On the Tuesday of Chanukah, BPY’s 8th grade students made a memorable visit to Barkai Yeshivah in Brooklyn for a special day of camaraderie and kindness. The visit was centered around chesed, fostering new friendships and experiencing meaningful Jewish traditions.
The day began with a warm and spirited welcome from the Barkai 8th grade students. Everyone gathered for tefillah and Torah reading, where the students from both schools prayed together in unity. They were introduced to the different customs that each school follows during tefillah. The BPY students shared their tradition of daily updates about what is happening in Israel, enriching the experience by learning from each other’s practices.
A special moment followed when two Torah scrolls were taken out, and both the BPY and Barkai students received aliyot to read from the Torah. This act symbolized the connection between the two schools and their shared commitment to Torah learning. As part of this experience, BPY students shared their school’s custom of making a religious “donation” or commitment after receiving an aliyah. They explained that each time they are called to the Torah, they commit to becoming a better person, focusing on a specific way to improve their actions or increase their observance of mitzvot. This practice resonated deeply with the Barkai students and faculty, who were so inspired that many of them also made personal commitments to strengthen their connection with Hashem through acts of kindness and greater mitzvah observance. The morning continued with a beautiful breakfast, where students mingled and enjoyed each other’s company.
After breakfast, the group engaged in a fun and interactive Human Bingo game, a creative icebreaker designed to help everyone get to know each other. BPY shaliach Morah Renana then led the students in a session of Channukah Bingo, but with a twist—only in Hebrew! The students tested their language skills while playing, and the fun continued with a round of Charades and a Chanukah quiz, further immersing them in Jewish traditions and Hebrew language.
In the afternoon, the boys participated in a chesed project by preparing food for the Sephardic Bikur Holim distribution, while the girls headed to the Sephardic Community Center to do the same. These meaningful acts of charity allowed the students to contribute to the community and experience the true spirit of chesed.
Afterward, the students enjoyed a delicious pizza lunch together. To close the day on an inspirational note, Rav Hananel, BPY shaliach, delivered a dvar Torah, reminding the students of the importance of kindness, community and Torah learning.
The visit to Barkai Yeshivah was a truly beautiful and enriching experience for both the BPY and Barkai students. It was a day filled with meaningful connections, shared learning, and the true spirit of chesed. Through the activities and discussions, students not only deepened their friendships but also strengthened their bonds to Jewish traditions, community and mitzvot. A special thank you to Barkai Yeshivah and Aaron Shasha, their middle school dean of students, for organizing and hosting this unforgettable day. This will be a cherished annual Chanukah tradition and BPY can’t wait to host them in the near future.
