Bnei Akiva Zionist youth movement opens Lawrence-Cedarhurst branch

By Baruch Spier

Issue of Feb. 27, 2009 / 3 Adar 5769

A new Bnei Akiva Shabbos afternoon program began Feb. 21 at the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst, combining recreational activities with educational values for a group of 50 boys and girls.

“Bnei Akiva is not only about having fun, it is supplemental education through fun and games, led by the youth of the community,” said Rivka Sassoon, one of the founders of the Lawrence-Cedarhurst branch.

The Shabbos program, led by 15 counselors, started with a ‘mifkad,’ the opening ceremony common to all Bnei Akiva activities; the children stood at attention, followed Hebrew commands for stance changes and sang the Bnei Akiva anthem.

Boys and girls then split up into separate groups to participate in games and activities that taught about Israel and introduced some of the concepts of Bnei Akiva. Before the program ended for the day the girls were singing Zemirot, while the boys were reviewing the Parsha.

The program is headed by Alona Rinot and Nofar Voscovoinik, who are both spending their second year of Israeli National Service in the United States as part of the Bat Ami program. They volunteer at the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach during the week, helping students with Hebrew and Israeli studies. National Service is a program for which many dati (observant) Israeli girls volunteer, in lieu of compulsory military service.

Sassoon had the idea of starting the new Bnei Akiva branch after hosting the previous Bat-Ami girls in her Cedarhurst home about a year ago. She spoke to Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum of the Young Israel about opening up a Five Towns branch of the religious Zionistic movement.

“My idea was to have children from all the shuls and schools come to one place so they could meet new friends and have a positive Shabbos afternoon experience,” said Sassoon.

Sassoon, who holds a degree in education from Michlala’s Jerusalem College for Women, made aliyah with her family when she was 11 years old. She participated in Bnei Akiva in her Jerusalem neighborhood. Two years ago, Sassoon moved with her husband and three kids to Cedarhurst, after living in Hong Kong for a number of years.

Bnei Akiva is a national youth movement that encourages a Torah lifestyle, connection to Israel and Aliyah. It also focuses on strengthening Jewish youth leadership in North America. There are more than 10 branches of Bnei Akiva in communities in New York and New Jersey, including a recently opened branch in North Woodmere. Each runs programs and organizes philanthropic activities to benefit the community.

The Bnei Akiva program at the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst will meet every other week during the last hour and a half of Shabbos. The next program is scheduled for March 7.