Cooking for a Cause: Round Six!

Wednesday night was our sixth Cooking for a Cause event, run by our Helping the Hungry commission. The commission cooks for the needy in our community on Wednesday nights, after school. This week our students learned how to make meat sambusak. 

  

Students learn to prepare a variety of entrees, dinners, and desserts while participating. All of the food prepared in these events are sent to needy families who can then enjoy delicious homemade dinners.

For more information about this commission, read this previous post: http://www.myflatbushlife.com/2011/10/helping-against-hunger.html

Special thanks to our Commissioners Hiram Haddad, Susie Sasson and Florence Dweck. A very special thanks to our chef Ms. Sarah Harari, mother of students Aaron and Joy Harari.

Rosh Chodesh Adar & Senior Masquerade

On Rosh Chodesh Adar, this past Friday morning, our students participated in a special Purim program. The program consisted of rikkudim, and a Senior Masquerade, where the seniors delighted us with their creative and colorful Purim costumes.

We truly brought in the month of Adar with Simchah!

Scholastic Writing Award Goes to Flatbush Student for a Second Time!

We are very pleased to announce that  Sophomore, Joy Feinberg, has received a remarkable recognition by the Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education. She has been chosen as the recipient of both the Gold and Silver Keys from The Scholastic Writing Awards of 2012 in the New York City Region. This is the second time that Joy has won this award following her Gold Key award last year. This year she was awarded for her personal essay as well as her short story.

This is a remarkable achievement and milestone in her creative endeavors. Panels of writers, editors, educators, and creative professionals selected the Awards recipients as the most original submissions by New York City teenagers. Joy's work was one of 108,500 nationwide submissions.

We are so proud and wish Joy the best of luck in the national competition.

Torah To Go Series: Parashat Terumah

SAFE: Anti-Smoking Campaign

 On Tuesday, February 14th, in conjunction with SAFE, the Yeshivah of Flatbush High School had the privilege of having guest speaker, John Nichols, visit the school. John delivered a powerful message to the students in grades 10-12 about the dangers of smoking cigarettes. John began by providing a personal account of his battle with addiction to smoking; recounting details of how his addiction developed and affected his life. Both students and faculty felt the impact of John’s message, as he discussed the physical and emotional toll of his ongoing fight with lung cancer; including his inability to eat, drink and speak normally as he no longer has a voice box and is now forced to breathe through a stoma in his neck. Students were riveted by the intensity of the message and were also provided with vital information regarding the biological effects of smoking tobacco. Many of the students described the program as extremely powerful and influential. It has inspired and educated many students on when and how to take action against smoking in their lives, along with how to help friends and family.


At the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School all students attend weekly classes taught by SAFE instructors. The instructors provide our students with health education, as well as, discuss strategies  on how to overcome the challenges students might be facing during their high school years. 

Torah To Go Series: Parashat Mishpatim

Chamber Choir Performs at the Nashir Choir Festival

At Flatbush, we are proud of our students for their academic achievements as well as their achievements in the arts.

Our famous chamber choir, under the direction of Mr. Brian Gelfand, recently participated in the Nashir Choir Festival at SAR High School last week.

The Nashir choir festival is a program designed for Yeshivah high school choirs to come together, learn about various aspects of choral music and music in general, and to perform for and with each other. The festival is hosted by SAR in Riverdale. The YOFHS chamber choir has participated for the past five years. Other participating schools include Ramaz, North Shore Hebrew Academy, The Heschel School, and Solomon Schechter Day School.

Here is some excellent footage of out choir's performance:

Flatbush Wins First Place at Model UN

From last Sunday to Tuesday, February 5-7, fifteen Yeshivah of Flatbush students participated in Yeshiva University's National Model United Nations (YUNMUN). Over 60 schools participated from 3 continents and Flatbush won first place for best delegation. Special recognition goes out to the honorable mention winners: Joy Fienberg and Jonathan Zahavi and the best delegate winners: Rachel Beyda, Norman Greenberg, Michelle Sabbagh, and Isabel Fattal.

The Yeshiva University National Model United Nations (YUNMUN) is a student-run simulation of the workings of the real United Nations that gives students an opportunity to experience and learn about the complex landscape of international diplomacy. Playing the roles of delegates to actual United Nations member nations, participants represent a variety of positions, often ones with which they may not agree. In advocating for a given country, students must conduct thorough research of that country's interests and policies across a wide range of issues and concerns, adding both to their knowledge of world affairs and to their appreciation of and facility with research, preparation, communication and critical evaluation.

Remembering Joel Braverman, A'H

Tu B'Shvat Program

On this special day, Tu B'Shvat, we reflect on the beautiful produce and trees that Hashem has given us, especially the fruits of the land of Israel. As Jews, we have a special bond with the land of Israel and a responsibility to cultivate it. While we live in America, we can participate in this Mitzvah by planting trees in Israel, especially now.

