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This past Shabbos, Ezra Academy joined the Brooklyn Jewish Xperience (BJX) for a Shabbaton in Midwood, Brooklyn. Rabbis Yitzchok and Moshe Fingerer, co-founders of BJX, opened up their shul, programming, and hearts to the seniors of Ezra Academy. This was extremely meaningful to the seniors, as their grade Shabbaton, a staple in the Ezra experience, hasn’t taken place for the past two years. Making sure they had this opportunity (at least) one more time was very important to all.

The sixth, seventh, and eighth grade girls at Be’er Hagolah Institutes had a very enjoyable and fulfilling time volunteering at Tomchei Shabbos. The students helped pack food boxes for needy families, to be sent ahead of the upcoming Shabbos. The program was very rewarding for the girls.

This past Thursday morning, we had the opportunity to hear about Rabbi Yehudah Kelemer zt”l. With this week commemorating Rabbi Kelemer’s first yahrzeit, it was an opportune time to learn about him. The program began with words from Rabbi Hecht, Middle School principal. Rabbi Hecht spoke about his personal connection to Rabbi Kelemer. Rabbi Hecht discussed Rabbi Kelemer’s quality of humility. Rabbi Kelemer was always there for everyone and always made all people feel more confident than they had before they spoke to him. Rabbi Hecht explained how once, Rabbi Kelemer came to visit his son in the hospital. He came and said that he was in the hospital visiting someone else, and he just wanted him to know that he was thinking of him.

On Wednesday, December 15, YCQ PTO members and their families came together in celebration of the mitzvah of baking challah at the YCQ PTO Annual Challah Bake. Inspired and guided by speaker Mrs. Naomi Elberg of @naomi_tgis, over 100 participants baked challah in merit of t’filos for friends, family, and community members.

On Sunday, December 19, MTA parents, talmidim, and rebbeim enjoyed a meaningful morning of learning together at the yeshivah’s Parent-Son Learning program. The event, which began with a lively Shacharis minyan, featured guest speaker Rabbi Shay Schachter, followed by parent-son chavrusos and shiurim with MTA rebbeim. “It’s an incredible feeling to watch mothers and fathers learning together with their sons,” said Associate Principal Rabbi Shimon Schenker. “It’s such a privilege to give parents a taste of the unbelievable learning their sons experience every day in yeshivah. We truly appreciate the dedication of our amazing parents, talmidim, and rebbeim, who always make talmud Torah a top priority.”

Shevach High School, under the leadership of its Menaheles, Mrs. Shulamith Insel, is very excited about their new technology program, introduced this year as “Reconnect.” The goal of this initiative is to reconnect to that which is truly important in life and disconnect as much as we can from today’s greatest nisayon, technology. The program was introduced with a creative breakout that was not only enjoyed by all, but more importantly, left the Shevach students inspired to change. Kudos to the staff technology coordinator, Mrs. Chaya Swerdloff, and senior heads Sophia Ben Baruch, Chaya Shalva Boiangiu, Ahuva Grossman, Rochel Morgenstern, and Pesha Winter.