Pegasus 2022

Pegasus Literature & Art Magazine Human Nature ~ Pegasus 2022 01

II Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature

Pegasus 2022 Literature & Art Magazine Dedicated by Laura and Joe Tawil

‫בית הספר התיכון של ישיבת פלטבוש על שם יואל ברברמן‬ Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School Al and Sonny Gindi Campus 1609 Avenue J, Brooklyn, NY 11230 www.flatbush.org

Human Nature ~ Pegasus 2022 III

Reaching for True Self Grace Kassab

Canon Rebel T7, Resourced Images, Photoshop

Rabbi Joseph Beyda Head of School

Esther Hidary Associate Principal

Rabbi Yigal Sklarin Associate Principal

Rabbi David Galpert Assistant Principal Mr. Abie J. Hidary President Mica Bloom English Department Chairperson

Jaclyn Pahuskin English Faculty / Pegasus Advisor

Carolina Cohen Arts Faculty / Design

Jason Novetsky Arts Faculty

Mia Erdos Arts Faculty

IV Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature

A Tale of Creativity Daniela Nacmias, Sally Jaradeh, Ginger Ammar, Yola Katri, Paulette Yazdi, Allison Heskiel Acrylic Paint Mural

Philosophy of Publication/Colophon Jaclyn Pahuskin Pegasus is a magazine that represents the literary and artistic talent of our students at the Yeshivah of Flatbush. Writers, philosophers, dreamers, painters, photographers, idealists, leaders, sculptors, poets, readers and designers walk through our hallways every single day. This publication celebrates the diversity, beauty and talent that our students possess.

The pubication submission policy is open to all students from 9th through 12th grade. The editors select which writing pieces are published through an analysis of the originality, creativity, purpose, appeal and connection to theme. Additionally, editors also select which art pieces are published based on the composition, contrast, techinque, visual aesthetics, as well as the connection to the theme.

Work is accepted all year long and students are highly encouraged to submit to pegasus@flatbush.org weekly. Faculty and community members are encouraged to submit work, but there is a limit on how many pieces we select for the publication. Literary editors are told to edit work for gramatical and punctuation errors and not to alter the content of the piece.

Pegasus 2022 was printed by Minuteman Press on 1844 Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn, NY. The 168 page, 7.25” x 9” book was printed on 70# laser paper. The cover was printed on 100# gloss coated cover stock. Pegasus 2022 was created using Adobe InDesign 2022. The font family used was Avenir. This is a school funded publication. There were 160 copies printed and distributed to the contributors and their families, the high school Administration, English and Arts departments, the Executive office of the Yeshivah and lay leaders. Additional copies were available in the school library for other faculty and students.

Thank you to all the contributors this year.

To participate in next year’s publication, please email pegasus@flatbush.org or see Ms. Pahuskin in room 202, Ms. Cohen in room 205 or Mr. Novetsky in the Art Room to get involved.

Human Nature ~ Pegasus 2022 V

table of contents

Basking in the Sun

48 Goodnight/ Talya Shamoelian/Poetry

Writing

52 Raindrop/ Eliana Ashurov/Poetry

12 Slim chance/ David Angel/ Poetry

56 Just Do it /Noyah Shebshaievitz/ College Essay

14 All You Have to Do is Wait/ Loris Arazi/ Poetry 16 Hope/ Avi Gutman/ Poetry 16 Fire is the Thing With Flames/ Adele Hamway/Poetry

52 Loneliness/ Alan Anzaroot/Poetry

60 Hidden Treat/ David Erdos/ College Essay 64 It’s Not My Fault/ Salom Kamagi/ Poetry 68 Heavy is the Head/ Maurice Silvera/ Poetry

20 A New Person/ Irene Cohen/ Poetry 22 Dear Future/ Rebekah Chichester/ Poetry 26 Still I Shine/ Colette Chehova/ Poetry 28 Home/ Louise Sutton/ Poetry 32 Love Her Forever/ Jacqueline Halabi/ Poetry 34 Alive/ Irene Cohen/ Poetry 36 War/ Avi Gutman/ Poetry

Art 45 Dilute/ Fortune Chakkalo/ Acrylic paint on canvas 47 Fading Away/ Sharyn Marcos/Canon Rebel T7, Illustrator 50 A False Perception/Marc Lessler/ Blender 51 The Progress/ Jennifer Kreizman/ Water based oil canvas 53 Hide Away/ Leah Lathi/ Resourced image, Photoshop

38 Letting Go/ Sally Kada/ Poetry

54 Face of Extinction/Sophia Jemal/Paper Sculpture, Illustration-Illustrator

Art

58 Long Winter on Film/Sharyn Marcos/ Canon Rebel T7, Photoshop

13 Cool Off/ Daniela Nacmias/Procreate, Illustrator

59 Malignance/ Lauren Massre/ Acrylic on Canvas

17 Are you Watching?/ Jennifer Kreizman/Ink and sealant 18 Radiate/ Abigail Madeb/ iPhone, Photoshop 19 Splitting Paths/ Michelle Baum/Canon Rebel T7, Photoshop, Illustrator 21 Dispersion/ Michelle Baum/iPhone, Photoshop

55 Fall Breeze/ Esther Lazarowitz/ Resourced Image, Illustrator

62 Marching Into Deception/ Marc Lessler/ Blender 63 Lillian’s Lilies/ Noyah Shebshaevitz/ Iphone Camera, Photoshop 66 DANGER/Linda Abramson/Paper Sculpture Illustration-Illustrator 67 I’m Fine/ Jennifer Krezman/Procreate

23 Glitch to a Better Time/ Sharyn Marcos/ Canon Rebel T7, Photoshop 24 Nature/ Ginger Ammar/Resourced Image, Illustrator, Photoshop 25 Happy Escape/ Shelly Shaoul/ Resourced Image, Illustrator 29 Summer is Here/ Aleen Jaradeh/ Resourced Image, Illustrator 30 Never Enough/ Jennifer Zirdok/ iPhone , Photoshop 31 Building Rocks/ Michelle Baum/ iPhone, Illustrator, Photoshop 33 Maze to the Moment/ Shella Yazdi/ iPhone, Photoshop 35 Hello Sunshine/ Teri Chalouh/ Resourced Image, Illustrator 37 Success/ Esther Mizrahi/ Low Poly Illustration-Illustrator 39 Hidden Reality/ Yvette Haddad/ Canon Rebel T7, Photoshop 40 Fantasia - Album Cover/ Rivkah Lahav/iPhone, Photoshop 41 Meta Reflections/ Noyah Shebshaievitz/Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop

Savoring the Snow Writing

72 Father’s Day/ Avi Gutman/ Poetry 74 The Word/ Soly Fouerti/ Poetry 76 Dear Hockey/ Joseph Catton/ Poetry 78 Night Light/ Maurice Silvera/ Poetry 80 Photography/ Eliana Ashurov/ Poetry 80 Fresh Start/ Sally Kada/ Poetry 82 Honor/ Steven Hazbany/ Poetry 84 The Calculus Worldview/ Ronnie Mizrachi/ Essay 86 Snow/ Max Romano/ Poetry

Relishing the Rain Writing

44 Downpour/ Barbara Salama/Poetry 46 As Time Goes On/ Michelle Saadia/Poetry 46 The Broken Mirror/ Daniella Fruedman/ Poetry

VI Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature

88 Every Eye Has a Life/ Lynn Dweck/ Poetry 90 Words/ Gloria Winnick/ Essay 92 Slippery Slope/ Steven Shamah/ Poetry Art 73 Come to Life/ Aimee Cohen/ Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop

75 Detached/ Fortune Chakkalo/ Watercolor on canvas 77 Everybody Moved on, I Stayed/ Jennifer Kreizman/ Water based oil on canvas 79 Anxiety on Display/ Grace Kassab/ Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop 81 Captivate/ Jennifer Kreizman/ Pen and watercolor 83 Unseen/ Grace Betesh/ Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop 87 Love in Your Eyes/ Noyah Shebshaievitz/ Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop 89 Bless You/ Jennifer Kreizman/ Acrylic on canvas 91 Nurture or Nature?/ Shella Yazdi/ Illustrator 94 Mass Targeting/ David Dweck/ Resourced Images, Photoshop

127 Chain Reaction/ Samuel Zeitoune/ Construction paper, Photoshop

Under the Fog Writing

130 Don't Give Up/ Sally Kada/ Poetry 132 Let Me Go/ Elliot Dweck/ Poetry 132 Cloud/ Helene Shamah/ Poetry 134 Existing/ Jennifer Kreizman/ Poetry

