DRS Says Goodbye to Their Graduating Seniors

By Natalia Kozikowska
Standard Staff

Tammy Schienman, her son Dani Schienman and Marcel Schienman

Proud parents, teachers and faculty gathered this Monday to bid farewell to their 83 graduating seniors at Woodmere’s Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School for Boys. Former principal Harvey Feldman says that this group is one of the finest group of boys that have ever graduated from any Yeshiva High School. “I’m proud to have been their principal for the past three years,” he says. “Each one of them is willing to do chessed work [good deeds] and charity. They’re respectful and they’re here to help one another and the staff here.”

The beautiful ceremony was held in the school’s auditorium on Monday, June 4. Hundreds gathered to watch the boys walk across the stage and receive their diplomas that would mark the end of an era. The closeness between the boys was obvious as they all hurdled together to take pictures, no boy to be left out. The salutatorian, Elisha Ishaal, even said that if he had been asked to deliver the salutatorian address three years ago he might not have the confidence to do so but the relationships he built with his classmates has made him feel comfortable enough to speak at the graduation.

Dani Schienman says that DRS may have helped him grow in his studies but he also developed relationships with all the his peers, teachers and rabbis. “I was able to create relationships that will last for a long time and it prepared me for my future. I really loved it. It was an amazing four years” he says. What will Schienman miss the most? “The group of guys that go here. I’ve made a lot of friends and we got very close over four years.”

Efrem Rosenberg, Gilad Rosenberg, Mimi Thurm, Myron Thurm & Anna Thurm

Daniel Zylberberg says that his fondest memories at this high school are just hanging with the guys.“I’ve just built such good relationships with everyone. He says that he will miss DRS terribly. “Just coming to school. I enjoyed waking up every morning to see all my friends.”

The faculty at DRS was very proud of the 2012 graduating class. Mark Levy, a science teacher has been at the school for 41 years and says that he is particularly fond of this group. “I’ve known them for three years and they really are a special bunch of boys. I’m going to miss them terribly” he says.  “They’re very personable. They look after teachers, not just teachers looking after them.”

Parents were thrilled to see their sons graduate from DRS. Rissa Pollack, mother of graduating senior Kobi Pollack says that DRS is special to her son. “There’s a sense of pride in belonging to this     school. It’s very special –  the teachers, the rabbis, they  are all very unique and they form a very special bond with the boys.”

Proud grandparent Daniel Mehlman was spotted in the front row cheering on Yonaton Mehlman who attained the highest honor at the school– valedictorian. “He’s kind, he’s good, and it gives me a great sense of pride that my grandson reached that pedestal in life” he says.

As the ceremony came to a close Rabbi Eli Brazil asked the seniors to face their families and give them a round of applause for all their support in their years at Davis Renov Stahler. Before the rabbi could finish his statement the boys had already begun to clap. After giving recognition to the people who have inspired them most in their lives the boys tossed up their green graduation caps as a symbol for change and new beginnings.