Yeshiva Har Torah’s Annual Harry Friedman Parent-Child Day of Learning took place this past week. The event, dedicated in memory of Mr. Harry Friedman a”h, offered an opportunity for parents to join their Middle School children at the school’s Beit Midrash for a meaningful and impactful day of learning. After davening and eating breakfast, parents and students learned together from a source booklet prepared by the school’s Rosh HaYeshiva, Rabbi Gary Menchel, and then listened to a shiur presented by Rabbi Menchel.
Harry Friedman a”h, a Holocaust survivor who immigrated to the United States, settling in Jamaica Estates, Queens, was a leader and pillar in his community and had the reputation of being ethical and treating people sensitively in business. Former YHT grandparents Mr. Martin a”h and Mrs. Sally Baumel dedicated the day in his memory.
This year’s event centered around the minhag (custom) of parents blessing their children on Friday night. Students and parents were given text-based sources to better understand the origin and nuances of this beautiful minhag. The school chose this topic based on last week’s Torah portion, where we see Yaakov Avinu bless Yosef’s children, which ultimately became the formula for blessing our children in the current day, as well.
The Harry Friedman a”h Day of Parent-Child Learning at YHT was a unique opportunity for students and parents to bond together, learn, and deepen their understanding of a minhag that holds such importance in so many Jewish homes.