95 Childhood Memories/ Sharyn Marcos/ Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop

138 The Abyss/ Maurice Silvera/ Poetry

Weathering the Storm

144 To All the Books I've Stolen Before/ Galiette Mita/ Essay

Writing

98 Fading Sweetness/ Maurice Silvera/ Poetry 100 Hypocritical/ Ezra Sultan/ Poetry 102 Game Day/ Kaden D. Teper/ Poetry 104 Dear Mind/ Sylvia Saad/ Poetry 106 Stormy Park/ Elliot Dweck/ Poetry 108 My Mind is a War Zone/ Maurice Silvera/ Poetry 110 Chained to Our Past/ Shella Yazdi/ Essay 114 Stand Tall/ Jamie Shamah/ Poetry 116 My Obsession/ Ben Matsas/ Poetry 120 Night Sky/ Elliot Dweck/ Poetry 124 Soul/ Jennifer Kreizman/ Essay Art 99 The Butterfly Effect/ Allison Heskiel/ Oil paint, Charcoal Powder 101 Rage/ Gloria Levy/ Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop 103 Fire Within Me/ Sarah Salama/ Resourced Image, Illustrator 105 Money State of Mind/ Jennifer Neuman/ Resourced Image, Illustrator 107 The Living Dead/ Fortune Chakkalo/ Alcohol Markers 109 Behind the Screen/ Grace Betesh/ Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop 112 Disconnection/ Rochelle Ades/ Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop, Ripped Paper 113 My Mother’s Son/ Jennifer Kreizman/ Acrylic Paint on Canvas 117 Sleep Paralysis/ Suzanne Mosseri/ Yarn and glue on paper, Photoshop 118 My Reality/ Ezra Kababieh/ Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop 119 Chained to the Scheme/ Marc Lessler/Blender 121 Together Yet Separate/ Rochelle Ades/ Canon Rebel T3, Illustrator, Photoshop

140 Who Am I?/ Susie Masri/ Poetry 146 The Midlife Crisis/ Abigail Fuzaylova/ Poetry 150 Dear Wordle/ Tunie Terzi/ Poetry 150 Trust/ Sophia Zeitoune/ Poetry 152 Happy Birthday/ Jennifer Kreizman/ Essay 156 Drowning/ Salomon Kamagi/ Essay 158 Foggy Colors/ Morris Braha/ Poetry 160 Unbreakable Me/ Jamie Shamah/ Poetry Artwork 131 Made in America/ Sally Jaradeh/ Canvas, Acrylic paint, Water color paint,

Rubber relief print, Ink

133 XX world- album cover/ David Donin/ iPhone, Photoshop 136 A Fairytale/ Sarah Siri/ Resourced Images, Photoshop 137 I Am the Field/ Jennifer Kreizman/ water based oil paint 139 Looking Glass/ Noyah Shebshaievitz/ Canon Rebel T3 141 Giving it All… For What?/ Jennifer Zirdok/ Resourced Images,

Illustrator, Photoshop

142 Hidden in Shadows/ Rosie Abed/ Canon Rebel T3, Resourced Images,

Photoshop

143 Girl With a Pearl Earring/ Daniella Nacmias/ Graphite pencil 145 Paranoid Abandonment/ Marc Lessler/ Blender 151 Dream/ Suzanne Mosseri/ Illustrator, Photoshop 154 Influencer/ Lauren Massre/ Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop 155 Influenced/ Lauren Massre/ Magazine Collage, Photoshop 159 Tranquility Within Dance/ Lauren Mizrahi/ Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop 162 People Kill People/ Vivian Hamui/ Resourced Images, Photoshop 163 Fake Dreams/ Rosie Abed/ Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop

122 Value Confusion/ Jennifer Neuman/ Resourced Image, Illustrator 123 To the Moon and Back/ Daniel Ades/ Resourced Image, Illustrator Human Nature ~ Pegasus 2022 VII

explanation of theme

Human Nature Sun

~

Rain

~

Snow

~

Storm ~

Fog

It’s practically universal that when people see rain pouring onto the streets or hear it pattering on their roofs, they feel themselves wanting to bundle up in blankets, read books, or just relax. Conversely, we often feel the warmth of the sun radiating into our bodies, and we itch to play outside or take a walk with a newfound sense of relief and a smile on our faces. Indeed, numerous psychological studies have shown that weather, and general environments, affect our mood in unbelievable ways- and that shouldn’t surprise us. Because we all experientially and intuitively feel that nature binds us together almost as innately as the DNA that we share as humans. There’s this interesting dynamic relationship that we share with nature; on the one hand, it sometimes dictates how we interact with each other, like when we gather in our neighborhoods to have snowball fights, or when we huddle together for warmth, or when we mourn the distance between us in the face of pandemics. But on the other hand, we sometimes take agency and control over nature- like how our forefathers worked the ground and reaped what they sowed, how our advances in human technology have sometimes come at the expense of smog and acid rain that clouds our future with uncertainty. In fact, it seems like humanity as a whole has taken nature head-on by storm, and over the years we’ve navigated our way through it in search of a healthy balance and cohabitation of our Earth.

In this year’s compilation of writing and art, we explore this unity by reflecting both on our perception of the world, and how the world responds with insights into how to view itself and our very natures. How do we understand our own gloominess, and what does the bleakness of a rainy day teach us about it? When we see plants reaching for sunshine for sustenance and life, what should we be compelled to reach for in our search for happiness and inspiration? Do we often find ourselves lost in a haze as a fisherman lost at sea, covered in a blanket of fog with nowhere to turn? Can we comprehend and control our anger before it gets out of hand, or does it turn us into the whirlwinds of a storm that tears apart whatever and whoever stands in its way? And lastly, is there something to be said about the purity of our souls, and the way we project the best versions of ourselves as angels onto fresh, perfect, and untouched sheets of snow on the ground?

VIII Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature

Abigail Madeb Ronnie Mizrachi Jamie Shamah Maurice Silvera Shella Yazdi

Artists Rosie Abed Linda Abramson Daniel Ades Rochelle Ades Ginger Anmar Michelle Baum Grace Betesh Fortune Chakkalo Teri Chalouh Aimee Cohen David Donin David Dweck Yvette Haddad Vivian Hamui Alison Heskiel Aleen Jaradeh Sally Jaradeh Sofia Jemal Ezra Kababieh Grace Kassab Jennifer Kreizman

Rivkah Lahav Leah Lati Esther Lazerowitz Marc Lessler Gloria Levy Abigail Madeb Sharyn Marcos Lauren Massre Galiette Mita Esther Mizrahi Lauren Mizrahi Suzanne Mosseri Daniella Nacmias Jennifer Neuman Sarah Salama Shelly Shaoul Noyah Shebshaievitz Sarah Siri Shella Yazdi Samuel Zeitoune Jennifer Zirdok

Writers David Angel Alan Anzaroot Loris Arazi Eliana Ashurov Morris Braha Joseph Catton Colette Chehova Rebekah Chichester Irene Cohen Elliot Dweck Lynn Dweck David Erdos Soly Fouerti Daniella Friedman Abigail Fuzaylova Avi Gutman Jacqueline Halabi Adele Hamway Steven Hazbany Sally Kada Salomon Kamagi

Jennifer Kreizman Susie Masri Ronnie Mizrachi Max Romano Sylvia Saad Michelle Saadia Barbara Salama Helene Shamah Jamie Shamah Steven Shamah Talya Shamoelian Noyah Shebshaievitz Maurice Silvera Ezra Sultan Louise Sutton Kaden Teper Tunie Terzi Gloria Winnick Shella Yazdi Sophia Zeitoune

Human Nature ~ Pegasus 2022 IX

Contributors

Editors

Basking in the Sun

Slim Chance David Angel

Graceful as it flies Flutter after flutter, in The free, dark forest But the young boy hunts.

Stomp after stomp, he pursues Net poised in small hand.

Quite ready to strike At the graceful butterfly Just as it flees. Free.

12 ~ Sun

Cool Off Daniella Nacmias

Procreate, Illustrator

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 13 Rainy ~ Pegasus 2022 13

All You Have to Do is Wait Loris Arazi

All You Have to Do is Wait He didn’t treat me right.

All those days I wasted obsessing over this guy.

The long nights I stayed up speaking to him.

The amount of effort I put Into making our relationship work.

It meant nothing.

All those days I wondered what was wrong with me.

Why did he make me feel unworthy?

He made me question myself.

He made me feel lost.

He made me feel alone.

I stuck around, I stayed with him even though He wasn't worthy of me.

Then you showed up, You were my best friend, The one I could call home.

From the first day that I met you, I kept trying to trick myself into thinking You weren’t the one.

14 ~ Sun

I was just coming out of a horrible relationship, One that took everything out of me, One that I never thought I could overcome.

I thought no one would ever accept me, Love me.

But you did.

You brought me back, You loved me.

