7th Grade Boys' tisch

When the students walked into school on Friday, February 12th, something seemed different.  It was a great smell which seemed so familiar.  What was it?  Ah yes, it was the delicious smell of cholent.  Cholent on Erev Shabbat?  You better believe it! Rabbi Hecht came into the seventh grade classroom and the boys were amazed.  They couldn't believe it and they were super excited.  The cholent was passed out and the students really enjoyed it.  Rabbi Harris then told a beautiful story about the importance of sacrificing something that you love for the sake of Shabbat even if it is something that you love.  Rabbi Harris gave an example of an athlete who gave up his dream to participate in the Olympics because it would have meant that he had to violate Shabbat.  That decision ended up saving his life because this was the 1972 Olympics and had he gone, he would most likely have been among the group that got killed.  He protected Shabbat and the Shabbat protected him.  What a beautiful story!!!

7th grade girls' MITZVAH FAIR

The HANC 7th grade girls put smiles on everyone's faces as they learned to do mitzvot b'simcha, happily, at the "Shmuel Bet Mitzvah Fair." After learning from David Hamelech, in our Navi class with Morah Klein, the proper way of doing Mitzvot we had the opportunity to put our learning into action. Students were divided into small groups and had to organize a booth that would enable their peers to do a Mitzvah, we might normally not be excited to do, with happiness.  On Friday February 12 we participated in all sorts of fun activities-a race to listen to our parents and clear the table fast,  giving tzedakah, and receiving the sweet reward, Bikkur Cholim conversation starters etc. Presentations were given as well via computers and Ipads- a tefilah Powerpoint, a video on being happy with what you have and more. Handouts and snacks were also received- a lollipop with a reminder to "stick a lollipop in it" instead of speaking Lashon Hara and pareve recipes to give pareve dessert options to eat after meat, to name a few. One of the highlights was when we were treated to chulent after making a checklist to help us look forward to Shabbat calmly.

Who knew taking a lesson learned from David Hamelech (do mitzvot happily) and applying it to our lives could be so exciting? May Torah continue to come alive for us all!

By: Rena Max

NEW LANGUAGE ARTS PROGRAM

  

Names, Not Numbers ©

 

The eighth grade girls had an amazing experience this Feb.22-24.  The girls were divided up into groups and had the opportunity to interview survivors.  The girls (under the direction of Morah Eisenberg) prepared extensively for these interviews.  The girls studied their survivor's bio and used it to prepare questions which would discuss the survivors' memories from before, during, and after the war.  The experience was one the girls will never forget.  As each survivor entered the building, he/she was greeted by our girls.  The interactions were wonderful.  One of the highlights of the program was the intergenerational component.  Seeing the faces of the survivors light up and seeing the girls' faces respond in kind was nothing short of magical.  The survivor was escorted upstairs to the library where the actual interviews were conducted.  Our library was turned into a real set complete with video, sound, and light equipment.  Each student took turns in the roles of interviewer, sound, video, and observer.  The students were trained and directed by the Names, Not Numbers© production crew.  We thank Daniella, Jay, and Marly for all of their hard work with the project.  The interviews themselves were most memorable.  There were so many poignant moments.  I do not want to play the role of spoiler so everyone will have to wait until the movie comes out with the interviews.  Suffice it to say that there were tears and even some laughter.  Other components of the three days included a session on Emunah and a session on editing.  The session on Emunah was given by Rabbi Selengut who is a Rebbe in the HANC high school.  The girls were mesmerized by his stories.  One such story described the Bluzhever Rebbe who was walking with another man.  They came to a very wide hole and the SS guard told them they had to jump over it.  It seemed impossible but they both jumped and made it.  After they got over the hole the man asked the Rebbe what the Rebbe was thinking that helped him have the strength to jump over the hole.  The Rebbe said that he thought of his father and grandfather and he "held onto their coattails" and jumped over.  The Rebbe then asked the man what the man was thinking when he jumped over the hole and the man said that he was thinking that he was holding onto the coattails of the Rebbe. The final piece of the week was a session given by Mrs. Tova Rosenberg, the creator of the program who taught the students how to edit their interviews.  The students were very moved and look forward to working on their edits.  Special hakarat hatov to Mr. Dov Rosenberg and Mrs. Tova Rosenberg for all of their help in making this week so special for the students.

TORAH BOWL

Yasher koach to our girls' team for winning their games against HAFTR and HALB at out meet this past Monday, hosted by YCQ. It is great to see all the Torah you have learned this past year. Looking forward to our last match of the year and completing Sefer Bamidbar.

SPORTS PLAYOFFS UPDATE

Girls Basketball

Rabbi Schwalb returns to HANC to address the "Illustrious" Yeshiva

 

This morning, the entire Middle School had the distinct pleasure of hearing a beautiful shiur from Rabbi Efrem Schwalb, the Rav of Congregation Eitz Chaim of Dogwood Park in West Hempstead.  Rabbi Hecht introduced Rabbi Schwalb and remarked how Rabbi Schwalb is someone he always looks up to as Rabbi Schwalb is a fellow alum of HANC and is a Rav and a lawyer and Baruch Hashem has a wonderful family as well.  Rabbi Schwalb began by letting everyone know that they should feel free to look for his picture on the second floor as HANC has a "minhag" of hanging up the graduating class picture.  Rabbi Schwalb also mentioned that he looks back at his days at HANC very fondly and that he has tremendous hakarat hatov to the Yeshiva.

Rabbi Hecht had asked Rabbi Schwalb to speak about simcha-happiness.  Rabbi Schwalb quoted a passuk from the Tochacha which says that all of the calamities that happened to the Jews happened "because the Jews did not serve Hashem out of joy even though they had everything."  On this, Rabbi Schwalb asked two questions - 1) How could it be that just because one doesn't serve Hashem out of simcha calamities have to happen?  Calamities, one would think, would come from murder or terrible crimes but just because of a lack of happiness??!! 2) If a person has everything wouldn't they be happy?

Rabbi Schwalb answered these two questions based on one of the characters from Megilat Esther.  There was one person who had everything.  He had a great family and riches and everyone loved him.  This, of course, was Haman.  However, even though he had everything Haman still said "all of this is not worth anything to me."  Haman was saying that even though he has everything.  He was missing one thing which was Mordechai bowing down to him.  Just because he was missing that everything was worthless to him.  Rabbi Schwalb explained some people feel like they have things coming to them and if they do not get those things they are upset.  He explained it is the difference between thinking that you are not owed anything vs. you are owed everything.  Someone who feels that he is entitled will never be happy because whatever he gets "it is coming to him" and even if he is missing one little thing (like Haman) everything is worthless.

This, explained Rabbi Schwalb, is the essence of simcha.  We should realize that everything we have is a gift from Hashem and we should be appreciative of everything and then we will be truly happy.  It is not "coming to us."  Rabbi Schwalb gave an example of someone who feels he is worth $1,000,000.  Even if he gets $999,999 he is still not going to be happy about any of it because of that one dollar that is missing.

The students left the room with a great sense of what true simcha is all about and were very appreciative of the fact that Rabbi Schwalb spoke to them.

May everyone have a joyous Adar one and two!!!

UPCOMING EVENTS