The Phoenix 2016-2017 Issue 4

A Student Publication of the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School • 1609 Avenue J, Brooklyn, New York • Vol 51, Issue 4 • January 2017 / 5777

Sephardic Beit Midrash Now Guidance Offices Flatbush

By Dorette Dayan Slowly Upgrading Classroom Technology Junior Editor

The Sephardic Beit Midrash has been rebuilt as the new home of the Yeshivah of Flatbush Guidance department in an effort to centralize the location of the previously scattered guidance offices, Mr. Galpert revealed.

Due to construction taking place in what was formerly the annex and guidance trailers, the guidance offices had to be relocated. At first, they were placed temporarily in existing offices in multiple locations throughout the school, such as behind the student lounge.

However, now they have been able to receive a more permanent home in the former Sephardic Beit Midrash.

Rabbi Beyda expressed his excitement about the renovation by stating, “The Guidance Department is an extremely valuable part of the Yeshivah of Flatbush. We are excited they will have offices that match the excellent services they provide. We know this new space will enhance their ability to meet the needs of our students.”

This construction has had both positive and negative repercussions with students and faculty. Students have said

By Naomi Sanders School News Editor

Left: Guidance Department in one of the new offices. Right: New front door to Guidance suite.

it is very helpful because it is now known where all the guidance members can be easily found. However, for the past few weeks it has been difficult to conduct classes in rooms near the construction site. SAFE teacher Mrs. Ginsberg, whose room is adjacent to what used to be the Sephardic Beit Midrash, admitted that the construction made her classroom “very dusty and hard to breathe.”

In addition, with the newly occupied area, certain activities required a move to substitute locations. One critical event that usually took place in the Sephardic Beit Midrash was detention/lunch holds. Since the construction, many students have been confused about where

to serve their time. Junior Bella Douek commented that finding the new detention room is “annoying and impossible.”

Despite this, detention administrator Señora Shterenzer said she is glad to have been moved out of the Sephardic Beit Midrash. “I always looked at the Beit Midrash as a place to pray, and I didn’t want to have detention in a place to pray,” Shterenzer explained. Furthermore, she pointed out that as a result of detention moving up floors, it is now easier to communicate with the office and security in case of an emergency, in contrast with the basement level, where Internet and cell signals are not as reliable.

Many students have noticed new Smart Boards and projectors in their classrooms this past month, but nore than that is changing around Flatbush.

As part of their new initiative to integrate and further students’ learning through technology, the school’s IT department is hard at work improving and innovating the impact of technology on the lives of not only the students but also the teachers and administrators.

Dr. Christine Coleman, the Director of Informational Technology and Instructional Technology, started working at Flatbush this past August. In her firt months onthe job, she has been studying how the current technology impacts the functionality of our busy building; she has visited empty classrooms examining Continued on page 3

Bell System Malfunction May Lead to Future Changes

By Estelle Saad Senior Editor

The school’s bell system breaking down was a fluke, but its benefits led to discussions about keeping the new nobell system. However, many people are against it.

Principal Rabbi Beyda said he is in favor of the no bell system. He feels that a quieter school leads to “better things,” and that it provides a calm and less stressful environment for students overall. Rabbi Beyda thinks that the bells “intrude on your life,” and that relying on our ‘inner clocks’ to

In This Issue Special Report: The pressure to be perfect Page 3

tell us when the period has ended has brought a new level of responsibility for students. As the new principal, one of Rabbi Beyda’s goals is to increase the responsibility level of the students in the school, and he believes that the no bells system has helped.

Ms. Bloom, the head of the English department, notes that since the bells broke, the “frantic and frenetic atmosphere in the hallways has dissipated.”

However, many teachers and students are against the new no-bell system. Mrs. Zaltzman, Chairperson of the Halakha Department, said that it became difficult for teachers and stu-

dents to know when the period ended.

Student Margo Dweck explained that it felt “very awkward” to have to stop a teacher, creating an impression as if she has been staring at the clock, waiting for the class to end.

After remaining nonoperational for more than a month, the bells were fixed on Monday, December 19. Mr. Galpert said that the project took longer than expected because the system is so old and replacement parts were difficult to track down. Additionally, when replacement parts were first ordered the wrong parts were sent, causing further delay.

While the bells were out of service, a survey was sent to the teachers asking for their feedback on the no-bell experience and whether the bells should be reinstated. The teachers overwhelmingly voted to bring back the bells.

For the future, many options are being considered. One possibility would be to have bells only before first period and after lunch. Installing digitally synchronized clocks in the halls, with their colors changing between periods, also is being considered as part of this scenario. Additionally, Rabbi Beyda is thinking of playing calming music between periods.

Entertainment:

Fun & Games: Crossword puzzle

Sports: JV Basketball fights through injuries

5 books to read now Page 5

Page 6

Page 8

Faculty Freshman: Rabbi Meth

By Deborah Coopersmith Religion Editor

Rabbi Meth, a new part-time teacher in the Judaic Studies department, says from the first minute he walked into Flatbush he was in awe of the warmth from the teachers and the students. He said that the students here are very goodhearted and well rounded, which is why it is so enjoyable to teach them. He also praised the Flatbush staff as truly exceptional and said he appreciates the security guards who say a cheerful good morning to him at 6 a.m., which is when he arrives so that he can get a bit of studying done before the school day starts.

Rabbi Meth was born in Manhasset, NY, and has four brothers and one sister. He fondly recalls the Scrabble games and car games such as Ghost and Geography they used to play. He attended Shaar Hatorah for high school and then studied in Yeshiva University for 12 years. He spent his years at YU originally as an undergrad for three years, then in a five-year smicha program, a post-kollel program, and then

Alexander Mikhli and Talia Ovadia with their mothers

Children of Teachers Held to Higher Standards

By Sharon Chappan Contributing Writer

Many students whose parents work at Yeshivah of Flatbush say that they are held to higher standards than other students.