I promise I’ll always be by your side, At your highs, And at your lows.

I promise to always accept you, And when you’re goofy, I promise to be goofy with you.

I was the sad girl, But all I had to do Was wait for you to come.

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 15 Rainy ~ Pegasus 2022 15

Hope

Avi Gutman

Desperation envelops the night Gripping it with fear and hopelessness Stay calm when things are hard A new day is dawning As a phoenix soars from its ashes You will get through it when you persevere

Fire Is the Thing With Flames Adele Hamway

Fire is the thing with flames that tarnishes our bodies, and produces ashes that fall without reason, and never burns out.

16 ~ Sun

Are you Watching? Jennifer Kreizman

Resourced Image, Low Poly Illustration-Illustrator

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 17 Rainy ~ Pegasus 2022 17

Radiate Abigail Madeb

iPhone, Photoshop

18 ~ Sun

Splitting Paths Michelle Baum

Canon Rebel T7, Photoshop, Illustrator

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 19 Rainy ~ Pegasus 2022 19

A New Person Irene Cohen

There is another side, So different and free, There is a rainbow Through all the clouds Forget all the rain ,my people Forget all the fog Here is the sun, Whose strength is ever strong Now there is a clear sky There’s not a cloud in sight In its brightness I hear the sun sing My people, be free Move past the clouds

20 ~ Sun

Dispersion Michelle Baum

iPhone, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 21 Rainy ~ Pegasus 2022 21

Dear Future Rebekah Chichester

Dear Future, I continue to wonder what you have in store for me.

Will you be kind to me?

Or will you throw me down?

I am anxious for what you may bring.

There could be clear skies Sun shining brighter than it ever has The sweet smell of lavender filling the air A sense of safety enveloping me Or there could be a storm Thunder taking over the sound of car horns Rain dripping from my hair and clothes A bitter sickness consuming my soul But whatever you may bring Whether good or bad I am ready for you I’ll give you all I have.

22 ~ Sun

Glitch to a Better Time Sharyn Marcos

Canon Rebel T7, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 23 Rainy ~ Pegasus 2022 23

Nature Ginger Ammar

Resourced Image, Low Poly Illustration-Illustrator, Photoshop

24 ~ Sun

Happy Escape Shelly Shaoul

Resourced Image, Illustrator

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 25 Rainy ~ Pegasus 2022 25

Still I Shine Colette Chehova

Some of you fear me Talk about me like I'm some curse, You talk me down, rather be alone But still, like the sun, I’ll shine.

Do you fear the risk?

Why do you not stay?

You run like I’m the devil Trying to scare you away.

Just like a flower waiting to bloom, Give me time, And just like the sun, I’ll shine.

Do you think I want you to be broken?

Heart shattered to pieces?

Tears pouring down like rain, Staining your dress made of fleeces?

Does my presence scare you?

Remind you of your past lover ‘Cause I want to help you rise like a dove And lead you to a lover you that you can uncover

26 ~ Sun

Your brain may resent me, Your heart may yearn, Your soul may reach for me Because like the sun, I’ll shine Do you feel as if I’ve shot you?

Did I catch you by surprise With Cupid's arrow that strikes like a knife As it flies through the skies?

Out of your deep pit of sorrow I shine I will help you get through tomorrow I shine I’m a rising wave, glistening and proud, Making my presence clear and loud Leaving behind happiness and pleasure I shine Into your lives lovingly I shine Bringing the gift of joy, I am the greatest dream you can enjoy.

I shine I shine I shine.

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 27 Rainy ~ Pegasus 2022 27

Home

Louise Sutton

Dear Home, It is only you.

You’re the one who mends my worries.

The one who nourishes me with love and happiness, Every single day.

Yes I must admit, I’ve been to landscapes as grand as the sky, Traveled through deserts painted with the sun’s magnificent aura, Swam through oceans along the equator, Climbed mountains of ice and glory, Lounged on the soft sands of Maui, Toured the elegant cities of Europe, Drowned in the crowded streets of Tokyo, But none of it will ever compare to you.

You can be as massive as the Earth, Or just a few square feet.

You can stand tall and proud, Or you can creak and moan.

You will never change.

You’ll always hug me, And envelop my soul.

You’ll always protect me, And rock me to sleep.

Every day with you Brings me such pleasure.

28 ~ Sun

Summer is Here Aleen Jaradeh

Resourced Image, Illustrator

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 29 Rainy ~ Pegasus 2022 29

Never Enough Jennifer Zirdok

iPhone , Photoshop

30 ~ Sun

Building Rocks Michelle Baum

iPhone, Illustrator, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 31 Rainy ~ Pegasus 2022 31

Love Her Forever Jacqueline Halabi

My mother Dedicated, generous, and hardworking Her love for her child running so deep That she sang her special song to me Even during my dreaded years of adolescence My mother Tender, warmhearted, and affectionate Even when I am ungrateful and indifferent She continues to sing Her special song to me My mother Wise, concerned, and brave Filling my life with love and happiness She always comes to my rescue And sings her special song to me Every time I absorb the powerful words Of a powerful song I pray for the day when I get to sing I’ll love you forever I’ll like you for always As long as I’m living My mother you’ll be

32 ~ Sun

Maze to the Moment Shella Yazdi

iPhone, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 33 Rainy ~ Pegasus 2022 33

Alive

Irene Cohen

From dark to light The sky is like a painting From start to finish Sunrise to Sunset It's always changing As we rise All aspects of life resume Alarms go off Roosters Crow And life begins again Every day brings on a new task Each day is different Life is always changing Just like the leaves in fall Sometimes we watch hours go by Even days Forgetting how beautiful god's creation really is Without nature We have nothing So just take it all in

34 ~ Sun

Hello Sunshine Teri Chalouh

Resourced Image, Illustrator

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 35 Rainy ~ Pegasus 2022 35

War

Avi Gutman

War is not my friend It asks for impossible things Demands are infinite No explanations are given War doesn't make sense It creates violent consequences Lives are shattered forever Families never coming back together War is one color Unspectacular and dreary The darkness is overwhelming and vast The sky is dotted in black War is filled with malice Dead souls are innocent victims I attend to them remorsefully While holding war liable.

36 ~ Sun

Success Esther Mizrahi

Low Poly Illustration-Illustrator

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 37 Rainy ~ Pegasus 2022 37

Letting Go Sally Kada

As I stand here I remember when I was shy Not being able to express my true self Why did I hold everything back?

I found what I wanted I wanna dance I wanna fly So I get up and show myself Dancing to the music Letting go of the past me I am ready to create a new person

38 ~ Sun

Hidden Reality Yvette Haddad

Resourced Images, Canon Rebel T7, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 39 Rainy ~ Pegasus 2022 39

Fantasia - Album Cover Rivkah Lahav

Resourced Image, iPhone, Photoshop

40 ~ Sun

Meta Reflections Noyah Shebshaievitz

Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 41 Rainy ~ Pegasus 2022 41

Relishing the Rain

Downpour Barbara Salama

There are raindrops pattering on tin roofs, And along the tightly spaced buildings I am aware of the hollow whoosh of the wind Flying angrily into window panes.

Through the suffocating fog I can make out Flashes of color from the umbrellas of passer-by, And from a glimpse of a face with sharp eyes A hopeful expression rises into the air And comes crashing to the street with the downpour.

44 ~ Rain

Dilute Fortune Chakkalo

Acrylic paint on canvas

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 45

As Time Goes On Michelle Saadia

One’s first child is gold, The loveliest one to hold.

Their words bloom like a flower; They grow each passing hour.

But babies subside to teens, And they become cold and mean.

Now my hair has turned gray; Nothing gold can stay.

The Broken Mirror Daniella Friedman

Don’t go– The man exclaimed.

He was talking to his Reflection that had fallen to The floor.

46 ~ Rain

Fading Away Sharyn Marcos

Canon Rebel T7, Low Poly Illustration-Illustrator

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 47

Goodnight Talya Shamoelian

Teenagers are owls We sleep during the day And start working at night I know it’s hard to believe But we weren’t born like this Owls were born to live in the night Humans sleep when it’s not so bright So when did this change?

When did we all become so disarranged?

I became nocturnal When I had to write an entire journal When I had to learn about semicircles When I had a four-hour long rehearsal When I had to make my own commercial When I had to find a word that rhymes with nocturnal It’s hard to switch your sleeping patterns; When someone relies on drugs You can’t just take away their buzz You have to take it away, one pill at a time Until it’s all gone And that’s what I did I took away my sleep I removed the one thing that kept me alive Just so I could pass my AP with a five Now the sun has come out

48 ~ Rain

And everyone has just awakened But I’m still here just trying to finish my calculations All I want to do is rest But I can’t because I have to go take another test I’m tired I’m try to keep my eyes open But my bags weigh them down My teachers ask, “Why are you sleeping in my class?”

