A Student Publication of the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School • 1609 Avenue J, Brooklyn, New York • Vol 52, Issue 3 • December 2017 / 5778
After-School Judaic Classes Prove Popular
New Rediker App Receives Mixed Reviews By Julie Saadia Junior Editor
By Daliah Ben-Ari
The Rediker app debuted two weeks ago, billed as a more user-friendly way for students and parents to access data that can be found on the Plus Portals website. Previously users could keep track of their academics only by visiting a website whose mobile version was difficult to use. As junior Jamie Ashkenazie said, the new app “provides access to my grades, test schedule, and report card simply through the click of a button.” Additionally, the app keeps track of a student’s lunch holds and detentions that need to be served. All that’s needed to access anyone’s account is the code “yofhighschool” and the student’s regular online login information. The new Rediker app is designed to be much more efficient for grade advisors as well, who previously had to manually insert cuts into the system and then e-mail student individually to notify them of their lunch holds. Now students can just check the app and see for themselves what needs to get done, allowing them to monitor their own responsibilities rather than relying on their grade advisors for important updates in their schedule. Some parents appreciate having so much information so accessible. “It makes my life easier,” said a mother with children in both the elementary school and high school. “I don’t have to rely on my daughters reporting back to me for their grades. I can just check it on the app wherever I am.” However, some users argue that the app is not as effective as it is meant to be. Junior Chen Menashe downloaded the app but was disappointed to find that information was missing. “Some teachers don’t upload the grades, so the whole thing is pointless. It’s is just a waste of storage,” Menashe said. Other complaints were focused on the app itself. “It’s slow, it glitches, and doesn’t save my account so I have to sign in every time I re-enter the app,” claimed junior Ezra Faks, and many other students affirm his claim. Some students have not even bothered to download the app at all, feeling comfortable enough with the website itself.
Editor-in-Chief
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In This Issue
Special Feature: Being Ashkenazi at Flatbush Page 3
Students take notes as General Peled and Colonel Kemp answer questions
Global Security Experts Address HS Students By Dorette Dayan School News Editor
Two Yeshivah of Flatbush students, along with 11 other high school journalists from Jewish day schools throughout the Northeast, were invited to attend an exclusive press conference in Manhattan on Sunday, November 5, hosted by Our Soldiers Speak organization featuring Major General Avshalom Peled, Commander of Israeli National Police Academy and Colonel Richard Kemp, Retired Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan. Our Soldiers Speak is an organization that designs curricula in order to educate the future leaders of the Jewish community so they will be able to advocate for Israel on college campuses. It is currently the only organization of its kind that involves active-duty Israeli soldiers. This press conference was established with the intention of furthering an understanding of the IDF’s actions, policies, and role in world events, particularly among leaders in this country’s most impressive high schools, so that they can help inform others. The subject of the briefing was “Countering Terror in the Homeland— Domestic and International Threats.” Driven by questions from the student journalists in attendance, the main focus of the discussion was about “lone wolf ” terrorists—attackers who act on their own rather than being affiliated or instructed by known terrorist groups. General Peled and Colonel Kemp shared their knowledge on how to recognize and prevent lone wolves as well as how to guard against and respond to such attacks.
Entertainment: What to watch on Netflix Page 5
According to General Peled, Israel’s multiple layers of defense begins with operations and tactical methods, which include deploying trained counterterrorism Israeli police to secure the routes of buses and trains. Then, all security personnel congregate in Responsive Joint Command to discuss what further actions must be taken based on the information they have accumulated from all previous attacks in conjunction with all the knowledge that they compiled on the new attacker. General Peled claimed that, “It is almost impossible to win a war without intelligence, and because of intelligence, lone wolf cases are more easily identifiable and can therefore be prevented from beforehand.” For all of this to occur, he explained, police need to be trained in counterterrorism. General Peled is the head of training at Israel’s National Police Academy. He explained the importance of involving the public in addition to trained law enforcement in the fight against terrorism. “The public is the country’s eyes and ears, and they help stop many different terrorist attacks by reporting suspicious activities,” he explained. Colonel Kemp said that, because these attacks are so spontaneous, it’s hard to deter them. However, many of them are acts of the radical Islamic agenda to kill infidels. Kemp explained that the mindset of lone wolves is “to kill as many civilians as possible using any method they can.” Luckily, thanks to Israeli intelligence, many lone wolf attacks are able to be prevented. Yet, in reality, it’s very difficult to monitor everyone, especially in large countries like England and the United States. Therefore,
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The Food Corner: 5 tips to make you an expert Page 6
A recent array of extracurricular Judaism-focused classes, taught by our very own Flatbush faculty, have been attracting many students. These hour-long weeknight classes have been thriving among students, who religiously attend on a weekly basis on top of their usual workload. Teachers such as Rabbi Mizrahi, Ms. Harcsztark, and Rabbi A. Harari have been hosting classes since the start of the school year, some continuing the tradition they began years earlier. One class in particular, taught together by Ms. Harcsztark and Rabbi A. Harari on Tuesday nights at Bnei Yitzchak, delves into a wide range of topics. “We try to take contemporary issues relevant to students’ lives and explore what Halakhah and Jewish tradition have to say about them. Sometimes we will focus on bigger, broader issues, and other times we will focus on narrower practical Halakhic matters,” Ms. Harcsztark explained. Rabbi A. Harari started the Beit Midrash learning program a few years ago, which was initially only open to male students. However, this year the program was expanded so that female students would have equal access to this learning opportunity. What differentiates these specific classes from a typical Judaic Studies class in school is the tone that’s set for the classes. The program is designed to create an engaging and stimulating conversational learning environment about how the world of Torah interacts with our everyday lives. The classes truly grasp the essence of Torah lishma, or learning for the sake of learning, as opposed to the traditional classroom setting, which is required and results in report-card grades. “The clear difference between these
Ms. Harcsztark (top left) at her Tuesday night class
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Sports: The man behind the tournament Page 8 www.theflatbushphoenix.com | 1
Faculty Freshman:
Rabbi Safdieh By Teri Franco Contributing Writer
Rabbi Charles Safdieh is the newest addition to our school’s Judaic Studies departments. He teaches Talmud, Tanakh, and Halakhah to his “inquisitive” freshman and sophomore students. When Rabbi Safdieh was offered an interview to fill in the opening for a new Judaic Studies teacher, he was debating whether to teach in high school or ele-
Alumna Interview:
mentary school. Ultimately, he chose to take the job at our high school because “it sounded intriguing and challenging.” He said he is happy with his decision, and has been enjoying his time here. Rabbi Safdieh is a Flatbush alumnus himself. He attended the Yeshivah of Flatbush from nursery until high school, graduating in 2001. His post-high school education began with a year in Israel, where he learned in Yeshivat Birkat Moshe, a school in Maale Adumim. He then went on to get his BA in History, graduating from CUNY Honors in Brooklyn College in 2005. As far as his teaching career goes, Rabbi Safdieh taught in Barkai Yeshivah for several years prior to his career here at Flatbush. In addition to teaching, Rabbi Safdieh has many skills and interests which keep him busy. For example, he is also a sofer. “I became a sofer in 2008 and graduated from the SRC in 2012,” he said. “I can check tefilin and mezuzot.” In his spare time, you can find Rabbi Safdieh studying or reading history. His additional interests include playing ice hockey and building Lego projects with his children. Rabbi Safdieh looks forward to a successful year with both his students and the faculty. He hopes to give it his all and have an impact on his students. “My goal for this year is to help my students reach their potential; I am only here to help.”
