On Sunday morning, October 26, 2014, the Yeshivat Noam Fourth Grade students and their parents gathered for the second consecutive year in Fort Lee, at the foot of the Palisade Cliffs, to observe the rising sun while davening Shacharit. This was in keeping with the school’s mission statement to teach students to love Torah and not just learn Torah.
Fourth Graders begin learning Mishnayot, specifically Brachot, which begins with discussions concerning appropriate prayer times in relation to sunrise and other celestial factors. The students were given a first-hand experience with the phenomenon. The mishnayot came alive for them as they stood together to witness the sunrise while davening.
The “Sunrise Minyan” is the brainchild of Rabbi Yaakov Nadler, Yeshivat Noam’s Fourth Grade rebbe. Indeed, at the start of Shemona Esrai, the sun’s rays were not yet visible, so Rabbi Nadler got up on the rocks along the Hudson riverbank and relayed an educational parable. When he was done, he turned around to the see the sunrise, and the minyan continued with Shemona Esrai, ensuring the proper vatikin (sunrise) nature of the davening.
Over 150 students, faculty, and parents waited for the sun in the slightly chilly, but comfortable, morning temperatures, nestled in by the gorgeous fall foliage, and the occasion was enjoyed by all.
Boruch Spivak, father of Ari, enjoyed it immensely, and said, “Ari and I were looking forward to it for weeks and Ari even went to sleep early instead of watching the World Series so he could be up. He even told me to double set my alarm. It was wonderful to see that the classroom learning came alive as Ari told me all about Alot HaSachar [dawn] and Neitz [sunrise]. Just a very well done Noam event as always, with parents, Torah, doughnuts, and nature.”
The children also said the event was “Really, really cool,” and “Awesome! I loved the hot chocolate!” This was in reference to the delicious refreshments served after davening for adults (coffee!) and children (cookies!) alike, followed by a hike around the nature paths on the grounds, all while watching the sun, and its gorgeous multi-hued rays, rise over New York City.
Mordechi Bodek is a proud parent of two Yeshivat Noam students, including one very happy 4th-grade girl.
By Mordechi (Martin) Bodek
