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
In This Issue Religion:
Fighting lashon hara with forgiveness Page 2
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.
World News: A video game for school shootings Page 3
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
Entertainment:
Fashion:
Summer movies you’ll want to see Page 5
Glasses made from a water crisis Page 7
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Alumnus Interview:
Albert Mishaan (’13) By Sarah Dagmy Sophomore Editor
Many people in college don’t have time to learn about conflicts in Israel since it may not pertain to them personally. For Albert Mishaan, a 2013 Flatbush graduate and now a junior at Columbia University, it is the exact opposite. Mishaan spent a year studying in Israel before college, and he has been greatly involved in Zionist and Israeli activism at Columbia, where he serves as the President of Aryeh, Columbia’s Students Association for Israel. Aryeh is a respected pro-Israel voice on a campus known for its active anti-Israel student organizations. A crucial obstacle the program faces is indifference toward Israel, Mishaan explained. To overcome this indifference, Aryeh hosts various events to appeal to people of different interests including technology, human rights, and law. “Running Aryeh was about fulfilling my duty to the Jewish people to defend Israel from those who would see the end of Israel as a Jewish state,” Mishaan said. At Flatbush, Mishaan took part in many extracurricular activities. He was captain of the Chess and College Bowl teams, a member of Model UN and Debate Team, and he also won the Moot Court competition. He said Flatbush was a great place for debate about Israel, and the school adequately prepared him to step into the Israeli-Palestinian debate on college campuses. “My peers always felt passionate enough about Israel to challenge each other’s opinions on the matter and this is especially important since one can’t learn without discourse and debate,” Mishaan explained. “Flatbush definitely piqued my interest in learning about Israel and
Can Forgiveness Stop Lashon Hara? By Danielle Duchan Religion Editor
set me on a journey of constant learning and reflection about Israel.” He cites Mr. Rothbort, Rabbi Kramer, and Dr. Gerber as particularly strong influences, as they regularly had profound discussions with him about Israel. As a philosophy major, Albert recommends that students in the Yeshivah of Flatbush educate themselves on the history of Israel and the philosophy of Zionism, primarily its moral framework. “If Israel is something that matters to you, then you need to take your Israel education seriously, or forfeit your right to an opinion that matters in the future.” According to Mishaan, students need to understand the other side’s defense in order to improve their own arguments. In addition, Mishaan also suggests reading works of history on Israel and familiarize themselves with the historiography. This semester Mishaan worked on research into artificial intelligence and this summer he is going to continue working in a computer science field. After his summer job, Mishaan will decide whether to go into the computer science field “or law or maybe even consulting.”
Meet a Flatbush Family:
Jack and Francine Benun
The Phoenix Staff Editor-in-Chief: Daliah Ben-Ari Managing Editor: Sylvia Ashkenazie Senior Editors: Mary Jajati, Danielle Ohana School News Editors: Monique Abramson, Dorette Dayan Religion Editor: Danielle Duchan World News Editor: Sharon Chappan Entertainment Editor: Fortune Manopla Music Editor: Brenda Tawil
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D’var Torah:
In parashat Behaalotcha, we read of one of the most puzzling and cryptic incidents in the Torah. Miriam and Aharon speak lashon hara about the “isha cusheet,” and Miriam is punished with tzara’at, or leprosy. The “isha cusheet” is usually interpreted as referring to Moshe’s wife, though it’s never stated outright what was actually said and who was discussed. By covering for Miriam in this unusual way and not discussing the specifics of her misdeed, the Torah is teaching us an important lesson: even sinners deserve our compassion and care. Just because someone made a mistake doesn’t mean she deserves to be shamed and exposed for her bad deeds. This message is furthered by what happens afterward. Despite Miriam speaking badly of Moshe’s wife, Moshe still prays to G-d on Miriam’s behalf, asking G-d to please heal her. He even holds up the entire nation for a week so that they can wait until Miriam recovers from her affliction before continuing their travels. Even though we don’t get leprosy nowadays for speaking badly about others, there’s still a lot to be learned here about lashon hara and the importance of
By Raquel Keda Contributing Writer
Some people think that having a sibling in school is problematic and often frustrating, but Jack and Francine Benun think otherwise. Jack M. Benun, a senior, and his sister Francine, a junior, find it helpful to have a sibling in school, especially since they both came to Flatbush as were transfer students. (Jack entered as a junior and Francine as a sophomore.) They have yet to see a downside of being together in the same school environment. Jack enjoys seeing Francine around school, whether it’s in the halls or during lunch. He really likes how convenient it is. “It’s definitely helpful, especially when you’re in a bind. We can lend each other money for lunch,” he said. “We’ve both made our own friends among faculty members. Having a sibling definitely helps in that sense.”
Standard of Fabulous Editors: Dubby Sasson, Jessica Vaysman Fun & Games Editor: Aida Hasson Sports Editor: Sam Beyda Junior Editors: Ezra Faks, Esther Hidary, Albert Saad, Julie Saadia Sophomore Editors: Sarah Dagmy, Raquel Silvera Design: Carolina Cohen Faculty Adviser: Adam Hofstetter
forgiveness. First of all, this parasha teaches us how easily we can fix lashon hara. Miriam speaks lashon hara, yet is afflicted with leprosy only temporarily. This teaches that speaking lashon hara also can be a “temporary affliction” for us if we truly commit ourselves to improving how we speak about others. Secondly, it teaches us that the best way to stop lashon hara in its tracks is to meet it with kindness and forgiveness. Moshe is not angry at Miriam; on the contrary, he prays for her recovery and insures that the nation remains encamped until she recovers. A lot of lashon hara can be stopped by meeting those who speak badly of us with kindness. Rather than perpetuating a vicious cycle and speaking badly about those who speak unkindly of us, instead we can meet those who speak badly of us with compassion and even try to work with them to hash out any differences. This could help clear up misconceptions we often hold about one another and prevent further lashon hara from being spoken. So the next time you hear a vicious rumor being thrown around, don’t despair. Even in the worst of situations, there’s always a way to be kind and prevent the vicious cycle of mean-spirited gossip.
