A Student Publication of the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School • 1609 Avenue J, Brooklyn, New York • Vol 54, Issue 7 • April 2020 / 5780
What if we don’t reopen till September? YOF making contingency plans for possible worst case scenario By Diana Gindi School News Editor
Officially, the Yeshivah of Flatbush’s doors are closed until April 20. But with the fast-spreading COVID-19 virus, a global pandemic, infecting more New Yorkers each day and new information coming in almost every hour, nobody knows exactly when this virus will peak or when schools can start to reopen. Mayor Bill Di Blasio has already mentioned that city schools may not reopen this year, which has many Flatbush students and faculty wondering what would happen if school remains closed until next September. The Phoenix has learned that the Yeshivah administration is currently developing contingency plans in case that potential scenario becomes reality. With so much being unknown right now, the YOF administration told The Phoenix they are unsure of when the Yeshivah’s doors will reopen. However, all decisions will be made based on advice from med-
ical experts and will not be tied to decisions made on public schools. “We hope to reopen soon,” said Rabbi Beyda. “We haven’t thought of keeping the school closed until the Fall semester, but we are completely aware of the possibility that we may not reopen.” The administration has already started coping with the situation by purchasing a Zoom license for all online classes. Many policies were set in place to limit students’ daily screen time, as well as guidelines on homework and assignments. The Yeshivah has also created a distance learning website with real-time updates and information on any new changes. “We have Guidance, College Guidance, and Pathfinders working with students on Zoom in hopes of maintaining our resources and making our system more comfortable and feel a little bit more like regular school,” said Beyda. “We have also come up with many activities to keep the students connected, like Pre-Shabbat Ruach, Havdallah, Tuesday Night Learning, Meeting Faculty Fami-
lies, and so much more.” However, these are all short-term plans. Administration recommendations to faculty, such as avoiding tests and quizzes until the school building reopens, might change if distance learning continues much past Pesach. “We have been meeting with teachers to discuss what will happen with assessments if the school were to remain closed,” said Beyda. “Nothing is nailed down yet, but we may be altering our tests similar to what was done with AP exams.” A faculty member involved in planning discussions told The Phoenix that academic departments have been asked to outline goals for their students and propose assesment methods in case physical school does not resume this semester. Progress reports, which went out this week, were not much different than usual, but “report cards are a different story,” Rabbi Beyda said. Report cards will definitely not look like traditional report cards, but that will be true for most of the
country. Rabbi Beyda acknowledged that the seniors’ report cards, which will be sent to colleges, may possibly be graded on a pass/fail basis. The many programs that come at the end of the year, including Archon and Arista, could potentially happen in nontraditional forms. While the decision of who will receive each award may not be a problem, the ceremonies may have to take place virtually. “It’s crazy to think that we may not be able to hold a ceremony for the students who have worked hard for their achievements, and we really hope that doesn’t have to happen,” Rabbi Beyda said. Planned performances including Witness Theater, Evening of the Arts, and the annual Yom Ha’atzmaut program would have to be adapted as well. “We don’t want to cancel our main events. If school stays closed, we might just have to run these programs on Zoom,” said Beyda. Witness Theater is one of the emo-
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Zooming through the semester Seniors hurting from cancellations Ups and downs of distance learning
By Kaden Harari Junior Editor
By Nicole Muravsky Sophomore Editor
Who would’ve ever thought that an overwhelming amount of students would ever be complaining that they can’t go to school? Yeshivah of Flatbush cancelled all physical classes beginning March 13 and began online classes and other distance learning protocols. While some classes are utilizing Google Classroom, EdPuzzle videos, and other online learning tools, by far the most common approach is to hold classes through Zoom, a remote videoconferencing service. Students log into their classes with the appropriate meeting id—and that’s it, they’re in class. It seems simple and easy, but for some classes various problems occurred. Some were easy to fix—boys joining Zoom classes without shirts on, students from other schools disrupting classes—but others were more chal-
In This Issue People: Page 2 D’var Torah: Page 3 Fun and Games: Page 7
lenging. Music teacher Ms. Mauskop explained, for instance, that she loves being able to see her students’ faces, but the bad quality of the sound inhibited the students from learning effectively. Additionally, students and teachers alike have found the Zoom classes to be surprisingly tiring. This new way of learning delighted many students, but frustrated others greatly. “I really think that it depends on us because when we’re engaged in the class, I’m even more focused than in a regular class environment; however, when some of us don’t want to learn it’s very easy for the class to be completely chaotic, and I end up gaining absolutely nothing from the session at all,” stated junior Etty Jajati. An anonymous sophomore who shared the same frustration commented, “Our homes are our one escape from the stress of school and now that we are
“The best laid schemes of mice and men go oft awry.” In terms of the senior grade, the coronavirus outbreak means that what most students expect to be the most exciting year of high school drastically shifted into a disappointing, anticlimactic reality, with many highly anticipated senior-year events already canceled and more cancellations possible. First came the cancellation of Senior Week: a series of local and international trips taking place during the week of March 29. Ms. Schulman’s Explore Jewish Life trip to Rome and Israel was understandably the first one to be affected, as Coronavirus cases were prevalent earliest in these locations. At first, it was only Rome that was canceled, but it wasn’t long until Israel followed suit. Sarah Frastai was one of many seniors who signed up for the trip and was dismayed at its cancellation. “I accepted that Rome was canceled, but honestly believed Isra-
Special Section: 18 students excelling outside the classroom
Entertainment: What to watch while you’re stuck at home Page 6
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el would still be on,” she said. “I would’ve never thought this pandemic would spiral out of control so quickly.” With COVID-19 sweeping the globe, it was only natural for students to suspect other trips of meeting the same fate; senior Grace Khezrie affirms, “After the Rome and Israel trip was canceled, we were all expecting Poland to be canceled, too.” Indeed, Ms. Winkler pronounced the Heritage Trip to Poland canceled on March 11, after that country’s first cases of the virus were confirmed and rapidly spread. Although she was anticipating it, Khezrie admits that the final cancellation came as a blow. She added, “It was devastating to learn such an important trip that I’ve been looking forward to was forced to be canceled and couldn’t even be postponed. I definitely feel like I’m missing out on a formative part of my high school experience.” At this point, students who were meant to attend the Chesed trip to New Orleans “still clung on to hope,” as Freddy Salem put it, “but once school closed
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Sports: How to exercise in your living room Page 8 www.theflatbushphoenix.com | 1
Faculty Freshman: Ms. Rivel
By Etty Jajati Contributing Writer
New member of the Flatbush family Ms. Anat Rivel has a colorful background, wide range of interests, and much to offer to both her students and the school. Ms. Rivel began her teaching career back in Israel, where she was born, and where she graduated from the University of Tel Aviv. Her experience only grows from there. Yeshivah Rambam was the first to have Ms. Rivel after she emigrated to the US with her family. North Shore Hebrew Academy was the next to welcome her into their school; it was there that she led as a director of what was to soon be the “innovative ITalam interactive online program.” Although very rewarding, the commute to and from work grew burdensome, and led Ms. Rivel to seek out a more local position. She describes what it was that drew her to the Yeshivah of Flatbush in particular: “I have always known of YOF and its stellar reputation through colleagues and friends, as well
as knowing quite a few parents of YOF students. As fate and luck would have it, an opportunity to teach high school Hebrew presented itself and I welcomed the challenge.” Ms. Rivel now teaches Hebrew at YOF, and says of the classroom experience, “I have come to love my students and bond with them in many ways. In particular, it’s very gratifying to hear from my students that I not only teach them Hebrew language and literature, but that they consider me a mentor—because I teach them things that they will use in life as adults, parents, and Jews. I take great pride in my students and I know they will grow up to be not only successful people, but people with great Midot and Derech Eretz.” In regard to the school, Ms. Rivel said the overall environment is “a place where you want to be even long after school hours are over,” with a “first-class faculty and a supportive administration who together work for the good of the students.” One upside of the current distance learning program is that it gives students and faculty more frequent breaks and encourages the pursuit of creative hobbies. Of her pastimes, Ms. Rivel added, “As a proud Jewish mother and grandmother I enjoy cooking and baking and lots of family gatherings.” She also finds herself “swimming, playing the piano, reading and learning new, innovative teaching methods and programs” on her off time. Much like everyone else, Ms. Rivel is waiting for our return to the usual, face-to-face learning and real-life classrooms, and hopes for the best. “I know that during this challenging time, all YOF students will rise to the occasion and make the whole YOF community proud,” she said. “I wish everyone health and strength and we will see Hashem’s miracles soon.”
