The Phoenix 2022-2023 Issue 4

Construction will soon swallow several classrooms, sending students outside

By Esther Shemia Junior Editor

Inconveniences due to the ongoing renovations of the old school building are about to get much worse.

Beginning in mid-March, the first floor of the building, on the east side, will be under construction. Additionally, renovations of the old classrooms will start during Pesach break, rendering several classrooms unusable for months at a time, Rabbi Galpert confirmed. Rather than working floor by floor, the construction crew “will be working vertically on the classrooms,” Rabbi Galpert explained, meaning that a few classrooms on each floor will be renovated at the same time.

Specifically, the first three or four classrooms on the eastern end of each floor (rooms 201, 301, 401, etc.) will be unusable from mid-April through the end of the school year, Rabbi Galpert confirmed.

By September, those rooms should be fully renovated and the westernmost rooms will be unavailable, and then even-

tually the middle strip of rooms.

The loss of these classrooms will relocate many classes to various locations such as outside on the patio and even in Touro College.

The longer walk to get to classes in other buildings will undoubtedly affect students’ ability to get to their classes on time. When asked if students will be held to a strict standard of punctuality, Rabbi Galpert said that “the administration will be flexible given the circumstances.”

Construction in the basement and sub-basement, as well as in the stairwells, has already been affecting students and faculty for months. Among other challenges, many lockers have been relocated, which junior Shelly Shaoul called “extremely inconvenient. The fact that I have to go through the whole Commons to get to my locker is very frustrating.”

Students with classes on the fourth floor came back from winter break to classrooms with no ceilings. Junior Susan Gindi mentioned that one of her classrooms has had an echo since the ceiling tiles were removed. She expressed her

Dust affecting students’ and teachers’ health

annoyance, explaining that “the echo … gives me a huge headache.”

Additionally, navigating the Commons during lunchtime has become much more difficult since lunch was relocated due to construction in the main gym. And then there is the smell.

Even faculty members are struggling with this arrangement, and especially the smell. “The teacher’s room is all the way down, and [the smell is] just in my face. It’s unbearable on certain days,” said Rabbi Blumenthal.

But they do understand that these are growing pains and are very excited for the result. Ms. Bloom, whose mold asthma has made it difficult to deal with the dust at times, acknowledged that “it’s a short term disruption but something better is coming and I’m looking forward to that.”

Meanwhile, Chani Guttman, who runs the relocated “cafeteria,” is enjoying the change immensely. She loves being around the student body on the first floor and happily stated that “sales are going up.”

Multimedia studio now open

By Jacqueline Halabi Junior Editor

The Multimedia Studio in the new building’s sub-basement has officially opened to students and faculty after being under construction for the entirety of the first semester.

The versatile space consists of a production studio filled with high-quality musical instruments and equipment, a media room with a baby grand piano, space for the freshman Music Technology and Appreciation course, and a recording studio between the two larger rooms. The freshman Drama/Improv course is set to be held in the production studio as well.

According to Rabbi Galpert, these spaces will be utilized as well by most of the music extracurriculars in school,

such as choir, band, orchestra, and Lunch ’N Listen for practices. Students will also have the opportunity to explore the studio during its open hours every Friday, supervised and advised by the elementary school choir director, Ricky Sasson.

The space was constructed specifical-

ly to function as a professional studio. Rabbi Galpert explained, “The spaces were created with music in mind, which means enhanced soundproofing and state-of-the-art, professional-grade recording equipment.” How much did all this cost? “A lot,” Rabbi Galpert stated. “Hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

“The recording studio actually has a vocal booth, all the way in. That’s where you could record your voice: podcasts, songs, anything,” said Director of Music Programming Ms. Janet Pichotto. According to Rabbi Galpert, some students have already approached the administration about starting their own podcast. Rabbi Galpert explained that,

continued on page 6

By Isaac Dweck Senior Editor

Since renovations on the old building intensified over winter break, many students and teachers have begun to feel the effects of an increased amount of dust in the air, making it harder for them to learn, teach, or even breathe.

Especially on days when the construction dust is visible in the air, many people in the building with asthma or otherwise sensitive respiratory systems have been struggling. “It’s honestly been difficult,” said a frustrated student who asked to remain anonymous. “I have some classes that I haven’t been able to go to since the start of the semester. I really don’t know how I’m going to navigate learning the material or really making up the work. The administration has not been so helpful or productive. They said to wear a mask, which I tried, along with taking medicine. However, it hasn’t helped. I haven’t been able to go to gym or SAFE, and no one has tried to accommodate.”

This student is not alone in their feelings. A different student who has asthma stated, “It’s very hard for me to breathe on the fourth floor and in the basement and sub-basement. This is affecting my learning because I can’t concentrate in class and often need to leave class.”

According to Nurse Fayge Kleinbart, “More and more kids are coming down because of the dust.” She also reported that the dust is causing “headaches, dizziness, and coughing.”

The construction has been affecting teachers as well. Room 403, Ms. Wielgus’s classroom, is one of several classrooms that was without ceiling tiles for about a week. This caused a large amount of dust to circulate around the classroom, along with extreme temperature fluctuations. Ms. Wielgus recounted that the teaching conditions of the room are terrible, and “the room looks and feels dusty and bare.”

One of Ms. Wielgus’s students, she explained, is “unable to sit in the classroom because she’s allergic to dust and her throat closes up. She’s had to Zoom in for over a week.” As for her own health, Ms. Wielgus divulged that “it’s hard to tell so far, but I can’t imagine how teaching

continued on page 6

The studio features a variety of high-end equipment

OPINION OPINION

It’s time to abandon the Central and hoodie Why I always wear a Central and hoodie

By Belle Shatzkes

Entertainment Editor

You walk into school and notice a bunch of girls wearing weirdly colored skirts. Then you remember: it’s crazy skirt day for the senior girls. As you scan in, you overhear someone say, “Wow, that’s a really crazy skirt.” You turn and see a girl wearing a houndstooth patterned skirt in nice shades of lavender and light blue with a beautiful complimentary white crewneck. You gaze down at your own black Central and think to yourself, That is a crazy skirt. And then you go on with your day, almost forgetting the interaction.

But guess who didn’t forget?

Me.

I overheard a girl tell that story when I was a freshman. At the time, I wasn’t as bold with my clothing choices and wore pretty mainstream skirts and shirts. Not Centrals and hoodies, but close enough.

Do you know how pretty lilac and sky blue are together? With the houndstooth pattern, it’s basically periwinkle. That skirt must have been beautiful. Paired with a white crewneck? That’s gorgeous. But the fashion in our school is nothing along those lines.

I know what you’re going to say about Centrals and oversized hoodies: it’s comfy, it’s practical, it makes me feel confident— it’s the style!

Is it all that comfy when you’re trying to walk up stairs? No, it’s restricting. Is it practical when you pick your skirt up so

that you can move your legs? Ms. Hidary wouldn’t say so. Do you feel confident when your hoodie is sticking to your back on a hot day or when you’re freezing only wearing one layer in Mrs. Gins’s room? Believe me, I know the struggle. Is it really even the style? Sure it is. But it’s been the style for years.

The female student body is adhering to a trend that is unflattering, unreasonable, and simply not creative, all in the name of conforming to “social norms.” “Social norms,”  we have forgotten that WE determine!! Clothes say a lot about personality, but wearing an oversized hoodie and a black, ankle-length skirt (identical to the rest of the school) doesn’t say much about you. It looks like 350 girls walked off of an assembly line.

An anonymous teacher said that the way you dress also affects your mood. She said that wearing hoodies makes you feel like you’re at home, which in turn makes you more inclined to sleep in school. Different clothes offer different mindsets. An elementary schooler in the choir said that the blazers they wear during performances provide her with so much confidence— much more than she ever got wearing her regular uniform.

Girls, leave Flatbush and see what the rest of the world wears to school. Comfy rears its head maybe once a week. Practical is available with colored skirts, too! Confidence can come through in many different outfits. And if you speak to any Jewish high school student from any oth-

By Talya Shamoelian Contributing Writer

Waking up at 6:30 in the morning is torture enough. Why would I wake up earlier just to match my skirt to my sweater? When I get out of bed in the morning, after snoozing the alarm multiple times, I can barely keep my eyes open. I roll out of bed and grab a plain black skirt and the closest sweater I can reach. I don’t even have to think twice if it matches, because everything matches black!!

Picking out a skirt and a shirt takes way too much time and preparation. You can’t wear a cream shirt with an eggshell white skirt—it just doesn’t work. You’d have to spend valuable time preparing an outfit, just to get salad dressing or pizza sauce on it a couple of hours later. Instead of wasting my time matching my clothes, I could study for tests, take a nap, or, I don’t know, have a social life!!

