At the Yeshiva University High School for Girls (Central), December has become a time for students to step forward and create real change, embracing chesed as both responsibility and joy. It was a natural move for YUHSG, with over ten active chesed clubs and a long tradition of volunteer work, both locally and abroad, to make this December Chesed Month at Central.
Throughout the month, the school will partner with organizations throughout the New York area to perform volunteer work. On Monday, December 1, the class of 2026 traveled to Yad Leah Warehouse and Volunteer Center in Passaic, New Jersey, to contribute bags and bags of donated clothing and help them in their efforts. On Wednesday, December 10, students went far and wide to perform hands-on service work with a number of organizations. The freshman class worked with the Israel Chesed Center, while the sophomore and junior classes had the opportunity to choose where they devoted their volunteer hours, with options ranging from Yachad Ivdu of Brooklyn to Masbia Soup Kitchen to Bobbie’s Place and JCC RP. Students helped to prepare free kosher meals for those in need, distribute clothing to local families, and assist children with a day of learning. Russian-speaking students helped to put on a Chanukah party for senior citizens.
Other highlights of Chesed Month included guest speaker Micah Kaufman, who discussed chesed work on December 12, the annual YUHSG Blood Drive on December 23, and a month-long toy drive benefiting both Chai Lifeline and At the Top of My Lungs.
Chesed Month also highlights the travel-based service opportunities embedded in YUHSG life. Last year, a group of sophomores and juniors traveled to Asheville, North Carolina, to help rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Helene. Working in partnership with the Orthodox Union Relief Missions, students spent days clearing debris, repairing damaged structures, and supporting a homeowner who had lost their home to the storm.
On December 8-10, juniors Elianah Aminova, Liel Benlulu, Coco Hazan, Atara Krieger, Annabelle Kreitner, Kayla Leb, Aden Muskat, Eliana Sobolev, Sarah Wagman, and Avigail Weiss, chaperoned by the YUHSG Learning Center Specialist and Junior Grade Dean, Ms. Sophie Blumenthal, had a similar transformative experience in Tampa, Florida, where communities are still recovering from recent storm devastation. The Tampa mission, which was also in conjunction with OU Relief Missions, provided students with the chance to engage in meaningful, labor-intensive chesed while learning the profound impact that compassion can have on the larger world.
“I chose to go on this chesed trip because helping people when they’re going through something really difficult is important to me,” said junior Coco Hazan. “I love chesed because even small things we do can make a real difference in someone’s life. When I heard about this trip, I wanted to take the opportunity and be part of something meaningful. This felt like a way for me to help out however I can, and it’s a special kind of opportunity that doesn’t come around often.”
As always, the goal is simple: to help students understand that their actions, small and large, can change lives. Special thanks go to YUHSG Director of Religious and Israel Guidance and Senior Grade Dean Mrs. Yael Axelrod, as well as our Director of Student Activities, Mrs. Sydney Yaros, who worked to facilitate Chesed Month.
