The Phoenix 2021-2022 Issue 7

A Student Publication of the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School • 1609 Avenue J, Brooklyn, New York • Vol 56, Issue 7 • May 2022 / 5782

SGO election results spark Students shrug off complaints about fairness

By Jeanette Cohen and Jack Saad

voters’ hands at 7 a.m. Friday morning.

Some candidates speculated that Terzi, who was SGO’s Junior Commissioner this year, may have had something to do

Rabbi Galpert claimed that because the candidates were informed of the inJunior Editor and Senior Editor correct start time, they were unable to On Monday May 2, Flatbush students properly campaign while people were were shocked when the names of voting. Mosseri in partictwo previously eliminated candiular had a campaign plan dates reappeared on the ballot. in place with his team to Juniors Mark Mosseri and Joseph catch voters as soon as the Fouerti, who ran for President ballots opened at 10 a.m. and Vice President respectively, “When the ballots opened and lost in what are reported to two hours earlier, I was so be close primary elections, were caught off guard. I feel like I readmitted by Rabbi Galpert and could’ve gotten more votes Ms. Marcus after finding a “disif it started on time,” he crepancy” which may have influsaid. enced results.

Mosseri and Fouerti In the original e-mail to the were equally impacted by candidates, Ms. Marcus anthis error, and when they nounced that the ballot would brought it to the attention The new SGO does not include any of the disputed candidates of Rabbi Galpert, he agreed. open at 10 a.m. on Friday April 29. However, the ballot was sent Initially the two apout at 8 a.m., much to the surprise of with the earlier election start time. Terzi proached Rabbi Galpet in hopes of viewmany candidates. However, this did not completely denied this rumor, deeming ing the poll results in order to see how come as a surprise to Solomon Terzi, it “a nonsensical claim used to promote much of an influence the “discrepancy” who was spotted dressed in a suit shaking my opponent’s narrative.” continued on page 4

Honor society, Archon programs combined and moved to evening

By Samantha Ryba Contributing Writer

Every year, the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School holds ceremonies inducting students into The National Honor Society and The National Archon Service Society, organizations that honor students with outstanding school performance and students who have demonstrated excellence in service to their school and community. Pre-Covid, the school typically held two separate ceremonies each year, occuring on consecutive Friday mornings, allowing every student in the school to watch. Due to Covid, for the last two years, the award ceremonies were combined and held online as a single nighttime event. The event will be back in person again this year, but will follow the same com-

In This Issue People: Page 2 D’var Torah: Page 4 Entertainment: Page 5

bined evening format.

Rabbi Galpert explained that the administration wants to see what the “best format” for the event will be.

They believe that in the evening, the program will be more intimate and more convenient, as it is easier for parents to come at night instead of taking off work and having to rush. Rabbi Galpert also predicted that the audience will be less loud and difficult than during the school day, when the whole student body would’ve attended. The administration thought about making this change during Covid, and decided to try it out this year as it’s the first program to celebrate the students’ excellence in-person since 2019.

There are mixed feelings among the faculty and student body about this change. Mr. Saadia, who agrees with the shift to the evening, as it avoids

Special Report: The life of a yeshiva student in other countries Page 3

disrupting classes at a critical time. He stated, “I think it’s a good change. Students should be using this time to prepare for the end of the year and finals.”

However, some disagree. “I feel very proud to receive the award,” said junior Stephanie Dayan. “I’m a little bit upset that the whole school won’t be able to watch,” Dayan stated. Dr. Sari Mayer concurred and said, “I think it’s important that the younger grades watch the ceremony. It gives them motivation to work harder, but now that it’s being held at night, fewer students will be attending.”

Senior Ronnie Mizrachi sees the merit on both sides. “I think it’s good because more parents and family members will be there,” he said. “But it’s also nice to have friends cheer for you down the aisle, which is what usually happens during the day.”

Fashion: Summer trends worth a look Page 7

gas prices

By Elliot Soffer Contributing Writer

Due to inflation, Russia’s war against Ukraine, and other factors, New York has recently hit an all-time high in gasoline prices, averaging around $4.67 per gallon. About a year ago, prices were about $3.00 per gallon. A few questions arise from the sudden increase: does this affect the amount of people on the road?

Does this limit the amount of Yeshivah of Flatbush students who drive to school?

Do students try to take the train more, in hope of saving money to spend in other ways?

A survey of more than 1,000 Americans showed that 52% of them have been driving less and using other modes of transportation. However, most Flatbush students who drive to school say they have still been driving daily, undeterred by those high prices. Many seniors and some juniors carpool with other students where they rotate drivers. Each driver ends up driving only once or twice a week, so their gas usage is already low; higher prices have not limited many from their routines.

Other students simply accept the higher prices as fact and move on. Senior Eli Durzieh said, “The prices are really not fair, but you gotta pay what you gotta pay. Part of the costs for going to school is the transportation, so I will end up paying some amount.”

Many students see the cost of driving to school as a worthwhile trade-off for freedom and convenience. It may be a little more expensive, but it enables them to be on their own schedule as opposed to having to adhere to the preset schedule of a van or other driver. Prices may be high, but the students are saving in other places, and have an easier time getting to school.

Meanwhile, electric cars enable a handful of students to drive to school without ever having to buy gas. Junior Moselle Goldstein drives a Tesla and enthusiastically said, “Gas prices don’t af-

continued on page 4

Sports: Both tennis teams are red hot Page 8 phoenix@flatbush.org | 1

Faculty Freshman:

Dr. Samantha Cohen

By Esther Shemia Contributing Writer

Dr. Samantha Cohen, a new addition to the Yeshivah of Flatbush staff, is a dedicated, hardworking, compassionate teacher with a true passion for her job. She brings charisma, warmth, and a magnetic aura to the classroom.

Dr. Cohen currently teaches AP Chemistry to juniors and seniors. She additionally is working full-time as an Associate Clinical Professor of Pharmacy at St. John’s University. As a professor, Dr. Cohen teaches pharmacy students in the classroom and a clinical setting at Coney Island Hospital.

Dr. Cohen graduated from Long Island University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences with a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. Soon after, she pursued two years of postgraduate training at Maimonides Medical Center, where she completed specialty residen-

cy training in Emergency Medicine and Geriatrics.

Dr. Samantha Cohen is a mother to four children, Nathaniel (7th grade), Isaac (3rd grade) and Raquel (1st grade), all of whom attend Yeshivah of Flatbush Elementary School, plus a pit bull/bulldog mix named Sprite.

Dr. Cohen’s spare time is spent reading novels, usually bought from the checkout counter while she’s waiting in line at the pharmacy. She is not much of a “TV person,” but you can find her in front of it on Thursday nights watching Grey’s Anatomy. Spending so much time in the car, Dr. Cohen frequently listens to 1010 WINS to catch up on local news.

Dr. Cohen decided to join the Flatbush family due to the school’s “amazing reputation, offering their students so many opportunities to grow and succeed,” she explained. “I wanted to be a part of that.” Despite coming in with a high view of the high school, Dr. Cohen was far more impressed with the school than she had originally imagined. “The energy when you walk through the front doors is palpable. It is like one big family, such a warm and welcoming environment … Everyone appears so happy and is involved in something different and amazing.”

Dr. Cohen looks forward to coming to work every day and remarks that teaching high school students is very different from teaching college students.

Some college classes have 200 students, so there is less of an opportunity to develop personal connections with the students at the university. Moreover, high school AP Chemistry students elect to take the class, resulting in a greater desire than college students to understand the material on a deeper level. Therefore, Dr. Cohen’s AP Chemistry class brings a lot of joy to her eventful days at Flatbush.

