RKYHS Students were fortunate to hear from Mrs. Rena Ariel whose 13 year old daughter Hallel Yaffa Ariel z”l was tragically murdered by a terrorist last year in her home in Israel. Mrs. Ariel’s powerful words impacted the students as she conveyed her strong emunah and her family’s unwavering strength and fortitude as they remain living in their home in Kiryat Arba.

Mrs. Ariel imparted to the students some of the lessons learned from Hallel including to look around and see who needs you. Sometimes even the smallest act for another person can make the greatest impact. Everyone has their challenges, but it is important to look beyond your own personal issues and see what you can do for your fellow man.

The upcoming Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut holidays were put into context by Mrs. Ariel as she conveyed that mourning and celebration must come together, that life and death are combined. She concluded her talk with the inspirational words, “I chose to live, I could have died — it would have been so easy for us to fall down and give up. We could decide to fall apart or to live, and we chose to live.”