Schools

MTA Freshmen had an incredible time on their Freshman Shabbaton at the Hudson Valley Resort. The exciting trip began with laser tag on Thursday night and continued on through Friday and Shabbos with lively davening, meaningful learning programs, beautiful s’udos, fun games, team-building activities, sports, swimming, and so much more.

Shevach High School enjoyed its annual Shabbaton on Parshas VaY’chi, at the Lake House Hotel and Resort in Upstate New York. Under the leadership of Shevach Menaheles Mrs. Shulamith Insel, the Shabbaton planning left no detail unattended to. Mrs. Debbie Meltzer, Shabbaton coordinator, and Mrs. Devorah Kovitz, Shevach Educational Administrator, worked tirelessly to ensure that students and staff alike would enjoy inspirational lectures, fun activities, delicious meals, and comfortable accommodations.

We are taught that more than the good student desires to learn, the good teacher desires to teach. The capable mechanech does more than simply give over information. Every lesson taught properly becomes an act of impression. When done correctly, the mind, body, and heart are all engaged. Imagination flows, and abstract concepts are concretized and put into action. As a parent, I often hear about an exceptional teacher or extraordinary rebbi. But it is rare to hear about a school filled with spectacular teachers and rabbanim who utilize every method at their disposal towards a single and sacred goal. Indeed, I have found that The Cheder has a reputation for being more than an educational institution; it is a devoted learning center sparing no expense and ensuring no child is ever left behind. It is therefore a great pleasure to interview the man behind the method, Rabbi Meir Chaim Gutfreund, Founder and Menahel of The Cheder.

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.”

Many in the Jewish world have been following the historic rise of Yeshiva University’s basketball team, The Maccabees, since well before the pandemic, when their dramatic series of consecutive wins sent waves throughout the world of basketball and within the Jewish Orthodox community. Back then, they had a 45-game winning streak, the second longest in Division III history, which began with the second game of the 2019-2020 season that saw YU win 27 consecutive regular season games, a conference championship, and two NCAA tournament games as the team reached the Sweet 16 before the remainder of the post-season was canceled due to the pandemic. They were one of the favorites to win the Division III national championship each of the last two years, but last year’s tournament was canceled by COVID-19 before the season concluded.

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.