A Student Publication of the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School • 1609 Avenue J, Brooklyn, New York • Issue 2 • November 2015 / 5776
Classroom Recycling Bins, But No Recycling
By Gabi Cohen School News Editor
Recycling garbage bins with colorful handprints and green tops are seen in every classroom, but their contents are not actually being recycled, according to Ms. Mikhli, who oversees the Eko Commission. Rabbi Haber, formerly in charge of the Eko Commission, started the recycling project with his student team around five years ago. Several classes sponsored the actual trash cans, others donated money for the rest, an d the Eko Commission set to work. They spray painted the bins, put handprints on them, and put them in every classroom. A great plan, with even better intentions, was thwarted by some unexpected problems. Instead of having separate bins for paper, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles, the donations only allowed for one mixed bin for all recyclables. Additionally, students did not cooperate by properly recycling, often using recycling bins and regular trash bins interchange-
Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel
No matter which bin you use, trash ends up in the same place.
ably. Most significantly, the janitorial staff does not actually separate between regular and recycled garbage. In New York City schools are not legally required to separate recyclables from their regular trash. Hence, the city’s garbage trucks do not collect recyclables from the Yeshivah of Flatbush.
Ms. Mikhli said she plans on improving the situation. Ms. Mikhli and Rabbi Haber both stress how important recycling is in a high school, especially considering the amount of paper thrown away each day. The plan for this year is to properly distinguish between paper and cans to be recycled, and to find a way to make sure it is separated from the regucontinued on page 2
New Teacher Profile: Mr. Horowitz By Mary Jajati Sophomore Editor
After putting in a claimed 10,000 hours of “teaching” before he finished college because of all the time he spent in his chavruta, tutoring, and arguing with teachers, Mr. Shai Horowitz started his first real teaching job straight out of college and has loved it ever since. Before coming to Flatbush to teach STEM I and II, Coding and Physics to
In This Issue Religion: Parashat Vayeira calls for unity Page 3
9th, 11th, and 12th graders, Mr. Horowitz taught at Mesivta Ateres Yaakov, a boys’ yeshiva high school in Lawrence. In addition to his classes at Flatbush, Mr. Horowitz is in his fourth year teaching at Kingsborough Community College. Although he didn’t attend Flatbush, his father did, and is “super excited that I’m continuing the legacy,” Mr. Horowitz says. Growing up in Cedarhurst in the 1990s when there was no Facebook, Netflix, or texting, Mr. Horowitz “watched my fair share of TV” because it was the only escape from being productive, talking to people, or getting out. He loves to tinker, fix things and solve puzzles. “That’s probably why I love teaching STEM,” he added, noting that he secretly has a background in math. He also enjoys jogging and watching Breaking Bad. When asked how he spent his sum-
mer, Mr. Horowitz excitedly shared, “I became a father!” His daughter Sophie is three months old now. He also spent three days at a STEM seminar in preparation for teaching the course at Flatbush. There the teachers did many of the projects that continued on page 2
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Flood Moves Seminar Back to the Berkeley
By Gabriel Vizgan and Sally Elbaz Seniors and juniors are going back to the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel for their respective Seminars, and students are abuzz to go back to the hotel that holds so many memories. What brought on this change, though? Dean of Students Rabbi Besser, who runs Seminar, was forced to find a new venue for Seminar last year when new management at the Berkeley decided to prioritize potential weddings over Seminar when taking reservations. All four Seminars last year were held instead at the Hotel Somerset–Bridgewater in Somerset, NJ. The Somerset was not only more willing to let Rabbi Besser reserve space months in advance, it had the added benefit of being significantly closer to Brooklyn than the Berkeley is. Despite their nostalgia for the Berkeley, students enjoyed the new hotel. After all, it’s not the building that makes the experience, but rather the time spent with friends and faculty. Based on the positive experience at the Somerset, Rabbi Besser booked all four of this year’s Seminars there. He bartered continued on page 4
Sports: Girls’ hoops to play at Barclay’s Page 8 www.theflatbushphoenix.com | 1