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WINTER 5775/2015 // NO. 36
Mr. and Mrs. Yumi KleinbartHAKORAS HATOV AWARD
Rabbi & Mrs. Moshe LubartHARBOTZAS TORAH AWARD
Mr. and Mrs. Yossi PreiserowiczALUMNUS OF THE YEAR
The Mesivta Chaim Shlomo Class of 2000CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF
ACCOMPLISHMENT
Mr. and Mrs. Yoav TaubGUESTS OF HONOR
Mr. and Mrs. Eytan FeldmanPARENTS OF THE YEAR
DINNER PREVIEW Celebrating 42 Years of Chinuch with Heart
VKHKU ONUHTHE 24/7 MESIVTAA Visit to Mesivta Chaim Shlomo, where
a Bachurs Opportunities for Growth are Limitless
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DIVISIONSPreschoolElementary SchoolJunior High School and
MechinaRabenstein Learning CenterMesivta Chaim Shlomo The Maurice
& Edith Lowinger Mesivta High SchoolWeiss Vocational CenterBeis
Medrash Heichal DovidKollel Tirtza Devorah
SUMMER PROGRAMSSimcha Day CampMesivta/Beis Medrash Learning Camp
Upstate N.Y.Machaneh Hakayitz
GEMILAS CHESEDY.D.T. Rabbis Special FundTomchei Torah
Interest-Free Loan Fund
OTHER PROGRAMSAlumni AssociationWeiss Institute for Continuing
EducationPublicationsCommunity Housing Initiative
AFFILIATESAlumni Night Kollel JerusalemAlumni Night Kollel
Lakewood, N.J.Yeshiva Ohr Yehuda Lakewood, N.J.
Yeshiva Darchei TorahBuilding Worlds
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BEDARCHEIHATORAH News from Yeshiva Darchei Torah
3 FromtheRoshHaYeshiva4 DinnerPreview8 Highlights18 Preschool22
ElementarySchool
28 JuniorHighSchool33 MesivtaChaimShlomo44 AlumniReport48
BeisMedrashHeichalDovid51 Tribute:RavZalmonMalinowitzztl
44
30 21
Inthisissue...
This publication contains words of Torah. Please treat it
accordingly.
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2 Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015
YESHIVA DARCHEI TORAHYaakov and Ilana Melohn CampusIn Memory of
Reb Yosef Melohn
257 Beach 17th Street Far Rockaway, NY 11691
(718) 868-2300
Rabbi Yaakov Bender ROSH HAYESHIVA
Rabbi Moshe Bender ASSOCIATE DEAN
Rabbi Yehuda Harbater EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Rabbi Zev Bald DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Rabbi Baruch Rothman DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Rabbi Avraham SchachnerCONTROLLER
Rabbi Pinkus MayerDIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS
Rabbi Moshe Benoliel DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI AFFAIRS
PRESCHOOLDr. Wendy Devorah Gerson DIRECTOR
Mrs. Yocheved BenderMrs. Rachel BrierMrs. Esti FeuerASSISTANT
DIRECTORS
ELEMENTARY/JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLRabbi Dovid FrischmanRabbi Dovid
LanRabbi Dovid MorgensternRabbi Rephael Skaist Rabbi Shmuel
StrickmanMENAHELIM
Rabbi Avrohom BenderSGAN MENAHEL
Rabbi Yitzchok BrailofskyDr. Yitzchak GoldbergMrs. Ariella
KelmanMrs. Sara Malka KrasnowRabbi Dovid PresserPRINCIPALS
MESIVTA CHAIM SHLOMOMaurice & Edith Lowinger Mesivta High
School
Rabbi Zevi Trenk Rabbi Avrohom Nusbaum MENAHELIM
Rabbi Dov Keilson MASHGIACH RUCHANI
Rabbi Yisroel Feder MASHPIA
Rabbi Menachem Gold Rabbi Shimon Dachs PRINCIPALS
BEIS MEDRASH HEICHAL DOVIDRabbi Shlomo Avigdor Altusky ROSH
YESHIVA
KOLLEL TIRTZA DEVORAHRabbi Dovid Bender ROSH KOLLEL
RABENSTEIN LEARNING CENTERMrs. Jill Kay DIRECTOR
WEISS VOCATIONAL CENTER Rabbi Shimon Dachs DIRECTOR
SIMCHA DAY CAMPRabbi Shimon Dachs DIRECTOR
MACHANEH HAKAYITZRabbi Eliezer AmentRabbi Eliezer Selengut
DIRECTORS
Ronald LowingerPRESIDENT
BOARD OF TRUSTEESLloyd KeilsonMotty KleinCO-CHAIRMEN
Alex EdelmanShimon PluchenikMorris Smith
BOARD OF DIRECTORSElisha BrecherAron Solomon CO-CHAIRMEN
Dovid BloomEli BobkerDovid BrecherMottie DrillmanShamshy
EisenbergerMichael FraginShlomo JacobowitzMenachem LieberBen
LowingerMenachem MarxAdam MirzoeffMenash OratzAroni ParnesDovid
ScharfYoav TaubEly TendlerAvi WeinstockDov Weinstock
EXECUTIVE BOARDMoshe BloomBerel DaskalUri DreifusYoily
EdelsteinEytan FeldmanGadi FuchsAlon GoldbergerCarmi GruenbaumTzvi
KeilsonYair KeilsonDuvi KleinUshi KleinYosef LowingerMatis
ManelaMoshe MendlowitzHillel MoermanEphram OstreicherChaim
SchulhofShlomo Weiss
BEDARCHEI HATORAH
Rabbi Moshe BenolielEDITOR IN CHIEF
Rabbi Yehudah Leib GordonCOPY EDITOR
Debbie MaimonCONTRIBUTING EDITOR
PHOTOGRAPHY Dov Berg, Yonah Carrey, Tsemach Glenn, Naftoli
Goldgrab, Meir Haltovsky, Yoel Hecht
DESIGNDavid Benoliel
PUBLISHED BYThe Yeshiva Darchei Torah Office of Communications
& Alumni Affairs257 Beach 17 Street, Far Rockaway, NY
11691718-868-2300 ext. [email protected]
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Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015 3
On Shemini Atzeres we recite Tefillas Geshem, asking Hashem
for a year of bountiful rain. We invoke the zchus of our
forefathers,
including Yaakov Avinu, whom we describe, among other things, as
the one
ohn rtc hpn ict kdu ck sjh
whodedicatedhisheartandrolledastonefromthemouthofawellofwater.
The author of this piyut is referring to the events found in
Parshas Vayeitzei, when Yaakov, heeding his parents instructions to
look for a wife in Padan-Aram, arrived at the well and saw
shepherds gathered there with their flocks. When Yaakov asked the
shepherds why they were not giving their flocks to drink, they
responded that they were waiting for the rest of the herdsmen to
arrive so that they could jointly remove a heavy boulder that was
blocking the mouth of the well.
Just then, Yaakov saw his future wife, Rochel, arriving with the
sheep of her father, Lavan. Yaakov approached the well, rolled the
stone off by himself, and watered Lavans sheep.
Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz ztl asks: why in TefillasGeshem do we
refer to Yaakovs dedica-tionofhisheartin rolling off the stone? It
took physical strength to accomplish what he did what does it have
to do with his heart?
His answer is a yesod, a fundamental principle in Torah
hashkafa, and indeed, human psychology: when a person focuses his
mental energies what the Torah calls the heart on a task, he can
develop a surge of energy way beyond his normal abilities, and
nothing can stand in his way. No obstacle or burden can prevent a
person who has his mind set on accomplishing a goal.
At Yeshiva Darchei Torah, this is a guiding principle for our
rabbeim, moros and teach-ers and most of all, for our talmidim. The
educators imbue their young charges with this approach to life and
learning to concentrate ones will and mind to the task at hand,
whether in Chumash, Gemara or in General Studies. These mechanchim
lead by example, as they invest their own hearts and souls into
their teaching, and go above and beyond the call of duty in
ensuring that they reach each and every talmid.
This is true Chinuch with Heart,the theme of this years dinner
campaign, and we are so fortunate to be blessed with educators who
personify it in every way.
Rabbi Yaakov Bender
From the Rosh HaYeshiva
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4 Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015
Yeshiva Darchei Torahs42nd Annual DinnerSunday, January 11, 2015
At the Yeshiva
C cEach year we confer awards on outstanding members from the
Yeshiva community and beyond.
To place an advertisement in our annual journal, or for more
information, please call the Dinner Desk at 718.868.2300 ext. 237
or email [email protected].
Mr. and Mrs. Yoav TaubGUESTS OF HONOR
Y oav and Shari Taub, devoted par-ents and supporters of Yeshiva
Darchei Torah, have a long and rich history of askanus in the Far
Rockaway/Lawrence community.
In 2000, Yoav was a founding member of what is now the Yeshivas
Board of Directors. The formation of the board came at a critical
time in the Yeshivas history. Student enrollment was growing at an
unprecedented pace and the need for a new, larger build-ing was
first coming into focus. Yoav and his colleagues, a cohesive group
of young fathers, rose to the chal-lenge and helped set the Yeshiva
on the course that it is on today.
Shari was born into a family of pio-neers in communal
leadership. Her par-ents, Dovid and Krunchie Friedman, were among
the earliest supporters and lay leaders of Yeshiva Darchei
Torah
in the early 1970s, back when it was a fledgling institution,
and remain involved today. Her brothers were talmidim of the
Yeshiva, and involve-ment in Yeshiva Darchei Torah was very much a
family affair. In addition, her maternal grandfather, Louis Newman,
ah, was one of the first frum Jews to move with his family to Far
Rockaway, where he left his imprint on numer-ous community
institutions, from the White Shul to Torah Academy for Girls (TAG)
both of which he served with distinction as president.
Yoav, son of Shlomo ah and yblc Chani Taub, was raised in Kew
Gardens Hills, and is an alumnus of Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe, Ner
Israel and Mir Yerushalayim. He holds an MBA from New York
University and has been in the diamond business for the last 18
years.
Shortly after their marriage, the Taubs settled in Lawrence, and
they were eventually followed by his broth-ers J.J. and Moshe, as
well as his sister, Avigayil Stoll. Together the extended Taub
family soon made its mark on the Five Towns, with its energetic
support of Torah causes and communal mosdos.
