I was invited to speak at a teacher luncheon for the yeshiva I went to when I was a kid - before I went off to public school. It was a great honor that Rabbi Deutscher asked me to speak to the small group of teachers. When he made his request, he told me that he wanted me to point out something specific I gained during my time in the yeshiva. Here is the speech I gave:
“Thank you Rabbi Deutscher for the opportunity to speak here today at this luncheon. It’s not everyday I get to participate directly in a yeshiva function.
For those of you who don’t know me, I am actually a former student of this yeshiva. My family and used to live here in Queens where my siblings and I were sent to the yeshiva by my parents. I think I started in kindergarten and continued until 5th grade upon which my family moved to Atlanta and all of us were enrolled in public school.
Now, the transition to public school was a little hard - going from the great education that comes from the yeshiva to a cookie-cutter mass production education that comes with a public school. And whatever we did in terms of being Jewish flew out the window. Not that my family and I were ever religious. We were the type of family who would prepare the Friday night Shabbos meal and then go turn on the TV to watch HBO’s Friday night special.
Years past and one summer, Rabbi Deutscher called my parents and asked if he could send me to camp for the summer. I was around 16 – which is the ‘coming of age’ for boys in the South. That’s when I could get my license and get a job. Maybe continue another year of football and even join the wresting team! But my parents were against it and more than happy to get me out of the house. They didn’t know what was in store for them…hee hee.
I eventually became religious after the summer and went to yeshiva where I ‘caught up’ with everything that was missed.
And I used to wonder to myself - what was it that allowed me to feel comfortable in a Jewish setting? Coming back from a public school environment to yeshiva should have been frustrating and unwelcome. If anything, I should have been vehemently opposed to changing my lifestyle and totally rejected the idea of becoming frum!
But I think that there was something in my education that led me to believe that being Jewish is where I was supposed to be.
My teachers in this yeshiva would tell stories of Moshe Rabenu and Rabbi Akiva and of other Jews all the time. They inspired us and turned on the flames of what it means to be a Jew. Being a Jew - religious or not - was like being a superhero. And we all want to be superheroes.
I would like to say that the greatest thing that I got from the yeshiva was a tremendous respect for torah. All the inspirational stories and motivations made us revere Torah.
And when it came time for me to come back, I didn’t reject it or the system because since the respect for the system was there, I was more open-minded to the ideas that were brought to me.
I don’t know how the yeshiva is today with this regard but I hope that all of you motivate and inspire your students with Jewish values and stories and may they grow up to revere Torah – just like it was for me.
Thank you.”
I’m so proud of you!
Comment by Esther — February 19, 2007 @ 7:24 am
So exactly how is being Jewish like being a superhero, SuperJew? Is it in the sense that you (and other frum Jews) feel totally superior to other people in this world? Or is in the fact that you (and other frum Jews) feel it is your resposibility to save everyone else form themselves?
And I know for a fact that when you and your family moved to Atlanta that not all of you were enrolled in public school. Your older brother, Erik, attended Yeshiva in Atlanta. Ask him how superior THAT education was to any public school education.
Comment by The Riddler — February 20, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
wats your last name? i went to yeshiva institute (now known as yeshiva primary)
Comment by yaffa — February 20, 2007 @ 2:37 pm
Riddler, no one said that being Jewish IS to be a superhero. it’s just that the stories inspired us to be great - just like we hear stories of superheros when we were kids. when i gave that speech, it was to the group of teachers which had several non-Jews as well as varying degrees of religious jews. so my point was not to say that Jews are any better - just that the stories inspired us.
yaffa, i remember you. we were in the same class when the yeshiva was still in Rego Park. do you remember guys like velvel, asaf, and chana? i can’t tell you my last name here, but its not hard to find it out. if u want, email me adiel@adiel.com
Comment by Adiel — February 25, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
Hello,
I happened to somehow stumble into your website today and notice a particular blog regarding a school you went to in NY and that a certain Rabbi asked you to come speak at the school.
May I ask a question. When you say Rabbi Deutcher, is this Rabbi Zalman Deutcher? If so was the school you are referring to also known as Yeshiva Academy (in Ozone Park)?
I ask because I attended Yeshiva Academy when I was younger (from when they rented space in another school, till they got into their building in Lefferts Blvd) and was wondering if this is the same school.
It was the best time of my life and I loved Rabii Deutcher so much. My mother used to call him an angel on earth.
Please reply if possible.
Thank you,
Yaniv.
Comment by Yaniv — March 22, 2007 @ 8:44 am
Please tell me how I can find and contact Rabbi Deutcher. My older brother and I attend Yeshiva Institute 16 years ago. We NEED to see Rabbi Deutcher. I f you can provide some contact information it would be very helpful and we would be very grateful.
Thank you.
Comment by Joseph — April 8, 2007 @ 2:25 pm
Rabbi Deutcher is now located on Union Turnpike in queens
the school used to be on northern blvd.
Comment by Aliza — April 25, 2007 @ 7:35 am
i went to yeshiva institue when it was located on northern blvd. now is on union turnpike in queens
Comment by Aliza — April 25, 2007 @ 7:38 am
Josepf, is your broters name Hanan?
Comment by Yaniv — June 13, 2007 @ 9:17 am
if you want to know where yeshiva institute or now known as yeshiva primary is
its in hollis hills 210th street and union turnpike
on the school it will say the deutch school
Comment by yaffa — October 4, 2007 @ 2:40 pm
yeshiva institute is now located in hollis hills 210th street and union turnpike in queens
Comment by yaffa — October 4, 2007 @ 2:49 pm
Adiel - I can’t speak for anyone else, but I think aside from all that you mentioned, what drew me to Yiddishkeit was Rabbi Deutscher’s unending love and warmth. I was so insulted & taken aback years later, when I was in high school, when I found out that there was someone else who also had a close relationship with Rabbi Deutscher. It was then that I realized that he made everyone feel as if he loved them the most, and that’s his specialty. (Of course, in reality, he really loved me the most!).
Yaniv - We were in yeshiva together, you & your sister, and me & my sister. I was a few grades older than you. Ask Adiel for my email address, I’d love to keep in touch.
Comment by Yaakov — December 11, 2007 @ 10:52 am
Yeshiva institue is having a reunion please email ur name address and phone number and the year u graduated to sara (secretary) yeshivainstitute@aol.com
Comment by Aliza — December 22, 2007 @ 3:52 pm
I too went to yeshiva institute about 24 years ago and have memories of the place. I am going to try and visit soon.
Comment by Mark — February 26, 2008 @ 1:16 pm
Hi my name is marina dzhuraye, i went to yeshiva institute w/ Rabbi Duetcher. After completing eightth grade, went to high school. The change was difficult, but great eye opening experience. Made me realize the very important values that i have learned, and was unaware of. To this day, bless yeshiva institute, rabbi deutcher, and my parents, for giving my insights to most important aspect of life, to be a good person.
Comment by marina alayev — March 18, 2008 @ 5:56 pm
aliza, is your sisters name sophie?
Comment by marina alayev — March 31, 2008 @ 5:29 pm
i want to give a shout out to my dearest friend Shoshanna khudiadotov, who since yeshiva institute was always filled with the best advice, always has has an “extra ear” for listening, and being honest in life changing events. Shoshana your the best!
Comment by marina alayev — March 31, 2008 @ 5:33 pm
to morah shira and mrs fieldman,,, you were wonderful teachers… thank you for great memories
Comment by marina alayev — April 1, 2008 @ 6:05 pm