As we returned from the Chagim and saw the news that came out of Israel, it is fair to say that every school administrator and programmer felt an immediate call to action. How do we teach what is happening in our land? How can we help our students feel that they are making a meaningful contribution? How do we balance the seriousness of a crisis for our people while trying to maintain a sense of calm and normalcy?
These questions came up in a school programming chat on Monday morning. We turned to each other for ideas and inspiration. When the idea for a tefillah Zoom gathering was brought up, we all knew this is what we needed. To be honest, we don’t remember who brought up this idea originally. It didn’t really matter anymore and no one needed to take the credit. The goal was unity. In a matter of 24 hours, 35 schools signed on to work together to create a meaningful program filled with tefillah, chizuk and song. Each school took on a role for this program: some frontal and some behind the scenes. Watching the program unfold with everyone working together was the most inspiring piece of the process.
On Friday morning, over 8000 students in grades four-eight from across the East Coast logged into Zoom. The program was moderated by Rabbi Jeremy Litton from Hebrew Academy of Miami with an amazing lineup of teachers and administrators from different schools who led us in perakim of Tehillim, tefillot for chayalim, hostages, and the Tefillah l’Shalom HaMedina. The most poignant part of the program was ending with all of us singing “Acheinu,” “Hatikvah” and “Am Yisrael Chai.”
This program was not just a beautiful way to unite students from across the country, it felt like a microcosm of the tremendous efforts of so many in Am Yisrael right now: working together, using our strengths to help our family in Eretz Yisrael. A group of passionate educators united to create an event in which 8,000 students came together and stood up for Israel.
After the event, one student observed that normally when she meets students from the other schools, it’s at sports games and the feeling is very competitive. However, at this event, there was no competition. We were all on the same team. May our ongoing tefillot reach shamayim and may we see peace and safety in Eretz Yisrael b’karov, soon. We look forward to our next Unite in Tefillah event to be in Yerushalayim, bimheirah biyameinu.
Participating schools: ASHAR, Barkai, Berman Hebrew Academy, BMA, BPY, Bruriah Middle School, Bi-Cultural Hebrew Academy, HAFTR Middle School, HALB, HANC Elementary School, Hebrew Academy of Miami, JEC, JKHA, KHDS, Manhattan Day School, Moriah, North Shore Hebrew Academy, Ohr Chadash Academy, Ramaz School, RTA, Robert M. Beren Academy, RPRY, RYNJ, SAR Academy, Sinai at JKHA, Tenafly Chabad Academy, Yavneh Academy, Yeshivat Har Torah, Yeshiva of Central Queens, Yeshiva of Greater Washington, Yeshiva of Flatbush, Yeshivat He’Atid, Yeshivat Noam, Yeshivat Shalshelet.
We are so proud to have been a part of this incredible event. Kol hakavod to all of the schools for their participation and contributions to make it happen!
Shirley Gantz, Bruriah Middle School
Deena Lewin, Yeshivat Noam Elementary School
