MAY Open House 2019

 

It was standing room only at the Mesivta Ateres Yaakov Open House this past Sunday, as the yeshiva hosted over 150 prospective students, along with their parents, all eager to learn about what Ateres Yaakov has to offer. Held in the yeshiva’s beautiful facilities, with the rebbeim, faculty, and hanhalah present to answer questions, the day’s program was an opportunity to educate parents and students about the yeshiva’s unique mission, objectives, and resources.

It was a busy, exciting, and educational experience that included informative panels, video displays, passionate presentations, engaging dialogue, Torah brain-teasers, sports challenges, raffles, a gala luncheon, prizes, custom mini basketballs, an elaborate student fair, slushies, competitions, and more.

Upon arrival, attendees were warmly greeted by the MAY hanhalah, its talented and dedicated faculty, and scores of student and parent volunteers. Guests were ushered into the elaborate student fair, held this year in the yeshiva’s brand-new expansive gymnasium where a multitude of booths, manned by current Ateres Yaakov talmidim, described the school’s myriad extracurricular programs and activities.

Following the student fair, the rosh ha’yeshiva, Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe, addressed the enormous crowd in the mesivta’s beis midrash. He explained, “The goal in our mesivta extends far beyond the high-school years” and that “the ultimate purpose is to build better husbands, fathers, and ovdei Hashem. Therefore, literally everything that occurs within the yeshiva is aimed at facilitating that goal.” Rabbi Yaffe concluded his remarks by clearly explaining each phrase of the mesivta’s slogan “Rebbeim for Life. Education for Life. Torah for Life.” Rabbi Yaffe’s address was followed by an emotionally charged, informative video presentation that immersed the guests virtually into the mesivta experience.

Following the video presentation, the students then enjoyed a mad science presentation with one of MAY’s master science teachers, Mr. Pinchas Fiber, stimulating brain-teasing shiurim delivered by ninth-grade rebbe Rabbi Tsvi Greenfield and tenth-grade rebbe Rabbi Shlomo Karp, and a Q&A About MAY. The afternoon concluded with a delicious Chinese buffet and multiple amazing raffles!

Parents attended panel discussions focusing on limudei kodesh, general studies, and MAY alumni. Prospective parents asked current parents and panelists a variety of questions and received enthusiastic responses. These included:

Are the rebbeim really involved in the lives of the talmidim even after graduation? Alumni talked about their many experiences receiving weekly calls in Israel from multiple members of the faculty, about daily conversations and weekly chaburos or Shabbos meals with rebbeim, about rebbeim helping them with challenges after marriage, about rebbeim making their shidduchim, and more. Mark Gold, president of MAY, noted, “Our talmidim are often shocked to find that their Israel yeshiva peers do not have the kinds of close relationships with, and ready access to, their mesivta rebbeim, that they take for granted.”

How does MAY challenge their Honors-level students? A parent panelist noted, “MAY has adapted the curriculum to assign frequent essays and other writing assignments to build advanced writing and communication skills and to provide constructive criticism to facilitate revision.” Parents learned “A Few Current Facts about General Studies at MAY” which included that the average Regents scores in honors classes were 91–96% in 2019; that MAY has produced five National Merit Scholarship finalists, semifinalists, or commended students in the past 4 years; and that 75% of MAY’s general studies instructors hold master’s degrees or beyond.

How does MAY compare to the other yeshivos in our community? A member of the hanhalah responded, “There are many excellent local options. Each school has its own emphasis and areas in which it excels. MAY is uniquely outstanding in that it excels in limudei kodesh, limudei chol, and in extracurricular activities, and its relatively small size facilitates the extra attention and long-lasting relationships that help students of all capabilities succeed.”

MAY Open House 2019

One parent noted, “It’s clear that the rebbeim, faculty members, and hanhalah I spoke with have a strong emotional connection with their talmidim and truly care about their success.”

The yeshiva’s talmidim made the event a success. Visitors challenged Ateres Yaakov talmidim in ping-pong, hockey, football, and basketball while being cheered on by friends. The mesivta’s numerous chesed opportunities were represented by blood drive coordinators, Ohel Bais Ezra volunteers, and many other student representatives. Attendees picked up the mesivta’s chesed directory, listing the ample opportunity for different chasadim available to its talmidim.

The Mesivta Publications booth was represented by MAY students showcasing the Ateres Star newsletter, the popular weekly Torah publication Ateres HaShavua, and the mesivta’s creative writing journal, Vision. Athletics and competitions were represented by various members of the mesivta’s football, basketball, softball, and Torah bowl teams who were happy to show off the school’s many championship trophies!

The ample Torah L’shma opportunities were represented by regulars of the Pre-Shacharis Cocoa Club, Post-Shacharis Mishnayos Shiur, 12th-grade Advanced Bikiyus and Night Sedarim, Shnayim Mikrah Program, Shakla v’Tarya Ba’al Peh Club, Bein HaZmanim Learning Program, and voluntary Monday- and Tuesday-Night Sedarim.

Applications for the 2020–2021 z’man are now being accepted. For more information, contact the mesivta at 516-374-6465 or visit AteresYaakov.com.

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