It’s because I was up all night Now, can you please turn off the light?

Everyone expects teenagers To participate in class Calculate lithium’s mass And still pass But when should teenagers rest?

When should they get dressed?

Or better yet, When can we not be stressed?

I wrote this poem at one in the morning Because I got inspired without warning But that’s alright Because this is the time my brain says good morning I’m sorry if I wasn’t energetic enough But as you already know I’ve been up all night And now I think it’s time I tell you goodnight

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 49

A False Perception Marc Lessler Blender

50 ~ Rain

The Progress Jennifer Kreizman

Water based oil on canvas

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 51

Loneliness Alan Anzaroot

The rain falls gently And hits the cold ground slowly The world lays silent

Raindrop Eliana Ashurov

The drop on the leaf Trickles down and makes a path Trying to hold on

52 ~ Rain

Hide Away Leah Lathi

Resourced Image, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 53

Face of Extinction Sofia Jemal

Paper Sculpture Illustration-Illustrator

54 ~ Rain

Fall Breeze Esther Lazarowitz

Resourced Image, Illustrator

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 55

Just do it

Noyah Shebshaievitz

Imagine the famed Exodus was led by Nike’s marketing team. Picture it, Moses standing in front of the Red Sea, Egyptians closing in, and God tells him “remember, just do it!” Thousands of years later, it would be the scene relegated to the stained glass windows in houses of worship rather than on the front of T-shirts at the gym. It’s safe to say, had it been a biblical verse, Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike, would have a new verse to embroider on pillows and motivate them to step out of their comfort zones. But for me, it is a call to action. God and Nike, have informed my being even more than DNA alone, because beyond the evolutionary genes like “HAR1,” “MYH16,” and “FOXP2” that dictate who we are as humans, the combination of sport and religion “dictates” my life more than DNA ever will. Sport, for me, inspires action and lives in the tangible, while religion instills in me the value of surrendering control to the abstract. While the two are seemingly contradictory, I live my life in the mystical confluence between the two.

Whether I am reluctant to get out of bed for a run on a cold winter morning or to make my way to synagogue to lead the youth group, I never give in to the couch of inaction, instead, I get up and just do it.

So I got up one slow and sunny morning to teach Michael, an autistic boy, how to swim. Well, how to almost swim; he may never learn to fully swim on his own, but like a calculus limit, he can still get infinitely close, which in its own right is incredible. As he stood at the edge of the pool I told him “jump!”

Looking back, my instructions were akin to urging him to take the Kierkagardian “leap of faith” - I practically told him to split the sea, to literally and figuratively

56 ~ Rain

dive into new waters. I learned that in teaching Michael how to swim, in the same stroke, I was also encouraging him to trust in something that went against his most basic survival instinct — that a giant container of liquid would support his solid body wasn’t the least bit logical to him — yet he took the leap. He just did it.

Naturally, after diving in, it came time for Michael to float freely. It was at that magical moment that student became teacher. He perfectly exemplified the balance I try so hard to strike. He took decisive action and plunged in despite his fears, and when the time came, he surrendered control to the water. Michael, however, is not the first in my life to demonstrate a balance of these forces.

Watching him float in his pool transported me to the depths of the Nile, as I saw the biblical story of Moses and Miriam unfold in my mind. After the Pharaoh ordered all Jewish baby boys be put to death, Moses’ older sister, Miriam, was compelled to action. She swaddled baby Moses and placed him in an ark to float without clarity down the Nile, rather than the certain doom he faced if she took no action. Miriam took action and then left the rest up to God. In teaching Michael how to swim, I forged my own link on the chain of women who share the same DNA that inspires me to faithfully tread through the unsure waters that challenge me. This allows me to remain above the current without overcoming the inertia to propel me in a different, unexpected direction.

When faced with chaotic shoals, I may choose to tread or even sometimes, ride the wave. And when life demands it, I dive head first. Like Miriam, I don't wait for others to call me to action, I act fiercely with my faith as my natural compass

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 57

Long Winters on Film Sharyn Marcos

Canon Rebel T7, Resourced Image, Photoshop

58 ~ Rain

Malignance Lauren Massre

Acrylic on canvas

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 59

Hidden Treat David Erdos

My grandfather always said, “life is what you bake of it,” although I never fully comprehended the depth of this quote until I embarked on my culinary journey.

My efforts in the kitchen began when I was seven, chopping vegetables or stirring soup. By twelve, I was experimenting with baking, inspired by my mom’s airy breads and velvety cakes. Soon, not only was I able to produce the same cakes as my family, I was expanding into more complicated endeavors. At that point, it wasn’t uncommon to stay up all night, attending to the countless cycles of kneading-and-rising required to make fresh baguettes or sourdough.

I learned early on that baking connects me to my living family, but did not realize that it also connects me to the past. One afternoon, while visiting my grandmother, I began leafing through an old cookbook. I noticed that one page was folded over, and when I asked her about it she explained that this recipe was my grandfather’s favorite bread to bake. He hadn’t made it, and she hadn’t even thought about it, in over a decade. I immediately asked if we could bake it – the bread looked interesting, but more significantly, I sensed my grandmother’s excitement at the thought of bringing Pa’s favorite bread back into existence. As the fluffy dough rested in our palms, I watched my grandmother travel back in time. Not only did the mouthwatering aroma of fresh bread waft throughout the kitchen, but in baking with me, her grandson, my grandmother gained a sense of connection and satisfaction that my grandfather’s spirit was somehow alive again.

60 ~ Rain

Baking not only impacts my relationship with family and tradition, but it also elucidates the nuances of chemistry. As a passionate student, I always felt a connection between the classroom and the kitchen, but it wasn't until I was introduced to the world of chemistry that I realized how within seemingly uncomplicated tasks are complex chemical reactions. Although it may appear that simply throwing a few ingredients together results in a loaf of bread, the process is much more intricate than meets the eye. As I watch my bread rise, and ponder upon the yeast organisms consuming sugar and expelling carbon dioxide gas, I feel as if my lab coat and apron are one and the same.

When I first learned to bake, I had no secondary goals in mind: I learned to bake for the sake of baking. Because of that decision, however, I was not only gifted a precious and priceless opportunity with my grandmother, I was able to connect with my family on a deeper level, melding both past and present. My grandfather, the baker - a chemist in the untraditional sense - passed away when I was five. However, by baking, I am preserving the sense of continuity and familial roots, extending this love of amalgamation to my posterity, while simultaneously learning a way of experimenting and understanding that I hope will impact the modern scientific world.

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 61

Marching Into Deception Marc Lessler Blender

62 ~ Rain

Lillian's Lillies Noyah Shebshaievitz

iPhone camera, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 63

It's Not My Fault Salomon Kamagi

The most common excuse When something goes wrong, When your life turns upside down.

Our lips quickly move to everyone's favorite answer: “It's not my fault.”

No one can see the bigger picture here That extends beyond just you and me.

People’s minds run faster than any computer; Function better than any machine.

But just like coding, there are deformities.

Mental illness plagues our nation.

Kids shoot up schools without a thought out of frustration.

Kids get neglected instead of saved.

Their quietness is seen as an outrage.

No one understands things they cannot see.

They expect people to be fine despite being empty.

Their quietness fills a room but their mind is screaming on the inside.

64 ~ Rain

They try to reach out but no words come out.

They try to ask for help but they can’t speak.

No words of despair; No screams of distress.

They drown in silence.

Nobody hears the quiet cry of a broken man.

Nobody sees the hidden signs of a hurting soul.

But these quiet cries, These hidden signs Are the loudest words to ever be spoken.

Nobody heard their agonizing screams; Nobody saw the tears streaming down their cheeks.

But they played their part.

You didn’t play yours.

So when they claim “it’s not my fault,” It’s not a lie, but rather the sad truth.

The fault doesn’t fall on them.

Instead, it falls on you, You who didn’t hear the cry.

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 65

DANGER Linda Abramson

Paper Sculpture Illustration-Illustrator

66 ~ Rain

I'm Fine Jennifer Kreizman Procreate

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 67

Heavy is the Head Maurice Silvera

Heavy is the head That wears the crown.

