Hebrew Play 5778: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

On Monday, December 18th, the Yeshivah of Flatbush Family saw the biblical story of Joseph and his brothers come to life on the Flatbush stage at the production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - the Jason Botnick A"H Memorial Hebrew play 5778.

Under the direction of Sally Shatzkes (ES '95, HS '99) and in collaboration with Musical Director Danny Shatzkes (ES '94, HS '98), Set Designer Rebecca Grazi-Siev (ES '02, HS '06) and Costume/Makeup Designer Rachel Hasson (HS '93), the cast and crew of over 50 students beautifully portrayed every character and every scene...all in HEBREW! And it was all every bit as majestic as something that could be seen on Broadway.

This year was the first year that our YOF ES Middle Division choir graced the stage alongside the older high school performers as part of the ensemble, under the direction of Brian Gelfand. Our JBHS orchestra performed the show's overture under the direction of Lilli Mauskop.

Reflections from the director, Sally Shatzkes:
Nothing gives me greater pleasure than the look of pride and accomplishment on my students’ faces during the final curtain call of our shows. This look tells me that my students “got it.” That along with their newfound fame, they also have come to realize that they have been part of something huge…and unique...and significant…and life changing.

And while I must admit that the show was incredible and that the students – actors, stagehands, engineers and designers included – truly wowed their audiences, what was even more amazing was the gargantuan effort that they have all have been putting in since the very first week of school and the beautiful teamwork and middot that they exemplified throughout the whole process, onstage and offstage. I am the luckiest teacher/director to have such a special group of students!


Reflections from actor/student director, Sylvia Ashkenazie, Class of 2018:
Being part of a huge cast presented us all with the incredible opportunity to experience theater in all its glory, but also to meet new people and build new friendships. Having to interact with each other and encourage each other during the scenes and constantly work together to build our energy and group dynamic made it easy to become friends. Even without all the costumes and makeup we were always working as a team. Backstage is always a blast - everyone yelling to keep quiet or running around looking for a missing prop. It’s all smiles and laughs during impromptu mic tests, but when the lights go down, the show begins and the entire cast falls in sync. If anything goes wrong during the show, you know one of your friends will have your back, because we aren’t just a group of students. During those four months of crazy schedules and hours of practices, we become a family.

Senior Seminar Slideshow 2017

Parashat Hashavuah Lecture Series: Vayigash 5778

Parashat Hashavuah Lecture Series: Miketz 5778

The Israel Institute Newsletter Volume 1: Issue 2

Parashat Hashavuah Lecture Series: Vayesheb 5778

Masterpiece Workshop Enjoys Performance of "Ax, Mozart and Brahms"

Recently, a group of Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School students accompanied by Ms. Mauskop, viewed a special performance of "Ax, Mozart and Brahms" at Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall as part of our Masterpiece Workshop program. The program is geared to offer students an opportunity to view multiple enjoyable cultural venues throughout New York City and to inspire students about the different performances throughout the city. At the dimming of lights, we all waited anxiously to hear the world premier of a new composition. The crescendos and sudden bursts of sound kept us at the edges of our seats for the whole duration. We all left the concert with a new inspiration and could not stop humming the music in our heads. We all had an extremely enjoyable time at Lincoln Center and look forward to more events in weeks to come! ~Robert Adler, Class of 2019

The Phoenix 2017-2018 Issue 3

Parashat Hashavuah Lecture Series: Vayishlah 5778

AP US Government and Politics Class Mingle With New York Politicians

On Friday, Nov. 3rd, the members of the AP US Government and Politics class (taught by Ms. Shelley Kaplowitz) were able to see how politics happens, up close and personal. Thanks to the gracious annual invitation from Steve Cohn (father of Warren, HS '05), the students were able to mix, mingle, and network possible internships with members of the State Assembly (including David Weprin, father of Stephanie '09), the City Council, NYS judges, the US Congress, and Mayor de Blasio and Governor Cuomo. 

