Last Thursday night we had a special activity in the dorm. After class we made our own Chanukah Menorah’s. There was music and we all hung out singing together, getting ready for Chanukah - It was great fun!

On Sunday night, the first night of Chanukkah, we had a communal lighting in the Beit Midrash. Everyone set up their menorahs on long tables by the window.  We first heard a Dvar Torah by Tali Roth and then we sang the brachot and Maoz Tzur together. Then we each got a Chanukkah present- a dreidel, special to Israel because of its letters – nun, gimmel, hey, PEH!  Nes Gadol Haya Po! It was an interesting adjustment for us to be away from home, most of us having to light on our own. But it was so nice to all have each other, joining together In order to enhance this special mitzvah.

On Tuesday night we had dinner at different teachers' houses. Busses took different groups from school to our hosts. We went to Nevei Daniel, Beitar, Efrat, Katamon, and many parts of Jerusalem. We experienced celebrating Chanukah with our faculty and their families and saw the beautiful menorahs lit all over the city. It was a fun night of bonding with classmates and our teachers.

Yesterday, Shoshi Ginsburg and Rebecca Buckler went to the Knesset as part of a group of students from all different Israel programs, for a candle lighting ceremony at the Knesset. They met and spoke to members of Knesset Aliza Lavie and Michael Oren and received a tour.

Tonight we are having our much anticipated Chanukah chagiga and we’ll be spending Shabbat together in Tzfat. Hear all about it in next week’s news!

Chanukah same’ach and Shabbat Shalom!!

Rebecca Gellis and Emily Firestone