OPINION

A Case for the Music Requirement

By Marc Lessler School News Editor

Speeding on the freeway, I drove to the calming movements of Beethoven and Vivaldi, interrupted by the annoyingly obvious GPS directions. A junior sitting in the back seat protested the music choice, finally compelling me to play some Taylor Swift—some pop tunes.

My friend sitting in the passenger seat slouched, reluctantly changing the music only to return to classical moments later. But I understood the junior—I had the same distaste for “old music” just six months back.

I’d pause, reflect, and register what I’d just been taught in music class. Nope, it still made no sense. What the heck is an octave? This chain of events was all too common to me in the first months of Music Appreciation, a class I never chose. I am a STEM-oriented nerd, and music existed on a plane beyond the position vs. time graphs used in Physics; it defied strict logical reasoning. And I struggled, you bet. But it would only get worse from there.

The final tested our ears. With over 20 songs to memorize, we had to identify the songs as they were played. Simple? It should be. Well, it is—until all 20 songs sound exactly the same. I mean, it was incredible, how so many different composers constructed same-sounding songs over thousands of years. I remember listening to the songs in the car, driving back from my driver’s test—by some grace of God I passed—laughing from the difficulty I was having. Giving up, I resorted to the belief I’d voiced to

Ms. Mauskop weeks earlier: “This class shouldn’t exist.” Somehow, it surprised me that she was even offended.

But months later, my view of music has altered entirely. The difficulty of the class forced me into the classical world, which ultimately changed the way I study. Listening to the calming tunes, I drive, work, and write—accomplishing things in a relaxed, calm manner. But it extends far beyond that. Raised in a musically untalented family, I was compelled to attempt playing the piano. Aided by Ms. Mauskop, easily one of the most talented faculty members in the building, I dove into the music world—still not understanding what an octave is. But I left with an appreciation, a mind-boggling revelation at the sheer amount of talent required to compose Vivaldi’s Winter, the genius perfect pitch needed to listen to a piece and play it by ear.

The school recently adopted the philosophy that I held onto so dearly months back: this class should be an elective. Yet, out of all the classes I’ve taken in senior year, Music—and Music alone—has been the only one to expand my interests and change the way that I interact with the world. To have me sit behind a piano for hours, methodically training my fingers.

To have hour-long conversations with “theater kids,” discussing perfect pitch and chords. So, do I understand music?

No—at least, not yet. But I will continue to listen, and I now have an appreciation for a field far outside my STEM comfort zone. And that new interest—that exploration—is worth the hour and 20 minutes occupied by Music Appreciation every week.

Turning batter into better business Alumna Interview: Barbara Kroub (HS ’12)

By Ginger Ammar Contributing Writer

As she grew up, Barbara Kroub enjoyed baking, watching baking shows, and reading magazines that sparked her culinary interests. Before her brother’s wedding, Kroub’s mother suggested that she bake a cake. While her initial attempt failed, Kroub continued to bake for similar occasions, such as family gatherings and friends’ birthdays.

Although she didn’t bake much in high school, Kroub’s time at Yeshivah of Flatbush taught her the importance of a work ethic and thinking ahead, which became important lessons to know when starting her business, Peace of Cake.

While being challenged with many of the obstacles that come with starting a

business, Kroub tackled them using her experiences she learned at Flatbush. The school’s rigorous and exigent curriculum prepared her for the work she would soon put in as an entrepreneur.

Kroub attended Hunter College with the intention to become a teacher. At the time, she had been tutoring kids and working as an assistant teacher in the Flatbush and Barkai elementary schools.

She never believed that her love of baking could turn into a career because she had never known of an industry for cakes other than weddings. After her mother’s friend asked Kroub

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

2 | phoenix@flatbush.org

to bake a cake for an event, her baking career took off. Kroub began getting more and more calls, and the business began to blossom on its own.

When starting Peace of Cake, Kroub was getting dozens of orders, but she was losing money because of all the time she would spend baking and her low prices. Kroub would stay up for hours.

While her friends hung out, she kept practicing and striving to get better every day.

Kroub also struggled as she saw her competitors’ suc-

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

cesses while she worked seemingly endlessly on her own cakes. However, Kroub did not allow this to defeat her. She continued working and focusing on how things would improve.

Kroub’s skills strengthened and her results became more beautiful. Every hour of practice she put in began to reflect in her latest custom desserts. Kroub said, “I truly believe that if you devote a thousand hours to anything you want to do, you can excel at it. It’s all about repetition, practice, falling, picking yourself up, and trying again.” Additionally, Kroub’s connections with party planners grew her business further, and she currently makes desserts for numerous different events. After nine years of baking, Kroub is happy to do what she loves and continues to expand her skills every day.

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

By Nicole Muravsky Editor-in-Chief

Yeshivah Around the World

The high school Yeshivah experience in one country will be inevitably different from the experience in another. Historical context, cultural norms, and geographical location all interplay to make one’s high school years unique within the international community.

The Phoenix was privileged to interview students from around the globe (specifically in Israel, Panama, France, Australia, and Canada) to learn more about what the life of a Yeshivah student looks like in different parts of the world.

Israel Mayer Chemtob graduated from Yeshivah of Flatbush Elementary School in 2018. He then moved with his family to Raanana, Israel and began his high school career at Amit Kfar Batya. Besides having all of his classes in Hebrew, Chemtob’s daily schedule differs from a typical American high school student’s. The Israeli education system follows a point system to get a Te’udat Bagrut as well as a diploma. Like within American colleges, each high school class is worth a set number of points, which is similar to American college credits.

Chemtob pointed out that the word “Yeshivah” has a different connotation in Israel than it does in America. He explained that in Israel, it brings to mind a student with “a button-down white shirt with black pants and sometimes a tie” and who is essentially a “Kollel” student.

The emphasis on being Jewish is felt less in Jewish schools in Israel since a student there is already submerged in the Jewish culture, so there is less of a need to point that out.

Additionally, Chemtob gets to experience what he’s learning about firsthand. For example, his class went camping and toured Southern Eilat, Schem, and Shiloh as his class was learning more about the details of the journey to Israel as part of Parashat Bamidbar.

Panama Daniella Hamui attended Albert Einstein Institute in Panama from kindergarten to senior year. When telling The Phoenix about her religious education in Panama, she explained that since Panama is a smaller country, she learned in a school that was a melting pot of different Jewish communities, instead of many American Jewish schools that are separated based on the Jewish community.

The religious classes that she had were Navi, Jewish History (specifically about the Inquisition), Tanakh, Mishna, and Hebrew (with different levels based on the level of the person). The secular classes that a student in her school took depended on what career path they were interested in, with only two options: science or business.

There are 3-4 big Jewish schools within the country, according to Hamui. Daniella’s school treats religious and secular studies equally. Even so, she explained that Hebrew History was emphasized greatly, that there was a big event every Friday in the auditorium to commemorate Shabbat and to hear the parsha, and that holidays were also explained each time during the year in great detail.

During high school, Daniella admitted that she mostly hung out with students from her school, but also with

Interviews with Jewish high school students on five continents Jewish people from the other schools on Shabbat as part of an organization called Macabi Panama.

After high school, Hamui went to a secular Catholic college but maintained her religious identity. She explained that the transition from a more Jewish religious environment to one much less so was aided by shiurim for all adults that she attended after school led by an organization called Shevet Ahim Youth.

France Binyomin Ackerman lived in France until the end of high school, where after he left to attend a five-year post-highschool Yeshivah in Israel.

