The dinner presented the YUHS community with the chance to pay tribute to a number of outstanding educators and communal leaders.

 

Rabbi Alfred Cohen, who began his teaching career at BTA and then transitioned to MTA when the schools merged in 1980, received semichah from Rabbi Yisrael Gustman and from Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner zt'l of Mesivta Rabbi Chaim Berlin and served for many years as the mora d'asra  of the Young Israel of Canarsie. For the past 21 years, he has been the Rabbi of Congregation Ohaiv Yisroel of Blueberry Hill in Monsey, New York. He is also the founder and was the first editor of the Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society and has published numerous articles in that journal as well as in Tradition and Jewish Life. Over the course of his career, he received many citations and awards for excellence in teaching, including the Rabbi and Mrs. Joseph Baumol Award for Excellence in Jewish Education at Yeshiva University and the Avi Chai Foundation Award for Outstanding Jewish Education.

 

 

To the chagrin of his hundreds of students, Rabbi Cohen retired from teaching at the end of the school year. To view the video tribute that was played, please click here.

 

Rabbi Steven ('89) and Rachel Burg, of Bergenfield, New Jersey, are the proud parents of recent graduate Aryeh ('15) and current student Elie ('17). Their children represent the third generation of the Burg family to attend MTA. Rachel is a General Studies teacher at the Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey and is involved in many Bergen County communal activities. Rabbi Burg, as mentioned in the article above, was just appointed as the new Director General of Aish HaTorah and additonaly serves on many nonprofit boards, including the United Federation of Teachers and YU High Schools.

 

Aleeza and Avi ('85) Lauer have been active lay leaders in their hometown of Woodmere, New York for many years, where they assumed leadership roles at the Young Israel of Woodmere and the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway (HAFTR). Avi currently serves as the Vice President for Legal Affairs/Secretary and General Counsel of Yeshiva University and Aleeza is an educator at HAFTR.

 

Mrs. Ruth Fried, Central's chairperson of the Science Department and director of the school's Science Institute, was also honored.

 

Special tribute was also paid to the YUHSB Class of 1990, celebrating their 25th Reunion. See below for reunion pictures.

 

For more pictures of the Dinner, please click here.

On Wednesday morning, June 10th, members of the MTA family gathered in the Joseph Alexander Library to dedicate the student lounge and reading room on the balcony to the memory of Ariel Newman ('14) a'h, who tragically passed away in Eretz Yisrael shortly after his graduation. On Sunday morning, June 28th, another dedication took place which included many of Ariel's classmates who had just gotten back from their year in Israel.

 

At both dedications, YUHSB Rosh Yeshiva/Head-of-School Rabbi Michael Taubes ('76) began with a moving introduction, linking the quiet leadership of Yehoshua, as depicted in that week's Parshah, to Ariel's personality and impact on his family and friends. Next, Ariel's mother, Ellen Newman, noted that Ariel's time in the library and at MTA gave him great happiness and sanctuary; the purpose of the room was to preserve both "his memory and his spirit" through a space where students can read, relax, and quietly socialize. She also thanked the many people who helped spearhead the project. Ariel's father, Mark Newman, added insights into Hashkafah and comic book lore, a passion of both his and Ariel's, by noting that perhaps the most important phrase ever to come from the world of comics was from Stan Lee of Marvel Universe fame: "With great power comes great responsibility." Lee's Jewish heritage, he explained, helped him understand that power means responsibility. "As members of Ariel's community, we each have the opportunity and the mandate to express and amplify his upbringing, education, and values through our own choices."  Ariel's classmate and close friend Daniel Sternbach ('14) added a moving coda by speaking of Ariel's voracious reading and the depth of his friendship. On the 28th, Ari Brown ('14) also described Ariel's quiet, loyal personality.

 

The balcony ceiling is now a vibrant blue, and includes a design by Ariel's cousin and graphic artist depicting  a reference to the "Lantern Corps," a tip of the hat to Ariel's beloved comic book hero, the Green Lantern. A new bookcase was set up which includes comics, fantasy novels, and important works of Torah Hashkafah, the core of the Ariel Newman Memorial Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Hashkafah Collection. The design also includes a constellation of the Lion, honoring both Ariel (whos name means "Lion of Hashem") and MTA.

 

To view a video of the program that took place on the 10th, please click here. To donate to the Ariel Newman fund, please click here.

On Sunday, June 21st, friends, family and a multitude of former basketball players filled MTA's notorious gym, The Lions' Den, to pay tribute to Daniel Gibber ('91); at the conclusion of this past season, Daniel stepped down from his post as Head Coach of the Varsity Basketball Lions after 16 seasons. Over the duration of his coaching career, Daniel coached 137 student-athletes and served not just as a teacher of basketball, but as a role-model as well.

 

At the gala brunch event, which was chaired by former players Rafi Halpert ('00), Yossi Faber ('05), Yosef Weinberger ('07), and Yisrael Feld ('11) - the gathered audience had the opportunity to hear from Faber, Rabbi Taubes, Shamshy Schlager ('05), former Head Coach of the YU Maccabees Dr. Jonathan Halpert ('62) - who also coached the Lions early in his career, current Assistant Coach Mark Wiesel, and former Assistant Coach Yitz Rabovsky. Executive Director Shuey Jacoby presented Daniel with a framed jersey bearing the number 16 for his 16 years of service and unveiled the new basketball floor that bears Daniel's signature. For Daniel's remarks that morning, click here. Additionally, a special video presentation was shown; the video can be viewed by clicking here.

 

  

To continue to honor Daniel's legacy, the Daniel Gibber Athletic Fund has been established. Please click here to contribute to the fund.

 

For more pictures of the event, visit our Flickr.

The Class of 1990 Reunion took place at the annual YUHS Dinner on May 12th. On the Sunday prior, some members of the 1990 Championship Lions relived their glory days in a game against the Lions of today!

More reunion pictures are posted on our Flickr page.

On June 28th, members of the MTA Class of 1965 came back to the Joseph Alexander Library - and some even participated via Skype from Israel - to reconnect with former classmates. For more pictures of the event, visit our Flickr.

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