D’var Torah: How to be an angel

By Joseph Farca Contributing Writer

This week’s parasha is Parashat Behar-Bechukotai. In Behar, Hashem gives us many new laws, including the shemitah year. The parasha starts off by stating that the laws of shemitah were given at Har Sinai, which is odd since we know all mitzvot were given at Har Sinai. Why does the Torah go out of its way to mention that it was given there as well? Rashi gives an answer, saying that the Torah mentions Har Sinai to tell us that all mitzvot, including all the details for the mitzvot, were given at Har Sinai. This is because when Moshe repeats the mitzvot in Sefer Devarim, the laws of shemitah aren’t mentioned, so it must be that this mitzvah and all other mitzvot were specifically explained and given at Har Sinai

Another possible answer comes from a midrash on Tehillim 103:20.

Midrash Tanchuma Buber explains that those who follow the laws of the shemitah year have strong will and strength. This is because the yezter to not follow the shemitah is so strong that a person who is able to defeat his yetzer and follow the laws is

. The midrash also says that such a person is like an angel. How can he be like an angel? The answer is that at Har Sinai Moshe was able to listen to Hashem’s voice without any consequence and B’nei Yisrael would perish from Hashem’s voice, while the angels can’t listen to Hashem at all. This is because at Har Sinai we were elevated to be like angels. Although the Torah wasn’t given to the malachim, a distinction is made between םיכאלמ and יכאלמ analysis of the text and then focusing on the bigger picture. The Sephardic way of learning greatly emphasizes studying the p’shat; as a Sephardic Jew, Mizrachi especially appreciates that aspect of the class.

תרשה being that the former is our ability to rise above our limitations and the latter being literal angels. It happens to be a midah kneged midah that the ability to overcome the yetzer during the shemitah year is what elevates us, since the transgression of Adam and Chava–their not being able to overcome their yezter–is what lowered their status from angels.

This answer can even help us give an answer to a famous question in the Haggadah on Pesach. We say that it would’ve been enough just for us to be brought to Har Sinai without being given the Torah. The question is, why would it be enough? Isn’t the main event of Har Sinai the giving of the Torah and mitzvot? The answer is the same: that just by being at Har Sinai we were elevated to be like angels.

From the mentioning of Har Sinai next to the laws of shemitah we learn the power of overcoming one’s yetzer We see that when a person overcomes the yetzer to be able to follow the shemitah year, knowing that he can’t work for a full year and letting anybody into his field to take freely, he is elevated to be like an angel. We have to try to incorporate this into our daily lives with whatever yezter we each have to overcome, however big or small. We have to know that, as it says in Midrash Shemot Rabbah, Hashem gives us tasks which can be difficult, but only those that are within our capabilities. We have to strive to suppress our inclinations and try to get back to that level of being like an angel, like Adam and Chava before the transgression.

Mizrachi said he definitely recommends taking a gap year in Israel to other students. “It’s one of the most meaningful experiences a person can go through as a young adult,” he said, particularly for those who live in Brooklyn and are not as exposed to the rest of the world and the holiness of Israel. “You feel kedushat ha’aretz emanating from the people, from the land itself, and from Torah learning. It combines for a year of focusing on one’s relationship with G-d, and appreciating the era of redemption in which we are living—both with the establishment of the state of Israel and the level of Torah study that came with it.”

Additionally, he said taking a gap year gives students the opportunity to leave the comfort of their own home. An experience like that teaches independence and is a great opportunity for growth and overall development. “You learn what it means to live alone and how to be responsible for things that other people won’t help you with,” he added.

It helps that all of the students who attend class with him are, in his words, “incredibly bright.” He said there’s always someone intelligent to turn to, whether for a question about Torah or general advice on life. The program is full of people to look up to who are ready to help in any way they can. “They have allowed me to flourish here,” he says.

Mizrachi says he misses his family very much while he’s away. He also mentioned that he’s had a difficult time keeping in touch with his teachers and Rabbis in Brooklyn.

Mizrachi is enrolled in Yeshiva University for September, but is still considering spending a second year in Israel.

Yeshivah of Flatbush regularly celebrates the students who excel in the classroom and on our many teams. But many Flatbush students’ most impresive accomplishmnets occur beyond school’s walls. In this special feature we shine a spotlight on 18 Flatbush students who are achieving remarkable things in a variety of fields and activities outside of school.