In France, primary school runs from 1st to 6th grade, and then “high school” is from 6th to 12th grade. Three hours a day were spent on Jewish subjects and the rest of the time was spent on secular subjects. The religious studies explored most deeply were Gemara, Chumash, Halakhah, and Jewish History. He also studied English and Hebrew as foreign languages, part of his secular subjects.

Antisemitism wasn’t formally addressed in Binyomim’s school, but there was a known rule to not gather outside with other students near the school for a long period of time. Additionally, Ackerman declared that his French high school was generally “not Zionist at all.”

He conceded that the students were required to say Hallel without a bracha on Yom Ha’atzmaut, but there weren’t any festivities or any acknowledgement of the land of Israel. This may be because Ackerman’s school was more Haredi.

Ackerman explained, “Everyone is Zionist in a way, but it may be more abstract and in the heart. More concretely, we had nothing special like that.”

Each French “high school” has to follow a set curriculum that is frequently updated by the French Education Ministry. During 12th grade, there were specific exams that the students had to take called ‫בגולות‬. In English, this exam was called Baccalaureate, and any student who failed it had to retake 12th grade.

In general, students in high school during Ackerman’s time were able to choose to pursue one of three types of curricula: science, economics, and literature, otherwise known as SLE. Each class had a specific number of points that it was worth, known as the class’s coefficient/weight. At the end of high school, students need to have a specific average of the coefficients/weights.

One would take the total sum of all of the classes’ points and divide it by the number of classes taken to get the average number. However, this system has not been in effect for the past two years.

Australia Amy Rudolph and Raphael Eisner currently attend a high school called Moriah College in Sydney, Australia.

Some of the religious studies classes are Classical Hebrew (which includes lessons about Tanakh, Mishnah, the Megillot), Values of Judaism, Jewish History (focused on pivotal events or about role model figures), and Jewish Studies (which delves into the laws of marriage, family, Pirkei Avot, Judaic rules and regulations, and Jewish philosophy).

In ninth and tenth grades, Rudolph and Eisner took a unique Jewish philos-

ophy class where they dug deeper into the big debates within Judaism. This class also emphasizes the importance of bringing Judaism into secular life.

When asked about what makes their religious experience in their school unique, Rudolph described how Moriah College requires the students to learn more about other religions in addition to Judaism, such as Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, and Buddism. They were also equipped with the skills necessary to speak to others from different cultures, which expands their cultural horizons beyond the tight-knit confines of the Jewish community. To augment their cultural competency, Rudolph and Eisner also participated in school-sponsored interfaith programs, where they got together with students from Islamic and Christian schools to confirm or subvert their preconceived assumptions and conceptions about the other cultures.

Additionally, another opportunity offered by Moriah that they took part in was a seven-week Israel Study Tour program, also known as IST, during tenth grade.

The trip takes students to Poland and Israel, where the students gain an enhanced grasp of the history of the Holocaust as well as strengthen their connection with the land of Israel. Rudolph and Eisner mentioned that some of the most memorable spots that they visited in Israel were the top of the Negev, the Kotel, Tel Aviv, and the kibbutzim. Both also explained how everyone in their school looks forward to this trip years in advance and has to raise money to cover most of the trip.

Canada Sarah Ohayon lives in Quebec and graduated from Hebrew Academy High School in 2019.

In Canada, high school ends after eleventh grade. Instead of twelfth grade, students switch to another institution called cejet for two years; the one that Ohayon went to was Marianopolis College, which she graduated from in 2021. Next, one can go to a university for higher education, like Concordia University, where Ohayon is currently majoring in engineering computer software.

In high school, there were only 2-3 religious classes, as her school was more focused on secular learning.

Ohayon struggled to maintain her religious identity as she prioritized religion and the other girls in her gender-segregated class did not. This was because the government and future educational institutions don’t look at or care about religious studies in Canada, Ohayon said. Additionally, Canada—especially Quebec—is fervently passionate about French culture, which is why Sarah was required to take English and French, but not Hebrew, thus diminishing her connection with Judaism.

Additionally, Ohayon had limited access to learning certain religious topics like Gemara, which only the boys were allowed to study.

After high school, Sarah went to seminary at Maachon Maayan and was able to finally fit in a group that identified similarly as she did religiously beyond the borders of the secular studies promoting Canadian culture.

Evening of Wordsmiths celebrates student writing

By Beverly Dweck Junior Editor

Students have long been recognized for their artistic and academic achievements at Evening of the Arts, National Honor Society, and Archon. But this year for the first time, students were formally celebrated for their writing ability. A new program, Evening of Wordsmiths, honored 14 select students for their writing pieces at 7 p.m. on May 17. At the event, writers had the opportunity to read their work to the audience of teachers, administrators, family, and friends. The event was conceived and planned by Ms. Winkler and Ms. Bloom.

Students were selected by an anonymous process: teachers from the English department submitted to the best works they received throughout the year, identifying the writers by class instead of by name, Ms. Bloom explained. Several dozen pieces were nominated, ranging from poems to short stories to essays.

The pieces were then read and voted on by each English teacher, and the 15 most meaningful and well-written pieces were chosen. The 11th grade was represented by the most writers, but multiple students from 9th and 10th grade were chosen as well.

Junior Talya Shamoelian was chosen for the program for her spoken-word poem. She said, “I’m so excited for this night! It’s a great opportunity for me to

display my hard work.” Shamoelian was the final writer of the evening, and the only student to perform her piece entirely from memory.

At the end of the event, all students received certificates of recognition and customized bookmarks.

As of now, this event is on the calendar only for this year, but Ms. Winkler stated, “I just know that this program is going to be so fabulous [that] it will probably be on the calendar next year.”

Ms. Hidary seemed to confirm Ms. Winkler’s assertion when she opened the event by referring to it as “annual.”

According to Ms. Bloom, the program was a great success. The pieces were powerful and really portrayed the hard work the students put in. One transformation that will be made to the program if it continues next year, she stated, is that it may be held in March rather than in May. This will be changed because of the AP testing schedule and immense number of programs held in May, which causes calendar conflicts.

This year, the program did not include seniors because it was held at the same time that Senior Trip was going on.

Next year, though, seniors will likely be included because of the change of date.

After the event, 11th grader Eitan Yehoshua said, “It felt great to unexpectedly be recognized for my work. I loved watching everyone share their work. It was overall an amazing experience.”

phoenix@flatbush.org | 3

Cap and gown shortage D’var Torah: forces graduates and The tochacha in depth schools to scramble

By Sabrina Zami World News Editor

All across the country, high schools and colleges are scrambling to supply their graduates with proper graduation regalia, with many unsure if their graduates will be able to wear the traditional cap and gown.

Herff Jones, the world’s largest supplier of graduation caps and gowns, is experiencing major delays and supply chain issues. They released a statement on their website acknowledging and explaining this issue.

“As with so many industries, a combination of global supply chain constraints and record labor shortages has created downstream effects this graduation season,” they wrote. They also assure those waiting for their deliveries that they “are 100% committed to overcoming these obstacles and delivering for our customers nonetheless.”

However, many graduates paint a very different picture of Herff Jones.

Many customer service representatives were said to be unhelpful and rude, and many customers have been having a hard time getting refunds for their delayed merchandise. Even when students are receiving their orders, there are often elements missing, such as the tassels for graduation caps. Two graduates at Towson University even received Pace University gowns, embroidered with the Pace emblem.

Adding to supply issues, there is increased demand this year, after two years in which many schools did not hold in-person graduations. New York Uni-

versity is one of many institutions that invited graduates from 2020 and 2021 to march at their 2022 graduations, meaning that some schools need up to three times as many caps and gowns as usual.

