How should a school commemorate October 7 in an age-appropriate way? Rather than making it a somber day, at RPRY students experienced a day of inspiration that was a “call to action” encouraging students to tap into their individual strengths to choose from the various responses to tragedy at their disposal.

Middle school students began the day with a meaningful kumzitz, finished sefer Tehillim together 10 times, made siyumim as a group on multiple masechtot of Mishnayot, learned from the lives of those lost by selecting a motto that they lived by and participated in an emunah session with Rabbi Yaakov Neuberger. During gym, students participated in a tzedaka-thon where they raised money for an organization that supports soldiers by running laps or shooting baskets. Students were also introduced to a new “middah of the month” initiative were they were inspired to sanctify speech in honor of a soldier who exemplified positive speech.

Upper elementary students participated in an inspiring United in Tefillah program with day schools across the country. Experiencing this powerful moment of achdut helped students recognize that when Am Yisrael is united, nothing can stand in our way. As a follow up to the program, students took on acts of kindness and created a chain-link of their commitments.

Lower elementary school students focused on the mitzvah of tzedaka and other acts of kindness, Discussions focused on how to support one another as a nation and provide assistance and chesed to those in need.

Early childhood dedicated the day to exploring friendship. As so many rabbis, teachers and brave chayalim have said: There is no right and no left, no chareidi and no chiloni; there are only Jews!

RPRY students in all divisions created beautiful picture frames with a tefillah for soldiers and hostages as a takeaway from this meaningful day.