The Phoenix 2014-2015 Issue 2

INSIDE: Shabbat Project Comes To Flatbush / You+Me Album Review / Senior Bag Check

A Student Publication of the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School • Issue 2 • 2014

English Regents Moved to January Itinerary Set

for Third Annual STEM Mission to Israel

Michelle Harari, 3-HR The Yeshivah of Flatbush administration has decided, for the first time, to move the English Regents Exam from June to January. Ms. Mica Bloom, Chair of the English Department, says the move will be affect seniors in several positive ways.

Ms. Bloom notes that

this decision has been in the works for quite some time now; weighing the pros against the cons didn’t require much heavy lifting.

The benefits to moving up the exam are many, with the only substantive drawback being that teachers have to finish the 12th grade materi-

al in half the amount of time they normally would. However, with the Regents now in January, seniors will be taking the exam long before they descend into post-Passover passivity. In the past, the long layoff before the exam may have affected students’ test scores as they had strug-

gled to remember terms and concepts learned months earlier. Additionally, student apathy presumably will be lessened as the exam will count on the January report card. Laid-back seniors may now actually care enough to score well. Lastly, if students Gabriel Vizgan, 3-HN don’t do well on the January Cont’d on page 4 The STEM Mission, an entrepreneurial trip to Israel during winter break, is only in its third year, but the trips have been very successful. This year’s trip stands to be the same. Led by Mrs. Bacon, the trip brings Joey Cohen, 4-HR students into contact with leaders in inWhat if there were a way able people to see their true Orthodox Jew wants to hear. not writing as writing only novation as well as next-gen technology to “lechatchila” use your Torah.” But is this app really Addressing the last issue, the applies to creating a word, yet to hit the market place. The itinerary is phone on Shabbat? A rab- what it seems? Is the app ko- website states that there is not to taking existing words packed full of exciting lectures, tours, and bi-approved, modern-Or- sher in the eyes of our rabbis a shinui, or change, so that and forming a sentence.” As hands on experiences. For example, a stuthodox way to keep yourself or, more important, G-d? the act of texting on Shab- for the phone producing a dent could hear a lecture on the future of up to date technologically, The developers certainly bat would not be the same as sound, the app prevents the transportation in pods zooming through even on the day of rest? This think so. They bring up a few texting on a weekday. As for phone from producing any the sky, then take part in the testing of real, is the message that a brand potential issues with the app the writing issue, the devel- form of noise. live rockets in an actual rocket lab, folnew app on the market, including writing, the sound opers say the app “features a However, 9 out of 10 Ye- lowed by a tour of a beautiful, fun-loving “Shabbos App” is trying to a phone makes, and partic- unique keyboard that works shivah of Flatbush alumni Google office, and that’s all before lunch. convey. Its developers claim ipating in weekday acts on differently from the keypad who consider themselves Aside from visiting places of scientific on the app’s website (shab- Shabbat. All of those issues that a user would use all “observant” found these an- advancement, students also learn how to bosapp.com) that this is part are addressed, but not up to week. The keypad is replaced swers are unsatisfying to further their own ideas in a step-by-step of “our greater goal to en- par with what an observant with complete words. This is their halachic preferences. manner. First taught what makes an idea Cont’d on page 3 worth pursuing, a student is then taught how to pitch an idea to investors, how to use the latest app-building technology to their advantage, how to create their own website, and finally how to peak public interest and get business rolling.

Jane Zakay, 2-R The state of Israel has become a leading You may not believe it, but our Black became an Elementary Physiinnovator across nearly all fields of techvery own coach and physical edu- cal Education/Science Teacher at the nological advancement. The trip is dedcation teacher, Ms. Black, is a for- Day School. Though busy with her icated toward teaching students what it mer Olympics Trials and nationally work schedule, Ms. Black nonethetakes to create a good startup, why Israeli ranked athlete! How cool is that? less continued to run in competitive startups are so successful, and what skills Ms. Black embarked on her ath- cross-country and NYCR road races. they would need to further their entreletic career as a nationally ranked and Ms. Black excelled in the event and preneur/business skills, all in a hands-on, elite cross-country runner while com- earned sponsorships from Adidas and completely interactive, environment. peting in college. However, whenever other companies as she traveled all As students learn to develop their inshe shared her dreams of competing over the United States to run in road terest, they also experience a piece of the in the Olympics with others, she was races. Ms. Black went on to defeat elite Israeli lifestyle. They travel places of trediscouraged and told she would nev- runners on the national and interna- number of women who protested the mendous beauty and experience breather be able to make it on the national tional circuits. Among other achieve- International Olympic Committee’s taking views and awe-inspiring sites of stage. Later on, however, she proved ments, Ms. Black competed in various decision to lower the hurdles and the Holy Land. Students are often given her critics wrong. Ms. Black was de- events at the United States Track and shorten the distance of the women’s the freedom to break off from the group termined, and had in her sights a role Field (USTF) championships; she steeplechase, traditionally a footrace to explore various shopping areas, with a model, Allison Roe, whose world re- specialized in the 2,000-meter stee- of 3,000 meters or more over a closed complimentary budget for meals and/or cord in the marathon and other feats plechase and pole vault events from track with four hurdles and water souvenirs. And what trip to Israel is comin women’s racing encouraged Ms. 1990 through 1996, placing in the top obstacles interspersed throughout. It plete without the experience of haggling at took 16 years, but in 2008 the WomBlack to persevere.

5 each year. the shuk Friday afternoon or praying KabAfter her college career, Ms. In 1992, Ms. Black was one of a en’s 3,000-meter steeplechase apbalat Shabbat at the Kotel?

Shabbos App Not So Kosher, Rabbis Say

New Teacher Profile: Ms. Black

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Meet a Freshman: Joe Terzi

New Commission Spotlight: Mathletes Sarah Levy, 4-HR

Robyn Dweck, 4-T RD: What class are you in?

JT: I am in 9-T RD: What elementary school did you attend?

JT: I attended Yeshivah of Flatbush elementary school.

RD: Do you have any siblings who attended Yeshivah of Flatbush High School?

JT: No, I am the oldest in my family.

RD: What is your favorite subject?

JT: My favorite subject is English.

RD: Did you participate in any extracurricular activities in your elementary school?

JT: Yes, I participated in Mishmar.

RD: Are you part of any sports team?

JT: Yes, I am on the volleyball team.

RD: What are you looking forward to in Flatbush?

JT: I am looking forward to going out for lunch.

RD: Where will you be going the first day you are allowed out for lunch?

JT: I will be going to Benny’s the first day I am allowed out.

