This past Motzei Shabbos marked the culmination of Bruriah’s annual WINS (Winter INspiration on Saturday Nights) season, a series of Motzei Shabbos programs which include informal learning, chesed activities and a beautiful melava malka. The WINS program was started many years ago by beloved Bruriah teacher and grade advisor, Mrs. Amy Tropp.

The first event took place in Passaic where almost 50 students gathered for a night of inspiration and learning. Limudei Kodesh faculty Rabbi Chayim Gerson spoke about finding opportunities to personalize chesed and then using it to find one’s own personal mission. This was a perfect complement to everyone writing letters and assembling packages for chayalim.

The momentum continued at the next event with the assembly of care packages for displaced children in Israel. This was followed by inspiring words from Limudei Kodesh faculty Rabbi Judah Isaacs who discussed themes surrounding Adar.

The third and final WINS program featured Bruriah faculty Mrs. Baila Farkash addressing the students with deep insights about Jewish identity and the capacity of Jewish neshamos to reach out to each other in unlikely times and places. This led in to the chesed portion where students packaged mishloach manos to be distributed to poor families in the community.

“WINS provides a way for us to spend time with our friends on a Motzei Shabbos but with intention and a purpose,” explained junior Avital Schlissel. Junior Leeba Pariser concurred, “I really enjoy getting to hear our teachers teach outside of their class curriculum.”