Many students and schools are preparing contingency plans in case they do not receive their shipments. Some university students are turning to third-party vendors such as Amazon or their university store for their regalia. Towson University’s store ordered 1,000 gowns, on top of their original 500, in anticipation of the students’ needs. Many school newspapers, such as Florida A&M University’s The Famuan have encouraged students to reach out to their university store.

High schools are taking a different approach, appealing to alumni to donate their caps and gowns to current students.

Ida Baker and Mariner High Schools in Florida are set to receive their merchandise on the morning of Saturday, May 21, and their graduation is that same day at 2:30 p.m. However, those schools had so many donations that they are certain all students will be able to wear the traditional garb at their graduation, even if the shipment does not come in.

Rabbi Galpert confirmed that the shortages will not affect Yeshivah of Flatbush graduation, as caps and gowns were distributed to Flatbush seniors earlier this week. The school orders their graduation garb at the beginning of the school year to avoid these delays and ensure that all graduates are able to receive their cap and gown with ample time before graduation.

SGO election results cause controversy continued from page 1

had made. Rabbi Galpert, unable to disclose the poll numbers, instead offered them the option to rejoin the ballot for the final election.

Fouerti told The Phoenix that his goal was never readmission: “I didn’t really want to rejoin the election because it makes me look like I was a sore loser, I cheated, or bought my way back into it, and I never want to be that person.”

Fouerti and Mosseri were put back on the ballot, while others—specifically Rosie Ruben and Marsha Kairy, who lost the Secretary and Junior Commissioner primaries, respectively—were left off, despite having dealt with the same time disadvantage. Rabbi Galpert explained that this was due to those elections not being “close enough” and therefore the changed ballot times would not have influenced the elections enough for a revote.

Ruben, however, argued that the fact that only some candidates were added back is unfair. She said that adding only two candidates back damaged the legitimacy of the election as a whole. And she’s not alone: over 67 percent of students polled were upset that some but

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not all candidates were readmitted.

While some students were angry after the candidates were initially added back in, many didn’t believe that it would make a difference. However, Fouerti defied those expectations by defeating Stephanie Dayan in the new Vice Presidential primary. “When we heard in the office that Fouerti won, it was a very sour feeling all around. Nobody knew what to do. They decided to talk it out and came to the conclusion that Fouerti would accept it because he’d worked hard for it,” said junior Danny Hanan, who was ultimately elected as Vice President over Fouerti. However, many people struggled to accept the results. An anonymous sophomore declared, “Stephanie got cheated out of the race. That’s all there is to say.”

Terzi, who eventually won his election, was one of many students who questioned the integrity of this readmission. Referring to students who could not vote at 8 because they were still in bed, he stated, “No matter what, we shouldn’t reward people who don’t come to school on time.”

Rabbi Galpert explained that there’s

By Elisha Kahan Contributing Writer

The tochacha, a main portion of Parashat BeChukotai, deals with the ramifications of B’nei Yisrael leaving Hashem. Rashi interprets seven sins that one commits in order to bring these curses. First, he begins by not studying Torah law, which brings him to stop performing the mitzvot. Next, he begins to spite those who do the mitzvot, especially the Chachamim who guard the mitzvot. Finally, he restrains others from doing mitzvot, denies that the mitzvot came from Hashem, and then denies the existence of Hashem.

These tochachot are seen by the Chachamim as dealing predominantly with the destruction of the first Temple. This connection is strengthened by the tochacha’s use of the phrase “Geon Uzechem,” or roughly, “the pride of your strength.” The same phrase is also used in Yechezkel’s description of the first temple and its destruction. Perhaps the use of this term is revealing that B’nei Yisroel used the glory of Hashem to boost their own pride and ego.

One further connection between the churban and this tochacha is the discussion of B’nei Yisroel disobeying the laws of Shemitah, thus giving rise to their exile so the land could finally get a “break.” Shemitah effectively causes a two-year period when we cannot rely on our own labor. Every seven years, Shemitah comes about, and we are commanded to let the land lie fallow. The next year, we have to wait for the crops we just planted to grow, and we still have to rely on old produce. Rashi does a calculation here, demonstrating that the 70 years

a difference when there’s people pressuring you first thing in the morning. “The morning is a crucial time for campaigning and some candidates were not given this,” he said. Rabbi Galpert also acknowledged that the pressuring culture of SGO elections is definitely not a good thing, “but unfortunately the reality.”

Many candidates felt that the readmission of anyone, regardless of the reason, turns the entire election into a mockery.

One candidate who did not want to be quoted by name explained, “It made the entire election seem rigged because once something is called in a sports game or

in exile after the churban of the Beit Rishon perfectly correspond to the years Bnei Yisrael forwent Shemitah.

Shemitah requires a person’s faith in Hashem that He will provide for him, something Bnei Yisroel lacked.

If the Shemitah cycle requires faith in Hashem, then Yovel, which occurs every 50 years, requires an even stronger conviction. Yovel immediately follows a Shemitah year, and forces one to go one more year without working the land. Furthermore, all lands go back to their original owners, in an extraordinary expression of recognition that, in reality, everything belongs to Hashem. The Yovel cycle also has deep-rooted connections to the upcoming holiday of Shavuos. The 49 years in the Yovel cycle before Yovel can be seen as corresponding to the 49 days that we count before Shavuos. Furthermore, Parshas Behar mentions specifically that the mitzvah of Yovel was given at Har Sinai, when we already know that all the mitzvot were given at Har Sinai. To reinforce the connection, at Har Sinai, Bnei Yisroel was only allowed to ascend the mountain at the sound of the blowing of the “Yovel” blast. Perhaps, just like Shabbat recreates the atmosphere of the creation of the world, Yovel allows people to recreate the spirit of Har Sinai, the momentous occasion where all of Bnei Yisroel answered “Naaseh V’Nishma” and accepted the yoke of Torah upon themselves.

May we be zocheh to perform the mitzvot which we received at Har Sinai with alacrity and accept upon ourselves the reliance in Hashem required from us in the year of Yovel, so that we will be blessed with only the brachos of Parashat BeChukotai.

anything, you just can’t change the call.

Even if it was unfair, you still can’t change the original results.” These feelings were shared by newly elected Secretary Benji Lin, who stated, “Listen, is it a mock of SGO? No. It’s a mock of democracy.”

Gabe Levy, who was elected Treasurer, is another candidate who felt strongly about this. “I don’t think any of it was valid at all. Two hours earlier, two hours later. It doesn’t matter. Bottom line, the people don’t want them,” Levy said. Terzi agreed and declared that the results of the final election proved that, in the end, “justice serves justice.”

High gas prices having little effect on students continued from page 1

fect me at all. I honestly forgot they were so high because I haven’t been to a gas station in a while.”

On the other hand, junior Eli Mizrahi said that he and some other students have switched to public transportation so they can spend their money on better things than gasoline. “I recently started driving, and I am already paying for the lease monthly. The gas is a whole other

issue,” he said. “I would rather use my student Metrocard and get to and from school daily for free. This will save me lots of money by not buying so much gas, and I would be able to spend that money in different and better ways. I would rather use the money to support others in need and donate it to charitable organizations.”

Entertainment Is Netflix in danger?

By Teri Chalouh Contributing Writer

After losing 200,000 subscribers in the first quarter of 2022, Netflix is introducing a new streaming plan that includes commercials for a cheaper price for viewers at the end of 2022. The company will also be implementing more stringent rules about password sharing at the same time.

Despite these efforts, the company is projected to lose 2,000,000 more subscribers by the end of the second quarter—ten times that of the first quarter.

