In the first week of September, the Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF) announced the restart of the National Mock Trial Competition. This year the CRF announced that while the organization is not canceling the competition due to COVID-19, they will complete the competition via Zoom. What this meant for David Kerendian (’22) and I (’22), co-captains of the VTHS boys’ team,
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As a high school student now trying to apply to college, we all face a similar situation due to COVID-19: should we take the SAT or ACT? Because of the Global Pandemic, the College Board and American College Testing organizations, creators of these standardized tests, asked colleges for the upcoming year to be sympathetic to high schoolers and acknowledge that
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In Parshas Vayishlach, Yaacov knew that he was going to fight with Esau, and it would be dangerous. This is why he moved his family to the other side of the river, but he then realized that he had left a few jugs on the other side. Yaacov walks back to the side of the river with the jars and
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Parshas Vayeitzei begins off with Yaacov Avinu moving from Be’er Sheva to Charan. The words the Torah uses to say Yaacov arrived was וַיִּפְגַּ֨ע בַּמָּק֜וֹם – and he reached the place. Rashi learns out that through the word וַיִּפְגַּ֨ע, it means that Yaacov compiled the Tefillah Maariv. But why does Rashi learn that it means initiating a Tefillah, and not
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In this week’s Parsha, we learn the story of Eisav selling his birthright to Yaakov for a serving of “red soup.” At first, this doesn’t seem like a noteworthy event, but this caused Eisav to be known for the rest of his life as Edom (lit. red), in reference to the soup. All of Klal Yisrael understands how vital the
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In this week’s Parsha, Chayei Sarah, it writes that וְאַבְרָהָ֣ם זָקֵ֔ן בָּ֖א בַּיָּמִ֑ים – Avraham was old and he was coming along in his days. The Radak explains that coming along in his days means that not only was Avraham old, but he also sensed he did not have much time left before he passed. The Sfas Emes gives an
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In Parsha Vayera, it seems that quite surprisingly we learn that Hachnasat Orchim, having guests, is more important than being with Hashem. After all, after Avraham’s bris, Avraham left Hashem’s presence in order to greet his guests? This seems jaw-dropping: if a big rabbi comes to your house, it sounds like Halacha says that you are supposed to leave him
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The Valley Torah Scroll 