Talia Ovadia, daughter of Spanish teacher Mrs. Sara Ovadia, said that teachers hold the children of teachers and administrators to higher standards because they expect them to behave and perform better because of their parent’s position. They also expect the student to be scared that it is so easy to contact the student’s parent, because he or she is in school.

“I feel that I am held to a higher standard because there is always a chance that if I do misbehave or do poorly on a test the teacher will tell my mom right away because she is so easy to find,” Talia said. “Any other student would have to do much more to get contacted by a teacher because it is an inconvenience to the teacher.”

However, many teachers who have children in the school, including Mrs. Ovadia, have specifically told the other teachers and administrators not to come to them in school when their children misbehave or do poorly on a test. Rather, they asked to be called or to receive a note home like the teacher would do for any other parent.

Some students acknowledge that there are both positives and negatives to being the son or daughter of a Flatbush faculty member. Sam Beyda, son of principal Rabbi Joseph Beyda said, “It benefits me that most people know who I am on the first day because of my dad, but it is also a negative because being the principal’s son is an extremely high standard to be held to and my dad’s reputation along with mine is in jeopardy if I were ever to misbehave or do poorly on a test.”

Some children of teachers and administrators said they feel the burden of their parent’s reputation and their own throughout their four years of high school.

Rabbi Beyda said that for many years some teachers did not even know that his sons were his children because of how common his last name is in our school. Because of this, children are sometimes treated the same as any other student in the school, despite the position of their father.

Freshman Alexander Mikhli, son of biology teacher Mrs. Claudette Mikhli, does not feel the pressure of being the son of a teacher. He feels that he is treated in the same way any other student would be. He does say he enjoys some benefits from always having his mom around, including getting a ride when needed, lunch money, and a getting acquick out from her should he need it.

Sometimes the parent holds his or her children to a higher standard than other students because they are much more aware of school policy and how the school runs because they spend every day in it.

Mrs. Mikhli said, “I am much more on top of Alex’s sign-outs, when he misses minyan, detentions, and lunch holds because I know the rules of the school much better than any parent who is not around school and because I enforce these rules as part of my job.”

There is also the rare occasion when the teacher has his or her child as a student, which can be difficult for both the parent and child. Mrs. Ovadia said, “When I had my oldest son as a student he actually called me out for giving him even more NAs than any other student in the class. I was so focused on not being biased that I was holding him to an even higher standard than the rest of his classmates.”

The Phoenix Staff Editor-in-Chief: David Azrak Managing Editor: Jane Zakay Senior Editors: Esther Levy and Estelle Saad Religion Editor: Deborah Coopersmith School News Editors: Naomi Sanders and Sarah Weingarten World News Editor: Mimi Lazerowitz Entertainment Editor: Allan Kurland Music Editor: Rena Weitzman

2 | www.theflatbushphoenix.com

as a shoel umeshiv, which is a rabbi who gives classes and helps students in a Beit Midrash program. After YU he was the rabbi in Fairfield, CT, before he came to the Yeshivah of Flatbush.

He said he is very thankful to work here because “Flatbush is an awesome place and it has a well-deserved, great reputation.” He is very passionate about his classes because he believes that everything is relevant to the Torah and whenever he has a problem that is the first place he looks. He believes that understanding the Torah and researching it thoroughly is the best way to lead to a successful life.

His greatest source of inspiration is his high school experience because he believes it planted the roots to make himself who he wants to be today. His second greatest source of inspiration is from his children: Michael, Binyamin and Ezer. His hobbies are reading, poetry and exercise.

Student Survey

How often do you read the novel your English teacher assigns?

0

Always: 42

(23.3%)

Usually: 41

(22.8%)

Sometimes, if it seems interesting: 40

(22.2%)

Maybe once a year: 23

(12.8%)

Never: 34

(18.9%)

5

10

Standard of Fabulous Editors: Sylvia Ashkenazie and Aida Hasson Fun & Games Editor: Diana Hoffstein Sports Editor: Victor Allaham Junior Editors: Daliah Ben-Ari, Dorette Dayan, Mary Jajati, Marlene Levy Sophomore Editors: Sam Beyda, Ezra Faks Design: Therese Berkowitz Faculty Adviser: Adam Hofstetter

15

20

25

180 responses

High School Administration Rabbi Raymond Harari, Head of School Rabbi Joseph Beyda, Principal Ms. Jill W. Sanders, Associate Principal / Director of Admissions Ms. Sari Bacon, Associate Principal Ms. Ester Hidary, Assistant Principal

The Pressure to Be Perfect A Special Report

By Jane Zakay Managing Editor

and Daliah Ben-Ari Junior Editor

Every person has his or her own perception of perfection. Whether academically, athletically, socially or physically, we’re all familiar with the inherent struggle to be perfect one way or another. But the pressure for perfection, whether it comes from parents, teachers, older siblings, classmates, or ourselves, can cause harmful levels of stress.

“Demanding perfection from oneself leads to anxiety, deflated selfesteem, and general unhappiness,” Ms. Zimmerman said on behalf of the Guidance Department, “Our team members see this pursuit of unrealistic standards most in the context of appearance and academics.”

For some students, the pressure for perfection is self-imposed. Junior Nanda Mosseri said, “I want to be perfect in my academics. There’s no pressure from home or school, it’s just for me. I’d like to end off the tough four years of Flatbush with a close to perfect GPA so I can tell myself it was all worthwhile.”

But much of our stress occurs organically from the demands of our schedules, our workload, our Regents Exams, and more. Our school’s dual curriculum isn’t easy to keep up with, especially for students with after-school activities. After interviewing a variety of students on this issue, a clear picture emerged: The stress as a freshman comes at you so quickly it’s hard to keep up. You just arrived at a new school, knowing maybe a few kids, but definitely not all. Plus, seemingly every day you have another test. So you’re trying to make friends and study, while also trying to get to sleep at night. It’s doable, but it’s not easy.