Inspiring young readers, one book at a time
Alumnus interview: Talia Benamy (HS ’04) By Diana Gindi School News Editor
Talia Benamy, a 2004 Yeshivah of Flatbush graduate, is a children’s book editor and publisher at the Philomel Books imprint of the publishing company Penguin Random House, hoping to help children of younger generations develop a strong love of reading just like hers. Benamy has always loved to read and feels that “children’s books have such an ability to shape readers’ view of the world, of their place in it, and of their ability to impact it.” She attended Cornell
University, where she majored in English and was part of their publishing program. She landed her job at the publishing house through many internships and “a decent amount of luck.” Her internships, both in the summer and during school, as well as her first full-time job editing at Oxford University Press, gave her great insight into how publishing works and helped build experience and connections in the industry. “Being an ed-
The Phoenix Staff Editor-in-Chief: Raquel Silvera Managing Editor: Jayne Haddad Senior Editors: Claudine Hadef, Bonnie Melamed School News Editors: Diana Gindi, Stella Lessler Religion Editor: Rose Sternberg World News Editor: Sarah Dagmy Entertainment Editors: Rachel Lincer, Danielle Mehani Food Editor: Sarina Shalom
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Flatbush Family:
Ness, Leon, and David Ades
From left: Leon, Ness, and David
By Bonnie Melamed Senior twins Ness and Leon Ades have been going through school together for their entire lives, and they know what it’s like to share their high school experience with a sibling. However, sophomore David Ades has now spent two years in school with his older brothers, so even though he isn’t a twin, he’s been able to share some of his high school experience with his older brothers. Even though the Ades twins aren’t ready to leave high school just yet, they are leaving behind a legacy—David being a big part of that. Ness and Leon explained that having a twin makes things easier since, most of the time, they do things together. Ness explained, “It’s cool to have someone to walk through life with.” Leon concurred and then elaborated that they often help David with his school life, like identifying classes that will be easy for him, or what classes he’ll need to make a larger effort in since they have already experienced what he’s going through now. The brothers also break a social bar-
rier between the two grades. The twins explain that over the course of their high school experience they’ve integrated friend groups and are often together. They also said that their friends are friendly with David, ultimately giving him a few familiar faces to warm up the seemingly new social scene in high school. The boys also stated that in school they talk to each other in more of a group setting, whereas at home it’s more “personal,” as Leon described it. Ness confirmed this and added that even though in school they often give each other only a casual head nod in the hallway, they talk way more at home. All three boys get along extremely well in and out of school, but they definitely do feel that they are often compared to their brothers. Leon even admitted that one time in elementary school a teacher told him he needed to be less like Leon and more like Ness. David explained that, even though teachers think they know him before the school year starts because they know his brothers, he enjoys having older brothers who can help him navigate him through his life.
itor means wearing a lot of hats at once,” Benamy said. The job of editing books means working with a full team of editors, designers, copyeditors, authors, and illustrators. Working within the publishing house at large also means working with people in sales, marketing, publicity, and audio. These, along with building relationships with literary agents and attending conferences, are just some of the many jobs that an editor has. Benamy is an editor for young readers of all ages, meaning everything from picture books to young adult novels. “To be able to put books into the world that can help open those doors for young readers,” said Benamy, “is incredibly meaningful to me.” Over the years, she’s worked on a wide variety of genres but tends to gravitate toward contemporary fiction, historical fiction, and
nonfiction. She also loves books that are “funny without being silly, and that are chock full of heart.” Benamy said her education at Yeshivah of Flatbush really prepared her for her life beyond high school. The many classes she took, including AP English and creative writing, as well as the Tsei U’lmad on children’s literature, helped put her on the path toward becoming an editor. She also wrote for The Phoenix and was one of the student directors of the student play, which allowed her to participate in another form of storytelling. At Flatbush, Benamy gained valuable time management skills that have prepared her well for life. She also did the New York Times crossword every day, which helped strengthen her vocabulary. “I think I was very well prepared for life,” she said. “But by that, I absolutely mean that I didn’t have all the answers. … The best way to be prepared for anything is to have an open mind.”
