Community Magazine May 2021

24 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE graduation trip - think hand-delivered souvenirs. There was a café-style breakfast and barbeque dinner, a virtual DC tour, and a Zoom Escape Room game.  Amazingly, even during a pandemic, Ahi Ezer was creating fond memories. By the time in-person learning resumed, it was clear the school had pulled off a virtual miracle. Making Everyone Feel Comfortable Sometimes it is the smallest things that make a difference, such as a principal greeting students as they walk into school, or on-site babysitting services for the faculty. This attention to detail is especially visible in every aspect of the building’s renovations.  Student comfort is paramount at Ahi Ezer. The brightly lit, color-coordinated classrooms feature brand-new furniture and colorful, self-healing cork boards. The cubbies and hooks take students’ ease into account, in different sizes and heights according to the needs of their littlest and biggest members. Teacher cabinets neatly line the tops of the cubbies, providing a spacious area for educational resources. The new student restrooms could rival those at a wedding hall. Walls and floors throughout the school provide various types of atmospheres: impressive marble walls and glass portraits of Sephardic rabbis grace the entrance; warm, trendy tones with a pop of color and textured wallpaper are just right for the elementary students; and exciting-colored tiles brighten up the preschool. Teachers and staff are getting used to the reactions: parents will routinely comment that they feel like they have walked into a new school. And they are right!  From the play-yard to doors to windows, the transformed building is beautiful. The visionary new Board of Directors - Mr. Bunny Escava, Mr. Joe Indibo Cohen, Mr. Harry Adjmi, Rabbi Raymond Azrak, Mr. Victor Bibi, Mr. Gabe Khezrie, Mr. Eddie Mizrahi, and Mr. Zuki Jradeh, as well as tireless administrator Rabbi Elly Dayan, take pride in the renovations they helped to facilitate. One board member explained his motivations behind the school’s changes: “When our little girls come into school, they are little princesses. When they graduate, they are queens.”  Board Members Speak Up Board member Rabbi Raymond Azrak says, “We have tremendous hakarat hatov to Hakadosh Baruch Hu for the incredible siyata dishmaya , Divine assistance, in the growth of Ahi Ezer in recent years.” Other board members weigh in on the conversation. “I’ve noticed the teachers and principals are stronger than ever and have more knowledge to make the school great,” says Mr. Bunny Escava, president of the school board for 40 years. “The love they have for the students is beyond belief.”  Mr. Harry Adjmi refers to the school as humble, explaining why the school’s transformation has taken place mostly behind the scenes, out of the limelight. He notes that the administration does not veer from its main focus: “To educate good, respectable girls in our community.”  Mr. Gabe Khezrie comments, “Being a graduate of Ahi Ezer myself, it warms my heart to see the school striving and succeeding in every aspect.” He credits the dedication of Mr. Joe Cohen and the new board members as the driving force behind the tremendous success each and every student is achieving. “Ahi Ezer Yeshiva has come leaps and bounds in terms of academic excellence, cutting-edge extra-curricular programs, and student enrollment,” says Amy Setton, business office director.  “I have seen firsthand the changes made at our school and I am truly proud to be part of the Ahi Ezer family. I call it a hidden gem in an ancient treasure known as Ahi Ezer Yeshiva.” New Look, Same Values While the building looks and feels new, Ahi Ezer’s trademark for decades has been its warmth. The school retains its signature family atmosphere, even as the staff and curriculum have grown. The new Ahi Ezer is a synthesis: the commitment to education with love has never wavered, it has just been combined with new creative and effective educational tools.  Rabbi Raymond Beyda reiterates the school’s objective. “We are an institution with a long history of tradition, perfecting the education of our children so that they can fulfill their dreams and become anything that they want to be.”  The Rabbi’s ambition is shared by the entirety of the school’s team, encompassing the Hebrew and English departments, administration, and board. Together, they are making it all happen.  Where is Ahi Ezer heading next? With the forward-thinking perspective that permeates the school nowadays, the sky is the limit.  For inquiries, or to tour the school, please call 718.648.6100. To stay updated you can also follow Ahi Ezer @ahiezerpreschool and @ahiezeryeshiva. "Ahi Ezer Yeshiva has come leaps and bounds in terms of academic excellence, cutting-edge extra-curricular programs, and student enrollment.” Modern classrooms Bright facilities