Gabi (Fisch) Gelman (’88) By Robert Adler Contributing Writer
Gabi Gelman, known as Gabi Fisch when she graduated from JBHS in 1988, makes sure to keep in touch with her Flatbush roots despite living 1,000 miles away in Houston, Texas. Currently she is a teacher of Kindergarten Judaics/ Hebrew and Honors Chumash for high school students in Houston, stating that “It’s wonderful to be able to learn and discuss Torah on so many different levels.” When Gelman was in Flatbush, she was involved in the Chesed committee, Flatbush/ Ramaz Seminar, Yachad. She also played on the basketball team, but soon realized that, despite being good at practicing, she wasn’t competitive at all, and so her basketball career ended after sophomore year. “I made some great friends in high school. Some of them I still keep in touch with today,” Gelman said. After high school, Gelman studied in Israel for a gap year at Midreshet Lindenbaum, then attended Stern College double majoring in Psychology and Judaic Studies. After graduating with a BA, Gelman went to NYU and received a Master’s Degree in occupational therapy. In 2003, she moved to Houston and her husband, Rabbi Barry Gelman, became the Rabbi of United Orthodox Synagogues, which is the largest Orthodox synagogue in the Southwestern United States. “I had been doing some teaching in the Shul and the day school here, Robert M. Beren Academy, asked me if I wanted to teach a high school Chumash class. I agreed and then over time, I decided that I was going to shift careers from occupational therapy to Jewish Education.” Inspired, Gelman earned another Master’s Degree, this
Meet a Flatbush Family:
Rose, Mary, and Simon Ftiha
Left to right: Mary, Simon, and Rose
By Jayne Haddad Contributing Writer
Rose and Mary Ftiha, twins in their senior year, have just welcomed a new addition to their “Flatbush Family”: Simon, who joined the high school crowd as a freshman this past September. Before their brother arrived, the Ftiha sisters were known for their perfect handwriting and very similar appearance, even though they’re fraternal. The two are frequently mistaken for each other in the hallways and the classroom by countless teachers. Teachers who teach only one sibling often greet the other one as if she’s their student, but Rose and
Mary respectfully respond as if a mix up never happened. That’s not to say that these star students don’t have a mischievous side. In what sounds like a plot straight from the movies, the girls once switched places for a single period in their sophomore year. Despite the quiet giggling of the class, the teacher was not one bit suspicious of the swap. When the teacher finally realized what had the class in continuous laughter the entire period, he joined in, admitting to the success of the ruse. With Simon in the building now, who knows what other harmless pranks they’ll pull off? Simon said he looks up to his older sisters and is always asking them ques-
The Phoenix Staff Editor-in-Chief: Daliah Ben-Ari Managing Editor: Sylvia Ashkenazie Senior Editors: Mary Jajati, Danielle Ohana School News Editors: Monique Abramson, Dorette Dayan Religion Editor: Danielle Duchan World News Editor: Sharon Chappan Entertainment Editor: Fortune Manopla Music Editor: Brenda Tawil
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tions about how to survive high school. On the first day of school, he asked his sisters, “How do I sign up for double lunch?” The twins said they always are encouraging Simon to follow in their footsteps and take advantage of the school’s programs, sports teams, clubs, and commissions. They also motivate Simon to concentrate on his studies so he can be prepared for finals and Regents. The girls want his high school experience to be successful and beneficial to his future.
Standard of Fabulous Editors: Dubby Sasson, Jessica Vaysman Fun & Games Editor: Aida Hasson Sports Editor: Sam Beyda Junior Editors: Ezra Faks, Esther Hidary, Albert Saad, Julie Saadia Sophomore Editors: Sarah Dagmy, Raquel Silvera Design: Carolina Cohen Faculty Adviser: Adam Hofstetter
time in Jewish Studies from Siegal College. Recently, the Gelmans were directly in the path of hurricane Harvey as it ravaged the greater Houston area. Like countless neighbors, their house was damaged by flood waters, and they have been displaced ever since. However, Gelman was able to turn her family’s hardships into a way to help her suffering community. “During the storm, a woman contacted me and asked if I could share my experiences and feelings during this storm and she would put it on her blog.” Written on the second night of the storm, Gelman’s post on the blog JewishMom attracted the attention of thousands worldwide. “I just sat down at one of the computers in a classroom and quickly put my thoughts down. I did not realize how many people would read what I had written and connect with me about it.” In her widely read post, Gelman bluntly discussed the extent of the damage to her shul and to Houston’s Jewish community. She received a flurry of replies offering support to the battered community, and many readers donated to the shul and the community as a direct result of her blog post. As a teacher of high school students, Gelman often reminisces about her own high school days and uses those memories to be better at her job. She says she does her best to respect her students and encourage them to find what “speaks” to them in the Chumash or commentary. To current Flatbush students, Gelman offers these simple words: “Enjoy your time in high school, even though there are always ups and downs. Experiences that you go through now may seem insignificant now but, as you grow up and go through life, you realize that they do influence you and the person you become.” Rose said, “We want him to have the best four years, and we know he will.” Added Mary, “Having Simon with us this last year of high school is incredible. We love saying ‘Hi’ to him in the halls.” Simon will be on his own next year, but his sisters are giving him a great foundation to navigate Flatbush by himself. And even if they’re not in the building walking the halls with him, Mary and Rose always will be there to support, encourage, and motivate him.