A crown Made of gold Adorned with diamonds and rubies Set atop a regal head But the gold Is tainted With a poison That seeps into your mind And corrupts Every last good thought You ever had And the diamonds Are callous With sharp edges That pierce into your very soul Until it tears a hole Clean through

68 ~ Rain

And the rubies Are stained With blood That drips into your eyes Blinding you Until all you can see Is red And the head Is tired With the weight of the crown That pushes down, down, down Until you are forced To avert your gaze To the cold stone ground Heavy is the head That begs to be freed Freed from its duty Of wearing the crown Heavy is the head That can not bear any more weight

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 69

Savoring the Snow

Father’s Day Avi Gutman

Cold night, whispery clouds a father lays In the center of a field watching the stars Grass for floors moon shining down From between the stars and dances with loved ones to a tranquil melody

72 ~ Snow

Come to Life Aimee Cohen

Canon Rebel T3, Resourced Images, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 73

The Word Soly Fouerti

Behold the word.

It can not move, Motion it can not lose.

It speaks.

It is said by a tongue Up from the lung.

Carefully assert, Or that word can hurt.

74 ~ Snow

Detached Fortune Chakkalo

Watercolor on canvas

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 75

Dear Hockey Joseph Catton

I had a rough day.

Walking home, Head down, Hoodie on, Airpods in, Music blasting, Alone.

My heart sinking into a deep pool of sorrow, My stress levels peaking, My confidence plummeting, Alone.

I step outside Into the bitter, Yet somehow delightful cold, Heading to you.

Stick in hand, Skates shedding the frosty ice High onto the boards, Pucks flinging off of my stick.

The adrenaline rush kicking in, Heart beating rapidly, Mind at peace.

How quickly our time had gone by, Our separation dragging me back into everyday life.

And here I stand, Alone again.

76 ~ Snow

Everybody Moved on, I Stayed Jennifer Kreizman

Water based oil on canvas

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 77

Night Light Maurice Silvera

I look out my window As I lay in bed And a peace falls over me Not unlike the pearly powder Laying on the tiles of my backyard Or the shaggy mounds of fluff Weighing down the pine trees in the distance My alarm clock reads 1:13 But the night sky Is as bright as day The pellets of white Reflecting back up to where they came from A mellow glow A secret glimmer That whispers a promise of acceptance A vow of security I let the light Carry me to sleep

78 ~ Snow

Anxiety on Display Grace Kassab

Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 79

Photography Eliana Ashurov

Clicking The loud shutter Capturing a story Told with no words but rather an image Photos

Fresh Start Sally Kada

A clear canvas Is ready to be painted on And I paint the world

80 ~ Snow

Captivate Jennifer Kreizman

Pen and watercolor

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 81

Honor

Steven Hazbany

A scar on the back are a swordsman's shame They represent fear and cowardice Something I will never accept Just like the sound of defeat I already embarrassed myself so much then I will never ever lose again I strive to be the greatest And if I an unable to accomplish that I’d much rather die Lines borrowed from One piece

82 ~ Snow

Unseen Grace Betesh

Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 83

The Calculus Worldview Ronnie Mizrachi

“This is just nonsense,” my friend tried convincing me one day in AP Calculus. “Two points can never actually become one, so the concept of a derivative is only abstract,” he cynically remarked.

“But think about how profound that is, Marc. By imagining their convergence, we can come up with real results about the actual slope,” I explained to him. But his rolling eyes and unwavering expression of discontent made it clear to me that he was stuck in the rigidity of algebraic manipulation.

I related to his skepticism. As a rudimentary mathematics student, I was taught to seek truth by asking questions like “What is the case?” in algebraic equations, and “How do you know?” in geometric proofs. But my experiences in AP Calculus distanced me from those processes of concrete analysis. Calculus’s approach intrigued me because it relied on the preexisting axioms of algebra and geometry, but also searched for mathematical truths by asking “What if?”

What if a rectangle could have infinitesimally small width? What if a function could approach infinity? While I noticed that many seemed to fear such abstractions, I felt inspired by the seemingly limitless potential to elaborate on the nuance of what is real and true. In a sense, calculus taught me that delving into abstract gray areas is an integral part of seeking truth and inspiration.

I began to find Calculus everywhere. For two summers, I had the privilege of working for my grandfather, “Grandpa Ronnie,” on his Bible commentary, both as a writer and an editor. Much of his commentary focuses on literary elements such as intertextuality, structure, and symbolism, which may be observed only by departing from a simplistic reading of the text. Through his tough criticism, my grandfather taught me the value in questioning and challenging traditionally

84 ~ Snow

concrete explanations. For instance, when I began to notice examples of intertextuality on my own, I came to the realization that a concrete, literal reading of any Biblical text was inherently incomplete. Rather, I could only recognize how different passages speak to each other by adopting a new way of approaching text; that is, to seek connections and understand that there are infinite layers to interpretation.

As a calculus student, it was easy to gravitate to my grandfather’s approach to text, but this philosophy impacted my life as a tutor and peer as well. People often say, “teachers learn more from their students than their students learn from them,” and this resonates with me in the way I tutor. I enjoy engaging with others in my search for inspiration, and I find that diversity in thought is crucial in formulating detailed opinions about the world. As we review material together, the insights and questions that surface in our sessions push me further into the gray area. My peers challenge my opinions and preconceived notions, and together we shift our perspectives in the pursuit of knowledge. I often wonder: “although my peers’ struggles can be solved using my method, perhaps their approach provides another lens of understanding the problem?” By allowing myself to be open to other methods of thought and inquiry, whether in Bible study or in peer tutoring, I see myself embodying the calculus approach.

I’ve come to realize that my intellectual pursuit stems from grasping truths, while simultaneously reaching for infinite possibilities. My parents and siblings are all teachers, and I find that together we are always asking “What if?” and searching for ways to engage those around us in our search for answers. In the coming years I hope to continue reading, learning, and exploring the nuances of the world, to shape a broader understanding of the complexity of life.

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 85

Snow

Max Romano

The snow starts descending Around the January winter time We don’t know how much will fall As it will stay a surprise The fun we have can never end In the beautiful sunlight and in the wind As you go outside, look up in the sky All you will see are snowflakes fluttering by The fun I have is plentiful In the bright night of the winter sky

86 ~ Snow

Love in Your Eyes Noyah Shebshaievitz

Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 87

Every Eye Has a Life Lynn Dweck

She gazed into his eyes And viewed essence And said, “ Your eyes tell a story, The story of life” They walked, they connected Hearts warmed by one another “I think we should end this” Her heart sank.

Overtime, they grew apart Separated spirits, different souls He shakes her awake They were still soulmates.

88 ~ Snow

Bless You Jennifer Kreizman Acrylic on canvas

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 89

Words

Gloria Winnick

Dear Words, Sometimes I wonder how you can make me feel so happy yet make me want to cry and die inside. People use you without understanding how much of an impact you can have on someone. They don’t realize how hurtful you can be when misused.

I need to show them how words make them feel - Happy, Sad, Nervous, Anxious, Scared. It kills me that I have to hurt them for them to realize the meaning of what they're saying. What’s worse is that I show them how it feels, and they STILL use words without understanding them, sometimes purposely. They know they’re making someone feel bad and still do it, it makes me feel disgusted.

But there is also another side of your words that I love. The nice side of you. No one understands how good it feels to be told “ I love you “ or “ Woah! you did such a good job “. Those are the words that everybody enjoys hearing. One word can make someone's day so much better, and make them love themselves and their life, but it can also hurt them and make them feel sad. So words, please just make sure that all your users know how impactful words are before they use them, good or bad.

90 ~ Snow

Nurture or Nature? Shella Yazdi

Illustrator

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 91

Slippery Slope Steven Shamah

The cold crisp air against my face The beautiful snowfall landing all around me Menacing mountains looming in the distance In front of me is what looks like inevitable doom The snow covered, steep slope approaching On the bottom I enter the rising ski lift My heart is pounding like a drum Trying to escape my warm chest I look down seeing skiers zip past me like the speed of light.

I slowly approach the top At the top, the powerful nature humbles me It makes me feel like a small snowflake My hands are sweating in the warm gloves Scared to the bone, as I slowly creep up to the slope My legs and hands are shaking out of fear

92 ~ Snow

I am scared, but also, very excited The warm adrenaline rushes through my blood The snow and wind zips past me All I can see is a cloud of white The fear immediately escapes, taken over by exhilaration On the way down, I wind through the gigantic forest The cold immediately escapes, replaced by warmth and comfort This time shaking from the feeling of excitement My heart is begging to go again I am addicted to this feeling.

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 93

Mass Targeting David Dweck

Resourced Images, Photoshop

94 ~ Snow

Childhood Memories Sharyn Marcos

Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 95

Weathering the Storm

Fading Sweetness Maurice Silvera

As I lay on this lounge Of sweet sun and lazy breezes My eyes flutter closed My breathing begins to slow And my head empties But all things sweet Must eventually turn sour The wind picks up And clouds consume my golden sun My eyes open My breath hitches And it is time Time to let go Of sunkissed fantasies And palm tree oases Time to return To my sour reality

98 ~ Storm

The Butterfly Effect Allison Heskiel

Oil paint, Charcoal powder, Paper, Canvas

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 99

Hypocritical Ezra Sultan

They stand always glaring judging and ranking While their own images remain ignored Their own flaws unseen.