It was a terrific experience for all involved and a great lead-up to our own Flatbush Mock Mayoral election that took place on election Day.

Pathfinders Alumni Speaker Series: Lauren Browdy, Public Relations

Students learned about the world of Public Relations from Lauren Browdy (HS '08) as part of our Pathfinders Alumni Speaker Series.

 

Pathfinders Alumni Speaker Series: Selim Banbahji, Banking

Students learned about the world of banking, business management, wealth management, and financial analysis from Selim Banbahji (HS '09) as part of our Pathfinders Alumni Speaker Series.

Parashat Hashavuah Lecture Series: Toledot 5778

Roei Ben-Tolila Inspires Flatbush Students

On November 7, 2017, Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School students had the opportunity to hear from Roei Ben-Tolila, an astounding motivational speaker. He blew his audience away with just the story of his life. Roei, a wounded and paralyzed soldier from Israel, instead of completely just focusing on the negatives of this new challenge of paralyzation, decided to rise to the challenge and created a program for helping others. Roei set an amazing example for others about positivity in the worst case scenarios

“There is nothing you can’t do; there is many things you don’t want to do.” This quote inspired Roei in many ways, saying that it helped him understand that if you want to do something, there is nothing stopping you and that if you want to accomplish something, you must work for it. This quote applies to Roei and his time on a basketball team. Roei, even with his disability, was still able to play basketball- sitting down in his wheelchair. He was still able to achieve this goal even with being paralyzed. So like Roei himself pointed out- if you want something, you have to work towards it. So let it be said, there’s nothing you can’t do; there are many things you don’t want to do.
~Eva Cohen, Class of 2021

Students Attend Gala for Our Soldiers Speak

A group of Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School students recently attended Our Soldiers Speak’s Annual Dinner Gala. Speakers at the event emphasized the importance of advocating for Israel and standing up against the prevalent anti-Zionist movements. Among the speakers were Mike Pompeo, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Commander of the Israeli National Police Counter Terror Unit. The students spoke with a variety of attendees to receive a better perspective on the issue we face today: the delegitimization of Israel around the world. ~Elie Feldman, Class of 2018

Parashat Hashavuah Lecture Series: Chayei Sarah 5778

Students Attend AIPAC Schusterman High School Summit

The three days that I spent on AIPAC’s Schusterman High School Summit in Washington DC were phenomenal. Throughout the sessions we learned about different aspects of Israel advocacy, during the breaks I met many new people from every corner of this country, and the final day we went up to capital hill to lobby congress members. Through this experience I gained a true connection to Israel and Zionism and I became empowered with the skills and knowledge to act on that. We began our sessions by introducing ourselves and getting to know one another better. As they progressed we slowly went from defining AIPAC and Israel advocacy, to learning about Israeli issues, to learning how to help solve those issues from an American standpoint. Our final goal and culmination in the trip was lobbying. I lobbied NY Congresswoman Yvette Clarke and her staff members. We spoke with her about the growing threat of Hezbollah, the Iran Deal, and the anti-BDS bill. These three issues are crucial to the well-being of the state of Israel, as well as, having many American interests, both political and economic. Overall, it was a great opportunity and I learned a lot. I’m really looking forward to take what I learned to the next step and for my future AIPAC encounters.
~Ezra Faks, Class of 2019

The Phoenix 2017-2018 Issue 2

Parashat Hashavuah Lecture Series: Vayera 5778

Seniors Hear From Representatives of Israel's Minority Communities

On Friday October 27, Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School students and faculty had the honor of hearing from three men representing the Druze, Lebanese Christian and Muslim Bedouin minority communities in Israel. All of these men served in the Israel Defense Forces and speak to counter the the ‘fake news’ circulating about their peoples. Students Supporting Israel (SSI) and Reservists on Duty sponsor their visit to the U.S.