Yoav and Shari daven and are highly active at Beis Medrash
Heichal Dovid in Lawrence, which they
describe as a very central part of our lives, with Yoav serving
as gabbai and maintaining his daily morning and eve-ning learning
sedarim there. Whatever good we have accomplished has been through
the shul, he says.
The Taubs are very proud of their sons Volvi, an alumnus; and
Avigdor, a current talmid; both were talmidim of Yeshiva Darchei
Torah since early elementary school. The way my sons have
progressed in their learning has amazed me, Yoav relates. Theyve
far surpassed me already. After hear-ing one of his sons give a
chaburah last year at the Yeshiva, I was literally floored. He is
gratified that each one of his siblings also has children learn-ing
at Yeshiva Darchei Torah and gain-ing from its unique brand of
chinuch.
Yoav lauds the extraordinary bein adam lachaveiro exhibited by
the Yeshivas talmidim. To see how the boys relate to each other,
without bickering, with a certain maturity its very impressive. He
attributes the Yeshivas success to its Hanhala and to the warm and
personal environ-ment that they have created. To have such a large
yeshiva that has 2,000 students yet is so warm is a dichotomy yet
it exists so perfectly. That fosters great talmidim.
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Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015 5
Y ossi Kleinbart is now in his fourth fruitful year as a talmid
of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo, and his parents, Yumi and Chavi Kleinbart,
are full of gratitude to the Yeshiva not only for the chinuch their
son is receiv-ing, but also for the manner in which he is receiving
it. The rabbeim and staff have love and affection for every single
talmid and for their parents,
Yumi says. These feelings of gratitude are mutual, as Yeshiva
Darchei Torah is privileged to count the Kleinbarts among its
devoted supporters for sev-eral years now.
The Kleinbarts are residents of Borough Park, where they are
renowned for their deep involvement in the world of chesed. It is
not uncom-mon for Yumis cellphone to ring in the
E ytan and Aliza Feldman of Woodmere are the proud par-ents of
Akiva, a third grader at Yeshiva Darchei Torah, and four daughters.
Eytan is a managing direc-tor and partner at Old City Investment
Partners. Aliza, nee Schumsky, is an occupational therapist and
focuses on early intervention for children under the age of three
as well as a supervisor of other therapists.
In October 2013, Eytan agreed to serve on the Executive Board of
the Yeshiva and has quickly assumed an active role in addressing
its fiscal health and assessing its current and future capital and
operational needs. He is also a committed member of the board of
the Yeshiva Gedolah of the Five Towns, where he davens and learns
daily.
Eytan has always felt a sense of achrayus to the Klal, which he
attri-butes to two primary role models. The first is his father,
Norman Feldman, who together with his mother, Nedra, instilled this
sense of responsibility in their son. His father was in charge of
the eruv of the Oceanside community, where they lived. Many a
Friday after-noon saw the elder Mr. Feldman fixing downed portions
of the eruv usually with Eytan in tow. Around thirty years ago, his
father ran the annual bazaar of the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach
(HALB), and it became a Feldman fam-ily affair, from preparing the
cotton candy to other aspects of the fundrais-ing event. These
examples instilled in Eytan that it is not only important to be
involved in Klal functions, but to take an active leadership role
as well.
In addition, during the three years that Eytan spent learning at
Ner Israel in Baltimore, he developed a close rela-tionship with
its legendary president, Rabbi Herman (Naftoli) Neuberger, ztl.
Thats what he was all about: achrayus for the Jewish people, Eytan
recalls. He was a real leader. Watching him, I developed a greater
sense of the importance of being involved and showing your support
for Torah insti-
tutions. While at Ner Israel, Eytan learned under Rav Zvi
Berkowitz, shlita, with whom he remains close until today. He also
studied in kollel at Yeshiva Shaar Hatorah-Grodno in Kew Gardens,
and earned a MBA in Finance from Fordham University.
Eytan Feldman is effusive in describing his and his wifes
experi-ence at Yeshiva Darchei Torah. Akiva loves Darchei. He loves
everything about it. He loves his rabbeim, he loves his teachers,
he loves his friends, he loves being there. Theres noth-ing about
school that he doesnt like. And I can attest that his friends from
the neighborhood feel the same way. I cant imagine a more ideal
situation.
Serving on the Executive Board, Eytan reflects on what he has
gleaned from his inside vantage point. Rabbi Bender is well-known
for his leader-ship. But one thing that you see when watching him
is the love that he exudes. For a person whos been in this
posi-tion for over 30 years you would think that at some point it
would become routine. On the contrary, you can see that the concern
and care that he puts in has truly not abated. I am amazed at the
scope of the Yeshiva and how he is able to accomplish so much.
Mr. and Mrs. Eytan FeldmanPARENTS OF THE YEAR
Mr. and Mrs. Yumi Kleinbart HAKORAS HATOV AWARD
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6 Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015
R av Moshe Lubart has been teaching at the Yeshiva for over 20
years, first as a Limudei Kodesh rebbi and now as a rebbi in the
Rabenstein Learning Center and, concurrently, as an instructor at
the Weiss Vocational Center.
At the Rabenstein Learning Center, Rav Lubart provides remedial
help to sixth grade talmidim, helping them hone their Gemara skills
and enabling them to keep pace with the other boys in their class.
He devel-oped several original creative tech-niques that he
utilizes in this task and has helped numerous talmidim over the
years to read and comprehend Gemara accurately and fluently.
At the Weiss Vocational Center, a trailblazing program for a
select group of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo bachurim, Rav Lubart teaches
plumbing, tiling and electrical wiring, allowing these
talmidim to spend a portion of their afternoons learning trades
that they can potentially use for parnassah one day. I get a
tremendous sipuk when I give over something that talmidim are
really interested in, Rav Lubart explains, and they come away with
very valuable skills. Its an enjoyable thing to do. The boys are
enthusias-tic, as am I. Countless alumni of the program can credit
Rav Lubart and his colleagues with equipping them with the tools
and know-how to earn a respectable livelihood and he derives
satisfaction when meeting them long after theyve left the
Yeshiva.
Rav Moshe Lubart, a Gerrer chossid, lives with his wife and
family in the Kensington section of Brooklyn. He was raised in
Williamsburg and learned at Mesivta Torah Vodaas and at the Gerrer
Yeshiva Sfas Emes in Yerushalayim. His father, Rav Mordechai Yehuda
Lubart, ztl, was an alumnus of the famed Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin
in Poland and a tre-mendous talmid chacham and marb-itz Torah, and
his mother, Rebbetzin Chana Lubart, a noted mechaneches, was a
veteran principal at Beis Yaakov in Borough Park. Rav Moshes wife,
Raizy, teaches at Bnos Leah-Prospect
Park Yeshiva, and is a daughter of Rav Shaya and yblc Hindy
Moseson, aleha hashalom. Rav Moseson is also a marbitz Torah,
having been a rebbi for many years at Yeshiva Chasan Sofer in
Borough Park.
Serving at Yeshiva Darchei Torah for two decades, Rav Lubart
com-ments about the changes that have taken place over this period.
The only thing that changed is size and numbers, he insists. But
the dedica-tion and the varemkeit and the caring for every talmid
are exactly the same as when we were in the old build-ing with many
fewer talmidim. It is the personal touch of Rabbi Bender and the
mechanchim of all the vari-ous departments they have a very warm,
personal care and concern for every talmid, and it is very visible.
We grew by leaps and bounds, and there are a lot of physical
changes, Baruch Hashem, but its the same yeshiva, with a wonderful
atmosphere of simcha and optimism. Rabbi Bender radiates that hope
and positivity and it spreads from the top down. Hes also willing
to try out new programs to help the boys learn and achieve, and the
Vocational Center is a prime example of that.
middle of the night summoning him to perform chesed in
challenging circum-stances. When a patient with a life-threatening
condition needs an urgent appointment with a top specialist, they
will often call Yumi, who will quickly and quietly take action.
Yumi is the proprietor of B & B Party Rental, a company that
has enhanced countless events through-out the tri-state area since
its incep-tion in 1997. He serves as the gabbai
at Khal Mateh Efraim, Rav Chaim Steinwurtzels shul, and
maintains a strong relationship with his rosh yeshiva, Rav Moshe
Hillel Hirsch, shlita, of the Slabodka Yeshiva of Bnei Brak.
Chavi, nee Schnurmann, who hails from Montevideo, Uruguay, is a
full partner in all of her husbands work for the Klal and runs a
home that is a hub of hachnosas orchim. The Kleinbarts are keen on
transmitting their pas-
sion for chesed to their children. One example of many occurs
every Shabbos morning, when Yumi and Yossi, the Mesivta Chaim
Shlomo talmid, can be found walking the halls of Brooklyns
Maimonides Medical Center together, distributing cake and coffee to
patients and their visiting families. With actions that speak
louder than words, the Kleinbarts are raising doros yesharim that
will surely continue to bring nachas to them and to Klal
Yisroel.
42nd Annual Dinner
Rabbi & Mrs. Moshe LubartHARBOTZAS TORAH AWARDIN RECOGNITION
OF HIS TIRELESS DEVOTION TO THE TALMIDIM OF THE RABENSTEIN LEARNING
CENTER & WEISS VOCATIONAL CENTER
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Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015 7
Y eshiva Darchei Torah is proud to pay tribute to the second
gradu-ating class of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo, the Maurice and Edith
Lowinger Mesivta High School, which was founded in 1995. Until that
year the Yeshiva ended at the Eighth Grade. The establishment of
the Mesivta and subsequently, Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid
signifi-cantly expanded the Yeshivas scope and impact in Harbotzas
Torah.
The parents and talmidim of the
class of 2000 took a leap of faith in a barely-tested mesivta.
Under the car-ing leadership of devoted rabbeim, teachers and
Hanhala, those talmi-dim succeeded over the ensuing four years in
developing not only their own learning skills, middos and hashkafa,
but also the foundation of what has truly become one of the great
yeshivos of North America.
