Photos: Shalom Burkis/COLlive
On Sunday, Gan Academy Yeshiva hosted a Chumash Party for their First Grade boys. The program began with the boy’s davening mincha, joined by their fathers and zaidys. First grade Rebbe, Rabbi Yisroel Noach Blank, then introduced Rabbi Shimmy Weinbaum of Tzvios Hashem who spoke to the boys about their special role as the guarantors of the Torah. The boys are excited to be joining the ranks of Tzivos Hashem – the Rebbe’s army – and watching their mitzvos grow and grow!
Following Rabbi Weinbaum, Rabbi Boruch Jacobson, grandfather of one of the students, addressed the boys. Rabbi Jacobson mentioned how in the olden days, young boys would learn how to identify the letters of the Aleph Beis with the help of the things around them. For example, the letter Aleph resembles a water carrier who only had one of his buckets filled. Rabbi Jacobson showed the boys a drawing that the Rebbe created to highlight this point. Rabbi Jacobson ended by acknowledging the devotion and role of Rabbi Zushe Wilhelm OBM as Vaad Haruchni of Gan Academy, and how proud he was of the school and its achievements thus far.
Led by a first-grader, the crowd then recited a kapital tehillim and the Rebbe’s kapital for the safety of the Jews of Ukraine. Following tehillim the boys sang the twelve pesukim joyfully for their relatives in the crowd to enjoy. Afterward, each boy was called up to receive their very first personalized Chumash. The Chumashim were presented by Rabbi Mendel Kugel, Rabbi Yisroel Noach Blank, Gan Academy Yeshiva Rebbe of 4 years, and Rabbi Mendel Kalmanson who is the first grade Chol teacher. The boys then climbed on their fathers’ and zeidys’ shoulders, and danced with joy to celebrate this special milestone.
Each child also received a delicious piece of a stunning custom Torah-shaped cake, to highlight the sweetness of Torah study, and were excited to find the piece with their Hebrew name on it! This beautiful event was arranged by Mrs. Musia Wilhelm, Executive Administrator of the Gan Academy Yeshiva.
Do you have a child aged two to fifth grade? Come to the open house on Sunday, March 13, and find out more about what Gan Academy Yeshiva has to offer. See our curricula, understand our methodology, and hear from our incredibly devoted staff.
