Community Magazine December 2012

A Parental Crusade Upon coming to grips with the enormity of the devastation, which included a sizable diesel fuel spill that contaminated the area, Rabbi Boaz Tomsky, YBH’s principal, figured that there was no chance the school could reopen, and it would have to merge with a surrounding institution. But that option didn’t sit well – neither with the devoted administration, nor the discerning parent body. Aside from the logistical and geographic challenges involved with a merger, already stressed students would be subjected to the added trauma of being outsiders in someone else’s school. Additionally, the other schools seemed unsuited to meet the educational goals that parents had planned for their students. YBH was founded to offer a unique program, a curriculum from preschool through eighth grade that is built on academic excellence and the belief that every student can and should perform on or above grade level. It has always provided its students with a nurturing environment, small class sizes, differentiated instruction and individualized attention for every student. The institution’s success is readily apparent from the scores of graduates who have gone on to become elite professionals in both religious and general fields. YBH’s philosophy is founded on the maxim, “ Hanoch lana’ar al pi darko —educate every child according to his way” so that he may reach his true potential. The school’s administration and parent body decided that a yeshivah committed to this educational philosophy could not possibly thrust its students into an unfamiliar environment that may result in a cookie cutter approach to education. YBH was created as an alternative to other existing institutions, and has always prided itself on being different. Parents and administrators began to realize that the school had to rebuild, and fast. Somehow, the yeshiva would have to continue serving the children whose parents had specifically chosen YBH’s unique approach. This realization resulted in a burst of activity and a full-fledged crusade to save the school. Just 48 hours after Sandy hit, a team of impassioned parents held an emergency meeting to discuss their options. “We send our children to YBH for a reason!” rallied one parent. “There is nothing like it out there and we are not letting go!” One by one, the parents stood up to volunteer to help. A new school board was formed with the task of rebuilding, and financial support was pledged for the first month’s rental of an interim facility. Still, the question loomed; even with all these efforts and generous financial support, could a suitable facility be found to house the school on such short notice? A New Home in Flatbush Thanks to divine providence and the generosity of the Jewish community in Brooklyn, the answer was a resounding, Yes! Congregation Etz Chayim in Flatbush opened their doors and hearts to YBH, inviting the school to move into its premises. The very next day, board members toured the space, and saw that it was a beautiful facility, and was actually an upgrade from their storm-ravaged site in Far Rockaway. Moreover, the building sits in the heart of Brooklyn’s Sephardic community, at 1649 East 13 th street, making it far more centrally located for many community parents. The administration unreservedly chose the building as its newpermanent home, making the yeshiva an attractive option for the many Brooklyn parents who had been deterred from enrolling their children in YBH because of the distance to Far Rockaway and the related transportation costs.YBH’s move offers new hope to parents whose children didn’t seem to thrive anywhere else. What was once a, distant, little-known institution, has now become a local draw, after its permanent relocation right in our backyard. Perhaps most surprising to some, is the revelation that the student population and the customs taught at YBH were primarily Syrian-Sephardic to begin with, and this new location is sure to herald further enrollment from the Sephardic community and greater focus on our heritage.Rabbi Tomsky and his administration see tremendous opportunity emerging from what was a catastrophic event – an opportunity to relocate, re-prioritize and emerge “stronger than ever,” as their motto proclaims. The school has risen above Sandy’s stormy waves and implanted itself in an even better position than before. The disaster brought out the best in so many people, especially the teachers, who turned an empty space into a school within days. Their commitment, more than anything, has shown how genuinely invested they are in their students. Become a Partner in the Inspirational YBH Story Rabbi Tomsky and his administration urge you to join their team by supporting the school and helping to secure its future in its new home. Tax-deductible donations can be mailed to Yeshivah BitaHon’s new location: 1649 East 13 th Street, Brooklyn NY 11229. You can also call the school at its new number: 347-688-YBH8 (9248) or donate through a PayPal account set up on the school’s website: www.yeshivaofbelleharbor.org Also be sure to visit www.yeshivaofbelleharbor.org/old to get acquainted with the school’s rich 50-year history and peruse the main site to learn of the invigorating and positive energy currently fueling YBH’s rebuilding efforts. KISLEV 5773 DECEMBER 2012 47