He added that they also simply enjoy being together, and are very close outside of school. Francine said she appreciates knowing that family is in the building. However, she feels pressured to work just as hard as Jack does because of the reputation and standards he has established in the eyes of some of the teachers. When making the transition to Flatbush at the beginning of last school year, the siblings relied on each other even more than usual. Francine was essential to Jack’s transition, especially for moral support. “It was more of a joint decision. Moving alone, especially from a prep school, would have been too daunting to attempt,” Jack said. Francine and Jack agree that they are somewhat similar as students: they are both very smart but don’t always put in the effort to excel. They also hate when
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High School Administration Rabbi Raymond Harari, Head of School Rabbi Joseph Beyda, Principal Ms. Sari Bacon, Associate Principal Ms. Esther Hidary, Assistant Principal / Director of Admissions Rabbi Craig Lubner, Assistant Principal
How To Make It Through Four Years at Flatbush Advice and Memories from Graduating Seniors By Dorette Dayan School News Editor
The easy but terrifying first days of freshie year are a distant memory: we were babies back then, with only dreams of what the future could hold. Now that the freshmen of 2014 are the seniors of 2018, we have something to share with the rest of you: knowledge of the future. Don’t be surprised if these things (or something similar) happen to you over the next few years. What we lack in motivation we make up in life experience, and we’re in a sharing mood. So let’s take a trip through time ... Freshman year. Nervous about making friends. Orientation. Realize most of your grade you’ve already met 9 years ago. Make new friends anyway. Start hanging out on Saturday nights. Scared of getting lost on the train. Sukkot vacation over. School actually starts. Try getting the hang of 7:10-5:30 days. First test. 100. Try getting more involved in extracurriculars. Join Hebrew Play. Join Choir. Chanukah. Aladdin. Water park in the auditorium. 9:30 minyan. First finals. Passed. Winter Break. Shakespeare. Play Juliet. Seminar. Pre-Shabbat Ruach. Galpert Havdalah. Arts and crafts Haggadah. Get an A on a personal poem. Realize you’re actually good at things. What is iSearch and what is a “research project”? Color War in high school? Throw your best friend a surprise party. Realize how much he/she means to you. Learn it’s actually “he/she,” not “they.” (Thanks, Mr. Hof!) Pesach. Catch up on 7 months of sleep. Picnic at Marine Park. Go to 16 Handles with your “Bible” class. Bagel party in Gemara. Parade. First time really alone in the city. Regents. Passed. Common core. 65. Sibling’s wedding. Deal, here we come. Color Run 2015. Beach,
beach, beach. Sophomore year. Art? Graphic Design? Find out freshman year actually counts for college. Try switching into honors. Find out why the senior girls are always yelling “Doc.” Sukkot. Trips to the city. Still getting lost on the train. Back to the Future day; October 15, 2015. Feel old. Apply to one Tsei Ul’mad. End up taking seven. Including Patterns. Spanish Day. Wear a sombrero. Dulce de leche. Dude Ranch. Ice skating class trip. Chemistry. Make a Coca-Cola bottle explode. Discover Chock. Live at Chock. Finally get to join Partners in Reading. Visit elementary school without them kicking you out. The Lion King in Hebrew. Winter vacation. Photo shoot by the beach. Back to the cold. Switch art classes? Rothbort does push-ups. Selfies with teachers. Join Yachad Play. Snapchat face filters. Mock Trial. Lose. Seminar at the Berkeley? Purim. Suddenly Seymour. Color War. Discover Cards Against Humanity. Picnics on the school’s front lawn. Yom Ha’azmaut. Blue donuts! Find out donuts is actually spelled “doughnuts.” English independent reading project. Become an aunt/uncle. Apply to APUSH. Class trip to Dunkin’ Donuts. Weren’t we supposed to get two trips? No mas Español! Why do I still not have enough hours? Finals. Passed. Symphony #40 or Symphony #5? Common core still exists. 65. Chem memes on point. Farewell, Rabbi Levy. Old enough to be a camp counselor. Camp David or All Sport? Junior year. APs. Electives. SAT or ACT? New principal. Nervous. English Monument Project. Discover By Chloe. Decide to go vegan. Eat at Joseph’s the next night. Stress. School gets flooded. Again. Wonder what happened to the daily announcements on the loudspeaker. Take Jewelry-Making. Join The Phoenix. Go on Israel Activism Washington
trip. Decide on SATs. Donate blood for the first time. Almost faint. Stress. Seminar in December. Cry from Witness Theater session. Fiddler on the Roof. Mr. Lazar, Rabbi Lubner, Rabbi Beyda, Mr. Rothbort, Señora Birman debut. Stress. Chesed Mission. Second semester. Book Day. And Then There Were None (because they all died of stress). Carvel runs. Color War. Finally get to be on Black Team. Purim. Party. Dress up with friends. Realize that you have 1,000 stalker pics and videos of your niece and nephew. See a friend you haven’t spoken to since freshie year. Driver’s Ed. Stress. Run for SGO. Start Instagram campaign. Apply to Yearbook. Apply to Witness Theater. Run for Senior Council. Get accepted to only one. Donate blood. Almost faint. Again. Write an even better poem. Challah bake by Mrs. Shulman. APs. Realize you’re not majoring in