Each year, Bruriah students take the stage in a student-led production showcasing the range of talents of the Bruriah student body. This year’s production about Israel takes on a new, powerful significance, given the current events in Eretz Yisrael. Entitled “Chazak V’Ematz”, this year’s production is being used as a transformative medium to support the expression of ideas and emotions surrounding recent events and our connection to our homeland. Accordingly, Bruriah called upon several outstanding individuals, accomplished in areas of chesed, giving and growth, to each mentor groups of students on their respective roles in the production, providing an added dimension and greater understanding to each performance.
Dr. Aimee Baron, Founder and Executive Director of I Was Supposed to Have a Baby, a non-profit geared towards providing support for individuals struggling with infertility, spoke of the importance of communal outreach and building healthy support systems with each other. She placed a particular focus on building empathy within our respective communities as the group of students she addressed will be in a dance illustrating the various community members who help others.
Mr. Donny Abramoff, father of a proud Bruriah alumna, spoke to the students choreographing and starring in the Chesed Dance. Mr. Abramoff was instrumental in leading multiple chizuk missions to Israel in the aftermath of October 7th, and his words provided students with new insights about caring for our brothers and sisters in Israel. He discussed the chizuk our students’ letters, cards, gifts and tefillot brought to the chayalim fighting in Gaza.
Mrs. Fraidy Hook, mother of several proud Bruriah alumnae, spoke about her experience of being the mother of a soldier. She addressed her group of students, whose emotional dance will depict a soldier returning home, with a firsthand account of the array of emotions surrounding a loved one’s army service.
Mrs. Erica Engel, beloved Bruriah teacher and seminary advisor, addressed the students starring in the ballet which depicts the human experience within the lens of humanity. She opened up about the loss of her mother and how she moved forward in the aftermath of her loss.
Finally, Mr. Yakir Wachstock, founder of the Boots for Israel initiative, inspired the students with the story of his mission. Shortly after October 7th, he wanted to donate 80 pairs of combat boots to chayalim, and when thousands of people responded to request those 80 pairs of boots, he realized he had to do more. Mr. Wachstock ignited a call to action, to step in when you see a need in your community that must be addressed, a message that cultivates the leadership within each of the students.
Bruriah’s innovative educational approach this year has drawn students into the school production in unprecedented ways. “The idea is for production to be a space for students to explore timely human experiences,” explained Mrs. Kayla Broth, Bruriah’s Production Director. “We are really zeroing in on individuals, on real people, and how they experience challenges.”
This series of programs was made possible by a grant from the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, and Bruriah is incredibly grateful for their partnership this year with important initiatives like these. “Chazak V’Ematz” will be performed on Sunday, March 23 in the legendary Bruriah Ballroom. Tickets go on sale next week.