100 ~ Storm

Rage Gloria Levy

Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 101

Game Day Kaden D. Teper

Cold breeze, scratchy ice while my dad looks over in the new arena on the clanging stands red jerseys fly zamboni doors slam from one net to the other we all line up as puck drop begins

102 ~ Storm

Fire Within Me Sarah Salama

Resourced Image, Illustrator

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 103

Dear Mind Sylvia Saad

Dear Mind, I hate you You are my confidence killer Profuse blush maker Social life snatcher And intrusive thought fetcher Don’t bother apologizing You’ll never be forgiven For all the torture you won’t stop inflicting on me

104 ~ Storm

Money State of Mind Jennifer Neuman

Resourced Images, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 105

Stormy Park Elliot Dweck

Rainy clouds, crashing winds A young girl sits On a bench in A stormy park Leaves are flying Branches on the floor In between the grass Under the feet Of a chattering squirrel

106 ~ Storm

The Living Dead Fortune Chakkalo

Alcohol Markers

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 107

My Mind is a War Zone Maurice Silvera

My mind is a war zone Every thought a bullet Every memory a missile All aimed directly at me I dive behind shallow trenches of delusion And wear feeble armor of artificial hope That disintegrates at the touch And I am forced into no man’s land To face every decision I have ever made Barraged by the armaments of my mind’s own creation I collapse on the blood-stained earth In surrender But there is no mercy in war And I am shot down Body riddled with bullet holes of despair My soul a spoil of war

108 ~ Storm

Behind the Screen Grace Betesh

Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 109

Chained to Our Past Shella Yazdi

As a child I didn’t have worries. Shielded from all bad things in the world, I played and laughed without giving anything a second thought. At the age of five, I was approached by a young man at my synagogue. He complimented my costume, which I wore to commemorate a Jewish holiday. He then rolled up his sleeve to show me the numbers tattooed into his arm. With tears in his eyes, he told me how happy he was to see a child who was able to celebrate a Jewish holiday. Unsure of what he meant, I continued playing and laughing along with my friends.

The first time I was taught about the Holocaust was in the fourth grade. I still remember the shock and terror I felt while hearing how a survivor watched as his family was sent to their death. My immediate thought was, That could have been me, if only I was born in a different decade. For weeks after the assembly I couldn’t act like my normal self. While I knew it was important for me to learn about my past, I couldn’t help but wish I still had a shield to protect myself from all the wrong in the world. My parents sent me to a therapist due to my change in behavior and she gave me advice I live by to this day: some sad stories have happy endings and focusing on the sadness won't get you anywhere. I realized the way I need to deal with my pain is by being a listening ear to survivors.

I am now proud to be participating in Witness Theater, a program where students interview Holocaust survivors and then create and perform their stories.

During our second meeting, we received a paper with short biographies of

110 ~ Storm

each survivor who would be participating. Our program director called on me to read aloud the story of Joseph Hecht. Joe was the only survivor of his five siblings. After the war, he came to Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and is now a great-grandparent.

It was only a day later when I realized Joe Hecht was the man with the numbers on his arm. He had been going to my synagogue for years and I’ve known him my whole life. After years of not knowing the story of the mysterious man who was so happy that I simply exist, I now have the chance to learn about his story. Joe greeted me with a beaming smile and told me I had grown to be a beautiful and intelligent woman since he last saw me. Joe didn’t have a chance to grow up behind a shield because of the horrors he was forced to endure, but he still makes it his goal to put a smile on everyone's face. His pure and genuine grin makes me proud to be a Jew. I have made a connection that I will cherish for the rest of my life, and while Joe won’t be with us forever, I’ll make it my life goal to share his story and keep his memory alive.

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 111

Disconnection Rochelle Ades

Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop, Ripped Paper

112 ~ Storm

My Mother's Son Jennifer Kreizman

Acrylic paint on canvas

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 113

Stand Tall Jamie Shamah

You never think that it would be you You never imagine that you would be the one The one to fill all the reports and newspapers I mean, I never thought it would be me But soon enough that day came, and soon enough I was that person All eyes were on me.

Thump, thump My heart, beating out of my chest as I get dressed My heart, screaming from within me as leave my house I never meant for this to happen I never meant to cause any of this I never meant to create something that rippled on to be much larger than me Much larger than just a little girl “ Stand TALL Ruby” “ Keep on w a l k i n g” Their words will forever ec h o in my head “Rise above Ruby” “You must fight” Click, Click My heeled shoes march up the intimidating steps My footsteps, breaking the silence in the empty halls Sent to school Sent alone Sent away Away from what I knew Away from my family Away from my home base 114 ~ Storm

Tik……Tik The clock’s hands turn slower than ever “Stand TALL ruby” “ Keep on w a l k I n g” My first day I will never forget My first day, The day I cleared the halls of the school The day the angry parents accused and attacked just a little girl I was in their court and they had all the advantages I didn’t stand a chance They had everything and I had nothing Except for one thing, I had them.

My first day, The day I met them My guardians angles My saviors My protectors Hum, hum His soft, strong voice pushing me forward “Stand TALL Ruby” “ Keep on w a l k I n g” They were my everything All I had Without them, I don't think I would’ve made it “Without them” that’s a scary thought.

(Point of view: Ruby Bridges)

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 115

My Obsession Ben Matsas

I’m in a different world when I read Being in a magical fantasy Or riveting history To continue I must steal No money or trades Nothing to read Paranoa kicks in fast Everyone is seemingly aware of my sins Fear takes over when I see cops You can’t and won’t stop The urge is too strong to steal knowledge You might get in trouble or not Some people get in trouble fast Some slow Some not at all I don’t care if I do Reading is too important Keeps me sane Makes me connect with those nearby Keeps me elated Saves me from the dark, dreary world

116 ~ Storm

Sleep Paralysis Suzanne Mosseri

Yarn and glue on paper, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 117

My Reality Ezra Kababieh

Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop

118 ~ Storm

Chained to the Scheme Marc Lessler Blender

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 119

Night Sky Elliot Dweck

(from the perspective of the sky) So dark yet so bright The shining moon with all its might Up above yet feels so close But when the dawn comes we have to say goodbye Glimmering stars in the night sky Watching the planes fly by Everyone has gone to sleep But when the dawn comes we have to say goodbye End of night comes around The only one to see is God himself Stars and moon glimmering in the night sky But when the dawn comes we have to say goodbye

120 ~ Storm

Together yet Separate Rochelle Ades

Canon Rebel T3, Illustrator, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 121

Value Confusion Jennifer Neuman

Resourced Images, Illustrator

122 ~ Storm

To the Moon and Back Daniel Ades

Resourced Images, Illustrator

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 123

Soul

Jennifer Kreizman

Soul; the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being, regarded as immortal. Though Oxford has the word defined, the term has no set-in-stone meaning.

The word is simply intangible. How can one understand its intricacy if one cannot reach for the soul or feel the soul within one’s palm? With this intangibility, one can define the word time and time again without fear of being wrong. The soul can be used spiritually, lovingly, or even morbidly. The word’s meaning lies solely in how one perceives it and how one chooses to deal with it. The philosopher Heraclitus stated that, “You could never arrive at the limits of the soul, no matter how many roads you traveled. So deep is its mystery.” So possibly, it’s not that the word is undefinable, but rather, the term can carry many faces.

Soul is often poetic in literature, leaving warm connotations on your tongue no matter how cold the sentence may be. The term is used to define levels of depth that can be formed in relationships, so much so that it involves the soul, the innermost essence, of a being. While it can seem cliche or worn out, the word is used to personify the perplexity of human nature. A quote in the book Song of Achilles makes use of the word in this way; when talking about the depths of his love, Patroclus states, “He is half of my soul, as the poets say.” While the sentence is used in the context of Achilles’ soon death, the statement adds new depth to the word while adding new depth to their relationship. The word here shows that not only is the soul your innermost essence, but it can join people to a further degree, to a state where even the soul is shared. Another person to define the word similarly was the philosopher Aristotle. He once said, “What is a friend? A

124 ~ Storm

single soul dwelling in two bodies.” While the word in this context seems optimistic, it also can be flipped to the negative. What happens when the other part of your soul is gone? The depth of that relationship can bring both an abundance of positivity and negativity, though both don’t lie in your control. The word in this milieu blurs the lines of sadness and smiles, merely making it synonymous with “and they were more than this, they were that.”

