Schools

Bnos Malka Academy held its annual graduations for the Preschool and the eighth grade class. Starting with the four-year-olds, bedecked in their caps and gowns, to the Pre-1A students in their cardboard crowns, to the elegant eighth graders, each graduation is a unique milestone. At each level, the sense of pride and accomplishment fills the room and the hearts of girls and their families. The performances and songs the little girls sang were adorable, clearly showing weeks of preparation.

On Wednesday, June 7, Central gave a fond farewell to the Class of 2023 with a graduation ceremony at Lamport Auditorium on the campus of Yeshiva University. While every graduation day is a bittersweet milestone for students, families, and faculty, this year’s graduation was particularly meaningful, as it coincided with Central’s 75th anniversary. The event was both a celebration and reflection on the Yeshiva University High School for Girls sending 75 classes of students into the world as kinder, more thoughtful people for having been a part of its community. Through the changes and challenges of the past four years, this latest group of graduates bonded and thrived, proving themselves to be resourceful, supportive of one another, and most notably of all, joyful.

Last Sunday, YSZ held a celebration for the 4th-grade talmidim, who achieved great success in memorizing the Mishnah. Proud parents filled the ballroom to listen to their sons reciting the Mishnah from memory. The boys also sang songs related to the topics they had learned, led by Rabbi Azizi, the chazanut teacher. The event concluded with a joyful dance celebration to honor the boys’ achievements. YSZ is extremely proud of our 4th-grade talmidim!

Rabbi Mendelson’s eleventh-grade shiur has been busy this entire year. To celebrate their end-of-year accomplishments, the talmidim went on a couple meaningful trips with their rebbi to mark the occasion. One such trip was to visit the shul of Rav Aharon Kahn, Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University, where over 100 ba’al habatim spend their mornings learning before heading to work in the afternoon. It is an incredible sight, seeing so many adults in the professional world who have dedicated their mornings to Torah learning before heading to the workplace. This practice has now been adopted in other shuls, and we hope it will continue to spread. The talmidim enjoyed a BBQ at Rabbi Mendelson’s home following this visit.

Mesivta Yesodei Yeshurun held its graduation ceremony on Monday night, June 12, at Yeshivas Ohr HaChaim, Kew Gardens Hills. After Rabbi Dovid Rockove, General Studies principal, greeted the audience, the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Doniel Lander, addressed those present with his d’var Torah. Joining at this special occasion were HaRav Mordechai Finkelman, mashgiach, HaRav Shmuel Gordon, Menahel, the rebbeim, the graduates, and their families.

The SKA commencement exercises were held on Sunday, June 11, at DRS, where family members joined the graduates, the SKA administration, and faculty members to honor this milestone. After stirring introductions from Mrs. Bluma Drebin, Principal, General Studies, and Mrs. Elisheva Kaminetsky, Prinicipal, Religious Studies, Valedictorian Arielle Rosman, Salutatorian Atara Razi, and Keter Shem Tov Awardee Jordana Brown addressed the audience.