By sophomore year you have eased into the school and you know

your way around. Then you walk into a chemistry class, get handed the reference sheet and shrink back into your seat as you realize how much work this year will entail. Plus all those formulas in geometry really get complicated. Not to mention the fact that you have to memorize the entire chart from Music class and every Halakha about Shabbat that is written in any Sefer. Global Regents are coming up, too, and those essays in English get pretty complicated.

Sophomore year is a long one, but stress can only get to you if you let it. Just breathe and remember that all the juniors managed to survive sophomore year, so you’ll probably be OK. Your third year in the Yeshivah of Flatbush is terrifying, and a little exciting. You finally get to choose a few of your classes. The school

The stress of applying to college makes you long to be back in sophomore year when all you had to worry about was 30 Regents Exams.

“Panic attacks come on a weekly basis. It’s very stressful to have so much work each week,” said Esther Levy of class 4-HR. It is already December and applications either already had to be done or deadlines are coming up fast. Early Decision.

Early Action. Macaulay. Seminary.

Supplemental essays. Sum up your entire life, your core philosophies, and your worth as a human being, and do it in no more than 650 words, please. Make that 500. You finally put college applications behind you, just in time to start worrying about AP exams. Meanwhile, your teachers want you to show up on Fridays so they decide it would be a great idea if they give quizzes and tests. So now

will tell you that if you don’t take a science this year then you’ll have to take one in senior year, and it looks better to take a Regents science over a regular science but even better to take an AP. So now that you’ve put in your two/three electives, you realize that your late day just went from 5:30 to 6:15. Not only that but your AP teacher tells you that you need to spend at least 10 hours a week outside of the classroom studying just for this class; you begin to count the amount of hours you get to sleep on one hand. And we haven’t even gotten to trigonometry.

Seniors don’t have it easy either.

The SATs completely changed just in time for your college applications.

four tests are coming up in two days.

These are hardly the only stressors. Some Flatbush students feel pressure to achieve perfection by living up to their impressive older siblings’ legacy, though none of the younger siblings we interviewed were comfortable discussing this issue on the record. Sometimes this pressure comes directly from parents; other times it can be a seemingly innocent comment from a teacher, or even from classmates.

Then there’s the pressure of being in honors, staying in honors, or getting into honors. This pressure can be both positive and negative.

“Sometimes when I see my friends in honors strive it makes me

want to do better,” said sophomore Jack Zeitouny.

Many students’ idea of perfection comes from their peers. In an honors class, the burden of maintaining perfect grades is excruciatingly pressuring and stressful. It’s difficult to maintain that stereotypical honors status of perfect grades, given the competitive environment.

“The root of stress comes from striving for perfection, which comes from a person’s own insecurities, because they aren’t happy with something about themselves so they compare and try to be like other people, which is impossible,” said Junior Jessica Vaysman.

A prime example is when students pile on extra classes. Some students take every extra class available in order to boost their transcripts, and the extra workload comes easily to them. That extra workload can overwhelm other students, but they sign up for more than they can handle because of the competitiveness of everyone around them. Biting off more than they can chew damages their own grades and mental health rather than just focusing on their regular classes as a priority.

The Guidance Department suggests that anyone struggling with pressure should set high but attainable goals for yourself in every aspect of life—socially, academically, and beyond. “It’s also imperative to be kind to one another. Remind your friends and family members that they are beloved and you support their efforts to grow and learn. Lastly, self-care is essential! Take the time to nourish yourself—body, mind, and soul.”

Pursuing perfection in school and life is impractical—everyone has their own idea of what “perfect” is, and it’s untenable in numerous ways.

Although Flatbush seems almost impossible at times, there’s a reason it’s called “the Flatbush family,” and family gets through the toughest times together.

Technology... continued from page 1 the SMART Boards, computers and WiFi, as well as visited rooms while class was in session to see how the technology is currently being used in daily lessons.

Through this research, she found that a much the current equipment was 8-11 years old and needed to be replaced.

“The technology needed to be upgraded as it was not effective in the classrooms,” Dr. Coleman said. “Students need to be able to see the images and text on the SMART Boards in order to learn.” After observing a Spanish class and an Art History class, Dr. Coleman felt “that the clarity of what was project-

ing on the SMART Board is crucial.” To date, two SMART Boards have been replaced as well as many projectors. The new SMART Boards are larger and have new features such as being able to touch the screen in two places at once. The new projectors are brighter, don’t need their filters to be cleaned, and have longer-lasting bulbs. IT has also trained the AV students in SMART Notebook software so that they can help their teachers in the classroom.

What IT is trying to figure out is how they can better support 21st century learning and prepare student for

their futures in college and onward. IT believes that “the curriculum drives the technology” and is currently looking at upgrading devices that students and teachers can use effectively and even improve students’ performance on exams.

In September, IT initiated the Plus Portals system to provide better student-teacher-parent communication.

Like any new system, acclimating to it has been challenging, but Dr. Coleman says that we are on track to receiving the full experience very soon. Teachers are being trained to put their assignments and test grades in the online gradebook.

In fact, Dr. Coleman said IT already has improved the report card viewing system in both the high school and elementary school. They also are working on developing a transcript-viewing feature for next semester, so high school students won’t have to annoy College Guidance to find out their GPAs. So while students are preparing for finals, Dr. Coleman and her team are hard at work on the brstuses of technology in the high school and there are more changes to come.

www.theflatbushphoenix.com | 3

Israel Activism Strengthens Outreach

By Ezra Faks Sophomore Editor

The Israel Activism commission has had to adapt to many changes this year.

Principal among these changes is the policy on morning announcements.

In previous years, the commissioners would give a short, daily update on Israeli affairs. This kept the commission active and the student body aware of both Israeli current events and the strong presence of this commission in their school. Ben Wade, Israel Activism co-commissioner said he misses the announcements, as “I personally think that morning announcements were very helpful in making the students aware of what was going on in Israel.”