Fifteen years after graduation and nearly two decades after they
first entered the ninth grade, the mem-
bers of the class live in diverse geo-graphic locations, from
Yerushalayim to Buffalo, and spend their days in fields that run
the gamut from kollel to finance to law. Many have settled in the
Far Rockaway and Five Towns area and have children of their own in
the Yeshiva. The common denomina-tor shared by each member of the
class is that he exhibits the Torah and values gained during his
years at the Yeshiva and continues to be Mekadesh Shem Shamayim in
all of his endeavors. f
42nd Annual Dinner
Mr. and Mrs. Yossi PreiserowiczALUMNUS OF THE YEAR
The Mesivta Chaim Shlomo Class of 2000CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF
ACCOMPLISHMENT
Y ossi Preiserowicz is a member of the Mesivta Chaim Shlomo
class of 2000, where one of his closest friends was Chaim Shlomo
Lowinger, in whose honor the Mesivta is named. Yossi maintained a
strong connection with the
Yeshiva and his rabbeim long after grad-uation, returning for
daily sedarim with the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Shlomo Avigdor Altusky,
for several years.
In 2008, Yossi agreed to serve as one of the founding members of
the Yeshiva Darchei Torah Alumni Committee. In the ensuing years,
Yossi and his fellow committee mem-bers have developed numerous
proj-ects that have provided extraordinary mutual benefit to the
Yeshiva and to the alumni including regular shi-urim, well-attended
reunions, the establishment of an Alumni Shadchan Network, several
successful fundrais-
ing campaigns for the Yeshiva itself and a fund for needy
alumni, among other initiatives.
Raised in Flatbush, Yossi is mar-ried to Gitty, nee Halpert, and
they live in the Monsey area, where she grew up. They daven at
Shaarei Tefilla of New Hempstead, which is under the leadership of
Rabbi Avrohom S. Neuberger, and their son attends the Yeshiva of
Spring Valley. Yossi is a senior vice president at Ashkenazy
Acquisition Corporation, a real estate investment firm based in New
York City with properties throughout the United States, Canada and
England.
Raphael AranovYehudah BajnonBoruch Ber BenderYehoshua
BleibergShimon Leib CohenMati DiamondYacov Asher EngelMoshe
FeigenbaumDaniel FleisherShmuel FreundFeivel Reuven GanelesYosef
GoldbergYehudah GreenbergMoshe Chaim HorowitzOrrin Jaroslawicz
Boruch Binyomin KitayAvi KornYeshaya KrausEli LangerBenzion
LichtmanMordechai LieberShaya LieberShmuel LiebsterChaim Shlomo
LowingerShaya MarkovitsChesky NewmanMordechai PluchenikChaim
PlumerYossi PreiserowiczAlter Reich
Mordechai RosenZeev RosenfeldEzra RosnerYitzchok RothmanYehuda
RuzohorskyAvrohom SchustalAron SchwedYitzchok ShanikMeir
ShermanMoshe TeichYonah TuskEliezer B. WeinrebZevi WolffIlan
Wunsch
A partial view of the class of 2000 at their graduation
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PHOTO
BY HER
SH ROSN
ER
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8 Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015
HIGHLIGHTS
RAV CHAIM ALTUSKY serves as the second-seder rosh chaburah for
Kollel Tirtza Devorah. He studied under his father, the Rosh
Yeshiva, Rav Shlomo Avigdor Altusky, when the lat-ter led Yeshiva
Gedolah Merkaz Hatorah of Montreal, and later learned at the
Yeshiva Gedolah of Paterson and Yeshivas Brisk. For the last twelve
years he was at Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, New Jersey.
The newest first grade rebbi is RAV SHLOMO REISMAN. After
learning at Brooklyns Yeshiva Torah Temimah, Rav Reisman learned
for two years at Mir Yerushalayim and six years at Beth Medrash
Govoha in Lakewood, where he devel-oped a close kesher with roshei
yeshiva Rav Yeruchim Olshin and Rav Dovid Schustal. He was a
founding member of the Kollel in Sydney, Australia, and holds a
Masters degree in Special Education. Before coming to Darchei
Torah, he taught for five years at Ichud Mosdos Hachinuch in
Brooklyn.
RAV NACHUM NACHUMSON, our new second grade rebbi, is an alumnus
of Yeshiva Derech Chaim in Brooklyn and served in a variety of
teaching positions before coming to Yeshiva Darchei Torah.
RAV SHALOM ROSEN is a new fourth grade rebbi. An alumnus of
Mesivta Chaim Shlomo and Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid, Rav Rosen then
studied at Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim and Kollel Tirtza Devorah. He
is also a graduate of Rav Yoel Kramers Merkaz for Teacher
Training.
RAV AVROHOM WACHSMAN gives two afternoon shiurim at Mesivta
Chaim Shlomo, one to eleventh graders and one to twelfth graders.
His predecessor was Rav Zalmon Malinowitz, ztl, who was niftar this
sum-mer. Rav Wachsman, who was a talmid at Yeshiva Darchei Torah
from Kindergarten through Beis Medrash, was privileged to be a
talmid in Rav Malinowitzs very first shiur. After Yeshiva Darchei
Torah he learned at the Yeshiva Gedolah of Paterson and at Beth
Medrash Govoha in Lakewood; in Yerushalayim he studied at Yeshivas
Ner Moshe, under Rav Asher Arieli at Yeshivas Mir, at the Chevron
Yeshiva and at Pachad Yitzchok.
RAV JONIE SARF is an alumnus of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo, Beis
Medrash Heichal Dovid and Kollel Tirtza Devorah. He also studied at
Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim and is a graduate of Rav Yoel Kramers
Merkaz for Teacher Training. He teaches the second grade.
6 Distinguished Rabbeim Join FacultyTo meet the growing needs of
a growing student body,
Yeshiva Darchei Torah welcomed six new rabbeim this year,
including three alumni of the Yeshiva.
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Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015 9
Returning Tests Each Week, Rosh HaYeshiva Encourages Talmidims
Growth
Every Tuesday, Rav Yaakov Bender, Rosh HaYeshiva, visits each
class from grades six through twelve. Sitting next to the rebbi,
the Rosh HaYeshiva returns each test paper, already marked by the
rebbi, to each individual talmid, using the opportunity to offer
encouragement to each one and stay abreast of their progress. For a
test with an exceptionally high score or that reflects significant
progress since the last exam, the Rosh HaYeshiva will often insist
that the talmid proceed immediately to the Yeshiva office to fax or
email the document to his parents often interrupting a parents
otherwise challeng-ing workday with an unexpected message of nachas
from their beloved son.
New Security Enhancements Respond to a Changing World
W ith terrorist attacks around the world, including North
America, dominating the news in recent years, the Yeshiva has taken
steps to significantly upgrade its already robust security system
and procedures. These actions have been overseen by Harvey Gordon,
the Yeshivas direc-tor of safety and security. In addition, a
series of intensive drills were recently conducted simultaneously
across the entire Yeshiva campus.
While we daven daily for Siyata DiShmaya and Heavenly
protection, explains Rabbi Baruch Rothman, direc-tor of
institutional advancement, we are also required to remain vigilant
and to protect our precious talmidim to the best of our
ability.
For Rosh Chodesh, Enhanced TefillahEvery Rosh Chodesh at the
Junior High School morning minyan, the talmidim are privileged to
be led by a talented chazzan or baal tefillah. The davening on this
spe-cial day is thus immeasurably enhanced. Pictured: Mr. Moshe
Plaut, a Yeshiva grandfather.
A Momentous Siyum
Rav Binyomin Wielgus, an eighth grade rebbi in the Yeshiva,
celebrated his culmination of a ten-year journey through Shas with
a festive siyum that was emotional, inspiring and joyous and
attended by community rabbonim, fellow rabbeim, talmidim, relatives
and friends.
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10 Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015
All WinnersAs part of the Yeshivas highly successful Parsha
Program (fea-tured in our last issue), third, fourth and fifth
grade talmidim were tested on their proficiency in Chumash Shemos.
Based on their scores, they were given tickets to a series of
raffles
which were held with great fanfare at a special assembly in the
Diamond Bais Medrash. Some won prizes; some did not. All,
however, gained something more precious than any of the prizes:
a comprehensive knowledge of so many parshios haTorah.
Rav Dovid Morgenstern, Upper Elementary School menahel (right)
and Rav Ephraim Seidenfeld, fourth grade rebbi, with Tzvi Soffer,
one of the winners of the Parsha Program raffles
Inspiration from the Rosh YeshivaThe Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Shlomo
Avigdor Altusky, speaks at an assembly of the first and second
grades in the Diamond Bais Medrash.
Hadran AlachA siyum was held on Seder Nashim of Shas Bavli at
Mesivta Chaim Shlomo in conjunction with the yahrtzeit of Maurice
Lowinger ah, father of the Yeshivas president, Mr. Ronald
Lowinger.
Dr. Yakov Lowinger, a grandson of Maurice Lowinger, ah
HIGHLIGHTS
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Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015 11
Middos Mission Off to a Great Start
T he Yeshivas remarkable Middos Mission project, profiled in our
last issue, has been reintroduced this year both to the first grade
talmidim, who are experiencing it for the very first time, and to
the second grade talmidim, who are participating in an enhanced
version that builds on what they accom-plished last year. The
program uses exciting and innovative programs, incen-tives and
events throughout the year to inculcate several select middos in
the hearts and minds of the talmidim.
Lag Baomer on CampusThe yahrtzeit of Rabi Shimon bar Yochai was
commemorated with the traditional medurah, bonfire, representing
the fire of Torah. Rabbeim led their talmidim in song and dance in
honor of this special day.
At a special event for the talmidim as they marked a milestone
in the Middos
Mission program Heroism and HistoryDr. Asher Mansdorf, a
dedicated activist in the Five Towns community, shared his late
fathers incredible expe-riences during the Holocaust with the
talmidim of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo at a special assembly that was
held several weeks after his fathers petirah.
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12 Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015
HIGHLIGHTS
39 Melachos Event Caps a Year of Learning and Excitement
T he Yeshivas trailblazing 39 Melachos program in the Second
Grade, featured extensively in our last issue, culminated at the
end of the recent school year with a special event in the Diamond
Bais Medrash. Parents and grandparents witnessed a remarkable
presentation by the talmidim and rabbeim about the 39 Melachos of
Shabbos, which form the foundation of all Hilchos Shabbos. With
music, stirring song, an original and stunning video (starring
each and every boy) and handmade posters, the boys dem-onstrated
not only their proficiency in the halachos but their enthusiasm for
learning as well. Each boy was presented by Rav Yaakov Bender, Rosh
HaYeshiva with Feldheims beau-tiful large-format childrens book on
the 39 Melachos as a memento of their magnificent achievements.