Joe Terzi

The Phoenix Staff Editor-In-Chief: Shani Zenilman Managing Editor: Abby Shegelman Religion Editor: Sarah Levy Entertainment Editor: Rebecca Zami Sports Editor: Joey Cohen Fun Page Editor: Merle Cohen Standard of Fabulous Editors: Emma Burekhovich, Nicole Yankovich Photography Editor: Robyn Dweck Web Editor: Joey Baum Junior Editors: Albert Dweck, Merle Dweck, Michelle Harari, Sarah Torgueman, Gabriel Vizgan Sophomore Editors: Mimi Lazerowitz, Jane Zakay Design: Therese Berkowitz Faculty Advisor: Adam Hofstetter High School Administration Rabbi Raymond Harari Head of School Rabbi Ronald Levy Principal

Ms. Sari Bacon Associate Principal Rabbi Joseph Beyda Assistant Principal

Ms. Jill W. Sanders Director of Admissions Associate Principal

2 | www.theflatbushphoenix.com

Mathletes Shapiro (left) and Shegelman

To many people, the idea of getting students to do optional math problems each day might seem a bit farfetched.

But when Mrs. Shulman, head of the math department, came up with an idea to make math a fun part of students’ everyday routine, she knew the right peo-

ple to entrust with this mission. Seniors Abby Shegelman and Naomi Shapiro, two enthusiastic math lab tutors, were more than eager to take on a project that had to do with math. For the past few weeks, you might’ve seen them giving out or collecting “Mathletes” sheets.

Also found every day in the library and on the guard’s desk, Mathletes sheets contain 2-3 math problems, all taken from SATs and AMCs. They’re like the daily crossword puzzle, but for the other side of the brain.

One goal of the newly founded Mathletes Commission, as Shegelman puts it, is to “get students more excited about daily math without thinking of it as a chore or a bore.” Another is to increase student participation in nation-

al math competitions. The daily practice will give students an edge when it comes to contests like the AMCs. It’s also advantageous for juniors and seniors preparing for the SAT. Answers can be given in to Shegelman or Shapiro or dropped in the Mathletes box in the library. Students who participate regularly can get Archon credit, and the highest scorer each week is announced “Mathlete of the Week” by Rabbi Levy on the loudspeaker.

So whether you could use some daily practice for the SAT, want to prepare for the upcoming AMC, or just love the challenge of an ingenious math problem, be sure to pick up a Mathletes paper!

“HeForShe” Brings Feminism into 21st Century Esther Levy, 2-HR Whenever a female celebrity encounters the inevitable question of “Are you a feminist?” it’s rarely about whether this woman identifies as a feminist, but rather whether she understands what the term means. Often said celebrity will reject feminism and follow her disassociation with a movement that most probably enabled her success with a “but” statement. The celebrity explains her beliefs on gender equality, beliefs that more often than not, are exactly what feminism is not about.

Along with trying to abolish gender roles and crush the patriarchy, feminists also deal with having to constantly define feminism for those who, along with almost all of the media, possess an extremely distorted and inaccurate portrayal of the movement. British suffragette Rebecca West sarcastically described this as “the radical notion that women are people.” It’s a topic (weirdly) deemed as “taboo” and about which people are rarely educated. Because of this, many men and women may hold beliefs that the movement consists only of crazy, men-hating cat-ladies who wish to obtain dominance over men. Mary Wollstonecraft, often called the “Mother of Feminism,” bluntly said about her philosophy, “I do not wish women to have power over men; but over themselves.”

Luckily, many celebrities have recently started speaking out about feminism, enabling the thousands holding on to their every word to be educated on the actual definition of the word and the issues women face today all over the world.

They also are popularizing the idea of identifying as a feminist in spite of all the negative attributions of the world around us. From Beyoncé’s recent quoting of and publicly displayed admiration of Nigerian writer and feminist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, to Taylor Swift’s recent feminist “awakening” to Emma Watson’s speech at the UN presenting her “HeforShe” campaign, we see the expanding popularity of the movement.

During the summer when Watson was appointed UN Women Goodwill

Ambassador, most of us wondered what was in store next for the actress mostly known for her leading role as “Hermione Granger” in the Harry Potter movies. Watson has previously spent time in Bangladesh and Zambia as part of her humanitarian efforts in advocating for girls education. In addition, prior to her speech, Watson made it clear that she’s not one to standby and allow others to get away with oppressive or sexist comments to or about women. For example, when Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister, Bulent Arinc gave a speech in which he stated that in order to “protect her honor” a woman should not laugh in public, she was quick to reciprocate via twitter by posting a picture that featured her laughing in public.

Watson noted “how fighting for women’s rights has too often become synonymous with man hating.” She emphasized the fact that nonetheless, it’s OK if some people still hate the word after learning its definition, and refuse to associate with it. She explained that, “it is not the word that is important but the idea and ambition behind it.” Attitudes like Watson’s will help the Feminist movement gain followers and support.

Watson discussed her belief in equal pay for work, a women’s right to make decisions about her own body, and proper representation of women in government. She also recognized how although she was lucky enough to be born with the privileges of not being loved any less by her parents or having less of an education because of her gender, she acknowledges the fact that only a very small amount of girls have the same privilege as her.

Recognizing the intimidation and discomfort keeping men from identifying as feminists, Watson officially invited both men and boys to join the fight, and further defined the goal of “HeforShe” as trying to “galvanize as many men and boys as possible to be advocates for gender equality.” She suggested they should fight not just “so their daughters, sisters and mothers can be free from prejudice,

Watson speaks at the UN

but also so that their sons have permission to be vulnerable and human too.” By pointing out that the fight is the same for boys as it is for girls, she makes it clear that as long as gender roles and gender assumptions are in place, neither gender can be free.

Other problems boys and men face that should make them fight for gender equality include the fact that they are devalued as parents and that they are sometimes forced to suffer through mental illness in silence (or just not express their emotions) out of fear of looking less “macho.” Watson argues that if men didn’t feel they have to be aggressive and in control all the time, then women wouldn’t feel they need to be submissive or controlled by men. This creates a situation in which people of either gender can choose to act however they want without being confined by society’s expectations.

But perhaps the most important part of her speech was when she stated “No country in the world can yet say they have achieved gender equality,” making it clear that this is not just a battle taking place in third world countries, but

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South Africa’s “Shabbos Project” Goes Worldwide

D’var Torah: The Value of Patience

Shani Zenilman, 4-HR

Sarah Torgueman, 3-HN

This past Shabbat, Jews in more than 1,400 cities all over the world participated in the Shabbos Project, a movement that encourages all Jews to observe one Orthodox Shabbat. South Africa’s Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein created the movement last year. The goal was to have all the Jews of South Africa pledge to keep one Shabbat, and Rabbi Goldstein and his wife published the Orthodox guidelines for doing so. On the Thursday before that Shabbat, the women were invited to a challah baking class, and Shabbat ended with an outdoor Havdalah concert.

