A Student Publication of the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School • Issue 1 • 2014

If you were one of the many who dreaded swim, you’re in luck—the pool has been removed. Over the summer, the pool was drained and will soon be demolished; entering the second phase of construction that Flatbush has planned for the school. When we return from winter break at the end of January, no trace of the pool will be found, and in its place there will be a new gym.

The visual plans for the new auxil-iary gym can be found hanging outside the school office. It is to be a dedicat-ed indoor soccer and hockey gym, in which league games will be played and PE classes will be taught. Although the ceiling will not be high enough for bas-ketball or volleyball, softball and base-

ball practice will be held there, aided by a new pitching and batting machine bought by the school.

But the planned changes to the cur-rent school building entail much more than just a new gym. According to Ye-shivah of Flatbush Executive Director Rabbi Seth Linfield, Flatbush is imple-menting a four-phase, five-year plan to transform and renovate the entire school. The first phase of Flatbush’s new look took place last year with the recon-struction of the lobby, auditorium and the science labs. Prior to last year, Flat-bush had had no renovations at all since the 1960s. The next step is reconstruct-ing the gym, which is currently under-way. Phase three is arguably one of the

biggest changes of all: to knock down the annex house north of the school to make room for a new wing that will be added to the main building. This will enlarge the building to 25,000 square feet. This project is projected to begin in June 2015 and will connect the current building to the northern property.

Rabbi Linfield added that all of this

construction is actually part of bigger overall design plan under which the Ye-shivah will be given an entirely new look. Plans for 2017–2019 outline renovations for the whole building, and the designs for it can be seen in the school lobby.

So take a good look around—Flat-bush will not look the way it is now for long.

Bye-Bye, BerkeleySeminar Moving to New Hotel in 2014By Michelle Harari, 3-HR

Dean of Students Rabbi Besser recent-ly announced the switching of hotels for Seminar, ending the 25-year relationship the Yeshivah has had with the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park, NJ. Seminar will instead be held at a new, closer hotel in Somerset, NJ. Being only 42 minutes away from Flatbush and “even closer than Deal,” this hotel seems rath-er ideal. Proximity, however, was only one among a few reasons for this drastic change. Will Seminar tradition be bro-ken?

The Yeshivah of Flatbush has had a fluctuating relationship with the Berke-ley as the hotel ownership has changed five times over the course of these past 25 years. During these ownership changes, the hotel’s interests began to change as well. In other words, they weren’t always so willing to host 270 people with needs so demanding such as places to dine, sleep, pray, and discuss—and for an entire weekend no less. But after a year or two would pass, the Berkeley would be ready once more to bear the heavy burden of 270 pieces of luggage and six diverse meals.

So if things seemed to be going

quite right, what went wrong? “They out-priced us,” states Rabbi Besser, ex-plaining that the hotel management wanted to host weddings on weekends, which would give them a bigger prof-it than Flatbush would. And since they are unsure which weekends they might be booked for weddings, they are un-able to commit to dates to host Seminar. This became problematic as planning for Seminar must be done for four grades far in advance.

“So what are the goals?” asks the tire-less rabbi. “The goals are to have a hotel that is cooperative for a seminar event, meaning they understand that we need a shul, dining room…. We also need a ho-tel that can help us out financially. And finally, we want to make it geographi-cally cooperative.” He then added, rath-er enthusiastically, that he believes that sending kids on a 3-4 hour bus ride is a security issue and he feels uncomfortable doing it. “So we found a place!”

A place that is “even closer than Deal,” only 42 minutes away, and has that cozy-and-yet-not-congested feel to it seems like a dream; what more could you ask for? We’re happy to be there, and they’re happy to have us. However, this is still our first year experimenting, and many things may not go as planned. But have no fear, for Rabbi Besser is here, as he says his last bit with a twinkle in his eye, “My goal is to make our children happy. I would do anything, I would change ev-erything—as long as the children have a better program.” So it appears we have not broken tradition, but rather started a new one.

ILead: An Inspirational SummerBy Mimi Lazerowitz, 2-HR

This past summer, a group of 29 Ye-shivah of Flatbush High School students participated in the Israel Leadership and Development (ILead) trip to Isra-

el. The ILead program is a month-long program that is available to students who have completed their junior year of high school. These students travel to Israel in order to learn new leadership skills. Over the course of this trip, the students who attended did many fun and exciting things, such as mountain climbing, horseback riding, and white-water rafting.

