diagnosis. to data from AD markers taken via Amyloid er to fight this awful disease, one day we may A new MRI technique records molecular changes in brain PET scans, quantitative and functional MRI, be able to live knowing that our forest of trees tissue, which could help early diagnosis in both Alzheimer’s and and other neuropsychological tests. won’t ever lose its leaves. POLITICAL OPINIONS Page 7

Trump and Climate Change A Failure for the Ages

JOSEPH NEWMAN the fight against climate change, having Donald Trump does not play by the in  withdrawn the USA from the rules. His roller coaster ride of a presi- landmark  Paris Climate Accord, dency has been one defined by con- Trump’s dangerous war against truth joining only Nicaragua and Syria as the stant reversals and surprises. And yet has brought climate change denialism… only three countries not party to the the th president of the United States, into the American political mainstream agreement. According to a New York unconventional and unpredictable as Times tally, the Trump administration he may be, has consistently followed has to date repealed  environmental one rule in particular throughout his regulations, and is working to reverse tenure: he does not like to acknow- And while, aer he stepped into don’t believe it.”  more by the end of his tenure. ledge the inconvenient. In the Trump the political limelight aer his upset But the effects of Donald Trump’s Trump’s dangerous war against truth universe, America is a country free of electoral win in , he toned down beliefs about climate change on US has brought climate change denialism, racism, COVID- is no deadlier than some of his rhetoric, Trump’s hostility policy have not only been symbolic. a view once limited to a fringe few con- the seasonal flu, and the   Presiden- towards science continues to influ- is year, Trump slashed EPA funding spiracy theorists and “independent tial Election was rigged by Joe Biden ence his climate policy. Less than a by , leaving the agency, now led scientists” whose research happened to and the fake news media. month aer assuming office, Trump by a former coal lobbyist, forced to be funded by the oil industry, into the So it is unsurprising that the cur- appointed climate change denier Scott end  environmental programs and American political mainstream, paving rent commander in chief ’s attitudes Pruitt to head the Environmental Pro- with few resources to conduct crucial the way for his anti-science campaign towards the climate crisis are as those tection Agency (EPA), the country’s research and development to combat to influence America’s climate policies of most people to Bigfoot or the Loch most powerful environmental regu- the climate crisis. e current presi- for decades to come. Ness monster; climate change, in the lator. Shortly aerward, in December dent’s administration has rolled back e world stands at a tipping point President’s mind, is a scary idea, but , contrary to the warnings of top numerous Obama-era restrictions on in the fight against climate change. And at the end of the day does not exist climatologists and despite the US hav- air pollution and scrapped the former while the situation is still salvageable if and is therefore no cause for concern. ing seen a marked increase in the fre- President’s ambitious Clean Power addressed seriously and with appropri- Long before running for office, Trump quency and severity of natural disasters Plan. e current President’s under- ate action, we cannot stand idly by as loudly questioned the existence of hu- due to climate change, the Trump ad- mining the EPA has weakened the the world teeters on the brink of a cli- man-caused climate change, making ministration removed climate change agency’s prosecuting power, bringing mate catastrophe, with irreversible and over   statements on social media from the Department of Defense’s list enforcement of environmental regula- disastrous consequences for humanity denying climate change or mocking of national security threats. In , tions to a -year low. Recently, Trump and the planet. With Trump poised those working to address it before as- aer the publication of the Fourth has ordered a sharp increase in logging to leave office in January of next year, suming office, as reported by the BBC. National Climate Assessment, which on public lands under the guise of a In a now-infamous  Tweet, Trump warned that unchecked climate change wildfire prevention strategy, and au- America has a chance, with renewed charged that “[t]he concept of global would devastate the American econ- thorized drilling for oil in the Alaska respect for science and an emphasis on warming was created by and for the omy, Trump dismissed the findings of National Wildlife Refuge. e Trump international cooperation, to reclaim Chinese in order to make U.S. manu- the report, telling journalists assem- administration has ceased cooperation its place as a world leader in the battle facturing non-competitive.” bled outside the White House that “I with the international community in of our generation. POLITICAL OPINIONS Page 8 Update on the Incoming COVID-19 Remedy What to Expect with Vaccines on the Horizon