The Shabbos Project gained international attention and has extended far beyond South Africa. This year, Jews across the globe pledged to join, from Orthodox observers to those who had never observed a full Shabbat before. The movement’s website provides information about what Shabbat is, how to keep it, and how to help others. It also has its very own support system: “coaches” to help answer questions about observing Shabbat, “partners” who encourage others to join, and “hosts” who invite others into their homes for the weekend in order to help them keep Shabbat. In fact, Yeshivah of Flatbush’s very own Ms. Meyer and her family hosted a guest, and our English Department baked challah for the project.

The movement has also been active on social media, and even created its own hashtag, #keepingittogether, in order to

The monumental prophecy in early Jewish history is the Brit Bein Habetarim found in this week’s parasha, Parashat Lech Lecha. During this remarkably holy event, G-d reveals Himself to Avram and makes an everlasting covenant with him. G-d promises Avram that he will have countless offspring, like the dust of the earth and like the stars in the sky, and that his descendants will inherit the Land of Israel in the future.

Parashat Lech Lecha unfolds with Avram receiving instructions to leave his homeland, Charan, and to travel to a new land, Canaan. After a famine strikes in Canaan and Avram and Sarai face trouble with the Pharaoh in Egypt, Avram has more challenges when his shepherds start fighting with his nephew Lot’s shepherds. One thing we can learn from this parasha is that sometimes it’s better to walk away from a fight. Avram handles the dispute between his and Lot’s shepherds wisely by telling Lot that he would settle in the opposite area from where Lot would decide to settle.

According to Rashi, Avram’s shepherds were right and Lot’s were wrong. But Avram doesn’t try to prove any sort of point. Instead, he suggests separation because he knew that would prevent future fights.

Another important lesson that we can extract from this parasha is the value of family. After the relatives decide to separate, Lot relocates to the city of Sodom. When Sodom is later overrun in a war among kings, Lot and many other residents of Sodom are taken into captivity. Although Avram lives in Canaan and Lot is in captivity from Sodom, he comes to rescue Lot the instant he hears

Ms. Marcus, Ms. Stein, and Ms. Pahuskin #keepingittogether

encourage others to join. On theshabbosproject.org, many participants posted their desire and excitement to participate, and later, their joy of having done so. In addition to this, celebrities such as Paula Abdul and Mayim Bailik expressed their support for the Shabbos Project on YouTube, and both also took the pledge to join.

Organizers like Rabbi Yaakov Trump, the Shabbos Project’s liaison in Nassau County’s Five Towns, expressed great pleasure with the range of events and participants this past Shabbat. The project’s goal for future years is to continue expanding to new cities and countries until every Jew observes Shabbat.

The Whole Story: “The Death of Klinghoffer”

that his nephew/brother-in-law is in trouble. Avram defeats the kings and rescues Lot. Despite their shepherds’ disputes, Avram supports his relative. A vital aspect to remember from this segment of the parasha is that family comes first, no matter the obstacle and no matter the distance.

The king of Sodom grants Avram the spoils of war, which causes him to question the point of receiving riches if he has no child to inherit. G-d answers Avram with the monumental prophecy of Brit Ben Habetarim. As mentioned earlier, in this covenant G-d promises Avram numerous offspring. Avram is told that his descendants will be enslaved for four hundred years, but will be released with great riches and wealth and then granted the Land of Israel. The prophecy seems to be coming true when, after the childless Sarai tells Avram to have a baby with Hagar, her maid, a baby boy is born. They name him Yishmael. G-d makes another covenant with Avram, which is the famous brit milah. This link between Avram and his male descendants to this day. In next week’s parasha, Avram and Saraihave a child, Yitzchak.

An additioanl significant lesson that can be learned from this parsha is to always have patience. A wise man once said, “With love and patience, nothing is impossible.” G-d miraculously made it possible for Avram and Sarai to have a child, even though they were at advanced ages. If Avram continued to be patient and to trust in G-d to allow him to have a child, despite the hardship of his old age, then kal vachomer we can learn to always have patience even in the most trying situations.

Naomi Shapiro, 4-HN Premiering in Lincoln Center on Monday, October 20, “The Death of Klinghoffer” has spurred much controversy and anger among many. John Adams first produced this opera in 1991, inspired by the 1985 hijacking of an Italian cruise liner, the Achille Lauro. Leon Klinghoffer and his wife, Marilyn, were celebrating their 36th wedding anniversary on the cruise, which was traveling from Alexandria, Egypt, to Ashdod, Israel, when four Palestine Liberation Front (PLF) members hijacked the ship and demanded the release of 50 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prison. During this incident, Klinghoffer, an elderly, wheelchair-bound Jew, was murdered and his

body was thrown overboard.

This work is viewed as anti-Semitic by many and on the day of its debut, hundreds of people gathered near Lincoln Center Plaza to protest its production.

Many who oppose the drama believe it exhibits sympathy toward the terrorists.

They lobbied against it with constant shouts of “Shame!” and “Terror is not art!” Klinghoffer’s children also disapprove of the opera, saying it portrays the terrorists in a positive light. They aver that this opera is a disgrace to their father’s memory.

Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York, joined the rally against the opera, saying that it showed a “distorted view of

history.” Mayor Bill de Blasio, however, defended the production on the grounds of freedom of speech.

Peter Gelb, the Met’s general manager, said he anticipated these disapprovals and protests and he ordered a higher level of security for the night of the debut. Despite the abundance of protests, the opera was performed as planned, although two interruptions along with sporadic booing and chanting occurred during the performance. However, the opera received roaring applause and standing ovations at its conclusion.

Some believe that the reason the Jewish population is so disturbed by the opera is partially because of heightened sen-

sitivity because of this summer’s events in Israel. They claim that the ongoing strife between the Jews and Palestinians, rather than the content of the opera, serves as the principal cause of the protest.

Although the opera arouses various emotions and has stimulated much discussion, “The Death of Klinghoffer” serves as living proof of the continuous clash between Jews and Palestinians. It brought this issue, among other controversies, to the forefront in one of the largest cultural hubs and symbols of fine arts.

Evidently, one should never doubt the power of the arts.

with using a phone on Shabbat include writing and potential issues with using electricity, “and from what they show on their app website I am not convinced that they have resolved these issues sufficiently.” If the app does indeed change some of these parameters in a halachically significant way, there may be situations where the app is beneficial for doctors, EMS workers, soldiers, or other similar situations. However, the first step is a serious analysis of the melachot involved

and how this app allegedly removes those concerns, the way the Zomet Institute in Alon Shvut tries to solve these modern-day halachic situations.