Senior Editor
Fashion Editors: Rose Kurland, OrDavid Menashe Fun & Games Editor: Reuben Goldstein Sports Editor: Nathan Sidaoui Junior Editors: Carole Cohen, Terri Elmann, Kaden Harari, Michael Oved, Jennifer Salzman Sophomore Editors: Elie Esses, Nicole Muravsky Staff Writters: Sylvia Mizrahi, Natalie Ryba Design: Carolina Cohen Faculty Adviser: Adam Hofstetter
High School Administration Rabbi Raymond Harari, Head of School Rabbi Joseph Beyda, Principal Ms. Sari Bacon, Associate Principal Ms. Esther Hidary, Assistant Principal / Director of Admissions
How to stay sane under quarantine By Elie Esses Sophomore Editor
It seems “social distancing” may unfortunately become a longtime reality for us, so in light of that disappointing possibility here are some tips for maintaining your mental health during this troubling time. 1. Socialize. We are social beings by nature. Not only does loneliness hurt us emotionally, it is hurting us physically. It is a scientific fact that isolation isn’t good for your mental health, which can translate to your physical health. Unfortunately, we are no longer in an atmosphere where we are surrounded by our friends at all times like in school. In order to get your daily dose of socialization, try talking to friends; call them up, FaceTime them, or shoot them a text. It’s important for more than just escaping your boredom. 2. Make a schedule. Time has a way of slipping away if you don’t have a schedule or concrete plan for your day. To stay grounded and not feel like you’re drifting from day to day without any purpose, make sure to have a schedule with things you want to accomplish. Just because the day starts a little later doesn’t mean you should throw your morning routine away. Shower, eat breakfast, and, most important, pray. Prayer has a way of centering and reassuring us. 3. Get outside. It’s easy to complain during school that we don’t get out enough, so take advantage! If you can do so while maintaining a safe distance (at
least six feet) from everyone else, go for a run, shoot a ball around, or even just sit outside and listen to music. Not only will it help get your mind off of the virus, and brighten up your day, it’s an easy way to get some much needed exercise and vitamin D into your day. 4. Don’t believe everything you read. Complaints of “fake news” are more grounded in truth than ever. Many hoaxes and false rumors have been mindlessly spread in chats and on social media, inciting fear and panic. Don’t pass along any information without verifying it. If you want to keep posted on the virus, the CDC’s website is your best bet. 5. Don’t be dumb. I hate to be a downer, but social distancing isn’t code for “chill at your friend’s house.” Stay home, and if you must, pick up emergency supplies, but AVOID PEOPLE. It’s important to understand that the point of the quarantine isn’t to prevent us all from getting sick, it’s to slow the spread of the virus enough to prevent overloading the healthcare system. We have a duty to each other to stay safe and at home because, to put it simply, if we go outside, other people will potentially die. 6. Focus on the silver linings. Although this is a scary time we’re living in, don’t focus on the negative, appreciate the break this gives you. Don’t ignore your school work, but use this time as an opportunity to do something you’ve never had the time to do! Do something fun! Connect with your family! Speak to friends! But most important, stay safe!
What if we don’t reopen till September
D’var Torah: Spiritual dancing By Rose Sternberg Religion Editor
With Passover fast approaching, most houses are in disarray as we attempt to prepare for the holiday. The preparation is not only a physical one but a spiritual one as well. The most difficult thing at times is seeing that silver lining, that hope shining through at the end of the tunnel. We are in a difficult situation now, as we struggle with ourselves to understand all that is happening around us in these hard times. Worse still, there is no answer that can be given, no comfort we can receive; in the end we can only accept what is happening and continue with our lives. The only comfort we can receive is from those in the same situation; unfortunately, sometimes that’s very little comfort at all. Tuck in our homes, we feel as though we have no one to lean on, we search for a constant in these ever changing times, and it appears as though there is none. But that isn’t true. As difficult and as easy as it may seem at times to see it, Hashem is always there. For some this difficult situation may make it easier to see the hand of God, to feel His warm comfort; for others, those who search for something to blame, it’s easier to distance themselves.
In the haftarah for the first day of Passover, the text speaks of the relationship between Hashem and Joshua and the people of Israel. Hashem reassures Joshua that He’ll be with him like He was with Moshe, and explains to him how to strengthen the bond between Hashem and the people with sacrifices (a physical action so that they can see and feel the connection forming as the sacrifice is accepted) and the brit milah (a physical reminder of the connection with Hashem that the people can carry with them always). Hashem gave us these commandments because He knows that we are human and not infallible, that it’s difficult to believe in our hearts and words alone, that we’ll doubt and struggle. For this reason He provided us with alternative ways that can serve as not only reminders that he is with us, but also can strengthen and reaffirm the beliefs we already hold. Fittingly, the haftarah closes with the sentence, “So the Lord was with Joshua; and his fame was throughout the entire land,” reminding us that Hashem is with us and always will, no matter how far we go, no matter how much we distance ourselves. There may be social distancing now, but we’ll never have to worry about spiritual distancing.
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tional highlights of every school year, but may need to be completely revamped. “We are planning a virtual take on our original show, which we plan to stream on April 20th,” said Sally Shatzkes, who runs Witness Theater. “If the school stays closed .... well, I am choosing to focus on what we can do now, not what we can’t do.” Some extracurricular programs, including Choir and Mock Trial, have plans to adapt to the new circumstances in unique ways. “We are planning to have a Mock Trial via Zoom,” said Mr. Rothbort, who runs the team. “All the participants, including the judge, would meet in the Zoom session and only the lawyer and witness would be unmuted. They would proceed to ask and respond to questions like in a ‘live’ trial.” Choir director Mr. Weinstein is hoping to find some opportunities for his students to sing—and maybe even perform—together. Meanwhile, many students feel frustrated about the lack of clarity about the rest of the year. “It’s just so confusing that no one has answers to anything and no one knows what will happen tomor-
row, let alone September,” said junior Barbara Salama. Others, including freshman Deborah Sasson, feel like they’re missing out on many experiences that would’ve been remembered forever. “I’m not going to experience my first Color War and all the school spirit that comes with it. I don’t have the chance to see my friends and make new ones every day.” One sophomore sympathized, adding, “Without the many experiences I had in freshman year, my whole high school career would be different.” With many senior events already being canceled, including Senior Week and Color War, many seniors fear that Graduation might even have to happen via Zoom. “Corona already took away what was left of our last days at Flatbush and if it ruins graduation, I would be completely devastated. We can’t graduate on Zoom. We just can’t,” said Yael Frechter. Rabbi Beyda recommended positivity. “With all of the fears and plans going through our heads, we are still urged to have hope. We don’t know anything about this virus, and maybe we can have school after all,” said Rabbi Beyda.
Ups and downs of distance learning continued from page 1
home and have to work in our stressfree zone, that’s very difficult. It is very hard to focus and get work done in our homes.” In contrast, a wide variety of students are thrilled to be able to stay home all day. “I think it’s pretty good for the most
part. We don’t have to go to school to learn, wear a uniform, or wake up early,” junior David Aini said. Moreover, junior Leor Yazdi commented, “I like how I’m able to get a Flatbush education with all of the creature comforts of my home environment.”
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on March 12, we assumed the inevitable.” Rabbi Galpert officially canceled the trip on March 16. Instead of sharing experiences together abroad, the senior grade as a whole is sharing disappointment on a mass and individual scale, all while social distancing. The possibility of losing the culminating events of the year—Senior Night and graduation, among others—left many seniors reeling. “We’ve all worked so hard to reach this point. We’re all in college now and the workload has finally subsided. Now all of that is being ripped away from us,” said Audrey Sutton. The one silver lining is that the seniors’ sorrow has brought them togeth-
er in a new way. Senior council secretary Jack Bibi elaborated, “The empathy brought our grade a little closer together, because we all didn’t want to miss out on the rest of senior year.” Although this year seems to yield disappointment to the seniors, some won’t let their time slip by them without productivity. Danielle Tawil pointed out that there is a bright side to the dreary situation, and multiple ways to see past the negativity. She explained, “I keep reminding myself that Hashem did this for a reason, so I’m really focusing on strengthening my relationship with Him and not taking advantage of the life He’s given me.”