Graduation TripThe graduates of the Junior High School/Mechina
were treated to special trip in June: an enjoyable day of rafting
down the scenic Delaware River.
Rav Shmuel Strickman, menahel of the Lower Elementary School,
speaks at the event
One of the many original posters created by the talmidim
The Rosh HaYeshiva presented each talmid with a full-color
illustrated book on the 39 Melachos
Fifth Grade Visits Philadelphia Talmidim in Independence Hall,
where both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S.
Constitution were debated and adopted.
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Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015 13
Bachurim Use Summer Break to Inspire CommunitiesContinuing a
tradition begun over a decade ago, talmidim and alumni of Beis
Medrash Heichal Dovid spent a large portion of their summer bein
hazmanim learning with Jews and enhancing the Torah spirit in five
American communi-ties: Bellaire, Texas; Los Angeles; Boca Raton;
Miami and Memphis. Most of the programs were conducted under the
auspices of Torah Umesorahs Project SEED.
Hero of Shmittah Inspires TalmidimIn Elul, the boys in grades
4-7 were privileged to see and hear a firsthand account from one of
the nearly 3,000 Shmittah-observant farmers in Eretz Yisrael,
Baruch Adiri. Baruch recounted, in English, how he will be
observing Shmittah for the fifth time this coming year, willingly
aban-doning a great percentage of his livelihood for the sake of
keeping the mitzvah of Shviis. Baruch cultivates olive groves,
wheat and barley, and raises goat and sheep.
He also described the many miracles he has personally
experienced in a variety of settings in witnessing the abun-dance
promised by the Torah in advance of Shviis material-ize, in the
recent rain of rockets from Gaza, and in his own battles on the
front lines of the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
E ach year, the Eighth graders are involved in a project called
Adopt A Survivor. The talmidim interview Holocaust survivors with
the purpose of committing themselves to telling over each survivors
story and the larger narrative of the Holocaust until at least
2045.
In their public presentation to parents and grand-
parents, the talmidim utilized PowerPoint slides to retell the
personal histories of five survivors. The talmidim also created
their own museum that included artifacts from the Holocaust and
original, three-dimensional projects featuring their own
interpretations of events and themes from the survivors lives. It
was a deeply moving and memorable event.
Mr. Irving Roth, founder of Adopt A Survivor, tells his personal
Holocaust story to the talmidim
Yosef Karmelys original project Meir Yehuda Fink describes his
original project
Boys Present Survivors Stories and Pledge to Perpetuate Them
Israeli farmer Baruch Adiri in discussion with rabbeim and
talmidim after the second of two consecutive speeches at the
Yeshiva.
Darchei Torah talmidim with community members in Bellaire,
Texas
Yossi Herskovitz helps his
long-lost cousin, Sanford Herskovitz,
don Tefillin in Bellaire, Texas
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14 Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015
Community Tisha BAv Program Inspires Hundreds
An immense crowd of men, women and children gathered at Yeshiva
Darchei Torah on Tisha BAv for a special Kinos program arranged by
the Yeshiva in conjunction with the Achiezer Community Resource
Center.
The program included the recitation of the tradi-tional Kinos
interspersed with inspirational addresses from talmidei chachamim
and speakers of international renown. Sitting on the floor and
mourning the destruc-tion of the Beis Hamikash nearly two thousand
years ago, the assembled were treated to thought-provoking messages
of self-improvement and understanding the
current challenges facing the Jewish people in the larger
context of the bitter galus.
The speakers were, in order of their appearance: Rabbi Shlomo
Avigdor Altusky, Rosh Yeshiva of Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid; Rabbi
Noach Orlowek, mashgiach ruchani of Yeshiva Torah Ore of Jerusalem;
Rabbi Paysach J. Krohn, the acclaimed author and lecturer; Rabbi
Zevi Trenk, menahel of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo; and Rabbi Dovid
Goldwasser, rav of Khal Beis Yitzchak in Brooklyn, New York. For
audio of the speeches, please send an email to
[email protected]
Measuring the Teivah
During the week of Parshas Noach, Rabbi Avrohom Taub utilized a
simple but brilliant method to enable his third grade talmidim to
visualize the size of the Teivah, which was 300 amos long. He took
the boys outside, and using string, helped them measure out the
length of 600 feet the equivalent of 300 amos according to some
shitos and it stretched from the preschool fence at the edge of the
new complex all the way to the security booth outside Mesivta Chaim
Shlomo! Instead of relying on the talmidims imagination in
picturing how long and wide the Teivah was, Rabbi Taub explains, we
went outside and got a hands-on feel for it ourselves.
Rabbi Taub also illustrated the height of the Teivah by pointing
out that it was approximately six stories tall, while the Heichal
Shlomo building, where the third grade learns, is four stories
high. The boys undoubtedly came away from the experience with a
deeper understanding of the Parsha.
Rav Shlomo Avigdor Altusky Rav Noach Orlowek
Rav Paysach J. Krohn Rav Zevi Trenk Rav Dovid Goldwasser
HIGHLIGHTS
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Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015 15
As the high cost of tuition continues to be a topic of
discussion throughout the Jewish community, RABBI YEHUDA HARBATER,
the Yeshivas point man on the issue, offers an inside view and
shatters some mythsHe has one of the most important jobs in the
Yeshiva, and one of the most difficult. As executive direc-tor of
Yeshiva Darchei Torah, Rabbi Yehuda Harbater has the formidable
responsibility of ensuring that tuition is fairly charged to and
collected from the parents of all talmidim, from Preschool through
Beis Medrash, enabling the Yeshiva to remain financially sound.
Mention the word tuition to a yeshiva or day school parent in
any community and you will often get a negative reaction. Tuition
is high, it is an increasingly heavy burden even on families with
high incomes, and the process by which it is set is often
misunderstood. To dispel some of the misconceptions about tuition,
explain what the Yeshiva is doing to help parents and to offer his
perspective on how to make things better, Rabbi Harbater agreed to
a wide-ranging interview that is both fascinating and
instructive.
FACT OR FICTION: THOSE WHOPAY FULL TUITION ARE SUBSIDIZINGTHOSE
WHO RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPASSISTANCE?
The premise of your question is mistaken. Lets talk about the
way things should be. Ideally there should be no such thing as
tuition parents should not be charged a fee for the education of
their children. Schools are institutions of a city, of a
commu-nity, and as such should be supported by that city or
community, just as it is in the wider society: If you are a
landowner in a particular place, you need to support its
sidewalks,
WERE IN THISTogether
INTERVIEW
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16 Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015
its sanitation department, its police department, and its
schools. A school is part of what a municipality or community
provides for its citizens. Thats also how it works according to the
Shulchan Aruch. The yeshivos are supposed to be paid for by a tax
on the members of the community. Once its a tax, then there are
various guidelines: income considerations, who is exempt, etc.
Today we do not
have a community structure with taxing authority, so were not
doing it the right way. But we still have to provide a chinuch for
all of our communitys children. So what do we have now? We dont
have a com-munity of residents or landowners; we have the smaller
community of parents. Were limited to that pool of people when it
comes to funding our mosad. And there arent enough
to make it work.Its very important to remember
that parents are not buying items and putting them in their
shopping cart. My kid did not use this particu-lar service today so
Im not paying for it, or my son does not need Resource Room help so
Im not pay-ing for that. Were part of a commu-nity, of a
cooperative venture. We all have to make it work. When you pay
tuition youre paying your dues to the cooperative; youre not
paying for someone elses child. We charge cer-tain people less
because they simply cant pay more. But its not that theres a cost
for my child and if I pay more Im paying for someone elses child.
Theres a cumulative amount that the cooperative needs to cover, and
everybody has their share.
WHO SETS THE TUITION RATE?
The Yeshivas executive board does a careful and detailed
analysis of the previous years financial picture and the outlook
for the future and takes into consideration a whole host of other
issues. After much back and forth the board decides if a raise in
tuition is warranted, and to what degree. Yet, in the end, there is
invari-ably a large deficit that falls on the Yeshivas fundraisers
to cover.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS BY WHICHTHE PARENTS WHO CANNOT AFFORDTHE
FULL AMOUNT ARE GIVEN SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE?
We have a tuition committee of several volunteer parents, from
all income levels not all of them pay full tuition and all social
strata, who meet at night throughout the spring and summer to
review each case and deal with our parents challenging situations.
People really arent making it. But we cant exempt them completely
from tuition. So we seek information: information about income,
expenses, assets, and whatever we need to determine what really is
going on. They approach this task with the utmost seriousness, and
everything is done with an airtight degree of confidentiality.
HOW DO YOU MINIMIZE THE DISCOMFORT FOR PARENTS WHO ARE ASKING
FOR A BREAK?
We try mightily to avoid any direct confrontation or even
interac-tion. The parents fill out an applica-tion which is
reviewed in my office, one by one, by members of the tuition
committee, who then come out with a proposed amount, which is sent
back to the parents. Most of
The tuition committee approaches this task with the utmost
seriousness, and everything is done
with an airtight degree of confidentiality.
INTERVIEW
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Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015 17
the time, the parents accept it. Many times, they do not, and
that starts another level of discussion.
There are schools that insist on an anonymous application where
the committee doesnt know who is applying for help and they just
see raw data. But from my perspec-tive, that doesnt work. Very
often a committee members knowledge of the individuals in question
inures to their benefit, more so than to the Yeshiva. They may be
able to enlighten us, This person really needs help.
The tuition committee is not the Yeshivas posse that is out to
catch the crooks. It is the advocate of the parents and the Yeshiva
and must try to divide up the agony as equitably as possible, to
put it one way.
Furthermore, the amount that we agree upon with the parents is
not set in stone. If a parent loses employ-ment or is otherwise
facing serious financial difficulty, we want them to contact us. We
put them at ease and let them know that we will work with them
until their circumstances improve. In the short term we may incur a
loss, but its the right thing to do. And over the long term it only
strengthens our relationship and trust with those parents.
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE PARENT BODY IS ABLE TO PAY FULL
TUITION?
About 40 percent.
WHAT DO YOU ASK OF THE PARENTS?