The overwhelming majority of students seem to be against the app, not for concrete halachic reasons, but for a reason just as plausible. It seems to be going against the lessons with which traditional Jews are raised. As Senior Council Vice President Raymond Braha says, “Shabbat is a day of rest. I enjoy resting. It’s easy to

rest when I’m not occupied by everything on my phone. How am I supposed to rest if I’m using the very same device that stops me from resting during the week?”

The real question seems to be: are we willing to forsake the Jewish tradition on which our foundations have been built in order to use our phones on Shabbat— whether or not by using every loophole?

Ask your local rabbi.

Shabbos App... cont’d. from front page For that reason, YOFHS alumnus Jacob Brian Rouach (‘14) says, “the app seems to be more for Jews who are less observant and would text on Shabbat anyway.

In that case, the app is doing a great job of making their sin less.”

When asked about the legitimacy of the app, YOFHS alum Rabbi Dr. Henry Hasson argues that the answers given to the potential issues are not sufficient, and to the naked eye seem unclear. According to Rabbi Hasson the main issues

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Alumnus Interview: Jeannie Franco Mimi Lazerowitz, 2-HR Yeshivah of Flatbush alumna Jeannie Franco graduated from high school in 2013 and is currently studying childhood education at Hunter College.

During her time as a YOF student, Franco was markedly involved in drama. She continued her interest in acting after leaving Flatbush by enrolling in a theater class at Hunter and meeting weekly with Flatbush’s Witness Theater.

In her senior year of high school, Jeannie was enrolled in Principles of Education. Her love for this course contributed greatly to her decision to major in childhood education in college.

Franco says Flatbush prepared her for college by offering a variety of extracurricular activities, which helped her find herself and figure out her interests. Still, the transition from high school to college was not easy. Franco

says the most difficult adjustments were teachers, as many of her peers had done. her newfound independence and not Her favorite memories of high school having her high school friends by her were that Flatbush is like one big family side. However, she enjoyed the luxury of and that the teachers genuinely care for taking fewer classes, at once giving her a their students. lighter workload and less stress.

Her advice to current YOF students is to “go after what you enjoy.” Although it is important to take classes you need for college, remember to enjoy your time in high school despite the stress.

Franco has few regrets about high school, expressing remorse only over not having developed closer relationships with her Jeannie Franco (’13)

STEM... cont’d from front page Most surprising, though, is that the trip is non-selective—anyone can join.

A student need not have any past history in the STEM program, just a goal in mind and a will to achieve it. Space is limited, so early registration is advised.

STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math education. Originally, the Yeshivah’s STEM program was extremely selective.

Interested freshmen would take an aptitude test towards the end of the school year. If qualified, the student would be accepted to the after-school engineering class as a sophomore, and have a chance to continue, as part of the STEM program, during their junior and senior year with the class built into their schedule. The course was administered through a variety of focal points, such as coding, robotics, and bioengineering, in order for the student to get a sense of different fields of study and ultimately cultivate a basic knowledge of any given topic of interest.

In the few years since the launch of the STEM initiative, the selective after-school class has grown; blossoming into a wide variety of classes that appeal to a large demographic of students. For students who wish to learn the basics of coding, there is an interactive robotics class offered to 11th and 12th graders.

For students with more experience, there is the option of working inde-

pendently with the full backing of the school, in terms of supplies and support, under the guidance of a mentor.

Rebecca Zami, a senior in the robotics class, stated, “It’s just so amazing how someone like me, who never even looked at a piece of code before or saw a robot, could join a class like this. At this point I’m just having everything spoon-fed to me, but at the same time I see people who are more advanced than me, that had the knowledge from before hand, who are working on their own with the teachers taking on a sort of mentor type role rather than that of an instructor. This gives me a sense of where I am, in regard to my skills, and where I want to get.”

Aside from these new, specified, course options, there is still the original after-school class that teaches just about everything. On top of offering a basic knowledge of engineering, the class has become geared toward having every student, or group of students, complete a final project to present at an interschool STEM symposium.

“The symposium was amazing,” said Ralph Mossery. “It was cool to be able to show off all the hard work I put in to my project to kids in other schools. And just seeing all the insane stuff that other people came up with; it was amazing. It was crazy.”

Even after all that STEM has grown,

there is still more to come. Plans are in place to integrate a basic coding class into either the freshman or sophomore curriculum. Because we live in an increasingly digital age, the school feels it necessary to supply the student body with this skill in order to better prepare them for whatever their futures may hold. “I think its way too late to start in college,” stated Mrs. Bacon. “Students should learn these basic skills, so that when they are faced with such a challenge, they know what to do or at least what has to be done.” She continued, “I certainly believe the class is having students think more creatively, and has them better prepared for internships, colleges, and even the job market.”

When asked, “What does STEM mean to you?” current “STEMmers” were very eager to answer. Bobby Tawil said, “To me, STEM means studying science and technology to better the world.

Every brilliant invention was conceptualized because someone wanted to make a certain task easier. For example, Thomas Edison would not have invented the light bulb if he did not find using a candle or lantern to be a hassle.” Elie Cohen stated, “STEM is the one time a day that I am free to do whatever I want.

STEM is a course that enables me to experiment and perform hands-on activities, going beyond the conventional classroom learning style.”

high schools in Manhattan.

After 24 years of teaching physical education and science, and while also competing in vertical sports, Coach Black left the teaching profession for four years to dedicate herself to care for her now three-year-old daughter, MagghiMae, who is now enrolled at the Gan Chabad school.

Ms. Black says she came to work at Yeshivah of Flatbush because she was drawn to and loved the warmth of her daughter’s nurturing educational experience and thus sought to find to find a work environment that espoused similar values. She said she feels fortu-

nate to work in an environment that is consistently welcoming, supportive and caring, and that she has been lucky to find a productive relationship with the dedicated athletic director, Mr. Eric Amkraut as they work together to put the Yeshivah of Flatbush on the map of high schools with exemplary achievement in athletics programming.

Ms. Black is here at Flatbush mainly because of her desire to motivate Jewish girls to find and cultivate the athlete inside themselves. She is dedicated to making a healthy lifestyle a major part of the curriculum, and is grateful to be here.

Ms. Black... cont’d. from front page peared for the first time on the Olympic program. Meanwhile, Ms. Black competed in an “exhibition” steeplechase in 1992 Olympics. Ms. Black was a pioneer for women’s sports, and it is because of her and her competitors’ perseverance, dedication, and determination that women today the world over can compete in events that were solely reserved for men.

She later retired from middle-distance running and became a vertical runner in the burgeoning sport. In the process, she had the fortunate opportunity of coaching a number of track teams to undefeated records at different private 4 | www.theflatbushphoenix.com

SGC Launches Asher Yahtzar Initiative

By Sarah Levy, 4-HR One of the goals of the Spiritual Growth Commission is to help students find ways to infuse everyday actions with a little bit more spirituality. Rabbi Joseph Blumenthal, the new faculty advisor of the SGC, says he wants to focus on those small issues that can make big changes in students’ religious awareness. “And what better place to start,” he said, “than with something so easy and yet so powerful: going to the bathroom.”

