Naaleh’s Chanukah programming blended excitement, camaraderie and learning.

The inaugural big sister/little sister event was a heartwarming success in fostering meaningful connections. Students formed “families” through a creative game, and the families bonded over a lively game of Pass the Present with icebreakers to get to know each other under each layer of wrapping. Then they had a delicious donut decorating competition.

Another highlight of the week was the rodeo Chanukah shagiga. The celebration was brought to new heights with Kangoo shoes, games, a photo booth, latkes, Mystery Maccabee reveals and an abundance of ruach. Adding to the joy, members of Yachad joined the festivities, emphasizing Naaleh’s commitment to inclusivity, hosted by the Naaleh Yachad Club and Chesed committee.

Never forgetting the educational component in all of the excitement, the students enjoyed “Learning With a Spin,” where they gathered around a hot cocoa bar and spun a dreidel to determine their starting point for round-robin learning with the madrichot. Multiple sessions covered diverse topics, including divrei Torah, historical events, the tefillos of Chanukah and more.

It was a week full of programming that embodied Naaleh’s core values, fostering a sense of community, celebration and continuous learning.