First of all, we realize that no one has it easy. Parents are
sacri-ficing mightily to make ends meet
and pay tuition; often both parents are working full-time. I
just want them to be straightforward tell me how it really is so
that we can work together for the sake of your high-est priority,
your sons chinuch. In addition, to work with each parent and come
to a fair resolution takes a lot of time so please be responsive,
and respond early. Dont wait for the last minute.
Keep in mind that there has to be a minimum tuition. Even in
Lakewood, where a large percent-age of fathers are learning
full-time, they have to pay a significant sum. The mosdos have no
choice. Of course there are exceptions there are almonos, there are
yesomim and a host of other, difficult situations, but otherwise
almost everyone pays something.
IS SOMEONES ABILITY TO PAY TUITIONA FACTOR WHEN BEING ACCEPTED
INTOTHE YESHIVA?
Absolutely not. Never. The educational department determines if
the Yeshiva is a good fit for them. I do try to meet the new
applicants when they come for their inter-view to put a face on it,
to give them my card, to tell them Im here to help you; if you have
any ques-tions, please call me but never to determine acceptance or
otherwise. Weve never turned anyone down for financial reasons. If
they are coming to us from another yeshiva we do make sure to get
clearance from that yeshiva, to ensure that theyve settled their
accounts before coming here.
HOW DID YOU END UP HERE?
It was 1985. I was in my
fourth year in kollel at the Denver Yeshiva when I met the ninth
grade rebbi there, who told me that his friend Rabbi Bender was
looking for an executive director for Yeshiva Darchei Torah. Now my
rosh yeshiva, Rav Yisroel Meir Kagan, shlita, had told me that if
something comes your way in terms of an employment opportunity, I
should think about it. So I flew in, I met the board, and Ive been
here ever since.
Interestingly, Rabbi Harbater has deep roots in Far Rockaway; he
was born and raised here and his maternal grandfather, who had
moved his young family to Far Rockaway in 1922, was one of the
founders of the White Shul. Besides his years in Denver, he was
also privileged to learn at Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim under Rav
Chaim Shmuelevitz and Rav Nochum Partzovitz, zichronam
livracha.
When I came to Yeshiva Darchei Torah there were 175 to 200
students; not every grade had two parallel classes. Initially my
respon-sibilities were not limited to tuition; I was the chief cook
and bottle-washer whether it was technology or fundraising. The
growth of the Yeshiva necessitated that I focus com-pletely on
tuition.
TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THIS AMAZING GROWTH?
Chesed. Chesed, chesed, chesed, chesed, chesed. The hatzlacha of
the Yeshiva is limaalah miderech hateva because Rabbi Bender deals
with people limaalah miderech hateva. Rabbi Bender is a baal chesed
who has an innate understanding of what another person needs. That
translates into chinuch as well. f
We realize that no one has it easy. Parents are sacrificing
mightily to make ends meet and pay tuition. I just want them to be
straightforward so that we can work together for the sake of your
highest priority,
your sons chinuch.
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18 Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015
PRESCHOOL
I (Truly) Did It All By Myself!
Self-Expression, Not Perfection, is Goal for Childrens
Handiwork
W hen are we proudest of our pre-schoolers? When can we see the
true measure of their emerg-ing skills and aptitudes? Most parents
would agree they derive the most in-sight and nachas from their
childs self-inspired, independent creations, be it a drawing,
crafts project, baking ex-periment or other masterpiece.
A child, in turn, experiences im-mense validation in the work of
his own little hands. He brings home his project with enormous
pride, anticipat-ing his parents praise and pleasure in his
accomplishments.
But this projection of a childs true ability and the childs own
deli-cate self-esteem may at times be sacri-ficed on the altar of
impressing parents with an image of perfection, notes Dr. Wendy
Devorah Gerson, director of the Preschool.
It is often a challenge for teachers to quell the urge to
correct and polish up the childrens projects before send-
ing them home, she says. The childs tree may look nothing like a
tree, the person he drew may be missing arms, hands and feet his
challah may look like a shapeless blob. A begin-ning teacher might
feel that these less-than-perfect creations reflect poorly on
her.
But the point is, we are not in-terested in the conventional
concept of perfection here. We are concerned with a childs
self-worth. That means respecting his self-expression.
It can be devastating to a child to see the project on which he
lavished so much effort altered or redone to be more perfect, Dr.
Gerson reflects. He can no longer own it. Its been taken away from
him.
A fundamental understanding at Darchei Torahs Preschool is that
a childs self-worth is a precious, delicate thing, she explains. We
can so easily undermine it. Our job, on the contrary, is to
nurture. f
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Never a Dull MomentLearning is Always in Season at the
Preschool
Talmidim received their very first siddur from the Rosh
HaYeshiva
The Kindergarten enjoys a beautiful spring day at the Queens
Botanical Gardens
Before Rosh Hashana the talmidim were visited by a beekeeper who
taught them all about honey. What a great way to prepare for a
sweet new year.
The Kindergarten talmidim celebrated their siyum on Alef-Beis
with the letter
Tav, which stands for Torah! Pictured below: boys wearing
special Har Sinai hats in honor of
the occasion
Right before Shavuos, the Nursery talmidim were privileged to a
unique experience provided by Rav Zevi Trenk, menahel of Mesivta
Chaim Shlomo, who let them hold real Sifrei Neviim and to be called
up for individual aliyos to a real Sefer Torah. Each boy was
wrapped in a tallis as Rav Trenk showed him the letters that form
his Hebrew name inside the Torah a wonderful experience com-ing
just days before Zman Matan Toraseinu!
This boy looks all ready for the yomtov
of Sukkos, with his ver-sions of lulav and and
esrog in a special box
In honor of Parshas Noach, which describes the rescue of all
animal species in the Teivah, the boys of the Yeshiva Darchei Torah
preschool were visited by a petting zoo. The talmidim were able to
pet, feed and, in some cases, even hold the animals!
A day of fun in conjunction with Lag Baomer
Rav Henoch Potash with his Pre-1A class at the Siddur Play
Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015 19
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20 Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015
W alking into Yeshiva Darchei Torahs preschool, you feel it
immediately. You are in a separate universe. It is not just the joy
of learning bouncing off the walls, the sound of tefillah
reverberating from a chorus of sweet, high-pitched voices, or the
childrens paradise created by a massive jungle gym and other
marvel-ous recreation equipment.
It is the climate of friendship, love and safety in which all of
these activities are generated.
Nothing illustrates this more than the Friendship Program, a new
initiative launched this year designed to give children the
building blocks to initiate and maintain friendship. The program
builds on the previous years Empathy Program that instilled in
youngsters the ability to identify in themselves and others basic
emotions such as happiness, sadness, disap-pointment, worry and
embarrassment.
The Friendship Program, geared specifically to the Pre-1A
classes, takes the Empathy Program a step further. It aims to
cultivate in youngsters greater sensitivity and awareness of
children who tend to be rejected or picked on because they look,
sound or
act different. The program fosters the value of acceptance of
and respect for everyone, regardless of differences.
It also encourages children to stand up in defense of a child
who is being hurt or shamed and to thus dis-play true friendship
and ahavas Yisrael.
The program is distinct from other middos lessons in that it
makes use of the talents of three social work interns working under
the supervision of Mrs. Chanie Nadboy, a licensed so-cial worker.
Rotating among all eight Pre-1A classes, the interns present a new
aspect of the Friendship Program once a month, including discussing
what it means to be a good friend; playing together without
quarreling; sharing; saying Im sorry; being a good listener; caring
and helping oth-ers; and problem solving with achdus.
The moros follow up on this lesson with their own activities and
incentives and each week a sticker badge is awarded to two children
who have exemplified being a good friend. They call this the Good
Friend Zone. Parents are asked to reinforce this program by writing
mitzvah notes that praise their child for displaying at home the
friendship
skills he is learning at school. Having parents partner in
this
way with the moros and rabbeim is the best way to reinforce and
incul-cate the values of friendship, says Dr. Wendy Devorah Gerson,
director of the Preschool. She reflects on the catalyst that
launched the Friendship Program, recalling an incident in which a
pre-1A child with special needs found himself isolated and ignored
in school.
I went into the class, gathered the children together and read
them a mov-ing story about learning to embrace differences in
people. It was a bright class and the boys all got the message. But
character training is a lifelong process. It obviously takes more
than a story to inspire the kind of change we wanted to see
regarding how this classand in fact, any classtreats a special
needs child. Because we have many such children and each and every
one deserves love and acceptance.
And that is how the idea of the Friendship Program evolved,
concludes Dr. Gerson. We find that it resonates deeply with
everyoneparents, teachers and most of all, the children themselves.
f
The Friendship Program
PRESCHOOL
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Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015 21
O n Simchas Torah, when the first and second grade talmi-dim of
Yeshiva Darchei Torah joined their fathers and older brothers at
Hakafos, chances are that they were already familiar with the
niggunim and minhagim of this joy-ous celebration.
Ten days earlier, these boys were treated to a special
pre-Sukkos Hakafos event at the Yeshiva, an event designed to
familiarize them with Hakafos so that they would arrive at the real
thing with some preparation and thereby be better able to
participate. The boys were taught the introductory pesukim said at
the start of each Hakafah by a different rebbi enwrapped in a
tallis, and the text was brightly displayed in large letters on a
giant screen. With the help of the keyboard playing of Rav Yaakov
Zukerman, a second grade rebbi, the boys were also taught many of
the traditional niggunim sung during the Hakafos as they
enthusiastically danced with their rabbeim. Many boys also brought
their own miniature Sifrei Torah from home for the occasion,
lending the program an even more real Simchas Torah feel.
It was a fitting way to spend part of the last day of Yeshiva
before Sukkos, the yomtov which is Zman Simchaseinu. f
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
With Hakafos Before Sukkos, Talmidim Get a Taste of the Real
Thing
Rav Menachem Engel, a first grade rebbi, with talmidim during
the Hakafos
Rav Moshe Mandel, a first grade rebbi, with talmidim during the
Hakafos
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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
PROFILES IN CHINUCH
First Class Chinuch in the Second GradeAn Illuminating
Conversation with
RAV ELIYAHU SALDINGER
22 Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015
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Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015 23
HE HAS BEEN TEACHING AT YESHIVA DARCHEI TORAH FOR 29 YEARS,
IMPACTING THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS TINOKOS SHEL BEIS RABBAN.