The first speaker was Mohammad Kabiya, a Muslim Israeli Bedouin who served in the Israeli Air Force. He explained to us that Bedouins feel they are an integral part of Israel and its society and noted that the Bedouin were the first minority in Israel to join the IDF. After Kabiya served finished his three years of military service, he attended the University of Haifa. While some protested his admission, he said that once they were in the classroom together it was peaceful. He ended with a wonderful message that you should never be afraid to say you’re Jewish and support Israel everywhere.

The next speaker was Jonathan Nizar Elkhoury, an Israeli Lebanese Christian. His father served with the Southern Lebanon Army that helped Israel fight the Second Lebanon War from the inside. Since the Christians in Lebanon were being persecuted by the Hezbollah, his family moved to Israel to establish a better, more accepted life there. He was recruited for the IDF when he was 17. Elkhoury did his National Service in hospitals because he couldn’t get into an elite unit. He helped encourage other Christians to join the IDF and fight for the country that protects them.

The last speaker was Ram Asad, a Druze Israeli. The Druze were victimized everywhere until they got to Israel. Now they work in harmony with the Israeli government and have representation in the Israeli court along with other minorities. In 1956, the Druze were permitted to join the IDF; many are part of border control units. Asad proudly told us that he was a combat soldier. He also said that we should never hide that we are Jewish.

The panel presentation was very inspiring. The speakers helped assure the seniors in Flatbush that there are other people, aside from Jews, who believe that Israel is a positive moral county with every right to be a state.

~Victoria Haddad, Class of 2018

Students Win Awards at Speech & Debate Model Congress Tournament

Robert Adler, Junior, and Michael Oved, Freshman, were both awarded medals for their outstanding performances at the nationally recognized South Shore Speech & Debate Model Congress Tournament on the evening of November 1, 2017 / 12 Marcheshvan 5778, hosted by HAFTR High School. At the competition, our team presented bills, gave pro and con speeches, and debated legislation with over forty students representing four other schools in a formal congressional format. Juniors Joseph Edelheit, Sonny Setton, and Jared Sutton also performed at a high level, in this rewarding and enjoyable event. We look forward to further successes for the Model Congress team!

Spanish Heritage Day 2017

Last week, Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School celebrated Spanish Heritage month with our annual Spanish Heritage Day! The day was filled with activities, costumes, Spanish music and dancing, and of course delicious Spanish food. We had all kinds of Spanish food from the many different Spanish speaking countries. For example, we had tacos, paella, gazpacho, guacamole, and the very tasty dolce de leche made by our very own Señora Birman. Señora Ovadia and Señora Birman, along with the Spanish 3 and AP Spanish classes put a lot of time and effort into making this day a fun way to learn more about Spanish heritage and culture. I'm very grateful that we celebrated Spanish heritage month in school and that we all were able to gain more insight into Spanish culture. We were able to do so by experiencing the things that make the Latino culture so special. It was a very fun way to discover more about Spanish culture and how unique it is. I am looking forward to celebrating Spanish Heritage Day again next year!
~Madeline Rosow, Class of 2020

Witness Theater Students Pay Tribute to Dominican Republic

Witness Theater student participants and Mrs. Sanders attended a luncheon hosted by New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind, together with Nachas Health and Family Network, to pay tribute to the Dominican Republic for its humanitarian efforts on behalf of hundreds of Holocaust survivors during World War II. The Dominican Republic was one of a few countries that were willing to accept Jewish immigration during the war, and ultimately approximately 1,000 European Jews settled in Sosua on the northern coast as well as in Santo Domingo. Featured speaker Abraham Foxman, National Director Emeritus of the Anti Defamation League, world-renowned leader in the fight against anti-Semitism, bigotry and discrimination and Assemblyman Hikind inspired everyone with their commitment to honoring the survivors and remembering and acting upon the lessons learned from the Holocaust.

Parashat Hashavuah Lecture Series: Lekh Lekha 5778

Class of 2018 Explore Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Inspired by learning about the origins of our ancestors in our Jewish History classes, the entire senior grade took a trip to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island on Wednesday October 25th, while the rest of the school was taking their PSATs.