Senior Ralph Chakkalo said that the event that stood out most to him was climbing Mount Tavor. “It looked

New Teacher Spotlight: Mr. SaadiaBy Sarah Levy, 4-HR

Mr. Saadia is the newest member of the history department here at the Yeshivah of Flatbush. We decided to ask him some questions.Q: So what classes are you teaching?A: I’m teaching Global History and Geography to all 6 freshman classesQ: What were you doing before coming to Flatbush?A: I’ve taught global and US history at three different schools.Q: What do you think of Flatbush so far? A: Well for one thing, it’s a big school, bigger than all the other ones I’ve taught at before.

Q: What are your expectations for this year?A: I’m looking forward to a good year in which my students will grow academically as well as in life.Q: Anything interesting happen yet?A: I actually recognized some kids that I taught when they were in fourth grade in Flatbush Elementary School. That was nice.

INSIDE: New Fun & Games Section • Flatbush Basketball Season Preview • Meet A Freshie

cont’d on page 3

New Gym Taking ShapeMore Big Changes Coming Under Construction PlanBy Shani Zenilman, 4-HR

Artist’s rendering of the new hockey gym

The Phoenix StaffEditor-In-Chief: Shani ZenilmanManaging Editor: Abby ShegelmanReligion Editor: Sarah LevyEntertainment Editor: Rebecca ZamiSports Editor: Joey CohenFun Page Editor: Merle CohenStandard of Fabulous Editors: Emma Burekhovich, Nicole YancovitchPhotography Editor: Robyn DweckJunior Editors: Albert Dweck, Merle Dweck, Michelle Harari, Sarah Torgueman, Gabriel VizganSophomore Editors: Mimi Lazerowitz, Jane ZakayDesign: Therese BerkowitzFaculty Advisor: Adam Hofstetter

Rabbi Raymond Harari Head of School

Rabbi Ronald Levy Principal

Ms. Jill W. Sanders Director of Admissions Associate Principal

Ms. Sari Bacon Associate Principal

Rabbi Joseph Beyda Assistant Principal

High School Administration

Meet a Freshman: Marlene Levy, 1-HRBy Robyn Dweck, 4-R

RD: What elementary school did you at-tend? Marlene: Yeshivah of Flatbush

RD: What extra activities did you partici-ipate in at your elementary school? Marlene: I was part of the Girls Basket-ball team and the yearbook staff.

RD: What’s your favorite subject?Marlene: Math

RD: What are you looking forward to in Flatbush? Marlene: I am looking forward to joining a lot of fun and different committees and clubs and getting involved as much as I can.

RD: Are you going to try out for any teams and, if yes, which ones? Marlene: Yes, I plan to try out for all the teams even if I don’t make them, at least it was for fun.

RD: Are you excited for the upcoming Hebrew play?Marlene: Yes, I’m very excited to be a part of the play because I think it’ll be a great experience.

Mr. Cohen Plans SabbaticalBy Abby Shegelman, 4-HR

As we solemnly wipe our tears, re-membering the nine grueling hours of Advanced Placement chemistry every week, we sadly report that our favorite chemistry teacher is planning to take a sabbatical leave after the current school year. The esteemed and revered chem-istry teacher Mr. Paul Cohen, has an-nounced that after 49 consecutive years of teaching in various schools it is time for a break. Mr. Cohen, who is turning 70 next year, says he has never taken a sabbatical and wants to use the time to pursue his many hobbies and interests.

Despite rumors, Mr. Cohen insists that his sabbatical is planned for only one year, and that he may return, either part time or full time, in September 2016.

The eccentric and unique charac-

teristics that Mr. Cohen brings to the school and our chemistry department will be dearly missed; however, he is very excited to begin his year off with some of the things he hasn’t had time to do during past years. Mr. Cohen says he plans to travel a lot during the year, learn to play the bagpipes, and join a gym.

Although the AP chemistry and Regents chemistry classes will be at a loss due to his departure, Mr. Cohen promises that he will leave all of his AP materials so that the next year’s class will have pretty much the same course. Although he will not be observing the new chemistry teacher, Mr. Cohen be-lieves that the new teacher can perhaps create new labs, make better use of the computer-aided lab instruction, and in-

troduce more modern methodology.Mr. Cohen does not believe that his

system will be missed; however, the students who were fortunate enough to have him as a teacher know that he most definitely will be missed. Mr. Co-hen’s “love for teaching made me love the subject even more,” stated a former student of both his Regents and AP chemistry courses. Another former stu-dent expects to “definitely miss the vi-brancy he brought to the classroom … his personal anecdotes made the three-hour Wednesdays not as strenuous as they seemed.”

