Yeshiva University High School For Boys - Elchanite Yearbook (New York, NY)

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3 V '- , X : X The theme of this book is the class of 54's four year stay at Talmudical Academy. The WALLS of the school are employed as the means of expressing the theme. The literary material is compiled in the form of a novel. Within the framework of the previous paragraph lies the entire story of the 1954 Elchanite. The editors, working together with the literary staff, at the begin- ning of this year, decided to publish an Elchanite which would be new and strik- ingly different from Elchanites of prior years. Uhese were all essentially the same in their format and presentation of literary material.J We selected the basic sub- ject of any Senior class book, the experiences of the Senior class in their four years in school, and developed it as our own maior theme. Then, influenced by the reading of Thornton Wilder's play, Our Town , we sought a method whereby we could convey the theme throughout the entire book. This vehicle's purpose was to establish continuity while acting as a narrator of the book. We found it befitting and symbolic to employ the WALLS of our own school building, where all our experiences, both sad and ioyous, had taken place. Once we had established a theme and a means of presenting it, we took stock of our talents and decided to place the main emphasis on our literary ability, since it was our forte. Thus was born the idea of writing our book as close to novel form as possible, incorporating the pictures and art work as an integral part of the written material and not as separate entities. Within the chapters of the book the various occurrences that the class has experienced and the maior activities which they have participated in are related. When combined, they present a rich and meaningful portrayal of our four years in Talmudical Academy. One phase of our life draws to a close. The Elchanite, we believe, describes it. Ahead, lies the future. Joel H. Kaplan, Norman Palefski Co-Editors-In-Chief

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bt 'VX l 417 'X N NN I I f wav' Ulu vxxyx. l X x v r X x X. . XX Tx I Q. J ,, I, I . LE Lirityfwf -I-gn b- K . 3.0 L 1 , mil -Zgxexrs ,W - - for kia X., -, an ff if 7 V V34 XX X Zi-islet T g c ,I A V I '-'lexixqf N i I' X I TT 7' l . X rj X X. f X . of N rf' TLD- 4 I 'll D x X 'Ill' + '7 ,X ' i 1 2 D 1- 2. .J f W - I .g Wmqrn , 'fn :Q T 11 l T Cgiirst egnipressznons CHAPTER ONE: HE HALLS are dark. A bare electric bulb glares eerily over the stairway. The silence is broken only by a passing bus. The brakes groan and then stillness. I heave an in- audible sigh. The indecencies and discomfort a WALL in a school must suffer have ceased. I have received a respite for two months. Tonight. I witnessed the graduation of the class of 754. Next September, a new group of youngsters. bearing the same appearance as these graduates bore on a cool, crisp autumn ITlOI'D four hectic. happy years ago. will once more torment me. I was aroused that September morning in 1950 by a heart stirring eulogy lamenting the passing summer, accompanied by the wails of students who Finally realized that school had be- gun. Staring up at me with awe was a small group of students bedecked in blue serge Bar Mitzvah suits and brandishing enormous brief cases. They climbed the steps ceremoniously and walked cautiously through the halls as if tread- ing on holy ground. The look of bewilderment on their faces rendered them innocent prey to the 12 fiendish plots of insidious upper classmen. If only I could ll'tU'Il that chubby youngster not to buy that elerzltor 1ms.s'. Too late: well, lzclll know better next time. Some proceeded up the stairs towards their newly assigned classrooms. while others searched vainly for the much publicized swimming pool. The bell rang and the young explorers rushed to their respective classes. The new students separated into groups, cling- ing to old acquaintances. There was an expect- ant buzz in the air, which was halted by the entrance of the Rabbi. Under his arm. he carried varied literature which included last Sundays Times' Magazine Section, the Brooklyn Museum Report on Ancient Ethiopian Manuscripts. and the current edition of The Ladies Home Iournal. Everyone filed to his seat. The teacher began to speak in a strange language which vaguely resembled the language of each pupil's former rabbi. The rest of the morning flew by. each hour quicker than the last. Finally. at one olclock. the bell rang liberating the newcomers. They marched out of the class lunch bags in hand.