MICHAEL ROBERTS Before the COVID- pandemic, life was nor- mal. Surgical masks were almost never worn except in medical contexts. Social distancing was unheard of. Events involving crowds of tens of thousands of people were regular. Hand shaking was widespread. A high-five was the common greeting between friends. Entering others’ residences was familiar. Vacations to dis- tant destinations were enthusiastically planned and enjoyed. Closed-book assessments were expected. A sick student stayed home and didn’t attend class. ere are seemingly infinite others. en, the COVID- pandemic hit. On March th,  , the Canadian government passed many laws which interfered with normal life in order to fight the deadly, contagious SARS- COV virus, the virus that caused a worldwide pandemic. e wearing of a surgical mask is now mandatory indoors and is oen seen outdoors. Social distancing is encouraged. Hand shaking or high-fiving is prohibited, and violators are fined when caught by law enforcement. Invit- ing others into one’s residence is condemned. Recreational aviation is nearly nonexistent. A sick student is expected to attend class remotely. erefore, all assessments must be open-book or oral. Fortunately, this won’t be the reality for long. its own testing and decides whether Phase three trials on November shot at half the dose, there was a ere will be a remedy to the COVID- pan- to approve. If they do, the vaccine th, and reported their vaccine  efficiency rate. However, less demic: a vaccine. A vaccine is a product that is available for use in the govern- candidate, BNT b , to have a than  volunteers received stimulates a person’s immune system to produce ment’s country.  efficiency rate, way above the the initial shot at half the dose, so immunity to a specific disease, protecting the It takes years of research and de- US Food and Drug Administration’s the data is still inconclusive. If the person from that disease, according to the Cen- velop to a vaccine candidate. How- (FDA) minimum of . Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccine is approved, ever, pharmaceutical companies BioNTech submitted an emergency ter for Disease Control’s definition. it will be easier to mass produce, got a head start with SARS-COV approval application to the FDA on ere are five stages for a vaccine candidate store, and afford than the above to get approved: preclinical trials, three phases vaccine candidates and the SARS- November th and the results are vaccine candidates, which are gen- of clinical trials, and governmental review. Pre- COV genome sequence in January pending. clinical trials are done on human cells and live  . According to the New York US-based Moderna also has etic vaccines. ey inject SARS- animals to determine a starting safe dose for Times’ COVID- Vaccine Track- promising phase three results. A COV genes into human cells to human volunteers in the clinical trials. If there is er, there are: more than  vaccine preliminary analysis has reported cause an immune response. On the no safe dose, the vaccine candidate is discarded. candidates in preclinical trials,  that their vaccine candidate, other hand, this vaccine candidate e first phase of clinical trials determines the vaccine candidates in phase one,  mRNA- , is . effective.  is a viral vector, a harmless virus highest dose of the vaccine candidate that can vaccine candidates in phase two,  out of  phase three volunteers engineered to carry some SARS- be administered without severe side effects vaccine candidates in phase three, who got COVID- took a placebo, COV genes. through tests on healthy volunteers. e second and six vaccines prematurely ap- not the vaccine. Moderna plans to ere is immense hope that a phase of clinical trials determine whether the proved by Russia, China, and/or submit an emergency approval ap- vaccine candidate will be approved dose determined in the first phase works as a the United Arab Emirates. ose plication within the next few weeks. soon. is will be great, as a vaccine remedy (to some degree) for the disease it was six candidates aren’t prematurely British-Swedish pharmaceutical will be the main remedy for the intended to treat. e third phase of clinical approved by Western governments company AstraZeneca and the UK’s COVID- pandemic. However, we trials determines whether the vaccine candi- to prevent a non-effective vaccine University of Oxford have a vaccine must continue to abide by public date is a better remedy to the disease than a candidate from encouraging people candidate, AZD , with promis- health guidelines to stop the spread placebo or the standard treatment. Every phase to stop abiding by the COVID- ing preliminary results. ere are of clinical trials requires more volunteers than restrictions. two shots for AZD – one initial of SARS-COV until those guide- the previous. ere are three vaccine can- shot, and one booster. Among the lines are retracted by public health Aer the three phases, the vaccine candi- didates with primary results. US volunteers who received the initial agencies. Hopefully, the COVID- date’s owner applies for its approval from na- pharmaceutical corporation Pfizer shot at full dose, there was only a pandemic will end soon so we can tional governments. e national government and German biotechnology com-   rate of efficiency. Among the return to the normal life we current- reviews the vaccine candidate and does some of pany BioNTech wrapped up their volunteers who received the initial ly miss so much. POLITICAL OPINIONS Page 9

How President Trump Injured America Changed America and the The Impact of Four Years of Donald Trump World for Good BINYAMIN MAZIN A Positive Look into the Tenure of the e residents of  Pennsylvania Avenue are expected to be 45th President of the United States good people that lead the United States to peace, unity, and safety. Yet, four years of Donald Trump’s outrages and terrible NOAH BERGER leadership has negatively affected Americans in many ways.