On behalf of all the students here at Flatbush, we wish him luck in all his en-deavors—especially the bagpipes!

I’ve been granted the delightful task of interviewing a Yeshivah of Flatbush alumnus. Now, I have to admit that this task was much more difficult than it ap-peared. While difficult, it was surprisingly amusing. The alumna I had chosen, Stacie Cabasso, was so nervous talking to boring ol’ me of course I got a kick out of it.

MD: Hi Stacie! My name is Merle Dweck and I was wondering if I could interview you for the Flatbush newspaper.Stacie: Wait, uhm, are you serious? Shoot, um, OK, yeah, I guess so?

MD: [Chuckling] Don’t worry about it, I’ll just ask you a few questions and then be on my way; it’s not scary, I promise. So, tell me, what college do you attend?Stacie: I go to Hunter in the city and ma-jor in art history. I love college and I love art. I also like that Flatbush had a lot of art options for me in high school.

MD: Do you have a job while attending college?

Stacie: I have school during the year but work in Camp David as an art teacher in the summer. I intern here and there during the year as well.

MD: Do you wish you had the brother/sister program in college like you did in Flatbush? Stacie: Nah, you didn’t need it; Flatbush prepared us so it was very easy to assim-ilate during the first year. Although, I am currently a sister for the Sephardic Bikur Holim (SBH) fund.

MD: Onto the next question, what les-sons, if any, did you take with you when you left Flatbush?Stacie: That having a good high school education is crucial and the importance of a diverse education in high school (like having many different classes which provides a lot of different choices).MD: Did you participate in any clubs in Flatbush that helped you later on?Stacie: Yes, the blood drive committee and Eko commission are both perma-

nent in my life today. MD: Was there any regret once you left for college?Stacie: Not taking enough A.P.’s when they were offered was definitely one of my regrets.

MD: Was it hard to keep hold of the friendships you developed in high school?Stacie: You learn that only your real friends stick with you, and in that case when you stay in touch with them, which is very important, you do stay friends.

MD: Thank you so much! I appreciate you letting me interview you. Now you can breathe, yes we’re done. Stacie: OK, wait, shoot, did I do good?

MD: Yes? Don’t worry! It’s just in the school newspaper, not The New York Times. Stacie: Oh no! The whole school is going to see it?!

Would you believe someone who told you that the key to success is mere happiness? As hardworking high school students, we generally believe that be-ing successful in areas like school is only a gateway to happiness. Howev-er, it is exactly the opposite. In Shawn Achor’s TED Talk, “The Happy Secret to Better Work,” the concept of positive psychology is explained to reveal to us the true generator of success: happiness and positivity.

Achor uses his unique style, sense of humor, and impressive storytelling abilities to present the science of posi-tive psychology in everyday life. Mon-itoring the mood of students at Har-vard University for years led Achor to the conclusion that after a mere two weeks of starting school, students had forgotten about their original success of getting into the school and instead focused on the competition and the burden of the work. Often we, as high

school students, feel a similar hassle. Instead of the enjoyment, progress, and growth that should fuel our happiness levels, the competitive, everlasting need to succeed in school gets the best of us and destroys any sense of joy or even peace of mind we could have achieved.

The many detailed statistics Achor mentions clearly indicate that positiv-ity produces a higher success rate in sales, diagnoses, and an overall rise in productivity of the brain by 31%. The theory that success makes one happy is clearly backward. Happiness can nev-er truly be achieved by success as we keep setting the bar higher and higher with every accomplishment. The pres-sure that Yeshivah of Flatbush students face poses the threat that they will fall into the trap of this never-ending cycle. Achor convincingly argues that there are ways to train the brain to be posi-tive, like meditation and exercise, and that doing so will enable one to learn

more efficiently and perform more en-ergetically.

We can also relate this message to our Jewish learning and lifestyle. Instead of seeing our halachic responsibilities as a burden, we can do the mitzvot with a sense of positivity to raise our level of kavanah and, ultimately, our happiness. When delving into bible and Talmudic studies especially, a sense of optimism and enthusiasm is necessary to enhance the learning experience. There, eagerly asking questions and seeking answers is a major part of how we learn.

This talk is one of the top 20 TED Talks ever watched, and will continue to spread an important message. We are all guilty of falling for the theory that success makes us happy, and it’s time to reverse this pattern and become more positive, optimistic, and successful in our lives.