By Isaac Dweck Senior Editor

Chuckie Sultan, 12 th Grade, Athletics

In November 2021, Sultan turned to the internet for fitnesss help and followed various workout programs he found, but soon realized that wasn’t the way to achieve lasting results. So, he educated himself in fitness and nutrition, and created a tailored workout program. Utilizing Jack’s Gym in school every day, Sultan made significant progress and decided to switch to a commercial gym, where he continued to improve his program, constantly educating himself along the way. This instilled within him a passion for fitness, and he realized he wanted to help others achieve their goals.

Sultan pursued personal training certification and created his own brand, Champion Fitness, which offers customized workout programs and flexible scheduling to accommodate clients worldwide. As his online business grew, he also began offering in-person training sessions. To establish himself as an expert in the industry, he stayed up-to-date on the latest research and sought mentorship from experienced trainers. “Starting my own personal training business was challenging, but extremely rewarding,” Sultan said.

Victor Braca, 11 th Grade, Videography

Before he jumped into the world of video production, Braca first dipped his toes in by working on some videos for his eighth grade graduation, particularly the senior slideshow. He continued honing his skills by editing videos for Flatbush Elementary, as well as for friends’ and family events like bar mitzvahs and birthdays. Braca soon purchased a camera and learned how to film professionally. This allowed him to incorporate his own footage into his edits, which opened up new opportunities for his company, Top Notch Visuals, including video production for CARE, Pantry Packers, Yachad, and Flatbush events such as Seminar and concerts. It has become a familiar sight for Flatbush students to see Braca moving around strategically and skillfully with his self-swiveling camera.

“I love making something out of nothing and figuring out how to make videos in new creative ways,” Braca explained. This passion for creativity and innovation is what drives him to constantly explore new techniques and approaches to video production.

Grace Bawabeh, 11 th Grade, Food

Baking since 2015, Bawabeh is most at peace when in the kitchen. With the help of the cookbook Kids in the Kitchen, she learned and perfected many different recipes. With feedback from her parents, she kept altering and repeating until she was able to bake the perfect cookie. After Bawabeh achieved the flavor and texture she worked so hard for, her mom made her an Instagram account to sell cookies to friends and family. By seventh grade, Bawabeh upgraded to her own Instagram account, @gracies_goodies, where she started posting her famous Nutella chocolate chip cookies, s’mores pies, and croissants. As her business grew, she reached a point where she was making 20 pies each Thursday night for her friends to buy and bring to their family Shabbat tables. She makes sure her prices reflect the quality of her work and make the customers happy, a great combination for success. Although her business slowed as a result of Covid, she picked it back up off the ground and is continuing to sell her delicious desserts.

“My favorite part of baking is, of course, having a physical object in which I put my heart and soul,” she said. In the future, Bawabeh hopes to continue selling her baked goods as a side job while studying biology or engineering in college. “Baking will always have a special place in my heart, and I know my nine-year-old self would be happy with the business I have built.”

Danny Hanan, 12 th Grade, Music

Hanan has been playing the guitar and piano from the age of eight. When an opportunity arose to teach music to a group of second, third, and fourth graders, he jumped at the chance. Throughout the summer of 2021, Hanan shared his passion for music with 20 young students, helping them understand the basics of music theory and teaching them how to play the guitar and piano.

“My passion for teaching and sharing music grew stronger with each passing day, and I soon found myself with a growing group of students eager to learn all things music-related,” Hanan said. “My love for music has allowed me to make a difference in the lives of those around me, and for that, I am immensely proud,” said Danny, who has fostered that same love in so many kids.

Kaden Teper, 10 th Grade, Athletics

Kaden Teper, an avid New York Rangers fan, has been playing ice hockey since he was five years old. Since then, he has played on multiple state championship teams and traveled to compete in places as far as Minnesota and Canada. He plays around four to five times a week, dedicating a very large chunk of his free time to the sport he loves. Teper, who sports number 97 on the ice, is now the captain and starting center for the New York Aviators, a travel team, and has won many regional championships. Teper said a big part of why he loves to play is the relationships he has created with his teammates, who share the same love for the sport as him.

Elliot Soffer, 12 th Grade, Magic

Elliot Soffer was 10 years old when he found himself mesmerized by a magician at his brother’s Bar Mitzvah. He had practiced card tricks he learned on YouTube here and there, but now Soffer decided he wanted to truly master the art of magic. He was so encapsulated by the magician’s abilities that he convinced his parents to hire the same magician to be his mentor. Under this magician’s tutelage, Soffer mastered the art of sleight-of-hand tricks and more.

“I love seeing people’s reactions when they have no idea how I did something,” Soffer said. “They always look at me and ask, ‘How did you do that?’ And I say, ‘A magician never tells.’” Whenever a magician is performing in Elliot’s presence, he loves to dissect their tricks to discover how they did something so impressive. If you ever want to test Soffer’s abilities, just had him a deck of cards and you’ll be amazed at what he can do.