Although the situation is not ideal, the Flatbush faculty remain persistent in an effort to make it work. As Math department chair Ms. Shulman stated, “Besides for a few bumps in the beginning, getting used to using Zoom and its quirks, I have found Zoom to be delightful. Classes can meet for academic and social growth. Life can be as normal as possible in our new virtual world.” Ms. Mikhli added, “So far, my experience with Zoom has been great. The students asked questions, raised their hands, and contributed to the class. If they couldn’t be heard, they typed their comments/questions for everyone to see. I was nervous about using Zoom, but now I’m OK with it. [But still] I’d rather
be physically in school with them. I miss my freshmen!” Despite its limitations, Zoom has allowed students to continue to make academic and social progress. Rehearsals still continue to be conducted, meetings for different clubs are being orchestrated, and classes continue to stream. “Programs such as Lunch N’ Listen and Witness Theater continue through Zoom meetings and use whatever resources available to replicate the parts of Flatbush we know and love online,” said senior Noam Weinstock. This is a new style of learning which will take time to adjust to. With a positive attitude and some time, we can overcome this challenge together.
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Yeshivah of Flatbush regularly celebrates the students who excel in the classroom and on our many teams. But many Flatbush students’ most impresive accomplishmnets occur beyond school’s walls. In this special feature we shine a spotlight on 18 Flatbush students who are achieving remarkable things in a variety of fields and activities outside of school. By Jayne Haddad and Bonnie Melamed Phoenix Editors
Mimi Sultan, 12th Grade – Food and Fashion Mimi Sultan manages two businesses for her two different passions: macarons and fashion. She started Mimi’s Macs and began baking macarons professionally in eighth grade, after falling in love with the business side as well as the baking side. “I try to add as much creativity into flavors, and design fun and original macarons,” Sultan expressed. Her clients’ satisfaction and positive feedback is what gives Mimi the confidence to keep making one of the most difficult desserts. As for her personal shopping, Styled by Mimi was Sultan’s idea of fusing her passions for business and fashion. She helps her clients create outfits from new, handpicked pieces and what they already own, based on their individual style. Sometimes she’ll throw in clothing that is out of a client’s comfort zone but still true to the client’s personality. She revealed that “since her macaron business is very time-consuming, there are times when it’s hard balancing the two, but I’m so invested in both passions” that she makes room.
Perla Berkovitz, 11th Grade – Engineering Berkovitz’s enthusiasm for cars was amplified after watching the Formula 1 and Formula E auto racing championships with her brother. Since she wasn’t able to take her eyes off the high speed cars on the screen, she decided to work with the Cooper Union FSAE team this past summer. This group of college students cooperated in designing a single-seat race car that competed against various other college teams and went hands-on with a professional electric race car. Berkovitz’s dexterity was tested when she had to further develop and improve car parts for the team’s upcoming season. She explained, “I love being able to make something with my hands. Seeing something I made work, and work well, is the best feeling in the world.” Perla would love to make a career out of her summer experience by becoming a race car designer or mechanical engineer.
Jack Bibi, 12th Grade – Art Last summer Jack Bibi started a graphic design business to fill up his free time during his senior year. JB Graphic was his way of turning two and a half years of graphic design classes into a job that he genuinely enjoys. Bibi communicates back and forth with his clients to create the logo or print they’ve been imagining so he can make it a reality and give them prints. Bibi shared that “the process can be really stressful at times because it is hard to reciprocate exactly what the client is envisioning.” However, once he finishes his design, he loves that he gets to see his hard work come to life.
Josh Shamah, 10 Grade – Sports th
When Josh Shamah broke his leg skiing five years ago, he didn’t think anything good would come out of it, until his mom pushed him to build his leg muscles with physical therapy through horseback riding. Josh is now an equestrian jumper in the English Riding Discipline and
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rides five times a week. He competes five times per season on a team, and around 10 times per year on his own. Competing on horseback, according to Shamah, “includes jumping over jumps in a very controlled manner as well as looking to be one with the horse.” When he rides alone, the objective is to complete a jump course with the fastest time while avoiding knocking down any of the hurdles. The winner of those competitions wins ribbons and prize money. He explained, “It is so exhilarating and I just feel so calm at the same time. You just forget about everything and only think about the horse.” One of Josh’s goals for when he gets older is to continue growing as an equestrian and maybe one day compete in the Grand Prix, the highest level of competition. He has won a few competitions, as well as coming in second place many times.
Marcelle Cohen, 12th Grade – Chesed Cohen volunteers as a counselor at the Special Children’s Center in the summer, and throughout the year she visits her campers and helps out at programs that they make in the area. As a counselor, her mission is to make her assigned camper have the best time possible, while also helping them with their struggles. Since Marcelle’s aunt is one of the Center’s founders, she and her entire family have been very invested her whole life, and she has grown up knowing many of the kids there. “I love the environment … because no matter how hard it gets everyone there is always smiling or dancing and just making it the most positive place ever,” Cohen raved. She finds her work there to be most rewarding when she forms a bond with the kids and their families. Even when Cohen is having fun with a kid, she makes sure that they are always comfortable and safe.
Sarah Benun, 11th grade – Fashion Last August, Sarah Benun’s sister was tossing out her classic rock band and vintage T-shirts. A month later, Benun got the idea to revamp them and put her own twist on them; with the help of her mom and sisters she started a business where she upcycles vintage clothing, particularly sweatshirts and sweatpants, by hand sewing or adding pins and patches of patterns on them. Through her Instagram account, @thevintagestich, she promotes her clothing and unique styles. She adds a personal touch with her signature X stitching bordering each print. Benun feels that she’s accomplishing something and doing something worthy with her time. One of the joys she gets from the business is seeing customers wearing and enjoying her merchandise. She also expressed that with her passion for fashion, she hopes to grow the brand after high school.
Eli Cohen, 12th Grade – Music Eli Cohen stumbled upon his interest in hazanut when he was around six years old and saying the zemirot Hashem Melech and Shemah during morning prayers. He is currently a hazan and ba’al koreh at the Bnei Yitzhak high school minyan and has received many similar jobs from Ave N Sephardic Synagogue, Bnei Binyamin, and Ohel Yaakob during the summer. He believes that being a hazan helps him keep the beautiful
Syrian heritage alive. Cohen understands the delicacy of oral tradition and how it can be altered by a slight change in pitch, timber, stresses in words, or particular pronunciations. He articulated that he wants to become one of the most famous hazanim in the world and that his gifted voice and passion will aid him in building a legacy that will impact future generations of his family and community. One of Cohen’s main goals is for his audience to feel a closer connection to Hashem when he sings.
Elie Esses, 10th Grade – Technology
Esses has been programming since he was in fourth grade, and since then has learned six programming languages and made his own website (www. elieesses.com). He explained, “I really love the step-by-step logic programming required to solve complex problems, and I think having all those steps within steps within steps come together to create something that’s kinda really cool.” After reading a biography about Bill Gates, Esses was immediately drawn to programming and went to his computer teacher eager to learn. He started learning on his own from a website and afterschool programs. This past summer he worked at a hedge fund in Manhattan and he decided how he wants to incorporate programming into his future career. He described “a sector of finance called quantitative and algorithmic trading, which can basically be explained as stock trading using algorithms for efficiency and speed, and it also uses data (like credit cards and geolocation data) for prediction, and that’s what I want to do.”