The black skirt is easy because we rewear the same skirt and just switch the hoodie. Obviously we rewear hoodies, too, but that’s fine because no one’s going

er community, they will gasp in horror to hear that you wear tight skirts down to the ankle voluntarily.

Check out other options. Maybe buy a flary skirt with a nice plaid pattern and nix the hoodie in favor of a tee. Perhaps you’ll wear a shorter red skirt that just passes your knees and goes well with a

Faculty Freshman: Mr. Moskowitz

By Rachael Kopylov

Contributing Writer

Mr. Culver Moskowitz, a new addition to the Yeshivah of Flatbush faculty, is dedicated to teaching his sophomore, junior, and senior students about engineering and computer science. “The students are eager to learn. There’s nothing more fun than being a teacher and having students who are eager to learn,” Mr. Moskowitz stated.

Mr. Moskowitz graduated from Columbia University with a major in financial economics and a minor in computer science. During high school, Mr. Moskowitz used to tutor all of his friends in math, and he found that helping people learn is something that he really enjoyed. Although he had no idea what he wanted to pursue while he was in high school,

helping his friends inspired him to pursue education in the first place. When Mr. Moskowitz was in college, he decided to take an Intro to Java course on a whim. It ended up being his favorite class, and he fell in love with computer science. “Once I got started down that STEM route, I just didn’t want to stop,” he explained.

Before coming to Flatbush, Mr. Moskowitz worked at Success Academy, a charter school in Manhattan, where he taught seventh and eighth grade math and high school economics, and worked as a special projects manager. Mr. Moskowitz is excited to be working in Flatbush because of the interesting content he gets to teach and because of the students’ eagerness to learn something new. Teaching really is Mr. Moskowitz’s passion. “My favorite part of teaching is the ‘aha’ moments, when a student goes from not get-

ting it to all the boxes clicking. There’s that magical feeling of accomplishment that a student feels when they think, ‘Oh, I figured this out.”

Outside of the classroom, Mr. Moskowitz loves to play basketball. A former high school point guard, Mr. Moskowitz plays with Columbia alumni and current students. Mr Moskowitz also loves improv. He goes to a theater where the audience will throw out a one word suggestion, and based on that one word, he goes up on stage and makes a scene out of it.

Even though it’s only his first year at Flatbush, Mr. Moskowitz already feels at home. “I know there’s a lot of improvement I could make, but I’m very happy with how things are going. I think I’m doing pretty well for a faculty freshman!”

to remember, and even if they do don’t worry—everyone does it.

Matching a colored skirt to a colored shirt also costs a lot of money. I’d have to buy a lot of skirts and a lot of shirts to ensure variety. I can’t wear the same outfit each time! It’s a hassle and an added stress for no reason. If I can take the easier and cheaper outfit route, I might as well.

I know that when I wear black skirts and my oversized hoodie I look like a schlump, but so does everyone else in school. I don’t mind coming into school presenting myself as a lazy mess because that’s exactly what I am. I sleep for less than five hours, and I struggle to get myself out of bed. I do the bare minimum when I wake up; I’m lucky if I have time or strength to put my contacts in. People who wear the “normal” school skirts choose that because they don’t mind looking like someone who just rolled out of bed. Since school is the reason I look like a zombie from The Walking Dead, I think it’s perfectly fine to wear my hoodie. At least I can occasionally lift up the hood and close my eyes for a bit.

black turtleneck. What if you leave your comfort zone and don a dress? Would that be so bad?

I challenge every girl in this school to wear something different. Something colorful, something fun. You might find that you actually like it.

The Phoenix Staff

Editors-in-Chief: Jeanette Cohen, Maurice Silvera

Senior Editor: Isaac Dweck

School News Editors: Robyn Beyda, Beverly Dweck

Religion Editor: Arlette Anteby

World News Editor: Michelle Belenkiy

Features Editor: Hanna Mishan

Entertainment Editors: David Marcus, Belle Shatzkes

Fashion Editors: Clara Edery, Arlette Mann

Fun & Games Editor: Robin Rawas

Sports Editor: Simone Amkraut

Junior Editors: Aliya Abergil, Jacqueline Halabi, Nitza Hanan, Aleen Jaradeh, Sophia Madeb, Esther Shemia

Sophomore Editors: Samantha Ryba, Sylvia Saad

Design: Carolina Cohen

Faculty Adviser: Adam Hofstetter

High School Administration

Rabbi Joseph Beyda, Head of School

Ms. Esther Hidary, Associate Principal

Rabbi Yigal Sklarin, Associate Principal

Rabbi David Galpert, Assistant Principal

Lettuce shortage forces community to make changes

Juniors get college application period

By Aleen Jaradeh Junior Editor

As part of the revamped College Guidance Department, new mandatory weekly classes are now being taught to juniors to prepare them for the college application process.

By Nitza Hanan  Junior Editor

It was fourth period on a Monday morning while junior Shelley Safdie patiently waited for the bell to ring. She was famished and was dreaming about what to eat for lunch. She decided she wanted a salad, but when looking at the salad choices she was horrified when it was only kale, which she hates. She decided not to eat a salad and went to get a bagel.

The surplus of kale salads isn’t because the stores find them more appealing and believe it will benefit their businesses. This change has been caused by a bacterial disease that affects romaine lettuce, called Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus. Stores adapted to these circumstances and created alternative options that most of their customers still enjoy.

Julie Maleh, the founder of Jus by Julie, explained how her business was able to turn this shortage into a blessing. At first, it was extremely difficult to adapt to the circumstances. “In the beginning, we were forced to raise prices,” Maleh commented. However, she was quickly able to find new dishes that are not lettuce-based. Her customers now have a bigger variety of options, which helped expand her business. She shared, “I always believe that when one door closes a new door opens.”

Many students expressed that they have stopped buying salads because of the lack of romaine. Junior Mollie Ashkenazi shared, “I haven’t gone down to the

basement in a while because I don’t like kale. Now I have to find other options that I like.” Many other students agreed with this statement, and said the recent rise in kale has affected their lunch choices.

However, some students don’t share this belief. Sophia Madeb stated, “I love kale and am excited that there is more of it available.” Madeb is one of the few students who is happy about the lack of romaine.

This problem followed the students outside of school and into their home lives. Leah Lati expressed her frustration that her home dinners aren’t the same as they used to be. “My mom started using frisée and arugula, and it tastes like grass. I’m just really missing romaine salads. I wish I didn’t take it for granted,” she exclaimed.

Esther Shemia agreed with this and added, “I love making my own salads for lunch, but recently I can’t because of the lack of romaine and now I have to pay for expensive lunches.”

Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV) is a disease that mainly affects romaine lettuce. This disease started in California and is incredibly difficult to treat. Once one plant is infected it must be isolated. If that is not done INSV will quickly spread to the rest of the crop. This decreased the number of crops which resulted in skyrocketing prices. Although this started in California it has affected crops, and prices all over the nation.

These classes replace one of the two gym classes given to the juniors, a decision made by the school administration. They began this month and will continue through May, and will focus on a multitude of aspects regarding the college application process, such as targeted college research, college essay writing, standardized testing, CUNY, SUNY, private schools, and more. Students will be taught each piece of the application and how to communicate all their extracurricular and volunteer activities throughout their application in the most effective manner. Furthermore, juniors will have completed writing their college essays by the end of this school year, whereas most students in the past hadn’t even started writing until the beginning of their senior year.

Ms. Mottahedeh, the director of the college guidance department, credits the idea of a college curriculum to her work as a college counselor. “At my former school, where I was for 10 years before I came here, we always taught our kids a college curriculum and it really helped in a couple of ways,” she stated. Utilizing a college curriculum “helps students feel less anxious in the fall of their senior year” and allows them to have more time to navigate through the application process, and made it so that by the fall students felt they understood the terms being used regarding the application process and what was expected of them.

According to an anonymous senior, “College applications this year were one of the most stressful things I’ve ever done

in my entire life. I felt completely lost throughout the entire process and felt like I was always working on things too close to the deadline. Therefore, I believe the new weekly classes sound like they would do a lot to relieve the stress and uncertainty of college applications and give the upcoming juniors more time in their first semester of senior year.”

The stress of beginning senior year unprepared for the application process is something that Ms. Mottahedeh hopes the new college curriculum will prevent the upcoming senior grade from experiencing.

“The college department has been planning to do this program since the fall, but we started intentionally this spring, since junior year is already a very stressful year. Therefore, we didn’t want the classes to be all year on top of all the junior’s classes, so we really tried to make it in a way which would allow the juniors to ease in and get comfortable in their classes before we started the curriculum,” Ms. Mottahedeh explained.

