The benefits of using positive speech is a core component of student programming at Bruriah. Rina Finkelstein (Teaneck, ‘17), VP of wordwatch, Bruriah’s shmirat halashon program, introduced this year’s programming through a narrated video—which can also be seen on Facebook and Instagram. Brought to Bruriah originally by Aliza Feder, wordwatch is a program to help with shmirat halashon and the benefits of using positive speech instead of negative speech. The book “Wordwatch” accompanied the first program. Through skits, videos, posters and reminders, wordwatch has motivated, inspired and helped people with their shmirat halashon. The signature wordwatch flyers in fire-engine red have helped brand the program in Bruriah over the years. Bruriah’s athletes read a chapter from “Wordwatch” before each game to help them focus on sportsmanship and the importance of grace in victory or defeat. This year’s theme for wordwatch is the power of one and individual things each and every person can do to help with his or her wordwatch. The program was broken out two days before Rosh Hashanah with a video showing the importance of words, the power of speech and the impact of changing perspective. Wordwatch is looking forward to an upcoming year filled with skits, videos and programs to inspire people and help everyone with their own wordwatch.