Article by Rivka Peikes ('20)
As I roam the frigid stone walls of Torah High, I spot freshmen and seniors alike traveling in packs (yes, even to the bathroom) in an effort to keep warm. I experience the intense senses of winter; teeth chatter, the wind howls… oh wait, maybe that’s just the sound of my classmate snoring from the neighboring desk. As the winter months drag on, temperatures plunge below 70 degrees, leaving us shivering under our blankets that we so tediously drag to school on a daily basis.
As the winter months drag on, temperatures plunge below 70 degrees, leaving us shivering under our blankets that we so tediously drag to school on a daily basis.
And don’t forget the windchill; a journey through the hall (hem hem wind tunnel) behind the sophomore room causes the temperature to plunge another 10 degrees. Often resembling penguins in the arctic, Torah High girls stand in clusters, their cupcake skirts flying in the wind, attempting to absorb as much body heat from the group as possible. In fact, the resemblance is uncanny; our beloved uniform skirts add to the overall bulk, as well as our diet comprised mainly of sushi and Tradition instant soups, as provided in the art room. Traditionally, Torah High girls have a tendency to forego any sort of color, in favor of the classy and timeless black and white color scheme. Any stranger to stroll into Torah High could quite easily mistake us for penguins traveling south for the winter, which perhaps explains why even frequent patrons of Beth Israel do not seem to know about the mysterious girls’ high school on the third floor.
Yet another Torah High tradition seems to be the constant runs to Coffee Bean, Peets, Starbucks, Philz, you get the gist. Even when purchasing a cold drink, as many girls do, a quick run to one of these stores is most definitely warranted, because we all know that it’s at least 20 degrees warmer outside than in the classrooms. On a separate note, I distinctly recall a momentous winter day, many years ago, when a group (or shall I refer to them as a flock? Pack? Herd?) of freshmen (myself included) huddled around the warmth of a tiny heater, desperately attempting to thaw their fingers, but to no avail. More recently, Uggs have become even more prevalent at Torah High, despite the controversy over their aesthetics. Many argue that the brand name is derived from the words “ugh” or “ugly” because of their ghastly appearance, while others denounce such claims in favor of the comfort and warmth they offer. Such last-ditch efforts at avoiding frostbite and hypothermia seem to be occurring more and more frequently as the temperatures continue to drop. To what do we attribute this strange phenomenon? Is Torah High experiencing its own mini climate change crisis?
Is Torah High experiencing its own mini climate change crisis?
Why, you may ask, do Torah High girls exhibit such strange behaviors when we live in the tropical climate of sunny San Diego? Well, quite frankly that is due to Beth Israel, the reform temple which so graciously allows us to occupy their third floor. On many occasions, I have contemplated why Beth Israel insists on cooling the classrooms to nearly subzero temperatures when it costs them so much money. Perhaps this is all a ploy to induce a hibernation-like slumber in the girls of Torah High, in an attempt to quiet our rambunctious antics and keep the classrooms clean. Conversely, maybe they are in league with the Torah High administration, hoping to keep us alert during those long droning history lessons (yes, I’m looking at you Professor Binns). Or maybe this is all an elaborate plan to slowly introduce the seniors to cold weather in preparation for Poland.
Whatever the case may be, Torah High has no doubt imparted with us the quality of perseverance, both physically and emotionally. We have been conditioned to push through long classes, abominable snowman worthy weather, and even “hell week” before the play. At this point, we are well prepared for almost anything that may come our way.
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