science in college. Junior Picnic. Go to Prospect Park for the first time. Get Arista. Decide to start running and join the track team next year. Friends start to drive. Actually go out on Saturday nights to somewhere other than your friend’s basement. SAT. Stress. Finals. Stress. Pass. Bye, Brooklyn. Senior year. Cry. Yearbook pictures. Cry. New schedule. Cry. College applications. Cry. Mr. Engel, Grade Advisor. Again. Switch out of AP Physics. Best decision of your life. Statue of Liberty trip. No PSATs for us. Senior girls Pajama Day. Approved by Rabbi Beyda. Write your birthday in Mrs. Agassi’s calendar. Spend all your lunches working on your college essays with her. Israel Activism now SSI? College visits. Still didn’t get the SAT score you wanted. Spend days looking through old pictures because you’re somehow a senior. Realize you have an entirely new friend group. Take your AP Photo camera everywhere. Decide to finally go on Pathfinders trips. End up
in pictures on the Flatbush Instagram next to a garbage can. Find out that 16 Handles closed. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Featuring Rabbi Rosenblum as the Baker. Discover Dyker Heights. Last seminar. Cry. Finally schedule road test even though you took Driver’s Ed a year ago. Winter Break. Senioritis. Senior Ski Trip. Learn that you really can’t ski. Finally convince your parents to let you go to Israel for the year. Senior Masquerade. Get matching inflatable costumes. Rachel Mevaka. Cry. Last ever Color War. Spend 15 hours on the hallway and don’t even get to rip it down. Senior Week. Spain, Poland, New Orleans, or the most exotic: Brooklyn. Get rejected from every college except CUNY. Realize that Rabbi Beyda is a pretty great principal. He managed to learn 700 names in a short amount of time. Realize that you never ended up joining track. Decide to go to Brooklyn College. Crash a wedding. Wish you were crashing the royal wedding. Discover needlepointing. Start practicing for your husband and sons. That shatra life. Still have school? APs/internships/real estate? Why is there stress in senior year? Yerushalmi marathon. “Jerusalem Exam.” Find out that Brooklyn College gives 6 credits for APUSH. Get Arista. Get Archon. Give a speech. Write this article. Get your copy of Summit 2018. Hold onto it forever. Graduate. “Wherever I Go” from Hannah Montana playing in the background. Cry. Realize that your teachers are your best friends. Think about coming back to teach at Flatbush (and find out what really goes on in the Teachers Room). Look back. Realize how much you’ve changed. In a week, a month, a year. In four years. It truly has been “Four years for the rest of your life.”
New Active Shooter Video Game Elevator Facing Major Repairs Sparks Nationwide Outrage By Albert Saad Junior Editor
A screenshot from the game
By Sylvia Ashkenazie Managing Editor
Parents and students across the country, and especially in Parkland, Florida, are expressing outrage about an upcoming video game called Active Shooter, in which the player can become an active shooter and terrorize a school. The game’s release date is set for June 6, 2018 on a gaming platform called Steam, which is owned by Valve Corp., a video game developer that’s based in the state of Washington. The game itself
was developed by Reviewed Games and was published by ACID, a Russian company, who plans to sell the game on the Steam platform for $5–10. According to marketing materials, players have the option to play as a SWAT member responding to school shooting, or to play as the school shooter whose mission is to “hunt and destroy.” Parents whose children were killed in the Parkland school shooting are speaking out against Active Shooter, urging people to boycott a game that makes light of real tragedies. “It’s disgusting that
For the past few weeks, the school’s elevator system has been having problems. After being unusable for several days, the elevator was repaired and put back in service but makes loud grinding sounds and shakes when it stops at each floor. Shaky elevator rides have caused much concern among frequent riders. “I use the elevator daily and this shaking sound makes me very uncomfortable,” said junior Robert Adler. Mr. Galpert explained that the original shut-down of the elevator in early May was due to a faulty motor and an electronic issue. The motor was replaced and the electronic issue was resolved. The shaking, he said, is actually a good thing. “The elevator is shaking because the mechanism that regulates the speed of the elevator needs to be adjusted. The shaking is for our protection. The piece is over regulating and that results in a shaking,” said Mr. Galpert. In order for this mechanism to be fixed, the machinery must be adjusted which would put the elevator out of service for a number of weeks. The school has opted to repair it in the summer in order to keep the elevators running for
These buttons should be working in September
those who need it. This is not the only change in the Flatbush elevator system that will begin next year. The new wing of the building will have an elevator of its own that will travel to all new floors. “There will be two doors: one from the lobby and one that opens directly into the new library,” commented Mr. Galpert. The administration is confident that the old elevator problems will be resolved seamlessly and the new elevator will serve the school perfectly with no problems for years to come.