Esther Spigel, 12th grade – Chesed Spigel got involved in SBH in her freshman year, after her brother introduced her to the organization. She now runs an event called “Night in Syria,” where kids come to dance with the elderly to Syrian music while eating a delicious and authentic Syrian-themed dinner. Spigel drafts a team of volunteers and orchestrates everything from balloons to food. She adores how the event brings a smile to the elderly’s faces when they’re dancing and appreciating the event with their friends. “I love it, every single aspect. It’s truly priceless,” Spigel gushed. She admitted that she gets nervous the day of the event; however, she has a lot of faith in her team to make sure it runs smoothly. After high school she plans to continue her involvement in SBH, but will pass the event’s baton to the future youth volunteers.
Ralph Ashkenazi, 9th grade – Writing “I really like turning ideas into stories, and since inspiration or an idea can come at any time or from anything, it gives me something to get excited about.” If you ever wondered what the world looked like in the eyes of a writer, ask Ralph Ashkenazi. He put together his first “book” when he was around seven years old on a bunch of construction paper, and he only flourished from there. Ashkenazi emphasized that each time he writes a story he believes that he improves a little more. A large part of the process is leaving his story untouched for a day so he can reread it with the eyes of the reader and edit or rewrite the story as he deems necessary. Realistic fiction is his specialty. Ralph has entered his work into two contests and believes that his writing will help him leave behind a legacy one day. “I feel really accomplished when I write.” Ralph clarified that making his own little unique world through short stories that other people can enjoy as well makes him really happy.
Sarina Shalom, 12th Grade - Food Shalom, who writes the Food Corner column in The Phoenix, loved being in the kitchen from a very young age, but she decided to further develop her passion last summer. She created a business called Papillon Pastries and used Instagram as a platform to publicize her ornate desserts. Even though Shalom loved to bake cookies, she wasn’t satisfied with being limited; she realized that, by using all of her fields of interests together at once, she could create something great. She started using her knowledge of chemistry to experiment with new flavors, ideas, and techniques. Before she experiments with a new product, Shalom does tons of research about the origins of pastries and how they developed into what they are today because of her interest in anthropology. “I use my brain and my passion to come up with cool culinary concoctions. It relaxes me and is a place where I can de-stress from everyday chaos. It’s my happy place,” Shalom happily explained. She does see baking being a big part of her future, but not in the surface-level way of merely opening up her own shop. Shalom is excited to go beyond the surface in college, where she plans to study the development of food through culture and chemistry as her major.
Renee Beyda, 9th Grade – Food Renee Beyda and her sister Lilly (HS ’19) have paired up to open up their own macaron selling business, @ liluduree. Renee explained that she always enjoyed baking when she was younger, but only this year did she find her love for baking macarons. She bakes the shell of the macaron and fills each one with a different filing depending on the flavor requested by the customer. She started to sell macarons in February, and she explained that she bakes 2–3 times a week in order to fill orders she receives. However, baking is not just a business to Beyda. She described, “It’s very fun
and stress-relieving to bake.” She is considering applying to culinary schools after college and hopes that one day she can make a career out of one of her favorite pastimes.
Morris Madeb, 10th Grade – Music If you’re ever at a wedding and notice that the singer seems a little young, it might be sophomore Morris Madeb, who performs solo or along with other hazanim and singers. Madeb’s fondness for music started when he was 10 years old and joined the Syrian Boys Choir. He was selected by the choir director to lead a group of boys who would sing at weddings with Yaakov Shwekey. Through that experience, Madeb learned a lot about what Shwekey does when he performs. He found his inspiration from hazanim with whom he’s gotten the privilege to sing. “I love doing it because every wedding is an experience. I’ve sung at many weddings, and each one has something unique.” It’s difficult for him to delineate exactly why or how he feels when he sings, but he described that he gets a rush of adrenaline and is really excited. Madeb recently sang at the wedding of Claudia Oshry, commonly known by her Instagram @Girlwithnojob, and didn’t even know who she was beforehand!
Isaac Levy, 12th Grade – Acting Since elementary school, Isaac Levy had a special interest in singing and acting in plays. In December, he began attending acting classes once or twice a week at the Broadway Dance Center in Manhattan. “When I was younger I’d do almost anything to make someone smile, and with acting, if I’m good, I can make someone feel so much more than just happiness,” smiled Levy. He said he feels accomplished after he puts a lot of effort into a performance and receives a wave of positive feedback from friends, family, and strangers. Levy disclosed that he gets nervous before a show, but once he fully embodies a character and the lights go on, he focuses only on portraying his role.
Evelyn Tawil, 11th Grade – Food Evelyn Tawil and her two sisters, Bella and Raquelle, started the Instagram account @foodsnobs101 in the summer of 2018. The Tawil sisters post easyto-make desserts, along with breakfast and dinner ideas. Tawil explained that there are many steps that they’re required to take just for one Instagram post. First, they make up a recipe, leading them through a whole trial-anderror process. Once the product is made they write up the steps for their readers and take many pictures to post. “I personally love blogging, because it allows me to create a connection with my Instagram followers. Baking is almost like an outlet for me to destress. I find myself baking and cooking mostly when I have an hour to spare,” Tawil shared. She also revealed that she is making plans to revamp her account and expand the variety of content to any type of food.
Sylvia Mizrahi, 12th Grade – Fashion Sylvia Mizrahi runs an Instagram account called @noshoplist, where she posts different articles of clothing that she desires or finds interesting. She uses the account as a personal blog to showcase pieces she sees in fashion magazines, on social media, or while she’s shopping online. Mizrahi started last summer after she was constantly screenshotting clothing she loved to send to her mother. “She would just say, ‘I love you, but you can’t get it.’ So, I started posting,” Mizrahi revealed. Her feed features a diverse spread, from formal dresses to beachwear to sneakers.
Sally Jaradeh, 9th Grade – Art Jaradeh, who paints, draws, embroiders, and even crochets, got into art when she was around 9 or 10 and sees it . She explained that her art comes together by starting with random sketches until she finds something she is satisfied with, then she puts that sketch on a canvas of her choice, which can range from a plain canvas to a T-shirt. She does not put her art up for sale, but she is considering selling her crocheted stuffed animals. Some of her favorite things to draw are realistic pictures of people or nature. “I do art because it gives me a way to express myself and also just because it’s fun to do. Whenever I do art I feel calm.”
