We the People have been creating cacophony dissonant chords and jagged notes, scattered rests and twisted octaves the chaotic melody vanquishing a weak, sibilant harmony as tritone chords overwhelm the concert while the awkward bass clef fails to signal the start of the ensemble in an imperfect union. We the People have not yet accomplished our orchestral objectives the jarring and unbalanced rhythm flat, staccato, and splintered the staff becoming abstruse, the treble clef abandoning its position as the bass, melody, and voicings belong to different pieces preventing the construction of a pleasing arrangement when the white and black keys are in opposition forming an imperfect union. We the People of the United States are ready now to establish justice fairness and equality the chords pulsing in uniform tempo a smooth cadence every instrument has a chance its voice being heard the harmony fluently resting in the middle following the score and rhythm of the music in order to form a more perfect union. We the People of the United States have voted to insure domestic tranquility protect the nation’s peace the notes calmly flowing through the harmony every note as one working together to rise to the voicings of the chords crescendos and diminuendos vibratos and sustains the mellow rests allowing reflection in order to form a more perfect union. We the People of the United States commit to provide for the common defense protect our nation the sixteenth notes enfolding the eighth notes while the notes of the chords secure one another as the staff is accompanied by the crystalline time signature every musical element flowing to another in order to form a more perfect union. We the People of the United States shall promote the general welfare help people live better when in need the notes intersect with others as the rests make space to accommodate the whole notes every note supporting the other just as the bass, melody, harmony, and voicings Spiral in layers shaping the music in order to form a more perfect union. We the People of the United States with certainty will secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity make sure we are free and remain free as each sharp and flat takes hold of the staff and the quarter notes swell into whole notes for each note, rest, chord, has a role in the symphony to stand out and contribute to the music in order to form a more perfect union. We the People of the United States are ready for a new composition a glorious riot of sound and a jubilant melody ready to lift us up soaring upon triumphant wings of a more perfect union. Sofie Dardzinski, 10Potomac, MD
The Chosen by Chaim Potok: A Discussion Guide created by Sofie, 10
Introduction The Chosen by Chaim Potok is a wonderful book about coming of age and growth. It shows how you mature as you get older and the important things you understand about life. This book is also about Jewish history, tradition, and customs, some of which are in conflict with each other. It’s important to understand this because this is what leads the book on, the skeleton of the story. This concept is what leads to the main messages of the book and it’s also vital to understand what happened to different types of religions in the past. I loved this book because it was well written but it had amazing symbolism that went deeper and beyond the surface. The characters in this story were well – developed and represented so many important symbols that we can learn from. If you chose to read this book, I hope this discussion guide is helpful! Chapter 1 Why does Reuven attribute so much significance to the baseball game? What do you think Davey Cantor represents in the book, as he keeps repeating “you’ll see?” Why does Reuven describe Danny Saunders in so much detail? Why does Reuven feel that his whole life has led him to this ball game and his future life will depend on its outcome? What is the meaning behind Danny’s strange grin? Chapter 2 When the doctor asks Reuven, “can you see the light?” Reuven answers, “it’s a little blurred.” Based on the theme of vision, what might this symbolize? Why do you think Billy and Mr. Savo are on either side of Reuven in the hospital? What do you think they represent in the story? Why does Reuven introduce himself as Robert to Billy and Mr. Savo? How do you think Reuven’s injury affects his father’s health? When Reuven talks about the concept of blindness, what might the author be trying to convey? Chapter 3 Why do you think the author brings the radio into the story? Why does Danny return after Reuven dismissed him at first from the hospital? Why did Danny want to kill Reuven in the ball game? What does Reuven represent? When Danny recites the Talmud, why do you think it is described as “cold and mechanical?” Why did Danny have to convince his father to play in that baseball game? Consider the quote, “words distort what a person really feels in his heart.” What do you think of this? What do you think “talking in silence” means to Danny? What can