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This Month in History:
Tiananmen Square Massacre
Flatbush Says Goodbye to Icons continued from page 1
There will be two temporary departures as well. This will be the seniors’ last year with two incredible women and role models who also happen to be our teachers, Ms. Rosenbaum and Ms. Theil, both of whom will be taking a well-earned and deserved one-year break on Sabbatical leave. Will Ms. Theil, who plans to spend the year in Israel, miss Flatbush? “I’m not going to miss anything because I am coming back! On second thought, I will miss my students and my fellow staff members. However, one of my best friend, Ms. Rosenbaum, is coming with me!” she said.
transition into the job. Ms. Feinstein, who joined the College Guidance department this year, will be leaving as well, also for a position at a school closer to her home in Manhattan. After 11 years making beautiful music with the Flatbush choir, Mr. Gelfand will be leaving his two-hour commute to Flatbush behind to take a position at the Carmel School. “He has developed wonderful relationships with the students in choir and Evening of the Arts, and has cultivated their talents,” Ms. Winkler said, calling Mr. Gelfand “an extraordinary pianist, choral arranger, and musician.”
The identity of “Tank Man” is still unknown
By Robert Adler Contributing Writer
June 4, 1989, was a cloudy morning in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. The streets of the Chinese capital ran red with the blood of protestors, the city engulfed in the flames of Molotov cocktails. The day’s violence was the end result of a long journey toward achieving political reform in China. The story of China’s road to Tiananmen began in 1976, after the death of China’s longtime ruler, Mao Zedong. Under Mao’s leadership, the Chinese government eliminated many political freedoms and killed millions of citizens under his cultural revolution programs. But after his death, the new Chinese government led by Deng Xiaoping enacted a broad sweep of political reforms, opening universities and ushering in a new generation of Chinese intellectuals after the disastrous cultural revolution attempted to wipe them out. One of the main reformers was a charismatic politician named Hu Yaobang. He was the potential successor to Xiaoping and leader of the reformist faction of the CPC. Seen as a threat to the leadership, Yaobang was removed from his position within the CPC. On April 15, 1989, Hu Yaobang died of a myocardial infarction. Many students, skeptical of the official cause of his death and believing foul play was involved, began to assemble in China’s Tiananmen Square. Over 100,000 people attended Yaobang’s funeral, and millions began to demonstrate and protest for increased political reforms. The leadership of the CPC began to fracture over the issue of dealing with the protestors, ultimately moving
the state welcome of Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev from the square to the airport. After over a month of the protests, the Chinese government decided on June 3 to end them, and four Chinese armies converged on the capital city. The iconic image of an unknown man standing in front of a line of tanks resonated across the world, but it did little to stop the government. Soldiers killed more than 1,000 civilians and demonstrators. The international reaction was swift in condemning the Chinese actions. Since that fateful night, we have seen much change in China. Many of the social reforms carried out under Deng Xiaoping have disappeared but China did open up to the world as a major trading partner. Although the topic of the massacre is still taboo in China, and many Chinese are still are afraid to speak about it. The image of the man in front of the tanks became a symbol of defiance and steadfast commitment to a more open society. The Tiananmen Massacre also triggered division and disillusionment within the government and military. The party leadership had been deadlocked in debate over how to handle the protestors for over a month. Some senior generals resigned rather than kill the protestors, and more than 1,000 soldiers and officers deserted that night rather than kill their countrymen. Most important, the event showed the world that democracy and freedom were not views held just by a fringe minority, but rather that millions of Chinese were determined in their resolve to fight for a better, freer China.
Mr. Gelfand
Ms. Theil
Junior Kara Missry had high praise for Ms. Rosenbaum: “Ms. Rosenbaum has enhanced my Hebrew language in a great way and I am so lucky that I had the privilege of being her student.”
Ms. Rosenbaum
The college guidance department has to say goodbye to its beloved leader, Ms. Biller-Levy, who will be taking a job closer to home. She is sad to leave but has been working hard to help next year’s seniors get started on their essays and applications while also helping the incoming head of College Guidance, Ms. Long, Ms. Nawlo
Ms. Biller-Levy
New Active Shooter Video Game Sparks Outrage continued from page 3
Valve Corp. is trying to profit from the glamorization of tragedies affecting our schools across the country,” Ryan Petty, father of murdered 14-year-old Alaina Petty, said in a statement. “Keeping our kids safe is a real issue affecting our communities and is in no way a ‘game.’” Florida’s senior Senator, Bill Nelson, also criticized the game in a tweet, saying, “This is inexcusable. Any company that develops a game like this in wake of such a horrific tragedy should be ashamed of itself.” In addition, an online petition urging Valve Corp. not to release the game has garnered over 25,000 signatures so far. Active Shooter is not the first video
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game to portray a school shooting but it is the first to be released since recent mass shootings in Parkland, Florida and Santa Fe, Texas, which have heightened discussions about preventing gun violence, especially in schools. The game’s page on Steam includes a statement that says, “Please do not take any of this seriously. This is only meant to be the simulation and nothing else. If you feel like hurting someone or people around you, please seek help from local psychiatrists or dial 911.” There is also a disclaimer saying that the game’s content is not recommended for children. However, in a statement released on Tuesday May 29, Valve announced that
STEM and Tanakh teacher and robotics coach Mr. Horowitz will be moving on to work as a software engineer, finally pursuing something he’s been telling his students to do all this time. He said, “Most of all I’ll miss being in a learning environment. While teaching at Flatbush I’ve always had new ideas to learn, be it teaching a new class or speaking to students about their classes.” The coming departure of office staffer Nina Nawlo, who is moving to Deal, affects every teacher and student in the school. “Nina literally knows where everything is all the time,” Ms. Marcus said. “I would lose my mind without her.” Flatbush is also saying goodbye to Rabbi Stern, who teaches Gemara, and to AP Physics teacher Mr. Marx, who joined the faculty just this past year.
it will pull Active Shooter off the Steam platform after learning that the publisher has a history of customer abuse. “This developer and publisher is, in fact, a person calling himself Ata Berdiyev, who had previously been removed last fall when he was operating as ‘[bc]Interactive’ and ‘Elusive Team,’” Valve said. “Ata is a troll, with a history of customer abuse, publishing copyrighted material, and user review manipulation. His subsequent return under new business names was a fact that came to light as we investigated the controversy around his upcoming title. We are not going to do business with people who act like this towards our customers or Valve.”