On June th, , President Donald J. Trump announced While the U.S. has assisted peace deals in the Middle East, an- his candidacy for the Republican Party. Few took his ti-Semitic hate crimes have been on the rise throughout the country. announcement seriously, as he was a political outsider. In , as reported by the FBI, there were  anti-Semitic hate However, aer landslide victories in the primaries, Donald J. crimes, up  from  cases in . It’s no wonder hate crimes Trump was declared the victor of the Republican Party nom- have risen with a xenophobic President (as exemplified by the ination, and went on to win the  election. From the first president’s own words), as people feel he is backing their actions. day of his campaign, he was attacked by the mainstream media Donald Trump also believes in many harmful conspiracy theories. (dominated by CNN and MSNBC), as well as “parroted by the In , Trump stated that vaccines cause autism, a demonstrably Canadian media” as quoted by Sir Conrad Black. false claim. e President also does not believe in climate change, During President Trump’s campaign, his motto was “Make an issue affecting the world. Trump said in , “I don’t believe America Great Again”. Aer eight years of limited accomplish- it,” when reporters asked him about the issue. As well, the U.S. ments by President Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden, withdrew from the Paris agreement which was supposed to reduce America needed a change. President Trump put America first world carbon emissions, leading to a greener future. by bringing jobs back to the US from China, withdrawing from Foreign policy has also dramatically suffered since Trump was the radical Paris Climate Agreement, and pulling out of the elected as President. Trump has praised many of the world’s worst Iran Nuclear Deal – all while protecting America’s borders by dictators, including Kim Jong Un, Xi Jinping, and Vladimir Putin. building the Southern Border Wall and placing travel bans on Trump has gone as far as to call many of them friends and even countries associated with terrorism. At the time of this article’s praised qualities of their countries, like restricted speech and cen- writing, the non-certified President-Elect Joe Biden wants to sored journalism. During the G  summit in Japan, Trump said to reverse putting America first. He will re-enter the Paris Climate Vladimir Putin: “Get rid of them. Fake news is a great term, isn’t Agreement and Iran Nuclear Deal, and loosen border restrictions it? You don’t have this problem in Russia but we do,” referring to which many fear. the controlled media in Russia. e Trump administration has Before COVID-, the US had the greatest economy of separated many families at the Mexican border and even failed to the world. Tax Reform for large corporations helped increase reunite children with parents. Many families are separated at the America’s wealth and jobs. Record low unemployment numbers border because the parents are considered criminals and taken were documented for minorities. e Dow Jones increased from into ICE custody. Simultaneously, the kids are treated as unaccom- , to nearly , points during Trump’s first three years. panied minors and are taken into custody by other government As of September , according to the White House, there had organizations. e parents are then deported, leaving the children been an increase of , manufacturing jobs, and . million behind. According to a report by Vox in ,  children have Americans had been lied off of food stamps. been separated from their parents since President Trump came President Trump’s most notable accomplishment is his into power. According to the BBC,  children are still in the foreign policy, which has been mostly ignored by mainstream government’s custody, separated from their parents. e children media. Destroying ISIS, killing its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi may now be permanently separated as the American government and Iranian General Soleimani were all relegated to the bottom cannot find their parents. e U.S. has tried but the effort has been of the newsfeed, just like the Abraham Accords, the recent nor- minimal and the parents cannot be found, essentially turning them malization of relations between Israel, Bahrain, UAE and Sudan. into orphans with no chance of a normal life. e moving of the embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing the Finally, looking at Trump’s COVID- response, it becomes Golan Heights were both moves that showed America’s belief in the Jewish State of Israel. evident that his administration’s response has been incompetent When COVID- came to the US, President Trump was and we are lucky that on January th,  , he will no longer be quick to respond by closing the border to China. Response the President of the United States. At the time of writing the U.S. was immediate from some that the President was xenophobic, is the th worst country when looking at COVID deaths: per one but he was actually later criticized for not acting sooner. e million people, a shockingly high number for the great superpower. ongoing mainstream media bias against President Trump only Trump has continually downplayed the severity of the pandemic, increased with Big Tech Censorship, such as the censoring of even making fun of political rival Joe Biden for wearing masks so the Hunter Biden corruption scandal. Recently, the Twitter frequently. e President held massive rallies during his political CEO apologized for this censorship. campaign with no physical distancing and little mask-wearing. It e past four years of President Trump have been a gi to was learned that Trump knew of his COVID exposure, yet still went America. Some of challenges to the   election are legitimate to an event before announcing to the public that he was exposed. and all ballots and challenges should be heard before certifying While I join in appreciating the symbolism of moving the U.S. the election. Even if Joe Biden legitimately wins the Presidency, embassy to Jerusalem, I am le to wonder: at what cost does it America can look forward to   when President Trump has come? How many children removed from their families are equal the chance to take it back. to one embassy move? SPORTS Page 10

Is Online Gaming a Sport?

