Our Year 9 students spent a very enjoyable and interesting day last week at the Imperial War Museum (IWM). The whole year group was invited to attend, regardless of whether they are studying for GCSE History or not.

The IWM is a wonderful museum which really brings the experience of war to life. It is a place where students can explore the causes and consequences of conflict, not only with regard to governments, but also how the lives of ordinary people were affected.

One of the activities they took part in was ‘documentary challenge’, which involved filming their own mini documentaries in the First World War exhibition.

Thank you to Rabbi Gaffin, Mrs Joffe, Mrs Abecasis, Mr Neagus, and Mrs Rand for staffing this trip with Mrs Yaros.

This is the day which Hashem has made the day when we can celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut in song and in dance at Hasmonean. To celebrate in a way which includes every student, different events were arranged. The hall was filled with students dressed in varying combinations of blue and white, with a backdrop of flags and balloons. For those who wished to praise Hashem in full voice, there was Tephilla with a rousing, heartfelt Hallel.

Following Tephilla, Rikki Shatzkes, on behalf of the Israel Society, gave a clear and brief speech about the establishment and history of the State. She also shared her personal reflections, including speaking about her brother who made Aliyah age 18 and joined the IDF.

Rabbi Schiff came in to speak about his own reflections on Yom Ha’Atzmaut, and clearly showed his excitement at being in Hasmonean at a time when we do celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut! He recalled his own swearing in ceremony at the Kotel, where another Hasmo Alumnus (now Lord Kestenbaum), said to him: ‘Why did Hashem say to Moshe go up the mountain and lift up your eyes?’ The answer: it is not easy to live in Israel, but this is where we are supposed to be. ‘Lift up your eyes’ and be thankful for all that Hashem has done. Tov le’Hodot L’Hashem. This is the essence of being a Jew- to always recognise the good.

And with that, each student wrote a note describing what she felt grateful to Israel for, tied it to a blue or white balloon and the whole school released those balloons into the sunshine.

Later on in the morning, there was a return to the hall for celebrating, dancing, eating watermelon, drinking ice coffee, face painting, and balloon art! Tov L’Hodot- it was truly wonderful to be able to celebrate the 74th birthday of our homeland in true Hasmonean style.

Thank you to HIPE, the madrichot who joined us, and to the one and only Kevin and site team.

Yom HaZikaron – Girls’ School

For Yom HaZikaron, Devorah and Avi Kay, parents of Eli who was murdered in Jerusalem in November 2021, came to speak to the Year 8 and 9 girls. Devorah and Avi shared lessons learned from Eli’s life, including the importance of personal integrity, Eli’s love of the Land of Israel, and his willingness to help those around him in need regardless of background or religion.

Devorah told the girls how she has been inspired by Eli about the importance of following one’s own sense of what is right and not worrying what others may think. She shared a story of how Eli paid for a stranger’s shoes when his credit card wasn’t working and how he would greet the market vendors in Machane Yehudah by name. Eli was an exceptional young man whose smile and warmth gave joy to everyone he met.

Avi spoke about the importance of choosing to respond to tragedy with strength. The students were given the opportunities to ask questions at the end of the talk.

Over a dozen Year 13 Hasmonean boys played in a gruelling 12-hour football marathon at Power League on Sunday 24th April to raise money for the Jews in Ukraine through World Jewish Relief. Despite being somewhat sore, they raised over £6000 at the time of writing.

Zachy Sager was the driving force behind this football marathon, organising special team shirts, making sure there was food to keep the lads sustained, publicising the marathon, and motivating his friends to take time away from their studies to help others.

Danny Yank is a Jewish serving Staff Officer at Army Headquarters. He attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and then joined the Royal Artillery, learning how to operate a variety of weapon systems, including Artillery, precision strike missiles, drones and radar. In his career he deployed on active operations to Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as training in a plethora of other countries including the Falkland Island & South Georgia, all over the USA, and various countries in the Middle East and Asia. In total, he has been to about 40 countries in his role as an Army Officer.

Danny volunteered to be a part of Commando forces and passed the selection to do so. He was then selected for further training and completed the military Parachutist course to become an Airborne soldier. He is very likely the only serving Airborne Commando Jewish member of the British Armed Forces.

Danny said that he has moved home 13 times, including living all over the UK and abroad.

The boys asked Danny a variety of questions:

Gabriel E. – ‘How do you deal with mental health problems?’ Danny told us that in the British Armed Forces they are very good with trauma management. People can get help and there isn’t a negative stigma attached to needing support.

Gabriel E. – ‘How does it feel if your friend is shot dead?’ Danny explained that under his command, some soldiers have been killed and seriously injured. He said that this was really demanding but it’s important to continue with the mission, keep the soldiers focussed and make time to grieve at a later date.

The boys also asked about how easy it is to keep Shabbat and Kosher when you are deployed to a war zone. Danny explained that it is really easy to keep Kosher but it is difficult to keep Shabbat because the 7 days a week nature of the job. When your rank is higher keeping Shabbat maybe more manageable because you have more control over your time.

The best question came from Yonatan S. – ‘What made you want you want to become a soldier?’ Danny was inspired by his grandfather (Manny Yank) and his uncle (Arthur Anderson) and other elders who had seen action in The Second World War. He once happened to meet an Arnhem Veteran from the Second World War on a bus journey and this cemented his decision to become a soldier himself. The man he sat next to was a paratrooper who jumped into Arnhem, liberated Bergen Belsen and fought all the way to Berlin. His story was amazing. He went on to join the SAS.

We are really grateful to Danny for taking time out of his day to speak to us. It will be lasting memory for the boys.

Written by Mrs L Yaros