High School Administration Rabbi Raymond Harari, Head of School Rabbi Joseph Beyda, Principal Ms. Sari Bacon, Associate Principal Ms. Esther Hidary, Assistant Principal / Director of Admissions Rabbi Craig Lubner, Assistant Principal
The Joys and Challenges of Being in the Minority By Sam Beyda Junor Editor When Yeshivah of Flatbush was founded in 1927, it was populated almost completely with Ashkenazi students: those whose families trace their lineage back to communities in Eastern Europe, Russia, Germany, and Poland. Ninety years later, due to the movement of much of Brooklyn’s Modern Orthodox Ashkenazi communities to Long Island and New Jersey and the increase in Middle Eastern Jewry in the Brooklyn area, the tables have completely turned: Sephardic students are now an overwhelming majority in the high school. The school’s changing demographics have necessitated obvious changes to the school, such as the makeup of the morning and afternoon minyanim. But there have been more subtle changes as well, especially in the way students interact socially. While the student demographics favor Sepharadim, most students don’t feel like it affects who they surround themselves with. However, this view is much more commonly held by the Sephardic students, as all 17 Sephardic students questioned for this article said they don’t feel a barrier between the communities. Almost all the Ashkenazi students interviewed said they have felt excluded at times. An Ashkenazi student who requested anonymity explained that, while she doesn’t feel like anyone directly treats her differently because of her lineage or traditions, she still feel like an outsider. She says that the Sephardic students “grew up together, everyone knows each other, so it’s kind of hard to break into that kind of community. … I also don’t live in the same area and that definitely makes it harder to be close with them.” Another anonymous Ashkenazi student disagreed, though, saying that in the tight-knit Sephardic
community “it seems like everyone is related. Everyone is family, so making just one friend helps you get to know many other people and they’re all very welcoming.” Avi Mikhli, an Ashkenazi student in 3-HR, also echoed the aspect of familial ties, saying that “in the Sephardic community a lot of people are directly related to one another so they always see their friends at smachot and family meals.” However, Mikhli believes, “it’s not really a big deal.” In school the differences between students is mainly cultural, but outside the building the physical locations of the communities often pose a large obstacle for Ashkenazi students hoping to be in a close group of friends. Perry Sanders of 3-HN says that sometimes it’s hard to make plans with other students because “no one wants to come all the way to ‘Jiddysville’ just to hang out for a little.” In addition, many Ashkenazi students feel that when it comes to chesed projects there are a lot more opportunities for Sephardic students. Many organizations where students volunteer to fulfill their 15 chesed hours each semester are embedded within the Sephardic community. Many students, especially those who cannot drive, go to the Sephardic Community Center on Sundays, yet one Ashkenazi student said she “hadn’t even heard of the SCC until I came to Flatbush,” and because “Sephardic” is in the name of the institution, “almost all of us [Ashkenazim] feel unwelcome there.” Isabel Lin of 4-HN echoed this, saying that she often feels as though she’s missing out on fun chesed opportunities such as the Team SBH Disney Princess HalfMarathon, since it’s run by the Sephardic Bikur Holim. Despite the differences in traditions, neighborhoods, and chesed opportunities, all students interviewed for this article agreed that they feel no real animosity
Extracurricular Judaic Classes continued from page 1
More than 20 boys attended Rabbi Harari’s class on a recent Tuesday
outside classes compared to a regular Tanach class is that there is no pressure here. No one is forced to come; everyone who attends comes because we want to learn,” remarked attendee Rachel Kamkhehji, a senior. The goal of Torah lishma is about making Torah a part of our everyday
lives, something that Ms. Harcsztark and Rabbi Harari value and try to incorporate into their classes in school as well as in the Tuesday night classes. This program aims to highlight that Torah and Jewish tradition have something to say about every realm of life. “As Jews, we are always asking, how can Jewish values, Ha-
between the two sects within the school. Yaron Sternberg of 4-HR believes it’s because “we’re all teenagers, we’re all in high school, we’re all just kids.” Lin agrees, and said that she’s impressed by the way “these different cultures can come together and can embrace each other’s differences and create one cohesive learning environment.” Most students feel the same, according to Sanders, and that, “except for a comment or joke made to stereotype Ashkenazim here and there, everyone’s friendly.” As for stereotypes, it seems that both communities have the same misconceptions about one another. Sternberg believes that most Ashkenazim view the Sephardic—and specifically Syrian—community as being “snobby and exclusive.” Having been surrounded by that community, Sternberg stressed that those stereotypes couldn’t be further from the truth. Another student agrees, calling the stereotypes “nasty, demeaning, and completely untrue.” An anonymous student said that he feels like the biggest stereotype is that Sepharadim picture all Ashkenazim as ultrareligious, which is obviously false. As evidence he points to the higher intermarriage rates in the Ashkenazi community. The relationship between students and teachers mirrors that between the two groups of students. In the Talmud and Torah departments, where there are more Sephardic Rabbis, Ashkenazi students feel like they have the same relationship with teachers that the other students do. The only time they notice a difference is with pronunciation of Hebrew words, as Ashkenazi pronunciation differs majorly from its Sephardic counterpart. Ashkenazi students do feel well represented in Halakah class, where both traditions are taught, and on every quiz “you have to know both sides of the ball,” according to Mikhli. Given the departure of longtime
Flatbush principals Rabbi Levy and Mrs. Sanders, and their replacement with two Sephardic administrators, Rabbi Beyda and Ms. Hidary, few students have expressed concern. However, the biggest complaint involves the Ashkenazi girls’ struggle for minyan independence. All Sephardic girls are given their own minyan to pray to themselves in the morning, but the Ashkenazi girls, up until recently, were forced to pray with the Ashkenazi boys for the entire week. This meant they would get out of minyan significantly later than the Sephardic girls and, as a result, have less time for breakfast. The rule was changed recently, so that the girls have to pray with the boys only on Mondays and Thursdays, Torah-reading days and thus longest days of tefillah. Several Ashkenazi girls are still extremely displeased and would rather have the option to pray among themselves rather than be forced to pray with the boys. However, Rabbi Beyda flipped the issue on its head. “The real issue is that, due to space, the Sephardic girls aren’t given the chance to pray with the boys, an issue we plan to resolve with the construction of our new building,” he said. On academic and athletic teams, curiously enough, Ashkenazim are represented at a much higher rate than they are in the student body as a whole. This holds true for recent Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and Ivy League college acceptances as well. Sternberg attributes this overrepresentation to the determination of the Ashkenazi students. Ultimately, the measure of students’ happiness with the school is whether they’d be willing to send their own children here. To that question, all Ashkenazi students gave the same definitive yes. “I love it here,” said one of them. “I want my kids to have the same opportunity as I do.”
lakhic values, Torah values, shed light on the topics that occupy our minds? This program is an opportunity to answer that question in a different way every week,” Ms. Harcsztark said. Rabbi Harari especially wishes to integrate this learning style into the mindsets of all of Flatbush’s students, stating that “it’s essential for extra learning classes to become part of the high school culture,” which is one of the main reasons it has been featured on the Yeshivah’s Instagram and Facebook accounts so frequently. Rabbi Harari is trying to publicize these classes as effectively as possible to get even more students to attend. Students who attend say they are drawn in because of the spirit of the class. “I like to enrich myself with the Torah and have a deeper understanding of it, and this is a great way to learn while having fun in the process,” explained student Joelle Cohen. The rarity of having class only once a week is also part of the appeal. “If it were to occur even twice a week, I’d be less ex-
cited to go,” Kamkhehji said. Having such accessibility to encourage spiritual growth appeals to students and is essentially what brings students to join in the first place. “Going to these classes are so spiritual and really on another level. I’m glad I could make time in my schedule to fit it in because it’s something good to have,” reported Kamkheji.
