Last Thursday, a joyous school-wide celebration at Westchester Torah Academy was held to mark Israel’s 73rd Yom Ha’atzmaut! With safety protocols firmly in place, and beginning with a rousing cry of “Boker Tov WTA!” and a fanfare of trumpets, a special tekes was held to salute the birth of the nation. Students were dressed for the day in blue and white, which added to the festive atmosphere, and were invited to take a “trip to Israel” as part of an immersive learning experience about the various regions of the country. Classes from Shorashim through eighth grade were assigned a different Israeli city or location from Eilat to the Golan, including important cultural sites such as Masada or Shuk Machane Yehudah. After receiving a briefing on their city or location, each class was tasked with a project to construct a 3D model of their assigned location using a variety of ordinary materials brought from home, as well as classroom art supplies. Sites both ancient and modern—such as the Kotel, the Knesset, the Old Jaffa port, the Israel Museum, and the synagogues of Tzfat—were explored and imaginatively recreated in a burst of student creativity and ingenuity! A delicious falafel lunch was then followed by spirited Israeli dancing with flags in the hallways outside of the classrooms. In the afternoon, the students’ creative projects were presented for everyone to see and admire, and ice cream and popcorn treats were enjoyed by all. The day concluded with Hebrew games, stories, an Israel-themed Kahoot, with an Israeli film screening for middle schoolers. The perfect combination of fun and learning, Yom Ha’atzmaut at WTA was a wonderful day of celebration, and a fitting tribute to the birth of our beloved homeland.