Easy Way To Do Better in SchoolBy Rebecca Zami, 4-HR

What College Is Really Like Interview with a YOF AlumnusBy Merle Dweck, 3-HR

huge, but at the end it wasn’t so hard to climb,” he explained. Activities like this were extreme and pushed the students to their full physical potential.

The ILead trip was physically chal-lenging, but for some of the students it was even more demanding emotional-ly. During their trip, Israel commenced Operation Defensive Edge, with the goal of stopping the incessant firing of rockets by Hamas from Gaza into Isra-el. The chaos and turmoil going on in Israel added to the emotion that the students felt when visiting certain lo-cations in the country. These feelings were evident when the students visited Har Herzl. At Har Herzl they attended the funeral of an Israeli soldier who was killed fighting in Gaza the week before. When the students visited Yad Vashem later that day, they were still feeling the emotional effects of the funeral. Senior Ness Azizo poignantly described the trip to Yad Vashem: “It made me appre-ciate the soldier’s ultimate sacrifice to defend the nation from atrocities like the Holocaust plaguing the Jewish peo-ple again.”

During the ILead trip, the stu-dents also participated in many acts of chesed. They visited Israeli families and assured them that they were being sup-ported and prayed for daily. Meeting the families was such an inspiration to the students that they decided to start their own chesed project; with the help of their families and friends, the stu-dents were able to raise over $40,000 to help bring 50 Israeli families to relative safety in the North. These families were able to get a temporary respite from the barrage of rockets raining down

on their homes daily. The families at-tended a carnival, a karaoke event, and a Shabbat dinner, all of which were or-ganized and led by the students. The ILead participants learned a lot about the struggles of living in Israel during a war from the reactions of the families who were brought North. The students especially sympathized with the Israeli citizens when they saw young children crying in fear after hearing about rock-ets crashing into their hometowns.

While the students were busy com-forting and helping the Israeli families as best they could, their own families at home in the United States were wor-rying about their safety. The ILead par-ticipants had limited contact with their families, which made their families even more anxious. Watching the news from home and not knowing exactly where their children, grandchildren, or siblings were was very frightening for the families as well. The ILead students tried their best to contact their parents and update them whenever possible. Additionally, an Instagram account was set up so that concerned parents would be able to see pictures and short videos of their children.

Despite these worries by both the participants and their families, the IL-ead trip to Israel was a great success. It combined physical activities, fun, and chesed in order to give the participants a trip that they will remember for the rest of their lives. They learned many valuable lessons from this experience such as pushing themselves to their limits and better appreciating Israel and its army. Participant Elliot Chalme highly recommends that others go on

ILead cont’d from front page

The worst outbreak yet of Ebola has already infected over 4,293 people in Central and West Africa. Over 2,296 have died, and experts say the situation is only going to get worse. They’re pre-dicting up to 100,000 deaths and warn-ing that 15 more countries are at risk.

The World Health Organization first reported cases of Ebola, a highly con-tagious virus that causes hemorrhagic fever and gastrointestinal distress and often death, earlier this year in March. It started in Guinea and has since spread to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Senegal, and Nigeria. By August 8, the outbreak was declared an international emergency. In

the first Ebola outbreak in 1976, there were only 602 cases and 431 deaths. But by early September this year, the death toll from the current outbreak had al-ready come close to 2,300. Over 120 of those who’ve died were healthcare work-ers who went to treat Ebola patients ful-ly knowing they were putting their own lives at risk.

Once a person is exposed to the vi-rus, it usually takes about eight days before symptoms start to appear; symp-toms include fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, and headaches. Vomiting and diarrhea usually follow, and in half the cases, victims then begin to hemor-

rhage. Blood vessels in the body start leaking fluid, blood pressure drops, and organs begin to fail. Past outbreaks have been fatal in 60–90% of cases.

There is no known cure or vaccine for Ebola, though two new experimental drugs are in development and could be available as soon as November. Doctors now primarily work at nursing patients through the illness, maintaining their proper blood pressures, and treating in-fections that tend to strike already-weak-ened bodies.

In many affected areas poor condi-tions, inadequate supplies, and insuf-ficient beds have hampered treatment

efforts. In others, the infected and con-tagious have had no means to get to hos-pitals outside of public transportation. Liberia’s defense minister has called Eb-ola a “mortal threat” to the country. The economies of Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea have plummeted since the virus took over.

The WHO foresees it costing up to $600 million to fight the disease. So far the United States has provided more than $100 million in aid and has just re-cently donated 10 ambulances. Bill and Melinda Gates have already donated $50 million to seek vaccines and therapy.

