News

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.