The morning rain ended, the clouds disappeared and the day began to look brighter as the Early Learning Center students lined up for the annual Yom Ha’atzmaut Parade! The children, dressed in blue and white, waved their Israeli flags and carried original banners as they marched to the spirited music played by Morah Sima Goldofsky. With the addition of Dr. Ruth Katz, Head of School, ELC/ES/MS; Rabbi Avi Bodlander, Assistant Principal and Mrs. Ruchie Czermak, Director of ELC, the parade was complete. An impressive parent audience clapped enthusiastically as the children sang a repertoire of Israeli songs accompanied by adorable choreography. The icing on the cake was actually a cake! A seven-foot-high birthday cake was brought into the gym as the children sang Yom Huledet Sameach to culminate all that they had learned about Israel.
Grades 1, 2 and 3 joined with the ELC in the Yom Ha’atzmaut parade and then proceeded to participate in a Shiriya in honor of Israel’s birthday.
Grades 4-8 attended a program presented by the 7th grade boys, under the direction of Rabbi Yaniv Vaknin. The ceremony memorialized the Israeli soldiers who fought for the establishment of the State of Israel 61 years ago. The Israeli flag was lowered to half-mast, followed by the resounding of a siren and a moment of silence. All assembled chanted the Hatikvah. As words became louder and stronger, the Israeli flag was raised to full staff, signaling the beginning of the celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaaut. Then the festivities began! A stirring visual presentation, which traced Israel’s history, was presented to the students. Under the direction of Bnot Sherut Leumi, Tali and Efrat, the 7th grade girls performed a flag exercise known as “Daglanut” in superb formation. The Hillel Yeshiva Elementary School Makhela (choir), under the direction of Morah Dahlia Menaged, presented a medley of songs celebrating Israel and our hopes for peace. The school was decorated in blue and white and the love of Israel was palpable. A community event in the evening hosted by Congregation Magen David of West Deal featured Hillel Yeshiva Elementary School.
The high school’s program, under the leadership of Mrs. Miriam Harary, Mrs. Sima Goldofsky and the Bnot Sherut Leumi, Dana and Hila, commenced with a meaningful Yom Hazikaron ceremony followed by a joyous celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut. The Israeli flag was lowered to half staff as Hazan Abramson of Zahal, the Israel Defense Force, sang Kel Maleh Rahamim. Eight students lit candles for the fallen soldiers of each war, as well as for the innocent victims of terror attacks. David Winitzky and Sarah Schneider then read a moving letter from one soldier who was saved by the act of another soldier who lost his life protecting him. The room was eerily silent as everyone listened to this moving story. Rabbi Joseph Tawil then spoke about the reasons for the transition from the sadness of Yom Hazikaron to the joyousness of Yom Ha’atzmaut. He quoted the first president of Israel, Chaim Weitzman: “A state is not given on a silver platter,” and continued by explaining about the heavy price we paid so that we can have our own country.
The keynote speaker of the day was Dr. Shua Haim, the father of alumnus Roee Shua Haim, class of 2008. He spoke of Roee’s dream to be in the Israeli army and his induction into the paratroopers’ unit this past January 2009. An inspiring movie of this induction was shown and the students were very proud to be able to identify a fellow Hillel alumnus among the hundreds of young men and women who became soldiers of Israel that day. It was very impressive to notice that each soldier was handed a Bible and a gun. The Israeli Army, “Tzahal,” is based on Torah values as well as courage. The celebration reached a peak with the showing of a montage of the senior trip to Israel. The event concluded with the students dancing to Israeli music and enjoying falafel!
Let us hope and pray that next year we will all celebrate together, “B’yachad,” in Yerushalayim!