Beloved by parents and talmidim alike, he infuses his second
grade class-room with his unique blend of joyful enthusiasm and
seriousness about the endeavor of learning Torah. Although they are
young children, his talmidim emerge from a year under his tute-lage
having gained not only learning skills but also exposure to ideals
and values that one might expect of older bachurim. What is the
secret to Rav Eliyahu Saldingers success?
To Rav Yaakov Bender, Rosh HaYeshiva, the answer is simple. Reb
Eliyahu is a mix of two wonder-ful generations, he explains. He is
a throwback to the elegant, graceful, and aristocratic rebbi. At
the same time he is able to relate to todays chil-dren with a
tremendous amount of ahavah and warmth.
WE ASKED RAV SALDINGER TO SHARE HIS PHILOSOPHY OF CHINUCH.
The alef is that you have to love the children. A rebbis raison
detre has to be chesed to the children. I often give the boys a
test, composed of three questions: One, Who loves you? Two, How
much does he love you? And three, Why does he love you? THE ANSWERS
ARE: One, Rebbi loves you; Two, a lot; and three, because you have
a heilige neshama. The children have to know that they are loved
simply because they are
who they are, not for any pretenses or grades. You are a Yid?
Then you are loved by Hashem and by your rebbi. Thats the alef:
that a child should know his intrinsic self-value.
I also inculcate the idea that a Yid needs to be dignified,
derhoiben, to raise himself up. Not everything has to be fun fun is
for playing ball, and is transient but learning should be geshmak,
which is a deep, internal and heartfelt feeling.
Rav Saldinger is a master at help-ing his students acquire the
critical skills in kriah, dikduk and shorashim recognition that
form the foundation of a lifetime of learning. In Chumash, an
emphasis is placed on develop-ing their ability to reason to
iden-tify who said what to whom and to extrapolate ideas from the
pesukim. I ask questions that challenge their
thought process to implant in them the capacity for
machshava.
But in everything a rebbi does, he emphasizes, you have to put
the humanity first. Teaching the skills are very important but they
have to be sublimated to the yechidus of the indi-vidual
talmid.
Besides the classs accomplish-ments in Torah by Pesach, for
exam-ple, the boys will be able to teach themselves the meaning of
pesukim Rav Saldinger gives them an appre-ciation for the beauty
and honor of learning the Ribbono shel Olams Torah. They know that
what theyre learning is not a subject or an aca-demic pursuit; its
a living entity.
I tell the boys, if you look up the word yeshiva in the
dictionary, it ought to say a diamond-polishing factory. When you
take a diamond
The children have to know that they are loved simply because
they are who they are.
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24 Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015
out of the ground, it looks like a stone; you might throw it
away. You have to polish and shape it until you come out with a
beautiful million-dollar gem. I say: Youre the diamonds and Im the
diamond polisher. I have to teach you Torah, middos and
hanhagos.
RAV SALDINGER does not feel that his talmidim are too young to
be introduced to advanced concepts. My father was niftar when I was
17. He was a simple working man but his chush in chinuch was
profound. He always told me, plant seeds. I try to plant seeds,
such as when I talk about dveykus in tefillah. Not just singing or
prizes I daven with them, say-ing Hashems name with them, wear-ing
a tallis. They have to see a living davening.
We work on saying brachos out loud. I tell the boys that they
have to bring the Ribbono shel Olam into their lives. You can have
two peo-ple in a pizza shop eating the same thing; one, sadly, is a
ganav while one is mekadesh the food because he made a bracha while
the first one did not. You can relate to Hashem in every aspect of
life. Its not just in learning its your eating, your drinking, your
playing. In everything you do you can elevate yourself and make a
kesher to Hashem.
I give shmuessin I call them maamarim -- about middos, all aimed
at planting the seeds necessary to become an adam. With regard to
bein adam lachaveiro, Rav Saldinger teaches his talmidim about
achrayus to each other and to their parents -- as well as a deep
sense of hakoras hatov.
I tell them all the time: When your mother lights Shabbos licht,
kiss her hand and say thank you.
HAVING TAUGHT TALMIDIM for over a generation, Rav Saldinger is
familiar with the many challenges in chinuch habonim that have
emerged over the years. Rav Yitzchok Hutner ztl [the late rosh
yeshiva of Yeshiva Rav Chaim Berlin] said that every dor has its
yetzer hara, its nisayon; in our dor it is the falsehood that you
can-not do. This is an attempt to deni-grate, usurp and steal from
our hearts the idea that we can become. I feel that it is our
avodah to do the exact opposite: show the children how great they
can become, and nurture them. We do have to demand certain things
from them, but with love. It takes time, chesed, love and patience
and realizing that they can become great. Thats the book of
chinuch.
When we briefly observed one of Rav Saldingers lessons we
noticed him refer to his classroom as a beis medrash. I call it
Beis Medrash Ahavas Yisroel Bnei Chassidim of Darchei Torah, he
later explained. Ahavas Yisroel? I want them to hear the idea of
achrayus to Klal Yisroel. Bnei Chassidim? I have very deep
chassidishe roots; my grandfather was a chassidishe ruv.
Just as deeply rooted is Rav Saldingers approach to chinuch, as
it is based on the mesorah that he received from his own rabbeim,
who were, in turn, talmidim of Rav Aaron Kotler and Rav Yitzchok
Hutner, zichronam livracha: Rav Chaim Leib Epstein, Rav Yehuda
Heshel Levenberg, and
Rav Dovid Spiegel, shlita; and yblc Rav Avner German and Rav
Shlomo Prager, zichronam livracha.
Rav Saldinger reflects on one aspect of this legacy. Yeshivas
Rav Chaim Berlin always represented the idea of the individual. For
Rav Hutners talmidim, Yiddishkeit was not a cookie-cutter religion.
He gave every talmid distinct guidance on what path to pursue in
life. And it was colorful. I relate to that. Besides for my love
for the talmidim and my desire for them to become great, I do my
utmost to tailor the lesson accord-ing to each child because Torah
is not a cookie-cutter way of life. There are many ways for them to
express themselves to the Ribbono shel Olam, and that fact is a
seed that has to be planted when theyre young.
HE ADDS, A rebbi can only truly succeed in a yeshiva where the
rosh yeshiva appreciates each rebbis indi-viduality, like Rav
Bender does, and that has a staff which works together as a
brotherly unit.
In one sentence: Torah must be a living experience. We have to
give that experience to each child in his indi-vidual way so he can
absorb it. Thats what Torah is and what chinuch has to be. It
encompasses everything that goes on in a class, from the skills to
davening to learning to their relation-ship with one another and
with rebbi and morah. They need to know that they can become and
must become, and as Rav Yisroel Salanter says, with time greatness
will be attained.
When you love the talmidim, that is the prism that reflects
everything. f
If you look up the word yeshiva in the dictionary, it ought to
say a diamond-polishing factory.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015 25
Three (and Four) Generations Celebrate a Milestone:Hascholas
GemaraWhen the fifth grade talmidim of Yeshiva Darchei Torah opened
their Gemaros for the very first time, it was an extraordinary
moment in their lives. At this juncture, having already gotten
their feet wet in the sweet waters of Chumash, Rashi and Mishnayos,
they are ready to embark on what will hopefully be a lifelong
journey on the majestic Sea of Talmud. To mark this milestone, the
Yeshiva invited the fathers, grandfathers and even
great-grandfathers of the talmi-dim to join them and their rabbeim
for a festive seudah. It was an event
that celebrated another generation of Yiddishe Kinderlach
joining the ranks of lomdei Gemara and becoming the newest links in
the chain of Mesorah that reaches back to Sinai.
Addressing the event were five grandfathers of talmidim: Rav
Avrohom Halpern, menahel of Shor Yoshuv; Rav Moshe Weinberger, rav
of Aish Kodesh; Rav Henoch Potash, a longtime Pre-1A rebbi in the
Yeshiva; Mr. Motty Klein and Mr. Berish Fuchs, as well as Rav
Yaakov Bender, Rosh HaYeshiva, and Rav Dovid Morgenstern, menahel
of the Upper Elementary School.
Rav Yaakov Bender, Rosh HaYeshiva, dancing with talmidim,
fathers and grandfathers
Four generations joined Yedidya Tepfer as he celebrated starting
Gemara: His father, Dr. Binyamin Tepfer; his grandfathers, Rav
Moshe Weinberger (who also addressed the event) and Mr. Hertzy
Tepfer; and his great-grandfather, Reb Mordechai Weinberger, a
Holocaust survivor.
Mr. Motty Klein
Rav Avrohom Halpern
Mr. Berish Fuchs
Rav Henoch Potash
Mr. Barry Weiss leading Bircas Hamazon
Rav Dovid Morgenstern, menahel of the Upper Elementary
School
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26 Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015
GOING PUBLICAN ELITE WRITING PROGRAM AT A GLANCE
Writing is serious business at Yeshiva Darchei Torah. Competent
writing skills are viewed not as the prov-
enance of those graced with the gift of the pen, but a critical
life skill that all can attain.
All Elementary School classes engage in four writing units a
year, culminating in publishing events marked by school-wide
presentations, and celebrated with joyous publish-ing parties that
cap the months-long writing process.
Whether involving poetry, per-sonal narrative or an essay about
a special person or memorable event, each writing unit encompasses
various stages. They include immersion in various literature styles
by leading childrens authors, brainstorming for writing ideas,
selecting a topic, devel-oping it and going public.
A crucial stage in the writing process, going public gives
con-crete form to a youngsters creative impulses, says Mrs. Ariella
Kelman, the general studies principal. When a child goes public
with his topic, he moves his idea forward from the ger-minating
stage, developing and defin-ing his subject matter on a class
chart. Accompanied by a comment sheet, the chart is posted for all
to peruse, invit-ing fellow students to pose comments and questions
that aid the writer in shaping his piece.
In this way, a student develops his writing topic from a
nebulous idea into a budding story that will soon be ready for a
first draft, in which the young writer is encouraged to model
a favorite author, trying his hand at dialogue and the use of
rich language, explains Assistant Principal Mrs. Sara Malka
Krasnow. The first draft is cor-rected, revised and rewritten until
a polished piece of writ-ing is ready for the exciting climax of
actual publishing.
