To conclude 2017, eight Schechter Westchester High School students recounted personal miracles that occurred in the past year:
“Before I came to Schechter, I wasn’t even thinking about having a Bat Mitzvah. But in 8th Grade, during Bar and Bat Mitzvah season, I really wanted to have a Bat Mitzvah. It was so nice that my friends got to have their special moments on their really special days. I was already 13, wasn’t very familiar with Hebrew (it was my second year learning Hebrew), and I thought it was too late to organize a party or service. We asked the school, and they said I could have my Bat Mitzvah during the school day. I invited my family and friends to the service, during whole grade tefilah, and then to my party, here in the media center. They found a day, they helped me plan it, and it was really amazing.”
– Samantha Mandel, Grade Nine
“There was a three-day span in which anyone who was planning on auditioning for Heathers had to audition, and I had no intention of auditioning at all. A good friend of mine said that they really wanted me at the play so I decided to swing by and audition. They thought I did a really good job trying out, so I was lucky enough to end up with the lead role in the play. It was incredible because I didn’t think I was going to get any major role but I ended up with the major role, and in the beginning, I wasn’t even sure about trying out. The play is January 11th, 13th and 14th. Everybody is working really hard on it so come see it if you have the chance.”
– Doron Loewenberg, Grade Nine
“I came to Schechter because of public school bullying. In two of my classes I was bullied for being Jewish. The day I decided to leave that school I had no idea what school I would go to next, but just then Adam Schinder called me on the phone. He and I had previously done USY together, and he was just calling to see how things were going. I told him about what happened and that I wanted to switch schools. He told me to come here. That’s basically when I decided to move to Schechter. That was definitely a miracle in my life. I wouldn’t have ended up here if it wasn’t for Adam.”
– Sam Gilman, Grade Ten
“My dog was really sick. He had many stomach problems and was throwing up for a really long time, but we didn’t know that it was a serious issue until recently. When we went to the doctor, the doctor said there was definitely something wrong. We brought my dog to many specialists, but they all said that he would be fine on his own. It was supposed to be really bad, but everything was good and now he’s totally okay.”
– Molly Schwartzberg, Grade Ten
“After my great uncle was diagnosed with a disease, he was told that he could never walk again. When the doctor told him the news, he said to the doctor, ‘I don’t want you ever coming back into my hospital room again.’ That’s because he was so determined to walk, and he didn’t like that the doctor was discouraging him. Over time, even though the doctor said it would be impossible, he pushed himself to walk. By the next time he saw that doctor he was walking.”
– Carly Marinstein, Grade Eleven
“My grandparents live in Miami right by the ocean. Before Irma, they were told to evacuate. They knew they couldn’t do anything to protect their house, so they just hoped for the best. During the storm, the first and second floors of their home were destroyed. They were told that their home probably could not be fixed and that they would not be able to afford all of the damages. The insurance company then called, saying, “Okay, we talked to the contractor. We can fix your house.” After a month, their first floor is done and their second floor is being repaired. Soon their house is going to be all better.”
– Hannah Cotel-Altman, Grade Eleven
“On the morning of Thanksgiving my family was preparing for dinner. When we went to get our turkey, our butcher told us he oversold his turkeys and didn’t have any left. Later that day, we went to a local farm to enjoy time as a family. At the farm, we met some guy and started talking to him—he turned out to be a chef. When we told him that we didn’t have a turkey for dinner, he said he had an extra turkey and gave it to us.”
– Lowell Stern, Grade Eleven
“Late one night after the Boys Varsity Soccer sectional game a few friends and I were on our way to a friend’s house. We were on a highway that night, in the middle lane, when a drunk driver tried to merge into our lane but ended up hitting us. We were hit from the left so we tried to swerve left, but we lost control of the wheel and ended up swerving right. It was very scary: we swerved through three lanes and hit the rail on the side of the highway. We then called the police and a state trooper met us somewhere nearby. The state trooper wasn’t the smartest. He didn’t know what to do, didn’t ask for the driver’s insurance or license, and, most of all, didn’t really believe us. It took us a few days to speak with insurance to tell them we were involved in a hit and run. We have no idea who it was, I’m just glad we were all safe.”
– Elizabeth Shavrick, Grade Twelve
From The Lions Roar to you, we hope you have a relaxing time off and Happy New Year!