The Whole Story: Ebola OutbreakBy Sarah Levy, 4-HR, Wikipedia, and the first 10 newspaper articles that came up for “Ebola”

In Parashot Nitzavim-Vayelech, near the conclusion of Sefer Devarim, B’nei Yisrael congregated to listen to Moshe’s final teachings on the day of his death. Once they have assembled, Moshe es-tablishes a pact between G-d and Bnei Yisrael. He initiates his final speech with the words “Atem nitzavim hayom kul-chem lifnei Hashem Elocheichem.” The exact translation of this pasuk is: “you are standing this day all of you before the Lord your G-d.” Why is Moshe redun-dant, referring to B’nei Yisrael as “you” and “all of you” in the same sentence? Were B’nei Yisrael incapable of listening the first time? Also, why did Moshe tell B’nei Yisrael to stand? Why was it signif-icant that they must stand?

There is a reason that Moshe is repeti-tive in his announcement. He is speaking to the nation as a whole by saying “all of you” and is also speaking to each per-son in the nation individually by saying “you.” Moshe emphasizes each group in B’nei Yisrael by listing the officers, elders, leaders, women, children, and strang-ers. The Nation of Israel is one complete community connected and we stand be-fore Hashem linked as one. However, we are still individuals and we each have our own individual and unique relationship with Hashem. We at the Yeshivah of Flat-bush are so many, but stand as one shin-ing light. We also have our own person-

alities, voices, and talents that we express through the countless opportunities in and out of the Yeshivah.

Moshe tells B’nei Yisrael to stand up. It is significant that B’nei Yisrael stand in order to show their own initiative, for Moshe is dying. They must be equipped to develop their leadership skills in order to prevent any future temptation or sin. G-d emphasizes and encourages leader-ship and knowledge so B’nei Yisrael can be an Am Hashem. We should express our wisdom and skills through leader-ship.

Moshe then cautions B’nei Yisrael of some of their future encounters and ob-stacles. He also bequeaths the leadership and responsibility to Yehoshua. He warns of exile and desolation of the land of Is-rael due to the people abandoning G-d and His sacred laws. Moshe advises them by reminding them of the substantial mitzvah of teshuvah, through which they must repent for their sins.

As Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur approach, we must learn the importance of teshuvah from Moshe and our ances-tors. A passion to reconcile and repair our man-to-G-d and man-to-man rela-tionships should burn within our nesha-mot.

Have a wonderful, sweet new year filled with happiness, peace, and success!

D’var Torah: The Significance of LeadershipBy Sarah Torgueman, 3-HN

Students and faculty of the ILead program pose in Jerusalem.

the trip as well. “If you are even remote-ly thinking of going on this trip for your summer going into senior year, GO. It is the hardest thing you will endure physi-cally and emotionally, but it is so reward-ing looking back at the memories you

built as a team with your fellow ‘ILead-ers’ and the experience as a whole. When it comes down to the last day of the trip, you will want to stay for another month,” he admitted.

ILead particpants at the Kotel.

EntertainmentMovie Review: The GiverBy Jane Zakay, 2-R

The movie “The Giver” is based on the novel by Lois Lowery. The impres-sively thought-out utopian community’s rules are so restricting that it’s terrifying to believe a community like that can ex-ist. Fortunately, the movie was able to in-terpret that feeling of restriction. Jonas, the receiver, was portrayed well by Bren-ton Thwaites.

In the book, Jonas questions society. He realizes that the world that he is living in is not what it’s meant to be. His goal is to fix his community to match the world around him. He knows that he is the only person who can do so because he holds all the memories. In order for him to share this history with everyone, he must cross the border.

The movie brushed off the whole fact

that Jonas and the Giver both have blue eyes, the color that symbolizes wisdom and trust, which is significant because the Giver must be trustworthy and intel-ligent, as they are receiving the dark and secretive past of the community. This feature was replaced in the movie with a birthmark near the wrist, which was not symbolic at all.

The setting of the community in the movie was more technologically ad-vanced than what was mentioned in the book, as if they took the same futuristic technology as The Hunger Games and placed it into this movie.

The movie is also based more on love than the book. In the movie, Jonas falls in love with Fiona and starts to explain everything he is receiving from the Giver to her, which is against the rules. In the book, Jonas’ love for Fiona is mentioned only once or twice, not constantly, which allows the book to have more action rather than drama.

It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the movie—I did, but it wasn’t the same as the book. However, the best part of the movie was that viewers can understand what’s going on even without having read the book.