Michelle Baum, 12 th Grade, Photography

It was in the halls of Flatbush that Baum’s photography career began; she would often pester her friends and force them to do small photoshoots. What started off as bringing her digital camera to just the first day of her junior year quickly escalated into something far greater. She became “the photographer” among her friends and at every school event. Any senior can tell you that Baum’s red digital camera is grade-renowned.

“Taking pictures in the halls of Flatbush during color war and on days like pink day really gave me the confidence to start my photography career,” Baum told The Phoenix. She used this newfound passion to volunteer—taking pictures for the elementary school’s Reading in Pajamas program and at last year’s CARE carnival. As a result, Alyssa Shamah asked Baum to photograph an event this past summer, which really allowed her to start a real photography business. “She had faith in me,” said Baum, “She helped me get my name out there.”

Albert Shamah, 9 th Grade, Gardening

Hydroponics is a method of planting and growing nearly any type of produce by using a water-based nutrient solution instead of soil. When Albert Shamah gets home from school, he is welcomed by his very own hydroponic garden, where he grows different herbs, flowers, and produce. Shamah has always found agriculture fascinating, and started a traditional garden at his house last June. Later that summer his father, supportive of his botanical passions, drove him to a hydroponics store and he immediately fell in love.

“I love how it takes so many biological concepts—which I am already fascinated by—and combines them to produce the most fruitful harvest.” As the school year progressed, Shamah added to his hydroponic garden, purchasing new deep water culture beds in which he planted heirloom tomatoes along with red jalapeño peppers. His accomplishments and passion led to an inevitable acceptance into the Blumenthal Scholars program, where he tracked his hydroponics progress and wrote a research paper on his belief that modern hydroponics will reinvent traditional agriculture. He also restarted the school’s Environmental Club with the help of Pathfinders, and has goals to build a new composter for the school.

Emma Dayan, 11 th Grade, Academics

The Jerusalem Science Contest is an international science and Torah competition for 11th and 12th grade Jewish high school students. This year, contestants watched Zoom lectures on environmental sustainability and renewable energy, then competed in a series of eight tests and a research project for a chance to win prize money, a college scholarship, and a trip to Israel.

Dayan was one of five finalists. Her project examined the option of using nuclear energy to power rockets using nuclear electric and thermal propulsion to deliver mankind to Mars. It also discuss whether it would be halakhically permissible to go to Mars because of the health risks of being in space.

Science and Tanakh have always been Dayan’s two favorite subjects, but sometimes they can seem contradictory, so she loves seeing the two interact. Additionally, Dayan enjoyed meeting some of the other participants at the presentation in Chicago. “I’m very excited to go on the Israel trip in May,” she said about the trip she won, “where they will be taking all us around Israel, both touring and exploring different scientific initiatives throughout the country.”

Sally Jaradeh, 12 th grade, Fashion

When the pandemic hit, Jaradeh turned to crocheting and knitting to fend off boredom. When a few of her friends offered to purchase some of her pieces, Jaradeh realized that she could turn this hobby into a business. She created an Instagram account to display some of her handmade pieces and sell them. Although she has some ready-made items for sale, her business deals more commonly with custom-made items to fit her customers’ specific measurements and fashion tastes.

“I love having this business because it allows me to share one of my hobbies with the world,” Jaradeh told The Phoenix. She also loves how the unique taste of each customer forces her to expand on her design and crochet skills. So if you’re looking for something truly one-of-a-kind to add to your wardrobe, be sure to check out @crochetedbysally on Instagram account. Who knows? You may just find your new favorite piece of clothing.

Abie J. Tawil, 12 th Grade, Food

Over the last two years, Tawil has become a crucial contributor to his family’s Friday night meals, and if you ever have the chance to try his smoked meats, you’ll understand why. Tawil’s rise to chef of the house stemmed from his fixation with YouTube and Instagram videos of professional meat smokers. Inspired, Tawil bought himself a smoker. Watching YouTube videos, he learned how to marinate, season, and smoke meats to perfection. For those who are unfamiliar with the strenuous smoking process, it involves hours of preparation and cooking, including salting and marinating before the smoker, a total of around 13 hours in the smoker, and frequent care along the way to add liquids or wrap in tinfoil.

Although he is rewarded with delicious meat, Tawil said his real reward comes from seeing everyone’s reactions when they try his recipes. “The main reason I like to cook is not for myself, but rather to see others lean back content after enjoying something I cooked,” he said.

