One of the great Yavneh Purim traditions is the Megilla reading at the school chagiga by the eighth grade boys. This year, 14 students lained at two concurrent readings in school on Sunday morning. Over the past few years, a connected tradition has developed, as Rabbi Ross and the Megilla boys visit each of the early childhood classrooms to talk about Purim and to read Megilla for the youngest students (and to give them a chance to practice their gragging techniques). It is a treat for everyone involved—the younger students love the chance to have a visit from the “big kids” in the school, and the eighth graders are always amazed at how well prepared the ECD students are for Purim.

Over the past couple of years, a new tradition has been started as well, as some of the Megilla boys have been visiting Morah Mikayla’s fifth grade classes to help them review the story of the Megilla. As one of the main messages of the Purim story is the need for the Jews to come together as a people, the Megilla has served as an opportunity to tie together so many parts of the student population.