“I’m hoping that the college classes will be helpful. They seem promising and that the department knows what they’re doing, I just hope that it works out because it’s never been done before,” junior Bella Shamayeva expresses.

“I feel like we didn’t really start actually doing anything, we just talked about it, and they just gave us the outline of how it’s gonna be. I hope that it will eventually help us research colleges and see what we want to do.” said junior Ezra Harari

However, junior Leah Lati states “I am thankful that college guidance recognizes that the college process is stressful and that they are giving us these classes. However, I wish they didn’t have to be during our gym period because gym was the only time I’d have class with all the girls from the other honors class.”

Third ‘Art for Hearts’ auction battles heart disease

By Hanna Mishan

Features Editor

This month Flatbush held its third annual Art for Hearts event, raising money and awareness for heart disease. The auction was founded by senior Allison Heskiel, who approached Senora Ovadia with the idea three years ago.

“I founded Art for Hearts after a difficult 2020, wanting to inject positivity into the world by helping others. The idea behind Art for Hearts is a combination of my two passions, art and helping people like my mother, with heart disease,” Heskiel explained.

She originally planned for the first auction to be held in the gym, but unfortunately Covid required it to be held online. This year was the first time that the program was permitted to run in person.

Each year a number of students, alumni, and community members donate art pieces that are showcased in the auction. The event itself is a silent auction where attendees are first assigned a number and

can then go on to bid on the pieces they want, pledging a certain amount of money. The assigned numbers allow the auc-

tion to remain completely anonymous. The raised funds are donated to The Heart Foundation. Art for Hearts gives a chance

A disease called INSV has made romaine lettuce scarce

for talented artists in the Flatbush community to present their art and help fund potentially life-saving research.

Auctioned artwork, including these two pieces, was on display in the cafe

Quick School News

By Maurice Silvera Editor-in-Chief

January 30:

Mazal Tov to Ms. Pahuskin, who gave birth to her fifth—a beautiful baby girl!

February 7:

The seniors had a blast hitting the slopes at Camelback on their Senior Ski Trip! Students enjoyed a full day of skiing, snowboarding, or snow tubing, and came back to the lodge to play cards and board games with their friends. And to no one’s surprise, Ms. Wielgus out-snowboarded everyone.

February 13:

Head of School Rabbi Beyda was chosen to be a Sacks Scholar as part of the Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks Scholar Program. Along with the other Sacks Scholars, he will utilize Rabbi Sacks’ teachings to address emerging challenges facing the Jewish community. He and his fellow Scholars will uphold Rabbi Sacks’ legacy and ensure that his messages will continue to inspire and enlighten.

February 15: Our annual Evening of Wordsmiths

Peru’s presidential crisis continues

celebrated the best of our students’ writing, from poignant poetry to evocative essays. The English Department selected 14 pieces of the highest caliber from all four grades, and the students recited them in front of faculty, family, and friends.

February 16: Four of our juniors represented Flatbush at UJA’s Teen Hack Day.

February 21:

A beautiful memorial for logtime librarian Ms. Rachail Kurtz A”H was held during lunch and attended by many faculty members and Ms. Kurtz’s immediate family. Some faculty spoke in tribute, and everyone celebrated the wonderful person she was and the immeasurable impact she had on the school and the people in it.

February 22:

We kicked off Adar with our annual Rosh Chodesh Adar concert, featuring world-famous Joey Newcomb! Students sang along and got into the true Purim spirit; we’re looking forward to the rest of the month’s events, including the Faculty Purim Shpiel, the Shushan Purim Rikkudim, and of course the upcoming Purim edition of The Phoenix!

La Niña bringing NYC unusually warm weather

By Emily Tarrab Contributing Writer

When 0.4 inches of snow was officially measured in Central Park on February 1, it was the first time in 328 days that New York City received measurable snow. This past January was recorded to have above-average temperatures every day for the first time ever.

After a string of 60-degree days in mid-February, most Flatbush students would guess that the reason this winter has been warmer and drier than usual is global warming. In reality, global warming has increased the average winter temperature by only one degree in the past decade. So what’s causing this sudden change in the winter temperatures and precipitation?

La Niña, the little girl, is to blame.

La Niña is a weather pattern that occurs every few years affecting “normal” weather conditions globally. It begins when the trade winds, winds that typically blow from east to west near the equator, are blowing stronger than usual. As a result, more warm water from the Central and Eastern Pacific Ocean gets shifted from South America toward Asia and Australia. Then, an upwelling of cold water from the depth of the ocean rises in proximity to the west coast. The cold water causes the flow of the polar jet stream, narrow strips of strong cold wind, to hit the U.S. in the north. Eventually, the jet stream will weaken as it makes its way to the United States’ east coast.

Due to stronger and heavier winds in the northwestern states and Canada, La Niña makes the average temperature in that region cooler with more precipitation, meaning a rougher winter. Since the winds are more focused and condensed in that specific area, southern states and most east coast states will avoid the jetstream and have a warmer, drier winter climate. Meanwhile, La Niña deprives the southwest of proper precipitation and provides the region with a particularly hot climate, inflicting extreme droughts and wildfires. On top of that, when these two extremes meet, a series of strong tornadoes can potentially be created.

In the bigger picture, La Niña can also cause extreme weather events in Australia, Indonesia, India, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean. Catastrophic floods and heavy rain showers often occur in Australia during La Niña years, once causing 10,000 people to evacuate in 2010. As opposed to La Niña’s detriment to Australia, La Niña actually benefits southeastern Asian countries. It contributes to their seasonal monsoons, making them greater and larger, majorly helping these countries’ monsoon dependent economy, industry, and agriculture.

The reason behind Australia and southeast Asia having heavier precipitation during La Niña is because of the relationship between their geographical location and the trade winds. Being west of the Pacific Ocean entails having the intense trade winds flow toward them, mov-

By Michelle Belenkiy World News Editor

Over the past three decades, Peru has seen a long string of presidents expelled from office because of everything from corruption allegations to imprisonment, causing the country to be in a state of near-constant turbulence.

Churning through five presidents in six years has caused great turmoil in the country. The latest chaos began in December, when then-President Pedro Castillo Terrones was impeached after he attempted to dissolve the country’s congress so that he could rule by decree. Installed in Castillo’s place, current president Dina Boluarte has brought about a wave of strong opposition, with many calling for her to resign—especially Castillo’s loyal supporters. Upon Boluarte’s rise to office, the population demanded elections and an improved constitution in addition to her resignation. Indigenous and rural people are particularly angry. In fact, this is the strongest wave of protests yet.

The current president and her government have declared a state of emergency and have responded by arresting protest-

ing large influxes of warm water to them simultaneously. An increased amount of rain clouds are then formed, surrounding those countries, as a result of the amount of warm water there. In the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean area, the global climate changes in the atmosphere lead to more tropical hurricanes, cyclones, and lightning activity.

The world is currently experiencing La Niña’s rare “triple dip,” meaning that this phenomenon has been active for three

ers, instituting curfews, and even closing some of the country’s airports. Officers in Lima raided a university where protesters were headquartered; armored vehicles broke open a metal gate and officers carrying batons and riot shields entered the complex. Protestors believed that the imprisonment of nearly two busloads of activists was a gross breach of rights. People are demanding an election held earlier than the one that has been scheduled, and immediate political shifts.

The circle of havoc has caused several attacks on police stations. Government authorities even closed the Incan citadel of Machu Picchu, a popular tourist attraction that provides high economic revenue for the country, after trains to the site were damaged. 50 people have died in demonstrations and clashes with police.

As the president promises to crack down on this “rebellion,” the people of Peru continue to exercise their natural right of protest—no matter the consequences. Many find themselves wondering if Peru will end this circle of violence and finalize a definitive president or if they’ll let this cycle of persecution continue to ravage the country.

years. As students, this weather pattern can either take a toll on us or give us an advantage. One Flatbush student said, “As a student who takes the train to go to school on early mornings and late nights, the warmer temperature makes my trips more comfortable, but I definitely do miss the cold for the sole reason of not having school due to snow days or having the pipes burst, just as it did this past December.”

Protesters clash with police last month

MCF carnival success leads to Purim chesed

By Rivkah Lahav

Contributing Writer

The Make Chesed Fun organization is following up the successful CARE carnival they held at school on December 11 with another event: Mishloach Manot packaging on Thursday, February 23, co-founders and presidents Max Elmann and Bobby Falack said.

