On Thursday, May 21, the students at the Spinka Yeshiva at 5801 15th Ave. in Boro Park were thrilled to see Assemblyman Dov Hikind visiting their science fair. Our Assemblyman—the father of three children and grandfather of six—was as delighted to see the students as they were to host him.

Accompanied by Rabbi Avraham Greenstein, who oversees the Spinka Yeshiva’s curriculum, Assemblyman Hikind went from booth to booth, giving his undivided attention and encouragement to each child or group of children who were presenting their experiments and discoveries in the natural sciences. You could see the genuine joy Assemblyman Hikind experienced as the students—some as young as seven years old—proudly demonstrated what they had learned, from the corrosiveness of soda to the valuable cleansing properties of fluoride; from why blue and yellow make green to how objects become magnetized.

The annual science fair event at the Spinka Yeshiva is the culmination of months of preparation by many students, grades four through seven, and has become a milestone of the yeshiva’s academic program.

“Parents are ecstatic to see their children showcasing all the things that they’ve learned,” said Rabbi Greenstein, whose enthusiasm for the program and pride in the many children under his charge is evident. “It’s so gratifying to see these children light up when they present their hard work. They were especially excited to see Assemblyman Hikind walk in. They all know he does so much for our community. It’s a day they will remember.”

After the many presentations concluded and as the school buses were pulling up, Assemblyman Hikind thanked Rabbi Greenstein, Rabbi Kornreich, and Rabbi Markowitz of the Spika Yeshiva for inviting him. He also took a few moments to address the assembled children, explaining how grateful he was to have been invited and quoting from Pirke Avos as he told the children how much he had learned from them that day.

“I’m particularly proud of how well all of you cooperated,” said Assemblyman Hikind, “how you enjoyed not only presenting what you’ve learned this year, but also how you were so encouraging to each other, and so enthusiastic about everyone else’s projects. I’m sure all of your parents and grandparents and rebbes get great nachas from all of you—I know that I did. I’m already planning for next year’s event.”

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