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Yeshiva of Central Queens (YCQ) students had the opportunity to spend the sixth day of Chanukah giving back to the community and doing chesed. While for many, Chanukah can often be a time of taking – receiving presents, eating doughnuts, grabbing all the gelt – YCQ students gave their time and effort to help bring joy to others.

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.

This year’s Chanukah season was marked by spirited events, creative competitions, and meaningful experiences that brought the YSZ Girls High School community closer together. Tuesday’s activity was labeled, “Chanukah Olympics: Unleashing Creativity and Fun.” Students showcased their skills and creativity in the Chanukah Olympics, where they competed for a prize – and, of course, bragging rights! Activities included the hilarious balancing of gelt on noses and the construction of a makeshift tower using plastic cups. The event fostered a sense of camaraderie, as students were filled with laughter and friendly competition.

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.

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.

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.