Riddle of the MonthI can run but I can’t walk, a mouth but I can’t talk, a head but I can’t think, a bed but I can’t sleep. Who am I?

GOOD LUCK!

Across2. If you’re lucky he’ll give you a wafer3. Always excusing his announce-

ments5. Where’s our favorite math teacher?7. Can’t take the Q without it8. Short and to the point10. Poppin’ and lockin’ for sports11. Always on the wrong side of the

staircase12. On their way out already

Down1. Madness, mayhem, and chaos2. Found in the library with S.

Shterenzer4. Not around anymore6. So glad S. Birman is back7. A dog named cat9. Benny’s needs him back NOW!11. The standard of excellence

Ask MerleDear Merle,I keep seeing this guy walking around school, and I don’t know if he’s a teacher or student or what. He looks like he’s 14, but he always wears a tie. I don’t think he has any classes, and he’s always around the office doing stuff. He carries boxes around the building, setting things up, and I think he sells kipot and stuff during lunch. I asked around and I heard he’s president or something like that. I don’t know what that means. Is he a student? Is he on the payroll? Help me out cause I have no idea who or what this guy is. Thanks, Confused Freshie

Dear Confused Freshie, You must be referring to our SGO president, Victor Zeitoune. Victor is a man of many hats and apparently many ties as well. You might see him in the lobby during lunch selling plan-ners and kippot or in the basement with a table of Black Diamond coffee. Either way, Victor is a diligent worker with great plans for this school year (he is not on the payroll). Don’t be afraid to get to know Victor, he’s a cool dude. Besides, it’s not the worst thing to have the president on your side. Yours truly, Merle

Hey Merle,I’m a freshman and I keep going down staircase C to the office—why won’t they let me in? Best, Lost in Staircase C

Dear Lost in Staircase C, As you’ve probably noticed, staircase C is not as friendly as its counterparts A & B. Staircase C leads straight to the office and unlike A&B does not go down to the basement. Trust me, I’ve tried. Maybe make yourself a mnemonic trick, like C for Caution, to avoid further confusion. Also note that even if you have to go to the office, its Staircase C back door is not permit-ted for use by students. Best of luck! Maybe next time you’ll be writing to me from staircase B. Yours truly, Merle

Dear Merle, I’m having difficulty staying awake during this one class. Every time I walk into the room I can’t stay awake for more than five minutes. I haven’t been told anything yet but I think my teach-er’s catching on. Do you have any tips on how to stay awake during class? Sincerely, Sleepy Student

Dear Sleepy Student, The first step to staying awake during class is to make sure you’ve had a good breakfast/lunch. As a fellow Flatbush student I know it’s difficult to go to sleep early but try to be in bed by 11 at least once a week. While in class try to think of the lesson as something interesting, though it may not be, and latch onto a concept that interests you. If that doesn’t help, keep moving. Fiddle your pen, play with your hair. Anything to keep your body awake. If you find yourself yawn-ing, doodle on your page or focus on something like other students. If you’re really feeling sleep overtake you, excuse yourself to the bathroom, walk around a little and splash water on your face. You’ll come back feeling refreshed. Best of luck! P.S. Wear layers (T-shirt and sweatshirt). When a classroom is hot I feel more tired, as opposed to a cold classroom that keeps me awake. If you’re warm, take off your sweatshirt to relieve some of the heat. Yours truly, Merle

Dear Merle, Who’s Boris? Sincerely, I Need Printer Paper

Dear I Need Printer Paper,Boris is the school’s copy man. Boris can be found around the basement balcony, all the way down the hallway (past the art room). If you ever need something to be copied, though, you’re on your own; Boris makes copies only for the faculty. Best of luck! And though Boris doesn’t give out printing paper I heard that he does give some killer advice.Yours truly, Merle

Have a question for Merle? Send it to:askmerle@gmail.com

Standard of Fabulous

Racheli Wolf, 1-HREmma Burekhovich, 4-V (hand sewn) Sara Marcus, 4-RBrittany Sharvit, 4-V

Why Are Bowling Shoes Still Hideous?By Victor Zeitoune, 4-HR

Nowadays, our lives are based on fashion. Wheth-er we realize it or not, we base many of our decisions on popular trends; fashion has impacted every-thing from our dress choice, to car selection, to even choosing our food. With this in mind, our “fashion based society” is left with an unwavering question: Why are bowling shoes still gorish to the eyes? They are not only useless, as bowling in sneakers can be just as effective, but they are hideous! With a gen-eration so obsessed with fashion, how have bowling shoes survived?

