Joseph Safra Yeshivah High School
2025-2026
Joseph Safra Yeshivah High School
5785
2300 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, FL 33020
Phone: (954) 416-0791
Introduction
Dear Students,
We are so excited to welcome you to Ohr HaTorah Yeshiva High School! We are confident that
this year will only build on the incredible foundation that has been established for our yeshiva. It
is our sincere hope that this will be a year of tremendous growth and success for each and
every one of you individually and for our school community.
The goal of this handbook is to outline the framework, procedures, and norms of our school. We
firmly believe that a clear understanding of the expectations and culture of our school will lead to
a successful year. Creating a positive, strong, and structured environment for all of our students,
leads to greater opportunities for success, happiness, and fulfillment for each individual student.
We are completely invested in your growth and development religiously, socially, academically,
and emotionally. The administration and faculty are always available to help you. Please do not
hesitate to reach out for help in any area.
Looking forward to an incredible year together!
Rabbi Josh Grajower
Menahel
Mission Statement
Ohr HaTorah Yeshiva High School, located in Hollywood, Florida, is designed to meet the diverse demographic needs of 9th-12th grade boys in the local South Florida Ashkenazic and Sephardic communities.
Our mission is to develop young men who become true bnei Torah, passionate about their Judaism, with exemplary character, self-confidence, and the Torah skills to be life-long learners. Our goal is to foster an environment of personal responsibility and commitment to the Jewish people and Eretz Yisrael. Our school strives for academic excellence, both in Limudei Kodesh and General Studies, equipping each student with the educational building blocks, life-skills, and personal guidance to be able to pursue higher education and a meaningful career and life path in accordance with the Torah and their individual purpose and talents. We are invested in the
personal growth of our students, developing each one, with his personal strengths, to become an ambassador of Torah and Judaism in the world.
Core Values
Every successful organization has core values that define all that happens within the organization. At Ohr HaTorah, everything we do and hope to accomplish is based on the following four core values:
Academics
Limudei Kodesh Curriculum
Our yeshiva is committed to developing students who have a passion for learning Torah and the skills to be independent learners. We have an emphasis on Gemara, with students learning each year both b’iyun and bekius to develop critical thinking and reading skills. Students will also study Chumash, Navi, Halacha, Hashkafah, Mussar, and Ivrit over the course of their four years. This will be done in an environment of acceptance and respect which fosters genuine, meaningful, and lasting relationships and encourages open and honest dialogue to internalize the Torah’s values.
In addition to the formal curriculum, there will be a strong emphasis and focus on the development of personal feelings, attitudes, and character traits that produce sincere, principled, sophisticated, and motivated bnei Torah with a lifelong focus on growth and passionate commitment to Torah, Hashem, and their fellow Jews.
General Studies Curriculum
Standardized Testing
By tenth grade, students begin receiving college advisement and are readied for the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT), a necessary preparation for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) that is required for college admission. Full information about SAT II’s will also be supplied.
All students are required to take an SAT Prep class on Fridays in school, and are encouraged to enroll in an additional SAT preparatory course. Information about programs (after school or Sundays) conducted by independent agencies will be made available upon request.
Class Placement
We offer both grade level and honors tracks throughout the day in both Limudei Kodesh and General Studies classes. Honors classes will be noted on students’ transcripts and will receive additional points in the GPA, per subject. Our administration, based on teacher’s recommendations and previous performance, spends many hours of work to properly place our students at the appropriate level. If a student feels that a change is warranted, a formal request must be submitted to the administration. Additionally, a variety of AP courses are available beginning in 10th grade. Our AP courses include but are not limited to, AP Language and Composition, AP Calculus, AP Psychology, and AP US History
Assessments
Assessing student learning is an essential part of the learning process. Assessments can take on various forms, and formative and summative assessments are necessary for learning.
Students can expect to have a range of quizzes, tests, and projects throughout each semester in each class. In order to balance the workload and not overwhelm our students, we will have a test calendar for all subjects. The test calendar can be found on our FACTS system. In general, students should not have more than one test and one quiz on any given day.
