High School Students Start New Clubs

by Talia Herbst, SSLI '25

This year, Schechter’s high school has two new clubs: Yad B’Yad and Inspiring Girls.

The Yad B'Yad presidents introduced their club at the club fair. (Schechter Instagram)

Sophomore and co-President Madison Hoffman launched the Yad B’Yad club with sophomore Anna Melzer. Yad B’Yad is a club that fundraises and does volunteer work for SULAM. SULAM is a Sunday school located in Merrick for Jewish young adults and children with special needs.

Madison was inspired to create this club because she had seen “other schools have programs like this and thought this would be a great addition to Schechter.” Hoffman continued, “We created this club to give Schechter students opportunities to give back to their community, help others, and forge bonds with the students of SULAM.”

Freshman Nola Berg said she decided to join Yad B’Yad because “I wanted to try out new clubs since it's my first year in high school. I also wanted to give back to others since it gives me a rewarding feeling.”

Hoffman shared, “At the beginning of the school year, we had a Zoom meeting with Libby Adler, the director of SULAM. We discussed the different ways that we can volunteer, fundraise, and support SULAM.” She added, “This past weekend, I went to tour and volunteer at SULAM and saw what a school day looks like for them. While I was there, I got to meet their faculty and see how lovely and kind everyone is there.”

Yad B’Yad “has been going well,” said Hoffman. The club is working on several fundraisers for SULAM and other organizations similar to them.

Junior and President of Inspiring Girls Shay Ginzburg explained that Inspiring Girls is an organization that “strives to connect young girls with career women and role models to help them realize that their goals are, in fact, attainable.” Ginzburg continued, “It also works to help connect girls with each other to form a social alliance and environment of positivity and support as well as a network of young bright minds.”

Ginzburg was introduced to the organization last summer. She applied to be a young ambassador, got the position, and wanted to bring the organization to our school.

Sophomore Penina Charry chose to join Inspiring Girls because she wanted “to learn more about steps I take in high school to be able to achieve my dream of working in medicine.”

Last club meeting, Inspiring Girls brought in Dr. Danielle Ponzio, an orthopedic surgeon, who spoke to the club about her career. Ginzburg shared, “Dr. Danielle Ponzio explained how her field is one that is male-dominated, but even as a busy mother of three, she has managed to climb the ranks and become incredibly successful.”

Ginzburg hopes to bring in “more role models to show girls that just because their desired career path isn’t typical, that does not mean it is impossible.”

Talia Herbst is a writer for Paw Print Now and has been published on the site since December 2021. Talia is currently a senior at the Schechter School of Long Island and can be reached at the following email address: therbst25@schechterli.org