The Phoenix 2021-2022 Issue 6

A Student Publication of the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School • 1609 Avenue J, Brooklyn, New York • Vol 56, Issue 6 • April 2022 / 5782

Major renovation of old building to start in July

By Aliya Abergil

By Jeanette Cohen and Nicole Muravsky

Sophomore Editor

The beautiful new building was completed only a few years ago, and now it is the old building’s turn for construction. The renovation of some parts of the old building as well as the facade of the school are set to begin this summer, but will not be completed before school restarts in September. According to Rabbi Galpert, this project will be “a multi-year process.”

Most of the work being done is on the facade of the school. The whole exterior of the building will be made to have a more modern look. The administration also plans on updating the heating and cooling system of the school as it needs major improvement. “It has to be modernized to make sure that we can control our temperature accurately,” Rabbi Galpert remarked. The new system is expected to heat and cool classrooms more evenly and more quietly than the current units. This will affect students greatly as

Junior Editor and Editor-in-Chief

An artist’s rendering of new facade

it will improve their ability to focus on the lesson rather than the temperature of the classroom.

The old building will also undergo some interior changes. Most of the renovations will be taking place in the sub-basement. The main gym and other athletic areas will get significant upgrades, and Jack’s Gym will also be completely renovated. “The gym we have

now was always designed as a temporary space, and a more permanent Jack’s Gym will be built,” Rabbi Galpert noted. The music and orchestra rooms will also be revamped in order to enhance the learning experience of the students.

The classrooms in the old building won’t change much; however, the first

continued on page 3

Faculty visit Poland to support Ukraine refugees

By Jeanette Cohen Junior Editor

On Sunday, April 3, five Yeshivah of Flatbush faculty members boarded a flight to Warsaw, Poland in order to help displaced Ukrainian refugees. The inspirational group consists of Rabbi Beyda, Ms. Winkler, Ms. Harcsztark, Rabbi Dr. Hertzberg, and Rabbi Dr. Saltzman. Rabbi Beyda’s son and Flatbush alumnus Sam Beyda (HS ’19) joined the trip also. They stayed in Warsaw and Kharkov for a total of three days, working with and helping refugees however they could, returning home at night on Wednesday, April 6.

The trip was set into action by Ms.Winkler and her growing urge to get involved. When the idea first came to her, she spoke with many different people in search of contacts to make the trip a reality. She managed to get the numbers of four different Lubavitch rabbis.

Rabbi Stambler of Warsaw expressed the

In This Issue People: Page 2 D’var Torah: Page 2 Sports: Page 8

IWR class to be folded into History

Rabbi Beyda carries medical supplies desperate need for volunteers in his community, and it was decided that the trip would take place.

As the child of a Holocaust survivor, Ms. Winkler has a unique connection to working with refugees. “My father always tells us that when he first got to Israel, he was only 14 years old. They put him in a school there; he didn’t speak the lan-

Special Feature: 18 students excelling outside the classroom Pages 4 & 5

18 18

guage, and he thought he was an orphan.

Having been just a child during the war, my father had to relearn all these basic things, like how to hold a fork. However, there were all these people working with refugee children who completely saved him. My father survived off the kindness of strangers,” Ms. Winkler said. She expressed how despite the vast uncertainty surrounding the itinerary of their Poland trip, she wholeheartedly believes that “whatever I do is better than if I did nothing.”

Ms. Winkler and Ms. Harcsztark are both one of many in their families to help the Ukrainian refugees. Ms. Winkler’s nephew in Israel just came back from the border of Moldova with United Hatzalah, where he brought 150 refugees back to Israel. Ms. Harcsztark has various family members who recently went to Vienna and facilitated Purim for many refugees there. “All of my family

continued on page 3

Entertainment: Fairly OddParents returns Page 6

After several years as a staple of the senior curriculum, Israel World Relations will no longer be a separate class on seniors’ schedule next year. Instead, it will be the first unit in all 12th grade social studies classes. The subject will be taught five times a week for the first three and a half weeks of the year, instead of the current setup of twice a week for the whole year. After that unit is completed, senior classes will learn civics for the remainder of the semester.

Social Studies department chair Mr. Rothbort explained that teaching IWR at the beginning of the semester during the time that usually has been allotted for civics will not detract from the material set for both classes. He discussed how the Social Studies department is able to pick and choose which civics topics to delve into during class and that gun control, capital punishment, juvenile justice, and voting all will still be heavily covered.

The main motivation behind the switch is Rabbi Beyda’s preference for the upcoming seniors to have another elective period. While IWR is still seen as a crucial part of preparing seniors for life after high school, the administration feels it will still be covered just as well under the new format and is excited to be able to offer seniors another elective opportunity.

Another purpose for the switch was to make the class more consistent and intense, according to Ms. Hidary. She explained that having two periods a week for IWR causes the class to “lose its heft” and “get watered down” for a number of reasons. First, the material in the class is covered very slowly because the class doesn’t meet consistently, and, therefore, students struggle to retain the information learned. Second, if one of the classes is canceled for a school event or holiday, the class meets once that week, after already not having the class since the week before, which further prevents the students from remembering what they learned.

continued on page 6

Fashion: Ms. Baltimore talks personal style Page 7 phoenix@flatbush.org | 1

Faculty Freshman:

Dr. Drew Bucilla

By Nitza Hanan Contributing Writer

Dr. Drew Bucilla, Yeshivah of Flatbush’s new AP Art History teacher, has had many different passions in her life.

However, after discovering art history, Bucilla now gets to teach what she loves every day.

Dr. Bucilla studied at Columbia University and, after a few switches, ended up double majoring in Economics and Art History. She began college wanting to be an actress and studying theater.

Additionally, Dr. Bucilla was extremely interested in investigative journalism and detective work. She mentioned that many of her Columbia professors inspired her love for writing and research.

Although it may seem that her love of art history started at a young age, Dr. Bucilla was introduced to the subject only during the end of her time at Columbia.

The summer before her senior year, Dr. Bucilla traveled to France for a month.

In Paris, she gained firsthand experience with the beauty of art. Dr. Bucilla stated,

“I went to about 15 different museums in just a month. I thought to myself, ‘Well if I enjoy doing this so much, maybe I should major in it.’” It wasn’t until after she finished undergraduate schooling that she decided to pursue a PhD. Even though Dr. Bucilla did not begin her journey as a teacher until graduate school, she remembers tutoring peers since the ninth grade. She explained, “I have kind of taught, in one way or another, for a very long time.”

Dr. Bucilla has now been a teacher for nearly 10 years. Before teaching at Yeshivah of Flatbush, she was, and continues to be, a professor at CUNY colleges.

Dr. Bucilla has wanted to teach AP Art History for a while, and heard about the opening at Flatbush from a friend. She mentions that one of the main differences between teaching at Flatbush and CUNY is her involvement and relationship with her students. Due to the high school’s smaller class sizes, Dr. Bucilla is able to give more feedback to help her students improve. She also mentions that a perk of teaching in Flatbush is that her students chose to take the class because they are interested in it, rather than simply completing a college requirement.