Is Testing Week causing students’ laziness?

team, and readily divulged that the carnival would not have been possible without them. It also wouldn’t have been possible without the Yeshivah’s help in providing facilities, logistics, and the security and maintenance staff’s support.

By Jeanette Cohen Editor-in-Chief

On the following Sunday, students will deliver the packages to old-age homes Haym Solomon, Ateret Avot, and Ahi Ezer. There they will sing and dance with the seniors, spreading the joy of Adar to old age homes that many students will never have visited before.

“We’re bringing surprise creative twists to our event to bring a new level of fun and meaning, something we strive to do at every event,” Elmann said.

The two-part Purim event is the first MCF activity since the December carnival with CARE, which was a massive success and set the stage for greater awareness of chesed organizations and interconnectedness within the Flatbush family, Elmann and Falack said.

CARE For Special Children is a Jewish disability support nonprofit based in Brooklyn that, on December 11, partnered with Flatbush to set up a carnival where Flatbush students could spend time with special-needs children; over 500 people, including 215 students, attended. “I was in tears from how successful it was,” Falack confessed. Rabbi Besser praised Elmann and Falack, saying he’d never seen an event planned and executed so well by students.

The secret to MCF’s success, Elmann testified, was in its captains. Ten leaders from each grade were chosen to help organize and recruit people for the carnival. “They are the heart and soul of MCF,” he said, and each of them are leaders who are dedicated to chesed; both Elmann and Falack are incredibly grateful to their

Elmann and Falack chose to work with CARE for a specific reason: it receives far less attention than other organizations. MCF’s mission is to bring all walks of chesed organizations into the mainstream volunteer network centered in Flatbush. And the partnership didn’t end with the carnival; volunteers are still being sent in small groups to, inter alia, watch and entertain children while their parents are with their disabled siblings in the hospital. The carnival also had a bigger impact than just connecting the Flatbush family with CARE. For example, parents who had come for their childrens’ interviews were incredibly impressed with and inspired by the intricacy and scale of the event, Falack said, and he hopes this will spark a love for chesed in the younger students.

The carnival offered a variety of activities, including a balloon company, clowns, face painting, and many games. Independent donors provided XBoxes and iPads as prizes, with the iPads being intended as communication devices for children who can’t speak.

Last year, senior Jack Saad approached Falack and Debra Mizrahi with the idea of MCF, and they played an important role in organizing the four events that took place over the course of the year. After Saad graduated, the two—now juniors— took the helm and revamped the captain system, appointed Mizrahi and Francine Esses as the junior grade representatives, and created a new and improved MCF. The purpose of the organization, nonetheless, has remained the same. “We are the bridge between these [outside] organizations and the students of Flatbush,” Falack said. “Everyone knows about the Thursday night SBH cookings, but does everyone know about the Tuesday night CARE event that’s going on in peoples’ houses? From Hatzalah to Special Children’s to the cancer center, there’s always things that need help and fixing; as students of Flatbush, and as Jews, it’s important to know that.” The two are excited about the impact of the carnival and feel that it was a great start to MCF’s second year of fostering a love for chesed within the Flatbush family.

As the school year progresses at Flatbush, many students and teachers have perceived an energy shift in the building, alongside a lack of motivation that may be a result of the newly implemented testing week.

Testing week brought forth the change from consistent testing throughout the semester to a “testing week” system where students are tested on several subjects once every six weeks. Its initial announcement was greeted with a warm welcome from students, who were grateful for an escape from Flatbush’s notoriously stressful bombardment of tests. However, after experiencing testing week twice, with a third round on the horizon, many students have changed their minds.

Senior Lauren Bensimon stated, “I go to school every day and learn, but without frequent testing I’m just not retaining any of the information.” Senior Robin Cohen agreed, saying, “I 100% think it’s made us lazy. Not only is testing week an excuse for kids to not take notes and just grind the night before, but it encourages it.” Continuing, Cohen built on Bensimon’s statement, expressing that once the test is over she feels like the information in her brain is thrown out alongside the review sheets.

Another drawback is that many students feel they’ve forgotten how to be a student altogether. With the lack of consistent demands that tests bring comes a different mindset than one of a student hard at work. It’s difficult for many to get in the zone after being on what some may refer to as a “brain vacation” for six weeks. “I’m so used to not taking tests that now when I do have a test I don’t even remember how to study for it,” Bensimon expressed.

History teacher Mr. Engel said that he is still contemplating testing week and its effects. Nonetheless, he sees some drawbacks. “Having consistent testing throughout the weeks breaks up the monotony of school, giving students something different to do,” he said. “It also motivates them to get their acts together and actually show up and do things you might not want to do but feel you have to because someone is holding you directly accountable.” Mr. Engel also disclosed that he’s received the most feedback from his seniors, both honors and

nonhonors alike, that they feel there’s too much time between testing weeks, alleviating too much pressure from them and thereby robbing them of “that sort of kick that drives them.”

Countering Mr. Engel’s statement, senior Hymie Gindi explained he feels that when tests were mixed in with everyday learning it was a distraction because students were preoccupied with tests and wanted to study during other classes. Gindi stated, “The old testing method was very disruptive to our actual goal in this school, which is to learn.” Gindi acknowledged the inertia that came with a lack of frequent testing, but ultimately declared that the new testing week setup “may make students lazy, but at the end of the day it’s better than making them unnecessarily anxious all the time.”

Seniors have not been shy about voicing their opinions on the matter. This has caused many to speculate whether their newfound laziness is a result of testing week or really just a bad case of senioritis. However, freshmen had similar feelings about testing week. Rachel Shamoelian expressed that she and her peers are simply unmotivated for six weeks and then become very overwhelmed and stressed during testing week.

This raises the question: is testing week hindering younger students’ ability to develop a healthy work ethic? According to Shamoelian, “A lot of us are just not trying. You come home and procrastinate your work and then get sleep-deprived as a result.” Freshman Lana Soffer added, “I get home and just have no motivation to do any of my homework.”

Of course, there are some students who feel differently. Senior Ronnie Hidary strongly disagreed with his peers’ statements and argued, “Testing week is giving students the opportunity to do more things. Personally, as someone who does a lot of extracurriculars, testing week hasn’t made me lazier but instead given me the time to pursue my other interests more deeply.” English department chair Ms. Bloom agreed that students should take advantage of the situation, and stated, “If it does give you a little bit of free time, read a book.”

Regardless, the loss of motivation has possessed many Flatbush students this year. Bensimon spoke for many students when she said, “Honestly, I just feel braindead.”

History Department prepares students for revised Regents exam coming this June

By Leah Lati

Contributing Writer

The New York State Education Department will administer a modified version of the U.S. History Regents exam in June.

“The new Regents is structured in a way that requires more insightful thinking, and the skill set requires the application of knowledge rather than the spit back of knowledge,” said Ms. Kaplowitz. A new version of the exam was created to test specific skills. The old exams were

very content-driven rather than skill driven, and this test is a combination of both. The revised version of the Regents exam is meant to test students on their comprehension skills, not only their knowledge of history. “The Regents want to see, can students deal with sources. Students are consumers of sources.

They go online, look at social media or any media in general, and they must be a discerning consumer of sources, which is what the Regents is getting at,” said Mr. Engel.

Fundamentally, the biggest difference between past Regents exams and the new exam is that all the multiple-choice questions are stimulus-based. Past Regents exams had 50 multiple-choice questions that could be on any random topic, with mostly spit-back questions and a few stimulus-based questions. This new exam has 35 multiple-choice questions that are all related to a stimulus, whether it be a political cartoon, document, or excerpt of a speech. Students are required to read that document, comprehend it, and under-

stand how it answers the numerous questions that follow it. Mr. Rothbort, chair of the social studies department, said that the reason for this change is for students to think like historians and analyze documents like historians.

Junior Norma Chazanoff explained that sometimes documents can be helpful by giving a hint to what the question is really asking, but exclaimed, “if you don’t understand the document, you’re out of luck!”

Junior David Balleh was one of many students who helped out at the carnival

continued from page 1

should a student express interest in using the recording studio for a specific activity, the school would provide assistance and possibly even let them use Flatbush platforms to air it.

Students involved in the school arts programs have expressed much excitement regarding the new developments. “The environment is warm during open-studio hours. I think it provides a great opportunity for students to explore their musical sides,” said junior Rivkah Lahav. Junior Ezra Rosenfeld is also grateful for the easy access to such equipment,

as he can now improve his piano skills. “I hope that the new studio will take the school’s already thriving music program to the next level, and I’m excited to see it become a part of the Flatbush experience,” said senior and Lunch ’N Listen commissioner Ronnie Hidary.