The day began with the students arriving at the ferry, which took us to the Statue of Liberty. The instant our boat docked, everyone was buzzing with excitement. For some, riding a ferry was a first time experience, and for many others, visiting the Statue of Liberty was a first too. We were all awed by the size of Lady Liberty, and even more so when we went onto the actual pedestal of the statue, after discovering that our tickets allowed us to do so. Another addition to the morning was an incentive created for us to complete a scavenger hunt handout, rewarding the first 15 students to finish it with extra credit in Jewish History class.

Afterwards, we took a second ferry to Ellis Island and were free to roam around either inside the museum or outside by the Wall of Honor. The museum showed many interesting aspects of the immigrants' arrival at Ellis Island. They had to pass health inspections, show proper documentation, and were often intimidated by the registrars. If they failed to complete these requirements, they could’ve been sent back, which was a big fear of immigrants. It was very insightful seeing what they had to go through in order to start living their new life, or what many considered to be the “American Dream,” and many students connected emotionally because it felt as if we were experiencing history itself the exact way it happened to our ancestors.

This trip was a fun day, spent with much learning and enjoyment, where students and teachers alike were able to step away from the regular school day and step into a piece of history in a relaxed, fun and easygoing way.
~Daliah Ben-Ari, Class of 2018

Yachad-Ohel Program October 2017

This past Monday, the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School held their first Yachad-Ohel program of the year. From around 5:00pm, the auditorium started filling up with students and yachad-ohel members. By 5:45pm, there wasn’t a single seat left empty. At first, I thought to myself “wow, so many people need hours!” But once we started playing bingo, I knew each and every student's excitement made me realize that it wasn’t for the hours. After a couple videos and dancing on stage, everyone went downstairs to the gym to let loose. From the second you walked in the room, you felt the excitement all around you. Everyone was dancing, jumping, singing, and having a great time. Nobody wanted the night to end, but once we sang Hatikvah, we calmed ourselves down and sang with achdut. We then ate pizza together to end off one of the most amazing nights ever. The amount of people there was overwhelming, and the amount of chesed that was performed was uncountable. Thank you for Rabbi Besser for inspiring us all.

~Ronnie Meneshe, Class of 2018

Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan 5778 Kumzitz

In honor of Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan, on Friday, Rabbi Besser planned a kumzitz for the whole high school. Being a freshman, I was kind of nervous but also very excited for this event. I heard that almost all high school students love to participate in the Rosh Chodesh kumzitz and my whole class could not wait. When we were told to go down to the gym for the kumzitz, the excitement was flowing throughout the entire school. This was the first kumzitz of the year so Rabbi Besser started the program off by explaining the concept of achdut (unity). He said that all the Jewish people are one nation and when one of us is hurting we are all hurting. He said we should all be there for each other no matter what. He then showed us a short video of a young man, Max Steinberg, who as an American joined the IDF and gave his life for Israel while fighting in the Gaza war. This gave the whole room a feeling of sadness and we then understood what it means to be one whole Jewish nation but also one big family. We took our emotions and turned it into one unified group singing many songs. Eventually we started locking arms, making circles, and swaying. The whole room was dancing, singing, and feeling united. This program impacted me and made me feel truly connected to the school as a whole but also to the Jewish people.
~Emily Shamah, Class of 2021

Pathfinders Alumni Speaker Series: Dr. Aaron Berger, Cardiologist

Our Pathfinders Program launched an alumni speaker series for students to hear from professionals in the field. Our first speaker was Dr. Aaron Berger, who spoke to students about being a cardiologist.

Parashat HaShavua Lecture Series: Noach 5778

Falcon Rides High, Represents Flatbush in Regional Surfing Championships

Sophomore, Joe Tawil, on left

When you think of athletic teams for city schools, surfing is not among the first sports that comes to mind. But for one Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School student-athlete, that is right where he feels most at home. So, when the Northeast Regional Surfing Championships were announced and slated for the nearby New Jersey shore, he reached out for the opportunity, took to the waves on Sunday, 10/15, just off the beach at the North End Pavilion of Spring Lake, NJ – and did not disappoint.

