Purim is a time of fun and positive energy, and students at the Yeshiva University High School for Girls (Central) have been making the most of the holiday with special programming and events. Dress-up days, including the much-anticipated “Dress Like a Teacher Day,” provided fun, as did the legendary annual Purim Shpiel and Purim Day visits at the homes of Central faculty members in Brooklyn, Queens, Great Neck, Lawrence, and West Hempstead.
But the one word that best summarizes the past week at Central: Maccabiah 5784! Breakout occurred on Monday, March 25, and the four grades immediately went to work discussing their tactics for this year’s competition.
In solidarity with those fighting to keep Israel safe throughout Operation Swords of Iron, this year’s theme was “On the Front Lines.” With the idea that everyone is being called to fight on the front lines in one way or another, each grade was assigned an IDF unit to represent, as well as a personal midah that their team could adopt in America to help those fighting in Israel.
The freshmen, led by grade general Nili Aharon and captains Annabelle Klein and Adelle Yukhanov, represented the Field Intelligence unit of the IDF, which gathers information behind enemy lines and has worked to free the hostages and disarm Hamas. They also represented the personal theme of Torah.
Sophomores, led by grade general Kayla Brukner and captains Orli Fish and Shalhevet Koenigsberg, and representing the personal theme of T’filah, were IDF Paratroopers, the elite infantry unit defending the Israeli border.
The junior class, representing the personal theme of Chesed, was helmed by grade general Esther Nazarov and captains Perri Bausk and Amy Morris. Juniors represented the Border Police, which provides counterterrorism efforts, law enforcement, and riot control, “We’re better than ever,” said junior general Esther Nazarov of the class of 2025. “This is our year.”
The seniors, who won last year’s competition as juniors, were led by grade general Aviva Kessock and captains Sari Beer and Keira Kahn. Their role: the IDF Navy, which protects Israel from threats from the sea. The team also represented the personal theme of Ahavas Yisrael.
At the forefront of everyone’s minds was not competing and landing first place, but using Maccabiah as an opportunity to collaborate and solidify bonds as a community, echoing the phrase many in Israel have used throughout Operation Swords of Iron: “B’Yachad N’natzei’ach – Together, we will win.”
Missions included academic challenges, performing arts competitions, and athletic matches, as well as a chesed drive in which each grade assembled bags of supplies to send to lone soldiers fighting on the front lines in Israel.
“We’re doing really well, working together. Everyone is truly starting to participate and get involved – and stepping outside their comfort zones to do so,” said freshman team captain Annabelle Klein. “Though being a captain can be stressful, it’s a valuable experience collaborating with my classmates and building a team.”
While Maccabiah 5784 provided typical fun and mayhem as the senior class won the event, the Central community took care to use the event as an opportunity to daven for the safety and security of our brothers and sisters in Israel. On the first day of Maccabiah, the school paused to remember the 134 hostages still being held in Gaza, as Mrs. Einav Danino, the mother of Mr. Ori Danino, a hostage currently held in Gaza, visited Central to speak to the community, bringing a powerful message of faith and gratitude that touched every member of the Central community.
As Central Judaic Studies faculty member Ms. Sydney Daitch – who, as Programming Director, played a pivotal role in this year’s Maccabiah – said, “In the merit of everything Jews are doing all over the world, may am Yisrael be victorious in this war, may all of our hostages return to their families soon, and may all of our chayalim be protected!”
Am Yisrael Chai!
