Friday was no ordinary Friday for BPY eighth grade students! Kitah chet was treated to a Shabbat-in. Given that spending Shabbat together at a shabbaton is not a possibility this year, Shabbat, and all the special parts of it, were brought to students in school giving them the opportunity to spend quality time engaging in fun, meaningful and creative COVID-safe activities. During the week leading up to the Shabbat-in, students worked together to plan and prepare for the Shabbat-in, making it truly a grade-wide joint effort.

The day kicked off with a beautiful grade-wide tefillah and special “kiddush” breakfast. The students were then wowed by a live game show that came with all the bells and whistles—giveaways, special lighting and lots of lively music keeping the energy going as the classes competed against one another in several Shabbat-themed games. Lunch, too, included all the trappings of a Shabbat meal—kugel, cholent and of course some dessert and divrei Torah.

The afternoon was filled with besamim projects in preparation for the melave malka. The day finished off with an inspiring kumzitz led by Rabbi Zucker and Rav Aviv. A wonderful ending to a fun-filled, meaningful day.

The students left the day ready to continue the fun and excitement at the melave malka on Motzei Shabbat. The entire middle school came back to BPY for three amazing activities by grade, including shira and S’mores around a campfire, sushi making and sports inflatables. Thank you to BPY parent Yumi Levin for teaching everyone how to make sushi and for sharing some Japanese history. What amazing energy and achdut in the BPY middle school.