Yom HaShoah, followed by Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut are all important in the cycle of Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy’s school year.
“The love our teachers share for Israel — and the lessons they teach — contribute to our students’ deep connection to the state of Israel,” said Rabbi Avi Weinstein, head of Jewish Studies.
Typically, these holidays bring students together across the grades in commemoration and in celebration. Due to the pandemic and school safety rules, this year’s holiday observances looked different, in order to keep the school community safe, healthy, and on campus.
HBHA’s Jewish Studies department, with leadership from Zohar Flacks, director of Jewish Life, thought out of the box so students were still able to experience the holidays in relevant ways. The holidays also gave many of HBHA’s middle- and upper-school students an opportunity to shine in the leadership roles they took throughout the holidays.
Yom HaShoah | Holocaust Remembrance Day
For Yom HaShoah, HBHA partnered with the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education (MCHE) and HBHA families to bring this holiday into the homes of their students. Students brought yahrzeit candles home to light in memory of those who died in the Holocaust. Each candle included the names of people who were related to members of Kansas City’s Jewish community. The names were provided by MCHE.
“It was a special way to turn this extreme loss — 6 million perished in the Holocaust — into a learning opportunity that students of all ages can grasp. We so appreciated partnering with MCHE and our families to make this project possible. I hope to continue it in the future, based on this year’s success,” said Flacks.
Yom HaZikaron | Israel
Memorial Day
Yom HaZikaron is another holiday typically observed in group settings around HBHA; with a memorial service, the sounding of the siren to call for a moment of silence (just like in Israel), and learning about those who have fallen for the state of Israel.
“Since we couldn’t bring our students together indoors, instead we brought the holiday to our students via video,” said Flacks.
Upper school volunteers — along with Rabbi Weinstein and Flacks — created a video memorial service for students to watch in their classrooms, which worked in tandem with other special programming for grades 6-12.
Yom HaAtzmaut | Israel
Independence Day
From darkness comes light, and so is the way with Yom HaAtzmaut, which comes on the heels of Israel’s Memorial Day, making the celebration of Israel’s independence that much sweeter.
“Yom HaAtzmaut 2021 held a particularly special moment for HBHA students and faculty: It was the first time that our entire student body was able to come together (safely, of course) in a group setting since March 2020. Students were thrilled to be able to gather around the flagpole in their classroom pods, and seniors led the school in a brief flag-raising ceremony,” said Rabbi Weinstein.
The ceremony was followed by an outdoor, school-wide parade on the grounds of the Jewish Community Campus, and a day full of grade-level activities, which ranged from Israel Bingo to IDF Boot Camp to a game of Gaga in the outdoor Gaga pit.
“We are so appreciative of our middle and upper school STUCO students, who met the challenge of creatively and safely observing these holidays. We also recognize our Jewish Studies teachers: Michal Cohen, Michal Luger, Leah Nash, Rabbi Aron Rubin, Tami Sal, Tammy Sandler, Nira Solomon, Chanie Sosover, and Civia White. A special thanks to Zohar Flacks, for leading the way,” said Rabbi Weinstein.
HBHA invites the community to visit their Youtube, Instagram and Facebook pages (@hbhakc) to view the videos and special moments that happened during all of these holidays.
