During the Aseres Yemei Teshuva, Bruriah students have been immersed in classes and programs that bring meaning to this special time of year and strengthen their connection with Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Bruriah’s first yom iyun of 5784 was dedicated to this endeavor, delving into the immortal words of the Yom Kippur machzor “Ochila laKel, achaleh Panav,” or as the yom iyun was entitled “He’s Only One Call Away.” It was only fitting that this yom iyun coincided with the yahrzeit of Bruriah’s illustrious principal, Chaya Newman a”h, as she enabled generations of Bruriah students to strengthen their bonds with Hakadosh Baruch Hu.

A film by Rabbi Yoel Gold set the tone, illustrating the remarkable impact of a single woman’s heartfelt prayer on behalf of an Israeli soldier. It was a powerful reminder of the impact of individual tefillah. Following a quick and delicious snack break, the program continued with student presentations that explored this theme. Students Avital Bohm, Abby Schwartz, Eliana Reichman and Bracha Berlin each spoke about their own personal encounter with the power of tefillah, where they recognized that the only answer in their time of need was to call out to Hashem and how Hashem helped them navigate their way through a difficult time.

To finish off the program, Bruriah students joined together for a powerful kumzits led by Kayla Broth. Broth explained to the students that there are many forms of tefillah, as not everything we need to say can be properly expressed with words. This is when we turn to song, as it can transcend regular tefillah. As the yom iyun came to a close with song, Bruriah students were left with the profound sense of the power of tefillah and its significance during the Yamim Noraim.