Many people are switching to other platforms such as Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, and Amazon Prime for better content and entertainment for their buck. Less than a decade ago, the regular Netflix plan cost $7.99. Now, it costs $15.49 for the cheapest plan. Who knows how this price will change over the next couple of months as more subscribers unsubscribe and thus more money is lost by the company.

Additionally, people are less ecstatic about Netflix’s entertainment options, as Netflix is removing many fan-favorite and blockbuster shows and restoring

their platform with more Netflix originals. For example, they are removing Downton Abbey, The Night Shift, Gossip Girl, Zapped, Julie and the Phantoms, and many more. Any new show that’s not an instant success mostly likely doesn’t stand a chance of lasting long on Netflix’s platform. Even if it does become popular, shows have had to be taken off of the platform because Netflix’s rights to the title of the show expired or it may be too costly to license.

Netflix has also been losing their subscribers for different reasons that are beyond their control. For example, with schools and offices reopening, fewer people are home to watch television.

Secondly, there is massive rivalry among the streaming industry giants. While Netflix has Stranger Things, for example, Disney+ has Marvel and the Star Wars trilogy, Amazon Prime Video has The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and The Lord of the Rings, and HBO Max has DC and Game of Thrones spinoffs.

As competition rises among services and the price of a Netflix account continues to rise, Netflix has not been a top choice lately. The future does not seem positive for Netflix.

Stranger Things recap for season 4

By Marcelle Setton Entertainment Editor

In preparation for the fourth season of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things set for release on May 27, let’s get a quick recap of the last three seasons.

Season one begins in November 1983 in Hawkins, Indiana, with the disappearance of Will Byers, and the search for him by his mom Joyce, his brother Jonathan, and friends. Will’s friends Dustin, Lucas, and Mike start their search in the forest, where they come upon a girl with a shaved head in a hospital gown. The boys bring her to Mike’s basement and discover that her name is Eleven and that she has psychokinetic abilities.

Joyce is convinced that her son is trying to communicate with her. Jim Hopper, the town’s police chief, begins to investigate the nearby laboratory after he discovers a piece of a hospital gown in the forest. When Mike’s sister Nancy attends a party at her boyfriend Steve’s house, her friend Barb is abducted by the same unseen monster that took Will. Will’s body is discovered, but Eleven proves that Will is still alive using radios to project the sound of Will’s voice. Nancy and Jonathan then team up to learn more about this monstrous creature, the Mind Flayer. Hopper discovers that Will’s body is a fake. He goes to the laboratory and discovers a gate to an alternate dimension, but is knocked out by agents and soon wakes up at home. Dustin, Lucas, and Mike nickname the alternate dimension

the “Upside Down.” Flashbacks from Eleven show that she accidentally opened up this gate after being in contact with the Mind Flayer. Joyce and Hopper begin to learn more about Eleven and Dr. Brenner, the abusive doctor who helped her develop her abilities. Joyce and Hopper join with Nancy and Jonathan and share their knowledge on the Mind Flayer, and soon join the kids. The group helps enhance Eleven’s powers so she can see Will and Barb without entering the Upside Down; she discovers that Barb is dead but Will is alive. The group sneaks into the laboratory, enters the Upside Down, and rescues Will. At the school, the kids get trapped by agents and a monster, but Eleven saves the boys, killing the agents and the monster. Eleven vanishes and everything pretty much goes back to how it was before. Hopper leaves a box of Eggos in the woods, Eleven’s favorite, in hopes that she will come back. However, Will coughs up a slug-like baby Mind Flayer in his bathroom sink and gets a flash into the Upside Down.

Season two starts at Halloween time, 1984 with three new characters: Billy the mulleted “bad boy” and his step-sister Max the skateboarder, and Joyce’s boyfriend Bob, who manages the local Radio Shack. The season begins with a group of criminals who kill a man; among them is a girl named Kali, who is marked “008” and has powers similar to Eleven’s. Will keeps having flashbacks to the Upside Down. Eleven has been gone for over a year but returns to Hawkins, and Hopper

Controversy embroils new Percy Jackson show

By Jenna Ashkenazie Entertainment Editor

If you are a fan of Rick Riordan’s books, you probably know that his most popular book series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, is making its smallscreen debut next year. In 2010, the first book, titled Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, was adapted into a movie. In 2013, the second book, Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters, was adapted with Logan Lerman playing the title role, Alaxandra Daddario playing Annabeth, and Brandon T. Jackson playing Grover. The movies gained terrible reviews from fans of the books and from the author himself. This is why the third book titled The Titan’s Curse was never adapted into a movie. Now, however, Riordan is giving his books another shot at being adapted, this time for TV, and with him helping to write the script himself and oversee casting.

When Walker Scobell, an up-andcoming actor known for playing Ryan Reynolds’s younger self in Netflix’s The Adam Project, was cast as Percy Jackson, fans were extremely excited. They anticipated the announcement of who would play Annabeth and Grover. When the announcement came, there were very mixed feelings. Aryan Simhadri, known for his role in the reboot of Cheaper by the Dozen, was cast as Grover, and Leah Sava Jefferies, best known for her role in Beast, was cast as Annabeth. Fans of the books were unhappy with the choice of Jefferies due to the fact that she is black, and not light-skinned as Annabeth is described in the books. Additionally, being blonde is a central aspect of Annabeth’s character. She is constantly trying to takes her in as his child. They live in a remote cabin to stay hidden.

On Halloween night, Will sees a shadow in the woods and gets possessed by it.

Dustin discovers the slug-like creature in his trash at home, which he names D’Artagnan (Dart, for short) and keeps as a pet. Will is continuously picturing a dark spiderlike shadow creature inhabiting his mind, and draws it. Nancy and Jonathan get caught by lab agents. Nancy gets a confession from the lab doctors that they’re responsible for Barb’s death.

Hopper discovers a tunnel to the Upside Down in a pumpkin patch, but gets stuck.

Will has a vision of where Hopper is and, with Bob’s help, they locate him. Dart has grown into a ferocious demogorgon, and Steve joins the kids and Nancy and Jonathan to fight it. Eleven runs away to find her biological mother, Terry.

Joyce, Bob, Will, and Mike save Hopper and set the tunnel on fire, which causes Will to collapse. They discover that any damage to the tunnels will cause pain to the monster inhabiting Will, hurting Will as well. Dart reappears with several identical demogorgons. Eleven goes to Chicago and meets Kali; the two bond over their powers. Eleven has a vision

prove herself as someone smart to overcome the “dumb blonde” stereotype.

While this fact may have upset many fans, it does not upset Rick Riordan, who supports the decision. He condemned all those who were upset about the casting. He explained, “The core message of Percy Jackson has always been that difference is strength. There is power in plurality. The things that distinguish us from one another are often our marks of individual greatness. … You should never judge someone by how well they fit your preconceived notions. That neurodivergent kid who has failed out of six schools, for instance, may well be the son of Poseidon. Anyone can be a hero. If you don’t get that, if you’re still upset about the casting of this marvelous trio, then it doesn’t matter how many times you have read the books. You didn’t learn anything from them.”

He continues on to say, “I have been clear, as the author, that I was looking for the best actors to inhabit and bring to life the personalities of these characters, and that physical appearance was secondary for me. We did that. We took a year to do this process thoroughly and find the best of the best. This trio is the best. Leah Jeffries is Annabeth Chase.”

Alexandra Daddario, the original Annabeth, jumped in to lend her support, saying, “Leah Jeffries is going to be an incredible Annabeth!!!”

