As Jews, we’ve held a deep belief in communal prayer for generations. Notable, with Purim just passed, was the communal fast that Esther called for before her visit to the king. She called for the whole community to fast in prayer so that she would be successful in her venture to King Achashverosh, and B”H she was! Just as Hashem heard the Jews of Shushan, so too must he hear the cries of the entire global Jewish community now. On Friday, WTA joined together with Jews all around the world, and with one voice we recited the most central t’fillah, Shema Yisrael. Everyone hoped and prayed that the beautiful unified voice of Bnei Yisrael would reach Hashem, so that He brings all the remaining hostages and all the soldiers fighting for peace home safe.
Keeping with the traditions of Purim, this beautiful and heartfelt tefillah was juxtaposed with the fun of a Purim carnival. As has become a tradition at WTA, the eighth grade students organized the carnival, creatively building their own booths and facilitating a thrilling experience for every other student in the school! From the 2-year-olds all the way through the remainder of middle school, everyone had a chance to enjoy the different games and activities.