Rock That Denim!By Sara Shalam, 4-HR

In the last three years denim has made a comeback! Not just skirts, but jean jackets, denim shirts, and vests have begun to take over the fashion industry. Five years ago, if you handed me a denim vest I would’ve said you’re crazy; but today it’s everywhere! Denim has become such a trend, and with so many different ways to wear it, why not go for it? Anyone can find a way to wear it with their style. If you like a slouchy or more oversized look, buy an oversized jean jacket and put a cute sweater underneath. A cropped jean jacket also looks great. You can find denim shirts with little embellishments of rhinestones, or grommets, so you can channel the 1980s look, mixing denim and punk in one. Another great idea, which sometimes can seem a little strange, is wearing denim on denim. I love to put a light washed jean shirt, under a dark denim jacket. Denim on denim adds a different look to your average jacket and shirt. If you want to try this look but don’t love the classic blue denim, no worries: they even make colored denim, so you can mix and match your favorite colors. No matter how you wear it, it’ll look great and you’ll feel great, too!

Watches: Style or Necessity?By Raquel Erdos, 3-HN

Last week, a friend and I went shopping in NYC. A man approached me and asked me for the time, and as if by second nature I pulled my phone out of my pocket to answer his question: “3:14pm.” At first, he gave me a dimwitted stare as if I had done something wrong, but he thanked me politely and walked away. It then occurred to me I was wearing a perfectly functional (and might I add, stylish) watch. I realized the man was just looking at my watch on my wrist, wondering why I didn’t look at it instead of grabbing my phone. I then realized some-thing, and asked myself this question for the first time ever; “if we had to choose a reason to wear watches, is it for style or to actually tell time?” I am positive that 99% of you would answer the same way I would: Style. If someone does happen to ask me the time, I am perfectly capable of telling him or her from my watch (all in good style of course), but I usually wear it as an accessory. So what’s my point then? If we all wear watches that display the time so conveniently on our wrists, then why are we so inclined to grab our smart phones when someone asks us that question? Is it because we’re most likely scrolling through Instagram or Snapchat when they ask? Or, is it because watches are merely used as an accessory? Think about it: Is your watch used primarily for style or necessity?

Back to School BackpacksBy Emma Burekhovich, 4-V, and Nicole Yancovitch, 4-HN

With the start of the new school year, students have been sporting funky backpacks. Backpacks are practical accessories that can help you stand out without having to match your outfit. From floral prints to color block, burlap sacks, and even superheroes, there’s a style for everyone!

Classy, Sassy & ModestBy Danielle Ashkenazie, 3-HR

Classy, sassy and modest? Yes, modest. That is the look of most successful businesswomen. Where we fa-vor short skirts and sneakers, women in congress opt for business suits and heels. Women dress the way they want to be addressed. The women who seek respect will dress in a manner that demands respect. When I see a woman in a business suit I automatically stand straighter and address her differently. I noticed that boys treat me more respectfully when I’m dressed in nice Shabbat clothes. If we want to be treated a certain way we have to show that in our appearance. You don’t need to be a Congresswoman to require respect; we all deserve it. We should strive for the look of Congress-women: sassy, classy and modest.

Eye CandyBy Abby Shegelman, 4-HR

Gone are the days when people hid their glasses and frames. The old trends have returned and the ’80s are back. Those square glasses that your mom used to wear? Coveted by everyone. Whether they have a prescription or not, every girl wants a pair. The thick, black frame that outlines cheekbones so well is now the topic of conversation. It is no longer a sin to have “four eyes,” but quite the opposite. It is a fashion statement!

Trending:

1. 60’s throwback

2 Graphic tees

3. Cozy knits

4. Bold colors

5. Animal prints

6. Baseball tees

7. Floral patterns

8. Men’s inspired looks

9. Fringe

10. Military

11. Layering

Mr. Hofstetter and students at last year’s SGO bowling event.

Sports

Season Preview: Varsity BasketballChampionship or Bust?By Joey Cohen, 4-HR

The school year is underway, and that means that basketball season is starting for our Flatbush Falcons Boys’ Varsity squad. The season kicked off on Sep-tember 16 as they played HAFTR in the Magen David tournament. Challenges await the talented roster as they have a long season ahead of them.

