This week, Mirowitz students made history by selecting our first-ever school-wide Hebrew Word of the Year. The milestone was part of our celebration of יום הלשון העברית ( Yom HaLashon HaIvrit – Hebrew Language Day) on and around 21 Tevet, the birthday of Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, the visionary largely behind the revival of modern Hebrew.
The chosen words in a virtual 4-way tie, אהבה ( ahavah – love), שלום ( shalom – peace), חטופים ( chatufim – hostages), and תקווה ( tikvah – hope), beautifully reflect the complicated mix of emotions at this moment: the love, joy and relief at the safe return of three resilient women from captivity, interwoven with the tension and heartbreak of ongoing events in Israel and Gaza, always with the hope for peace.
Indeed we know, as demonstrated by the research of Dr. Sivan Zakai, Director of the Children’s Learning About Israel project, even our elementary-age students are capable of holding rich and complex thoughts about many topics, including Israel.
Even amidst such challenges, we chose to embrace שמחה ( simchah – intentional joy), one of our school’s core values, as we celebrated the beauty of Hebrew and its rich history. Our exceptional Hebrew teachers, alongside our dynamic ShinShinit Roni, planned an unforgettable week filled with vibrant, creative learning. Students explored Ben-Yehuda’s legacy through hands-on activities: class-sized memory games with his invented words, decoding secret messages using gematria (Hebrew numerology), diving into Hebrew slang with Gal Gadot, listening to songs about Hebrew, and even stretching into alef-bet yoga poses.
One highlight of the week was proudly wearing our favorite Hebrew words close to our hearts, a tradition that felt even more meaningful this year. Words like הביתה ( habaytah – homeward), גיבור ( gibor – hero), and אחדות ( achdut – unity) reminded us of the resilience, courage, and unity that define us as a people.
For over 15 months, we have provided our students with a safe space to process the complexities of events in Israel and explore the profound responses of Israeli society. Through Hebrew learning, your children gain access to Israeli culture, deepen their connection to Jewish texts, and strengthen their Jewish identities. This language bridges ancient and modern Jewish stories, empowering our children to carry these narratives in their hearts.
This Shabbat, take a moment to share your favorite Hebrew words with your children. Let’s continue to pray together for the safe return of the next four hostages tomorrow and for all those still awaiting freedom.
Shabbat Shalom,
Morah Becky