IVDU LI was fortunate to begin a Big Brother Program with a select few boys from DRS’s ninth grade. After sharing some time eating delicious doughnuts, the boys from HALB’s DRS High School joined the boys from IVDU LI for a fun activity of human bingo, an enjoyable ice breaker where the boys had to find out information about each other and get to know one another better. They had to walk around the room finding out “who has a pet dog” or “who plays a musical instrument” amongst other fun facts.

On Monday, February 28, MTA raised awareness for Shalom Task Force’s important programs and services by hosting Go Purple Day. Coordinated by Juniors and Shalom Task Force Fellows, Avi Blachman, Isaac Cohen, Aryeh Manevitz, and Eitan Rochwarger, the day was dedicated to promoting education and awareness around healthy relationships through shiurim, programs, discussions, tz’dakah campaigns, and purple-themed giveaways. Go Purple Day is the culmination of the Shalom Task Force Purple Fellowship, where MTA’s Shalom Task Force Fellows joined students from schools across the United States and Canada to develop their leadership skills through the lens of domestic abuse education. The Fellowship consists of a nine-week curriculum taught once a week over Zoom by Shalom Task Force’s staff and exciting guest lecturers. Topics included healthy relationships, red flags, boundaries, supporting a friend, stigma, barriers to coming forward, event planning, elevator pitches, fundraising, and advocacy.

Mazal Tov to Eliezer Graber on being selected as National Merit Finalist by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation! The National Merit®️ Scholarship Program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. Over one and a half million students are eligible for this recognition, and Eliezer is among the elite 1,600 students to make it to this stage.