Yeshivat Frisch was thrilled to celebrate 75 years of the State of Israel last week!
Frisch’s Yom Hazikaron tekes on Tuesday—entirely prepared by students—included the stories of the Dee family, fallen soldiers Dani Cohen, Sean Carmeli and Benaya Rovel, as well as the cousin of Frisch 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—a siyum l’ilui 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’atzmaut, Israel’s milestone 75th birthday! Throughout the week, students learned “Kol Dodi Dofek,” 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’atzmaut 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’atzmaut chagiga, a BBQ lunch courtesy of the Frisch Parents Association, and fun afternoon activities, including cooking falafel with Frisch Culinary Science teacher Toby Moses, Israel-themed cutout art, and Gaga ball. (Did you know it’s an Israeli game?)
Meanwhile, on Yom Ha’atzmaut, Frisch 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, Frisch 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 Frisch 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 Frisch senior Josh Knoll, who, along with Rosenfeld, led Frisch’s Chidon HaTanach Club this past year.
Am Yisrael Chai!