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Rachel’s Children Reclamation Foundation (RCRF) celebrated its 26^th Annual Commemoration Dinner for Rachel Imeinu’s Yahrzeit of 11 MarCheshvan, on Sunday, October 25, at the Manhattan Beach Jewish Center in Brooklyn. (L-R) Keynote Speaker Rabbi Etan Tokayer, mara d’asra of Kingsway Jewish Center; Author, Artist, and Illusionist Rabbi Yonah Weinrib, who created the beautiful Awards, displayed by Honorees and Presenters; Sparks Next Video Producer Danny Finkelman, whose award-winning videos, “Rachel’s Children” – in collaboration with Evelyn Haies – and “Mira,” both written and composed by Cecelia Margules, were shown, Actualist Award; Perennial Master of Ceremonies Dr. Paul Brody, displaying the Brooklyn Borough President’s Proclamation of “Yahrzeit of Rachel Imeinu, Jewish Mother’s Day in Brooklyn;” Evelyn Haies, Founder and President, RCRF; Blogger Robin Ticker, presenter, Memorial Recognition for Helen Freedman a”h, Co-Executive Director, AFSI; and Margot Bayroff, presenter of Memorial Recognition for her father, Bruce Bayroff, Esq. z”l. COVID-19 precautions, such as wearing masks, social distancing, and limited attendance, were strictly observed.

Photo Credit: Deborah Scop

On Thursday, October 22, IVDU Long Island had the privilege of bringing in a petting zoo for the students, helping to bring Parshas Noach to life in a COVID-friendly way! The students had the opportunity to feed the animals, with the goats and sheep licking their hands to eat the food. They were allowed to pet and hold the bunnies, enjoying the sensory experience while having fun coming up with names for the animals. The students were so excited to be able to experience this right in the comfort of their school yard. At IVDU Long Island, learning is interactive and incorporates an abundance of multi-sensory activities to maximize student engagement.

Hadar Bet Yaakov Ninth Graders have taken the “lead” in chesed projects this year with their recent chesed trip to pack Project LEAD food bags for the needy. Rabbi Avroham Hecht, director of Project LEAD, generously sponsored Hadar Bet Yaakov’s apple-picking trip, and so when the girls heard there was a giving opportunity from the same organization, they were excited to participate in this vital community mitzvah.

HANC ECC students in Morah Shani and Morah Laura’s class created their own footsteps for Parshas Lech-L’cha

Glad to be back in school after an uplifting Sukkos and a ten-day hiatus on Zoom, the students of the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls enjoyed a special chesed program sponsored by the Student Council on Wednesday, October 21. The month of Cheshvan is usually referred to as MarCheshvan since no Jewish holidays are found there; the Council members wanted to welcome the month in an original and pleasant way while masked and socially distancing.

While Sukkos may have looked different this year than it has in previous years, MTA infused Yom Tov with its signature inspiration, energy, and achdus through special MTA@Home Sukkos programming. These programs included guidelines, helpful tips, and a list of Sukkos songs to make Yom Tov meaningful for those who were unable to attend shul in person and help deepen their connection to Hashem while at home; MTA@Home Indoor Olympics, where talmidim completed fun and exciting challenges and were able to compete with one another from the comfort of their own homes; and a Tikkun Leil Hoshana Rabbah learning program in the yeshivah’s virtual Zoom Beis Midrash, which featured inspiring and engaging shiurim with MTA rebbeim, and an interactive shiur with the Menahel of Yeshivat Shaarei Mevaseret Zion and the NCSY Kollel, Rabbi Mordechai Burg.