However, this year’s commissioners, Amanda Heskiel and Ben Wade, found a way to combat this obstacle.

They have been striving to gain access to events and gatherings concerning Israel Activism in order to keep the commission front of mind for Flatbush students. Aside from the weekly Friday lunch meetings, the commissioners recently gave students the opportunity to hear from Dani Dayan, the new consul general for Hasbara, a nationwide, pro-Israel activist organization. They also were able to get students entry to the Zionist Organization of America gala at a discounted student rate.

Furthermore, they invited members to a debate on whether or not the Iran arms deal has made Israel safer and an “Indigenous People Unite” event at Columbia University where five indigenous people spoke about how they faced persecution and why they support Israel. All these opportunities are being shared with members of the commission through their WhatsApp chat.

The increased communication is especially necessary, as the commission has seen a surge in membership

this year. Heskiel estimates that there are 50% more members now than a year ago.

The commissioners also organized the annual traditional lobbying trip to Washington.

There they visited the AIPAC headquarters for information and pointers on how to lobby, then went to Capitol Hill to their appointments and lobbied on the Reauthorization of the Iran Sanctions Act, the support of direct negotiations between Israel and Gaza, and the financial support of the U.S. government of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. Finally, they visited the U.S. Supreme Court and learned about how our federal judicial branch operates.

Mimi Levy of class 2-HR says that, “It was a lot of fun and it strengthened my knowledge of the relationship between America and Israel.”

Only two days after this trip the Senate voted unanimously to pass the Iran Sanctions Extension Act. While there’s no proof of a direct correlation between the commission’s trip and the passing of this act for which we advocated, we can surmise that it made a positive impact. Overall, the Israel Activism commission is as active as ever and continues to grow.

UN Tries to Help Aleppo’s Civilians

By Mimi Lazerowitz World News Editor

Top: Israel Activism Commission members on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Middle: Students and speakers at Columbia’s Indigenous People event. Bottom: Commission leadership at AIPAC.

Bashar al-Assad’s siege on Aleppo has left the city war-torn, and has been damaging for both the rebels and his own army. Pro-government forces are suspected of killing large numbers of people in the besieged city, and committing other atrocities. Diplomats at the United Nations Security Council called for a deal, drafted by France, which would send UN monitors to oversee the evacuation of civilians and fighters from certain besieged districts in eastern Aleppo. Although this deal seems effective in theory, it is not easy to enforce. On Sunday, December 18, rebels opposed to this deal set fire to buses that were meant to carry evacuees.

Responses to the United Nations deal were divided in Syria, as well as in the UN itself. Samantha Power, the United States ambassador to the UN, said that she expected the resolution to be approved unanimously. Power said that she hoped that monitors would be sent to accompany evacuees onto buses and to ensure their fair treatment at checkpoints. However, Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin, voiced concerns about UN forces being told to “go wander around the ruins of Aleppo without proper preparation.” He described it as a “provocation.”

The UN planned to execute this resolution through the use of UN civilian staff members, who are stationed in government-held cities in Syria. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon described eastern Aleppo as “a synonym for hell.” Jan Egeland, UN humanitarian advisor, reported that envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, asked the Syrian Continued on page 5

Yosef Teaches Forgiveness and Understanding

By Deborah Coopersmith Religion Editor

Yosef ’s saga comes to a climactic end when he reveals his identity to his brothers who sold him as a slave 22 years prior. It is in this moment when we unearth an exceptional characteristic of Yosef. It says in perek 45, pasuk 1, ‫’’ולא–יכל יוסף להתאפק לכל הנצבימעליו‬ ‫ויקרא הוציאו כל–איש מעלי ולא–עמד‬ “.‫אישאתו בהתודע יוספ אל–אחיו‬ When Yosef sees all his brothers standing before him, he tells everyone else in the room to leave before he makes himself known to his brothers because Yosef couldn’t bear the presence of others. Rashi asks, what does it mean that Yosef is unable to bear the presence of the Mitzriim? He answers that Yosef knows that his brothers will

4 | www.theflatbushphoenix.com

be shamed if he reveals himself in public, so he has everyone clear out.

It is fascinating to see that even after his brothers sell him into slavery Yosef doesn’t have any pent-up resentment clouding his judgment; instead he cares for his brothers. One might assume not seeing family members after a long span of time would be extremely overwhelming emotionally and these emotions would overrun one’s logic and consideration. However, Yosef does the exact opposite and protects his brothers from shame despite the fact that these same brothers caused him intense pain and suffering. The very same brothers who stole his clothes, threw him into a pit filled with snakes and scorpions, sold him into slavery and tore him away from his beloved father are now treated with the utmost respect he could pos-

sibly give. As a slave, Yosef had to fend off advances from Eshet Potifar and was thrown into prison for a crime he did not commit. After his brothers caused him so much anguish and suffering, they are in his hands. Surely anyone would understand if Yosef treated them harshly. Yet here we see him exemplifying the extent one must go to care for a fellow Jew. Yosef teaches us sensitivity for others’ feelings; that sensitivity is judged by how far someone goes to spare the embarrassment of another.

Now the question we must ask is how Yosef gathers that much inner strength to show his brothers compassion. Yosef actually answers this question for us later on in the perek when he believes that the struggles he endured over the years were Hakadosh Baruch Hus Hashgacha Pratit/Divine provi-

dence. Yosef understands that Hashem is always in control regardless of another’s power. He realizes that Hashem is continuously watching and guiding the world and the course of history. Yosef thus understands that the impact of his brothers’ actions will play an inconsequential role in the grand scheme of things. Because of his understanding, he does not harbor any angry feelings toward his brothers and loves them as much as he did 22 years prior.

Just as Yosef is able to express sensitivity to his brothers despite what they did, so too we should all follow in Yosef ’s footsteps to trust in Hashem and forgive others for their wrongdoings.

