by Mrs. Aydla Vechter
Motzei Shabbos parshas Shemos, the Shmuel Zahavy Cheder Chabad family joined for an elegant and masterfully planned Melave Malka. We may not live in the sunniest climate, but the warmth felt in the air more than made up for that, as the Cheder family joined to salute our Rebbis, Morahs, school administrators and staff, and to celebrate our children!
The event was co-sponsored by Oren and Neely Antebi, pillars of the community who are involved with our Cheder Bigufam ubeMamonam, caring about every detail of making our boys’ chinuch come alive with PTA programming and enhancing Chassidishe Yomim Tovim. This evening was dedicated in the loving memory of their fathers, Chaim ben Yosef A”H and Dovid Moshe ben Ephraim A”H. The event was planned down to every detail and lovingly executed by Mrs. Neely Antebi.
As you walked through the hallway to enter the event, the walls sang out “Shnas Hakhel is here!” with a gorgeous canvas of Hakhel so appropriately decorated in a united effort by all classes. Thank you, Mrs. Miri Kamman, Mrs. Chavee Parshan and Estee Parshan and Morah Meira Mandel!
The general studies classes rivaled the creativity with their “Shul on Mars” presentation. Thank you, Mrs. Krybus!
Walking into the grand hall, the ambiance enveloped you. The décor by Mrs. Sara Fishman and Mrs. Soochie Eizicovics was elegant and welcoming. The tables were decorated with pictures of our boys, created by Mrs. Yehudis Steiner, and a slideshow of pictures created by Mrs. Vanessa Lang was playing on the screens. There is nothing like seeing the pure shining faces of the boys, who are the reason we are all here!
Rabbi Bard-wigdor, our esteemed Principal (and the boys’ favorite guest storyteller), who dedicates himself to the chinuch and social emotional development of each cheder boy, began the evening. Rabbi Bard-wigdor expounded on the theme of Hakhel, explaining to us the source, the significance and the connection to us today.
Rabbi Shur, our dedicated Executive Director who makes sure that our Cheder dream is a reality, spoke about the special Mitzva of Chinuch that belongs to parents and is shared with the Rebbis and Morahs. Rabbi Shur mentioned about an exciting upcoming campaign to help spur the vision of the continued growth of our Cheder.
A short but impactful video starring Shmuel Zahavy Cheder Chabad students exemplified what a warm and special place Cheder is for our boys. Thank you, Mrs. Chaya Posner, for this masterpiece!
One of the favorite highlights of the evening was the spirited choir ably led by Cheder’s choirmaster Rabbi Weinfeld. The boys got us on our feet, clapping along as they sang about Hakhel, and our dream to unite in the ultimate Hakhel in the Bais Hamikdosh!
And then, for the inspiration of the evening, Rabbi Lazer Gurkow, Shliach in London, Ontario, spoke about Cultivating Character. He spoke about Basya listening to the sound of the boy crying, the boy who was to be the Redeemer of Bnei Yisroel. We, too, must tune in to the sound of our child’s cry, hear his voice, and see who he is and how we can help him fulfill his personal mission.
As the evening concluded, his words were a beautiful inspiration for parents and staff members to continue our vital work in raising this precious generation. How lucky are we to have been granted the zchus of having these children, and how lucky are we to be educating them in Shmuel Zahavy Cheder Chabad of Toronto!
May we immediately be zoche to the ultimate Hakhel together with our Rebbe in Yerushalayim, when we will stand proudly with our Meshichai- Tinokos Shel Bais Rabon, who will stand in the front lines to greet Moshiach!
They have something special there in Toronto.