Quizzes should not take more than 15 minutes of class time and cannot cover more than one week of class material. Tests, which cover more material, should be announced by the teacher at least one week in advance of the test day.
Make Up Tests
It is imperative that students make every effort to be in class for a test. On the rare occurrence that a student is absent for a test, he will be responsible for making up the test on the earliest make up test time slot. Make-up tests will take place during a student’s gym period in a designated location in the building (or if another arrangement is made with the teacher).
The first time a student is absent for a test in a class, he will be able to make up the test without penalty. However, the second time a student is absent for a test in a class he will have 10% deducted from the test grade, the third time 20%, etc. Special accommodations will be made for extended illnesses.
Grading
Our academic year is divided into four quarters. Students will receive a numerical grade at the end of each quarter. Grades for the year in each course will be calculated as follows: each quarter counts for 20% of the grade, the midterm counts for 10%, and the final counts for 10%.
Failing Grades
A passing grade in any subject is a 65 or above. If a student has a failing grade in a course at the end of the year, he will be required to complete (and pass) a summer school course in order to return to school the following year. If a specific class does not have a summer school option (e.g. Limudei Kodesh classes), he will be required to learn a designated amount of material with a tutor and complete a major assessment to receive a passing grade before returning to school. If there is a cost for the course, it is the responsibility of the family, not the school.
In addition, while 65 is a passing grade, in order for a student to be able to participate in extracurricular activities, including athletics, he must maintain an average of 75 or above in all of his classes and may not be failing any course.
Academic Integrity
As a school that is promoting honesty, integrity, and Torah values, we are unable to tolerate any breaches of academic integrity. This refers to both cheating and plagiarism. Plagiarism is defined as representing the words or ideas of others as one’s own. This can be both in the form of direct copying or paraphrasing without attribution to the author (including published and unpublished works and the work of another student). In addition, students may not use AI or any online or digital resources (e.g., ChatGPT, Spark Notes, etc.) to help them generate any part of an assignment, unless the teacher explicitly and specifically permits such usage for a particular assignment.
The first offense on either a test, quiz, or assignment will be given a zero and averaged into a student’s quarter grade. A second offense will result in a zero for the quarter. A third offense is grounds for suspension or possible expulsion.
FACTS (Renweb) and Google Classroom
Attendance and Residency
Absences
Absence from school creates a disruption in the learning process and inhibits the growth of a student. Personal business, appointments, and routine medical and dental visits should not be made during school hours.
Any student who is absent from class is responsible for any material covered during his absence, including homework, and any work that was assigned during class.
Students are allowed to be absent for a total of 16 days throughout the school year. These include all forms of absences, including family vacations, illness, semachot, personal days, etc. Exceptions will be made by the administration for extended illnesses or extenuating circumstances.
Any student who exceeds 16 absences will begin losing points from his GPA. Each absence that exceeds 16 will result in a .05 reduction from the student’s overall GPA for the year.
The only absences that qualify as excused are school-organized or school-sanctioned events.
In addition, any student who misses more than 30 periods of a specific class will not receive credit for the course and will be forced to retake the course in the summer (similar to failing students; see above).
Sunday school counts as a ½ absence.
Lates and Leaving Early
Anyone who arrives at school more than 15 minutes late, but before 9:15am, will be marked as late to school and will receive a ¼ absence.
A student who arrives with a doctor’s note or a previously sent email from a parent with a clear explanation of the late (e.g. doctor’s appointment, bar mitzvah, etc.) to the office, will be marked according to the following times:
Arrival prior to 11:00 am will only receive a ¼ absence for the day.
Arrival after 11:00 will receive a ½ absence for the day.
Arrival after 2:00pm will receive a ¾ absence for the day.
Students who leave school early (with permission), will be marked according to the following times:
Leaving prior to 12:00pm will receive a ¾ absence for the day.