His brothers’ actions may have been insignificant, but Yosef ’s actions are vital in teaching us how we should act toward other human beings.

Entertainment What To Read During Winter Break Five Books Students Read in 2016

By Esther Levy Senior Editor

1. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne (July 2016). This book was recommended by multiple students ranging from freshmen to seniors. Jack Thorne’s script, written to be performed in London’s West End, picks up where the Epilogue at the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows left off, exploring the life and challenges of Harry and his child, Albus. Isaac Levy of 1-T completely loved the script, remarking that all the haters are wrong and that it’s a great story that has enhanced his Harry Potter experience. Senior Jonathan Kraidman echoed Levy’s praise. He recommends the play to all original Harry Potter fans, expressing how great it was and how it “extended his childhood.” However, other students completely disagreed. Yair Aish of 4-S called it a quick read that lacked depth, and Justin Mushailov of 1-T agreed. “[If you] want to fall asleep 20 pages in, read it,” Mushailov said.

2. Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight (April 2016). Recommended by Aaron Mosseri, Ralph Sarway, and Charles Haddad of 1-T, Shoe Dog tells Knight’s story of rising to founder and co-chairman of Nike. Mosseri, Sarway, and Haddad said that they thought the book was great and added that it taught them the value of hard work and perseverance.

3. The Chemist by Stephanie Meyer (November 2016). Recommended by Sylvia Ashkenazie of 3-HR, this new Stephanie Meyer thriller follows the heroine in third person perspective as she embarks on a mission to save her life and clear her name. Reviewers have promised that it is nothing like what Meyers has previously written. Ashkenazie found the plot intriguing, remarking that although “the beginning was very slow” it ultimately was very intriguing and “there were a lot of plot twists layered into the adventure that kept me on my toes.” She also particularly liked the feminist aspects of the book, commenting that it “showed a woman’s perspective of a situation that I think some men would see unfit for a woman. … It just shows that we aren’t as delicate or as innocent as some might think.”

4. Crisis of Character: A White House Secret Service Officer Discloses His Firsthand Experiences with Hillary, Bill, and How They Operate by Gary J. Byrne (June 2016).

Recommended by Ben Wade of 4-HR, this exposé offers a seemingly exclusive guide to who the Clintons actually are and how they operate. Wade says the book was very informative, noting that the mere fact that the book’s information was provided by Secret Service agents was particularly interesting and proved insightful.

5. The Crown by Kiera Cass (May 2016). For fans of the Selection series, The Crown picks up 20 years later and explores “the selection” of Prince Maxon’s own daughter.

Some students recommend exercising caution before picking this book up, noting the indecisive and frankly annoying nature of the protagonist. However, Dorette Dayan of 3-HN really enjoyed it. Dayan called it a “good ending to an amazing series” that showed the continuation of “love through two generations.” Dayan especially enjoyed the feminist aspects of the theme, stating how empowering it was to read about a “female main character in a position of power.”

2016’s Most Original Movies

By Allan Kurland

Entertainment Editor As we close the door on 2016, three films stand out as particularly unforgettable. In an era of arguably mindless filmmaking, these three shine, not necessarily as the greatest movies, but as movies that have done what others do not or rarely do. These films act as cinematic representatives of 2016—unusual films in a most unusual year.

La La Land Damien Chazelle steps off of his jazz hit Whiplash with vigor, coming out with one of the most enigmatically beautiful musicals since Gene Kelly danced his way down the rainy sidewalk of Singin’ in the Rain. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone dream their way through Los Angeles with grace.

Sparks fly when they touch; their chemistry is palpable as they dance and sing their way through the night sky to Justin Hurwitz’s heartwarming score, which makes the stars of Hollywood shine just that much brighter.

Chazelle captures the story of dreamers vividly, using unending long shots and beautifully composed dance numbers. La La Land finds the fire that warms the heart in every movie musical and turns it into a towering flame, inciting it with just the right amount of artistry and professionalism until the blue night of stars dances its way into the sun.

The Lobster Yorgos Lanthimos sneaks under the skin and behind the brain with The Lobster. It presents itself as a satire resting on a cloud of ambiguous surrealism but doesn’t really want you to know exactly what it is. It’s a breath of fresh air that doesn’t quite get to the bottom of the lungs; it sits in the middle and stays around for a while before it makes its way out.

Colin Farrell (as David) and Rachel Weisz (as Short Sighted Woman) give fantastic performances as they push through The Lobster’s odd world.

The film’s dark yet irreverently funny sensibility is perfectly embodied in its fantastic premise: David has 45 days to find love or be transformed

into an animal. Lanthimos operates within his unsettlingly black world to explore the human condition; it’s a human study of love. The Lobster is an absurdist cinematic phenomenon that sits ever-so-slightly to the left, accomplishing beauty in the oddest of ways.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Rogue One exists uniquely within the Star Wars universe. Placed between the events of Episode III and IV, it follows the team of rebels that stole the plans of the Death Star immediately before A New Hope began.

Essentially, it stands alone as a story of war and a small team’s suicide mission. In that sense, it performs its task extraordinarily as Felicity Jones (Jyn Erso) leads a cast of stellar performances through the thoughtfully woven, well-developed narrative.

It’s the story of a few making the difference of many. Context considered, Rogue One flourishes. It fits into the Star Wars story with ease, making one ponder how the franchise went without it for so long. Gareth Edwards emulates the successes of the originals wonderfully and captures the essence of Star Wars with pinpoint accuracy. The film flies a flag of victory across the starry space even though its characters don’t get the chance to do so themselves. Rogue One leads Star Wars fans into a new realm of great possibility for the future of the franchise, a new hope for all waiting for the next great story from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

Aleppo... continued from page 4 government multiple times for permission to oversee evacuations but did not receive a response. Egeland reiterated the need for the United Nations to assist in this process.

On Monday, December 19, the resolution to send UN monitors into

Aleppo was finally voted on, and was adopted with a unanimous vote.