Danielle Dabah, 12 th Grade, Chesed

When senior Leor Edri, cofounder of Kulanu Ozrim, asked Dabah if she wanted to tutor for the family of a cancer patient, she was hesitant, but ultimately agreed. At first, she forced a friend to come with her so she wouldn’t be uncomfortable. However, when she knocked on the door, “the boys opened the door for me with the biggest smile,” Dabah recounted with a smile of her own. After helping them with homework, Dabah spent the next hour playing with the children. Her experience left her elated at having done something so special with her time, and she kept going back whenever she got the chance. Dabah continues to visit weekly; she describes the bond she has created with the kids as “everlasting.” Dabah said she now looks at life with the mindset of helping others and enjoys making people who need it happy.

Shimon Elbaz, 12 th Grade, Athletics

Shimon Elbaz is the captain of the Flatbush surf team, which he cofounded in 2019 as a freshman along with a couple of sophomores, and he competes with the team a few times a year. Elbaz’s affinity for surfing, however, is exemplified in his commitment to the sport and the surfing community outside of school. During the summer, Elbaz works as an instructor at Skudin Surf, a surf camp in Rockaway where he teaches children to surf. Additionally, through Skudin, Elbaz volunteers with an organization called Surf for All, a charity event where volunteers teach children and adults with special needs and/or various physical handicaps to surf. Elbaz spends time with children after camp as well, using his own boards to teach them.

Moshe Scaba, 12 th Grade, Business

Like many other students featured here, Moshe is someone who pushes himself to do more than the required amount. Last year, he wanted to work after school and really achieve something outside of school. He did some research into jobs in real estate, a field that has always interested him. He landed a job at real estate company KSR, where he started off by making cold calls to try to get potential clients to purchase real estate, then contacting the sellers and acting as a middle man. He has since closed countless deals, and he enjoys traveling around the city to check out different properties. Make sure to ask Moshe about one of his stories from the Bronx, where he’s closed multiple deals and met some interesting people, to say the least.

Fortune Chakkalo, 12 th Grade, Fashion

Chakkalo spent the summer of 2022 working for a hair stylist. One day, her boss’s makeup artist canceled at the eleventh hour, leaving Chakkalo as the only viable option to do her boss’s makeup for an event that night. Chakkalo’s talent and skill pulled through, leaving her boss impressed. “You should definitely start a business,” Chakkalo’s boss told her. Heeding that advice, Chakkalo started Makeup By Fortune, a makeup business that she operates through Instagram.

What makes Chakkalo’s business so special is her focus on utilizing makeup to enhance her clients’ natural beauty. As she explains it, her job is to help people feel confident and beautiful while staying true to their unique identity. “My heart is filled with joy after seeing my clients’ confidence being lifted, making them feel like the best versions of themselves. Makeup combines my passions for art, fashion, aesthetics, and self-care, making me truly passionate about my work.”

Julian Horovits, 9 th Grade, Athletics

Julian Horovits has tennis in his veins. His dad played Division I tennis in college and won nationals, and also played pro in Israel. His uncle was ranked number one in New Jersey during high school. Horovits has been learning how to play under his father’s tutelage since he was two years old. When he was eight he won a community father-son doubles tournament. A few years later, Horovits decided he wanted to commit fully, so he started playing four days a week.

Last summer, Horovits quit a job that he wasn’t enjoying and, heeding the advice of his sister, he started giving tennis lessons to younger children. “When I give lessons, I see myself in a lot of those kids and I feel like my dad,” he said. He enjoys seeing them have fun and improve their game with his help at the same time. Horovits is very excited for the upcoming summer, when he will continue teaching tennis to children of all ages.

Lilly Salame, 12 th Grade, Chesed

Salame first met Mikey, a Yachad member who frequents the halls of Flatbush, at Camp Seneca Lake. The youngest in a family of five, Salame was used to being taken care of. However, when she met Mikey, she came to understand the importance of responsibility and caring for others. Every Friday, Salame and Mikey would have lunch together, and their connection grew so strong that she decided to join the Yachad play.

“I got to meet so many wonderful people from the Yachad program,” Salame said. Because of her experiences with Mikey and Yachad, she has decided to pursue a career in special education. She says that she owes Mikey tremendous gratitude for teaching her how to care for others as well as find her passion.

Nicole Reghini, 12th Grade, Fashion

After school, Reghini works at Emme by Michal, a clothing company that specializes in helping religious Jewish women find clothes for Shabbat, holidays, and every day. Reghini helps customers select clothes and try them on and later rings up the sale. She says the best part of her job is the enjoyment of putting different outfits together and seeing them on her customers.