The SGC’s first campaign of the year is to increase students’ understanding and recitation of Bircat Asher Yahtzar. Posters with both Hebrew and English translations have been hung up outside all the school’s bathrooms. Teachers have been asked to take a few moments to discuss the significance of this beracha with their classes. The short, three-sentence beracha, takes less than a minute to say.

Many of us don’t see what could be so significant about a beracha marking such a commonplace necessity. For Rabbi Blumenthal, the answer is personal. “For two summers now I’ve worked in a camp with disabled children, taking care of them in the fullest sense. The experience makes you learn to really appreciate the basic ability to eat, breathe, and even go to the bathroom on your own.”

Added senior and longtime SGC member Louis Franco, “Hopefully, when students see the posters, they will remember to take a minute to appreciate that their bodies function well. It’s something we tend to take for granted.”

Asher Yahtzar was written by Abbaye, a fourth-generation Babylonian Amorah.

Next time you take care of your needs, be sure to say the beracha and pay Abbaye and G-d a tribute.

English Regents... cont’d. from front page Regents, they can retake the exam in June, whereas in previous years a failure meant returning for a retest in August—an unattractive option for everyone.

State law requires high schools to offer Regents exams in either January or June on specific dates chosen by the New York Board of Regents. Ms. Bloom and the administration have been working together to make this happen as in the previous years the January Regents date always fell out during winter break. This year the calendar finally was on the English department’s side, making it possible to give the English Regents in January without conflicting with anyone’s needed vacation. This strategy worked with the History Regents last year, so why not try it with the English exam this year? If all goes as planned, January will be the English Regents’ permanent new home at Flatbush.

Ultimately, there wasn’t much of a decision to be made. Ms. Bloom had her heart on January from the start, and once the opportunity opened up she just had to seize it. And with the OK from the administration, Ms. Bloom will finally be able to fulfill her much desired dream: English Regents during the wintertime. More important, students might have higher test scores and will definitely have a better June.

Entertainment Music Review: Rose Ave., You+Me Rebecca Zami, 4-HR You+Me, an emerging folk-rock duo, unleashes its anthemic sound and raw style in its debut album, Rose Ave. Listening to the first few notes of this album, one can easily recognize the voice of the distinguished punk-rock star Alecia Moore, better known by her stage name, P!nk. Her vast range and unique tone shines through the soulful, stripped down tracks. Moore is accompanied

by Canadian singer-songwriter Dallas Green, better known as City of Colour.

The entire album is based primarily off of the clean finger plucking of Green’s guitar, which is an acoustic, barer version of his usual work. The album follows a few techniques: basic strumming of the guitar, fluid harmonies, and soulful, dim, almost ominous tones and lyrics. The two voices often complement each other immensely. As Moore channels her higher register and emits a softer, more meaningful voice, Green’s mellow voice flows alongside hers, an octave lower.

A slightly stormy and mysterious tone is given off by the simple employment of the guitar. This drew a certain

Ask Merle

Dear Merle, What’s an annex?

Sincerely, Lost (and no, not the TV show)

Dear Lost, The annex may be hard to find but serves as the “board room A, B, C, and D” of our school. If you head straight down the Guidance hallway and then out the door to the right of College Guidance, follow the awning to the house neighboring the “garden.” Best of luck! And don’t be alarmed upon entering the annex: you might find orchestra rehearsal, choir practice, Jewish history classes, and one, two, maybe four or five sleeping students.

Yours truly, Merle Dear Merle, Why are you so cool?

Dear Michael Beyda, Sometimes I can’t control how cool I am; it depends on how broken the air conditioning is or how many sweatshirts I happen to have stored in my locker. Best of luck! But remember, being cool isn’t always cool, especially when you already have a cold.

Yours truly, Merle Dear Merle, My teacher really hates me and I’ve done nothing wrong! What do I do about it? I wanna get on her good side ASAP. Sincerely, Hated and Hurt

picture for me: the two artists performing on a small outdoor stage on a dark, windy day. The earthy natural tones are refreshing. This idea flows, as the mood is constant in almost all 10 tracks. At most, three instruments are played in one track. This leaves the combination of songs unvarying and simple. One might not realize the shift from one song to the next because of the similar techniques used. The closing track of the album, a piano-driven rendition of Sade’s “No Ordinary Love,” is the most haunting, lovely work on the album. Both artists display the most stripped down versions of themselves on this song. The fervor and rawness of each artist’s voice is what seems to be what the album anticipates to convey. I was encouraged to listen to this track quite a few more times than the others.

Rose Ave. proves to be, undeniably, a shift from Moore’s already successful career. While the tracks themselves may be overly simple, Moore’s softer and deeper use of her range is definitely powerful.

“Break the Cycle” is one example of the

Dear Hated and Hurt, Sometimes it’s hard to get on a teacher’s good side, especially when it feels that he or she is picking you out of a crowd.

First try to change your seat. A teacher’s general view of a student is affected by whom the student is surrounded. Ask your teacher to change your seat and that will show you want to participate in class.

Quiet down, make sure you have your books, and participate in the class, even if just a little. Also, make eye contact with you teachers even if you’re not answering questions. It conveys the feeling that you’re on the same page. Best of luck! Plus your grade will increase for sure.

Yours truly, Merle Dear Merle, I’m a freshman and I’m having a hard time finding a balance between schoolwork and being social. How can I make time for it all?

Sincerely, Busy Bob Dear Busy Bob, Prioritizing is a great skill to learn, especially as a freshman. Know what is most important for you and for school and get that done first. Hanging out with friends should wait for the weekend while school should take the front seat during week days. Know your hardest subjects, like math for example, and try to split up homeworks over a few days so the load won’t be so great. When it comes to friends they can wait, but there’s nothing wrong with showing your face on social

Hyrule Warriors: Dishonoring a Beloved Name Mikey Shamah, 4-HN

more intensely emotional side of Moore’s voice. For Green, the sound is more familiar, but certainly reveals a sloweddown version of what he already knows.

The folklike, homey, captivating tone of this album is certainly a break from both artists’ original sounds but is respectable in its effortlessness and meaning.

Rose Ave. is interesting and compelling in its own way. If You+Me continues on its path of down-to-earth, pure style of music, this new duo has the potential to attract a large bunch of passionate fans.

media. And if you have plans for a week night, get your homework done in school or the night before so you won’t worry when you are out having fun. Best of luck!

And don’t worry: this skill will get easier with time.

Yours truly.

Merle Dear Merle, I could swear I wasn’t this small as a freshmen, but I refuse to believe I’m getting older so it must be them.

