News

The girls from Bnos Malka’s seventh grade met privately with HaRav Shmuel Kamenetsky shlita, as the first stop on their class trip to Philadelphia. The Rosh HaYeshiva spoke to the girls about their timeless role in the future of klal Yisrael. He inspired them to realize the importance of bnos Yisrael in the continuity of our nation, and to continue to grow into this role.

Due to COVID-19, a lot of students were not able to have a normal school year this year or last, and many schools had to teach over Zoom, due to the restrictions with masks and social distancing. The Yeshiva of Central Queens (YCQ) eighth grade graduating class of 2021 was not able to go on their annual Philadelphia trip for Seventh Graders last year, so YCQ made it possible for the eighth grade students to go this year to Philadelphia for a full day. The seventh grade also visited Philly last week for their annual trip.

Earlier this school year, Central applied for and was awarded the prestigious Microgrant from The Jewish Education Project. The school received grant money for the project proposed by Programming Director Mrs. Hadassah Frankel, which was called the “Dor L’Dor Links Fellowship.” In this fellowship, Central students had the opportunity to connect with grandparents who may have felt isolated due to the pandemic, while learning and exploring their family heritage. Seven Central students were accepted to this fellowship, which was fully funded by the grant.

On Wednesday, June 9, MTA celebrated the Commencement Ceremony of its 103^rd graduating class at Congregation Keter Torah. The program opened with inspiring words from Head of School Rabbi Joshua Kahn, who also acknowledged the 27 families who were experiencing their last MTA graduation as their youngest or only son graduated. These families have been part of the MTA community ranging between four and 14 years and will be greatly missed.

Hadar Bet Yaakov hosted a beautiful end-of-year celebration this past Sunday that featured students’ performance in a production and dance, as well as improv games and a dance party, where mothers and daughters joined together in vibrant activity. The event was billed as a “Mother-Daughter Evening of Theatre” and it commenced with an exciting flash mob start, where girls entered the stage from all points in the auditorium as they danced their way on stage. Mothers and relatives clapped to the beat, followed by principal Mrs. Friedman’s introduction of their play. She explained that the production wasn’t a stand-alone activity, but rather the culmination of what they had done in drama classes with drama teacher Mrs. Leora Nadtouchy over the year. Drama was about character exploration, much in the same way literary analysis is, and she underscored how particularly important that skill was in developing one’s self-awareness and growth as a bas Yisrael.

Despite this year’s Celebrate Israel Parade being canceled due to COVID, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY) still held the marching competition – virtually – for the over 200 groups who put on such a great show every year!