For the Moriah middle schoolers, every day was jam packed with teachers and students living Chanukah together. Beginning with an inspirational Hallel every morning, the staff coordinated special programming for each day of Chanukah. From eighth grade girls making donuts, to an uplifting mesibah at Ohr Simcha in Englewood, to an exciting Uri Davidi concert, there was constantly something exciting going on.
The eighth grade girls had the special opportunity to visit the houses of their rebbeim, Rabbi Lipstein and Rabbi Kahana, for a unique Chanukah mesiba. Songs were sung, Divrei Torah were given and food was eaten as the students enjoyed being in the presence of their rebbe outside of a classroom setting. The seventh grade boys celebrated at Rabbi Eisenberger’s house with joyous dancing, delicious food and an inspirational candle-lit kumzitz to end the evening. The music and dancing was so intense Rabbi E had no time for his annual dreidel competition!
The last days of Chanukah were the most intense with Maccabiah leading into Moriah Reads. Programs included a lip-dub video star project that each grade cohort, from each of the army brigades, had to coordinate and feature themes pertaining to Chanukah and their brigade. They also had a special team-building contest to promote the trust and unity needed in each army brigade. The students attended special shiurim on the topics of nissim in Jewish history, the miracles of Eretz Yisrael and the problems that video games present to this generation by desensitizing us to war and violence. Additionally, students participated in fun Israeli-themed competitions such as a yeadiat haaretz/yediot klaliyot bee, a Hebrew spelling bee, an Israeli-themed Chopped competition and much more. Some highlights on the last day were a talk with Debbi Sable, the daughter of Yehuda Avner and the middle school Goods and Services Auction raising over $2,000 for Hatzalah and The Seeing Eye.
The warmth really showed when at the end of each day, the students gathered together for candle lighting and to sing “Maoz Tzur” together followed by Maariv.