New Rediker App continued from page 1
Although many students and parents agree that the app is a positive advancement to the school’s technology resources, most of the students polled rated the app a 6 or 7 out of 10, leaving significant room for improvement. The Rediker app is one of many recent technological improvements introduced by the school’s administration, a list that includes online databases for research, the fingerprint scan-in system, and the distribution of Chromebooks.
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D’var Torah:
Being Active: A Matter of Life or Death By Rebecca Coopersmith Contributing Writer
What can we learn from Joseph’s imprisonment that can help save our lives? It all depends on how you interpret a couple of dreams. Parashat Vayeshev tells the saga of the sale of Joseph and his imprisonment in Pharaoh’s household. While in prison, Joseph famously meets two of Pharaoh’s workers, his cupbearer and chief baker. According to Rashi, the cupbearer was imprisoned because of a fly in Pharaoh’s wine, while the chief baker was imprisoned because of a stone in Pharaoh’s bread. While in prison, they both have strange dreams that they are unable to interpret. So whom do they turn to but our hero, Joseph? The cupbearer is the first to have a strange dream. He dreams that he squeezes grapes, taken from a vine with three branches, for the Pharaoh. Joseph interprets this dream as a sign that the cupbearer will be freed in three days’ time and return to his previous position in Pharaoh’s household. The second dream is dreamt by Pharaoh’s chief bak-
er. In his dream, he carries three baskets of bread for Pharaoh on his head while birds eat from the baskets. Joseph deciphers from this that the chief baker will be executed in three days. It all seems pretty magical—like something out of a fairy tale. Dream interpretation? Birds? Bread? How does Joseph make sense of it all? If we look a little closer, even we mere mortals who are not at Joseph’s level can see a major difference between the two dreams. In the first dream, Pharaoh’s cupbearer is actively preparing the cup of wine, whereas, in the second dream, Pharaoh’s chief baker is passive as the birds come and eat the bread. Thus we can infer that we only are truly living when we are participating actively in life. If we merely sit around waiting for things to get done, we’re moving backward. So that paper you’ve been waiting to finish? That person you’ve been waiting to make friends with? Go do it. Be active, not passive. You can achieve something great, or you can watch as birds eat your bread and Pharaoh sentences you to death. The choice is yours.
Zimbabwe Regime Change Provides Few Answers By Sharon Chappan World News Editor
After 37 years of authoritarian rule, Robert Mugabe resigned as president of Zimbabwe on November 21. His previous vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, was sworn in as the country’s new president three days later. Mugabe had been ruling Zimbabwe since the country gained independence from England in 1980. He was “reelected” several times, though he often had no opponent, and when he did the elections were tainted by with accusations of voter intimidation and election fraud. At age 93, he was the world’s older leader. Recent tension started because Mugabe fired Mnangagwa, in an apparent attempt to have Mugabe’s wife inherit power when he dies. Mugabe was suspended from the ZANU-PF party, a party he’s led for over four decades. When Mugabe refused to step down, the Parliament began to impeach him. At the same time, the Zimbabwe military stepped in and placed Mugabe under house arrest, temporarily taking control of the country. On November 22, the speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, announced that Mugabe would leave office immediately. Mugabe said he would be stepping down “for the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe and the need for a peaceful transfer of power.” As word began to spread, the people of Zimbabwe flooded the streets, cheering, and shouts, cries, and the honking of cars were heard all around Zimbabwe. One citizen, Perseverance Sande, said, “It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to Zimbabwe. I’ve been waiting so long for this moment.” Mugabe was known to enrich himself and his associates while failing to im-
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prove his country’s infrastructure. Frequent cholera outbreaks due to a lack of clean drinking water and adequate medical treatment killed many thousands of Zimbabweans under Mugabe’s rule. The United States State Department expressed its desire for a “new era” in Zimbabwe. Within the country, many Zimbabwe citizens called Mugabe’s resignation a “second independence day.” A judge on Zimbabwe’s High Court ruled that the military’s actions were legal and did not amount to a military coup, and that Mugabe’s firing of Mnangagwa was unlawful. The opposition party in Zimbabwe, the MDC, called for a transition from an authoritarian political system to a semi-democracy. Many citizens were disappointed by the choice to install Mnangagwa as Mugabe’s replacement, expressing doubt that the rule of Mugabe’s former vice president would look much different from that of the dictator himself. However, most Zimbabweans seems to agree that whatever is to come will be better than the dictatorship of Robert Mugabe.
Global Security Experts Address Students continued from page 1
Colonel Kemp said, in order to prevent an increasing number of terrorists or possible terrorists entering the country, the British deport suspicious noncitizens and their families, despite the risk of the deportees being tortured upon return to their original homeland. British forces also attempt to get dangerous people off the streets by sending them to prison. Fortunately, though, Britain has the advantage of the English Channel separating it from the rest of Europe, which helps to regulate those who enter since immigrants can’t simply walk over the border like they can in many other countries. Colonel Kemp also mentioned that, rather than allowing immigrants into their country, “Britain attempts to improve their home situations first” by intervening in countries such as Syria to help with local humanitarian crises. General Peled agreed that many lone wolf attackers have been motivated from a young age by extremist Islamic teachings and even moreso from social media.
Israel surveils potential attackers and has a significant budget dedicated to detecting radical Islamic social media propaganda, both in terms of its origin and its audience. He stressed the importance of this surveillance because, as he stated, “From those Muslims who follow it, out of them will come the next lone wolf.” Additionally, General Peled said that merely visiting problematic countries is often grounds for arrest. For example, if someone leaves Israel to go to Syria and returns, that person is automatically arrested. Furthermore, when the secret service suspects someone of being a potential lone wolf, they can petition the court to arrest and detain the suspect for up to six months, despite a lack of evidence. This puts the democratic states of Israel and Britain in a difficult spot in the public’s eyes due to the possible violation of individual freedoms. “It’s not easy to fight terrorism in a democracy, because terrorists are not democratic,” General Peled said.