Sophomore Joe Tawil has been surfing for much of his life, spending many hours riding the waves on the shores close to Deal, NJ as well as at nearby Rockaway Beach, not far from his home in Brooklyn. When he learned that there are competitions for high school students, he was eager to test himself against some of the area’s best.

The National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) is the highest profile amateur competitive surfing association in the United States. The NSSA promotes the qualities of discipline and competitive excellence while supporting the merits of academic achievement to young surfers. The Northeast Region pooled student-athletes from a variety of schools in the New York/New Jersey area, ranging from public to prep to parochial schools (Flatbush would be considered part of the latter group).

Tawil opened the day surfing in men’s heat number 23 (out of 28). Each heat consisted of 6 surfers from different schools, with each one providing its group of surfers 15 minutes to catch as many waves as possible in an effort to show their skills to the judges. After waiting what seemed like an eternity, Tawil, in his orange competition jersey over his wetsuit, paddled out with his competitors from schools such as Shore Regional, Rumson-Fair Haven, Holy Spirit, Morristown-Beard and Wall Township to catch his first wave. By the end of the heat, Tawil had impressed the judges, advancing to the next round!

Tawil continued to shine, moving out of the second round and qualifying for the third. At that point, he ended his day, having left his mark on the competition. “It was an amazing experience,” reflected Tawil after the competition was over. It could have been an intimidating atmosphere, what with the majority of the other schools being represented by a large number of surfers, with lots of supporters and team tents on hand. But Tawil was able to block out the distractions and just compete. “For me, surfing has always been about finding a zone of peace and serenity, finding solace on the water. This was different in that there was pressure to perform for others’ view. But, I liked it; I am happy with how I surfed and am looking forward to my next chance to compete.”

It was also great to hear the name of the school – “Yeshivah of Flatbush” – ring out across the beachhead as Tawil advanced in the competition. How about that?!

Teshuvah Assembly 5778

On the Thursday before Yom Kippur, Rabbi Benzion Klatzko addressed the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School student body and faculty for our annual Teshuvah Assembly. Rabbi Klatzko arranges over 300 Shabbat meals a week for people who need it. He also created a website, Shabbat.com, which connects over 10,000 Jews over 144 countries He also discussed how we have to prioritize our responsibilities- as a student, teacher, father, mother, son, daughter, Jew, athlete, musician, writer, etc. and know which "hat" sits on top. As a result of his talk, I'm going to try and pay more attention to who I am, and what I can do for everyone else around me, while also looking after myself. One thing he said caught my attention the most: "each one of you could have a kid that would say 'because my parent is brave and strong, it made an impact on everyone and everyone is a better person because of my parent." We have to realize what we say and what we do, and appreciate everything around us. In order to do that, we must know who we are. I'm thankful for the message that Rabbi Klatzko left us, because now I feel I will be more observant of what I do and how I act around others.
~Ronnie Menashe, Class of 2018

The Israel Institute Newsletter Volume 1: Issue 1

A new initiative at Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School called the Israel Institute, headed by Mr. Rothbort, streamlines all of our school’s Israel-related programs under one umbrella. The Israel Institute includes the Israel Activism commission, Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut programming, AIPAC lobbying, and Israel guidance. The idea is for these clubs and events to become more open to our student body and to the community as a whole. Mr. Rothbort said his goal is to promote the Yeshivah’s and community’s modern Orthodox Zionistic values.

Israel Institute Newsletter will be published 4 times a year and contain a section highlighting a historical event relating to Israel, a recommended reading section and political cartoon. Page 2 will include a map of Israel and will highlight 4 -5 news story impacting Israeli society.

Class of 2018 Visit National 9/11 Memorial and Museum

This week the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School senior class of 2018 took an inspiring trip to the city to visit the National  9/11 Memorial and Museum where we learned and saw many things from before, during, and after the September 11, 2001 attack.