This allows her to have more advanced and engaging conversations with her students. However, teaching an AP is more difficult because of the time requirements. Dr. Bucilla mentioned that she is forced to leave out notable works that she enjoys teaching because they are not required for the AP exam.

Dr. Bucilla not only loves the subject that she teaches, but also values making a difference in her students’ lives. She continues teaching because she appreciates reaching out to students and helping them improve. Teaching in Flatbush and CUNY allows Dr. Bucilla to be exposed to many students with different backgrounds. She said, “Being able to help so many different types of students is why I keep doing what I do.”

Designing a path to success Alumnus Interview: Marielle Douek (HS ’09)

By Aleen Jaradeh Contributing Writer

While many fail to navigate the fashion world, Marielle Douek’s diligence and drive have resulted in the success of her swimsuit company, Markim Swim.

Yeshivah of Flatbush alumna Marielle Douek (née​​Russo) is currently a fashion merchandiser and co-owns Markim Swim, a trendy and fashionable women’s and children’s swimwear company. Like many who hesitate to follow their lifelong ambitions, Douek had many doubts about whether she would succeed. However, throughout times of difficulty, she remembered that the only way to achieve a goal is to never give up.

Douek grew up with a love of fashion.

She spent much of her childhood reading fashion magazines and shopping with her parents. Douek’s father, who also works in fashion, served as a wall of support for Douek to lean on. Her love for fashion remained with her throughout her time at Yeshivah of Flatbush.

After graduating, Douek attended LIM College of Fashion Merchandising, where she learned the ins and outs of fashion’s business side. Douek said her time at Flatbush “helped me breeze through college.” The pressure and workload she faced during her high school years provided her with the coping skills needed to succeed in college, leading to her placement on the dean’s list

The Phoenix Staff Editor-in-Chief: Nicole Muravsky Senior Editor: Jack Saad School News Editors: Marc Lessler, Alison Mudick Religion Editor: Ronnie Mizrachi World News Editor: Sabrina Zami Features Editor: Linda Abramson Entertainment Editors: Jenna Ashkenazie, Marcelle Setton

2 | phoenix@flatbush.org

D’var Torah:

Our call to questioning

By Ronnie Mizrachi Religion Editor

Why do we drink four cups? Why do we have chicken on a platter in the middle of the table that we can’t eat?

Why do we dip celery in saltwater?

Why do we eat bitter lettuce? Each of these inquiries is expected to be made every year by Jewish children who are curious about the Seder. We prompt them with seemingly odd rituals to evoke confusion, and with each question that they ask, a new theme, idea, or fact about the national experience in Exodus is revealed and discussed.

It always seemed odd to me that many Jews who are disconnected from the Torah find the Seder, of all things, to be the hallmark of Jewish tradition.

They perform it every year, but being more removed from the story itself detracts from the inherent meaning contained in our rituals on Pesach night.

Without understanding what happened in Egypt, there are basically no answers that the parents can give to their children as we do with our youth.

Instead, eating matzah becomes simply another way to carry forward Jewish traditions. Singing “‫ ”מה נשתנה‬becomes just an activity to entertain the children. Having salty celery transforms into a fun taste experiment. In my view of the holiday, each of these transformations turns those celebrating it away from the true intention of the holiday and demonstrates that although they’re beautifully embodying Jewish customs and traditions, they completely miss the point of the haggadah. Without asking questions, un-

within her first month.

Douek’s idea to create her own business was spontaneous. Douek and her coworker, Kim Shalom, came upon the realization that there were very few places to shop that carried inexpensive swimwear.

Together, they decided to take a risk and design such swimwear themselves. They began exclusively selling women’s swimwear and soon expanded into producing a children’s line. Douek and Shalom chose and created designs for their entire line by drawing out their styles, choosing fabrics, and continuing from there. Douek said, “It’s amazing to see our designs come to life! Especially while being on vacation and seeing everyone enjoying what they are wearing.”

Douek explained that this is the best part of her job.

Establishing her business wasn’t as easy as it sounds, as Douek faced many obstacles and doubts along the way. She got mar-

Fashion Editors: Grace Hidary, Jennifer Neuman Fun & Games Editor: Joyce Louz Sports Editor: Simone Amkraut Junior Editors: Jeanette Cohen, Beverly Dweck, Isaac Dweck, Lydia Ezon, Maurice Silvera Sophomore Editors: Aliya Abergil, Jacqueline Halabi Design: Carolina Cohen Faculty Adviser: Adam Hofstetter

covering the truth about what we do, why we do it, and what it symbolizes, they engage in the ritual alone, effectively failing to capture the essence of what the Torah and the rabbis hoped for in the commemoration of Yesi’at Misrayim.

The issue of disconnecting ritual from meaning, purpose, and intended psychological impacts is prevalent not only in irreligious communities with the Seder, but in Orthodox communities as well, in the Seder and beyond.

Instead of studying the mitzvot as a means toward a higher moral state of being and spiritual introspection, we tend to consider ourselves leading our Jewish lives simply by “checking off boxes.” For instance, in the context of the Seder, we might ask “Did I eat the kezayit of matzah? Did I drink all four cups of wine? Did I lean while eating the sandwich?” Of course, these types of questions should always be asked in fulfilling our obligations to halakhah.

But the Torah also demands that we ask the followup question: Why am I doing these things? What does Hashem want me to reflect upon? Surely, if the rabbis could create a Seder with rituals that inspire deep questions and dialogue about G-d’s intervention in Egypt, then the Torah could inspire infinitely more questions and reflections with all of the rituals given to us at Sinai. Let us reflect on the Seder this year as a reminder to continue asking “Why?” Though we may not have all the answers, it is still our duty to always seek them out in our lifelong search for meaning and deeper connections to Hashem.

ried two years into college and continued her remaining two years of college after her wedding. Douek worked at challenging internships and nine difficult jobs without payment. She struggled to balance the arduous work with her responsibilities as a newlywed. After giving birth to her first child, Douek was convinced that she would not be able to work in the fashion industry while being a supportive mother. However, a reversal of her expectations occurred when she started Markim Swim seven years ago.

Douek advises high school students to never give up on pursuing their goals, and to not let any obstacles stand in their way. Douek faced many challenges on her road to success but did not allow them to discourage her. She continued to push through and eventually succeeded. She shared this story in the hopes of inspiring others and to teach that hard work and effort will eventually lead to success.

High School Administration Rabbi Joseph Beyda, Head of School Ms. Esther Hidary, Associate Principal Rabbi Yigal Sklarin, Associate Principal Rabbi David Galpert, Assistant Principal

Old building to be renovated War in Ukraine hits continued from page 1

floor will be remodeled. There are plans to combine Pathfinders and College Guidance into adjacent offices, so they can work together as a unit.

