This past Friday, our school came together to celebrate Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan with a meaningful and joyous program led by our GO heads, Shira Bracha Katz and Nechama Zakon, that set the tone for the new month and memorably introduced our theme. It was a morning filled with inspiration, song, and a unique opportunity to focus on growth and positivity while celebrating our unity as a school community.
We gathered in a circle for a moving, musical Hallel, filling the room with our voices and heartfelt tefillah as we sang together. The feeling of connection and shared devotion created a warm and uplifting atmosphere, one that underscored the special spirit of Rosh Chodesh. Afterward, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast, adding a touch of celebration to our morning and giving everyone time to relax and connect.
This month, Cheshvan, marks a period in which we begin davening for rain, making it the perfect time to reflect on growth and renewal. Our “destination” this month is the Amazon Rainforest, a symbol of abundant growth and life sustained by rain. Embracing this theme, we launched a challenge: positively greeting someone in the morning. This small gesture can lead to a more positive morning for everyone involved, spreading a smile and allowing its impact to ripple outward.
Each gift represented how a smile can be like a present we give to someone else—a small act that can brighten someone’s day and continue to be passed on, creating a chain of kindness and connection.
To illustrate the power of positivity, we played “Pass the Present” with small gifts tied to this month’s theme. Each gift represented how a smile can be like a present we give to someone else—a small act that can brighten someone’s day and continue to be passed on, creating a chain of kindness and connection.
The program concluded with an inspiring kumzitz, bringing us all together for a special moment of song and unity. Several girls introduced each song, allowing us to connect with the lyrics and each other on a deeper level. This led into a talk from our Parsha speakers, Carole Wolanow and Ivan Sacks, who shared moving thoughts about how we can show support for our soldiers in Israel, reminding us of the power we have to make a difference from wherever we are. Click www.agentivan.com to see how you can get involved.
This Rosh Chodesh program was a beautiful start to Cheshvan, reminding us of the beauty of growth, unity, and the incredible impact that even the smallest positive actions can have on our community and beyond. We look forward to many more amazing activities together and can’t wait to see how each of us embraces this month’s themes! ■
─ Article by Shira Bracha Katz
