Yeshiva University High School of Los Angeles

YULA (Yeshiva University High School of Los Angeles) is an Orthodox Jewish high school in Los Angeles, California. YULA is comprised of two campuses, the Nagel Family Campus for boys, and the other for girls. They currently have no affiliation with Yeshiva University in New York. The boys campus is, however, loosely affiliated with The Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Museum of Tolerance, which is located next door. The Girls' School principal is currently Rabbi Yosef Furman. The Boys' School principal is Rabbi Dovid Landesman. He will not be returning for the 2007-2008 school year. YULA is a college-preparatory school.

YULA'S SCHOOL MISSION: "YULA aims to provide its students with the tools necessary to engage contemporary society as Orthodox Jews with an unwavering commitment to Jewish values and law. To this end, YULA offers its students a full curriculum both in Judaic and secular studies that will enable its graduates to study at the highest yeshiva and university levels.

The YULA program is modeled on the ideals of Torah u’mada and Torah im derech eretz. YULA provides the students with the grounding that allows and encourages Torah study throughout their lives. It is YULA’s belief that contemporary Jews have been provided with a unique opportunity to create a kiddush Hashem (sanctification of God’s name) by interacting with society rather than retreating into isolation. To facilitate this, the YULA Judaic studies program is structured to stress midot (values) development based on the dictum that there can be no Torah without derech eretz. Concurrently, the secular studies offerings are designed to enable YULA students to enter the university world with the thorough background required to succeed in the most competitive and intellectually challenging environments.

YULA recognizes the importance of Jewish community and supports all efforts to draw all Jews closer to one another. YULA students are taught to take responsibility for the Jewish people’s continued welfare by actively contributing to and participating in the efforts of the community.

YULA believes that the founding of the State of Israel represents an extraordinary sign of the Divine role in the world. YULA teaches its students that what transpires in the State of Israel has a direct effect on the future of Judaism world-wide. Our students are instructed to see themselves as partners in this undertaking no matter where they might live and that their active support to ensure Israel’s viability is a requisite part of their Jewish obligations.

It is our expectation that families who enroll their children at YULA subscribe to and support the school’s mission."

The Dual Curriculum

Students at YULA partake in what is known as a dual curriculum. As such, the learning day is split in to two parts. One part is devoted to the general studies such as history, language, math, and science, and English, while the next part of the day is devoted to Judaic studies as well as physical eduaction, music, and other classes. On the boys' campus, the first half of the day is devoted to Judaic studies, while the second half is devoted to secular studies. Due to the dual curriculum, the school day at YULA is much longer than most college-preparatory schools. The boys' campus lets out at 5:15 pm (for some it is 6:00), while the girls' campus lets out at 4:30.

Advanced Gemara Track

The Advanced Gemara Track or A.G.T. is an option given to qualified students. Boys in AGT have a much more rigorous level of learning than the rest of the school during morning Jewish Studies classes. They also have an extra mandatory session of talmudical study learning called "Night Seder" from 6:30-8:00 every Tuesday and Thursday night. In addition these students attend a mandatory Sunday school every Sunday from 8:00 to 12:30. The AGT is for students who can learn judiac studies at a higher level. YULA offers a Advanced Tanach Track (ATT), as well as the A Track, colloquially known as the "crack track."

The Girls' School also has three tracks to meet the levels of its students: A Track (lowest track), AE (Advanced Accelerated), and C-Track (Honors). Each track learns Hebrew studies according to their learning abilities. The work in each level is different qualitively and quantitively. Students in the Advanced Accelerated Track earn .3 extra points weighted in the GPA and the Honors Track receives an extra one point included while weighting their grades.

Department heads

• Jordan Hoffman-English Department
• Morah Ahuva Rosenblum(Phd.and postdoctorate in Greek Mythology from Yale University) - Hebrew Department

• Paul Soifer PHD (in Russian History from Pennsylvania State University)- History Department

• Ahuva Rosenblaum- Hebrew Department. This year Hebrew Department has introduced a new system of learning Hebrew by NETA (Noar Le Tovat Ha Evreet).

• Manuel Katz ("GOD")and Miriam Green- Co chairs of Math Department

• Vickie Bellomo- Science Department

• Bluma Drebin- Tanach Department. She has recently been awarded with the Milken Education Award for her exemplary work as a teacher for the past few years. She has been awarded 10,000 dollars.

• Rabbi Yosef Furman- Dinim Department as well as Girls' Head of School

Extra-curricular activities

• As well as being an Orthodox Jewish day school, YULA offers students tremendous opportunities for extra curricular activities.

The following are a list of clubs, committees, school related electives or extra curricular activities as recorded by a YULA Student:

• *Environmental Club- with Science Teacher Ms. Ackler. Who doesn't want to learn about environmental issues facing the world today and how to stop them while having fun? Weekly club meets, Mug Days (Bring your mug and receive hot chocolate for a mere dollar), Beach clean ups, Adopt-A-Beach and rainforest and more.