Ongoing renovations during the school year will impact students and teachers greatly. Rabbi Galpert explained, “At certain times, areas within the building may not be accessible, or there may be some noise from the construction.” As most of the renovations are taking place in the sub-basement, most classrooms will not be tremendously impacted, but students will still need to learn how to

navigate their school days with the renovations. “Obviously safety is the most important, so we’re going to make sure that the workers and everything are separated from our students,” Rabbi Galpert concluded.

The plans are not new; renovating the old building was originally planned for immediately after the completion of the new building, but was delayed by the costs and physical limitations brought on

by Covid-19. Funding had already been secured and approved by the school’s board more than two years ago.

A rendering of the new music room

Faculty visit refugees in Poland continued from page 1

members who went told me it’s so important, so, as a result of that along with hearing about their experiences, when I got this opportunity I knew I had to take it,” Ms. Harcsztark explained. “I really don’t know what to expect, but as representatives of our Yeshivah, I think it is so valuable and important to show up when people are experiencing a time of crisis.”

Rabbi Hertzberg represented the elementary school’s involvement as well and said, “We must show our solidarity with the people who are suffering and do our part in helping them.” He expressed that he feels the larger lesson is that the group is setting an example for students on the importance of being able to empathize with the pain of others and do the best that can be done to relieve it.

Having gone to Poland twice with Flatbush seniors in the past, Rabbi Hertzberg stressed the distinction he feels between having gone there to learn about history versus now going to take part in history. “What’s important about going is that people are stepping up to the plate and actually trying to do something while the tragedy is happening. It’s more than just reading about it in the newspaper in the morning and sighing about the misery,” he said.

Ms. Harcsztark was faced with a completely different challenge while making

her decision. “You could say that the most effective thing to do for these refugees is to send money. What am I as an individual showing up going to do?

Would money be better spent not on a flight for me to show up but just given directly to a family?” Ms. Harcsztark contemplated. She wanted to be sure that her trip there had a purpose and meaning. Her decision was ultimately made because the people in her family who did this came back and told her it’s meaningful to be there physically and to show people who are struggling that you care.

“It’s not a question of do I want to help.

It’s a question of what is the right way to help, and after talking to my family, I really feel this is the right way” said Ms. Harcsztark.

Ms. Harcsztark related the trip to Megillat Esther, which her tenth grade classes just finished learning. She explained that a significant message of that story is that when there’s suffering in the world, you should feel like you have something to contribute the same way Mordechai says that to Esther. “You should feel that you’re in the palace for a reason. I’m really hoping I can channel that and be aware of whatever skills I possess and use them in a way that’s most meaningful” she concluded.

home for some students

By Nicole Muravsky and Jeanette Cohen

Editor-in-Chief and Junior Editor

While every Yeshivah of Flatbush student and faculty member is undeniably affected emotionally by the Russian attack on Ukraine, there is a select group of students and faculty with a closer connection to the country, and those students have been experiencing a more difficult time coping. Part of those difficulties include anxiety and uncertainty over the war that they can’t control.

Junior Michelle Belenkiy is particularly distressed with the situation, as she had family and family friends in Ukraine who have been suffering because of the war. Belenkiy wasn’t able to reveal the intricacies of their stories, but she highlighted how any communication link to her loved ones is relieving. “You really don’t know what’s happening, and whenever you get a phone call or can send money, food, or supplies over … you know, it’s kind of always a cause for celebration. It’s horrible and it’s terrifying,” she said.

The war also strikes an emotional chord within Belenkiy because of how Ukrainian and Russian culture is so intertwined into her identity. “You just watch it, and you’re like ‘This looks like my grandpa!’ Especially for me. I can hear it. I can understand it. I can understand the Ukrainian views and the Russian views and all the views, whether they are propaganda or not. It’s terrifying when you hear someone scream, ‘Papa!’ which is something I call my parents.

There are videos, and it makes me want to cry because they’re like me,” Belenkiy explained.

Senior Tyler Davidovich, whose parents are Ukrainian, also shared similar sentiments. His family is worried about friends and relatives who live in the western part of Ukraine that hasn’t been reached yet by Russian troops. Specifically, Davidovich is worried about his grandfather’s first cousin, who is the rabbi of a Ukrainian synagogue. “My family has been glued to the news even more than normal since the start of the war, and I see them consistently switching news channels trying to get all the info they can on the situation,” he said.

Junior Daniela Nacmias also readily described how the war is taking a toll on her family—especially on her mother, who was born in Ukraine. She explained,

“I often see her cry as she watches the news, and she even told me she can no longer watch regular television shows because she can’t look away from the news.

What is going on in Ukraine is beyond horrible.”

Ms. Mauskop, who was born and raised in Western Ukraine, expressed how grateful she is that her family emigrated from Ukraine in the 1970s. She went into detail describing the mass amounts of antisemitism her family experienced. She stated, “Since the 1970s, more than two million Jews left Ukraine for Israel and the USA, including my whole family, parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles. The reason? Virulent antisemitism, and violence against Jews, which is still prevalent in Ukraine. Everyone who wasn’t allowed to leave Ukraine in the 1970s got permission to leave in the 1990s after glasnost/perestroika. Two million Jews left!”

Due to those events, Ms. Mauskop has grown quite detached from her homeland. However, she still very much feels the pain of the Ukrainian people: “As Jews, we must always try to help other nations when they are in a time of crisis, and trying to escape tragedy.”

Even students without direct connections to Ukraine understand the fear that the war elicits for many. Junior Sarah Vidal, who lives in a neighborhood known as Little Odessa because of its many Ukrainian families, commented that she witnessed a protest on the boardwalk near her house and is constantly surrounded by cars and houses that have the Ukrainian flag plastered all over them.

Many Flatbush students are finding unique ways to help. For example, senior Linda Shamah raised money for the Ukraine Rescue Mission. She explained, “I was truly inspired by the assembly two weeks ago and decided to educate myself on what was going on in Ukraine. I’ve been reading the news, watching YouTube, and following the war. I’m not so on point with the details, but I do know that people are dying, and not just Jews. I can’t sit here and watch my brothers and sisters suffer and live through war and hunger.”

Students in the Tzedakah Commission have also been selling blue and yellow bracelets to raise money for the Tikvah organization to send to Jewish orphans in Ukraine.

Covid burnout, working conditions lead to nationwide teacher shortage

By Sabrina Zami World News Editor

More teachers than ever before are leaving the education field, and fewer are entering it.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 5% of teaching positions in the country were unfilled as of February 2022, which is almost a 2% increase from a year earlier. And things don’t seem to be getting better.

