The Moriah middle school experienced an incredibly moving and inspiring program on Friday, November 3, as students marked the shloshim for those killed in the October 7 terrorist attack. You could hear a pin drop in the beit knesset throughout the hour-long program. Rabbi Daniel Alter, Moriah head of school, explained the concept of “shloshim” as a transitional stage in the mourning process. Together they recited Tehillim, the Mi Sheberach for Chayalai Tzahal and sang “Acheinu.” Newly arrived visitors from Israel, Aviv Ben Shlush and Almog Winner, lit memorial candles for those who had perished and spoke to students about the importance of the support we have offered to our brothers and sisters in Israel. Almog tragically lost his brother, Yahav Winner, in the attack on Kibbutz Kfar Aza where they were raised. A professional filmmaker, like his deceased brother, Almog spoke of his commitment to utilize his craft to help the world understand Israel’s plight. He shared the music his brother had written to Mizmor Le’David that was sung by his family every Erev Shabbat.
The Moriah students have a very personal connection to chalayeli Tzahal. Many alumni have joined the Israel Defense Forces and are serving in this war. In addition, Moriah’s own Rav Adiel Mhazri, a shaliach and beloved middle school teacher who arrived at Moriah in September 2022 with his wife, Yonit, and their six children, returned to Israel to join his unit. He has been sending videos regularly which the students have watched. In each video, dressed in his army uniform with his gun in hand, Rav Adiel expresses his emunah in Hashem, his belief in the justice of our cause, and his pride in the uniqueness of Am Yisrael.
A highlight of the program was a presentation by Morah Yonit Mhazri, who described the nightmare that we all woke up to on Shemini Atzeret morning and the dream that we have created in response to this nightmare. In her talk, which stressed the unity and beauty of Am Yisrael during this perilous time, she encouraged students to take on extra mitzvot and, in particular, to do that which our soldiers cannot do, for example daven with a minyan and listen to kriat haTorah.
The program ended as everyone sang Hatikvah together. In keeping with the theme of unity and chesed, many students spent their lunch time designing cards for young, displaced Israeli students. These students would be receiving new backpacks sent to Israel with the Englewood mission that left Saturday night. Inside, waiting for them, are the cards created by the Moriah students, wishing them good luck as they begin in their new school, far from home.
