Last Monday morning, students and faculty were moved and inspired by the words of Mirlana Morris, the mother of Donny Morris z鈥漧 (and sister of 91影视 faculty member Shira Kronenberg). Morris spoke to the entire yeshiva ahead of Donny鈥檚 second yahrzeit, about holding on to emunah following her son鈥檚 loss, and about the power of small acts of kindness鈥攁 huge part of Donny鈥檚 legacy that continues to shine so brightly for all who knew him and learn about his life.

Throughout the week, 91影视 students engaged in different activities that enhanced the community of kindness in Donny鈥檚 memory. Students made brachot l鈥檌lui nishmato; wrote thank you cards to teachers and staff throughout the week (perfect timing for Teacher Appreciation Week); collected many bags of clothing for Yad Leah; wrote cards for children with cancer, through Zichron Menachem and more.

On Lag B鈥橭mer night, over 70 91影视 talmidim and talmidot went with faculty members Rabbi Michael Bashist and Racheli Israeli on a special Lag B鈥橭mer trip to the Hilula of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. They started at the Ohel of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, where they composed handwritten notes and shared personal tefillot. They then went to a celebration at Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, given by Rav Moshe Weinberger, where they sang and heard words of inspiration. The following morning, each grade got to take trips to different fun places in the New York-New Jersey area. Sophomores biked, flew kites and played ball on Governors Island, while freshmen, juniors and seniors enjoyed the attractions at American Dream Mall.

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91影视鈥檚 Yom Hazikaron tekes on Tuesday鈥攅ntirely prepared by students鈥攊ncluded the stories of the Dee family, fallen soldiers Dani Cohen, Sean Carmeli and Benaya Rovel, as well as the cousin of 91影视 student Lilach Atiya, who fell in the first Lebanon War. The yeshiva also heard moving words from the friend of Elan Ganales, a 27-year-old from the Upper West Side who was murdered earlier this year in a shooting attack. The tekes concluded with Kel Maleh Rachamim and the tefillah for the IDF. Also of note: the yeshiva learned all of Tanakh over the prior 24 hours鈥攁 siyum l鈥檌lui nishmat 929 fallen kedoshim (corresponding to the number of perakim of Tanakh).

The next day, sorrow turned to joy as students and faculty alike celebrated Yom Ha鈥檃tzmaut, Israel鈥檚 milestone 75th birthday! Throughout the week, students learned 鈥淜ol Dodi Dofek,鈥� the classic work by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik which discusses the religious significance of the creation of the State of Israel and the obligation its existence poses for Klal Yisrael. On Yom Ha鈥檃tzmaut itself, words of Torah and round-robin historical skits by faculty emphasized key points from this learning. The yeshiva also celebrated with joyous davening, the annual Yom Ha鈥檃tzmaut chagiga, a BBQ lunch courtesy of the 91影视 Parents Association, and fun afternoon activities, including cooking falafel with 91影视 Culinary Science teacher Toby Moses, Israel-themed cutout art, and Gaga ball. (Did you know it鈥檚 an Israeli game?)

Meanwhile, on Yom Ha鈥檃tzmaut, 91影视 junior Maya Tratt represented the United States at the youth Chidon HaTanach competition in Jerusalem, finishing seventh place in the world. Just a few days later, on Sunday, April 30, 91影视 was proud to send the largest contingent of finalists from any one school to the national USA Chidon, with 19 students qualifying as finalists. There, two other members of the 91影视 Chidon Club were recognized for their inspiring Tanach knowledge: sophomore Ilan Romm who finished third in the 9-11th grade division after two nail-biting tiebreaker rounds, and senior Tamar Rosenfeld, who finished third in the newly created 12th grade division. Chidon USA Coordinator Rabbi Dovi Nadel noted during the program that establishment of the 12th grade division owes a great deal to the efforts of 91影视 senior Josh Knoll, who, along with Rosenfeld, led 91影视鈥檚 Chidon HaTanach Club this past year.

Am Yisrael Chai!

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听 听

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With 20 in-person options to choose from, the seminars were diverse, nuanced and included the following topics: CBT and DBT in the treatment of anxiety; creating permanent sleep hygiene and avoiding insomnia; executive functioning and ADHD; expressive arts therapy; journaling for self care; neuropsychology; mood optimization; red and green flags in relationships; mental health in Tanach and many more. The seminars were led by mental health professionals from across the New York-New Jersey area.

