Bais Yaakov of Queens is still “flying high” with the memories of the recent two-week El Al PRayerlines Tefilah Program. It was an intense two weeks, where the girls were “elevated” to new “heights” in their level of t’filah to Hashem, through song, dance, drama, interactive lessons, food, and visual displays. The school building was transformed into an “airport” with creative and meaningful bulletin boards, signs, door messages, and an entrance lobby displaying airplanes flying overhead straight to the Shaarei Shamayim!
The program began with a school-wide assembly where Rabbi Mordechai Ginsparg, menahel, addressed the girls. Four inspiring and hilarious true-to-life skits were performed by the talented moros. The eighth-graders presented the inspiring and catchy theme song with fantastic motions. Each student received a bag for her “trip” filled with gifts, including snacks, a T’filas HaDerech, a t’filah magnet, and an airplane-shaped cold/hot pack with the program logo.
Each day, the moros conducted interactive and inspiring lessons to their students. Some topics that were covered were: The Purpose and Power of T’filah, Emunah before T’filah, Personal Prayers, Unanswered Prayers, Preparation for Davening, and Avodah She’ba’leiv – Davening with Kavanah. The girls took notes and drew pictures in their Passport Journals. The girls chose class-wide goals, as well, to improve their daily davening.
Every day, the students filled out Airplane Raffle Tickets, checking off how they enhanced their t’filah, and sharing what they learned. Each day, the musical Meal Cart could be heard as Mrs. Elisa Taub, program director, dressed as a flight attendant, went around to all the classes with a realistic-looking Meal Cart to collect the Boarding Pass/Airplane Tickets.
Other exciting activities were an airplane meal at lunchtime, an inspiring and heartfelt t’filah kumsitz, and a joyous cake celebration featuring cakes with the program logo!
The program ended with a school-wide assembly, where Mrs. Nechama Jurkowitz, limudei kodesh principal, addressed the girls with heartfelt feelings of hakaras ha’tov. The assembly featured a beautiful video recapping the exciting program, raffle prize winners were announced, and the entire school sang the program theme song with motions. The high-spirited emotions and the overwhelming feelings of gratitude for the special gift of t’filah were tangible in the air! There is no doubt that everyone has been “uplifted” and inspired. This was a program that will not be forgotten and will be carried in the hearts and minds of the students, forever enhancing their connection to Hashem.