A survey conducted by the National Education Association (NEA) revealed that 55% of educators plan to leave the field earlier than they expected. Compounding the problem, there are very few new teachers entering the workforce to

replace them. Oklahoma City University is shutting down its early childhood and elementary school education program, which currently only has three students enrolled. A 2018 survey found that only 4.3% of college freshmen—who would now be in their first year out of college— intended to go into education.

Why are so many teachers leaving the profession? Why are so few young people becoming teachers?

Part of it has to do with constant issues within the field. Teachers have been underpaid for a long time, causing increased tension over the past few years.

There have been strikes over salary, and sometimes schools even had to close down due to lack of staff. There is noth-

ing new to the issue of teacher salaries, but now, more is being demanded of teachers than ever.

Covid-19 forced teachers to work harder than ever. After shifting back to in-person instruction after being virtual for a while, many teachers contracted Covid-19, and others have been forced to substitute or take over classes when their colleagues got sick. Some parents and administrators have even been physically assaulted by parents angry over mask mandates. Additionally, teachers nationwide have reported a significant increase in behavior problems among the students since the pandemic began.

Restrictive state laws governing what can and cannot be taught and even dis-

cussed in classrooms, like those recently passed in Texas and Florida, have led to teacher frustration and even protests. A resurgence of book banning by school districts, such as the banning of the award-winning Holocaust narrative Maus in McMinn County, Tennessee, has added to teachers’ growing concerns of censorship as well.

For many thousands of teachers, the increased stress has been too much to take, and industry experts predict that the current exodus of teachers may intensify and could soon be coupled with widespread teacher strikes.

phoenix@flatbush.org | 3

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 Jack Saad Senior Editor

Jack Madeb, 12th Grade, Business About five years ago, Jack Madeb started to become interested in e-commerce. He began to take pictures and manage packaging for his father’s business. That summer he began selling items through his own account on eBay. Since then, Madeb has grown a successful side hustle, mainly selling accessories which he buys both in bulk overseas and locally.

He now fully manages his own business on eBay, taking care of all of the steps himself. “I began just helping my father, to now running a productive business in my spare time,” he said.

Lauren Mizrahi, 11th Grade, Dance Lauren Mizrahi has been dancing since she was two years old. One of the main reasons that she continued to do so is because it allows her to express her emotions. “The practice of dance has shaped my life in many ways, and it is my ultimate goal to share that same transformation with others,” Mizrahi said. Over the past two summers, she has taught dance to elementary school students. She found that the students left her classes with large grins on their faces, eager to learn more. While her initial goal was to bring confidence, strength, and creativity to these girls, Mizrahi found herself gaining a lot from teaching the classes as well.

In the future, Mizrahi hopes to pursue dance therapy as a career. “It would allow me to practice what I enjoy while also assisting individuals in expressing their feelings in ways that would benefit their mental and physical well-being—by dancing.”

Grace Betesh, 12th Grade, Medicine As a sophomore, Grace Betesh paired up with YOF alumna Dr. Rozalina McCoy Grubina to explore the field of medicine and scientific research. Together, along with senior Nicole Muravsky, they began to craft a research study on the spread of disease in religious communities; particularly, they focused on the association between the rate of disease spread and the attitudes toward vaccination in Jewish communities. Their main focus was on Measles and HPV vaccines, but soon after the start of their exploration, the Covid pandemic began, which became a central part of their study. About a year and a half later, their research paper was finally complete. In October of Betesh’s senior year, the paper was published in the Journal of Religion and Health, a prestigious academic journal. “I am very grateful for the opportunity to work with Dr. McCoy as she is someone I look up to and have learned so much from. I have also gained so much insight and experience from being able to contribute to the professional academic world,” she stated.

Ginger Ammar, 11th Grade, Fashion Ginger Ammar’s love for drawing and painting started in her freshman year when she bought a sketchbook. When quarantine began, she learned new techniques and skills, drawing everything she saw and painting on different things she found around the house. One day, a friend asked if Ammar could paint some old shoes she had lying around, and Ammar took

4 | phoenix@flatbush.org

18 18

the risk in painting her shoes. Both friends were amazed by how well they turned out, and when Ammar showed the finished product to her family, they were astonished as well and insisted that she start advertising and selling custom painted shoes.

Ammar struggled at first, stating, “It was difficult because people are trusting you to paint on something they just bought, but, after a while, I got the hang of it. The thing I enjoyed most was the challenge of making my own designs when someone had a specific request.” The job also provided her with the experience she needed to work at an art gallery last summer. Ginger hopes to work more in the art field in the future.

Elie Ojalvo, 12th Grade, Business Elie Ojalvo has been buying and selling clothing, shoes, and electronics since the eighth grade. He started off going to department stores buying things to resell on online market shops like eBay and Amazon.

The Covid-19 lockdowns helped his business as well.

Stores were putting most merchandise on discounted prices, so he took advantage of it by buying many pieces and selling them for a few months after the lockdowns. During junior year, he found a saleswoman who sold jerseys in bulk. He wasn’t interested in buying in bulk, but he figured to ask his friends if they wanted to get some with him.

They did, and from then on, Ojalvo started selling jerseys to the students in our school as something that he does for fun.

Fortune Cohen and Leor Edri, 11th Grade, Chesed Kulanu Ozrim is a commission at school that helps families affected by cancer. It was first started by Ms. Shifra Hanon as a chesed opportunity in partnership with the Morris I. Franco Cancer Center. Today, it is run by Fortune Cohen and Leor Edri with the help of Ms. Emily Anteby. The commission has over 50 active volunteers who are committed to helping kids with homework, tests, or just having fun. To date, the volunteers have helped almost 10 families in the community. The resounding positive feedback and smiles that they get is worth everything to them. The long term dream is for Kulanu Ozrim to expand to all schools in Brooklyn. For the past month, Cohen and Edri have been working on doing just that; by next month, Magen David Yeshivah is expected to join the commission.

Alexandra Chabot, 9th Grade, Food In April 2021, Alexandra Chabot launched her own business, All About Chocolate, at 13 years old. The next day, she went around school giving samples of delicious chocolate-covered strawberries to friends, students from other grades, teachers, and everyone else she saw in an effort to spread the word about her business. As time went on, Chabot worked on perfecting both her strawberry-making craft and her business. From pricing, to materials, to packaging, she had everything in check, and made sure all her customers were satisfied. Within her first months of her business she

expanded tremendously. She now offers breakable hearts and chocolatecovered pretzels along with the strawberries.

“I love making people happy, and being able to contribute to their celebrations,” she said. “Seeing the smiles on their faces when they receive their order, or getting a text afterwards makes me feel like I’ve achieved my goal. Thankfully, with G-d’s help, I’ve only seen goodness in my business, and while at times it is hard to manage, I always have people helping and supporting me.”

to sell them, she didn’t want to because she thought that it would take the enjoyment out of baking. However, during quarantine, Mamiye took the opportunity to perfect her craft and eventually started selling cookies to relatives. “I realized how much I enjoyed it and how the stress of managing my own business would never take away that joy,” Mamiye said.