ADAM LEBOWITZ AND sional soccer with rocket powered cars that can run them a chance to show off the skills they have spent GABRIEL KAPLAN up walls and do flips.” Finally, League of Legends is hours working towards. It also creates a community Electronic sports or Esports is a growing sensation the most complicated of the bunch. It’s described for players to get together and connect, practicing that has swept the nation (not unlike the Corona- as a MOBA or Multiplayer Online Battle Arena. It’s their problem solving and team building skills. To a five-on-five multiplayer battle arena, where each virus… but in a far more positive way). In March, quote Mr. Reiss, “You cannot win Esports alone, team battles across the map to destroy the enemy’s the world was turned upside down, and during the it is a team-based game, and it specifically requires base. ere are over  champions to choose from, following summer and spring months that are usually each with unique abilities. the skills of working in tandem with other people.” filled with outdoor activities such as basketball or Despite all these different games and many dif- Many of the games involved require quick thinking baseball, maybe even a walk in the park, were closed ferent teams to manage, the school is still looking and team coordination on the same level as regular until further notice. One of the few things that re- to expand this program. Mr. Reiss is also working sports, ranging from constant communication, to mained open to us was our electronics. At least we towards adding two more games to the ever-growing had those, and boy oh boy did we take advantage of predicting how the opposing team will move, to program – Madden  and FIFA . One of Mr. Reiss’ our ability to stay on the couch for  hours straight. being there to intercept. It is no wonder that Esports goals is getting these teams known and building a Some discovered new skills in these pressuring times, is growing at a rapid rate as a multi-million-dollar fanbase, through which he can expand Esports at such as new movie marathon records or a newfound industry, with many universities and high schools Or Chaim. passion for all things e Office. Along with many already having teams. Basketball is a key part of our culture at YOC. others, some members of the school gravitated to is can be seen by how the former basketball team’s Looking at the role of physical sports, part of its gaming to fill their hours. players’ names are honored on the walls of the school. goal is to create a recreational pastime for people to en the summer passed like a flickering light Mr. Reiss is a strong advocate for Esports and claims enjoy. As a league, Mr. Reiss says that, “Traditional and school came bashing through the brick wall we that it could potentially replace certain aspects of sports fill a role of entertainment, stress manage- called Corona to force us back to reality. Everything regular sports. Specifically regarding basketball at Or ment, team building, skill building, and social build- changed due to COVID-, such as cancelled con- Chaim, he said, “In a physical sense, no. Emotionally, ing.” Esports fill each of these in the same capacity – certs, postponed plays, bubbled sporting events, and yes. Esports has just as much mental engagement as in fact, they are no different from physical sports finally, the school had to adjust to an atmosphere basketball. However, culturally, maybe not quite yet, in the concept of a league. e only real difference without our main passion – baseketball. Like all but we’re on the way.” Covid has definitely played an between traditional sports and Esports is the tradeoff others in this crucial time, we adapted, filling that integral part in creating the Esports team, but Mr. void with an Or Chaim Esports team. Many reading Reiss has said that “YOC has been ready for a while, of physical activity. However, in regards to mental this article are wondering, what exactly is Esports? and Covid has simply given a chance for it to actually exercise, Esports fill the same role just as well, if not Well, to quote Mr. Reiss, “It’s like basketball, but come to light.” better. Additionally, Mr. Reiss continues that just like everyone has superpowers.” Mr. Reiss is not only As a new and growing industry, there are many regular sports, “When properly engaged, Esports a phenomenal guidance counselor for our school, concerns to be had regarding Esports. One such helps to release pent-up energy, and can help act as but also the coach for all three Esports teams here. concern is its effect on mental health. Esports can a break from the stress of school.” It provides a short e first game is Fortnite, a mother’s favourite. actually be very beneficial in keeping socially and break from school in the same way that one would get It is an open-world battle royale, last team stand- mentally healthy by providing social support or so- up and play a round of basketball, then get back to ing clash, to eliminate other teams within a variety cial connectivity, and stress management. As such, their schoolwork. Esports may not be for everyone, of terrains and items throughout the map. ere Mr. Reiss has said that he will continue running are also the added elements of building weapons Esports and ensuring there is a program like it so but the least it is owed is a chance, and especially in and fortifications, and