Teachers come and go but the memories they have made with their students and their fellow faculty will last forever. “I will really miss the many teachers who are leaving,” said sophomore Hannah Hasson, “but I am glad I got the chance to learn from them and form relationships while they were here.”
Flatbush Family: The Benuns
continued from page 2
they get in trouble and the other sibling finds out about it. Aside from all of this, Jack and Francine are thrilled to be a part of the Flatbush family. With graduation and college looming for Jack, he offered his sister one piece of advice about her remaining time in high school. “Enjoy it while you can,” he said. “The time really flies. Don’t blink too often.” This message is not just from brother to sister, but to everyone, to cherish the time you have in high school because there is not much of it.
Entertainment Summer Movies You Won’t Want To Miss By Fortune Manopla Entertainment Editor
Ocean’s 8 (June 8): Director Gary Ross swaps Danny (Brad Pitt) for Debbie (Sandra Bullock) in this all-female Ocean’s spin-off cast. Bullock, Rihanna, Cate Blanchett, and Anne Hathaway are
Leave No Trace (June 29): After an eight-year hiatus since her 2010 film Winter’s Bone, filmmaker Debra Granik is back with another indie hit. Based on Peter Rock’s novel The Abandonment, Leave No Trace follows war veteran Will (Ben Foster) and his 12-year-old daughter Tom (Thomasin McKenzie) as they make a meager existence for themselves as squatters in a Portland park. It soon becomes clear that Will has deliberately chosen this peculiar lifestyle, but one small mistake threatens to bring it all crashing down.
among the star-studded cast, including brief cameos by stars like Katie Holmes and Kendall Jenner. Bullock’s character Debbie leads the bunch on a $150 million diamond heist at the Met Gala; hopefully it’s just as ridiculously entertaining as it sounds.
Incredibles 2 (June 14): 14 years after their legendary debut completely revolutionized the superhero, the Parr family is back in true Incredibles style. In a rather modern role reversal, mom Elastigirl hits the streets to take down a new enemy known as The Screen Slaver, while Mr. Incredible stays home to watch the
kids. Samuel L. Jackson, Holly Hunter, and Craig T. Nelson are among the stars of the original cast who reunited to voice the sequel. Early buzz has many experts expecting the film to have the biggest domestic opening ever for an animated film.
Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot (July 13): Joaquin Phoenix stars in this offbeat gem about real-life cartoonist John Callahan, who was rendered quadriplegic after a drunken car accident. His sponsor, Donnie (played by an entirely novel and captivating version of Jonah Hill), and girlfriend, Annu (Rooney Mara), slowly push Callahan toward recovery from alcoholism and help him shift his focus to cartooning, which earns him a national following. The film’s title is only a glimpse into the candid, irreverent humor to be found in Callahan’s character, and also suggests the many other ways in which he eventually learns to progress.
Eighth Grade (August 3): YouTube comedian and musician Bo Burnham has decided to try his hand at screenwriting, and the result is an honest and intimate take on contemporary adolescence. Already buzzing as Oscar-worthy, Eighth Grade follows 13-year-old Kayla as she ventures through the last week of her middle school career, forced to endure bullies, crushes, and the alternately rewarding and debilitating world of social media.
The Meg (August 10): It’s been 43 years since the ground-breaking release of Jaws, and summer has never been the same since. Director Jon Turteltaub brings us a magnified version of the classic this summer, featuring a 75-foot-long prehistoric shark known as the Megalodon. Rescue diver Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham) races to save the crew of a sunken submarine from the colossal creature, which threatens not only the lives of the crew but the entire oceanic realm.
relevant in our daily, human activities, and to do our best to live in the path of God. Cohen’s masterpiece, “Hallelujah,” best exemplifies this concept. Here he binds the sexual and the divine, citing the plights of giant biblical figures as well as his own. “Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you,” he sings about David, but then admits, “Baby I have been here before/I know this room, I’ve walked this floor.” Cohen’s last verse of the song is especially striking; he’s tried to live by God’s will, but maybe he hasn’t always tried his hardest. He’s messed up, but all he can do is stand open and honest before “the Lord
of song,” singing a “cold” and “broken hallelujah.” Isn’t this all any of us can do, religious or not? We make mistakes, we’re flawed, we’re cracked, but, as he famously sings in “Anthem,” “that’s how the light gets in.” Universal themes like these assured Cohen’s success as a mainstream artist in his time, and established him as a prominent voice throughout subsequent generations. Cohen is unapologetically honest, a feat that most of us have yet to achieve. In songs like “Chelsea Hotel #2” he shamelessly recounts his affairs with women, and “Everybody Knows” is a blatant exposé of the various ways in which we lie to each other and to ourselves. In this way, Cohen is a true paragon of the singer/songwriter—he offers us his truths expecting nothing in return; he is no less the voice of a generation than he is the voice of the human condition. He is a teacher of passion and sincerity from whom we all have something to learn.