you infer about Danny’s feelings about his religion based on his body language? What do you think “crazy world, cockeyed” (pg. 57) means? Why might it be important? Chapter 4 Explain what Reuven’s father means when he says “ ‘No one knows he is fortunate until he becomes unfortunate. That is the way the world is.’” (pg. 73) What do you think of the quote “people are not always what they seem to be?” (pg. 74) Is it true? How does that relate to Reuven’s father wanting Reuven to make Danny his friend? How does Danny’s analogy of ants to people relate to the mission of obeying God? Why did Reuven’s father not tell Reuven that he had been meeting Danny in the library? Why is Reuven’s father suggesting books for Danny to read? Thinking back to theme of vision, why is it so important that Reuven’s eyesight will recover? Contrast that to what happened to Mr. Savo. How does this also relate to things being out of focus, and objects being crystal clear? Chapter 5 What does Reuven mean when he says “there was newness everywhere?” Why do you think there is such a change in perspective leading back to the theme of this book? How does the author use the power of description to emphasize this theme? Describe Reuven’s transformation from his time in the hospital. Chapter 6 Why does Reuven’s father answer Reuven’s questions about Danny by going back a long time in history? What does the “silly baseball game” (pg. 110) mean to Reuven now? Does he really think it was silly? Why does Danny need a friend so badly? Why should that friend be Reuven? What do you think Reuven’s father was thinking at the very end of the chapter when he doesn’t finish his sentence? Chapter 7 As Reuven falls asleep, he’s thinking about the color blue and eyes. What is the significance of comparing blue sky and blue eyes? Why does Reb Saunders want to meet Reuven? Explain why a community would follow Reb Saunders from Russia to New York. Why do you think Danny’s neighborhood is in such a disarray? How does Reuven feel as he enters the shul with Danny? Why does Reb Saunders ask Reuven if he’s good at mathematics, and say “we will see?” What is Reuven’s reaction to how Reb Saunders tests Danny? How about when Reb Saunders tests him? What is the relationship between the gematriya and the structure of the book itself? Why does Reuven’s father say “it is a pity” that Reb Saunders lives in his own world, and so will Danny? What is the meaning of the change of emotions in Reb Saunders speech? Chapter 8 Why is Reuven considered a hero when he returned to school? What is important about the way Danny reads? How is it reflective of his perspective? Why do you think Danny is so interested in psychology? Based on what Reuven’s father says at the very bottom of page 169, why did Reb Saunders really want to meet Reuven? Why do you think Danny feels uncomfortable discussing with Reuven the silence between him and his father? Why does Reb Saunders raise Danny in silence? How does Reuven feel about the Talmud battle? Why does Reb Saunders ask Danny to go make tea? What is the significance of his discussion with Reuven? Chapter 9 Why does Reuven get so much enjoyment out of taking his final exams? How does Reuven
Observations on COVID-19 by Sofie Dardzinski, 9
Somewhere in China, a bat had a virus. That is how it started, a virus no one had seen before. It was a coronavirus. The bat passed the virus on to a person, who passed it on to other people in Wuhan, before they even knew they were sick. Now, the whole of Asia has it, as does Europe, and the United States. I live in Maryland, which has 43 cases today. If you think of doubling numbers on a calculator starting with the number 2, how quickly the numbers grow, that is what it’s like. That is how quickly the virus can spread. And because this virus has such a high death rate, especially for older or sicker people, the whole US has shut down most schools. The coronavirus affects the world economy: money isn’t made, stock markets go down. Parents worry. They call it “social isolation” and “flattening of the curve” to make sure that virus transmission slows down. This is to help hospitals handle the numbers of sick patients better. But those terms are not what this feels like. Washing your hands until your skin cracks and bleeds, wearing masks, elbow bumps instead of handshakes. I’ve never been part of a pandemic this bad, this scary. Such a small substance that we can’t even see causes our world to crumble. We haven’t been quarantined yet… but we are learning at home. It is scary to think that you aren’t in school because a virus going around could kill you. It makes my heart break, knowing why we are not in school. But maybe there is a golden lining. Maybe, since people aren’t traveling and we are all staying home, we can slow down pollution and global warming, and help the Earth. Maybe people will see the good in this way of life. Maybe a quieter, calmer way of life can bring people together more. I will hope for this. Sofie Dardzinski, 9 Potomac, MD