Students on every grade level participate in this rewarding
process, learn-ing to hammer out their memories, experiences,
observations and opinions into the written word and test them in
the arena of peer reaction. In the pro-cess of acquiring sound
writing tools, children are constantly engaged in sharpening the
skills of memory, verbalization and analytic thinking.
Central to the writing process is the collaborative support of a
childs classmates, conveyed through their comments and suggestions.
This inter-action not only prompts the writer to develop his piece,
it clarifies his target
audience, Mrs. Kelman explains. Knowing your audience
automatically helps focus your writing, she notes. It also drives
home writings chief pur-posecommunication. f
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015 27
Educators agree that although competitiveness can be used
effectively to spur excellence, an even more potent force in
education is collaboration.
That is the operative word in the General Studies Department of
the Elementary School, where collabora-tion applies as much to
staff interac-tions as it does to student-to-student interfacing in
the classroom.
The rich rewards that accrue from collaboration between staff
members can be observed in the Teacher-Mentoring program in which
seasoned teachers, over the course of the summer, share with
beginning teachers the fruits of their classroom expertise. The
sessions take place in relaxed home settings at mutually convenient
times, with new teachers benefitting from workshops and a wealth of
teaching materials presented by experienced teachers.
Keeping pace with the yeshivas growth, weve been opening
addi-tional parallel classes each year and bringing new teachers on
board, says Mrs. Ariella Kelman, general studies principal. At
present we have from
six to eight parallel classes in each grade. The beauty of the
mentoring system is that it validates our seasoned teachers while
also empowering our new teachers.
Rather than a territorial or competitive atmosphere where new
teachers might feel overshadowed by the old guard, while the latter
view younger teachers critically, the
Teacher-Mentoring program promotes a completely different
landscape, she noted. Through the program, new teachers are warmly
welcomed and initiated into Darchei Torahs unique culture of
inclusiveness by experi-enced teachers who share with their younger
colleagues their secrets of success.
Whether in regard to classroom management or teaching materials
and methodology, our experienced
teachers have developed a storehouse of valuable tools over many
years, adds Assistant Principal Mrs. Sara Malka Krasnow. The
seasoned teacher becomes emotionally invested in the success of the
colleague she has mentored, and takes pride in her accomplishments.
That creates a win-win situation where new and old staff mem-bers
become friends and team players, each rooting for the others
success.
Another important ave-nue of sharing expertise and hands-on
teaching tools are the Tuesday collaborative meet-ings. Teachers
are invited to
a lab site, where they observe a seasoned teacher or consultant
do a lesson, and subsequently take part in a critiquing process to
see what elements they can put into practice in their own teaching.
As opposed to being isolated in their classrooms, teachers are thus
part of a vibrant reciprocal system, where peer support
and ongoing training fuel their compe-tence in the
classroom.
Collaboration is also on daily display in the routine sharing of
worksheets, teaching aids and learn-ing strategies among teachers
of parallel classes. With the collective channeling of each
teachers creativity and passion into a pool of talent and resources
available to all, says Mrs. Kelman, everyoneespecially the
studentscomes out a winner. f
Mining the Gifts of CollaborationMENTORING PROGRAM EXPOSES NEW
TEACHERS TO A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE
The beauty of the mentoring system is that it validates our
seasoned teachers while also empowering our new teachers.
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28 Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
49,082
225 talmidim of the Junior High School spent the weeks from
Pesach until shortly after Shavuos learning Mishnayos in memory of
the sixth graders classmate, Aaron Shalom Tepfer ah, who was niftar
the previous August. A total of 49,082 Mishnayos were completed.
The siyum, held in the Kaufman Ezras Nashim, was addressed by Rav
Yaakov Bender, Rosh HaYeshiva; Rav Dovid Frischman, menahel of the
Junior High School; Rav Yaakov Feitman, rav of Kehillas Bais Yehuda
Tzvi in Cedarhurst; Mr. Tuli Tepfer; and two friends of Aaron
Shaloms, Eli Frechter and Yehuda Zev Klein. This was followed by
spirited dancing in the Diamond Bais Medrash.
The next day a series of exciting raffles were drawn; every boy
who learned Mishnayos was entitled to tickets in the raffles. f
At the siyum: Yehuda Zev Klein (with microphone) and Rav Dovid
Frischman
Shaya Lebowitz with his well-earned prize
The raffle winners gather on stage with their prizes.
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Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015 29
I n the fall of 2013, after 10-year old Aaron Shalom Tepfer of
Cedarhurst was suddenly niftar, his Yeshiva Darchei Torah classmate
and friend Yitzy Berko came up with an idea: Why not commission the
writing of a new sefer Torah lizeicher nishmaso? When completed,
the Torah would be housed in the Aron Kodesh of the Junior High
School, where it would be used by the boys in their minyan for many
years to come.
The then-sixth grader was undaunted by the task, nor the cost.
He made a quick calculation: If 1,000 families would donate an
average of 54 dollars each, he could reach his goal. Yitzy broached
his idea with Rav Avrohom Bender, a rebbi and sgan menahel, who
relayed it to his father, Rav Yaakov Bender, the Rosh HaYeshiva who
enthusiastically encour-aged the young boy to launch a
campaign.
With the help of his father, Mr. Ariel Berko, Rav Avrohom Bender
and hundreds of donors, Yitzy Berkos dream came to fruition last
Elul, as hundreds of friends, relatives and
community members joined this very special Hachnasas Sefer
Torah.
The event began at the Tepfer home with the inscription of the
final letters of the Sefer Torah. For three hours, a stream of
people most of whom had never met Aaron Shalom but were impacted by
the stories of his remark-
able life arrived to take part in this mitzvah. A book filled
with many of those stories and lessons for life was published in
honor of the occasion.
The procession with the new Sefer Torah then shifted to Heyson
Road in Far Rockaway, outside the building that had housed Yeshiva
Darchei Torahs elementary school for the dura-tion of the
construction of its new complex and where Aaron Shalom learned
Torah from his devoted rabbeim. Most of
the westbound lanes of Seagirt Boulevard were closed by the
police to vehicular traffic as hundreds of people danced and sang,
slowly and joyously escorting the Sefer Torah to its new home in
Yeshiva Darchei Torah.
At the Seudas Mitzvah, the assembled were treated to words of
chizuk and remem-
brance from Rav Yaakov Feitman, rav of Kehillas Bais Yehuda Tzvi
in Cedarhurst; Rav Yaakov Bender, Rosh HaYeshiva; Mr. Tuli Tepfer,
Aaron
Shaloms father; and Yitzy Berko. The eldest son of the Skverer
Rebbe, Rav Aaron Mendel Twersky, also spoke briefly, having
traveled from New Square with his brother Rav Yitzchok for the
occasion. Rav Avrohom Bender, who invested his heart and soul into
the campaign and the days events, served as emcee.
Following the seudah, the bachurim of Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid
arrived in the Diamond Bais Medrash for additional lebedige
danc-ing and singing with the Sefer Torah, capping a day that was
an intense combination of remembrance, emo-tion and glorious kavod
HaTorah. f
Hundreds Escort New Sefer Torahin Memory of Aaron Tepfer ah
Mr. Tuli Tepfer, father of Aaron Shalom ah, carries the Sefer
Torah during the procession up Seagirt Boulevard
Yitzy Berko speaks at the seudas mitzvah. Seated, L-R: Rav
Yaakov Bender, Rav Aaron Mendel Twersky and Rav Yitzchok Twersky,
sons of the Skverer Rebbe; Mr. Tuli Tepfer and Rav Berish
Friedman
Rav Yaakov Feitman, rav of Kehillas Beis Yehuda Tzvi in
Cedarhurst, writing one of the final letters in the Sefer Torah
Mr. Ariel Berko and Rav Avrohom Bender
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30 Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015
Yeshiva Darchei Torah WinsPrestigious ScienceCompetition
T he Eighth Grade of Yeshiva Darchei Torah won first place at
the SET3 (SET-cubed) science competition, a yearlong advanced
contest which was sponsored by the Center for Initiatives in Jewish
Education. The other participating schools were SAR Academy, HAFTR,
Yeshivat Noam, Solomon Schechter of Queens, Yeshiva of Central
Queens, Hillel Yeshiva and Yeshiva Toras Chaim of South Shore. This
was the second time in three years that Yeshiva Darchei Torah has
won this competition.
The SET3 project focuses on the application of engineering
principles to a real-life situation. The project included
experimentation, writing complex lab reports, PowerPoint
presentations and prototype development. This years challenge was
to create a retractable cargo transport system connecting two
mountains which would not interfere with flights taking off from
a
nearby airport and flying through the valley between the
mountains. The Yeshiva Darchei Torah students built a model,
presented the details of the project in a PowerPoint presentation,
explained the experiments they performed, reported their findings
in an organized and lucid fashion utilizing graphs and diagrams and
gained a tremendous amount of knowledge about engineering and
teamwork.
A big Yasher Koach is due to the students coach, Dr. Don
Engelberg, a physics instructor in Mesivta Chaim Shlomo; and to the
students on the team: Dovid Appelbaum, Daniel Pinchos Fox, Yehoshua
Keilson, Eliezer Lowinger, Simcha Mann and Yosef Schulhof. Their
commitment and dedication was evident throughout the process and
their presentation on the day of the competition was nothing less
than magnificent. f
Yeshiva Darchei Torahs winning science team, left to right:
Dovid Appelbaum, Yosef Schulhof, Yehoshua Keilson, Joel Javitt of
the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education (CIJE), the sponsor
of the competition; Dr. Don Engelberg, project coach; Daniel
Pinchos Fox and Eliezer Lowinger. Not pictured: Simcha Mann.L-R:
Dr. Don Engelberg, Dovid Appelbaum, Daniel Pinchos Fox,
Simcha Mann, Yehoshua Keilson, Yosef Schulhof and Dr. Yitzchak
Goldberg. Not pictured: Eliezer Lowinger. Visible at right: the
project under construction.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
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Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015 31
How does it work?The fascination with the
unknown the quest to understand how and why the physical world
functions as it does has always gripped human imagination leading
to countless inventions and discover-ies that have transformed our
lives.
That curiosity about how it works is the force Mrs. Tsippy
Nussbaum and Mrs. Elisheva Pinsky, science teachers at the Yeshiva,
seek to harness in engaging their students in the study of the
physical world and how it is governed by the laws of motion,
matter, energy, heat and sound.