Returning seniors Bobby Soffer, Sam Silverman, Allan Maleh, Mayer Kam-khatchi, and Raymond Braha are ready to take leadership roles as the varsity veterans on the roster. Their experi-ence with Coach Borenstein’s system is evident. New additions to the team Eli Cattan, Marc Cohen, Victor Cohen, Isaac Mizrahi, and Matan Guez are ea-ger to learn and contribute. The rising juniors on the team, Elliot Beyda, Joseph Cayre, Albert Richter, Joseph Gindi, and David Dayan are brimming with talent. The coaching staff (Avi Borenstein, Gus Kennedy, and Leor Friedman) looks to help them translate their abilities to the varsity level.

Coach Borenstein has adapted his complex playbook to fit his current roster. In addition to adding greater sophistica-tion to existing plays, he has also added plays to maximize the shooting ability found in his current big men (most no-ticeably, Kamkhatchi). Borenstein trusts Soffer and Beyda (his point guards) to run the more complicated offense efficiently. He has also added new defensive presses to maximize the length he has in players like Dayan and Braha, and the quickness and safety-like play of the guards behind them.

The team held five exhausting prac-tices in just two weeks leading up to the opening game on Tuesday.

Expectations are sky high, especially with the MYSHAL runner-ups joining the varsity squad from the JV team last year. The captains of that team, Albert Richter and Elliot Beyda, expect noth-ing more than a championship this sea-son. “We are stronger and better than ever. Winning a championship would be a dream come true, and school spir-it would be flying higher than ever. We came close last season, but this time, we’re gonna get it.”

The returning varsity team, following their early playoff exit on the road last season, is all but guaranteeing a champi-onship. “Anything short of that would be a failure,” says power forward Raymond Braha. “Our team is well equipped with everything we need to win the title. It is our jobs to execute.”

Is this Flatbush team ready to take the step up and be a champion in the Yeshi-vah League? We’ll find out soon enough.

Athlete Profile: Sam BeydaBy Albert Dweck, 3-HR

This year’s Yeshivah of Flatbush hockey team has gained a vital new member: Sam Beyda. I have watched as well as played with Sam since sixth grade, when we both played for the Warriors and continued to do so for the next three years. As soon as you watch Sam play the game he loves, you can easily distinguish which player he is, for Sam plays with the energy of a lion and brings a fiery attitude and a great passion to the ice. Sam chases every loose puck and gets so enrapt in the game, I recall him throwing his glove at an opposing player. When I recently had a chance to sit down talk with Sam, he said that he is very excited for this season after his call up from junior varsity hockey. On the JV squad he boosted his production from his freshman year, scoring 5 goals and 8 assists on the team’s first line in his sophomore season. Sam can’t wait to get on the floor with those varsity players, and has worked with a couple of his teammates in the offseason to improve his play and conditioning. Although he might spend some time on the bench learning from the older players, in no time you will see the ever-ener-getic Beyda leading the charge to victory for your Flatbush Falcons.

Sam Beyda (middle) with varsity teammates: Abe Goldman Jr. (Left) and Elliot “Shmuel” Zakai (right)

Sam Beyda Year GP GM Assists PMJunior: Forward 2013-14 10 5 8 10Shoots: Right 2012-13 8 3 4 8H: 5”2 W: 85Age:16 Hockey

Season Preview: Varsity HockeyNew Faces, Same GoalsBy Elliot Zakay, 4-V

The boys’ varsity hockey season is scheduled to start in just a few weeks, but there are still a few questions that need to be answered.

Despite the solid talent of the re-tuning seniors and incoming juniors, it remains a difficult task to replace the talent that departed with the graduat-ing class of 2014. Last year’s seniors, es-pecially stars Moe Maleh, Morris Bijou, and goalie Stephen “Bapo” Esses, will be greatly missed. To add to that, last season’s scoring leader, sophomore Sam Laniado, will play on the junior varsity club this season.

Regardless, Coach Dan Lefell and Assistant Coach Elliot Wieselberg are hard at work putting together a solid squad. The “Scoring Sassons,” Sol and Jack, are back, and junior Sam Beyda might be, pound-for-pound, the best player in the league.

One thing you can say is that this team is motivated; with the seniors seeking revenge for their heartbreak-ing 2-1 semifinal loss at Frisch last year, and the juniors looking for redemp-tion from their 7-1 loss to TABC in the quarterfinals as part of the JV team, both squads are counting down the days to the start of the season. After last year’s vasrity team placed third in the conference behind powerhouses HAF-TR and DRS, this year’s team will have to perform to beat that finish. But for now only time and hard work will tell how far this team goes this season.

Don’t miss tryouts for Girls Soccer on Tuesday, September 23. JV tryouts are at 5:30 p.m.; varsity tryouts at 7:30 p.m.