Hopefully all the backlash over Leah’s casting will die down, and everyone will be able to see that she will be an incredible Annabeth.

Filming for the show will begin soon in Vancouver and will air on Disney+ sometime in 2023.

that Mike and Hopper are in danger, so she returns to Hawkins. At the lab, Bob gets attacked by a demogorgon and dies while the rest of the group escapes. Joyce discovers that Will is using morse code to communicate with them; he tells them to “close gate.” Eleven rejoins the group, empowered from communicating with her mother and Kali, claiming that she can close the gate. The group uses heat to remove the virus/monster from Will’s body. At the lab, Eleven channels her anger and successfully closes the gate. A month later, Nancy publicizes the tape, and a proper funeral is finally held for Barb. Hopper gets an official birth certificate naming him as Eleven’s legal guardian. The season ends with the kids enjoying themselves at a school dance, but the audience learns that the shadow monster is still alive.

Season three starts off with the Soviet Union attempting to open a gate to the Upside Down in 1984. One year later, in the summer of 1985, the new Starcourt Mall is the center for the people of Hawkins. Eleven and Mike are dating, and Hopper has a hard time handling that.

Nancy and Jonathan get jobs at The Hawkins Post. Dustin returns from camp and

phoenix@flatbush.org | 5

Fun & Games Ask Merle

By Merle Kassin Contributing Merle

Hey Merle, My friends and I were wondering what we could do now that the seniors are done. We’re juniors and would absolutely love to sit at the seniors’ spot in the Commons!

Thanks for the help, Hopeful Junior Dear Hopeful Junior, Of course, you will never be able to sit in the seniors’ spot. Although I must add, it’s refreshing that you even thought you had that chance.

I wish you luck, Merle Dear Merle, I’m a freshman now, but I was won-

dering if maybe I could get something at Chock? I run to the store every day and start out in the front of the line, but each time, the seniors end up pushing me to the back. Do you think now that the seniors are gone I can finally try a Chock bagel?

Send help soon, Freshie Sorry Freshie, If you’re getting pushed to the back now, being a sophomore isn’t going to help you! What I would recommend is to spend some time in Jack’s Gym. I bet no one will push you to the back anymore ;) Good luck, Merle Merle!

I’m really confused. Why are the juniors already acting like seniors? Do they get the title of senior already? The seniors are just now leaving, so why are new people already trying to take their place?

Always gazzed, Confused Child Dear Confused Child, Yes, the seniors are done, but these juniors are just playing pretend. They’ll only be seniors when they step back into school in September. Notice how the juniors are still walking around desperately trying to become seniors, while the real seniors can’t wait to leave.

I hope I clarified, Merle

The Last Text You Sent — Flatbush Edition 😊”

By Esther Shemia

welcome

Contributing Writer

Rabbi Prag to Dr. Wolowelsky: “Prospect Park tnt?”

Morris Hanan to Rabbi Beyda: “Come on, it’s definitely better than the Legacy skit!”

Mr. Rothbort responding to his wife: Wife: “Did you order another hat?? *Sends picture* Mr. Rothbort: “Come on, it’s the Mets!!”

Rabbi Avi Harari to Rabbi Dr. Raymond Harari: “Whose turn is it to speak at Mikdash Eliyahu this week??”

Ms. Chabot to Fiancé: “Have u booked Shaare Zion yet???? Btw, I def want Nathan Hassoun for Pizmonim ”

Rabbi Beyda to Rabbi Galpert: “Students want UberEats -EEEHHHHHHH -WE’RE NOT DOING THIS!”

Ms. Baltimore to Daughter: *Screenshot of the weather in Miami* “#funtimesandtanlines ”

Bobby Soffer to Mom: Mom: “The lice check ladies are coming back” Bobby: “Dw Ma, I’m good.”

😒😒

😆😍😊😅😽 😜🏖

Mark Mosseri to Solomon Terzi: “Cancelled the ping-pong table.

Enjoy the presidency.”

Senior Girls Grade Chat: “Just reserved Crawford’s spot, ur

6 | phoenix@flatbush.org

Coach Stern to Coach Dweck: “Feeling Just Dance today #tbt”

Anonymous Student to another: “Yo, bro please clutch up?” *Screenshot of QR code for Yaakov Shwekey concert*

Flatbush Fill-Ins: A Day in the Life of a Flatbush Student

By Joyce Louz Fun and Games Editor

I arrived at school absolutely exhausted. My friends and I stayed up late last night _____verb-ing_____ over Facetime. We were so upset to be in school on a _____day of the week_____, but I had to come to take a test on the study of _____plural noun_____.

As I _____verb-ed_____ through the Commons to get to class, I tripped on a/n _____noun_____ only to fall right on top of _____person’s name_____, a/n _____ adjective_____-looking senior. I was so embarrassed! Plus, I hurt my _____body part_____ really badly, so I had to walk around with a limp all day. The good news is they let me take the elevator, and Nurse Fayge gave me _____ food (plural)_____ to make me feel better.

Later that day, my friend was showing me this cool new game he plays with _____plural noun_____. He figured out how to get the game on his calculator so that his cosine button can actually _____

verb_____ bad guys.

During lunch, I ran into _____teacher’s name_____ buying _____plural noun_____ at 7/11. I could have sworn

he/she had [number] of those already stuffed in his/her bag! Anyways, I _____ adverb_____ decided to take a risk by texting my mom to sign me out of school.

“Hey, Mom! I just heard that someone was found _____verb-ing_____ on the train today. I’m very _____adjective_____ and would rather not ride home to school. Can you pick me up before _____time_____ please?”

I spent the rest of my day looking for the _____noun_____ I lost in school last _____day of the week_____. That was until I heard the breaking news: _____person’s name_____ was running for SGO! He/she promised to hold an event dedicated to the protection of _____plural noun_____ in the community. I was so filled with _____emotion_____, I almost _____verb-ed_____ when I heard the news!

Stranger Things recap for season 4 continued from page 5

claims that he has a girlfriend named Suzie, which no one believes, while Billy becomes a lifeguard at the community pool. Steve works at the mall’s ice cream shop, Scoops Ahoy, with a new character, Robin Buckley.

At work, Nancy gets a call from a woman named Doris Driscoll concerning infected rats. Hopper confronts Mike and forces him to break up with Eleven.

After crashing his car, Billy gets dragged by vines. After being freed, he experiences a vision of the Upside Down where clones of himself order him to build an army. Joyce finally agrees to go out with Hopper. Jonathan helps Nancy with her infected rats case, while Dustin intercepts a Russian transmission and asks for Steve and Robin’s help in translating it. Billy attacks and kidnaps his coworker Heather and brings her in front of a creature. Eleven and Max investigate Billy’s room and discover that Heather is in the void in a tub of ice. Using secret tunnels behind the stores in the mall, Steve, Robin, and Dustin see Russians moving equipment in a guarded room. Eleven and Max find Heather with Billy and it looks like she’s fine. Billy recognizes Eleven, and Will begins to feel the Mind Flayer’s presence again. The group figures out that the Mind Flayer must be taking up Billy as a new host. They make a plan while the rest are still at the mall spying on the Russians and are soon joined by Lucas’s little sister, Erica. Eleven, Mike, and Will trap Billy in the sauna after he attacks them. Mrs. Driscoll is taken to the hospital, but she is soon dragged out by vines just like Billy was. Hopper fights one of the Russsians at the lab while Joyce escapes, and Nancy calls Jonathan

to tell him that Will may be in grave danger. Hopper and Joyce question the Russian scientist, Alexei. The two take Alexei to meet an acquaintance of Hopper named Murray, who knows Russian.

