Spotlight on Dr. Josh Younger (FYHS '99)

Graduating Year: 1999

Current Location: Great Neck, NY

Profession: I am a dual trained OB/GYN and Anesthesiologist with subspecialization in OB Anesthesia. I am the director of OB Anesthesia for Northwell Health’s Long Israel Jewish Medical Center.

Tell us a little bit about your family: 

I am happily married to my amazing wife, Michelle. We have three wonderful children—Aiden, Hannah, and Eva. This summer, Aiden will be celebrating his Bar Mitzvah, and the whole family is incredibly excited for this special milestone and simcha. It’s such an exciting time for us!

What is your favorite memory/(memories) from FYHS/HTC/Kayitz:

It's so hard to pinpoint just one memory! I really enjoyed exploring the Yeshiva, especially since I was a dormer. I loved discovering the ins and outs of the tunnels, dorm and beis midrash and making memories while doing all this.  My classmates were all so diverse and talented, which made it such a pleasure to be there. The Yeshiva had the perfect balance—it was big enough to offer a variety of experiences but small enough to feel comfortable no matter where you fell religiously. I appreciated the wide range of guys, from those with black hats to those with little background, all coming together with a common goal. Everyone’s diversity was truly embraced. One especially meaningful time at the Yeshiva was collectively sharing with the rebbeim and other students for the Yamim Noraim. The chazanim and yeshiva created a tefillah that was both memorable and meaningful.

Please share a lesson/takeaway from your time at FYHS/HTC/Kayitz:

I was taught to be a well-rounded and anchored person, and the Rebbeim didn’t just treat their work as a job—they viewed it as a calling. I’ll never forget when Rabbi Polstein had us over for Shabbos. He lit a candle before Shabbos so that it would burn down onto a log, which would ignite the log during Shabbos. It was such a beautiful demonstration of sensitivity to Halacha while still creating a warm, homey atmosphere. I also loved how Rabbi Segal, despite having another job, still made time to teach Torah. Rabbi Weiss, a math genius, gave a shiur that was always insightful. Rabbi Kaminezsky’s passion for Torah was infectious. And Shalom Abowitz— ran tisches for us in the dorms, creating a special sense of community. So many great memories!

Advice for current students:

L’kol Zman V’et – where you are now is not where you will always be. Enjoy what you have in the present. These are experiences and environments that have been time-tested. The Yeshiva has been around for so long and has been doing something right all these years.

Anything else to share?

When I reflect on the Yeshiva, I have only fond memories. I only see the good.