Last week the students and staff at Academies at GBDS commemorated Yom HaShoah with an emotional tekes led by eighth grade students. Everyone davened and stood in silent reflection during the morning siren. The students presented Holocaust poetry and lit six memorial candles in honor of the six million Jewish lives lost in the Holocaust. The tekes was followed by a day of meaningful learning and reflection.

This week on Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut, students paid tribute to the past and celebrated the richness of Jewish life and the great journey of the Jewish people from victimization to sovereignty. On Yom Hazikaron, students participated in a tekes that celebrated the sacrifices of those who lost their lives in the name of creating and defending a Jewish state. On Yom Ha’atzmaut our school was transformed into Shuk Israeli. The students arrived at the shuk by taking a flight on an El Al plane. Students experienced a simulation of the plane ride from having their passports checked by flight attendants, being greeted by a pilot and enjoyed the blue skies from the windows of the airplane on the way. The shuk was filled with music and dancing, games, art projects and all around fun that allowed students to experience the true spirit of Yom Ha’atzmaut in Israel.