As for the future opportunities that have become available due to the new studio, Rabbi Galpert said that the school can now open other possible musical electives for next year, such as music technology and music theory.

Dust affecting student, teacher health

continued from page 1

in a dusty room from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm is good for my health.” Ms. Wielgus did however state that the “administration has been receptive to my concerns and had the project manager talk to me. He put temporary tiles on one half of the ceiling, and we are still waiting on the other.”

The administration is aware that this issue continues to affect learning and claims they are doing anything they can to help. Rabbi Galpert disclosed that he and the other principals have received

complaints and said they are “trying to mitigate in multiple ways, including extra cleaning and air monitoring.” He also stated that students shouldn’t be worried because “it is safe to breathe.”

As students continue to feel the effects, Nurse Kleinbart advises “wearing masks, washing your face frequently, and maybe using nasal spray if you really need” to combat the effects of the dust caused by the construction.

Israel in dire need of rain

D’var Torah: A gift for Hashem

By Eddie Saff

Contributing

Writer

In Parashat Terumah, the mishkan is both planned and constructed. Before talking about the actual construction, the Torah mentions the materials that were needed to build it. In doing so, the pasuk states, “and they will take for me a contribution” (Shemot 25: 2). There is an obvious question on this pasuk. Why does it say “they will take for me” when it should say “they will give to me?” After all, wasn’t the mishkan created as a home for Hashem and a sacred place for us to serve him?

By Aliya Abergil Junior Editor

Winter for New Yorkers often involves frigid temperatures, flurries and sometimes even blizzards, while in Israel rain and cool temperatures is a sign that winter has arrived. Unlike New Yorkers, Israelis often celebrate when the first signs of winter approach because it indicates that they will get some much needed rain. Israel’s land is very dry and the temperatures are often warm, so rain is essential to Israel’s survival. Without rain, the Kinneret could be in danger of drying up, which is a huge problem because it is Israel’s main water source.

This winter has been the driest Israel has seen in 60 years. Rainfall this year has decreased dramatically since last year

and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get any better. Additionally, The Sea of Galilee has increased by only 0.8 inches, the smallest change in 60 years.

Many Israelis have stated that this is the warmest winter they’ve experienced in years and it feels more like spring than winter. Umbrella and coat sales have plummeted, which damages Israel’s economy. Furthermore, less rain means drier soil, causing agricultural difficulties and economic hardships. Last year was the year of Shmita, the year that Jewish farmers are commanded to rest and are not allowed to work the land. After this long farming hiatus, farmers were excited to work the land again, but the decreased rainfall has made that very difficult. Smaller crop yields could be one of many lasting effects of the lack of rain.

Just a sliver of sunshine

The Chidah provides a magnificent answer. There seems to be no real way to give something to Hashem. What can one contribute to the almighty who needs nothing from us? It is an impossible question to answer.

The Chidah explains the way that Hashem understood that Bnei Yisrael wanted a way to give back to Hashem for all that he had done, but felt that they had no way of doing so. Therefore, Hashem gave them materials to do so. These materials now provided a pathway for them to show their appreciation.

There is an analogy that further explains this. Imagine a father whose birthday comes around, and his son wants to make him something special. The son finds paper and crayons and gets to work; he draws two stick figures, depicting a father and son, titled “Happy Birthday Daddy!” Of course the father doesn’t need this birthday card, but he still appreciates it. His son was able to utilize the materials that the father had bought and worked hard to make him a birthday card. The father appreciates the card as a token of gratitude from his son.

With this analogy, we can understand Hashem’s love toward Bnei Yisrael. Although it may be indirect and hidden, we must always know that Hashem is looking out and caring for us. This is often referred to as hashgacha pratit, the belief that Hashem allows for everything to happen for the best. There

By Elie Esses

Contributing

Writer

Editor’s Note: Elie Esses graduated from YOFJBHS in 2022. He is currently studying at Orayata in Jerusalem. What follows is his account of his yeshivah’s recent trip to Poland.

Today was the final of seven days traveling Poland. After a week of death camps, ghettos, and cemeteries, although extremely educational and meaningful, I

was relieved that it was over, and something perfectly poignant happened today just to top it off.

Before we landed, I imagined Poland as the dreary, gloomy, monochrome, black-and-gray hellscape depicted in the movies—and I was exactly right. After seven full days, I don’t think we saw the sun, or even a blue sky, once. That is, until today.

As we all marched into Auschwitz today, the climax of our emotionally exhausting trip, I felt for the first time in

over a week a ray of sunshine roll over me. I looked up and within the miserable gray clouds I had become so accustomed to, I saw an ever so slight hole, and through it, caught a glimpse of blue skies and sunshine. It instantly made me smile, and got me thinking.

There we stood, in the famous Auschwitz death camp, probably the worst place on the entire face of the planet, surrounded by clouds and misery; however, that one ray of sunshine managed to slip through. Even in the darkest of places, light can be found. And all of a sudden my surroundings transformed—my whole weeklong experience transformed.

The sprawling death camp that lay in front of me, and all similar horror sites we

is a story which further emphasizes the concept of hashgacha pratit and its power.

There was once a king who ruled over a large region of land. He was close friends with a local Rabbi, and they would converse about various topics; the Rabbi’s intellectual thought processes amazed the king every time. The Rabbi loved the topic of hashgacha pratit and would mention it regularly.

One day, the king had an urge to go hunting and invited the Rabbi to join him. The Rabbi was inexperienced and accidentally shot the king, removing one of the king’s fingers off his hand. Outraged, the king ordered his guards to imprison the Rabbi for his action.

The king traveled to many exotic lands. When arriving at a certain city, the king was warned that the people were dangerous; however, there wasn’t much available information about them. The king’s curiosity got the best of him, and he went anyway. It turns out the people were a cannibalistic tribe who captured the king. For their ritual, they inspected the king but found a missing finger. They announced him impure and canceled the ritual. The king realized that this was a case of hashgacha pratit and he was reminded of the Rabbi. When the king returned to the palace, he immediately set the Rabbi free and apologized.

He told the Rabbi what happened and how his missing finger saved his life, and the Rabbi was overjoyed. The king asked the Rabbi how hashgacha pratit coincided with his imprisonment. The Rabbi explained that if he wasn’t imprisoned, he would’ve gone to the exotic lands with the king and would’ve been eaten by the tribe.

This story along with Hashem’s actions in this week’s parasha allow for each of us to take a second glance at the actions in our lives that we often view negatively. It’s hard to acknowledge hashgacha pratit and hindsight is often 20/20, but a reminder of G-d’s intentions can help us recognize that reality is not always how it seems.

had visited that had been a symbol of utter misery for us and so many of our ancestors, suddenly became something very different. The Holocaust was no longer just a symbol of death and despair; it became representative of hope, of the future.

Exactly where so many were brutally murdered not even a hundred years ago, there now stood more than 50 yeshivah students who are currently studying Torah for a year in Israel, in Jerusalem, a stone’s throw away from the Kotel. Before my eyes, the despair of so many became a hope for the future, of the strength and perennial nature of the Jewish people, and through my eyes it seemed as if the entire camp was basking in the glorious sunlight of a brighter future.

Unusually dry conditions have been felt all over the country

Esses and his classmates visit Auschwitz

Taylor Swift becomes antitrust Anti-Hero

DOJ investigating Ticketmaster after Swift tour crisis

By Rae Levy  Contributing Writer

Ticketmaster is currently under investigation by the Department of Justice’s antitrust department after tickets to Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” sold out almost immediately, and many Ticketmaster users experienced difficulties on their website. Most people were quick to blame Ticketmaster, including Swift herself.

When Swift announced she would be going on tour this spring and summer, she used the Ticketmaster platform to sell her tickets, just like almost all major performers do. Not only were Swift’s tickets hard to get, they were also super expensive. She sold 2.4 million tickets in 2 days with an average price of $215. On resale sites such as StubHub, tickets are now in the thousands, with some tickets listed as high as $9,000 each. Clearly, this made the tickets extremely difficult for an average person to purchase.

That difficulty highlighted Ticketmaster’s failure to prepare for the huge number of people who tried to purchase tickets for Swift’s tour. It also shined a light on the company’s near-complete control over the ticket market.

Ticketmaster (a ticket selling company) and Live Nation (an artist management company) merged in 2010, forming Live Nation Entertainment. The Justice Department approved the merger, even though at the time it was controversial and received pushback from many, including the National Consumers League, who saw the merger as a sign Live Nation and Ticketmaster would form a monopoly and dominate the music concert industry. According to many music fans, that is exactly what has happened.

