A Student Publication of the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School • 1609 Avenue J, Brooklyn, New York • Vol 52, Issue 8 • June 2018 / 5778
Graduation Moving to Flatbush Says Goodbye Coney Island Theater to Several Icons By Rhonda Azar Contributing Writer
With three weeks left in the school year, many students already are mourning the coming departure of several members of the faculty who won’t be returning next year. After nine years of commitment and devotion to the Yeshivah, Rabbi Lubner, who serves as assistant principal and as chair of the Science Department, will be taking an administrative position at Shulamith High School for Girls in the Five Towns. He stated, “Flatbush has been a very transformative and developmental part of my career. I made lasting relationships with many teachers and students.” Ford Amphitheater
By James Tebele Contributing Writer
The Yeshivah of Flatbush has been holding its high school graduation in Brooklyn College’s Walt Whitman Auditorium on a Sunday morning in June for many years, but this year the venue will change to the Ford Amphitheater in Coney Island. The day and time also is changing, as the ceremony will be held on Wednesday evening, June 13. The Brooklyn College auditorium has been popular with graduates and their parents, who appreciate the convenient location and the official look of the theater. “The location, seating and stage meet the needs of Flatbush and the graduation guests,” said one parent of a Flatbush graduate. Mr. Galpert acknowledged that the school’s administration is “saddened that the graduating class of 2018 does not get to share the same memories as other graduating classes.” However, Mr. Galpert explained that the Walt Whitman Auditorium is undergoing major renovations this year and thus is unavailable. Brooklyn College informed the school in the early fall that they would not be able to host the graduation ceremony in June. Soon after, the administration set up a search for a new location for this year’s graduation. They settled on the Ford Amphitheater, a covered outdoor theater. Mr. Galpert said the theater is available only on weekdays, which prompted
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a change in date and time in addition to location. With Regents and final exams scheduled for all mornings and some afternoons throughout June, the ceremony had to move to 8 p.m. The post-graduation reception that traditionally takes place at the school also was changed. “We decided that we are able to hold the reception at the graduation location, due to its ample space, the fact that it’s at night, and a further distance from the school,” Galpert explained. “We didn’t want parents driving back to the school late at night,” added Rabbi Beyda. Students don’t seem to mind the change, and in fact some prefer this year’s plan. “A graduation and reception that is all under one roof seems more logical than the previous plan at Brooklyn College” said graduating senior Jack M. Benun. Meanwhile, the renovations at Brooklyn College will benefit future ceremonies, as Mr. Galpert said that the school plans to return to Walt Whitman when it’s available. “We were pleased they are doing renovations at Brooklyn College. Their air conditioning didn’t work properly and there were other improvements that needed to be made.” Graduation for the class of 2018 will mark an extraordinary achievement for the students and their families, and the time and location of the graduation does not change that achievement.
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Rabbi Lubner
my grandmother, who lived five blocks away [from Flatbush] and my grandfather, who lived eight blocks away, since they both passed away this year. I took that and the job opening across the street from me as signs that it might be time to move on,” he explained.
Mr. Lazar
Tanakh teacher and Junior Grade Advisor Rabbi Skolnick is leaving Flatbush to become an associate principal at SAR Middle School in Riverdale. Teachers say they will miss Rabbi Skolnick’s wit, and students will miss his support. “Even though he was never my teacher, he was always there when I had a problem and gave me great advice,” said junior Lisa Kameo.
Joining Rabbi Lubner at Shulamith will be history teacher Mr. Lazar, who lives only a block away from Shulamith. But the one-minute commute was only part of the reason for his departure. “I also lost one of my motivations for driving to Brooklyn every day, and that was my weekly (or more) get-togethers with
Rabbi Skolnick
continued on page 4
Michael Chattah (left) and Charles Haddad (right) were among the many juniors who enjoyed the beautiful weather and setting at the Junior Picnic in Prospect Park on May 24
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