On Wednesday, January 22, Yeshiva Primary celebrated their second-grade students receiving their first chumashim. In Hebrew classes in Yeshiva Primary, the students are arranged by levels. Many of the students came to the yeshivah over the past couple of years from public school.
Rebbetzin Channah Hecht, Limudei Kodesh morah at Yeshiva Primary for over 26 years, first thanked Hashem for this auspicious time. She thanked Rabbi Zalmen Deutscher, Founder and Dean of Yeshiva Primary, and Mrs. Judy Klein, Principal. She also thanked the students. Our children are the building blocks of our future generations. When the Torah was given at Sinai, Hashem asked: Who will be the guarantors to keep the Torah for the future? “Your children will be the guarantors. They are our legacy.” She pointed out that our children are our future and the whole future of klal Yisrael. They are the building blocks of klal Yisrael. The Hebrew word boneh, build, has the same root as bein, son, which, as Rebbetzin Hect mentioned above, reinforces the idea that our children are our builders.
She shared that she treats her students the way she would want her own children to be treated. The Lubavitcher Rebbe taught that each child is a diamond; and when they come to yeshivah, then all the dust is cleaned off and they are polished and shiny. Each child is very special. The students sang several songs.
Rebbetzin Hecht shared the story of a man who wanted to convert. He asked the Sage Shamai to teach him the whole Torah standing on one foot. Shamai sent him away. Then he asked the Sage Hillel, who told him that if you want to know it fast, then the essence of the whole Torah is to love your fellow Jew as yourself. This teaches us how important it is to Hashem that we love one another.
The students recited “Mizmor L’David,” which they say every day in school.
Rebbetzin Hecht asked the students if it was hard for Avraham to leave his father’s house, and they said yes and she asked why he did it. They said because he had faith and trust in Hashem. Rebbetzin Hecht taught that “it is in our DNA to believe and trust in Hashem.”
Next, she shared that Jewish women light Shabbos candles with full trust in Hashem. Their candles light up their homes and light up the world. “A little light takes away a lot of darkness.”
Mrs. Judy Klein, the principal, presented a chumash to each student individually and encouraged each one with a special personal message.
The students thanked Rabbi Deutscher, Mrs. Klein, and Morah Hecht for the opportunity of learning Torah. They all shouted together, “We love Yeshiva Primary!”
It was a truly inspiring event. Hashem should continue to bless Yeshiva Primary and all their holy work and continue to see Yiddishe nachas from the students and graduates.
By Susie Garber
