Rabbi Zalman Deutscher, Dean of Yeshiva Primary, holds a teacher appreciation luncheon for the faculty of the school twice a year: in February and at the end of the school year, to express his hakaras ha’tov to the teachers and administrators. This event was originally initiated by the parent body as an expression of gratitude.
On Thursday, June 22, Yeshiva Primary held its annual end-of-year Teacher Appreciation Luncheon for the school’s teachers and administrative staff at Sushi Kingdom on Main Street in Kew Gardens Hills. Rabbi Deutscher shared a d’var Torah and his philosophy of chinuch.
He said to the teachers, “You are here because you want the job. There is incredible satisfaction seeing the growth of each child. You can look back and feel that you made a difference for your students, and this should give you z’chus with your own children.”
He then went around the room, thanking each staff member and teacher and complimenting them on what they do.
The Principal, Mrs. Judy Klein, was first. She was followed by Dr. Anne Douglas, Assistant Principal, Miss Aronov, Administrative Assistant, Morah Elisheva Kaheni, Limudei Kodesh Pre-1A teacher, Morah Zahavah Abramov, SETT Teacher, Mrs. Susie Garber, writing consultant, Mrs. Miriam Sullimanov, 1st Grade Limudei Kodesh Teacher, Miss Adira Lew, Limudei Kodesh Teacher, Mrs. Miriam Kolyakov, SETT teacher, Morah Zina Rafailova, SETT Teacher, Mrs. Fruma Richtman, 4th Grade General studies teacher, Mrs. Elya Damiryan, 2nd Grade General Studies Teacher, Mrs. Pooja Saxena, 5th Grade General Studies Teacher, Rebbetzin Channah Hecht, Limudei Kodesh Teacher, Morah Yocheved Abramovitz, Limudei Kodesh Teacher, Morah Robyn Rosenberg, Pre-1A and 1st Grade General Studies Teacher, Mr. Cary Groden, Math teacher, Mr. Harris Lubin, Social Studies Teacher, Rabbi Doron Sillman, Limudei Kodesh Teacher, Dr. Avraham Rambod, Gemara Teacher, and Rabbi Avner Yusupov, Director of Development. Rabbi Deutscher stated, “I consider it a z’chus to work with all of you!”
The teachers and staff feel the same way about working with Rabbi Deutscher.
He noted that Rabbi David Trenk, well-known educator, was a dear friend of his, and Rabbi Trenk inspired thousands of students. “It is unbelievable what he accomplished!” Rabbi Deutscher acknowledged that some children are easier and some are more difficult. Rabbi Trenk was involved with his boys. He procured bagels for them early in the morning and took them on trips. He saw the potential in each boy, and he was successful in bringing out each boy’s potential.
Rabbi Deutscher continued, by saying that we really have the ability to build the potential of every child. The Gemara states that a person who teaches his friend’s son, it is as if he gave birth to him. You should teach your students as if they are your only son or grandson. “A good word, a smile, can make all the difference for the most difficult child.”
He added, “You never know who will make the difference in klal Yisrael.” Compliments can make a tremendous difference. Reprimand when necessary and then give a compliment. It works.
Rabbi Deutscher also shared a few anecdotes about Rabbi Trenk. Once there was a boy who kept breaking all the rules. Rabbi Trenk told the boy that he was going to have to leave the yeshivah. Rabbi Trenk drove him home. When they arrived at the boy’s house, the boy sadly left the car, carrying his luggage. He was standing in front of the door, afraid to knock, as he knew his father would be furious at him.
Rabbi Trenk backed up his car and told his talmid to get back in the car. “Okay, I sent you home, and now you can come back to yeshivah if you promise not to break the rules anymore.”
This boy was a changed student after that. Rabbi Trenk basically owned him after that.
Rabbi Deutscher had some students who went to Rabbi Trenk’s yeshivah after Yeshiva Primary. Rabbi Trenk really cared about each student and that made a difference.
Rabbi Deutscher then read a beautiful quote from Dr. Haim G. Ginott (author of Between Parent and Child) that Principal Judy Klein shared with him:
“I’ve come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated, and a child humanized or dehumanized.”
Rabbi Deutscher added, “If you want your children to improve, let them overhear you saying nice things about them.” There is a time to reprimand; but at the same time, there is a time to understand.
He shared the famous story about a teacher who misunderstood the scores of the students she was given in the beginning of the year and thought it meant the lower achieving students were the higher achieving ones. As a result, at the end of the year, because of her high expectations of them and how she taught them, they were very successful academically and earned very high test scores.
Yeshiva Primary is a unique yeshivah that is nestled in the heart of Holliswood Queens. Yeshiva Primary is staffed by dedicated professionals who truly want to make a difference for their students. Rabbi Deutscher, founder and dean, started this kiruv school in 1969 in Ozone Park to provide a yeshivah education for students who would otherwise attend public schools. It moved to Holliswood in 2003. Most of the graduates over the past 30 years advanced to college and to professional careers. Ninety percent of the graduates move on to study in mainstream yeshivos and Bais Yaakov schools.
Rabbi Deutscher’s philosophy of kiruv is two-fold. Look at each child as an individual not as a number. Don’t worry about their ruchniyus. Instead, love the children. First worry about their physical well-being, then you can win their ruchniyus.
The teachers in limudei kodesh and secular studies are dedicated professionals who bring academic excellence, warmth, and caring to their students. Rabbi Avner Yusupov, Curriculum Coordinator, does a fantastic job coordinating the curriculum and helping the school. He is a graduate of Yeshiva Primary himself.
The school includes a science lab program, as well as a state-of-the-art literacy program under the direction of Mrs. Susie Garber, Writing Coach, and Dr. Anne Douglas, Assistant Principal. Computer science, Art, and Gym are also offered to the students. The Principal, Mrs. Judy Klein, helps to create the warm atmosphere in the school, which encourages learning and brings out the highest potential of each student.
The creative projects, the artistic bulletin boards, and deep classroom discussions all reflect the dedication and professionalism of the staff. Students learn to feel pride in their Jewish heritage. Many students bring the joy of love of Yiddishkeit to their families. The following anecdote tells the true story of what Yeshiva Primary is all about. One student came back to meet with the staff and principals at a teacher appreciation luncheon. She is married and wears a sheitel. She said that because she and her sister attended Yeshiva Primary, their parents became frum and this extended to aunts and uncles and eventually their entire family became frum.
Hashem should continue to bless this extraordinary yeshivah, and the next teacher appreciation luncheon should be in Yerushalayim with Mashiach!
By Susie Garber
