The Phoenix 2015-2016 Issue 1

Feliz Cumpleaños!

In a festive way, Sra. Birman's Spanish classes celebrated students' birthdays! 

Moses Bakst

Paulette Abrahams

Teshuvah Assembly 5776: Rabbi Pesach Krohn

On Wednesday, September 16, 2015, Tzom Gedaliah 5776,  Rabbi Pesach Krohn addressed the students and faculty  of the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School at the annual Teshuvah assembly. Rabbi Krohn shared many ideas behind עשרת ימי תשובה.  He talked about the themes תשובה תפילה וצדקה and inspired the students with his use of humor and his positive persona. Rabbi Krohn focused his speech on a story about how many good things can come out of one good deed. In his story, an Orthodox Jew offered anything from his store to a family whose house burnt down. When the boy of this family grew up, he became a bank owner and an Orthodox rabbi came to ask him for a loan to build a new shul.  The man remembered what the Orthodox Jewish store owner did for his famiy when he was young  and showed his הכרת הטוב by paying it forward and giving the Orthodox rabbi a loan. The speech ended with a metaphor: anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only G-d can count the apples that will come from one seed. Every time we do a mitzvah, we are planting a seed from which many good things may come. Ultimately, our actions can have a greater positive effect on the world around us. 

During this time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we focus on our actions, past, present, and future in order to make a difference in our own lives and the lives of those around us, so that Hashem may bless us with a good year. גמר חתימה טובה.
~Naomi Sanders, Class of 2017

Welcome Back!! 2015-2016/5776

Flatbush Encourages Creative Engineers through Robotics

A Yeshivah of Flatbush student reflects on her Robotics class this past semester:

Robotics is the class where experimentation is key. Throughout this past semester we built individual robots as well as worked in groups and collaborated on larger projects. We developed multiple skills through effort, trial and error, and through hands-on activities. We worked on coding through Arduino to program our robots, hooked up batteries, propellers, sensors and so much more. Ms. Chava Wernick taught us to code, use power sensors like the ultra sonic sensor and touch sensor, use breadboards, and more. Most importantly we were encouraged to become creative engineers.
~Sarah Torgueman, Class of 2016

New Tsei U’lemad: Art and Marketing of Pattern Design

This year marked the debut of a new Tsei U’lemad offered to Yeshivah of Flatbush students, the Art and Marketing of Pattern Design. Taught by certified Zentangle artist Lesley Kassin, the course promised to teach students how to master the art of Zentangle by learning how to create original designs from structured patterns. "Besides being totally fun, Zentangle can really help focus your mind, lower your stress, and build confidence." Kassin described it as a new art form, with "more focus on the process not only the result."

The course has enjoyed much popularity this year, attracting students due to two basic reasons. Some students, like Monique Zeitouny, already had experience in painting and drawing. They were interested in a class that would hone or expand their art skills. To others however, this was their first foray into the realm of the arts. Michael Abadie explained Zentangle as "an easy way to make complex patterns." Even people who had never considered themselves artistically inclined can quickly find themselves making impressive and beautiful designs. Patterns are built just one line at a time; all one needs is patience and diligence. Perhaps this is the reason why so many sophomore boys are drawn to Zentangle.

Around three new patterns are taught each class, which meets once a week. Students copy them into a journal, which they use for reference when creating projects. Students are also encouraged to come up with their own designs. As the year progressed, more complicated patterns were taught and paper was replaced with canvases, mugs, and ceramic plates. The final project, in which students have to create something they would sell in a store, ties into the marketing aspect of the class. Some work silently, deep in concentration. Others talk to each other softly, offering advice, sharing different patterns.

Ms. Kassin, who has recently been to a Zentangle seminar, says this new art form is "exploding," spreading everywhere. And it's no wonder. The methodical repetition is relaxing and addictive, even therapeutic. "Once I learned a few patterns, I couldn't stop making them in all my classes," said a sophomore. While this might not find much favor in the ears of teachers, at least it means that students’ notebooks will be adorned with something much prettier than random scribblings.

