Hanukah is a glorious time every year at the Yeshivah of Flatbushs Joel Braverman High School and elementary school. Supplementing the Hanukah-based learning that pervades class discussions, special holiday programs abound, including an extraordinary performing arts program in the high school and other special hagigot (parties) and art projects for all grades.
The week of Hanukah culminated at the high school with a spectacular musical, a Hebrew rendition of Little Shop of Horrors (Hanut ktana umatrifa). The excitement began with the high school choir, led by Mr. Brian Gelfand, and the high school orchestra, led by Mr. Joel Hessel, performing original arrangements of Hanukah melodies and gracing the audience with the instrumental and vocal talents of more than 50 students. The chamber choir, also directed by Mr. Gelfand, performed an intricate and festive rendition of a well-known pop song that was rewritten and arranged in honor of Hanukah by 11th grade student, Victoria Twito.
Following the choir and orchestra was the play, directed and produced by Mrs. Sally Grazi-Shatzkes, and assisted by alum and volunteer extraordinaire Joey Mandil .The cast of 15 students along with a four-piece band, an audio-visual crew, and a set design team (headed by Mrs. Rebecca Grazi-Siev) delivered a clever, witty, and entertaining performance. Main characters Audrey (Jeanne Franco), Seymour (Michael Zalta) and Audreys evil dentist boyfriend (David Siller) put on a Broadway-caliber performance. The set depicted a dilapidated flower shop on the Lower East Side in the 1950s. From each hand-painted brick to the enormous man-eating plant, Mrs. Grazi-Siev, along with senior art students Vivi Rosenberg, Aviva Rakhamimova, and Orly Shapir, completely transformed the stage. Mr. Danny Shatzkes, the shows musical director and band leader, perfectly executed the musical score. Mr. Joel Hessel on saxophone and senior orchestra members, Dov Kann on bass and Solly Spigel on drums, rounded out the band and accompanied the cast in the musical spectacle.
Long-time faculty members said that in all their years at Flatbush, this was the grandest and most professional Hebrew play they had ever seen. It was made possible by the tireless efforts, creativity, and dedication of the students, as well as a large contingent of loyal alumni, faculty, and crew: costume designer Shelly Hafif; script translator Ms. Rachel Bar-Gad; Director of Facilities Jean Louisaire and his talented crew for building the set; the efficient AV crew; and Hebrew Arts Coordinator Mrs. Rachel Winkler, for her unending support.
YOF 8th graders came to see the show, then were treated to small group sessions on acting, vocals, band/orchestra, AV and set design led by the Little Shop faculty and students. The 8th graders enjoyed their back stage introduction to the performing arts. It gave them a better understanding and appreciation for all the components of a theatrical production.
Other grades had elaborate Hanukah plans too. The 7th grade visited the Living Torah Museum in Borough Park, where they had the chance to handle authentic coins and jewelry recovered by archeologists throughout the years. They viewed an exhibit that included every animal and bird mentioned in the Torah. The 6th and 7th grades also participated in a competitive and educational game of Hanukah Tic-Tac-Toe. However, the Hanukah highlight was the 8th grade Hanukah hagigah (party). The venue was beautifully decorated, including festive centerpieces, by a talented student committee. Entertainment was provided by Mr. Shatzkes who introduced students to the games, songs, and energy that will be part of their Shabbaton this month. Imagine a game of musical chairs with 117 students! The hagigah ended with the seniors receiving their senior T-shirts, designed by Dalia Chera.
Like their older peers, 4th grade students also had a Hanukah party, which began with a candle lighting ceremony, and was followed by an educational, hands-on talk about exotic animals. Kids were able to pet and ask questions about blue macaws, tortoises, snakes, and lizards. The children then went into the auditorium which was transformed into BINGO central, with gold tables decorated with handmade menorahs, made by students. Special thanks to Ladies Auxiliary President Ami Sasson for donating prizes for the event.
Grades 1 through 5 participated in an 8-day-long Hanukah heder (room). Each class was privately invited to the lavishly decorated room, where there was a large center table resplendent with shiny gold gelt. Reut Ben-Horin and Moore Tsabari (two young women who are spending the year at YOF as Israeli ambassadors), acted in a short Hanukah play, then led students to different fun stations: Maccabee bowling, Hanukah word search, pin-the-candle-on-the-menorah, and dreidel decorating. Right before Hanukah, 3rd graders created beautiful menorahs and learned how to press oil.
Early childhood students got to partake in the lighting of YOFs huge silver menorah, accompanied on keyboard by music teacher Carol Geliebter. As has been done for many years, Mrs. Geliebter also played for individual classes alongside professional flautist Leslie Grazi, as children danced to and sang Hanukah songs. A delightful program in the auditorium had each class assigned to either a specific holiday symbol, be it a donut, dreidel, menorah, etc. Classes made decorative hats and sang songs and memorized phrases appropriate to their symbol. Children also engaged in a lively game of Musical IQ, as they ate donuts and played with dreidels!
Along with all the fun were messages and lessons of Torah and our heritage. It was a meaningful and memorable holiday week.