Leaving between 12:00pm and 4:00pm will receive a ½ absence for the day.
Leaving after 4:00pm prior to dismissal will receive a ¼ absence for the day, except on mishmar days which will be a ½ absence for the day.
On Fridays, the timing is as follows:
Arrival after 9:30am is a ½ absence.
Arrival after 11:00am is a ¾ absence.
Leaving between 9:30am and 10:30am is a ¾ absence.
Leaving between 10:30am and 11:30am is a ½ absence.
These all count towards the cumulative 16 absences allowed throughout the school year.
Late to Class
Each class is allotted only a few hours per week, and it is extremely important for classes to start and end on time. A student arriving late to class disrupts the learning process. The first two times a student is late to class, he will receive a warning. Starting with the third late to class, he will lose ½ point off the quarter grade for every additional late.
Cutting Class
A student who misses any class without explicit permission from the administration will be considered cutting class. Similarly, a student arriving to class more than 10 minutes late or leaving class for more than a 10 minute period is considered cutting class.
A cut from a class will result in 2 points off the quarter grade in that class. Repeat offenses will be dealt with more strictly.
Suspension
If a student is suspended from school for any reason, he will receive a zero on all in class assignments that took place on the day missed. Any test or quiz missed on the day of suspension, will need to be made up on the day of return. The student can receive a max grade of 70 on that assessment. In addition, the day of suspension counts towards the 16 absences for the year.
Remaining on School Premises
Once a student arrives at school, he must remain on the school premises until the end of the day. Students cannot leave the premises for any reason, without explicit permission from the administration. A student who leaves campus without permission will receive a one-day suspension.
As a privilege of becoming a senior, seniors may leave campus during lunch, gym, or with explicit permission from the administration. A parental consent form must be completed and submitted prior to leaving campus.
Behaviors and Expectations
Dress Code
There is a saying that “clothes make the man.” The type of clothes we wear both influences our behaviors and the image we create regarding ourselves. As a yeshiva, we are constantly trying to balance the need for our students to dress like Bnei Torah, while also allowing for self expression. For the upcoming year, our dress code will be as follows:
● Students must wear tzitzis every day to school.
● Students must wear a non-textured button down shirt. Allowed colors are white, beige, gray, blue or black.
● Students must wear dress-style pants that are either blue, black, or gray. Students may not wear track pants, sweat pants, jeans or any other variety of non-dress pants. Any pants that students wear to school must comply with the following: 1) They must have side pockets. 2) They must have a front zipper. 3) They cannot have elastic or zippers on the bottom of the pants. 4) Cannot have a front drawstring
● Students may wear shoes or sneakers of their choice, however they should be modest and appropriate for a Yeshiva setting. Students may not wear slippers, slides, crocs, or any open back shoes. Note: Exceptions will only be made with a doctor’s note.
● Students may only wear solid color sweaters or sweatshirts that have small appropriate logos. Hooded sweatshirts are NOT allowed.
● Students may not wear any jewelry, unless it is for religious reasons based on family customs.
● Students’ haircuts should be modest and appropriate for a yeshiva setting. The length should not be too long or too short. The length of the hair on top should not be noticeably longer than the length on the sides, and bangs should not be significantly longer than the rest of one’s hair. Any fade haircut is not permitted.
Cell Phones and Smart Watches
Every day when students arrive at school, they must place their cell phones in a designated box in the office. The phones must remain in the box throughout the entirety of the school day.
Any student that is caught putting in a “dummy” phone, or not putting in his phone, will receive a one day suspension.
Smart watches are not allowed under any circumstances. Any student found wearing a smart watch will have it confiscated. Similarly, students may not bring in any other electronic devices (e.g. Ipad, Nintendo Switch), any such devices that are brought into school will be confiscated.
Seniors when leaving campus during lunch or PE may receive their cell phones from the office. Cell phones can only be used off-campus. Any senior who violates this policy will lose the privilege.
