Friday June 18th 2021
This past Wednesday the Nursery had a special “moving up” ceremony. The
children sang some of their favorite songs that they learned
throughout the year with Morah Karen. Each child received a diploma from
Rabbi Landsman and a special gift bag filled with goodies. A special thank
you to Morah Sharon, Morah Shana, Morah Peshie, Morah Michelle,
Morah Cindy, Morah Rachel, Morah Osnat, and Morah Karen for an amazing
school year.
On May 17, YCQ had our first virtual reunion and it went off exceedingly well. At some point there were 38 participants, and more than half stayed on for close to three hours. The event was co-hosted by alumni’s Michael Berenbaum and Jerry Katzoff. They enjoyed reminiscing about the past and catching up on the present. We hope to continue to catch up and have a face to face reunion soon.
What a fabulous first official YCQ Alumni Association event held on Sunday, November 3 in the Yeshiva of Central Queens gym. Alumni gathered to play in our first Alumni basketball game. There were activities including half time competitions and a bounce house for the younger spectators and current YCQ families came to cheer on the players.
Randi Beeber Luxenberg (73’) and Michael Schussheim (72’), co-chairs of the Alumni Committee ran the event, which they hope to be the first of many. The committee chairs and members have been working tirelessly to build their data base of alumni so they can add more exiting events like reunions and family activities as well as share smachot and other news.
It was an amazing evening Motza’ei Shabbat when the YCQ Alumni Association had its launch at a gala reception. The reception was to welcome and thank the class representatives for their commitment to YCQ. Alumni co-chair, Randi Beeber Luxenberg, told those in attendance that, “you are the building blocks that will bring this important project to fruition.” The event was to renew the interest of alumni in our Yeshiva. Rabbi Landsman gave a tour of the building to alumni from graduation classes 1963 to the present. The administration, committee members and the YCQ Board members attended as well, discussing the growth the yeshiva has taken in the world of academics and technology; most importantly how we are keeping students connected to their heritage and to Eretz Yisroel as we prepare them for their futures.
This year’s Annual PTO Supperette was a huge digital success. The evening paid tribute to Mr. Gary Schwartzman, who has taught many years of YCQ students and Mrs. Lauren Golubtchik on their retirement following many years of teaching our students and helping to shape their lives; as well as Mrs. Liron Friedman who is after a few years as transportation coordinator and all around the best administrative assistant who moving on. The Supperette Committee worked hard to bring us together to show hakarat hatov to colleagues, children’s teachers, and to spend a fun evening with friends remotely this year A special thank you goes to the committee for planning such an enjoyable evening.
Thursday evening, February 6, the PTO organized their annual Challah Bake. Bringing members of the Yeshiva and community together to perform the mitzvah of Hafrashat challah. At the PTO event, a crowd of over 100 women, men, and children gathered together to partake in this meaningful mitzvah. Rebeka Boxer, Mrs., Kosher Guru, gave the participants guidance and chizuk through her inspirational story of faith and miracles and of how this mitzvah has brought her closer to HaShem. She discussed the connection between performing the mitzvah of Hafrashat challah and the miracle of facing difficult obstacles in life by connecting to ones Yiddishkeit and to HaShem.
When the challah dough was complete, in a meaningful moment, the entire room in unison made the Hafrashat challah bracha, bringing a spiritual feeling of achdut and understanding. Thank you to Julie Faska, Rachel Stern, Aliza Peled, Valerie Olsen, Melissa Stock, and those who stayed for hours after to help clean up. A lot of work by the volunteers went into making this event an experience to remember and get others to continue baking challah and davening to HaShem with kavanah.
On Motza’ei Shabbat, the PTO ran a winter carnival. Over two hundred students and parents enjoyed an evening of games, prizes, relay races, treats, and a bounce in the bounce house. Parents had the opportunity to mingle with other parents and students and their siblings got to spend time with friends. Several of the students came to help and run booths, sell food, and even clean up when the evening came to an end. A special thank you to the parent volunteers, their children, and JHS students who began set up on Friday and cleaned up after the event. The success would not have been possible without you. Looking forward to your continued involvement in our Parent Teacher Organization helping us unite parents, students, and our Yeshiva.
This past Tuesday evening, The YCQ PTO once again hosted the Preschool Welcome Bash. Nursery and Kindergarten teachers, students, and their families came out for a delicious dinner and craft project. Students had a chance to meet their new classmates and teachers. Parents were able to meet each other and speak with the teachers as well. A good time was had by all! Thank you to the Bash committee members: Ariella Levine, Rachel Stern, Aliza Peled, Valerie Olsen, Jennifer Jaffe, Rachel Orenbuch, Daniella Rafaeloff, and to Rabbi Landsman, Morah Sharon and all the Nursery and Kindergarten teachers for making the event a success! Thank you also to Rabbi Lonner and Rabbi Kovitz and to the YCQ lunchroom staff for all their hard work.
On Sunday March 19, 2017, 6 alumni from YCQ received Semicha from Yeshiva University-RIETS. Many of our alumni who received Semicha have already begun serving as shul Rabbis, as well as teachers and other professions providing us with a very dynamic group of Musmachim. Among those alumni who received Semicha they are Rabbi Moshe Azziz ’04, Rabbi Jonathan Fructer ’01, Rabbi Yossi Jacobs ’03, Rabbi Ari MIzroeff ’04, Rabbi Mark Weingarten ’05, Rabbi Michael Weingarten ’05 who received Yadin Yadin Semicha.
