MIDDLE SCHOOL MOMENTS 9/30

Pre-Rosh Hashanah Event for

Eighth and Ninth Grade Girls

This Wednesday, the HANC 8^th grade girls joined together with the 9th graders from "upstairs" for a special Pre-Rosh Hashanah event. The program featured an apple dipping activity where there were options of chocolate and sprinkles to decorate our apples. This was definitely the highlight as girls quickly began sharing whom they will be giving their special apple treat to as a Rosh Hashanah gift this week. The girls also heard from Ms. Nomi Bensoussan, one of the High School morot. She spoke of beautiful thoughts on how Rosh Hashanah is a time to reaffirm our commitment to Hashem on his terms, not only ours. She compared the day to a job interview, where we would want to display our best qualities and how we want to work for the "boss", not only the classic scary Day of Judgment or "court case." She described how it is sometimes important to do what He asks from us even if it may be hard and ended off with a practical exercise asking each girl to commit to one area of improvement while recognizing there is a higher power in control of the world.

Additionally, the girls played a fun game of Apple-ingo, our Rosh Hashanah version of human bingo. All the girls were able to meet and interact with one another to make a few new friends. We loved seeing the girls have fun and enjoy their time together with true HANC spirit. Thank you to all the Morot and faculty who helped make this event such a success.

Lunch and Learn

This Thursday, the 7^th and 8^th grade girls had their first Lunch and Learn Mishmar class with Morah Hakimian. Even though it was an optional class, almost every single girl attended with their lunches ready for some Pre-Rosh Hashanah chizuk. Morah Hakimian shared stories of inspiration and encouragement about approaching the special days ahead. She spoke about the 3 main areas we should work on in these last few moments before the Day of Judgment: Teshuva, Tefillah, and Tzedakah. We also learned the deeper ideas of the 3 central themes to the Rosh Hashana Mussaf Davening: Malchiyot, Zichronot, and Shofrot. Morah Hakimian explained how one of the songs/poems we read on Rosh Hashana is okug ,rv ouhv - showing us the concept of Hashem judging us based on how we are "HAYOM!"- "TODAY" Rosh Hashana is a day for us to focus on the present, rather than to cry over our past. The girls left with yummy snacks and candy but more importantly, with inspired hearts confident for the New Year ahead.

Eighth Grade Boys Mishmar

Thursday night marked the first mishmar of the year for our eighth grade boys. The mishmar was awesome. The evening opened with words of bracha from the menahel of the HANC high school, Rabbi Shlomo Adelman. The mishmar continued with an amazing shiur from Rabbi Simcha Weingot, a very popular Rebbe at our high school. Rabbi Weingot discussed the idea of shlucho shel adam k'moto (a person's messenger is like them) and whether that can apply to teshuva. He also discussed that teshuva means return and that we are returning to our original good selves. Rabbi Weingot concluded his message by reminding each and every one of the eighth graders how wonderful they are and that they do not need to compare themselves to anyone else. We thank the Lovy family for hosting the mishmar and for providing delicious cookies for dessert.

Seventh Grade Boys Mishmar

Thursday night the 7th grade boys attended an inspirational mishmar led by Rabbi Harris. The boys enjoyed a delicious dinner of kugel, poppers, and cholent from I&D. Rabbi Harris spoke to the boys about preparing for Rosh Hoshana, and how we can improve our relationship with Hashem for the upcoming year. We look forward to having many more mishmars with Rabbi Harris throughout the year.

Upcoming Events

October 3 and 4 - Rosh Hashanah - school closed

October 5 - Tzom Gedaliah - 1:45 dismissal

October 6 - Star 360 testing - Eighth grade boys

BJE Review (8^th grade) - 5:00 PM -6:15 PM

October 7 - Eighth grade boys' tisch

October 10 - Star 360 testing - Eighth grade girls

October 11 and 12 - Erev Yom Kippur and Yom Kippur - no school

Star 360 testing - Seventh grade boys

October 14 - Star 360 testing - Seventh grade girls

October 17-25 - Sukkot vacation - school closed

October 26 - School Resumes