Life after Magen David Yeshivah High School
Yvonne Orfali
With the world at their fingertips, Magen David Yeshivah High School 2026 graduates set out to begin life after high school. Given the tools for skill-building and success, each young adult is navigating his or her path for what’s to come.
“In Magen David Yeshivah it’s all there for you to capitalize on,” said Sam Hamway, who graduated from the MDY Scholars Program this past spring. “MDY High School formulated my four years into a pathway to success,” he reflected. Sam heads to NYU Stern in fall 2026 and credits MDYHS with helping him gain acceptance. Head of School Dr. Daniel J. Vitow was highly instrumental and met with Sam frequently to ensure he was on the right track. Ms. Laura Miller, Director of College Guidance, reviewed which classes and APs Sam needed to take in order to build his resume and receive acceptance into the college he wanted. He participated in the Bloomberg Financial Analysis club, which met after school hours, to further achieve his goals. “I took advantage of every single thing MDYHS offered,” said Sam. “But you need to be well-rounded. Rabbi Mansour is a big advocate for balancing secular with Judaic studies.” While Sam always enjoyed studying the stock market trends and focusing on finance, he surrounded himself by Torah classes as well. Every area of growth is significant and part of our multi-dimensional graduates. They truly find the balance.
The beauty in MDYHS lies in its ability to cater to what students’ interests are. Rabbinical Leader Rabbi Eli J. Mansour works seamlessly with Dr. Vitow and leads an extensive Judaic Studies program while encouraging students to be well-rounded on all fronts. “There are people who help you with everything and anything you want to do,” said Philip Elo, a 2026 graduate who will be attending Lev Aharon in Israel this year. Philip is spending this summer working as an athlete coordinator for NFL players at Sparx Marketing Group, while maintaining a connection to MDYHS rabbis and teachers and focusing on his goals. “All of the rabbis really encouraged me and helped me grow spiritually,” he said. “I want to be able to learn Gemara without having someone teach it to me.”
Magen David is known for being a second home with its warmth and personalized care. “Leaving MDYHS was bittersweet,” said Barbara Ezon, 2026 valedictorian and member of the Jeff and Rachel Sutton Scholars Program. “I loved going to school and am sad to leave, but I feel like I got the most out of my experience,” she said. With acceptances to NYU Stern, Boston University, Northeastern NYC Scholars, Fordham, Brandeis, Drexel, and Yeshiva University, Barbara ultimately decided to attend Barnard College this fall. “I chose Barnard because I wanted to be part of a community of strong, motivated women who challenge one another to excel. I wanted to be a part of an ambitious environment,” said Barbara.
MDYHS helps cultivate that ambitious environment from a pre-college age through its internship program, the Next Senior Internship Program, geared to placing students in high school internships that are applicable to their preferred area of college study. Barbara spent her internship learning about law under the guidance of Judge Gina Abadi, attending court every day. Shirley Kabariti, a Scholars’ graduate who plans to attend Macaulay Baruch College to pursue an accounting degree, said, “MDYHS set me up in the Next program in an internship at Wietschner Ziegler, LLP, which really taught me a lot about what my future would look like and the backbone of accounting.” Each student appreciates the personalized attention for his or her placement, and the internship program prepares them for what’s to come after high school.
Applying to college can be daunting, but Ms. Laura Miller greatly eases the process. “Ms. Miller was there for me every step of the way,” said Barbara. “I was in her office every day, even after school hours. She helped me write essays, and if I didn’t get into a school I applied to, she comforted me.” MDYHS also helps students prepare for college and life after high school by teaching how to balance multiple activities and stay organized. “For example, if I had tests or homework and also had a basketball game that night, I would have to manage my time correctly,” said Barbara. When asked what she sees herself taking with her after high school, Barbara was quick in her response. “Having emunah and praying every day. Those are some of the values Magen David instilled in me.”
“Success at Magen David is not measured against a single yardstick. It is measured one student at a time,” said Associate Principal Audrey Abade. “Our task is not to move every graduate along the same track but to help each one find their own passion, their own voice and their own path.” MDYHS opens a multitude of doors at once, allowing students to encounter their interests, discover inner strengths, join teams that speak to them, and begin to shape a direction that is theirs alone.
“For one graduate that path may be to spend a gap year in Israel, which strengthens the bond to Eretz Yisrael and Torat Yisrael,” said Mrs. Abade. “For another the journey will lead to university, where the critical thinking and disciplined study MDYHS cultivated have room to stretch. For another it means the first steps toward a career, working beside professionals in a field they had only imagined.”
Although the destinations differ, the heart beneath them remains the same. “Wherever our graduates go, they carve out time for lifelong learning, they give back to the community, and they step into an ever-changing world not warily but confidently, grounded, curious, unafraid to explore it,” shared Mrs. Abade. And that is the multi-faceted young adult that emerges from MDYHS. Regardless of the path each student takes, he or she carries a sense of pride for our community at large, our Jewish nation and strives to be the best version of themselves.
Yvonne Orfali is a member of the board as well as a parent of MDYHS.