The visit started off with a short film in which three major world leaders, during the time of 9/11, spoke about how it affected not only the United States, but the entire world. It showed how the whole world banded together to help the United States through their time of distress. Then, we walked around the museum portion of the memorial and saw countless videos, heard many stories and voicemails left to the victims, and by the victims, and read many articles about 9/11. We saw many artifacts and objects, ranging from destroyed firetrucks to articles of clothing from the victims from the historic day. There were videos of news reports from before the attack, speaking of the weather and normal daily things and suddenly stopping everything to cover the story of the world trade centers. There were tickets for games that were supposed to occur, train tickets, and many other artifacts from that day. There was also background information on Al Qaeda: who they were and what they did. Lastly, there was an explanation of the effects that 9/11 had on the world.

This visit to the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum was truly inspiring, touching, and informative to all of the seniors. We were all only a year old when the attack happened, and we didn’t really know the degree of the effects, and how traumatizing it was to the United States. We hear stories about 9/11 all the time, but seeing the videos and reading the articles really made us feel like the event wasn't so historic as we may have thought, and that it had a huge impact on Americans and American society.

We then went outside to the memorial pools that have been constructed where the two twin towers actually stood. The memorial was very impactful. The constant stream of water surrounded by all the names of the people who died had so much symbolism for me.

One thing we took away from the traumatic day was how beautiful the weather was and how people thought the day was going to be like any other normal day in the year. The attack was so unexpected, and nobody was prepared for it. Its incredible how the world can change in a matter of seconds. After experiencing the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum we feel more connected to the history of 9/11 and the effects it had on the world.

~Sophia Sued, Class of 2018

Pathfinders Update: Summer Research

Claire Lessler presenting her research

I interned i​​n a bioinformatics lab, the Michael Berger Lab, under the mentorship of a postdoc. Over the course of the summer, I worked on my own project, which I presented to my lab and to Sloan Kettering Cancer Center researchers at the end of the summer. 

The lab I worked for coordinates a large-scale initiative called MSK-IMPAC, in which cancer patients receive clinical genetic sequencing and are then enrolled in clinical trials targeting their specific genomic alterations. One of the main issues with our method is that it is extremely difficult to analyze its effectiveness; the analysis was done once, manually, in September 2016. I created an algorithm called C-TEAM that can conduct the analysis automatically. I then ran current data through C-TEAM and compared current results to those from September 2016 in order to analyze the improvement of IMPACT over time.

I had an amazing time, and I met tons of new and interesting people. I don't think I could have gotten this experience anywhere else. Thank you for the Pathfinders program for helping achive this opportunity.
~Claire Lessler​, Class of 2018

I have learned so much from my experience this summer at The Albert Nerken School of Engineering at the Cooper Union. We have isolated plasmids and transformed different strains of bacteria to produce beta carotene. We did this using various techniques we learned about in AP Biology. We have done DNA purification, cloning using PCR, and followed countless other protocols with the guidance of our teaching assistants.

From the start of this program we have been learning what conducting an experiment is all about. We have been trained to identify a problem and search for possible solutions. We all had to come up with experimental designs in detail that we can conduct to reach our final goal of creating a cricket that is high in vitamin A. We did background research and dissected crickets twice! I have plated bacteria and grown cultures! I have been able to experience how a lab truly functions. I have had the opportunity to do amazing work all because of the Pathfinders program!
~Barbara Chrem, Class of 2018

The Phoenix 2017-2018 Issue 1

Commission Fair 2017!

 From Girls Who Code, to Mishmar, to the Chess team - there are so many ways for Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School students of all grades to take on new opportunities.Yesterday a successful commission fair helped all students, whether they are a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior- find new and exciting clubs to get involved in! There was also cotton candy and popcorn for all to enjoy.