Nancy and Jonathan go to the hospital to see Mrs. Driscoll but they are attacked by all the people who have been infected (“flayed”). Steve, Dustin, Robin, and Erica are found by the Russians, while at the hospital Will senses the Mind Flayer’s presence and alerts the others. Eleven uses her powers to get the monster out of the building. In Illinois, Alexei eventually sides with the Americans and tells Hopper what the Russians have been doing. Eleven taps into Billy’s childhood, seeing all of the abuse and hardships that he went through. While Hopper and Joyce infiltrate the Russian base, Dustin is finally able to contact his girlfriend Suzie and gets the vault code that Hopper and Joyce need. Eleven is kidnapped by Billy, but as he pins her down she describes Billy’s happiest memories, which breaks the Mind Flayer’s hold on him.

This break is long enough for Billy to sacrifice himself to save Eleven. Finally underground, Joyce closes the gate to the Upside Down, killing the Mind Flayer.

However, Hopper is left in a room that explodes.

Three months later, Joyce has custody of Eleven, whose powers seem to have weakened to nothing. Joyce has taken Johnathan, Will, and Eleven outside of Hawkins to start fresh. In the end credit scenes, the audience sees a secret prison in Russia, where a guard is instructed to leave “the American” inside his cell.

Is Hopper alive? Season four will likely provide answers, and new questions.

Standard of Fabulous Hop on these summer trends

By Sylvia Saad

summer home in New England. A neutral-colored matching set with flip-flops and Raybans is the modern twist. It also ties into the clean-girl aesthetic the internet has been promoting for the past few months. The “coastal grandma” outfits fit perfectly with your slicked-back bun and light makeup.

The makeup trends this summer,

Contributing Writer

As the summer swiftly approaches, finalizing one’s summer wardrobe is arguably the most important thing on any to-do list. This summer, the looks will be bold and bright, both literally and figuratively. Styles from every decade are coming out to play, with the ’80s and early 2000s being of great influence on style right now.

Have a fancy internship? For the perfect business look, break out your classic pants suit, but add a little spunk. Switch out the usual neutral color for a suit that stands out in shades that range from orange to sea green. This elevates the simplicity of the suit and gives it a more summery feel. You can even pair it with a swimsuit to go out at night.

Y2K fashion is back in style, likely spurred by the popularity of looks of this kind on TikTok. Think butterflies, asymmetrical hemlines, and low-rise bottoms. The common motif is every-

thing Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, and Amanda Bynes wore 20 years ago on the red carpet.

It’s officially time to dig up your mom’s old platform sandals because platform heels and sandals are making a comeback this summer. The casual slide can be worn to run errands or hang out by the pool for a relaxed, yet stylish effect. Although Versace was the originator of the sky-high platform heels that started this trend, you can also purchase similar heels at stores like Steve Madden, Zara, and Asos. The extremely high heel can be worn out to dinner with a pair of tailored pants for a touch of elegance.

Moreover, the “old money aesthetic” is probably the best way to describe the new “coastal grandma” trend.

The idea is to wear chic, clean clothes a rich grandmother would wear at her

By Shirley Jajati Contributing Writer

referencing the ’90s, Euphoria, and of course Y2K, are eclectic. There is a very obvious nod to icons from the ’90s, with the resurgence of frosted shadows and thin brows. Although the eyes and lips are taking front and center, the skin is taking a more glowy and subdued route. The bold eye and lip looks are now able to attract all the attention.

Luxury brands increase prices

By Leah Lati Contributing Writer

Luxury brands from Louis Vuitton to Gucci to Hermes to Chanel have been raising their retail prices at a steady pace.

The materials are more expensive, and labor costs have risen. So far, the luxury shoppers have accepted the increases.

But that mood may not last so long.

Inflation is one of the many factors that affect the sky-high prices of luxury goods or products. Some companies mask the reason for these drastic price changes by labeling it as “price adjustment.” This takes into account the rising production costs, raw materials, transportation, and overall inflation. These high end brands raise their prices because they can. To make products more desirable, companies make them less accessible. They know that people will still buy their products despite the cost.

Luxury goods have high income elasticity, meaning that the more income a consumer has, the more they will purchase luxury goods. So, as 2022 continues to see household income and spending rise (by ~4%), luxury goods are in the perfect position to suddenly become more

expensive.

However, Hermes is not as affected by inflation as other companies may be.

Speaking to CNBC, CEO Axel Dumas said the company’s hand-crafted production model means it is less exposed to inflationary pressures, such as increasing energy costs, than many of its rivals that have warned of price hikes.

“There is no strategy at all to create growth through unnecessary price increases,” Dumas stated. “We have very limited inflation because our main tool to create our bags is hand stitching,” he continued, noting that price hikes are largely driven by wage increases for the artisans who create the company’s famed Birkin and Kelly handbags. Full year results showed Hermes increased global prices by 3.5% on average in 2021, above the usual rate of 1.5%, reflecting a rise in production costs and currency fluctuations. That’s well below the more aggressive price increases of competitors, such as Louis Vuitton, which hiked prices by an average of 7% worldwide.

There is also a raise in the price of luxury goods when the demand for the products is higher than its supply. Forbes estimates that the prices of the mer-

Japan ahead of its textile time

chandise have increased by 17-25% as of April 2022. The post-pandemic increase in demand is the major driver of luxury prices, but there is another factor: the law of scarcity. Chanel is one example of a company where this is exhibited. As the company gained popularity last year due to the growing local luxury reselling market and “revenge spending” trend, which is impulsive spending driven by the frustration of missing opportunities due to Covid-19, some rich consumers have been turning away from the brand.

“I decided not to visit Chanel boutique anymore after watching a bunch of people waiting outside the store,” said a 43-year-old who has been using Chanel products for over twenty years.

Real inflation has hit the luxury market hard and luxury shoppers may abandon their favorite brands. Of course, the sophisticated customer may still want to pay the higher prices. For instance, a Chanel bag nearly doubled in price in the past five years and customers continued to pay the price. Nonetheless, that may change soon. Even luxury customers may resist the high prices luxury brands are charging.

What do you do with your clothes once they are all worn out? Donate them?

Throw them out? Well, Japan has found the solution of the century! Japan upcycles clothing and creates one of a kind looks using boro textiles, biodegradable fabrics, and computerized Wholegarment knitting machines.

Japan takes boro textiles, which are fabrics that are worn out, and makes them fashionable again by patching them together and creating a Japanese vintage fabric. They have also discovered different ways to dye the fabrics that are better for the soil and waterways than regular clothes dye. Two of these processes are Kakishibu, a traditional Japanese dye which comes from unripe persimmons, and Shiburi, a Japanese manual tie-dyeing technique that uses indigo. Together they create unforgettable and unique looks that are also eco-friendly.

When it comes to saving the environment, Japan has definitely made its intentions clear with their new biodegradable clothes! Designers and scientists have worked together with one clear goal, and they have very clearly succeeded. They have created a process that uses biodegradable protein resins, that are derived from wool, and manipulates the material into the design and style they prefer.

Their biodegradable clothing has become such a hit that it’s even been advertised in other countries.

It’s not enough for Japan to just have created such eco-friendly fabrics. They have also invented machines to reduce the amount of fabric and thread that they use altogether. Using their new computerized Wholegarment knitting machines, they can sew and knit a “whole garment” in one go, without having to sew each piece of knitted fabric individually. They have also computerized samples, so that designers don’t need to waste fabric on samples of clothing until they know what they want. Instead, they can see their 3-D designs digitally, essentially wasting a lot less time and effort.