France’s foreign minister stressed the importance of employing this resolution, and called upon all sides to help implement it as soon as possible.

www.theflatbushphoenix.com | 5

Fun & Games Ask Merle Dear Merle, Is it just me or are some freshmen taller than the seniors? I thought that freshies were supposed to be smaller? This year was supposed to be my year to finally feel older and taller! Am I alone in this feeling?

Please send help, Tiny Senior Dearest Tiny, On a cheesy but super true note, height is but a number. You can be short and still have the tallest personality. You have to make the most of your circumstances. On the other hand, you are not the only one who noticed the sudden change in “freshie-ness.” I don’t think it’s the actual size of the freshmen but their confidence that has altered. When we were freshmen we were terrified of the seniors. Today I know seniors who are afraid of freshmen. It’s not really about how tall you are, it’s how tall you act. Life’s all about what you make of it.

So instead of feeling small, how about we just stand up tall?

Yours, Merle Dear Merle, I’m a freshman and I’m having a hard time with my first finals at Flatbush.

I’m so nervous and I don’t know what

YOF Crossword

to do. I really don’t want to fail.

Sincerely, Failure-phobic Dear Failure-phobic, I won’t lie to you and say that finals are a breeze, because they aren’t. This time of year can get hectic at Flatbush. What really helps me get through finals is the knowledge that we’re all in this together. All these nerves are flying around and it’s nice to know that I’m not alone in being afraid. If you ever get nervous, call a classmate and ask for help; your friends need as much help as you do.

So something to keep in mind during these next few weeks is this: you are not alone. Hopefully with that knowledge you’ll be a little less afraid because after a while these few weeks become a little less scary and a little more Flatbush.

Merle Hi, Merle!

Am I the only one who loves this time of year? Here comes the constant flow of “See you next year” jokes along with “The last time I did my homework was last year.” I usually have a list of all the things I’m going to achieve this com

ing year but for 2017 I’ve never been so unsure. Any ideas for some New Year’s resolutions?

Sincerely, Fresh Start Fresh Start, I, too, love fresh starts. I love the new school year and fresh notebook paper.

I love fresh ink and unsaid words. It feels like the world is at your fingertips and you now have all these new decisions to be made. This year you may feel the need to better yourself and those around you. However, I actually learned it’s best not to make so many plans. It’s a known fact that most people break their New Year’s resolutions pretty quickly. I’m not saying not to try, but I am saying that maybe it’s time your goals become a little more realistic. So here are 17 pretty attainable New Year’s resolutions: 1. Don’t press snooze on your alarm in the morning.

2. Eat a well-balanced breakfast.

3. Go out for lunch instead of staying in and doing work.

4. Take time for yourself and eat lunch in school for once.

5. Listen to your favorite song on repeat.

6. Do homework a day earlier than the night before.

7. Fail at something you’re usually good at (nobody is perfect).

8. Pray with the right amount of ‫כוונה‬.

9. Make time for the activities you enjoy.

10. Make time for the people you love.

11. Help someone in a subject that you’re good at.

Comic by Albert Saad

6 | www.theflatbushphoenix.com

12. Listen in a class that you usually dislike.

13. Talk to someone you’ve never spoken to before.

14. Cook yourself a meal (bowl of cereal counts).

15. Say a ‫ ברכה‬before eating.

16. Take a break to enjoy what Netflix has to offer.

17. Say thank you to someone who has helped you in the past. *18. Read The Phoenix.

Dear Merle, I’m having trouble with a teacher, who keeps on ignoring any ideas I have in class. I really don’t know what to do.

Thank you, Upset Student Dear Upset Student, Did you try talking to the teacher after class? I learned over my past three years at Flatbush that sometimes the easiest solutions are the simplest. It’s possible that your teacher doesn’t even realize what he or she is doing. You won’t know if you don’t take the chance and ask. It may be a little scary but you might earn your teacher’s respect. And he or she may even be more mindful when you have an idea in class. Just remember: as long as you get your point across (respectfully), there’s no way your teacher won’t respond in a positive way.

You got this, Merle Do you have something you’d like to Ask Merle? Send your questions to: letsasknotmerle@gmail.com

Standard of Fabulous Plus-Sized Model Costume Designer Hasson Does It Again Conquers Vogue, Cosmo, Barbie Celia Banbahji

Contributing Writer

By Sylvia Ashkenazie SOF Editor

Ashley Graham, a 23-year-old model, has just made fashion history.

Graham is the first plus-sized model to land on the cover of British Vogue for the January 2017 issue. Additionally, of all the clothing companies that work with British Vogue, Coach was the only company that was able to provide clothes for Graham. The typical size range of sample clothing for photo shoots is 0-2; Graham wears a size 14.

Increasingly in demand around the world, Graham also has her own lingerie line, swimsuit and apparel collection with retailers Swimsuits for All and Dressbarn. She also showed up in DNCE’s “Toothbrush” music video and landed the August cover of Cosmopolitan.

She has been dominating and shows no signs of stopping.

At the 2016 Glamour Women of the Year LIVE Summit in Los Angeles, Mattel released a special plus-sized Barbie doll in honor of Graham. Mattel has received years of hateful criticism over the impossible anatomy of their Barbie dolls and recently has been making strides to represent the greater diversity of the world’s women. When Graham was informed of the making of her very own Barbie, she had just one rigid requirement: “She had to have her thighs touch.” The supermodel is an outspoken body-image activist and wanted her doll to look realistic. She even asked that her Barbie have cellulite, which are wrinkles or dimples in the skin created by extra fat. However, the request for cellulite could not be met because the dimples in the plastic of the Barbie’s legs would look more like a manufacturing error than like Graham’s thighs. “It was important to me that the Barbie resembled me as much as possible.

The thighs touching was one way to show young girls that it’s OK for your thighs to touch, despite society saying that a ‘thigh gap’ is more beautiful,” Graham said.

