News

On Sunday, December 19, MTA parents, talmidim, and rebbeim enjoyed a meaningful morning of learning together at the yeshivah’s Parent-Son Learning program. The event, which began with a lively Shacharis minyan, featured guest speaker Rabbi Shay Schachter, followed by parent-son chavrusos and shiurim with MTA rebbeim. “It’s an incredible feeling to watch mothers and fathers learning together with their sons,” said Associate Principal Rabbi Shimon Schenker. “It’s such a privilege to give parents a taste of the unbelievable learning their sons experience every day in yeshivah. We truly appreciate the dedication of our amazing parents, talmidim, and rebbeim, who always make talmud Torah a top priority.”

Inclusion at its finest! Mazal tov to this SINAI student at the Yeshiva of Central Queens for being a winner of YCQ’s weekly parshah contest. The student, shown with Rabbi Michael Ribalt, assistant principal of Judaic Studies at YCQ’s elementary division, was entered into a raffle after submitting his answers to questions on the parshah.

This past Thursday morning, we had the opportunity to hear about Rabbi Yehudah Kelemer zt”l. With this week commemorating Rabbi Kelemer’s first yahrzeit, it was an opportune time to learn about him. The program began with words from Rabbi Hecht, Middle School principal. Rabbi Hecht spoke about his personal connection to Rabbi Kelemer. Rabbi Hecht discussed Rabbi Kelemer’s quality of humility. Rabbi Kelemer was always there for everyone and always made all people feel more confident than they had before they spoke to him. Rabbi Hecht explained how once, Rabbi Kelemer came to visit his son in the hospital. He came and said that he was in the hospital visiting someone else, and he just wanted him to know that he was thinking of him.

Over 250 students, faculty, and staff members – and mothers – attended the annual Central Mother-Daughter Melaveh Malkah last Motza’ei Shabbos! The theme of the evening was “Anu B’Yachad” – togetherness – and was an evening supporting Yachad Long Island, an organization near and dear to Central. The evening began with a delicious melaveh malkah spread, and a chance for mingling and reuniting of families across the grades. Ms. Bracha Rutner opened the evening with words of Torah, gratitude, and encouragement for the unity of our Central community to grow and thrive. Seniors and Yachad Club Heads Yaira Goldress and Hadassah Chait shared words of divrei Torah and shared their recent experiences with Yachad, both on Yad B’Yad this summer, and throughout the school year. Senior Eliana Brand, Mrs. Aliza Gewirtz, and Mrs. Yael Axelrod introduced the chesed project for the event, which was making blankets for students at Long Island Ivdu! Mothers and daughters cut, tied, and designed warm fuzzy blankets, which will be delivered in the coming days to the Yachad students.

This past Shabbos, Ezra Academy joined the Brooklyn Jewish Xperience (BJX) for a Shabbaton in Midwood, Brooklyn. Rabbis Yitzchok and Moshe Fingerer, co-founders of BJX, opened up their shul, programming, and hearts to the seniors of Ezra Academy. This was extremely meaningful to the seniors, as their grade Shabbaton, a staple in the Ezra experience, hasn’t taken place for the past two years. Making sure they had this opportunity (at least) one more time was very important to all.

The weekly printed newsletter of the Yeshiva of Central Queens (YCQ), The YCQ View, started an Elementary School sensation this past October, with the introduction of a worksheet column called “At the Shabbos Table by Rabbi Ribalt.”