Entertainment What to Watch on By Brenda Tawil and Fortune Manopla Entertainment Editors
TELEVISION SHOWS: Stranger Things: If you haven’t yet jumped on the Stranger Things bandwagon, it’s time. The Duffer brothers’ thrilling drama about a haunted, nightmarish small town left viewers hooked after season one, and the second season has returned with resounding success. A new girl named Max comes to town, changing the dynamic of the all-boys Losers Club, and while Nancy and Jonathan are out seeking justice for Barb, Steve takes the boys under his wing in a comical, good-natured twist. Authenticity drips from the acting as well as the details: everything from the star-studded soundtrack to the Ghostbusters Halloween costumes screams the ‘80s. Additionally, the children of the cast seem to have matured since their season one glory days. Their battle has been elevated from mere monster-fighting to a full-fledged war, one you most definitely don’t want to miss. Sherlock: From the lauded works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle comes an Emmy-winning BBC masterpiece of mystery and intrigue. Eccentric Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a brilliant sleuth and possibly a “high-functioning sociopath,” as he so bluntly describes himself. He’s a wonderfully crafted character and a fascinating flatmate, as can be attested by Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman), Sherlock’s often clueless partner. Together the two prowl the streets of London solving the most baffling puzzles; we are the dubious Dr. Watson, struggling to keep pace with Sherlock, stumbling over clues we never would’ve spotted. The acting is phenomenal, and you’ve never seen anyone more psychotic than the diabolical Moriarty, Sherlock’s nemesis (debatably barring Heath Ledger’s Joker). Be warned, though: the episodes are roughly an hour and a half each, and there are only 3-4 episodes per season. Watch this show, even if only for Sherlock’s wry humor or for the golden moments when he reveals his thought process. Or even just for the accents. Jessica Jones: She’s an unlikely superheroine. She absolutely loathes the human race; she’s a private eye with odd neighbors and a broken-down apartment/office, and she is gifted (or cursed) with super strength. But most important, she’s authentic. Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) won’t give you any speeches on being righteous. She doesn’t want to save the world—she can hardly tolerate it. But she meets Luke Cage (the main character from Luke Cage), a serene but broken bartender who lost his wife, and Jones realizes that she has more in common with Cage than she initially understood. He has special abilities as well; together and then separately they do what they can to salvage New York. They do good, even if Jessica, who suffers from PTSD, won’t readily admit it. A Netflix original
spin-off of Daredevil, a more traditional superhero television show, Jessica Jones should certainly be added to your Netflix list. Clad in a hoodie or leather jacket, she’ll save the day, tossing sarcastic remarks into the air and shamelessly insulting people as she does. Look out for season two, scheduled to come out sometime in 2018. The Get Down: Plunge into the exhilarating world of ’70s hip-hop with Baz Luhrmann’s The Get Down. Best known for The Great Gatsby (2013), Luhrmann has recreated the retro-cool South Bronx district that served as the setting for the birth of modern hip-hop. Grandmaster Flash (Mamoudou Athie), based on the real-life DJ of the same name, mentors The Get Down Brothers, a group of boys each seeking to become an artist in his own right. Zeke (Justice Smith) spits epic, poetic raps; Shaolin Fantastic (Shameik Moore) spins and mixes records; Dizzee (Jaden Smith) sprays graffiti on subway cars; and Mylene (Herizen Guardiola), the show’s gritty heroine, belts out soaring vocals. None of these characters are satisfied until they’ve made their marks on their crumbling South Bronx world, and they’ve no doubt succeeded. The refreshingly original plot and the quintessentially Luhrmann soundtrack make for a show that shouldn’t go unwatched. MOVIES: The Prestige: Christopher Nolan delivers a wonderfully perplexing film revolving around two rival magicians, each determined to outsmart the other in an attempt to dominate the business and master the most treacherous of tricks. The cast is outstanding: Robert Angier (magician #1) is played by Hugh Jackman, and Alfred Borden (magician #2) by Christian Bale. Michael Caine is Cutter, a sort of mentor to them both. Piper Perabo and Scarlett Johansson both play magician’s assistants, and Rebecca Hall is Sarah Borden, Alfred’s wife. Even David Bowie appears masked as Nikola Tesla to aid Angier in his quest to perform Borden’s most coveted illusion, the Transported Man. Once partners, the two magicians bitterly split after a trick gone horribly wrong. But what one man has the other pursues; Angier is the better showman, Borden the better magician. Their feud escalates to obsession, destroying not only their careers but their lives. Cutter introduces the movie with the following words: “Now you’re looking for the secret … but you won’t find it, because of course you’re not really looking. You don’t really want to know. You want to be fooled.” Maybe he’s right. This is one of the most complex movies you’ll ever view; you’ll get tangled in the battle of illusions. When the film concludes you’ll finally understand the genius of Christopher Nolan: the movie itself is an
this Season illusion—the way it’s filmed, the distorted sequence of events, and how Nolan selects what to make obvious and what to disguise. This is one you’ll rewatch immediately after finishing, because every detail matters, because you’re searching for the secret … but are you really looking? Dead Poets Society: Robin Williams breathes the life into English class as teacher John Keating in Dead Poets Society. The film follows Keating’s quest to embolden his students to move past the restrictions placed on them by their school and parents, to defend their beliefs, and most important, to seize the day. Williams’ brilliance as an actor is on full display. The charisma and free-spirited attitude he brings to his character inspire the viewer through the screen, not just the students in his classroom. One of the film’s most notable scenes is Keating’s success in breaking introvert Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke) out of his shell: Todd delivers a Whitmanesque poem in a spur-of-the-moment performance in front of the class, revealing the insight and depth he’s always held inside. Each character gets his own chance to “sound his barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world,” to quote Whitman, and in different ways, they’re all heard. Dead Poets Society is not only one of the best films on Netflix, but also one of the best films of all time. The Sixth Sense: Through the perspective of child psychologist Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) we meet timid Cole (Haley Joel Osment), a young boy plagued by visits from spirits. M. Night Shyamalan presents a supernatural horror film that (finally) isn’t a discordant cliché, a macabre work that is as often heartwarming as it is heartbreaking. In Osment’s memorable “I see dead people” monologue, he describes the ghostlike characters that torment him, appearing as they did when they died. But they don’t know they’re dead, and they only see what they want to see, and they strip away Cole’s comfort and sanity and courage until he hesitantly places his trust in Dr. Crowe, one of the only people who doesn’t see Cole as “troubled” and delusional. A shocking end to the film—one of the best twists of all time—alters the purpose of the characters and warps the plot into a multilayered work of intricacy. Shyamalan juxtaposes the wonders and tragedies of life with the missions and unfinished business of the dead in the extraordinary movie, blending our perceived reality with our fears and blurring the boundary between existing and cognizance, vitality and lifelessness. Zodiac: David Fincher takes on one of the most notorious unsolved cases in history: that of the Zodiac killer. Based on true events, the film follows the manhunt for the infamous serial killer who roamed Northern California. Jake Gyllenhaal portrays Robert Graysmith, a political cartoonist turned amateur detective who was working at the San Francisco Chronicle during the Zodiac’s killing spree. Out of fascination, the real Graysmith researched extensively and published
Zodiac, a nonfiction book of facts and conjectures, the basis for the film of the same name. Mark Ruffalo plays SFPD Inspector David Toschi, and Robert Downey, Jr. is Paul Avery, the San Francisco Chronicle journalist who covered the Zodiac case. The first letter arrived at The San Francisco Examiner in July of 1969. It contained a coded message: “I like killing people because it’s so much fun.” Following that came a number of letters, bizarre statements, and demented threats, all from the Zodiac, all with demands to be published in the paper, creating a gripping storyline that appears too outlandish to be historical. DOCUMENTARIES:
The Sixties: What’s so special about a decade, you ask? Just about everything. This 10-episode documentary series will leave you wanting more before you even realize you’ve finished it. Believe it or not, the ’60s was arguably a more politically tumultuous time than today’s Trump era. It was revolutionary in every way, from television’s emergence as a true form of entertainment to The Beatles and Bob Dylan to the Civil Rights movement, setting the foundations for a counterculture that would blossom and flourish for years to come. This documentary will guide you through the decade’s most impactful moments, giving you a sense of what it was like to live through events like JFK’s assassination and the renewed rise of feminism. The Sixties takes a watershed moment in American history and spins it into an utterly enjoyable form of entertainment, all while educating you in the process. The Stanford Prison Experiment: A psychology experiment turns sinister for 24 college students participating in what appeared to be a harmless study. Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s psychological thriller—based on true events—explores the boundaries of human nature and how a game of make-believe can become horribly real to those involved. Funded by the U.S. Office of Naval Research, Stanford University professor Dr. Philip Zimbardo arranged for a section of the school to be transformed into a makeshift prison and split the participant pool: 12 students were instructed to act as guards, the remaining dozen as prisoners. The goal was to examine changes in their behavior. But quickly the guards become abusive and the prisoners begin to break, and, surprisingly, even the conductors of the experiment start to transform frighteningly. As a movie, this concept is alarming. As reality, it is terrifying.
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Fun & Games
Dear Merle, I was talking to my friend in the staircase and everyone started yelling at me. I don’t know why but this keeps happening to me. Why is everyone so upset? I’m just trying to have a conversation. Confused Dear Confused, You’re clearly a freshman. Let me make something clear: staircases are used for travel. Since the Flatbush staircases are particularly narrow, which makes travel to different floors difficult even without you holding up the entire
The Food Corner
Dear Merle, My best friend is having a party for her birthday but I have an essay due the next day. If I miss it she’ll be upset because she always does things for my birthday. Do I skip the party? Stay home and write the essay? How do I do both? Conflicted Dear Conflicted, Go to the party and take your essay with you. When no one’s looking, find a place you can hide (like the bathroom or a dark corner) and write. If you still haven’t finished, you can continue during breakfast (and lunch assuming that the class is after lunch) and print it in the library. Or you can go back in time and do both. Whichever is easier, Merle
By Hannah Hasson
5 Easy Tips and Tricks That Will Make You a Food Expert: 1. Craving warm chocolate chip cookies after a long day? Make one batch of cookie dough on the weekend and keep the raw balls of dough in the freezer. When you get home from school pop one in the toaster oven at 350, and you have a fresh cookie! 2. Want to bake, but your butter/ margerine isn’t softened? Grate it on a cheese grater for a better result. 3. Using a boxed cake mix that always turns out dry? Substitute butter or margarine for the oil, milk for the water, and add one more egg than the recipe calls for.
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4. Eating a messy cupcake? Tear the cupcake in half horizontally. Then flip the top half over so that the frosting is facing down, and sandwich your cupcake with the frosting in the middle. Now you have an even amount of frosting with each bite! 5. Having trouble opening a banana? Flip it around! Open the banana from the bottom like the experts (monkeys) do. Did you know? Bananas are berries! They stem from one flower with one ovary and have several seeds— the definition of a berry.
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Dear Hot and Cold, Your best option is to wear a light shirt for the heat, and keep a sweater in your locker or backpack. You can also bring a portable fan to school to keep you cool in the hot rooms. Merle
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Dear Falling Through, As I used to sit on the bleachers myself, I know the struggle. But I can tell you that I have never once permanently lost anything to the so-called black hole. How, you may ask? Tall friends. Your number one goal right now is to befriend the tallest person in your grade (other grades work too, though—we don’t discriminate here). When something falls under the bleachers, all you have to do is say, “Oh no! My [insert item] fell down there! [Insert name of tall friend], what should I do?” At this point your friend will kindly offer to retrieve it for you and voila, no more lost items! You‘re welcome, Merle
Dear Merle, Every classroom in the school is a different temperature and I’m having such a hard time finding the right clothes to be comfortable in all day. What do I wear? Hot and Cold
What’s your favorite part of The Phoenix?
Sch ool
Dear Merle, I always sit on the bleachers with my friends during breakfast and somehow my things always fall through! I’ve lost a lot of good stuff down there. I don’t want to move our breakfast spot, but I also don’t want to lose any more stuff. What’s the best method for retrieving items lost to the black hole under the bleachers? Falling Through
Student Survey
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staircase. You might think that you’re just having a conversation, but you are causing all the students above and below you to be late for class, which can have dire consequences depending on the teacher. My advice: start getting in the habit of having conver- sations anywhere else. Yours truly, Merle
Mysteries of Flatbush By Danielle Duchan and Jessica Vaysman Friendly Local Conspiracy Theorists
Yeshivah of Flatbush may seem like your mundane, run-of-themill school. But if you look deeper into the workings of our fine institution, mystery lurks around every corner. Luckily, your friendly local conspiracy theorists are here to guide you through the inner workings of the labyrinth that is Flatbush. One of the major mysteries that’s been looming over the school this year is why Coding is now being offered as an option for the freshmen in addition to Spanish. While the school claims it’s because a background in STEM skills such as coding will prepare students for future careers, could the true reason be the school’s top-secret plans to build a robot army, coded by students? Another curiosity is the move of Music Appreciation from sophomore to senior year. Perhaps the school is finally cracking down on those lazy seniors, via Beethoven and Bach? But what about mysteries within the building itself? Why was the Sephardic Beit Midrash converted into the guidance offices? Is the school trying to gradually return to its Ashkenaz-majority roots? Or is this part of Rabbi Kramer’s plan to corner the minyan market? Then we move to something that keeps students up at night every finals season. It’s not the
crushing weight of finals stress, nor is it existential dread. Instead, students are left wondering every year why the office becomes off-limits to students during finals. Could it be because the office becomes the secret faculty finals season party headquarters? Or is it simply because the faculty stands around in there, laughing maniacally over their evil test questions? But the biggest mystery of all doesn’t lie within the curriculum or the building, but within our beloved faculty and teachers. Who are they really, underneath the cheery smiles and evil test questions? Everyone knows Mr. Rothbort lives by a van down by the river and enjoys zipping around on his energy-efficient moped in his free time. But from where does he get all his jokes? Could they be part of his act that he performs three times a week at underground comedy clubs? Is he part of a secret pun society, with complex initiation rituals? Inquiring minds want to know... While Mr. Engel claims he gets his sweaters from “his closet,” we know that his closet is in fact the sheep farm where he lives. He personally harvests the wool himself and employs a staff of small elves to weave them into the iconic sweaters we know and love. Lastly, we’ve all seen Mr. Lazar zipping into school in his long coat and fedora. Could Mr. Lazar be that famous explorer, Indiana Jones? We hope the theories we’ve posited have been helpful in demystifying Flatbush. We leave you with some food for thought: Why are there two Chanies?