• *Debate Club- interesting current topics and what to do about them.

• *Nature Club- motto: "Taking hikes around the parking lot."

• *Book Club Read AND DISCUSS BOOKS the group reads.

• *Speech and debate- Under the supervision of Ms. Whittman- currently only in boys' school.As of the next semester the club may be started in the girls' schools as well. Stay tuned for more information. YULA Students who would like to join should contact English teacher Ms. Whittman.

• *Model UN Discuss world issues about a country. Then, travel to New York for the annual event where students will argue about the country they adopt. However, every single other school hates the YULA delegates, chanting "YULA - you stink", a take off on the classic "YU-LA YU-LA" cheer. YULA WON THE 2007 MODEL UN COMPETITION! cONGRATS!

• *SHAC- Shmirat Halashon Action Committee- Helping the school strengthen their anti-Loshon Hara muscles a number of ways: JOH -Just One Hour to practice guarding our mouths, daily Halacha announcements about guarding your tongue, monthly newsletters from schools nationally who are also part of the program, and occasional assemblies. Thanks SHAC.

• *Literary Journal- students compilation of student writing

• *Panthers student newspaper- Interesting articles that will capture you entirely once you start reading. The witty columnsts talk about a range of subjects including current events, parsha, sports, and other student related things.

• *Parsha newsletter- the busy YULA student's schedule does not keep her from keeping up with the weekly Parsha thanks to the popular column; Parsha Sparknotes by Junior, Jina Davidovich. Unfortunately, the Parsha Newsletter has not been in print since the first few weeks of school. Apparently it is out of print. Nevertheless, we are all counting on Parsha Newsletter staff for their weekly contributions.

• *Sunshine Committe- one of the YULA Girl's favorite. Who doesn't like singing happy birthday to someone during announcements at davening? Don't forget the cake!

• *Yearbook- Seniors get to edit, edit an re-edit the school yearbook. The yearbook also includes many pictures and memories of the senior class.

• Bat Ami newsletter- with Bat Ami Girls from Israel Moriya and Adi

• Clubs/ Committes we're waiting to hear more from!

• Israel Affairs Committe
• Photography
• Israel "EATS" Committee
• Decoration

YULA STUDENT TESTIMONIALS:

1- "YULA is a great school. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants the best for himself. At YULA, I learn in a fun environment where students are always striving to learn. You don't have to be a genius to go to YULA either, unlike the popular belief. But YULA students are, thankfully, blessed with mental capability."

2-"In order to be successful at YULA, you must work very hard. The classes are difficult. The school is very closley knit though, to help each student through the tough dual curriculum."

3- "YULA is a challenging school, and is for students whose will is to strive!"

4- "Before I came to YULA, all my friends warned me that studies here would be very hard. I felt that such comments were a bit exaggerated. Now that I'm here I finally understand the truth. Classes at YULA are made to challenge your thinking and time. They help you grow intellectually and reach levels of thinking you thought you never possessed. It can be a bit challenging, but its definitely do-able."

5- "I love YULA!" --YULA

6- "YULA IS A GREAT SCHOOL. When I was in the process of choosing a high school, I heard nasty comments about YULA Girls. "They're snobs." I knew that such things were not true and false rumors. Finally when I came here, I see that I am right. The girls are not snobs, and they don't check the tags of your clothing to see if it is a designer brand."

YULA Thespian Society (DRAMA)

• YULA DRAMA (Theater Arts Department)- There are two plays every year. One semester there is a boys' school play, and the other semester it is the girls' school play. The plays are excellent every year and are very professionally cordinated. These plays are directed and produced by Peter Faber, who is very dedicated to the job. The Boys' Division Play for the school year 2006-2007 was: Herb Gardner's Conversations with My Father. The plays take place in the Rubin Auditorium at the YULA Girl's School. The girls' play title has just been announced, and the shows are planned to take place in the end of May 2007.

YULA Athletics

YULA offers a number of sports activities and teams which compete both within the school and against other Yeshivot and schools. All of their teams are called the Panthers. Currently, YULA is represented by the following teams:

• Basketball (Varsity & Junior Varsity)
• Baseball (Varsity)
• Cross-Country (Varsity & Junior Varsity)
• Tennis
• Soccer (All Star and Regular)
• Volleyball
• Flag Flootbal

Yula is known most for its Basketball team, which has won the Yeshiva University Red Sarachek Tournament 5 times, more than any other Jewish school in the United States. Their most recent championship was in 2005 in which YULA had two all-tournament players and the tournament MVP. In 2007, YULA once again brought home the sarachek championship defeating Ida Crown in the finals, and they now have won a total of 6 Tournament championships. The MVP of the 2007 tournament was YULA's Danny Shandling

Notable alumni

• Adam Mendler
• Ben Shapiro
• Michael Gloubermann
• Neeli Gottlieb
• Sarah Bergagnini
• Nathaniel Magilnick

• Michael Green

External links

• YULA Boys
• YULA Girls