the mobility and tactics of a that students can stay mentally healthy and socially these trying times, when we all need to be a little first-person shooter. Next, Rocket League, is exactly active. Just by virtue of having the team, Esports more open to accepting new things and adapting to as it sounds. Or, as Mr Reiss puts it, “ree-dimen- brings people who enjoy gaming together, and gives what is presented before us. SPORTS Page 11 Three Key Leafs Signings Will Veteran Leadership like Erik Karlsson, but he can play le-wing and established himself as a been injured quite a bit from trying responsibly in the defensive zone, solid net-front presence, on the power- to be that net-front presence, he’s old be Enough to Push the and he is constantly moving when in play and the penalty kill. Aer a trade in hockey years at  , so the decline is Leafs Over the Top? the neutral zone, always looking for to Philadelphia, he was again success- expected. So why did the Leafs sign an open player. Brodie is also going ful in front of the net. His point totals him? Well, first of all, he’s been around AHARON TORCZYNER to contribute to the struggling penalty increased, hitting  or  points every the league. He’s had experience and e Toronto Maple Leafs, as of November kill that finished st in the league last year in a four-season stretch. He con- can bring leadership. He even won the th, have made  transactions since the year. He’s signed to a  million, tinued to play on both special teams.  Mark Messier Leadership Award. four-year contract. A possible con- During that time, he was named to the Stanley Cup was awarded on September A second reason? Simmonds can still cern might be that at the end of the all-star game and proclaimed MVP of th. ree players that the Leafs signed be that net-front presence even if he deal, he might be overpaid. Still, that’s the tournament. However, that four- stand out in particular. can’t be the scoring forward he used not the concern of the present – it’s year stretch ended three years ago. Joe ornton to play. He can still kill penalties, be on a future problem and nobody really Aer the following year, - Sim- ornton, the former Boston Bruin and the second powerplay unit, and play knows where the Leafs will be at in monds admitted to playing through San Jose Shark, contributes as much on third or fourth line minutes. He can four years. Brodie is expected to play five injuries. He missed seven games the ice as he does off-ice. He is a veteran big minutes and a key role on the pen- for a sixth injury. ose slowed him grind in the corners, and he’s a physical in the NHL, having played  years already. alty kill, that’s why he is an important down and he only had  points in  forward who’s willing to fight, anytime. He has already compiled over , points signing for the Leafs. games. at’s still respectable. e next e best part? He’s signed to a one- and has won too many awards to count, Wayne Simmonds two seasons, though, were not good to year, , deal, just like orn- but the key is that he put up  points last Simmonds, a  -year NHL veteran say the least. One year:  points in  ton. If the Leafs like how he plays this year in  games on the th placed Sharks and a five-year assistant captain with games, and no points in the playoffs. year, then they can sign him to another team. He’s bound to add at least  points Philadelphia, started his career in LA is past season with the Devils,  one-year deal. If not, they can let him to that total playing on a playoff team in a with the Kings. He became a -goal, points in  games, again no playoffs. walk. It’s hard not to like the signing third or fourth-line center position. Yanni - to -point player on the right or It is to be expected, though. He has of the guy from Scarborough, Ontario. Gourde, third-line-centre of the Champion Tampa Bay Lightning, put up  points last year. He’s also a guy that has seen it all in the playoffs:  playoff games, including School Activities, COVID Edition a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in . To put this into context, the Leafs’ previous leader in playoff games played was Jason Spezza at . As well, as a former captain, ornton knows how to lead, which is very important with any hockey team. He can also depend on his teammate of  seasons, Patrick Marleau, who played for two years in Toronto, for information. e knock against him is his injuries. He has missed time for tearing his ACL and MCL in his le and right leg during the past three seasons. at would normally be a bigger concern, but the Leafs brought him in on a ,, one year contract, which means if they are disappointed in his play they can wait until the year is up, and if they really like him, then they can resign him for another year. Bringing experience and playmaking ability to the team could really help the Leafs out, and if it doesn’t, then he’ll be gone by next year. T.J. Brodie Brodie, aged , has been playing in the NHL full-time for seven years, all with the Calgary Flames. In fact, he ranks ninth in games played for Calgary and was an assistant captain in -. He is slotted to play on the top pair, on the right side. e question is: what makes him special? When you look at his point totals, they aren’t that impressive.  points in  games. What’s special about Brodie is the way he plays. He doesn’t rack up the points SATIRE Page 12 Dissecting Humour