The annual SGO Commission Fair was a fun and efficient way to help students discover new activities they’re interested in. Each commissioner had a booth with a display, explaining what their club was, what their purpose was, and why you should join. Next step would be determining if you’re interested- and if you were, you’d sign up. Everyone had a fun time signing up for their favorite activities and clubs- especially the incoming freshmen. Tons and tons of freshmen had each signed up for more than five clubs to see what activities they were intrigued by.

It was exciting for each leader of each club to see so many people take concern and interest in their own clubs, because by the end of the commission fair- almost each sign up sheet for every activity was completely filled!

“The commission fair was a great opportunity to recruit more writers,” says senior Sharon Chappan, commissioner of the school blog, MyFlatbushLife. “It was a great way to recruit new freshmen that enjoyed writing, as well as anyone else in the school that would’ve liked to join,” she says. And for for teachers and principals, it was great for them to see all the happy faces of the new freshmen that looked so eager to sign up for everything.

Another great thing the commission fair had, other than so many students wanting to get involved, is also the fact that there are clubs for EVERYONE to join! There are clubs for so many different hobbies and talents. If students are interested in the culinary arts- there’s Cooking For a Cause. If students were to be interested in writing- there’s the school newspaper (aka ‘The Phoenix’). If one was interested in working with children with disabilities, there’s the Yachad and Ohel Programs commission.

Thank you to the SGO and Ms. Marcus for organizing this special event. Everyone’s excited and ready to get involved, and there are so many different clubs and activities for everyone to sign up for- can’t wait to choose some!

~Eva Cohen, Class of 2021

It's a "Brand New" Year - Shana Tova 5778!

Pathfinders Update: Summer learning about Law and Medicine

I had amazing time this summer learning more about a career in law through the Yeshivah of Flatbush Pathfinders Program. I interned for Mark Salem at the law firm, Salem and Shimko in Brooklyn. I gained so much from my experience there. It taught me what a day in the life of a lawyer can look like. In addition, I was able to learn a lot about our US law. I did administrative work, read and researched old cases, and even sifted through discovery. It was really an amazing opportunity.
~Jared Sutton, Class of 2019

This summer I interned for Dr. Richard Grazi, a fertility doctor, in his office in Brooklyn. I worked on a research project with a resident and did some patient data compilation. I also sat in the back of his office and listened in on consults while he met with his patients. I even got to come into exam rooms and observe procedures like embryo transplants. It was an amazing experience to work there and I learned so much from being there for just a few weeks. Thank you Pathfinders for this opportunity.
~Lena Shamah, Class of 2018

Freshman Day 2017

Yesterday, September 16th was half Freshman Day. To kick off the day we had a Meet the Principals Breakfast, which was very informative because we got to see our principals and hear a short speech from each of them. The speeches from the principals also helped us get to know them better and get more comfortable with them.

Later in the day, the entire freshman grade gathered in the auditorium with our senior mentors. Then, we separated by class and went to a classroom with our senior mentors to participate in fun team-building games. We started out with some ice breakers so we can get to know our classmates and our mentors better and we moved on to a trivia game where the class was split into two and we solved riddles.

Next, we played a game where we had to make tin foil hats, scarves, gloves, and more. This game was and silly which was helpful because it helped us bond and form friendships with the other classmates on our team. After we completed these games, all the freshman girls went to the gym to do more activities. First, we had relay races where we jumped across the gym while our feet  were in a potato sac. Then we split by class and played tooshie volleyball, it is basically volleyball but you cannot stand up. Last we played tug of war. It felt amazing to see everyone being friendly to one another and see us coming together as a grade. The boys also pariticpated in various sports games in the auxiliary gym. Next, all the boys and girls went to the auditorium to watch a slideshow of our exciting day. To end off the day, Rabbi Besser gave us a very inspirational speech about being nice and including all of our classmates. To get his point across he finished off with two powerful videos about not only not being mean to one another but also going out of your way to be nice to your peers. Overall, it was a great day to get to know and have fun with the other students in my grade

~Prissy Baranoff, Class of 2021