Local

On Sunday, March 5, SKA participated in the annual Yeshiva League Model Congress hosted by HAFTR, along with students from all over the tri-state area. Over the course of the day, preparation from the weeks leading up to the event was displayed through numerous speeches, questions on the proposed bills, and the resolutions that were debated.

Over 750 guests gathered at the Old Westbury Hebrew Congregation to celebrate the 82nd Anniversary Dinner of the Yeshiva of Central Queens on Motza’ei Shabbos, February 25. Valerie and Alex Olsen were the esteemed Guests of Honor, and Mrs. Esther Lowinger received the Distinguished Educator Award. Additionally, tribute was paid to the legendary Rabbi Menachem Rottenberg z”l, who served as YCQ’s Executive Director for close to 40 years. The evening’s theme was “Remembering Our Past, Celebrating Our Present, and Building Our Future.”

North Shore Hebrew Academy High School took home the most awards at the Annual Yeshiva Model Congress Tournament this past week at HAFTR, with students arguing eloquently about pressing issues in today’s society. Model Congress gives students an opportunity to understand how the US Congress functions by role-playing simulations, including writing bills to present and defend in committees. Students are also assigned to committees as delegates and must strategize how to get the votes needed to pass their bills. Under the guidance of dedicated faculty advisors Dr. Victoria Allen and Ms. Estee Bodner, the team had an impressive showing at this year’s competition.

Late February’s lunch periods at Central were abuzz with activity. Students were making signs and designing games for Central’s annual Yachad Carnival, which took place on Tuesday, February 21.

This past Tuesday, the seventh grade talmidim at Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe had the privilege of visiting with renowned sofer HaRav Tzvi Chaim Pincus at Tiferes Stam in Brooklyn. The trip was the culmination of a month-long limud about this important mitzvah. It is perhaps the only mitzvah that a boy waits until his Bar Mitzvah to fulfill.

Twenty-six Middle School students of Great Neck’s North Shore Hebrew Academy (NSHA) - both Ashkenazic and Sephardic - joined together on Purim Day, to chant the “Gantze Megillah,” in a program initiated in 2001 by Dr. Paul Brody, a local dermatologist. “Dr. Paul Brody Megillah Readers Program,” as the initiative is now known, began upon the doctor's retirement as course instructor last year. Cantor Yitzy Spinner of the Great Neck Synagogue, assisted by Shmuel Bitton, instructed the students this year. Each student read from the beautiful megillah that was purchased by the NSHA one year ago to be used by all student readers on Purim Day festivities.