BK Designs & Photography Ateres Star Issue 5

Shvat 5775 A MESIVTA ATERES YAAKOV STUDENT PUBLICATION February 2015 Volume 24 Issue 5 INSIDE Letter from The Editors Page 2 Editorial Page 3 MAY CHINESE AUCTION A SUCCESS Why We Learn Gemara Page 5 Yeshiva Football Standings Page 5 Year in Review Page 6 Staff Interview Page 6 Student Polls Page 9 Fun Zone Page 10 On Motzai Shabbos, February 7th, Mesivta Ateres Yaakov hosted its annual Chinese Auction. The event featured an evening of delicious food from Ossie’s Fish, delightful entertainment and superb prizes! The prize packages ranged from $20 a ticket to $50 and included prizes for men, women and children. During the event, Sam Jacobs, the renowned mentalist, strolled through the crowd wowing attendees with his close-up tricks and illusions. Moshe Warsawsky provided enjoyable music while the patrons enjoyed a sumptuous buffet. The theme of the auction was The Warmth of MAY on a Winter Day and the event was indeed heartwarming. The parent body of the school was present and all enjoyed a night of Mesivta Ateres Yaakov 131 Washington Ave Lawrence, NY 11559 fun in the warm indoors away from the winter’s chill. The most popular prizes included the Split the Pot Jackpot, a flight to Eretz Yisroel and shopping sprees at many of the vendors on Central Avenue. The event was coordinate by Mrs. Rachel Shapiro, an administrator at MAY and Rabbi Moshe Brandsdorfer, the Director of Development. Rabbi Brandsdorfer explained that, “The event was a way to create an enjoyable evening for our parent body while promoting our school. Everyone had a great time and this may have been our best auction ever.” MAY LAUNCHES NEW COLLEGE PROGRAM Ateres Yaakov and its Yeshiva Gedolah recently partnered with YIEP (Yeshiva Initiatives Educational Programs) and its founder, Rabbi Pesach Lerner, to provide accredited online college degrees for their Yeshiva Gedolah students through YIEP’s partnership with Bellevue University. Bellevue is a fully accredited secular University with its main campus in Bellevue, Nebraska, a suburb of Omaha. In addition to its almost 10,000 students on campus, the University has a nationally acclaimed online program. However, it is their partnership with YIEP, now in its 11th year, that has received acclaim in the Orthodox community as it provides a professional, affordable way for frum students to pursue Bachelors or Masters programs within a kosher environment and a busy schedule. It also grants students transfer credit towards their degrees for their Yeshiva, seminary or other Jewish learning experiences. An accredited yeshiva degree can be used to enter the graduate programs. Bachurim in MAY’s thriving Yeshiva Gedolah program now have the option to complete an 18-month Bachelors degree with a major in business or behavioral science human counseling within an entirely frum cohort of students, with the schedule taking Shabbos and Yom Tov into full consideration. Those who want to choose a different major can pick any other course offerings that Bellevue provides. Continued on Page 10 The Ateres Yaakov Star A Student Publication [email protected]