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

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N 4 list lam l ill ff f ,rn 1 L! ff W l j li? -V ip. vp , l 1 A in X f .? 'I I-,N - fl I J K g fp :D 5 hi p K .f p 7 'W X 1 if 15,1 A I, Q ,,4' l cf' 1 li. 'f Mp!! 111,61 X in X 5 I ' g Q. gi- y -4-E 'ei?i2fiiiiYi it-gblmg l ' X FFFTTTTAT Q13 rm, lfci' .g gg +S:T'T:: f f M- f'llllllH . 1 I'QS IIIICIII QCII' CHAPTER TNVO: s'r1iANGE figure, the Freshman, recog- nized by his battered baseball hat, sag- ging earlaps, and an overwhelming curiosity, began his daily routine in T.A. Through his curiosity. he learned to avoid embarrassing in- cidents brought by taking advice from his upper classmen. Room 214 was not a swimming pool but a bathroom, and Room 213 was not the bath- room but the teachers, room. It was not safe to use the door marked 108 as a shortcut to the street, and the oflice of the registrar was not the little room near the telephone booths. As the days passed, the Freshmen adapted themselves to the school as the school adopted the Freshmen. Amazement and awe slowly turned to sarcasm and cynicism. Adventures and experiences became daily routines to them but a constant source of amusement to this old WALL. Each day, 1 would watch them enter the building. For many, the day began in the locker room. Still half asleep, they would grope their way down the dimly lit stairway and walk slow- ly down the dark hallway which led to the locker room. As they entered. they were greeted with loud shouting and the voice of Milty Pol- 16 lack rendering the latest hit song. The dilference between song and scream was barely noticeable. Before they reached their lockers they had suc- ceeded in enraging a Senior, getting a hot tip on the dayis test, and had overcome temptation by refusing to cut in order to go to the Paramount. After gathering their books, they headed for class. Meanwhile, in the dormitory, the rest of the Freshmen were being aroused unceremoniously by over-zealous counsellors. After several re- lapses, they dragged themselves from bed and hurried down to Blinyan. Some beds were still occupied by the more prudent who had Hgured exactly when they could absent themselves in order to keep their attendance above 512. After Minyan, Moish and Harryis or Sternis was the scene of wild confusion. Miniature Fresh- men were trampled underfoot in the rush to the counter. A glance at the clock sent everyone rushing out the door and, with empty stomachs and heavy hearts the Freshmen went to their morning classes. As the bell rang at nine, the two groups con- verged on the stairs. The Freshmen noticed the casual manner with which the upper classmen

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time, the Freshrnenis first day came to an end. They rubbed their eyes as they moved slowly from the classrooms. Some walked gaily to the streets and pushed their way into crowded buses and subways. Others climbed the five flights of stairs to the dormitory looking forlornly at the useless elevator passes in their pockets. After recovering their breath, they proceeded to their designated rooms. They entered the room and observed the spot they were to call home for the next ten months. There were two double- decker beds with the lower berths already con- taining a prostrate roommate, a sink in the cor- ner, and two closets. There was a bureau made of the finest cardboard and a large desk in front of the window. After hurriedly unpacking, he made the acquaintance of his roommates, who may have been college freshmen or fellow class- mates. The first night started off rather slowly, for the Freshmen had lumps in their throats and misty, far away looks in their eyes as they thought of home. A picture of Mama and Papa, sitting around the table eating silently and frequently looking at the empty chair came into their minds. Mama and Papa were thinking of the baby, the bris, the first case of measles, kindergarten and the protesting child, his first test paper. the night he spent in the hospital after his tonsils were out, Bar Mitzvah, and graduation. Now, he was no longer a baby. He was living far from home and he must take care of himself. He felt desert- ed. He needed his motheris soft shoulder upon which to release his emotions. This was a world which was completely new to him. The dayis events seemed chaotic and his father's firm hand seemed necessary to steady him. The Freshman was awakened from his nostal- gia by loud shouting. He opened the door and was doused by a glass of water. Within a few minutes, the whole fifth floor was up in anns, and a water fight had started. After being soaked thoroughly, they ran back to their rooms at the warning that Mr. Baer was coming. The injured received aspirins and everyone received a stem warning. Suddenly, without warning, the lights went out. The more imaginative dove under beds for this could have been a Russian attack. They held their breaths. The silence was broken by a key turning in the lock. The counsellor entered and immediately dispelled fears by explaining that the lights go out at eleven. This, however, incited the wrath of the more amature Freshmen. Protests were shouted accompanied by colorful language describing the students' feelings on the lights outv policy. Immediately, the agitators proceeded to stir up the student body Cwhich could then be found in a horizontal positionj. Upper classmen quelled the riot by explaining that to battle was useless. The Freshmen were not through. Instantly, schemes for revenge were started. Candles were soon decided upon as a means of supplying light. NVater guns were to be bought. The do1'mitory administration would rue the day they aroused the ire of these Fresh- men! Soon they became tired. Their heads nodded and their eyes blinked. They stifled yawns. They got into bed and after two hours of throwing the bull they finally decided to get some sleep. In the dormitory, in the apa1't1nent house on lliverside Drive. on Houston Street, in Bayonne and Hoboken, tired Freshmen closed their eyes. - - 15

