CHOOSING TO LEARN TORAH AT MDY

NECHAMA SPERO

FREE TIME IS TIME THAT IS NOT SCHEDULED WITH ANY OBLIGATIONS OR RESPONSIBILITIES—TIME THAT IS YOURS TO SPEND PURSUING WHATEVER IS IMPORTANT TO YOU, MAKES YOU FEEL HAPPY, AND SUPPORTS YOUR PERSONAL GOALS. THE STUDENTS AT MAGEN DAVID YESHIVAH ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS ARE CHOOSING TO SPEND THEIR FREE TIME LEARNING TORAH! THAT STATEMENT ALONE SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT THE PRIORITIES AND PASSIONS OF OUR STUDENT BODY.

Over 200 students from grades 4 to 8, and 25 staff members gather together on Sunday mornings between the hours of 9 and 11 a.m. to participate in our extraordinary Torah Hayim program. During these two meaningful hours, both boys and girls pray and learn Torah with their rabbis and teachers.

Fathers join their sons to pray Shaharit together and share in a deluxe breakfast. Afterwards, the boys sit with rabbis from our school and learn Torah through inspiring and thought provoking discussions and activities. Each week includes a special Halacha presentation and highlights of the Parasha. The girls enjoy their delicious breakfast first and then are led by one of their most cherished morot (teachers) and pray together. Next, the girls will have their learning sessions with their teacher about a variety of Torah topics. Some content revolves around the Parasha, as well as fundamental concepts and values. Our teachers are utilizing their classroom skills to create small groups and develop hands-on activities to drive home the big ideas while establishing a fun and exciting environment.

On Sunday mornings, all our students interact with Torah concepts through many dynamic and creative activities. The rabbis and morot have created game shows, technological presentations, and arranged SBH and community museum events. Students are enthusiastic and eager to join together in this remarkable program. The bonus of earning prizes, raffle tickets, and spending time with friends are secondary to the spiritual heights they soar during this uplifting path to start their week!

Our MDY Torah Center is busy with learning programs three evenings a week. Girls in grades 4 through 8 meet up on Tuesday evenings to spend special time with their morot and peers to learn Torah from 7 to 8 p.m. and highschool girls learn from 8 to 9 that same night. Mondays and Wednesdays are boys’ evenings which include praying Arbit. Each week we have over 500 students volunteering to enter the school building and learning Torah during their free time. Besides the beauty and kedusha (holiness) of Torah, we offer the children treats such as pastries, mazza, sushi and drinks, as well as raffles and prizes. Again, these physical incentives are only the surface while deep down in their neshamot (souls) the students are reaping the greatest rewards possible.

Here again, our precious ones are choosing Torah when there are many other activities available. Our engaging and loving rabbis and morot are using these rare opportunities to build meaningful relationships and foster connections to instill a true love of Torah and mitzvot with their students. The students leave each evening feeling a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction in knowing they have spent their time in the most positive and holy way possible. These moments they share will have an everlasting impact on their lives and provide a healthy and strong foundation to last them through their coming challenges.

Through participating in our Magen David Yeshivah Torat Hayim and Torah Center programs, the students are gaining a true understanding of how Torah is life and learning, it is not simply a subject in school, but an essential way of life.

Mrs. Nechama Spero has been teaching at Magen David Elementary school for 21 years and was recently appointed Assistant Principal for General Studies of the Middle School. She is a lifelong Brooklyn resident and graduate of a yeshivah education. She holds multiple college degrees, and is a mother of five children.