On Thursday morning, the WDS community came together for a beautiful and reflective Tashlich ceremony, setting the tone for Yom Kippur. On the shores of the Long Island Sound, students, parents and faculty gathered to engage in this meaningful tradition, reflecting on the past year and preparing for the year ahead.

Rabbi Klinger led the youngest learners in song and shared the poignant story “The Hardest Word,” teaching the importance of saying sorry and learning from our mistakes. Afterward, students cast bread into the Sound, symbolizing the casting away of sins and wrongdoings, allowing us to reflect, repent and strive to be better in the coming year.

While the lower division (ganon 2s—grade one) participated in this special tashlich ceremony, the upper and middle divisions (grades two through eight) gathered with their parents for morning prayers in the shul and coach house. Afterward, the older students joined together to learn from Rabbi Klinger, who explained the powerful ways we can repent and grow through teshuva (commitment to self-improvement), tefillah (strengthening our relationship with Hashem), and tzedaka (helping others).

WDS instills the values of Torah, Medinat Yisrael and kindness in students, emphasizing the importance of focusing on community. Together, students danced and wished each other a year filled with happiness, health and peace, grounded in connection to Hashem and to one another.