Local Blog Celebrates 6 Months

DEAL, NJ -- On November 2nd, 2011, a Hillel junior named Lee Matalon decided to launch a newspaper. The topic of the publication would be no-nonsense reporting of news of his school, Hillel Yeshiva. Word soon got out that Hillel was launching the Herald, a successor to the one-issue HL News. He decided that the best way to direct this publication was in a satirical direction, and to the internet.

"Paper is expensive" said Matalon, "and that's why its online. Also, if I created it in paper format, it might spread too quickly and be its own downfall. So I decided to let it slowly build up its own popularity." At exactly 6:13 PM (unplanned!), the first article was posted. It was about bagels. "I reread that article every now and then. Its short, and way below my current standards."

FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
"I entered the year with a DroidX, which I had since Hanukkah. Lies. I lost my DroidX in Israel, and got a new one. Like other past online ventures, I got extremely excited with all of these new ideas. That night, while lying in bed, I posted a second article on my phone. The next day, during lunch, I posted the third. It was utter crap. I realized that I shouldn't rush these things, or it'll just blow up in my face."

That particular article was pretty much a Y13 inside joke about Torah that only Jesse Rothstein (partially) got. "Shtut was not really a funny concept after all."

Publicity also became an issue. "Flyers don't really work in school. Not even the SBH flyers accomplish what they mean to. Speaking of mean, MEAN?!" The editor decided to promote the blog solely on his own facebook and twitter. "I left it up to viewers. If they decided to like or retweet, it reflects positively on the blog, and gets the word out."

BECOMING THE DAHAK
"People slowly started noticing. They would come up to me and say, 'that thing is cute' and walk away. I knew what they were talking about." Although the blog was mostly written my Matalon himself, some writers, including the anonymous duo Inc and MYNO contributed articles early on, which helped jumpstart the blog.

"Part of the trick is to tap public in-jokes. For example, I put Shlomo jokes for the Memphis people. There are some older SemiNar references for those who might remember. And there seems to be another AP Chem joke every single day."

"It went from receiving accolades from people who liked it, to receiving death threats from people who wanted to be in it" (laughs). Everyone began wanting their names mentioned in the blog. Common blog-celebrities include President Ovadia Harary, Rabbi Dr. Nathan Betesh, Leo Hanunu, Al "rrrAL" Sultan and Saka Charles. "I remember one day Saka came up to me and said, 'Lee, your latest tweet was funny.' I know he meant the blog, but I didn't care,

WELCOMING THE DIGITAL AGE
With the advent of 2012, the Update staff decided it was time to bring the blog into the future. "Its ironic, because it's already online." In early January, a web-based mobile App was released for the smartphone market. "Its a big gimmick. They only read the blog from their computers anyway."

At the same time, the new logo was debuted. "I wanted something that resembled the Hillel logo, while also satirizing it. The layout was Leon's idea." Leon Ebani, a top executive from Cafe Box, suggested it contain bagels and a laptop to represent the union of Hillel and the Internet, and suggested the slogan "All the news that's fit to bash."

"I liked that idea." The final logo ended up with a Torah scroll on top of the words "Hillel Update;" below these words are two bagels with a tub of cream cheese. This is surrounded by the slogan. Next to the words are a Star of David, and an @-sign, to symbolize the internet. "Ovadia told me that I did it all wrong; 'the bagels should be on top of the Torah, in order of kedushah.'"

SLOUCHING TOWARDS DEAL
Avid readers may remember about a month or so when no articles appeared. In late December, the blog slowed down a bit. "My life was consumed by the blog. But I needed to focus more time on my schoolwork. Finals week was coming." On January 5th, the blog was put on hiatus.

"Midterms went rather smoothly, and I was ready to write 5 minutes after the Math test. But lo and behold, I found myself in the Dominican Republic, 24 hours later." Vacation added a further 10 days to the hiatus. "I was running in a marathon. My feet hurt. Naturally I couldn't type.

On January 30th, the post-vacation article was posted. The cogs were oiled up and the blog began putting out the best quality work, again. "I like hiatuses. It makes for a good return article. It builds anticipation, and it forces me to work doubly hard to bring it back with a bang." The post-vacation, post-Senior Trip and post-Passover articles have been lauded as some of the best ones.

TO INFINITY AND BEYOND
"I didn't think we'd last 6 months. The blog is an unconventional existence, and will probably fade away after my graduation. I can easily find a replacement, but I don't know if I can find one with such devotion to the Update. Its a one of a kind thing."

"But we still have a year to go." For now, the blog will continue pumping out top quality work. "Its a long road, and, fortunately, we're not even halfway there." The blog has received loud praise from students, and silent accolade from teachers, administration, and even parents in the community. "I feel I've established a permanent reputation in the history of this school," finished Matalon.

"One day, I hope the class of 2025 might find an old book called 'The Legends of Hillel,' and read in wonder: Greg the Goalie. The Fate of the Jewish People is In Your Hands. Hillel Update."