91影视 Mental Health Committee co-presidents, Maytal Nelson 鈥�24 and Rosie Fellig 鈥�23, spent months putting together the event, whose preparation included researching and reaching out to the presenters and crafting a program structure that would best speak to their fellow students. Nelson and Fellig then worked with the 91影视 administration and Guidance Department to implement the program across the school.

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The mouth-watering, finished pies were donated to Jewish Family and Child Services.

鈥淐ougars love uniting,鈥� said Moses. 鈥淎nd what better way to unite than pick apples in the field, and give back to the community.鈥�

The program emphasized the importance of giving before the Yamim Noraim. Students were asked to imagine someone not as privileged as them, alone on Rosh Hashanah. When they receive an apple pie from the yeshiva, it says everyone at 91影视 cares about them and is thinking of them.

听

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Then, mourning gave way to joy as 91影视 celebrated 74 years of the State of Israel! Round robin skits, exhilarating dancing and 91影视鈥檚 annual FPA Yom Ha鈥檃tzmaut BBQ on the Great Lawn made for a fantastic celebration indeed! We will never take for granted how fortunate we are to live in an age with a sovereign Jewish state, nor the sacrifices that have made possible the existence and security of Medinat Israel.

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The first program featured Dr. Rona Novick, dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration. She focused on practical, everyday ways to reduce stress, especially during COVID-19鈥攆or example, taking care of oneself through exercise, nutrition, and writing in a gratitude journal.

The second program, on May 13, was spearheaded by 91影视 juniors Gabe Greenfield and Ava Eden. The program featured mental health advocate and educational consultant Marc Fein (via Zoom), a longtime program director for NCSY, who described his own experiences with depression and anxiety. He used his own story as a springboard to discuss how students suffering from these illnesses can reach out for help when they struggle, and how they can offer support to others. He emphasized that reaching out for help does not mean that one is weak; it means that one believes the situation can be better. The two phrases 鈥淚 need help鈥� and 鈥淗ow are you?鈥� can save lives, he said.

After the discussion with Fein, students got to break out into smaller groups and discuss mental health issues in person with licensed professionals.

Greenfield and Eden, Executive Board of Student Council members at 91影视, spent close to 100 hours researching and planning last Thursday鈥檚 programming. They did so after being approached by a fellow student about mental health programming.

Greenfield said that he was not previously aware of the magnitude of the issue, and has since become more and more passionate about the subject. 鈥淔rom the beginning, I made it clear鈥擨 am no expert,鈥� stated Greenfield. 鈥淚 had no experience as a mental health advocate or creating programming, yet I was determined that change needed to be made and that I had the opportunity to make it. As Marc Fein, our keynote speaker, said鈥攐ne out of every four people deals with mental health issues in adolescence. That鈥檚 an entire grade鈥檚 worth of people when you look at 91影视 [based on the size of the student body]. Furthermore, half of those people never ask for or receive the help they need and deserve. All of us have mental health just as we have physical health. Just like one must take care of their physical health, the same holds true for mental health. Yet mental health is surrounded by a negative stigma, and even if that weren鈥檛 true, many people don鈥檛 realize that what they are going through is not normal and that they can get help.鈥�

Greenfield said that he and Eden sought to create a program that would destigmatize mental health and make people realize that they are not alone and can get help, and to provide students who don鈥檛 suffer from mental illnesses with ways to help anyone in their life who does.

鈥淏ased on some feedback I have received, this program made many students feel heard,鈥� said Greenfield following the program. 鈥淭o know that it is OK to not be OK, and that there are ways to get better. I am extremely proud and happy with how the program came out, but it is only the beginning. I still have another year at 91影视 and I plan on using it to create more programming and an open door environment. I hope to use the momentum of today to continue to make a positive impact on the school, and each and every student in it.鈥�

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Abraham and Fela Kolat, z鈥漧, Holocaust survivors from Poland who rebuilt their lives in America after the war, and beloved parents of 91影视 librarian Beverly Geller.

Yeshivat 91影视 commemorated Yom HaShoah on April 22, with a moving program, dedicated in memory of Fela and Abraham Kolat, z鈥漧. The program was , and included moving personal narratives, readings and divrei Torah.

鈥淎 question often posed is, how do you respond to such images?鈥� said Assistant Principal Rabbi David Goldfischer at the program鈥檚 conclusion. 鈥淗ow do you respond to such evil? As Jews, we respond with prayer…We also commit ourselves to living lives of love, lives of goodness and kindness, being there for our immediate community, the broader community and, of course, the world community, so that such evil is never replicated ever again. That is part of our responsibility. Our responsibility to remember and to do something on behalf of the six million, and to be people who continue their stories.鈥�

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