Diane Azrak, 11th Grade – Food After making a new type of tea for her and Susan Montague’s daily walks to school and sharing her love of teas on her finsta, Azrak decided it was time to go from finsta to rinsta. She started blogging her tea reviews and ratings on @tea_by_d, and now she even makes bags of calming and stressrelief teas to help people who are dealing with coronavirus-related stress, which she sells to raise money for Sephardic Food Fund. “When I’m posting I get excited, because everyone tells me later on how I got them into a specific tea or they ask which teas would be best for them,” Diane added. She beamed that her mother is her number one supporter and shared that it was her mother’s idea to step up her account with mugs featuring a personal logo. In the future, she hopes to expand to reusable and paper to-go cups. Even though she is unsure where her tea will take her, she hinted toward selling a specialized tea of the month, promoting a signature tea to go with the season or different health benefits, like immune system assistance to
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Fashion & Entertainment Freshen up your wardrobe What to stream while you for Pesach without shopping are under quarantine By OrDavid Menashe Fashion Editor
Pesach means certain things: matzah, the 27th day quarantined with your family, and new clothes. But in case you haven’t noticed, it’s been pretty hard to buy new clothes recently, being that New York State has mandated that all clothing stores shut down. Yes, you can still buy on the internet, but it’s not the same, especially for Yom Tov clothes. It’s difficult to gauge quality, the fit is often slightly off, and returning is a nightmare. If you’re a guy it’s even worse; ever try buying a suit online? Well don’t: it’s hard and you’re going to need a tailor anyway, which unfortunately is also temporarily closed. Don’t stress—we here at Standard of Fabulous have a ton of wardrobe-revamping tips so that you can look like new without even buying new clothes this year. For the guys, we suggest a suit-blazer shuffle. Take a pair of pants (dark is easier to work with) and match with a blazer of a different color. It sounds fairly simple, and it is, yet it gives the blazer a new feel. Accessories are also an easy way to change things up. Instead of a tie for Pesach try a twoopen-button look, for a very Israeli vibe. Also,
bow ties somehow make any suit you wear more unique. Lastly, we suggest trying different colored shirts. We often get into a habit of wearing blue or white, but maybe try a pink or a yellow to add some flair. For the girls, jackets are key. Dresses are more difficult to mix and match, but a jacket on top seems to do the trick. A topcoat and even a jean jacket during this time of year are weather appropriate. A cool trend that girls can utilize is wearing blazers. Blazers add a sophisticated and trendy feel to an outfit without making too much of a statement. Also, try on your brother’s or dad’s suit jacket; the more oversized the better. A pair of nice high top sneakers can also add a lot to the fit, not to mention that they are much comfier than dress shoes. No matter what you decided to wear for Pesach, being comfortable is important. If you really feel the need for new clothes, you do you. And if you don’t feel confident enough to mix up your outfits because you’re not sure what people might think, that’s fine, too. We encourage you here to try new trends and old ones and see what fits you best, so even if you can’t buy new clothes it won’t matter because you’ll look good in whatever you’re wearing anyway.
Fashion industry grapples with the coronavirus By OrDavid Menashe Fashion Editor
Through all the pandemic news, you may have noticed a change in the fashion world. No, not what the latest trends are, but how designers have been using their bully pulpit and their standing to express how they feel about the pandemic. For starters, many companies have shut down stores and slowed production in an attempt to help mitigate the situation, even in states that have not made it mandatory. By closing shop they keep their workers and customers from transmitting disease to each other. Just to name a few from the hundreds of companies doing this: Bottega Veneta, Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga and Brioni. This doesn’t mean that they’ll stop creating and selling clothes, but it does mean that if you’re looking to buy a new outfit you’d better look online. Brandon Maxwell has even created a line with medically safe material to support the cause and promote slowing down production and closing stores. Some designers are looking to light-
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en the mood by creating clothes that not only look good but are also funny. Some T-shirts have surfaced online with the words “Panic at the Costco” on them, a play on the rock band Panic! At The Disco and the public’s panic buying of many household items. Other T-shirts have coronavirus and Corona beer puns all over them. The issue is serious and needs to be handled the right way, but a good joke once in a while never hurts. Other designers are using their clout to talk about consumerism. We are entering an economic recession caused by the fact that businesses are shutting down and consumers are no longer going out to buy goods because they fear possible contamination. Big brands like Nike, Adidas, Macys, Gap, etc. can survive, but small business can’t afford to go a few weeks (or months) without revenue. Companies like Noah and Public School have decided to take a stand. Noah, which closes on Black Friday because they disapprove of gross consumerism, is now supporting any and all consumerism. Lastly, some designers just seem to
By Rachel Lincer and Danielle Mehani Entertainment Editors
Now that everybody is stuck at home under quarantine, it’s the perfect time to microwave some popcorn and watch a movie with the family. It’s also the best time for some cozy in-bed binge-watching in between your Zoom classes (not during, of course). But are you one of those people who has been scrolling through Netflix and then Hulu and then back on Netflix because you feel like you’ve already watched every show there is to watch? Well, we’re with you. That’s why we created a list of the best movies and TV shows for you to watch, just in case there was anything you missed. And listen, it doesn’t hurt to start watching a new genre. Those rom-coms have to get old eventually. Here are some favorites that can be found on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime (included with Prime).
Horror
Netflix: Conjuring Insidious The Ring Stonehearst Asylum Hush Birdbox The Gist Room Outbreak Amazon: 47 Meters Down Hulu: The Descent Annihilation A Quiet Place Little Monsters
Drama
Netflix: Love Is Blind A Series of Unfortunate Events Grey’s Anatomy The Fosters Criminal Minds Reign Switched at Birth Riverdale The Vampire Diaries Gossip Girl Dynasty Glee Amazon: Teen Wolf Downton Abbey Hulu: This Is Us The Good Doctor New Amsterdam Beverly Hills 90210 A Star is Born
Comedy
Netflix: That 70s Show The Office New Girl Jane the Virgin Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Hairspray The Ugly Truth The Edge of Seventeen
transcend the entire crisis. Companies like Supreme, CDG, Mr Porter, and Staycool have made no statement about the virus and appear to be operating with a business-as-usual mindset.
Amazon: Instant Family The Marvelous Ms. Maisel Hulu: How I Met Your Mother Seinfeld Friends Modern Family The Simpsons The Good Place Family Guy
Thriller
Netflix: The 100 Sabrina the Teenage Witch Designated Survivor Stranger Things Blacklist Lucifer Narcos Amazon: The Commuter Hulu: Chicago PD Survivor CSI Blindspot
Chick Flicks
Netflix: Life As We Know It Dear John A Cinderella Story All the Bright Places To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before After Amazon: Forever My Girl Life Itself Love, Rosie Hulu: The Last Song 10 Things I Hate About You How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days No Strings Attached 27 Dresses Life As We Know It Step Up My Big Fat Greek Wedding The Ugly Truth 50 First Dates
Whatever their opinion may be, we as the buyers should consider continuing to support our favorite brands or local businesses; they may not be able to live without us.
Fun & Games Ask Merle I’ve been getting a lot of questions
about how to make the most of being quarantined, so here are some suggestions for how to have fun while stuck at home, from A to Z. ASMR. Whether it’s rhythmic tapping, scratching nails, or whispered love notes, there’s something hypnotic about this quiet trend. Binge everything and anything. 1 season of Freaks and Geeks. 2 of All American. 3 of Money Heist. 4 of The Good Place. 5 of The Brady Bunch. 6 of Silicon Valley. 7 of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. 8 of Game of Thrones. 9 of The Office. 10 of Friends. These alone should take about 23 days, 1 hour and 55 minutes, a great start.