By using old traditional methods and new technology, Japan has become ahead of most of the world in the textile industry, while simultaneously helping the world environmentally.

phoenix@flatbush.org | 7

Sports Runners enjoying return to track

By Ninette Setton

that goes into 10 seconds of running is insane. Last year, because of Covid, there Contributing Writer weren’t any in-person races, which realFlatbush’s track program has en- ly sucked, but it made it so much better joyed real success in the Yeshiva League to be racing again this year against many in recent years, securdifferent schools!” ing championships in It has been a the girls division three long time comstraight seasons (2017, ing, and the teams’ 2018 & 2019), while members are cleara number of the boys ly happy to be back claimed top spots in a on track, and they number of individuare fortunate to al events. The runners have Coach Baum were thrown off course lead their training Sophomore Sam Sutton raced May 1 with the appearance of and competition.

Covid in the Spring of “I love getting the 2020. Head Coach Ari Baum and his col- chance to coach these kids! They each lection of Falcon runners were left with bring a passion for the sport that makes many afternoons to train without any the team a strong unit. They come to competitions in which the Falcons could each practice and competition full of entest themselves against actual opponents. ergy and the drive to cross the finish line Even worse was the loss of the intimacy first. Having missed out on this last year of community described by junior Mi- has made us all acutely aware that health chelle Baum, who said, “It’s like one big is a gift, as is community.” family. We’re always cheering each other The last official track meet occurred on, even at meets.” on Sunday, May 15 with a large turnout But athletes always rise to a challenge, of seven racers. Junior Eitan Yehoshand so the Flatbush track team found a ua described why the last meet was so new way to race. Racing against the im- meaningful to him: “Everybody gave it ages in their phone cameras—along with their all. … Under the pressure, I was times posted by opponents via Zoom— able to increase my speed for the mile by they made the best of bad options.

30 seconds, which is a huge increase, and So, when Spring 2022 brought with it luckily I was able to score third place in the opportunity for the return to a more the 1600 meter [1 mile] speed dash.” normal competition experience, the FalEven though the season is over, the cons lost no time returning to the track track team is taking it upon themselves and to in-person, head-to-head compe- to independently integrate track practice tition against other schools. “I love being into their weekly schedule. Freshman on Track because it makes me push my- Ben Matsas even committed to runself to be better and it reminds me to not ning 10 miles each week during sumgive up,” said Baum, a sentiment echoed mer break! Yehoshua described how the by junior Jacob Coopersmith. “Track is racers motivate each other to do better, mentally one of the hardest sports,” Coo- cheer each other one, share their accompersmith explained. “In track you have plishments on the group chat, and conto fight for each millisecond, and it can gratulate each other with motivational be the difference between first second comments like “Congrats,” “Keep it up!” or even third place. The amount of work and “Beast!”

Sportsman Spotlight:

Antar and Hamway finish four years on the diamond

By Simone Amkraut Sports Editor

In most schools baseball is strictly a Spring sport, with tryouts in March and the season running until June. At Flatbush, the baseball team has been a yearround venture for the team’s two co-captains, seniors Mark Antar and Eddie Hamway.

Not only are the pair four-year veterans of the squad, they are also the heart of the team. Hamway serves as the team’s field general from behind the plate as he fills the role of starting catcher, and Antar serves from the mound as the team’s ace pitcher.

Both Antar and Hamway have been on the Flatbush baseball team for all four

8 | phoenix@flatbush.org

years of high school. They have had the privilege of learning from upperclassmen who passed down both the rules of the game and the expectations of what it means to be part of a team.

Antar is highly aware of this culture, having been on the team for four years.

“We’re a Spring sport which means we begin playing games in April, but we start practicing from September. This usually means practice once or twice a week. All year. So, as you can imagine we have a lot of people who come and go; people are scared of the work and don’t want to commit. What’s left is a lot of guys who want to work and get better and are committed.

That’s the culture our team has. Being the captain of this team, I try to push that culture heavily and motivate my teammates

Tennis teams red hot entering playoffs

By Shelly Zebak Contributing Writer

The Flatbush Falcons tennis teams have been dominant all season and now are gearing up for the playoffs and hopefully the championships.

By winning the competition against North Shore that took place during the evening of May 19, the boys tennis team clinched the No. 2 seed in the Eastern conference.

At first, the girls team wasn’t sure if they clinched the first or second seed in the conference. The girls were winning their competition against HAFTR on May 18, but the game was stopped short before either team got enough points to officially win the match. Junior Beverly Dweck then went back to finish the game on the subsequent Sunday, and clinched the top seed in the Eastern conference.

As of now, the boys’ final record is 4-2 (with the team beating Magen David, YDE, Rambam, and North Shore) and the girls’ is undefeated, having beaten SKA, Magen David, HANC, Shulamith-LI, North Shore, and HAFTR. The boys’ lineup for the playoffs will look just like it did all season: senior Moe Sutton will play the first singles game, junior Eitan Yehoshua the second, and senior Richard Cohen the third. Sophomores Eric Azrak and Bobby Falack will play the first doubles game, and sophomores Sam Sutton and Momo Shamah will play the second.

The girls’ lineup for the playoffs will also match the typical lineup for their regular-season games, with sophomore Marsha Gindi playing the first singles game, senior Nicole Levy the second, and junior Robyn Beyda the third. Sophto be the best players they can be through hard work.”

This camaraderie and belief in the synergy of the team helped them get through last season, when they went 0-6. “We were an embarrassment to the league,” Antar reflects. “Now we’re leading our division and playoff bound. The team turned things around by believing we can do it and seeing it through. As captain of this team, I’m proud of what we accomplished so far and I’m excited for what’s to come.”

Hamway shares a similar sentiment: “Over the past four years, I’ve obviously learned and grown a lot with my play on the field but even more so off the field.

I’ve formed relationships with coaches and teammates that will last way past high school. Part of the reason we’ve been able to go from last place in our division last year to the top of the division this year is the team chemistry. The guys I’ve spent so much time playing and practicing have become some of my closest friends and that has elevated our play on the field.”

Speaking with a number of players, it is clear that the boys are committed to

omore Jennifer Oved and junior Beverly Dweck will play the first doubles game, and freshmen Lynn Dweck and Emma Kamagi will play the second.

The playoffs hold a specific significance to boys tennis team captain senior Moe Sutton and senior Richard Cohen.

They both lost in a very close match to Heschel in the championships when they were freshmen. Being robbed of the opportunity to win in sophomore and junior years because of Covid-19, the two are even more determined to win it all this year. The boys’ team is currently seeded fourth in the whole league, but Sutton stated that “the team is gearing up to win the whole thing.”

The girls team is loving the fierceness of the challenge all the way through.

Coach Robyn Dweck said that a group of girls are made better individual competitors because of the support they have from their larger team. Although tennis is such an individual sport, the girls make up a dedicated community that is stronger than the sum of its parts.

“This year’s girls tennis team is a group of incredibly talented and determined girls,” said Coach Dweck. “With playoffs coming up, I think we have a very good chance of making it to the finals and bringing home a first place trophy!”

Junior Robyn Beyda echoes the sentiment, observing that “playing on the team has definitely made me appreciate the game a lot more! Tennis is usually an individual sport so it’s great and really encouraging to be playing alongside other girls. It’s definitely a nice feeling to be winning, but I think what’s more important are the experiences and memories we get out of playing a team sport.”

Antar (left) and Hamway talk strategy during their 12-5 win at MCU Park winning games together, and not collecting individual statistics. “We build runs together, and we give 100% in the field, always looking to see who needs a little support at his back,” said Antar, a sentiment echoed by many of the players.