This Tsei U’lemad, besides from being fun, has had a meaningful impact on those who were a part of it. It's helped students recognize their own creativity and feel more confident in their abilities and their relationship with art. "Since this class, I started to notice that patterns are all around us and art is all around us in many forms," said a student.

"Before this class I was afraid to draw. I never thought I could make a masterpiece," wrote Aaron Kuby, whose work was displayed among others' for Evening of the Arts. "But now I feel like I could make paintings like Van Gogh." 

~Sarah Levy, Class of 2015

Tsei U’lemad is a Talmudic term which means “Go out and learn.” This program offers students a variety of independent study courses each semester that encourage students to learn beyond the classroom, promoting intellectual curiosity. Students may want to broaden their interests, seek deeper knowledge of a subject or explore new topics and ideas. These courses supplement the current curriculum while they do not replace any required courses, they are recorded on students’ transcripts and can improve the academic average.

Cooking For A Cause: All in the Family

The monthly Yeshivah of Flatbush Cooking for a Cause events is not just a Chesed opportunity for our students, but for Flatbush families as well. Our last two Cooking for a Cause events featured multiple generations of cooks. Students, Robyn and Albert Dweck cooked with their mother and grandmother to make it a three generation affair. Renee Gindi and her mother prepared over twenty five pounds of breaded chicken cutlets for the Sephardic Bikkur Holim freezer. Our Cooking for a Cause events attract over fifty boys and girls in addition to multiple parents and grandparents for this fun Chesed event. 

Dweck Family Cooks For Chesed Together

Gindi Family Cooks for Chesed Together

Cooking for a Cause allows students to learn how to prepare a variety of entrees, dinners, and desserts while participating in a Chesed event. All of the food prepared in these events are sent to needy families who can then enjoy delicious homemade dinners.

Senior Memories Class of 2015

Girls Go Camping As Part of Wellness Class

At the end of May, the Girls Wellness class went camping with their teacher and advisor Ms. Ariela Robinson. Camping was definitely an experience like no other. It all began once we arrived to the campsite located in Barryville, NY. Our first task once we arrived was to collect as much wood as we could find to start the fire. Then, we used various art supplies to create our journals. These journals would be used to write down our thoughts, experiences, and whatever connections we felt with nature. We were told to answer prompts such as "choose one aspect of nature and write as if you are that form of nature. What would you want to say to humans?"

Once we finished creating our journals we did something very unusual. After a seminar and discussion on the purpose of clothing and how society places importance on clothing, we took various pieces of fabric and dressed up some trees. It was a learning experience to strip the trees of their nature and bring them into our views on fabric, clothing, modesty, and society. 

After undressing the trees, we began to prepare dinner. Dinner consisted of a nice barbecue meal all made on fire. We made corn on the cob, chicken, hamburgers, and then to top it all off, we even made smores! We sat around the campfire for hours talking about random topics and enjoying each other's company until the wee hours of the night.

The next morning, we woke up and prayed a meaningful prayer near the beautiful river and made eggs on the fire. Then, we embarked on a 7 mile kayaking trip through the Delaware River. Those 5 hours spent kayaking was definitely a challenge yet a very fun and adventurous learning experience. 

Leaving the campsite was very difficult due to the amazing memories that the Wellness girls all shared and which we will forever cherish. ~Rivi Saad

Pathfinders Update: Learning About Franchises

Yeshivah of Flatbush students had the opportunity to learn first hand about opening a franchise on a recent Pathfinders Program trip. These students learned about how to obtain permits, the fundamentals of marketing, the importance of branding and more when they visited a soft opening of a nearby franchise. Thank you to Dweck and Bijou families for the opportunity. and thank you Mrs. Rochelle Dweck for chaperoning.

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.