Caffeine fixes can be satisfied even though many coffee shops are closed. You can still grab your favorite cuppa joe by taking a deep dive into the wonderful world of stay-at-home baristaing. Draw something. It doesn’t matter if it’s classical, modern, or stick figures and square giraffes. What’s important is that you’re trying. Eat new grub. Try something different. Add some spice. Make Ashki food. Go crazy. Safety’s off. It’s just you, your kitchen, and your mom asking if something’s burning.
Fashion-show your wardrobe. Wear something extra. Catwalk your hallway. Rock those fuzzy socks, eclectic onesies, flamboyant feathery something-or-other that your grandmother once gave you, the-scrunched-up-wrinkled-thing-onthe-bottom-of-your-drawer; they’ve all become trendy, so rock your style. Game it out. Whether it’s the Sims, Animal Crossing, Fortnite, 2K, or Minecraft, either way, you’re staying quiet, busy, and out of the way, all things your family will appreciate. Home TikToks. Bathroom dances, groovin’ with your mom, laughing with your dad, screaming at your siblings, and hugging your pets are all ways you can become an instant celeb. Ice cream is precious. It will lift your spirits no matter what. When that 3 AM what-am-I-doing-with-my-life hits you, just take a scoop of that beautiful frozen stuff. It works wonders. Junk food is OK. Don’t be ashamed. Proudly take out that family size bag of Doritos along with the party box of Oreos and store-bought extra-large 7-layer cake and go to town. Just don’t hit it too often. Moderation is key. Karate chop stuff. It’ll always improve your mood. Leftovers are a great way to test your cooking prowess and explore your skills. Try to elevate what you kept from last
The Natareeze
b
GLASS HALF FULL
• No tests … yet. • The school is doing a great job with the nightly activities. • The virtual backgrounds on Zoom are the best. • We now have plenty of time to pick up new hobbies and self-reflect • YES! SLEEP! • I can make a smoothie and do a face mask while learning Tanakh and nobody can say anything.
GLASS HALF EMPTY
• I miss iced coffee • Where’s all the toilet paper? • Drivers Ed is cancelled • I am bugging out on the daily • I have googled too many times “how to dispose of siblings”
THINGS TO GET YOU THROUGH THE WEEK MOVIES
All the Bridget Jones movies All the Molly Ringwald movies Casablanca Something with Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire Jerry Maguire He’s Just Not That Into You Little Women
By Natalie Ryba Staff Writer
THAT’S SHOW BIZ BABY
• I really thought that not being in the actual school building would save me a lot of embarrassment and let me keep my street cred. However, things are probably worse, now that I think about it. • I know Zoom has a mute button but I think it’s there for giggles. I promise, every time I think it’s on, it’s not. Let’s run through the things I’ve said on camera with my whole class and teacher: “I can take a shower as many times a day as I want, you’re not the boss of me.” “Oh no, why is there marker on my shirt? This is the third time today!” “It needs more glitter.” “Ow, glitter in my eye!” • My aunts, grandparents, and parents are all really loud people, so, as a result, I have impaired hearing (self-diagnosed, of course). On Zoom, ask anyone how many times have I said “Whaaat?” and put my ear up against the computer. Why am I more of a Teta than my baby boomer teachers? • I understand the coronavirus is real, but my mother has taken it to the next level. Two weeks ago, I cleared my throat and was banished to my room until further notice. I wonder what would happen if I actually got the virus. Realistically, she’d probably help me beat the virus. By beat the virus, I mean beat it out of me with a shoe.
night’s dinner or today’s lunch, and make something new, different, and exciting. Your life is now an episode of Chopped! Movies can become the new family night. Sit down with your loved ones and enjoy an old favorite or an exciting new flick. Nothing. Yup. Just take a time out. You’ll come out feeling refreshed and energized, all ready and hyped up to continue doing all the other stuff on this list. Open your wallet. With food pantries and many other charities stretched thin, every penny donated counts. Procrastination plagues all of us. Don’t let it bother you, though. Just deal with it later. Quack. Roar. Cackle. Neigh. How many animal noises can you make? Reality TV. Catch up on The Bachelor, KUWTK, America’s Got Talent, The Voice, Love is Blind, and The Great British Bake Off. S h o p p i n g shouldn’t stop just because the stores are closed. Buy clothes, food, and everything else. Many sites are offering great promos and sales just for you.
The Food Corner In this time of uncertainty and confusion, we can’t help but think about the total chaos inside and outside our homes. But being in the kitchen is the perfect remedy, as it helps clear your mind from worries and is a great way to pass that ample amount of time on your hands! This recipe for flourless chocolate cake is delicious and perfect for Passover. Whether you’re a beginner baker or an expert chef, you can master this recipe without a doubt. The mix of that comforting chocolate decadence and light-as-air texture will have you eating the whole cake yourself! INGREDIENTS: 10 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate (chopped bars or chips) 1 stick butter or margarine or Betterine ½ cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar 8 eggs Pinch of salt DIRECTIONS: Preheat your oven to 275. Butter a 10” springform pan and set aside.
Takeout is the new reality. You can’t go out to eat, so get your food delivered. With apps like Seamless and Postmates running $0 delivery fees, it’s a no brainer, and definitely the quick and lazy option for a delicious night in. Update your Snap, Insta, and TikTok constantly. All of your followers are bored and anxiously waiting to hear what and how you’re doing at all times. Vacuum. Sweep. Fold. Wash. Clean your room, and when you’re done, clean your house. You’ll feel free after. Like a baby bird who can finally fly. Water fighting season comes early this year. Go nuts. Get wet. Xylophone. Harmonica. Piano. Drums. All instruments that you can find at home or use an app for. Practice what you know, learn something new, and feel the music transform you, whether you’re talentless or slightly skilled. Yoga. Push-ups. Dance. Climbing stairs. Running. All forms of exercise. Your body needs it. Zoom it. Meet up with friends. Hang out with your grandparents. Say hi to your cousins. (Go to class.) Whatever you want to do outside, do inside with Zoom.
By Sarina Shalom Food Editor
Melt your chocolate and butter together and set aside to cool. Separate your egg whites and yolks into two separate bowls. Whip up your egg whites in a stand mixer/with a hand mixer until foamy. Add your sugar SLOWLY until it looks glossy and forms stiff peaks (when you lift the whisk, it should hold its shape). Add your cooled melted chocolate to your egg yolks and stir. Add your salt. Gently whisk in a bit of your whipped whites to lighten up the chocolate mixture. In thirds, FOLD in the rest of your whites until it’s no longer streaky. Pour your batter into the springform pan and bake for about an hour — check with a skewer that it comes out clean. The cake will sink while it’s cooling and release from the sides of the pans. Once completely cooled, take off the sides of the springform and serve with powdered sugar, whipped cream, fresh fruit, nuts... whatever you’d like! Enjoy!