Laptops and Chromebooks
Laptops and Chromebooks will be provided to students to be used during the school day to complete work. Students may not bring their own laptops or tablets to school. Any student who has a non-school authorized laptop will have it confiscated.
Uber Eats
Driving to School
Students may use their own cars to drive to and from school. Any student that is either driving to and from school or receiving rides from another student must complete the Student Private Vehicle Permission Form. Students are not allowed off the premises during the school day and therefore may not use a personal vehicle during school hours.
Parking spots are extremely limited in our new facility and only students who receive a decal will be allowed to park in the school lot. Parking spots will be prioritized for upperclassmen and students who carpool.
Davening
Shacharis
Each talmid, upon arrival to yeshiva, is expected to place his phone in the phone box in the office and head directly to minyan.
A talmid will be marked late at 8:05am if his phone is not placed in the appropriate box OR he is not in the davening room. A talmid will be marked late at 8:10am if his tefillin are not already on.
The first two lates in a term are excused, however after the 3rd late he will receive a lunch detention. If a talmid arrives at tefillah after 8:15am he will be marked with a quarter absence from yeshiva. Arriving after 8:15am includes not having given in his phone OR not having his tefillin on.
PLEASE NOTE: Any talmid driving (or getting a ride to yeshiva) will be judged regarding tardiness based on the appropriate van from his location. For example, if the Miami Beach van arrives at 7:58am, any talmid driving to yeshiva does not have an excuse to arrive later than 7:58am. However, if the Miami van arrives at 8:07am, that will be the determining time for the personal driver as well.
Mincha
Talmidim must arrive on time for mincha every day. Any talmid who arrives at mincha after the chazzan has finished kedusha will receive a cut for the day for mincha. The first cut is a warning, beginning with the second cut a talmid will receive a lunch detention.
Code of Conduct
The functioning of any school is dependent upon clear expectations, proper standards, and mutual respect between all constituents. While every student is an individual and requires personal attention and direction, a school can only function with basic guidelines and universal rules.
Students are expected to behave respectfully and appropriately throughout the school day. We have developed a system of consequences for both general breaches of conduct and more serious offenses. Repeat offenses will be taken more seriously and will result in more severe consequences.
General breaches of conduct include, but are not limited to, the following:
● Off-task behavior
● Refusal to follow directions
● Tardiness
● Mild inappropriate language
● Dress Code Violation
General breaches of conduct will result in, but not limited to, the following disciplinary action:
● First offense – Verbal warning from teacher
● Second offense – Form email with parent reply
● Third offense – Email and phone call to parent or guardian; P.E. detention with school
community service.
● Fourth offense – Email to parent or guardian; after school detention with school community service.
● Fifth offense – Meeting with parent or guardian, develop a Behavioral Intervention Plan (BIT)
More serious infractions include, but are not limited to, the following:
● Physical violence or fighting
● Threats or intimidation
● Cursing/ Foul Language
● Harassment (racial, sexual, gender-based)
● Vaping, drug use/possession
● Verbal abuse of staff or peers
● Severe cheating/academic dishonesty
● Bullying or fighting
● Vandalizing school property or theft
● Disrespect of a faculty member
More serious infractions can result in the following disciplinary action per the discretion
of the administration:
● Detention; school community service (i.e. school Clean-Up)
● After school Detention
● Suspension
● Expulsion
Substance Abuse
One of Ohr HaTorah’s main goals is to ensure a safe, wholesome environment for all of its students. To that end, we are committed to a student body that is free of controlled substances. Any student who uses drugs, alcohol, or nicotine products on campus will face immediate suspension, with the possibility of expulsion. If the student remains in the school, he must receive an evaluation by a school-approved drug counselor and follow the guidance of the evaluation. In addition, this student will be subject to drug testing at the parents’ expense.
In general, we reserve the right and intend to do random drug testing at irregular intervals throughout the school year. Any student that tests positive must receive an evaluation by a school-approved drug counselor and follow the guidance of that evaluation. In addition, this student will be subject to drug testing at the parents’ expense.