Israel experienced a devastating forest fire in the Har Carmel region in 2010. Five million trees were devoured and the effects still linger. To counter this tragedy we have teamed up with Zo Artzeinu and embarked on a mission to plant a minimum of 100 fruit bearing trees in Israel to create the Yeshivah of Flatbush orchard.

Today we met with all the classes encouraging them to participate in this wonderful Mitzvah. The students watched an informative video about this project that can also be found here.We are asking parents to please consider joining us in this wonderful project. The cost of one tree is $36. You can donate in memory or in honor of someone and a certificate will be mailed to you. We hope you will help us achieve our goal. You can also donate on line by going towww.israeltrees.org and write Yeshivah of Flatbush High School on the form.

If you have any questions please contact Rabbi BenLulu at gbenlulu@soin.flatbush.org

Project coordinators: Emma Cohen, Debbie Waldman, Erica Isayev, Hymie Anteby, Joey Pinchas

Our Tu B'Shvat program concluded with a special Seder with some of our students. We were able to hear some divrei torah and eat some fruits from Israel. Our students were surprised with a special, beautifully decorated cake in honor of the holiday decorated by Senora Birman, Chair of our Foreign Languages Department.

Torah To Go Series: Parashat Yitro

iPad Initiative in the News

Our 1:1 iPad initiative was recently featured on a couple of websites as well as on the news. For more information about our pilot program read our news release here: iPads for 60 High School Freshmen as Pilot Program Begins.


the Journal

• Brooklyn School Pilots iPads in 1-to-1 Initiative

TMCnet Education Technology

• Yeshivah of Flatbush High School Integrates Technology into Curriculum with iPad

News12 Brooklyn

• Some BK students swap notebooks for iPads

Pathfinders: Talk Radio News Source

Ari Zoldan, CEO of Quantum Networks and Deanna Gillen, Editor for TRNS pose with our students Ariel Aiash, Sharon Grossman and Michelle Sabbagh.

As part of our Pathfinders Program, some of our students had the opportunity to begin work at TRNS and Quantum Networks, under the auspices of CEO Ari Zoldan. Our Students began their internships over winter vacation, writing articles for Talk Radio News. Our Students are looking forward to continuing their work with Mr. Zoldan and his companies throughout the year.

Ari Zoldan, CEO of Quantum Networks, writes, “We are thrilled to be working with Mrs. Hanon and the staff at Yeshivah of Flatbush. Quantum Networks, a technology incubator, based in New York City, has selected some of Flatbush's best students to participate in its first class internship. We are looking forward to some amazing output from the school's talent and are excited to be working with such a dynamic school.”

Here are some articles written by Yeshivah of Flatbush junior, Michelle Sabbagh:

• http://www.talkradionews.com/quick-news/2012/01/26/gates-commit-750-million-to-global-fund.html

• http://www.talkradionews.com/quick-news/2012/01/26/american-journalist-kidnapped-in-somalia-2.html 

Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School Pathfinders Program: 
Beginning in 9th grade, the Pathfinders counselors work with each student to discuss their interests and develop their goals. Students are then given a wide range of opportunities of places where they can volunteer, intern and explore their unique academic pursuits and career ideas. Through the Yeshivah of Flatbush Pathfinders Program, we encourage our students to discover and expand their special talents and abilities and explore career options for the future. Whether a student is actively engaged during the school year or in the summer, we are confident that each Yeshivah of Flatbush student will find a path to success.

Student Lounge Dedication

Last week, we had a special ceremony dedicating our brand new student lounge in memory of Solomon Dwek, A’H. After a Delicious Lunch catered by Pauline Dushey and Seudah, We were treated to some very special speakers, including Rabbi Harari, Rabbi Besser, Audrey Dwek, Hymie Chera, Sylvia Dwek and Joyce Silverman. Special thanks to all of our Sponsors and all who attended this event. Our students are loving the new lounge and enjoying spending some of their time in this newly updated, trendy hangout spot on campus.

Cooking For a Cause: Round Five!

Wednesday night was our fifth Cooking for a Cause event, run by our Helping the Hungry commission. The commission cooks for the needy in our community on Wednesday nights, after school. This week our students learned how to make Meat lasagnas, potato pies and potato borekas. Our sixteen volunteers were able to make 25 meat lasagnas, 10 potato pies and over 200 potato borekas at this event! Students learn to prepare a variety of entrees, dinners, and desserts while participating. All of the food prepared in these events are sent to needy families who can then enjoy delicious homemade dinners.

For more information about this commission, read this previous post: http://www.myflatbushlife.com/2011/10/helping-against-hunger.html
Special thanks to our Commissioners Hiram Haddad, Susie Sasson and Florence Dweck. A very special thanks to our Generous sponsored Amy and Steven Sasson and Claire and Rober Frasti.

Torah To Go Series: Parashat Beshalach