The word can also be used spiritually. For instance, if you walk into a synagogue, church, mosque, or any other religious temple, and ask someone in there to define “soul,” the definition would likely be connected to their religion. If someone feels a strong connection to religion or relies on religion to settle their worries, it makes sense for them to define a complex word in that context. If the thought of God helps you sleep at night, why wouldn’t you use God to understand a concept so above you? The soul is the second part of your being. The soul is the light in a lantern. That’s usually what a religious figure will tell you. The soul is what God granted you to complete his plan. Even if one doesn’t have a belief in God, one can still believe in the soul. Many would find contentment in this definition, seeing that the soul is nothing more than just you, but some find it more puzzling. If God granted your soul, and your soul was a gift, is your soul not your own?

Another visage of the word spins it in a way where it’s genuinely out of your hands. The soul can also be defined as the part you have no control over, your raw entity. Many psychologists will tell you that everyone puts up a front. Whether

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 125

it’s an armored shield or a feeble cloth, we naturally try to hide our realities.

Instinctually, we tend to hide this soft space of vulnerability; we harden the outside and keep the certitude of our minds hidden away safely. This soft spot, this gated essence, is one’s soul. With this definition, it seems that you ultimately have no control over yourself. Can you be labeled an odious man if your soul was tarnished to begin with? How much of yourself is in your control? Does your soul have the ability to change?

Though we can define the word countless times, the definition is merely your own interpretation in numerous criteria. The word is meant to describe something that is simply far beyond what our brains can comprehend. How are we supposed to understand something that fundamentally makes no sense? It isn’t easy. So we use the word to demonstrate the depths of love, our loyalty to God, and our raw nature, though we can use it in innumerably more ways. We explain the soul to be ourselves, it’s a part of us that we would be nothing without, and the soul, too, would be nothing without the body. A Native proverb says, “The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears.” The soul is simply a counterpart of the being, but the questions come in when we are asked to define the word at a more elevated level, since who genuinely knows what the soul is?

126 ~ Storm

Chain Reaction Samuel Zeitoune

Construction paper, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 127

Under the Fog

Don't give up Sally Kada

Through all the sunshine, A darkness is shown We feel jealousy, In what should be warm A love that is stressful, And hard to find But despite it all You wouldn’t give up It is hard to see who loves you, When you feel like they don’t And remembering the times, Makes you not want to give up Love is a gift though, That others don't have And looking at the positive, Encourages you not to give up And though love is hard, And it can be disappointing Don't give up Because it will be worth it

130 ~ Fog

Made in America Sally Jaradeh

Canvas, Acrylic paint, Water color paint, Rubber relief print, Ink

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 131

Let Me Go Elliot Dweck

The horror of war Terrible at its core G-d please, I can't handle any more Dead bodies everywhere Coming home is rare And our families are filled with despair I feel like I am in a maze I can’t find my way I haven't slept in three days

Cloud

Helene Shamah

The cloud comes on littles sheeps backs.

It stays hovering over suburbs and rurals on top of barns and then it drifts away.

132 ~ Fog

XX world - Album Cover David Donin

iPhone, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 133

Existing

Jennifer Kreizman

Close your eyes and imagine that you aren’t here. imagine that you don’t exist, you never existed, except now you blink and you exist, everywhere.

You’ve existed for all time.

Actually, you never didn’t exist.

Your brain now wants you to think about how you always existed.

Everywhere.

You close your eyes, and you blink, and you’re no longer laying in bed.

You’re now in school.

When did this happen?

You’re at a desk, and only now did you realize the color of your shirt.

Is it blue? oh. cool.

Then you’re back to not existing, until you’re laying in bed trying desperately to fall asleep, and look up at the ceiling and realize, you have been existing.

Have you been existing?

You fall off earth again and wake up, existing.

In the mirror, your reflection now has short hair, and your reflection is cleaning the hair from the sink.

134 ~ Fog

It doesn’t feel like you.

Is it?

What distinguishes you from the reflection?

You and the reflection are parallel lines.

You are the same. You are the reflection. But you never cross paths.

Maybe the reflection exists when you don’t.

You make eye contact with the scissors in the bed, and it all makes sense.

The puzzle piece is you.

But it doesn’t make sense.

Though it doesn’t phase you much huh?

Since in the moment, you’re not existing.

And if you’re not existing, what’s the point in being phased by something that’s not happening to you.

Maybe your reflection is the one who’s phased.

But, phased or unphased, What matters at the end?

Is there an end?

I don’t think there’s an ending.

We fall for never ending poems, yet, if I told you to close your eyes and imagine you didn’t exist, what would you even be?

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 135

A Fairytale Sarah Siri

Resourced Images, Photoshop

136 ~ Fog

I Am the Field Jennifer Kreizman

Water based oil paint

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 137

The Abyss Maurice Silvera

where can i find peace? i don’t know where to look i’ve exhausted every resource and now i’ve pushed myself to the edge of the cliff and the only place left to go is off of it into the abyss the abyss is not dark nor light; it simply is nothing about it is observable it exists in a state of nonexistence for me to exist in at last - this is what i have been searching for, yearning for i float around in neutrality nothing is good and nothing is bad and everything is dimmed down there is no pain, no passion no dread, no desire nothing of substance to make me feel so i glide around my purpose to be purposeless and i fade away into oblivion

138 ~ Fog

Looking Glass Noyah Shebshaievitz Canon Rebel T3

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 139

Who Am I? Susie Masri

I know a girl from an island She stands apart from everyone else She doesn’t want what she’s expected to be She's always asking herself the same question Who am I? Everyone’s always telling her who she is But she wants to find that out for herself She loves her island But there aren’t many opportunities there She wants a life beyond a small village Which path will she choose to follow Who am I?

140 ~ Fog

Giving it All... for What? Jennifer Zirdok

Resourced Images, Illustrator, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 141

Hidden in Shadows Rosie Abed

Canon Rebel T3, Resourced Image, Photoshop

142 ~ Fog

Girl with a Pear Earring Daniella Nacmias Graphite pencil

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 143

To All The Books I’ve Stolen Before Galiette Mita

Dear books, I’ll admit it, in the beginning, I hated you. I hated the way you taunted me. I hated the way your words meant nothing to me. I hated the way you made me feel. Could you imagine how much it frustrated me to stare at all your pages filled with ideas that I could not understand? Not to mention the embarrassment I felt during class because I didn't know how to read you. I hated that you were useless to me. I just felt like you were there to torture me. But, I realized that there was more to you than just pain. I stole you for a reason. There was something about you from the start that made me pick you up. I needed to know what you were all about. So I grew to deal with the frustration. I learned every letter of the alphabet just so I can have a connection with you. My hate quickly turned to love and for a while I stole more of you. Isn’t it fascinating how something that was once the sole cause of your depression can be the only thing you want more than ever right now? You know, I dream of having shelves and walls full of your copies.

I constantly find myself tangled up in another one of your wonderful fantasies.

You are my passion, my ecstasy. I have finally developed a love for reading and I so badly want to not let go of it. You were my key to a new world of imagination.

An imagination so intensive, it tunes out reality to the point where all I think about are the words that lay on your pages. I will never forget the countless hours we spent together and how you shaped me to the person I am today. I am writing to you to let you know that I will always love you and I know that no matter what happens, you will always be there for me.

Love, The Book Thief

144 ~ Fog

Paranoid Abandonment Marc Lessler Blender

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 145

The Midlife Crisis Abigail Fuzaylova

In the forest, dark and frightening I found myself in the worst place Where any place is brighter.

The journey seemed long enough, Until I came across an angry and agile leopard, Which made me feel as if my brain was locked up in handcuffs.

When the leopard came closer to me Its power was more than what anyone can handle and can never unsee.

To get past that beast, I need a clever plan, That is tricky enough to get surmount it, To escape from this horrid place, to get banned.

I was able to escape who I fear was the easiest of them all, But what lies before me, cruel punishments Of living the life of a bug or a ball.

It feels like the journey has ended, But the end of my life is nearer, If all sins I have made are not mended.

146 ~ Fog

Then, all of a sudden I came across The she-wolf whose incontinence is her strongest, Most powerful quality, as if she is the boss.

The entire forest could be chewed up, spit out, and still dead, When messing with the she-wolf, right away realizing, Her appetite is always open; she needs to be fed, And if I don’t go through with her, it will be my last day.

I have to ask for forgiveness, For it is the only way, and maybe someday, G-d will forgive me for my terrible sins I have done, and go up the mountain and into heaven, Where all the best life begins.

After being able to go around, The beast whose cravings are limitless, I perceive and understand that if I don’t repent, I might as well be drowned.

That beast that was nearly unstoppable Made me feel terrified of what my last punishment

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 147

To help me and be my guide to to where I am willing to go, But I do not want my first impression to makit seem that I am dumb.

