Good Luck, You Got This!

We all know how frustrating and stressful finals can be. We hope that giving the students a piece of candy every day would help lighten up the finals tension. The SGO wanted to show you how our teachers want to encourage you, and wish you good luck on all of our exams. Take a minute to look at the encouraging words said by our faculty on the bulletin board outside of the auditorium. We hope you all enjoy the candy, donated by the Ladies Auxiliary, and we want to wish you success on all your exams!
GOOD LUCK!  ~~Michelle,Shelly,Louis,Norman- SGO 2012-2013

Torah To Go Series: Parashat Shemot 5773

A special Torah To Go Series video from Mrs. Monique Benun:

Sephardic Heritage Trip to Spain & Portugal

On December 16, fourteen Yeshivah of Flatbush students along with Mrs.Wielgus and Rabbi Benlulu, set off for the trip of a lifetime - Yeshivah of Flatbush's first ever Sephardic Heritage trip to Spain and Portugal. We spent an incredible week exploring the rich and fascinating culture and history of Sephardic Jewry. We toured palaces and synagogues, archeological excavations, a medieval village with a still- existing Marrano population, and museums. We also had the opportunity to interact with Jewish teenagers from Madrid who graciously hosted us for a Shabbat meal in their synagogue. Our fabulous guides throughout the trip brought the triumphs and tragedies of Sephardic Jewry to life- we saw how Iberian Jewry created a dynamic and sophisticated civilization and how that civilization was destroyed in the Expulsion and Inquisition. We also got a taste of authentic Spanish culture by viewing a flamenco dance performance and walking (and shopping!) through the streets, squares and plazas of some of the most beautiful cities and towns in Europe. All in all, it was an unforgettable week!  ~Mrs. Miriam Wielgus

Chesed Race: Goods & Services Auction 5773

As this year's Chesed Race (our annual tzedakah campaign to raise money for our annual Chesed Mission to Israel) started, the commissioners decided that this year we should encourage students to donate in a new and fun way. On Tuesday, December 25th the Tzedakah Commission along with Rabbi Besser ran a very successful Goods and Services Auction. A Chinese auction of fun and creative prizes. Some of our teachers donated free lunch, tutoring, ice skating or martial arts lessons. One of our very own teachers, Mr. Amzalag donated a round trip ticket to Florida! We also involved the Seniors of 2013 to join in on the fun by offering to take students out for a day, help with peer tutoring or sending gift cards. The students at the Yeshivah of Flatbush had a good laugh at some of the prizes and tried to win, all while doing a chesed by giving tzedakah to the poor of Eretz Yisrael.

The auction could not have taken place without the help of the many people: Victor Dweck, David Idy, Hannah Horowitz, Rabbi Besser and faculty advisor Señora Ovadia as well as the rest of the Tzedakah Commission. Be'ezrat Hashem we can continue collecting for our brothers and sisters in Israel and have another successful Chesed Mission.  ~Tsivia Ovadia, 4R

Winners of Goods and Services Auction 2012/5773

Torah To Go Series: Parashat Vayechi 5773

Biannual Blood Drive 2012

On Thursday, November 20th students, teachers, and volunteers crowded the gym for the Yeshivah's biannual blood drive. Twice a year a group of students, alongside Mr. Blumenthal, organize a blood drive to help save lives. Juniors and Seniors came in and out all day Thursday donating their blood. Over 130 students, faculty, and volunteers donated and the blood drive was a complete success. Thanks to all who donated and for any who didn't we will hold another blood drive next semester! Thanks to all those who helped organize the drive and special thanks to Mr. Blumenthal. It was amazing to see all of the students who were so dedicated and excited to donate their blood. Saving lives one day at a time! ~Emily Shrem, Senior, Blood Drive Committee

Senior Seminar 2012

After Hurricane Sandy and the SATs it was finally time. The final days of Chanukah were coming and the seniors were finally ready for SEnior Seminar 2012. Seminar started on Thursday, when the seniors had the pleasure of hearing from Ricky Cohen, CEO of the Conway Organization. He spoke about finding your true potential. Each senior also received a copy of his new book: Risk To Succeed. The seniors then had the opportunity to hear a heartwarming message from Mrs. Zaltzman. On Friday, the seniors packed their bags and loaded the buses headed to Edison NJ for their final shabbaton together. After arriving at the Edison Hotel friday afternoon, the seniors unpacked and started off the weekend by learning how to cope and prepare for some of the challenges they will have in life after and even before they graduate. The entire weekend was based on Challenges. Teachers would discuss with the students about the challenges that come along with college, Hashem, relationships and more. They then brought in the Shabbat by singing and dancing and lighting the menorah. The food was great and after dinner and the sessions all the seniors stayed down for some Chulent and inspiring words at the tish. Many students spoke about their personal challenges throughout the weekend. On Saturday night the seniors played the Senior Showdown game ran by Eva Bernfeld. The showdown got everyone so pumped up for the rest of the night and got most people messy with fluff and oreos! THe finished the night with an amazing rikkudim and kumzitz. After many speeches, sessions, tears of joy and sadness, the seniors packed their bags to come back home. The weekend was truly amazing. The seniors spent their last seminar together as one, hand and hand, not wanting to leave. Thanks to all those who spoke and shared their personal stories with their friends and teachers. A special thank you to Rabbi Besser who made this entire weekend possible. ~Emily Shrem

