During Aseret Yemei Teshuva, students at Ma’ayanot participated in activities that deepened their connections, spiritually and communally, through teshuva, tefillah, and tzedaka.
On Thursday, September 28, students were privileged to attend a Kinus Teshuva shiur by Rabbi Menachem Penner, dean of RIETS at Yeshiva University. Rabbi Penner spoke on the topic of “Letting Go: What We Won’t Need in the Year to Come.” Walking them through airport procedures as a metaphor for Aseret Yemei Teshuva, Rabbi Penner inspired our students to prepare for the flight of year 5778. “Important questions are asked,” Rabbi Penner said. “Who are you? Where are you going? What are you taking with you and what are you leaving behind?”
Following Rabbi Penner’s talk, students participated in a communal recitation of Hatarat Nedarim.
Later that day, the weekly Bruce Ritholtz z”l mishmar program was dedicated to theme of “Opening the Yom Kippur Machzor.” Nearly 300 students chose from a series of four sessions: Leah Herzog, Tanach teacher, gave a shiur on the topic: “U’Netaneh Tokef: Understanding Awe.” Debbie Stone, NCSY’s associate director of education, led a discussion on the “Limits of Forgiveness.” Rabbi Dr. Jay Goldmintz, teacher of Tanach and Jewish philosophy, gave a shiur on the topic “Censorship, Aleinu and the Rendezvous with Hashem.” Finally, alumnae fellows Nina Miller, Tamar Schwartz and Gabi Lerner (Class of 2017) led a round robin discussion about “What’s in the Machzor.”
In addition, the students will be visiting residents at Care One and will be decorating the sukkah there and at Holy Name Hospital. Ma’ayanot wishes everyone a gmar chatima tova and a chag sameach!