I wait for him to make his first move.

He began:I have come here as a dead man, living in Hell, As a disgusting bug, for my sin has not done me well, G-d will approve.

Edward was he, Who wrote mysterious books about the forest, The idol of my best dreams, I guarantee.

He gives me the best advice, Based on his experience, and not face the beast For his advice has no price.

I must go through Hell, To avoid the beasts And end up at my destination, and live there well.

Moving on, as my idol once said: To escape and make it through the worst, Don’t end up in Hell when I am dead.

148 ~ Fog

Will be something that will lead me back to trouble.

I keep walking pretending not to feel afraid, Of what terrorizes me the most out of all the obstacles I had to face, hoping that this will be my last barricade, For I know that it won’t be easy, since fear Just rises more, and my heartbeat by the second, Running out of breath, never feeling beare.

Before me stood a dreadful lion, So violent, brutal, savage, vicious, and harsh, That I knew that the way it appeared was nothing compared to a dandelion.

It kicked me with all its might, not letting me pass.

He stopped and let me choose the path, of facing him Or going back, yet I fear to face the seething mass.

Going back to the gates of the forest Seemed like the right thing to do, for I realize my mistakes And control my every action until I see my dearest.

The novelist of all my dreams has come

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 149

Dear Wordle Tunie Terzi

Dear Wordle, I loved you at the beginning I challenged myself everyday Winning every game in six moves or less Waiting eagerly for the next puzzle But then The New York Times came in And ruined everything With confusing words like ulcer and cynic I miss frame and could Wordle, I miss what you used to be Before you sold your soul

Trust

Sophia Zeitoune

Alone, unable to trust anyone, fear in my eyes, heart beating rapidly.

People stop trusting each other, and every stranger becomes an enemy.

Relationships are corrupted.

150 ~ Fog

Dream Suzanne Mosseri

Illustrator, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 151

Happy Birthday Jennifer Kreizman

“Happy birthday” is one of the most worn out phrases in the English language, or any language for that matter. Someone, somewhere, is told that phrase every morning. We grow up waiting for our birthdays to be magical, but all this does is set people up for disappointment. Your birthday has nothing to do with you; it’s out of your control. I believe that having a “happy birthday” is made easier when you have someone else there.

Sixteen is supposed to be the year you wait for. Everyone tells you it’s one of the best years. So as one might expect, during the last ten seconds of me being fifteen, my blood was rushing as the timer in my head was ticking down. Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Was I really ready to be sixteen? Six. Five. Where did the year of being fifteen go? Four. Three. Two. One. Boom, sixteen. “Do you feel older?” my dad asked me. I had no idea what the socially acceptable answer to that is.

“No.” The rest of the night was nothing short of disappointing. I sat in my bed staring at my ceiling and wondered why everyone overrates birthdays. So after a few minutes of crying aesthetically with blue mascara dripping down my face, I fell asleep. I didn’t expect much for the rest of my day, since even my brother had forgotten it was the 8th.

The next morning, my favorite person texted me. Though I had to sit on the hot, packed six train, I sat with a smile on my face. We met up at Wall Street Grill and talked for over two hours. They were the best hours of my life. We talked about everything and everyone we knew and made fun of the people we couldn’t stand. Maybe sixteen wasn’t so bad. Maybe birthdays didn’t suck too much. We ended up walking down by the water and just sat there and talked some more until, finally, we went back to her apartment and watched a movie. We stayed up

152 ~ Fog

and watched the sun come back up over the city and skyscrapers, and I felt like it didn’t matter that I turned sixteen. It didn’t matter that it was my birthday. The significance of your birthday has nothing to do with it being your birthday; it has all to do with the people there with you.

Having a “happy birthday“ is easier when you’re with someone else. Having to spend a day you’re meant to be “celebrated” on seems depressing when you have to spend it sitting in your bedroom alone. Sure, people say that happiness lies within, but why try to find it within when you don’t have to. People around you, or even just one person, can make your day go from crying on your bathroom floor, to crying from trying to hold in laughter. Birthdays can be sad, but in the same way they can be amazing. So what’s the characteristic that distinguishes the two? There’s only one answer: someone. So if you want to have a “happy birthday,” make sure you have someone sitting next to you while you blow out your candles.

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 153

Influencer Lauren Massre

Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop

154 ~ Fog

Influenced Lauren Massre

Magazine Collage, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 155

Drowning Salomon Kamagi

Since the beginning of time, words have been defined by their actual definition and their dictionary definition. As time went on, most words' meanings have become more abstract and can mean more than any words on paper could ever describe. For example, the word 'drowning' is defined by the dictionary as “death caused by suffocation when water or other liquid fills the lungs,” but I believe that you don’t have to be choking nor does water have to be filling up your lungs in order for you to be drowning. I believe that you can still drown while standing on dry ground; I believe that stress and emotion can drown you.

You don't have to be submerged in water to be drowning. In fact, you don't have to be touching water at all. In thinking of the word ‘drowning,’ I'd like to compare my workload to water; each new assignment added to my workload is another drop of water in my already overflowing tub of a world. I drown over and over again, and my tub never stops filling. Those who assign the work pour in buckets of water without any regard for my emotions. I was already drowning. The only difference is that now I can't swim up. In fact, I can barely see the surface.

Usually, to save yourself from drowning, you'd rely on a helping hand or a life saver. You'd have to rely on someone or something else to save you, and sometimes, that's the only thing you can do. But in my definition, drowning doesn't necessarily mean that you are stuck hopelessly waiting for someone or something to save you. It doesn't mean that you're weak. It just means that you are unequipped to manage what life has thrown at you. You can always help yourself, and all it takes is a little bit of hard work. All it takes is to “swim,” but the problem with that is that most people, including myself, never learned how to ”swim.” They never figured out how to drag themselves out of hard situations,

156 ~ Fog

so instead of “swimming,” they just drown. Just like physical drowning, my definition functions with the famous saying, “if you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.” Similarly, if someone simply pulls you out of a suffocating situation, you’re doomed to return to it; however, if someone teaches you how to pull yourself out of a suffocating situation, you'll never drown again. So when someone is drowning, we must ask ourselves if that person needs to be saved or do they just need to be taught how to “swim.”

Although the two definitions share the same name, their meanings are very different. The word drowning in the physical sense means to literally suffocate, but what I believe to be the true definition of this word is so much more. I believe that in drowning you don't necessarily have to be physically drowning, you just have to be drowning on the inside. Let’s help others learn to “swim.”

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 157

Foggy Colors Morris Braha

Dear Matt, I stand in this field of blood-red roses, With petals as sharp as a piercing blade.

While my eyes glance upon the shadows dark as night, I know your eyes are forever fogged up.

As tree arms are throwing punches in the wind, I know your ears can hear the leaves rustling better than mine.

The blades of grass swaying from side to side, You can hear it as if it’s a ninja sheathing his sword.

Everyone takes in these colorful sites, But to you it's all just a Rabbit in a Snowstorm.

Your friend, Franklin, Attorney at Law

158 ~ Fog

Tranquility Within Dance Lauren Mizrahi

Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 159

Unbreakable Me Jamie Shamah

Their staring, Watching, Observing.

Every step I take Is under their microscope.

I don’t understand Why they can’t let me be Why do they think I’m different?

Little do they know That deep down we are all the same, Flesh and blood And nothing more.

My outsides do not define me I know that for a fact But still it pains me When they treat me like an outsider.

For I am here, Here to stay, I have never been a foreigner Yet forgein, is all I feel.

If only someone understood What’s it’s like to feel like an alien in your own home For everyone to think That’s there’s something wrong with you, Like your insane 160 ~ Fog

When deep down, only I know, That the beauty of oneself comes from within.

And surprisingly to some, You and I, we’re not that different.

So they can break me down, And tear me apart, But little do they know That I am tough And although my face doesn’t show it, I am a warrior.

Always a fighter, never a quitter.

For I am unbreakable, They're all waiting for me to tear into pieces, For my face to fall off, Or melt into some structure that is even more deformed But they don't know, That although my skin is weak and defenseless, My bones are hard as a rock, I am not going anywhere.

For I am unbreakable.

(Point of View of Auggie Pullman- from the book Wonder)

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 161

People Kill People Vivian Hamui

Resourced Images, Photoshop

162 ~ Fog

Fake Dreams Rosie Abed

Canon Rebel T3, Photoshop

Pegasus 2022 ~ Human Nature 163

‫בית הספר התיכון של ישיבת פלטבוש על שם יואל ברברמן‬ Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School Al and Sonny Gindi Campus 1609 Avenue J, Brooklyn, NY 11230 www.flatbush.org