Girls Dance Team Wins Big!

Saturday night December 15, the last night of Chanukkah, was a night of nerves, excitement and victory for the Yeshivah of Flatbush girls dance team. The students competed at Hillel Yeshivah; participating teams were from Hillel, YUHSG, Ilan, Shulamith and SAR. The Flatbush Dance Team gave an invigorating and energetic performance. Their hard work, training and practices most definitely paid off when the team won first place. Not only did they win a title and a trophy, but also an amazing opportunity. This spring, the YOFHS dance team will be performing at Stern College in a special dance program that donates all money raised to tzedakah. The team is already preparing for it as well as the third annual Flatbush Dance Competition this March! We hope the team will blow it away once more with their talent and fresh dances. Good luck girls!  ~Kimi Hamadani, Girls Dance Team Captain

The Phoenix Online: 3rd Edition 2012/5773

This year's third edition of The Phoenix, the school's online newspaper, was recently published. Check out these amazing articles:

• The Panim-el-Panim Experience

• Drama Troupe Showcase

• Poetry Slam a Slammin’ Success

• Witness Theater: Part II of an Ongoing Series

• Movie Review: Lincoln

• Time

• The Love of Music

• Hurricane Sandy and a Different form of Help

• Take Five – Five Questions for Your Teachers

YOFHS Student Ponders Connecticut Tragedy

The horrific events in Connecticut have rocked our nation, causing all to reflect on what is important and precious in life. Our students' well being - physical and emotional - has been uppermost in the minds of YOF faculty, staff and administration. Parents have received updates detailing our school's responses in helping our children cope with the news and our ongoing steps to maintain the utmost measures of preparedness and security on our campuses.

This week, our SGO president, Michelle Sabbagh, shared her thoughts about the tragedy with her classmates.

Victoria Soto heard the murderer approaching. A 27-year old first grade teacher, she had her entire life in front of her. Her immediate instinct was to protect those babies, her students. She pushed them into a closet. Some of her first graders tried to run. Ms. Soto put herself as the barrier between her students and the gunman. She tried to distract him. She told them her class was at the gym. She was shot and killed, but her life was not lived in vain. Vickie Soto gave her life to save her students. She is a hero.

We can't change the past. The catastrophic massacre of this past Friday happened. While we can't change what happened, we can choose where we will go from here and how we'll respond. There are 27 families out there that are suffering. Our innate response upon hearing stories from this calamity is to connect to them as humans, to feel their loss, to empathize, and to appreciate what we have.

As we all appreciate our families a little more after this event, we may have forgotten to stop and appreciate our home away from home. Flatbush is our second family, and like all families, sometimes we take it for granted. Last Tuesday at our SGO Chanukah Fair, our teachers showed us how much they care and how much fun we can have together. Our teachers care about us. Day in and day out, they give themselves to us: on trips and seminars; when they invite us for Shabbat meals; when they invite us to email them or speak to them during their lunch to address our concerns. They love us. Our administration invests time and energy to keep our building safe every day. We have fire drills and safety drills; we have an amazing security staff. At the end of the day, we spend more time in this building than we do in our own homes. We create unbreakable bonds with our friends here. We create memories for a lifetime.

Take the time to appreciate your Flatbush Family.

Smile at teachers. Listen to them. Thank them.

We are nearing finals time. Tutor. Share. Be a better friend.

As we contemplate an unimaginable horror, let us stand in solidarity with the families of Sandy Hook. Let us learn from the selflessness of the fallen heros. Let us renew our commitment to our family here at the Yeshivah of Flatbush.

Let us aspire to become heroes ourselves. It's those small acts of selflessness that accumulate and define a person as an everyday hero. Let us dedicate, let us consecrate their memories with our renewed passion for kindness. As Arthur Ashe said, "True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost."

As students walked into school each day last week they reflected on the tragedy in Newtown Sandy Hook Elementary School. A memorial video and candle with the names of all the victims were on display in the lobby.