What a day it was!! Not being able to be in school didn’t stop the Yavneh Academy third-fifth graders from participating in the eighth annual Lag B’Omer Maccabiah!

With background screens changed to country flags, the Yavneh athletes dressed in the color of their country’s flag, and there was a lot of cheering when the mute button wasn’t activated—the spirit of the day was amazing!

Opening ceremonies started off the day. Athletes gathered together, virtually, for the Olympic “bonfire” lighting, national anthems sung by Yavneh parent Johnny Shlagbaum, instructions for the day, and pump up video.

Athletes participated in individual challenges and entered their scores to help their teams work towards the gold medal! Challenges included blowing cups off of a table using a paper plate, flying paper airplanes into a box, tossing a ball into cups and more!

The students also participated in live Zoom challenges where they had to move a cookie from their forehead into their mouth with no hands, beat their teacher in rock-paper-scissors and balance cups on top of their head.

Of course, Yavneh athletes recognize how lucky they are to participate in such a special event during these times. The students took time to give back to their community by making window signs to cheer up people who walk past their homes and also signs to thank healthcare workers and all essential employees!

Congratulations to all athletes for a great virtual Maccabiah! Mazal tov to our medal winners: Gold- Finland. Silver- Venezuela. Bronze- Argentina.