Sincerely, Peter Pan of YOF Dear Peter Pan of YOF, I agree, it does seem a bit surreal how the freshmen seem to be getting exponentially shorter! But sometimes when you revisit childhood venues, everything seems smaller and that is due to the conundrum of growing. Perhaps when we were freshmen, upperclassmen said the same thing about us. Best of luck! And instead of lamenting the size of freshmen, give yourself a pat on the back because you’re all grown up!

Yours Truly, Merle

Send your questions to: askmerle2014@gmail.com

Hyrule Warriors is very much a Dynasty Warriors game cloaked in Zelda characters, plot, and setting but not gameplay. If you were thinking about purchasing this game for the classic Zelda dungeons, puzzles, and bosses, you are sorely mistaken. It is by definition a musou style game, not action adventure. Hyrule Warriors has three separate modes: (1) Legend mode, or the campaign, (2) Free mode, where you can play any level freely, and (3) Adventure Mode, which is a reimagining of the first Legend of Zelda. Legend Mode and Free Mode are almost exactly alike and start to get boring after an hour or two. Capture this base, KO those minions, destroy that wall, etc. Adventure mode has its potential but is ruined by implementing too much warrior’s style gameplay. At first it may seem like a blast to the past treasure hunt, but once you enter a screen you must use Dynasty Warriors tactics to defeat minions, unlike the original game’s challenging strategies.

The gameplay is on par with most Dynasty games- simplistic, boring, and repetitive.

On the hardest difficulty, no enemy stood a remote chance of killing me. I only mashed the B button and I got through the first two boards without losing a heart piece. This game is too easy to bear any resemblance to Zelda.

The story is a typical one: an evil wizard kidnaps Zelda and it’s up to you, Link, to get her back. The twist is that it blends three different Zelda settings into one: the campy Ocarina of Time, the mature Twilight Princess, and the elegant Skyward Sword. Allowing you to play as 12 characters across the three different games was a nice change of pace, but it was not good enough to save the repetitiveness. However, there is one place where the game shines: its beautiful vistas allow a tease as to what an HD Zelda might look like. It left me desiring a real challenging gameplay-driven Zelda masterpiece.

Also the multiplayer option is flawed due to a series of functionality problems. It became a nightmare to play with. Even when it (barely) worked, my friends and I just sat in frustration because of how boring the game is. Another failed feature is the rewards and leveling up system, which was jarring and perplexing. It was outright confusing and I paid almost no attention to it.

If you are craving a new Legend of Zelda this one won’t satisfy your appetite. It puts the critically acclaimed series to shame and this incarnation should be avoided at all cost—unless you already like mosuo-style games. |5

Fun & Games Unanswered What’s in a Senior’s Bag? Questions 1. What’s Jimmy’s last name?

2. Where does the C staircase really go?

3. Do teachers pop their heads into Rabbi Harari’s office?

4. What does Rabbi Prag’s room smell like?

5. Why does Mrs. Winkler have such prime real estate?

6. Does Mr. Engel enjoy standing on desks?

7. Is there Cooking for a Cause tonight?

8. Hebrew date? What’s a Hebrew date?

9. When is it socially acceptable to bring the blanket fad of last year back in style?

10. When’s Hausdorff? Can I get on the commission? Please? PLEASE? 11. How many pairs of Uggs does Mrs. Hanon really own?

12. Does Mr. Rothbort design his own ties?

13. Doesn’t Mr. Gordon live in Florida?

14. Should I be afraid to knock on the Teachers’ Room door?

15. Does Rabbi Taler always hang his food out of windows?

16. If a tree falls in a forest will Rabbi Haber hear it?

17. What’s the B in Joel B. Wolowelsky stand for?

What Is It?

Standard of Fabulous asked seniors to tell us the most random items in their backpacks. These were their responses. Take note, freshmen:

Eliane Aini: A blanket Jeanie Schrem: Charcoal and two pairs of headphones (in case one breaks) Aron Waide: Baby wipes Johnny Fuzailov: A lock pick Leor Alkada: A hairbrush Shani Zenilman: A flashlight and a yo-yo Abby Shegelman: A fully equipped pharmacy: surgical masks, surgical gloves, gauze, every type of nonprescription drug (Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, Allegra, oral anesthetic), hydrogen

peroxide, mints, cotton balls, cotton swabs, band aids, alcohol pads, Neosporin, and tea Jack Braha: A shaver and 40 opeds from last year Merle Cohen: Toothpaste and double-sided jumbo markers Emma Burekhovich: A lint roller, socks, measuring tape, pillow, emergency sewing kit Katie Zami: Toothbrush, floss, and buttons Jackie Fried: An English pound Linda Sabbagh: A cotton ball with googly eyes named Smushy Joyce Nasar: Nail polish, a nail file, and earrings Mikey Shammah: A GameBoy

Advance Robert Harary: A copy of the U.S. Constitution Elliot Zakay: Empty notebooks Sarah Levy: A map of the subway system David Grazi: Ripped shoelaces Joey Cohen: “I don’t have a bag ...”

Gabe Rudy: A metal rod (from a chair) Oren Moskowitz: A CPR mask Eli Cattan: A golf ball Molly Dweck: Her brother’s 7th grade math homework Florence Dweck: A scented squishy toy cupcake Isaac Bijou: A parking ticket

same kind of problems as other women face throughout their live times, but that doesn’t mean the kind of oppression she is facing isn’t worth fighting for.

But the general complaint held by most was the seeming exclusion of women not only featured in the title of the campaign (HeforShe) but also from the overall approach the campaign was taking. Many felt that although men do make up half of the population and must also be needed in order to fight against gender discrimination and other gender related issues, by making the campaign solely focus on the

help boys and men can provide, it’s pretty much self-destructive. On their website, males can only take the pledge—slightly contradictory for a movement that fights for equal representation to not allow for proper female representation. These issues maybe be excused by the fact that this campaign is venturing to do something that has probably never been done before: create an alliance between men and women and unite them to fight for gender equality.

Across 1. Only two of these per month 2. Sold on Friday and only Friday 3. Spending your Sundays with his homework 4. Latest girl’s spring sports team 8. One month later and IT finally pulls through 9. Flatbush play director 13. An hour and a half of pure Avenue J 14. This year’s Middle Eastern Production 15. Doubling as a Gym for now 16. The Flatbush arts magazine 17. Who knew we had an Olympian in our midst 19. Schedule everything and anything in you...

20. Library number two, or always locked?

Down

Have something to say?

We’d love to hear from you.

