Central celebrates Chanukah in a big way – and with this year’s emphasis on positivity, faculty and staff alike felt a particularly strong desire to make this year’s holiday a source of joy and strength. A full schedule of programming and events marked these special eight days.
Schoolwide celebrations began on Tuesday, December 12, as Central’s G.O. hosted a schoolwide “Greek” Olympics event. A rousing set of competitions pitting Central students against faculty, the event included everything from musical chairs to a free-throw contest to a legendary round of Jeopardy.
“It was fun. You wanted to be involved, you wanted to see what would happen, even if you weren’t actively competing. It was incredibly entertaining just to be a part of it,” said freshman Noa Berman. “Chanukah at Central is special. You can feel the excitement and anticipation in the air for everything that is going to happen that week.”
A fifth-day candle activity incorporated into classroom learning added to the holiday festivities: The sophomore chemists of Mrs. Miriam Chopp’s Chemistry course conducted a menorah flame test. “The girls were just as excited as the electrons of the metal chlorides during the experiment,” Mrs. Chopp said. “When the electrons dropped back down to ground state, they emitted dazzling colors created by specific wavelengths of the spectrum: five lights in honor of five bright nights, filling us with hope and revitalized energy.”
On the sixth night of Chanukah, gradewide Chanukah mesibos were held at the homes of Central community members, offering an opportunity for learning, bonding, and celebration. On the sixth day of Chanukah, the Central community ventured outside the Holliswood campus for a day of fun at Chelsea Piers in Connecticut, where students indulged in a day of games and athletics, including pickleball, parkour, and gymnastics.
“I’m grateful to Central for taking us to Chelsea Piers. I got to hang out with my teachers and friends and partake in new activities,” said junior Rebecca Yunatan.
Among other events of the day: The junior class cracked the day’s difficult Chanukah code. Junior Melanie Gavrielov credits the win to collaboration: “We got to work as a team,” she said, “and that’s what Central is all about.”
On the seventh day of Chanukah: Grandparents’ Day. Over 200 special family members attended the event, a turnout so impressive that the event had to be split into two distinct sessions so that all family members could participate in a day of Torah learning, including a siyum Tanach, with their Central student in the z’chus of the safety of our brothers and sisters in Israel. A fun-filled student-faculty volleyball tournament capped off Thursday’s activities.
Chanukah concluded on Friday with grade-wide Chanukah grab bag activities and an exciting brachos bee with the F.I.R.E. fellows, accompanied by an exceptional choir performance. “Chanukah at Central this year was truly one for the books,” shared Ms. Leah Moskovich, Associate Principal. “The energy, ruach, amazing Chanukah sweaters, and feelings of happiness and hope filled the halls.”
The quick pace of the semester shows no signs of slowing as Central nears the end of its fall term. Upcoming events include our Community-Wide Shiur on December 25, Central’s Winter Blood Drive on December 27, and Central’s annual Dinner of Tribute, which celebrates the unity and strength of the Central community, and those who have contributed to the foundations of that community, on Tuesday, January 9.
