Mordechai Fox, Valedictorian

Mordechai Fox, of Teaneck, is this year’s MTA senior class valedictorian. Mordechai thoroughly enjoyed his time at MTA, where he explored his academic interests and participated in multiple extracurricular activities. This past year, Mordechai served as president of the Debate Team and the Arista Honors Society. He also competed on the Mock Trial, College Bowl and chess teams. Additionally, he wrote and edited for the Academy News, and contributed to the Shema Koleinu Torah publication. As a Cub2Lion mentor, Mordechai helped the next generation of MTA Talmidim transition into the high school setting. He also served as a Gift of Life Student Ambassador, helping organize a bone marrow registry drive. Mordechai was selected as a National Merit Scholarship Finalist, received the Yeshiva University Torah U’Madda book award and was named an AP Scholar with Distinction. He cherishes his relationships with his rebbeim, teachers and friends, who have had a tremendous impact on his growth, and will miss his time at MTA dearly. Mordechai is excited to study at Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh in Eretz Yisrael next year, followed by the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program at Yeshiva University.

Emmett Weisz, Salutatorian

Emmett Weisz, of Teaneck, is the salutatorian of MTA’s class of 2022. He has enjoyed his high school experience and gained immensely from it, personally and academically. While at MTA, Emmett took courses and conducted research in math at Yeshiva University. He served as the software captain of MTA’s Robotics Team for two years and as the research coordinator of the Debate Team for one year. In addition, he was part of Yeshiva Fellowship and Arista’s Blood Drive Committee, and he participated in other extracurricular activities such as the math team, Go Club and tennis team. Emmett is grateful to everyone who made his high school experience possible, and he looks forward to keeping in touch with the friends he made at MTA. He is excited to attend the Hevruta gap year program at the Hartman Institute next year, followed by Princeton University.

Yaakov Weinstock, Mesayim

Yaakov Weinstock, of Hollywood, Florida, will make the siyum on Maseches Bava Basra at this year’s commencement on behalf of all of the seniors who completed it. Yaakov has enjoyed and gained from the many opportunities afforded to him by MTA. He served as editor-in-chief of Pirchei Yitzchak, wrote and edited articles for Shema Koleinu and enjoyed being a Cub2Lion mentor for freshmen. Yaakov was named an AP Scholar with Distinction and was a member of the Arista National Honors Society. Yaakov led a chabura for fellow seniors in the Yeshiva Fellowship and placed second in the Bronka Weintraub bekiyut program. Yaakov is grateful to his rebbeim and friends who helped him over the course of the last four years, and who made his high school experience truly incredible and will miss MTA immensely. Yaakov is excited to study at Yeshivat Sha’alavim in Eretz Yisrael next year, followed by the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program at Yeshiva University.

Raffi Weil, Class Speaker

Raffi Weil, of Teaneck, will be the class speaker for the MTA class of 2022. During his time at MTA, Raffi was a member of the Honors College and Yeshiva Fellowship programs, and served as a Cub2Lion Senior Mentor. Raffi participated in numerous programs and clubs, and serves as captain of Model UN, tennis team and has been a four year representative on MTA’s student government. Additionally, Raffi received the Yeshiva University Torah U’Madda Award. During his experience at MTA, Raffi has grown in both Judaic and secular studies. Raffi has created many close relationships with friends, rebbeim and faculty at MTA and is truly grateful for their role in his development. Raffi will be attending Yeshivat Sha’alavim in the fall in Eretz Yisroel. After Yeshiva, Raffi will attend the Business Honors and Entrepreneurial Leadership Program at Sy Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University.