Schools

Twenty-one years: the number years since that dreadful day that has forever tainted the date of September 11. Twenty-one, the number of years since our world was shaken, and our feeling of security forever taken away. Our children have been growing up in a world with lockdowns and safety drills. However, they do not remember that day or the societal changes. They were not born, most of their parents just children themselves. As we have learned, when we do not learn from history, it repeats, making it imperative for us to teach our children about that day. Following the 21^st anniversary of 9/11, and just after Yom Kippur, our holiday to remember and strive to work on being better people, the eighth grade Yeshiva of Central Queens students headed out for their yearly trip to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.

The excitement in the air was palpable. Operation Ezra was revving up for another year. The Chesed Committee of Ezra Academy, run this year under senior chair Shirel Davoudi, was organizing to build sukkos for people all around the Queens community. Originally divided into several groups with different faculty members volunteering their time, as well, the Operation Ezra crowd of students geared up to go.

SINAI@YCQ students visited the Rebbishe store in Queens, where they learned about the arbaah minim firsthand by using their senses. Not only did the Rebbishe give SINAI a free set, but the store is also offering a free lulav bag and a discount to anyone purchasing one who is affiliated with SINAI or YCQ!

This week, in preparation for Yom Kippur, the grade 5 students at the Yeshiva of Central Queens headed to Flushing Meadow Park to participate in the Tashlich ceremony, and grades 1-5 students symbolically performed Kaparos.

Although they have already graduated and are now learning in various yeshivos in Israel, MTA alumni reunited with their friends and rebbeim over Sukkos. Rabbi Netanel Danto hosted a Simchas Beis HaSho’eivah for MTA alumni in Jerusalem. The event was filled with simchas Yom Tov as friends caught up and shared reflections on Elul z’man and the beginning of the yeshivah year. Rabbi Dov Emerson, while attending Eitan Katz’s Live “In Jerusalem 3” concert, had the opportunity to see many former talmidim. The group gathered before the show for pictures and reminiscing, and then danced the night away together, enjoying a special evening.

Midrash L’man Achai High School for Boys, based in Kew Gardens Hills, began the school year with educational hands-on activities in preparation for the Yamim Tovim. The bachurim studied the intricacies of the shofar and learned about the various forms of a ram’s horn. The boys then took turns blowing from the shofaros.