Out of the Box

Edition 3December, 2015

Out of the Box is a school newsletter dedicated to providing educational material in an entertaining way. We aim to inform and enlighten, while keeping it concise, fresh, and fun.

You can read this newsletter straight through, or jump around from topic to topic based on your interests. The electronic platform is meant to enable ease of access both ways.

Hope you learn something new and enjoy!

Natan AlperFounder of Out of the Box

Mission Statement

Table of Contentshyperlinked!

Judaism

Technology

Science

Israel News

Current Events

Table of Contents

Brain Teasers

Miscellaneous

Teacher Interview

Birthdays

Out of the Box Staff

History

Quotes of the Month

DRS News

NFL Sports

NBA Sports

Judaism

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Q: What do you call a chicken crossed with a rabbit?A: Nisht a hen nisht a hare

Every person has a mission to fulfill in this world. There is an accepted opinion that someone who has a strong connection or passion with a certain mitzvah, should try to perform that mitzvah as often as possible since that may be his/her mission in life. Through the finding, and following of our mission, we bring our body and soul together, leading to a closer relationship with G-d. Getting closer to G-d will strengthen our belief in Him and our ability to strive and achieve greatness. With a joint effort to achieve our mission in life and continuous prayer to G-d, may He bring Mashiach quickly in our days. -Adapted from a lecture by Rabbi Stern

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Ever more increasingly, we’ve begun to turn our interest towards electric cars. Oil is nonrenewable, and electric cars have been the solution to this. The biggest issue with electric cars are the batteries, since charging stations aren't as common as gas stations. A new solution to this concern of electric cars is wireless charging. It's a top-of-the-line technology that allows an electric car to be charged while driving down the road. This will increase the desire for electric cars, as it will dispose of the major concern of charging the car. The cost of installation is nearly 2 million dollars for a mile stretch of road, which comes out to about 80 billion for the interstate of the U.S., This will enable one to leave the interstate with a full battery. There are still many concerns to get this technology out on the road, but we are one step closer to the future.

- Jonathan Crane

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Science Stress May Be Correlated To Diet Willpower“Someone who is under pressure or stress will find it more difficult to resist tasty

goodies!”

Feeling short for time to study for your test? Worried about your performance

in a sport’s game? This is stress. In addition, you find it hard to resist a delicious

looking doughnut! Well, Swiss scientists believe there’s a relationship between your

desire for tasty food and your level of stress.

Their experiment consisted of comparing a group of men that was placed in a

stressful situation versus another group that was placed in a pleasant situation.

Following a stressful/pleasant period of time, the groups were then shown different

foods that were both healthy and not so tasty versus tasty unhealthy foods. Despite

being encouraged to take the healthy foods offered, the stressed-out group chose to

eat the tasty unhealthy foods while the non-stressed group mainly took the healthy

options.

While by no means definitive, this experiment provides support for the ideas

that our eating habits and personal lives are connected and influence each other.

Fun Fact:If you drilled a tunnel straight

through the Earth and jumped in, it would take you

exactly 42 minutes and 12 seconds to

get to the other side.

Israel News

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Israel’s Potential Business PartnerIn wake of Israel’s recent finding

of natural gas in the Mediterranean Sea, known as the Leviathan field, a new deal is being currently bartered with Egypt.

Slated to begin production in 3-4 years, Israel and Egypt are negotiating a plan to divert 4 billion cubic meters of gas a year to Egypt through an underwater pipeline. Having just passed through the preliminary stages of the discussions, both sides are eager to settle the terms and prices.

Arrow 3 Missile Defense Tested Since the decisive success of the Iron

Dome missile defense system, Israel has put increased emphasis on its aerospace technologies.

Learning from last year’s failed Arrow 3 Test, Israel initiated a successful test of its newest asset. The Arrow 3 is able to intercept missiles, such as Iran’s Shahab-3, all the way up in the atmosphere. It marks the completion of Israel’s multi-layered defenses from attacks by the air. It is the 3rd and highest missile defense system created and used by Israel to protect its citizens.

Current Events

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Astronaut to Run Marathon in SpaceApparently, becoming an astronaut just isn’t exciting enough for some people. Tim Peake, an astronaut hailing from London, has recently resolved to run with his fellow countrymen in the London Marathon outside of Earth. While onboard the space station, Tim will be harnessed to a treadmill and run the distance at the same time the marathon occurs in London.While acknowledging that the machine is far from comfortable, Tim has agreed that he probably won’t be setting any personal best.

Congress Gives a Fail to the Secret Service on Progress ReportEver since a man jumped the White House fence and took a jog in the President’s backyard, Congress has been looking into the efficiency of the Secret Service, and was far from impressed. Following gunfire directed at the White House in 2011 , Congress asserted that the Secret Service had been sloppy in their reaction.As a side point, it turns out they happen to be understaffed after several agents were involved in a prostitution scandal. Let’s hope they improve before the report cards come out.

December in History

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December 10, 1896- Death of Alfred Nobel and the founding of the Nobel Peace Prize from his will.December 15, 1840- Napoleon’s remains returned to Paris, creation of his current tomb.December 20, 1699- Czar Peter the Great of Russia reorganized the Russian calendar: Bringing the New Year from February 1st to January 1st.December 25, 1776- George Washington led a surprise attack over the Delaware River to turn the tide of the Revolutionary War at the Battle of Trenton.December 30, 1993- Israel and the Vatican signed an agreement to mutually recognize each other.

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Quotes of the Month

I came, I saw, I conquered.-Julius Caesar

The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.-H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Believe you can and you're halfway there.-Theodore Roosevelt

History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.-Winston Churchill

Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.-Sam Levenson

Chanukah in DRS!

