Color war was a blast! We had a jam packed day filled with many projects and activities. We spent the morning at gan sacher competing in various sports and races. We even got ices as a surprise treat! The afternoon activities were ‘minute to win it’, games, and an intense chidon with Rav Eitan! 

Each team prepared paintings, dvar torahs, a 14 word cheer, and a song. We even had a selfie contest! 

After a long night and intense closing ceremonies Sepha announced the winner.... BLUE TEAM!!!!

On Monday, Malka’s Mishkan class prepared the ‘lechem panim’ that was used in the Mishkan and Beit Hamikdash really bringing to life this aspect of the service in the Mikdash. They prepared it according to a special recipe carefully researched by Professor Zohar Amar in Bar Ilan.

On Tuesday night, Rena Coren put together an amazing kumzitz for us; no, not a kumzitz, an experience. Five teachers addressed different aspects of kedusha, each one having a song or two connecting to their speech. She brought in two girls to play piano and violin for us to sing to, which only added to the spiritual atmosphere created. Rena taught us how to let God into our lives with the corresponding song of Pitchi Li.  Rina Zinkin also added to our experience by teaching us the power of song and how it is a good time to pray to Hashem for anything you may need. All these things connected to kedusha and prepared us for our Yom Iyun on Shabbat the next day.  

Wednesday morning was kicked off with a special Yom Iyun centered on Shabbat. With twelve options of classes offered, we were able to personally customize our own schedules for the program ahead of time, thus able to choose particular topics of Shabbat to learn about and allow ourselves to be inspired individualistically. The variety of classes was vast, dealing with questions regarding the technicalities of makeup on Shabbat, taking apart Kabbalat Shabbat textually in order to actually understand what we’re saying, concepts behind the significance of welcoming Shabbat, what a “day of rest” really means, and more. However, the day wasn’t limited to just a classroom grind—we took part in hands-on and stimulating group activities, which consisted of discussing our perspectives on Shabbat, how we’d like our future children to regard Shabbat, and three important ideas we had taken from the day. To keep it short, Shabbat went from a day of “rest” to a day of enlightenment.

Shabbat Shalom!

Avital Listman, Shari Mayer and Dalya Panbehchi,  Shana Alef