Israel on our students’ minds: 24 Photos

SKA girls flank a poster that explains the 3 days: Yom HaShoah, Yom Hazikaron, and Yom HaAtzmaut.

HAFTR HS Yom HaShoah: Mrs. Hizme, a HAFTR grandparent and HILI alumna, delivered testimony on her experiences in Auschwitz and as a victim of Josef Mengele’s experiments.

Midreshet Shalhevet Yom Haatzmaut: Students performed a daglanut, participated in a Chopped! competition hosted by Naomi Nachman, researched and presented a pitch for a vacation spot in Israel, competed in a gadna (an Israeli military-style obstacle course), challenged each other in lip sync battles to popular Israeli music, and played a Family Feud type Israel trivia.

HANC Elementary Yom HaAtzmaut: Students at the West Hempstead school prepared to walk this giant floor map of Israel, all the way from Eilat to the Golan Heights.

YCQ boys cheer Hom HaAtzmaut.

SKA Yom HaShoah: When the sirens went off in Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls, everyone stood in silence for those who had lost their lives in the Holocaust. Pictured: Tibor Kupferstein, flanked by Head of School Helen Spirn and Dr. Norman Kupferstein, told students about his life before and during the way. At SKA, the Shoah is not a history lesson.

HAFTR Yom HaShoah: The challenge of teaching the Shoah in the Lower School is met by using allegorical stories that students can relate to. Rabbi Kupchik opened HAFTR’s program with a message of “V’higadditah L’bincha,” reminding students of the importance of passing on the legacy of Holocaust survivors and of those who perished. Principal Joy Hammer highlighted the importance of standing up to bullying of any form. Pictured: Carol Marcus, grandmother of fifth grader Stephanie Marcus and the only survivor of her family, is flanked (from left) by former HAFTR teacher Chaya Lipstein, whose grandfather was related to Marcus and hid with her in the forest; Marcus daughter-in-law Shari Marcus; granddaughter Stephanie Marcus, and Marcus son Dr. Kennith Marcus.

Shulamith Yom HaShohah: Third and fourth graders students lit candles in memory of the kedoshim and heard Dagma Green (pictured) share her story of survival as a baby hidden during the Shoah. Green has three great grandchildren at Shulamith: Baylie Habib in Grade 4, Esther Habib in Grade 3, and Suri Habib in Grade 1.

Shoah rembrances at YCQ: Students at the Yeshiva of Central Queens participated in Names Not Numbers.

Shulamith Yom HaShoah: After the candles were lit, Elly Berkovits Gross shared memories of her childhood in Romania and relayed her experiences as a survivor of the Holocaust.

Shulamith celebrates with seniors: Eighth graders went to the Five Towns JCC for a pre-Yom HaAtzmaut celebration with local seniors. The blue-and-white clad girls bantered and danced with the seniors, and joined in a spirited rendition of “Happy Birthday” for a woman celebrating her 100th.

HAFTR Yom HaAtzmaut: HAFTR celebrated the chag in fashion. The entire school davened tefillat chagigit together. Before a festive Hallel, students viewed a video celebrating the day to help better understand and appreciate the miracle of the State of Israael. Celebrations continued with a carnival and lunch from Holy Schnitzel.

YHQ Yom HaZikaron: Yeshiva Har Torah students mark Yom Hazikaron with Lt. Col. Shai Bar, husband of YHT Ivrit teacher Morah Bar. He told students how the IDF defends the State of Israel and Jews all over the world while following an exemplary moral code. The IDF helps integrate the diverse groups that make up Israeli society, works with socially and developmentally challenged youth, supports the disadvantaged and responds with humanitarian aid to international crises around the globe, he said. Following the presentation, a memorial candle was lit in memory of all those chayalim who fell defending Medinat Yisrael since it’s founding, and a Keil Malai was recited in their memory.

YCQ Yom HaAtzmaut: Students and faculty at Yeshiva of Central Queens dressed in blue and white, kindergarteners sang songs related to Israel, first graders wore crowns with Israeli flags as they joined second and third graders at the 4th grade Israeli Fair.

Shulamith grade 8 ‘daglanut’: Celebrating Yom HaAtzmaut.

HALB Yom HaZikaron: Soldiers who lost their lives in battle and civilians killed in acts of terror were remembered and honored. Middle School students wrote reports on specific individuals whose lives were lost. Yizkor candles were lit while the choir sang songs reflecting the meaning of the day. Lower School students learned the tfilla for chayalim and watched a powerful video on the importance and integrity of joining Tzahal. The next morning there were balloons, streamers and lively music for Yom Haatzamut.

HANC Elementary Yom HaAtzmaaut: Students at the West Hempstead school showed their blue and white.

HAFTR Yom HaAtzmut: After pausing on Yom HaZikaron to remember the soldiers who gave their lives to make the State of Israel a reality, as night fell, Arie Assaraf and Eitan Hazan joined the Lower School celebration of Israel independence.

HAFTR EC Yom HaAtzmaut: There was fun outdoors to mark Israel’s 69th birthday.

HANC EC Yom HaAtzmaut: The children celebrated Israel’s 69th birthday with fun outdoors.

HANC Elementary Yom HaAtzmaaut: Students at the West Hempstead school showed their blue and white.

HAFTR HS Yom HaZikaron: The day was observed with the utmost kavod, with a Tekes in memory of the 73 soldiers killed in a helicopter accident 20 years ago — the largest loss of life in one day in Israeli army history. The soldiers were on a mission heading into Lebanon when the tragic crash occurred.