SHIMI ROTHMAN us up into groups, since there were wanted to start dissecting. I, as well as is funny. Secondly, just like a joke is “Explaining humor is a lot like only so many frogs to go around. Af- my lab partner, got the first frog. e funny until you start understanding ter Rabbi Diena assigned partners, he room was in awe, partially out of fear dissecting a og, you learn a lot in the it, the curiosity of dissecting a frog is commenced the opening of the frog but mainly out of curiosity. Once we only there because you want to learn process, but in the end you kill it.” container; a plastic bucket that has a got the frogs, we proceeded to dissect about the frog, the second you dissect — Mark Twain sealed lid. is took a lot longer than it and started filling out our sheet that it is when that curiosity dies down, Let us begin just before the period expected because the container was contained an overview of a frog, where which is similar to what happens with started, where my friend and I were jammed. We ended up getting my lab we needed to fill out various parts of a joke. e way that this teaches us in the science lab. We started discuss- partner, my friend from the beginning the frog’s internal body parts, as well as about humour is by explaining that it ing with Mr. Diena what we would of the story, to go up and try opening questions like: “Why do you think it is is only funny because it is outlandish. be doing that class, which is when it. However, when he could not get it important for the frog to have his heart When you start explaining why it is he told us we were going to be doing opened, we proceeded to try and cut so close to his lungs?” and “Explain funny, you lose the point of the joke, it open with wire cutters and scissors. frog dissection. Before we knew it, why dissections or dissection simula- to make you laugh. Unfortunately, we ended up spending the bell had rung and people started tions are an important tool for biolo- With that being said, this quote is  minutes opening the container but piling into the room, eager to start. gists”. Sadly, nobody could finish the true to life. e second you want to nobody noticed since the excitement sheet because we did not have enough Rabbi Diena started by telling every- learn from something, to truly under- in the room was so high and everyone time due to the period ending. With- one the basic lab procedure and split stand it, is when it stops being fun. out going into too much detail, it was e key is a balance in life. We should definitely a cool experience to be able all want to learn more and improve to see inside a carcass first-hand and ourselves but we should also enjoy our- not just on a SmartBoard or in a book. selves, meaning we should not always Now, to explain Mark Twain’s learn at the cost of humour. Just like quote; “Explaining humor is a lot like dissecting a frog, you learn a lot in Mark Twain said, while “dissecting a the process, but in the end you kill frog, you learn a lot in the process, but it.” What Mark Twain meant was that in the end you kill it.” when you start dissecting humour, you Humour is a thing that we should can learn from it but you end up mak- all experience and seek because life is ing the joke no longer funny since you too short to not have fun, especially in understand it. Humour is something these times with COVID. A quote from that is a little bit outlandish. at is Oscar Wilde really puts things into what makes it “funny”. Now, in re- perspective: “It is a curious fact that gards to dissecting a frog, there are people are never so trivial as when they two main ways to explain Mr. Twain’s take themselves seriously.” We should quote. Firstly, by dissecting a frog, all feel significant but sometimes you you learn a lot from its body but as a just have to laugh away the pain. result, you kill the frog just like you Sincerely, would kill a joke by explaining why it Shimi I Am Not a Satire Author ORA LACOB terns in Ontario, you will know that this know when you like to go out. important, especially to newspapers. I have recently been informed what time period also marks the time which On a slightly more important note, According to news sources (but I won’t my position in this newspaper is. ey birds return from migration back to on November th, it was American tell you which ones, you just have to said, “Is your satire article finished? It Ontario. If you read the last issue’s ex- anksgiving. ey eat turkeys. Amer- trust me on this one, feel free to fact was due last week.” IMAGINE THE tremely serious and educational warn- ica has a thing for big birds. Is this their check it yourself, there is a video online NERVE. I’ve been writing for this ing in my article, you would know the way of trying to distract the locals from but the photocopier of the newspaper newspaper for years, and they have danger of birds. Winter is the only safe the bourgeoisie? Perhaps. On America’s for some reason doesn’t let you print the chutzpah to come and call my work time we have, so that the bourgeoisie big birds; the eagle is like America’s pet out videos), Mark O’Donnell, a man birds aren’t spying on us. By the end of bird. Normal people have normal sized “satire”. I googled the definition of sat- from Florida, was seen throwing his Gemini season, you can no longer hide pet birds, but America likes everything ire which read, “e use of humor, -pound turkey into his swimming from the bourgeoisie, all of their birds bigger. So, their pet birds are oversized irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to ex- pool on November , a day before pose and criticize people’s stupidity have returned. You are unsafe. birds of prey. Normally, people eat anksgiving. He claims it is a family or vices, particularly in the context of And to put it into perspective, of chicken. But America celebrates its day tradition to thaw the turkey. I am pretty contemporary politics and other top- course the bourgeoisie is fine with of thanks with a glorified abnormally ical issues.” As if! Satire schmatire, as if their birds migrating for the winter be- large chicken flavoured bird, the turkey. sure the term he is looking for is bap- this is easy to write all this. Minutes of cause nobody leaves their house then To maintain the intellectual atmos- tize, but who am I to judge how one research go into these well-formulated, anyway, but summer, oh yes summer, phere I have most definitely created chooses to unfreeze their toddler-sized articulate articles! summer is when people go out and ex- with this article, I will be sharing bird. Tradition is tradition, and I re- Now where was I… oh yes, back to perience the nice weather. at’s why some of the world’s news, because I spect Mark O’Donnell for his commit- birds! If you look at bird migration pat- they send their birds for summer, they feel that international topics are very ment to minhag hamishpacha. ENTERTAINMENT Page 13 Grammy Predictions 2021 ALEEZA DEUTSCH Record of the Year e nominations for Record of the Year are Black Parade by Beyoncé, Colors by Black Pumas, Rockstar by DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch, Say So by Doja Cat, Everything I Wanted by Billie Eilish, Don’t Start Now by Dua Lipa, Circles by Post Malone, and Savage by Megan ee Stallion featuring Beyoncé. Many people have been predicting that the winner will be Post Malone’s Circles. e song has been praised by critics and charted at number one on the Billboard Hot . Album of the Year e nominations for Album of the Year are Chilom- bo by Jhené Aiko, Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition) by Black Pumas, Everyday Life by Coldplay, Djesse Vol.  by Jacob Collier, Women In Music Pt. III by Haim, Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa, Hollywood’s Bleeding by Post Malone, and Folklore by Taylor Swi. Many people are confident that the award will go to Taylor Swi’s Folklore album as it was one of the top-sell- her song Cardigan. If she does, it will be her first Snubs ing albums of the year and is home to the hit song award for Song of the Year. When the nominees were announced, everyone Cardigan. e multi-genre album sold over million was extremely surprised that e Weeknd wasn’t copies in its first week. Best New Artist nominated in any categories, despite having one of e nominees for Best New Artist are Ingrid the best-selling albums and biggest songs of the year. Song of the Year Andress, Phoebe Bridgers, Chika, Noah Cyrus, D His album Aer Hours and song Blinding Lights were e nominations for Song of the Year are Black Smoke, Doja Cat, Kaytranada, and Megan ee majorly successful and had extremely high ratings. Parade by Beyoncé, e Box by Roddy Ricch, Car- Stallion. People have been speculating that the award Everyone was sure that he would be nominated for digan by Taylor Swi, Circles by Post Malone, Don’t will go to either Doja Cat or Megan ee Stallion, at least three of the main categories, and many ex- Start Now by Dua Lipa, I Can’t Breathe by H.E.R., who both have been extremely successful this past perts were even betting on him winning as well. e and If e World Was Ending by JP Saxe Featuring year. Both of them have had songs on the top of the Weeknd took to his Twitter to voice his disappoint- Julia Michaels. Like Album of the Year, people are Billboard Hot  chart and have extremely loyal ment saying, “e Grammys remain corrupt. You confident that Taylor Swi will claim this award for fanbases. owe me, my fans and the industry transparency...”

