On Sunday afternoon, June 23, Yeshiva Primary parents and students, along with prospective parents and students, gathered at Yeshiva Primary for a fun gala carnival. The carnival included a clown creating all different colorfully shaped balloons and a woman doing face painting. Also, there was a real popcorn machine and a real cotton candy machine, both manned by recent Yeshiva Primary graduates. In addition, there was plenty of delicious food.
Teachers and administrators circulated, greeting parents and answering questions about the school.
Dr. Ann Douglas, Assistant English Principal, brought samples of student junior high essays and science writing that were very impressive. Among the essays were character analyses from Macbeth and other high-level thinking work.
Rabbi Avner Yusupov, Executive Director, welcomed everyone and spoke briefly about the school. He shared that it was founded 55 years ago by the current Dean of Yeshiva Primary, Rabbi Zalman Deutscher. He introduced some of the morot in attendance, including Rebbetzin Channah Hecht who has been teaching at the school for the past 25 years, and Morah Robin, and this writer, the writing workshop teacher. He also introduced Rabbi Deutscher and Mrs. Judy Klein, Principal. He shared how the yeshivah offers a high academic program with emphasis on teaching strong moral values and pride in our Jewish heritage.
Next, he showed a video that included interviews with several Yeshiva Primary parents. One parent shared how she brought her children out of public school, and she is so happy with the education her children are receiving at Yeshiva Primary. Another parent also praised the yeshivah and shared how pleased she is with her children’s education. Next, a former student, who is now a parent himself, shared how the school gave him a strong academic background that enabled him to further his academic education and he went on to become a pharmacist. He is grateful to Yeshiva Primary.
This writer spoke to some parents in attendance at the carnival, and they shared that they are very happy with their children’s experience in Yeshiva Primary. Many of the parents I spoke with said that they are considering transferring their children from public school to Yeshiva Primary for next year.
As Rebbetzin Channah Hecht said at the Chumash party this year, the Hebrew word ben (son) has the same root as boneh (build). Our children are the building blocks of our future generations. When the Torah was given at Sinai, Hashem asked who will be the guarantors to keep the Torah for the future? “Your children will be the guarantors. They are our legacy.” She shared that she treats her students the way she would want her own children to be treated. The Lubavitcher Rebbe taught that each child is a diamond, and when they are taught in yeshivah, the diamond sparkles. She shared that this is a wonderful class with lots of achdus and lots of feeling when they daven and learn. “I thank Hashem for the z’chut to teach them mitzvos and to help them become proud Torah Jews.” She said that “Our students are all stars.”
Rabbi Deutscher spoke at that occasion, and he told the parents: “You acted on your decision, and you are the true guarantors of the Torah.” He thanked all the morot and Mrs. Klein. Rabbi Deutscher expressed the feeling that Mrs. Klein and the other teachers also experience, that it is a privilege to be in this school, teaching these children.
After the presentation of the chumashim, it was time for the second special celebration. The Mechinah class received their siddurim as Rabbi Deutscher handed a new siddur to each student individually. Rabbi Deutscher told the students that we ask Hashem for everything, and we ask Hashem to give us a life worth living.
As shared in a previous article, Rabbi Deutscher asked the children what public school they had attended and how it was different from Yeshiva Primary. Most of them came this school year so they only had five months of yeshivah. Their answers were truly eye-opening.
One boy said he is in sixth grade and he came from PS 96. He said the academic subjects are the same, but one subject is different. In yeshivah there is Hebrew. “I came here five months ago, and I can already read Hebrew.”
Another sixth grade student said, “It’s different because the yeshivah teaches better things than public school. In public school, she said, they read inappropriate books. “Here we learn more important things!”
A fifth grader who came a few years ago, shared that they taught inappropriate stuff in public school. He recalled a book they read when he was in kindergarten that was all about redefinition of marriage.
By Susie Garber
Yeshiva Primary Hosts Open House Carnival
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