To prepare students for the Yamim Noraim, Bruriah truly maximized the few days students had in school leading up to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. While some intense rainfall did close the building on the second day of school, Bruriah hosted an array of Zoom shiurim given by its own wonderful teachers to continue preparing students for Rosh Hashanah. The following day, the girls were privileged to hear a pre-Rosh Hashanah shuir by Rav Yaakov Glasser, rabbi of the Young Israel of Passaic- Clifton. Rabbi Glasser explained what it means to truly choose life on Rosh Hashanah and that the capability for change lies within each girl. Bruriah students left the shiur empowered ready for a new year with new opportunities.

On the Friday before Yom Kippur, students participated in a school-wide Tehillim-athon and 9-11 program. Everyone had the honor of listening to a member of the parent body, Jonathan Pittinsky, a 9-11 survivor, as he recounted his harrowing experience on that fateful morning. Bruriah students then channeled their inspiration from his speech into multiple completions of Sefer Tehillim together. Students were able to sponsor Tehillim names for refuah sheleima or l’iluy nishmas of a loved one, and all the proceeds of these sponsorships went to benefit Hatzalah.

In the classrooms, Bruriah teachers were equally as invested in harnessing students’ appreciation of the yemei hadin. In each Chumash class, students reviewed the tefilos of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and in each TSBP class students were engaged in the halachos and minhagim of the days. Seniors even heard several of their own teachers speak about their own motivations during the Aseres Yemei Teshuva.

Prior to Yom Kippur (after this paper goes to print), Bruriah is also planning a yom iyun devoted to strengthening emunah and bitachon. The guest speaker, Mrs. Aliza Abrams Koenig, will speak about her relationship with Hashem while receiving a kidney transplant, followed by TSBP Department Chair Rabbi Zev Goldberg, who will provide further chizuk for students about emunah.

Thank you to the program directors, Mrs. Yael Bleicher and Ms. Dena Lichtman, and to all of superlative teachers who enabled students to walk into the yemei hadin with a greater appreciation for teshuva, emunah and their relationship with Hakadosh Baruch Hu.