Letters to the editor should be submited to: flatbushphoenix@gmail.com

1. Esteemed choir director 3. Radical shmush times radical shmush equals just plain shmush 5. Location of the last Drama Troupe production 6. Covering Rabbi Besser’s walls 7. Senior trip with Ms. Wielgus 10. Ms. Bacons assistant’s name 11. Freshmen look for these on the roof 12. Phoenix editor in chief 17. “lets get together and sign up for every school club” 18. Benny’s pizza will be served

“HeForShe”... cont’d. from page 2 everywhere.

There was much discrepancy in the reactions following Emma’s speech, including effusive praise as well as angry defamation. Vanity Fair called her speech “game changing,” and a lot of people have rallied behind her, eager to get involved or filled with pride to know that a women they had long admired for her acting was now becoming somewhat of a spokesperson for their beliefs.

Others attacked certain portions of her speech, such as the parts in which she goes into some detail about the effect 6 | www.theflatbushphoenix.com

gender roles and stereotypes had on her life and the lives of those around her. Examples include getting called “bossy” for asserting the same authority as her brothers, witnessing her girl friends dropping out of sports teams for fear of being too muscular, and her guy friends scared to show emotion, saying that girls and women have much greater problems then that and she shouldn’t complain. Such opinions aren’t actually valid considering oppression isn’t a competition. Additionally, Emma openly acknowledged the fact that she had clearly not faced the

Standard of Fabulous The Beat of Your Wardrobe

Clothes Make the Memory Emma Burekhovich, 4-V Have you ever noticed the correlation between what we wear and our memories? Often we find it easier to remember a specific occasion by remembering how we dressed that day. With the amount of time we spend in front of the mirror planning our looks, it’s no wonder recalling past outfits come so naturally. Many of our clothes have a special meaning or story behind them, making them all the more valuable to us. Due to the emphasis society places on modern day fashion, what we wear is beginning to have more importance.

The memories made while wearing a specific garment are irreplaceable. Clothes have the luxury of joining us through our journeys. They share the bad memories as well as the good ones. Clothes are a symbol of our individuality. They express our emotions. They serve as our tangible reminder of all the memories we have made.

Sometimes we gain such strong bonds with our clothes to the certain degree that we don’t want to throw them away, no matter how worn and beaten up they may look.

This revelation became clearer to me during one of this year’s Witness Theater meetings. We were asked to group up

and then share with our partners why we chose to wear the clothes we had on that particular day. At first I stumbled, because I thought I was wearing an ordinary outfit. After re-thinking the decisions I made that morning when getting dressed, I noticed how much more meaningful each article of clothing was to me. The T-shirt I had settled on had a Keith Haring painting on it of Keith Haring, one of my favorite artists whom we learned about in ninth grade. As I spoke about the hooded plaid button down shirt I layered with the tee, I instantly remembered the first time I wore it. The memory of visiting my family in Indiana came rushing back and I recalled the excitement on my cousins’ faces after not seeing me for five months.

The clothes I was wearing were not simply just pieces of fabric sewn together with a few stitches. Each article was packed with memories waiting to be re-discovered. I wasn’t the only one reminiscing about old adventures. One of my partners remembered the time she bought her watch at a flea market fifty years ago and how she never goes a day without it. There is a story behind everything we wear, even if we don’t think about it at first!

Meet This Month’s Fabulous Freshie!

Name: Aida Hasson Class: 1-HN Age: 14

Aida Hasson

Fashion Fact of the Month: The average woman, in the course of her lifetime, spends almost one full year standing in front of her closet deciding what to wear!

Previous school: Yeshivah of Flatbush Bio: This funky, fun, and unique freshie likes to put surprising garments together. By expressing herself through her bold fashion choices, she truly stands out of the crowd. Challenges such as poorly sized clothes can’t stop this fashionista.

Aida’s fashion icon is her mom because “She’s not afraid to take risks in what she wears.” She accepts the challenge of the new dress code and looks forward to a fabulous year.

By Nicole Yankovich, 4-HN

Victor Zeitoune

All Tied-Up Victor Zeitoune, 4-HR Why is it that so many people are asking me why I wear a tie everyday?

Have you paid attention to Mr. Rothbort’s ties? Did you see the Superman one? The map tie? How about his Mets one?

How does Rabbi Avi Harari look so put together everyday? His tie, shirt and jacket always match, and are eye-catching to any guy who appreciates men’s dress.

The answer is simple: I wear it better; just kidding. It’s that many students are too tied-up in what everyone else wears, in turn making them over stressed about what they, wear. I used to get up every morning, grab a shirt, pull out a pair of pants and hope for the best. Yet with the recent fashion crisis, I started this year picking out my clothes the night before. While it only lasted two days due to our Flatbush workload, I still pick out my shirt, match pants, put on cool socks and sort through my ties, searching for the perfect one.

Even when I wear a polo with a tie, it’s messy on purpose. Like the “I just got out of bed hairdo,” we know it was brushed to look like that.

P-P-Pearls?

Sophia Abed, 4-S When you think pearls, the image that usually comes to mind is an old lady.

Not anymore! Pearls are the hottest new accessory to wear with any outfit. From bracelets to necklaces and even cool earrings, the different colors can spice up any look. Pearls represent a classic, iconic look. The new style is also inexpensive and easily accessible with tons of new businesses selling them. You can dress the look up or down. Pearls are the newest trend; hopefully they’ll stay a while!

Both music and fashion, when used correctly, represent the current thoughts of people. When they no longer express people’s thoughts a new trend arises. The ongoing changes in trends and music top hits are a testament to the constant change in people’s minds. Tommy Hilfiger said, “Fashion is always evolving just as music is always evolving.” This is because people evolve and fashion and music must evolve with them.

You can tell a person’s music playlist just from the outfit. It’s like there’s a soundtrack to every wardrobe. Some say that you can even hear a persons wardrobe! OK, so it’s not so easy at first and it doesn’t work for everyone. As you begin to pay more attention, you’ll realize this connection between some people’s clothing and their music playlists.

My Jean Jacket Joyce Nasar 4-HN My jean jacket expresses who I am.

It has a vintage look, yet still gives off a modern vibe. I like to think that it is a reflection of my personality, an old soul with a modern twist. The distress rips and tears of the denim give it more of an edge instead of being a typical, girly jean jacket. While at the store, I decided to get the biggest size they had, to add to the retro look. The jean jacket is so simple it goes with any look and manages to give my outfits more style, in addition to keeping me warm.

My denim jacket is one of my favorite pieces in my closet because of its versatility. I’ll never forget the time when my jacket was almost ruined by my twin brother. I was wearing it on the flight home, after visiting my sister in L.A. It was the perfect choice for travel since it’s comfortable and light weight.