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approached class and were lulled into a false sense of security. Upon reaching the second floor, the future rabbis rushed into class. The Fresh- man year in the Yeshiva was an important one. The Freshmen got their first taste of real learning in the class of the patient Rabbi Tendler where Gemorrah was taught with biological overtones. Others were taught morals along with their Tal- mud in Rabbi Katz's class. On the third Hoor, trouble started. Led by the Salanter boys, fresh from Mosy's class, the Fresh- men came prepared to have a great time. Their animal spirits were raised at the sight of Miss Parnes, Thus inspired, they reached class. Into that classroom, only the bravest teacher would dare enter. Amid shouts of the Old Ben Mare, He Ainyt VVhat He Used To Bef, and well aimed missiles, stood the staunch defender of the teacheris creed, notebook in one hand and pen- cil in the other. Unnerved by the overturned waste basket and distorted position of his desk, he proceeded to chastise the unheeding class. When Sheldon NVeinstein confided to Benny that Al Chaikin had thrown his own jacket out of the window, he dragged the protesting Chicky', to the office. Lenny Shapiro, who had obligingly opened the door, was pulled along. On returning, he tried once more to teach the unin- terested students. The bell rang and, as he dodged a flying eraser, he walked from the class, a defeated man. A new teacher arrived from China, Rabbi Karp. He taught the class Talmud and the class taught him English. That spring, the Freshmen's thoughts lightly turned to the sport of mug spitting which was innovated by Rabbi Murphy, who didnit need the money, thank G-dl In the afternoon, the Freshmen encountered, an interesting type, the high school teacher. He came in assorted sizes and shapes with varied demeanors and eccentricities. He was boring to many and an inspiration to few. He attempt- ed to teach the Freshmen many subjects ranging from Zoology to Algebra. In General Science the Freshmen met Mr. Schain. Here they received their first taste of science. The class blushingly learned of the sex life of a chrysanthemum. When the question probed too deeply, the uneasy teacher would craftly evade the issue by peering down at his book and would discuss the significance of weather maps. It was in the study of electricity, however, that Mr. Scbain shocked the class. The newest fad among the Freshmen was tech- nicolor science notebooks which dazzled Mr. Schain and brought much discontent when the bright display failed to achieve proper recog- nition from the teacher. Mr. Schein Mr. Gendell The first term was spent in an attempt to finish Civics homework. Sir. Cendell marked the class by using the laugh meter. The greater the appreciation of his jokes, the greater the marks. Lengthy reports on iirehouses, sewage disposal plants. libraries, parks, and garbage trucks, helped add to the confusion of how N.Y.C. was governed. Sim Storch, a neighbor of Mr. Cendell, passed the course by threatening to expose Mr. Ccndells dark secrets. English was a bright experience for the Fresh- men as they achieved a new and greater appreci- 17