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To sum it up, DRS made in-school Chanukah a blast. Beginning every morning with

an inspiring Hallel, followed by Dunkin Donuts or Costco treats for breakfast, was enough to establish a happier spirit

in DRS. But the faculty always wants to give even more to the students. An exhilarating shiur slam dunk contest, latkes for

lunch, and a Rebbe-Student Basketball game were all add-ons to an already happy, fun, and inspiring Chanukah! Thank you

DRS!!!

NFL Sports

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Coming off a devastating loss to the Houston Texans, the New York Jets hosted the Miami Dolphins looking to jump back into the playoff picture. The Jets never struggled during the game, they constantly put pressure on the Dolphins and defeated them 38 to 20, snapping their two game losing streak. Jets Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick completed 22 of 37 passing attempts for 277 passing yards and four touchdowns. Wide Receiver Brandon Marshall had nine receptions for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Rookie Receiver Devin Smith caught his first career touchdown for the second score of the game. Wide receivers Erick Decker, and Running Back Chris Ivory each had a touchdown score as well. The Jets played a strong game and hope to do the same next Sunday against the hometown rivals, the New York Giants.

After the tragic shooting of Ezra Schwartz, a Jewish teen from Massachusetts who was studying in Israel for the year, the New England Patriots decided to honor Ezra, a longtime fan, with a moment of silence. This took place at the beginning of their Monday night home game against the Buffalo Bills on nationally broadcasted television. The Patriots proceed to defeat the Bills 20 to 13. This was a very significant event to many Jewish people, especially to Ezra's mourning family. Robert Kraft, the owner of the Patriots, visited the Schwartz family the following day to pay his respects as well.- Yehuda Posner -

Despite the Knicks having just climbed out of a losing streak, there is still hope as they look to get another win behind their star rookie Kristaps Porzingis.

Porzingis, who was drafted number 4 overall, was initially booed and many fans lost hope in their team. However, 17 games through the season, Porzingis is averaging: 13.6 Points, 8.4 Rebounds, and 1.8 Blocks. These numbers are actually quite impressive considering he had never played in a college level game before.Before the season started no one thought he would even be able to compete for the Rookie of the Year award, now his numbers are closing in on the number one pick in the draft Karl Anthony Towns. - Shmulik Roth

Brain Teasers Study this paragraph and all things in it. What is vitally wrong with it? Actually, nothing in it is wrong, but you must admit that it is most unusual. Don't just zip through it quickly, but study it scrupulously. With luck you should spot what is so particular about it and all words found in it. Can you say what it is? Tax your brains and try again. Don't miss a word or a symbol. It isn't all that difficult.

You answer me, although I never ask you questions. What am I?

Some months have 30 days, some months have 31 days; how many have 28?

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click on screen or arrow key for answers

MISSION FTB (Find The Box):There are 5 boxes, like the one on the title page, hidden throughout the newsletter. Can you find them?

Miscellaneous

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Q: What show do cesium and iodine love watching together?

A: CSI

Q: What do you get when you cross a dinosaur and a pig?

A: Jurassic Pork!

Answers from last edition:1. Next to camel in Judaism2. Left of the Mac in Technology3. 2nd to top row, 3rd to last stone in Israel News4. Top left in History of November5. Center of Kiss Cam in NBA Sports

Q: What do you call a magical owl?

A: HOOdini

Answers to MISSION FTB will be provided in the next edition!

Answers to Brain Teasers:1- It has every letter besides E2- A telephone3- All of them

Teacher Interview!!!Teacher Interviewed: Mr. Mark Subjects Taught: Jewish History and Psychology

Q: Where are you from originally?A: Monsey, New York

Q: Did you always know that you wanted to be a psychology teacher? A: Starting from 2nd or 3rd grade I knew I wanted to do Jewish education and psychology.

Q: What's a crazy story that happened to you when you were in high school? A: Never did anything crazy or bad. However, I did encourage others to do bad. A boy wanted to get kids out of English test so after I gave him a little talk, he vomited and the class was dismissed.

Q: Which superpower would you like to have and how would you use it? A: Snap my fingers and give people powered positive emotions. Because some people have to work really hard to create positive emotions for themselves.

Q: What are some things that you like about teaching in our school?A: Things about this school that I LOVE are the Rabbis, Teachers, and boys, and the boys, and the boys.... Did I mention the boys?

Q: What is one piece of advice you would give to your younger self? A: Two pieces: work harder and know that there's a future ahead of you. Not everything is in the here and now. There's a greater future waiting for us to find it. Return to Table of Contents

Happy December Birthday!Out of the Box wishes a very happy birthday to:

9th Grade: Harry Chwat, Yosef Chaim Pleshty, Manny Srulowitz

10th Grade: Aharon Genuth, Avi Guttman, Jonathan Mehlman, Aharon Perris, Doni and Elie Roz, Josh Samet, Uri Walfish

11th Grade: Hudi Aronowitz, Sammy Bruh, Andy Ebbin, Yehuda Feinberg, Coby Katz, Zev Lowy, Meir Port, Jeremy Schreiber, Yaakov Schreier, Noah Wilkowski

12th Grade: Netanel Aharon, Isaac Fries, Moshe Glass, David Herman, Gabriel Leifer, Jason Loskove, Binyamin Potashnik Return to Table of Contents

Natan AlperFounder and Editor in Chief

Chaim Leib AlperExecutive Editor

Yehuda Posner Davidchai AbramchayevColumns Editor Contributor

Jonathan Crane Shmulik RothColumns Editor Contributor

Rabbi BalsamFaculty Advisor

Rabbi KaminetskyMenahel

Out of the Box Staff