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Sports Sports movies to fill the void Simple aerobics from home By Carole Cohen Junior Editor
Whether you’re a fan of playing sports and now can’t play with friends because of quarantine, or you prefer to watch sports but can’t watch your favorite team because the season has been canceled, the coronavirus has definitely had an effect. However, don’t panic: there may not be live sports, but there are plenty of great sports movies that will help fill your craving. If you haven’t watched The Blind Side, get your popcorn popping and jump on the couch. It tells the (mostly) true story of Michael Oher, a black teen who is homeless until a football-obsessed white family decides to bring him under their wing. The parents become Michael’s legal guardians. With assistance from his new family and tutor, the massive Oher recognizes his potential as a student and a star on the football field. The real-life Oher went on to a successful NFL career. After wiping away your tears, stay on that couch and watch The Sandlot, another family-friendly classic. Scotty Smalls moves to a new neighborhood and makes new friends who love to play baseball at the local sandlot. Smalls joins the team but knows nothing about baseball. He “borrows” his stepfather’s ball,
not realizing it is signed by Babe Ruth. When one of the players hits the ball over the fence into the yard of the scariest man (and dog) in town, the sandlot gang now has to work together to get the ball back from “the Beast” before Smalls’s stepfather finds out it’s missing. Next up we have two boxing movies: Hurricane and Cinderella Man, both of which are based on true stories. Hurricane is about Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, a man whose dream of winning a boxing title is destroyed when he is wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to three life terms in prison. After years of trying to prove his innocence, he is aided by a group of young activists who want to help. In Cinderella Man, ex-boxer James J. Braddock works as a day laborer during the Great Depression until his previous manager offers him a one-time fight against a young opponent. After he wins Braddock goes back to boxing full time, which his wife isn’t too happy about. Dubbed “The Cinderella Man” for his rags-to-riches story, Braddock has his eyes on the heavyweight champion, Max Baer. Lastly, for fans who miss football, we offer Rudy. Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger grew up in a town where most people wanted to play football for Notre Dame but ended up working blue-collar jobs instead. Rudy dreams of playing for Notre Dame as well, but his grades are weak and his body is small. None of that stops Rudy, who has high hopes and never stops chasing his dream.
Sportsman Spotlight:
Madeb leaves behind improving hockey team
By Daniel Beyda Contributing Writer
Grace Madeb has been a dedicated member of the Flatbush Girls Hockey team since her sophomore year. Sporting the classic maroon and gold while wearing number 15, Madeb played through an ankle injury her junior year and still managed to score plenty of goals. “Being injured was tough. I was on the bench for a while until I proved I could play
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through it. It was a difficult time,” Madeb remarked. Despite all of Madeb’s efforts, the Flatbush Girls Hockey team couldn’t manage to edge their way into the playoffs, even with a fully healthy squad this year, and despite crucial injuries to other team’s players. This was Madeb’s third and final year on the team, but the team has some impressive freshmen who will help soften the loss of Madeb and other seniors. Madeb admitted that her one regret from her years on the team is that she wasn’t able to win a championship. “A championship win would’ve made up for all of our losses. Hopefully the next round of players can bring home a trophy to make up for it. We have a lot of potential. A few lucky plays, maybe even an undefeated season, any of this would help end the championship drought here,” Madeb said. With most schools in the yeshiva league currently out of session, we may have to wait a bit longer to see how well Madeb’s mentoring of younger players pays off.
By Rose Kurland Fashion Editor
During these times of confinement, getting exercise indoors is easier than you think. Any movement is good movement! No need for fancy equipment, or hours and hours on end of boring exercise. For starters, try doing 10 jumping jacks during the commercials of your favorite show, or five push-ups while your food is in the microwave! Getting in that small amount of activity is great for your heart health, and it releases endorphins, boosting your mood. On a larger scale, many boutique workout studios in New York have taken it upon themselves to provide live stream classes, free of charge, that you can join from the comfort of your living room. If you’re looking for a high-intensity, feelgood cardio dance workout, 305 Fitness
live-streams 45-minute classes twice daily. If you’re into boxing, Rumble Fitness provides Instagram live-streams tri-weekly for an at-home knock out. If you’re looking for a full body stretch and wind down, Y7 Studios has a killer series of flows on their app to get your blood pumping and your mind centered. If you need a muscle-trembling, total-body toning workout, SLT has provided daily 30 minute Instagram TV Workouts. The options are endless. Though we are under strange, outlandish worldly circumstances, it is a beautiful time to search for what feeds your soul. Get active, try something new, pursue what you love. Whether you’re a dancer, kickboxer, yogi, strength trainer, or just looking to move, there are so many outlets out there to practice your pleasure.
Staying fit without leaving the house
By Nathan Sidaoui Sports Editor
Sitting at home all day and stuffing your face out of boredom? Totally understood. But it’s important to turn this free time into a positive change for you and your body. Without Crawford’s Pizza Time’s calorie-packed meals pushing the scales (literally), and with more free time than usual, this can be an extremely effective time to work toward your ideal physique. Now onto the next problem: all the gyms are closed! Remember, there are two main facets to training: leaning and bulking. To put it simply, leaning is trying to lose fat and tone muscles, while bulking consists of high-calorie diets and extreme muscle building. Both can be done through at-home workouts, even if you have no equipment. For people out there trying to lean and cut calories, body-weight exercises have important benefits. Some of these include improving balance and flexibility and burning fat very quickly. Using HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workouts, you can work through a circuit of bodyweight exercises to burn fat for up to 48 hours through the “afterburn effect.” After a workout your muscles need to replenish their oxygen supply, and as you consume a higher take-in of oxygen to those targeted muscle groups, your body is in fact doing “work” and burning calories. HIIT workouts work specifically aim to manipulate this idea by working your body through time interval workouts and causing this to go into effect. There are countless YouTube videos that will actually run you through some of these workouts. Also, try to go for walks and jogs outside when the weather allows; it can really put your mind at ease and be a great cardio exercise.
Next, we have our people trying to gain muscle and put on some calories. Even without barbells or dumbells around, there are so many other options, because anything in your house can be a dumbell! Use canned food, soda bottles, water jugs, cases of water, a chair, a table, anything you have! Yes, proper weights are more comfortable, but nothing about this situation is comfortable, so that’s definitely not an excuse to stop putting in your hard work. Ab workouts should be as easy as before and can be done anywhere. And you can take advantage of some bodyweight exercises like pushups. Manipulating the position of your hands can hit most muscle groups: as you move your hands further apart you begin to work your chest, and as you bring them closer in you work your triceps. Additionally, resistance bands are an extremely important tool to have. The weightlifting bands that are longer than regular resistance bands and have handles should cost around $30, and they’re also extremely effective as an alternative for weightlifting in a house setting. Remember, quarantine is an excuse to get in shape, not to sit around binge watching Netflix all day (although there’s time for both). Spend an hour a day on your body and mind.