On Wednesday, March 13, SAR hosted the Second Annual Inter-School Bracha Bowl. As returning champions, SAR hosted this event and welcomed teams from 11 other schools. The participating schools came from across the New York and New Jersey metropolitan region: BPY, He’Atid, MDS, Moriah, Noam, Park East, Ramaz, RYNJ, SAR, WDS, WTA and Yavneh. Rav Steven Exler from the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale served as the rabbinic judge.
The event was originally created by Rabbi Steven Eisenberg, director of Judaic studies at the Ramaz Lower School. Over the last two months, there were in-class written quizzes. Students with the highest scores from each grade competed in their school-wide bracha bee. The top four or five winners in each school then competed in the inter-school bracha bowl. After months of intense study of brachot at each of the schools, 12 teams of students from grades three-five convened at SAR, ready to compete.
“The energy was palpable and everyone was excited to participate. The live audience was made up of SAR students who cheered on the teams from all the schools with positive spirit and derech eretz,” described SAR coach Sharon Sturm.
All the contestants were welcomed by SAR Principal Rabbi Binyamin Krauss, who reminded the participants and spectators that whatever they are doing, their hearts are in Israel. Krauss led everyone in saying Tehillim and the singing of “Hatikvah.”
Each team received color-coded T-shirts and lined up at their buzzers. Digital Dov created a fast-paced and fun-filled game show. The questions ranged from what are the brachot on food and mitzvot, to describing curious foods, to finishing longer brachot.
Sturm shared, “It was a tremendous Kiddush Hashem to see the kids get excited about learning brachot and cheer each other on for that reason … In a tremendous display of unity and friendship, the program ended with all the teams on stage, as well as a beautiful and moving singing of ‘Acheinu,’ over 400 voices strong. When all the points were tallied, there was a tie for first place! This could not have been a more perfect ending to an extraordinary day as we are constantly reminding each other this year that b’yachad n’natzeach, we are all stronger together.
“I think that it was really notable that there was pride in Judaic studies,” she added. “A lot of times, these big events happened for sports or for general studies. It was just amazing that there were hundreds of kids and people on livestream in so many places, cheering on kids who had studied their brachot. I continue to find the whole thing very inspiring. The kids in the audience were just wowed and awed. There was so much excitement for mitzvot.”
Sturm explained how the teachers are a big part in preparing the children. “There’s a lot of in-class review and games and lessons throughout the day, paying careful attention to brachot during snack time and lunch time.”
The SAR team included third-grader Caleb Nahmias, fourth-grader David Schramm and fifth- graders Liam Fromer and Charles Scher. Fromer explained that it was exciting to prepare, especially that this was “learning for life.”
Fromer described how he prepared. “At first, I was reading through everything, making sure I knew it. Closer to March, I asked my little brother to help me study and quiz me.” His advice to other students is to “study and go through everything and know all the brachot by heart.” Scher added, “I studied as much as I could. I got my parents to quiz me, my grandparents, and my friend Liam. I am very proud of myself and my team.” Scher’s advice is to “study your hardest. If you don’t make it, there is always next year, but that depends on what grade you are in.”
Sturm concluded, “No one expected a tie; the way Digital Dov scores these games, the odds of there being a tie are just so slim.”
When the scores were tallied, with SAR and Noam tied, Sturm expressed, “It just felt like such the right thing that this game this year this event should end in a tie.”
Judy Berger is a Bronx/Westchester/Connecticut community editor at The Jewish Link.