Standard of Fabulous Winter Skincare By Sharon Chappan
Celia Banbahji
World News Editor
Contributing Editor
Winter is coming, but that doesn’t have to mean dry skin. In the winter the cold air strips skin of its moisture. To prevent dry skin this winter, you should swap your moisturizer for a thicker one. If you have dry skin you should try First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Cream Intense Therapy. If you have normal or combination skin, you should try Belif ’s The True Cream moisturizing bomb. If you have an excessive amount of oil in your skin, you should try Clinique’s Dramatically Different moisturizing lotion. If you crave even more moisture, use a serum with vitamin C at night before you go to bed to add extra moisture and brightness. Try Ole Hendriksen’s Truth Serum; though on the pricey side, it works better than anything else.
Fashion Trends of the Year Sarit Alkaada
If there is one thing that stays the same with fashion, it’s that it always changes! As the years progress, new styles and trends begin to thrive, while others start to fade away. Here is a breakdown of all the latest fashion trends of the 2017 Yeshivah of Flatbush high school year. • Whether it’s the end of a long day or the beginning of a gym class, reaching for your hair tie seems like your only option. Scrunchies are loose and smooth elastic hair ties that deal less aggressively with your hair and provide better care. They’re not only limited to tying your hair, but also are great accessories to wear around your wrist when they aren’t in use. Stores such as TopShop, Urban Outfitters, and Etsy sell trendy scrunchies in packs. • Glasses are back in! Finding the appropriate glasses for your needs has a very important role in protecting your eyes and vision. Although eyeglasses were often hidden by contact lenses in previous years, this year many embrace them. The glasses that are trending this year are the DC143 pair from the “decaprio” collec-
Remembering Azzedine Alaïa
tion in Capri Optics. These fashionable glasses range from about $80 to $100. • As for the footwear, Adidas are slowly beginning to fade away, their replacement being Vans’ “off the wall” Sk8- Hi sneakers. These sneakers provide durable comfort and support, while still managing to keep you looking stylish. The shoes r a n g e from $60 to $70. •Although Adidas footwear is beginning to fade, its sweatshirts certainly aren’t. Sweatshirts are trending more than ever, predominantly from companies such as Adidas, Brandy Melville, Champion, and Fila. You can spot many wearing the Adidas Trefoil Logo Hoodie in all colors. This hoodie costs about $65. Furthermore, while Brandy Melville always has been a popular site for a variety of sweatshirts, two specific types stand out. The Brandy Melville Erica Honey Embroidery sweatshirt is a bright yellow pullover, perfect for school days that need a little brightening up. A second popular pick is the white Jayden sweater. This sweater has two red horizontal lines sandwiching one wide blue one. Once again, stripes have proven to be the latest style— it’s hard to keep away from them. Both Brandy Melville sweatshirts cost $35. Moreover, Fila and Champion sweatshirts are just beginning to thrive, but they certainly are pervading the halls quickly. Many are found wearing the Fila Newton sweatshirt and the Champion reverse-weave pullover sweatshirt. So, if you’re deciding to go on another shopping spree with your friends or family, check out these stores for the latest looks! You might even find new styles and start your own trend!
Azzedine Alaïa, one of the greatest fashion designers of the 20th and 21st centuries, passed away on November 18 due to a sudden heart attack. He was known and worn by famous female figures such as Michelle Obama and Lady Gaga. Why was he so special? Alaïa was known for his uniqueness and how he never followed what everyone else was doing. He also never released his new work at the same time as everyone else, making people want to see it more. He believed that the fashion system has corrupted the power of creativity of fashion around the world. Alaïa dedicated his life to the belief that fashion was more than just pieces of clothing, they’re art and a huge element in the empowerment of women everywhere. Alaïa became interested in art and design at a young age. “I was helping Madame Pinot, a midwife who helped in giving birth to my whole family,” he
recalled in an interview with the fashion magazine The Ground in 2011. “I told her that I liked to draw. She gave me books, pamphlets to art exhibitions, and my first book of Picasso.” He later attended the school of fine arts in Tunis. Alaïa started working at a small boutique making dresses. Next to the boutique there was a palace where wealthy girls would always look over their balcony watching him walk in and out of the boutique. One day, they decided to invite him over and he was able to meet with their wealthy cousins who had connections to Dior and other famous designer companies. He then moved to Paris to work with Dior in 1957. Alaïa was an extremely hard worker. He always paid attention to the extreme detail of a garment and rarely took breaks for weekends or vacations. He rarely even used machines—all was done with his hands. It’s a tragedy that we have lost such a great and unique designer, but his name will always be remembered and honored.
Fashion Fact: Eyeliner became popular after its discovery in King Tutankhamun’s tomb in the 1920s
Fashion Challenge If you can figure out who wore this outfit you can win $1,000! Just kidding, there’s no money. But you can win a shoutout in the next issue! If you think you’ve figured it out, send an e-mail to standardoffabulous@ gmail.com with your guess, name, and class. Good luck! May the odds be ever in your favor.
