Colors: Blue Color

A shul with Color War? The Young Israel of Jamaica Estates celebrated another year of energized youth programming with its 35th annual Color War! Beginning on Yom HaAtzmaut, three weekends of fun and games including YIJE’s Medutathon Relay, Bubble Ball, Laser Tag, and Minute to Win, complemented by art projects, dramatic presentations, and a chidon, all surrounding this year’s Pirkei Avos-inspired team names of Namer (Leopard) and Nesher (Eagle). “Both the eagle and the leopard are powerful creatures and express their power in different ways. But they also have their dangers,” writes Rabbi Dr. Dov Lerner in his charge to the teams. “Teams Namer and Nesher are called on to embody the positive traits of their emblem and discover their roles in Tanach, Midrash, and musar – and lessons for how we can live our lives today.”

Lomdei Dirshu Take Test While City is Under Siege

A day before, it appeared that the second test in the Machzor Sheini of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha would be a routine Dirshu test despite it being a bit of a milestone. Lomdei Daf HaYomi B’Halacha were completing the laws of tzitzis and progressing to the laws of tefillin. The test in Eretz Yisroel was scheduled for this past Friday morning, 5 Iyar/May 6.

Shavuos is the culmination of the seven-week-long “Counting of the Omer” that occurs following Pesach. The very name “Shavuos” means “weeks,” in recognition of the weeks of anticipation leading up to the Har Sinai experience. Shavuos commemorates Hashem giving the Torah to B’nei Yisrael. During the holiday prayer services, we read the story of the Revelation at Mount Sinai and the giving of the Ten Commandments. On the second day of Shavuos, we read Megillas Rus.

Tamar Appel Will Spearhead Educational Initiatives

Hidden Sparks, the leading nonprofit focused on providing Jewish day school educators with the tools to support the broad range of learners in mainstream classrooms, has named Mrs. Tamar Appel as its incoming director of education. In this new position, which will begin on July 6, 2022, Appel will oversee Hidden Sparks’ curriculum development and spearhead educational initiatives that provide Jewish day school teachers and parents with the skill sets required to understand and support struggling students.

To Be’er Hagolah Institutes

“As I walked the halls of BHI, the sound of children learning, smiling and connecting was exhilarating”, Ms. Adina Fendel says. “Creating a safe, happy environment for kids to learn in is of utmost importance to me, and I was so happy to see this permeating the halls of BHI. I am truly looking forward to being a part of this amazing team”.