Chesed vs. COVID-19 ENTERTAINMENT Page 14 Movie Reviews Enola Holmes

ELIANNA PERLMUTTER Set design and costumes convin- Enola decides to run away to find her  of  stars cingly transport the viewer to th mother. Millie Bobby Brown brings Genre: Action /Adventure century England where they meet six- wit and interest to the film by breaking Rating: PG- (Violence) teen-year-old Enola, played by Millie the fourth wall to talk directly to the Bobby Brown. She is the younger sister Released: /,  on Netfl ix audience, while she takes the viewer of famous detective Sherlock Holmes. Director: Harry Bradbeer with her on her journey. Enola was raised by her mother to be Lead Actors: Millie Bobby Brown, In her attempt to find her mother, Henry Cavill, Sam Clafl in, Louis a strong, independent, and resource- Enola’s path collides with a young, Partridge ful individual. Recognizing Enola’s intelligence, her mother instills in her attractive, but somewhat helpless Lord Enola Holmes is a fun-fi lled action that “there are two paths you can take, Viscount Tewkesbury (played by Louis adventure that takes place in the yours or the path others choose for Partridge). Before you know it they are Victorian era. Set with the back- you”, in contrast to her world, where both on the run for their lives. Enola drop of the suff ragette movement, women are overlooked. proves to be a brilliant detective and it is a spinoff of the famous Sherlock e mystery begins when Enola’s master of disguise who outwits her Holmes mysteries, loosely based mother disappears and Enola is le in siblings Mycro and Sherlock. is is on the fi rst of six in the fi ctional the care of her older brothers: Mycro, series by Nancy Springer. While played by Sam Claflin, and Sherlock, a fast paced and light-hearted adven- fi lmed in the UK, Enola Holmes is played by Henry Cavill. Unhappy with ture that takes the audience on several a Hollywood-style movie appealing her brothers’ plans for her future at twists and turns. Watch out for the to families. a finishing school for young women, surprise ending.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

SHALOM FEUER thing. Borat broke the boundaries of Overall, I didn’t particularly enjoy It was a Saturday night. I was about political correctness in order to deliver Borat ’s focus on the plotline. In to watch Borat with the boys. jokes. In Borat , Borat literally be- the original Borat, the plotline was How bad could it be? I mean, the comes a feminist, which is great, except straightforward: Borat goes to Amer- first Borat was a revolutionary it’s a complete break from the charac- ica, ultimately to find Pamela Ander- movie which bred thousands of ter. Borat is someone who doesn’t care son. is plotline was not the key part about hurting people’s feelings; he says jokes and quips used to this day. of the movie in any way, rather it was what’s on his mind. I felt that Borat I watched Borat and felt sick a way to get from joke to joke. In con- put a restriction on Borat’s humour in my stomach; not just because trast, Borat makes the plot the main in order to fit his anti-Trump agenda. there was an overuse of jokes about point, with the jokes secondary. Due women, but because of the fact that e leader of Borat’s transition is to this, Borat has a deficiency of good it (devastatingly) ruined the origin- his daughter, Tutar. Tutar attempted jokes and an emphasis on a silly story- al. Wow, it was bad. to do what Borat does… but nobody line. Where should I even begin? One can do what Borat does. As I watched of the things that made Borat such a the second movie, I cringed at how In conclusion, whenever I feel sad good character was that he simply the character ultimately contributed about Borat , I can sit back, relax and didn’t care about anyone or any- to the diminishing of the classic Borat watch the original Borat to return the character little by little. smile to my face. FUN & GAMES Page 15

The R + R Corner Mikayla Daniel

Disclaimer: Books mentioned and recommended reflect the individual taste of the reviewer and are not officially endorsed by the school.

Book Name: Let’s Go Swimming on Doomsday Author: Natalie C. Anderson Rating: / Genre: YA Fiction Favourite Quote: “I am not the match, I say to him in my mind. I was never the match, never the fi re. I am the water.  e weapon you fear more than gun or knife.” Summary: Dahir was kidnapped three years ago by the Jihadi terrorist group Al Shabab, and is declared dead. But is he? Sixteen-year-old Abdi (Dahir’s brother) gets snatched by the CIA and is questioned and tortured until he agrees to join the Jihadi group, reporting back their every move – while his family hangs in the balance as leverage. He goes in as a pre- tender and comes out a monster. Abdi escapes but is caught by the police under a petty the charge while trying to survive on the streets. When this happens, it forces him to stop running, and his past swallows him up.

Book Name: e Cheerleaders Author: Kara  ompson Rating: ./ Genre: Mystery Favourite Quote: “Pain isn’t supposed to teach you anything. It only exists to hurt you.” If you like this, I recommend: Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. Mcmanus, ey All Fall Down by Roxanne St. Claire Summary: Murder; a car accident; a shooting. Five years ago, fi ve girls died in three diff erent ways. Coincidentally, they were all cheerleaders. Or was it a coincidence? Monica, the sister of one of the dead cheerlead- ers, is pulled into planning a fi ve-year memorial for the cheerleaders but refuses to do it.  e memorial creates a domino eff ect. Her seemingly normal life starts to crumble when she fi nds a stack of hidden letters in her stepfather (a police offi cer) offi ce. Monica fi nds her dead sister’s cell phone hidden in her house, and a web of clues falls on her head, bringing her to a thought… are all the deaths connected?

Book Name: Blink Author: K.L. Slater Rating: / Genre: Psychological Fiction Favourite quote: “If hope is like the so est snow, then the dread that replaces it is the razor-sharp ice that will slash and pare your very soul to ribbons.” If you like this, I recommend: One Of Us Is Lying by Shalini Boland, Wilder Girls by Rory Power Summary:  is is the type of book that you either: ) want to throttle a character, or ) love them so much you want to hug them (you’ll probably relate more to the former, though). Five-year-old Evie is gone; three years ago, she disappeared into thin air. No trace, witnesses, CCTV, or clues – it’s an impossible case that has one clear ending, that evil will never be found. Toni, Evie’s mother, still believes that her daughter is alive. Toni slowly heals herself and searches through her fragmented memories to piece together what truly happened to her daughter. Toni’s mind is trapped, and broken; to save her daughter, she must save herself fi rst.

ITRRA ZO ZOOM WINTERBREAK

TEACHES ULPANA WIFI WIFI ULPANA TEACHES

SCIENCE STUDCO STUDENTS STUDENTS STUDCO SCIENCE

Torczyner, Lir Yissar, Orel Zvi Orel Yissar, Lir Torczyner, Daniel, Aleeza Deutsch, Shalom Feuer, Feuer, Shalom Deutsch, Aleeza Daniel, Mr. Eric Saltsman Eric Mr. Staff Advisor: Staff

Michael Roberts, Shimi Rothman, Aharon Aharon Rothman, Shimi Roberts, Michael

DONUTS GOOGLEMEET ORCHAIM SCIENCE TEACHES WINTERBREAK EVENTS MATH Mikayla Berger, Noah Benmurgui, Liora ORCHAIM ROSHCODESH SCHEDULE SCHEDULE ROSHCODESH ORCHAIM December 2020, Issue #2 • Est. 2017 Est. • #2 Issue 2020, December

Mazin, Joseph Newman, Elianna Perlmutter, Perlmutter, Elianna Newman, Joseph Mazin,

ROSHCODESH STUDCO ULPANA ZOOM FOOD ONLINE SCHEDULE STUDENTS WIFI Adler, Izzy Abrams, Ahron Contributors: Contributors:

The Bnei Akiva Schools Headlines Schools Akiva Bnei The

Adam Lebowitz, Arielle Mayer, Binyamin Binyamin Mayer, Arielle Lebowitz, Adam Chaim Straus, Rena Torczyner, Eli Yissar Eli Torczyner, Rena Straus, Chaim

GOOGLEMEET MATH ONLINE ONLINE MATH GOOGLEMEET

The BASH The Rachel Goldstein, Gabriel Kaplan, Ora Lacob, Lacob, Ora Kaplan, Gabriel Goldstein, Rachel Sitnik, Chaim Editors-In-Chief:

DONUTS EVENTS FOOD FOOD EVENTS DONUTS

N X V X U E S G F L B L X E B X W W K D

L P H M A R T E N T Q R T E Z I U V S I

H P G O U O N E U W P M A O K O Y I O Q

W R Z N E S E C E H S R S C H E D U L E

T P K L D H V G O M A T H P R E H Q N Q

W G A I C C E C I V E Q Z A L X H V N X

P F E N C O B R D U I L M X N L T K X R

U S R E O D M F E L A I G Z G D C I W J

J V B X P E K O X P W T S O Y G L C M W

Y T R L H S P K Q A J I M O O X N U K Y

L Q E W W H D Q L N S R F M Q G V I E H

H O T A E D G D J A O D Y I K T Y K P D

S S N O C D U T S E Q U D N Z X Q S X B

T H I K N H K R H N I O W H W U C T T Y

U J W E E R E V G K R L G L S U B U P V

N R H C I L J S S C Z D E X Y X D D Q K

O J B L C I U U H S M Y M K C M M E I B

D E L N S Y P A O B I T N A H L Y N Y J

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