Barkai Yeshivah Takes on the Blizzard of 2010

By day three of the blizzard of December, 2010, Barkai Yeshivah students and parents alike longed for their friends, teachers and yes, learning. Despite the urge for the school to open for those reasons alone, it was still unsafe. Many streets were unplowed. Cars were still stuck and buried, making driving near impossible. But, just because Barkai’s doors were closed didn’t mean that the learning stopped.

The Barkai administration, led by Head of School Rabbi Joseph Dweck, worked swiftly to coordinate the logistics of a day of learning for Barkai students at local shuls and homes. Many teachers readily agreed to teach Torah classes at neighborhood locales. With the support of local shuls and a schedule that was emailed and texted to the parent body, classes were held for students in 1st through 8th grades in every neighborhood on the Wednesday the kids were off from school.

First through 4th grade girls enjoyed playing Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Parashat Hashavua style with Morah Adele Chabot in the Beth Torah Learning Center. Down the hall 1st through 4th grade boys learned humash with 2nd grade teacher Ephraim Setton. In the Madison area, 3rd through 8th graders were treated to a Torah class led by their Rosh Yeshivah, Rabbi Dweck at his shul, Shaare Shalom.

Almost 30 students attended Shaare Shalom in total. One mother remarked, “The snowy streets were challenging to walk, but the kids were so happy to finally get out and go to class, that the trek was worth it.”

Similar classes were held at Kol Israel with Barkai teachers Rabbi Jack Varon and Rabbi David Shweky at the helm in the Bedford neighborhood. Rounding out the classes were Morah Rachel Srour’s class for 4th and 5th grade girls at her parent’s home, a real treat.

Special thanks go to Early Childhood director Sherri Horowitz and Middle School teacher Rav Ahiya Eliyahu for opening their homes during the blizzard to teach the eager middle school students.

Hot cocoa, popcorn, snowball fights and above all, Torah learning turned the snow day into a unique opportunity for students and teachers to bond and make the blizzard into a memorable, teachable day.  Most importantly, the Barkai family realized that if weather prevents them from bringing the students to Barkai, they’ll find a way to bring Barkai to the students.