This Barbie is not actually for sale yet because it is part of the Barbie Heroes program, which creates one-of-a-kind dolls to honor groundbreaking women like gymnast Gabby Douglas, actress Zendaya Coleman, and ballerina Misty Copeland.

If there is enough interest in the doll, Mattel will start production and it will hit the shelves. Even if it doesn’t, this is a huge step for women’s confidence and body positivity. Graham said, “Now you can actually look at a Barbie and not think ‘I want to be Barbie,’ you can look at Barbie and all of her friends and you think ‘I am Barbie.’”

Rachel Hasson, the costume designer for Yeshivah of Flatbush’s annual Hebrew play, spoke with The Phoenix about her costume creations for this year’s play, Fiddler on the Roof.

Q: Are there any challenges you face while making the costumes?

A: Some of the challenges include that I only know the very basics of using a sewing machine and I usually rely on Aida, my daughter, to do any major sewing work. This year Aida has been extremely busy so I’ve had to manage more on my own! Another challenge is the costume changes. Many actors are playing more than one part and because of obvious time constraints I needed to think of how I could make one piece of clothing work for two characters so that changes could happen quickly while still making sure those characters still look very different.

Q: What are some differences in making the costumes this year and last year?

A: Last year, due to the nature of the show, The Lion King, the costumes were more abstract and were made using interesting materials, hot glue and paint. This year the costumes are more basic clothes, some that the actors already own, so less crafting and more tailoring needed to be done. The focus was more on finding the clothes that reflect the time period (early 1900’s Russia) and the setting. Also, although we put the word out that we were looking for chassidic garb like bekishes and black hats we got few offers so I had to be creative and figure out how I could make them. I ended up using black lab coats, adding buttons and satin on the collars and sashes. Sally Shatzkes, the director, joked at the beginning of the year that last year my living room looked like an African Safari and this year it looks like a shtetl! Last year it was all about the elaborate head masks and this year it’s all about facial hair!

Q: What do you love most about making the costumes?

A: I love the challenge of figuring out how to put together individual looks and the look of the show as a whole. I love when the costumes and props look authentic and are exciting for the audience to look at as well as for the actors to wear. I love the reactions and looks on the actors’ faces when I transform their look into their character and they can’t believe how different they look. I think it brings so much energy to the actors and helps them really get into character.

Q: What is the most unique factor in the cos-

tumes this year?

A: The most unique factor this year is really the makeup, specifically the facial hair! Much of the cast will have different levels of facial hair. The Jewish fathers needs full beards and mustaches and the Russians need to be clean shaven. I toyed with different ways of making that happen functionally because of microphones and also want to ensure that they look realistic.

Q: What’s the most interesting part of the costume design process?

A: The most interesting part of the process is meshing my ideas of what I think the character should look like with the actor chosen. For example, how can I make Sylvia Ashkenazi and Isabel Lin, who are playing Tevye’s youngest daughters, look that way when they are much taller than Hannah, Odette, and Jessica, who are playing the older ones?

Q: What goes through your mind most while making the costumes?

A: I find it very relaxing to do the actual crafting work like the sewing cutting and gluing. I feel focused and centered and very accomplished when I’m done. Once I am finished with a full look, I need to see it again on the actor to make sure it fits correctly and that it is functional on stage. It is essential to have my tools on hand throughout the show when something rips or isn’t staying in place etc... That can be stressful!

Q: What are some special details in the costumes this year?

A: Some special details this year are: the effort the cast and I put in to finding the right looking skirts, shirts and other elements that matched the time period. Although we could have gotten away with having the girls wear their everyday “Centrals” it was important to us to find skirts made from the right materials, in the right shapes and colors. Even many male characters will be wearing button-down collarless shirts in organic fabrics that are unique.

Another special detail is the realistic and fun looking props. The wine bottles and beer mugs look like they are filled and very fun to use.

Q: And lastly, what have you learned from this experience and what do you wish you’ve known earlier?

A: I’ve learned that Flatbush students are VERY busy and really do their best to try and juggle their interests and manage their time well which is not easy. I also see the amount of teamwork that needs to go into making a show like this look great and that we have a really great bunch of students and staff who are committed to making it great while having a blast at the same time.

Fashion Fact:

In the Victorian era, hair of lost loved ones was used to make jewelry like pendants, necklaces and brooches.

Sam Says

By Sam

Contributing Writer

Hey everyone, this month I’ll be strolling around the hallways in all kinds of fashionable sweaters. Sweaters come in so many different col-

ors and styles that it would be a waste not to enjoy them all. Especially in this terribly cold weather.

I encourage you all to explore all of the sweater possibilities, and don’t forget to e-mail me if you think you’ve figured out who I am for a special prize! samsays@gmail.com

www.theflatbushphoenix.com | 7

Sports Injury-Riddled Falcons Trying to Limp Into Playoffs

Rosen takes control against HAFTR

By Sam Beyda Sports Editor

Coming off a successful season last year with an abundance of returning sophomore talent, the Flatbush Boys Junior Varsity Basketball team had high expectations coming into this season. So far, it’s been a year full of ups and downs.

Before the season even began, team leader Jack Rosow broke his foot and was ruled out for the first two games.

Even without Rosow, the team won both games easily.

The Falcons hoped to have Rosow back and healthy for a key game the following week against YDE, but his injury persisted and forced him to sit out

another month. Rosow would miss not only the YDE game, but also two other matchups that the team needed to win to make the playoffs—HANC and North Shore. In addition he would miss both the Hausdorff and Rubenstein tournaments.

Sophomore Eddie Lincer attempted to carry the entire team on his back against YDE, but his effort was not enough, as the Falcons lost by 10. Going into the back-to-back tournaments, Rosow called a players-only meeting to discuss the upcoming weeks.

The Falcons cruised to another Hausdorff tournament win this year, but got blown out in both Rubenstein games, and starting point guard Isaac Rosen would suffer what he called a “crippling” hand injury that would keep him out of the next two games.