The Department of Justice’s antitrust division was already investigating Ticketmaster before the Taylor Swift fiasco. The antitrust investigation will consider whether Live Nation has a monopoly over the ticket-selling industry, something opponents of the merger back in 2010

The overnight appeal of TikTok model Alix Earle

warned would happen.

This problem concerns more than one branch of the government. On January 24, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to examine Ticketmaster’s power over the industry. They questioned whether Live Nation has a monopoly, and senators discussed lack of competition in the market as well as high fees and website failures. Live Nation president and CFO Joe Berchtold blamed scalpers and bots.

Ticketmaster’s dominance in the industry has allowed it to raise prices significantly over the past several years in several ways: by setting the base ticket price, by charging lucrative fees to all buyers, and through the use of dynamic pricing, which will make ticket prices rise depending on how many people are trying to buy them. For Harry Styles’s last tour, fans watched ticket prices go up as they tried to complete their purchases. Last summer Bruce Springsteen tickets were as much as $5,000. Swift chose to opt out of dynamic pricing, but many of her fans were priced out anyway.

Many teenagers love going to concerts but struggle to afford the tickets. Junior Nitza Hanan said that she went to four concerts this year and still wanted to go to more. She pays for concert tickets using birthday money, babysitting money, and from work over the summer. She described getting Taylor Swift tickets as “the most stressful experience of anyone’s life.” Hanan also commented on the drastic price difference between Ticketmaster prices and SeekGeek, with Ticketmaster being double the price. She experiences these struggles with smaller artists as well. She expressed multiple times that she “hates Ticketmaster,” yet she keeps going back to them because, in so many cases, it’s the only option.

Like many high school students, junior Perline Castro didn’t know what a monopoly was until she failed to get Taylor Swift tickets and found out about the DOJ investigation. Now, she and many other Swift fans are following the case closely.

Lessons in Chemistry Book Review:

By Sylvia Saad Sophomore Editor

There are only a handful of books I can say that I fell in love with from the very beginning. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus is a remarkable example of a book that captures your utter and complete attention from the first page.

The protagonist, Elizabeth Zott, is a chemist dealing with constant gender discrimination in the workspace during the 1960s. Although she is often the most knowledgeable in the room, Elizabeth’s

coworkers refuse to see her as the true chemist that she is. The only person who acknowledges her genius is Calvin Harris, her boyfriend and an esteemed chemist. Zott eventually falls into the role as the host of a cooking show, incorporating chemistry and female empowerment into the daily program.

Elizabeth’s unintentionally funny personality and undeniable wit make her easy to love. Elizabeth endures rape, discrimination, and men rooting for her failure, but through it all she manages to maintain her confidence and determination. Per-

By Robyn Beyda School News Editor

For many young women, it’s become nearly impossible to spend 10 minutes on TikTok without encountering some mention of Alix Earle. The 22-year-old University of Miami student’s “get ready with me” videos have taken over the For You pages by storm.

While Earle is certainly not the first influencer to gain popularity through makeup videos, her rapid growth in followers and her friendshiplike connections with fans are what make her unique. Just mere months ago, in September 2022, Earle had 17,900 followers—now she has over 4.5 million. Not only has her continuously growing fanbase exploded in such an unusual amount of time, but the loyalty her fans feel toward her is unlike any other fanbase. Phrases like, “Alix Earle broke up with her boyfriend, so I broke up with my boyfriend,” and “Trying Alex Earle’s viral makeup routine,” have been popping up all over the internet. The products she uses, such as the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Contour Wand, are sold out everywhere. She makes about $40,000-$70,000 per post from brand deals due to her effective marketing skills.

So what makes Alix Earle so entrancing? What makes her so good at promoting a product? For starters, she’s more honest with her fans than most content creators. Instead of making an effort to look perfect, Earle constantly opens up to her fans about her plastic surgery, breakup with her boyfriend, and messy lifestyle. This makes Earle feel more relatable and

sistence is an understatement.

Elizabeth isn’t the only character who makes the book what it is. Practically all of the side characters contribute to the novel’s overall lightness and digestibility. These side characters are relatable and I constantly had the urge to to hug each one of them throughout my read. Her dog, Six-Thirty, is a byproduct of Zott’s brilliance and is my new favorite literary pet.

Garmus somehow manages to cover

less intimidating to the everyday person scrolling on TikTok. The style of her videos make you feel like you’re on FaceTime with her while she fills you in on the drama of her life. By letting her followers into her world, she makes them feel like they’re actually friends, which is what creates the staunch loyalty her fanbase exhibits. While this one-sided parasocial relationship obviously isn’t real, it’s enough for users to give Earle their unwavering support, and trust her when she tells them to buy new products.

Alix Earle’s popularity speaks to a culture shift going on within social media. It’s indicative of the decline of “hustle culture” and the “that girl lifestyle,” which promotes building healthy habits, becoming the best version of yourself, and climbing the corporate ladder. Videos under the hashtag #thatgirl, as in “that girl who has her life together,” often feature a perfectly curated series of video clips of green smoothies, exercising, journaling, and gorgeous looking school notes. While these videos have been popular for the past couple of years, social media users are starting to see through this type of content and long to consume more realistic, relatable content. As TikTok strategist Keith Blackmer said in one video, “The Instagram era of perfect, photoshopped lives, where everything you do is perfect and beautiful, is over. If you want to be a viral account on TikTok, you’ve got to be imperfect, open, honest, authentic.” Both on and off social media platforms, young people are coming to appreciate the sloppy richness of life that transcends faux self-improvement.

the heaviest of topics while simultaneously making the audience laugh at all times. The novel feels like a breath of fresh air while also bringing a unique and devastating perspective on women in STEM fields during the 20th century. Elizabeth is a true inspiration for all women to never lose sight of their goals despite everyone’s doubts and unsolicited opinions. The novel is brilliant in all ways, incredibly well-written, and my first five-star book of the year.

Deinfluencing: the ‘Don’t listen to the trends’ trend

when those influencers publicize certain products, viewers are more likely to want to buy it to be more like the influencer. Psychologically, this is called an appeal to authority, or more accurately, an appeal to celebrity.

“I used to spend $40 on L’Oreal mascara all because Mikayla Nogueira, my favorite Tiktok influencer, hyped it up so much,” said Ezra Rosenfeld, a junior who purchases makeup for his sister, “but now after the deinfluencing trend opened my eyes about the product, I don’t think it’s worth it anymore.”

Is it technology, or just another accessory?

By Arlette Mann  Fashion Editor

Have you noticed the rising popularity of AirPod Max headphones? Or the digital cameras that everyone seems to be carrying around these days? So much technology is being carried around as accessories, despite not being designed for that.

By Shirley Jajati Contributing Writer

Zendaya, queen of Hollywood, once said, “I’m one of those people who doesn’t follow trends, I set them.” A confident mindset, one that it seems many people have recently taken upon themselves by, ironically, following a new trend: the deinfluencing trend.

All over TikTok, influencers are advertising brands and products, not because they like the product or even because they use the product, but because they get paid. Which is the reason people feel that these endorsements are untrustworthy. Companies, especially those that sell beauty products, play off the affection that viewers have for certain influencers. Thus,

What most people are starting to come to terms with is that liking and following an influencer doesn’t mean you need to become the influencer. And you simply can’t become the influencer. No matter how many identical beauty products you buy, you will never look the way they do. You will remain your beautiful self. Once this sinks in, people start to adapt a more Zendayalike attitude toward influencer advertisements and appeals to authority.

That is what the deinfluencing trend is about: going against the trends and not purchasing items purely based on the opinion of random girls and boys who sing and dance behind a screen. You can do your own research and find products that you like that are recommended by doctors and experts, and that aren’t nearly as expensive as what the influencers recommend. Do your own thing, have your own style, it’s worth it! And it’s trending!

The next time you’re in the city, count how many people you see wearing AirPod Max headphones. I’m sure the number will be higher than you think. But why is this the case? Why are people spending so much money on headphones when they can buy a cheaper option with sound quality and usability that’s just as good or maybe even better? The answer is simple. People like to stand out. So when they see others on social media doing something, they hop on the trend as quickly as possible to ensure they are one of the first ones doing it. Then, when the trend becomes more widespread, they can say they were doing it before everyone else. So last year, when wired headphones were trending, there were a few people who began to wear the AirPod Max headphones so that they could be involved in the headphones trend, but they were doing it in

a slightly different way. When this began to catch on slowly, more and more people impulsively bought the AirPod Max headphones, and now we see them everywhere.