As I was sleeping, after countless hours of being awake, my brother somehow managed to spill the soda from my tray table all over the jacket. After initially panicking ,I discovered that the jacket is machine washable. Luckily, the stain came right off! Although the jacket still smells a bit like soda, it will always remind of my fantastic trip. It will forever be part of my journey as I continue to make many new memories with my favorite jacket! |7

Senior Class to Visit Ground Zero Abby Shegelman, 4-HR The Yeshivah of Flatbush senior class will be visiting the 9/11 Memorial in lower Manhattan on November 18, the fourth consecutive year that Flatbush seniors will be making this trip.

The 9/11 Memorial is dedicated to the victims of the September 11, 2001, and February 1993 attacks on the World Trade Center. The memorial consists of two pools, each an acre in size, containing the largest manmade waterfalls in

North America. They stand on the footprints of where the Twin Towers originally stood, in the heart of the area now known as Ground Zero.

The senior class has been going to the 9/11 memorial since its establishment in 2011, in order to allow the seniors to really understand the horrifying tragedy that occurred there. Senior Council President Joey Cohen stated that the senior class couldn’t attend closer to the anniversary

due to the astounding amount of reservations already made for September. “We will hopefully attend on the scheduled date: November 18,” he said.

Students who attended in previous years, experienced profound personal growth within the melancholy atmosphere, as seen on a YouTube video posted by the Yeshivah from the 2012 trip.

The visit to the 9/11 Memorial educates students about this day in American his-

tory and helps them sympathize with the victims of this tragedy and their families.

“The idea is to, in a way, place the students into the shoes of the families who have lost loved ones in the tragic attack,” stated Cohen.

David Galpert, Assistant Administrator, is coordinating the program and will be attending the trip along with other faculty chaperones.

Sports Season Preview: Girls’ Volleyball Looking for a Spike in Victories Shani Zenilman, 4-HR As the chaggim come to a close and we start settling into this year, the sports seasons are picking up speed. This year’s varsity volleyball team—led by co-captains Rochelle Tawil, Becky Waldman, and Rebecca Zami—has high hopes for this season. Although in previous years the team has made it to the playoffs, they have yet to ever win the championship, and this year’s team is confident that they will be the first to do so.

Coach Evelyn Shterenzer and her assistant coaches have devised a strategy with the main goal to transition the team from JV playing to varsity, as it is a different level and the competition is fierce.

The drills focus on teaching the players to work together and anticipate where the ball will go. Mainly, the coaches hope to strengthen every player’s serve, as it is essential to the game and solid serves are needed to score points. Captain Rebecca Zami adds that “we’ve spent hours

working on our setting and spiking. It’s crucial that we have these skills down before the season starts so we can intensify the game and show we are varsity material. We don’t settle for simply getting the ball over the net.” The main goal, according to Shterenzer, is to have every one of the fourteen girls interchangeable on the court, which only allows six players at a time. Captain Rochelle Tawil agrees, stating that “it would definitely be nice to win, but we are also looking forward to raising our skills to a Varsity level and bonding as a team.” Utilizing this new strategy, the team hopes to advance into the championships, and the Coach states, “the girls are eager to learn, and with the determination and skills they have they can go far.”

The team, which has yet to play an official game, has nonetheless played a scrimmage against Flatbush alumni for charity, and have an upcoming exhibition

game against Shulamit, which will not only be a warm-up for their first game but also, as captain Becky Waldman says, “will be fun, because we’ve never played them before.” The first official game is November 9th at home, and hopeful-

Sportsman Spotlight: Ilay Fachima, Varsity Soccer Joey Cohen, 4-HR

Season Preview: Girls’ Basketball High Hopes for Hoops Eliane Aini, 4-HR The Flatbush girls’ varsity basketball team is more ready than ever to win a championship this year. Led by Coach Rozan and Coach John, the team has had six consecutive seasons with a winning record and is poised to win its first championship.

As the new season approaches, the team, composed of experienced seniors and many players moving up from the junior varsity team, is practicing hard to make their dream of winning the championship a reality. In addition to hard work, chemistry could be a key to the Falcons’ success. Merle Cohen, one of the seniors currently on varsity, shares that “the team is one big group and we all love each other.” She is also confident that they have the ability to win a championship this year, especially with the motivation of their supportive coaches.

8 | www.theflatbushphoenix.com

Sophomore Sarah Horowitz is the youngest player on the varsity team. Horowitz expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming season and talked about how she met a lot of new girls that she would never have otherwise known.

Of course, winning basketball is about more than making friends. To ensure that this year’s team succeeds, Coach Rozan says she plans to work on playing a fast-paced game, keeping up a high-pressure defense, and utilizing each individual’s skills.

The team’s season opener is at home on November 3 at 7:00 p.m. against longtime rival Ramaz, to whom Flatbush lost the championship two years ago. All fans are encouraged to attend the game, which will be held in the Flatbush gym.

Let’s go Falcons!

ly will be filled with Falcon fans, which invigorates the team. “We would love to see the support of the student body [at the games],” Coach Shterenzer adds, “I believe that support of the crowd makes a difference.”

Phoenix Sports Editor Joey Cohen recently sat down with varsity soccer star Ilay Fachima to talk about the upcoming season.

JC: How did the soccer team do last year? What are your expectations for this year?

Ilay: We had a great squad last year. Unfortunately, we did not do as well as expected. We missed the playoffs and had to end our season early. This year, however, I expect to make the playoffs and hope to bring home the trophy. Nothing would bring me more pride, and it would increase school spirit tenfold.

JC: Are you excited for the new coaches, Mr. Amzalag and Rabbi Skolnick?

Ilay: Definitely. Their enthusiasm about the game is something that will encourage the team to improve and succeed. In addition, they are great teachers and even better people.

JC: How does the change to field soccer change your personal style of play?

Ilay: Playing outside gives the game a whole new atmosphere and outlook. From my point of view, playing outside enables a player to express himself in a more skillful way than would be allowed indoors. It also allows for more time for any player to think, and play classier soccer.

JC: Is there a “rising start” on the team we should look out for?

Ilay: As a whole, it appears that this team is going to be new and improved. I have met a bunch of promising freshmen and sophomores, and can’t wait to take the field with them.

JC: With the majority of last year’s team having graduated, do you feel that the team can rebound and put together another solid season?

Ilay: I know that this year’s team has a lot to offer. I know that we have the ability to bring home the cup, and I have faith that we will.

JC: What does soccer mean to you?

Ilay: To me, soccer is not just a game, but a lifestyle. Since I was a little boy growing up in Israel, I could always remember my father getting excited when his favorite team, Maccabi Tel Aviv, would play. Soccer is like the air that I breathe, and I will always take the opportunity to play soccer no matter what.

JC: What is the difference in strategy between indoor and outdoor play, and do they change your expectations for the team this season?

Ilay: Playing outside changes my expectations for the team because it is essentially preparation for the indoor season. We will become accustomed to playing with other members of the team so that in addition to the outdoor season, we will be able to excel on the indoor pitch as well.