Yom HaAliyah!

by Hannah Fineman, SSLI '25

Editor's Note: While the seniors presented their Hebrew play today (great job!), we intend to cover their production in more depth tomorrow.

Today was a jam-packed day for Schechter high-schoolers. After tefillah, they began their day with a powerful presentation from Ira Kohler, an alumnus who served in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) on and after October 7. Afterwards, elections for the 2024-2025 school year were held, followed by the senior Hebrew play, an event from the Environmental Club, and an epic Battle of the Classes.

Students were eager to ask Ira questions. (S. Thorgersen)

Ira Kohler, who graduated from Schechter in 2018, spoke to the entire student body about his experience battling terrorists in Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7 and his over 100 days spent in Gaza. Kohler explained, “One of the awesome things was that I was coming back to my school where I grew up, and I felt like, in this presentation, I was able to teach a little bit more--not just share my story, but teach.” Ira felt he was making a bigger impact with his knowledge on the young students, rather than the adults who he has spoken with in the past.

Freshman Sam Levenson said, “I think it was really important for Ira to talk because he is close to the students of Schechter since he went to the school. People are more inspired and connect with him better because of it. It was also important as a soldier, since we don’t often see that angle of the war in the media.”

Ira taught students about his time in the IDF during the war. (S. Thorgersen)

Junior Elinor Schlissel shared, “I think it’s important to have speakers like Ira come talk because hearing the experiences and stories from a firsthand account and hearing real experiences adds so much value to the stories and makes them more real.”

Sophomore Josh Jurmann explained how Ira’s presentation inspired him to want to find ways to support Israel through some way of volunteering for the IDF.

Samson Mildron, a junior, explained that Ira’s presentation made him feel “proud to be part of a religion and a people that is so committed to their values and so determined to keep their people safe.”

Levenson said, “Ira’s presentation was tough to hear, but also very moving. I felt relieved that he was home and out of danger, but also proud of how strong and brave he is.”

Kohler shared that one of his favorite questions was when a group of high school boys from the Storm hockey team came up to him and asked, “Did you really score nine goals in one game?” and humbly, Ira replied, “It was actually six.”

Today was also the student government elections for the 2024-2025 school year. After all the candidates made their speeches, the students voted and presented us with the student body for the upcoming school year: Spirit Chair is Addison Pravato; Treasurer is Micah Bidner; Secretary is Carly Smith; Vice President is Samson Mildron; and President is Elinor Schlissel.

Environmental Club also held a creative educational event. Mildron explained, “The environmental activity was a Jewish wedding, where different people were assigned different Israeli inventions, and they paired up, wrote vows about other inventions, and read them under the chuppah.”

Environmental Club worked hard to pull-off this program. (N. Gordon)

This event definitely accomplished its goals. Levenson shared, “It was really funny but also allowed us to see all of the important benefits the inventions give us.”

Schlissel said her favorite part of the event was presenting her vows. She graciously shared her vows to a solar panel which said, “Pythagoras Solar, I’m so lucky to have found you. I’ve been searching my whole life for someone who solar panels the way you do. I love the way you make energy so efficient. I am so excited to spend the rest of my life with such an aesthetic solar panel. I love you, Pythagoras Solar, and I am prepared to fix the earth together for all of forever.”

Students got "married" to their different inventions! (N. Gordon)

Finally, the students finished their day with Battle of the Classes. Unfortunately, the students couldn’t go outside and do the regularly scheduled programming because of the rain. Nonetheless, students had a blast. Schlissel said, “For Battle of the Classes, we split up into different rooms and did different activities, like a game of Werewolf, Schechter trivia, and Pictionary, and more. We then ended with a big basketball tournament.”

Jurmann shared, “I think my grade took it as a great opportunity to bond and become more cohesive.”

Mildron summarized this day full of meaning and excitement: “ It’s so special when we all come together as a large, happy kehila!”

 

Hannah Fineman is a writer for Paw Print Now and has been published on the site since November 2021. Hannah is currently a junior at the Schechter School of Long Island and can be reached at the following email address: hfineman25@schechterli.org