Frisch kicked off its Yom Ha’atzmaut celebrations with a beautiful tefillah chagigit, including a joyful rendition of Hallel. Rabbi David Goldfischer and a group of enterprising faculty led a thought-provoking educational program in which students explored the legacies of Rav Kook, Theodore Herzl and religious and secular Zionism. The student body participated in a celebratory chagigah in the shul—and sang a moving Hatikvah together—and concluded the morning’s festivities with a gala outdoor barbeque with plenty of sunshine, burgers, hot dogs and blue-and-white cookies.

“I love how Frisch always blends education with fun, and the Yom Ha’atzamut program was a great example of that,” said Ezra Rudansky ‘17. “I learned some of the philosophical reasons behind Zionism that I didn’t know before, and I had a great time celebrating with my friends at the chagigah and barbeque.”

There was a wonderful display of achdut and love for Israel on its 68th birthday.