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

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ation for literature in the class of Mr. Greenberg. Very few found his course boring and all were inspired by him. Math class was a rough obstacle to hurdle at first, but after several weeks with Mr. Lichten- berg, it seemed impossible. Diflicult as Elemen- tary Algebra may have seemed, Mr. Lichtenberg lost them completely when he threw in some Trig or Advanced. The Honor System on tests was a great success as was shown by the great number of I0O's received. The following term Mr. Greitzer proved to skeptical Freshmen that he was never wrong, while Charlie Patt proved that he was not always right. In the spring term a new course was instituted and while one half of the class was being lulled to sleep by Mr. Breinan the other half of the class was being taught the mysteries of darkest Africa, life on a peaceful hacienda, and how to differentiate between a plum and a pnme. The course was livened up when one afternoon some- one had accidently placed chewing gum on Doc's seat. Doc felt a strong attraction to his seat and somehow couldn't pull his pants from it. In his wrath, Doc took up a collection to clean the suit. The remainder of the money was used to pur- chase a new scale for the weighing of notebooks. which were collections of magazine advertise- ments describing the healthy climate of the Belgian Congo and labels from cans of pineapple juice. However foolish garbage trucks, sewage dis- posal. and technicolor science notebooks seemed to the Freshmen, they could see less value in minors. Mr. Grossman Music was taught by the humorous mild man- nered Mr. Grossman. The records at the begin- I8 ning of the period calmed the Freshmen, who dared not move. Some less aesthetic claimed it was the landslide of zeroes which would follow any breach of conduct. The class had an added value, for the Freshmen could do their home- work between blinks. It was here that Milty Pollack learned that Tschaikowsky did not write spirituals, and it was here that every Freshman learned to distinguish between a French hom and an English teacher. The exams in this class consisted of two simple questions, but the answers met the specification given at the beginning of the test, 'iWrite all you know and what you don't know write also. This appealed to the talmudistis mind. Mr. Soruchek The second minor was physical training. Xlr. Sarachek took a look at the class and immediately rushed to the office to inquire if the group could stand the rigors of gym. The Freshmen's only comfort was their draft status. - More inquisitive Freshmen desired to know why they should swing from parallel bars like so many monkeys, when for many centuries evo- lution had changed man from his p1'imitive form. The position of secretary was vied for in an at- tempt to be exempt from the rigorous exercise. After a term of gym. sixty Freshmen learned their right from their left. In art class, the Freshmen met Mr. Borin, whose partiality to circles drawn in purple has imprinted his name on the memory of T.A. stu- dents. Here, the boys learned block lettering. The students with long names suHered the most, for attempts to fit their names on the paper led to frustration. Aside from their experiences with the teachers,

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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

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the students had many brushes with the adminis- tration. Eraser Incident The first experience will long be remembered. One afternoon before class, a game of football Was being enjoyed by eight members of the He- brew class. The object of the game was to catch a board eraser being thrown around the room. During the ensuing melee, Mr. Sklar, who did not see the humor of being hit in the face with an eraser, entered and sent the group down to Mr. Abrams. The youngsters were stricken with fear. They approached the polished brass door reluctantly. Stories of those who entered and never returned ran through their minds. They waited in the Office until summoned. Then they were motioned towards the inner chamber. They moved slowly as if doomed. They heard the verdict with stony faces. Suspended indefinitely. They left the of- fice with. lumps in their throats. VVhat would their fathers or mothers or one of their parents say? Some repressed tears, while others covered their anxiety with jokes which failed to evoke laughter from their grim companions. The terror passed and the youngsters were reinstated. Earlier that year, one conscientious student succeeded in forming a football team. With Sheldon Weinstein in the backfield, Harvey Rosen and Al Chaikin ends, and Mel Simon and Marty Birbaum on the line, Yeshiva faced the formidable Cardinal Hayes third team. T.A. was edged out 49-7. In the spring term, the Freshman class was im- proved by the entrance of Norman Palefskj, and Elly Cross, from Long Beach. The addition of Palefski to the intramural basketball team en- abled the Freshmen to win a bet that they would break into double figures against the Sopho- mores. The team was not very successful as it failed to win a game but it did send Storch, Chaikin, and Palefski to the varsity in spring tryouts. May brought Senior Day and the Freshmen prepared themselves in anticipation of Senior tyranny. Ratner anned the class with rubber bands and the Freshmen entered the study hall prepared for battle. VVithin a few moments, the war broke out. Spit balls soon proved little match for water guns. Ratner, however, was repaid literally as the Seniors stamped his forehead Paid The hectic year rolled to a close. The hot, humid summer of New York gave a heavy silent atmosphere to the classrooms. Freshmen and Seniors alike sat dreamily staring out of the win- dows. It was on these days that the student painted a happy picture of the pleasures of sum- mer upon a limitless blue sky. The teacher's voice droned on above the sounds of everyday life coming from the street. Reviews began and many Freshmen began to quiver. The T.I. finals were painfully concluded. Exemptions saved many Freshmen from the rigors of finals. In that year, the novice had become experienced, The boy was growing up. T.A., with its students, teachers, classrooms, problems, pranks. and ad- mits, had become part of his life. He now looked forward to the summer, but his thoughts went beyond the summer to his Sophomore year. He would no longer be the butt of jokes and pranks. He was proud that he had come through this year a wiser and more mature young man. -1 19