Alumni Highlights News and noteworthy

Alumni Highlights

Richard “Ricky”

Sasson (ES ’16, HS ’20), a brand new member of the YOF alumni family, was the recipient of the prestigious Presidential Scholarship Award in 2020. During his years at YOF, Ricky was a multitalented student, a high achiever in the classroom, an accomplished musician, an actor in our annual Hebrew play and an athlete.

“Aside from the pure intellect gained, my Flatbush education has taught me that learning can be both enlightening and challenging. Flatbush encouraged me to remain resilient, curious, and openminded,” shared Ricky.

Ricky will be continuing his education with a gap year in Israel at Yeshivat Torat Shraga followed by New York University.

Dr. Leora

Mogilner (ES ’81, HS ’85) is a pediatrician at Kravis Children’s Hospital at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. She is also a founder and board member of Reach Out and Read, a non-profit, early childhood literacy program disseminating over 12,000 books into the hands of young children since 1998. Dr. Mogilner also speaks with parents about the importance of reading and was profiled this past July by local news channel NY1 as its “New Yorker of the Week.”

“The strong education at Flatbush was a great foundation for my training and education. It fostered my love for learning and intellectual curiosity. The importance placed on community, chesed and giving back had a deep impact on my personal and professional roles,” expressed Dr. Mogilner.

Deborah (Berlinger) Eiferman, (ES ’36) visited the Elementary School and celebrated her 97th birthday with a group of kindergarten students. Ms. Eiferman was a member of the third Yeshivah of Flatbush graduating class! During her years at YOF, she had 16 students in her grade and there were 60 students at the Yeshivah in total. Kindergarteners sang “Happy Birthday” and presented her

with handmade cards and gifts. An inquisitive group of 8th grade students asked about her time at the Yeshivah and life growing up in the 1920s and ’30s. She also met with YOFHS Principal Emeritus Rabbi Dr. David Eliach and our school principals. It was wonderful to hear several school stories from Ms. Eiferman’s years at YOF.

Dr. Yossi Farkas

(HS ’02) is the Medical Director of the Inpatient Pediatrics Department at Bellevue Hospital Center in Manhattan. This past spring, his work put him on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. For all of his hard work and dedication, Yossi was selected as one of the 2020 New York Jewish Week “36 Under 36.”

“Flatbush challenged and encouraged me to think critically and to evaluate issues from multiple perspectives. This commitment to academia and analytical thinking has served me well throughout my education, training, and career as a pediatrician,” shared Dr. Farkas.