On Friday, May 31, first graders welcomed families to share a heartfelt Siddur Ceremony and a song filled celebration that highlighted the incredible growth the first grade students experienced this year at Academies @ GBDS, under the loving guidance of their Judaic Studies teacher Morah Hana Cohen. The ceremony highlighted what the students learned in their tefillah curriculum, which emphasized how prayer helps us connect to God, the Jewish people and Israel. The prayers are taught in Hebrew, as well as the meaning of the prayers and relationship to the children. The eyes of parents, grandparents and friends were filled with tears of pride for the little munchkins that stood so sure of themselves as the next generation of proud Jews. The ceremony concluded with a special blessing the parents gave their children under the tallit.