November is an exciting but busy time for students and faculty alike at the Yeshiva University High School for Girls (Central), and a hectic schedule gives observing Shabbos every week additional significance. Inspired by The Shabbos Project, which celebrates global Shabbos observance on November 15 and 16, Central named the week of November 11 “Shabbos Week at Central.”
The week was coordinated by Central’s F.I.R.E. (Friends Inspiring Religious Experiences) Fellows and the group’s advisor, Programming Director and Judaic Studies faculty member, Mrs. Yael Axelrod. “We wanted to do something that made students excited about Shabbos, and give them an opportunity to learn more about it,” Mrs. Axelrod said. “Our F.I.R.E. Fellows worked hard to organize events to ensure that we had something happening every day – from the Monday morning panel to the culminating Shabbos party on Friday, which included dancing, singing, and a choir performance.”
Senior F.I.R.E. Fellows Gabrielle Boriskin, Hannah Fink, Amy Morris, and Ava Reschke spearheaded the efforts. “Once the F.I.R.E. Fellows heard about Shabbos week, we immediately jumped on the amazing opportunity and started planning,” Hannah said. “The F.I.R.E. Fellows love when Mrs. Axelrod comes to us with our next mission. We all worked together to make sure that this week was the best week. We made sure that everything was perfect, down to putting the last tea light in the perfect hiding spot for the scavenger hunt.”
The Monday morning panel, “Why Shabbos is Hype,” featured Learning Specialist Mrs. Kathy Gold, History Department faculty member, Mrs. Saritte Wolkenstein, and Judaic Studies faculty member Mrs. Rebecca Teper discussing the importance of their Shabbos practices. On Tuesday, a lunch chaburah with Mrs. Axelrod and the screening of a Shabbaton highlight video marked the day. Wednesday brought a pre-Shabbos scavenger hunt, with the class of 2027 winning the grand prize. On Thursday, Central’s Cooking Club sponsored a babka straw bake sale, with all proceeds going to Chicken for Shabbos, a charitable organization supporting families in need in Israel.
Shabbos Week was capped off by a schoolwide Shabbos party on Friday, with Friday Night Onegs hosted by Central families that evening in Brooklyn, Queens, West Hempstead, and Woodmere. All events promoted a core message: the power of observing Shabbos.” Part of the mitzvah of keeping Shabbos is preparing for it,” Mrs. Axelrod continued. “Thinking about it, considering how we want to keep it or celebrate it, and getting excited for its arrival. Having the week that comes before to focus on Shabbos is significant. Shabbos is an oasis in time, a chance for us to disconnect from our busy lives and reflect on what is most important to us.
The students agree: “Our goal for the week was to enhance the Central community’s Shabbos by feeling little bits of that Shabbos magic throughout the week,” Hannah said. “It has been so nice to watch the entire school enjoy all of our fun events. Having our ideas come to fruition is the absolute best feeling.”
