ABIPE 2024: Post 4
Some of us attended Nozyk Synagogue for morning services - and one of our seniors, Daniel Katz, even had the honor of being asked to do hagbah after the Torah reading! Nozyk Synagogue is the only surviving prewar synagogue in all of Warsaw. Nazis used the building as stables during the war, but after the Nazis were defeated, the Jewish community restored the building to its rightful former and current beauty. The kids who went to synagogue tell me it was awesome: services were in Polish, Russian, English, and Hebrew, and the melodies were familiar but the kiddush was different in the best way possible.
Today's parasha was Parashat Shemot - the first portion of the book of Exodus - and history's first recorded attempted genocide of the Jewish people. Ofri connected this story with similar tumultuous epochs in Jewish history: the attempted Nazi genocide in the mid-twentieth century, which we've been learning so much about, and the recent attack on October 7, which we are collectively still struggling to process. But the story she told from Shemot didn't focus on evil; instead, it focuses on hope. She reminded us of the Israelites in Egypt who chose life and hope even in the midst of darkness and death. She told us about the babies in Egypt that were born and rescued, and about the women and men who continued to grow their families even though danger was everywhere and safety was scarce. And she also told us a modern story: the true story of Lieutenant Yaron Chitiz, a 23-year-old soldier in the Givati Brigade who was killed in Gaza on December 27. The story she shared comes from an online article written by Yehoshua Siskin. On the only Shabbat he was able to come home since the war this year started, Yaron reminded his family that their Shabbat songs should be at least as loud, raucous, and joyful as the Shabbat songs he and his brigade sang in Gaza during their tour of duty. Ofri reminded us that Yaron's "living will" was a reminder for us to embody the values of love, joy, and community - especially when we are all lucky enough to gather together for Shabbat. It's a meaningful message for a meaningful day!
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Today's parasha was Parashat Shemot - the first portion of the book of Exodus - and history's first recorded attempted genocide of the Jewish people. Ofri connected this story with similar tumultuous epochs in Jewish history: the attempted Nazi genocide in the mid-twentieth century, which we've been learning so much about, and the recent attack on October 7, which we are collectively still struggling to process. But the story she told from Shemot didn't focus on evil; instead, it focuses on hope. She reminded us of the Israelites in Egypt who chose life and hope even in the midst of darkness and death. She told us about the babies in Egypt that were born and rescued, and about the women and men who continued to grow their families even though danger was everywhere and safety was scarce. And she also told us a modern story: the true story of Lieutenant Yaron Chitiz, a 23-year-old soldier in the Givati Brigade who was killed in Gaza on December 27. The story she shared comes from an online article written by Yehoshua Siskin. On the only Shabbat he was able to come home since the war this year started, Yaron reminded his family that their Shabbat songs should be at least as loud, raucous, and joyful as the Shabbat songs he and his brigade sang in Gaza during their tour of duty. Ofri reminded us that Yaron's "living will" was a reminder for us to embody the values of love, joy, and community - especially when we are all lucky enough to gather together for Shabbat. It's a meaningful message for a meaningful day!
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The Weber School, a Jewish Community high school serving students from all Jewish backgrounds, prepares students for success in college and in life with comprehensive academic and co-curricular programs that inspire student exploration, leadership, and Jewish social consciousness. Many of our programs and academies are unique to Weber and can't be found at any other Atlanta-area high schools.
The Felicia Penzell Weber Jewish Community High School admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.
The Felicia Penzell Weber Jewish Community High School admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.
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