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

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l X i t .., 2 M l ' l 4 lll l lfl l 14622 I HP, 'i l L Xi fh N. I LQ .ff Ay' f -, 1- . Z OU -fff'1 fx 6: ll lIil.l U wifi Te- t D iw - .' it 1-'m f 'T g 0 0 . I . 0 0 -':- ' .4 ll ff , 'ill' QAVQH , f 'I' 9 .'f'4 A ' ill I. . if A fr I I f iiiillll ill fl. 1 gl gif, liil- 4 . -9i't' ..1 ll 0 ,- - - ,f '33 All '-if-' -' 7 1 . ief' -T'-4 - ' CSDOIDAOIHOFQ QCII' CHAPTER THREE: HE sin' was a majestic blue, stained only by small Hufts of white. The warmth and light of a brilliant autumn sun dispersed the cold and shadows of the dawn. A car sped down Amsterdam Avenue and the noise ot its wheels on the street suddenly broke the quiet. It passed and the street was silent once more. After a long period of absolute silence, the sounds of windows opening and doors slamming, the sounds of people waking and preparing to go to work, and the sounds of the alarm clocks waking the dormitory boys. who had arrived the night before in anticipation of the beginning of the new term. were heard. These sounds were pleas- ing eyen to a NVALL and I felt a surge ot joy. As they dressed. many of them knew that their classmates would also realize the change that had come about in the last year. No longer were they to be looked down upon. They were no longer the object of plots and pranks of upper classmen. Revenge was now theirs and they would vent their wrath on the little naive young- sters who seemed so foolish. Deyilish schemes ran through their minds. They were now Sopho- mores. I noticed that the name Sophomore brought about a great change in the attitude of the class of '5-1. They ascended the staircases with an air of nonchalance and entered their classrooms with an expression of detachment. Through this seem- 20 ing disinterest. they were able to ensnare the unsuspecting Freshmen. Elevator passes were easily sold and the collections for the widow of the Unknown Soldier prospered. The new school term opened and the Sopho- mores found. contrary to their beliefs. that it differed only slightly from the old. The Yeshiva boys ascended two flights of stairs while the more envious members of T.I. climbed to the fourth floor. It was very easy to distinguish be- tween them for those who attended the Yeshiva were constantly muttering in sweet. musical tones. XYe learned yesterday. yesterday we learned, what did we learn yesterday. yesterday we learned, etc. Amid violent gesticulations used to clarify Talmudic statements. the Rabbi entered to give the Slziur. He was greeted by yiolent explosions and shouts of Pick me a winner. Rebf, The fourth Hoor was not the perfect example of tranquillity. The venerable students of the Teachers Institute waited for the opportune mo- ment to scream in a shrill. high pitched voice. The Cooootchf' To add to the noise, there was the excitement centered around Room 405. On the door, there was a notice proclaiming Room -105 as the oflicial Headquarters of the Cootch for President Partyf, The room was decorated with signs calling for the members of T.I. to Vote for Cootch for Presidentf, and slogans

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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

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such as M1 Co Cootchf' To aid theQr candidate. the Sophornores sought to impress upon the lower termers and the teachers that they were kindhearted. They sheltered the pigeons. who frequented the window ledge of ltoom 405, by bringing them into the classroom. This streak of kindness was particularly annoying to Dr. Hoe- nig, who constantly remarked, L'hl lt was on the fourth floor that the Sophomores first encountered Charlie His famous toot left a great impression upon them. The Sophomores found that the second part of their day had changed. Their instructors and courses in secular study were altered. They were now taking a language. The Sophomores found that whether one takes French or Spanish one must flllljtt Dr. Charles. Doc , held different opinions of the two classes. He believed that while the French class was made up of good boysfi the Spanish class consisted extensively of bums and loafersf' In giving homework, Doc proved his abil- ity to recite the alpha- bet. Dr. Charles, star pupil was Bernard Ko- sowsky and Bernieis star pupil was Does daughter. Another course taken by the Sophomores was Regents Review. This was taught by Nlr. Lich- tenberg. Many of the students left the class with circles. polygons. and various triangles Dr. Charles Mr, Frankel Mr. Lichfenberg dancing before their eyes. During this year. the Sophomores grew greatly attached to Sir. Lichtenberg. This affec- tion stemmed from his constant desire to aid the student. The Biology class was the very peak of the day. Each student anxiously awaited this period. where. led by the amiable Sir. Frank- el. the Sophomores would delve into the mysteries of nature. All ol the members of the class had full confi- dence in Rlr. Frankel but none had more faith in him than did Harvey Rosen. who would help Mr. Frankel illustrate his point by standing on his head or by obtain- ing samples for thc test for diabetes. Many students feared the Bio Regents. The wiser members ol the class reassured them. how- ever, that the skeleton in the back room was not that of Oscar. a former llunkee, and that Mr. Frankel would not carry out his threats of physi- cal violence. Their cultural education continued with some minor changes. Klusic was still taught by Xlr. Grossman. The Sophomores. who believed that he does not read the test papers but weighs them. were greatly shocked when they were asked to explain the connection between the Twenty-Tliird Psalm and St. Nlatthew's Passion. Xlr. Spivack tried very hard to teach art. but 21