Both teachers say lab day when the class engages in scientific
experimentation is one of their students favorite days.
Not only do they get to close their textbooks temporarily in
favor of active, hands-on experimentation, the boys experience the
excitement of light bulb moments as they apply their newfound
understanding of scientific laws of energy, matter and motion to
everyday phenomena.
Mrs. Nussbaum says she typi-cally begins a lesson with a
question. A recent question she posed: How long will a tower built
exclusively of pieces of paper held together by paper clips remain
standing? A min-ute? An hour? A whole day?
Using principles theyve previously learned combined with
educated guess-work, the students form a hypoth-esis. Now its time
to test and retest that hypothesis in the lab using
the Scientific Method. The students construct a series of paper
towers the largest is 103 centimeters high and leave them standing
overnight.
To their surprise, they discover that a tower built of flimsy
paper and paper clips will stand indefinitely, consistent with a
key law of motion that says an object will remain at rest unless an
outside force even the faintest breeze comes along and generates
motion.
Mrs. Pinskys science classes launched into their study of the
Scientific Method with their recent lab titled, Come Fly with
Me.
In compar-ing the flights of 3 paper airplanes, each of a
different type and weight of paper, the boys experi-enced hands-on
application of critical scien-tific vocabulary and concepts. These
included posing a question about the respective distances the
planes would fly; generating a hypothesis or prediction; following
test procedures; understanding variables and controls; and graphing
the collected data.
The analysis of the data gave the students information they
needed to draw a conclusion that answered the original
question.
Were giving the boys basic understandings of the concepts behind
simple machines, motion, force and energy, Mrs. Pinsky said. We
want them to become aware that the simplest objects may be a
machine at its core. Take a regular door: the hinge is the fulcrum;
the door itself is a lever. Soon theyll gain enough knowledge about
gears and levers, energy and motion, and the scientific method to
build a simple machine that actually works.
That knowledge will be of great
benefit to the boys during the annual Invention Convention a
months-long project beginning in February, in which the students
work on their own inventions in and out of school. Toward the end
of the school year, at a gala presentation before an amazed and
admiring host of teachers, parents and students, each student or
group of students is afforded a chance to display their own unique
invention. f
What DoPaper AirplanesAnd Paper ClipsHave To Do With
Science?
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32 Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015
T here is a famous adage: Those who fail to learn from the past
are doomed to repeat it. That will not be an issue for the Sixth
Grade Social Studies students at Yeshiva Darchei Torah. They love
to spend time learning about their rich past. Their personal and
global history comes alive!
Beginning in September, teach-ers Rabbi Avi Taub and Mr. Jon
Constantino prepare the boys for the culminating event in June: the
Jewish Heritage Museum. This program
started about five years ago when Dr. Yitzchak Goldberg,
principal of gen-eral studies, and Rabbi Taub were inspired to
adapt the concept after vis-iting the Museum of Jewish Heritage in
Battery Park City.
The premise of the program was for the boys to find an artifact,
a meaningful piece of history, in their own homes and research it
to the point where they felt a deeper connection to it. The
educators spent time teaching various types of skills. Research
into the artifact helped talmidim learn
communication and investigative skills, as they often
interviewed fam-ily members connected to the artifact. Technology
skills are an important component of this project as the stu-dents
utilized them to photograph and further showcase their item. Of
course English Language Arts came into play as they wrote up
descriptive labels for their exhibits.
Students were divided into themed groups, such as Shabbos, yamim
tovim, or military history. Those groups of talmidim then created
tri-boards to dis-play their artifacts. Each student also created a
museum label of their artifact which included a photograph and
brief explanation of the item.
To further bring the history of each boys family forward, as
well as add another dimension of writing, stu-dents in Mrs. Chaia
Frishmans English Language Arts classes created a reflec-tive poem.
These poems follow the style of George Ella Lyons Where Im From, a
poem which provides snippets of images that the writer has from her
familys history. The sensory impact of the poem was also a great
springboard for the students other lessons in poetry. Because of
the depth of research the students completed for their artifact,
they felt empowered when supplying personal family history for
their pieces, which they decorated and displayed.
A sixth grade parent, Mrs. Ruchama Frisch, reflected, This is a
great project. It gives all the students a chance to connect to
their own fami-lies and their own heritage. They get a chance to
investigate where they come from and tell it to the world. What
could be more rewarding for an 11-year old student than a chance to
say This is who I am?
The day of the Jewish Heritage Museum exhibit was a culmination
of both projects as the poetry display complemented the work done
for the Museum.
CDs with PowerPoint presenta-tions of the artifacts and poetry
digests are still available. f
Yoel Kreindler with the semicha certificate of his late
great-grandfather, Rav Yosef Ber Kaplan. It was signed by Rav
Boruch Ber Leibowitz, the pre-war Rosh Yeshiva of Kamenitz and one
of the manhigei hador.
Sixth Graders Learn and Present Lessons from the Past at Jewish
Heritage Museum
BY CHAIA FRISHMAN
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
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Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015 33
Renovated Gym and Beis Medrash Provide Enhanced Quarters for
Body and Neshama
We Thank Our Donors
w
Mr. and Mrs. Murray Huberfeld Mr. and Mrs. Rivie Schwebel
Mr. and Mrs. Eli AmsterdamMr. and Mrs. Chaim Bess
Mr. and Mrs. Alan BotwinickMr. and Dr. Dovid Cohen
Mr. and Mrs. Mottie DrillmanMr. and Mrs. Shimon EcksteinDr. and
Mrs. Eli Eisenberger
Dr. and Mrs. Shamshy EisenbergerMr. and Mrs. Seth Farbman
Mr. and Mrs. Nachum FutersakMr. and Mrs. Ralph HerzkaMr. and
Mrs. Naftoli KaplanMr. and Mrs. Irving LangerMr. and Mrs. Abraham
LaviMr. and Mrs. Motti Lazar
Mr. and Mrs. Yitzchok LeshinskyMr. and Mrs. Zion Maidi
Rabbi and Mrs. Yisroel NeubergerMr. and Mrs. Tzvi Odzer
Rabbi and Mrs. Baruch RothmanDr. and Mrs. Michael SchwartzMr.
and Mrs. Yitzhak SoleimaniMr. and Mrs. Zev Aron Solomon
Mr. and Mrs. Avery StokRabbi and Mrs. Zevi TrenkMr. and Mrs.
Dovi WarmanMr. and Mrs. Avi Weinstock
The Sam Levinson Theater.The Waterview.The Keilson Family
Auditorium.
It is a massive room that has gone through many phases. Up until
the completion of the Yeshivas new complex in 2010, its main
purpose was as a dining hall. This summer, the room was renovated
to allow for a new beis medrash for grades 9, 10 and 11 of Mesivta
Chaim Shlomo. This enables these talmidim, who until now had
davened in the same beis medrash as the twelfth grade, Beis Medrash
Heichal Dovid and Kollel Tirtza Devorah, to daven in their own,
designated place. They also learn in the new beis medrash during
night seder.
Another project that is well underway is the complete
refurbishment of the Yeshivas decades-old gymnasium, which had
fallen into a state of disrepair and was no longer conducive to the
healthy ball playing that is a necessary element of many a talmids
physical wellbeing. f
Dedication opportunities for both projects are still available.
Please contact
Rabbi Zev Bald at 718.868.2300 ext. 219 or Rabbi Baruch Rothman
at 718.868.2300 ext. 706
A partial view of the Mesivtas new beis medrash
A photo inside the gym, taken as extensive renovations were
about to commence
MESIVTA CHAIM SHLOMO
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34 Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015
Driving down Seagirt Boulevard late at night, you cant miss it.
The stately building with arched windows is amply illuminated, the
words Mesivta Chaim Shlomo and Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid glowing
in the city darkness. But it is the light from within, the warm
glow of a bright beis medrash humming with activity, which sets
this edifice apart from the surrounding buildings, shuttered
storefronts and homes whose residents have long since gone to
sleep. Inside the four cubits of halacha that is Yeshiva Darchei
Torah, bachurim from ninth grade through yeshiva gedolah are still
at work, plugging away at the Gemara.
MESIVTA CHAIM SHLOMO
THE 24/7 MESIVTA
SPECIAL PHOTO ESSAY
LET US TAKE A BRIEF GLIMPSE AT A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A
MESIVTA BACHUR:
Mesivta Chaim Shlomo is not a city that never sleeps; to the
contrary, a good nights rest is a prerequisite for a fruitful day
of learning. But it is the unwillingness of scores of bachurim to
be limited to the mandatory schedule of sedarim and shiurim, and
the burning desire that they possess for learning and growing, that
has spawned the growth of numerous extra-curricular shiurim, vaadim
and sedarim, that begin early Sunday morning and go through Motzaei
Shabbos.
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Bedarchei Hatorah d Winter 5775/2015 35
Dormitory mashgiach NOCHUM SREBRO does more than enforce curfew
and ensure the smooth operation of the Yeshivas multiple
dormitories on campus. This Ben-Torah leads an early-morning
chaburah in Halacha before davening, enabling bachurim to further
expand their bekius in the halachos of yamim tovim, tefillah, and
other topics. Moreover, he serves as a true role model of what a
yeshiva bachur can aspire to become.
Shacharis is the first avodah of the day, and the bachurim
conduct themselves during the tefillah as befits the Bnei Torah
that they are, undoubtedly beseeching Hashem for continued
hatzlacha in learning and fulfillment of their aspirations.
During the 45 minutes allotted for breakfast, many bachurim
choose to complete their meal a bit quicker so that they can gain
from RAV PINCHUS WACHSMANS 15-minute shiur in a different perek of
Bava Basra, the Yeshiva masechta for this year. This will help them
get closer to their goal of finishing the entire masechta. Last
year the shiur covered approximately 70 blatt. Rav Wachsman is the
first-year maggid shiur in Bais Medrash Heichal Dovid.
Rosh HaYeshiva RAV YAAKOV BENDER and President MR. RONALD
LOWINGER alternate in the delivery of a shiur each Tuesday and
Thursday morning on perakim of Bava Basra that are otherwise not
being covered during official sedarim. Last year the shiur finished
Perek Hasholeiach and part of Hanizakin in Maseches Gittin. This
year they started Perek Hashutafin.
After Mincha comes Bekius, when the shiurim learn other sugyos
at a somewhat quicker pace than th