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On the HALB Mission to Israel, Woodmere residents Shira and Ari Hoschander and their family, on behalf of HALB, donated a Sefer Torah to the Bibas family in the merit that we should speedily see the return of Yarden, Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir, and all the other hostages currently being held in Gaza. The Torah dedication took place at the Bibas home in Nir Oz. “It is hard to accurately describe,” recounts Rabbi Englander, HALB Head of School, “but imagine standing in front of the home where this family was brutally taken, their toys still on the ground, standing next to the Bibas grandfather and members of their extended family, filling in letters of a Sefer Torah, singing Ani Ma’amin, crying, hugging and dancing. The family could not stop telling us how much this meant and what chizuk this gives them.” The Torah dedication continued in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square, where the Young Israel of Woodmere mission and hundreds of others joined to sing, dance and pray. The experience was overwhelming, emotional, heartbreaking, and uplifting for everyone who had the opportunity to be part of it, both near and far.

Orot welcomed Shawn Balva on Wednesday, December 6, as a guest speaker. Shawn shared his remarkable journey as a baal t’shuvah during his time in prison. Raised in Las Vegas, Shawn had dreams of pursuing a career as a professional football player. However, like many teenagers, he succumbed to the temptations of drug abuse and violence, leading him down a destructive path.

Last week, 16 talmidim from the Yeshiva University High School for Boys traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana, for four days to provide relief, assistance, and strength to those who have been directly impacted by natural disasters over the past several years.

On Wednesday, December 27, Yeshiva University High School for Girls (YUHSG) held its annual Yom Central event to welcome prospective eighth graders onto Central’s campus. The day provides students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in student life on the Holliswood campus. For Central students and faculty, it’s an opportunity to play host and to share what makes the Central experience special and unique.

Yeshiva Sha’arei Zion, YSZ, believes in creating an interconnected and engaging learning environment that seamlessly integrates Judaic and general studies, fostering a rich educational experience. Their approach to education was on full display this Chanukah as tradition was merged with contemporary teaching methods. The younger boys enthusiastically immersed themselves in a playful game of dreidel, introducing an element of real money that made the Chanukah festivities more enjoyable, and enhanced their understanding of financial concepts. Simultaneously, the older boys elevated their dreidel experience by applying mathematical skills and delving into equivalents and fractions.

Mazal tov to Morah Foular’s (2-204 and 2-207) Morah Reut’s (2-205 and 2-206) students on receiving their first Chumashim! Each class put on a spectacular performance at their respective Chagigot HaChumash. Students learned pasuk aleph of Bereishis inside the Chumash together for the very first time. It was truly a meaningful and special occasion and everyone should be blessed with much hatzlachah in their continued Torah studies.