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Sports Who Is Thomas Hausdorff A”H? By Jack H. Dweck Contributing Writer
The Thomas Hausdorff A”H Memorial Tournament is an annual basketball tournament hosted by the Yeshivah of Flatbush. For the last 21 years, Flatbush has invited three other schools to compete for the chance to be crowned Hausdorff Champions. But why do we have this tournament? Who was the man it’s named after, and why was he so special? Thomas Hausdorff came to Flatbush as a general studies principal in 1989. He was instantly taken into the Flatbush family, befriending many teachers and students alike. Although he came into Flatbush primarily as an administrator, he was able to apply his experience as a
“Freshman 4” Face Early Struggles By Betty Greenberg Contributing Writer
This year, the girls Junior Varsity basketball team is mostly made up of freshmen, including four out of the five starting players. As a result, the team is having a little trouble adjusting to the high school level of play. “The new freshman have brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the team. They have a desire to learn and continually improve that has pushed not only themselves, but the sophomores as well,” said Coach Rozan Mizrahi. “It’s different in high school because now it’s more advanced and more serious. It’s also different that we practice with the varsity.” Starting freshman Marcy Ashear said, “I was expecting this only because Rozan was my coach before, but I feel like, for the people who didn’t have Rozan as their coach before, they probably had no clue what was going to happen. The biggest obstacle is losing games. It’s very hard to lose games when you try so hard to win.” Stephanie Mugrabi, another one of the starting “Freshman Four,” believes that “it’s different in high school from elementary because we are with older grades, and we have to work much harder than we had to before to achieve the same goal. I wasn’t expecting this because I didn’t know we would practice so much with older grades, and it’s hard because we’re the youngest. Our biggest obstacle in winning it all is that we are always too scared on the court and it shows, and it also makes us make mistakes.” So far, the team’s record is 1-3, but the players know what they have to do to make the season successful. Most of the girls on the team have never played with each other, so it definitely has been a major adjustment for them. They need to learn how to play and work together to achieve their goal. The girls are going to have to work hard and practice a lot, but they are all confident that they will make it to the playoffs.
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longtime educator to help his students and teachers thrive. Ms. Kaplowitz, who worked closely with Mr. Hausdorff, stated that he was “forward thinking, with great ideas for moving Flatbush forward as a school, but never forgot to be a teacher. It’s very important to have an understanding of how it is to be a teacher, in order to help both students and teachers more effectively.” This mindset allowed Mr. Hausdorff to connect with teachers and students on a deeper level, thus allowing students to maximize their potential. “He cared about every student, constantly bringing attentiveness and was always sensitive toward their needs,” Rabbi Prag explained. The care that Mr. Hausdorff had for them had a lasting impact on his students. Jeffrey Dweck, a Flatbush JBHS alumnus from the class of 1991, remembers Mr. Hausdorff fondly, saying, “He always came to school excited and ready to learn, and it really showed in the way he was able to teach us.” Mr. Hausdorff had a love for the pursuit of learning, and it was a shock when he suddenly passed in 1994. Dr. Wolowelsky explained that Mr. Hausdorff ’s “secular professionalism, emunah and Jewish intellect, and commitment to the school was above all others. He was constantly
striving for excellence in all he stood for, and his sudden death was a shock to the students and faculty.” Mr. Hausdorff was remembered in the 1996 YOF yearbook in a letter to the great teacher. The graduates stated their love for him and thanked him for all he had done to help them succeed in high school. The memorial read, “Thank you for all of those spontaneous visits during class time, and for your insights on everything from our transcripts to A Tale of Two Cities to the Torah Shebaal Peh. The extent of your secular as well as religious knowledge and intellect was highly inspiring, and proved to be enlightening.” The widely expressed love for Mr. Hausdorff inspired the administration to start an event in memory of all that Mr. Hausdorff achieved in his time at Flatbush and throughout his life. Thus the Thomas Hausdorff A”H Memorial Basketball Tournament was born. The tournament is run by our own Athletic Department, led Coach Mike Gelber and Mr. Eric Amkraut. Each of them put immense amounts of work and effort into the tournament, ensuring its success. Coach Gelber and Mr. Amkraut garner excitement among the students and faculty for this tournament every year, enabling the tournament to thrive
Sportsman Spotlight: Sol Laniado Laniado drops back to pass
By Sol Franco Contributing Writer
Sol Laniado, 3-S, has become one of the biggest names in the Flatbush sports community. Laniado is well known for his deep-rooted passion for Flatbush Athletics and his familial ties to the department. Due to the recent increase in teams such as football and ice hockey, Laniado very well may be the first athlete to play four sports for the Falcons. He plays goalie for the hockey team, centerfield for the baseball team, quarterback for the flag football team, and is a defenseman for the ice hockey club. Laniado wears the number 1 for each team, yet a championship has evaded him in all four. This year might be a bit of a problem, as he has a foot injury that will keep him out of hockey all season. He remains hopeful for his upcoming senior season, saying, “Not being able to play hockey this year is tough, but hopefully I will come back bigger and stronger than ever.”
As for ice hockey, Laniado declared the team’s inaugural season a triumph. “Last year we played a few ice hockey games vs. other schools and competed in a tournament. It was a success and a lot of fun for all of us.” Additionally, Laniado is the quarterback and leader of the Falcon’s first-ever flag football team. He believes, “the football team is a great addition to Flatbush athletics. A lot of students in the school love to play and watch football. What’s special about the team is that every time we all step on the field, win or lose, we know we had a great time before it even started.” Laniado always has idolized the prolific NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and sees this team as an ability to further his representation of him on and off the field. “The way he plays on the field and the way he expresses himself is unbelievable. His character is like no other,” Laniado explained. Magically, Laniado mimicked Rodgers’s greatest plays last week as he threw
Mr. Hausdoff in his playing days (top), and in 1989
as it has for the last 21 years. This tournament has helped keep Mr. Hausdorff ’s great legacy alive—a legacy of Torah, good midot, and great intellect—and he will never be forgotten. a 40-yard Hail Mary touchdown as time expired for a win over YDE. On 4th down with 19 seconds left, Laniado threw the pass in perfect Rodgers fashion to Jack L. Benun for the touchdown and win. “When that ball left my hand, I got knocked to the ground. I looked up, saw it in the air, watched it fall and get caught. I looked right at the ref and saw his two hands go up. From there I don’t remember what happened. I spaced out due to happiness.” And, yet, as spring is creeping closer, Sol is looking to continue his athletic success on the baseball diamond. In last year’s Columbus Invitational Baseball Tournament, Laniado put on a show with 8 hits and 7 RBIs in the tournament. “I felt really good those couple of days. Really seeing the ball well and squaring the bat up was key for my success.” Laniado is always looking for a team win. “I’m just trying to help the team and my teammates win. I’m looking for ways to do that every time I go out and play.” He drove in two runs in a playoff loss to MTA. “It was a tough loss but it just shows that this this team and I have to put in more work than last year. More practices and more time in the cages and we’ll be good,” he said. He will compete for this year’s gold glove as he makes impossible catches look routine in centerfield. Laniado always is looking for more ways to advance his game, and when baseball starts up again he hopes to pick up right where he left off. “I am very excited about this upcoming season and I will work twice as hard to hang a banner on the walls I look at every day.” His ultimate goal is to bring a championship to Flatbush. Echoing his idol’s famous words, R-E-L-A-X. Laniado said, “Relax, we will get it soon.”