A Shabbos of growth, connection, and inspiration in Kew Gardens Hills! This past Shabbos, Parshas VaYeira, 21 seniors from Ezra Academy had the incredible opportunity to spend a beautiful Leadership Shabbaton in the warm and welcoming Kew Gardens Hills community. Our students were embraced with tremendous love and hospitality, with many graciously hosted by Ezra Academy alumni who opened their homes and hearts to the next generation of Ezra students.
Friday night began with a magnificent Shabbos seudah at Od Yosef Chai, where over 50 students, staff members, and their families came together for an evening filled with singing, inspiring divrei Torah, thought-provoking games, and a powerful sense of togetherness. Following the meal, the senior girls enjoyed an uplifting oneg featuring an inspiring address by Rebbetzin Ora Nissanov. Meanwhile, the senior boys gathered at the home of Ezra alumnus Elan Shamsiev, who kept the singing, delicious food, and incredible energy going late into the night.
Shabbos morning continued with meaningful moments that our seniors will carry with them well beyond graduation. The students joined the community for davening at Rabbi Elbaz’s shul, followed by a beautiful kiddush. Rabbi Elbaz then delivered a powerful and heartfelt message to the seniors, emphasizing that 12th grade represents a major crossroads in their lives. He spoke about the importance of the decisions they will make in the coming year and encouraged them to consider spending a year learning in Israel, an opportunity to discover their true selves, strengthen their connection to Torah, and build the foundation for the people they aspire to become. His words resonated deeply with the students and perfectly captured the mission of the Shabbaton: to inspire our seniors to think seriously about their futures while strengthening their Jewish identity and connection to one another.
As Shabbos drew to a close, the inspiration only grew stronger. The students gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Zev Aeder for an unforgettable musical Havdalah. With three guitars playing and voices raised together in song, the energy was so powerful that the house seemed to shake! The incredible weekend concluded with a fun-filled Motza’ei Shabbos bowling outing at JIB Lanes, bringing the seniors together for one final evening of friendship and excitement. The Ezra Academy 12th Grade Leadership Shabbaton was truly a smashing success, filled with growth, achdus, inspiration, and memories that will last a lifetime. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the entire Kew Gardens Hills community, our wonderful Ezra alumni, and all the families who opened their homes and hearts to make this Shabbos so special. The love and warmth our students experienced demonstrated the extraordinary power of a community coming together to inspire the next generation. We eagerly look forward to building on this incredible momentum at our full-school Shabbaton next month!