This past Friday, the RYNJ middle school boys enjoyed their final Kiddush Levana event of the year. Through stories and song, staff highlighted the theme of kiddush Hashem in an effort to remain on the spiritual high attained through the Omer and Shavuot. As the boys enjoyed some delicious potato kugel, they heard from Rabbi Levi Neubort, RYNJ parent and rabbi of Anshei Lubavitch of Fair Lawn, as he inspired them to seek kiddush Hashem opportunities all around them.

As the Farbreng In Shabbos event for each grade concluded on the outside turf, students sang an emotional “Acheinu” and the boys swayed with one another. To close the program with a call to action, the boys were encouraged to spread their light through adopting a daily deed until the end of the school year (via a form with several kiddush Hashem examples on their grade-wide Google Classrooms)—to merit מאפילה לאורה.

“The greatest trick the yetzer hara plays on us is to try to convince us that we’re each just one person. ‘How can I really make a difference?’ But the greatest gift you each have is your individual light you can shed upon the world. A single candle can illuminate a dark room—go and brighten up the world!”

May these exceptional RYNJ boys continue to bring us all—and the world—tremendous nachas!