The team suffered another blow when Rosow was ruled out for the rest of the regular season.

The team lost to HANC and then to North Shore, although the game against North Shore came down to the last possession. The Falcons now sit at 2-3 with five games remaining, all against teams with better records. To have a chance at the playoffs, they must win four out of five, but according to starting forward Abe Chetrit, “We’re all confident that you’ll see us in the play-

offs come January.”

After such a difficult start, how could the team be so sure of themselves? In place of Rosow, Noah Sedaka has “stepped into a pivotal role,” according to sophomore guard Joe Kattan. Sedaka is not the only reason the team is confident; Kattan and Lincer together form a dynamic scoring threat, Lincer from the paint and Kattan from the wings. Additionally, in Rosen’s absence, freshman Alan Sassoon developed into a weapon off the bench.

Still, early losses leave little room for error. Should the banged-up team manage to hobble to the playoffs, look for a dominant return from Rosow and a deep run in February.

Kattan looks for an open teammate

NFL’s Season One of Booms and Busts

By David Azrak Editor-in-Chief

It’s been a tumultuous season for the NFL thus far. The Cleveland Browns have yet to find a win in their regular season. The Carolina Panthers, a team that nearly went undefeated on their way to a lost Super Bowl last year, are currently trying to claw back to a chance at the playoffs. The Cowboys are looking almost unstoppable with rookies Dak Prescott (QB) and Ezekiel Elliot (RB) leading the charge. And the 12-4 Oakland Raiders are playing some of their best football in recent history with quarterback Derek Carr at the helm.

But this article is more for the fantasy players, the individuals who sat at tables with statistics and magazines hoping to pave a road to the championships and had the luck to draft these booms or the misfortune to draft these busts.

Busts:

1) Todd Gurley (LA-RB): Perhaps none were more disappointed than those who selected LA Rams running back Todd Gurley as their first-round pick. Last year’s offensive rookie of the year, Gurley was a sure investment

8 | www.theflatbushphoenix.com

given his monstrous performance last season of 1,106 rushing yards on 229 carries and 10 touchdowns in his breakout rookie year. His presence on a fairly inept passing offense with a rookie quarterback soon to be under helm made Gurley a no-brainer pick that was sure to convert his massive volume into tons of fantasy points. As of Week 14, however, Gurley currently stands at 778 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns on 241 carries. The volume was there, but Gurley was unable to surpass his eye-popping rookie year and managed to put up fairly mediocre numbers week after week.

2) DeAndre Hopkins (HOU-WR): Another first-round dud, Hopkins’s disappointing performance after coming off the best year of his career (111 receptions for 1521 yards and 11 TDs) was a huge blow to fantasy players (myself included), as he currently stands at 68 receptions for 788 yards and just 4 touchdowns. In fairness to Hopkins, a wide receiver can only do so much when Brock Osweiler is throwing the ball. Osweiler’s somewhat decent performance as a backup to Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning after his plantar fascia

injury gave us (and the Texans’ staff as well, apparently) the impression that Hopkins would be just fine given the revolving door of quarterbacks last year for Houston. That being said, backup QB Tom Savage provides promise for Hopkins’s current value.

Booms:

1) Melvin Gordon (SD-RB): Gordon’s jump was monumental to say the least. Going from just over 600 rushing yards and 0 touchdowns on 184 carries in his rookie year to nearly 1,000 and 10 touchdowns (add in a large chunk of receiving yards) on his now 254 rushing attempts. Once seen to be a mostly touchdown-dependent fantasy asset, Gordon expanded immensely into the Chargers’ passing game later on in the season, filling in for their traditional passing back, Danny Woodhead, who suffered a season-ending injury early on. Needless to say, Melvin looks to remain a large part of the Chargers’ offensive repertoire.

2) Demarco Murray (TEN-RB): Murray’s paltry performance on the Eagles last year, contrasted with his incredible season on the make-any-runningback-look-great Cowboys, led many

Sportsman Spotlight:

Sarah Cohen Netanel Ben-Shabat Contributing writer

For some Flatbush student-athletes, competition is what drives their participation in team sports. For junior Sarah Cohen, though, it’s more about the movement. “After a long day where we have to sit in our chairs taking notes, we need to get some exercise and move around.”

Cohen gets her exercise as a member of the Girls Gymnastics team, which is in its second year at Flatbush. Though the team may be relatively new, Cohen’s relationship with the sport goes back several years.

In third grade, Cohen began taking ballet lessons. By fifth grade she had had enough of ballet and convinced her mother to let her switch to gymnastics.

After just a few practices she realized that gymnastics was the best fit for her.

After a couple of years, though, Cohen had to drop gymnastics when her schoolwork became more burdensome.

Then, in ninth grade, Cohen spent much of the school year hobbled by knee problems. Last year, with her knee healthy and a new gymnastics team starting up, the timing was too good to ignore. Cohen joined the team and says she has been thrilled ever since.

The team holds practices every Wednesday after school for two hours, and Cohen said she uses that time to keep in shape and make sure that she is perfecting everything that she learns.

She enjoys the practices because “if I do a routine wrong, Coach can quickly fix it and tell me how to improve.”

Cohen said she does extra stretching at home but prefers to practice at school because she has access to a wide variety of equipment. The team recently held a cartwheel-a-thon to raise money for more advanced equipment.

Meanwhile, fitting gymnastics into her busy schedule is no easier than it was a few years ago. In addition to her schoolwork, Cohen is on the Art, Photography, and AV commissions. How does she manage it all? In life, just like in gymnastics, “the key,” Cohen said, “is balance.” of us to believe his impressive 1,845-yard rushing season was a fluke. While not the same caliber of performance, Murray’s new home in Tennessee has suited him just fine given his current 1,224 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns on the season. More important, his performance has helped him retain his starting job even in front of promising rookie and Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry.