The Phoenix 2017-2018 Issue 2

A Student Publication of the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School • 1609 Avenue J, Brooklyn, New York • Vol 52, Issue 2 • November 2017 / 5778

Homework​ ​Help​ ​Program​ Gaining Family Traction Seminar Will Stay Local

By Monique Abramson and Mary Jajati

A new initiative called Homework Help has begun in school this year to give students help in math and general studies subjects every weekday immediately after school. Students have been warming to the program slowly as their workloads have been intensifying. Ms. Bacon, who is overseeing the program, said she is hoping to see more students take advantage of the Homework Help program in the coming months.

“We want the parents to know we’re holding such a program, that it’s available and worthwhile,” she said, adding that the program has met her expectations so far despite the modest turnout.

Homework Help’s main goals is to aid students who are having some difficulty with a course before they get confused or start compiling poor grades. The administration also hopes to create an “or-

By Esther Hidary Junior Editor

Ms. Friedman, left, and Ms. Apfeldorf, second from right, work with students after school

ganized and quiet place where students can do their work.”

Ms. Friedman, Ms. Apfeldorf, and Senora Birman teach the program with help from recent Flatbush graduates Frida Eskenazy and Marcelle Cohen. The staff helps the students organize their assignments, study for tests, and maintain a good average.

Junior Sam Vaysman attends Home-

work Help and said he finds it very helpful and now plans on going twice a week.

However, he said he wishes the school would “split up the subjects by classroom so there is less noise in the learning environment.”

Ms. Bacon explained that there are many reasons Homework Help came about. “We have known for a long time

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New Computer Science Commission Prepares Students for AP Exam

By Sophia Sued Contributing Writer

The Computer Science Commission run by senior Moses Bakst and juniors Joe Braha and Jacob Khalili is one of the many new innovative commissions that has been added to Flatbush’s vast list of extracurricular activities. This commission meets once a week every Monday after school for a half-hour, during which the three commissioners mentor students as they learn the material for the AP Computer Science A exam, which they will take in May. During their weekly meetings, Bakst gives a lecture about an overall topic in Computer Science, and then the students complete a homework assignment online on the “CodeHS” website, which mimics what was taught in class that day.

“The goal of our commission is to take on people who have little to no coding experience and help them understand what coding is like in the real world,” Bakst said. The bulk of the course

In This Issue

World News: Weinstein scandal inspires women to speak out Page 3

is taught online, but the three commissioners help students along the way, answering any questions that they may have, and making sure they are prepared to ace the AP exam.

Bakst, Braha, and Khalili explained that the reason they created this commission is because last year they were given a similar opportunity to take an online computer science course, led by then-senior Joey Berkovitz, and take the AP exam with supervision of computer science teacher Mr. Horowitz. After they all scored 4s and 5s on the exam, they wanted to give this same opportunity to others. They decided to use the skills that Berkovitz helped them develop to create their own course on a larger scale to help teach others.

“We hope that by the end of the year, the students will have a good bearing on coding, and will be ready to take their skills to the next level,” Braha stated.

The requirements to partake in this commission are very simple: a basic understanding of algebra, the ability to take

on the amount of work provided, and a readiness and eagerness to learn. The class currently has 11 students.

The commissioners hope that coding becomes a more substantive course in the school, and that, even after they leave Flatbush, their commission will continue to teach students coding.

They want to inspire more students to take coding-based classes, especially the freshman who have coding classes right at their fingertips, because they feel learning code in itself can help students achieve great things.

The number of programming-related jobs has been increasing for several years and doesn’t appear to be slowing down.

Additionally, coding makes you think differently and more intelligently, about problems. Khalili stated, “The logical reasoning, and problem-solving skills learned in computer science are applicable in almost every field today, and will be for years to come.”

Entertainment: SpongeBob, the musical Page 5

Ask Merle: Help me, I’m hungry!

Page 7

After two years of hosting Yeshivah of Flatbush families for a Family Shabbaton, Rabbi Besser is making several major changes to this year’s program. Instead of a Family Shabbaton that goes from a Friday afternoon to Sunday morning, this year’s even will be held on a single Saturday, November 18th. The location will also change: instead of being housed at the Berkeley Hotel in Asbury Park, NJ, the newly named Family Shabbat will be held in the Yeshivah of Flatbush Elementary School.

The day will include a Shabbat meal, lots of singing, D’vrei Torah from students, and thought-provoking sessions throughout the afternoon. It will end with a Melaveh Malkah followed by family wars, chesed activities, rikudim, and a kumzitz.

The Flatbush Family committee implemented these changes so that those who were unable to get away for the weekend or could not afford to make it to the Shabbaton could still attend. However, the committee plans to go back to the weekend seminar format next year.

The goal of both the Shabbaton and the Shabbat is “to create inspirational exciting experiences for the family as a whole,” says Rabbi Besser. Both experiences give participants a chance to spend Shabbat together with their entire family and their Flatbush family. The Shabbaton and the Shabbat provide opportunities to connect and build relationships with rabbeim and teachers in a setting that is outside of school.

While the Shabbat will be missing some of the usual elements, many families are very excited to do this in their own neighborhood. Hosting the Shabbaton locally makes travel easier and allows people to create their own schedule. For example, if people aren’t able to make the lunch, they can attend the Melaveh Malkah. No matter what your favorite

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Sports: Flag Football team makes its debut Page 8 www.theflatbushphoenix.com | 1

Faculty Freshman:

Alumnus Interview:

Daniel Benamy (’02)

Mr. Robertson

By Leah Krym

Contributing Writer

By Jamie Ashkenazie

Mr. Mark Robertson, a new “addition” to the Math and Computer Science departments, is excited to be teaching the Flatbush freshmen coding and Algebra 1. His first introduction to Flatbush students was last spring; he taught a coding bootcamp during the Coding Day program and was impressed with how enthusiastic the students were, even though many students were still discovering coding and hadn’t had much exposure. The students were curious, engaged and eager to learn more, which propelled Mr. Robertson to continue his teaching career at Flatbush.

Mr. Robertson was born in Manhattan, but grew up on Staten Island with his two brothers and sister. Going to Xavier High School in Manhattan proved to be quite a commute: he had to take a bus, boat, and train twice a day. For college, he went to NYU. Professionally, Mr. Robertson has taught a college-level introduction to philosophy and formal logic. However, he particularly enjoys teaching abstract and formal systems such as algebra.

Therefore, he felt that teaching coding and math would be a good fit.

What he likes most about teaching, he said, is “seeing someone’s face when a new concept is finally clear to them after they’ve worked really hard to understand it.” As a teacher, Mr. Robertson wants to be there for his students as much as possible, and to acknowledge when they work hard to understand something and triumph. He’s inspired to teach be-

Daniel Benamy, Yeshivah of Flatbush JBHS class of 2002, has always been interested in learning how things work. He began tinkering around from a young age, always curious about the reason behind the things used daily.

Benamy now works as a software developer and manager for Datadog, a service that collects data from different locations to present a unified view of an entire stack. For him, getting a job after college wasn’t difficult; Benamy interned during his years at Flatbush, which helped him achieve his goals later on.

Benamy studied engineering at Binghamton University and then attended Columbia University to study computer science. He graduated in 2009 and went to work from there. “The work was easy after Flatbush, but being out on my own for the first time had some challenges,” he said.

As a high school student, Benamy was involved and well rounded. He joined A/V, a few art clubs, and even Spring Concert. But through it all, he says his best memories at Flatbush came

Contributing Writer

cause he feels that he’s good at explaining things and likes helping people, so he is eager to be helping students understand complicated topics in coding and math.

In his spare time he enjoys bicycling, reading about current events and spending time with his family and nieces and nephews.

Mr. Robertson’s best advice for Flatbush students is not to be afraid to ask for help. He believes that one of the most important life skills someone can have is “being able to tell when you can complete a task by yourself, and when you’ll need to get some help to complete it.” We all have different skills and strengths, he said, and that’s OK. Smart students know that they still have much more to learn and will ask for assistance when needed.

Mr. Robertson is open to questions and to helping his students succeed.

from spending time with his friends.

Today, Benamy is still in touch with his high school peers. His friendships were always what kept him going through the tough and stressful days of Flatbush. His wife, Leat, is a Flatbush graduate as well.

They met through mutual friends after

Benamy with his wife, Leat he had already graduated from Flatbush, and their relationship grew from there.

When asked if he had any advice for current Flatbush students, Benamy had a lot to say. He started off by suggesting to “make sure you’re getting a good bang for your buck in college. So many folks graduate with horrible debt that they didn’t fully understand the implications of going in.” In addition, he offered some advice not only for college but also for the rest of your life: “Be open minded. … There’s a whole world of people out there. Meet them! Some might stink, but some are awesome!”

Meet a Flatbush Family:

Ricky and Sarita Esses

By Sarah Dagmy Sophmore Editor

A new study found that older siblings can help boost younger siblings’ confidence and academic performance by being their role models, which is the case for Ricky and Sarita Esses, who are spending their senior and freshman year together in the Yeshivah of Flatbush.

Ricky is in 4-R and Sarita is in 1-V. Having a sibling in Flatbush has its advantages, especially when the siblings have a very close bond like Ricky and Sarita. As an older brother, Ricky encourages Sarita to get involved in as many sports and extracurricular activities as she can. “I told Sarita to make the most out of every opportunity in high school so she doesn’t regret having missed out on a true high school experience,” Ricky said. Ricky and Sarita share interest in athletic activities, but their interests di-

verge from there: Ricky plays tennis and hockey, whereas Sarita likes gymnastics and soccer.

The Esses siblings enjoy seeing each other in and out of school. Ricky and Sarita carpool with two other seniors, and they always have exciting conversations on the way to school. When seeing each other in the halls, Ricky and Sarita always say hi even when they’re a great distance apart. It’s wonderful seeing a familiar face in the halls and, as Ricky says, “It’s always fun dahaking around with her and her friends.”

Sarita is proud that she has her older brother around: “My biggest advantage in high school is having my own personal mentor who is always willing to help out whenever he can.”

Sharing a handful of teachers, both Ricky and Sarita appreciate being recognized as siblings by the faculty, allowing teachers to get to know them based on

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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one another. “We really enjoy teachers knowing we’re siblings because it gives them some background on who we are and who our family members are,” Ricky said.

Going to high school may be over-

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

whelming, but having a sibling in school can really help. However, Ricky and Sarita also have learned that you don’t need to share DNA in order to give or receive help. In the Yeshivah of Flatbush, we are all family.

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

Witness Theater Spawns “Nosh ’n Niggun” Project in the first two weeks of our program it planned our performance for the group,” became clear that this year’s group, both said participant Rachel Wolfe. survivors and students, has a ton of talNot only does the newly implemented ent. We have singers, musicians, dancers, Nosh ’n Niggun bring the Witness famiartists, poets—even a man who com- ly closer together by getting to know one poses opera! Realizing this inspired the another on a more casual, personal level, idea to feature these talents each week,” but also it will help form fundamental Shatzkes said. She added that she plans connections among all the participants, to incorporate these hidden talents into which is impåerative for the duration of the eventual Witness Theater produc- the program and an essential part of the tion, which will be performed as always drama therapy process. “Through Nosh on Holocaust Remembrance Day, Yom ’n Niggun, we’re forming even stronger Hashoah. bonds than ever because we can relate The first six weeks of Witness Theater with the survivors,” Witness Theater are dedicated to trust-building and cohe- participant Ronnie Menashe observed. sion in the group and in order to do so, Another student in the program, Talia the group expands on the idea of story- Ovadia, predicted, “I think it’ll bring us telling and creative responses, which is all much closer and on a different level.”

Vera explains how she learned to knit her own clothes, with help from perfectly exhibited in Nosh n Niggun.

Best of all, the overall program offers Ronnie Menashe and Jordan Senior “All of our activities in those six weeks great opportunities for the survivors, to make at least one home visit, in which create shared experiences and oppor- who genuinely enjoy being in the spotBy Daliah Ben-Ari each trio will spend time together out- tunities for the group to practice being light.

Editor-in-Chief side of school hours to explore common good listeners and Whether it be through poetry, a piece interests. Then, they will collectively de- creative thinkers,” of art, a song, or knitting project, every cide what to present and how they will said Shatzkes.

Because the Witness Theater participant is bound execute it. The students are meant to ento find a common ground within their courage the survivors to go out of their group as a whole Nosh ’n Niggun group. comfort zone and express what they are already spent quite Nosh ’n Niggun, meaning Eat and really proud of. “The first group to pres- some time interactPlay Music, is a newly created project ent made a cute little book of different ing, most students within the Witness Theater program stories from the life of one of the adults, are ready to display meant to discover and develop common specifically one who loves to talk. This their ideas. “I’m exskills, hobbies, and interests between stu- project is open-ended so that people can cited to present in dents and their partnered survivor. Each do whatever they want in their own cre- front of the group, week a different team showcases their ative way,” explained participant Jacque- although usually I wouldn’t be, because collaborative efforts to the Witness The- line Mizrahi. ater group as a whole.

The idea for Nosh ’n Niggun came I feel like I already After six weeks of familiarizing them- about as Sally Shatzkes, the director of made a connection selves with one another, two students are Witness Theater, noticed a particularly after I visited my Mira demonstrates how her mother used to cook, as paired with one adult and are required talented group of participants. “With- partner’s house and Barbara Chrem looks on

Weinstein Scandal Brings Finding Peace and Quiet Forth Culture Change D’var Torah:

Among Chaos

By Danielle Duchan Religion Editor

In parashat Vayeira, it seems like Avraham just can’t catch a break. First, he has visitors come by three days after his brit milah who announce that his wife, Sarah, will have a baby by the next year. Then he has to plead to G-d not to destroy Sodom, where his nephew lives.

Then he’s forced to move to Gerar as a result of a famine, where his wife is kidnapped by the king, Abimelech. Finally, Sarah has her child, but Avraham is forced to banish his other son and wife, Yishmael and Hagar, as a result of clashes between Sarah and Hagar. Just as everything is settling down, he’s commanded to sacrifice his son in the famous akeidah.

So, things are pretty hectic for Avraham.

Oddly enough, it is in this parasha full of chaos and destruction that we find many lessons about peace. More specifically, we find many lessons about shalom bayit and the nuances of family relationships.

The first lesson comes relatively early in the parasha. Sarah overhears the angelic visitors telling Avraham that she is going to have a baby. Naturally, as a 90 year-old woman, she laughs at the notion.

She says to herself, “Akharei baloti hayta li edna, va’adoni zaken” (“After I have become old and wrinkled, will I have

smooth flesh, especially when my husband is old?”) Yet when Hashem is later questioning Avraham about why Sarah laughs, he purposely omits the “adoni zaken” part to spare Avraham’s feelings.

It’s a classic case of “What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” Sometimes a little bit of omission can spare someone’s feelings and maintain the peace in a family.

Later in the parasha, we have the curious incident of the expulsion of Hagar and Yishmael. It seems very out of character for Avraham, who spent so much time praying and interceding on behalf of Sodom just because his nephew Lot lives there, to turn his back on his family members and send Hagar and Yishmael off into the desert.

This teaches us a very important lesson, one which we often try not to think about because it seems like a worst-case scenario. Sometimes it’s better to break up a family and separate from toxic family members rather than keep everyone together in chaos. In other words, sometimes the best way to maintain shalom bayit is to break up the bayit a little.

Essentially, sometimes peace within a family requires sacrifices, both small and big. And sometimes, even if it’s not for peace, you have to sacrifice. And if you’re Avraham, you have to sacrifice your son.

By Sharon Chappan World News Editor

The October 5 revelation that Harvey Weinstein, the founder of influential film studio Miramax, has been committing sexual harassment and assault throughout his career has led to a nationwide avalanche of women sharing their own stories of harassment and abuse.

Several Miramax employees, including Paul Webster, head of production at Miramax between 1995 and 1997, have spoken up about decades of appalling behavior by Weinstein. Webster and many others have admitted to knowing about Weinstein’s misconduct for decades, but said they were too afraid to say anything

earlier in fear of losing their jobs and being destroyed by Weinstein.

That fear is what seems to have changed most drastically since the accusations against Weinstein came to light.

Many stars including Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Lupita Nyong’o have since spoken out about being abused by Weinstein. More than 50 other women in Hollywood have since joined in. The exposure of Harvey Weinstein has sparked a revolution outside of Hollywood as well. Women and men around the country have been using the hashtag #metoo to share their own stories of sexual harassment and abuse.

Actress Alyssa Milano helped promote the #metoo hashtag, explaining

www.theflatbushphoenix.com | 3

Junior Starts Commission Flatbush Culture Club To Aid Africa Resurrected

By Daliah Ben-Ari Editor-in-Chief

By Moses Bakst Contributing Writer

Many commissions in the school can say they contribute to a higher cause, but only one is halfway across the world: Innovation Africa. Founded this year by junior Joe Kattan, the commission Innovation Africa aims to raise money and awareness to provide electricity for African villages in need. The commission is connected to a larger Israeli organization of the same name, and Kattan hopes to “use the power of the school” to help the organization power rural African villages.

Innovation Africa’s mission statement is to use “solar energy to pump clean water and provide schools, orphanages and medical clinics with light and refrigeration to store vaccines and medicines.”

The idea for the commission came after Kattan heard about the organization and felt that it would add much to the organi-

zation if he could get students involved, since many Flatbush students emphasize chesed and tzedakah.

“My goal for the commission is to send the money raised by the school to the Israeli organization, who will put it to good use in the villages,” explained Kattan. “We hope to raise money through various events that are in the process of being planned, and selling things during the school day.” He hopes that, if the commission is successful enough, they might be invited on a trip to Africa to put the money they raise to good use.

In the past nine years, the organization Innovation Africa has brought Israeli solar, agricultural and water technologies to over 150 projects in 8 African countries. With the establishment of the Innovation Africa commission in Flatbush, Kattan hopes to be a part of this larger organization and bring the rest of the school with him.

Family Seminar Will Stay Local continued from page 1

part is, you will walk away from the day gaining something.

“Jewish education can’t just be in the classroom,” Rabbi Besser said, explaining why he does Seminar so many times a year. “It’s an opportunity for growth in

spirituality and community bonding.”

What Rabbi Besser loves about Seminar is that it creates a feeling of unity, and creating opportunities for moments of clarity and inspirational experiences that unite us as a family and a community.

Masterpiece Theater, a long-defunct commission at Flatbush, is in the process of being revived. The program is meant to provide students with the opportunity to take advantage of New York City by exploring many of the fine cultural aspects that are available at our fingertips.

The commission is open to any student interested in attending various cultural events and performances throughout the course of the year in the humanities and the arts.

The program will consist of four events in total; two events will be concerts, and the other two will be an exhibition and a Broadway show. Preceding each event will be an informative pre-session, providing students with the proper background they need to fully appreciate the venue. The first event planned is a concert at Lincoln Center featuring the prominent pianist Emmanuel Ax. Junior Robert Adler is in charge of

recreating this club under the supervision of Ms. Hanon and Ms. Mauskop, and hopes to maintain a steady program so that students can fully experience the New York City arts scene. “One of my main goals is to recreate it almost like the original program. I honestly hope that students will care about culture and learning more about our great city’s venues,” Adler explained.

However, this isn’t the first attempt at resurrecting Masterpiece Theater. Adler expressed interest in Masterpiece Theater after hearing about it from his mother, who used to be a participant when she attended Flatbush. The program died out years later due to cost, and Adler attempted last year to restart it. “The first attempt last year ended in failure due to lack of participants. This time we have more people, so it will succeed,” Adler said. He added that students who join this program will overall become more well-rounded and gain an appreciation of cultural knowledge.

Weinstein Scandal Brings Forth Culture Change continued from page 1 that doing so “might give people a sense of magnitude to the problem.” Milano may have been correct, as the hundreds of thousands of #metoo tweets and Instagram and Facebook posts sparked a national conversation about how women from all walks of life are treated.

While the consequences to Weinstein have been swift and severe—he has been fired from his own company, ostracized by the media and long-time friends in Hollywood, and left by his wife—the fallout has been widespread. The number and prominence of women accusing Weinstein, as well as the volume of #metoo posts, seem to have shattered the taboo and fear that has kept so many women silent for so long. In the weeks since the Weinstein story first broke, dozens of women have accused several other prominent men of sexual abuse, includ-

ing Hollywood players such as screenwriter and director James Toback and even politicians such as former President George H.W. Bush.

With so many people talking about this issue, many big names in Hollywood are working to fix it. Matt Damon and Quentin Tarantino, among others, have publicly apologized for failing to step in to prevent Weinstein and others from abusing women. Additionally, several major studios have dropped Weinstein-related projects and have promised to avoid working with known abusers.

Nyong’o wrote in an op-ed for The New York Times that behavior like Weinstein’s “dies here and now.” If the public backlash against sexual abuse continues to gain traction, Nyong’o may be proven correct.

Rabbi Besser, center, joins in during Family Wars at last year’s Family Shabbaton

Homework​ ​Help​ ​Program​ Gaining Traction continued from page 1

that students needed help in their homework or in different subjects, yet the only subjects we have been able to help students with is math, and sometimes there has been science or Hebrew help, but there isn’t that much available,” she said.

She added that the changes to the school schedule were another factor.

“Since we no longer have Accelerated Tanakh or a built-in time to actually offer any remediation, we felt that students who really wanted it and needed it could now make sure they get it, either during their lunch time help or after school.”

This program replaces the math supple-

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ment program.

Ms. Bacon said that the Homework Help program could be very beneficial even for students who are simply waiting for a game or practice to start, since they can go to the program and get a head start on their studies, thus filling their downtime productively. Furthermore, she pointed out that this program would be an additional layer to the already existing Peer Tutoring program, which can occasionally fall through when the tutor has a heavy load of preoccupying school work.

Paltrow, McGowan, Jolie, and Nyong’o have all spoken out

Entertainment SpongeBob Splashes onto Turtles All The Way Down Broadway This Month Book Review:

By Rebecca Coopersmith Contributing Writer

After almost 20 years living in a pineapple under the sea, SpongeBob SquarePants will be making his Broadway debut in an eponymous musical.

Previews begin November 6 at the Palace Theater before the show officially opens to the public December 4.

The SpongeBob musical, directed by Tina Landau, first appeared in the Oriental Theater in Chicago. In the New York show, SpongeBob SquarePants will be played

by Ethan Slater and Patrick Star will be played by Danny Skinner. The rest of the cast includes several actors who performed in the Chicago version, including Lilli Cooper and Gavin Lee. The plot of the musical features SpongeBob working with his friends to save Bikini Bottom from total annihi-

By Fortune Manopla

lation. In addition to SpongeBob’s usual brand of offbeat humor and hijinks, the highlight of the show might be the music. Several popular recording artists have contributed original songs to the show, including Sara Barielles, John Legend, Panic! at the Disco, Lady Antebellum, Plain White T’s, and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry.

The show also includes songs from the late David Bowie, and from the original SpongeBob Squarepants cartoon. The show’s book is by Kyle Jarrow.

The show has been getting mostly positive reviews. Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune called the show “beautifully visualized, deliciously quirky and inarguably unique. It might just be the yellow tonic that Broadway needs.”

The soundtrack, featuring the original Broadway cast is already available, having been released on September 22.

Music Review

Galantis: The Aviary

By Victoria Haddad Contributing Writer

Galantis, a Swedish EDM (Electronic Dance Music) duo consisting of artists Christian Karlsson and Linus Eklöw, has been putting out hit singles lately. The Aviary, their second and newest album, came out on September 15, 2017 and creates a new standard for EDM. Seven singles from The Aviary were released prior to the album’s official release by Atlantic Records: “True Feeling,” “Rich Boy,” “Girls on Boys,” “Hunter,” “Love On Me,” “No Money,” and “Pillow Fight.”

“No Money,” which debuted at Ultra Music Festival Miami in 2016, is an upbeat song with easy lyrics that illustrate a child’s refusal to give his lunch money to bullies. The song delivers an important message about bullying.

“Hunter” has a sleek, steady beat paired with lyrics about someone venturing into the unknown. This track has a more nonchalant, chill tone than the rest of the album.

Karlsson and Eklöw said they “dressed this song down,” meaning less editing and more use of natural beats, though the electro music at

the end of the song helps bring back the feeling that the song is still EDM. The producers on this track also helped produce the single “Rich Boy” and another song on the 12-track album, “True Feeling,” which is a cheerful tune depicting someone’s attempt to hand over a jacket as a kind gesture to someone on a chilly evening.

Galantis’s first few singles were featured on their first album in 2015, entitled Pharmacy. One of the biggest hits of the album is “Runaway (U & I),” which you have probably heard even if you don’t realize it’s from Galantis. The single made it to #1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart.

If you liked Pharmacy or even just “Runaway (U & I),” the duo’s latest album is definitely worth a listen.

Entertainment Editor

John Green’s newest novel is here, and once again he proves he is an author like no other. Green’s honest, flowing writing style and deep insights have captivated millions of young adult readers, most notably in the alternately uplifting and heartbreaking The Fault in Our Stars.

But his latest work, Turtles All the Way Down, is a masterpiece of its own.

Aza Holmes, a 16-year-old struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), finds herself trying to navigate friendship, love, mental illness, and criminal mysteries all at once. She and her best friend, Daisy, have set out to find the missing Russell Pickett, befriending his son Davis along the way. Aza and Davis, once childhood friends, soon develop into more, but each is held back by various insecurities.

It’s the descriptions of Aza’s mental state that make this novel truly unique.

Green depicts Aza’s intense anxiety in detail, allowing a reader foreign to the feeling to understand the struggle of mental illness. In the novel, Aza becomes Green’s vehicle for discussing his own mental struggles. Her problems are his, and, in a sense, anyone’s who’s ever struggled with OCD or anxiety, but they’re also relatable to any human being.

Throughout the narrative, the reader is brought through the rollercoaster of Aza’s mind, following its winding path, sharp turns, and spiraling descent. Aza describes what it’s like to be consumed by invasive thoughts; she follows them around and around, feeling them curl and wind into a tightening spiral until

she finally succumbs to her fear. She’s terrified of the bacteria living inside her body and of contracting potentially fatal infections like C. Diff. She’s tortured by her phobia, so much so that it eventually brings her to swallow hand sanitizer in an attempt to cleanse her body.

Horrifying as it may sound, the incident causes Aza to learn a lot about her weaknesses, and, subsequently, her strengths.

Additionally, Green focuses on how the death of a loved one comes to shape a person. Both Daisy and Davis have lost someone close to them—she her father, and he his mother—and together they help each other cope with the hardest truth of all: “When you lose someone, you realize you’ll eventually lose everyone,” Davis says.

And on top of these internal battles, Aza clashes with Daisy, who accuses her of being self-absorbed. “I wanted to tell her it was getting better, because that was supposed to be the narrative of illness. … Illness is a story told in the past tense,” Aza says. But what Daisy is forced to realize, along with the rest of us, is that Aza’s illness is a constant, ongoing battle.

She cuts her losses, counts her wins, and keeps on living.

It’s not an easy read, but that’s precisely what makes it such an important one. Green’s novel teaches us to forgive— to forgive our family, to forgive our friends, and, most important, to forgive ourselves.

Music Review

“Golden October”

By Brenda Tawil Music Editor

Following a hiatus that lasted nearly four years, obscure Irish trio All the Luck in the World released a single, “Golden October,” on October 20. A teaser for the band’s sophomore album that will be available in early 2018, “Golden October” is a gorgeous piece of masterful build-up, easing from a gentle acoustic guitar to a trademark climax of instrumental intensity, abruptly pausing only to allow for the repetition of lyrics to be heard: “Won’t you take this and make something good out of it?”

October is the heart of fall; it’s the season of morphing, lush trees to barren ones, one person into another. It’s when you finally wear the sweaters neglected in your closet, and it’s when you finally address the thoughts shoved to the back of your mind. “Won’t you take this and make something good out of it?” The richness of the climax is the culmination of everything; it’s when you realize

that “there’s no halftime or restart.” It’s when All the Luck in the World beautifully admits, “I told you, you could not falter in my eyes; I might not believe that now, but I meant it at the time. I swear that I meant it at the time.” It’s when you ponder and proceed, when you’re finally able to acknowledge dark truths and self-truths and you move on, and you become better as a result.

The band’s most invaluable quality is the rawness of its music, both melodically and lyrically. The songs of All the Luck in the World are wonderfully intimate and genuine, clearly evidenced by their eponymous first album. They create art in its purest form, emotion you can hear and sing to and understand, sentiment you can relate to. Paralleled with introspection and the description of a distraught relationship, All the Luck in the World conjures up a lovely and poignant scene that we recognize; “we have to grow and grow apart,” they whisper, and so we grow and grow apart, only to grow together in unprecedented ways.

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Fun & Games Ask Merle

Dear Reader, As I am currently very hungry, I decided to answer all of the food questions that I received this month.

Enjoy, Merle Dear Merle, My minyan gets out late every day and by then all the Reese’s Puffs are gone. I want to have breakfast but Reese’s Puffs is the only good cereal!

Picky Eater Dear Picky Eater, We all experience this shortage at some point, whether it’s with cereal or school pizza. Your only solution is to get to school before minyan starts, run down and grab a bunch of Reese’s Puffs, stuff them in your locker, and go to minyan.

Now you will have a secret stash of your favorite cereal whenever you want. Or you can just get a bagel or something, it’s your call.

Yours truly, Merle

Dear Merle, The other day when I took some fat free milk to pour into my cereal, I realized that the milk was spoiled! It was gross and made me lose my appetite. Next time, how do I make sure that the milk isn’t spoiled before I open it?

Grossed Out Dear Grossed Out, Well, first things first: I’m not sure why you would choose the fat free milk. I mean, the 1% just tastes so much better. Maybe your spoiled milk was a sign to switch to the 1%. Next time, skip the fat free and maybe you won’t get sick.

Good luck, Merle Dear Merle, I was so hungry in the middle of class that I went to go buy something from the vending machine, except I put a dollar in and my food got stuck! The Chanies aren’t here to give me my money back but I’m really hungry. Is it worth it to use another dollar? Hurry!

Distressed and Hungry Dear Hungry, I’m not sure if you know how this whole question-and-answer thing works, but I

am not an omnipresent being who will always be right by your side when you need an answer. Unless you are still standing by that vending machine (and I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if you were), I am guessing that my answer is a bit too late. For next time, maybe try bringing snack with you to school so that you don’t get stuck in another sticky situation.

Merle Dear Merle, I always try to eat in class because I get so hungry when I try to learn, but I always get caught! How do I sneakily eat in class?

Unsuccessful Sneak Dear Sneak, You have come to the right place.

I am the ultimate pro at sneaking food in class.

Step 1: Reach into your bag and open up your snack (preferably one that doesn’t make a loud crunching sound.)

Step 2: Pull out a pen as if that was what you were searching for the whole time.

Step 3: When the teacher isn’t looking, quickly grab a handful.

Step 4: Pretend to

push up your glasses, lean your face on your hand etc. and get some food into your mouth.

Step 5: Repeat.

Alternatively, if you tell your teacher that you are really hungry, most will allow you to eat quietly, and you can avoid all the secrecy.

Merle

scratch your nose,

Student Survey

How do you usally spend a free period?

2 The Food Corner

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Foodie Quiz: What autumn treat are you?

What cereal do you take in the morning?

1. Reese’s Puffs 2. Cinnamon Toasters 3. Crispy Rice 4. Frosted Flakes What’s your lunch usual?

1. Home lunch 2. Chock 3. School lunch 4. Ouri’s/Jus salad What do you usually do after school?

1. Go home and study 2. Extracurriculars 3. Take a nap 4. Hang out with friends How long does it take you to get out of bed in the morning?

1. Three minutes 2. I never went to sleep.

3. Two minutes before I have to leave 4. Who said I get out of bed?

You forgot to do your homework and the teacher is coming around the room to check if you did it.

You...

By Hannah Hasson 1. Tell her you forgot to do it 2. Try to do it quickly before she gets to you 3. Pretend to need the bathroom 4. Say you promise you did it but you left it in your locker.

RESULTS Mostly 1’s: You are … snickerdoodles!

You are always on people’s good sides and want to do well in school—just like a sweet snickerdoodle.

Mostly 2’s: You are … apple pie!

You are adventurer who is not afraid to take risks—just like baking a perfect pie crust.

Mostly 3’s: You are … coffee cake!

You are traditional and down to earth with a little bit of added crumble—just like a coffee cake.

Mostly 4’s You are … Pumpkin Spice Latte!

You love to be with your friends and live in the moment—just like a warm PSL on a cool day.

Challenge yourself and make your autumn treat this weekend!

Did you know...?

It takes about 36 apples to create one gallon of apple cider

Standard of Fabulous Spring Collections Advertised in Fall

By Celia Banbahji Contributing Writer

It may seem like it’s way too early to be even thinking about Spring—it’s not even Winter yet—but it’s always good to be ahead of the game, especially with fashion. During New York Fashion Week last month, many designers teased upcoming trends for Spring on the runway.

You know what they say, “It’s never too early.”

One expected trend Versace, Michael Kors, and Hermés brought to the runway this year is called “The Millennial Spectrum,” meaning that we should expect bright colors for this Spring as usual. We’re transitioning from Winter’s darker and duller colors to the fresher and brighter colors of Spring. Specifically, we should expect a lot of bright pinks and purples.

Another predicted trend this spring brought to the runway is the sheer look.

Models from Dolce and Gabbana and Sonia Rykiel were seen wearing sheer everything. Sheer long-sleeve tees, sheer T-shirts, sheer dresses, even sheer socks.

These sheer socks, called tulle socks, have been very popular recently. If you’re not bold enough to wear a sheer

Men’s Fall Fashion Necessities

By Jessica Vaysman SOF Editor

1.Oversized hoodies 2.Bomber jacket 3.Denim 4.Timberland boots 5.Joggers 6.Zipper pants 7.Neutral-colored shirts

garment or shirt, these socks are perfect for you if you still want to try to pull off the look. To spice up any outfit, you can wear these socks with any pair of booties or pumps. Even without showing skin, you can still pull off the sheer trend by layering a sheer shirt on top of literally anything: turtlenecks, blouses, even simple tees.

While the rest of the world gets closer and closer to a future of robots and driverless cars, the older times with fashion seem to never go away and are constantly repeating. This spring, we should expect to see a lot of patterns from the ‘70s and ‘80s, with a modern sensibility. Examples include retro looks in interesting contemporary shaping, and granny-style quilt patterns on sweaters and jackets.

Finally, one more predicted trend seen a lot on the runways are literally a “twist” on the classic trench coat. Multiple types of trench coats are being shown twisted or even shredded in several different ways. Designers seem to be making tweaks on all sorts of the classic designs. Now, what can you wear them with? Pretty much everything.

Something Navy’s New Clothing Line

By Dubby Sasson SOF Editor

Fashion blogger Arielle Charnas, better known as Something Navy, launched her first clothing line on September 25, 2017.

She’s been blogging for several years now and recently reached 1 million followers on Instagram.

Charnas collaborated with Nordstrom to create her own clothing line.

There was only one launch, and no restocking, so fans had to run online and grab what they could get quickly before it all sold out. Due to the collection’s

popularity, Charnas and Nordstrom decided to do a second launch for those who missed out on the first. She had a lot of cute sweaters, belts, headbands, jeans, and dresses, and most pieces were affordably priced. The feedback has been very positive; I ordered a gray sweater with blue ruffle sleeves and a floral shirt and I love it.

Something Navy’s fashion style and blog is inspiring, and with all the positive feedback from her Nordstrom clothing line, hopefully she’ll create more to come in the future.

Fashion Fact: In America, it was not socially acceptable for women to wear shorts in public until World War II.

Exercise Clothing Gets Smarter

By Sarit Alkadaa Contributing Writer

The world evolves around us, and with it, so does fashion. As technology becomes smaller, smarter, and integrated into everything, designing digital apparel has become a social standard. Both fashion and technology companies have been working together to create connected garments, and the trend seems to be gaining steam.

Most of the wearable technology made today is designed to help its wearers stay fit and healthy while still managing to appear fashionable. Smart clothing can constantly track our heart rate, monitor our emotions, and even pay for our food without the use of any type of smartphone. Here are a few of the best tech garments that you can buy now (or very soon).

Sensoria Fitness running socks are equipped with a special anklet that measures impact force, foot landing, and more, which is then sent to your headphones.

These socks provide pacing data and recite motivational sayings to keep you feeling confident and courageous throughout your workout, such as, “Don’t be pushed by your problems,

be led by your dreams!” The socks retail for approximately $200.

If you’re a fan of cycling, Levi’s commuter Trucker Jacket is perfect for you.

This jacket allows your phone to perform various tasks such as provide directions, read text messages, answer calls, and more, all without the need of a single tap on your smartphone. You are free to bike without any distraction while still staying connected. Although this jacket comes with a high price of $350, it can always assure you a safe, focused, and enjoyable ride.

Have you recently felt a major need for yoga and meditation after a long, stressful week of school, but then register the fact that you have no idea how to perform yoga? Wearable X yoga pants feature sensors around the hip, knees, and ankles that vibrate and provide feedback.

This product doesn’t simply monitor; it makes you “feel” as well. Vibrations help you adjust your position, making you feel as if a human instructor is guiding you. The yoga pants come in four sizes and four styles: midnight, midnight with black, black/white with mesh, and navy/ gray with mesh. They’re a bit pricey at $300, but they guarantee a great yoga experience while staying stylish.

Komodo Technologies has created a compression sleeve that uses electrocardiogram technology to offer accurate heart rate data and monitor workout intensity. But that’s not all: there are hopes that it can also measure stress levels and even detect heart disease and inflammation, making this smart sleeve suitable even for people who don’t exercise. This sleeve can be found on komodotec.com for $116. If you are a serious athlete, the Polar Team Pro smart compression shirt was made just for you. With heart rate capture points and a GPS sensor, athletes will be able to track motion and heart rate, as well as broadcast live training data, allowing users to monitor condition and fitness levels.

The increasing variety of different types of wearable tech allows you to choose workout clothing that looks great and helps you improve your results.

Whether you’re meditating, running, or cycling, these smart garments have got you covered.

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Sports Flatbush Joins Flag Football New Gym Sit-Out Rules Rankle Students League

By Ezra Faks Junior Editor

A batch of new rules for physical education classes is all a part of a long-term goal of converting “just gym” into a regular class that counts in a student’s GPA just like any other class, school officials said.

Many students have issues with that end goal, and a large number have expressed frustration with the latest changes toward that end. “These new gym rules make it hard for students to participate in certain things that may take precedent. These activities may include health visits to the doctor, family necessities, education trips and workshops,” said Jack H. Dweck of class 3-HR, echoing the complaints of many of his peers.

So what exactly are the new gym rules and where did they come from? “The whole premise is that [we] want physical education to be part of your grade point average. This makes it more structured for students to take it more seriously,” Coach Black explained. One part of this has been to remove the concepts of gym make-ups and sit-outs. If a student misses gym class more than five times, his or her PE grade will be lowered one letter grade.

Furthermore, any student who is present in gym but not participating that day, usually referred to as a “sit-out,” will have to complete a written assignment on an article based on the course unit that the class is learning. As a result, the concept of gym make-ups, including those during finals, has been phased out.

The written assignments are the part that seems to be most irritating to students. “Someone who is physically incapable of participating in gym should not be required to write an essay. The two don’t correlate. Doing gym and writing a paper have nothing to do with each other,” one anonymous junior sa id. Another junior added: “What gives them the right to grade you on how well you can write an English essay while other kids are being graded on their physical abilities?”

Athletic Director Mr. Amkraut insists that PE students are not graded on their writing ability. To succeed in PE, he explained, a student needs to do the following on a daily basis: arrive to class on time and dressed appropriately, have a positive attitude, be respectful of teachers and classmates, and attempt everything that is part of the instructional lesson. He stressed that, “Evaluation is not based on successful skill performance or athletic ability, but rather on the willingness to attempt the skills and the ability to demonstrate comprehension of the knowledge being imparted by the instructors as assessed through a variety of tools that can range from physical demonstration to oral responses to written assignments.”

So, what exactly are students learning in PE? The Yeshivah of Flatbush Physical Education 2017-2018 5777-5778 Syllabus states, “The purpose of this course is to develop competence in (a) physical fitness; (b) body management skills; (c) participation skills; (d) health; (e) social behavior; (f) strategies for physical activities; and (g) adopting and developing a healthy active lifestyle.”

In terms of grades in PE, each student receives a daily grade out of four. Coach Black said, “I grade my girls fairly but that doesn’t mean I’m not strict. If you’re going to come into my gym thinking ‘this is fake, I could get away with anything,’ I won’t hesitate to give a low grade.

On the other hand, if a girl comes in and participates fully and tries her hardest, I guarantee that she will get the high grade she deserves. I don’t grade based on ability; I grade based on effort.” Coach Black explains that the daily-grade system is a fair method of assessing her students.

This makes report card time a lot easier for both the boys’ and girls’ PE teachers.

Despite student complaints, Coach Gurock remains optimistic: “We try to create a fun atmosphere where you’ll all be included and learn the sports we’re playing. We want students to take class seriously, and we expect this new system to function better. in helping to achieve our goals”

Senior Isaac Terzi, left, takes a snap as his teammates run the play Senior Isaac Terzi, left, takes a snap as his teammates run the play

By Albert Saad Junior Editor

The Mesivta Flag Football League has been around for a few years now, but Flatbush has just entered this year.

Students have been asking for the entry since the league’s inception and are excited for the upcoming season.

As schools are still joining the league, the exact number of games for the regular season and playoffs are not yet set, but it is expected to be between eight and ten games for the regular season followed by one to three rounds of playoffs.

The league’s rules are basically the same as those of regular football, except for the flag aspect. Instead of tackling a player to stop him like in the NFL, removing the flag hanging off the opposing player’s waist rules him down.

Games will feature seven players on each side, with team rosters reaching up to 18. A player is allowed to play both offense and defense, or just one. There are two 22-minute halves interrupted by a 5-minute half time. Penalties are identical to those in the NFL. Games will be played both in Brooklyn, at the Aviator field, and in the Five Towns and Far Rockaway, on select district fields. All games will be played on Sunday afternoons, between two and five o’clock. For the exact schedule, please see Mr. Amkraut.

However, girls who want to attend games are out of luck, as the league’s website explicitly says that, “Under no circumstances will girls be allowed to at-

tend games. Coaches will be responsible for enforcing this rule and, if not adhered to, will result in a forfeit.”

Coaching the team in its first year is Murray Tawil, a Flatbush alumnus who has been watching, playing, and coaching football his whole life. “As a head coach, I need to teach the team offensive plays and how to execute each route on each play,” he explained. “Defensively, I need to show them how to be unpredictable and change into different defenses based on the game situation.”

The Falcons played their inaugural game against Shaare Torah on October 22, an 18-2 loss. Players described the game as a learning experience. Wide receiver Steven Hafif commented after the loss, “Today was the first game that we ever played in this league and now we know what to expect.”

Tawil expressed confidence in his team: “We expect to win every time we play, but if or when we lose, I’m confident our team is resilient enough to bounce back and beat any team there is.”

To do that, the Falcons are looking to improve by recruiting hockey and baseball star Sol Laniado to lead the team at quarterback. Laniado, a junior, likes to just “leave it all on the field” and has done so for Flatbush Athletics so far throughout his career. He said he models his leadership and game style after AllPro NFL QB Aaron Rodgers. Hopefully he’ll be the solution the Falcons need to turn their first try at flag football into a success.

Sportsman Spotlight: Jacqueline Mizrahi

By Marc Franco Contributing Writer

After coming off a loss in the finals last season, the Girls Varsity Basketball team is ready to make another run at a championship, led by senior Jacqueline Mizrahi.

Mizrahi is the team captain, an Honors student, and an active participant in the school’s chesed programs, thus serving as a role model for younger players on and off the court. Her skills make her a great basketball player, and her leadership makes her a great captain. “She’s a great leader and encourages us to keep

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playing hard,” one teammate explained.

Theater, serves as a Minyan Mentor, and Mizrahi was a twovisits the elderly at least sport athlete in previtwice a week, among many ous years, playing for other chesed activities. basketball and softball.

Mizrahi is undoubtedly But when softball got one of the most approachin the way of performable sports stars in the ing chesed, she had a school, and is happy to help tough decision to make. any fellow student in need.

She chose to prioritize She says her passion for baschesed over softball beketball goes hand in hand cause it means so much with her chesed work, as to her to do good for oththey both contribute toward ers. Mizrahi is the head making her the best person of Yachad programming, Mizrahi takes charge in a that she can be. participates in Witness She has a lot of help in recent game

both arenas, and when it comes to basketball she’s leading a team that’s been together for a long time. Two years ago Mizrahi and her teammates were all on the JV squad that went to the championship game and lost. She feels very strongly about the team’s chances to finally win it all this year. Mizrahi said, “In my sophomore year we made it to the championship with this exact team and we have only improved since then.”

Mizrahi is planning to lead her teammates through a successful season and, if things break just right, the Varsity team’s first championship in more than five years.