Schools

Over 750 guests gathered at the Old Westbury Hebrew Congregation to celebrate the 82nd Anniversary Dinner of the Yeshiva of Central Queens on Motza’ei Shabbos, February 25. Valerie and Alex Olsen were the esteemed Guests of Honor, and Mrs. Esther Lowinger received the Distinguished Educator Award. Additionally, tribute was paid to the legendary Rabbi Menachem Rottenberg z”l, who served as YCQ’s Executive Director for close to 40 years. The evening’s theme was “Remembering Our Past, Celebrating Our Present, and Building Our Future.”

The Third Grade Girls Purim Play was a fantastic reenactment of the Purim story. The girls had a great time on stage, and the audience enjoyed every minute of it.

Late February’s lunch periods at Central were abuzz with activity. Students were making signs and designing games for Central’s annual Yachad Carnival, which took place on Tuesday, February 21.

Lamplighter Hebrew Academy students got into the Purim spirit last week at a gala Purim carnival hosted by the seniors class at the Jewish Institute of Queens.

Twenty-six Middle School students of Great Neck’s North Shore Hebrew Academy (NSHA) - both Ashkenazic and Sephardic - joined together on Purim Day, to chant the “Gantze Megillah,” in a program initiated in 2001 by Dr. Paul Brody, a local dermatologist. “Dr. Paul Brody Megillah Readers Program,” as the initiative is now known, began upon the doctor's retirement as course instructor last year. Cantor Yitzy Spinner of the Great Neck Synagogue, assisted by Shmuel Bitton, instructed the students this year. Each student read from the beautiful megillah that was purchased by the NSHA one year ago to be used by all student readers on Purim Day festivities.

The Seniors of the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls took a trip on Wednesday, March 1, to Be’er Hagolah Institute to share the joy of Adar with the children of the school. Enjoying an entertaining carnival and various art projects, the students at Be’er Hagolah were b’simchah throughout the SKA’s students’ entire visit.