Revisiting Leonard Cohen By Fortune Manopla Entertainment Editor
The first time you hear a song like “Avalanche,” you might think nothing of it. You might cast it off as an old, strange tune of your parents’ day, dark and unexciting. But soon enough, the lyrics seep through your ears and you realize the incredible depth behind those first unassuming notes. This is the manner of many Leonard Cohen songs; subtle, yet masterful. Armed with nothing but a few simple guitar chords and a smooth, sonorous voice, Cohen, who died in 2016, swept away the norms of his canonized predecessors and established his own musical form. Cohen’s isn’t like the classic, harmonica-folk of Dylan and Guthrie; it’s just as poetic as it is tuneful. It’s biting wit cushioned in soft melody, and whereas
Dylan played a cool indifference to his lyrics, scoffing at those who tried to decipher them, Cohen deeply emphasized the meaning behind his words. Cohen’s genius lies not only in his master of language, but also in his ability to weave together biblical allusions and lofty spiritual concepts with the common struggles and desires of man— “Songs of Love and Hate,” as he aptly titled one of his best albums. It seems that Cohen is carrying out the task of every Jew, to keep the Torah
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Fun & Games Ask Merle
Dear Merle, I have to write something for class but I am having terrible writer’s block. What do I do? Please help! Blocked Dear Blocked, What a coincidence, so am I! Try writing what you know, like I am right at this very moment. Writing can be hard, but it can also be fun. Try rhyming; that always brings out the sun. (See what I did there?) Writing is fun, so don’t let it stress you out. Go outside and find some inspiration. Good luck, my writing friend. I’m sure you’ll find something to write about. Your lazy friend, Merle
Dear Merle, I didn’t do so well on my final but I don’t want it to ruin my grades! How do I keep my good average with this bad final? Stressed Dear Stressed, First, you must relax. Then panic, because you’re not going to graduate, and then you won’t get a job, and then you won’t buy food, and then you’ll die from starvation. Relax, I’m kidding. Maybe. You can also beg your teacher to change your grade so much that she gets annoyed at you and gives in so that you stop. Tips for begging: plead, cry, get down on your knees, whine, offer your undying friendship, etc. You’re welcome, Merle
Dear Merle, I heard this is your last Ask Merle ever! How do you feel about that? Are you sad, happy, depressed, excited? The people want to know! Curious
Dear Merle, Summer is coming up and I have no energy to start with summer homework. I just want to relax! How do I get my work done without actually doing it? Lazy Dear Lazy, I know the feeling. Give yourself a few days of pure relaxation, and then start your summer reading. Or you can always leave it for the last minute—and you probably will. It’s hard to avoid catching senioritis in the summers, but you can do it. I believe in you! Yours truly, Merle
What Is It?
Dear Curious, The rumors are true: I am graduating. In fact, I am already in college at this very moment. And I have to say, although I will miss answering all of your interesting questions, ILOVE college. So get excited people, because college isn’t too far away from you, either. But, back to Ask Merle—I just want to say how much I enjoyed giving you all advice this past year and I hope I helped (or at least made you laugh)! Thank you to everyone who reads this advice column; it wouldn’t exist without you. Actually, it probably would, there would just be no one reading it. Good luck for the future! Merle
The Food Corner
Summer is around the corner and the weather is finally getting warmer! If you need to bring something to a family barbecue or just want to relax in the sun with a cold drink, look no further for the best recipe for homemade lemonade. Ditch that processed powder and make a fresh drink that’s not too sweet, not too sour, and very refreshing. All you need is sugar, lemon juice, and water to make this simple recipe. Ingredients: 1 cup sugar 1 cup fresh lemon juice 6 1/2 cups water, divided 1. Start by making Simple Syrup (the difficulty level is in the name). Simple Syrup is sugar and water boiled together into a syrup. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and 1/2 cup of water. Bring to a boil and stir until all of the sugar
By Hannah Hasson Food Editor
is dissolved. Allow the syrup to cool at room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until chilled. 2. Next, squeeze lemons using a fork over a strainer to keep seeds from falling in, or use a juicer. 3. In a pitcher, stir together the chilled syrup, lemon juice, and remaining 6 cups of water. Make it your own: Not all recipes have to be followed exactly. Make this recipe your own by adding seltzer instead of the remaining 6 cups of water for a sparkling version, or by adding pureed strawberries for strawberry lemonade. Get creative! Now you know how to make the best lemonade ever. So, next time life hands you lemons, you’ll thank me. Did you know...? Lemons are a hybrid between a sour orange and a citron (etrog).
How well do you know your school? These photos are close-up views of parts of the building that you walk past every day. How many can you identify?
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Standard of Fabulous Turning Tragedy into Trendy
Making Chic Eyewear from Flint’s Leftover Water Bottles By Jessica Vaysman SOF Editor
Fashion and community service? Is there a way to combine both? Apparently so, just ask Ali Rose VanOverbeke and Jack Burns. After the tap water in Flint, Michigan, was declared unusable in 2015 due to high levels of lead, Detroit native Ali Rose VanOverbeke volunteered with the American Red Cross to help deliver water bottles door to door. She enlisted a friend, Jack Burns, to volunteer with her. VanOverbeke and Burns came up with an idea to address the excess of single-use, discarded water bottles being dumped in Flint. “They’re [the people in Flint] not just facing a manmade water crisis,” VanOverbeke said. “Now, there’s like this localized, environmental stress because of the surplus of plastic that they’ve been forced to use.”