She started selling cookies this year to a wider audience on the Instagram account @florascookiejar. “I’m happy I didn’t [back down], and [I] owe everything to the friends and family that gave me the motivation I needed!”

Jacob Azarbad, 10th Grade, Business

Shirley Jajati, 10th Grade, Photography

Jacob Azarbad’s goal for the past few years has been “outperforming the average person’s market returns.” With the massive gains in the NFT market over the past few years, Azarbad, along with fellow sophomores Joey Fouerti, Zack Esses, and Charles Azrak, recently decided to dive into the space. Over the past few months, Azarbad and his team have created an NFT project that contains thousands of 3D animated pieces, and was released to the public on April 10 with a mint price of .072 ETH. Their twitter account has more than 45,000 followers, and they hope to use the account to grow their brand in the future.

Sylvia Saad, 9th Grade, Food After seeing her sister’s best friend succeed at growing her food-related Instagram account to the extent that she received packages from brands daily, Sylvia Saad decided to create her own. Saad’s account, @thefood_ fighters (a play off the name of the band The Foo Fighters) began during the Covid lockdown. She and her sister, Estelle, posted pictures of the food they ate, and it soon became a lifestyle. Almost two years later, Saad still posts pictures multiple times a week, which has helped her gain almost 600 followers. She has since received brand deals with Salada Tea, Hope and Sesame, SkinnyMe Chocolate, and more. Saad plans to start monetizing her account while promoting up-and-coming food brands on her page.

Joe Kishk, 12th Grade, Technology When Joe Kishk went to purchase some computer parts during Black Friday in 2020, he couldn’t help but notice that the price of certain hardware was increasing.

Kishk decided to take a closer look as to what might be causing this when he came to learn that cryptocurrency mining was on the rise. After much research, listening to several known experts in the industry, and speaking with other computer enthusiasts online, he understood how the market began to shift. Overnight, computers were no longer valued for how well they could play video games but how much money they could generate mining cryptocurrency. Miners were paying double, sometimes even triple the price for old hardware due to the increase in cryptocurrency’s price and popularity. “After running the numbers, I saw that I could run a break even on my initial investment in 7-8 months and decided to give it a try.”

A year and a half later, Kishk continues to reinvest most of his profits back into the business to purchase more hardware and continue to scale his operation. “Cryptocurrency is the future, and I don’t plan on missing out,” he said.

Rebecca Dweck, 12th Grade, Chesed When Rebecca Dweck first walked into the Special Children’s Center in the beginning of her sophomore year, she didn’t know what to expect, as she had little experience with Down syndrome and austistic children and didn’t know anyone in the room. Dweck had a new responsibility to take care of children whom she never met, and although at first she was intimidated, the Special Children’s Center “welcomed me with open arms.” Soon, she became “part of a family.” Dweck started to look forward to her Sunday visits, where she would spend all day hanging out with the kids and other volunteers who became some of her best friends.

As time went on, Dweck became more involved with the Center, joining them during the week and on trips, leading programs, having sleepovers and ice cream dates with the kids, and eventually joining the summer day camp in Deal.

“I would say it’s the happiest place on Earth because the joy and smiles of the children are real and pure,” she said. “I have gained more from the Special Children’s Center than they will ever gain from me. The bonds and memories I have made with the special children are ones that I will cherish forever and I can’t wait to continue to make more.”

Flora Mamiye, 12th Grade, Food Baking has to be precise: one mistake and your cake is too dense, or your macarons are hollow. Flora Mamiye likes the challenge. But toward the end of eighth grade she found that perfecting cookies was a difficult skill.

Her chocolate chip cookies would spread too much in the oven or taste too salty, but she never gave up and continued making new batches with slight adjustments. By the middle of her freshman year, the cookies were so good that Mamiye had to share them with her friends at school.

Although her friends and family loved the cookies and told her repeatedly

Shirley Jajati became interested in photography when her cousin needed a photographer for his DJ business.

Since then, she has been hired for dinner parties and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. Like any professional photographer, she takes pictures of the guests of honor, the guests’ families, the party set-ups, the dancing, other traditional party activities, etc.

She aspires to get more involved in photography in the future and use the experience that she has gained at parties to get a job or an internship to expand her pursuit. She particularly wants to photograph a variety of capturable moments of the world. She explained her one condition: “It could be something exciting or boring or scary or ugly—as long as it’s not all the same.”

Ronnie Ezra Benun, 12th Grade, Food The Benun family has been known for deliciously cooked meat for quite some time. Ronnie Ezra Benun has been learning the craft from his uncle, Abie Mizrachi, for a while. Finally, this year, Benun decided to turn it into a business. Benun created the Instagram account @ rbqgrillingservice to advertise his talent at the grill. Last month, Benun barbecued the lamb slaughtered at school for the seniors, which they enjoyed very much. “I want to use my talent to provide people with great food and a great time,” Benun said.

Yola Katri, 11th Grade, Art Yola Katri always loved art. In elementary school, she had one teacher who inspired her to continue to pursue art as he would ask her to draw for him because he thought that she would be a huge artist one day. Fast forward to high school, where she is currently taking AP Art and interns as a graphic designer. Flatbush students and faculty members have asked her to design logos and posters for them. This year, she took on the task of designing the main logo of the Little Red Box fundraiser as well as another logo for an influencer on social media.

When she enters the art room, Katri heads straight into the closet and looks around until she finds something sort of up her alley. She portrays how she feels in that moment in the piece that she does that day. Some may call her art confusing or even absurd, but to her it all makes sense. “Who is to call something gorgeous and who’s to call something trash? … Art is art and it is anything you can create,” Katri explained.

In college, she plans to major in clothing design (specifically to become a wedding dress designer) and minor in animation.

Jacob Cohen, 12th Grade, Sports When he was going into his sophomore year, Jacob Cohen worked as a lifeguard for a private company. He hated that someone else was gaining so much off of his hard work and that he wasn’t treated nicely. The next summer, he started his own lifeguarding company in Deal, called Deal Guards, where he dedicated himself to treating all of his guards with respect. He made a logo, flyers, and ads on Instagram to promote his new business. Over time, Cohen found himself as the middleman, facilitating the connections between his clients and lifeguards.

When he noticed the network of clients at his fingertips, Cohen branched out and started offering surfing lessons as well. This past summer, Deal Guards partnered with DSN Elite Basketball Camp, and even ran a beach program that included surfing, kayaking, boogie boarding, paddle boarding, skimboarding, beach games, and more. Deal Guards will continue working with DSN for this upcoming summer.

Elisha Kahan, 10th Grade, Academics Elisha Kahan is a scholar and a talented thinker. He likes competing in the Chidon HaTanakh (in which he was a second-place finalist during his freshman year) and math contests like the AMCs and the national Math Majors of America Tournament for High Schools competition that is hosted

by Yale University (where he was a first-place finalist in the individual round this year). These contests push him to explore topics that he already enjoys in greater depth. Additionally, he took AP Calculus BC and AP Physics C— courses that are difficult for most seniors—during freshman year. He is also a competitive speedcuber, with his fastest time being a lucky 6.97 seconds, though he technically has not yet participated in an official competition. In general, he does a lot of chazarah, but always makes sure that the review adds something to his previous knowledge and requires his focus.

phoenix@flatbush.org | 5

Entertainment The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder

Now playing: Eugene Onegin

By Sabrina Zami World News Editor

By Marcelle Setton Entertainment Editor

A reboot of Fairly OddParents, the Nickelodeon show, came out on March 31 on Paramount+.

This 13-episode live action/animated series follows Timmy Turner’s cousin Vivian “Viv” Turner and her stepbrother Roy Raskin’s journey through life in Dimmsdale with the help of Wanda and Cosmo, their fairy godparents, who were given to Viv and Roy by the now older Timmy Turner. All of this is a result of high school sweethearts Ty (Viv’s dad) and Rachel (Roy’s mom) getting back together.

Some of the cast includes Audrey

Grace Marshall, Tyler Wladis, Ryan-James Hatanaka, and Laura Bell Bundy. Even the original voices of Wanda and Cosmo, Daran Norris and Susanne Blakeslee, are reprising their roles. Characters like Mr. Crocker and Vicky are set to return in this series as well.

In an interview with TV Insider, Blakeslee stated that, for her, “coming back to Wanda didn’t change a thing.”

Rather, now she has “a place that is legitimate” where she can bring the character to life again. “It was just so much fun to jump back into the character. I adore her and the scripts are so funny that it’s just a joy to be a part of this,” claimed Blakeslee. Norris added that joining this live action show was “unexpected,” but

he expressed his excitement when he mentioned, “Man, we have fun doing what we do. It’s so great to get to do it again.”

Sophomore Sophia Salem plans to watch the show “to see how it would play out for Viv with Cosmo and Wanda, especially that they know that this girl is related to Timmy.”

The episodes follow the same formula as Fairly OddParents, the original series.

Each episode is centered around a wish that gets out of hand, but may change the rules that kids lose their fairies and their memories of fairies when they become adults. What will happen? You’ll just have to watch and see!

Cast enjoys return of the English play

By Jenna Ashkenazie Entertainment Editor

The first English play in Flatbush since 2016, The Brother’s Grimm Spectaculathon, was performed on Wednesday, March 30 and Thursday, March 31.

Directed by Ms. Kaplowitz, the incredible cast of The Brother’s Grimm Spectaculathon told a bunch of stories that were collected by the famous Grimm Brothers, including that of Rapunzel and Hansel and Gretel.

Actress and freshman Bobbi Salama described the production as “based around the well-known fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm with a comedic twist.

The play took multiple tales, connected them with each other in some weird and wonderful ways, and added in small comedic nods to keep it recognizable, as well as funny.”

Junior Ronnie Hidary, another actor in the play, said, “It was really fun! I found I could express myself more than in the Hebrew play because it was in English. The play was a little too short in my opinion; the Hebrew play was much longer and felt more like a play because of it.

I played a narrator and the devil… I did enjoy being in the show and I hope they do it bigger and better next year!”

For anyone who has ever been in any sort of play they know that the cast becomes a family due to the time spent together. This is certainly true with Esther Lazerowitz. She said, “I loved being in the play so much! It was a great chance to connect with everyone else in the cast. And being able to perform it for the school after all our hard work was really rewarding.” Michelle Belenkiy also stated, “I loved being in the play! I grew close with all of my fellow cast mates, and we always supported each other. Ms. Ka-

plowitz directed really well, and the play ended up being wonderful.”

Flatbush staged plays only in Hebrew over the last several years. In the last English play, a production of Little Shop of Horrors in 2016, the performance was stopped mid-show when a student actor said an inappropriate word on stage.

Ms. Kaplowitz directed some of the English plays before they got shut down, and she continued the tradition by directing the show this year. “Working with Ms. Kaplowitz was definitely a professional experience; she treats every actor equally, whether or not you have a main role, lead role, or side role,” sophomore Sophia Salem explained. “She takes every second seriously and makes sure everything—from cues to lines to costumes—is perfected by showtime. It was an honor to work with someone as experienced as she, and I’m looking forward to future plays with her.”

In fact, Ms. Kaplowitz frequently used the motto, “There are no small parts, only small actors” to emphasize what Salem valued most: how each person felt significant to the overall show.

Masterpiece Theater, a club headed by Ms. Mauskop to expose students to various forms of performance arts, went to the Metropolitan Opera to see Russian composer Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s opera Eugene Onegin.

Tchaikovsky’s opera, based on a novel-in-verse by Alexander Pushkin, debuted in 1879, but it was not performed outside of Russia for over a decade afterward. In the next century, it was translated into many languages and brought to many countries. Eventually, in 1977, right here in New York, it returned to Russian in the Metropolitan Opera, with subtitles available.

Starring Ailyn Pérez as Tatiana and Igor Golovatenko as the title character, this opera tells the story of two lovers who are destined to be apart. Through years of heartbreak, tragedy, and rejection, Tatiana and Onegin find themselves still in love with each other, but Tatiana, determined to stay faithful to her husband, rejects Onegin, leaving him heartbroken.

Pérez is an award-winning operatic soprano who performed in opera houses all over the world and even toured with Andrea Bocelli, the famous opera singer.

Meanwhile, Golovatenko is not nearly as accomplished or acclaimed, but no less talented than Pérez during the performance.

The show has three acts and two intermissions. During that time, the show does a very good job of introducing and developing characters and conflicts that are intriguing, engaging, and tragic. The plot, characters, music, sets, costumes, etc., add up to a spectacular, breathtaking show that the audience gets lost in the emotions and story of it all. Tatiana’s heartbreak is felt throughout the audience, as well as Onegin’s grief when she rejects him at the end of the opera. The buildup to the climax is enthralling. The music is enchanting.

Eugene Onegin is still being performed at the Metropolitan Opera for another two weeks and will no doubt be back again soon after that.

IWR class will be folded into history curriculum continued from page 1 Senior Rebecca Dweck concurs with the reasoning afforded by Ms. Hidary.

Dweck explained, “I think it’s better to have it five times a week for one semester as opposed to two times a week because the lessons will be closer together, which will make the class lessons easier to fol-

6 | phoenix@flatbush.org

low and remember between classes.”

However, many students believe that taking time out from the allotted time for civics is a bad idea. Senior Evan Rosenfeld stated, “I think that’s a very bad idea since civics is a very important class and debatably more important than IWR,

since it’s more important to learn the civic duties as a citizen of your own country before arguing for the independence of another.”

A senior girl who asked to remain anonymous also is opposed to giving IWR time taken from civics class. She

said, “My IWR class this year didn’t meet very often this year. We had it twice a week, but with many interruptions, we didn’t get through a lot of material. Combining civics and IWR won’t solve that problem. Each class deserves its own allotted times.”

Fun & Games Ask Merle

Dear Merle, Why is there no bathroom in the basement?? I had class in room A01 and I had just drank two extra-large Poland Spring water bottles. I began running upstairs, since it seemed like a shorter trip than down. Until I realized that I had to speed walk about 40 yards past 30 students in the Commons just to get 20 seconds of relief. How is Ms. Zaltzman expecting me to adhere to her request of “Don’t get lost on the way” when “the way” takes 20 minutes?!

Last week I was having the best Guidance meeting ever and I had to sprint down two flights of what I think are the steepest steps I’ve ever experienced (but that’s another problem). I fell rear-first and bobbled down a couple of steps like a toy slinky. Nurse Fayge was appalled.

Sincerely, Disappointed Student Dear Disappointed, Wow! I feel you. It’s equivalent to a fire hazard, for sure. You really may have to go out of your way in an emergency. Plus, imagine how many other people were deprived of a restroom within a twenty-foot radius! Where do girls check their hair?

Where do boys check their phones? How could the school do this to us?

You should create a petition. No, re-

ally. Out of all of the injustices in our school, this might make the top of the list. I don’t even want to mention the issues with the other bathrooms in school.

First off, imagine getting hit by a ping pong ball on your way out of the bathroom in the sub-basement. Then, there’s the first floor, where unless you’re already in the new building, it basically doesn’t exist since no one wants to walk that far.

And why do we even have a “staff-only” bathroom?

To sum it up, I totally agree. And I wish you the best of luck.

Sincerely, Merle Dear Merle, Is this a joke? I walk into the office every so often, and do you want to know what I see? I can’t believe it, but I see students walking downstairs coming from the entrance of … Staircase C! And even moreso, I see freshmen. Four-foot-nine little pipsqueaks laughing as they flaunt their ten-pound backpacks and brazenly enter the main office without a care, or fear, in the world. Again I ask, is this a joke?

Signed, Disgruntled Senior Dear Disgruntled, The times, they are a-changin’! Kids these days can get a thousand-page novel worth of info in a Sparknote! They can buy a whole new wardrobe with the click

Cartoon by Daniela Nacmias

of a button! And they can use Staircase C without any repercussions!

I advise you to just go with the flow, don’t take it personally, and remember — if there’s a will there’s a way downstairs!

All the best, Merle Dear Merle, Who is Rabbi Varon, and what does he teach?

Signed, Confused Freshman [from Barkai] Dear Confused,

I can see why you would have so many questions and concerns. Who is this mysterious man whom we all seem to praise and glorify? Is he a myth? A legend? Our leader and sole reason for existence? The foundational pillar of our school and a community role model? Maybe?

I’m not exactly sure. But what I am sure of is how fun it is to chant with a big crowd while the principals of our school try to get a word in or when something serious is happening. You know, it’s all just fun ’n games!

Best, Merle

Standard of Fabulous

Best Dressed Teacher of NFTs are the future of fashion the Month: Ms. Baltimore

By Suzanne Mosseri Contributing Writer

Lydia Mouhadeb Contributing Writer

Although Ms. Baltimore only teaches the freshman grade, everyone in the school sees her in her coolest outfits at Crawford’s, where she’s ready to listen to anyone. Ms. Baltimore is always ready to give us great fashion advice, from helping us decide on Seminar dresses to complementing our shoes when we see her in the hallway.

Her effortless go to look is a button-down, a cool belt, a denim bottom, and a loafer. She likes to wear basic pieces and add trendy accessories to make her outfit.

Ms. Baltimore adds statement pieces to her outfits through pocket books, shoes, sunglasses, and outerwear. Although she likes to accessorize, she doesn’t like overaccesorizing but respects people who are able to pull it off. In addition to her effortless look, less is more, with tousled hair, dainty jewelry and lipgloss. She likes to dress cooler during the day, with more masculine footwear like boots. During the evening she likes to dress chic with a pretty shoe and more “feminine colors.”

When it comes to jewelry, Ms. Baltimore loves white gold. She believes that mixing metals can be very stylish when they are muted and dainty. You would never catch Ms. Baltimore in chunky jewelry or in yellow golds.

Black and navy can be worn together, according to Ms. Baltimore, if done correctly. She likes to wear the two colors as two different textures for differentiation.

Since black and navy are bold colors and don’t outweigh each other, she likes to add a pop of color to enhance the outfit.

Ms. Baltimore informs us that navy also pairs well with chocolate brown and tan.

Ms. Baltimore always looks great, and she gave us her secret! She said, “Clothing shouldn’t look like it was forced upon

As a kid, have you ever played an online fashion game where you would run around buying clothes merely to compete in a fashion show by the end? How would you feel if you were told that those youthful, nostalgic games could be the very future of fashion as we know it?

Our world is becoming more and more technologically advanced right before our eyes. Let’s talk about NFTs. NFT is a familiar phrase, an abbreviation for Nonfungible Token. In short, NFTs are valuable because of their authenticity.

Nonfungible is another word for unique, or one of a kind. Since the first tweet ever published can never be duplicated, it is nonfungible. Because of its particularity, it was sold as an NFT for $2.9 million.

The fashion industry is now being introduced to NFTs. With more and more interactions happening online, some may question the appeal of buying physical

someone. The clothes you wear should show your personality.” A part of being fashionable is wearing the clothes, not letting the clothes wear you. As Ms. Baltimore said, an outfit is important because it says something about the person;

clothes when buying virtual outfits for a digital avatar seems more applicable.

Virtual reality is becoming more mainstream, and many top brands recognize this. Recently, the first-ever high fashion Metaverse event was held. Designers like Dolce & Gabbana, Hugo Boss, and many others took part in this event.

Other well-known brands, like Nike, are taking advantage of their popularity in digital fashion. Just like in the physical world, Nike created a scarce amount of unique digital sneakers, which also increases its value. Nike understands that people who really enjoy Nike collectables won’t care about whether what they own is a part of the physical or digital world.

They will show it off as much as they can regardless.

The future of communications is being conveyed through the Metaverse, and the future of fashion is following right behind it. Virtually visiting stores and purchasing digital outfits is just a sneak peek into our upcoming entity.

it shows who they are. If you are trying too hard, it’ll be noticeable to others. If you are effortless and happy with your outfit, it’s recognizable.

phoenix@flatbush.org | 7

Sports After long hiatus, Falcons Sportsman Spotlight: baseball and softball return Kraiem finds balance

By Simone Amkraut Sports Editor

“Eye on the ball! Eye on the ball!” . . . “Shoot strikes, kid! Shoot strikes!” . . . “Turn two, turn two!” These are the shouts of ballplayers looking to make plays on the baseball and softball diamonds; these are voices that have been missing for too long. Fortunately, the wait is over! After enduring one season that was stopped before it got started, and another that never even got to first base, the Flatbush Falcons are taking off to the baseball and softball fields this Spring after a two-year hiatus.