The same thing happened with digital cameras. In 2020, film cameras were suddenly everywhere. Most of the pictures posted on social media were taken on disposable cameras. It was even seen in Flatbush. Every lunch period, at least five girls were developing their film in the “Magic Photo” store. However, after some time came a switch from film to digital cameras. One person bought a digital camera, and consequently, many ran to purchase their own to “be first on the trend.” Without fail, a few months later, everyone is carrying around digital cameras. There are many students right here in Flatbush with digital cameras, and they even have Instagram accounts solely dedicated to the pictures they take on their digital camera.

In our fast-paced world, the continued popularity of new technology is not surprising. However, the world of fashion has found an appreciation for certain older technology, such as the disposable camera, and embraces it as if it were new.

Planning to earn a fashion degree?

Here are some career options

By Clara Edery Fashion Editor

Having a college degree in fashion can be highly advantageous for people seeking a career in the fashion industry. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the fashion industry, covering various aspects such as design, production, marketing, and branding. A degree in fashion can help individuals develop their creative and technical skills, which are highly valued in the industry. While students work toward their degree, fashion schools provide students with opportunities to network with professionals and gain hands-on experience through internships and industry collaborations.

Some of the most common jobs many seek after getting their degree are fashion designer, stylist, merchandiser, marketing/public relations professional, textile designer, fashion journalist, fashion photographer, and more.

A fashion designer plays a big role in the industry. The designer creates designs for all sorts of clothing and accessories,

unique to their own style. Most designers are known for a specific theme or logo that they have created to represent their brand. After creating a piece, the designer oversees the production of all garments. They must be able to have good sewing skills, as well as hands-on experience. The job of a fashion designer is perfect for anyone who is creative and proactive.

If you are someone who has an eye for fashion but does not necessarily want to create your own designs, then the job of a stylist is for you. Stylists create visual concepts for photoshoots or events by putting certain pieces together. Stylists can also curate looks for individual clients.

Merchandisers handle the more technical aspects of the industry. Merchandisers are responsible for everything that happens to a product from the moment it is delivered to the store to the moment a shopper picks it up off the shelf. They monitor product appearance and supply in various stores throughout their designated geographic area, while also analyzing sales data and trends to determine what products to stock in a store or on-

line. If you are someone with strong numerical and analytical skills, then the job of a merchandiser is definitely for you. Merchandisers are responsible for everything going on behind the scenes, and the reason why your favorite products are on the shelves.

The job of a marketing or public relations professional is to promote fashion brands and products through advertising, social media, the news media, and other communication strategies, while simultaneously planning campaigns to promote your brand. As a marketing or PR professional you could represent a brand or one specific person.

A degree in fashion can lead an individual to many diverse opportunities and different career paths. The fashion industry has vast options for a student with a degree to choose from, one to fit every person! With the right research and background knowledge, individuals with a fashion degree will be able to find the perfect job for themselves.

Ask Merle

Dear Merle,

It’s February, and I have four months left until graduation. I have no motivation to get out of bed and come to school, let alone go to class when I manage to enter the building. I don’t want to be held back from activities but I don’t know how to gain motivation to work harder? Since you’re a senior, too, can you give me some advice?

From, A Lazy Senior

Dear Lazy Senior,

You would think I sent this to myself— that’s how similar we’re all feeling at this point! No matter what advice I give you, I’m going to sound like a hypocrite. Honestly, just think about how little time we have left all together. Even if you’re sitting in class bored out of your mind, at least you’re with your friends. You have your whole life to stay home!

See you in class, Merle

Fun & Games

Dear Merle, I write this to you as I sit in my classroom with no roof—the construction in school has gotten out of hand. Half of my classes are freezing cold, and the other half are covered in dust. I can’t raise my hand in JH without coughing up a lung, and I’m pretty sure a pigeon pooped on my head during 4th period. How am I supposed to learn like this?

Sincerely, Asthmatic Junior

Flatbush Crossword

2. king alex

4. the only reason we carry cash

5. the place for nap time

Dear Asthmatic, I totally hear your concerns, and I think it’s safe to say we’re all facing those issues. But since it doesn’t seem like construction will end anytime soon, here are some tips! Always wear your jacket, preferably a puffer; bonus points for one with a hood, because you never know when it might start raining. (This could also help with your pigeon poop predicament.) The dust dilemma is a little bit trickier. You can try a mask, but personally I would opt for a full hazmat suit. Most important, make sure you keep your inhaler on you at all times!

8. a sickness common in 12th graders

Dear Merle,

I keep getting caught trying to take the elevator. I’ve tried to take the stairs, but the fourth floor is so far away, especially from the basement. I end up getting to class out of breath and feeling like I ran a marathon. If I wanted to work out on the stairmaster, I would. I don’t want to get caught again, but I might collapse if I have to take the stairs again. What should I do?!  Please help, @falconfan890

Dear @falconfan890,

Riding the elevator here is really a hit or miss. I mean, I also hate the stairmaster, so I don’t blame you for taking that risk. I’m not gonna lie, there’s not much to do in this situation. Maybe take breaks to breathe in between flights of stairs? Walking up with friends definitely helps distract me from the casual cardio workouts it feels like we have to do every 40 minutes. Just weigh your priorities. If not taking the stairs is worth risking getting caught, then I wish you the best of luck!

ACROSS

2. King Alex

1. funny skits

DOWN

3. rabbi sklarin's collection

1. Funny skits

4. internship opportunities

6. kumsitz season

9. the gym is under ______

Stay warm, Merle

Dear Merle, I’m a sophomore in the process of choosing my electives for junior year and I’m having some trouble. There’s this one elective that sounds really cool, but it ends at 5:15 and I don’t know if it’s worth it to stay. I really want to take this class, but all my friends are choosing a different one. Any suggestions?

Indecisive Sophomore

4. The only reason we carry cash

5. The place for nap time

8. A sickness common in 12th graders

9. The gym is under

7. rabbi galpert's wife

3. Rabbi Sklarin’s collection

4. Internship opportunities

6. Kumsitz season

7. Rabbi Galpert’s wife

Flatbush Cartoon

By Daniela Nacmias Phoenix Cartoonist

Dear Indecisive,

Choosing electives is definitely one of the hardest decisions you’ll have to make in high school. It determines whether you’re pulling all-nighters to memorize a periodic table or going to sleep at 9:30 after typing up a quick haiku. But there is an upside to taking more rigorous classes: colleges love to see that you’re killing—I mean challenging—yourself. So ask yourself if you’d rather improve your chances of getting into a top-tier college or enjoy your life, and that should hopefully make this decision a little easier. As for taking an elective none of your friends are in—I say go for it! You’ll meet people you’ve never even seen before, and you might even make some really great new friends. It worked for me!

Happy choosing, Merle

Ms. Carolina Cohen’s Mexican Cooking cultural Cooking Corner

By Lydia Ezon

Contributing Writer

The home to salsa, fiestas, and Ms. Carolina Cohen is a place like no other! Ms. Cohen, who teaches graphic design and AP photography, was born and raised in Yucatan, Mexico.

Today Ms. Cohen shares a Mexican recipe called Huevos (Eggs) Motuleños taught to her by her Chichi (the Mayan word for grandmother.) Ms. Cohen’s Chichi was born in Motul, which is a small city on the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. Ms. Cohen describes her Chichi as a fantastic cook, and this recipe happens to be the only one she learned from her! “It is a very traditional dish, made with delicious ingredients that are easy to find almost everywhere!” says Ms. Cohen.

Huevos Motuleños

Ingredients

Eggs: They have to be fried. Not poached, not scrambled, fried with a

creamy, running yolk.

Corn tortillas: Also fried. Not totally crunchy like a tostada. Neither can they be too soft, as they will fall apart easily. Just fried enough to hold well all the weight of the ingredients on top.

Beans: Not refried as you might think. The beans are mashed with some liquid, then they’re strained so you’ll end with some sort of thick soup. Beans for this dish even have a name: frijol colado (strained beans). And they’re cooked with epazote (a Mexican cooking herb).

Sauce: The sauce is made with tomatoes, onions, garlic, and the most important ingredient: chiles habaneros (habanero chiles)

Toppings: Peas, fried plantains, and queso fresco.

Directions

Put the tomatoes, garlic and habanero chiles in a blender. Add 2 cups of water and blend until smooth.

In a small pan, saute diced onions in olive oil until soft and translucent. Add the tomato mixture, season with salt

and pepper, and cook for 10 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Set aside.

Put beans in the blender, add 1/2 cup of water, and blend until smooth. Strain and discard any solid parts.

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in more diced onions and sauté until soft and translucent. Add the beans and epazote, then let them simmer for about 5 minutes or until they become a thick sauce. Set aside.