VanOverbeke and Burns started a company called Genussee (a riff on Genesee, the county where Flint is located) that transforms plastic water bottles into eyewear. Each pair is made from post-consumer plastic pellets from 15 water bottles, which are then melted down and molded into frames. The glasses cost $129. The Roeper, a unisex vintage-inspired round frame, was the first style the company designed. Burns and VanOverbeke explained that this
Genussee employees (with Burns and VanOverbeke in the center) show their pride
Toe Shoes Making a Comeback? By Jessica Vaysman SOF Editor
Fashion designer Jonathan Anderson posted a picture on Instagram with a preview of what to expect from the Loewe Resort 2019 collection. He posted a pair of cheerful needlepoint slippers depicting naked toes—toe rings and snazzy French pedicures included—and a jet-black, hardened gladiator sandal with sculpted—and also bejeweled—Roman statue feet. Many people were surprised at the “interesting” photos of the new shoes coming to the runway; however, these aren’t the first wacky toe shoes we’ve seen. Y/Project Spring 2018 featured shocking highlighter-yellow and dainty rose-printed mules that showcased the big toe. Toes made anoth-
er appearance just before then at Céline Pre-Fall 2017, where the big toe was hidden by a cap on a sandal that showed off its four scrunched siblings. We can also credit Kim Kardashian West for carrying on the trend, as she was seen wearing a Balenciaga closed shoe with separated toes. On the casual end of the spectrum, Vibram is known for its webby digit-defining shoes—one for every on-the-go lifestyle and sport. And then, there are the runway versions of toe shoes. For example, Céline’s frightening trompe l’oeil toe-polish pumps from Spring 2013. More recently, MM6 Maison Margiela released a shoe that separates each toe. If you’ve been waiting to show the world your toes, your time has come!
Fashion Fact: One silk cocoon produces an average of 600 to 900 meters of silk filament, but it takes four to eight pieces to make one strand of silk thread. In all, it takes about 30,000 silkworms to produce 12 pounds of raw silk.
style is “democratically designed” to suit a range of face shapes and sizes. The brand embodies the concept of upcycling, where discarded objects are refashioned into items of higher value and purpose. This company appeals to fans of the socially conscious buy-onegive-one model. “People want to invest in brands that are aligned with their personal values,” Va n O v e r b e k e explained. “I think it’s no longer acceptable, or even a sustainable business model, to just be focused on capital and profits.” Genussee set a Kickstarter goal of $50,000 and surpassed that easily, collecting almost $75,000 in just one month. The majority of the money will go into setting up local production of the glasses, providing 15 jobs within an 80mile radius of the city. “It was extremely important for us to be as close to, and within, Flint as possible,” Burns explains. The longer-term vision is to set up a vertically integrated facility where everything can be done in one place, offering a range of different jobs along the way.
2018 Summer Trends By Dubby Sasson SOF Editor
1. Primary colors 2. Puff sleeves 3. Squared blouses and graphic T-shirts with a pair of jeans or shorts 4. Feathers, on light coats, dresses, or skirts 5. Fringes 6. Turbans and headbands
7. Statement suit shorts 8. Floral dresses
Gear Up for Summer By Sarit Alkadaa Contributing Writer
With summer approaching nearby, many companies are attempting to debut as many new styles as possible, and some are a drop more creative than others. Countless new additions to summer fashion are now available, but the most fun might be the gear, including watches, backpacks, and sneakers. With the help of constantly improving wearable tech you can achieve the summer fitness goals that you’ve been ranting about all school year. As watches continue to evolve, they’ve transformed into mini-computers on a wrist. These watches can track your heart rate, sleep cycle, activity level, and more. While several fitness watches have been released, there are a select few that can guarantee a productive workout. The Timex watch is perfect for late night swims. This watch contains a nightlight, can be used up to 100 meters underwater, and is almost indestructible. The Fitbit watch is more suitable for those long runs you’ve wanted to take but never had any adequate time for. This watch has a heart and pace monitor to
help better track your daily movement. Lastly, The Nike X Apple Watch provides pretty much everything a typical smartphone would. So, if you’re in need of a full day of exercising but don’t want to drag your phone around with you, this watch is the perfect match. If summer road trips is your thing, look for new sneakers and backpacks to help support your adventure. Dwayne Johnson recently dropped his latest sneaker with Under Armour. These shoes are a bold blue built with lateral support, forefoot webbing, and a sole specifically made for stability—perfect for hiking through National Parks and long walks through all sorts of quirky local attractions. To add to this, Fjallraven released a new secure but lightweight backpack that can store almost anything while still managing to weigh less than most other bags. This boxlike bag protects the inside gear while providing outside pockets that are ideal for storing last minute snacks before leaving for the day. With all its reinforcements, this bag practically screams road trip. Summer’s almost here—it’s time to get your gear on!
