Ma’ayanot’s virtual school spent the week before Pesach preparing with shiurim, a faculty panel, a student-produced Haggadah and a yom iyun. Ma’ayanot also continued to host nightly activities that fostered fun and connection between students. On Monday night, the Holiday Enhancement Committee invited students to turn their living rooms (or basements, or kitchens) into a crazy dance floor in an interactive school-wide dance party. On Tuesday evening, the Yachad Committee hosted high school student Ben Mars, who spoke about his experience living with Tourette’s syndrome, and afterward, Ma’ayanot Principal Rivka Kahan gave a shiur entitled “Three Approaches to Finding Meaning in the Shalosh Regalim.” On Wednesday night, each grade participated in a grade bonding trivia activity with fun, self-submitted facts about each student, and Tanach teacher Rabbi Jeremy Donath addressed “What Helped the Jewish People Get Through Shibud Mitzrayim That Could Help Us in This Current Crisis?”

Thursday evening saw a Pesach baking demonstration with Tasteful Creations CEO and Ma’ayanot parent Limor Levy, and a faculty panel with Haggadah insights and Pesach reflections. On Friday morning all students participated in a pre-Pesach yom iyun with Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz of Yeshiva University as keynote speaker, followed by faculty breakout sessions. Ma’ayanot students and faculty co-created a beautiful Haggadah featuring art and divrei Torah, spearheaded by Ateret Tollinsky (‘22). All week on an ongoing basis, Dean Bailey Braun and Freshman Dean Nina Bieler keep their virtual offices open for students to drop in.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Ma’ayanot administration, guidance department, faculty, Assistant Principal for Co-Curricular Life Rabbi Zev Prince, Director of Religious Programming Ora Schrier and Student Activities Director Aliza Adler, Ma’ayanot continues to educate effectively and maintain social bonds in this challenging time with a mix of fun, guidance and Pesach Torah.