It has been a long time coming for the juniors and seniors who had looked to represent the Yeshivah in the Spring of 2020. Coach Eric Hall’s baseball squad had a strong core of sophomores looking to make a statement in the Yeshiva League. The girls softball team was set for a challenge with an Eastern Division playoff spot with a roster heavily laden with seniors and a new face — a rookie freshman power hitter anchoring the line up. The same holds true for the boys varsity and JV softball teams, who were equally sidelined when Covid-19 brought that season to a screeching halt.

All that is in the rearview mirror now.

The 2022 Falcons are ready to go with a number of familiar faces on the baseball diamond along with many new ones on the softball fields.

The Flatbush baseball team enters the season looking to make a strong statement. Outfielder Sammy Weinwurzel recognizes the work the team has put in and is particularly excited about this season’s prospects. “What I really love about this team is the true commitment. We don’t play any games until April but we start[ed] practicing from September, one

to two times a week. The grind that’s put into this team is unique!”

Weinwurzel is one of the younger players on the squad, as the team is loaded with a core of seniors. Anchored by four-year starting pitcher and team ace Mark Antar and three-year starting catcher Eddie Hamway, the team expects to challenge for the League Championship.

They also will make a return appearance representing the school in Columbus, Ohio, when they take part in what has been called the “Jewish World Series,” the annual yeshiva baseball tournament hosted by Columbus Torah Academy (CTA). CTA brings together 9-12 of the top yeshiva programs from around the country for three days of baseball competition and community connections.

This will mark the Falcons’ third trip to Columbus.

Meanwhile, this Spring will also see Flatbush’s girls return to the softball field, with a new head coach. With only one player returning from the team that was ready to go in 2020, Coach Robyn Dweck knows the team’s task is tough, but she is excited by the enthusiasm of the strong numbers of freshman and sophomore players who have made the roster along with the handful of junior leaders on the team.

Coach Dweck is bringing in a whole bunch of positive energy this season. She explained, “I’m really excited to coach the girls softball team! The girls have a lot of excitement and enthusiasm. I’m looking forward to seeing the girls working together and just having fun while playing!” This is clearly a team that is playing not just for this season, but positioning itself for success down the road.

By Robyn Beyda Contributing Writer

The Yeshivah of Flatbush juniors have a lot on their plate. Balancing the rigorous school work, driving lessons, SATs, and social life is no easy feat. Yet, despite her busy schedule, Joanie Kraiem has managed to thrive in not one but three different sports throughout her high school career: soccer, volleyball, and dance.

Kraiem’s powerful kick and ability to run up and down the field is what made her an asset to the soccer team during her freshman and sophomore years. Her love of soccer began when she used to play soccer in camp with her friends. “I liked how aggressive you could be sometimes in the game,” Kraiem expressed. Being part of the team not only advanced that love, but allowed Kraiem to get to know students from different backgrounds and

develop skills in teamwork and communication—skills that she now uses on the volleyball and dance teams.

Although this is her first year on the volleyball team, Kraiem has been playing the sport for quite a while. Kraiem acquired basic volleyball skills through years of practice with her father, an avid volleyball player. Her father has been a constant role model for her and inspired her to give her all into the sports that she plays and apply the skills she learned from getting active to her everyday life.

He helped her gain a “never-give-up attitude,” as Kraiem put it. “I know there will always be challenges and people that are better than me, but that just makes me want to push myself even more.”

Perhaps it was this very attitude that helped the girls’ dance team take home the first place trophy at Kushner’s annual Rikudiah, defeating nine other teams in a competition in creativity, talent, and team uniformity. Kraiem, whose passion for her favorite sport began at a Barkai dance class when she was five, recalled that getting everyone on the team together was challenging at first. As the competition drew closer though, the girls really pushed their limits and were able to come up with and perform a winning dance that invoked the style of 1920s jazz performances. “We worked really hard to get where we were that night. Thanks to the amazing captains of the dance team, we brought home a win.”

How does she balance it all? Kraiem credits her planning and time management skills, and her ability to make sacrifices for her commitments. More importantly though, is her passion for each of the sports that she dedicates herself to, which allows her to stay motivated and enjoy herself.

Farewell to the legendary Coach K

By Simone Amkraut Sports Editor

The end of an era. That is what it is.

The close of the 2021-22 college basketball season brought to an end a coaching career the likes of which we will never see again. Duke University’s Coach Mike Krzyzewski is not just a man on campus, but a man who built a campus: K-Ville.

A master craftsman who proved to be the ultimate team builder over 47 years, Coach K turned an open field in front of an athletic center into K-Ville, home to the most spirited sports groupies on any campus in the world for nearly half a century!

Looking out from the Athletic Center onto the open field of K-Ville, one can be forgiven for losing sight of the actual field as hundreds of tents and thousands of students cover every inch of grass, camping for weeks at a time to score the Golden Ticket that provides entry into

8 | phoenix@flatbush.org

Cameron Indoor Stadium for standing room tickets to see the Blue Devils in action. And when the game is with Duke’s archrival, the University of North Carolina, the North Carolina home-state rivalry means that students will man their tents for six weeks—rain or shine—for the coveted entry ticket, a phenomenon I have seen up close with my older sister, who has braved the elements to watch gifted athletes like Zion, Barrett, and Banchero hit the boards before foraying into the first-round of the NBA draft.

Coach K’s legacy must be told in more than numbers, but the numbers themselves are extraordinary. At Duke, Coach K racked up 1,202 career wins, 101 NCAA tournament wins, 5 national championships, 13 trips to the Final Four, 15 ACC Tournament championships, and 13 ACC regular season championships. During all this, he also guided Team USA to three Olympic gold medals.

15 former assistants of his have gone

on to become head coaches of their own, including former assistant coach Jonathan Scheyer. Scheyer was the captain of Coach K’s 2010 championship team and is also an Israeli-American basketball coach and former professional player that will be stepping into the massive shoes that Coach K has left upon his retirement.

But the story is not fully told in these numbers. It is told in the evidence of a man who did not simply teach young men how to play basketball well, but how to live life well. Coach K’s legacy is inscribed in a number that came just weeks before he closed the door on his storied career. For the final home-game of his career at Cameron Indoor Stadium—a career that bears not a single blemish of corruption or scandal—96 of the 208 former players who suited up for him during his tenure at Duke came back to campus to honor him, to show in person their love for him and for the brother-

Coach Krzyzewski retired at the end of the season

hood that he created, of which they are forever a part.

For Coach K, the sum total of his career is truly greater than its individual parts!

So, goodbye Coach K, and shalom Coach Scheyer! May the Blue Devils go from strength to strength!