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Sports YOF Student Athletes Put in Hours Night of of Preparation off the Court the Falcon By Jack H. Dweck Contributing Writer
Just how much do Falcons players prepare and work toward their athletic goals? As Night of the Falcon showcased the hard work that students put into their respective sports by training and practicing to better themselves, several student-athletes weighed in on how much preparation is required to become an elite Flatbush Falcon. Michael Dayan, a starter on the school’s tennis team, stated, “I play pickup matches with my friends and teammates all the time, which helps me get better.” This preparation allows Dayan to remain at an elite level of performance throughout the off-season, which has transferred to the regular season as Dayan, a sophomore, has been emerging as a star. Dayan also prepares specially before each match he plays: “Before every game I hit with a pro so I can get warmed up,” he said. This intense preparation during and after the season contributes to Dayan’s performance on the court. Betty Greenberg, who plays for the
girls varsity basketball team, participates in up to three practices a week with her teammates. And while the regular season takes place only in the fall, Greenberg plays in organized leagues throughout the year. She participates in afterschool leagues during the season, and in summer leagues after the season is over. This allows her to stay mentally and physically ready to compete. On the boys side, varsity basketball player Moshe Hasbani trains on his own at least four times a week. Hasbani does weight training and vertical jump training to increase his explosiveness during games. He also does dribbling drills and upper body training to give himself a physical edge on the court. Simon Masry, the starting first baseman for the varsity baseball team, has one of the most intricate and specialized training regiments in the school. Masry works out four times a week with intense weight training and participates in two practices a week, in which he works on his fielding fundamentals and learns the intricacies of his position. He also works in batting cages to perfect his swing. Masry has, in addition to play-
ing recreationally with friends, gone to “showcases at colleges like Stony Brook and Georgetown to train and play under college coaches and play for scouts.” This intense preparation has allowed Simon to maintain a competitive edge over his opponents while on the field. But, he says, the physical exercises are not as important as mental ones, which allow him to stay focused during games. “I listen to music before all my games,” states Masry. “I need it to get me calm and focused, so my head can be in the game.” The intense mental and physical training has allowed Masry to emerge as one of the bright stars of Flatbush Athletics. These are just some of the athletes whose training regimens demonstrate immense dedication toward their respective sports. The Night of the Falcon, while advertised as a celebration of the athletes’ accomplishments on the field, is truly a night that celebrates all that the athletes have done between games and seasons to better themselves and their teams through hard work and determination.
Contributing Writer
Senior Ohad Reichman is an individual of intense athleticism, passion, and talent. A soccer star since his freshman year, his innate talent and inspiration, have won him countless awards and honorary positions, including MVP, Coach’s Awards, Captain, etc. A pioneer, Reichman was the star of Flatbush’s first-ever JV Soccer team. His innate ability to crossover people twice his size made an immediate impact, allowing players in following years to have an ideal player to look up to and learn from. By his sophomore year, Reichman was chosen to be captain. As starting striker, his goals alone often exceeded the combined score of the rest of the team in addition to the other team’s score. However, he was much more than his numbers. His charisma was infectious and he led his team to Flatbush’s first appearance in the JV Soccer playoffs. Flatbush could not have had the same outdoor soccer success without Reichman’s dedication and sportsmanship, proving a competitor in any setting. When asked about Reichman, a teammate recalled the game Reichman scored 8 goals, mercying the opposing team singlehandedly, and in style. Reichman seems to pick up any sport with ease. With little prior experience, he has become an important member of the Volleyball team. His peers envy his control of the pace of the game, whether he’s playing soccer, volleyball, hockey, or even badminton. Falcons fans are upset to send off such
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Contributing Writer
Amkraut (center) presents awards to Levy and Sternberg
This year’s Night of the Falcon was one to remember. The annual event brings together all of the school’s sports teams to celebrate the accomplishments of our student-athletes both on and off the field. After a mazza spread for the coaches and student-athletes in the Beit Midrash, the program moved to the auditorium, where Athletic Director Mr. Amkraut announced awards for each athletic team in the school. Four awards were given out to each team: Most Improved Player, Sportsmanship Award, Coach Award, and Most Outstanding Player. A very special award, the Falcon Award, was given to Rabbi Skolnick to recognize and thank him for aiding in the development of the soccer program, as well as his tremendous dedication to crea valuable asset to our athletics teams but skills in many new sports. ating a great team culture. are certain he will continue to use his The last two awards of the night were for the Most Outstanding Senior Student-Athletes. This year’s recipients were Marlene Levy and Yaron Sternberg. Sternberg, along with achieving outstanding grades, found time to create the wrestling team, generating more and more interest every year. He also received the Most Outstanding Player award for the Varsity Soccer team. Marlene Levy, a true Falcon athlete, competed for four years and served as captain for both Softball and Basketball. She also received the Most Outstanding Player award in both those sports. When receiving these awards, she stepped up to the podium and thanked her teammates, recalling great experiences from her years playing sports for the Falcons. “Throughout the years I’ve had a lot of memories, but the ones I treasure the most are from the Basketball and Softball teams,” Levy said. “These teams made my high school experience exciting, and I loved every minute of it.” A slideshow of highlights from all the different teams and their games was followed by a spread of desserts to cap off the night. Athletes and coaches alike agreed that the Night of the Falcon was yet again a tremendous success. Different Falcon sports teams came together to celebrate Flatbush Athletics by honoring the coaches who put so much work into teaching and improving their players, and by honoring the players who put in an enormous amounts Top left: During games, Reichman can often be seen discussing strategy with teammates and of effort to better themselves and their coaches. Above: Reichman goes in for the kill against Ezra Academy. teams.
Sportsman Spotlight: Ohad Reichman By Yaron Sternberg
By Joshua Dweck