1

2

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”

Albert Einstein The desire to be both expressive and creative is innate in many of our middle

school students. Promoting an environment where creativity and written expression are encouraged leads to great success. Students in all three middle school grades are encouraged to write creatively for class assignments, writing competitions and, of course, joy. All English classes focus on writer’s voice, word selection, and tone for various assignments. This, however, is a collection of pieces that students worked on outside of class for individual growth. A goal of this publication, Moriah Ink Winter 2012, is to promote and publish these outstanding efforts.

Over the course of the school year, all middle school students at Moriah School were encouraged to submit original pieces of art to this publication. The forms of art range from short stories, poetry, photography, and drawing. Mrs. Adina Kastner led our outstanding team of editors and worked tirelessly to produce this literary magazine. Our student editors and layout staff –Danielle Krim, Ayelet Rubenstein, Justin Sohn, and Stephanie Stifelman – worked tirelessly to ensure this issue was published successfully. A special thank you is also extended to the Moriah administration for all of their support. I am extremely proud of each student who used his/her free time to contribute to this literary magazine. Please enjoy this Moriah School publication.

Mrs. Rachel Schwartz

Middle School English Department Head

Acknowledgements

3

Writing

“A Friendship Miracle” by Stephanie Stifelman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 4

“Z Makes the NBA... What?!” by Justin Sohn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 8

Poetry

"Flames" by Ayelet Rubenstein. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 10

“Happiness” by Danielle Krim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . pg. 11

“Ice Skating” by Sam Goldberg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . pg. 12

“One Little Knock” by Maya Greenbaum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . pg. 13

“It” by Maya Greenbaum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 14

“Sandy” by Justin and Julia Sohn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . pg. 15

“School” by Nathaniel Bitton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 16

“Change” by Netanel Ezra Finkelstein. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 17

“Sandy” by Matias Csillag. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 18

“The Nurturer” by Gabi Benchabbat.. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . pg. 19

“My Turn” by Deborah Greenfield. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . pg. 20

“lol” by Benjy Katz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 21

“Israel” by Yoni Linder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 22

Art and Photography

“Chanukah” by Ayelet Rubenstein. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 23

“Sunset” by Ayelet Rubenstein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 24

“Dog” by Sophie Wolff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 25

“Thanksgiving Turkeys” by Nathanael Vinar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 26

“The Chanukah Lights” by Batya Bousbib . . . . . . . ….. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 27

“The Grand Canyon” by Batya Bousbib. . . . . . . ….. . . . . . . . . . . . .. ….. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 28

“Pencil” by Tovah Weiskopf. . . . . . . ….. . . . . . . . . . . … .. …………… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 29

“Candles” by Kira Fox. . . . . . . ….. . . . . . . . ……………………. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 30

“Clover” by Kira Fox. . . . . . . …….... . . . . …………………. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 31

Table of Contents

4

“A Friendship Miracle” by Stephanie Stifelman

Alex ignored his father’s calls to join them at their Menorah and light the candles for Chanukah. When it was just him and his dad he felt like there was a big hole missing where his brother used to be.

Things were not good between him and his dad now, normally they’d get into a fight about Alex’s lack of effort in school or the phone calls his dad received daily about what potential Alex had if he only tried a little harder. But, Alex was sick of trying. He didn’t care about school anymore. He wasn’t the straight-A goody-two-shoes of his past. He wanted his brother back.

Alex’s dad came into the living room, his eyes shooting sparks. “Where have you been I’ve been calling your name for ten minutes?!” “Here.” “Why didn’t you come to join me?” “I didn’t want to light candles right now. My mind is on the Giants game.” Alex gestured

to the TV screen filled with burly men in jerseys and tights, “Can’t you call me in a little while?” “WHAT?! NO!,” his dad’s voice softened, “We’re going to light Chanukah candles

now,” He grabbed the remote and turned off the TV for effect. “Hey!” “Come on, Alex.” “Fine,” he muttered under his breath, “It won’t be the same. Not without James.”

***

Alex saw Jonah, his favorite person to pick on, stumbling up the street. As usual, his unruly black hair was messy and his skinny arms and legs seemed to stick right out of his backpack. What a loser, thought Alex to himself. Alex liked to pick on him because he came to school for the first time the same day that James had left for the IDF. It was his way of letting out his anger about James leaving. Yeah, it was stupid, but it made him feel a little bit better. Sadly, he knew James would never have wanted him to act like this.

“Hey Jonah,” Alex cried out, “What do you have for snack today?” Jonah shrugged his shoulders, looking scared.

“Well if you’re not going to tell me then I better look for myself then, right?” ALex shot him a devilish grin and quickly ripped the bag off his back unzipped it and dumped all its contents to the floor. He walked away while all his new ‘friends’ high-fived him and jostled him. He shot one last look back at Jonah and felt a pang of guilt when he saw the dripping wet History paper that was half of everyone’s grade. He immediately wanted to take back what he did but he knew that the damage had already been done.

Alex went to bed early that night without doing his homework. He knew he’d take some kid’s tomorrow anyway. He shut off his lights and climbed into bed, terrified of what the dreams

WRITING

5

would show him tonight. He had been accustomed to the nightly sadness of seeing his brother’s face etched into his mind. He shut his eyes and hoped for the best.

Tonight his dreams showed him the last time he had seen James. He was saying goodbye

as James left for the Israeli Army. James had taken him to the side and looked him right in the eyes and said, confident, “I won’t be gone long. Soon enough, you’ll see me again squirt, okay? In the meantime, I need you to be strong for Mom and Dad. It’s gonna be hard on them with me away and I want you to be good. I’m gonna miss you. ” Courage shone in his brown eyes.

Alex had wiped his tears and looked him in the eye and said, “Promise?” James smiled and dug into his olive green backpack and came out with his autographed

football card of Eli Manning. Alex widened his eyes in disbelief. He knew how much his brother loved that tattered thing. His brother saw his shock and laughed a crystal clear laugh, amused.

He handed it in Alex’s hands and said, “This is a loan. When I come back, I want it back.

But until then, you have it and that way I’ll always be here with you. Just don’t lose it squirt, or Chamas won’t be the only thing I’m killing.” He gave him a wink, one last hug and whispered into his ear, “I’m gonna miss you Alex. Stay safe and you better write.” He kissed the top of his head, ruffled his hair, and walked onto the plane, looking back, fright showing in his eyes for only a millisecond. He stared at them one last time and waved.

Alex watched, tears streamed down his cheeks, he wanted to run after James and beg him

to stay. He didn’t though, he knew it was his brother’s dream to serve Israel’s army and he wasn’t ready to make his brother give up his dream for him.

Alex woke up in a cold sweat. He stayed up late into the night staring at the ceiling,

holding back the tears that he wouldn’t let flow. He fluttered through every moment he and James had ever had, from making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to fighting about who gets the bigger room in the new house. Each one brought on a new type of pain. He held onto the football card that he kept under his pillow and just willed for the night to end. Morning could not come fast enough. When daylight peeked behind his curtains Alex let out a sigh of relief.

***

Alex came to school the next day and saw he was early. No one was there. His dad had

kicked him out of the house because he was late to a meeting and he knew if Alex didn’t leave then, he wouldn’t go to school at all that day. If James was there he would have driven Alex to school and packed his lunch. But James wasn’t there. Alex stood like someone kicked him in the gut. The pain was as new as it had been for the last six months. He ducked into his Na’avi classroom and began to cry, something he had deemed himself too tough to do since James had left.

WRITING

6

Suddenly Jonah walked in, looking shocked. Alex had never been more embarrassed.

Here, he looked like some coward in front of the kid that was supposed to be cowering from him. What if this gout out? What would Alex do then?

“What do you want?” Alex growled then winced at the acid tone in his voice. Jonah looked unfazed an murmured, “I don’t really have that many friends yet and I was

wondering if you would like to come to my house for a candle lighting party. You know if you want. My mom’s making jelly donuts.” Jonah’s mouth lifted into a mischievous smile and for the first time Alex wondered if he was really the loser that Alex treated him as.

“There better be lots and lot of jelly donuts if I’m going to show up there,” joked Alex. “Oh, don’t worry, my mom bakes them by the dozen,” said Jonah. “Good,” Alex looked at him curiously, “Why are you asking me this? Why don’t you

hate me?” Jonah looked at him and shook his head, “I never hated you. The wierd thing is, as much

as you tortured me that was the only interaction I got at this school. I started to look forward to at least someone talking to me. You know my name for one thing, most kids didn’t even bother to learn that.”

“Cool. What time should I show up?” asked Alex. “About ten to seven would be good.” said Jonah. “Awesome,” murmured Alex and walked out the room, feeling a lot better than when he

walked in.

Alex ringed the doorbell of Jonah’s home. It was a normal sized house, but pretty. It had a lot of flowers everywhere. A cute little boy with a big blue yamelkah and a sweet, chubby face opened the door with a smile.

“Jonah!” she yelled, “Your friend is here!” Jonah appeared at the door, and ruffled the hair on his little sister’s head and smiled and

said, “Thanks Benny. Go help Ima with the groceries.” “Alright,” said Benny as he skipped into the kitchen. Alex couldn’t help but grimace as he saw this kind and brotherly communication. Jonah

must have felt it too because he he smiled awkwardly and said, “I thought you weren’t actually going to come.”

Alex shrugged and said, “Well, I did. Thanks for inviting me by the way.” “No problem,” said Jonah graciously, “Do you want to come in?” “Sure,” muttered Alex. “Hey, you wanna watch the Giants game? Candle lighting isn’t gonna be for like fifteen

minutes.” “Yeah, that’d be fun,” Alex closed the door and thought to himself, we might have more

in common than I thought.

WRITING

7

After Alex got home from Jonah’s house, his dad greeted him at the door. “Have a good time?” He asked earnestly. “Yeah, suprisingly.” “Good, good. Hey I got a, uh, present for you.” “Cool. Where is it?” “Turn around.” Alex turned around and was greeted with a huge hug from James.

WRITING

8

“Z Makes the NBA... What?!” by Justin Sohn

“Timeout! Timeout! Get over here, you guys stink. Play the game the right way like the Knicks are supposed to play, or just go home, got it? Does anyone have anything to say?” howled Mitch, the team’s coach.

“Coach, I hate this team; you can smell the failure. Why should we even keep playing?” said Jamal, the team’s center.

“Leave, get out of here! Never come back,” the coach exclaimed.

That was the entire NBA, not just the Knicks. Nobody was good, even the best players were just mediocre. No fans showed up, and coaches along with players were losing their jobs. On the last day of the season, April 5th, 2078 the commissioner Blaze Que held a holographic press conference saying that if next season’s players aren’t any better then the NBA would be cancelled.

Mexican billionaire Pablo Gonzalez, the New York Knicks owner, had an idea. We need to look around the city for natural players. He told coach Mitch Fire that he had to scout for homegrown talent.

That afternoon the Knicks had their final practice. It was at Madison Square Garden, and there were no fans watching. There were barely any people in the arena except for the maintenance staff. Mitch called all the players to the middle of the floor to discuss what Mr. Que said earlier that day, when suddenly something fell from the sky.

“What the heck?! Who did this? Is this a joke?” Everyone was confused.

Then suddenly, it rolled over and stood up on two legs. This thing was a dog. It had a leash around its neck reading “Z’s leash.” The team’s first thought was, who does this “thing” belong to? Then they thought they’d play with it a little, so they rolled a ball over to it, and Z picked it up! Not only that, he shot the ball, and it went in!

Kirt Thomas, the teams best player, said in shock, “Oh my gosh! Did he really just do that?”

Another player yelled, “I call dibs on keeping him.”

“Was this a fluke? Could a dog that fell from the roof of Madison Square Garden really play basketball?” Mitch thought to himself.

WRITING

9

Mitch exclaimed, “I want to see if it can do it again.” So the team assistant went to go get a rack of balls and Z shot all of them and made all but one of the shot attempts. Everyone on the team knew he was the real deal.

A few weeks later it all clicked. Mitch said that he was going to put Z on the team next season to see what he could do. It paid off. In the next season Z was the starting shooting guard and he was exceeding his expectations like crazy. He was scoring 35 points game in and out and left other teams drooling over him. His only flaw was his anger issues. He would rip off the heads of the robot referees and then get hefty fines from the league to pay for the damage. That did not stop him from being the best player in the league. He was on his way to win the MVP and ROY awards, and then his cover was blown.

A man who was a police officer for the New York Police Department was in attendance of a game and he took a close up picture of Z with his iphone 18, and he saw it Z had a chip on his shoulder. At first he thought that it was normal because many people and animals at that time had chips so that they could access their phone data from inside his or her own head but then he realized that it was different. At the end of the game the officer arrested Z and took him to the station.

That is when it was over. The chief named Chris Root started questioning him. “Why are you here? Why do you have an illegal strength-accelerating chip on your shoulder? Are you human?”

Z answered, “I am from the past very far past. Albert Einstein is my creature sort of. When I was born he bred me with some of Larry Bird’s DNA and now I can speak, walk talk and play basketball like him. I am not illegal and the chip is legal. I’m not human. I’m a dog.”

Chris’s mouth dropped. He looked like ice, frozen. He felt dumb, amazed, and shocked.

“But how? What? When?” said Chris in shock and disbelief. He called doctors and that was the last time Z said any words, only “Woof”.

WRITING

10

"Flames" by Ayelet Rubenstein

Flames

Flames of fire,

Flames that burn

Flames for eight days did return.

Flames of which we'll always yearn,

Flames the only way to turn.

Are the flames that never will adjourn.

Flames

Flames that were,

Flames that are.

Flames as vibrant as a star.

Flames still glowing from afar.

Flames that left a lingering scar.

Are the flames that smolder in our hearts.

Flames

Flames of hope,

Flames of light,

Flames that made us all unite.

Flames that helped us win our fight,

Flames that last us through the night.

Are the Chanukah flames that shine so bright.

POETRY

11

“Happiness” by Danielle Krim

Happiness.

A feeling desired by all.

Happiness.

The key to a pleasant life.

Happiness.

If only the effect of a lollipop could last forever,

Or it the positive memories were always present.

Happiness.

Happiness.

If there could only be a world full of laughter,

Smiles on everybody’s faces.

Happiness.

Being surrounded by that enthusiastic, friendly atmosphere, constantly.

Happiness.

POETRY

12

“Ice Skating” by Sam Goldberg

I put on my skates

And I glide on the ice

But all of a sudden

My skates are untied

So I go to my coach

And I sit on the bench

But then I don’t know what to do next

I thought and I thought

But I couldn't find out

So then my coach gave me a frown

So I figured it out and I picked up my laces

And then I went through the holes in my braces

I said this isn't right

This is not right at all

But before I knew it my friends got up and walked

POETRY

13

“One Little Knock” by Maya Greenbaum

You hear a knock,

So late at night,

You’re tucked in tight.

You don’t move,

You don’t talk.

You just lay there,

In your bed,

In the dark.

You hear a crackle,

You turn around.

POETRY

14

“It” by Maya Greenbaum

They wouldn’t understand the pain it puts me through.

I wish it wasn’t me, but I don’t want it to be you.

All day I’m frightened, in case it strikes.

And I shed some tears in bed, at night.

POETRY

15

“Sandy” by Justin and Julia Sohn

Look at what you’ve done

Falling trees

People are about to freeze

Eighty houses burning

Children are not learning

Look at what you have done

No power

No shower

Wires down

Destroys the town

Look at what you have done

Flooding streets

Spoiled meats

No Internet no cable

No trees are stable

Look at what you have done

POETRY

16

“School” by Nathaniel Bitton

School, school, I want to drool

I wish it were summer so I could be in the pool.

I had a test; I thought I did the best

It turns out it was a mess.

Drama, drama what can I say

I feel as though I’m in a school play.

During recess I have a great time,

Unless I get three warnings because I’ve committed a crime.

Homework and tests I have all day

It’s trying to torture me, and I can’t break away.

Ring, ring, ring I wait for all day

When we here that bell, I shout hip hip hooray!!

POETRY

17

“Change” by Netanel Ezra Finkelstein

Change, change,

I don't want to change.

But if I don't,

Grow I won't.

Stay the same,

Never change.

Never get better,

Never get worse.

Is that a blessing,

Or is it a curse?

Nothing new,

Nothing old,

My future, I've sold.

So I better change,

Not stay the same.

I'll have to change.

And change I will.

Look at me now,

Changing still.

POETRY

18

“Sandy” by Matias Csillag

An eye staring at northeast

A terrifying beast

Reaches out thousands of miles

People waiting all the while

The bell of the stock exchange did not ring

Then a red light of hope

The Red Cross

Fighting trees uplifted dead

And alone people crying and dying

Craving help

Rest in peace

The north east

Sandy go home

POETRY

19

“The Nurturer” by Gabi Benchabbat

Your hair is like fools gold,

But your heart a furnace

Your love is a forest fire

In credit because you aren’t a liar

You’re fierce as a lion

And soft as a pillow

When someone is in need I can hear you Zoom!

The oven is your assistant in all the deeds that you do

With every trait

You’re hard to hate

Because your love is a forest fire

Your heart a furnace

Your ferocity a lion

And all these traits make you the nurturer

POETRY

20

“My Turn” by Deborah Greenfield

A smile appears.

I have no more fears.

My face lights up,

Like a star in the sky

I love this – yup!

There is no room to sigh

As I walk in strong,

A hush falls over the room.

While I sing my song,

Flowers start to bloom.

Every time I dance to the beat,

The crowd gets more of a treat.

My heart is jumping with joy –

Oh, boy!

My eyes are windows to my soul.

I am whole.

I love this – yup!

I will never give it up.

POETRY

21

“lol” by Benjy Katz

Txting is so super gr8

Some ppl txt wen they r @wrk

Or txt wen they wait

No more letters is a real perk

Some ppl still have flip fones,

What an old dinosaur!

Wen i-phones get a txt

The fone goes roar

talking on the fone

is so out dated

txting, on the other hand,

is so underrated

txting is so super great

ttyl

POETRY

22

“Israel” by Yoni Linder

You are like milk and honey,

The real Jewish permanent home.

You are our sacred soul,

The holiest land of all.

“Ahhhhh” the angels are singing.

Sha’arei Rachamim has opened for Mashiach

You are what keeps us alive day after day,

This holy day.

For us and for all

Mashiach should come today.

POETRY

23

“Chanukah” by Ayelet Rubenstein

Art & Photography

24

“Sunset” by Ayelet Rubenstein

Art & Photography

25

“Dog” by Sophie Wolff

Art & Photography

26

“Thanksgiving Turkeys” by Nathanael Vinar

Art & Photography

27

“The Chanukah Lights” by Batya Bousbib

Art & Photography

28

“The Grand Canyon” by Batya Bousbib

Art & Photography

29

“Pencil” by Tovah Weiskopf

Art & Photography

30

“Candles” by Kira Fox

Art & Photography

31

“Clover” by Kira Fox

Art & Photography