Cut the plantains into half inch slices. Fry until golden and lightly crispy. Set aside.

In a frying pan, heat some olive oil and fry the tortillas one by one until they are a little crispy. Place two tortillas, side by side on a plate.

In the same frying pan, fry the eggs to your liking. I like mine with runny egg yolk.

Spoon the beans onto each tortilla and place one fried egg on each. Pour the tomato sauce and then top with the peas and sprinkle fresh cheese. Put the fried plantains on the side and serve im-

mediately.

A Few Tips …

Be careful with the habanero chilies. They’re very spicy, so use gloves when seeding them and also try to discard the veins. The flavor, however, is delicious, so it is still a nice addition to the dish.

It’s not easy to find epazote in New York in its fresh version, but you can find it dried and packed in small bags at Latino markets.

Once your dish is ready, sit around a table and enjoy it with your family and friends!

¡Buen Provecho!

Social consciousness reshapes pro sports team ownership

By Simone Amkraut Sports Editor

Earlier this month, Mat Ishbia officially took over as the newest owner in the NBA and WNBA as he made his first moves as the top dog for the Phoenix Suns and Mercury professional basketball franchises. What makes this noteworthy is the reason Ishbia was in position to buy the teams in the first place: former Suns/ Mercury owner Robert Sarver was forced by his fellow owners to sell his teams after allegations of rampant harassment and misconduct in his organization became public.

It is a sign of the times, and it is perhaps one of the more noteworthy changes in the sports world that has resulted from the rise in social consciousness as a driving force for positive change.

The first major change of this kind came in 2014, when Donald Sterling was forced to sell the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers after he was overheard making overt racist comments. Since then, society has become more attentive to and more sensitive about the impact of negative behaviors and attitudes in the workplace, and the sports world has been at the forefront.

In the past four years, issues that previously barely generated discussion in local media outlets became major focal points across the nation. Several pro sports teams have been criticized for years for having mascots and team names that are perceived as insensitive toward Native Americans. It is only now in the present

More students attending Flatbush sports games

climate of social consciousness that the clamor became too great to brush under the rug.

Dan Snyder, longtime owner of the Washington football franchise, stated for ages that he would “never” change the team’s mascot. Apparently, “never” is now. The Washington team, formerly known as the Redskins, is now the Commanders. And the Cleveland baseball team, formerly known as the Indians, now goes by Guardians. However, the change in Cleveland may have more to do with the mascot, which was a caricature of a Native American, than anything else; the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, the NHL’s Chicago Black Hawks and the MLB’s Atlanta Braves seem to be able to continue with their mascots/nicknames, which are shown as powerful figures or with images like arrowheads or tomahawks.

The mascot is likely not the only change that will happen in DC. Snyder has been accused of overseeing a franchise where sexual harassment, sexual assault and possible financial improprieties are condoned. If what happened to Sarver in Phoenix is any indication, it is likely there will be new ownership in DC in the very near future.

As a society we have finally put our proverbial feet down. There is just less room for racism, sexism or other marginalization of protected populations. It is a new era in professional sports. It is nice to see these positive changes moving us forward, and clearly for the better.

Sportsman Spotlight: After tough knee injury, Hanan comes back strong

By David Marcus Entertainment Editor

Measuring in at five-foot-ten, wearing number 23. Ladies and gentleman, please give it up for your Flatbush Falcons starting center: Tunie Hanan!

Like any great athlete, Hanan’s athletic journey began from a young age, when she started playing basketball because of her natural height advantage. It all started in second grade, when her friends could hardly score points off of her. Her early love for the game soon made her the best player in the fifth grade recess yard—the same yard where she and her Falcons teammate Sarah Siri formed a relationship that still stands strongly today.

Hanan and Siri soon tried out for the middle division Flatbush girls basketball team (6-8th grade team) and they both made it. In their three-year span on that team, Hanan said, “I didn’t get any minutes. I was just playing off of the bench. But I think it’s funny because the girls who did start over me don’t even play

anymore. The thing that pushed me to work harder to get on the court was the love for this sport, and the overall competitiveness.”

In those three years, Hanan was working to strengthen her skills, as she started to attend basketball camps such as the “MVP camp” that takes place in Camp Sene ca Lake. By the time ninth grade rolled around, Hanan’s hard work had paid off, and she was named an immedi ate starter.

In 10th and 11th grade, Hanan was named team captain, and led the Falcons to successful seasons, but things became a bit more compli cated entering her senior year. This past summer, Hanan suffered

By Aleen Jaradeh Junior Editor

Students have begun attending the school’s sports games in much larger numbers than they have in years, and the crowds are having both positive and negative effects on players on various teams.

Coach Robyn Dweck, who has attended multiple sports games throughout her years working in Flatbush, has observed the recent growth in students visiting the sports games. However, she has noticed that “the amount of students observing games varies and depends on the game type.” The Flatbush boys’ varsity basketball team typically attracts the greatest audience, but there has been a general increase across the board, which Dweck described as “exciting and amazing.”

Abie Shaoul, a senior on the hockey team, believes that the increase in attendance at his team’s games motivates the athletes and pushes them to play to the best of their abilities. Personally, he has noticed a positive impact on his own playing as a result of a larger crowd.

Solly Gadeh, a junior on the boys’ varsity basketball team, appreciates the larger crowds. “When there are more fans, we get more hyped and want to play better in the game and actually want to win,” he stated. “We want to make the crowd proud.” Yet he observed that once the game starts his team is “locked in” and doesn’t pay any attention to the crowd, as all thoughts of the crowd disappear from their heads, and instead they are focused on their playing.

However, although many student athletes have positive views on the larger crowds, Paulette Saada, a junior on the girls’ varsity basketball team, does not share the same beliefs. “As a team, when there is a big audience, naturally people

a devastating injury: her meniscus had completely detached from her knee. This was so rare that it took the doctors three MRIs to finally catch it. The injury meant that Hanan would miss the entirety of her senior year regular season.

“It was very hard on me because my role was so big. I would play games from beginning to end. I also had to support myself in that time, too, because basketball is my outlet, and my teammates who are now my sisters were my outlet,” Hanan remembers. She says that the time off made her realize how much she appreciated being part of a team.

Hanan also met her best friend, former Flatbush Falcon Shoushou Askenazie, through basketball. “She’s like a sister to me,” Hanan said. “This injury experience made me realize that it’s not only about the minutes on the court.

When you are part of a team, you’re part of a family.”

After weekly physical therapy and nearly a month of not being able to walk at all, Hanan has recently returned from her gruesome injury for the playoffs, and it appears that she hasn’t missed a beat. She scored 16 points and played a game with no limited

want to look good in front of the audience. This causes them to play a little more selfishly, or try to show off for themselves rather than playing as a team,” Saada said. When she plays, Saada tries to block out any thoughts of the audience in hopes of keeping herself grounded and ensuring she plays as a member of a team, rather than an individual. She remembers her goal is a team victory, and to procure such, she must be a team player.

Coach Dweck also mentioned that “some players may get nervous under pressures from the crowds.” They alter their playing as a result, which causes them to not play as well as they normally would.

Students gave varying answers about their incentives in attending the school’s sports games. Junior Leah Lati contributes her attendance to enjoyment of watching her friends play and supporting them. She stated, “When my friends see me, I know they get happy, which gives them a boost of confidence and they really appreciate it when I go.” Lati also finds the games entertaining because she knows the people playing, and attending the games increases school spirit.

Coach Dweck believes that the opponent the school is playing is a big factor, and mentioned that games against Magen David Yeshivah attracts the largest crowds.

Junior Robin Sassoon, however, attends sports games because she knows her friends are going. To her, sports games are now a place where she can be social and hang out with friends. Moreso, junior Shelly Shaoul stated “my friends and I are planning to go to multiple upcoming sports games in the future, and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.”

minutes in her senior-year debut. “Do I think I’ll ever return to my pre-injury self? Probably not. This is something that I went through, and now it’s a part of my life” said Hanan.

Before games, Hanan takes time to prepare both physically and mentally. “When I feel my head is not in the right place, I go to my backyard and shoot around to clear my head,” she said. Hanan also participates in AAU tournaments in the basketball offseasons. An AAU tournament involves non-Yeshivah-league players, and the competition is much tougher. Hanan said that “being exposed to more talented players strengthens my own skill set.”

Hanan is a perfect example of an athlete who, despite facing immense adversity, has always kept her head held high. Her advice for athletes struggling with injuries is to remember that “physical pain will always pass. I … thought that I would never be able to walk again, let alone play basketball again. If you’re going through a difficult injury, just make sure to surround yourself with the right people. Mental health expedites physical health.”